Retail Express - 11 August 2026 by BetterRetailing

BURNHAM’S SHOPPING LIST • What the PM’s plan for ‘growth in every postcode’ could mean for your store • Experts: Burnham must make these changes to make his retail revival a reality

11-24 AUGUST 2026 STRICTLY FOR TRADE USERS ONLY

POWERBALL MONEY HAS LANDED

Rules, Procedures & Game Specific Rules apply. Players must be 18+.

POST OFFICE SCANDAL

FIGHTING RETAIL CRIME

THE LATEST PRODUCTS

Horizon inquiry report says local communities deprived of service are also victims

Cautious optimism for retailers as reported shop theft falls again for second quarter

New Grenade, Maryland, Walkers and Jam Shed products for your shelves

2026700 PB Retail Express 260x215mm LANDSCAPE 11-08 to 24-08 AW5.indd 1

21/07/2026 14:14

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BIGGEST LEGAL HOW TO DEAL WITH THE 10

Retail Legislatgiuoidne The

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THREATS FACING YOUR SH

Discover the laws most stores are unknowingly breaking

T C E T PRO YOUR STORE res

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YOUR STORE’S USP

Retailers’ tips on standing out from your local competitors P22 11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

ADVICE

FINDING A POCEINT OF DIFFEREN rs are finds out how retaile CHARLES WHITTINGof difference for their store discovering a point it effectively and then marketing

11-24 AUGUST 2026 STRICTLY FOR TRADE USERS ONLY

the experience, for the service and Vekaria, People come to us standing out? – Amit but how are other storesSalford, Greater Manchester One Stop Duchy Stores,

Suril Patel, , Corner Shop Kingsthorpe Northamptonshire

Paul Thomas, One Stop Main Avenue,

Atul Hathi, , Latchford Londis, Warrington Greater Manchester

down Bridgend cave, which went we installed a beer People want “FOUR years ago, the summer months. and have it shop is within spitting really well, especially during on protein. The nearof beers to a barbecue get from us. “WE’RE very strong an industrial estate able to take a 10-pack they can of new and exciting distance of three gyms and there’sbeen going strong for four to be chilled, and that’s what they know it up with 10- and on is getting hold that’s for. We we can �ill is already We have a range “WHAT we’ve focusedare interested in and will travel Nutrition, which as I’d have liked, but the �loor and we see a masand by as well. with Gold Standard stepped up since It’s not as big �ive stacks on products that people of the imported Monster varieties we’ve years now. We started lots 12-packs. We’ve got protein meals, and all over. a range a fresh started out getting in beer sales. it’s for life. But a range of frozen to our shop from protein crisps, and a local sive uptick cave was a massive investment and consistent, so in the protein cookies, we had people travelling Game Nutrition, a niche for your imported stock isn’t the country to get then, with “That beer that might create from A-Head of the we have in store the things “Getting hold of the wraps down slushies, new and and out up meals alcoholic travelling you can try the dedicated section we started selling early days, we were We were really going out of our way. supplier. We call Eight years ago, alcohol miniatures. with suppliers as buying slushies and FSDUs and a store. Nutrition Centre. the stock we needed. more links and connections and delivered Bridgend a freezer, a double door chiller, two Game Nutri- when we saw people daiquiri, maragarita and piña colada, We shipped “But we’ve made Fruit. “We have A-Head of the have strawberry a lot of the products Strongbow Dark These days, stuff comes in from And we put We now so we can get Blood Orange and lid and separate straw – helped with our appeal. and they’ll metal stand. The menus every time. well as Thatchers to our store, a week, with differentthe customers know the delivcups, with a sealed to us. And that’s certainly ” me, tion twice in from wherever a legal perspective. sell them in plastic onto Facebook, so worth of food. top of things from drinks. It still shocks someone will travel you’ve got to be on Monster and other media, that straightand they’ll come to buy their week’s to us.” spend £60-£70 on in about it on social 00 a week get very excited same eries are is worth £4,000-£4,5 but they do it. We customers can sense you have the That brand alone which helps because these products.” for passion as they do

in-store wastage. retailers are cutting g@newtrade.co.uk team finds out how .whittin the Retail Express , please email charles In the next issue, s you’d like us to explore If you have any problem

S ’ M A H N BUR T S I L G N I P P O H S or f n a l p s ’ e PM ld u o • What th c ’ e d o c post y r e v e n i e r ‘growth o t s r u o y mean for

ake m t s u m m nha r u B : s t il r a e t e r s i • Exp h e ak m o t s e g n these cha y t i l a e r a l a reviv P3

POST OFFICE SCANDAL

FIGHTING RETAIL CRIME

THE LATEST PRODUCTS

Horizon inquiry report says local communities deprived of service are also victims

Cautious optimism for retailers as reported shop theft falls again for second quarter

New Grenade, Maryland, Walkers and Jam Shed products for your shelves

our say

Alex Yau, editor

The importance of retailers in their communities RECENTLY, I went to my nearest Post Office branch to exchange pounds for euros ahead of a trip to Bulgaria. It’s where I’ve gone to conduct all my currency exchange for holidays over the past five years. It’s not just me who relies on the branch. My wife uses the site for all her parcel deliveries. It’s also the place I see many elderly people, where the staff are more than happy to engage in conversation with them while they help them with whatever service they require at the time. I don’t know anything about their personal lives, but it’s safe to assume some of these elderly customers are in vulnerable positions, either living alone and/or with mobility issues. It also shows the importance of CLOSURES CAN the post office in the community and the implications if the branch REALLY IMPACT were to close. COMMUNITIES The next nearest Post Office branch would require them to take public transport or walk at least 30 minutes. The role post offices play has been highlighted in the Horizon scandal inquiry’s latest Your Own Words publication. I recommend you read our lead story on it on this page. It, but it includes accounts on how closures as a result of the miscarriage of justice impacted the customers who relied on them. It’s not just post office sites that do this, however. Whether it’s providing cash or welfare checks on certain customers, many independent retailers like yourselves already have an important role as pillars of your respective communities.

The five biggest stories this fortnight 01

PO Horizon scandal impact on communities revealed

ALEX YAU

more than 300 people impacted by the scandal. Alongside testimonies from THE loss of Post Of�ice (PO) branches from the Horizon innocent Horizon victims scandal stripped communi- “ostracised” by their comties of their “eyes and ears”, munities, it shared accounts from members of the public according to a new report. The third volume of the who had lost a vital service Horizon inquiry’s Your Own following the loss of their Words released last month nearest branch. The report said: “The loss collated submissions from

of post of�ices and subpostmasters are said to have been felt acutely in rural areas where a post of�ice was seen as the hub of a community. Some described the role as the ‘eyes and ears’ of a community, or a ‘community hub’.” One submission said: “Post of�ices, especially in rural areas, were an integral part of

community life, and were often the ‘glue’ that held together often fragile communities, and were seen as pillars of that close-knit community. “Stripping away this vital layer of society and accusing and persecuting/prosecuting innocent postmasters has resulted in more harm and damage than is yet realised.”

@retailexpress betterretailing.com facebook.com/betterretailing Editor Alex Yau alex.yau@ newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3358

Associate editor Jack Courtez jack.courtez@ newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3371

Editor in chief Louise Banham louise.banham@ newtrade.co.uk

News editor Ryan Butcher ryan.butcher@ newtrade.co.uk

Features editor Charles Whitting charles.whitting@ newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3350

News reporter Kwame Boakye kwame.boakye@ newtrade.co.uk

Features & advertorial writer Shyama Laxman shyama.laxman@ newtrade.co.uk

Deputy insight & advertorial editor Jasper Hart jasper.hart@ newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3384

Production manager Chris Gardner 020 7689 3368

Head of marketing Kate Daw 020 7689 3363

Finance manager Magdalena Kalasiuniene 020 7689 0600

Senior production & content editor Ryan Cooper 020 7689 3354

Head of commercial Natalie Reeve 07856 475 788

Managing director Parin Gohil 020 7689 3388

Copy editor Minhaj Zia

Senior account director Lindsay Hudson 07749 416 544

Head of digital Luthfa Begum 07909 254 949

Senior designer Jody Cooke 020 7689 3380

Senior account manager Tommy King 020 7689 3387

Designer Lauren Jackson

Cover image: Getty Images/DustyPixel Flickr/Number10

42,624

Bestway changes

BESTWAY Wholesale’s Dawood Pervez has stepped down as managing director, following his appointment as chairman on 1 July. The wholesaler con�irmed the change and said a wider

Powerball results

reshuf�le has been completed THE National Lottery’s new to “focus on strengthening Powerball game was met leadership capability”. with mixed sales in stores. Bestway chief operating Vince Malone, of Tenby of�icer Naser Khan has re- Stores & Post Of�ice in Pemplaced Pervez as managing brokeshire, said: “Sales acdirector. counted for 12% of our Na-

For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘Bestway’

Dodgy cash boom

RETAILERS have been urged by the Bank of England to be more vigilant in preventing counterfeit banknotes entering circulation. Chief cashier Victoria Cleland told Retail Express re-

tional Lottery sales in the opening week.” Ken Singh, of Love Lane Stores in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, said: “It was quite poor for us as we only sold a few tickets.”

For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘Powerball’

PayPoint results

tailers should remain “alert, PAYPOINT’S revenue from sernot alarmed”, despite a recent vices in its 30,000 partnered rise in counterfeit notes be- stores is down by 6.5% year ing removed from circulation. on year, �igures for the last She urged stores to make rou- three months show. tine note checks part of everyDespite the decline, the �irm day trading. said its recent “business reor-

ganisation” had increased the number of store visits and cut the average call waiting time suffered by retailers. It attributed the revenue cut to tough trading conditions and parcel volume changes.

Retail Express is printed and distributed by NewsAudit Bureau of Circulations July 2024 to June 2025 printers at Broxbourne and delivered to news average net circulation per issue retailers free by their newspaper wholesaler. Published by: Newtrade Media Limited, 11 Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2SD Phone: 020 7689 0600 Retail Express’ publisher, Newtrade Media, cares about the environment Reproduction or transmission in part or whole of any item from Retail Express may only be undertaken with the prior written agreement of the Editor. Contributions are welcome and are included in part or whole at the sole discretion of the editor. Newtrade Media Limited accepts no responsibility for submitted material. Every possible care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information. No warranty for goods or services described is implied.

For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘‘bank notes’

For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘PayPoint’

@retailexpress facebook.com/betterretailing

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

alex.yau@newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3358

Time to back local shops, industry tells Burnham RYAN BUTCHER ANDY Burnham arrived in Downing Street with a shopping list of promises for Britain’s high streets. Business rates. Town centres. Prices. Cost of living. Each would have a big impact on convenience retailers. But local shops are still waiting to see what’s in the basket for them. The new prime minister wants high streets to become the “beating heart” of local communities and has promised “growth in every postcode” through plans to revive town centres. It is hard to argue with that ambition. The question now is when local shops will move from the sidelines to the shopping list. The �irst big test came with business rates. Burnham announced a 20% discount for pubs, clubs and live music venues from next April, describing them as businesses that “bring people together”. Convenience retailers would say they do exactly the same thing, yet they were left off the list. ACS chief executive Ed Woodall says that needs to change. “To create growth in every postcode across the UK, the government must reform the business rates system and provide further support for local shops,” he said. Then came supermarket pricing. Burnham’s chancellor, John Healey,

has warned ministers are prepared to crack down if major retailers exploit the con�lict in the Middle East to push up prices. Once again, local shops were left watching from the sidelines. Independent retailers say rising wholesale costs and energy bills have already squeezed margins, making comparisons with supermarkets unfair. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says ministers cannot tackle prices without tackling retailers’ costs. Following Healey’s comments, food and sustainability director Andrew Opie said rising prices were also being driven by government policy, including the “continued failure to reform the outdated business rates system”. So, what should be on Burnham’s shopping list? If Burnham wants to deliver “growth in every postcode”, experts say convenience retailers need to be at the heart of it. Ian Harvey, head of the Institute of Place Management, says it starts with recognising convenience stores are more than shops. “For convenience retailers, that means safer streets, attractive public spaces, better transport connectivity, coordinated marketing and events, and a local partnership that actively supports business growth,” he said. “Independent conveni-

express yourself “CLEANLINESS makes a hell of a difference, and we try to impress that on our staff. If you go into a store and it’s dusty and not looking great, that could make you ask, ‘What are the products like?’ A vacuum, a mop and a good broom are essential. Cleaning is a serious part of the job that comes with reputational and legal ramifications if not followed rigorously, and it can represent a significant portion of your outgoings if you don’t keep on top of it.” Neil Godhania, Nisa Heacham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

GOOD WEEK LIONCROFT WHOLESALE: The wholesaler is rebranding its entire Lifestyle Express fascia across England and Wales, giving the symbol a more “premium feel”. The update gives the brand a brighter blue and green colour scheme, highlighting each store’s grocery and alcohol range. Lifestyle Express Marsh Lane in Erdington is the first of 340 stores to receive the upgrade. THE i PAPER: An upcoming campaign on The i Paper can help retailers boost their existing newspaper sales. Participating stores will receive 25 free copies of the newspaper each day for a week to give away, with i publisher Associated Newspapers contacting customers half way through the voucher scheme to persuade them to subscribe to the newspaper. Retailers will receive a payment for every voucher registration.

BAD WEEK

Picture by Simon Dawson – No 10 Downing Street

ence retailers are often the commercial anchors of those neighbourhoods. If neighbourhood growth is to be genuinely inclusive, these businesses should be seen not simply as bene�iciaries of policy, but as partners in delivering it.” Jessica Craig, policy manager at Power to Change, said Burnham should prioritise two changes for retailers: tackling absentee landlords and reforming business rates. “I’d like to see the government support councils to use their enforcement powers to take on absentee

the column where you can make your voice heard

landlords, alongside more investment that helps communities own, regenerate and run high street spaces,” she said. “Business rates remain one of the biggest barriers to thriving high streets. While recent changes have provided some respite for retail businesses, the system still discourages new businesses from moving to the high street and makes it harder to develop innovative new ways to meet local needs. We need a fairer business tax system that rewards businesses investing in their communities

and helps diversify our high streets.” Ultimately, though, the clearest shopping list comes from behind the counter. Viraj Patel, store manager at Krystals Nisa Local in Wandsworth, south London, says the government’s starting point should be tackling retailers’ costs. “It’s business rates, but electricity prices, too. Three years ago, there was strong relief on business rates – now we pay nearly the full rate. I’ve seen in the news many independent shops are going to close because they can’t afford to pay it.”

WHOLESALE: Parfetts, Co-op Wholesale and Morrisons have put in extra contingency plans to cope with a spike in demand during upcoming heatwaves. Retailers told Retail Express they had delays to chilled deliveries due to the hotter weather. The plans include improved forecasting and extra stockholding. For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘wholesale’ DISPOSABLE BBQS: A petition is calling for the removal of the product from stores following concerns they will contribute to a recent spate of wildfires. Mark Hall, director of businesswaste.co.uk, who has formed the petition, said: “Every year, we continue to see news reports of the damage done by the use of disposable products and boycotts have proved to be fleeting.”

How do you stay on top of store cleanliness?

“I RECENTLY bought two Numatic machines for £2,500, which mop and scrub at the same time. My stores have Gerflor vinyl flooring, which is hard to mop while we’re open because it doesn’t dry quickly. When you work out what your labour cost is to mop the floor every day, that machine will pay for itself in 18 months because we can now use it throughout the day. The store managers know the quiet periods of the day when it can be used.” Peter Patel, Costcutter Meopham, Kent

“WE will clean as we go all day long as the store has a commercial kitchen making food to go throughout the week, including roasts at the weekend. Cleaning is one of the key margin drains on my food to go. Our commercial ovens have a cleaning facility you can put on for a clean at the end of the day – however, the detergent is quite expensive. We’ll maybe do it three times a week, then it’s elbow grease for the rest of the week.” Judith Smitham, Pydar Stores – The Old Dairy, Cornwall

Do you have an issue to discuss with other retailers? Call 020 7689 3358 or email alex.yau@newtrade.co.uk

Judith Smitham

NEWS

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

Shop theft fall for second quarter RYAN BUTCHER

is the second consecutive quarter showing a year-onyear fall. The ONS said previous rises re�lected both higher offending and improved reporting, after police encouraged retailers to report more incidents and submit CCTV evidence. Retail groups cautiously welcomed the �igures but warned they remain a long way from re�lecting what

POLICE-RECORDED shop theft offences in England and Wales fell by 4% over the past year, according to the latest of�icial crime �igures. Of�ice for National Statistics (ONS) data showed 507,086 recorded shop theft offences in the 12 months to March 2026, down from 530,324 a year earlier. It

of�icial �igures continue to highlight the challenges facing convenience stores. However, we welcome signi�icant positive steps that have been made throughout the past year on increasing the visibility and accessibility of police forces in communities,” he said.

shopkeepers experience on the ground. Fed national president Hemanshu Patel said: “While there are encouraging signs that retail crime may be levelling off, overall levels remain far too high, and signi�icant underreporting means the true scale of the problem is still not fully understood.” ACS chief executive Ed Woodall also welcomed the �igures with caution: “The

For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘retail crime’

Peckish goes hungry

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person said: “As Peckish is now part of our wholesale business, our focus is on integrating it into the business and making the most of the opportunity.” For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘Peckish’

● REVEALED: The major bra nd looking to supply loca l shops for the first time ● Everything you need to wor k out if this 50% margin opportunity is right for you Page 4 »

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EXCLUSIVE PRICING DATA TO BOOST YOUR PROFITS Pricewatch: discover the most profitable price points on top-selling RYO tobacco

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CO-OP Wholesale has declined to con�irm whether its Peckish rapid delivery service has hit its target of more than 1,000 retailer sign-ups within its �irst year. A Co-op Wholesale spokes-

WHOLESALE

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PREMIUM MEAL OPPORTUNITY PREMIUM frozen meal supplier ByRuby has struck new directto-store supply deals with Coop Wholesale and Booker. The firm said stores can make a 25% margin on orders of fewer than 25 cases and 30% on orders above. Co-founder Milly Bagot told Retail Express the wholesale rollout follows success in 20 Our Co-op stores, with branded freezers also due to land in

10 MFG forecourts. “We’d love to be in more than 100 convenience stores by the end of the year,” she said.

Illicit tobacco survey NEARLY a third (31%) of people surveyed in the UK have been offered illegal tobacco products, according to research by JTI. As part of its campaign, JTI claimed 219 stores were

found to be selling illegal tobacco, with evidence passed to Trading Standards and HMRC. For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘tobacco’

PRODUCTS

Grenade launches Soft Core SHYAMA LAXMAN GRENADE has launched Grenade Soft Core, a range of protein bars with a soft core and gooey centre. Retailing at £2.95, the 50g bars come in three �lavours: Golden Caramel, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Double Chocolate. According to Mintel, 75% of UK snack eaters say that snacks combining different textures appeal to them, while 70% are interested in �illed snack bars. The launch offers retailers a distinct point of difference in the protein bar segment with elevated textures and �lavours

that are designed to appeal to more customers. The Soft Core range follows the success of Grenade Creme Egg Soft Core bar, which launched as a limited edition at Easter, delivering 87% incremental sales. This variant is also among the top 25 protein products, according to What to Stock, adding £4.65 to retailers’ tills each week. Grenade accounts for 56% of the products within the top 25 protein category ranking across bars and drinks. The launch will be supported with an above-theline campaign running from September to October and PoS in store.

FUNCTIONAL soft drinks brand Skïp has launched a range of Magnesium drinks. Skïp Magnesium comes in two sparkling �lavours: Berry & Cherry and Kiwi & Lime, retailing at £1.99 for a 250ml can. Each can contains 188mg of magnesium and vitamins

B6 and D. The drinks are available on Amazon, TikTok Shop and via wholesaler HT Drinks. The launch follows the successful national rollout of Skïp’s Peach & Ginger, Elder�lower & Mint and Lemon & Basil cold-pressed CBD drinks last July.

White Choc Hobnobs now in indies A WHITE chocolate variant of Hobnobs is now available at wholesalers serving independent convenience stores. According to information seen by Retail Express in a wholesaler’s brochure, McVitie’s Hobnobs The White Oaty One comes in a case size of 12, retailing at £1.85 for a 232g

pack. It is expected to bring retailers 12.54% pro�it on return. Incidentally, McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Hobnobs takes second spot among the top 25 bestselling sweet biscuits, according to What to Stock.

LAUNCH

Do not Skïp on your Magnesium More Gumi Yum to go around

LAUNCH

WORLD of Sweets has widened its Gumi Yum portfolio with two new price-marked bagged sweets. Gumi Yum Rainbow Ribbons and Gumi Yum Rainbow Tubes are available in £1.25 PMPs.

Rainbow Tubes feature �ive sour-coated sweets with a creamy centre in Peach, Apple, Blueberry, Strawberry and Pineapple �lavours. Gumi Yum Rainbow Ribbons are peelable, fruit-�lavoured rainbow strips with a sour coating, tapping into growing shopper demand for

GET READY FOR A

SOUR THEN SWEET

TRICK OR TREAT Drive Halloween sales

novelty and interactive sweets. Circana �igures indicate that share bags account for 71% of value sales and 66% of volume sales in UK confectionery.

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

Maryland teams up with Terry’s COOKIE manufacturer Maryland has partnered with Terry’s to launch Maryland S’wich Terry’s Chocolate Orange cookies. The partnership is Maryland’s second major brand partnership this year, following its collaboration with Harry Potter on a limitededition run of Butterbeer�lavour Cookies, inspired by the �ilm franchise.

Initially having launched as a Booker exclusive, Maryland S’wich Terry’s Chocolate Orange will be available at wholesalers from 12 August, priced at £1.39 for a 150g plain and pricemarked pack.

LAUNCH

Time to snap up some Ice Snappers BOBBY’S has expanded its freezable treats range with the launch of Sour Ice Snappers. Supplied ambient and ready to freeze, Sour Ice Snappers are available in a 48x50p format in four �lavours: Ice Cool Apple, Arctic Frost Tropical, Sub Zero Blue Razz and Freeze-ing Watermelon. Sour Ice Snappers also taps into one of confec-

tionery’s fastest-growing �lavour trends. Sour now represents 12% of the market, worth £171m in sales, with sour-�lavoured products growing 4.5 times faster than the total market, according to Circana.

LAUNCH

Sensations expands Thai Sweet Chilli range WALKERS has added two new �lavours to its Sensations range: Thai Sweet Chilli Poppadoms and Thai Sweet Chilli Wavy Cut. Both are available across the grocery channel, with RRPs of £2.50. Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli Wavy Cut is also available across selected discounters and Spar. The launch also comes with a pack-

aging refresh starting with the Thai Sweet Chilli launches, with the rest of the Walkers Sensations range changing over to the new design by the end of this year.

LAUNCH

Jam Shed drops cola-based RTD JAM Shed’s new ready-todrink (RTD) offering, Jammy Red Wine x Cola, is now available via wholesale. The wine-based RTD originally launched into B&M, Home Bargains and Savers this May. According to information seen by Retail Express in a wholesaler’s brochure, Jammy Red Wine x Cola comes in a case size

of 12, retailing at £2.75 for a 250ml can. It is expected to bring retailers 20% POR. The RTD is expected to land on grocery shelves later this summer, launching in Tesco this month.

LAUNCH

PRODUCTS

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OREO has launched an Oreo Cookie Dough variety. Retailing at £1.60, it is a traditional Oreo biscuit with a cookie dough creme �illing that has cocoa pieces. According to the supplier, the launch aims to drive trial and recruit new shoppers to the brand while also providing existing Oreo shoppers with more variety. The brand has also launched Oreo Mini Snack Bags and a resealable sharing tray. Alongside this, Oreo Enrobed White is also returns as a permanent part of the portfolio. The Oreo Mini Snack Bags (RRP £1.25 for 110g) are suit-

ed for on-the-go consumption. Research shows that 24% of Oreos are consumed outside the home. Recent studies have also shown that 67% of snacking occasions happen in the afternoon and evening, making the pack suitable for big nights in as well. The Oreo Sharing Tray (RRP £2.50) holds 36 biscuits, which makes it a convenient format for larger social occasions or celebrations. The returning Oreo Enrobed White (RRP 65p) comes in a two-pack format following its success as a seasonal offering.

LAUNCH

Monster launches Nitro Blue Flash

Urban Eat Chicken Satay Skewers

MONSTER has launched Nitro Blue Flash, the latest �lavour to join its Additions range. Retailing at £1.85 for a 500ml can, the launch combines Monster Energy blend with a light blueberry �lavour. It builds on the success of the Nitro Range, which �irst launched in August 2024 and is now worth £8.7m, according to Nielsen. Furthermore, NIQ �igures reveal that the Monster Additions range – which includes its Reserve and Nitro variants – and special-edition

URBAN Eat has launched a high-protein range of Chicken Satay Skewers. Made for on-the-go consumption, the skewers are marinated in aromatic seasoning for 12 hours and grilled. They are available in three pack formats: Satay Skewers Snack Bag (£1.99 for 56g), Satay Skewers Super-Sized (£2.79 for 100g) and Satay Skewers with a Sweet Chilli Dip (£1.99 for 55g).

collaborations – is up 44% in value, adding £16.9m in sales over the past year.

LAUNCH

McVitie’s Digestives Galaxy gets inspired join the mint Club by bakery flavours MCVITIE’S has expanded its Chocolate Digestives range with the launch of limitededition McVitie’s Mint Club Digestives. Available now to convenience stores and via wholesale, the launch combines McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Digestive with the �lavour of Club Mint

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bars. It’s priced at £2.35 for a 250g pack. Earlier this year, the brand also launched the limited-edition McVitie’s Digestives Jaffa Cakes �lavour.

LAUNCH

GALAXY has unveiled two new bakery-inspired �lavours – Galaxy Millionaire Crumble and Galaxy Cinnamon Swirl. Retailing at £3.25 for a 160g block, the �lavours initially launched in Food Warehouse and Iceland, and will continue to roll out to retailers nationwide throughout the autumn. Galaxy’s research has revealed that more than a third (36%) of its consumers

rank millionaire’s shortbread as their favourite dessertinspired �lavour. Meanwhile, cinnamon remains popular among bakery �ixtures. As such, the new variants aim to help retailers drive incremental sales through trenddriven �lavours.

LAUNCH

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

Kocktail introduces new glass format to premium RTD range KOCKTAIL has unveiled a brand-new format of its premium RTD line-up, called Kocktail Glass. Each 100ml serve is designed to deliver a standardsized cocktail in a ready-todrink glass. Consumers can choose between a Negroni, Old Fashioned and Margarita. They simply need to add ice and garnish to the drinks, and the glasses can be reused. The launch comes at a time when RTD sales continue to grow, with Nielsen research indicating that the category is worth £630m in the UK. The range is available from CN Foods and The Cress Company.

The Curious Drinker debuts dual-format RTD cocktails THE Curious Drinker – formerly known as Craft Gin Club – has entered the RTD category with the launch of its �irst canned cocktails. The �lavours are Raspberry & Lime Mojito, Passion

Fruit & Vanilla Martini and Mango & Pineapple Margarita. Each variant is available as either an 8% ABV cocktail (RRP 3.40) or a 0% alcohol alternative (RRP 2.40) infused with L-theanine,

magnesium, lion’s mane and electrolytes.

LAUNCH

Ritter Sport secures wholesale tie-up with Parfetts RITTER Sport UK has announced a partnership with Parfetts, bringing �ive of its bestselling block chocolates to the wholesaler. The brand’s Rum Raisin & Hazelnut, Marzipan, Milk Whole Hazelnut, Dark Whole Hazelnut and Pistachio varieties will be available from nine Parfetts depots across the UK. The supplier says this move will help it recruit new shoppers and build brand awareness by making it available to more than 6,000 independent retailers. A new branded collaborative line will also launch this September. The collaboration comes as Ritter Sport has delivered

annual volume growth of 2.2 million units. This marks a 22.2%

increase, compared to the overall block chocolate category’s 5.2% decline.

POWERBALL MONEY HAS LANDED Don’t miss out on Powerball sales – offer customers a ticket to play! Rules, Procedures & Game Specific Rules apply. Players must be 18+. 2026700 PB Retail Express 128x339mm 11-08 to 24-08 AW3.indd 1

17/07/2026 14:42

MY STAR STAFF

MEMBER

OPINION

RETAILER OPINION ON THIS FORTNIGHT’S HOT TOPICS

What do you think? Call Retail Express on 020 7689 3357 for the chance to be featured POWERBALL: How did the new Lottery game perform? “WE sold 25 tickets in the �irst draw, but this then dropped to �ive. A £4 price can come across as expensive, so we’ve been getting staff to actively promote the big value of the potential £1bn jackpot. We’ve got play slips by the tills and point-of-sale up each time there is a draw.” Kaual Patel, Nisa Torridon, south London

Dillon Gough

“THE price can be a bit high, but when you break it down, customers tend to buy two lucky dips anyway. We had a syndicate come in and jump to Powerball, so we’ve got guaranteed customers every week. We’ve got all the PoS up and have created a lot of buzz on Facebook.” Natalie Lightfoot, Londis Solo Convenience, Glasgow

My role in the shop: store assistant How did you start working in the shop? Apart from another retail role I had elsewhere for three weeks after finishing school, this is the first proper retail job I’ve had. My mum knows Fiona quite well and found out they were looking to employ staff. I interviewed, and the rest is history.

We’ve got guaranteed customers every week

You’re a local resident? Yes, I was already familiar with the shop as I came in as a customer a few times before. I’ve known it when it used to be a Premier. It’s definitely more spacious since the refit in April, and the product range has improved. I also know many of the customers, and helping them is one of my favourite parts of being a store assistant. You really get to build that relationship with them in this role.

ACCESS TO CASH: Why is this still vital for shoppers?

What do you do in the shop? My roles are quite varied. I stock the shelves, work on the tills and spend a day in the bakery. It can be quite hard being around all the freshly baked products as it makes you hungry. Do you have any favourite products? I have quite a few in the shop. The chocolate chip cookies we make fresh every day in the bakery are definitely up there as one of my favourites.

Cash still has a place in today’s society

“WE’VE seen a big increase in business deposits over the summer, and customers are withdrawing more. There are still lots of cash-only businesses in Cornwall, and many people feel cash helps them budget better. Business owners are coming from further a�ield for cash services.” Sarah Ellis, Copperhouse Post Of�ice, Cornwall

“IN the city centre, we’ve seen many nearby banks either close or reduce their hours entirely. It’s important we offer cash services, as many elderly and vulnerable people still rely on physical money. It’s an important service that still has a huge place in today’s society.” Majid Khan, Derby City Post Of�ice, Derbyshire

TGJONES: Has Frontline helped you benefit from closures? “I WAS hesitant at �irst because we were thinking of downsizing, but since our range increase, people actually started to browse and place requests. My message to other shops? Seize the opportunity. You can be the destination for magazines.” Shaid Hussain, Good News, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

“I ADDED 65 titles previously unavailable in the store and had four new customer orders and a sales uplift on titles such as Buses and HarleyDavidson. If your TGJones is closing, promote your store. I would’ve stood outside with a sign if I’d known earlier.” Mani Singh, News 4 U, Solihull, West Midlands

You can be the destination for magazines WORLD FOODS: How are you differentiating?

Store owners: Fiona and Vince Malone, Tenby Village Stores & Post Office

Get in touch

Want to recommend a star member of staff? Call 020 7689 3358 or email alex.yau@newtrade.co.uk

My customers tend to be affluent foodies

“SUPPLYING a world-class range of global food ingredients is the lifeblood of my business. My customers tend to be af�luent foodies who keep abreast of the food press and demand authenticity. It’s not just Mexican tortillas. Customers want speci�ic chillis, speci�ic noodles.” Abdul Arain, Al-Amin Store, Cambridgeshire

“IT all depends on the demographics of the area. World foods for me means eastern Europe because 80% of my customers are from countries in this region. The store has a complete range of eastern European meats, fresh, cooked and dried, and confectionery and bakery on sale.” Kumar Patel, Patson Local, Bradford, West Yorkshire

LETTERS

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

of CHRISTINE Hopes Longtown, HOPE Hereford

Letters may be edited

Look after your customers and they’ll look after you

‘Taking out Tango Ice Blast over continual faults’

WE’VE got a Tango Ice Blast slush machine from Frozen Brothers that’s been in the store for a few years. We’re getting nowhere with it when it comes to faults, however. We had to replace it because the old one stopped working, but the new one has been out of action throughout June and July. We’ve probably lost about £3,500 in sales in that time.

We last got in touch with it in mid-July through the online portal, but we got a reply saying ‘sorry you’re experiencing this problem, we’ll get someone out to you’, and no one came to help resolve it. We even showed it the sales data comparing this year to last year to back up how many sales we’ve lost. This issue is in our Southborough store. We had the same issue in Meopham, so

COMMUNITY RETAILER

OF THE WEEK

Ikram Vali, Middleton News, Manchester

we took the machine out because it was out of service more times than it was working. We’re on the last year of our contract. We won’t renew and will take it out once we come to the end of the contract. Peter Patel, Costcutter Southborough, Kent

A Frozen Brothers spokesperson said: “Our engineers

made some visits to the Southborough store between April and July. Our most recent visit identi�ied a new fault, and on that basis we’ve decided to replace the unit in full, at no extra fee. This follows a complaint raised with our complaints team on 20 July. We have contacted Mr Patel directly and are awaiting an update so we can process the replacement as soon as possible.”

COMMUNITY RETAILER

OF THE WEEK

Hamza Hussain, Abu Bakr Supermarket, Leeds

‘Proud to win first Champion award’

‘Shining a spotlight on unsung heroes’

“WE’RE proud to receive PayPoint’s first Community Champion award. Running a convenience store isn’t just about selling groceries anymore. Customers expect us to offer parcels and access to cash services, too. Those services make a difference to local people, and they’ve helped us build a stronger business. We’re looking forward to using the community fund to give something back locally. PayPoint’s Jo Toolan said Middleton News was a ‘fantastic example’ of how retailers can offer a full range of services to better serve customers.”

“WE believe the true strength of our communities lies in the people who quietly make a difference every day. The Abu Bakr Community Awards are about shining a spotlight on those unsung heroes who give their time, support others and inspire positive change without expecting anything in return. Whether it’s a student who has overcome adversity, a teacher who has changed lives, a parent who goes the extra mile or a volunteer serving the community, we want them to know that their efforts matter and are appreciated.”

TO make things work in this business, you have to go above and beyond for your customers, listening to their needs and finding ways to help them. Do this and you will often find yourself rewarded either directly or indirectly. One thing that springs to mind was hearing a customer consistently referring to us as Each issue, one of seven top a supermarket retailers shares advice to rather than a local make your store magnificent shop. I’d never have thought of ourselves like that, but we have since made sure to start using that word more on our website because it will come up higher on the search if people are looking for supermarkets. SEO might not be as critical as it used to be, but you can look at Google Maps and it will tell you what words customers are using to search for you, and you can change how you describe yourself accordingly. Then there are simple things, favours you can do. I had a customer who wanted me to hold ice for them in the hot weather. I didn’t have the space in store, but I had some freezers in the back that I had switched off. So, I turned them on and put about 18 bags in there. They came in afterwards and gave me £150 for it. That kindness comes back to you. And then there’s a local choir group who meet in the village hall nearby. They’ll always come into the shop afterwards. I heard that they were looking for a new venue, but one of the members said that if they changed venue, she would leave the choir, because it would mean she couldn’t come to the shop afterwards. She didn’t like the idea of them no longer supporting us after we had looked after them for so long. So, if you can find ways to be helpful and communityminded, the rewards will come back in myriad ways you wouldn’t expect.

Get in touch

@retailexpress betterretailing.com facebook.com/betterretailing alex.yau@newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3358

CATEGORY ADVICE HEATED TOBACCO

THE HEAT IS ON TAMARA BIRCH talks to retailers about heated tobacco, how they’re driving sales and the future of the category

THE HEATED TOBACCO SALES OPPORTUNITY HEATED tobacco sales remain steady, with some stores (16%) reporting weekly sales of more than £500 and up to £5,000, according to a survey run by Better Retailing Club Rewards. Priyesh Vekaria, of One Stop Carlton Convenience in Salford, Greater Manchester, says a reason behind this is supplier relationships and a product that feels “ahead of its time”. He says the UK has to play catch-up. “In other countries, we’ve seen it sold in huge volumes and it’s being used as a gen-

uine tool to make smoking healthier or make quitting easier,” he says. After going on a tour, Vekaria then worked with Philip Morris Limited (PML) to introduce devices and its tobacco sticks. His challenge in driving sales has been education and shoppers not giving enough time to get used to the device. “We offer customers the toolkit to trial heated tobacco continuously for 14 days, and the brand and I subsidise the cost,” he says. “It has worked well for a lot of our customers.”

Andrew Cruden, former owner of Market News in Northampton, says he was one of the top sellers of heated tobacco products outside of the M25. “We had a small store, but we always offered the full Iqos range from the start to offer a strong visual impact,” he says. “Finding space was easier as tobacco went dark with packaging and displays, and we remerchandised other lines to make room. For example, we had four facings of Benson & Hedges Blue, so reduced facings to make room.”

TOP-SELLING BRANDS AND CUSTOMER TRENDS KNOWING what shoppers are looking for within heated tobacco is the first step to driving sales, which can then lead the way in deciding what to stock. “Consumers expect devices that feel modern, premium and customisable, whether through colours, limited-edition designs or connected features, such as Bluetooth integration and real-time feedback displays,” says Chris Allen, CEO of Broughton. This trend was also noticed by PML, which launched its

Iqos Iluma i range in February that included a touchscreen, an ‘Auto Start’ feature and a ‘Flex Puff ’ option that adapts the device to the rhythm of its user and can allow for more puffs. Stocking the right brands, flavours and a variety of them to offer customers choice will also help sales. For Cruden, Iqos Terea Turquoise, Iqos Terea Mauve Wave and Iqos Levia Deep Mint are the flavours that were most consistently sold. Whereas, for Vekaria, the Pearl flavours from the Iqos Terea range are his top sellers.

“In all honesty, Iqos Terea, Levia and Delia all perform well in store,” he says. “Delia is the slowest of them, but that’s because customers don’t understand the difference. Because it is heated tobacco, any new product comes with an educational aspect.” Vekaria has also noticed that any international customers visiting his store will stock up and buy full outers. “They pay the same price abroad, but availability isn’t as wide as in UK stores, so they stock up,” he says.

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

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This material is restricted to those who are involved in the business of the sale or distribution of tobacco who are aged 18 years or over. This material should not be made available to the public or sent to anyone else. These products are not risk-free and contain or provide nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.

CATEGORY ADVICE HEATED TOBACCO

SUPPLIER

VIEW Chris Allen, CEO, Broughton

“THE heated tobacco category has continued to grow steadily in recent years as adult consumers seek alternatives to combustible cigarettes. Market growth has been driven by ongoing innovation in device technology, improved user experience and increasing awareness of reduced-risk nicotine products. “We’re also seeing significant investment in product development, particularly around battery performance, device personalisation and faster warmup times. Manufacturers are increasingly focused on creating products that deliver a familiar and consistent experience for adult smokers while also meeting evolving regulatory expectations and reducing harm.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND VISIBILITY RETAILERS should ensure heated tobacco products are organised and easy for customers to identify, Allen advises. “Visibility and clarity are important because many consumers still require guidance when navigating newer nicotine categories,” he says. “Education-led promotion can also play an important role. “Retailers that help explain

the differences between product types, device functionality and compliance standards are often better positioned to build consumer confidence and encourage repeat visits.” Education remains imperative to driving heated tobacco sales, but retailers need to show their staff, as well as their customers, how to use the device and all of its uses.

Cruden, for example, trained his team about the category for when he wasn’t present in store. “Staff are the most-important aspect of making heated tobacco a success,” he says. “I wasn’t there as often as my staff, so it was imperative they felt comfortable and confident discussing the category. They need to know what they’re do-

RETAILER VIEWPOINTS ing or you’ll lose sales.” Vekaria also trains his team, but he offered three members of staff who smoke to trial Iqos products for a few weeks to understand it better. “One of them is still on it, so he’s able to educate shoppers in store about the range, but all my staff are comfortable talking about it,” he says.

What will the future of heated tobacco be? Priyesh Vekaria, One Stop Carlton Convenience, Salford, Greater Manchester “There’s an opportunity for heated tobacco to continue growing, but there are a lot of challenges around the legislative side of things. If they become more stable and education increases, heated tobacco has a strong future.” Andrew Cruden, former owner, Market News, Northampton “Heated tobacco will only grow, and retailers not stocking it should start to. The biggest thing this year is if anyone new enters the market, I’m concerned it won’t be as big as Iqos, as they dominate the market. Show your customers how to use devices; a little time will equal higher sales and profits.”

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

23 In partnership with 15

Shumaila Malik Best-one Heathside Road, Withington, Manchester

NEW PRODUCTS In case you missed it PML launches Iqos Iluma-compatible Delia sticks range PML’s Delia is the manufacturer’s latest range of heated tobacco sticks exclusively compatible with the Iqos Iluma range. Delia joins the existing Terea tobacco and Levia zero-tobacco sticks, and has been developed to broaden consumer choice and better cater to adult smokers seeking a more classic tobacco experience. It is available in Classic Red, Classic Gold and Classic Dark Green varieties, which the supplier says span Full Flavour, Balanced and Menthol varieties. Iqos Iluma In February, PML unveiled its latest iteration of its Iqos heated tobacco range with Iqos Iluma i. Available to convenience retailers via PMI Open, the supplier’s online trade platform, the device is available in three variants: Iluma i, Iluma i Prime and Iluma i One. Its features include a touchscreen across standard and prime variants, ‘Auto Start’, which allows users to automatically start heating their sticks when inserted, and ‘Flex Puff ’, which adapts the device to the rhythm of its user and can allow for more puffs.

DISPLAYING AND PROMOTING HEATED TOBACCO HEATED tobacco products need to be highly visible, clearly organised, and easy for any customer to view the range and find what they need. This is because many customers require guidance when reviewing heated tobacco and the simpler the display, the better. To bring shoppers to the category, make sure you’re willing to discuss the category, offer an

incentive or run a promotion. Vekaria, for example, says that if a customer shows interest in the category because they are looking to quit smoking, he’ll stop and run through the device and how to use it. “If they are open to trying them, we’ll utilise supplier relationships to create a brand day where they’ll spend the day with us in store and of-

fer an in-store exclusive,” he says. “It then gives them the opportunity to come back, try the product and get the device for free. Heated tobacco is a big thing; it takes time for a customer to get used to it.” Cruden, who did something similar, adds: “We offered the device and Iqos Terea for £19, which, when compared to buying 40 cigarettes, meant they

Focus on… working with trade associations WE’VE been in the trade for 30 years – the anniversary was at the start of August, but we’ll be celebrating properly in September when schools and the university open again, so everything will be busier. When we opened the shop in 1996, I didn’t have a business background, and when a rep from the Fed came to visit me, they gave me loads of advice on what I needed to do to cover myself legally. I joined the federation and knew that if there was anything I needed, I could call them. It was through the Fed that I was advised on the need to evolve the business. I expanded the store in 2000 and again in 2006, switching to a convenience format. It was the best decision I’ve made. I’ve since brought in parcels, money transfer and increased our licensed offer. I’m also getting lockers and a new coffee machine soon. I’ve also given back through the Fed. I was North West district president for two years, and I’m currently a trustee for the district. I’ve also been on national council and the national executive committee, and worked a lot on raising the issue of retail crime. It’s important to build a social network through trade associations and groups like Women in Convenience. I’ve developed a lot of retail friendships – you can learn a lot from others. It’s been invaluable. Headline partner

were saving a lot of money. This then makes trying it a nobrainer.” Cruden also did a lot of work with PML and used to have regular rep visits to help promote the category in store. “They’d come and spend time talking to the customers, but our staff also helped them register devices if they purchased one,” he says.

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CATEGORY ADVICE CEREALS & CEREAL BARS

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

A WHOLESOME PROFIT OPPORTUNITY CHARLES SMITH finds out how retailers can use cereals and cereal bars to satisfy shoppers’ appetites at home and on the move

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Susan Nash, trade communications manager, Mondelez International

WHO’S BUYING CEREAL? CEREALS present a major sales opportunity at breakfast time and beyond. The long-established big cereal brands remain core sellers, but demand is growing for high-fibre, low-sugar and natural options, with four in five buyers seeking healthier diets. Two-thirds of the cereal customers in Jeet Bansi’s Londis Meon Vale in Stratfordupon-Avon, Warwickshire,

are destination shoppers, buying cereal as a distress purchase. Bansi stocks the main cereal brands and price-marked packs (PMPs), alongside a selection of niche products that meet customers’ requirements. “To please everyone, you need to offer value and choice,” he says. “We have Nestlé Lion Chocolate and Caramel cereals on offer at

£1.99, to tide shoppers over to their next weekly shop.” Bansi’s range includes premium mueslis such as Dorset Cereals; hot cereals like Quaker Oats; and standard cereals such as Kellogg’s Cornflakes, Rice Krispies and Variety eight-packs. Avtar Sidhu, from St John’s Budgens in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, says price remains the most important driver for customers, with health see-

ing the greatest growth. “Cereal shoppers are looking for value, whether kids, adults or families, or healthconscious shoppers wanting fibre-rich treats,” he says. “The biggest recent development is the growth of protein and lifestyle products, but 90% of cereals we stock have been around for generations, and three suppliers, Kellogg’s, Nestlé and Weetabix, generate 90% of sales.”

“CEREAL bars have evolved beyond the traditional breakfast occasion, with brands now positioning them as convenient snacking options throughout the day. Morning snacking is becoming a functional moment for consumers looking to fuel up quickly and efficiently before the day begins. “Familiar options can drive repeat purchase, while newer formats and flavour combinations give shoppers a reason to reappraise the category and add something different to their basket. “The key is to work the category harder by stocking products that serve distinct shopper needs, rather than relying on a narrow range of traditional breakfastled options. Retailers should think beyond the breakfast fixture and consider how cereal bars can connect with on-the-go, at-home and workplace snacking occasions.”

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CATEGORY ADVICE CEREALS & CEREAL BARS

WHAT TO STOCK CEREALS are one of the easiest categories for retailers to manage, according to Sidhu. “Health-conscious shoppers go for healthy products with no added sugar, and kids want chocolatey treats,” he says. “The core offer should always

be the big brands’ best sellers, but retailers should focus, too, on what else sells in their store, and know their customers’ preferences.” Depending on your customer base, there’s scope to stock super-premium cereals from

MAKE IT FUNKY IT’S worth highlighting unusual and trending products in your store, such as high protein and gluten-free. Keeping up to date with the big brands’ latest launches and on-pack promotions can also attract further customer interest. Sidhu wows shoppers by importing ‘funky’ cereals, and promoting them

on social media. He stocked Kellogg’s Pokémon cereal before its official UK launch, and announced it on his platforms. “We bought a lot, and sold it all. It was a new thing, and shoppers came to check it out,” he says. “Buying smarter like this, you needn’t promote the whole category to grow sales.”

NEW PRODUCTS smaller suppliers and local producers. Stores should also feature gluten-free cereals that address specific dietary needs. “A lot of existing cereals are naturally gluten-free,” Sidhu points out, “so retailers need to know which ones they are,

and highlight them.” Think, too, about seasonality. People typically eat more hot cereals in cold weather, but for best results, stores should offer core ‘hot’ products such as Quaker Oats and porridge pots all year round.

DRIVING SALES IN CEREAL BARS CEREAL bars, led by protein and fibre offerings, are ideal for busy shoppers’ treat moments throughout the day. They are gaining acceptance as a stand-alone category and retailers who give cereal bars prominence stand to benefit from shoppers trying them as snacks in meal deals. Protein is still one of the biggest draws in choosing cereal bars, says Alice Boardman, marketing manager at Nakd and Trek supplier Natural Balance Foods. However, fibre is now equally important, with 75% of launches in the past two years containing a fibre

source. Retailers should highlight single bars in impulse areas, with displays by coffee machines, tills and food-togo sections. Placing multipacks at eye level on cereal fixtures appeals to shoppers shopping for lunchboxes, while dualsiting them with chocolate and biscuit multipacks encourages purchases for picnics and outings. Finally, consider your location. Stores near gyms can turn gymgoers into regular customers by promoting cross-purchasing through displaying cereal bars alongside energy drinks.

What’s new in cereals and cereal bars? Kellogg’s Kellogg’s has added Crunchy Nut Crunchies Caramelised Biscuit Flavour to its range. Each 420g package has an RRP of £3.50. Quaker Quaker Overnight Oats in Blueberry and Mocha Choc Chip combine 100% wholegrain oats and chia seeds. It has an RRP of £3.75. Biona Biona’s new HFSS-compliant spelt breakfast cereals are Spelt Puffs, Crispy Spelt Flakes and Honey Spelt Puffs. The RRPs range from £2.69-£3.49. Belvita Mondelez’s Belvita Honey and Chocolate Chip Minis is a bite-sized non-HFSS snack for families and younger adults, containing 85 calories per 19g bag. Pip & Nut Pip & Nut has expanded its Stuffed Oat Bar range with new Peanut Butter Stuffed Honey Nut and Almond Butter Stuffed Cinnamon Bun. They have an RRP of £1.35 for singles, and £3 for multipacks.

CATEGORY ADVICE FRESHERS & YOUNG ADULTS

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

FRESHERS’ WEEK TACTICS

SELLING TO STUDENTS AND BEYOND

AS new academic year students arrive, the retailer needs to grab their attention fast. Bhavik Odedra’s Welford Road One Stop shop is close to the University of Leicester, and much of his footfall comes from students. Freshers’ Week is bigger than Christmas for the store, and he starts preparing in July. Odedra is putting together 1,000 goodie bags to distribute during Freshers’ Week 2026, working with suppliers who donate products such as toilet roll and face wash. He will also be sending staff out to leaflet around the campus area. “We need to get to the students before they notice the big Morrisons down the road,” he says. “We point out where we are and how near we are. In fact, our prices on

fruit, veg and meat are often lower than Morrisons.” Mike Nijjer, from Costcutter Bull Street in Birmingham, is also in a university catchment area; he has three universities on his doorstep. He sees sales increase by 50%-60% when students return in September, although that rise tapers off as the term continues. Nijjer puts together around 200 goodie bags for Freshers’ Week and heavily promotes the store on social media. Both retailers carry a wide range of basic household items for students who have just arrived and may have forgotten essentials, including saucepans, knives and forks. These sell well during Freshers’ Week, while plastic containers do well all year round, says Nijjer.

ANNE BRUCE finds out what it takes to build and keep a young customer base

BOSS! WIN A BOOT LOAD OF MAGNUM

HOW TO ENTER TAKE A PICTURE OF MAGNUM ON YOUR SHELVES, IN YOUR STORE

E-MAIL YOUR PICTURE TO MAGNUMCOMPETITION@CAMPARI.COM

B2B only. Prize draw open 06/08/26 to 30/09/26 for owners of small independent stores, local shops, newsagents, off-licences, corner shops and other similar outlets in England, Wales and Scotland only that primarily serve the local community, including small chain stores operating with a focus on providing convenient, local services to consumer customers. To enter: E-mail an unobstructed photograph of Magnum Tonic Wine on your shelves in your store to MagnumCompetition@Campari.com. Prize: 1x 30 cases of Magnum Tonic Wine (24 x 200ml bottles per case) to be won. Draw held on 01/10/26. Retain photographic proof for 30 days after the promotion end date for verification purposes. Max 1 entry per store. Participation may have tax consequences. Tax advice is recommended. T&Cs: https://bit.ly/MagnumCompetition . Promoter: Glen Grant Ltd t/a Campari UK, 14-16 Great Portland St, London W1W 8QW.

CATEGORY ADVICE FRESHERS & YOUNG ADULTS

THE STUDENT BASKET A TYPICAL basket might be £6 for a student coming in daily, says Odedra, or it might be £20 if the student is only shopping every couple of days. He says he tries to keep his range wide so that he has something for everyone. The top-selling categories for student shoppers are sandwich meal deals, which are priced at £4, impulse,

across the range of chocolates and crisps, and off-licence, anything from a bottle of vodka to a four-pack of lager. Instant noodles and “anything sweet” are the big sellers among students in Nijjer’s store. He calculates that around 70% of the shop’s overall cakes and sweets sales come from students, with American sweets being particularly popular.

Frozen ready meals and ready-to-drink (RTD) lines, such as BuzzBallz, also appeal to them. Stationery is always a good bet at the start of term, no matter how old the student is. Calculators, maths sets and stationery are in demand when kids in his area go back to school, says Kaual Patel, from Nisa Local Torridon Road in Lewisham, south London.

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Marina Santos, consumer, channel and customer marketing director, Campari Group “THE way shoppers navigate the drinks fixture continues to evolve, with more immediate consumption missions centred around the chiller than ever before. That’s creating new opportunities for retailers to merchandise products according to how they’re consumed, rather than simply where they’ve traditionally sat. “For Magnum Tonic Wine, chilled availability and strong visibility alongside RTDs can help the brand become part of those grab-and-go shopping occasions, while eye-level positioning ensures it’s easy to spot in a fast-moving fixture. Combined with secondary chilled placements around key shopper missions, retailers can maximise visibility across the store and ensure Magnum is available exactly as shoppers want to enjoy it – served cold.”

YOUNG ADULT FAVOURITES MANY of Patel’s customers fall into the ‘young adults’ demographic. Offering easy branded home cooking solutions and “weird new things” with health benefits is a winning way forward with this age group, he says. For example, the store offers Leon and Itsu-branded meal solutions that customers can take home and prepare. Patel stocks four or five Itsu broths and ramen, and a Leon range including waffle fries and sauces, which appeal to young commuters looking for shortcuts. Nijjer says young professionals will seek out fresh

food and will pay a premium for food with functional or health benefits, a trend Patel has also observed. Patel recently started trialling sports nutrition brand Vilgain in his store. The range includes popcorn and sweet potato crisps. Its electrolyte drinks, in flavours including elderflower, are “flying off the shelf”. Quality fancy drinks are also popular with young adults. Recently, in the hot weather, a premium frozen alcoholic sorbet priced at £10 a tub (with a 50% margin) has been doing well.

Hello to Vogo Vogo premixed vodka shots, in pocket-sized pouches, have launched into independent retail, aimed at the 20-35 age group. Available in four flavours – Strawberry Splash, Tropical Deluxe, Raspberry Blast and Citrus Zing – they have an RRP of £1.85 per pouch. Each 35ml serving has a 15% ABV. Vogo is supporting stores with a starter pack of 40 pouches and branded PoS including fridge stickers and clip strips. Cider decider Heineken UK wants to recruit younger adults into the premium cider category with its new Inch’s Reserve premium apple cider. Inch’s Reserve delivers a higher ABV at 7.4% for a fuller bodied cider. The 500ml glass bottle is priced at £2.80. New kind of chocolate Kind Snacks launched Milk & White Chocolate Nut bar this year. In a first for the brand, Kind has used milk and white chocolate inclusions in its core range with this product, rather than dark chocolate. The new variant is available as a 40g single bar priced at £1.60 and a multipack of three 30g bars for £3. Beastly Snacks Meat snacking firm Jack Link’s recently unveiled a new collaboration with major YouTube star and creator MrBeast, introducing a range of ‘MrBeast-endorsed’ high-protein beef jerky and biltong products in flavours of Original, Teriyaki and Sweet & Hot. Variants come in pack sizes of either 25g or 60g, with RRPs of £1.75 and £3.60, respectively. Each pack also features MrBeast’s logo.

11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

SUPPLIER

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Kate Abbotson, senior trade communications manager, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners “WE recently made a multimillion-pound investment behind a limited-time £1.89 PMP initiative across our 2l Fanta range. This type of activity is particularly relevant for students and young adults, who are often looking for affordable options for social occasions, whether that’s getting together before a night out, watching sport, gaming with friends or sharing drinks at home.”

STAYING SOCIAL BHAVIK Odedra is 28 and says that he can easily relate to the younger shopper’s habits. Social media is key for communicating the store’s promotions and special offers to younger shoppers and students. “It is a case of engaging them,” he says. “I relate to the young people and am always communicating with them in the shop and online.

I use a lot of TikTok and Instagram and post once a day, a promotion or a deal. You need to stay relevant.” He will keep an eye out for any viral trends in products, and will speak to suppliers or track them down online. “My suppliers often let me know what is coming in and social media is key to finding out about new products,” Odedra adds.

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Ed Merrett, wholesale controller, PepsiCo “To encourage sales from young adults and student shoppers, it may help retailers to focus on having the: 1. Right space: The main snacks fixture makes up 75% of category sales. Locate it near other impulse categories at the front of the store. For example, placing sharing packs of crisps next to your beers, wines and spirits can help drive impulse purchases ahead of big-night-in occasions for freshers and young adults living together. 2. Right price: Price-marked packs (PMPs) make up 61% of savoury snack sales and reassure shoppers that they’re getting good value. Your range should include a selection of PMPs to appeal to priceconscious shoppers. 3. Right products: Student shoppers are open to trying new, exciting products, so keep an eye on the latest launches to create excitement alongside your core range.”

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11-24 AUGUST 2026 betterretailing.com

FINDING A POINT OF DIFFERENCE CHARLES WHITTING finds out how retailers are discovering a point of difference for their store and then marketing it effectively

People come to us for the service and the experience, but how are other stores standing out? – Amit Vekaria, One Stop Duchy Stores, Salford, Greater Manchester

Suril Patel, Corner Shop Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire

“WHAT we’ve focused on is getting hold of new and exciting products that people are interested in and will travel for. We started out getting lots of the imported Monster varieties and we had people travelling to our shop from all over. “Getting hold of the imported stock isn’t consistent, so in the early days, we were travelling up and down the country to get the stock we needed. We were really going out of our way. “But we’ve made more links and connections with suppliers now so we can get a lot of the products shipped and delivered to us. And that’s certainly helped with our appeal. These days, someone will travel in from wherever to our store, and they’ll spend £60-£70 on Monster and other drinks. It still shocks me, but they do it. We get very excited about it on social media, which helps because customers can sense you have the same passion as they do for these products.”

Paul Thomas, One Stop Main Avenue, Bridgend

“WE’RE very strong on protein. The shop is within spitting distance of three gyms and there’s an industrial estate nearby as well. We have a range that’s been going strong for four years now. We started with Gold Standard Nutrition, which is a range of frozen protein meals, and we’ve stepped up since then, with protein cookies, protein crisps, and a range a fresh meals and wraps from A-Head of the Game Nutrition, a local supplier. We call the dedicated section we have in store the Bridgend Nutrition Centre. “We have a freezer, a double door chiller, two FSDUs and a metal stand. The stuff comes in from A-Head of the Game Nutrition twice a week, with different menus every time. And we put that straight onto Facebook, so the customers know the deliveries are in and they’ll come to buy their week’s worth of food. That brand alone is worth £4,000-£4,500 a week to us.”

Atul Hathi, Latchford Londis, Warrington, Greater Manchester

“FOUR years ago, we installed a beer cave, which went down really well, especially during the summer months. People want to be able to take a 10-pack of beers to a barbecue and have it already chilled, and that’s what they know they can get from us. It’s not as big as I’d have liked, but we can �ill it up with 10- and 12-packs. We’ve got �ive stacks on the �loor and we see a massive uptick in beer sales. “That beer cave was a massive investment and it’s for life. But you can try out new things that might create a niche for your store. Eight years ago, we started selling alcoholic slushies, when we saw people buying slushies and alcohol miniatures. We have strawberry daiquiri, maragarita and piña colada, as well as Thatchers Blood Orange and Strongbow Dark Fruit. We sell them in plastic cups, with a sealed lid and separate straw – you’ve got to be on top of things from a legal perspective.”

In the next issue, the Retail Express team finds out how retailers are cutting in-store wastage. If you have any problems you’d like us to explore, please email charles.whitting@newtrade.co.uk