Talking Shop ISSUE 145 – November–December 2026
The magazine for Premier retailers
Banking sales Jenarthen Saravanamuthu has converted an old bank into a footfall-driving Premier and shoppers are cashing in!
PLUS
Jolly good
Unwrap cracking sales and profits this Christmas
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Talking Shop | November-December 2026
Welcome Talking Shop ISSUE 145 – Novembe
r–December
Greetings and a very warm welcome to your final issue of Talking Shop in 2026 as we begin the countdown to the biggest and brightest trading opportunity of the year. From festive get-togethers with friends to cosy nights in with the family, and not forgetting gifting and last-minute shopping missions, Christmas presents a medley of opportunities to make your sales sing. And Premier has everything you need to help you end the year on a high note. Packed with seasonal insights, new products, top tips and more, our Christmas feature is just the recipe to help you cook up plump sales and profits, so be sure to add it to your list. Our latest Scoot update is another must-read. Booker’s exclusive low-cost rapid delivery service has been treated to another serving of improvements and enhancements, many of which have been made in direct response to retailer requests. In addition to exciting loyalty developments, recent weeks have seen Scoot introduce a range of new merchandising and promotional capabilities within the app. Scoot’s customer engagement capabilities have also continued to evolve with new condition-based voucher campaigns, allowing promotions to be targeted at specific customer groups based on their shopping behaviour. As cold and flu season strikes, our Winter Medicines feature also includes key ranging advice and exciting promotional news that is sure to help you nurse your shoppers, and your sales, even further. The latest issue also includes a fascinating interview with Booker’s Prascilla Kava, who has just taken up the new role of Proposition Manager for Convenience. She joins a brand-new team whose remit is to shape the future irection of all our retail brands, including Premier. Exciting times for Prascilla and the Premier brand, certainly lie ahead. As ever, this issue of Talking Shop also features plenty of NPD and news, along with a key legislative update on the new vaping products duty. So, with all that wrapped up nicely, it’s time for us to wish you a very merry end to 2026!
The magazine
2026
for Premier retail
ers
Banking sales
Jenarthen Sarav converted an anamuthu has old bank into a footfall-drivin g shoppers are Premier and cashing in!
PLUS
Jolly good
Unwrap crac and profits this king sales Christmas
Click great
New Scoot bene
fits
COVER STORY Jenarthen Saravanamuthu has converted an old bank into a footfall-driving Premier in Llanishen. THE THREE BIG STORIES 31 CHRISTMAS CRACKER Unwrap the gift of merry sales and profits. 41 NEW VAPING DUTY The vaping products duty explained. 47 SCOOT DELIVERS YET AGAIN! A sleigh-load of further improvements have landed.
Share your shop news
If you’ve got news, tips or feature ideas, please get in touch with Talking Shop: Martyn Parkinson, Director of Retail Sales
Stewart Fenn, Director of Retail Customer Proposition & Forecourt Sales
EMAIL:
yourretailmag@booker.co.uk DISCLAIMER: Prices are correct at time of going to press, but may be subject to change.
This magazine is exclusively for Premier retailers, and not for consumer use.
4 TalkingShop November-December 2026
43
Take a bigger bite of sales and profits with these exciting new products available now!
14
Singh’s Premier Herries Road has a striking new look!
47
22
Scoot just keeps on getting bigger and better!
Llanishen’s shoppers have a store they can bank on
11 COMMUNITY NEWS
31 CHRISTMAS CRACKER
A round up of inspiring
The festive season is upon us
community stories from Premier
and Premier has everything you
Scoot just keeps on getting
stores across the UK.
need to have yourself a merry
better and more powerful,
little sales boost.
with yet more improvements
13 GROCERYAID UPDATE The latest news from the grocery industry’s charity.
14 ON A ROLL
unveiled.
37 COLD COMFORT Nurse your sales and profits with
Herries Road following a cool
Booker’s Prascilla Kava has
this winter season.
just taken up the exciting new role of Proposition Manager for
41 NEW VAPING PRODUCTS DUTY
new refit and an on-going flurry
Everything you need to know
of innovation.
about the newly-enforced vaping products duty.
22 BANKING FOOTFALL Jenarthen Saravanamuthu has
53 MEET THE TEAM
a compelling medicines offer Footfall and sales are snowballing at Singh’s Premier
47 SCOOT DELIVERS AGAIN!
Convenience and she can’t wait to get cracking!
59 ACS UPDATE With less than one year to go before the DRS launches, ACS
43 NPD ROUNDUP
Chief Executive Ed Woodal
converted an old bank into a
Our pick of the hottest new
explains what stores need to do
footfall-driving Premier.
products to hit the shelves.
now. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
5
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PremierNews NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS PREMIER
Retailers urged to take DRS next steps
INBRIEF CONVENIENCE STORE BUYER DEMAND CONTINUES TO OUTSTRIP SUPPLY
With less than one year to go before implementation, it’s now time to act on DRS.
Convenience store values and acquisition activity look set to remain resilient as we head into 2027, a new report by property firm Christie & Co predicts. The optimistic outlook follows a 26% increase in offers made on retail businesses in the first half of 2026, compared with the same period in 2025,
With less than one year to go until the UK’s deposit
“The businesses that act now will be best placed
return scheme (DRS) goes live, retailers should
for a smooth transition when the scheme comes
register with scheme administrator Exchange for
into effect,” said Sondre Henningsgård, Managing
Change and start planning their next steps, the
Director for Tomra Collection UK.
Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) says. On 1 October 2027, the UK will introduce a 20p deposit on in-scope containers, alongside a network
the Retail Market Review 2026 reveals. Independent owneroperators made up 65%
“This is an important opportunity for retailers to
of convenience-store
become deposit return ready.
acquisitions completed
“Over the next year, attention will increasingly
by Christie & Co in the
of reverse vending machines and manual return
turn to the practical aspects of implementation
points, thousands of which will be hosted in local
– staff training, customer communications,
shops.
deciding on return point locations and establishing
local reputations were
operational processes.
attracting premium
All retailers are required to register their details
first half of 2026. Businesses with strong
with Exchange for Change unless their store is
“Right now, stores of all sizes are weighing up
under 100sq metres in an urban area and they do
the right solutions and balancing those with how
the sustainability of their
not intend to operate one.
to make best use of valuable space, estimating
customer bases, the
what sort of volume their returns will be, deciding
report said.
Exchange for Change has opened the first
buyer interest due to
phase of registration for DRS, which runs until 31
between manual and automated take-back, and
December 2026.
looking at how they integrate these plans with their
additional services
current operations.
such as food to go,
After this date, phase two of registration will open, along with the application process for scheme grants. Reverse vending machine manufacturer Tomra is also urging retailers to start planning their next
Stores that offered
“Retailers need time to assess their options
home delivery and
carefully and make the right long-term investment.” Register on the Exchange for Change portal (registration.exchangeforchange.co.uk).
parcel services were also attracting stronger interest from buyers.
steps. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
7
IndustryNews A DIGEST OF NEWS FROM THE INDEPENDENT RETAILING INDUSTRY
New HFSS rules now in place across Scotland
PARCELHERO REPORT PREDICTS FUTURE OF DELIVERY The delivery market is set for further rapid change over the coming years, with delivery times expected to continue shrinking alongside
New regulations restricting the location and promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) are now in force across Scotland.
a move towards “invisible, continuous replenishment”, Parcelhero’s ‘Delivering the Future’ report
Restrictions on pre-packaged products high in fat,
The ACS has produced comprehensive guidance
salt and sugar (HFSS) have come into force in
for retailers on adapting their businesses to comply
Scotland.
with HFSS regulations. Visit acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-
grocery drops,
regulations to find out more.
pavement robots and
Enforced on 1 October 2026, the new promotion
predicts. “Fifteen-minute
restrictions apply to businesses with 50 or more
driverless trucks aren’t
employees, while the new location restrictions apply
science fiction anymore
only to businesses with 50 or more employees and a
– they’re already
shop floor area of more than 2,000sq ft.
operating, and by 2030
Retailers in scope of the HFSS rules must remove
they’ll simply be how a
HFSS products from prohibited locations, including
lot of deliveries work,”
store entrances, aisle ends and within two metres of
Parcelhero Head of
checkouts and queueing areas.
Consumer Research
Retailers with 50 or more employees, regardless
David Jinks said.
of store size, are also prohibited from running
The report also
volume promotions and multibuys such as ‘buy one
claims that by 2030
get one free’, ‘three for £10’ or ‘50% extra free’.
the focus will be on
Promotion and placement regulations on HFSS
“invisible, continuous
products in England and Wales were enforced earlier
replenishment,” with
this year.
repeat-purchase
However, the new Scottish regulations have some important differences. In Scotland, a breach of the rules can result in a
categories, like nappies and coffee, increasingly arriving on a predictive
fine of up to £2,500, while in England businesses
schedule set by an
that do not comply are given compliance or
algorithm rather than a
improvement notices by Trading Standards before
shopping list,” it says.
further action is taken. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
9
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CommunityNews NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS PREMIER
Premier retailer rewarded for community efforts with surprise visit from famous face
BIRTHDAY BONANZA
Kuljit, who has raised more than £1m for Good Causes, was treated to a surprise visit by presenter and actress Joanna Page.
Third-generation-run Premier
Premier retailer Kuljit Athwal, of Premier Grand
in the Welsh village of
Avenue Stores in Cardiff, has been celebrated for
Rhyl, 41 years ago and
his incredible contribution towards supporting local
it’s been trading with
good causes, as part of a new phase of Allwyn’s
Premier for the last 31 of
‘Local Retail Champions’ initiative.
them.
Denmore Food and Wine in Rhyl, Wales, has celebrated the 99th birthday of its founder Bill Wilson.
Bill opened the store,
Kuljit, who has raised more than £1m for Good
Today, the community-
Causes during his time running the store, was
focused store is run by
treated to a surprise visit by presenter and actress
Bill’s son-in-law Bob and
Joanna Page earlier this month.
wife Angela – although
Together they visited Ministry of Life Education
“Bill the boss” still pops in
(MOL) a National Lottery-funded education and outreach provider based in Cardiff that
regularly!
Commenting on Kuljit’s efforts, actress Joanna
The community came
supports young people who are disengaged from
Page said: “The funds raised by corner shops
out in force to celebrate
mainstream education and are at risk of not being in
around the country are vital for the UK’s arts and
Bill’s special day, with
employment, education, or training.
creative industries. I grew up going into shops just
local bakery Mag’s Cosy
MOL has received £568,000 of National Lottery
like Kuljit’s, they are the backbone of our high
Café baking a delicious
funding to provide personalised learning that helps
streets. Seeing the incredible work done by MOL,
cake, while the store’s
young people build confidence, develop practical
funded by the hard work of people like Kuljit, is an
Facebook page was
skills and gain accredited qualifications.
inspiration.”
flooded with hundreds of
Kuljit’s recognition follows the publication of
Alastair Ruxton, Chief Impact Officer, Allwyn
new Allwyn data which reveals that independent
UK added: “Most people in the UK live within half
retailers from across the UK have now raised
a mile of a Lottery funded Good Cause project,
more than £10 billion for Good Causes by selling
in no small part due to the extraordinary efforts
National Lottery tickets since it launched in 1994.
of independent retailers who sell National Lottery
Today, over 22,000 independent retailers sell National Lottery tickets and scratchcards, and of
tickets. “The remarkable £10 billion local retailers have
those, 1,623 shops have raised more than £500,000,
raised for Good Causes around the country has
469 have raised more than £1m, and 28 have
helped train Olympic and Paralympic athletes,
broken the £2m mark. Remarkably, two shops have
fund award-winning British films and our world-
each raised more than £3m for Good Causes.
renowned brilliant museums and galleries, as
Kuljit was one of three special retailers to be recognised by Allwyn for his part.
well-wishes.
well as supporting thousands of vital community, education and heritage projects.” November-December 2026 TalkingShop
11
GroceryAid makes a serious impact GroceryAid recently published its annual Impact Report, highlighting the vital role that the industry charity plays in supporting independent retailing and grocery colleagues all year round. Industry charity GroceryAid recently published its
In 2025/26, more than 4,200 people turned to the
annual Impact Report, taking a deep dive into the
charity’s Helpline for support. Over 1,200 sought
progress it made in 2025-26. It has been a significant
help for anxiety, while more than 700 needed support
year for the charity as it pursues its long-term vision,
for complex mental health issues. Others contacted
purpose and values, providing a clear direction for
GroceryAid for help with stress, bereavement,
its work towards 2030.
relationship challenges and many other personal
At the heart of that vision is a simple but powerful ambition: to help more independent retailing and grocery colleagues by providing relief in tough times through its wide range of welfare services.
FINANCIAL
difficulties. In total, more than 11,000 support sessions were delivered through the Helpline last year.
PRACTICAL GroceryAid’s in-the-moment counselling sessions
The report reveals that a total of 19,200 industry
with a qualified counsellor are accessible 24/7,
colleagues received support of some kind from
365 days a year, and each case is discussed on an
GroceryAid during the year. Some 8,162 colleagues
individual basis. Callers may also be signposted to
received non-repayable grants, with 8,395 grants
other services to support specific issues.
paid in total. These included financial relief grants,
In total, 1,964 structured counselling sessions
cost-of-living grants, school essentials grants and
were delivered during the year, along with 1,449
carers’ getaway grants.
relationship counselling sessions, which helped 243
The school essentials grant scheme alone meant
industry colleagues and their households.
that 6,667 children benefited from a £150 grant,
In addition, 228 autism and ADHD sessions have
helping families ensure they started school in
been delivered since this new service was introduced
September with new uniforms and equipment.
in March 2025.
EMOTIONAL
and would like to thank our colleagues, trustees,
GroceryAid’s emotional support is free and
partners, volunteers and supporters for their
confidential, so colleagues can be confident that
dedication and commitment,” commented CEO
sensitive information is not shared with employers,
Kieran Hemsworth. “Together, we are helping more
removing a significant barrier and encouraging
industry workers and their families through life’s
individuals to reach out for help.
toughest moments.”
“I am delighted with the progress we are making
1 | Impact Report 2025/26
Impact Report 2025/26
19,200 industry colleagues helped 8,162 colleagues received grants 4,210 colleagues supported via the Helpline 1,421 colleagues undertook free, confidential specialised sessions 4,576 people used the website to access support other than grants
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
13
CUSTOMER PROFILE | Singh’s Premier Herries Road
On a roll
Footfall and sales are snowballing at Singh’s Premier Herries Road following a cool new refit and an ongoing storm of innovation.
14 TalkingShop November-December 2026
S
tores:
they’re
a
lot
like
snowballs. Leave them to sit and they’ll melt away, but with the right amount of push, and the odd shove or two, scale
will build, momentum will accelerate and eventually – the good times will roll. One retailer who is particularly fond of the snowball analogy is Mandeep Singh, cornerstone of the legendary Singh team and its empire of peak-performing Premier stores. And Mandeep’s latest push has been aimed squarely at the family’s 950sq ft store on Herries Road in Sheffield. Purchased in 2008, the store has had a number of refits over the years – but by 2026 it was time for a radical rethink of its aesthetic and offer – in a bid to bring it bang up to date and into line with the Singhs’ – and Premier’s – latest thinking. A two-week closure of the store (during which time locals could still be served round the back) saw the old interior ripped out and flushed away – with the old external signage and yellow fascia also swept out on the same transformative tide. After more than 18 years, daylight was then permitted to flood the space after the old boarding was removed and large new feature windows installed.
“We haven’t made the store any bigger – but it feels so much bigger now that the windows have been opened up,” Mandeep says. “Everyone comments on the newfound sense of space – the impact of that change alone has been astounding.” Pale wood-effect floors help to bounce that light around further, while the smart new dark ceiling leads the eye to focus on the walls and the depth of the shop. New, taller shelving was then fitted across the store in a bid to offset the loss of shelving space to the new windows – with the smart new fixtures and fittings adding to the new contemporary look. That new look is enhanced by the addition of a custom-designed Beer Cave – which Mandeep described as “an absolute must” for the store. “Herries is only 950sq ft but we knew we had to fit a Beer Cave in. When executed correctly, the impact that a Beer Cave can have on footfall and sales can be nothing short of astounding.” November-December 2026 TalkingShop
15
S C A N D A LO U S LY G O O D TA ST E FO R MAGNIFICENT FESTIVE SALES M202554 M202555
M202553
© 2026 European Refreshments Unlimited Company. © 2026 Schweppes is a registered trademark of European Refreshments UC. Please drink responsibly.
M202554
T H E G E N T L E M E N / © N E T F L I X . U S E D W I T H P E R M I S S I O N . I M A G E I S G E N E R AT E D W I T H A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E .
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
It’s a lesson Mandeep learned all too well
higher footfall and sales. It’s busy in there!
is that when it’s executed properly, it has the power to lift the whole store.
after fitting a cave in his Teynham Road
“The products have the space to shine out
Premier, as part of its own revolutionary refit
from the shelves, the LED frame lights give
“Anyone can sell a pack of beer, but fresh
back in 2021.
everything such a crisp look and of course,
and chilled is where we as convenience
everything is cold!” Mandeep adds.
retailers all need to be focusing and improving
“BWS sales boomed!” he laughs.
these days.”
“We’d reopened Teynham Road on a Friday
And it’s not just BWS products that are
and on the Saturday I called the builder back
benefiting from better execution. Fresh and
“The big advantage of fresh and chilled is
and told him we had to make the Beer Cave
chilled products are also reaping the rewards.
that it’s a category that shoppers will shop
The all-new Premier Herries Road now
every day – unlike, say, ambient grocery or
offers shoppers 5.4m of at chilled refrigeration
household goods, which might only bring
– up from 3.75m before.
them in once or twice a week.
bigger. “He thought I was joking, but I was deadly serious and we got to work extending it on the Monday!” Lesson learned: a lot of thought went into
“Our fresh and chilled sales are flying: it’s night and day,” Mandeep says.
“If you get your fresh right, get your chilled right, you’re on to a winner that will
the creation of Herries’ Beer Cave. “At 110 sq
“Yes, we have a bigger range but it’s the
complement the rest of the store and it will
ft we’ve got the size and execution just right
execution that’s really making the difference
just follow that you’ll get bigger baskets. It’s
and we’re already feeling the impact with
– and the magic thing about fresh and chilled
that all-important snowball effect!” November-December 2026 TalkingShop
17
S n c e r v o e o g s e g s n i r B FREEZER A to
R U YO
Aunt Bessies Roast Potatoes 600g M302899
ISLE
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What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
Shoppers at Premier Herries Road now have a vast range of chilled choice, including fresh produce, meats, deli items, ready meals and so much more – all housed within smart new energy-efficient chillers with doors. The meticulously merchandised range is supported by perfectly positioned POS, with not a gap in sight. “We are now seeing so many more basket shoppers and nearly every sale these days includes a fresh or chilled product. “That’s what’s helping to drive the sales figures that we are seeing now.” Just a few weeks after the refit, average weekly turnover at Premier Herries Road had risen from £21,000 to £27,000 – with the store on track to hit more than £30,000 by Christmas 2026. And that’s just in-store sales. Powered by Scoot, Premier Herries’ home delivery sales are also riding higher than ever before – with the store now fulfilling upwards of 300 deliveries a week via its Singh’s Drop service – with that number growing week on week. Premier Herries also offers shoppers a new and unique range of sweet and savoury snacks to go – much of which is sourced from the next-door Piper’s Café. Run by Mandeep’s sister-in-law, Piper’s offers an indulgent and on-trend mix of meals and snacks to eat in or take away. “The café is very popular with locals, and also with visitors and workers from the local hospital, and we wanted to bring a taste of it into the Premier store,” he explains. From ‘Elephants Feet’ to ‘Jumbo Cookies’, ‘Rolo Slices’ and ‘Chicken Tikka Bakes’, the new range certainly does that – and acts as the perfect complement to the store’s new Refresh@Premier offer, including Rijo coffee and slush drinks. Piper’s Café also supplied all the delicious food that was served up at the store’s official Grand Opening Day in August 2026. “The Grand Opening was absolutely fantastic; it was great to be able to show off the results of all that hard work,” Mandeep says. “And it wasn’t just shoppers who came down to join in the celebrations. We also invited all the neighbouring retailers. “It was really nice to share what we were doing differently with them too. At the end of the day, we’re all part of the same community, and we should all be working together and celebrating those differences for the good of our community.” November-December 2026 TalkingShop
19
Store profile
Name: Singh’s Premier Herries Road Retailer: Mandeep Singh Size: 950sq ft Opening hours: 6am-9pm Services: Scoot, free ATM, National Lottery, PayPoint
And celebrations are certainly in order. “We set out with a clear plan to deliver an even better shopping experience for our customers and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Mandeep says. “Footfall and sales are up – and the store is 100% heading in the right direction.” “But of course – it’s not all down to the refit. It’s also the customer service, the energy, the merchandising, the promotions, the communication. We work so hard on all of it and it all contributes to that overall snowball effect.” And unsurprisingly, Mandeep’s got no plans to take his eye off the (snow) ball. “From new products to services, in-store activations or community support, I’m always looking for the next big thing and trying to think outside of the box for new ways to be different,” he adds. And there are still some big pushes to come. With online sales now accounting for almost £50,000 a week between the family’s Herries, Teynham and Manor stores, and seven cars on the road at any one time, Mandeep’s looking to hire a dedicated person to help manage orders and deliveries as demand for the Scootpowered Singh’s Drop service continues to boom. “There are also some really exciting plans around loyalty and further developments within vouchering to come too – so watch this space, exciting times certainly lie ahead!” The Singhs are certainly on a roll. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
21
CUSTOMER PROFILE | Premier Kimberly Store
Banking footfall in Wales Jenarthen Saravanamuthu has converted an old bank into a footfall-driving Premier in the busy Welsh town of Llanishen.
W
hen
it
comes
to
viewing
prospective new stores, many
“Premier’s new concept offers a winning formula that shoppers simply can’t resist,” he says.
retailers take the “less is more”
“Unique footfall-driving features, such as the Refresh@
approach to competition –
Premier bar, the Soft Drinks Cave, the Beer Cave and
often favouring locations with
more, all combine to create a truly stand-out offer that’s
little in the way of other grocery or convenience stores.
tried, tested and proven to work.”
In fact, for many retailers, the prospect of opening a new
And, just as he expected, Llanishen’s locals are certainly
site less than half a mile from an abundance of established
in step with Premier Kimberly Store’s offer – unveiled to
competitors, including a Co-op Food store, an M&S Food
them back in November 2024, following a transformative
Hall and several other small independents, would leave
development of the old bank building.
them feeling cold. However, with 13 stores and numerous award wins under his belt, Jenarthen Saravanamuthu is not like many retailers.
“There might be a lot of other stores in the area but none of them have an offer quite like this!” Jenarthen says. Premier Kimberly Store treats shoppers to 1,350sq ft of scintillating shop floor, including a 12-bay Beer Cave,
And that’s why, when Jenarthen first viewed the old
12-bay Soft Drinks Cave and a striking Refresh@Premier
closed-down Lloyds bank building in the Cardiff suburb of
bar, featuring Tango Ice Blast, Thick Fresh Shakes and
Llanishen, he felt nothing but red-hot opportunity.
Lavazza coffee.
“Yes, there are a lot of other stores in the area but the
Smart dark walls, ceilings, fixtures and fittings,
way I see things, that just signals high levels of footfall –
combined with striking geometric LED lighting, enhance
and with Premier’s new-concept design, I was confident
the visual feast – with illuminated overhead signage for
that I could create a store with the power to pull in that
other key categories, including Food To Go, Meat and
footfall,” he says.
Dairy, helping to pack even more punch.
Jenarthen’s Premier Rassau store, in the Welsh village of
In fact, from the moment they step inside, every inch
Ebbw Vale, was the first in his estate to be kitted out with
of Premier Kimberly Store has been designed to offer
Premier’s new concept back in 2023 – with a further six
shoppers an unrivalled experience that keeps them hot-
having followed suit since.
footing back to it again and again.
22 TalkingShop November-December 2026
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
The store’s footfall-driving offer also includes more than six metres of fresh and chilled foods, including fresh and deli meats and great-value fruit and vegetables. Local products also play a starring role – especially within fresh bakery – with a range of locally baked breads and cakes available from the main bakery fixture, along with locally made cupcakes, cookies and savoury bakes up at the smart Cossiga display cabinet by the tills. Services are another USP and Premier Kimberly Store has loads of them, including a free ATM, Amazon and Royal Mail parcel lockers, National Lottery and PayPoint – with more in the pipeline. “And then there’s the Jack’s own-label range and Premier’s competitive pricing and promotional strength,” Jenarthen adds. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
23
But Kimberly Store’s pull extends well beyond
promotions,
products
and
new
Premier concepts.
Upon joining, every employee completes structured
induction
training
covering
customer service, food safety, health and
People are another of its footfall-driving
safety, Challenge 25 and more, with learning
powers – with Jenarthen always seeking to
continuing through regular coaching, weekly
employ locally, where possible.
management
“Local staff are a fantastic driver of loyalty.
meetings
and
performance
reviews.
Employing local people helps to support
Having begun his own inspiring retail
the local community and local staff have an
career as a supermarket shelf stacker, career
unrivalled understanding of local needs and
development is also central to Jenarthen’s
trends – often knowing shoppers by name,”
strategy. In fact, he actively looks to promote
he says.
from within and create opportunities for his
And Jenarthen takes care of his people
staff to progress from customer assistants to
too – investing heavily in their training,
supervisors and eventually into management
leadership development, wellbeing and career
roles.
progression – creating motivated teams who
“Several of our current managers began
“consistently deliver outstanding customer
in entry-level positions before progressing
service” – with Premier Kimberly Store’s
through internal mentoring and leadership
warm and friendly bunch certainly proving no
development,” he says.
exception. “Our people are at the heart of everything
Store profile
Name: Premier Kimberly Store, Llanishen, Wales Retailer: Jenarthen Saravanamuthu Size: 1,350sq ft Opening hours: 7am-10pm Services: Royal Mail and Evri parcel lockers, free ATM, PayPoint, National Lottery Opening hours: 7am-10pm
“As we acquired new stores, these experienced colleagues successfully stepped
we do. They are the foundation of our
into
business, driving customer loyalty, innovation
consistent service standards while supporting
management
positions,
ensuring
and sustainable growth,” Jenarthen says.
business expansion,” he explains. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
25
Becäuse only perfection will do
M234852
M234733
Updated recipe with even more cookies!
M234734
No1 Selling Salted Caramel Pint
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Only 6 High Quality Ingredients
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
Beyond training, Jenarthen also strives to make his stores, Kimberly included, engaging places to work by recognising and rewarding achievement, including entering team members into industry awards. His people-first approach also extends further out to the local community, with Kimberly Store not only supporting an array of local producers, but also a number of local community groups and teams, including Llanishen RFC Rugby Club, whose kit it sponsors. The store also operates Too Good To Go’s Magic Bags scheme, helping it to support local people struggling with hardship – while also reducing food waste. “The uptake is very good. Each Mystery Bag has a minimum value of £10 and we sell them for £3 each. It’s rare that we have any left over at the end of the day,” Jenarthen adds. The store also operates a small free food bank for those in need – an idea put forward by a local member of staff. “For all those reasons and more besides, Premier Kimberly Store is so much more than a convenience store – it’s a true community hub and that’s the footfall-driving difference,” he adds. From a standing start, footfall and sales have continued to grow at Premier Kimberly Store, with weekly sales now “performing ahead of expectations” and growing year on year. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
27
A BUBBLY BOOST FOR YOUR FESTIVE SALES
*NIQ Total Coverage, Total Plain Sparkling Water Weekly Unit Sales, Data to 27/12/25
M651780
Sparklin gs increase ales a Christm *t as
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
Unsurprisingly, given its destination Beer and Soft Drinks caves, sales are being driven by BWS and “pop” – including innovative new and international products. What has surprised Jenarthen, however, has been the success of Premier Kimberly’s chilled range – which accounts for more than 30% of sales. “Chilled is performing even better than I expected. Shoppers are coming in for the soft drinks and the food to go but once they are through the doors, they’re bagging other products too, which is fantastic to see.” “I had a three-year finance plan to pay for the development which will be paid off next year and after that, the sky’s the limit,” he says. He’s certainly got it in the bank. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
29
STOCK UP NOW
PRODUCT CODE: M322235 (70CL)
CREAMS
TRUE
DO COME
NEW KAHLÚA COFFEE CREAM LIQUEUR:
COFFEE, CREAM AND UNMISTAKABLE KAHLÚA TASTE — THE PERFECT GIFT, AND PERFECT OVER ICE FOR A FESTIVE DRINK
RRP £17.99 70CL
Last Minute Christmas | FEATURE
Get set to sleigh this Christmas The festive season is upon us, and Premier has everything you need to have yourself a merry little sales boost.
I
t’s here! Christmas, the biggest and
Premier retailers will also be able to offer their
brightest seasonal opportunity of the
shoppers great-value bottles of Plaza Centro
year, is served – and it’s time to tuck in.
Prosecco DOC and Prosecco Rosé for just £7.99
From big Christmas bashes to nibbles
a bottle – down from £9.50.
with the neighbours, fizz with friends,
A strong mid-priced proposition, Yellow Tail
glorious gifting and, not forgetting, the last-
Prosecco will also be on offer at £8.99 per 75cl
minute dashes for batteries, brandy and butter –
bottle – offering retailers a POR of 20%.
the festive season dishes up a buffet of occasions
Small-format 20cl bottles of Canti Prosecco
and missions to cash in on – and Premier retailers
will also be available at ‘2 for £7’ (£3.50 each in
are perfectly placed to take a bite out of each and
Scotland).
every one. In
fact,
Shoppers prepared to pay a few more bucks for products,
their bubbles will also be able to treat themselves
exceptional Group Exclusives, astounding Mega
with
inspiring
new
and others to premium-quality bottles of Lanson
Deals and all those great-value festive essentials
Le Black Création Brut Champagne for £40.99 –
– they’ve got the best seat in the house.
down from £50 – along with Moët Brut Impérial,
Last year, the four weeks leading up to 28 December saw take-home sales through UK
which will have an RSP of £43.99 during the NP10 period.
grocery retailers hit a record £13.8bn, according
And Christmas is also a boom time for spirits,
to Kantar data, and this year looks set to sparkle
as shoppers seek to get into the, well, spirit of
just as brightly.
the season, with warming winter cocktails and
Speaking of sparkles – fizz is one of the festive
drinks.
season’s brightest sparks – with sparkling wine sales hitting their annual peak in December and the biggest spike concentrated in the final two weeks before Christmas and the New Year period. Premier retailers will be able to offer their shoppers a truly corking choice of sparkling products this festive season – including formats and prices to suit a wide range of different occasions. This coming NP10 period, look out for new and Group Exclusive 75cl bottles of Bucks Fizz,
A WORD FROM THE EXPERT “We expect Christmas 2026 to remain a key opportunity for convenience retailers. While shoppers continue to look for value, they are still keen to celebrate and are likely to spread their spending across the longer festive period. This makes it important for retailers to stock the right products at the right time, evolving their range as shopper missions change from early gifting and impulse treats to sharing, entertaining and last-minute top-up purchases. Availability will be critical, particularly in the final fortnight before Christmas when convenience stores see increased footfall.”
which will be available as part of an ‘Any 2 for
NICOLA CRANWELL, CATEGORY MANAGER, CONFECTIONERY,
£6’ special offer (£3 each in Scotland) and are set
BOOKER GROUP
to shine throughout December.
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
31
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
Two-litre bottles of Pepsi Max, Diet Pepsi,
TUB TASTIC
Pepsi Max Cherry and Regular Pepsi will all
Between them, the four leading Christmas tubs – Celebrations, Quality Street, Roses and Heroes – generated a stonking £1.2m in convenience sales during Christmas week 2025 – up from £900,000 in Christmas week 2024, according to Talysis’ Convenience Review 2025. Premier retailers will be able to offer their shoppers 550g Quality Street tubs for £5.99, 500g Celebrations tubs for £6.99, and 475g Cadbury Roses and Heroes tubs for £8.49 during the NP10 period.
be on offer as part of an ‘Any 2 for £3.25’ deal in NP10, while 18 x 330ml multipacks of Diet Coke and Coke Zero will feature a promotional RSP of just £6.99. And then there are the juices. A key ingredient in both Bucks Fizz and Mimosas, as well as the perfect partner to a traditional breakfast, orange juice is also a major player during the festive season. In fact, according to Tropicana, during the festive season, chilled fruit juice category sales accelerate by more than 100% in
The ideal partner for creamy espresso
In fact, according to IGD research about the
martinis, Premier shoppers will be able to
Christmas 2026 opportunity, 55% of shoppers
snap up 70cl bottles of Baileys Irish Cream
said they were planning to buy ingredients to
Fortunately, Premier retailers have access
for just £16.99 during the NP10 period.
make specific drinks this Christmas – up from
to an especially juicy range of choices, from
42% in 2025.
big brands, including Tropicana, Innocent and
And don’t forget new Baileys x Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Offering an ultra-indulgent
Sweet and zesty flavoured products, such
fusion of two iconic brands and flavours,
as new and Group Exclusive Dead Man’s
it’s perfect for gifting, sharing, mixing into
Fingers Pineapple and Grapefruit Rum 700ml,
martinis – or simply for sipping alone over
look set to play perfectly into that mix.
ice – and Premier retailers will be able to offer 50cl bottles to shoppers for an equally tasty EDLP RSP of £17.99.
Speaking of mixes – mixers also look set to cause a stir. During NP10, Premier shoppers will be
Kahlúa Cream and Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur
able to bag 1L bottles of Schweppes Canada
will also be available in 70cl bottles for a
Dry Ginger Ale, Tonic Water and Slimline for
WIGIG RSP of £17.99.
an EDLP of just £1.50.
Fans of the retro classic Snowball cocktail
With a foot in both camps, serving as both
will also be bowled over by great-value bottles
mixers and standalone soft drinks, carbonates
of Warninks Advocaat, which will feature an
such as Coke and Pepsi also look set to deliver
EDLP of £14.99 during NP10.
for retailers this Christmas, and Premier
And of course, Premier retailers will also be able to offer their shoppers great-value price
comparison to the rest of the year.
Sunpride – to great-value own-label Jack’s and Euroshopper products. So, as the party season gets into full swing, make sure you squeeze every drop out of the orange opportunity with a healthy mix of price points, along with both chilled and ambient options.
shoppers will be able to snap them up as part of a great-value Mega Deal.
points on a range of bourbons and whiskeys – a popular pick for spiced and fruity-flavoured cocktails. Look out for new and Group Exclusive products such as Jack Daniel’s Winter Jack Tennessee Spiced Apple Punch – which, with an RSP of £13.99, is sure to warm your sales and profits too. Away from the classics, recent years have seen a rise in the number of Christmas shoppers looking to experiment with new cocktail flavours and mixed drinks – creating another avenue of opportunity for convenience
BEST MADE PLANS 89% of shoppers plan to celebrate Christmas in 2026. 78% of shoppers plan ahead and stick to essentials, up from 75% in 2025. 43% of shoppers plan to try new recipes, versus 31% in 2025. 55% of shoppers plan to buy ingredients to make specific drinks, versus 42% in 2025. [SOURCE: IGD’S SHOPPER VISTA CHRISTMAS 2026]
retailers. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
33
Drive Festive Sales with Costa Express! A festive favourite returns! This festive season, delight your customers with the irresistible taste of Caramel Nutcracker across three delicious drinks: Caramel Nutcracker Latte Caramel Nutcracker Iced Latte Caramel Nutcracker Hot Chocolate Available from 22nd October 2026 until 6th January 2027, these limited-time festive favourites are designed to bring seasonal excitement to your Costa Express machine and help increase footfall during one of the busiest trading periods of the year.
Launching the campaign in line with the Costa Coffee National Marketing calendar reinforces the power of the Costa Coffee brand in your store. It also helps to: • Capitalise on seasonal consumer demand • Refresh your Costa Express offer with a limited-edition flavour • Give customers a reason to return throughout the festive period • Drive additional drinks sales during peak winter trading
Don’t Forget! Syrup cleans must be completed every 30 days!
Make This Festive Season Your Best Yet With the return of seasonal flavours, the Caramel Nutcracker range is set to be a customer favourite this winter. Costa Express. Festive flavour. Freshly served. Please speak to your Booker RDM to find out more about getting Costa Express into your store. Alternatively, email bookergroup@costacoffee.com for more information.
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
Premier retailers will be able to help their shoppers add some glitz to their festive crisp bowls with new packs of Walkers Gold Black Truffle and Walkers Gold Sea Salt & Olive Oil – both of which will also be available as part of an ‘Any 2 for £3.25’ Mega Deal during NP10.
SWEET PICKINGS
Don’t fall foul of the law at Christmas!
Remember! Regulations are now in place to restrict the location and promotion of products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS).
And of course, we couldn’t write a festive feature without mentioning the sweet stuff. As we head towards the festive finishing line, sharing really is caring when it comes to footfall, sales and profits and, fortunately for Premier retailers, Premier’s festive offer delivers a bumper box of innovative new sharing products along with great-value festive favourites. Premier’s festive spread includes an array of new white chocolate
If your store is in scope, you cannot run volume promotions on HFSS products in store or online.
products designed to appeal to the under-35s who over-index in the
You also cannot display HFSS products within certain distances of checkouts, queuing areas, aisle ends and entrances.
Aero Milkybar White and Terry’s White Chocolate Ball, among others.
For more information, speak to your RDM or visit acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations/.
remains one of the category’s biggest sellers. Premier retailers will be
pale stuff. Look out for new 88g boxes of Maltesers White, 90g sharing bars of Come December, the ‘gifting finish’ sales period makes up 37% of total Christmas sales in independent convenience and symbol groups, according to Mondelez – whose Cadbury Medium Selection Box able to offer the festive favourite for an RSP of just £2.50 – gifting them with a POR of 20.8%. With a great-value RSP of £5.99, 200g boxes of Lindt Lindor Pistachio, Shortbread, Milk and Assorted chocolate truffles also look set to ride high on the gifting tide. Cracking gifts for kids are also available, including new Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons and Freddo Faces Smash Baubles – both of which offer a minimum POR of 25.9% – a gift for retailers too.
LAST MINUTE LOVELIES And of course, winning big at Christmas isn’t all about the glitz, glam Premier retailers will be able to offer their shoppers a great-value ‘Any 2 for £2’ deal on 250ml bottles of Tropicana Smooth Orange, Original and Multivitamin.
and gifting. For many convenience stores, Christmas Eve and the big day itself can also be a boom time for sales of cupboard essentials. In fact, many retailers report terrific trading on Christmas Eve as
CHRISTMAS IN THE BAG
local shoppers flock to their local stores to stock up on last-minute
Festive drinks literally go hand in hand with snacks – and thanks to
forgotten essentials, including Sellotape and wrapping paper for 11th-
more marvellous Mega Deals on key sharing products, Premier retailers
hour gift-wrapping, pet food and treats for poor old Fido – along with
will be able to lend some serious bite to their festive snack sales too.
additional drinks snacks and toilet paper - for all those extra, and
Perfect for sharing, 130g bags of Wotsits Giants Cheese and Flamin’
sometimes unexpected house guests,
Hot will both be available as part of an ‘Any 2 for £3.25’ deal, while
With the supermarkets closed, convenience retailers who choose to
Pringles Cheese & Onion, Original, Prawn mCocktail, Salt & Vinegar,
open on the morning of Christmas Day itself also report a steady stream
Sour Cream & Onion and BBQ will be available for just £1.75 per
of shoppers in search of festive essentials that slipped through the big
165g tube.
shop net – from milk, bread and batteries to gravy, tin foil, cranberry
And with shoppers open to trading up over the festive period, indulgent, premium-priced products also look set to shine – with Walkers’ new premium Walkers Gold brand set to prove no exception.
sauce and, inevitably, an extra bottle of wine or two. Whatever the mission or mishap, Premier has you and your shoppers covered. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
35
TRUSTED BY FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS M322127
NEW
LOWER RRP
£5.99
M313125
M322129 M316465 M319968
Always keep away from children © A.I.S.E. LEARN MORE www.keepcapsfromkids.eu
Winter Medications | FEATURE
Cold Comfort Nurse your sales and profits with a compelling medicines offer this winter season.
B
TOP TIPS FOR HEALTHY DISPLAYS 1
2
3
4
When it comes to medicines, visibility is key. As common distress purchases, medicines should be positioned in a clearly signposted location that is easy for shoppers to find and navigate – particularly during the busy winter season.
If space allows, why not also consider creating a secondary display or seasonal healthcare solution that brings together complementary products, such as cold and flu remedies, tissues and throat sweets?
winter’s here with its crisp and frosty mornings and dark and nippy nights. And
while
the
season
promises an abundance of merriment to unwrap, it also delivers some unwelcome gifts: those pesky and problematic winter illnesses. With colder temperatures driving people indoors, at this time of year, unfortunately,
Focus on trusted brands as well as good-value own-label options to cater for different shopper needs and budgets. Ensuring availability of the category’s best sellers is essential, particularly during peak cold and flu periods when demand can increase rapidly.
aby it’s cold outside! Yes,
festive cheer is not the only thing being spread. From coughs and colds to flu and stomach upsets, the winter season also serves up a nasty dose of bugs to catch shoppers out and Image courtesy of Pixabay
lay them low – often with very little warning and at the worst possible time: generally, 7pm on a Sunday night.
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS SELL MEDICINES RESPONSIBLY The MHRA’s Best practice guidance on the sale of medicines for pain relief recommends that retailers: Sell no more than two packs of painkillers (ibuprofen and or paracetamol) to one customer at a time. Avoid promotions encouraging customers to buy multiple packs. Train staff to recognise and manage potentially inappropriate multiple purchases.
And that’s where convenience stores can come to the rescue. Trading in the heart of their communities and often open long after the pharmacies and supermarkets have closed their doors, convenience stores are uniquely placed to help their shoppers in sickness – as well as in health. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
37
WIIINGS FOR YOUR WINTER. NEW
473 ML
250 ML
Pistachio & Berries
M320163 – Red Bull Winter PM175 12x250ml M320162 – Red Bull Winter PM280 12x473ml
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
CASE SIZE
PACK SIZE
PROMO WSP
PROMO RSP
POR%
LEMSIP MAX DAY AND NIGHT CAPSULES
6
16S
£19.69
£4.99
21.08%
LEMSIP MAX SACHETS
6
10S
£19.69
£4.99
21.08%
LEMSIP COLD/FLU CAPSULES MAX STRENGTH
6
16S
£17.49
£4.49
22.09%
STREPSILS EXTRA TRIPPLE ACTION LOZENGES
12
24S
£41.89
£5.99
30.07%
NUROFEN FOR CHILDREN STRAWBERRY
6
100ML
£15.75
£4.25
25.88%
GAVISCON DOUBLE ACTION
6
24S
£18.99
£5.99
36.59%
STREPSILS VITAMIN C LOZENGES
6
36S
£14.89
£4.89
39.10%
Given the above, it’s abundantly clear why it
“As we move into the colder months,
also be able to offer their shoppers outstanding
pays to ensure your winter medicines category
retailers should ensure they have strong
value for money on a key range of winter
is in good health – with a well-stocked,
availability across the core winter medicines
essentials – helping them to ease their wallets
relevant and trusted range of remedies readily
range,” Burdett adds.
as well as sore heads and throats.
“Cold and flu remedies such as Lemsip
Coming up in November and December,
One lady who is certainly keen to stress the
remain the key seasonal driver, alongside
the promotional activity will cover a range
importance of getting the winter medicines
cough medicines, Strepsils, Covonia, Benylin
of key cough and cold products, along with
category right in store is Booker’s Category
and pain relief products such as Anadin and
painkillers and digestive aids to help support
Manager Designate for Retail, Household,
Panadol.
the winter season.
available on your shop floor.
Health, Beauty and Medicine, Lauren Burdett.
“Retailers should focus on trusted brands as
A fantastic deal on Lemsip products will
“The medicines category plays an important
well as good-value own-label options to cater
see the brand’s Maximum Strength Day and
for different shopper needs and budgets.
Night Capsules, Cold and Flu Capsules and
role in convenience retail because it provides shoppers with immediate access to products they often need urgently,” she says. “Whether it’s relief from cold and flu symptoms, headaches, allergies or everyday
“Ensuring availability of the category’s
Maximum Strength sachets – all available to
best sellers is essential, particularly during
shoppers for the great-value RSP of £4.99.
peak cold and flu periods when demand can increase rapidly.”
Strepsils Extra Triple Action Blackcurrant will also be supported with an offer of just
aches and pains, customers value being able to
And the benefits of a strong and well-
£5.99 per 24-pack – while 36-packs of
pick up trusted remedies quickly and locally.”
managed medicines range don’t end there.
Strepsils Orange with Vitamin C will feature
So, what does that look like?
A compelling medicines offer can also help
an EDLP of just £4.89.
Firstly, stores should seek to build a solid
drive basket spend, “as shoppers frequently
Parents and carers, meanwhile, will also be
year-round offer that covers the core health
purchase complementary products such as
soothed by a great-value £4.25 price point on
needs that shoppers experience throughout the
tissues, throat sweets and healthcare essentials
Nurofen for Children.
year: hay fever and allergy treatments, pain
alongside their medicines,” Burdett adds.
relief, digestive health products and, crucially,
And that’s not the only good news.
cough and cold remedies – which become
Because, thanks to a healthy dose of
increasingly important over the winter season.
promotional activity, Premier retailers will
Sales of winter medicines ramp up over autumn, peaking in the week leading up to Christmas as shoppers fight off coughs and colds and ensure that their medicine cupboards are stocked up for the festive season. Nielsen Total Coverage, Total Winter, Weekly Sales March 24.
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
39
Vaping | FEATURE
Vaping Products Duty – what you need to know… The new Vaping Products Duty came into force last month, so read on to find out exactly which products it applies to and what you should be doing in your store.
L
Sell through l
Stock purchased before 1 October 2026 can still be sold until 31 March 2027.
l
After 31 March 2027, only Duty Paid stock can be sold.
WHERE DUTY APPLIES… Prefilled pods and kits Bottled e-liquids Zero nicotine e-liquids DIY mixing kits NOT AFFECTED…
ast month saw the introduction
That takes RSPs from around £12.99 up to
of the new Vaping Products
£16.20.
Duty, the first in a series
This is likely to see shopper purchasing
Empty rechargeable devices Empty coils, tanks and pods Batteries and chargers Nicotine pouches
legal
behaviour change, with many of your
amendments to the way in
customers choosing smaller-format products
What will happen to RSPs?
which vaping and nicotine products can be
to help them manage their spend. This is
The new Duty will have a major impact on
sold in your store.
also likely to be reflected in NPD from
of
planned
major
The Vaping Products Duty is, in effect,
manufacturers as they develop new products
a new tax on e-liquid. It isn’t a ban and it
with less liquid to help bring the RSP down.
only applies to products containing e-liquid. It works just like the duty already applied to
NEXT PHASE
tobacco and alcohol, and you do not need
Vaping Products Duty is, however, only the
to register with or pay HMRC yourself. That
first element of a long-term series of UK
responsibility sits with manufacturers and
Government proposals to reshape the vaping
importers, so all you have to do is buy your
and nicotine products category.
RSPs, as the following examples illustrate: 2ML PREFILLED KIT Duty: 44p + VAT Current RSP: £5.99 New RSP: £6.55
10ML E-LIQUIDS
12ML BIG PUFF KITS
Duty: £2.20 + VAT Current RSP: £3.99 New RSP: £6.65
Duty: £2.64 + VAT Current RSP: £12.99 New RSP: £16.20
Expected Marketing rules from 1 June 2027
Vaping Duty Stamped stock from Booker,
Last month saw the completion of a 12-
who already have everything covered for you.
week consultation looking at how vapes and
The Duty, which was introduced on 1
nicotine pouches are packaged, designed and
sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products is
October, does not affect empty devices or
displayed. Nothing is law yet, but it’s worth
expected from 1 June 2027. Here’s what that
equipment such as coils, tanks, batteries
keeping up to date on how these proposals
or chargers. The Duty also does not affect
could affect your store in future.
nicotine pouches, which are a separate category outside the scope of this Duty. Additionally, on 29 October, the legal age limit for all vapes and nicotine pouches –
So-called Secondary Legislation, while subject to consultation followed by either a six- or 12-month notice period, is also likely to have a massive impact on the category.
even those with no nicotine – was set at 18
By early 2028, it is expected that standardised
years old. Substantial discounting was also
‘plain’ packaging will be introduced across all
outlawed on the same day, as was offering free
vaping and pouch products, with restricted
samples or promotional items to customers.
colours, imagery, branding, shapes and
RSP HIKES
materials. A standardised device design is also likely to be introduced and will be limited to
As you will already have noticed, the new
white, black or grey, with restricted branding,
Vaping Products Duty has a significant impact
no fancy cosmetic lighting and safety-only
on RSPs. The Duty on a 2ml prefilled kit, for
information on screens.
example, is 44p plus VAT, while the Duty on a 12ml big puff kit is £2.64 plus VAT.
Finally, flavour descriptors will also be
A comprehensive ban on advertising and
would mean… WHAT YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO DO: l
No outdoor advertising, paid digital displays, leafleting or giveaways
l
No window vinyls, shopfront signage or A-boards
l
No in-store promotions such as 2-for-1, BOGOFs or multibuys
l
No vape-branded merchandise, giveaways, coupons or ‘free with’ bundles
l
No vape-branded SELs, header cards or flavour towers.
WHAT YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO DO: l
Keep receiving supplier information
l
Answer questions from customers
l
Provide neutral point of sale information such as product names, prices and age restriction notices.
simplified, with only a flavour name permitted. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
41
*Source: NielSeN IQ rMS | ToTal coverage | ToTal PePSi Max carlSberg briTvic defiNed | voluMe SaleS | 52We 25/04/2026. **recoMMeNded reTaIl PrIce.
New Products HUEL LITE CLASSIC CHICKEN FLAVOUR Case size: 6x64g PROMO WSP: £9.35 RSP: £2.49 POR: 37.4%
RED BULL WINTER EDITION PISTACHIO & BERRIES Case size: 12x250ml PROMO WSP: £8.99 RSP: £1.75 POR: 48.6%
HUEL BLACK KATSU CURRY NOODLES Case size: 6x97g PROMO WSP: £13.99 RSP: £3.49 POR: 33.2%
PRINGLES SANTA’S SECRET FLAVOUR
STARBUCKS FRAPPUCCINO PUMPKIN SPICE
Case size: 19x165g PROMO WSP: £23.99 RSP: £2.99 POR: 49.3%
Case size: 8x250ml PROMO WSP: £9.69 RSP: £2.25 POR: 46.2%
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
43
New Products Limited Editions!
KitKat Milk Chocolate Sharing Bar PMP Case size: 15x99g WSP: £13.79 RSP: £1.50 POR: 26.5%
Aero Milkybar White Sharing Bar Case size: 15x90g WSP: £13.79 RSP: £1.50 POR: 26.5%
Grenade Soft Core Case size: 12x50g WSP: £15.99 RSP: £2.95 POR: 45.8%
Walkers Salt & Pepper Chicken Sharing bag Case size: 18x70g WSP: £17.29 RSP: £1.49 POR: 22.6%
Mentos Berry Good Case size: 40x37.5g PROMO WSP: £9.99 RSP: £0.85% POR: 64.7%
Mentos Sour Tones
Walkers Grilled Cheese & Chilli Jam Case size: 18x70g WSP: £17.29 RSP: £1.49 POR: 22.6%
Case size: 40x37.5g PROMO WSP: £9.99 RSP: £0.85% POR: 64.7%
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
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UNLEASH YOUR SALES 3
EXCITING FLAVOURS
M304799 M319538
9
#
M304814
CANDY BRAND*
Stock Up For Christmas * Source: NIQ, Total Impulse & Total Market, 52 WE 08 08 26
BetterService IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE
Scoot just keeps on getting better! Booker’s exclusive low-cost rapid delivery service Scoot just keeps on getting better and more powerful, with yet more retailer-led improvements recently unveiled in the app.
W
ith home delivery
There are also no shopper charges – giving
rapidly well on the
you the flexibility to offer the service for
Why Scoot?
way to becoming
free, should you wish – or to set your own
mainstream across
delivery, service or minimum order fees.
l Fully flexible model
the independent
retailing sector, Booker has helped more
CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT
retailers than ever cash in on the huge
That model is clearly one reason that Scoot
opportunity with the launch of its exclusive
has been so popular with retailers. But
low-cost delivery solution, Scoot.
another equally important reason is the
Despite being launched only last year, the
fact that since day one, Booker has made
platform has taken the market by storm, with
considerable investment in a programme of
more than 475 retailers now using Scoot to
constant improvements and enhancements
grow their sales and profits every day.
to the platform. Best of all, the majority of
One reason for the spectacular growth
these improvements have been made in direct
curve is the simple economics of how Scoot
response to retailer requests. You asked,
works for independent retailers: Scoot was
Scoot delivered.
designed by retailers for retailers to help
That programme of rolling investment
stores make more and save more, delivering
continues as Scoot develops its technology to
£34,000 of additional profit every year, based
help retailers grow sales, improve customer
on weekly sales of just £2,500 at 26% gross
retention and deliver more personalised
margin.
shopping experiences.
With only 1% commission charged up to
One of the most exciting developments
£4,999 of weekly in-app sales – and zero
currently underway is the trial of Scoot’s new
commission once you hit £5,000 a week –
loyalty solution, which has been designed to
Scoot delivers an outstanding low-cost app
reward shoppers, encourage repeat purchases
that facilitates home deliveries to shoppers in
and help retailers build stronger relationships
as little as 30 minutes.
with their customers.
l Make an estimated £34,000 additional profit per year (based on weekly app sales of £2,500 at 26% gross margin) l ZERO commission once you reach £5,000 of weekly sales on the app l ZERO consumer charges, giving you the ability to offer the service for free l 0.7% average card transaction fee l Save up to £16,000 per year with Scoot vs other rapid delivery platforms based on weekly sales of £4,999 l Want to get to the next band of Spend and Save? – Scoot can help you l Dedicated onboarding and setup support, including POS package
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
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GETTING PERSONAL Alongside all of this, Scoot’s customer engagement capabilities continue to evolve. Scoot can now deliver condition-based voucher campaigns, allowing promotions to be targeted to specific customer groups based on their personal shopping behaviour. This includes, for example, rewarding first-time customers, re-engaging lapsed shoppers and incentivising milestone purchases. This helps ensure offers are more relevant and effective. Combine this with Scoot’s enhanced push notification capabilities and retailers can communicate the right message to the right customer at the right time, helping to drive additional orders and improve retention. Scoot has also introduced features that help create a more personalised customer experience during fulfilment. Delivery drivers and pickers can now identify when they are serving a new customer or a customer who has reached an important The ongoing trial is providing valuable
milestone, helping retailers recognise and
insights into how loyalty mechanics can
celebrate loyalty at the point of service and
increase engagement and drive frequency
create memorable customer interactions.
across key customer segments.
{
Behind the scenes, significant progress
Alongside loyalty, Scoot has also
continues on Scoot’s EPoS integration
introduced a range of new merchandising
programme. Development work remains
and promotional capabilities within the app.
underway with both Madic and MHouse,
‘Timed Tiles’ now allow retailers and brand
while over 40 retailers are now live with RDP
partners to promote products at specific
integration, helping streamline operations,
times of day, helping to target key shopping
improve stock accuracy and create a more
missions such as lunch, evening meals, treats
seamless connection between stores and the
and late-night convenience occasions. Also
Scoot platform.
new is Category Discount functionality,
These technology investments form part of
enabling shoppers to receive offers across
Scoot’s broader commitment to help retailers
entire product categories rather than
grow digital sales, improve efficiency and
individual items, creating greater flexibility
deliver an increasingly personalised hopping
for promotional activity.
experience for customers.
From personalised loyalty rewards and targeted vouchers to advanced EPoS integration, Scoot is investing in technology that helps retailers attract, retain and reward customers more effectively than ever before.
}
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
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Customer milestones:
every order is an opportunity Making full use of Scoot’s new customer milestones capabilities is a powerful way to create positive experiences and strengthen the bond you enjoy with your customers.
D
id you know that every Scoot order is an
These moments are an opportunity to strengthen your relationship
opportunity? It’s a chance to show a customer
with your customers and show them that their loyalty is valued.
what your store stands for. A chance to create a
There are so many ways that you can make a milestone count: Why
positive experience they’ll remember. A chance
not add a handwritten thank you note to their delivery? You could
to turn a first-time customer into a regular
even consider adding a small complimentary item or gift?
customer, and a regular customer into a loyal advocate for your
Small gestures such as these can all help to create a positive and
business.
lasting impression.
These days, customers have more choice than ever and the stores that stand out aren’t always the cheapest: they’re the ones that consistently deliver great experiences. A friendly message, excellent order quality, a thoughtful gesture or simply recognising a customer’s loyalty can make all the difference. That’s why Scoot is introducing a new feature designed to help you identify and celebrate important customer milestones. When a customer reaches a milestone, it’s more than just another order number. Whether it’s their first order or their hundredth, Scoot is giving you
When customers feel valued, they’re more likely to return, spend more frequently and recommend your store to friends and family.
EASY PROGRESS To help retailers identify these important moments without any additional effort, Scoot now displays customer milestones directly within the ordering journey. You’ll see milestone notifications appear on: l The HHT l The driver app
a chance to recognise a customer at a meaningful moment in their journey with your store.
THE OPPORTUNITY Customers don’t just place orders. They build relationships with stores they trust. When a customer reaches one of the following milestones, Scoot
This means your team can instantly recognise when a customer is placing their 1st, 10th, 25th, 50th or 100th order and take action before the order reaches their door. No additional setup is required. The information is automatically displayed at the point it’s needed most. This feature has been introduced because Scoot recognises
will let you know:
that customer loyalty is built through great experiences delivered
l 1st Order
consistently over time. The milestone indicator gives you a simple
l 10th Order
way to recognise the customers who are choosing your store again
l 25th Order
and again.
l 50th Order
If you have any questions about the new feature, please contact
l 100th Order
the Scoot Support Team or go to the help centre on the Scoot Admin portal to see a short video showing what good looks like. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
51
UK’s No.1 Convεniεnt * Baking Brand £3.1P9
£3.19
RR
RRP
M304685 M304701
£3.1P9 RR
£3.19 RRP
M304682 M304686
35.1M Salεs Valuε** 45.6% Valuε Sharε** ©General Mills | Serving suggestion. *Nielson, Total Convenient Baking Mixes, Value Sales, All Items, Total Coverage, Latest 52 Weeks, w/e 28.12.24 **AC Nielson, Total Convenient Baking, Value Sales, All Brands, Total Coverage, Latest 52 Weeks, w/e 24.05.25
Prascilla Kava | MEET THE TEAM
Meet the team:
Prascilla Kava, Proposition Manager, Convenience
After 15 years at Booker, Prascilla Kava has just taken up the new role of Proposition Manager for Convenience within a brand new team and she can’t wait to get cracking! HI PRASCILLA! TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU TO GET STARTED.
the Londis Trade Marketing Team, where I was responsible for
Hello, I’m Prascilla. Outside of work, I love keeping active, taking
Trading Packs and Pre-Sell brochures, managing their production
on new challenges and exploring different parts of the world – there’s
from concept through to delivery. I also loved designing our Booker
still so much to see! My favourite of all is spending quality time with
Retail Trade Show and NCS exhibition stands.
friends and family, whether it be at home or out and about.
SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR BOOKER AND HOW HAS YOUR ROLE DEVELOPED OVER TIME? Fifteen years this month and I genuinely don’t know where the time
After five years in Trading, I moved to Marketing. I initially joined
More recently, and over the past five years, my role had expanded significantly. My scope had grown to include promotions, large-scale branding and rebranding projects, as well as continuing to deliver many of the initiatives and responsibilities that drew me to Marketing in the very first place.
Less than a year later, I moved into the BWS Trading Team, where
AND YOU’VE JUST STARTED A BRAND-NEW ROLE!
I developed a strong understanding of the buying function, from
Yes! This month I’ve moved into the Propositions Team, taking on a
new product development and promotions through to range reviews,
newly created role within a brand-new team. It’s an exciting next step
ensuring we have the right BWS product available to customers,
and one that feels like a natural progression following the Budgens
which was a real highlight for me. I particularly enjoyed working
rebrand.
has gone! I joined the Promotions Team straight after university.
closely with suppliers and collaborating with teams across Supply Chain, Range and Operations.
Through the refresh, we quickly saw from the data that our shoppers had evolved, as well as the shopper mission. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
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STOCK THE UK’S NO.1 TOILET * TISSUE BRAND
M285067 *Nielsen Scantrack Total Market 52 w/e 14/02/26. ®/ TM of Kimberly-Clark Europe Ltd.
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
It became clear that our proposition needed to evolve too, which was a key driver behind the rebrand. The exercise then encouraged us to take a fresh look across all of our retail brands. While we’ve successfully repositioned Budgens, by reconnecting with its heritage and strengthening its fresh offer, there’s still plenty of opportunity ahead.
About Prascilla Prascilla has worked for Booker for 15 years now, having joined the Promotions team straight from university. Her role has changed hugely since then and it’s just changed again, with Prascilla having just started in the brand-new role of Proposition Manager for Convenience within a brand-new team. When we spoke to her, she was only one month in – but already relishing the challenge and looking forward to spending time in the field with retailers, learning firsthand of their experiences, challenges and opportunities.
From range and own brand to promotions and customer experience, we’re focused on creating clearer differentiation, so that each brand has its own distinct purpose and identity. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and supporting the Propositions Team as we bring that vision to life and shape the future of our brands.
TALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE CHANGES IN SHOPPER DATA AND MISSIONS THAT PROMPTED THE NEED TO EVOLVE PROPOSITIONS AND CREATE THIS NEW TEAM? The Retail Proposition function has been created alongside bringing all the retail sales teams together. This will allow the Retail Development Managers to have access to all of our fascia brands and ensure we give all new stores the right fascia. The Proposition Team will be looking at giving each fascia some points of difference whilst reviewing range and our value offer, taking into account the latest shopper information and customer missions. The existing stores will also be able to maximise their potential under the right fascia if they look to refresh at the end of their existing contract.
SO WHAT EXACTLY WILL THE NEW TEAM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND WHERE WILL ITS REMIT BEGIN AND END? In essence, the new team will be responsible for forward-thinking fascia development, but most importantly, always being the voice of the customer during this ongoing development. It will be involved in various areas including range, product, promotions and own brand development, amongst others.
WHO ELSE WILL YOU BE WORKING ALONGSIDE? The team will have support for both the traditional neighbourhoodstyle convenience stores, which I will be responsible for, as well as dedicated support for forecourt stores. We’ll also have a dedicated person in the team to review market insights. We’ll all work closely alongside various project teams and, although small, we’ll be collaborating across all key functions in the business to drive a stronger proposition for customers going forward.
November-December 2026 TalkingShop
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M284429
M284424
M291979
#1 CLEANING BRAND
#1 AIR FRESHENER
#1 DISH BRAND
Nielsen Value Sales, 52w w/e 29th August 2026. Febreze, Fairy, and Flash in air fresheners, dish, and cleaning sprays categories, respectively
What are your views? Email yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
WILL YOUR NEW ROLE INVOLVE MUCH INTERACTION WITH RETAILERS? Absolutely, our retailers are at the centre of our business. To grow and move forward, they will play a key role in feeding back and having a voice through our journey. Our decisions will be based on the information our customers provide, alongside market data and industry insights, to ensure we deliver the right solutions for our retailers. We need to hear what works and what could work better so we can best implement solutions and support them in their businesses.
YOU’VE DESCRIBED RETAILERS AS THE CENTRE OF THE BUSINESS. HOW WILL THEIR FEEDBACK INFLUENCE THE TEAM’S DECISIONS? We will be taking retailer feedback from listening groups and from store visits with Retail Development Managers, which, alongside the Product Team’s expertise, will help shape some ranging decisions – as just one example.
AND HOW HAS YOUR FIRST MONTH BEEN? The first month has been about getting out and about, meeting teams across the business and putting faces to names. I’m a big believer in understanding not just what people do, but how and why we do it. I’ll also be spending plenty of time with our retailers, listening firsthand to their experiences, challenges and opportunities.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? Alongside that, we’ve already started making progress on creating clearer differentiation across our consumer leaflets and brands. We have been developing some tools that will assist the Retail Development Managers in ensuring we give the right retailer the right
WHAT WILL YOUR KEY FUNCTIONS BE? My new role as Proposition Manager for Convenience touches almost every part of the business, which is one of the things that I’m most
fascia, based on where the store is, whether a retailer wants a delivery or not, and based on the amount of chill and fresh space that the store will have. A key area of focus will be our ranges, which is a topic we
excited about.
regularly hear about from retailers. Our goal is to ensure we have the
Our priority, though, will be working with the Promotions Team
right ranges, own-label products and offers in the right fascia, creating
and Own Brand Team to ensure that we have the right product and
clearer brand identities and a stronger proposition for both retailers
the right price for each fascia - and that our own brand range is the
and shoppers.
strongest in the market.
WHAT ELSE EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE NEW ROLE?
WHAT WOULD YOU AND THE TEAM MOST LIKE TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS? Success will come from being seen as a key part of the retail team
What excites me the most is the opportunity to keep on learning and
and affecting positive results for our customers, helping them develop
to see things from a different perspective.
their businesses by sharing best practice through the local regional
I also love the fact that the role is centred around strategic forward
development teams. Success will also show in clearer communication
thinking, championing the customer voice and playing a key part in
across functions and ultimately then being able to update our retailers
leading positive change.
on any changes in a timely manner. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
57
NEW
ZYN BLACK MENTHOL 16.5MG
50%
POR*
*For Trade Only. Not for Distribution to Consumers. Profit on Return based on RRP of £6.50 per can. Offer valid while stocks last and subject to availability until 31st December 2026.
This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.
ACS Viewpoint | Deposit Return Scheme
The countdown to the introduction of a DRS is now on and there are key things retailers need to do right now, ACS chief executive Ed Woodall says.
The clock is ticking on DRS! With less than a year to go before the implementation of a deposit return scheme in the UK, retailers who are not exempt must register with Exchange for Change now.
T
he
countdown
to
the
The introduction of DRS will mark a major
the
UK
change for convenience retailers, not just
deposit return scheme is now
operationally in terms of siting, managing and
on, with less than 12 months
making the most of having a reverse vending
until the scheme goes live in
machine, but also in terms of managing the
October 2027. This is an area that we’ve
sell-through of pre-scheme products, getting
been talking about for over a decade with
new stock in, communicating the changes
retailers, government and industry, but
to customers and minimising any disruption
we’re now at a point where it’s time to act.
when there are collections of containers.
introduction
of
Before the end of 2026, every convenience
While a major change, DRS still presents
retailer who is not automatically exempt
an opportunity. Stores that aren’t part of the
needs to register their details with Exchange
scheme will be legally required to put up
for Change.
signage telling customers the nearest place
If you’re in an urban area and have a store
where they can recycle their containers and
with a sales area under 100 square metres,
get their 20p deposits back – do you want
your store is not required to register, but you
to give that kind of free marketing to your
can still do so if you wish to take part in the
nearest competition?
scheme voluntarily.
At ACS, we’ve been working on the detail
If you’re not automatically exempt, but
of the scheme, travelling across Europe to see
you’re still thinking about how you’re going
how existing schemes work, and spending
to take part in the scheme, whether you’re
time with RVM providers to get the inside
going to apply for a grant, whether you’ll
track on how their machines actually work in
install an RVM or take back containers
practice. All of this information is available in
manually, the first thing you need to do is
our DRS Resources Hub at ACS.org.uk, where
register with Exchange for Change and then
you’ll find a detailed guide to everything to do
the other details can be taken care of later. If
with the scheme, FAQs, a glossary of terms,
you don’t register, you may be excluded from
and real experience and learnings from places
participation in the scheme.
where DRS is already in place. November-December 2026 TalkingShop
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The cherry on top, with Sicilian Lemon
NEW M324362
STOCK THE UK’S NO.1 PREMIUM CARBONATES DRINK* * Circana (UK) Ltd, All Outlets, UK, Nestlé Waters Custom Retailer Scan Data for premium flavoured carbonates, Value Sales, 52 we 21 Feb 2026. ®Reg Trademark used in agreement of the Trademark Owner.