PLANT BASED DRINK IN THE UK* #1
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35% of households now buy plant-based drinks **
**Kantar: Penetration: 52wk 15/06/2025 vs 2023
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*Circana all outlets, 52 w/e data to 4th Oct 2025.
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In this issue…
CHEERS TO A new
year!
A calendar of opportunities lies ahead and Budgens is here to help you tick every box.
Hello and a very warm welcome to the first issue of Your Budgens of 2026!
With a fresh calendar of opportunities before us, the start of a new year is always an exciting time – and we believe that Budgens has the perfect package to help you make the most of every single one.
With shoppers set to keep tight control of their purse strings in the year ahead, own-label brands look set to play an increasingly powerful role and fortunately Budgens retailers have the punchy Jack’s and Euro Shopper brands in their corner.
Both brands offer outstanding value without having to compromise on quality – with Jack’s hanging bags and key Euro Shopper juice and energy drinks both benefiting from new lower prices.
Budgens retailers can also access a footfall-driving feast of New and Group Exclusive products guaranteed to give their shelves the edge now – and as we head towards the spring and its many seasonal celebrations.
Home delivery will also continue to present Budgens retailers with a golden opportunity to bag additional sales
and profits this year and with Booker’s exclusive and low-cost platform Scoot, they have the chance to generate more than £130,000 of additional sales and £34,000 of additional profit.
More than 200 retailers have now signed up to take advantage of the Scoot platform, with many more set to come on board over the coming months.
You’ll be able to find out more about all of the above inside this issue – and at the fantastic Booker Retail Trade Shows set to take place on Thursday 5 March at Sandown Park Racecourse and Thursday 12 March at Doncaster Racecourse, so don’t forget to register!
This issue of Your Budgens also introduces you to another of Booker’s inspirational Colleague Networks and this time it’s the turn of LGBTQ+ at Booker.
As ever, you’ll also find a marvellous mix of news, views and achievements from fellow Budgens retailers.
So here’s to happy reading and a very happy new year ahead!
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Industry News
Budgens retailers and Booker claimed several highprofile industry accolades at the annual Asian Trader Awards 2025 celebrating retail excellence.
Budgens bags key industry accolades at Asian Trader Awards
The coveted title of Convenience Chain of the Year was awarded to Budgens retailer Sajeev Gowrinathan.
Recent years have seen Sajeev grow his business from one to six successful forecourt stores, including the innovation-packed Budgens Greenacre in Tarvin, Cheshire.
Praising his approach, judges said: “With the strong support of his wholesaler Booker, Sajeev has continually reinvested in his stores, creating an inspiring business that puts value and convenience first – while serving fuel to a loyal and growing customer base.”
The prize of Bakery Retailer of the Year, meanwhile, was awarded to Noel Kavanagh of Kavanagh’s Budgens Belsize Park.
The London-based store thrilled the judges with its “unrivalled range,” including ‘Just Baked’ boxed biscuits, Breads of The World, own-label donuts and “a sensational instore Patisserie counter – all fresh and with a constant focus on availability and presentation throughout the day”.
Other wins on the night included the prestigious Editor’s Award, which was presented to Booker Group CEO Andrew Yaxley.
The Asian Trader Awards 2025 were attended by Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant who delivered the keynote speech and hosted by TV presenter Nikki Bedi.
The event also raised funds for leprosy support charity Lepra.
AI and Cybersecurity to be top priorities in 2026
Cybersecurity will be core to retail strategy over the next 12 months, while AI will be central to profitability, IGD’s Global Retail Trends 2026 report predicts.
The report spotlights seven key industry shifts set to shape the industry’s growth and development in the year ahead, with cybersecurity and AI taking the number one and two spots respectively.
IGD also predicts further growth in the world foods category, with “clearer segmentation and strategies that reflect diverse communities,” it says.
A “convenience revolution” is also predicted, with specialist convenience operators expected to “increasingly focus on food and drink to be consumed in minutes, not days”.
Retailers are also expected to heighten their focus on health – with successful retailers finding ways to serve a broader span of health missions.
The year ahead will also see retailers “increasingly prioritise reducing food and packaging waste,” it concluded.
Business rate changes are not enough to support local stores
Changes
to
the business
rates system are “a major disappointment” for local stores the ACS says.
The new lower business rates multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure properties does “not go far enough to provide meaningful support for local shops,” the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) claims.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced “permanently lower” business rates for more than 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, in her second Autumn Budget.
However, the new multiplier will be set just 5p lower than the small business and regular multipliers, which would fail to offset the removal of the remaining 40% relief on business rates that was first introduced during the pandemic, the
Soft Drinks sugar tax to be extended
The UK Government has confirmed that the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) will be extended by lowering the sugar threshold to cover more products.
Soft drinks with 5-7.9g of sugar per 100ml are currently taxed 19.4p per litre, but the threshold is set to be lowered to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, effective from 1 January 2028.
Pre-packed milk-based drinks with added sugar, such as flavoured milks, sweetened yoghurt drinks, chocolate milk drinks, and readyto-drink coffees, will now also come under the scope of the SDIL, but the government will introduce a ‘lactose allowance’ to account for the naturally occurring sugars in milk.
Milk substitutes with added sugar, including flavoured varieties, will also be included within the SDIL scope.
Plain animal milks and milk substitute drinks without added sugar will not be included.
Following their introduction, the changes to SDIL are expected to raise £40-£45m a year in additional tax receipts.
Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Changes to the business rates system provide nowhere near enough support and are a major disappointment.
“Small shops will see their rates bills increase in April, and many will see further increases as a result of the revaluation.”
However, the ACS did welcome some announcements made in The Budget, including new powers to tackle the illicit vape market – with fines of up to £10,000 and new digital duty stamps to make it easier to spot fakes.
NEW NATIONAL LIVING WAGE RATE SET
The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on the future rate of the National Living Wage, increasing the headline rate by 50p to £12.71 per hour in April 2026.
From 1 April 2026, the new National Living Wage and Minimum Wage rates will be:
The NLW will rise by 4.1% to £12.71 per hour for eligible workers aged 21 and over (currently £12.21 per hour).
The NMW rate for 18–20-year-olds will also increase by 8.5% to £10.85 per hour (currently £10 per hour).
The NMW for 16–17-year-olds and those on apprenticeships will increase by 6% to £8 per hour (currently £7.55 per hour).
Runaway success
Wilks Budgens Buckingham Park in Buckinghamshire donated more than 260 bottles of water to help refresh the thirsty runners who took part in the Bierton Run.
The annual event saw hundreds of runners compete in one of two sponsored runs: a 5k or a 10k, in a bid to raise money for children’s charity Emmett’s Genies.
A post on Budgens Buckingham Park’s Facebook page read: ‘At Budgens Buckingham Park we believe it’s always good to give back.
“Emmett’s Genies work to provide opportunities and experiences to make life-long memories for critically ill children and their families.
“We have sponsored them over the past few years, and we always want to make a difference to our community in Aylesbury.”
Care bears!
St John’s Budgens in Kenilworth has helped to raise valuable funds for disadvantaged children by supporting the BBC’s Children in Need campaign.
The store invited local shoppers to come down for a fun meet and greet with the famous and very cuddly Pudsey Bear.
Once there, shoppers could also buy a selection of limited-edition chocolate ‘care bags’ – proceeds from which were donated by Cadbury to BBC Children in Need.
Store staff also took part in a variety of fun challenges to help raise further funds for the cause, with shoppers also able to make donations in store.
Fiery ambitions in Southwater
Budgens Southwater has just started stocking a brand-new range of locally brewed beers.
Established in 2013, The Firebird Brewing Co is based just down the road from the store in the village of Rudgwick.
Budgens Southwater is now selling seven different Firebird lines, including its top- selling Bohemia, Work Ethic, Parody, Table Manners and Two Horses beers, with shoppers responding well to the new range.
For more information on the responsible retailing of vapour products, visit juullabsretailer.co.uk
Coping with the cost of living Get involved in 2026!
Important costs like energy, food and rent have risen steeply so if anyone in your business is worried about being able to afford these increases, GroceryAid is here to help.
Everyone working in the independent retailing sector is fully aware of the rising cost of living and the impact that it is having on your customers – but industry charity GroceryAid is also aware that these same cost increases are affecting store staff in exactly the same way.
Costs like energy, food and rent have all risen steeply in recent years and there may be some members of the team in your store that are worried about being able to afford these increases. This is why it’s so critical that everyone in your team is aware that GroceryAid can help – and in many different ways, from offering support and advice to awarding one-off nonrepayable financial grants.
GroceryAid can help team members:
l Understand their financial situation with the budget planner.
l Find out how to boost their income with the benefits calculator.
l Establish what cost of living support they could be eligible for with the “Help for Households.”
l To take control of their debt and help them get free and confidential.
l Build an emergency fund with the right advice.
In addition, if anyone in the industry is struggling to manage their finances due to cost of living increases, GroceryAid will consider a one-off grant. Team members may apply if they are a current employee in receipt of income related benefits such as Universal Credit or Tax Credits.
If you or any of your team would like to get involved in supporting GroceryAid and helping the charity help those in need in our sector, why not consider taking part in an event or two this year. Here are just some of the events in the calendar for the next 12 months: l 5th March –GroceryAid Ball, London l 11th June –Booker Dragon Boat Race, Marlow l 24th June –GroceryAid Golf Day, Milton Keynes l 2nd July –Barcode Festival, Kenwood l 15th July – UK Cycle Challenge l 27th August – Checkout Scotland, Glasgow
To find out more, visit groceryaid.org.uk
Time to shine
Just over 24 months from opening, momentum and goodwill continue to build at Wilks’ Budgens in Stony Stratford.
A day is an awfully long time in convenience retail. As all store owners will agree: a great deal can change in just 24 hours. So what about 24 months?
A very, very great deal indeed, especially if you ask Budgens retailer Paul Wilks who, almost exactly 24 months ago, had just opened his newest store in the affluent Milton Keynes suburb of Stony Stratford.
Back then, Paul was determined that his new 1,800sq ft store would “put Budgens on the map in Stony Stratford”.
So, has he achieved his aim? We thought we’d check in with Paul and find out…
“We’ve just celebrated our second anniversary at Stony Stratford and I’m delighted to say that we’ve done exceptionally well,” he enthuses.
“Weekly sales have grown consistently since day one and we now average in the high £30,000s and growing – which is a great place to be.”
So how’s he done it?
“The store had previously traded as a McColl’s and had been quite neglected in the years leading up to its closure, so our first task when we took it over was to change shoppers’ perceptions and show local people what we were all about,” Paul explains.
“My wife and I, together with our superb team, run a completely different operation to what went before.
“We all work incredibly hard to maintain extremely high standards of presentation, availability and cleanliness –all of which are key to shoppers these days and we know
“Stony Stratford is on the outskirts of Milton Keynes and already we are seeing that Scoot is helping us reach shoppers from much further out – with orders to villages two or more miles away, which is fantastic.”
Paul Wilks
they appreciate it because we regularly receive positive comments praising our standards,” he says.
He’s also taken a tailored approach to ranging.“We opened with all the standard elements that you’d expect in a 1,800sq ft Budgens but since then we’ve worked really hard to respond to shopper requests and tailor the range to the local community.
“A great example of this is on cakes and biscuits. Stony is quite a mature, affluent area and when we opened, we’d started out with a relatively small range of cakes and sweet treats,” Paul explains.
“However, we realised very quickly that this was a popular category with the demographic, so we’ve expanded it significantly, giving it more space and bringing in a much wider range of choice, including more bake-off products,
additional cakes from the Budgens range, premium goods and some local lines too.
“In the same vein we’ve also looked to make sure that the in-store promotions we run really tap into these locally indemand categories, so we centre a lot of promotional activity on cakes and biscuits for example.”
His bespoke approach to ranging has also seen the store expand in other “more obscure” areas, such as pet foods.
“There are lots of pet owners in Stony Stratford, so we’ve given a lot more space to that category than perhaps other stores would.
We’ve also brought in specific products in response to shopper requests. We’ve actually got three shoppers for whom we order in bulk, and we always make sure to have
a case of their preferred pet food in the back to make life easier for them.”
Community engagement has also played a seminal role in the store’s success.
“We’ve become heavily involved with the local business association here – the old store hadn’t really engaged with the community so that was another big differentiator for us.
“Whether it’s the Christmas lights switch-on, the Classic Car Show, the Lantern Project, we work hard to get involved and the local community really appreciates that.”
“We also support individual shoppers, many of them are elderly and a handful struggle to do their shopping or have mobility issues, so when we see them come through the door the team will help as much as they can, often walking the store with them or taking their lists and shopping for them.”
Wilks’ Budgens Stony Stratford is also laden with convenient services – chief of which is the Post Office, which Paul says “has gone from strength to strength” in the past two years.
FACTFILE
Store name: Wilks’ Budgens Stony Stratford
Retailer: Paul Wilks
Store size: 1,800sq ft
Staff: 15
Opening hours: 7am–10pm
Bestselling categories: Grocery, baked goods, BWS, fresh and chilled
“We also have an in-store ATM, PayPoint, parcel collection and just last month we launched Scoot home delivery,” he adds.
“Home delivery is totally new to Budgens Stony Stratford. It’s still very early days but we’ve certainly had a very positive start, and I have no doubt that momentum will continue to build as awareness of the ultra convenient new service continues to build.
“We’re working hard to promote Scoot heavily on our social media - the team are great at creating fun in-store reels for Facebook and we’ve also had some fantastic special offers which have really helped to drive awareness and uptake.
“Just last week we had an incredible ‘Scoot Star Deal’ on Daz tablets and Comfort Pure at just 99p for both which created quite a stir with shoppers from near and far.
“Stony Stratford is on the outskirts of Milton Keynes and already we are seeing that Scoot is helping us reach shoppers from much further out – with orders to villages two or more miles away, which is fantastic.”
Unsurprisingly, honing and promoting the new home delivery service forms a key part of Paul’s business plan for 2026.
“As we’ve seen across the industry, home delivery is now an incredibly big thing – so to be able to offer that service to shoppers within an hour, targeting 30-minute delivery, is a seriously big benefit and one which is sure to become a key part of the business going forward,” he adds.
“It’s certainly going to be another exciting 24 months ahead!”
That it is!
People power
Wilks’ Budgens Buckingham Park is a testament to the power of positive relationships.
Refits, range reviews and refreshes certainly go a long way towards driving footfall, sales and profits. But there’s another key ‘R’ which often plays an even more mighty role: relationships.
One store which is a shining example of the power of positive relationships is Wilks’ Budgens of Buckingham Park on the outskirts of Aylesbury.
Owned by retail veteran Paul Wilks, the purposebuilt store is located at the heart of a 12-year-old mixed-use development, which features family housing, a school and a community centre.
The 3,000sq ft Budgens was the first store on the estate to open and, as Paul explains, it’s maintained a pole position with the local community and shoppers ever since.
“I’d had other stores before, but this was the first brand-new, purpose-built store I’d owned, so it was very different for me personally.”
That difference has certainly not proved a hindrance – with store sales having grown from strength to strength over the years and weekly takings now in the region of £55,000.
“Our people are one of our biggest strengths. They are such a credit to us,” Paul says.
“Most of the in-store team are local which gives them an unrivalled understanding of the market – and all my management is home grown.
“We’ve never ever bought in a manager or an assistant manager – we’ve always promoted from within, and I take a lot of pride in that.
“Our people are one of our biggest strengths. They are such a credit to us. Most of the in-store team are local which gives them an unrivalled understanding of the market –and all my management is home grown.”
Paul Wilks
“A key advantage of that approach is that they know the business inside out – they understand precisely what we are looking to deliver and how to deliver it.
“There are lots of systems and tins and packets in this industry, but at its heart, it’s the people who make the whole thing work.”
Paul and his team have also worked incredibly hard to foster meaningful relationships with shoppers and the wider community.
“More people have moved into the estate and surrounding area over the years and as a business, we have grown along
with them – learning what they want and responding to what they need. It’s been a real journey and one we’re still very much on,” Paul says.
“Buckingham Park has a much younger demographic than my other store in Stony Stratford (detailed over the previous pages) – and with the school and community centre directly opposite – a large amount of our footfall comes from families, young adults and people of working age.
“We work really hard to engage with that demographic, both in-store and online where many of them spend their free time – the team have a lot of fun with social media.”
That’s certainly true, with Wilks’ Budgens Buckingham Park’s Facebook page awash with entertaining posts and reels about special offers or new products – often featuring the smiley face of store manager John.
“John is great at spotting new products that are likely to appeal to our demographic and getting them in front of shoppers.
Keeping on top of trends is a constant focus and shoppers appreciate that,” says Paul.
“Confectionery and chilled drinks have both been huge categories for us in the past 12 months – and John and the team have really got behind all confectionery NPD in a big way – they have an absolute riot with it!
“Ready-to-drink (RTD) products have also been huge, especially over the summer and we’re certainly expecting this to continue in 2026.”
Budgens Buckingham Park is also an avid supporter of the local community, supporting the school and local community centre in a variety of ways, including the school’s Christmas Angels appeal – which anonymously matches local families in need of a bit of extra support with Christmas gift donations.
As Your Budgens went to press, the store had also just donated over 260 bottles of water to a local charity run.
And Paul and the team are constantly on the lookout for new ways to bolster existing relationships with their shoppers –and create new ones – and that’s exactly what its newest service is doing.
October 2025 marked the launch of Scoot at Wilks’ Budgens Buckingham Park – offering local shoppers and those further
For Trade Only. Not for Distribution to Consumers.*PMI reported global shipment volumes and in-market sales estimates of nicotine pouch units, from December 2023 to December 2024.** Offer valid whilst stocks last and subject to availability until 31st March 2026. † Profit on Return. Margin is calculated on the stated RRP. All pricing decisions rest with the retailer and therefore margin may be affected by the retailer’s chosen selling price.
FACTFILE
Store name: Wilks’ Budgens Buckingham Park
Retailer: Paul Wilks
Store size: 3,000sq ft
Staff: 21
Opening hours: 7am–10pm
Bestselling categories: Fresh and chilled, BWS, soft drinks
out the ease and convenience of home delivery in as little as 30 minutes.
Paul’s store is using Just Eat’s trusted courier network to deliver the orders – another example of a relationship that’s reaping rewards.
“The team are a well-oiled machine and as soon as an order comes in via the Scoot app, one of us grabs the handheld device and goes round the store picking the products. We then tell Just Eat that the order is ready to collect and they come along and sort the last leg of the process – taking the products from our front door straight to the customers,” he says.
And as the store’s glowing online reviews demonstrate, local shoppers are pretty pleased with how it’s working. “First order with Scoot, brilliant service would recommend them to everyone,” says one happy customer.
And Paul is noticing some pretty interesting trends too.
“It’s fascinating to see how differently people shop online versus in-store,” he says. “While it’s still early days, one thing that is obvious is that the customer spend per transaction is considerably higher for a Scoot home delivery basket than an in-store basket. Our average in-store transaction is about £11 but our home delivery baskets are between £22 and £25. We do have a minimum spend of £15 on the Scoot app,
but shoppers are going considerably above that which is very interesting. It could be down to mobility issues – the ease of having products delivered prompting shoppers to buy more,” he mulls.
Booker Group Head of Home Delivery Damian Sanderson agrees, but also says it’s down to shoppers wanting to make sure that if they have to meet a minimum spend or pay a delivery fee, they make it worth their while – and “maximise their order”.
“Also, missions change when shoppers buy online,” he says. “Shoppers on a ‘Meal For Tonight’ or ‘Big Night In’ mission will look to get their meal and all the ingredients, plus beer or wine. The consumer treats it more like a supermarket shop.”
Whatever the reasoning, the results speak for themselves, with Scoot orders in growth week on week and Paul expecting it to become an increasingly important part of the business going forward.
“Given the current economic climate, a key focus for 2026 will also be to make sure that every penny we spend is worthwhile – and fuels footfall to the business,” Paul adds.
“Strengthening local relationships and making sure that we always give the best offer to our customers will of course remain at the heart of everything though – as it has been from the start.”
Say hello to... Lauren Burdett
In this issue we say hello to Lauren Burdett – Booker Category Manager Designate for the Retail Household, Health & Beauty, and Medicine categories. She’s a busy lady all year round – and especially now as cold and flu season strikes!
PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF…
Hi, I’m Lauren and I’ve worked at the Booker Group for 12 years now. I joined back in October 2013 as a Category Assistant within the Non-Food Grocery team – and in August 2024 I took the leap and became a Category Manager Designate – looking after the Retail Household, Health & Beauty, and Medicine categories.
HOW HAS YOUR ROLE CHANGED OVER TIME?
Over the last 12 years the role has changed a lot! Since joining the Booker Group, we have acquired Makro, Budgens and Londis, which has meant a change in the ways of working and it has been great to see all the new customers. I’ve always worked within the Non-Food category, which has also given me the opportunity to be involved in other innovative and exciting categories, such as Baby and Pet.
WHAT DOES A CATEGORY MANAGER DESIGNATE DO?
Essentially my role as Category Manager Designate is to ensure we have the right products, in the right format, at the right price point for the channel. I liaise with suppliers on a daily basis, as well as supply chain to ensure that we have the correct forecast and stock levels and avoid any overstocks or shortages. I also ensure that the pricing and promotions we offer will drive our customers’ businesses and they are in line with what today’s shoppers are looking for.
WHAT ARE YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES?
A key responsibility will always be to ensure all products are safe and legal. It’s also my job to ensure that we have the right products for our range, at the right time. I’m always thinking of key periods throughout the year – whether this be Spring Clean or Winter Season.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
My days always vary depending on what I am working on at the time. I deal with a variety of suppliers on a day-to-day basis, whether this is discussing new opportunities for the Booker Group or negotiating pricing. We have a very strong supplier base, with suppliers we have worked with for several years, or new suppliers to the group.
I typically speak to the bigger suppliers on a weekly basis to ensure we are all aligned with plans and anything coming up within the next couple of weeks.
Currently, I am involved with a couple of range reviews across my subcategories, so watch this space – we have some changes coming!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
I am a people person, so I love to be able to talk to a variety of different people daily. We hold two retail trade shows each year, and I love attending these and being able to speak to retailers directly and get their feedback.
ABOUT LAUREN
Lauren is the Booker Group’s Category Manager Designate for the Retail Household, Health & Beauty, and Medicine categories.
She joined Booker 12 years ago as Category Assistant within the Non-Food Grocery team before making the jump to Category Manager Designate in August 2024.
A self-proclaimed “people person,” Lauren loves the fact that her role allows her to interact with a wide variety of different people daily – including suppliers, retailers and her own team members.
She also thrives on the challenge of making sure that Booker has the right products, in the right format, at the right price point for the retail channel throughout the year. She’s currently working hard on plans for 2026 – with lots of promotions and cash & carry activity on the cards – so watch this space!
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE MEDS CATEGORY TO CONVENIENCE RETAILERS?
Medicine is incredibly important for the convenience sector. Shoppers often need a quick remedy for everyday ailments while on the go. Medicine helps to drive footfall, and shoppers often pick up medicine items alongside everyday essentials. Stocking recognisable brands such as Lemsip, Strepsils, and Panadol elevates store credibility and positions retailers as a reliable destination.
TELL ME ABOUT THE ROLE THAT SEASONALITY PLAYS
This varies throughout the year. In the spring retailers will need to ensure that they are stocking allergy relief products such as Piriteze. As we move to the end of August and beginning of September, we look at Back To School, when Calpol is the big ‘must stock’ for the period. During the winter – for cold and flu season – ensuring that the correct brands are listed is also key: Lemsip, Strepsils, Covonia or Beechams. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are needed all year round.
WHAT TRENDS SHOULD CONVENIENCE RETAILERS BE AWARE OF?
Trends are linked to the above question. We see certain trends depending on the time of year. The convenience channel is seeing growth in cold/flu remedies, children’s medicine and digestive health. Shoppers are now more inclined to manage minor ailments themselves – rather than
going to visit a doctor, so stocking a core range of trusted brands really is imperative for convenience stores.
ARE THERE ANY PRODUCTS, UPDATES OR PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITY THAT RETAILERS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEW YEAR?
We are currently in the throes of planning activity for the new year. Promotion 12 is being planned as we speak and there are lots of promotions and cash & carry activity coming your way!
WHAT MORE COULD CONVENIENCE RETAILERS DO TO BOOST SALES IN THE MEDICINE CATEGORY?
Make sure they are stocking the top-selling lines: Lemsip, Strepsils, Panadol, and Calpol. It also pays to ensure that the positioning in store is correct. Medicines are often a distress purchase, so shoppers want speed – it’s best to ensure that they are as visible as possible.
LAUREN’S TOP TIP
During the winter, for cold and flu season, ensuring that the correct brands are listed is key: Lemsip, Strepsils, Covonia and Beechams are ‘must stocks’. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are needed all year round.
Scoot hits 200 stores!
Booker’s exclusive low-cost delivery solution Scoot has now been adopted by over 200 stores and is on course to hit over the 400-store mark by the end of February.
More than 200 retailers have now signed up to take advantage of Booker’s exclusive and low-cost Scoot home delivery platform despite the service only becoming widely available in April last year. Even more impressive is the fact that Scoot is set to hit over the 400-store mark by the end of February as more and more retailers come on board to start seeing the benefits of the unique Scoot proposition.
Designed by retailers for retailers, Scoot promises to help you make more and save more – an estimated £34,000 more profit each year to be precise, based on weekly sales of just £2,500 at 26% gross margin.
With only 1% commission charged up to £4,999 of weekly in-app sales – and zero commission once you hit £5,000 a week – Scoot delivers an outstanding low-cost app that facilitates home deliveries to shoppers in as little as 30 minutes.
There are also no shopper charges – giving you the flexibility to offer the service for free, should you wish –or set your own delivery, service or minimum order fees. What’s more, a new ‘last-mile’ partnership announced in September between Booker and Just Eat gives retailers the option to offer fast, reliable delivery without needing to manage their own fleet of drivers and vehicles.
GETTING SOCIAL
With Scoot now firmly established as a uniquely effective low-cost solution, Booker is working hard to encourage download and trial of the Scoot app among consumers in areas around stores that offer Scoot home delivery.
Among the latest innovative campaigns is an exciting trial between Scoot and some leading social media influencers. Damian Sanderson, Head of Home Delivery at Booker, explains: “We know that customers spend a lot of time on social media these days so that’s a natural opportunity for us to exploit.
“We ultimately decided on entering into agreements with high- profile, content-relevant influencers like Mitchy & Matty, Nantida Intajak and Kerre ‘the insatiable foodie’. Between them they have something in the region of 35,000 followers and we have worked with them to share and amplify the Scoot message, showing consumers how it works and what the benefits are and encouraging their followers to give the Scoot app a try.
“At the end of the day, our role at
Scoot is to help our retailers grow their sales. Our unique low-cost model is squarely designed to minimise cost and complexity for retailers while simultaneously helping them grow their home delivery sales. If our retailers are growing their sales, we are growing our sales too. It’s a true win-win partnership.”
SCOOT: BY RETAILERS, FOR RETAILERS
Time to shine
The often-quieter new year trading period provides the perfect opportunity to take stock of your operations and set your store up for success.
Santa’s stabled Rudolf and, after the wild ride that was Christmas, shoppers are reining in their socialising and spending too.
With the start of a new year traditionally ushering in a quieter trading period for retailers, now is the perfect time to quite literally take stock of your operations and shape up for the year ahead.
The power of a well-presented, efficiently run store cannot be underestimated when it comes to driving footfall, sales and profits – especially in today’s ultra-competitive market.
And while we can’t help you shine the shelves, we can provide buckets of top tips and reels of advice to help you brush up for 2026.
OUTSIDE
First impressions count! The outside of your store is the first thing that every single shopper sees as they approach – so it’s vital that everything looks on point and inviting.
Ask yourself:
l Is the signage neat, tidy and clean?
l Do your exterior walls need a lick of fresh paint?
l Are the windows smudge- and clutter-free?
l Do you have a bin available for shoppers?
l Why not arrange a community litter pick around the local area? It’s a great opportunity to engage your shoppers and clear up the local area. It also provides positive content for social media.
INSIDE
Offering a quality shopping experience is an absolute must these days. Shoppers expect sky-high standards, so make
sure you’re delivering them! Walk your store and try to see it through your shoppers’ eyes by asking yourself:
l Are the floors clean and safe with no loose or uneven surfaces?
l Are aisles easy to navigate for shoppers with mobility issues or prams?
l Do all the lights work?
l Is your counter clean and free of scuffs and clutter?
l Is the ceiling free of marks and cobwebs?
l Is all in-store signage accurate and in good condition?
l If you have a community noticeboard, can any out-ofdate messages or posters be taken down?
RANGE REVIEW
Now is also a great time to do a full review of your range to ensure that every inch of space is earning its keep.
l Implementing new planograms will help you to ensure that you are stocking the best-selling lines and highlight new products.
l Remember – choice is important, but not to the point of unnecessary duplication.
l Actioning new planograms also provides a great opportunity to deep clean fixtures – not forgetting the tops of shelving!
SHELF LIFE
Once you have identified the best range for your store and given your shelves a deep clean, a high standard of merchandising will help to maximise sales.
l Giving team members responsibility for specific areas of the store can help to increase efficiency and can be really motivating for staff.
l To help them, use photographic evidence of ‘What Good Looks Like’ in back-room areas.
l Print out new shelf-edge labels to keep fixtures looking
premium and make sure you have a shelf-edge label in place for all products.
l Aligning the shelf-edge label to the left of the first facing for each product will make replenishment easier and quicker.
l Remember! A full point of sale (POS) pack is provided to all stores, but if you require specific POS or wish to order additional items, you can do so on the Printshop website.
l If you don’t already, facing up the store each evening will assist in quicker replenishment from the morning’s delivery.
SEASONAL SWING
The start of the year is packed with seasonal opportunities –from Valentine’s Day on 14 February, Shrove Tuesday on 17 February and Mothering Sunday on 15 March.
l If you don’t already, consider creating a dedicated seasonal bay within the store.
l Seasonal products can also create a great opportunity for off-shelf feature displays.
l Where applicable legislation allows you to do so, feature seasonal products at the front of the store or near checkouts.
l Always make sure any off-shelf displays are supported with pricing and point of sale.
l As seasonal stock is time sensitive, monitor sales and be prepared to reduce the stock to clear at an appropriate time.
l If stock for future events is not yet available, consider using the space for bulk promotions.
STOCKING SUCCESS
l A well-organised stockroom and warehousing facilities will ensure that stock is easily accessible and not wasted through unnecessary damage. It will also help your team replenish more quickly and efficiently –maintaining availability and increasing sales and profit.
l A good idea is to organise your warehouse in a way that matches your shop floor – this will allow products to be found quickly and easily.
l Designate a specific location for promotional products – these will sell quickly and will need to be replenished regularly.
l Consider where you store high-value lines – are they secure?
l Try to ensure that stock is not stored directly on the floor – this will help to prevent damage and maintain quality.
l It’s best practice to keep all floor areas free from trip hazards.
l Try locating Local and Central Billing products together – this can make it easier to check stock levels when placing top-up orders.
TEAM TACTICS
Shoppers will judge your team just as much as your store, so it’s vital that all store staff are well trained and know how to offer first-class customer service all day, every day.
The start of a new year is also a great time to review staff training and for team members to undergo refresher courses.
Budgens retailers have access to free online training for their staff via CPL Learning. You and your team can access 11 essential compliance courses covering health and safety, food safety, and age verification – all of which can be completed on a variety of devices.
It’s also worth checking staff uniforms.
l Ask yourself: Are staff uniforms and fleeces in good condition or do they need replacing?
l Are your team that handle food wearing the appropriate aprons, bibs, gloves and hair nets?
Safe and supported
Shining the spotlight on the great work of the LGBTQ+ at Booker Colleague Network.
“An absolutely superb event! A huge thank you to the network. I have certainly come away with actions to implement for me and my team to take another step forward in allyship.”
Booker
Colleague Booker Colleague
Over the last few months, we’ve been taking a closer look at the inner workings of Booker’s fab four Colleague Networks – the valuable safe spaces which strive to create a supportive environment and drive meaningful change for Booker colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Recent issues of Your Budgens have introduced you to Women at Booker, Race and Ethnicity at Booker and Disability at Booker – and now it’s the turn of the LGBTQ+ at Booker Colleague Network.
Created in 2023, LGBTQ+ at Booker’s overriding aim is to make sure that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, feels welcome at Booker and that Booker is a place where all LGBTQ+ Colleagues can thrive.
Run by members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies – the Network offers a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ Colleagues and allies to come together, share experiences and learn from each other.
The Network also offers a wide range of support, including helping to connect Trans+ Colleagues to a wider virtual Trans+ Colleague Space, which offers monthly meetings and support.
It’s also on hand to help with any issues faced by LGBTQ+ Colleagues and encourages them to reach out if there’s anything they’d like assistance with.
LGBTQ+ at Booker also runs sessions to help
allies understand how they can best support our LGBTQ+ Colleagues and has created an inclusive language guide, available on the Our Booker website, which helps allies to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion locally and have meaningful conversations with Colleagues.
It’s all made possible thanks to the hard work of passionate Network Chairs and three dedicated teams: Events & Planning, Engagement, and Inclusion – who all pull together in a bid to achieve the Network’s goals, meeting every two weeks to discuss actions, plan events and tailor support.
For example, the summer of 2025 saw the Network explore how it could use an external benchmarking tool to assess LGBTQ+ inclusion at Booker.
By combining a tool from Stonewall with Colleague feedback from our Pride event, the Network was able review what Colleagues wanted – and see where the biggest differences could be made.
Going forward, two key areas it plans to tackle are engaging Band 1 + 2 Colleagues and providing better training and support for Colleagues to understand the LGBTQ+ community. So stay tuned as we seek to drive change in these areas in 2026!
LGBTQ+ COMMON TERMINOLOGY
Language is inherently complex and continuously evolving – and terminology associated with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) community is no exception. Here are some common terms you may encounter when in conversation with people from within this community.
Cisgender: Describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender dysphoria: Marked and persistent incongruence between a person’s experienced gender and assigned sex at birth.
Intersex: Describes a person with one or more innate sex characteristics (such as genitals, internal reproductive organs, or chromosomes) that fall outside of traditional conceptions of male or female bodies.
Nonbinary: Describes a person who experiences their gender identity and/or gender expression as outside the binary genders of man and woman.
Transgender: Describes a person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Transition or gender affirming care: The process a person undertakes to bring their body and/or gender expression into alignment with their gender identity; may involve social, medical, or legal transitions. Note: A person is not required to transition socially, legally, or medically to be considered transgender.
Transitioning is a unique experience for each individual and may involve all, none, or some of these processes.
Social: may include going by a different name, using different pronouns (e.g., she, he, or they), and dressing or otherwise presenting themselves differently.
Medical: may include procedures such as hormone replacement therapy and/or one or more gender confirmation surgeries.
Legal: may include changing one’s name or sex on legal documents such as a passport, driver’s license, or bank account.
The Network also seeks to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with a range of events throughout the year, as well as supporting key national events such as LGBTQ+ History Month in February – and Pride Month in June.
LGBTQ+ at Booker is currently hard at work planning a range of in-person events for LGBTQ+ History Month – as well as supporting colleagues who are hoping to run their own local events.
We’re also planning to re-launch Pride in a Box to help Colleagues create their own Pride displays after the brilliant work we saw last year – so watch this space!
LANGUAGE TO AVOID
Referring to a person as “biologically/genetically” a man, woman, boy, or girl.
“Lifestyle” or “sexual preference” to refer to a person’s sexual orientation.
Calling a person “homosexual” who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, or queer.
“I thought the day was fantastic, amazing conversation between colleagues that we would never get to spend time with outside of the events, helps us see things from all different perspectives to shape change required for the future. Drag acts were a fantastic end to celebrate with everyone. Well done on a memorable and amazing event!”
Booker Colleague
Time to break
the cycle
With the Crime and Policing Bill coming into force in early 2026, the time to start working on real solutions that effectively break the cycle of repeat offending against our sector could finally be approaching, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) hopes.
With more retailers reporting theft and police increasingly prioritising the investigation of crime, it’s time for the justice system to step up with effective interventions that stop re-offending, James Lowman says.
In recent weeks, the BBC published new figures reporting that the amount of time it takes for shop theft offences to reach magistrates court has risen from 32 days in 2014, to 59 days in 2024. When we asked retailers about this, the new figures still seem to be pretty optimistic with many reporting that it takes several months to get a court date when incidents are reported, if anything happens at all.
So what’s going on here, and could this be an indication that the tide is actually starting to turn on retail crime?
We know that year on year, retailers are doing their part to deal with crime. In the last two years alone, the convenience sector has spent over half a billion pounds on crime prevention and detection, with many investment decisions in store now seeing the fastest payback when they are for loss prevention measures.
Retailers are also doing their part by reporting more. In some areas, this has been supported by more streamlined reporting systems, but overall, the constant breaking of ONS records of shop theft incidents recorded by the police can be seen as a positive, as it is starting to bridge the gap between what happens on the ground and what the police see.
The police themselves are also stepping up. Figures from our latest Voice of Local Shops survey show that more than half reported having a very good relationship with their neighbourhood police. This kind of response would have been a real anomaly just a few years ago, and it shows that there has been a tangible effort put in by local forces, Police and Crime Commissioners, and central Government.
So, what we have left is the rest of the justice system. It goes without saying that if more retailers are reporting theft, and police are increasingly prioritising the investigation of crime, that there will be more pressure on the courts to see cases. This is where we need more resource because left unchecked, offenders will simply continue offending without any fear of reproach.
We’re not prescriptive about what the intervention should be, but we’re clear that whatever it is, it needs to be the most effective way of breaking the cycle of re-offending.
With the Crime and Policing Bill coming into force in early 2026, it looks like we’re finally getting beyond having to describe the problem and starting to work on real solutions to stop repeat offending against our sector.
