in 12x330ml & 4x568ml packs
M249725 - Heineken Original (12x)330ml M302214 - Heineken Original (4x)568ml PMP £7.99
Callum Beattie has been confirmed among the headline acts at this year’s Checkout Scotland music festival.
app is
CRAFT BEER BRAND* UK’S
THE HEAT is on!
Summer’s here and Budgens has a sizzling support package to help you cook up hot and tasty sales.
A warm and sunny welcome to our latest issue of Your Budgens as we navigate the key summer trading period and the sea of sizzling opportunities to grow footfall, sales and profits.
From garden get-togethers to impromptu BBQs, sporting events and park picnics, the summer season serves up a generous helping of occasions to cater for, and inside you’ll find a fantastic feature to help you do just that.
There’s also a ‘teaser’ feature for Booker’s soon-to-be released Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure.
Available to retailers from mid-August, the brochure will provide even more insight and advice to help you make the very most of these key categories – this summer and beyond.
Don’t miss our update on Scoot either. Booker’s new lowcost rapid delivery app is already driving increased sales and profits for Budgens retailers.
There’s also a deep-dive into Booker’s flourishing Race & Ethnicity Colleague Network. Created in September 2023, Race & Ethnicity@Booker provides a safe space to
celebrate diversity, spark meaningful conversations, support colleagues from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and help shape an inclusive future at Booker.
I would also urge you to read the two terrific customer profiles in this issue. There is so much to learn from fellow Budgens retailers, and you might pick up an idea or two that might work in your store.
And, as always, you’ll find the usual mix of news, views, NPD, and insight that makes Your Budgens a must-read for Budgens retailers.
We truly believe that we have put together a superb support package for Budgens retailers this summer that’s sure to help you make it the hottest yet. I wish you all fantastic trading!
Industry News
Government to dish out an additional £80m per year in tobacco cessation programmes and enforcement.
Spending Review: Long overdue funding for tobacco enforcement announced.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the 2025 Spending Review to MPs in the UK Parliament, including additional cash to fund tobacco enforcement.
Reeves announced an additional £80m per year, for the next five years, for smoking cessation and enforcement, linked to the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) welcomed the “long overdue” funding boost.
Research conducted for ACS last year showed that Trading Standards teams would need at least £140m over the next five years to deal with illicit vapes alone, with £30m required this year.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The investment in enforcement of the tobacco and vapes market is long overdue and will be welcomed by all responsible retailers who are sick of seeing rogue operators trading with impunity in their communities. This must change, and if the £80m announced
for smoking cessation and enforcement is properly allocated to the front line, it could make a real difference.
“We must prioritise resources to shore up the most basic principles of the rule of law, to support those who follow it and intervene against those who don’t.”
However, ACS believes that the Spending Review fell short on police funding.
The Chancellor also revealed that policing budgets would rise by 2.3% per year above inflation over the next five years – in line with the baseline for other departments.
“When coupled with concerns across the country that local council budgets are stretched to breaking point, both the police and local enforcement officers are facing real resourcing challenges to deal with the tide of theft, abuse, violence and rogue trading blighting the communities where local shops trade,” ACS said.
Retailers accuse UK Gov of breaking promises
The vast majority (70%) of retailers feel “disillusioned” by the government’s actions over the past year.
More than four in five retailers (82%) believe the UK Government has broken its promises to support small businesses, a JTI survey has revealed.
Rising business rates, an increase in National Insurance contributions, the proposed generational smoking ban and minimum wage increases have left 70% of retailers feeling “disillusioned” by the actions of the Labour Government towards small businesses since they came into power in July 2024.
In fact, 85% of retailers think it will be harder for their business to succeed in 2025 as a result of the new laws and policies proposed.
When it comes to the proposed generational smoking ban, 58% of retailers believe it would have a negative impact on their store, with 87% saying it could lead to more illicit tobacco activity in their local area.
STOCK THE UK’S NO.1 CHILLED COFFEE*
STARBUCKS RTD IS 58% OF RTD COFFEE SALES IN IMPULSE**
Shoppers love a Ready to Drink coffee in convenience, and the top 6 must stock SKU’s based on rate of sale are*: THE RTD COFFEE CATEGORY IS WORTH £71.9M IN IMPULSE**
TOP 6 STARBUCKS MUST STOCK SKU’s
Postgraduate funding available for c-store workers
Students can apply to receive a bursary of up to £5,000 for the 2025/26 period via the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust.
Convenience store workers and their families have until 1 September 2025 to get their applications in for a postgraduate bursary from the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust (LTCT).
The charity’s bursary scheme is open to students on postgraduate courses, whose parent, carer, or spouse is employed in convenience retail.
The opportunity is also open to anyone already working in convenience who wants to fund their own study.
The bursary can be put towards tuition fees, or other expenses such as course materials, equipment or travel costs. Applications are open until 1
September and students can apply to receive up to £5,000.
As the cost of attending university mounts year on year, the bursary has been designed to help families who may be concerned about supporting a child, partner or even themselves through further higher education. With the charity’s core belief that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their academic potential, LTCT hopes that it will help alleviate some of the financial pressure on students and their parents.
In 2025, the total number of bursaries awarded since the scheme launched is expected to exceed 5,000, totalling £28m worth of financial aid.
Snappy Shopper trials disabled households delivery discount
Snappy Shopper has announced a trial partnership with Purpl to deliver an exclusive grocery discount for disabled households across the UK.
Eligible Purpl members will receive a 25% discount on their first online grocery order via Snappy Shopper, available through the app and website.
The offer includes sameday delivery (within 30 to 60 minutes) or click and collect at selected local retailers. Additionally, all Purpl users will benefit from three months of free delivery during the trial period.
This initiative supports the 16.1 million people in the UK – 24% of the population – living with disabilities, offering tangible savings on everyday essentials.
To access the discount, customers can currently register for free with Purpl and upload proof of disability.
Verifications are typically completed within seconds, after which a unique discount code becomes active for use on Snappy Shopper.
Charitable feat!
Budgens of Holt in Norfolk has raised a staggering total of £8,508 for charity Bowel Cancer UK.
The incredible donation was raised over the course of the 2024/25 financial year, with members of the communityminded team taking part in a variety of challenges, events and in-store fundraisers.
The store’s Charity of the Year for 2025/26 is the Boudicca Breast Care Unit at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Sales Assistant Maggie Thompson will be taking part in an adrenaline-fuelled Wing Walk to raise money for the unit on 29 June.
Commenting on the donation to Bowel Cancer UK, a spokesman for the store said: “A massive well done to the team in Holt whose efforts have raised such an amazing total for their charity of the year. Thank you to all of our customers who have donated to our fundraisers, from sponsored walks to in-store tombolas.”
Retailer enjoys Scoot-iful sales! Blooming marvellous
Shoppers in the Essex town of Abridge are reaping the rewards of rapid home delivery and amazing value thanks to the new Scoot service offered by Raven’s Budgens of Abridge.
The store, which was one of the first to pilot the new service, has been offering a range of truly amazing value deals, that are only available to shoppers who order via Scoot.
Recent deals have included a £7 Lamb Chop Supper, a £5 Breakfast bundle and Pizza Night In deal for just £9.99.
Smith’s Budgens of Codford is enjoying blooming summer sales with a new range of local plants.
The family-run store is offering shoppers a range of plants from local supplier Wylye Valley Plants.
The range, which is available in two pot sizes, includes bedding and perennials which create a gorgeous floral display outside the store.
Callum Beattie confirmed for Checkout 2025
The Scottish Committee of convenience and grocery industry charity GroceryAid has announced that Scottish chart-topping singersongwriter Callum Beattie is to perform at this year’s Checkout Scotland music festival in Glasgow on 28 August.
Beattie will be playing at Checkout a matter of weeks before performing at the 12,000 capacity OVO Hydro.
Beattie has gone from selling just 30 tickets in small grassroots venues to selling out the iconic OVO Hydro in the space of four years, a remarkable rise. His first two albums both reached number one on the Scottish album charts and with his third album on the horizon, Callum is set to reach global audiences.
In addition to his stellar music career, Callum and his manager have raised over £750,000 for various charities
Chart-topping music star Callum Beattie has been confirmed among the headline acts at this year’s Checkout Scotland music festival in support of GroceryAid.
over the past four years, using their platform to make a meaningful difference to communities across the country.
With already half of the tickets to this year’s Checkout Scotland already sold, if you want to be there to see Callum Beattie, while also helping raise muchneeded funds for GroceryAid, act now.
To book, go to www.groceryaid.org.uk/ events/checkout-scotland.
GroceryAid Scotland Chairman Matthew Howie commented: “To secure a homegrown top-notch talent like Callum Beattie for Checkout Scotland is a massive coup, particularly as he will be playing to a packed Hydro just weeks later.
“We’re expecting tickets to sell out fast so I
School Essentials Grant to top £1m
would urge everyone who wants to be there and help us raise awareness of GroceryAid to get in touch now to make sure they will be at one of the highlights of the UK independent retailing calendar.”
28th Aug,
GroceryAid’s School Essentials Grant is providing £1m of support for convenience and grocery colleagues’ school-aged children this year, after securing funding from The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust.
The fund provides a £150 non-repayable grant for every child of school age, up to a maximum of three children per eligible household, up to the fund total. This year, more than 6,660 children will benefit from the fund, an 11% increase from last year.
Applications for the grant were open for only three days before the £1m allocation was fully subscribed. If you applied and received a confirmation email with a reference number, you will find out by email if your application was successful no later than Friday 11 July 2025.
M296890
Local heroes
Sanjee and Delani Shanmugalingam now have a super new store that better befits their heroic natures.
From fortresses to mansions and sewers to bat caves, superhero headquarters are the stuff of awe and intrigue.
Nestled in a sleepy Essex village, Shalford Village Store is one such HQ – and it’s home to superhero convenience retailers Sanjee and Delani Shanmugalingam – the inspirational husband and wife team who were awarded the Local Hero Prize by Shalford Parish Council in 2021 following their “heroic support of the local community through the challenging pandemic period”.
Having bought the store in 2015, Sanjee and Delani valiantly supported the residents of Shalford and other outlying villages throughout the crisis, “going above and beyond” to secure access to vital products and services and becoming a veritable lifeline and source of comfort for many during those dark times.
And while their brave efforts were rewarded with a trophy, the true prize for Sanjee and Delani has been the strengthening of their already close community connection and a sustained surge in loyalty.
And now, following a transformative store development project, the dynamic duo has a truly super HQ from which to wield their community powers.
“The store was performing well but we always knew there was an opportunity to create something bigger, brighter and better,” Sanjee says.
“It had been a decade since we’d taken the store
over – and it was definitely in need of a refresh,” Delani adds.
“The old 700sq ft shop floor was quite dated and felt cluttered. There were a lot of internal doors, separate sections and narrow spaces,” she explains.
“It all felt quite disjointed to be honest – nothing really had its own place.”
There was also a lot of wasted space, including a large kitchen behind the counter that the previous owners had once used to operate a takeaway.
“Our dream was to totally reimagine the interior –opening it all up to create a much bigger, brighter space with clear zones for all the key categories and more space for new products and services.
A friend recommended Budgens, and following a successful initial meeting, it wasn’t long before the pair decided to marry into the Budgens family.
Efforts to modernise the dated interior began in January 2025, with half the store boarded up, allowing building works to take place behind the scenes.
Then, about midway through the project, the pair moved operations into a Portacabin – ensuring that local shoppers were not cut adrift from essential products and services while work was carried out.
“We are the only shop in this village and the locals rely on us so much, not just for products and
“Produce is another big hit. Our range now includes everything a shopper could want, and we’re delighted at how fast produce sales are moving.” Sanjee
services but also for friendship. For a lot of elderly residents, we’ll be the only people they see or speak to all day.
“Everyone was thrilled with how much we managed to pack in; we had two chillers and lots of shelving, it was a perfect mini shop,” Sanjee adds.
Meanwhile, back in the store, the shop floor was extended into the large old kitchen space and an adjoining garage.
The end result: a bright and breezy 1,100sq ft shop floor complete with new flooring, ceilings, lights, fixtures and fittings – and all the bells and whistles that you’d expect from the Budgens customer journey.
A countdown on social media kept local shoppers abreast of the development’s progress – and fired up for its official launch event on 9 May.
“The reaction from local shoppers when we opened was incredible,” Sanjee says.
“The first two weeks were like a whirlwind, people couldn’t wait to come in and see what we’d done, we’d never been
FACTFILE
Store name: Shalford Village Store (Budgens) Braintree
Retailers: Sanjee and Delani Shanmugalingam
Services: National Lottery, dry cleaning, UPS parcels, Payzone
Opening hours: 7am-9pm
Size: 1,100sq ft
Staff: 4
so busy!
“Sometimes shoppers can be a bit resistant to change but even those who were apprehensive at first, couldn’t fail to be impressed by the store’s new look and range.
“We had one shopper who, prior to the refit, would only pop in occasionally to buy one or two items – but now, she comes with a shopping bag.”
One of the biggest and positive changes to the store has been the expansion of fresh and chilled, Sanjee explains.
“We had a fairly limited offer before, but now we have 12 doors for chilled foods, including ready meals, deli items and fresh meats.”
The store’s fresh meat offer, which now includes many Jack’s
lines, is also enhanced by products from two separate local meat suppliers: Priors Hall Farm and Deersbrook Farm, who produce delicious pre-packed products including pork ribs, sausages and steaks galore.
The champion chilled offer is further enhanced with a further six doors for soft drinks and food to go.
“Produce is another big hit” Sanjee adds. “Our range now includes everything a shopper could want, and we’re delighted at how fast produce sales are moving.”
The store’s produce selection also includes local products, such as potatoes.
“Local produce has always been a USP of ours and the refit has enabled us to bring more in and show it all off so much better,” Sanjee explains.
“Budgens boasts a great horticulture range and we’ve been delighted to add indoor and outdoor plants, as well as fresh cut flowers, to our offer.”
Sanjee
The store now stocks local cakes, eggs and honey – along with its own range of ‘Shalford Village Store’ branded products from Bramble Foods. Including cookies and jams, the own-brand range looks sweet on shelf and produces equally sugary sales.
“Everything has its place now. It’s so much easier for shoppers to find what they’re looking for – and discover new products along the way. It’s also much easier for us to manage!
“All our wines and beers are now in chillers which is another big benefit. We used to have a small one-metre chilled bay but now we have 3.25 metres.
The refit has also allowed Sanjee and Delani to introduce new elements, such as hot food to go – courtesy of a Bake & Bite offer from Country Choice and a new self-service Vitro X1 hot drinks machine.
“We have also extended our opening by an hour in the evenings which shoppers are very happy with.”
With a vast new range of chilled choice, Shalford’s shoppers can now rely on the store for all their evening meal solutions – right up until 9pm.
“The fresh and chilled range has been the big success story so far, followed by hot food to go,” Sanjee says.
“Since re-opening, it’s not uncommon for shoppers to come in and spend £30 to £40 because they can find everything they need here now.”
In-fact, sales have jumped by more than a third in the four weeks since re-opening – with plenty more success on the cards for this super store.
Better is best
Two years after opening their new Stockport store, things have never looked better for Budgens retailers Muralidharan Salaikuberan and Premnath Palanisamy.
Better never stops: The motivational philosophy favoured by high-flyers, world-class athletes, astronauts – and convenience retailers Muralidharan Salaikuberan and Premnath Palanisamy.
Just like their inspirational peers, lifelong friends and business partners Muralidharan (Murali) and Premnath have always been driven by the continuous pursuit of betterment and excellence.
Your Budgens first profiled the pair back in 2023 – a few months after they opened their first Budgens store in the centre of Stockport.
Located on the busy A6 and just a few doors down from Stockport Collage, the Magistrates Court, numerous offices, flats and a hospital, Murali and Premnath knew from the start that their new 2,200sq store would represent a significant footfall and sales opportunity.
And so it has proved.
The store, which opened with a mission to make “shopping a pleasure,” has built up a large and loyal customer base since its launch in July 2023 – with its growing sales being driven by BWS, soft drinks and fresh and chilled.
And the pair have certainly not stood still in the past year, having made an array of key improvements to its already impressive offer as they continue to strive for better and better results.
“We’ve focused exceptionally hard on key standards, such as availability and customer service, to ensure that our offer is the best it can possibly be for shoppers,” Murali explains.
That includes extending the store’s opening to 24 hours –allowing Budgens Wellington Road to be there for its shoppers around the clock – a fact which has been especially well received by its large student demographic and many night shift workers, including hospital and hospitality staff.
“Moving to 24-hour opening has been a huge benefit,” Murali explains. “But it’s about more than just the obvious additional sales. Having a dedicated night team means that key tasks such as cleaning and filling can now be carried out with even greater attention to detail, when the store is quieter, helping us to maintain the exceptionally high standards that our shoppers have come to expect.”
The benefits of 24-hour opening are also being felt online – another key area of development – with the store having
BWS SALES HAVE GROWN TO ACCOUNT FOR 30% OF SALES SINCE THE STORE OPENED, FUELLING SALES OF OTHER CATEGORIES, INCLUDING FRESH AND CHILLED.
also launched multiple home delivery options for shoppers in recent times.
“We now offer home delivery via four platforms, including Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat – and in May 2025 we launched Snappy Shopper too,” Murali says.
“Snappy Shopper, in particular, is proving to be a really effective way of driving sales around the clock – especially when we put on exclusive ‘one night only’ deals.”
Popular recent deals have included huge reductions for multipacks of Budweiser, Strongbow and Stella each – between the hours of 9pm and 6.45am.
And, of course, it’s not just the BWS category that is benefitting
from around the clock opening and home delivery.
“Since launching Snappy Shopper we are also getting a much broader mix of sales, including many more orders including groceries and convenience products,” Murali adds.
An expansion of the store’s World Foods offer is another key change made in the past year.
“We have a diverse customer base, and as such we’ve brought in many more ethnic food and drink products, including Indian and Chinese groceries, all of which have helped to boost basket spend.”
The store’s food-to-go offer has also been enhanced, with new additions to its range of hot pastries and baked goods
from Country Choice – which currently rakes in more than £600 a week and growing.
A new Tango Ice Blast machine has also been added to complement the store’s existing Jolly Rancher slush and Costa Coffee offer.
Soft drinks (the store’s second-bestselling category) has also been relentlessly updated, to include all the latest new and on-trend products – with NPD prominently highlighted instore and via its active social media pages.
“Soft drinks are a significant footfall and sales driver due to our passing trade opportunity and sizeable student demographic – and now account for almost a quarter of weekly sales,” Murali adds.
And another thing that students love is a deal – and at Budgens Wellington Road, all shoppers, not just students, can enjoy deals in spades thanks to the loyalty app My DD Points.
Launched shortly after the store opened, the My DD Points loyalty app offers shoppers bags of benefits, including redeemable points and discounts off a range of products
JUST UNDER 2,000 SHOPPERS HAVE NOW SIGNED UP TO THE STORE’S MY DD POINTS LOYALTY APP WHICH HELPS TO DRIVE FOOTFALL AND SALES.
selected by the retailer – including essentials, such as bread, milk and so much more.
Shoppers with an appetite to whip up a hearty homemade lasagna can buy Jack’s Lasagna sheets for just £1 – down from their regular price of £1.19. Deals apply to a number of fresh lines too, including salad tomatoes and cucumbers, which are currently available at the special price of just 99p, lettuce for just 79p and a whole chicken for just £3.90.
Members of the store’s My DD Points scheme can also take advantage of special deals on food and drinks to go – such as ‘Buy a Regular Costa Coffee and get an Evian 75cl for just £1’ and ‘Buy a Regular Costa Coffee and get a Sausage Roll for just 60p.’
They can also enjoy an offer to upgrade their lunchtime meal deals to include a Regular Costa Express for just £1.
“We have a core range of products which we always keep on a special low price for My DD members and then we add in seasonal products throughout the year, such as beers, salad items or soft drinks in the summer.
“It’s also a handy tool for selling through any slow sellers; we
can jumpstart sales with targeted special prices.”
The scheme and exclusive prices are clearly communicated to shoppers via professionally designed POS and in-store posters.
“The team at My DD Points also support us by creating promotional posts for use on our social media pages,” Murali adds.
“We now have just over 2,000 local shoppers signed up, with more and more joining all the time. There’s no doubt that it’s a fantastic driver of loyalty and footfall – especially among the younger generation, who are not only very deal driven but also very tech savvy. We have a large student demographic, so My DD Points is especially popular with them.
“The scheme also allows us to run prize draws and send out offers to clear short-life stock, helping to reduce any potential waste.”
Special deals also apply to BWS products, most of which are housed within the store’s striking glass-fronted beer cave –which also boasts large light-giving windows that look out onto the street.
“The beer cave continues to be a big footfall driver,” Murali adds. “It’s still a big USP around here and allows us to offer our shoppers an unrivalled range of chilled choice including large multi-packs.”
In fact, BWS sales have grown to account for 30% of sales since the store opened, fuelling sales of other categories, including fresh and chilled, as local residents and commuters increasingly rely on it to answer a wide variety of missions –including the key ‘meal for tonight’.
And, with a development of just under 500 new homes almost directly opposite the store set to complete towards the end of the year, Budgens Wellington Road will soon be helping to meet the needs of even more new shoppers.
“According to our projections, the new housing development should lead to a further sales increase of at least 20% on where we are now so we’re actively looking for ways to make the very most out of that opportunity,” Murali says.
“It never stops!” And nor do they.
FACTFILE
Store name: Budgens Wellington Road, Stockport
Retailers: Muralidharan Salaikuberan and Premnath Palanisamy
Opening hours: 24 hours
Size: 2,200sq ft
Staff: 6
Services: Home delivery, InPost lockers, Evri Parcel Shop, National Lottery, Payzone
Strike up sales this summer
Budgens is here to help you light a fire under the 2025 summer BBQ opportunity.
SUMMER BBQ FUELS
FUEL EXPRESS INSTANT DISPOSABLE BBQ
Case size: 12xsingle
WSP: £35.99
While the Aussies might be renowned for their ‘snag’ sizzling skills, today’s Brits are certainly giving them a run for their money, especially at this time of year with ‘BBQ Season’ well and truly open and the battle for grilling glory on.
RSP: £5.99
POR: 39.9%
FUEL EXPRESS BARBECUE BRIQUETTES
Case size: 1x5kg
WSP: £6.65
RSP: £9.99
POR: 20.1%
FUEL EXPRESS INSTANT LIGHTING CHARCOAL
Case size: 1x2kg
WSP: £5.09
RSP: £7.99
POR: 23.6%
JACK’S 15 FIRELIGHTERS WITH HOTSPOTS
Case size: 24x15pack
WSP: £16.99
RSP: £1.69
POR: 49.7%
FUEL EXPRESS LIGHTING FLUID
Case size: 12X1ltr
WSP: £43.99
RSP: £4.99
POR: 11.8%
Recipes for success
A number of key Jack’s deli products have been given a recipe refresh ahead of the key summer picnic and BBQ season.
Jack’s Tuna Sweetcorn Filler
Jack’s Egg Mayo Filler
And they’ve certainly been getting in their practice. Despite its soggy start, last summer saw a 32% leap in burger sales over July and August, compared with the same period a year before, as Britons fired up their barbies.
Chilled prepared salad sales also rose by 22% over the same period, Kantar data shows.
Other processed beef products, including beef grills, beef sausages and sliced cooked meats also experienced improved year-on-year volume performance over the summer of 2024, data from data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) shows.
Added value products, including pre-marinated packaged meats, were a hit too,as shoppers stocked up on flavourpacked products that offered additional ease and convenience.
And the signs for 2025’s Summer and BBQ Season look equally, if not more promising.
BBQ season 2025 got off to a banger thanks to the hottest ever start to May – a fact which prompted chilled burger sales to rise by 27% on the same period last year, according to Kantar data.
And shoppers didn’t forget the all-important sides, with sales of potato salad having rocketed by 32% and coleslaw and prepared salads by 19% each too.
Budgens shoppers are certainly well placed to make the most out of this summer’s BBQ season with a vast array
CREAM OF THE CROP
No summer BBQ occasion would be complete without an iced delight or two to round off proceedings and Budgens retailers can offer their shoppers a real scoop with NP5 Mega Deals on key Ben and Jerry’s 465ml tubs including Choc Fudge Brownie,
Cookie Dough, Phish Food, Strawberry Cheesecake and Karamel Sultra – all of which have an RSP of £6.55 and are available on a BOGOF deal!
products sure to help shoppers achieve flame fame.
The Meat Market range alone, offers a marvellous mix of products to pick from – most of which are also available as part of multi-buy deals.
In addition to juicy Meat Market Beef Burgers, Budgens retailers can also offer their shoppers Meat Market Steak Pieces, Salt and Chilli Steaks and Lamb Steaks with Rosemary and Garlic all for an RSP of just £5.99 or as part of an ‘Any 2 for £10’ deal.
A wide range of pork and chicken products are also available.
Butcher’s Specials
The NP6 period will also see Butcher’s Specials on 500g packs of Jack’s Chicken Breast Fillets which will feature a promotional RSP of £5.49.
The perfect addition to any BBQ, especially when glazed with marinade or sandwiched within a buttery brioche bun –these crowd-pleasing poultry protagonists also offer retailers tasty PORs of 23.5%.
And that’s far from all. Jack’s sausages will also be on promotion for just £2.99 per 400g pack in NP6. Available in Premium Pork, Cumberland and Lincolnshire, the own brand bangers will offer retailers a meaty POR of 30%.
Butcher’s Specials will also apply to 430g packs of Jacks Chicken Drumsticks – ideal for using in snacky summer lunches and packing into picnics. With a promotional RSP of
just £1.99 they will also drum up PORs of 24.1% for retailers.
And of course it’s not all about the mains. Sides also play a seminal role in the summer BBQ opportunity and Budgens retailers have a cracking array to choose from including Jack’s Deli Style Coleslaw and its hero Potato Salad, which recently underwent a recipe refresh ahead of the key summer period.
Perfect for topping burgers and stuffing into wraps, flatbreads and pittas, cheese products also offer grate prospects.
Budgens retailers can tempt the shoppers to build bigger baskets with products including Jack’s Mild and Mature Cheddar Slices and grated products such as Jack’s Grated Mozzarella and Grated Mild and Mature cheddar – all of which feature £2.49 PMPs or can be bought as part of an ‘Any 2 for £4’ deal.
As ever, the 2025 Summer BBQ season will also be supported by a mighty mix of Mega Deals.
The NP5 period includes Mega Deals on key crisp and snack brands, ideal for shoppers to munch on while the sausages sizzle.
WINE TO SHINE
Retailers will also be able to offer shoppers a crisp serving of new wine products to accompany their summer gatherings and BBQs - including new Red, Rosé and Pinot Grigio from the Not Guilty brand. Available now and throughout the NP5 period, each 75cl bottle will feature a promotional RSP of just £4.99 offering a POR of 20%.
which are on special offer to shoppers for just £1.65. Doritos Hot or Not Chilli Heatwave and Max Hot or Not Sticky BBQ also feature a promotional RSP of just £1.65, while Cheezit Double Cheese and Chilli Cheese are both available as part of a BOGOF deal.
From vibrant vegetables to marvellous meats, the summer BBQ occasion also opens the door to creating inspiring displays and in-store theatre.
Budgens is also here to help too with its bold and bright ‘Summer’ and ‘BBQ Season’ creatives that are sure to help you drum up even more delicious displays.
Available now, Budgens suite of summer POS materials include header boards, barkers, shelf strips and bunting all of which feature fun and inspiring summer graphics of fresh kebabs, burgers, fruit and flowers.
Look out for Mega Deals on Wotsits Giants Cheese and Wotsits Giants Flamin Hot both of
Speaking of flowers, available over the NP6 promotional period, retailers will also be able to offer their shoppers beautiful ‘Blackcurrant Smoothie’ bouquets from Olive and Accacia. With an RSP of just £6.50 and including an Extra 20% free, the berry-coloured blooms are sure to score with shoppers over the summer season. And with a POR of 30.8%, their bound to be a hit with retailers too.
So what are you waiting for? Budgens has supplied the matches and it’s time for you to strike.
NP5 BEER AND CIDER MEGA DEALS!
The NP5 promotional period serves up a host of Mega Deals on key Beer and Cider brands perfect for toasting summer BBQ occasions.
Chill out!
Coming soon, Booker’s new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure is packed with layers of cool counsel – guaranteed to help you become a true chilled champion and freezer pleaser.
New Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure
Coming soon, the new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure will help retailers to make the very most of the growing fresh and frozen categories. Boost your footfall and basket spend with key info on:
l New products
l Range insights
l Category advice
l Merchandising masterclass
l New and emerging shopper trends
Convenience stores have always played an important role within their local communities – and since the pandemic their place in local hearts, minds and shopping habits has moved to centre stage.
One of the many positive upshots of this continuing shift is the growing demand for fresh and frozen products – as local shoppers increasingly look to their local stores to provide them with quality, convenient and affordable meal solutions on their doorsteps.
As almost every single profile in Your Budgens quite clearly shows, Budgens retailers are investing in both categories like never before, expanding and reconfiguring their stores to make way for new and improved ranges, purchasing new equipment and display solutions, as well as investing in staff training to make the absolute most of both opportunities.
And now, Booker is helping them to maximise the prize even further with a comprehensive
“Shoppers want to be able to top up on quality chilled and frozen meal solutions on their doorsteps and we’re helping them to do just that. Fresh and chilled is a major category in our store, accounting for 20% of sales and growing. We’ve worked hard to create a compelling chilled offer – and shoppers love the fact that they can rely on us for quality meal for tonight and lunch solutions, and more.”
Kalpesh Pau, Budgens Parson Cross
COOL RUNNINGS
Convenience stores invested more than £1bn in their businesses over the last year, with refrigeration ringing in as the largest area of investment, according to the ACS Local Shop Report 2024.
Well over half (56%) of convenience retailers invested in refrigeration in a bid to make more of the growing fresh and chilled opportunity.
“We know that fresh and frozen products are essential for today’s shopper – whether that’s great quality produce for tonight’s dinner or frozen essentials for the week ahead.”
Colm Johnson, Booker’s Retail Managing Director
new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure.
Set to land from 11 August, this ultimate guide has been designed to help retailers create truly irresistible fresh and frozen offers that can’t fail to drive footfall, sales and profits to new heights.
Split into key sections, including Fresh Fruit, Deli, Cooked Meats, Juices and Smoothies, Frozen Vegetables, Frozen Bread and many more, the brochure will provide a deep dive into the vast range of fresh and frozen choice available to them.
It will also shine a spotlight on lesser-explored categories,
such as Fruit and Nuts, Fish, Fresh Herbs and Salads –helping retailers to add even more colour and interest to their offers.
Must stock hero lines, including top-selling Jack’sbranded goods, such as Jack’s Garlic Flatbread, British Cooked Ham, Grated Mature Cheddar, Garden Peas, and Royal Gala Apples, will also be showcased.
Retailers will also be treated to an appetising array of category insights, market analysis, and advice on the new and emerging shopper trends to get on board with and set their tills ringing. They can also harness top
tips for merchandising and creating delicious displays that look good enough to eat.
Commenting on the new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure, Booker’s Retail Managing Director Colm Johnson said: “We know that fresh and frozen products are essential for today’s shopper – whether that’s great quality
produce for tonight’s dinner or frozen essentials for the week ahead.
“This brochure is designed to help our retail partners unlock that potential with confidence, using fantastic products, strong value and clear guidance. It’s about helping retailers make the most of what the market is telling us customers want more of.”
Iced delights
With its cost, convenience and sustainability credentials, it’s little wonder that the frozen food market has experienced such a resurgence in recent times.
Frozen vegetables, potato, bread and chicken products, plus ready meals, such as pizzas, have all been key drivers of volume and value growth.
In fact, if you remove ice cream (which suffered at the hands of 2024’s wash-out summer) from the equation – the frozen category achieved a value growth of 1.6%, with unit sales up 0.4% in the year to 29 December 2024, according to Kantar data.
Frozen poultry, savoury baked goods, desserts, ready meals and potato products all showed significant value and unit growth, with poultry volumes up 6.5%, savoury bakery up 2.9%, potatoes up 2.2% and ready meals up 1.3%.
With costs set to continue biting, frozen foods could well be set for an even more successful year – presenting retailers with a sparkling opportunity to boost footfall sales and profits.
“We invested heavily in frozen as part of our new store development and it’s certainly been worth it with frozen having become a key footfall and sales driver since opening earlier this year. We have a five-metre frozen food offer which is complemented by three dedicated Cook freezers. Frozen ready meals, such as Cook, have been a huge hit with shoppers, with many specifically coming in to buy a frozen meal and pick up a nice bottle of wine and a few other sides to accompany it. We’ve also invested in giving the range real standout –with striking neon signage and 3D snowflake graphics.”
Dale Snowdon, Budgens Fore Street
products NEW
LA P’TITE PIERRE RED, WHITE, ROSÉ
WAIRAU COVE CHARDONNAY
SNACKSTERS WRAPS CHICKEN FAJITA, CHICKEN CAESAR
FUNKIN APPLE SOUR MARTINI CANS
GRENADE PROTEIN SHAKES FUDGE BROWNIE, WHITE CHOC, STRAWBERRIES & CREAM, COOKIES & CREAM
SNACKSTERS SANDWICHES CHEESE & ONION, CHICKEN & BACON, CHEESE & PICKLE, CHICKEN TIKKA, TUNA MAYO
SNACKSTERS
Budgens retailers deliver profits with Scoot
Booker’s new low-cost Scoot rapid delivery app is already driving increased sales and profits for Budgens retailers.
Generate over £130k sales a year*
*based on weekly Scoot sales of £2,500
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. The app connects shoppers directly with participating stores, enabling them to order from a range of products, curated by you, the retailer.
GET ON BOARD
“It is not only appealing to my existing customer base, but it will also help me recruit new customers. This is a fantastic opportunity and a big win for me.”
Goran Raven, Raven’s Budgens Abridge
Designed by retailers for retailers, it’s little surprise that Booker’s new low-cost Scoot rapid delivery solution is already proving massively popular with Budgens retailers across the country.
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.
It’s easy to see, then, why so many Budgens retailers have decided to use Scoot. Goran Raven is Director for Raven’s Budgens Abridge, one of the stores that took part in the initial trial for Scoot. He said: “I am thrilled to be partnering with Booker who are enabling me to offer a new service to my customers. It is not only appealing to my existing customer base, but it will also help me recruit new customers. This is a fantastic opportunity and a big win for me.”
MUST HAVE
In 2019, just 12% of convenience stores offered home delivery, according to the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) Local Shop Report – but by last year and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, that figure had soared to 47%.
Convenience stores’ use of social media, the key medium for promoting home delivery services, has similarly surged over the same period.
In 2019, only 39% of convenience stores had a Facebook page, while just 11% were on Instagram. But by 2024, those
figures had climbed to 74% and 43% respectively – with 15% on TikTok too – the ACS Local Shop Report 2024 shows.
Today, rapid response home delivery services are widely regarded as a ‘must’ by successful convenience store owners – helping them to reach new customers and ignite sales and profits.
BASKET BOOM
One of the key attractions of home delivery is basket spend. Did you know, for instance, that the average delivered basket transaction is £27? That’s around three times more than instore!
Scoot is a secure platform that also facilitates the ordering, payment, and picking processes, so all you need to do is organise the delivery. Retailers who sign up receive support from a dedicated Business Development Manager (BDM) and their existing RDM, who together will assist with on-boarding, including product file set up, training and live support.
Your dedicated BDM and RDM will also help you to develop a plan to grow sales to £5,000 – eliminating commission entirely – and increasing your profitability.
Retailers also receive an exceptional launch support package worth over £2,800 – including point of sale, digital assets and thermal delivery bags.
All of this is backed by heavyweight marketing support, including targeted social media adverts, and a contribution towards a full promotional wrap for your delivery vehicles.
Colm Johnson, Managing Director for Booker Retail, said:
“We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help our customers grow their business, so we are incredibly proud to announce the launch of Scoot, to support them in doing just that.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our retailers to increase their basket spend and store sales, and connect with new and existing shoppers in their local communities.
“The feedback from our pilot test has been really positive and we look forward to welcoming more retailers to the platform over the next few months.”
Why Scoot?
l Fully flexible model
l Make an estimated £34,000 additional profit per year (based on weekly app sales of £2,500 at 26% gross margin)
l ZERO commission once you reach £5,000 of weekly sales on the app
l ZERO consumer charges giving you the ability to offer the service for free
l 0.7% average card transaction fee
l Save up to £16,000 per year with Scoot vs other rapid delivery platforms based on weekly sales of £4,999
l Want to get to the next band of Spend and Save? – Scoot can help you
l Dedicated onboarding and set up support, including PoS package
Did you know?
l Average delivered basket transaction is £271 (3x more than in store)
l One in three shoppers are interested in using Rapid Grocery Delivery*
l Key times for your shoppers to order are:
l Dinner
l Lunch and Evening snack
l Treats1
l The market is set to grow to £2.6bn by 2029 from £2bn1
l 34% of convenience stores offer a local delivery service2
l 80% of orders are delivered within a one-mile radius
l The busiest days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday*
l The top three categories are:
l Treats and snacks – including crisps, chocolate & sweets (68%)
l Cold drinks -including soft and alcoholic (62%)
l General food - top up shop (48%)1
Sources: 1TWS, 2ACS
ZERO commission once you reach £5k a week
To help retailers even further, Scoot has also partnered with the Eskuta brand.
Retailers can receive a Scoot-branded SX-250 Series 4 eBike for easy weekly payments from only £30 a week.
The cost includes damage and theft insurance, an eBike tracker, servicing at your store, and a helmet.
To find out more, visit eskuta.com/scoot or call 02476 350 150.
Open to all
Shining the spotlight on Booker’s thriving Race & Ethnicity@Booker Colleague Network.
Last issue we introduced you to Booker’s four flourishing Colleague Networks – the on-song quartet which strives to advocate, applaud and aid Booker colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Comprising Race & Ethnicity@Booker, Women@Booker, LGBTQ+@Booker and Disability@Booker – the fab four share three key objectives: Amplify, Celebrate and Consult – with each working to spark important conversations and foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding across the business.
We’ll be exploring each of the four networks in detail over the coming months and we’re kicking off this issue by shining the spotlight on the Race & Ethnicity@Booker Colleague
“Being part of the network provides a great opportunity to come together to talk on an informal level about diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Raymond
“The network provides trust and security to share experiences and to speak up.” Alpha
Network.
Created in September 2023, Race & Ethnicity@Booker provides a safe space to celebrate diversity, spark meaningful conversations, support colleagues from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and help shape an inclusive future at Booker.
The network makes that happen with the help of four key pillars:
l Engagement – proactively consulting colleagues via listening sessions and focus groups.
l Education – actively celebrating and educating on colleagues’ cultures, personalities and preferences.
l Community – supporting charitable events and organisations in the communities that Booker serves.
l Growth – encouraging all colleagues to understand others and embrace the opportunities and challenges of change.
Teamwork is the key to the network’s success. With the help and support of passionate Chairs, pioneering Executive
Race & Ethnicity@Booker
Network key aims:
l Celebrate diversity
l Ensure equity and inclusion for all
l Educate and raise cultural awareness
l Help shape an inclusive future at Booker
“We get to learn so much about different cultures, personalities and preferences at various religious events.”
Penny
Sponsors and progressive Allies, the network’s harmony of voices help drive meaningful change.
Its ambitions are also supported by three dedicated committees.
A Colleague Feedback & Insight Committee organises listening sessions which seek to identify new trends and any additional needs, along with common barriers.
Facilitating these sessions ensures that members feel heard and understand exactly how their feedback is being used.
A separate Talent & Development Committee helps to promote internal and external opportunities for diverse talent and to celebrate success stories.
The Talent and Development Committee also works with other teams to facilitate mentoring programs.
Thirdly, a dedicated Events and Comms Committee plans,
coordinates and promotes numerous events throughout the year – as well as providing updates to the wider network.
Recent initiatives have included a virtual event in celebration of Ramadan where Dr. Baiq from the University of Exeter talked network members through ‘ Understanding Ramadan’.
Eid was also celebrated at Booker Manchester, while Black History Month was marked at Booker’s Hatfield Distribution Centre.
Diwali, meanwhile, was celebrated in Leicester and Vaisakhi at the Gurdwara in Bedford.
A number of Listening Sessions, both Virtual and In-person were also held across the country to proactively engage colleagues, with more to follow in the coming months.
And, as with all four of Booker’s Colleague Networks, Race & Ethnicity@ Booker is open to all.
Done Right.
Retailers4Retailers: a safe space for everyone
Some of the UK’s leading independent retailers have joined forces to launch a new ‘safe space’ support platform where retailers can meet, talk and learn from one another about the unique mental health and wellbeing challenges they face.
Founding members
Retailers4Retailers was founded by four independent retailers:
l Sophie Towers, One Stop Burnley
l Atul Sodha, Londis Harefield, Uxbridge
l Neil Godhania, Neil’s Premier, Peterborough
l Natalie Lightfoot, Londis Solo Convenience Store, Baillieston, Glasgow
Support is also provided by Nathan Hall of The Fed.
MEETING SCHEDULE
Retailers4Retailers meet online on a weekly basis:
l Every second Monday at 7pm
l Every second Thursday at 1.30pm
To join, simply visit retailers4retailers.co.uk and fill in the very brief form or follow retailers4retailers on Facebook where links to the meetings are published.
As all retailers know only too well, running an independent retailing business can be tough and can place a huge burden on your mental and physical health. That burden can leave retailers feeling stressed, exhausted and lonely – and this is precisely why a group of the UK’s leading independent retailers have created a new support network that brings retailers together in a safe space to discuss the difficulties they are facing with other people facing exactly the same issues.
“Unless you have run an independent retailing outlet and faced the unique and often intense challenges that convenience store owners and colleagues face, it’s impossible to understand,” explains Natalie Lightfoot, a retailer in Baillieston in Glasgow and co-founder of Retailers4Retailers. “And that’s why we’ve created this new support network and safe space where we can meet online and share our experiences and help each other.”
A spokesperson for the platform explains where the idea came from:
“The Retailers4Retailers idea initially came from a video that was put together for World Mental Health Day in 2023. From that video, several questions were asked about what support we had
as independent retailers. We quickly recognised that we didn’t have any support networks in place for retailers to access when they needed some help.
“In independent businesses, sometimes we aren’t fortunate enough to find a supportive network. Many retailers can feel isolated in their towns and villages, and this was leaving many people in our industry feeling alone and struggling without support from others who understand what they’re going through.
“So, together with a few other independent retailers, we decided to start our own community, our own network, to make sure that all of our colleagues in the independent retailing sector have access to the help and support we need. We want retailers to know that they’re not alone. We are here for each other, and we are all facing the same challenges, so we understand what you are going through.”
Retailers4Retailers currently meet online on a weekly basis and all independent retailers are invited to join in the conversation in a private, confidential, safe space.
“We meet every second Monday at 7pm
and every second Thursday at 1.30pm. This helps ensure that retailers with kids or dependents who find it hard to make evening meetings can do the Thursday afternoon meeting instead if that fits their schedule better,” a spokesperson explains.
There’s no commitment and no requirement to attend regularly. “We just want retailers to know that we’re here and if they want to drop into one or two meetings and just listen, that’s fine,” a spokesperson adds.
“Not everyone wants to share their experiences or their challenges in front of others, but we generally find that people who come along just to listen and get a feel for the meetings often end up joining in pretty quickly. We’ve tried to create a welcoming, open, warm environment where there is no judgment. It’s just about talking, sharing, listening and helping each other. We’re all in the same boat after all. And clinical research clearly shows that even just being part of something like this can make a big difference. So many people have told us they feel lighter after joining the meetings, that they don’t feel so alone. It’s working.”
The meetings are rapidly growing in popularity with upwards of 25 retailers attending and the group hope that many more will come along to see for themselves and become part of this network. “In most industries there are ready-made networks available and all sorts of safeguards and safety nets but in independent retailing, that’s just not the case,” a spokesperson says.
“Many retailers work extremely long hours, rarely take holidays and have literally nobody to talk to about what they’re going through. Often they just
“We want retailers to know that they’re not alone. We are here for each other, and we are all facing the same challenges, so we understand what you are going through.”
Natalie Lightfoot, Retailers4Retailers
accept that as being the way things are in independent retailing – but we don’t feel that it should be that way. This is a really intense career choice, and we believe that being part of our retailer network, our retailer family, can bring enormous benefits and help people manage their mental health, their physical wellbeing and their relationships with colleagues, friends and family.”
Additionally, Retailers4Retailers is building bonds with organisations like GroceryAid which can offer free, confidential and professional support to retailers who feel like they might benefit from it.
“We’re retailers and the group exists for us to share our experiences of retail at the coal face. We’re not fully qualified mental health specialists or finance specialists or legal specialists
or whatever – but we realise that some retailers might feel like they need some extra help so we’re developing our reach so that we can point retailers in the right direction to make sure they get the support they need for whatever it is they are facing,” a spokesperson adds.
With tens of thousands of independent retailing outlets in the UK, Retailers4Retailers is providing the first industry-wide self-help network where affiliations are put to one side because, at the end of the day, all retailers face the same challenges – and only retailers can understand those challenges and what they mean.
The next phase of the development of the network is the roll out of a oneto-one mentoring scheme that allows retailers with specific challenges or problems with the chance to spend time in a private, safe space with retailers who have perhaps faced and overcome these challenges and can help them find a way forward.
“We’re trying to create real solutions for real problems,” a spokesperson says. “If you work in independent retailing, you know the challenges that face all of us every day in life. What we’re doing with Retailers4Retailers is trying to put people in touch with people for the benefit of all.
“If you’re a busy retailer, you know the challenge: it never seems to be the right time or the right place to talk about the stuff that’s really worrying you, the stuff that weighs really heavily on you.
“With Retailers4Retailers we’re creating that time and that place – and we’re doing it every week in life. So why not join one of our meetings and see what you think. You won’t regret it.”
Digesting the disposable
vape ban
Retailers have done a lot of great work in recent months, but more education for vapers may be needed for the regulations to achieve their aim, ACS says.
One month after the ban on disposable vapes came into force, James Lowman considers the challenges and opportunities that still lie ahead for retailers.
The ban on disposable vapes has now been in force for around a month, with retailers switching out their remaining product lines for compliant devices and moving disposable stock away from the shop floor.
For many, this has been a process that has been ongoing over the last few months that has been a pretty straightforward transition for both colleagues and customers - in many cases there aren’t instantly recognisable differences between the packaging for the old disposable products and the new rechargeable ones, so just switching customers across to the ‘new version’ has been the preferred route for lots of retailers.
The intention of the regulations is to stem the tide of disposable vape products being discarded in huge numbers on our streets. Rechargeable and refillable vapes are intended to be
used several times, so people should in theory keep hold of them longer. And as they’re more obviously electrical products, the idea is that they’ll be more likely to be recycled when people have finished with them rather than being thrown away.
The danger of course, is that if customers aren’t really paying attention to whether they’re rechargeable or not and their previous behaviour was to throw the vape away when it ran out of puffs, it’s very unlikely that they’ll change course without some kind of intervention or education.
The other reason why people may be inclined to throw away the new devices they purchase is the availability of refills. The regulations state that refills for the products sold have to be available on the market, but don’t have to be available in the same shop that the device itself is sold in.
There are clearly benefits to being able to offer pods or refills to customers to secure that repeat business and loyalty from customers, but for some it will create an unintentional barrier.
Retailers have done a lot of great work in recent months since the introduction of requirements to provide vape recycling bins in store came into force and communicate those facilities to customers, so in this next phase of the vaping category our sector is set up well to drive recycling rates and do our part to reduce litter and the waste of important components like the lithium batteries that devices include.
It remains to be seen whether the Government will see this intervention as a success, but to give it the best chance they, and we, should do our best to communicate to customers that any vape, old or new, should be recycled and never thrown away or discarded.
