Londis News, Vol 36, Issue 5, October 2023

NEWS, AWARDS, INSIGHTS, INTERVIEWS, NEW PRODUCTS, PROMOTIONS AND MUCH MORE…

T DON’ ..

MISS.

Say cheers to festive success Get set for the Spring Pre-Sell Jack’s brand continues to deliver Vol 36 Issue 5 October 2023

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The UK’s #1 Plant-based Drink** 1 in 3 shoppers now drink non-dairy & spend 33% more with every shop.***

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9

FOOD AND DRINK SALES RISE

Shopper spending on food and drink grew 7% in September

13 COMMUNITY NEWS

A round-up of the latest community news from Londis retailers

17 BOOKER’S BIKE BONANZA

Booker has helped to raise more than £416,000 for GroceryAid

15 COMMUNITY MATTERS

New store Londis Seaton is playing a starring role in its local community

24 DELIVERING BENEFITS

Londis Mercer Way is reaping the rewards of a successful home delivery service

50 VALUE AND QUALITY

Jacks has what you need to grow footfall, sales and profits this festive season

54 GET INTO THE SPIRIT

The key alcohol trends and products to get on board with this Christmas

60 TOP NEW PRODUCTS

A selection of the latest products to hit shelves

63 MEET THE TEAM

We chat to award-winning Booker HGV driver Keith Ashworth

66 GOING FOR GREEN

Booker continues to excel in the sustainability arena

32 THE WINNING FORMULA

71 CENTRAL SUCCESS

38 ALL CHANGE

74 SPRING PRE-SELL

46 SWEET OPPORTUNITIES

79 ACS VIEWPOINT

Raja and Lakshmi have doubled turnover at their new Hull store Londis Nesscliffe is now fit for the future thanks to a bold refit Londis has your festive confectionery needs covered

24

Home run A successful home delivery service is paying off for Londis Mercer Way

Save time and money with central billing The Londis Spring Pre-Sell opens on 25 October Local shops are more vital than ever

60

NPD Just some of the best new products to hit the shelves

Booker Retail Partners

For IT: 7am–9pm (Monday to Friday)

Tel: 0870 050 0158 Opening hours: 8am–5:30pm Monday to Friday

Email: For customer services: londis.claims@bookerretail.co.uk or enquiries@londis.co.uk

IT and Customer Services

Helpdesk: 0800 298 0758

Opening hours: For customer services: 6am–9pm (Monday to Friday)

Londis News team: Email: londisnews@ londis.co.uk

FOR A SATISFYING CRUNCH

STOCK UP NOW

1 # ’S R

UEKREAL BA C

+ 8.

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E ALU V %

TH W O GR

SOURCE: *NIELSEN TOTAL COVERAGE: 52 WEEKS TO W/C 01.07.2023.

News!

o t t e s t e G

WELCOME

Welco

Londis f o e u s is r e b to c O me to our

sparkle The festive season is almost upon us and Londis has what you need to help your footfall, sales and profits shine.

A very warm welcome to this, your October issue of Londis News, as we begin gearing up in earnest for what I hope will be an exceptional festive period this year.

As always, Londis has created an outstanding selection of festive promotions and deals to help you maximise footfall, sales and profits during this critical trading period. In this issue we share some of the great Christmas confectionery and drinks deals we have on offer this year, with plenty to help you and your shoppers get into the festive spirit.

We also bring you the latest additions to our everexpanding Jack’s own-brand range as Jack’s continues to cement its position as the perfect brand for the challenging times that shoppers find themselves in at the moment. Quality and value have never been more important. digital solution and our Central Billing platform.

Sustainability is never far from our thoughts at Londis, as we continue to help you build ever more sustainable

It’s an exciting time of year and I wish you all the very

businesses. In this issue you’ll find some important

best of trading over the next few months.

updates on the fantastic progress we are making on our journey together.

You’ll also find some great advice and tips inside on ways to drive efficiencies in your business, save money and grow profits through initiatives like our SocioConnect

Look forward to seeing you in-store!

Stewart Fenn Sales Director, Booker Retail Partners

7

MAKE TODAY A BIG ONE Stock up now

MULTISERVE SATISFIES GROWING AT HOME CONSUMPTION OCCASIONS

*Nielsen 15/07/23

Multiserve MBB formats growing

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YOUR LONDIS

Stories from around the Londis Family...

Food and drink spend ’up 7%’ in September The latest Barclays data shows that shopper spending on food and drink in retail grew by 7% in September, a further increase on the previous month’s growth levels.

KEY STATS l Food and drink spend up 7% YOY in September l Total card spend up 4.2% YOY in September l 70% of shoppers trying to reduce the cost of their weekly shop l 49% of these doing so by choosing own-brand products l 52% taking advantage of multibuy or bulk purchases to cut costs l 44% cutting back on eating out to save money for Christmas Shopper spending on food and drink grew by

of 20.1% the previous month.

7.0% YOY in September, ahead of inflation, following YOY growth of 4.5% in August,

The recent shopper trend towards buying more

according to the latest data from Barclays.

own-brand products is still in evidence, says the report, with almost half (49%) of shoppers who

Find us on

Total shopper card spending grew by 4.2%

are seeking to reduce their spending doing so

YOY, behind the inflation rate of 6.3%, but

by choosing own-brand products.

significantly up on August’s growth figure of 2.8%.

A further 52% of shoppers say they are taking advantage of multibuy deals, bundle offers

@myLondis

Barclays says the increases were driven by

and buying items in bulk to reduce costs.

the extended period of late summer sun and warmer weather.

A significant 44% of shoppers also indicate that they are planning to reduce discretionary

@myLondis @LondisRetail

Fuel prices continue to recover, down just

spend on items like eating in restaurants to

10.9% YOY in September compared to a drop

save money for the upcoming festive period.

Wales plastics ban @myLondis

The Welsh Government has confirmed that

stirrers, polystyrene cups and takeaway food

the upcoming ban on single-use plastics will

containers, drinking straws, balloon sticks and

go live on 30 October 2023.

plastic-stemmed cotton buds.

From this date, retailers in Wales must stop

The law makes it illegal to sell or give for free

the sale and supply of the following single-

any of the products listed above to shoppers

use plastic products: plates, cutlery, drinks

in Wales.

9

P U K STOC !

NOW £1.19

Subject to availability from 4th October - 31st October

NEWS

Booker-exclusive Digital SEL package now available to Londis retailers Londis retailers now have access to a fully customised digital shelf edge label solution under a Booker-exclusive deal with Panasonic Connect.

Retailers ‘invest £646m’ Convenience retailers have invested a huge £646m in their businesses over the past

The benefits of converting from paper

customisation, and benefits from

price tickets to digital shelf edge labelling

dedicated UK-based support for Londis

(SEL) are being felt in more and more

retailers. A dedicated project manager

Londis stores, with an increasing number

will oversee the entire process while an

of retailers embracing the solution.

expert installation team will ensure the

The top areas of

solution is up and running precisely to

investment were

your requirements.

reported as refrigeration

Digital SELs help ensure that on-shelf

year, according to The ACS 2023 Local Shop Report.

(56%), shelving (39%),

pricing is always accurate and up to date and also help dramatically reduce the amount of staff time required to update labels, particularly during promotional period changeovers. This recovered staff time means that your team can be

For more information, speak to your RDM, or email IntegratedSolutions@ eu.panasonic.com or visit connect.panasonic.eu/ booker

Automated Pricing and Promotions across your store

store lighting (32%), and Exclusive Deal for Booker Retail Customers

To help Londis retailers take advantage of the many benefits of digital SELs, Booker has secured a new exclusive agreement with Panasonic Connect.

The deal ensures Londis retailers benefit from an agreed preferential Booker price package on the solution and the SELs themselves are fully integrated with Epos systems from key providers including Retail Data Partnership, TLM and more.

technology (29%).

Benefits

Your Booker Retail Deal: • Agreed Booker price package • Free Store customisation • Dedicated Project Manager

• Expert installation team • Dedicated Support for Booker customers • Finance available

Fully integrated with PoS architecture In partnership with Booker, Retail Data Partnership, TLM and other POS software platforms

UK-based Premium in-house service & engineering support from Panasonic

The report also shows

(Subject to Credit approval)

redeployed in more productive tasks like engaging with your shoppers.

store signage (33%), in-

Standardized installation packages for small, medium and large-sized stores

connect.panasonic.eu

PANASONIC CONNECT DEAL

l Agreed Booker price package l Free store-specific customisation l Fully Epos integrated l Dedicated project manager l Expert installation team l Dedicated support l UK-based l Finance available (subject to credit approval) CHOOSE YOUR SIZE

The digital SELs are available in a range of sizes, covering all use cases: l From 1.6” to 12.2” l High resolution up to 144 DPI l Up to IP68 certified

convenience stores employ more than 437,000 people and generated over £47.1bn in sales over the past year, with that figure set to grow to over £50.9bn by 2026.

Some 70% of stores are run by independent retailers and 79% of independent retailers engaged in some form of community activity over the past year.

The deal features free store-specific

MUP hike consultation launched in Scotland A proposal to increase the Minimum Unit Price (MUP)

April, and the level at which it should be set.

of alcohol by 15p per unit to 65p is included in a new consultation on the future of public health policy issued by

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham said: “We

the Scottish Government.

believe the proposals set out in this consultation strike a reasonable balance between public health benefits and any

Holyrood says it is seeking views on whether to continue the

effects on the alcoholic drinks market and subsequent impact

MUP legislation beyond the current term, which ends next

on consumers.”

11

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Key issues of interest to you

Jessica on the run for MIND charity A Londis store manager in Cumbria has raised £800 for mental health charity MIND by completing this year’s Great North Run. Jessica Young, store manager

providing information, advice

at Bullough’s Londis of

and local services. It also

Arnside in Cumbria, has

brings together a network of

raised £880 for mental health

individuals and communities

charity MIND by completing

who care about mental health

this year’s Great North Run.

to make a difference.

The charity makes mental

Jess said: “The race

health an everyday priority by

conditions were baking – 23

standing up to injustices – in

to 24 degrees and filthy levels

“I finished in a time of 1 hour

healthcare, in work, and in

of humidity. It was probably

and 50 minutes, which in

law – and offers support by

the toughest conditions I’ve

those conditions I’ll take.”

ever ran a half marathon in, and it was incredibly

Coffee morning Londis retailers across the UK have been raising money for cancer charity Macmillan by holding instore coffee mornings for shoppers.

The money raised helps to support Macmillan’s vital work, helping fund its amazing Macmillan nurses, answer calls on its Support Line, and provide financial support to cancer patients, and more.

challenging at times.

Scarecrows Hemingbrough Londis in North Yorkshire has donated prizes for Hemingbrough Community Primary School’s Scarecrow Festival. More than 20 scarecrows were showcased at the event, which helped to raise money for the school.

The school said: “Thank you to everyone for your support with the scarecrow

This year, taking part in the event, were Londis Barnetby,

hunt. All the scarecrows

MFG Shell Kingwilliam Londis, Londis Accrington, Londis

were wonderful and the

Stoneferry North, Londis Shell Manpton Park, Londis

variety of refreshments

Mabon Service Station, Londis Hillington, Esso Londis

on route were a great

Haldon Hill, Londis Cobham Service Station, MFG Builth

success.”

Wells, and MFG Esso Londis Pippin.

13

Stock No.1 Stock theNo.1 the * * Pet Food Brand Pet Food Brand

INDUSTRY NEWS

Key issues of interest to you

‘Proper lead times required’ for major recycling projects Major waste and packaging reforms ‘should not be rushed’, government committee inquiry told.

A major government

that enough time is given to

committee inquiry has been

legislators, producers and

told that there “needs to

retailers to adapt.

be proper lead times and planning” when making major

ACS Chief Executive

changes like the introduction

James Lowman said: “The

of Deposit Return Schemes

government is taking the

(DRS), extended producer

track to deliver on packaging

right steps toward ensuring a

responsibility, and single-use

reforms.

more sustainable future, but it’s absolutely essential that

plastic bans.

Measures under scrutiny

significant changes and new

The Association of

by the inquiry include the

infrastructure like that which

Convenience Stores (ACS)

introduction of a UK-wide

will be needed under a DRS

provided evidence for the

DRS scheme and extended

are given enough time and

Public Accounts Committee’s

producer responsibility, both

scrutiny to get the details

inquiry as it prepared to

of which have been pushed

right. We cannot risk rushing

question Defra officials on

back to 2025, after the next

out half-baked policies

whether the government had

General Election.

that could end up harming retailers, consumers, the

effective plans in place to meet its waste and recycling

In its evidence, ACS called

industry and ultimately the

ambitions, and if Defra is on

on the government to ensure

environment.”

Lottery portal live

Labour backs retail

Allwyn, the incoming operator of The National

The independent retailing sector

Lottery, has confirmed that its new online retailer

has welcomed the public support

portal has gone live.

of the Labour Party for a plan to address the challenges facing retail

The company is urging retailers to log on via

and high streets. During the party’s

TNLpartners.co.uk or by scanning a QR code

recent annual conference Labour

featured on the communications they’ve been sent.

backed a motion from trade unions Usdaw and the GMB aiming to

Camelot says retailers will need to log on and

ensure that the importance of the

electronically transfer their existing Retailer

retail sector and our communities’

Agreement from Camelot to Allwyn by 18

high streets is reflected in Labour’s

December 2023 at the latest to ensure retailers

industrial strategy, emphasising

don’t experience an interruption to their service.

the need to protect jobs, deliver growth and provide security of

Retailers can call the free hotline on 0800 8 40 50

employment.

60 if they need any help.

15

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NEWS

Booker helps GroceryAid cycle to £416,000 in donations

Booker was among the sponsors of this year’s two main GroceryAid cycle challenges, with colleagues from across the business helping to raise more than £416,000 for the charity.

Booker played a major role

independent retailing and grocery

challenges: Coast to Coast Cycle and

in supporting industry charity

channels. More than 220 cyclists

London to Brussels.

GroceryAid’s two important cycling

from across the industry took part,

challenges this year, helping to raise

including a strong contingent from

In addition, Booker was among the

an amazing £416,000 in donations

Booker. Together they cycled over

official sponsors for the rides.

that will be used to provide practical,

777km through some of Europe’s

emotional and financial support

most stunning locations and cities

In July, the Coast to Coast Cycle

to industry colleagues in the

as part of GroceryAid’s two cycle

saw 70 riders cycle their way from Whitehaven to Harrogate and on to the seaside resort of Whitby.

They raised more than £189,000 for GroceryAid. The London to Brussels Cycle took place in September, with 152 riders spending three days pedalling to Brussels for the first time, raising more than £226,000 for GroceryAid. Jonny McQuarrie, Booker Chief Operating Officer and Coast to Coast Committee chair, said: “The Coast to Coast Cycle is a fantastic opportunity to raise vital funds and awareness of our industry charity whilst forming lifelong connections.”

Booker Dragon Boat Race unveiled!

GroceryAid has announced an exciting new addition to the GroceryAid 2024 fundraising calendar: the Booker Dragon Boat Race, taking place on the River Thames on 6 June 2024.

The event will bring together over 40 teams, all racing to be crowned Dragon Boat champion as they row to the beat of the drum.

The event will see many Booker colleagues participating as drummers on each boat.

17

RETAILER PROFILE

Local approach

Community

matters Sales are marching ahead at Londis Seaton thanks to its perfect fusion of community values and streamlined processes.

Lots of retailers ‘talk the

it,” Will explains. “I said yes

talk’ when it comes to

on the spot and things went

community engagement, but

from there!”

as independent retailer Will McCrae explains: “They don’t

The duo leased an old

always ‘walk the walk’.”

building in the centre of Seaton in Devon that used to

However, in their first foray into

be a bank. It took them five

independent retailing, Will and

weeks to transform it from an

business partner Mike Searle

empty shell to a fully-fledged

set out to create a store that

convenience store. that Will and Mike managed to

would excel at both – and it seems like local shoppers are

“Londis’ offer made it the

kit the whole store out for less

totally in-step with their vision.

obvious choice for a symbol

than £70,000, before opening

partner – a choice which was

Londis Seaton on 11 June

After more than 15 years of

reinforced as soon as we met

2023.

working in “the process driven

our Londis RDM Suzanne

world” of company-owned

Young, who has been a rock

“There’s a fair bit of local

convenience – where he “no

since day one and totally

competition in Seaton,

longer felt able to instigate

supported our vision,” says

including company-owned

real meaningful change,” Will

Will.

stores, unaffiliated retailers and a large Aldi, so we knew that

jumped at Mike’s idea to set up “Mike and I didn’t have a huge

our offer needed to be totally

budget to open up, so we did

different to stand out from the

“Mike and I had both been

a lot ourselves with the help of

crowd,” Will explains.

working for the same company

local tradesmen and sourced

for a number of years and he

much of the equipment

“Seaton is a small seaside town

called me one day in late 2022

second-hand. We spent weeks

with a population of around

and said, ‘How do you fancy

driving up and down the

7,500, which is growing thanks

running a shop ourselves?’

country collecting chillers and

to a number of new housing

racking.”

developments and further

on their own.

investment on the cards.”

“It just felt like the right thing to do and the right time to do

This hands-on approach meant

“A lot of our local elderly

positive prospects, Will

shoppers like to visit the store

says it was lacking a “true”

and do their own shopping

convenience offer when they

but they struggle to carry it all

first took the 1,100sq ft site on.

back home. As a result, we’ve launched free home deliveries

Many of Seaton’s unaffiliated

for all shoppers who spend more

stores were still offering limited

than £25 in store.

RETAILER PROFILE

However, despite the town’s

opening hours, with some not opening at all on Sundays, while

“It’s already become such a

the town’s company-owned

valued service and we now have

stores and discount formats

dozens of customers who come

were falling short on community

to us once or twice a week, do a

engagement and customer

big shop and then go and have

service.

a coffee or walk around the town knowing that we’ll bring it all to

“To us there was a clear gap

their door later that day.

in the market for a store which could offer Seaton’s shoppers

“Proper old-fashioned customer

fantastic customer service

service is so valued by shoppers

and a traditional approach to

these days. There’s a lot of

retail that was also supported

competition in the area but

by modern processes and

just a matter of weeks after

streamlined ways of working,”

opening from a standing start

Will says.

we were turning over more than £20,000 a week – way above our

In just a matter of months

projections, so clearly the offer is

Londis Seaton is already

resonating.”

making a world of difference to the local community with an

The store also supports the

inspiring package of support

local care home in a number of

and numerous helpful initiatives

ways and even created special

already underway.

snack boxes for its elderly residents during the recent

“We’ve had a fundraising drive

Seaton Carnival. Each snack box

for the local Gateway Theatre

contained an apple pie along

and we donate food that’s

with other tasty refreshments for

approaching the end of its shelf

the residents to enjoy while they

life to the Seaton Foodshare

watched the festivities.

scheme,” Will says.

“We’re also planning to work “We’ve also taken great care

more closely with the local

to engage with local shoppers

school, and we employ a local

to find out exactly how we can

boy with special needs who

serve them better. Off the back

enjoys coming in once a week

of that, we’ve launched a free

to help us face up – an activity

‘shop and drop’ home delivery

which he finds very therapeutic,”

service for local people.

adds Will.

19

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1

2

3

n o t a e S

Nothing beats talking to your local shoppers about what range and services they want. You might be surprised what you hear!

Community support can take so many different forms and all are incredibly valuable.

Local products can really help to set you apart.

“To me, these are the things that being

improve. Nothing beats talking to your

a true community retailer is all about.

shoppers though and fortunately, as I’m primarily based behind the till at the

“I really feel like we’re already making a

moment, I have plenty of time to do that

really big difference here. In just a matter

too,” Will says.

of weeks we’ve built up a really strong

STORE INFO Store name: Londis Seaton, Devon Retailers: Will McCrae and Mike Searle

regular trade, really strong customer

“What we’re doing is not rocket science,

base and a lot of trust and respect.”

it’s just traditional service combined with a streamlined back end and so far, the

A new online delivery service powered

formula is working.”

by Just Eat for the town’s more techsavvy shoppers is also set to be

The store’s strong community focus is

introduced shortly, while the store’s

also reflected in its range, with a strong

opening hours of between 7am and

focus on locally sourced and produced

10pm mean that local shoppers can rely

products to help set it even further apart

Staff: 7

on it day or night.

from its nearby discount competitors.

Key categories: Fresh, chilled, BWS

“Mike and I are also quite data driven

“We sell ales from Branscome Brewery

and we spend large amounts of time

and meats from the local butcher.

monitoring sales performance to

Shoppers love the fact they can now

see which areas of the business are

buy quality local meats from us right up

performing strongly and where we can

until 10pm and even on Sundays when

Size: 1,100sq ft

Opening hours: 7am-10pm

21

The store has also become well

Turnovers are available all day long,

explains.

known for its strong bake-off and hot

supplemented by breakfast and lunch

food-to-go offer, with Will arriving at

menus that include bacon and sausage

The store also sells water from the

the store at 5.30am every morning to

baps in the morning, and pasties and

village of Beer just a few miles away.

fire up the ovens.

steak slices at lunch.”

Around 25% of the store’s space has

“Our in-store bakery offer from

Food to go is also complemented by

been allocated to fresh and chilled

Country Choice has been a huge

a Lavazza coffee offer plus milkshakes

products, which between them

success and we now have a really

from Thick Fresh Shakes and local

account for 40% of sales.

strong early morning and lunchtime

slush, which Will says “performed

trade,” Will explains.

exceptionally well” over the warm summer months.

“Jack’s-branded products are performing strongly across the store

“Consistency has been the key to

and particularly in fresh and chilled

its success and we’ve strived to

Other highlights of the store’s

where the ready meals are proving

create exactly the right range for

unique range include toys – thanks

to be a big hit with local shoppers,”

local people who know that they

to Will’s son Archie.

Will adds.

can always rely on us to have the

“Jack’s snack products such as crisps

RETAILER PROFILE

the butcher shop is closed,” Will

products that they want ready when

“He’s only nine but already Archie

they want them,” he says.

has a really strong interest in retail,” Will explains. “I’ve given him his

and nuts also do very well and takeup of the great value ‘two for’ deals

“Bestselling lines such as Sausage

own half-metre bay and he has his

is very strong.”

Rolls and Bacon & Cheese

own log-in details for a toy supplier.

I’ve given him a little bit of money to pick his own range and he orders the stock himself, merchandises it, prices it and works out his margins. He absolutely loves it and I’m so proud to see his love for retail developing!

In his first two weeks he made £32 so he was incredibly chuffed. He’s even done a presentation at school about it.

“Local shoppers know that it’s Archie’s range and they also love the idea.”

For Will, Mike – and no doubt Archie too – the coming few weeks will all be about gearing up for Christmas.

“It will be the first Christmas we’ve had at Londis Seaton and we’ve got really high hopes,” Will adds. “We’ve got lots more community initiatives lined up and it will be wonderful to be at the heart of festivities.”

23

RETAILER PROFILE

Aim high

From papers to

profits Dave Peacock has transformed the small run-down store where he once worked as a paperboy into a thriving business.

Dave Peacock’s relationship with retail –

managed to transform the store – now

and the small Romsey convenience store

known as Londis Mercer Way – from an

that he would one day own – began early,

empty shell turning over £5,000 a week

when he started working there as a paper

to a business that’s averaging £60,000

boy many moons ago.

a week and employing 20 local people.

Not bad for just 800sq ft!

In his teens, he progressed to working in the store part time, before eventually

So, how’s he done it?

leaving to join the Co-op and then Availability,

pursuing a career in IT.

he

says,

was

the

first

battleground, with Dave having initially “Years passed and because I still lived

invested “a huge sum” to re-stock its

locally, I could see that the old store was

depleted shelves.

going downhill which was really sad to “It wasn’t long before shoppers started

see,” Dave explains.

to trickle back into the store and, over “The previous owner was not investing in

the years, we’ve worked exceptionally

the business and in 2011 it was eventually

hard to maintain a reputation as a store

put up for sale.

that is consistently strong on availability.

Shoppers have to know that they can rely

“It just felt right for me to take it on and

on you,” he says.

try to bring the store back to life.”

In Resurrecting

the

old

business

has

2020,

during

lockdown,

Dave

the

first

national

joined

Londis.

been no easy feat but thanks to Dave’s

“Shoppers were asking me for a much

diligence, drive and determination, he’s

broader range, including more fresh and

RETAILER PROFILE chilled products, and I needed a partner that I could rely on to deliver that,” he explains.

“I’ve certainly not been disappointed.

Londis’ chilled range is fantastic and has helped me attract a whole new audience and meet a much wider range of needs.

“Price is also key and again Londis delivers here, with a great range of deals and everyday low prices on key brands and products, plus the fantastic Jack’s and Euroshopper own brands.”

Food to go has been another key area of development, with Londis Mercer Way now offering a bake-off offer from Country Choice – supported by a quality range of sandwiches and rolls made fresh in the in-store kitchen each day.

“I have a dedicated 150sq ft bakery kitchen above the store from where we make a fantastic range of homemade sandwiches, rolls and baguettes that give

25

UP K C O ST TODAY 8

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87

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00

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us a very strong point of difference,” Dave says.

The years have also seen Dave bring back key services including the National Lottery and PayPoint.

The introduction of a thriving home delivery service back in 2021 has also been a “gamechanger,” as Dave explains.

“Home delivery started to take off during the pandemic and in early 2021 I joined Snappy Shopper.

“The service has grown exponentially since then and I now have three fully branded delivery vehicles making 60 deliveries a day on average.”

Home delivery now accounts for £10,000 a week in sales, a figure that’s growing week on week.

“Overall, the store now takes an average of £60,000 a week and I employ 20 members of staff,” says Dave. “It’s a big team, especially for a store of just 800sq ft, but we are so incredibly busy that it’s necessary to ensure the sky-high standards that I want for our shoppers.

“Stocking and facing up is a near constant process!

“Londis Mercer Way is small but local shoppers can pretty much fulfil all their daily needs here. “We’re surrounded by houses but there’s a main road behind the shop and a large industrial estate up the road, so we get a really large cross section of shoppers from the young to the elderly and our average basket spend is now £10.”

The store’s biggest-selling categories are BWS and chilled foods, which each

27

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Top tips!

1

Never lose sight of availability. Local people need to know they can rely on you.

2

A home delivery service can add a new and very profitable dimension to your business.

3

A quality range of homemade sandwiches and rolls can help to set you apart.

sey m o R

STORE INFO Store name: Londis Mercer Way, Romsey Retailer: Dave Peacock Size: 800sq ft Store type: Neighbourhood Staff: 20 Key categories: BWS, chilled, soft drinks, vape Opening hours: 6am-10pm

account for 10% of sales, closely followed

“I’m also focusing on making the store

by disposable vapes, soft drinks and

more energy efficient and we have just

confectionery.

had 38 solar panels fitted to the roof which should help me to save around

“I’m currently quite restricted by space

£15,000 a year.

but I’m in the process of trying to buy the freehold, at which point I hope to expand

“I’m so thrilled with what we’ve done to

the store by around 400sq ft and grow

this business. To have taken this store

the fresh, chilled and BWS categories

from where it was, to where it is now, gives

further,” Dave adds.

me a huge sense of pride and there’s still so much more we hope to do.”

29

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RETAILER PROFILE

Meeting local needs

The magic

formula

Raja and Lakshmi have transformed the fortunes of Londis Hessle Road with their savvy formula for success.

Venkatesh Raja (Raja) is something of

basically to put it all right,” he explains.

a retail alchemist, with a special skill for transforming sluggish stores into turnover

Having done just that at their first

triumphs.

independent store in Colchester, Raja and Lakshmi came across the Hull site in

With the help of his wife Lakshmi, who

November 2021.

oversees the day-to-day running of the business, Raja has more than doubled

“The store stood out to us immediately,”

the turnover of his second independent

Raja explains. “It was being run as a Nisa

store – a 1,700sq ft Londis on the busy

at the time and the owner was selling up

Hessle Road in Hull.

to embark on a totally different venture.

It was only turning over £10,000 a week

He tells Londis News about their formula

when we took it on but it was abundantly

for success.

clear that we could grow it significantly with a few key changes to its range and

“Our strategy is to buy a store that’s not

proposition.”

performing at its best, that maybe hasn’t been invested in or is selling the wrong

In April 2023 the store joined the Londis

range for its customer base, and then

symbol group, a feat that enabled Raja

RETAILER PROFILE and Lakshmi to achieve the first of their key aims: endowing it with a powerful value for money proposition, including a heightened focus on everyday low prices and special offers.

PMPs were also increased and a new multibuy strategy introduced across key categories, such as confectionery, snacks, soft drinks and vape.

“The

value

of

PMPs

cannot

be

overstated,” Raja says. “Shoppers love a Store manager Pavan Kumar Boddu

pricemark. I may make less on each pack price but I’ll sell far more of them.

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le Hess

“Multibuys are also incredibly powerful.

“There’s a specialist frozen foods retailer

The old store hardly sold any vape, so

less than 100 metres away but I knew that

I introduced a new vape zone that was

it was still important to offer shoppers

supported with a very strong multibuy

frozen choice so I brought in a new six-

proposition including ‘3 for £12’ on

door freezer,” Raja explains.

disposables, and we have now become “Sales immediately took off and have

STORE INFO

famous for vape in the local area.”

Store name: Londis Hessle Road, Hull

Joining Londis also allowed Raja and

with shoppers delighted that they can

Lakshmi to refocus the range and

now buy a much wider range all under

better meet local needs, including the

one roof.”

Retailer: Venkatesh Raja and wife Lakshmi Size: 1,700sq ft

been growing week on week since then,

introduction of a more comprehensive fresh and chilled offer, supported by the

The removal of an old internal wall also

Jack’s brand. “Shoppers have responded

allowed for the creation of a bright new

very

BWS zone in a previously unused part of

positively

to

Jack’s,

especially

Staff: 7

the chilled ready meals which offer

Store type: Neighbourhood

complement our overall value focus,”

“That part of the store used to be a

Opening hours: 4.30am11pm

Raja explains.

staff kitchen so we also invested in eye-

A mini refit of the store carried out over

drinks chillers to draw shoppers over,”

Key categories: BWS, Soft drinks, confectionery, fresh and chilled

the summer of 2023 also allowed Raja

Raja says.

the store.

fantastic value for money and perfectly

catching blue sky light panels above the

and Lakshmi to introduce a new frozen offer – which the old store had never had.

A new Country Choice bake-off offer, including freshly baked pastries, plus

35

Costa Coffee, was also introduced and Raja and Lakshmi extended the store’s opening

hours

from

6am-10pm

to

4.30am-11pm.

Post Office opening hours were also extended.

“There’s a large industrial estate close to the store, so by opening at the earlier time of 4.30am and providing a hot food and drinks to go, we’ve been able to harness that early morning trade. Shift workers can now rely on us for their hot drinks, freshly baked croissants, and vape and tobacco first thing in the morning,” Raja adds.

New

American

drinks-to-go

Top tips!

1

lines,

including Reese’s and Hershey’s Freeze,

PMPs can really help to drive home your value for money message.

Smarties, and Kinder Bueno chunks; they look and taste absolutely delicious.

We charge £2.50 per brownie which is a great value price point for shoppers and still allows us to make a strong margin.

Shoppers love the new brownie offer and the zone makes well over £400 a week, with plenty of room to grow.

plus Jolly Rancher Slush, were also added Confectionery and soft drinks – two of the

– much to the delight of the store’s younger shopper demographic.

“We also introduced a new ‘Dessert

2

Zone’ including cakes, milkshakes and bubble tea. The cakes have been one of the biggest successes. We noted early on that cake products, especially things like brownie multipacks, were selling

Multi-buys can be a particularly effective promotional strategy, especially across vape, snacks and confectionery.

store’s strongest-performing categories – have also been bolstered with new American lines and an upweighted value focus, including multibuy deals to drive impulse purchases.

“All in all, the transformation to date has been a great success” Raja adds.

strongly so we thought we might have an

“In a relatively short space of time, we

opportunity to offer a new range of more

have managed to more than double

indulgent options,” says Raja.

“We buy the brownies from Booker and then we add value by topping them ourselves with additional sauces and sprinkles that we also buy through Booker.

Toppings include things like Oreo pieces,

3

Think about adding value to your in-store cake or bakery offers with additional sauces and toppings.

turnover from £10,000 a week to £21,000 and there’s still plenty of room to grow.

We couldn’t have done it without our excellent in-store team though. Their hard work has made all the difference.

This store has the potential to hit £30,000 and together we’ll get there!”

37

RETAILER PROFILE

Biting the bullet

Change for the better

Londis Nesscliffe is fit for the future thanks to a very bold store development programme.

been built, which has brought in new

used to describe bracing oneself

families.

RETAILER PROFILE

Biting the bullet: a phrase commonly ahead of a challenging act.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has also Londis retailer Mark Dransfield says

prompted a shift in buying habits.

he and his family “bit the bullet”

There’s been a significant rise in the

when they embarked on an ambitious

number of people wanting to shop

redevelopment of their 41-year-old

locally and prior to the development,

store – but boy, have the results been

lots of shoppers were asking us for a

worth it.

much broader range of products.

Set in the Shropshire village of

“We knew we had a clear opportunity

Nesscliffe, the store was established

to transform the business and

services including food and drink to

by Mark’s parents Pauline and Mike

futureproof it for years to come,”

go,” Mark adds.

back in 1982.

Mark explains.

Mark’s sister Amy and his wife Cara

“We could have just done a simple

throughout the year-long build

now also work in the store, which up

refit but we decided to bite the bullet

process, closing for just three days

until April 2022 was just 750sq ft in

and go much further by also investing

while the shop fit and merchandising

size.

in a significant extension,” he adds.

was carried out right at the end.

“The redevelopment really needed to

Knocking through and converting a

The store reopened over Easter 2023,

happen,” Mark explains. “We hadn’t

large vacant garage workshop on the

much to the delight of local shoppers,

implemented any major changes in at

other side of the store allowed the

who “couldn’t wait” to see the

least 20 years and the old store had

family to more than double the shop-

change and begin filling their baskets.

gone as far as it could go.

floor’s size to 1,800sq ft.

“Our shopper demographic has

“Merging the two spaces allowed

to the store’s alcohol offer. “Prior

changed considerably in recent years.

us to create a large new store that

to the development we didn’t sell

When I was a boy, this was a small

could offer local shoppers the

any chilled wine and only had a very

farming community but in the last

comprehensive range they were

limited range of beers. We now have

decade a lot of new houses have

now looking for, plus an array of new

2.5 metres for chilled wine, plus 2.5

The family continued to trade

One of the biggest changes has been

metres for chilled beers and ciders,” Mark says.

The store has also more than doubled its chilled food offer to five metres, while soft drinks are now housed within a brand-new six-door chiller.

A new food and drinks to go offer has also been introduced.

The ‘Good Taste Food Company’ zone includes a Costa Coffee machine, Tango Ice Blast, Rollover Hot Dogs, Chicago Town pizza slices and a Bake & Bite offer.

39

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“We were a bit apprehensive about

onwards we get lots of basket

the zone initially as we’d never

shoppers and from 3pm onwards

offered anything like that before,

we get the post-school crowds

but Londis assured us that food

after snacks and slush. In the

and drinks to go were a space we

evenings we are now buzzing

needed to be playing in,” says

with shoppers popping in for

Mark. “We followed their guidance

convenient dinner solutions and

and it’s certainly paid off.

chilled bottles of wine.”

“The Tango Ice Blast was a

The additional chilled space has

phenomenal success over the

also allowed Londis Nesscliffe to

summer season and coffee sales

introduce a new range of locally

are building steadily as we head

sourced meats which perfectly

through autumn.”

complement its Jack’s lines.

The store now caters to a broad

“This is a farming community at

mix of missions, as Mark explains.

heart and local shoppers do like to

“We’re now busy throughout the

support local producers. Thanks to

day and especially first thing in

the new chilled space we have now

the morning when we get the

brought in local meats from ‘The

commuter trade and shoppers

Meat Man’ and some premium

wanting to fuel up on hot drinks

sausages from a local producer

and breakfasts to go. From 10am

called Lawrence’s of Leamore.”

Top tips!

1

We drive additional sales with recipe suggestions both instore and online.

2

We’ve expanded our frozen range to take advantage of heightened demand, especially for ice creams and frozen desserts.

3

Local products can perfectly complement branded lines.

Turnover has risen 70% since the store redevelopment

Local products are heavily promoted instore and online with mouthwatering recipe suggestions. Posts on

Facebook entice shoppers to treat themselves to “a cheeky Chinese” by pairing locally produced ‘Chinese Belly Pork Slices’ with branded noodles and Jack’s peppers.

The store’s range also includes an array of locally baked breads and cakes from Henllan Bakery, plus a range of locally made sandwiches.

“We’ve also expanded our frozen offer from two double-door freezers to three,” Mark adds.

41

STOCK UP NOW

© 2013 - 2023 Costa Limited. All rights reserved. COSTA, COSTA COFFEE and the 3 Bean Logo are registered trade marks of Costa Limited.

RETAILER PROFILE “Frozen was an area that we were

“Vape sales are also in double

already doing quite well on so I

digit growth thanks to the new

was keen to grow it further. We

dedicated vape unit we now have.

now have a much broader range

Previously we just had five lines on

of meal solutions but also frozen

the counter,” says Mark.

desserts and ice creams which are becoming increasingly popular.

All in all, total store sales are up

Take-up of the Londis frozen meal

70% on where they were prior to

deal is very high.

the redevelopment and the store

fe ff i l c s Nes

has taken on three new members “The new store has been so well

of staff to help meet demand,

received by the community. We’ve

with a further two currently being

always played a really active role

recruited.

in the community and have close links with the village hall and local

“We are seeing lots of new faces

school. It’s wonderful that we

but we are also seeing much

can now offer local people this

bigger baskets,” Mark explains.

fabulous new range of products

Shoppers can get 90% of their

and services too.”

daily needs from us now. They don’t need to drive to a larger

STORE INFO Store name: Nesscliffe Service Station, Nesscliffe Retailers: Mark, Cara, Amy, Pauline and Mike Dransfield Size: 1,800sq ft Store type: Forecourt

Sales have soared since the store

store five miles away any more so

reopened, driven by soft drinks

naturally they are delighted, as are

which have increased by 95%, fresh

we.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-8pm, Sat-Sun 6am-7pm

90%, alcohol which is up 60% and

“We’re all so proud of what we’ve

Staff: 3 plus family members

frozen, sales of which have risen by

achieved here. We knew we had to

45%.

bite the bullet and go in hard but

and chilled foods which are up

it’s certainly been worthwhile.”

Key categories: Fresh and chilled, soft drinks, alcohol, frozen, vape

43

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SEASONAL OPPORTUNITY

Unwrap sweeter sales

Sweet opportunities Confectionery is one of the festive season’s leading lights and this year Londis has a line-up sure to help sales shine even more brightly.

GROUP EXCLUSIVES!

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Shopper budgets might be tight, but Christmas 2023 is still promising to provide a Santa sack-worth of opportunities for retailers to unwrap additional footfall, sales and profits.

Viewed as an affordable indulgence by many shoppers, confectionery is a star

Promo WSP: £12.75 Deal: Any 2 for £3 RSP: £1.99 POR: 35.9%

performer throughout the year but when the festive season hits, it takes centre stage.

The confectionery category performed strongly over last year’s festive period, with sales worth more than £2bn racked

BOUNTY CENTREPIECE Pack size: 6x350g

up over Christmas 2022, according to IRI Unify data.

This was up 5.2% year-on-year, with shoppers continuing to turn to chocolate

Promo WSP: £19.95 RSP: £5 POR: 20.2%

and sweets to share and gift with friends and family – and to treat themselves.

In fact, 97% of UK households purchased confectionery in the run up to Christmas 2022, spending an average of £55 per person over the season, according to

Chocolate treats traditionally dominate confectionery sales

Londis retailers can help their shoppers go large with giant tube formats of their favourite sweets, including Aero Peppermint, Milkybar, Fruit Pastilles and Smarties.

in the run up to Christmas Day, with chocolate confectionery sales worth more than £1.65bn over Christmas 2022 – up 4.8% on

Each case has a WSP of £12.49 with an RSP of

the previous year (IRI Unify).

£1.49, and all four offer PORs of more than 32.9%.

All four giant tubes are also available on an enticing ‘Any 2 for £2.50’ deal.

Kantar Worldpanel data for the 12 weeks

Retailers keen to build on 2022’s festive

to 25 December.

successes will certainly have plenty of

CHRISTMAS CONFECTIONERY

Terrific tubes

opportunities to do so, thanks to an These figures clearly highlight the sweet

especially tasty Christmas confectionery

opportunity that retailers have to drive

offer from Londis.

Countdown to Christmas

sales in the lead up to the big day, especially when it comes to categories

Pocket-friendly novelty items are sure

such as sharing and gifting formats,

to score with shoppers and drive key

and seasonal novelty items including

impulse purchases over the coming

Novelty items such as Advent

figurines, calendars and selection packs.

weeks.

Calendars offer a great

Chocolate treats traditionally dominate

This year’s festive line-up includes great

drive seasonal excitement

confectionery sales in the run up

deals on products such as Cadbury

in-store and Londis offers a

to Christmas Day, with chocolate

Puds, Dairy Milk Snowman and Kit Kat

winning selection.

confectionery sales worth more than

Santas – all of which are available on an ‘Any 3 for £1.50’ deal.

This season Londis retailers

£1.65bn over Christmas 2022 – up 4.8% on the previous year.

Bestselling Maltesers Reindeer singles And despite chocolate’s overall

are also available in an on-trend mint

dominance, sugar confectionery should

variant in 32x29g packs for an WSP of

certainly not be overlooked.

£10.25. Sold for an RSP of 0.69p these festive favourites offer retailers a POR of

The sugar confectionery category

44.3%. Both variants are also available

was worth more than £400m over

on a ‘Buy 3 for £1.50’ deal.

Christmas 2022 and actually grew faster than chocolate, up 6.8% year-on-year

Shoppers after a taste of the US this

according to IRI Unify.

festive season can also pick up individual packs of Reese’s Peanut Butter Trees

Given those facts, it’s abundantly clear

for just £1.49, offering a POR of 34.6%.

that Christmas confectionery is one

Packs are also available on a ‘2 for £2.50’

category that’s well worth spending your

deal. A cheery range of sharing and

time focusing on.

gifting products is also on offer in the

Countdown to Christmas

opportunity for retailers to

will be able to offer families two Cadbury Dairy Milk advent calendars for just £5. Retailers will be able to buy the calendars in 12x90g packs for a promotional WSP of £20, offering them a POR of 33.1% if sold individually for £2.99 or 20% if sold on an ‘Any 2 for £5’ deal.

Other calendars on offer include a Maltesers Reindeer advent calendar for an RSP of £3 and POR of 25%, and a Kinder Bueno with an RSP of £5.50 and POR of 20.2%

47

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run up to Christmas, including Cadbury

And of course, Christmas confectionery

l Christmas confectionery

Mini Snowballs sharing bags which are

doesn’t just offer retailers the chance to

was worth over £2bn in

on offer at just £1.99 or ‘Any 2 for £3,’

make merrier sales and profits.

2022.

offering a POR of 25%.

With their bright, joyful packaging

l This was up 5.2% yearon-year, with shoppers

Shoppers can also stock up on sharing

Christmas products also lend themselves

continuing to turn to

tubs of Cadbury Roses, Heros and

perfectly to the creation of eye-catching

chocolate and sweets

Mars Celebrations, all of which will be

in-store theatre that will help to spread

supported by a special ‘Any 2 for £11’

even further festive cheer.

to share and gift with friends and family – and to treat themselves (IRI Unify data). l In fact, 97% of UK households purchased confectionery in the run up to Christmas, spending an average of £55 per person over the season (Kantar Worldpanel 12 weeks 25 December).

offer.

Londis retailers also have access to a The sharing and gifting line-up also

bumper pack of uplifting seasonal POS

includes some great Group Exclusives,

to help their displays shine

such as 200g packs of Malteser Mint

even brighter

Truffles, which will be on promotion for

and drive further

just £4.50 – offering retailers a POR of

impulse sales.

CHRISTMAS CONFECTIONERY

CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED

25.1%.

With well under Other exciting Group Exclusives

than 100 days to

include Irish Cream Lindor Balls from

go before the main

the Lindt brand. With an RSP of £4.75,

event, the countdown

each indulgent 200g cornet also offers

is now well and truly

retailers a tasty POR of 25%.

on!

Sugar sugar Sugar confectionery was worth more than £400m over Christmas 2022 and Londis is offering a range of fantastic deals on key sugar confectionery lines to help retailers make even sweeter sales.

PRODUCT

PACK SIZE

PROMO WSP

SHOPPER DEAL

PROMO RSP

POR

Maynards Bassetts Frosted Wine Gums

12x130g

£8.75

Any 2 for £2.50

£1.49

41.3%

Maynards Bassetts Jelly Babies Snowmen

12x130g

£8.75

Any 2 for £2.50

£1.49

41.3%

Rowntrees Randoms Festive

9x130g

£7.50

Any 2 for £2.50

£1.49

32.9%

Haribo Giant Trees

16x160g

£12.49

Any 2 for £2.50

£1.49

37.1%

Haribo Puck Penguin

12x160g

£9.35

Any 2 for £2.50

£1.49

37.2%

PRODUCT

CASE SIZE

PROMO WSP

PROMO RSP

POR

Quality Street Carton

6x220g

£10.50

£4.49

53.2%

Toblerone Truffles

8x180g

£25.25

£4.75

20.3%

Cadbury Roses Large Carton

6x290g

£14.00

£3.50

20.0%

Thorntons Pearls Brownie Deluxe

4x167g

£10.65

£4.00

20.1%

Lindt Swiss Luxury Selection

6x193g

£29.95

£7.99

25%

Ferrero Collection

6x172g

£21.85

£5.49

20.4%

Golden gifting formats

49

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JACK'S UPDATE

Perfect fit

Back Jack’s for festive sales The outstanding Jack’s own-brand range continues to expand with more new products and promotional mechanics to help you grow footfall, sales and profits this festive period.

After a long and often challenging year for shoppers with the cost of living remaining front of mind throughout, the prospect of the festive season should help lift the spirits and, hopefully, loosen the purse strings.

While that might mean that many shoppers may trade up on premium or luxury items like bottles of spirits or cases of beer, the strong likelihood is that they will still very much be on the search for value when it comes to everyday purchases – and that’s precisely where the increasingly comprehensive Jack’s own-brand range comes into its own.

The Jack’s range is now firmly established in Londis stores with both retailers and shoppers, who recognise that critical blend of quality and value.

“The Jack’s brand is a perfect fit in our store and the

The Jack’s brand is a perfect fit in our store and the ideal complement to some of our locally produced products.

Shoppers are buying across the Jack’s range in increasing volumes and we are seeing particular successes in the crisps, snacks, grocery and fresh and chilled categories. The price points are fantastic and the products stand out really well on shelf.

ideal complement to some of our locally produced products,” says Mark Dransfield of Londis Nesscliffe.

“Shoppers are buying across the Jack’s range in increasing volumes.”

Mark Dransfield Londis Nesscliffe

51

PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

10X330ML CAN M240916 12X660ML BOTTLE M234339 4X330ML BOTTLE M135232 12X330ML BOTTLE M259455

JACK’S UPDATE

COOKIE CASH

the great British Christmas and the new Jack’s Mince Pies deliver a

With trust in the brand now well

delicious, high-quality option and

established, the opportunity exists

the fantastic value that Jack’s has

for retailers to leverage the power

become famous for.

of Jack’s to grow footfall, sales and profits in the run up to the critically

Suitable for vegetarians, the Jack’s

important festive sales period.

Mince Pies are available in boxes of six and feature a delicious sugar-

To help them do just that, Booker

dusted shortcrust pastry case filled

has continued to expand the Jack’s

with juicy mincemeat.

range and deliver sales-driving promotional mechanics to ensure

RANGE FINDER

retailers squeeze every penny of profit out of the brand.

Also launched in time for Christmas is Jack’s Grated Mozzarella - perfect

Among

the

developments

most is

a

recent

for stirring into sauces or topping

packaging

canapés. The Grated Mozzarella is

refresh of four key cake and cookie

price marked at £2.49 and is part

products. Jack’s Rainbow Cookies,

of the ‘2 for £4’ range, making it a

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies,

great value option for shoppers this

Chocolatey Cornflake Cakes and

Christmas. The pre-grated cheese

Chocolatey Crispy Cakes are all

couldn’t be easier to use and

now price marked at just 79p and

delivers a POR of 35.8%.

The Jack’s products are fantastic quality and having the 30% margin on them guaranteed is brilliant. The ready meals get particularly good feedback from our shoppers. Many of our shoppers tell us that they taste as good as the ready meals from one well-known premium retailer but for a fraction of the price. Jack’s snack products such as crisps and nuts also do very well and take up of the ‘two for’ deals is very strong.

included in Jack’s popular ‘2 for’ promotional

allowing

Jack’s great-value frozen line up

shoppers to mix and match across

mechanic,

has also been extended with frozen

the range.

packs of Jack’s Hash Browns and

Will McCrea Londis Seaton, Devon

Jack’s Garden Peas.

Created

specifically

to

offer

shoppers great value options in

As the perfect partners to a variety

popular formats and flavours, the

of different meals, Jack’s Hash

four products will help to grow

Browns can also help to boost

basket spend and drive impulse

basket spend.

sales,

particularly

around

the

important lunchtime occasion. All

Price marked at just £1.89, they also

four products also deliver PORs of

deliver a POR of 30.2% for retailers.

33%.

Last but not least are frozen packs

FESTIVE FAVOURITE

Social media offers a fantastically effective way of communicating new Jack’s lines to shoppers and driving trial and repeat purchase. You can use key social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to highlight Jack’s promotions and flag up new products.

of Jack’s Garden Peas which join the already four-strong range of

Christmas wouldn’t be complete,

canned peas available from the

of course, without a mince pie and

Jack’s brand.

fortunately Jack’s Mince Pies have recently been made available for

A huge British favourite, the Garden

the very first time.

Peas are price marked at £1 and deliver a POR of 35.1% for Londis

Mince pies are a classic staple of

Get social!

Booker offers a professional suite of social media assets that you can easily use to showcase your Jack’s range, helping you to create engaging posts in just a few simple clicks. The new Jack’s lines lend themselves well to social media and are sure to help drive footfall, sales and profits in store.

retailers.

53

CATEGORY CATCH-UP

Say Cheers!

Get into the spirit!

Christmas is coming and Londis’ festive drinks range is guaranteed to help retailers get the party started.

Bringing friends and family together

Including show-stopping deals and

and spreading joy up and down the

Group Exclusive products, this year’s mix

country, Christmas is, for many, the most

is sure to help retailers uncork additional

important retail event of the year – and

sales and profits.

treasured by retailers and shoppers alike.

With many shoppers expected to trade After a year of big-ticket celebrations,

up as they seek to treat themselves

including the King’s Coronation, the

and others, the Londis range includes

Women’s World Cup and other key

a fantastic selection of top-quality

sporting events, the nation is well-used

premium lines, including sparkling

to donning its glad rags – and as we

options, premium spirits, RTDs and

approach the end of 2023, shoppers are

beers.

once again getting into the celebratory spirit as they start to stock up for the

Sales of sparkling wines including

Santa season.

champagne and prosecco traditionally bubble up over the festive season and

WHISKY IS THE NUMBER ONE ALCOHOL CATEGORY FOR GIFTING BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER, ACCORDING TO THE MMR SPIRIT GIFTING TRACKER FOR DEC 2022.

Traditionally one of the biggest-selling

this year Londis has a fabulous range to

categories over the Christmas period,

help shoppers add some sparkle to their

alcoholic drinks looks set to once again

celebrations.

play a starring role in shoppers’ baskets over the coming weeks as the party

Tapping into the trend towards locally

season gets underway.

produced products, the line-up includes a number of English brands, including

Helping shoppers to meet their festive

Balfour English Sparkling Rosé and

drink demands is Londis, which is

Chapel Down Brut – the latter of which is

offering an outstanding range of choice

available in cases of 6x75cl for a WSP of

for Christmas 2023.

£104.99 offering a POR of 22.2%.

R WHITE’S PREMIUM LEMONDADE

WIN WITH WHISKY

PEPSI MAX ORIGINAL AND CHERRY

Case size: 8X2L

Case Size: 12x1.5L

WSP: £5.25

WSP: £9.75

RSP: £1.00

RSP: £1.25

POR: 21.3%

POR: 22%

also a number of premium whisky

growing demand for bolder tequila-

brands perfect for gifting, including

and vodka-based drinks paired with

According to Diageo, whisky is the

Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch

ingredients such as jalapeños and

number one category for gifting

Whisky and Monkey Shoulder.

tabasco.

enjoyed 30% share of ‘spirits bought as

Londis retailers can buy cases of 6x70cl

As such, Daiquiris, Margaritas and

a gift’ last year, according to the MMR

bottles of Monkey Shoulder for £123.89,

Bloody Marys are currently ranked as

Spirit Gifting tracker for Dec 2022.

offering them a POR of 20% if sold at

the cocktails most frequently made

the RSP of £30.

by consumers at home, according to

CHRISTMAS DRINKS

GROUP EXCLUSIVES!

between October and December, having

Bacardi’s 2022 Consumer Survey.

From new flavoured and spiced varieties to innovative ageing and infusing

CREATIVE COCKTAILS Flavoured vodkas play perfectly to the

techniques, the past year has seen a number of exciting new launches

The trend towards at-home mixology has

trend towards sweet and fruity creations

into the whisky category helping it to

continued to soar over the past months

and this festive season Londis retailers

appeal to an increasingly broad range of

as Brits continue to embrace new

can take advantage of a range of deals

shoppers from connoisseurs to novices.

ingredients and the creation of exciting

on key flavoured vodka lines such as

flavour combinations at home.

Absolut Raspberry and Vanilla flavoured vodkas for just £17.99 – down from

To capitalise on the whisky gifting

£23.89.

opportunity, why not try inspiring

In fact, according to the Bacardi Cocktail

shoppers – if licensing restrictions permit

Trends Report 2023, 30% of Brits made

– by cross-merchandising whiskies with

more mixed drinks at home in 2022

Premium spirits are another must stock

high-quality confectionery, snacks or

than they did in 2020. This trend is only

in the run up to and during the festive

mixers?

expected to gather even more pace in

season as shoppers seek out products

the lead up to the 2023 festive season as

that lend themselves to gifting or

Londis retailers will also be able to offer

shoppers look to treat friends, families

celebrating.

their shoppers some great deals on a

and themselves with innovative and

number of top-selling brands including

indulgent cocktail creations.

down from £29.99.

New to Londis this festive season are

Last year, super-premium vodkas, including brands like Cîroc, accounted

70cl bottles of Jamesons for just £20.99, Fruity and sweet flavours continue to

for 51% of super-premium spirits

drive demand, while savoury and spicy

sales in impulse between October

flavours are also in growth, leading to

and December, according to Nielsen

55

CHRISTMAS DRINKS

Festive Fizz PRODUCT

Prosecco Spumante Magnum

CASE SIZE

WSP

RSP

POR

6x1.5L

£83.94

£19.99

16%

Balfour English Sparkling

6x75cl

£99.95

£24.99

20%

Chapel Down Brut

6x75cl

£104.99

£26.99

20%

‘A’ by Arras Tasmania Cuvee

6x75cl

£120.00

£36.00

33.3%

Bucks Fizz

6x75cl

£17.49

£4.49

22.1%

Codorniu Vintage Cava

6x75cl

£37.49

£9.99

24.9%

Sensi Prosecco

6x75cl

£62.99

£14.99

16%

Scantrack data. Londis retailers will also

this festive season, from 70cl bottles of

be able to offer their shoppers new Au

classic Malibu for £13.49, to premium

Blue Raspberry Vodka for an RSP of

bottles of Bumbo Rum for £32.49 –

£32.49, offering them a POR of 20%.

offering a POR of 20.3%.

Gin is another category not to be

Flavoured rum fans can also add bottles

overlooked as we head towards the

of Lambs Pineapple Rum and Dead

festive season.

Man’s Fingers Raspberry Rum Cream Liqueur to their baskets. Both products

With more than 11 million shoppers

are new to Londis, and both offer PORs

enjoying gin in the UK, according to

of 20%.

Kantar data, stocking a wide range of premium gins with different flavour

Why not try inspiring shoppers with on-

variants is also key to help retailers plug

shelf cocktail recipe cards and engaging

in to the electric festive opportunity.

posts on social media?

New to Londis this festive season is

IN THE CAN

Gordons Sloe Gin and retailers can also snap up cases of 6x50cl bottles

For shoppers looking to enjoy the

of Edinburgh Mulled Gin for a WSP of

ultimate in cocktail making convenience,

£55.95 and an RSP of £13.99.

ready-to-drink (RTD) formats are also playing an increasingly important role in

As a base for numerous cocktails, rum is

retailers’ alcohol ranges.

another must stock for the festive season and again, Londis offers a stirring range

In fact, in Great Britain’s convenience

57

also traditionally big sellers over the

“already a powerhouse,” worth nearly

Christmas period, with shoppers drinking

£168m in 2022 according to Nielsen

them over ice, mixed into cocktails and

data with sales in double digit growth.

coffees, or drizzled over desserts.

Available in a wide range of innovative

In fact, top-selling cream liqueur brand

flavours and formats, the RTD category

Baileys was bought by one in four

is sure to help drive footfall, sales and

households last Christmas according to

profits for retailers over the coming

Kantar data.

months. Londis’ RTD range includes bestselling cans of Au Vodka Black

This Christmas, Londis retailers will

Grape and Blue Raspberry Soda, as well

be able to buy 70cl bottles of Baileys

as 330ml cans of Jack Daniel’s and Coca-

Original for £12.99, down from £18.39.

Cola, which they can buy in cases of 12x330ml offering a POR of 28.1% when

Why not try to inspire impulse purchases

sold at the RSP of £2.85.

among your shoppers with recipe suggestions such as dashing into hot

Londis shoppers will also be able to take

chocolate, pouring over pancakes,

advantage of an ‘Any 3 for £6’ deal on

topping trifles or even as a dipping

cans of Smirnoff Vodka & Cola, Funkin

sauce for toasted marshmallows?

Passion Fruit Martini, Captain Morgan’s Spiced Gold & Cola and Gordon’s Pink

With all this excitement to come, Londis

Gin & Tonic.

retailers certainly have plenty of reasons to raise a glass or two to this festive

CREAM LIQUEURS

Alcohol-free With nearly half of UK adults switching between alcohol and low and alcohol-free drinks at the same occasion, and 40% of adults saying they want to moderate their drinking according to Kantar Alcovision Data from May 2023, retailers would also do well to stock up on lowto no-alcohol products this festive season.

CHRISTMAS DRINKS

market, the alcoholic RTD category is

Londis also offers a winning selection of low- to noalcohol options from key brands, including the sparkling Nozeco wine brand, which can help them to meet demand.

season.

Offering multiple ways in which to enjoy them, cream-based liqueurs are

Marvelous multipacks Large pack formats of key beer and cider brands are also key over the festive period as shoppers stock up for big social occasions. Londis’ range of great value multipacks includes a number of fantastic deals on key brands including Kronenbourg 1664, Heineken, Peroni, Stella Artois and more.

A number of striking deals on craft ale multipacks are also available, including 8x330ml Brewdog mixed packs for an RSP of just £12, offering a POR of 22.1%.

Pale ale enthusiasts will also be able to bag boxes of 4x330ml Atlantic and Reliance pale ale from the Brixton Brewery for £9.00, offering a POR of 24.5%

59

Top new products Every issue we bring you the latest product launches from your favourite suppliers

HEETS Case size: 10x20s WSP: £45.50 RSP:

£6.00

POR: 9%

RED BULL WINTER EDITION Case size: 12x250ml WSP: £9.75 RSP:

£1.45

RISTORANTE PEPPERONI Case size: 7x330g WSP: £17.85 RSP:

£3.49

POR: 26.9%

POR: 32.8%

TING SPARKLING GRAPEFRUIT Case size: 24x330ml WSP: £9.89 RSP:

£1.15

POR: 57%

60

OLD JAMAICA GINGER BEER Case size: 24x330ml WSP: £9.89 RSP:

£1.15

POR: 57%

TEREA Case size: 10x20s WSP: £45.50 RSP:

£6.00

POR: 9%

MONSTER ENERGY ZERO SUGAR Case size: 12x500ml WSP: £11.95 RSP:

£1.95

MCCAIN SEASON AND BAKE FRIES TAKEAWAY STYLE SALT & PEPPER Case size: 12X762g WSP: £30.59 RSP:

£3.65

POR: 30.2%

POR: 38.7%

MADRI EXCEPCIONAL Case size: 12x330ml WSP: £12.65 RSP:

£16.99

POR: 10.7%

GRENADE OREO WHITE Case size: 12x60g WSP: £16.45 RSP:

£2.99

POR: 45%

61

GIVES YOU WIIINGS. ALSO WITH THE TASTE OF SPICED PEAR.

NEW

Red Bull Energy 250ml PMC £1.45 - M281549 Plain - M968313

NEW Red Bull Winter Edition 250ml PMC £1.45 - M288593 Plain - M288839

MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

Say

‘hello’ to...

Name: Keith Ashworth Title: Booker HGV driver

In this issue we catch up with Booker HGV driver Keith Ashworth who has recently beaten over 240,000 competitors in the UK to win the coveted Driver of the Year title!

KEITH, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF...

Weymouth run and I did that for about six and a half years. I calculated that, in that time, I covered almost half a million

I’m Keith Ashworth and I’m an HGV

miles!

Class 1 driver with Booker. I’m based at the Hatfield Regional Distribution Centre and I’ve been with Booker for more than

SO YOU’RE DELIVERING STOCK TO BOOKER BRANCHES?

27 years. I’ve been an HGV driver since March 1978!

Exactly. I leave Hatfield every morning with a full load and I take it to a Booker

HOW MANY MILES DO YOU COVER IN A YEAR?

branch, then I come back. Then I do it all

At the moment I do around 50,000

WHAT TYPE OF STOCK ARE YOU TRANSPORTING?

miles a year but the total distance

over again.

depends on the runs that I’m on. At the moment I service mainly Eastbourne

Everything. We have tri-temperature

and Gloucestershire. I used to do the

vehicles, so we’re moving frozen, chilled

63

The UK’s #1 * Tampon brand

M284779

M284777

M284792

*Nielsen Value & Volume Sales 52 w/e September 9th 2023.

He had his first job as an HGV driver back in March 1978 before joining Booker in 1996.

MEET THE TEAM

Keith Ashworth is an HGV Class 1 Driver and has been with Booker for more than 27 years.

He proudly says he has “never once been late for work” in all those years and says he “loves his job as much as he always has”.

He is based in the Booker Regional Distribution Centre in Hatfield and typically covers over 50,000 miles every year, delivering to depots in Eastbourne and Gloucestershire. and ambient stock all in the same delivery. The front of the truck, nearest the cabin, is frozen then in the middle we have chilled then at the back we have ambient. It’s very

Earlier his year he was named Driver of the Year, fending off competition from over 240,000 other drivers for the title!

efficient and it means we can provide an excellent service for the branches.

WERE YOU NERVOUS? AND YOU ARE THE BEST HGV DRIVER IN THE UK?

Absolutely! Only category winners could attend the final day and there was only one award being handed out that

Apparently! I was named Overall Driver of the Year this

day: the Overall Driver of the Year Award. We were all

year’s Microlise Driver of the Year Awards, having also won

sitting looking at the trophy wondering if it could be us.

the Long Distance category earlier in the competition.

It was an amazing feeling because winning that award

Everyone that won a category was eligible to win the big

would put you at the top of the pile of more than 240,000

prize. I was lucky enough to come out on top!

drivers. Then they read out my name and I just couldn’t believe it!

HOW ARE THE AWARDS JUDGED? HOW DID YOU FEEL? Microlise, the company that organises the awards, is the company that makes the telematics software that Booker

It was an honour, it truly was. And it reminded me of sitting

uses to track, monitor and analyse the performance of its

in the pub with my dad all those years ago. He had been

vehicles and its drivers. It’s very sophisticated software

a lorry driver and encouraged me to do my Class 1 test. I

and it measures everything: fuel consumption, braking

didn’t think I was up to it but he pushed me, so I went for

patterns, acceleration trends, use of cruise control, you

it. It cost me £370, which was a lot of money at the time,

name it! This data is then analysed to draw up a list of

but it’s the best investment I’ve ever made. I’ve never

500 of the best drivers, according to their telematics data.

been out of a job and I’ve loved every minute of it. I still

Then we moved onto the shortlist stage and then to the

love my job. I’m supported by an amazing team at Booker

finals at The Ricoh Arena in Coventry. I won the Long

and I try to return that support by giving 100% every day. I

Distance category on the night and went forward to the

know so many people rely on me so I’m passionate about

grand final the following day.

making sure I never let them down.

65

SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE

Going for green

Doing the right thing Booker continues to make major strides forward in its sustainability and ethical retailing journey, benefitting Londis retailers along the way and building a better future for us all.

Better Planet set of commitments, Booker has continued to make huge strides forward driving the ethical retailing agenda and helping independent retailers embrace the challenge of making their businesses more sustainable.

Under Better Trolley, Booker has committed to a series of important goals that are already having a significant impact across issues like waste, climate, diet and community. To support those commitments, Booker is also encouraging Londis retailers to work towards improving their own sustainability credentials and has put in place a number

HAVE YOUR SAY… The Fairtrade Premium has enabled us to do many things, especially for women. It has enabled us to advance our children and we also use the Fairtrade Premium to build for the future.

SUSTAINABILITY

Since the launch of its groundbreaking Better Trolley for a

Rosine Bekoin CAYAT cocoa and coffee farming co-operative, Ivory Coast

of programmes that make it quick and easy for retailers to play their part in tackling key challenges like minimising food waste, reducing energy usage and continuing to

thank our customers for their support.”

improve recycling rates.

HIVE OF ACTIVITY FAIRTRADE PREMIUM Closer to home, Booker is also helping drive sustainability A key element of Booker’s Better Trolley initiative is

by increasing the number of beehives filled with colonies

working closely with Fairtrade, and it has recently been

at its Hatfield Distribution Centre.

announced that Booker and its customers have raised £147,050 in what is known as ‘Fairtrade Premium’ in the

As part of its Better Trolley commitment, Booker decided

last year alone.

to start keeping bees and six willing volunteers jumped at the chance. That was almost five years ago and since then

The Fairtrade Premium is an extra sum of money paid to

the success of the colonies has been phenomenal.

Fairtrade farmers and workers that allows them to invest in projects of their choice to help reach their goals such

Booker Hatfield is now offering beginners beekeeping

as improving their farming and income, investing in health

courses to colleagues. It is also in the process of

and education for their community or protecting the

purchasing another new ‘nuclear’ swarm of bees raised

environment around them.

from an existing hive, which will grow to another colony of up to 100,000 bees.

Booker Fairtrade Tea, for example, supported some 61,259 farmers – who have, on average, 43% of workers

This means that there will be four active occupied hives in

that are female.

the Hatfield apiary.

Rosine Bekoin of the CAYAT cocoa and coffee farming co-

Bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants, which

operative in the Ivory Coast said: “The Fairtrade Premium

contributes to the production of foodstuffs that are

has enabled us to do many things, especially for women.

essential in human and animal diets. Bees regularly suffer

It has enabled us to advance our children and we also use

habitat loss from development, abandoned farms, and

the Fairtrade Premium to build for the future.”

the lack of bee-friendly flowers, so it’s important to protect and manage bee-friendly habitats.

Catherine Marston, Sustainability Manager at Booker, added: “We are delighted to support Fairtrade. Despite

Catherine Marston said: “This is a fantastic project and I’m

the cost-of-living crisis, research shows that many shoppers

proud of the beekeeping team at Hatfield. The volunteers

are still making thoughtful choices while shopping and

work hard to keep the bees healthy, and it is great that we

choosing products that align with their values. It is great

are expanding. We are also looking for other suitable sites

to see the positive impact we are having, and I’d like to

across our estate and will offer beekeeping training to

67

M279462

M279464

M282073

M279452

organise your team and maximise efficiency.

impact on the environments we operate in.”

Collections are made by professional, friendly drivers who

PLAY YOUR PART

know their way around and can ensure fast, no-fuss pickups to let you get back to the business of running a great

If you are keen to play your part in building a more ethical,

store and focusing your attention on your business and your

more sustainable future, there are many easy ways to take

shoppers.

SUSTAINABILITY

interested colleagues so we can continue to have a positive

advantage of a number of support systems put in place for Visit collectmywaste.com and quote ‘BOOKERWASTE’

retailers by Booker.

along with your Booker customer number to claim

Food Waste

discounted rates today!

In the last year, Booker redistributed 91% of all surplus food, a 34% improvement on the base year of 2015/16. Over five

Vape Recycling Service

million meals were donated to the Fareshare charity by the

Booker also works with Valpak to help Londis retailers

Group in the last 12 months.

comply with the recycling legislation that applies to disposable vapes. The legislation requires you to offer your

To play your part, why not make use of the Fareshare

shoppers a free of charge, safe recycling point.

donation boxes that were distributed to all Londis retailers.

Booker helped more than 600 independent retailers

To comply with the legislation, Londis retailers first have to

redistribute over 220 tonnes of food in the last year,

calculate the value of vaping products they sell in their store

supporting local communities through a partnership with

each year. If that value is less than £100,000 you can join the

the Too Good To Go solution.

Distributor Take-back Scheme.

In addition, Booker offers solutions to sell short-dated

If the value of products you sell is in excess of £100,000

food and recover costs (through too Good To Go), donate

however, you are required to provide your shoppers with

surplus food not sold to your local community, and save on

a free in-store take-back service that complies with WEEE

food disposal costs (through OLIO).

regulations.

Visit toogoodtogo.co.uk and olioex.com/business to find

This threshold is under review by the Government, so watch

out more.

out for future updates.

Waste Management

To help Londis retailers quickly and easily put the

Londis retailers can save 11% on their waste management

relevant solution in place, Booker is working with leading

thanks to an exclusive deal with

environmental

Booker’s partner ACM on the

business Valpak.

collection

of

general

compliance

waste, Valpak can answer any questions

recycling and more.

you may have and help you put The service is available via a

in place the solutions you need to

simple,

become fully compliant with the

easy-to-use

collectmywaste.com

website –

–

which

WEEE regulations.

provides instant quotes showing the best prices for each service,

Visit

recycle-more.co.uk/vapes

including a Booker Group exclusive

to find out more about Valpak’s

discount. Simply choose the service

services.

you require, and you will be kept up

info@valpak.co.uk or call 03450

to date in real time on the progress

682 572.

Alternatively,

email

of your collection, helping you

69

STOCK UP NOW!

WSP

£11.69 © 2023 The Coca Cola Company.

All rights reserved.

M144605

Save time and money with Central Billing

CENTRAL BILLING

CENTRAL BILLING

Central success

Booker’s Central Billing service allows retailers to gain access to centrally negotiated pricing and direct-to-store delivery from almost 100 suppliers while minimising paperwork with a single invoice.

There are only two ways that retailers can grow their profits, by making more money or by saving money. Booker’s Central Billing offer provides the perfect way to do both at the same

Central Billing Suppliers Booker’s vast rota of Central Billing suppliers includes almost 100 businesses large and small, including:

time, ultimately boosting your bottom line profits.

Powered by the Booker Group’s substantial buying power, retailers who make use of Central Billing can both save more and make more through an array of preferential and exclusive pricing and deals, as well as a major reduction in timeconsuming paperwork.

l Barr Soft Drinks

l FWIP

Available across almost 100 national and local direct-to-store

l Americatessen

l Ginsters

suppliers, the Central Billing scheme covers all key categories

l Bonds

l Golden Casket

including chilled foods; beers, wines and spirits; soft drinks;

Confectionery

Group

cakes; international foods; and much more, all of which are

l Card Connection

l HL Display

available at centrally negotiated prices and with low minimum

l Celtic Frozen

l Lindt

order quantities.

Drinks l Country Choice

l Lomond Fine Foods

Retailers can simply order what they require, have it delivered

l Delice de France

l Manor Bakery

direct to their stores, then receive a single invoice from Booker

l Devon Cakes

l OTL

and clear the account every month with a single direct debit.

l Dr Oetker

l Polar Krush (NICC)

l Eden Farm –

l Real Trading

Hulleys l Emma’s Country

(VapeStation)

debit helps to save on banking charges.

l Riverside Greetings

Cakes

l Rollover

l Epicurium

l Snowshock

l Fife Creamery

l Tchibo

l FIFO

l The Lakes Distillery

l F’real

l Warburton’s

l Frozen Brothers

l West Country Milk

(Tango Ice Blast)

Costs are charged weekly, while one simple monthly direct

THE BENEFITS l Exclusive deals, rates and discounts on selected suppliers l Centrally negotiated pricing and low minimum order quantities l Reduced time-consuming administration

71

ShopMate Self-Serve Save time and money with ShopMate Self-Serve A convenient checkout experience for your customers to help reduce queues, drive increased sales and streamline your operations Get Ahead Get Self-Serve Contact ShopMate on 01780 480562 or email salessupport@retaildata.co.uk ShopMate is the Partner for

Free EPoS

As well as being ideal for gaining access to a number

Central Billing is available for suppliers covering all

credentials, the Central Billing scheme also offers

of the main product categories, including:

retailers easy access to a wide range of innovative and

l Food To Go l Fresh & Frozen l Bakery & Cake

of smaller local suppliers to boost their local sourcing

in-demand food- and drink-to-go solutions from key brands, including Frozen Brothers (Tango Ice Blast),

CENTRAL BILLING

Across the board

Country Choice, Rollover, Celtic Frozen Drinks (Jolly Rancher and Hershey’s), FWIP, plus many others.

l Grocery l Health & Wellbeing l World Foods l Impulse & Soft Drinks l Beers, Wines & Spirits

With the key festive sales opportunity fast approaching, these

attention-grabbing

food-

and

drink-to-go

solutions can certainly help retailers create valuable unique selling points over their local competitors that help to boost footfall and sales.

l Cigarettes & Vape l News & Magazines l Non-Food l Car Care & Accessories l Greeting Cards •

So, if greater savings, bigger profits and less timeconsuming administration sound like a good deal, why not explore the many benefits that Central Billing can serve up to you? Speak to your RDM or email centralbilling@booker.co.uk to find out more.

In-Store Services

73

SPRING PRE-SELL

Put a spring in your step

Blooming marvellous

Get set for spring with Londis’ cracking Spring Pre-Sell

Winter’s icy grip may have only just

products, fantastic deals and more than

started to take hold, but for convenience

20 Group Exclusive lines.

retailers up and down the country, thoughts are already turning to spring

Falling early next year on Tuesday 13

and the many opportunities set to bloom

February,

over the season.

offered retailers a tasty opportunity to fry

Pancake

Day

has

always

up additional footfall, sales and profits.

Fans of love and pancakes will be able to celebrate with heart-shaped crêpes,

Shrove Tuesday 2024 will be no exception,

thanks to Shrove Tuesday and Valentine’s

with retailers who take advantage of

Day falling on 13 and 14 February in 2024,

the Spring Pre-Sell able to secure great

offering retailers a sweet opportunity to

deals on top-selling food and non-

cook up sizzling mid-week seasonal sales.

food products, including Nutella, Fluff Marshmallow Spread, Greens Pancake

Spring 2024 will also see the arrival of the

Mix and much more.

earliest Easter weekend for seven years, with Good Friday set to take place on 29

Valentine’s Day falls the very next day on

March ahead of Easter Sunday on the

14 February and in 2024 Londis retailers

31st – which coincidentally also marks

will be able to offer a heartwarming range

the start of British Summer Time.

of

romantic-themed

products

across

key categories including confectionery

SPRING PRE-SELL! OPENS WEDNESDAY 25 OCTOBER CLOSES MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER

retailers

and horticulture, with great deals on key

will be perfectly equipped to

brands including Ferrero Rocher, Guylian,

make the very most of 2024’s

Lindor, Quality Street and more.

Fortunately,

Londis

spring bounty thanks to a splendid Spring Pre-Sell.

Great-value pricing on a wide selection of BWS products, including sparkling

Opening on Wednesday 25

wines such as Mirabeau Folie Sparkling

October and running for just

Rose, Chapel Down Brut and Sensi 18K

over a month, the Londis Spring

Prosecco Gold, will also help shoppers

Pre-Sell will offer Londis retailers

get their Valentine’s Day celebrations off

a blooming bouquet of great new

to a bang.

We try to make the very most of key seasonal opportunities and where possible we try to add even more interest with product sampling.

SPRING PRE-SELL

HAVE YOUR SAY…

“I also invest very heavily in the Londis Pre-Sells, especially the Spring Pre-Sell and I always dedicate at least three whole bays to seasonal products in store.

“I love to add interest to the range with indulgent and unusual products that will hopefully inspire an impulse purchase.

Sarah Cope, Londis Lynton, Devon

2024 DIARY DATES PANCAKE DAY: TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY VALENTINES DAY: WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY MOTHER’S DAY: SUNDAY 10 MARCH ST PATRICK’S DAY: SUNDAY 17 MARCH GOOD FRIDAY: FRIDAY 29 MARCH EASTER SUNDAY: SUNDAY 31 MARCH BRITISH SUMMER TIME BEGINS: SUNDAY 31 MARCH

75

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

CASE SIZE

WSP

RSP

POR

Cadbury Dairy Milk 360g Block

14

£41.99

£4.25

15.3%

Roses Large Carton 290g

6

£17.95

£4.49

20%

Heroes Large Carton 290g

6

£17.95

£4.49

20%

Milk Tray 360g

6

£23.95

£5.99

20%

Toblerone Truffles

8

£25.25

£4.75

20.3%

CDM Caramilk 360g block

14

£41.99

£4.25

15.3%

Thorntons Classic 262g

6

£26.79

£6.99

23.3%

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

CASE SIZE

WSP

RSP

POR

Ferrero Rocher Heart Gift Box 125g

9

£32.89

£5.49

20.1%

Guylian Seashells Original 250g

12

£39.89

£4.99

20.1%

Lindor Assorted Cornet 200g

8

£23.75

£4.75

25%

Celebrations Flip – Large Carton 300g

9

£20.99

£3.50

20%

Quality Street Carton 220g

6

£10.50

£3.00

30%

SPRING PRE-SELL

Sharing boxes

Valentines Day

With PORs of 20% on all three, Londis

Baskets, Outdoor Primrose Planters and

to sponges designed to get wheels and

retailers will also be able to raise a glass

Hyacinth Baskets, all of which will offer

windows gleaming.

to strong profits.

PORs of 30%.

Londis shoppers will also be able to

But of course, spring is not all about sweet

thank their marvellous mothers with

eats, romantic treats and marvellous

With its fresh flush of new buds and

a fabulous line up of Mother’s Day

mums. The start of the new year is also

blooms, spring also heralds the start of

products, including great deals on top-

traditionally a time for fresh beginnings

hay fever season and once again the

selling brands such as Cadbury Dairy Milk

with shoppers up and down the country

Londis Spring Pre-sell is buzzing with

360g Blocks.

gloving up for Spring Cleaning season.

products to help soothe your shoppers’

Thanks to the launch of a new and

Again, Londis has retailers covered, with

improved horticulture offer earlier this

this year’s Spring Pre-Sell including a

From Nuage hay fever wipes and balms

year, Londis retailers will also be able to

wide array of quality cleaning products

to Piriteze and Panadol counter top

offer their shoppers an array of beautiful

at great value prices guaranteed to help

display units, Londis has it all.

blooms across all the key spring seasonal

your sales and profits sparkle just as

occasions.

brightly as your shoppers’ homes.

SNIFFLE SEASON

coughs, snivels and sneezes.

The fantastic Londis Pre-Sell closes on Monday 27 November, so please don’t

For Mother’s Day alone, retailers will

Cars have also not been left out of the

miss out on your chance to put an extra

be able to pick from a cheery line-up

spring-cleaning bonanza with a great line

spring in your footfall, sales and profits

of Premium Gift Baskets, Hydrangea

up of car care products from screen wash

for 2024.

77

UP TO

700 PUFFS*

REDESIGNED FOR ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE NEWAND IMPROVED VUSE GO 700 Vuse e-cigarettes contain nicotine which is addictive.

Dispose of responsibly.

This product should not be discarded in household waste but in the nearest WEEE collection bin. *Based on laboratory testing of newly manufactured product and may vary depending on individuals usage behaviour. For tobacco trade use only. Not to be left in the sight of consumers.

VIEWPOINT: ACS

Local Shop Report 2023

Local shops keep evolving to

stay ahead Local shops are ‘more vital than ever’ to the communities they serve, finds the ACS 2023 Local Shop Report.

Recently we launched our 2023 Local Shop

expand the services that they can offer to

Report which takes a comprehensive look at

their communities. Of those investing, the top

the convenience sector, looking at the people

areas of investment are refrigeration (56%),

running and working in the stores, retailers’

shelving (39%), store signage (33%), in-store

investment decisions, the products and

lighting (32%) and technology (29%).

services being offered and the impact that local shops have on the communities that they

As well as investing financially, convenience

serve.

retailers have continued to invest their time and energy into engaging with their

You will have heard us talk about the

customers. Findings from this year’s report

contribution that local shops make to the

have revealed significant growth in the

economy and their communities, and one

number of retailers that are using social media

of the key ways that stores do this is by

for their businesses. With more products and

providing flexible, local and secure jobs to

stores going viral over the last year, there has

437,000 people. As staff shortages ease,

been a clear shift towards activity on platforms

retailers are now employing more people for

like Facebook, X (Twitter) and TikTok to

more hours. Over the last year colleagues in

engage with customers.

the sector worked a combined 12.1 million hours a week, working tirelessly to provide

An interesting finding from this year’s report,

their communities with the products and

which could explain the uptick in social

services that they need day to day.

media usage, is the changing profile of convenience store owners, which is becoming

We know that our sector is incredibly agile

younger, including more women, and more

and forward-thinking, and this has been

likely to include first-time investors coming

demonstrated time and time again as

into the sector, as well as established family

convenience retailers have had to adapt

businesses.

their stores to meet the everchanging needs of their communities. Our research shows

The full report and panel session from our

how committed local shops are to their

launch event can be found on our Member

communities, investing around £646m in their

Portal and as always, please get in touch if

businesses over the last year to diversify and

you have any questions.

79

FOR YOUR CHANCE

TO WIN £100

SUBMIT YOUR IN-STORE POS PHOTO

1 SCAN QR CODE TO CLAIM YOUR FREE POS KIT 2 ACTIVATE POS KIT INSTORE! 3 SUBMIT PHOTO TO YOURPOS@BRITVIC.COM 4 50 WINNERS TO BE CHOSEN

STOCK UP TODAY!

18+ Booker store owners residing in UK only. Promo Period 12:00 04.10.23 – 23:59 31.10.23. No purchase necessary. Internet access required. To enter prize draw, display supplied Pepsi EA Games promotional marketing in your store, scan the QR code or go to the link displayed on promotional marketing to visit ww.atyourconvenience.com, activate your kit and send a photo through email to yourpos@britvic.com. Max 1 entry per person and per store. Max 1 prize per store. Prizes: 1 x £100 paid via BACS to entrant. 100 prizes in total. Draw 7 working days after promotional end date. Prizes must be claimed in 7 working days from initial winner notification. Exclusions apply.

Full T&Cs: www.atyourconvenience.com/terms-conditions/ Promoter: Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd.

LET'S CELEBRATE

with our new members and longstanding partners

New stores Londis Herne Bay Herne Bay, Kent

Londis Stokepark Drive Ipswich, Suffolk

Londis Pentre Pentre, Mid Glamorgan

Londis Woodgate Store Leicester, Leicestershire

Londis Thornwood Common Thornwood Common, Epping Essex

Londis Lord Street Wrexham

Londis Forest Road London

Londis Hawthorn Street Clydebank, Glasgow

Londis BP Rivenhall South Witham, Essex

Londis Village News Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire

Londis Halfway Filling Station Oban

Londis Kirkcaldy Kirkcaldy

Londis Chatham Waters Kent

Londis Meadowmart Gloucester, Gloucestershire

Londis Orbital Service Station Cannock, Staffordshire

Londis Bridge Road E Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

Londis Trafalgar Road London

Londis The Strand Torquay, Devon

Londis ICC Birmingham

Londis Sandy Road Llanelli Carmarthenshire

Londis SVL Food & Wine Maidstone, Kent

Londis Bellingham Bellingham, Hexham

Londis Dunfield Road London

Londis Mirons Newsagents Bexleyheath, Kent

Londis Abbey Road Service Station Evesham, Worcester, Worcestershire

Londis Peamore Service Station Alphington, Devon

Londis Thamesmead Service Station Abbey Wood, London

Londis Winteringham Winteringham, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire

Londis Bishopswood Road Tadley, Hampshire

Londis Sutherland Way Stamford, Lincolnshire

Londis The Pond Watford, Hertfordshire

Londis Attenborough Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Londis Moredon Road Swindon, Wiltshire

Londis Bassi Supermarket Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Londis Newport Rogerstone, Newport

Londis Shree Convenience Store Saltdean, Brighton, East Sussex

Londis Box High Street, Wiltshire

sIGN up to Our Cool

NewsLetter

To hEar AbouT thE laTest News & offErs From walL’s

Many happy returns to all those celebrating their time with us. More than just a brand, Londis is a family of like-minded convenience retailers whose focus is to provide a much-needed service to their local community

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YEARS

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Londis - Normanton Normanton

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Killingholme Store South Killingholme, Immingham

Londis - Goosnargh Goosnargh

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Londis Rothesay Rothesay, Isle Of Bute

Londis - Severn Drive Walton-Le-Dale

10

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South Anston Service Station South Anston, Sheffield

Londis - Halesworth Halesworth

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Evans & Jones Tanerdy Garden Tanerdy, Carmarthen

Londis - Queens Drive Bedford

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Amble Service Station Amble, Morpeth

Londis - Peniel Rhydargaeau, Carmarthen

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Londis Cherrytree Dover

Londis - Auchterarder Auchterarder

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Central Stores Nafferton, Driffield

Londis - Dundee Road Errol, Perth

20

25

Osset Service Station Lupset, Wakefield

High Brough Moor Service Middleton Tyas, Richmond

20

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Sewell Maybury Hull

Londis - Ashford Road Maidstone

20

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Sewell Southcoates Southcoates, Hull

Londis - Jubilee Great Yarmouth

20

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Sewell Sutton Sutton-On-Hull, Hull

Londis - Blackheath London

20

29

Woodside Services Station Crawley

Londis - Norn Hill Norn Hill, Basingstoke

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Londis Kahlon General Store Murton, Seaham

Londis - Hailsham Hailsham

25

31

Alveley Food Stores Alveley, Bridgnorth

Londis - Woodlands Parade Woodlands Parade, Ashford

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Bradley Arcade Post Office Banbury

Londis - Hall Green Birmingham

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Minster Stores Ltd Coventry

Londis - Upper Dock Street Newport

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Londis Heath Road Coxheath, Maidstone

YEARS

YEARS

YEARS

YEARS

YEARS

YEARS

YEARS

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YEARS

YEARS

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YEARS

YEARS

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YEARS

YEARS

LONDIS BIRTHDAYS

Londis birthdays

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