Your Budgens December 2022

GROCERYAID UPDATE 17

Charity unveils date for GroceryAid Day 2023.

CUSTOMER PROFILE 18

New life breathed into a vacant unit in Amesbury.

Vaping continues to boom.

Great time to take a fresh look at your store.

PLENTY TO LOOK forward to!

A very warm welcome to the final issue of Your Budgens for 2022 and it looks like we are set to end an at times challenging year on a very positive note with a footfalldriving World Cup tournament and a busy festive period.

Before we turn our thoughts fully to 2023, however, there are still a few more opportunities to go in the current year, not least of which will be squeezing some more sales and profit out of 2022 and you’ll find some great ideas on exactly how to do that inside.

One of the biggest opportunities is last-minute Christmas drinks as your shoppers top up for the big day and beyond. While value may be a massive focus, there’s some clear signs that shoppers are looking to trade up and treat themselves and their friends and family to affordable luxuries like a premium bottle of spirits or some nice wine or beer.

As it has done for most of this year, the vaping category is performing well and represents another good opportunity

over Christmas and the new year as the party season truly gets underway. The new year is also likely to see the category do well as shoppers commit to healthier living new year’s resolutions.

And, of course, the start of the new year is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your store and identify any areas that could do with a little bit of attention so that you’re fully prepared and ready for everything that 2023 is set to bring.

I wish you all fantastic trading this festive period and I look forward to a successful 2023 together.

As the year comes to a positive end with the World Cup and festive period boosting trading, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2023.

Industry News

Government unveils business rates support

The Government responded to retail industry concerns in its recent Autumn Statement, unveiling a package of support on business rates. The package will provide business rates support in the following key areas:

l The business rates multiplier will be frozen at its current level in 2023-24.

l Business rates relief for eligible retail businesses will increase from 50% currently to 75% in April 2023, up to a maximum of £110,000 of relief per business.

l A new Supporting Small Businesses Scheme (SSBS) will cap the bill increases for those losing their eligibility for Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief to a maximum of £50 extra a month in 2023-24.

The Autumn Statement also confirmed that the second round of the Levelling Up Fund will allocate at least £1.7bn to priority local infrastructure projects. However, there was no announcement about the level of energy costs support being provided to businesses in the spring.

ACS unveils DRS explainer

The Association of Convenience Stores has launched a new video and briefing for retailers providing a comprehensive explanation of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) which is due to go live on 16 August 2023. Circularity Scotland, the administrator for the DRS scheme in Scotland, will be releasing more information and publishing resources for retailers in the coming months. ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “It is important that retailers in Scotland are aware of and understand DRS ahead of its implementation next year and we will continue to engage with the Scottish Government and Circularity Scotland ahead of implementation.

The explainer can be found at www.acs.org.uk

Frozen ‘key’ to off-setting cost of living crisis

Frozen food is perfectly placed to help shoppers off-set some of the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, according to the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), creating new growth opportunities for retailers. In an address to 750 business leaders at the Federation’s Annual Luncheon at London’s Hilton Park Lane, BFFF President and Chair Ian Stone said prolonged shelflife, reduced wastage and competitive pricing mean frozen food can help shoppers and retailers cope with pressures of double-digit food inflation. Retail sales of frozen food increased by £1bn during the pandemic, while sales of freezers rose by 50%.

The government unveiled a significant business rates support package in the 2022 Autumn Statement.

©2022 AB InBev UK Limited, all rights reserved.

Food-to-go eating occasions increasing

Food-to-go and out-of-home eating occasions continue to increase, up 15% year-on-year in the 12 weeks ending 3 October, the latest MealTrak figures reveal.

The figures also revealed that convenience stores (+4%) and forecourts (+9%) are outperforming the total market, representing an opportunity for Budgens retailers.

The figures, from TWC Group in partnership with food-to-go and out-ofhome tracking programme MealTrak, show there were 813 million eating out of home occasions in the 12-week period.

In addition, the data shows value sales are up 30% on a 52-week/MAT basis and up 15% on a 12-week ending basis versus 2021.

Christmas set to be as merry as ever, despite cost of living

Most UK households are planning to

celebrate Christmas like they have always done without cutting spending, says new research.

Despite the cost of living crisis, most people in the UK are planning to enjoy Christmas just as they do every year without cutting their spending, according to new research from NielsenIQ.

A NielsenIQ Consumer Insights study showed that 54% of consumers in the UK view enjoying the holidays with their family and friends as very important and will have Christmas they always have. Only 39% of consumers questioned said are likely to reduce spending over the festive period.

The data revealed that expected expenditure this Christmas will be

equal to last year for many. Some 63% of households said their food, drink and gifting budget will be the same as last year’s. A tenth of shoppers said they plan to increase their budget this year.

Cheese (68%), bread (66%) and chocolate (60%) are the top three food categories which UK consumers plan to buy this Christmas while beers (52%), soft drinks (49%) and wine (37%) top the drinks list. Despite looking for more promotions, UK shoppers would not give up premium purchases during Christmas, with 37% of the respondents stating they will purchase food products, 35% planning premium beer purchases and 36% set to choose premium wines.

Wales to ban single-use plastics

The Welsh Government has introduced legislation to ban or restrict the sale and supply of single-use plastics across Wales in an effort to reduce plastic pollution. The legislation will take effect in autumn 2023 and covers a range of single-use plastic items including cutlery, plates, stirrers and drinking straws.

Also included will be food-to-go containers including expanded and foamed extruded polystyrene fast-food containers and cups, polystyrene lids and thin plastic single-use carrier bags.

The law will give local authorities the power to enforce the offence of supplying or offering to supply the commonly littered items – even if they are free of charge.

GB and NI only. 18+. Purchase any Lucozade Sport (single or multipack) and text ‘‘CASH’’ to 62123 to enter. Standard rates apply. NPN for NI. Promotional period 00:01 24.10.22- 23:59 12.12.22. Maximum one entry per person per day per mobile phone number. Max one prize per person per mobile phone number throughout promotion. For more information and full T&C’s visit https://lucoza.de/wctw

Lucozade, Lucozade Sport and the Arc Device are registered trade marks of Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd. © Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd. All rights reserved.

Community Christmas

CT Baker Budgens of Aylsham & Holt, in Norfolk, has held a special Christmas event for its local community.

The event offered customers a chance to try an array of festive products from local suppliers including Moon Gazer Ale, Shire Foods, Smoka Fine Foods, Krusty Loaf’s, Mash Direct’s Side Dishes, and Ambry Foods.

In addition, there was a charity tombola in aid of the retailer’s charity of the year The Fire Fighters Charity. In total, the tombola raised £321.

Charity challenge

Employees from Budgens of Holt have tackled the challenging Marriott’s Way in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity.

The team raised more than £200 by walking the 30-mile route in six hours.

The retailer selected The Fire Fighters Charity as its charity of the year after losing its supermarket in a devastating fire in 2020.

Christmas carols

Callands Budgens sponsored Exmouth RNLI’s Carol Service 2022, which returned after a three-year break due to the pandemic.

The service, held at Holy Trinity Church in Exmouth, featured refreshments and a retiring collection in aid of Exmouth RNLI.

Speaking before the event, Des White, Chair of the Fundraising Team at Exmouth RNLI, said: “This traditional event is open to all, and we look forward to a wonderful festive occasion and our retiring collection will support our local lifesaving charity.

“I’m especially grateful to Budgens in Queens Drive, Exmouth, for providing the refreshments.”

Pets in Need

Budgens St Albans, in Hertfordshire, is collecting pet food for local community group Pets in Need Herts.

The group runs a pet food bank, delivering food to those with pets most in need, and Budgens St Albans is acting as a collection point for the service.

The UK saw a “dramatic rise” in dog ownership during the pandemic, with 3.2 million households acquiring a new pet in the UK between March 2020 and March 2021, but the cost-of-living crisis has seen an increase in the number of pets being handed over to rescue charities because their family can no longer afford to keep them.

Book sales

Smiths Budgens of Codford, in Wiltshire, is helping to sell a charity cookbook. The book celebrates all the wonderful home cooks in Codford and features photographs, drawings and paintings that celebrate the village and the surrounding Wiltshire countryside.

The proceeds from the recipe book, titled Codford Cooks, will be used to buy a defibrillator for the local community.

Independents ‘central’ to Christmas shopping

Independent convenience stores are ‘central’ to nearly 60% of people’s Christmas shopping plans this year, according to new research commissioned by Ferrero and carried out by KAM Media.

The research shows that shows that 42% of shoppers are planning to do top-up shops at their nearest independent store in the final days before Christmas.

In addition, the research found that 55% intend to spend more or the same as last year on home entertaining, 56% plan to spend the same or more than they usually do on gifts and 52% said they will spend more and opt for more premium chocolate over the festive period.

Alcohol is bought alongside chocolate on 68% of occasions and almost half of shoppers purchase snacking products and cards when buying chocolate.

Trust

‘key to unlocking shopper spend’ in economic crisis

Retailers that focus on earning their shoppers’ trust, amid the cost-of-living crisis, stand to generate stronger loyalty, footfall and sales, new research has revealed. A poll of 1,000 people by The Institute of Customer Service found that trust “held the key” to maintaining customer spending in the current challenging times, with 64% of customers willing to spend more with businesses that they trusted. Some 81% held trust as a “very important” factor,

while 95% said they were “likely” or “very likely” to remain a customer of a business they trust. The top drivers of customer trust in organisations are that products and services are good quality (61%), reliable (56%) and that prices are transparent (46%).

In addition, 82% of customers said they would be more likely to trust an organisation that gave them better service.

Vaping ‘now worth £1.3bn’

A new report compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), shows that the UK vape sector grew by 23.4% from 2017 to 2021, which represents an increase of £251m. The market is now worth £1.325bn. The contribution vaping made to the Exchequer through taxation was £310m in 2021, the data shows.

Owen Good, Head of Economic Advisory at Cebr, said: “Whilst many categories have suffered in recent years, the vaping sector has bucked the trend, with significant growth both in-store and online. Even the effects of the pandemic have not significantly hampered the sector’s growth.”

Welcoming the report, John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association said: “In little over a decade vaping in the UK has grown from very much a ‘cottage industry’ to one of the fastest-growing sectors in not just retail, but the whole economy.”

Shoppers are planning to top up in local stores in the final days before Christmas

Save the Date: GroceryAid Day 2023

Independent retailing industry charity

GroceryAid has announced that its official GroceryAid Day awareness-raising event for 2023 will take place on 10th May 2023.

GroceryAid Day was created to be a high-profile opportunity for the entire industry to come together and make sure everyone in our industry is aware of the free and confidential support services the charity can offer to industry colleagues in need of financial, emotional or practical help. Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The charity works on behalf of the entire industry from head office through to factory and shop floors and, unfortunately, demand for its services has never been higher following the challenges of the last few years. Last year over 220 companies in the trade took part in GroceryAid Day and the charity reached millions of people through company engagement. This increased level of awareness

contributed to a 61% increase in incidences of support last year, but there are still so many people who don’t know about the free and confidential support available to them.

By getting involved in GroceryAid Day 2023 you and your team can help share the message that free, confidential help is available.

Remember too that it is a great time to remind your team about the welfare services GroceryAid provides as the festive season approaches.

To order a free pack of posters, leaflets and wallet cards for your store, visit groceryaid.org.uk/get-involved/orderprinted-materials. A special Save The Date kit can also be downloaded at www.groceryaid.org.uk.

GroceryAid Day

Milestones:

l Today: Add GroceryAid Day to your personal and team calendars.

l December/January: Make your GroceryAid Day plans.

The GA Day 2023 theme will be launched in January via email and Linkedln.

l February/March: Order your materials.

GroceryAid will inform you by email and about ordering times and deadlines.

l April: Let GroceryAid know you’re taking part.

Taking part in GroceryAid Day earns you one point towards a GroceryAid Award and helps the charity track engagement levels.

l 10 May: Enjoy GroceryAid Day!

GroceryAid can’t wait to see your pictures and posts on the day.

Fresh new dawn

Tony Hobbs and his family have breathed fresh life into a previously vacant retail unit in the historic town of Amesbury.

From its rich tapestry of independent shops to its many fascinating historical attractions, including the world-famous Stonehenge, the good people of Amesbury in Wiltshire already had a lot to smile about.

However, thanks to the July 2022 opening of a state-of-theart new Budgens store on the outskirts of town, they now have bags more.

Owned and run by Budgens retailer Tony Hobbs with his son and daughter David and Rea, the brand new 2,800sq ft store has been established in a purpose-built retail unit which, despite having been constructed 12 years ago, was never opened by its former leaseholder.

“When the lease came up for renewal in April 2022, the landlord took it back, and we took it on,” Tony explains.

“I was instantly drawn to its location. Amesbury is a really attractive and growing town that is ringed by residential housing and very popular with tourists and holidaymakers all year round.”

“There’s an interesting local demographic too; on one hand there are lots of very affluent shoppers, while others are heavily value-focused.

“Budgens was the perfect fit, as we knew that the offer could cater perfectly to the two ends of the spectrum and allow us to make a strong profit at the same time. With Budgens you can make a profit on everything you sell, even the special offers.”

The shop fit took eight weeks, with Tony describing the process as “very smooth” thanks to Budgens’ “exceptional” support.

“There is a fair bit of competition in Amesbury so we knew we needed to come up with a plan and a range that would really allow us to stand out,” he says.

And the store certainly does that.

One of the first things to catch shoppers’ eyes upon entering the shiny and spacious interior is a vibrant drinks-to-go offer featuring five new machines including Tango Ice Blast, Jolly

Tony Hobbs

“Shoppers love it,” laughs Tony. “The Tango Ice Blast alone is a huge pull; we get shoppers coming in just because they see it advertised from outside and they can’t resist. Fortunately, we have a large free car park directly outside so there’s good visibility from the road and its easy for passers-by to pull in and park.”

The new range of drinks-to-go is heavily supported with promotions that often tie in with its impressive food-to-go offer.

Rancher Slush, Hershey’s and Reese’s Freeze, Reese’s Hot Chocolate and Costa Express.

In fact, every day of the week the store runs a different deal, from BOGOFs on Tango Ice Blast to money off sausage rolls with the purchase of a Costa Coffee.

Tony’s food-to-go counter is equally standout. Displayed in a “fancy” heated cabinet, the ‘Good to Go By Hobbs’ range is all prepared and freshly made in-store. Stars of the show include homemade chicken wings, hot dogs and sausage rolls. The chicken for the counter’s bestselling chicken wings is sourced through Booker and marinaded using Booker sauces to create ‘BBQ’ and ‘Hot and Kicking’ options.

The store’s kitchen team also make up a vast array of delicious fresh sandwiches including more than 14 different fillings, from Chicken Tikka to Chicken & Chorizo and Tuna Mayo Salad.

“We make everything in-store and the feedback we receive is fantastic. The range is really helping us to become known as the premier place for food-to-go locally,” Tony says.

FACTFILE

“We make everything in-store and the feedback we receive is fantastic. The range is really helping us to become known as the premier place for food-to-go locally.”

Tony Hobbs

“The bestseller is our ‘Club Sandwich’ but close behind is our festive-themed ‘All The Trimmings’. Featuring turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pigs in blankets, it’s essentially a Christmas sandwich but due to overwhelming shopper demand, we plan to keep it on all year round.”

Shoppers can also snap up sarnies from the quality range that is also available through Budgens. “We also offer a highly competitive chilled lunchtime Meal Deal offering a Main, a Snack and a Drink for just £4, which shoppers also love,” Tony adds.

Chilled is another string to the store’s bow and its biggestselling category.

The store features more than 20 metres of refrigeration including a large range of chilled meal solutions to cater for

all budgets and all needs: from tasty, value-priced Jack’s ready meals to quality joints of meat. “Our chilled meat range from Budgens is also supplemented by a range of local meats from Matos Butchers – a family-run butcher shop based in the nearby village of Blandford Forum, that has been in business since 1979,” Tony adds.

Fresh produce has also quite literally been given extra standout on shelf with key Jack’s lines including Broccoli, Carrots and Parsnips housed on smart curved shelving within the chillers. Other products in the store’s fresh vegetable line up, such as Jack’s-branded apples and pears, are housed in attractive wooden crates within the chillers.

Frozen products meanwhile are housed in 5.5 metres of smart energy-efficient freezers, featuring an innovative new section for impulse ice creams built in.

“Budgens was the perfect fit as we knew that the offer could cater perfectly to the two ends of the pricing spectrum and allow us to make a strong profit at the same time.”

Tony Hobbs

Retailer Profile: Tony Hobbs

Complementing the frozen range are also four standalone Cook freezers.

The store’s freshly baked bread and pastry offer has also been enhanced with custom-built display equipment which houses its 18 lines of loose products. Items like individual bread rolls and pastries are displayed in attractive and hygienic Perspex drawers which easily slide open for shoppers to serve themselves.

Alcohol, the store’s second bestselling category, has also been given special attention. Products are merchandised in an attractive ‘wine cellarstyle’ zone, where added in-store theatre has been created with the use of smart cube-shaped display stands for promotional products.

“Promotions play a big role in the store and are very prominent across every single product category,” Tony says.

Value is also highlighted in a number of ways throughout the store, including attention-grabbing hanging signage in the aisles, on-shelf POS and aisle-end Euro Shopper promotional bays to reinforce the message of ‘Value All Year Round’.

The value message is particularly strong within the impulse aisles where Jack’s-branded snacks are supported with high-impact POS highlighting the many ‘2 for’ offers available.

“Our strong value proposition really does mean we can be all things to all people and shoppers love that about us,” Tony says. “Shoppers can come to us for a £12 bottle of wine and a Cook! Ready meal, or a great-value option from the Jack’s brand. It’s all there for the choosing.

“The coming months will be all about bedding in and continuing to raise awareness of the fact the store is here. With the unit having been vacant for 12 years prior, getting the message out there has also been a big focus since opening and we continue to follow a comprehensive marketing plan, supported by social media, to raise awareness and keep the store front of mind for shoppers.”

This plan appears to be working, and Tony is optimistic about the future. “So far, the feedback has been exceptional. We are delighted with where sales are and really excited about the months ahead,” he concludes.

Get into the spirit

Despite speculation that the gin bubble would soon pop, the category continues to grow by 12.3% from a value perspective and 3.3% in terms of volume – so the signs remain strong for a juniper-scented Christmas.

And with Booker stocking 125 different varieties of gin, Budgens retailers will certainly have a lot to choose from. Gee up your gin sales by offering a good mix of flavoured products as well as more traditional London Dry gins from across the pricing spectrum to cater for all tastes and pockets.

The festive season is upon us and bringing with it a sleigh-load of very merry opportunities for Budgens retailers to put on a show and set their drinks sales singing.

Helping them to do just that is Budgens, which this year, is offering retailers a truly sparkling range to cater for all tastes, budgets and occasions.

Products will also be supported with a vast variety of footfall-driving promotions and in fact this festive period, the number of Group deals on beer and cider are up by 20% on last year, while the number of wines and spirits on promotion has increased by a quarter.

So, here’s a last-minute reminder about some of the key products and big trends to be on board with this year to really get your Christmas and New Year sales rocking around the clock.

PREMIUMISATION

With no current restrictions on socialising in any part of the UK, Christmas 2022 is promising to be one of the biggest and best in recent years, as shoppers look to celebrate in style – treating themselves and others to premium drinks, despite the spending squeeze.

Get on board with the key trends set to shape drinks sales this festive season and unwrap merry sales and profits.

Gin is still in!

Shake up your spirit sales

Flavoured spirits, in particular vodka, are in demand at the moment –so retailers would do well to include these in their ranges.

Tropical fruit and floral flavours shone brightly over the summer months, while over the winter and festive period, dessert, spiced and coffee flavours could see an uptick in demand.

If space is an issue, don’t feel you have to offer every flavour under the sun – just the core bestsellers, supported by any big new or Exclusive products.

Use the Budgens POS to highlight your range and offers, especially on Exclusive products.

A growing number of Budgens retailers are also investing in backlit spirit displays to give their ranges an extra edge.

Trend Alert!

Shoppers

are snapping up sweeter wines

When it comes to wine, Booker’s Mark Oldfield says there’s one trend that’s more noticeable than all the rest: a move towards wines with sweeter taste profiles.

This trend lends itself to naturally sweeter Australian wines and Mark encourages retailers to make more of wines from down under in their stores.

“Australia is the biggest country in terms of sales volume so it’s really important that retailers also have a good core Australian offering across each of the price brackets,” he advises.

“Australian wines tend to offer that sweeter taste profile which a growing number of shoppers are looking for these days. They also tend to be more robust in terms of price and availability, which is key.”

Budgens’ range of great-value Australian wines includes Jam Shed’s Shiraz, Rosé and Chardonnay variants, all currently available on promotion for an RSP of just £6 and a promotional POR of 15.17%

Mark Oldfield, Booker’s Category Lead for Wine & RTD’s, expects sparkling options to shine particularly brightly this year and fortunately Budgens has a fantastic range to help them do so with options to suit all budgets. Budgens shoppers seeking great-value sparkling options can bag bottles of Dino Prosecco for just £7.49, down from £9.99 (POR 10.04% per case of 6) while those with a penchant for more premiumpriced options can treat themselves to a bottle of Lanson Black Label Champagne for £30.99 –down from £42.99 – offering retailers a POR of 10.82% per case of 6.

World Beers, Super Premium Ciders and Premium Ales, which are all growing ahead of the core

category, according to Kantar Worldpanel data, also look set to sparkle as shoppers trade up their tipples over the festive period.

In fact, according to Statista data from Molson Coors, one-fifth (18%) of UK adults would prefer to enjoy a beer alongside their Christmas dinner.

FLAVOURS

Shoppers’ seemingly insatiable appetite for new and exciting flavours is continuing to enliven the spirits category and the festive season looks set to be no exception as in-home revellers seek to get creative with cocktails and spritzers.

Win big with wine

Rack up merrier wine sales this festive season with Mark Oldfield’s top tips:

RANGE

l Delist lines that aren’t working to make space for big sellers.

l Offer a solid range across the key price points.

l Follow the RSPs.

l Sweeter wines are on trend, so try to reflect this in your range.

Australian wines are a great option.

MERCHANDISING

l Have at least two or three facings of your best-selling wines.

l Run the Budgens promotions and support them with displays in prominent sites in your store like gondola ends.

l Chill all white and rosé wines, where possible.

l If space allows, why not create a dedicated festive display?

ENERGISE YOUR SALES AND PROFITS WITH RAPTOR

Partied-out Christmas shoppers will also be able to re-energise tired minds and bodies this festive season thanks to Booker’s launch of a brand new and ultra-competitive own-label energy drinks brand.

Available through Booker and BRP now, Raptor has been launched in three on-trend flavours –matched to bestselling branded energy drinks.

Flavours in the new Raptor range include Orange & Mango, Tropical Cherry, and Citrus, in-line with shopper demand for fruity and tropical flavours.

Price-marked at just £1, each can also offers Budgens retailers an equally energising POR of 51.1%.

The new Raptor range is also fully HFSS compliant.

Berry, citrus and tropical flavours, such as raspberry, watermelon and passionfruit have dominated the white spirit scene in 2022, especially in vodka, where flavoured varieties are currently the fastest-growing segment at +51.9%, according to Nielsen data compiled for the premium Ciroc brand.

Some of the many special offers available on key spirit brands this festive season include 70cl bottles of Absolut Vanilla and Absolute Passionfruit for just £16.99, down from £22.29, offering retailers a promotional POR of 14.55% per case of 6.

MULTIPACKS

Multipack formats have been a key focus for many of the UK’s leading lager brands this year and the format certainly looks set to shine over the coming weeks, as shoppers come together for an array of different social and celebratory occasions.

Take-home formats have been growing steadily throughout 2022 according to IRI convenience data compiled for Molson Coors. In fact, chilled small multipacks now account for 72.8% of impulse lager sales.

Budgens offers a great value range of multipacks to help shoppers share the good times including 4x330ml packs of Peroni and Corona Extra for just £5.75 (Promotional

POR of 28.03% per case of 6) and 10x 40ml packs of Stella Artois and Strongbow for just £10.

LOW TO NO

With more than 14% of households having bought a low or no alcohol drink this year, according to Kantar, offering a good balance of low and no alcoholic options has never been so important.

Budgens retailers can also offer their shoppers bottles of Alcohol Free Belle & Co Sparkling wine, which are on offer over the festive period for an RSP of just £3.50. Retailers can also make a promotional POR of 20.06% on cases of 6.

RTDS

With their ultra-convenient formats, innovative flavours and disruptive style, RTDs also look set to help stores ring up additional sales and profits this year.

Budgens’ range includes a variety of bestselling RTDs including Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold Rum & Cola, Smirnoff Raspberry Crush and Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin and Lemonade, all of which are available on a ‘Any 3 for £5.50’ deal and offer retailers a promotional POR of 36.30% on case sizes of 12.

Unwrap merrier sales and profi ts with Jack’s

The festive season is well and truly upon us with shoppers up and down the country decking their halls and baskets with an array of festive frivolities.

However, while spend on sparkling wines, premium beers and indulgent treats may well be up, the current squeeze on consumer spending is likely to mean that shoppers will be keener than ever to bolster their baskets with great quality every day products that offer fantastic value for money.

And that’s even more likely to be the case when the new year rolls around and shoppers looks to tighten their belts after the excesses of the festive period. This is precisely

Budgens retailers now have access to an even broader range of quality products from the great value Jack’s brand.

Social selling

Social media is another great medium through which to shout about the fantastic array of quality Jack’s products and great promotions available in store.

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok can help you to reach shoppers wherever they are, be that at home, on the bus or at work.

Booker offers a wealth of social media assets to help you showcase your Jack’s range, making it as easy as pie to create high-impact posts.

For more information and advice, ask your friendly RDM.

where the exceptional Jack’s own brand range comes into its own.

Offering the perfect blend of value and quality while also delivering great PORs for retailers, the range continues to grow, with further Jack’sbranded first aid and personal care products are also set to launch in the new year.

From crunchy apples to crumbly pies and warming ready meals, the Jack’s range now covers each of the key product categories that shoppers look for in a quality convenience offer.

As Your Budgens went to press, 454 Jack’s products had been launched, representing 92%,

of the entire range of 496 great- value lines that will be available to Budgens retailers.

The vast majority of products in the Jack’s range are price-marked, reinforcing shoppers’ trust and confidence in the range.

Products are also supported by a wide array of different promotions, including show-stopping ‘2 for’ deals across many categories.

And of course, Jack’s offers far more than just great-value for money from a trusted and wellknown brand. Quality is also a major string to the brand’s bow and a key driver of repeat purchases, according to Budgens retailers.

Recent Jack’s launches - ambient foods

Other recent additions to the Jack’s range include a number of new ambient foods, including:

Product description Case size WSP RRP POR

Jack’s Sliced Beetroot in Vinegar

6x340g £3.99 £0.99 32.8%

Jack’s Tuna Chunks in Brine 12x145g £9.99 £1.29 35.5%

Jack’s Tuna Chunks in Sunflower oil 12x145g £9.99 £1.29 35.5%

*All prices correct at time of going to press.

Budgens retailers can also order extra materials from the Budgens Printshop including Banners and spare POS kits.

Plump up

profits

Tony Hobbs of Hobbs Budgens in Amesbury, Wiltshire says:“The Jack’s brand is a perfect fit for our store and has helped us to create a really powerful value for money proposition that appeals to shoppers from all walks of life.

“Sales of Jack’s branded products are particularly strong in the fresh and chilled categories and shoppers consistently give good feedback about the freshness and quality.

Shoppers are certainly not the only ones to benefit from the Jack’s brand, with many products in the range offering strong POR’s of more than 40%.

Jack’s Cat Cuts In Jelly with Salmon 12x415g £4.65 £0.79 41.1%

Jack’s Meaty Sticks with Beef 14x100g £5.69 £0.85 42.6%

*All prices correct at time of going to press.

SAMPLE STATION

There’s no better time than Christmas time to add a sprinkle of valuable in-store theatre to your shop floor.

One great way to do this, is through in-store sampling. Why not try offering your shoppers samples of key Jack’s festive lines such as its mouth-watering Mince Pies? With an RSP of just £1.25 for six, Jack’s Deep Filled Mince Pies are sure to leave your shoppers full of festive cheer and leave your shop floor smelling wonderful.

It’s a simple and delicious way to introduce more shoppers to the Jack’s brand and drive loyalty and trust in the process.

Remember however, that allergens must be clearly visible when sampling products.

Tony continues: “Key Jack’s lines including Broccoli, Carrots and Parsnips are housed on smart curved shelving within our chillers to give them even more standout on shelf, while other products, such as Jack’s branded apples and pears are housed in attractive wooden crates within the chillers.

“In the chilled aisles, Jack’s branded ready meals are selling strongly, driven by their quality proposition but also their great value price points and it’s the same story for cakes and biscuits. Shoppers can’t get enough of the ‘2 for £3’ deals on selected bites and clusters.

“We take particular care to ensure that the range is always fully-supported with the relevant POS to give it maximum standout on shelf,” Tony adds.

Strong retailer POR’s are of course another major boon. While most Jack’s lines deliver at least 30% POR, a high volume of the 380 products already launched also carry even juicier POR’s of more than 40%, with some, such as Jack’s Pedal Bin Liners offering as much as 55.7%!

American dreams

American Beauties

Top tips to make the most of your American Candy display

l American Candy displays can be a great way to create excitement on your shop floor. Be sure to support your range with the relevant in-store signage and POS to make it pop.

l American Candy lines tend to be fast sellers to be sure to keep a close eye on availability and fill gaps on shelves quickly to keep your display looking at its best.

l Review your range regularly to ensure that every inch of space is working as hard as it can be.

l American Candy lends itself perfectly to promotions on social media. Think about supporting new products and bestselling lines with social content including images, reviews and in-store videos to build excitement.

Candy products from across the pond can help you make an even bigger splash this festive season and beyond.

From shaking up soft drinks to go to giving crisps and snacks a whole lot of extra bite and whipping up food-togo, American brands are continuing to take the UK convenience sector by storm.

One category where the power and pull of US brands continues to be felt particularly strongly is of course confectionery.

Despite the cost of living crisis and the need for many shoppers to rein in their spending, retailers from across the country are still reporting sweet sales of often pricier ‘American Candy’ products, as shoppers remain keen to buy into their added-value propositions and innovative and engaging flavours and formats.

With their vibrant, joyful packaging and exciting and often surprising flavour and texture combinations –dirty dishwasher flavoured Jelly Bean anyone? – American Candy brands continue to offer shoppers a taste of lightness and fun in what are still for many people, quite uncertain times.

In fact, according to research from The Hershey Company, 35% of shoppers agree that practising self-care includes enjoying sweet treats and or indulgences.

“Candies and other sweet treats play many different roles in consumers’ self-care experiences - ranging from a reward, to being an instant mood lifter or a source of comfort on rough days,” a spokesman for The Hershey Company says. “Sweet treats can also

be a way to indulge in moderation or help shoppers “break out of monotony,” he adds.

The imminent festive season is also guaranteed to give American Candy brands a further boost, with shoppers expected to bag even more of the sweet treats over the coming weeks as they stock up on stocking fillers and fun-filled sharing formats.

Helping retailers to make the very most of the American Candy trend, Budgens offers a compelling range of best-selling lines from key US brands, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Jelly Belly and Mike and Ike.

All items in the range give retailers the opportunity to bag minimum PORs of 27%, with some products, such as

Reese’s Sticks, offering as much as 38.2%!

From Sweet & Salty to Sweet & Sour and Tropical, all of the products within the expertly honed range tap into the key trends driving shopper demand at the moment.

One store seeing sweet sales of American candy is Budgens Grand Parade. Given its proximity to Brighton university and its wealth of student accommodation, American confectionery is a key feature in the store, which was extended to 2,500sq ft in May 2022.

The large American Confectionery offer is signposted with eye-catching ‘American Candy’ signage featuring the American flag.

TASTY TAKEAWAYS

l Even a small range of American Candy can create welcome excitement on the shop floor. Budgens retailers have access to a range of bestselling SKUs to help retailers build an eye-catching offer whatever their store size.

l American Candy products don’t just appeal to teens! Older shoppers also buy into the category too for gifting and nostalgic reasons.

l American Candy products tend to command higher price points than their UK counterparts – and higher PORs too. Budgens retailers can make a minimum of 27% on the range with some products, such as Reese’s Sticks, offering as much as 38.2%!

l The imminent festive season is sure to give American Candy brands a further boost, as shoppers snap up more products for stocking fillers, gifts and fun treats to share with friends and family.

Brands stocked include Swedish Fish, Nerds, Jolly Rancher Gummies and Sour Jelly Beans and the offer is also complemented by a range of American soft drinks.

Manager Neslihan Turan says: “Brighton is generally a very eclectic and diverse place, meaning that our shoppers are a very broad mix of many different ages, nationalities and economic means. Our proximity to the University also means that we attract a lot of student custom and so American confectionery is generally a very big seller, especially at this time of year when shoppers are treating themselves, buying gifts and stocking fillers or just fun sweets to share at parties or big nights in,” she says. “It’s definitely a category well worth giving space to.”

FLAVOUR OF THE MOMENT

From Sweet & Salty to Sweet & Sour and Tropical, all of the products within Budgens’ expertly honed range tap into the key trends driving shopper demand at the moment.

SWEET AND SALTY

This much-loved flavour combination is certainly showing no sign of slowing down. Budgens’ range includes a number of products from the famously sweet and salty peanut butter and chocolate brand Reese’s, including its iconic cup formats and newer Reese’s Sticks.

Reese’s Sticks

WSP: £10.19 Case Size: 20x42g

RSP 99p POR 38.2%

SWEET AND SOUR

The clashing combo of sweet and sour continues to drive excitement within the total sugar confectionery market and within American Candy in particular, where it remains a dominant trend.

Answering the call for sweet and sour treats with an “intensely fruity flavour” are IceBreakers Sours, which are available in Strawberry and Mixed Berry and on-trend Watermelon & Green Apple.

IceBreakers Sours Watermelon & Green Apple

WSP £8.05 Case Size: 8x42g

RSP £1.69 POR 28.6%

TROPICAL TASTES

With sweet and tropical tastes still top of the pops for shoppers, the range available to Budgens retailers also includes an array of fruity flavoured American Candies including products from the Mike and Ike brand.

Mike and Ike Tropical Typhoon Box

WSP: £13.76 Case Size: 12x141g

RSP: £1.99 POR 30.9%

Sell at RSP, increase profi ts by 2%

Budgens is reminding retailers that they can add 2% to their POR to their sales of leading tobacco products by joining the Budgens Tobacco Club - and that they must sell the lines at RSP.

As energy and fuel costs continue to challenge retailers, Budgens is reminding retailers that they can secure an additional 2% POR on leading tobacco products by joining the Budgens Tobacco Cluband is reminding retailers too that they must sell the Tobacco Club lines at RSP in order to be eligible for the bonus POR.

The Budgens Tobacco Club was recently expanded with the addition of five new lines, offering Budgens retailers even more opportunities to add an extra 2% POR on their tobacco sales.

The new Chesterfield and Marlboro Gold Rolling Tobacco lines benefit from reduced WSPs which help deliver the POR increases on every pack sold.

To take advantage of the Budgens Tobacco Club and benefit from reduced WSPs, all that retailers have to do

is sign up and agree to sell the qualifying lines at RSP or below.

The lower WSPs are charged on invoice so there are no credits required. It couldn’t be simpler.

To find out more about the Budgens Tobacco Club or to sign up, speak to your RDM today.

Electric opportunity

Case

When it comes to dynamism in the convenience sector, there’s few categories quite as electric as vape at the moment

With a current estimated value of well over £1.2bn in the UK and more than 30% of sales being made in traditional retail, according to Imperial Tobacco, vape products are well on their way to becoming one of the biggest footfall and profit drivers in local stores.

Growth has skyrocketed over the last 12 months, with 4.3 million people in Great Britain now using e-cigarettes – equivalent to 8.3% of the entire adult population.

This growth, according to ASH and YouGov’s latest Smokefree GB survey, is being driven by the mounting number of adult smokers continuing to switch to vape products for health and cost reasons.

The peak age group for e-cigarette use has also experienced a massive shift in the last 12 months, with 18-24 year olds now the largest users of e-cigarettes at 11%, up from 5% in 2021.

The significant growth in the volume of 1824 year olds now vaping, instead of smoking, has also led to a dramatic shift in the type of vape products being used and purchased, leading to a surge in sales of ultra-convenient disposable devices.

Use of disposable vapes has soared from 2.3% in 2021 to 15% in 2022 according to the Smokefree GB survey, and that growth is showing no signs of slowing as we head towards 2023.

Usage of devices which use pre-filled pods and cartridges meanwhile, has remained at a strong and stable 17%, while usage of tank

FLAVOUR OF THE MOMENT

The popularity of fruity flavoured vapes has continued to soar in the last 12 months, latest data from the SmokeFree GB Survey reveals.

Fruit flavours now account for the lion’s share of usage at 41%, followed by menthol at 19%.

Usage of tobacco flavoured vapes, which in 2015 were the most popular flavour, has fallen to 15%.

Only 1.1% of vapers report using tobacco/menthol flavoured products and only very few report using products with no flavour.

Over the course of 2022, tropical and berry flavours, such as Watermelon, Mango, Cherry, Raspberry and Blueberry experienced strong sales, with the trend expected to last into the new year.

The Government’s Nicotine Vaping Evidence Update 2022 also said that there was “some evidence to suggest that non-tobacco flavours, particularly sweet flavours, may play a positive role in helping people switch from smoking to vaping”.

products and refillables has continued to slide.

Given the amount of change experienced by the vape market in the past 12 months, and with more dynamism on the cards, keeping on top of the key vape trends has never been so important for local retailers.

Understanding how challenging that can be for busy store owners, Your Budgens is here to help with even more insights, handy hints and top tips to keep sales on track and profits in the fast lane.

Budgens is also supporting retailers with its highly competitive and on-trend range of vape products which now includes even more choice thanks to a range of recent new additions.

Helping retailers to make even more of the massive growth in disposable formats, Budgens has bolstered its disposable vape range with the addition of new brand Elux.

Featuring 2% nicotine salts for fast nicotine absorption, the Elux Bar 600 has been designed to deliver a vape that feels closer to a cigarette.

Elux vapes are available to Budgens retailers now in a range of six on-trend flavours including Sweet Blueberry Ice, Sweet Watermelon Ice and Pink Lemonade.

The new range of bars also includes a variety of unique flavours such as the sweet and tangy berry-flavoured Mr Blaze – and Tiger Blood, which offers a fruity, energy drink flavour.

Each disposable bar also offers 600 puffs – equivalent to around 20 tobacco cigarettes. If sold at the RSP of £5.99, each case of 10 Elux vapes also offers retailers a POR of 48.4%.

And that’s not all! Budgens retailers also have access to a new range of disposable vapes from the Lost Mary brand.

Lost Mary BM600 vapes deliver “a sweet and cool” taste in a uniquely shaped format. Each disposable also offers 600 puffs and features 20mg nicotine salts.

NEW POD RANGES

Budgens has also bolstered its range of refillable vape products with the addition of BAT’s Vuse2 e Pod. Each

pack contains two pre-filled ‘e pods’ which are compatible with Vuse and also Vype devices.

Available in six on-trend flavours, each prefilled pod also offers vapers up to 1,900 puffs. With an RSP of £6.99, the pods also offer Budgens retailers a POR of 23.3%.

A new range of pods from the bigname Elfbar brand are also available. Compatible with Elfbar’s Elfa pod kits, Budgens retailers can chose from a range of seven best-selling flavours including flavour of the moment Watermelon.

Each pack contains two pre-filled pods containing 20mg of Nicotine salts for an RSP of £5.99 offering retailers a POR of 39.3%.

REASONS FOR VAPING?

l 29% of ex-smokers who now vape say they used a vape to quit.

l 19% of ex-smokers said they vape to prevent relapse.

l 14% of ex-smokers said they vape because they enjoy the experience.

l 11% of ex-smokers say vape to save money.

A year of opportunities

The UK’s dynamic vape market offers a fantastic opportunity to generate year-round sales but there is also an array of key times and annual campaigns that retailers can get on board with to really supercharge footfall, sales and profits.

In 2023 these will include:

l New year quitting opportunity: The first few months of 2023 will provide retailers with a sizeable opportunity to boost vape sales by helping the many existing smokers who will be looking to quit tobacco with the use of a vape.

l VApril: Run by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) the annual VApril campaign will run throughout the month of April to help educate smokers on how to successfully quit conventional cigarettes by transitioning to vaping.

l Stoptober: The government-led national smoking cessation campaign will run throughout the month of October, working hard to promote the message that “nicotine vaping is one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking”.

USAGE AND AWARENESS OF E-CIGARETTES

l 3 million people in Great Britain now use e-cigarettes.

l 57% of current vapers are ex-smokers.

l Only 1.3% of never smokers are current vapers, amounting to 8.1% of vapers.

l Only 28% of adult smokers had never tried a vape in 2022 – down on 2021.

l 63% of vapers who no longer smoke find vaping more or equally satisfying as smoking.

(Source: Smokefree GB survey, YouGov March 2022)

(Source: Smokefree GB survey, YouGov March 2022)

Facing the future

For retailers and shoppers alike, the start of a new year has always represented a great opportunity to start a clean page: cutting out the fat, clearing out the clutter and resetting the dial, in a bid to regroup, refresh and refocus.

Following the festive frenzy, January is traditionally a quieter trading month for retail businesses, making it the perfect period for retailers to take the time to look at their stores through fresh and objective eyes.

One great way to do that is by taking a step back and trying to see your store the way your shoppers do, then drawing up a list of what you’re doing well, and where there could be room for improvement.

That could be as simple as a spring clean, a remerchandise, or a lick of paint, or it could mean instigating a new programme of online staff training or checking that all hygiene, health and safety documentation and rules are in place.

So why not set aside a day or two or take a few hours out to have a look around your store and start making a list of all the little jobs that need done to help get your store ship shape and ready for plain sailing in 2023.

Not sure where to start? Check out our handy guide and key advice in the coming pages.

There’s no better time than the early New Year to take an objective look at your store to ensure that your range, service and offer is tip top and your business is on track for the year ahead. Your Budgens offers some tips on where to start.

Exterior

The best place to start is outside as that’s the first thing new and existing shoppers see when they visit your store – and first impressions count:

l Is the signage neat, tidy and clean?

l Are all posters up to date and in good condition?

l Has the exterior been swept and is it litter-free?

l Do the exterior walls need fresh paint or professional cleaning?

l Are the windows clean, tidy and free of clutter?

l Do you have a bin available for shoppers?

INTERIOR

Once your shoppers step inside, what is the first thing they see? Does it make a good impression and is it how you want your store to be perceived? After that, take a good walk around the store, just the way a shopper would, and make sure that everything is just as you want it. Ask yourself:

l Are the floors clean?

l Are aisles easy to navigate for shoppers with mobility issues or prams?

l Do all the lights work?

l Is the ceiling clean and free of marks?

l Are the shelves clean, neat and well merchandised?

l Is there any old POS that’s dirty or no longer relevant?

l Is all in-store signage accurate and in good condition?

l Are all shelf-edge labels and price tickets clean, tidy and up to date?

Store teams

Clearly, one of the most important factors on how shoppers judge your store is your team. Some basic questions to ask yourself include:

l Are the uniforms grubby or past their best?

l Do the staff greet every shopper with a hello and a smile?

l Are staff that handle food wearing the appropriate aprons, bibs, gloves and hair nets?

HEALTH, SAFE AND LEGAL

With the basics dealt with, it’s time to move onto more complex areas. Health, safe and legal are massively important issues and no more so than if you operate a hot food-to-go counter. Areas to pay particular attention to are those with specific hygiene challenges like milk chillers and hot and cold food storage and preparation areas.

l Is the milk chiller spotlessly clean?

l Have any hot food storage units been deep cleaned recently?

l Have all chillers been serviced as specified by the manufacturer?

l Are your temperature checks up to date, accurate and within safe guidelines?

l Has the shelving in the soft drinks cabinet been thoroughly cleaned to remove sticky residues?

l What about your food prep areas? It is a legal requirement that these must be cleaned/sanitised then left for 30 seconds before using again.

l Is your EHO certificate displayed as it should be?

l Is your CleanPro+ manual available to staff, and are they aware of it?

l For products that you yourself package for sale, is the ingredient labelling fully compliant with Natasha’s Law?

Storage areas

While the shopper-facing parts of the store naturally get the most attention, it’s still vital that all storage areas are kept in good shape to avoid accidents, hygiene issues and out-of-date stock. Ask yourself:

l Are the floor areas of any store spaces clean, tidy and trip-hazard free?

l Has all shelving been checked recently to ensure it’s safe and sound?

l Has all the stock in the storage room been rotated properly to avoid out-of-date stock and wastage?

l Do all the lights in the storage spaces work?

l Could reconfiguring the stockroom make restocking of the shopfloor easier and quicker?

Budgens

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

BLINDLEY HEATH Blindley Heath Surrey

CARSHALTON Carshalton London

GIPSY HILL Gipsy Hill London

LANGTON GREEN Langton Green Kent

KENILWORTH Kenilworth Warwickshire

MFG EASTCOTE Pinner Middlesex

SHELL BROUGHTON Buckinghamshire

SHELL BULLSMOOR Enfield Greater London

CASTLE VIEW Barnsley South Yorkshire GILBERDYKE NR Brough East Yorkshire

NORTHLEACH Cheltenham Gloucestershire

SHELL ADDLESTONE Surrey

CLANFIELD Hampshire COLCHESTER Colchester Essex

HASSOCKS Hassocks West Sussex

QUEENS ROAD Brighton East Sussex

HOLT Holt Norfolk KETTERING Kettering Northamptonshire

PETERBOROUGH Peterborough Cambridgeshire

WADDINGTON Waddington Lincolnshire

Vaping vigilance

required

ACS has highlighted its official guidance to help independent retailers stay the right side of the law when managing sales in the complex vaping category.

When a convenience store opens, the first and most important responsibility of that retailer is to ensure that all the products they sell are legal, and that they’re only sold to customers who are of legal age to purchase them. We believe that, as a whole, the convenience sector has a very strong record on responsible retailing, due in no small part to the successful implementation of Challenge 25 as an age-checking procedure not just for alcohol, but for all age-restricted products.

One of the fastest-growing categories in the convenience sector is the e-cigarette or vaping market. With great margins, lots of customer interest and a huge range of product SKUs on offer, vapes are now on the shelves of the majority of stores after being a pretty niche product just a few years ago. To help retailers with this category, we have a dedicated Assured Advice guide, highlighting the importance of a robust age-restricted sales policy such as Challenge 25, as well as detailed guidance on the types of products that are (and aren’t) legal to sell.

The most common illegal product being sold is one that is essentially larger than it is allowed to be. The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations introduced in 2016 put a

maximum capacity of 2ml on an e-cigarette tank, and a maximum of 10ml of e-liquid for refill containers. The 2ml limit equates to around 600 ‘puffs’, which tends to be the measure for which most consumers judge these products by. Vapes that claim to provide significantly more usage than that are not legal to sell in the UK, but you don’t have to go far to see products advertising 3,000 puffs in one disposable device.

Promoting responsible retailing is at the heart of what we do at ACS, through our partnership with Surrey and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards to provide Assured Advice on age restricted products, our work with CAP (Community Alcohol Partnerships) to reduce local alcohol harm, with the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) to accredit forms of ID, and our engagement with Government on regulations affecting all age-restricted categories. We have a wide range of resources available on our website to support you and your colleagues in implementing and communicating a robust age restricted sales policy.

Visit our website for the latest guidance and please get in touch if you have any questions.

James Lowman urges retailers to proceed with care when it comes to managing the complex vaping category.