DON’T MISS...
237 new products.
Unwrap a cracking Christmas.
Sow success with the Spring Pre-Sell!
OPEN SPREAD CHRISTMAS WITH A
SPREAD THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WITH A COKE
Ensure you have the right range available for the festivities
15
Londis named Symbol Group of the Year!
The latest round up of community news from Londis stores.
Disposable vape ban confirmed for June 2025.
19 GROCERYAID UPDATE
Industry charity awards £1m in School Essentials Grants.
20 RURAL RUMBLINGS
Shoppers can’t resist the lure of their new Londis store in rural Wroughton
26 THE DREAM TEAM
Sterling Petroleum’s new Londis store is testament to top teamwork.
32 CHRISTMAS CRACKERS!
Londis has everything you need to sparkle this Christmas.
TEAM
Community spirit in action at Londis Solo Convenience.
38 AUTUMN NPD GUIDE
Take a leaf through the Autumn NPD guide.
42 SPRING INTO ACTION
Don’t miss out on the Spring-Pre-Sell opportunity!
47 JACK’S UPDATE
Help your sales to fly this Christmas with Jack’s Mince Pies.
49 NEW PRODUCT ROUND UP
The hottest new products to hit the shelves.
52 MEET THE TEAM
Say hello to Simon Robinson.
58 SAVVY SAVINGS
Save on business costs with Booker’s new Worldpay deal..
71 ACS VIEWPOINT
James Lowman urges retailers to report every crime every time.
PETROL HEADS
Welcome to our November issue of Londis News!
Winning this
Winter
The award-winning Londis symbol group has everything you need for a jolly good end to the year.
Well, it’s almost that time of year again and I hope you are all looking forward to the exciting festive period as much as I am. Before we get to our bumper festive support package, I’d just like to say thank you to each and every Londis retailer for helping us secure the title of Symbol Group of the Year at the recent Retail Industry Awards. This is a phenomenal achievement and it’s down to the amazing work that you do as retailers. Thank you!
To help keep that winning momentum going, Londis will be helping you make the very most of the huge Christmas opportunity by providing all the support you need to maximise your footfall, sales and profits over the important month or two that lie ahead.
And this year, we’re not just aiming big – we’re aiming for the biggest Christmas ever! We have put together a truly fantastic package of seasonal support for Londis retailers, including hundreds of new products, seasonal lines, Group Exclusives and own-label developments. A bountiful package to help you unwrap a bumper Christmas.
Don’t forget to check out our NPD Guide too which is packed full of exciting new lines and Group Exclusives which can really help you set yourself apart from the competition this festive period. And, while they’re not new, don’t forget to stock up on Jack’s Mince Pies. They were a huge hit last year and they’re set to fly once more this Christmas.
With the recent Budget looking likely to pile more pressure onto retailers, it’s more important than ever that we all focus on cutting the costs of doing business. That’s precisely why we have negotiated a new, exclusive deal with Worldpay that can help retailers cut the cost of taking credit and debit card payments. I would also encourage you to check out the article in this issue on our Energy Saving Service which can help reduce your energy bills and generate new income streams with services like EV Charging and Solar PV. Critically, the Energy Saving Service allows you to start saving from day one without spending a penny.
Christmas presents a great opportunity to end the calendar year on a high and I wish you all the very best of trading in the weeks ahead as part of the best symbol group in the country!
Look forward to seeing you in-store!
Stewart Fenn Sales Director, Booker Retail Partners
YOUR LONDIS
from around the Londis Family...
Londis crowned UK’s best symbol group
Londis was awarded the high-profile accolade of Symbol Group of the Year at the Retail Industry Awards 2024.
Londis took home the highly-prized title of Symbol/Franchise Group of the Year at the Retail Industry Awards 2024.
The awards, which are now in their 29th year, took place in London on 18 September and were attended by more than 500 people from across the grocery industry.
Judges praised Londis’ “all-round offer” including new store concepts, comprehensive retailer support and a new optimal convenience range including more than 900 new products and more price-marked packs.
“With more than 2,300 sites, Londis saw sales increase by almost 20%, recruited 195 new retailers and carried out nearly 200 major refits,” one judge said.
“They really do have the complete package now,” another added.
Commenting on the win, Londis Sales Director Stewart Fenn, said: “We are incredibly proud to have won Symbol/Franchise Group of the Year. To win in a category with such strong competition is a testament to the exceptional dedication and hard work of the team.
“It’s a brilliant achievement to be recognised in such a way within the industry. It continues to remind us of the incredible strides we have made on Londis’ growth and success over the past 12 months. Everyone across the whole group has contributed, so to have their hard work celebrated really means a lot.”
Other winners on the night included Londis N16 in Stoke Newington, London, which claimed the Food To Go Retailer of the Year award, in the Independent under 3,000sq ft, category.
The family-run Londis store blew judges away with its unique offering of home-made Gujarati food and cult Instagram following.
Home-cooked dishes served up to shoppers on the day of its award win included ‘chana masala, okra with yoghurt, thiki puri and passion fruit cheesecake.’
Retailer Alpesh Patel said: “We were up against some great competition, so it is a real pleasure to have won. Our food is very different to what’s available in the mainstream, so when our name was called out, we were over the moon.”
Londis retailer takes off with Cruzcampo
Nick Patel has won an all-expenses paid trip to Seville, courtesy of Cruzcampo.
Nick Patel of Londis Kenyon Street in London has been named as the lucky recipient of an all-expenses paid trip to the Spanish city of Seville, after winning a Cruzcampo retailer competition.
The competition was open to all Booker supplied retailers and the prize includes flights, accommodation and spending money to enjoy in the historic city.
To enter the prize draw and be in with a chance of winning, retailers simply had to purchase 20 cases of Cruzcampo during the NP8 promotional period between September and October.
“I’m so delighted to have won this fantastic competition,” Nick told Londis News. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Seville before, and I can’t wait to return!
“Cruzcampo has fast become a top seller in our store, especially the 10-pack cans and 12-pack bottles, and shoppers tell me they really enjoy the light, fresh taste.”
Paul Gordon, Head of Marketing Activation at Heineken UK said: “We are thrilled for Nick Patel. We are always looking at ways to engage and reward retailers, and what a joy it is to be able to offer as exciting a prize as a trip to Sevilla with Cruzcampo.”
Natalie nails it again!
Londis retailer Natalie Lightfoot scooped yet another high-profile accolade at the Better Retailing Awards 2024.
Held in Birmingham on 14 October, the inaugural event celebrated retailing excellence across 10 specialist categories including Store Development, Responsible Retailing and Customer Engagement. Each shortlisted candidate in the categories was assessed by store visits and a rigorous judging process prior to the event.
Natalie, owner of Londis Solo Convenience in Glasgow, claimed the Customer Engagement award.
Commenting on her win, Natalie said: “I know what an amazing job all my team do in our store; I’m incredibly proud of every single one of them as they create the culture and atmosphere for our customers.
“The size of a store doesn’t dictate the level of success you can achieve. Hard work, dedication and a whole lump of pride in what you do, is the recipe.”
Better Retailing editor in chief, Louise Banham added: “Our winners are at the forefront of innovation and their communities, providing excellent service and strong development opportunities for their teams, all of which showcases the importance of local shops.”
The red-carpet event was hosted by British comedian and writer Shazia Mirza.
See Natalie’s team in action on page 13.
Ciroc
Stock this Season’s Must Have
Product of France
Key issues of interest to you
Great bakes for a good cause
Londis retailers from across the country baked up a storm in September and October in support of the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning.
Numerous stores held charity bake sales, along with fun games and competitions to raise money for the cancer support charity.
The event was especially well supported by Londis-branded stores on Motor Fuel Group sites.
Londis Micklefield held a fun-filled event on 2 October, inspiring shoppers to donate funds to the good cause in return for tasty treats. Shoppers could donate in cash or via a QR code on posters and boxes.
Londis Halewood held a big in-store bash on 27 September with special offers on Costa Coffee and Country Choice products as well as home-baked goods.
MFG Esso Londis Bohemia also hosted a fun in-store event, while Londis Cosham Service Station in Portsmouth held two in-store events on 26 and 27 September. In addition to a mouthwatering selection of baked goods, the store was decorated with bright green bunting and balloons.
Cleaning up the local community
Wet and windy weather didn’t stop the team at Londis Solo Convenience in Baillieston from donning their raincoats, gloves and grabbers for a Community Litter Pick on 12 October.
Organised by store owner Natalie Lightfoot,
the event attracted “an amazing turnout” from local children and adults alike.
“We had kids from Baillieston and surrounding areas as well as 166th Glasgow (Barlanark) Scout group. It was a great way for the community to all connect and take pride in where we live and work,” Natalie said.
“We will do another Litter Pick soon and with the numbers we had attend, we will go even further afield.”
Children who participated in the litter pick also received a certificate of merit and a goody bag.
The Litter Pick was supported by CCEP and Maryland Cookies.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Key issues of interest to you Disposable vapes ban confirmed for June 2025
The Government has confirmed that a ban on disposable vaping products will come into force on the delayed date of 1st June 2025.
The UK Government has confirmed that a ban on disposable vaping products will come into force next year but the implementation date has been pushed back to 1st June 2025.
The legislation only affects England, but the devolved government in Wales has already followed suit and similar bans are expected to be introduced in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The UK Government has laid legislation to introduce the ban and, subject to parliamentary approval, businesses will have until 1st June 2025 to sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban coming into force.
The ban was initially due to be implemented on 1st April 2025 and the Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed the delay in implementation after recommending a
minimum sell-through period of at least six months to enable businesses to prepare.
From 1st June, the only vaping products that will be available for sale legally in the UK must be refillable and rechargeable, intended for multiple uses as opposed to ‘disposable’ vapes which are single-use products.
All retailers who sell vaping products must provide recycling facilities in their stores on at least a one-for-one basis.
IMPORTANT DISPOSABLE VAPE UPDATE
We have been notified by Trading Standards that they have been visiting retailers that sell disposable vapes to check products are being sold in compliance with the law.
It has come to their attention that a number of retailers are selling products which do not comply with UK requirements.
Visit www.acs.org.uk/advice/selling-vapes for guidance from the ACS, which outlines how to recognise legitimate products. It is important that where you are purchasing vapes that you are able to recognise legitimate vapes.
Booker has in place controls to ensure that the product it distributes are legitimate and appropriate for the UK market.
It is important to remember that the consequences of selling illegitimate vapes is incredibly serious, and can result in unlimited fines and two years in prison.
First Labour Budget piles on cost for retailers
The recent Labour Budget is set to land the convenience retailing sector with an additional £666m in costs, says the ACS.
The first Labour Budget in 14 years was unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and is set to cost the convenience sector an additional £666m, according to analysis by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
The impact on the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores will be felt unevenly, with some measures, such as the increased employment allowance and business rate relief, mitigating costs for smaller independent stores, while providing no help for chains and larger independent businesses, observed ACS.
The key measures affecting UK convenience stores include increases in the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, an increase in Employers’ National Insurance Contributions and a reduction in retail rate relief in England.
ACS calculates that the increase in wages alone will cost the convenience retailing sector an additional £513m while the increase in Employers’ National Insurance Contributions to 15% will add around £85m in extra costs.
Budget highlights
National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 per hour.
National Minimum Wage (18-20 rate) to increase to £10 per hour.
Employers’ National Insurance Contributions to rise to 15%.
Threshold for Employers’ National Insurance contributions to fall to £5,000 per year.
Employment Allowance to rise to £10,500 a year.
Retail and hospitality rate relief in England reduced from 75% to 40%.
Small business multiplier frozen for 2025/26.
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “The cold hard facts are that the measures announced have added two-thirds of a billion pounds to the direct cost base of the UK’s local shops. At a time when trade is tough and operating costs are stubbornly high, this will be challenging for our members to absorb.”
The Budget also featured:
l Flat rate levy on vaping liquids from October 2026 of £2.20 per 10ml;
l Duty rate on all tobacco products will increase by the tobacco duty escalator of 2% above Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation;
l The duty rate for hand-rolling tobacco will rise by an additional 10%, to 12% above RPI inflation;
l Fuel duty frozen and the 5p cut extended for another year;
l Tax on non-draught alcoholic drinks to increase by the higher RPI measure of inflation;
l A new commitment to tackling shop theft in England, and funding directed to tackling organised gangs.
GroceryAid awards £1m in School Essentials Grants
GroceryAid recently made £1m of awards to more than 6,600 children of industry colleagues, giving them the best possible start to the school year.
2025 calendar unveiled
A total of 6,667 children of industry colleagues headed back to school recently wearing new uniforms thanks to awards totalling £1m made through GroceryAid’s School Essential Grant Fund.
The fund gives children of convenience and grocery workers the best start to the school year by equipping them with essential items. Beneficiaries received a £150 nonrepayable grant for each child of school age, up to a maximum of three.
With the support of The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust, the number of children helped by the fund has increased by 11% compared to last year.
GroceryAid has revealed its 2025 calendar of events and programmes. These events raise more than 80% of all GroceryAid funding, providing vital support for colleagues across the sector.
Mandi Leonard, Welfare Director at GroceryAid said: “Cost-of-living challenges have made it harder than ever before for families to make sure their children have everything they need for school. A huge thank you to The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for funding the grants and making such a difference to so many families.”
A recipient of the fund said: “It is a struggle every year to provide uniforms for my children and with the cost-of-living crisis it has made things even harder for us. The GroceryAid uniform grant has really made a big difference to our family.”
In 2023/24 GroceryAid raised over £7m from events which were attended by more than 15,700 colleagues.
Highlights include:
• GroceryAid Ball, 6 Mar 2025
• Booker Dragon Boat Race, 12 Jun 2025
• GroceryAid Golf Day, 25 Jun 2025
• Barcode Festival, 3 Jul 2025
• Sporting Lunch, 14 Nov 2025
RETAILER PROFILE
Rural rumblings
Sinthu and Sathis Poopalarigham’s newest Londis store has been welcomed with open arms by the rural community of Alexandra Park.
There’s a rumble on the outskirts of the rural village of Wroughton in Wiltshire – and it’s not just from the many tractors and trailers that lumber through – it’s the rumble of footfall – as growing numbers of local shoppers hotfoot it through doors of Londis Alexandra Park and into its wondrously welcome interior.
Owned by seasoned convenience retailers Sathis and Sinthu Poopalarigham, the brand-new store has been enthusiastically embraced by local shoppers since its opening on 5 October 2024.
Sathis explains: “We have another small Londis store in Swindon – it’s less than 500sq ft and we’d always dreamed of having a larger premises where we could try out new concepts and offer a wider range – so when these two retail units came up for sale, we jumped at the chance.”
The previous owner of units 4 and 6 Alexandra Park had only been trading out of one, with a “very basic” range of groceries, hardly any fresh and chilled and no food to go to speak of.
“The previous store’s opening hours were also quite irregular – in fact that was one of the most common remarks that local shoppers made to us when we first took over – so they were delighted to learn that they would be able to rely on our new store being open from 7am till 10pm Mon to Sat and 8am-8pm on Sundays,” Sathis says.
“With no other convenience competition nearby, we could see at once the huge opportunity to give local people a brand-new store, brimming with the range they wanted, when they needed it.”
With the support of their existing RDM Rachel Drake
and the wider Londis team, Sathis and Sinthu seized upon a plan to open up the retail space – doubling the size of the shopfloor and redeveloping the interior – to offer a modern, relevant and inviting shopping experience.
The range was also to be totally reimagined, with a comprehensive new offer starring fresh, chilled, food to go and frozen – along with a new grocery, snacking and homecare offer, that was far more in tune with local needs.
“We’ve forged a very strong relationship with our Londis RDM Rachel and had said for many years, that if we ever opened a second store, it would only ever be a Londis and with her support,” Sathis says.
“She’s been so good to us at our first store, and we couldn’t have achieved the success that we are now seeing at Alexandra Park without her. She’s supported us through every stage of the development – even helping with our application for a hot food offer to the local authority.”
Situated on a small housing estate and surrounded by agricultural land, the store’s new offer has been designed to cater to neighbourhood and transient communities – including farmers on the go – who can now enjoy a hot toasty in their tractors!
In-fact the new store’s bold Treat Stop zone is one of its most talked about assets, with shoppers raving about the
tasty new range they can now enjoy.
Located right at the front of the store and directly opposite its smart new service counter, the Treat Stop foodand drinks-to-go concept includes Costa Coffee, Think Fresh Shakes and Snow Shock slush, along with a hot Bake & Bite offer from Country Choice, fresh bakery products and Dunkin Donuts.
“Shoppers have been particularly excited about the arrival of milkshakes and Costa Coffee,” Sathis says. “This is a rural area, there are a lot of dog walkers and agricultural workers who are thrilled that they can now pop in and warm up with a hot coffee to go and bite to eat,” he adds.
Located in a dedicated chiller to the left of the shiny new Treat Stop zone, the Londis £4.50 Sandwich Meal Deal is also proving to be a popular pick.
“Chilled food to go and chilled food in general is doing so well,” Sathis says. “Shoppers never had anything like this range before, so naturally they are thrilled.”
A striking 14-door sweep of chillers right the way along the store’s lefthand wall houses its new fresh and chilled range, including dairy, deli, ready meals, fresh meats and more.
“We are doing very well on the Jack’s range,” Sathis adds. “Shoppers are loving the quality and value for money that Jack’s products offer. Value is important around here and as such, I’m also running 100% of the Londis promotions.”
All around the store, shoppers are reminded of Londis’ ‘Amazing Value’
proposition, thanks to the correct use of highimpact POS, posters and dedicated promotional bays including two ‘Amazing Value’ themed bays right at the front.
Facing the store’s new chilled range is a large wrapped bread offer – including local cakes.
Responding to the store’s rural location, the store also features a wide range of practical homewares including DIY tools, along with paperware and household products.
A relevant range of groceries including world foods, home baking and meal kits also caters to local needs.
And with winter setting in, a dedicated seasonal bay also provides shoppers with cold weather essentials, such as de-icer, fire logs and kindling – perfect for creating cozy nights in to enjoy alongside the new confectionery and snacking products also on offer.
A comprehensive range of ultra-convenient meal solutions, plus desserts, is also available from the store’s new four-door frozen zone.
“Shoppers can’t stop complimenting us on the
Top tips!
Value is so important to shoppers, so we have opened running 100% of the Londis promotions.
2 3
Our dedicated Amazing Value bays and in-store POS help to reinforce the value message.
Engaging with shoppers and talking to them about products and services they would like to see can help you forge close connections and a truly relevant range.
range,” Sathis adds. “They never had anything like this locally before so it’s a huge benefit to them as they can now do a complete basket shop without getting in their cars to travel.
“Food and drinks to go are being particularly very well received as are fresh, chilled and frozen. Packaged grocery is also a top seller. The range continues to evolve too – because we are working hard to engage with local shoppers and ask them what else they would like to see. That flexibility is key in a small village like this. We want to work with local shoppers and meet all their needs.
“We’ve only been open a few weeks but already we’re building a strong base of loyal regulars, and we are still seeing many new faces every day.
“When we first took over, the store was only doing around £3,000 a week. Just one week after our soft launch, and with none of the food-to-go solutions yet in place, we were up to £8,000 – so early signs are very encouraging.
“We always said that having this kind of store would be our dream and it’s certainly shaping up to be that way.”
STORE INFO
Store name: Londis
Alexandra Park
Location: Wiltshire
Retailers: Sinthu and Sathis Poopalarigham
Size: 1,000sq ft
Services: National Lottery, Paypoint, Collect +
Opening hours: 7am-10pm Mon-Sat, 8am-8pm Sun
RETAILER PROFILE
Fuelling success
The dream team
Sterling Petroleum’s newest Londis forecourt store is a shining example of teamwork at its best.
Gloucestershire-based Sterling Petroleum has come a seriously long way since managing director Nakendram Piratheepan (Theepan) took on his first dealer forecourt in 2020.
In just under five years, the dynamic independent forecourt operator’s portfolio has grown to 26 sites located across the Southwest, Wales and the East and West Midlands.
At Theepan’s side is an expert team of motivated and passionate individuals who together have helped to drive the company’s meteoric expansion and success.
Their special talent: bringing old, worndown forecourt sites back from the brink and into the light with their formidable powers of transformation.
The company’s latest successful resurrection is located in the charming hillside village of Greetland, West Yorkshire.
Theepan’s right-hand man, Sterling Petroleum operations director, Sajikumar Muththaiya –known as Saji, explains: “When we first came across this site, the shop was very old and very tired. There was no proper shelving or fridges, and the range was just totally wrong, with key categories, such as fresh, chilled, BWS and food to go missing entirely.
“Entering that store was a bit like stepping back in time actually!
“Fuel volumes and shop sales alike were very low and, in fact, the shop was only taking around £3,000 a week.
“This site has a significant neighbourhood demographic, and it was immediately clear that local needs were not being met and opportunities missed.”
Pinpointing those needs and opportunities
has become something of an artform for the team – and one of the best ways to do it, Saji says, “is lots of driving around!”
“We really get to know an area first; we find out the lie of the land to understand what other competition is out there and what’s missing.”
One of the major things that Saji and the team immediately noticed was the absence of a quality food-to-go offering.
“There was no hot food available anywhere nearby, no convenient place for people to grab a hot drink and bite to eat,” he says.
Following a high-speed and seriously highimpact two-week redevelopment over the summer of 2024, Greetland’s food-to-go desert is a thing of the past.
Rebranded under the Londis fascia and with
the support of Londis forecourt development manager Colin Walpole, the long and narrow store has been totally reimagined with an expertly crafted store plan and shop fit that makes the most of every millimetre.
Shoppers at Londis West Vale can now treat themselves to an oasis of oven-baked delights thanks to brand-new Delice de France and Rollover hot dog offers.
They can also count on their new store for an array of quality hot drinks thanks to a brandnew Costa Coffee offer.
The removal of an old partition wall also allowed the team to increase the size of the shop floor by a smidge under 200sq ft, allowing them to introduce other totally new categories such as BWS, vape, and American drinks and confectionery – none of which were available before.
When we took the store over it was doing about £3,000 a week and that’s now up to £16,000 a week and still growing. Everything has gone exactly as we planned and sales are right where we projected they would be, which is very pleasing.
Sajikumar Muththaiya
Trading has also been extended to 24 hours, presenting locals and passers-by alike with the ultimate in convenience.
“The new store has been designed with a strong ‘grab and go’ focus – that’s what was sorely missing previously,” Saji adds.
Three metres of soft drinks, including on-trend American varieties, are now included in the offer, along with three metres of chilled foods, including a strong core range of Jack’s ready meals, produce, dairy items and chilled food to go, including the Londis Sandwich Meal Deal.
There’s also a sweet six metres of confectionery, including new American products and several local confectionery lines – along with Yorkshire flapjacks, which Saji says are an especially popular pick with locals.
A range-perfect six-metre grocery offer has also been created, offering shoppers a credible top-up shopping solution.
“Vape was another new addition. We have a small Vape Station unit at the
front of the store which is doing very well,” Saji adds.
Another key change that the new store offers shoppers is value for money.
“Forecourt stores can sometimes have a reputation for being expensive – but we’re certainly challenging that by offering truly amazing value throughout the store,” Saji adds.
“The Jack’s brand offers an excellent value-for-money proposition, and we run all the Londis promotions – something which shoppers noticed from the start. In fact, our excellent value-for-money offer is one of the things they comment on the most – in addition to how much they love the new look and products of course!
“We’re catering to a very local trade here – so offering a strong value-formoney proposition is an absolute must and is a big driver of loyalty.”
That loyalty is certainly proving to be in very good supply, with store turnover having more than quadrupled since the store re-opened this summer.
Top tips!
1
2
American confectionery and soft drinks can act as powerful footfall and sales drivers. The Londis Sandwich Meal deal offers shoppers excellent value for money and drives loyalty.
3
Extending the store’s opening time to 24 hours means we’re here for our shoppers whenever they need us.
STORE
INFO
Store name: Londis West Vale
Location: Greetland, West Yorkshire
Operations director: Sajikumar Muththaiya
Store size: 900sq ft
Key categories: Soft drinks, BWS, vape, food to go
Opening hours: 24 hours
Staff: 6
“When we took the store over it was doing about £3,000 a week and that’s now up to £16,000 a week and still growing,” Saji says.
“Customer service also plays a key role too. The store is run by an excellent in-store team who all work together to deliver great service around the clock.
“Everything has gone exactly as we planned, and sales are right where we projected they would be, which is very pleasing.”
That smooth sailing, Saji maintains, is all down to teamwork – the same exceptional teamwork that saw the store transformed from guttering to glorious in less than two weeks flat.
“Teamwork is our superpower,” Saji explains.
“Our dedicated store development team are experts at transforming sites in recordbreaking timescales.
“Other teams might take three to four weeks, but we know that we’ll get the job done within 10 days.
“When we re-opened the store as Londis West Vale, local shoppers were so shocked and surprised by how fast it had all happened.”
That team spirit also sits at the heart of Sterling Petroleum’s impressive expansion.
“We have a fantastic team, all committed to the cause and eager to play a part in our expansion and success.
“Retail is a genuine passion for all of us. It’s a fascinating industry to be a part of, there’s so much exciting innovation to explore and we can also have a positive impact on local communities, which is very rewarding.
“When you love what you’re doing, it’s not really work.”
That love can sometimes drive incredibly long working hours – with members of the leadership team regularly clocking up 16-hour days.
When you love what you’re doing, it’s not really work.
Sajikumar Muththaiya
to be done when it needs to be done and we’re not restrained by time. We’re
“We all pull together to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done and we’re not restrained by time. We’re ready to work 24/7 and you can only do that if you really love it,” Saji adds.
And as the sales figures prove, shoppers are certainly loving the results of their work at Londis West Vale.
and thank you cards,
“The reaction has been incredible. Shoppers are so happy to finally have a store that offers them exactly what they need. Many of them have even given us welcome and thank you cards, to express how happy and grateful they are.”
Now if that’s not proof of a dazzling development, we don’t know what is!
don’t know what is!
SEASONAL UPDATE
Merry sales and profi ts
Christmas crackers
Londis retailers are all set to enjoy better than ever Christmas sales thanks to a sleigh-load of seasonal support.
The lights are twinkling, the mince pies are out, and in stores across the country, elves are eyeing up shelves which are now brimming with festive favourites.
Yes, Christmas is just around the corner and heralding a bumper buffet of sales and profit opportunities for retailers to tuck into.
Industry experts agree that Christmas 2024 could be particularly sweet for convenience retailers, with sales expected to be driven by improved consumer sentiment after the challenges of previous years – and thanks to the ongoing trend towards stocking up on festive products early.
Londis is helping them to make even more of the opportunity with a glittering package of seasonal support – including hundreds of new products, seasonal lines, Group Exclusives and own-label developments, to truly set themselves apart.
Retailers will also be aided in their attempts to crack Christmas 2024 with an outstanding array of deals and great-value price points across key seasonal categories, including fresh produce – where a number of festive favourites will be supported by special price points.
As ever, retailers will also have a premier package of high-impact POS materials to help them spread that all important festive spirit and set their displays sparkling.
Londis’ campaign is supported by a cheery suite of POS materials including posters, bunting, shelf ears, header boards, pennants and promotional leaflets – all of which wish shoppers a ‘Merry Christmas’.
NP11 Fresh festive specials
DAZZLING DEALS
Helping to ensure that merriment, retailers will also be able to offer their shoppers a generous serving of amazing value prices and promotions this festive season.
As the party season gets underway, the NP10 and coming NP11 periods feature a bevy of dazzling deals on key BWS brands including the lowest ever price on Krupnik Vodka in NP10, with a promotional RSP of just £12.99 for a 70cl bottle in England, Wales and Ireland.
Look out also for Christmas-themed cases of new Brewdog Hoppy Christmas. With a promotional RSP of £12 per case of eight, these seasonal sips are sure to make popular gifting items and party picks. With a promotional POR of 21.10% per case of eight, retailers will be feeling merry too.
In NP11, retailers will also be able to offer 10x440ml packs of Budweiser and Stella Artois for just £10 in England, Wales and Ireland, while in Scotland, packs will feature a promotional RSP of £13.16.
And, with the run-up to the festive season also a well-known boom time for sparkling wine sales, the NP10 promotional period currently features a bubbling beauty of a deal on I Heart Bubbly – which is available to shoppers for just £5.99 per 75cl bottle – offering retailers a promotional POR of 15.03% per case of six.
Brussel Sprouts
Gifts that keep giving
The NP10 period features an array of Amazing Value deals on gifting and sharing products that are sure to sweeten up sales in the run up to Christmas.
Soft drinks have also certainly not been left out of the deal mix, with an ‘Any 2 for £2.50’ deal currently available on 2-litre bottles of Pepsi Max Original, Cherry and Pepsi Regular – perfect for sharing.
As retailers will be well aware, demand for larger sharing formats has been climbing in recent years, as shoppers once again delight in shared moments with friends and family including social gatherings at home.
In fact, when it comes to the salty snacks category, sharing formats now account for the largest segment –making up 69.4% of it according to Nielsen IQ data for the 52-week period ending 15.06.24.
Christmas is the shining star of the sharing opportunity as shoppers come together to enjoy a host of different social gatherings, in the run-up to the big day itself.
Helping retailers to make the most of this sharing bonanza is NP10’s explosive Buy One Get One Free special offer on Pringles tubes.
Guinness sold 19% more during the 4 weeks of Christmas 2023 than the rest of the Year and had the fastest growing Alcohol Free Beer in GB Impulse vs Christmas 2022.
Source: Nielsen RMS, GB Total Impulse Market, Beer and Guinness Brand Value Sales, w/e 07.01.23-30.12.23. Nielsen RMS, GB Total Impulse Market, Beer Top 10 Alcohol Free Value Sales chg vs YA.
Available now on some of the brand’s most popular classic flavours, including Original, Sour Cream & Onion, Prawn Cocktail, Salt & Vinegar and Cheese & Onion – this footfall-driving deal is sure to get shoppers popping in again and again.
Londis retailers can also offer their shoppers sharing formats of Wotsits
Giants Flamin Hot, Cheese and Prawn Cocktail on an ‘Any 2 for £3’ deal.
And with the run-up to Christmas also featuring a number of synergies with the Big Night In occasion, categories such as chilled and frozen also look set to sparkle.
Newly re-listed Jack’s products, such
as Stone Baked Three Cheese and Pepperoni pizzas are sure to serve up additional sales. Both pizzas are available as part of an ‘Any 2 for £7’ deal offering retailers a minimum POR of 20%.
Helping shoppers to round their early festive feasts off, Londis retailers can also offer their shoppers an irresistible BOGOF deal on Ben & Jerry’s ice cream tubs, including Phish Food, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Cookie Dough – all of which have an RSP of £6.25 and offer a POR of 57.54% per case of eight.
With so much excitement to come, Christmas 2024 is certainly shaping up to be one that yule not forget!
Pie Perfection
6 JACK’S MINCE PIES
Case size: 12x6 pack
RSP: £1.75
POR: 21.2%
NP11 GROUP EXCLUSIVE!
CARLSBERG PILSNER 18-PACK
Case size: 1x18x330ml
Promo sell: £8.99
Consumer Deal: EWI £12 / SC
£13.13 RSP: £13.99
New Product!
KOPPARBERG DARK NIGHTS VARIETY PACK
Case size: 12x330ml
Promo WSP: £7.05
Promo RSP: £10
Case POR: 15.40%
NPD GUIDE
Hot new products
Autumn Colour
Booker’s NPD Guide for Autumn features a bountiful basket of new products, Group Exclusives and Seasonal lines to help you harvest glowing sales and profits this season.
The leaves are falling, temperatures are sliding, and Booker’s brand-new NPD Guide for Autumn has just dropped too.
Laden with a smoking-hot mix of new products, first-to-market goods, Group Exclusives and more, the 2024 Guide is the hottest ticket to help you light a fire under your sales and profits this autumn season.
The Group Exclusive line-up includes new Maoam Pinballs Absolutely Apple, which are available in both PMP and nonPMP packs with an RSP of £1.25.
Just in time for the festive season and sure to win big when it comes to sharing and gifting are also 350g Bounty Tubs with an RSP of £6.99 and a POR of 23%.
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The NPD Guide for Autumn is also packed with enlightening insights into market trends to help you identify new opportunities to help drive footfall through your doors.
The Group Exclusive line-up also includes three First To Market products – not seen anywhere else before. These include AU Vodka’s Blue Raspberry variant, which has been launched in a new smaller 35cl format.
And with Christmas just around the corner, the guide also showcases some of the fantastic new Seasonal products sure to help you unwrap success in the run-up to the big day itself.
GROUP EXCLUSIVES
The power of Group Exclusive products is well-known – gifting retailers a potent way to set themselves apart and drive footfall and excitement in their stores. Booker’s NPD Guide for Autumn features a stonking 10 Group Exclusive products across the key impulse, gifting and BWS sectors.
Available exclusively until December, the new bottles feature an RSP of £17.99 and offer retailers a minimum POR of 20.1%.
Other first-to-market products include new Fruit Salad-flavoured Cactus Jack’s Schnapps and Tequila Rose Liqueur in 20cl bottles.
NEW PRODUCTS
The NPD Guide for Autumn also features a sumptuous spread of new products, across the Fresh, Chilled, Impulse, Soft Drinks, Grocery, BWS and Vape categories.
There are 61 new Impulse products to take advantage of, including limitededition Fanta Afterlife – which offers a zingy apple flavour with no sugar for an RSP of £1.35 and a juicy POR or 30.4%.
Not to be missed either are new cans of the fizzy cookie- flavoured Oreo CocaCola Zero Sugar with a POR of 42.4%.
New 750ml bottles of Ice Valley Water meanwhile, offer a minimum POR of 66.4% for a round pound RSP of just £1. Did you know that the 750ml format holds the highest value growth in bottled water formats and is the fourth-biggest volume driver? Now that’s an opportunity to soak up.
When it comes to the lucrative Energy Drinks market, don’t miss out on cans of new Lucozade Alert Ultimate Energy, or Cosmic Peach – the latest addition to Monster Energy’s Nitro range. Available now the new 500ml can offers retailers an energising POR of 38.2%.
Sweet pickings can also be had with Red Bull’s new Winter Edition featuring an Iced Vanilla Berry flavour and available in both PMP and non-PMP packs offering PORs of 32.6% and 34.7% respectively.
A number of new products are helping to heat up sales in the chilled aisles, including brand-new Cadbury Creamy Chocolate Milkshakes and Creamy Chocolate Caramel Milkshakes, which are available in both PMP and non-PMP packs.
Containing five times more chocolate than the average milk drink, these indulgent new drinks are designed to help retailers make more of the growing chocolate-flavoured milk market – and with a minimum POR of 26% for the PMP packs – should drive equally tasty profits into stores.
Other new chilled products sure to help retailers drive footfall, sales and profits over the autumn season and beyond include Oreo Fresh Milk Snacks, as well as three new flavours of Gu desserts, including Banoffee, Black Forest and Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecakes, which have an RSP of £4.30 per pack of two.
Meanwhile, in the frozen aisle, look out for tubs of Ben & Jerry’s new Minter Wonderland ice cream which feature an RSP of £3.75 and a POR of 20%. A cool new tie-up between ice cream brand Carte D’Or ice and Baileys cream liqueur is also bound to prove popular as a
Maoam Pinballs
Absolutely Apple
Case size: 12x140g
RSP: £1.25
POR: 28%
Bounty Tub
Case size: 6x350g
RSP: £6.99
POR: 23%
Lindor Pistachio
Case size: 8x200g
RSP: £7.50
POR: 30.7%
Thatchers Zero %
Case size: 6x4x440ml
RSP: £4.99
POR: 37.8%
Jumping Jack's
6 Jack's Mince Pies
Case size: 12x6 pack
RSP: £1.75
POR: 21.2%
A BUBBLY BOOST
FOR THOSE FESTIVE GET-TOGETHERS
Festive favourites
The NPD guide also includes a sleigh-load of new Seasonal products sure to set your tills a-ringing this festive season. These include five-packs of Limited-Edition Galaxy Cake Bars in Salted Caramel and Orange flavours.
festive after-dinner snack or dessert.
NEW JACK’S LINES
The NPD guide also highlights a number of developments to the Jack’s own-label brand - including the recently re-listed Stone Baked Three Cheese and Stone Baked Pepperoni pizzas.
Both are available for an RSP of just £4 each or as part of the ‘Any 2 for £7’ deal – offering a POR of 30% or 20%.
And, with the countdown to Christmas now well and truly on, Jack’s also has you covered with festive must-haves.
Lend some extra bite to your cake offer with limited-edition Christmas Yule Logs and Christmas Iced Buns from The Cottage Bakery, both of which feature an RSP of £1.69 and a minimum POR of 21.2%.
Keep an eye out too for Crispy M&Ms with a crunchy POR of 47% and new 200g Lindor cartons in Tiramisu and Pistachio flavours – the latter of which is a Booker Group Exclusive.
One of the hottest new imports from the US are also CheezIt Snapped. The billion-dollar US brand is new to the UK market and is available in both Double Cheese and Cheese & Chili flavours in 60g PMP for £1.25.
With additional pack sizes coming soon, this US smash hit is sure to help drive footfall sales and profits throughout the festive season and well beyond.
With no festive feast complete without mince pies – the line up also six mouthwatering Jack’s Mince Pies which have made a welcome return for 2024.
Featuring a crisp, golden pastry case and succulent spiced mincemeat filling, these festive heroes boast a super-value RSP of £1.75 and offer a POR of 21.2%.
As you can no doubt see, with so much autumn colour up for grabs, the NPD Guide is well worth leafing through.
Pick up a copy in depot, ask your RDM, or scan the QR code in this feature to view it online and give your sales some autumn glow.
SPRING PRE-SELL
Pre-Sell Perks
Springboard to success
Take advantage of Booker’s 2025 Spring Pre-Sell and watch your footfall, sales and profits bloom this spring.
As all successful retailers know, staying ahead of the game is the best way to play – especially if scoring strong footfall, sales and profits is your aim.
Helping retailers to do just that is Booker’s Spring Pre-Sell 2025 – open for orders now until Monday 25 November.
The Spring Pre-Sell offers retailers unparalleled choice – with access to 322 seasonal products, including 21 Group Exclusives.
The spring extravaganza also features 123 brand new products across key categories, all of which are sure to help them make the most of all of the season’s blooming array of celebrations and events, including Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Pancake Day, Easter and many more.
The Spring Pre-Sell also features ultracompetitive prices across all the key spring categories to help retailers offer their shoppers unbeatable spring value.
Sweetening the deal yet further is the fact that retailers who take advantage of the Spring Pre-Sell can order now and pay later – with extended credit until 21 April.
After a Fast Start on 9 December, the first drop will take place on 6 January, followed by four more drops right up until 31 March 2025 – ensuring that stores are perfectly primed to bloom this spring.
So what are you waiting for? Get your orders in today to toast a tastier tomorrow.
PANCAKE DAY
The Spring Pre-Sell includes a batter-
than-ever mix of Shrove Tuesday treasures from pancake-making kits to toppings and fillings. The McDougalls American Pancake Mix offers retailers a stirring POR of 44.2% on an RSP of £1.79.
For shoppers who want to flip without the fuss, retailers can also pre-order ultraconvenient Green’s Pancake Mix Shakers which just require the addition of water. Shakers come in a case of six for a WSP of £4.75 and offer a POR of 38.6%.
Retailers are also well covered when it comes to toppings and fillings, with the Pre-Sell offering a fantastic range of classic pancake pairings such as Nutella – where retailers can make a saving of £2.80 on the WSP for a case of six 350g jars.
New to the Pre-Sell this year are also Nutella-branded Free Standing Display Units – offering retailers a great way to create high-impact displays and drive impulse sales this Pancake Day.
Retailers can also help their shoppers to pimp up their pancakes with even more indulgent and on-trend international fillings such as Strawberry Marshmallow Fluff Spread, Lotus Biscoff Crunchy Spread and new to the pre-sell Nutini Chocolate Spread.
MOTHER’S DAY
The Spring Pre-Sell also includes an outstanding array of gifts to help shoppers treat the marvellous mothers in their lives. The Pre-Sell line-up includes a number of boxed chocolates, from Lindor Strawberries & Cream to Ferrero Rocher Hearts, which have an RSP of £7 and offer a POR of 25.6%.
Retailers can also pre-order themed Mother’s Day Counter Display Units
(CDUs) featuring an assortment of mini gifts, such as pens, keyrings, magnets and bears. With RSPs ranging from £2.50 to £6.50, the products could make ideal pocket money gifts from children to their mothers. Each pre-filled CDU has a WSP of £79 and offers an average POR of 51%.
Retailers can also unwrap pleasing margins on a range of spring-themed gift and bottle bags including a POR of 55% on Butterfly Swirls Gift Bags and 51.1% on boxes of assorted 3-metre wrapping paper.
EASTER
Retailers will also have a cracking opportunity to give the Easter bunny a run for his money this Easter with a truly eggscellent range, including 18 Group Exclusive Easter products.
The Group Exclusive hoard includes sharing formats, premium gifts and bigbrand shell eggs in a range of sizes. Sure to give your sales a hop is the Group Exclusive ‘Cadbury Fingers Inclusions Ultimate Egg’. Featuring a creamy Dairy Milk chocolate shell, with crispy biscuit pieces and two bags of Chocolate Fingers, the Ultimate Egg has an RSP of £14.99 and offers a POR of 21%. Fans of US products and sweet and salty flavour combinations will also want to take a crack at the brand-new Reese’s Egg. The Group Exclusive hollow egg features an RSP of £6.49 and offers retailers a POR of 25.2%.
The Easter line-up also includes a mighty mix of top-selling mini-sized eggs – all of which are sure to help retailers bag those all-important early Easter sales.
The range includes bestsellers such as Milky Bar Mini Eggs, Smarties Mini Eggs, and Aero Mini Eggs, all of which will be
Case size: 6x75cl
WSP: £24.99
RSP: £6.50
POR: 23.1% NEW!
Popcorn Mini Bunny
Case size: 24x58g
WSP: £26.25
RSP: £1.75
POR: 25%
NEW TO PRE-SELL
Case size: 18x87.5g
WSP: £11.39
RSP: £1.15/2 for £2
POR: 34%/24.7%
Case size: 4x260g
WSP: £32.45
RSP: £12.99
POR: 25%
available on an ‘Any 2 for £2.50’ offer.
Look out also for Kinder Bueno Hazelnut eggs, Terry’s Chocolate Orange Mini Eggs, Galaxy Chocolate Truffle Mini Eggs and of course the bestselling Cadbury Mini Eggs, including the Group Exclusive Orange variety.
Taking advantage of the Spring Pre-Sell and stocking up on Easter treats, such as mini-sized eggs, early has many proven benefits. Did you know that more than half of Easter confectionery is actually eaten well before Easter? It’s true! As is the fact that 74% of early Easter sales are mini-sized eggs, self-eat eggs and Easter block products.
And with more to Easter than chocolate, the Spring Pre-Sell also includes a delectable selection of spring-themed sugar confectionery, along with cakes and biscuits including a number of new Mr Kipling lines, such as Egg Fancies, Simnel Slices and Hot Crossed Pies – all of which have PORs of between 20.1% and 30.4%.
Shoppers who like to bake a taste of spring at home will also be able to do so with a range of new home-baking kits, including Mr Kipling Signature Collection Belgian Chocolate Brownie kits and Belgian Chocolate and Zesty Orange
Seasonal Sips
Cake kits – both of which offer a POR of 25.5%. Look out also for brand-new Betty Crocker Easter Egg Hunt Cake Mix, which has an RSP of just £2.50 and a POR of 25%.
SPRING CLEANING AND ALLERGIES
And, of course, spring isn’t all about chicks and chocolate. For many shoppers, spring is also a time to clean up their homes and their health. With many adult smokers making quit attempts at the start of the year, the Spring Pre-Sell also includes great prices on products such as Nicorette Icy White Gum, which has a WSP of £46.99 for a case of 12 packs. Each 30-piece pack has an RSP of £7.25 and a POR of 43.3%.
Also helping shoppers to make a fresh start is a range of spring-cleaning essentials that includes New Elbow Grease Washing Up Liquid and Scrub Mate sponges.
Hay fever sufferers will also thank you for pre-ordering Nuage Hayfever Relief Wipes and Nuage Hayfever Face Mists – the latter of which are available on a 24-piece clip strip. With a WSP of £14.75 and an RSP of just £1.19 these handy spray bottles offer retailers a not-to-besniffed-at POR of 38%.
SPRING PRE-SELL 2025
CHOICE
322 lines including l 123 New Lines
l 21 Booker Group Exclusives
PRICE
Competitive prices across all the key spring categories.
SERVICE
Order now and pay later with Extended Credit until 21 April 2025
Diary Dates
PROMOTIONAL PERIOD: NP13
l 14 February: Valentine’s Day
l 17 February-18 March: Ramadan
PROMOTIONAL PERIOD: NP13/1
l 4 March: Pancake Day
PROMOTIONAL PERIOD: NP1
l 17 March: St Patrick’s Day
l 30 March: Mother’s Day
l 31 March: Eid
PROMOTIONAL PERIOD: NP2
l 18 April: Good Friday
l 20 April: Easter Sunday
l 21 April: Easter Monday
l 23 April: St George’s Day
From Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day, Easter and more, the spring season offers a bounty of opportunities for shoppers to come together and celebrate. Helping them to do just that, Booker’s Spring Pre-Sell also includes great deals on an array of key alcohol lines as well as soft drinks. Look out for the Group Exclusive All Shook Up Mixed Pack featuring 10 pre-mixed cocktail cans. New to the Pre-Sell, these exclusive cases feature a WSP of £21 for three and an RSP of just £11, offering a POR of 20%. Also new to the Pre-Sell are 75cl bottles of Kylie Prosecco. With an RSP of just £9.99, Ms Minogue’s bottles are also perfect for adding some sparkle to Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day celebrations. Ideal for celebrating St Patrick’s Day, meanwhile, are bottles of Paddy Irish Whiskey, also new to the Pre-Sell this year and featuring an RSP of £16.49.
The Pre-Sell also includes numerous deals on lager and IPA multi-packs from big brands including 1664 Bierre, Carlsberg Pilsner, Heineken, Stella, BrewDog and more.
Mixing it up beats sticking with the same
To fizz up festivities, ensure you have the right range available
Schweppes
Make Christmas fly with Jack’s Mince Pies!
For many of your shoppers, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without mince pies, so be sure to stock of on Jack’s Mince Pies to max out those festive sales.
The exclusive Jack’s own-brand range offers retailers a fantastic way to set themselves apart from the competition, and at no point in the year is this more important than during the crucial festive period.
And for many shoppers, nothing says Christmas quite like a delicious mince pie or two to share with friends and family and really get into the festive spirit.
Jack’s Mince Pies offer the perfect combination of quality and value that your shoppers will be looking for this Christmas. They were a huge hit last year and they’re all set to star at this year’s festive show too – so be sure to stock up now and site them prominently in your store.
Shoppers trust the Jack’s brand to deliver, with the Tesco family branding helping to reinforce the quality credentials of the products and giving shoppers the confidence they need to buy into the Jack’s range.
Featuring a delicious shortcrust pastry case, filled with indulgent mincemeat and topped
off with a pastry lid and dusted with sugar, Jack’s Mince Pies are sure to elevate the festive dinner table this year and at just £1.75 for a 6-pack, they provide the exceptional value that shoppers have come to expect of the Jack’s brand.
Just as important, retailers are guaranteed a strong POR of 21.2%.
So stock up now and watch your sales fly this Christmas.
Jack’s Mince Pies
Case size: 12x6pk
Top BONDS CHOCOLATE RAISINS
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Every issue we bring you the latest product launches from your favourite suppliers
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Every issue we bring you the latest product launches from your favourite suppliers
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ROYD'S MULLED WINE
MEET THE BUYER
Name: Simon Robinson
Title: Category Planning Manager
Category: Fresh
In this issue we catch up with Category Planning Manager Simon Robinson who looks after the vital and growing fresh category for Booker. Say ‘hello’ to...
SIMON, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?
I’m Simon Robinson and I’m one of four Category Planning Managers at Booker. The Category Planning Manager role was only created within Booker a few months ago so it’s an interesting and exciting period for me as I help shape the role. My primary responsibility is fresh and chilled and it’s a great category to work in because fresh and chilled is growing fast in independent retailing and I believe there is huge scope to continue to grow it in future.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE NEW ROLE?
As we speak, about 12 weeks! So it’s still very much early days for me in this role but we have already achieved real progress and we have big plans for the future as we help retailers make more of fresh and chilled.
HAD YOU WORKED IN FRESH AND CHILLED BEFORE?
Yes, I have a lot of experience in the category. My most recent role before taking on the new job was as Category Manager of Frozen but in my 16 or so years at Booker I’ve worked in all sorts of categories and roles. That broad experience has really helped shape my understanding of Booker and of what our retailers need from us to maximise their sales and profits.
SO, WHAT DOES A CATEGORY PLANNING MANAGER DO?
It’s quite a complex role but it essentially breaks down into two key areas. The first is overseeing the promotions, pricing and range and the second is helping develop a longer-term strategy for the category. The two areas are obviously deeply interlinked but the Category Planning Manager role means someone help the team deliver big picture projects of the category and working closely with every other team in Booker
About Simon
Simon Robinson has been with Booker since 2008 having previously worked at the Co-op. In his 16 or so years at Booker he has worked across a number of different roles including non-food and, most recently, as Category Manager for Frozen.
A few months ago Simon was promoted to a new role as one of four Category Planning Managers at Booker, positions which had never existed before. In his role, Simon has responsibility for the entire fresh and chilled category and is relishing the challenge as he helps retailers grow their footfall, sales and profits in an increasingly vital category.
that works in that category to deliver a joined-up approach. That, in turn, allows us to deliver the best possible support to our retailers.
FRESH MUST BE AN ENJOYABLE CATEGORY TO WORK IN?
It definitely is because it has so much potential for growth. So many of the other product categories that you would call ‘traditional’ convenience retailing categories are under pressure of one kind or another, often due to new legislation or just shifting shopper trends. The legislative landscape, as all retailers know, is increasingly difficult as they try to cope with HFSS, DRS, new tobacco and vaping regulations, you name it. And shopper behaviours are changing alongside with more shoppers keen to make healthier choices when they visit a store, whatever that means to the individual shopper. In that sense, fresh and chilled are almost entirely free to grow and develop unhindered and that offers retailers a big incentive to shift more focus onto the category.
HOW BIG IS THE FRESH OPPORTUNITY FOR RETAILERS?
In a word, huge! The category has undergone enormous growth in the last decade and it offers retailers a big opportunity to drive profits by pushing at what is effectively an open door. We know that shoppers want to buy more fresh and chilled food. It’s no coincidence that the first thing you see when you walk into any supermarket is the fresh category. Having fresh front and centre sets the tone for the entire shopper visit.
IS THAT SOMETHING INDEPENDENT RETAILERS SHOULD CONSIDER?
It is – and, to be fair, a lot of retailers are already doing it. It’s increasingly common to be greeted with a beautiful fixture of fresh food as soon as you walk through the door. Fresh is what we call an ‘indicator category’ for shoppers. If a shopper walks through the door and the first thing they see is a wall of beautifully presented, colourful fresh products, it indicates that this is a great, well looked-after store with a great range and is therefore as good place to shop.
WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE TO RETAILERS CONSIDERING GOING BIGGER ON FRESH AND CHILLED?
Firstly, I’d say that’s a great idea! Around 36% of all sales in the average convenience store are fresh and chilled. It’s already a huge category and it has more than doubled in size in the last decade. So, the first step is to ensure that you have a strong
Around 36% of all sales in the average convenience store are fresh and chilled. It’s already a huge category and it has more than doubled in size in the last decade.
range. Your RDM can advise on the core lines that you should consider. There are maybe 70 or 80 lines that you should stock as a minimum, if you have the space – but these are genuine high rate-of-sale core lines and you probably already stock a lot of them. I would also advise retailers to be aware of the chilled food to go opportunity. That’s big and getting bigger. Lastly, I would urge retailers to focus on great presentation. That means creating an attractive fixture in the first place and it also means checking up on the fixture, at least once an hour, to ensure the product quality is where it needs to be and to ensure that your fixture is sending out the right messages to shoppers.
HOW IS BOOKER HELPING RETAILERS EXPLOIT FRESH?
In lots of ways! The Jack’s range is a massive opportunity because we know shoppers trust the Tesco brand and they understand that they’re getting the same quality they’d find in a Tesco. We’ve also worked hard on managing waste for retailers which is one of the biggest concerns for many. That can mean longer shelf-life products, smaller case sizes or other innovations. For example, we recently launched new vacpac Jack’s mince which helps massively improve shelf life. That has performed really well. We do listen to retailers and work with them to give them
the tools they need to make more profit from fresh and chilled.
HOW IMPORTANT IS VALUE IN FRESH?
In today’s challenging economic climate, value matters just as much in fresh as it does in every category. Shoppers want value and quality and they don’t want to compromise. That’s why the Jack’s range is such a vital tool. Our Fresh 4 rolling promotion is also a great way of delivering regular, fantastic value in the fresh category for your shoppers. It can also help bring new fresh shoppers into your store, shoppers that had perhaps never considered buying fresh from you before.
HOW IS 2025 LOOKING?
It should be a busy year and another strong one for the category. The early months of 2025 are a great opportunity to move up a gear in fresh and chilled as many shoppers start a new year with resolutions to eat and drink more healthily. Plus we have lots of NPD planned throughout the year and we’ll be increasing our focus on chilled food to go to let retailers meet that growing demand. There’s a lot to love about the fresh category and I’d love to see more and more retailers up the ante in 2025. It’s time to get fresh!
Savings to smile about
Exclusive new deal offers big savings on payments
Booker Group has agreed an exclusive new deal with Worldpay that can help Londis retailers make major savings on payments and reduce the cost of doing business.
Unleash your payments potential
With the cost of doing business seemingly rising across the board, it’s vital that Londis retailers do everything they can to reduce their outlays. Booker Group has recently struck a new and exclusive deal with payments experts Worldpay that can help retailers cut the cost of taking credit and debit card payments.
As the number of shoppers using cash continues to fall, retailers will be well aware that the charges they incur for taking credit and debit card payments continues to grow.
Booker’s new exclusive deal with Worldpay, part of Booker’s wider Added Value Services progamme, offers the opportunity to quickly and easily reduce the cost of every card transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Londis retailers pay just 0.279% per debit card transaction and just 0.650% per credit card transaction. Additionally, the monthly rental fee for the terminal is only £15 and the authorisation fee is £00.01.
With decades of expertise working with businesses big and small, Worldpay is perfectly placed to support retailers and help them level up their payments and expand their reach.
The Worldpay offer includes card payment solutions, online gateways and integrated payment systems that enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive growth. All of this is backed by 24/7 support, insightful analytics and flexible financing options.
TAILORED FOR RETAIL
In today’s fast-paced retail environment, optimising payment strategies has become crucial for retailers keen to drive revenue growth and enhance customer experiences. Worldpay’s new report – Retail Payments Performance – found that:
l 94% of retail shoppers think having a range of payment methods to choose from is important
l 57% of consumers report selecting a retailer specifically because of the payment methods they accept
FAVOURITE
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Simple payments with more ways to pay
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High-performance payments solution for now and next
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Worldpay employs robust protection tools that can help tackle fraud while streamlining how you take, make and manage payments. Flexible settlement options are also available to manage access to funds for retailers.
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The key to future growth lies in creating seamless, personalised experiences that resonate with modern shoppers’ expectations and values.
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So isn’t it time you considered switching your payment experience to Worldpay and started making savings on every card transaction you process?
Simply scan the QR code in this feature and a Worldpay payment expert will be in touch.
Streamline how you take, make and manage payments
Customer experience
Simple payments with more ways to pay
Modern performance
High-performance payments solution for now and next age
Great local businesses like yours live around every corner, and we champion you by powering your payments. With that part of your daily tasks taken care of, you’re free to focus on everything else that makes your business great
SCAN THE QR CODE TO START SAVING
Use facial recognition and video recording technology with care
If you make use of facial recognition and video recording technology to combat crime in your store, it is critical that you comply with all relevant data protection regulations. Here’s how…
By Karen McClymont, Head of Data Privacy & Risk, Booker Group
With retail crime continuing to impact local stores, you might be considering the use of new technology such as live facial recognition technology (FRT), body cameras or CCTV to help protect your staff, premises and stock. These are extremely useful to retailers, but bring with them other challenges, especially from a privacy perspective. Your customers are very aware of their rights in this area and so this article sets out some of the key points you need to consider.
Your customers are very aware of their rights in this area, so this article sets out some of the key points you need to consider.
WHAT PERSONAL DATA DOES FACIAL RECOGNITION AND VIDEO RECORDING TECHNOLOGIES USE?
Video recording technology such as CCTV and body worn cameras capture images and in some cases audio footage of anyone in the vicinity of these devices. Images and audio recordings of an individual are classed as personal data/information. Audio is extremely privacy intrusive and should only be used if you have initially considered using alternative, less privacy intrusive methods.
Live facial recognition technology (FRT) is like CCTV, in that it captures images of anyone in the vicinity, but often also involves the automatic collection of biometric data. This is any personal data that can uniquely identify (recognise) the person it relates to, has been extracted or further analysed using technology. It can also relate to someone’s behaviour, appearance, or observable characteristics for example, a person’s voice, fingerprints, or face.
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* Based on NielsenIQ RMS data for the Nicotine Pouches category for the 18-month period ending 30/12/2023 for the UK total retail market (Copyright © 2023, NielsenIQ).
** This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance. For adult nicotine consumers only. For tobacco trade use only. Not to be left in sight of consumers.
Biometric is defined as sensitive personal data. This is because FRT systems capture the biometric and image data of all individuals passing within the range of the camera automatically and indiscriminately. Data is collected in real time and potentially on a mass scale. As a result, there is often a lack of awareness, choice, or control for the individuals.
HOW DOES USING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY AND DATA PROTECTION REGULATION IMPACT ME AS A RETAILER?
The UK Data Protection regulations apply to any company that uses personal information in the process of offering goods and services for sale. This also applies when using CCTV, facial recognition software or use of data to track online behaviour.
Every organisation or sole trader who processes personal information needs to pay a data protection fee to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) unless they are exempt.
Processing personal data means collecting, storing, analysing and recording information about people. You must make sure you know and explain to others why you have this information. You must keep it safe and destroy it securely when it’s no longer needed.
What else must you do as a business if considering using facial recognition technology FRT or CCTV?
l Complete a DPIA (a Data Protection Impact Assessment). As a small organisation this is like how you’d approach many other workplace decisions –you look at the situation you’re in and the options available to you, weigh up the risks and opportunities and decide your way forward.
l For your DPIA, you’ll describe what you plan to do, including whose data will be used and why you need to do it that way. You’ll then assess whether the processing is necessary and proportionate – in other words, a plan that’s balanced and makes sense –before setting out what measures you’ll put in place to ensure your plan complies with data protection laws.
l If you think there are any risks to people, you need
to make a record of this along with any mitigations or solutions you’ve found.
l Position any cameras in areas with sufficient lighting and not in private areas such as bathrooms and changing rooms. Any recording equipment and monitors should be in a private and secure location.
l It is vital that you ensure that your staff have been trained and know how to use the systems correctly, so you remain compliant. You should know how to retrieve stored data where required for individual rights requests. You should also be able to effectively blur or mask footage if redaction is required to protect the rights and freedoms of any third parties.
l Have visible signs showing that CCTV or other FRT system is in operation, including who is responsible for the system.
l If you use watch lists, these must be constructed in a way as to be compliant with data protection regulation
l For FRT, ensure you can clearly identify false and true matches and correct the system.
l Comply with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice where required.
Failure to comply with these principles may leave you open to substantial fines. This could mean a fine of up to £17.5 million, or 4% of your total worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher. Remember too that members of the public have rights and can make complaints about you to the ICO if they don’t believe you are handling personal data correctly. It’s important you know what these rights are – people may object (Right to Object) to you processing their data using FRT or CCTV or want a copy of the information you hold about them (a Subject Access Request), so it’s important to be prepared.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND FURTHER INFORMATION?
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK regulator for data protection, and you can find lots of useful guidance on their website:
l www.ico.org.uk/for-organisations/business/
l www.ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidanceand-resources/cctv-and-video-surveillance/
Make a meal of it!
The real deal
Londis is helping retailers to make the most of the lunchtime food-to- go opportunity with a tasty new Meal Deal offer.
As pretty much every single store profile that we run in Londis News clearly demonstrates, food to go is big business these days – and a key focus for most store development projects and new store openings.
CATEGORY
Lunch remains a key meal for food-to-go. In the first quarter of 2024, 71% of food-to-go customers purchased for this meal occasion [IGD].
As a market, food to go has seen continued growth in 2024, with £48.2bn spent on food in the out-of-home market – an increase of 14% year-on-year. [Kantar Out-of-home, 52 w/e 9 June 2024].
Lunch remains a key meal for food-to-go. In fact, in the first quarter of 2024, 71% of foodto-go customers purchased for this meal occasion according to IGD.
But with purse strings still tight for many shoppers – value for money remains key to those on a lunch-to-go mission.
And that’s where the mighty meal deal comes in.
MAKE A MEAL OF IT
Meal deals meet three of today’s most pressing shopper demands: value for money, convenience and variety.
With their reliable, pocket-friendly price points, meal deals hit the value-for-money button square on.
They’re also exceptionally quick and convenient – a key consideration for shoppers on the go – allowing them to effortlessly grab all their lunch needs in one fell swoop.
And, with shoppers increasingly demanding variety and the ability to customise their
choices, meal deals win again – allowing shoppers to pick a different combination of mains, sides and drinks every day of the week.
NEW LONDIS MEAL DEAL
Helping retailers to make more out of the meaty Meal Deal opportunity, Londis has recently re-launched its sandwich Meal Deal, with new price points and a refreshed suite of eye-catching POS.
Retailers can pick one of two Meal Deals to offer their shoppers: a £4.50 option, or a £5 Meal Deal.
Retailers are free to choose whichever deal they like, regardless of store format or size –although typically, the £5 price point tends to be favoured by forecourt stores.
Both Meal Deals include a Main, a Side and a Drink.
Once they have picked which deal they would like to offer, retailers can then order the relevant supporting POS kits – free of charge from the Londis Printshop.
Food to go is an especially relevant category to the forecourt sector, where growing numbers of forecourt stores are developing their offers or introducing new ones. In fact, according to the Association of Convenience Store’s 2024 Forecourt Report, 85% of stores now offer a customer-operated coffee machine, and just under 40% feature food preparation areas. Refrigeration was also the largest area of investment for forecourt retailers in the past year, as they sought to offer shoppers more chilled choice, including chilled food to go.
Save energy, save money BETTER SERVICE
Working with Hawley Energy, Booker’s Energy Saving Service helps retailers cut their energy bills, generate new income streams and make a positive sustainability impact.
With energy costs continuing to rank among Londis retailers’ key challenges, Booker is urging all retailers to consider new ways to save energy, save money and enhance their planet credentials.
Working with partner Hawley Energy, Booker’s Energy Saving Services is a powerful way to slash bills, generate new income streams and make a positive step in the right direction in terms of sustainability.
How it works:
Hawley Energy takes care of every step of the journey by:
Step 1 – Analysing your energy data to identify optimal solutions.
Step 2 – Generating bespoke designs to achieve maximum ROI.
Step 3 – Presenting funding options and financials.
Step 4 – Installing the chosen solution(s).
Delivered via a single point of contact, the service makes it as simple as possible for retailers to have solutions designed and installed with a minimum of fuss.
Equally importantly, the Energy Saving Service allows retailers to start saving from day one without spending a penny.
KEY SOLUTIONS
Hawley Energy offers two key solutions to Londis retailers that can help them take their business to the next level: Solar PV and EV Chargers. Savings through solar can be substantial while EV Chargers are a great way to unlock fresh footfall and generate fresh income streams for retailers with a car park.
It couldn’t be simpler to take advantage with Hawley Energy taking care of every step for you. From analysing your energy usage data to identify optimal solutions
The Energy Saving Service allows retailers to start saving from day one without spending a penny.
all the way through generating bespoke designs and presenting funding options to installing your chosen solutions, Hawley Energy takes all of the hard work away.
EV CHARGING
With more and more electric vehicles on the road today, installing EV Charging facilities is a great way to generate fresh footfall and increase loyalty and customer retention. It also helps increase dwell time, which can have a positive effect on your store sales.
If you have a car park, you can benefit from free-to-fit EV Chargers and, better
still, you earn an income from each charger every time it’s used.
SOLAR PV
Hawley Energy has extensive experience working with businesses of all sizes. From small sites that use energy mostly in the daytime to larger sites that have higher energy demands in the evening, Hawley Energy has the experience to size Solar PV systems correctly to ensure that retailers benefit from a cashflowpositive system which saves them money from day one.
Here are two examples of the potential savings that can be made:
If you have a car park, you can benefit from free-to-fit EV Chargers and earn an income from each charger every time it’s used.
With Asset finance, your net saving is your year one saving minus your annual finance payment. In the above examples, the savings would be more than the annual finance payment so the system would be cashflow positive in year one.
VIEWPOINT: ACS Make your voice heard
Every crime,every time
The latest official crime figures have been published recently with the Office for National Statistics reporting a new record high for the number of shop theft offences. The number of recorded incidents has risen by 29% in the last year, reaching almost 470,000. But what does this actually mean?
The first thing to be clear about is that these figures are a dramatic underestimation of the reality of the situation on the ground. Our Crime Report estimates around 5.6 million incidents of theft over the last year based on responses from retailers, and if you break that down it works out to around two incidents of theft per week per store. I think if you spoke to any retailer, they’d take only two incidents a week in a heartbeat! The ONS figures suggest only one in 10 of those incidents are being reported, and that’s for the entire retail sector which is 10 times the size of the convenience sector. So, there’s a huge disconnect between what’s being taken from stores and what’s being shared with the police.
We know from surveying retailers on a regular basis that theft has been on the increase consistently for the last three years, currently sitting at levels we’ve never seen before, so in a way it’s inevitable that the ONS figures would increase as well. What we hope is starting to happen though, is that more retailers are taking the time to report incidents when they happen, which starts to bridge
ACS is asking retailers to report every crime that happens in their store to help close the gap between reported crime levels and actual crime levels to help force action.
the gap between police perception of the scale of the problem and the reality. This isn’t happening anywhere near fast enough yet, but the alternative is that retailers stop reporting, which then reduces the official figures, which in turn leads to theft becoming even less of a priority and a resource allocation for police forces than it is now.
Whatever the figures say, the impact of repeated, brazen thefts on a business cannot be overstated. This is a problem that isn’t going away any time soon, driven in part by increasingly organised groups that are stealing to order, knowing exactly what they’re after and willing to take bigger and bigger risks to steal. Retailers and colleagues are facing into this reality on a daily basis.
The Government has committed to doing more on shop theft, and we’ve had productive conversations with many of the Police and Crime Commissioners that set local priorities for their forces, but there’s clearly much more to be done. My advice to any retailer that is dealing with theft, however frustrating it is, is to report as much as possible. Only by closing that gap between the reality of the situation and the official figures on reporting will we see more attention given to shoplifting, more police on the beat to get these criminals off the streets, and targeted outcomes to stop reoffending.
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