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FRESH CHANCE to profit
The summer season is alsmost here, bringing with it an array of fresh opportunities.
A very warm welcome to the latest jam-packed issue of YourBudgens as we move towards the all-important summer season – and what a blooming season of opportunity it is promising to be.
We’ve pulled together a sizzling package of support to help you have the hottest summer yet – regardless of what the weather has in store.
Rolled out just in time for the start of picnic season, Budgens’ chilled and deli range reset serves up a fresh slice of tasty new products, new pack sizes, recipe upgrades and appetising PMPs.
to set shoppers smiling come rain or shine.
more – an estimated £34,000 more profit each year to be precise!
This issue of YourBudgens also includes a detailed look at the many exclusive deals and discounts available to you in our new Added Value Services brochure.
We’ve also recently introduced a new B2B WhatsApp channel to help keep you up to date with exciting new product launches, upcoming events, pre-sells and category advice to help you grow your business.
Kicking off later this month, Budgens’ Beer and Cider Festival meanwhile will help you drink in additional sales and profits over the key summer sales period – with a barrel-load of NPD, Group Exclusive products and fantastic promotions to tempt your shoppers with.
As ever, there’s also the usual mix of remarkable retailer profiles, cuttingedge NPD and key legislative updates to inspire and inform.
The range reset covers a variety of key summer categories, including soft drinks, pizzas and pastas, ready meals, sandwich fillers, sides, snacks, dips and more – all of which are guaranteed
In this issue you’ll also learn more about Scoot – Booker’s brand-new rapid response delivery app that facilitates home deliveries to shoppers in as little as 30 minutes.
Designed by retailers, for retailers, Scoot promises to help you make more and save
It’s set to be a superb summer for Budgens retailers, and I wish you all the very best of trading over the next couple of months.
Industry News
Budgens retailers will soon be able to reap the benefits of Booker’s new WhatsApp Business channel.
Booker to launch official WhatsApp Business channel
Booker is strengthening its customer communications with the launch of a new WhatsApp Business channel for its symbol group retailers.
As one of the widest used platforms today, Booker’s new WhatsApp Business API will help to amplify its marketing muscle and ramp up retailer engagement.
The new B2B capability will enable Booker to deliver far more personalised content to retailers, in response to their fascia, region, branch and more.
It will also facilitate more rapid deployment of promotions and enable it to send timesensitive messages and alerts, including order cut-off times and distress messages
JOIN OUR CHANNELWhatsAppOFFICIAL FOR RETAILERS
Why join Booker’s official WhatsApp Channel?
SPECIAL OFFERS
Get instant updates on new promotions, special offers and events.
FIRST TO KNOW
Be the first to see new products and Group Exclusives.
here to join
– such as branch closures and weather warnings.
Retailers signed up to Booker’s official WhatsApp channel will also benefit from updates on exciting new product launches, upcoming events, pre-sells and category advice to help them grow their businesses.
Booker will also be able to send retailers digital vouchers, instant surveys, Trade Show news and Club information and more.
Retailers will be able to join the channel in a variety of ways, including email sign-up, online, or via a link or QR code.
For more information, speak to your RDM.
INSIGHTS AND TIPS
Get industry insights and category advice to help you grow your business.
STAY UP TO DATE
Keep up to date on Trade Shows, presells, order cut off dates, recalls and branch news. Join here!
Use the sign-up link: app. proconnectplatform. com/join/booker or scan the QR code
Maria Clark wins sustainability accolade
Booker’s Maria Clark has claimed the FPA’s Rising Star Award.
Booker’s sustainability credentials and the key individuals behind them have been celebrated at a glittering ceremony for the Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA)’s Awards.
The prestigious industry awards are designed to recognise and reward innovation and excellence within the foodservice packaging industry.
Booker’s Sustainability and Technical Report Manager Maria Clark was presented with the FPA’s coveted Rising Star Award which celebrates individuals who have already achieved noteworthy successes early in their careers.
Maria has been a key driver of sustainability initiatives at Booker, spearheading several impactful projects that have not only advanced the company’s environmental goals but have also set a benchmark for industry standards.
With a keen eye for detail and a forward-thinking approach, Maria has contributed to the development of sustainable packaging solutions that have made a significant difference
in the foodservice sector.
Her leadership in promoting sustainability has earned her recognition within Booker and across the industry, making her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
FPA Interim Executive Chair Anna Turner said: “The quality of the entries this year was exceptionally high, but Maria stood out as the worthy winner. During her time at Booker, she has developed the company’s sustainability goals significantly and worked hard to change the mindset of the company’s stakeholders.
“Winning the Rising Star Award also entitles Maria to an automatic place at Sheffield Hallam University to study the four-year Packaging Professional Integrated Degree and Apprenticeship course.”
On receiving the award Maria said: “I am truly honoured to be recognised for my hard work and dedication to sustainability, both within Booker and the broader foodservice industry.
Gander enhances food waste reduction capabilities
Gander has improved food waste reduction and in-store experiences by integrating its reduced-to-clear (RTC) technology with SOLUM’s Newton Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs).
The integration has enabled Gander to automatically display reduced-to-clear products to thousands of local customers actively searching for discounts.
By integrating the technology, retailers can maximise the reach of reduced-price items across a wide range of platforms including Olio, Google Local Inventory, Meta, retailer websites and loyalty programmes. The collaboration drastically reduces food waste, increases footfall to stores and helps recover lost profits.
Mark Duckworth, Country Manager at SOLUM, said: “By eliminating the need for manual updates, it also reduces labour costs and human error while providing customers with up-to-date product information and pricing instantly.”
Industry calls for delivery drivers to be protected by legislation
Industry bodies call for new protections to be extended.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and retail trade union, Usdaw, have called for the Crime and Policing Bill to offer legal protections for grocery delivery drivers, as the Bill reaches Committee stage at the House of Commons.
The Bill, which will impact England and Wales, is set to make abuse and violence against shopworkers a standalone crime, as is already the case in Scotland.
Usdaw and BRC have pushed for the protection to be extended to delivery drivers, who are required to conduct age verification checks before deliveries can be completed.
The union says that this can be a real flashpoint for abuse, threats and violence.
At the second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced “a stringent two-step age verification system for online knife sales, so that customers have to submit photo ID at the point of purchase and again on delivery.”
Addressing the Committee, Chris Morris, Usdaw Deputy Head of Research, said: “Delivery drivers have to make age verification checks when delivering alcohol and other age-restricted products, which can cause issues of violence, threats and abuse.
“Order substitutions can also cause customer frustration. So, we would want to see these workers covered by the new law as well.”
Older retail workers are happiest in sector
Retail employees aged 54 and over are the happiest in the industry, with two in three (67%) reporting high satisfaction at work, compared to 62% of 25-34-year-olds.
The findings from the State of the Frontline Workforce Survey, revealed that mature workers in the sector report high levels of job security, flexibility, and engagement. This contrasts with younger generations who cite burnout and job instability.
New Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee welcomed
The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed the announcement of a new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee from the Government – which seeks to create dedicated neighbourhood policing teams in every community across the country. It follows a manifesto commitment from Labour to put 13,000 more neighbourhood officers on streets –an increase of over 50%, according to the Home Office.
The measures include each neighbourhood having named, contactable officers to tackle the issues facing their communities. There will also be a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead in every force who will work with businesses.
Vape rates stall and disposable use falls ahead of ban
New research from University College
London suggests that vaping rates have plateaued.
Great Britain’s rapid rise in vaping rates appears to have stalled in the lead up to the ban on disposable products, a new study from University College London (UCL) suggests.
While the proportion of people vaping has increased by nearly a quarter each year since January 2022 – UCL research indicates that it may now have plateaued.
Usage of disposable vapes specifically also appears to be falling ahead of the UK-wide ban on 1 June.
The study of 88,611 people noted a “substantial decline” in the proportion of vapers mainly using disposable e-cigarettes in the last year.
In January 2024, nearly half (43.6%) of all vapers aged 16 and over mainly used disposables.
This fell to less than a third (29.4%) a year later – with the fall steepest among 16 to 24-year-olds. In this age bracket, the proportion mainly using disposables has almost halved – from 63% to 35%.
Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson said: “Action is likely still required to reduce high vaping rates, but now that the situation has stabilised, policymakers may be reassured that it would be sensible to avoid stricter policy options.
“Our results also suggest that the Government’s ban on disposables, may have limited impact on vaping rates in general, given that vapers are already moving away from disposable vapes.
“It seems likely that people using these products will move to re-usable versions rather than stop vaping completely.”
Post Office announces move to fully franchised network
The Post Office has confirmed that its last remaining 108 Directly Managed Branches (DMBs) will be franchised by the autumn.
The Post Office confirmed in November that the future of its DMB network would be under review.
It claimed that DMBs generate a fully allocated loss (including central and support costs) of over £40m each year.
Nigel Railton, Post Office Chair, said: “By franchising these branches, we are protecting access to our services for communities right across the UK and realising £40 million worth of savings that will enable us to uplift postmasters’ remuneration by up to 10%.
“The 108 Post Offices will either stay in the same location where possible or be located close to the existing location, meaning customers will continue to have access to a full suite of products and services.”
DPD UK TO ADD 8,000 PARCEL LOCKERS
THANKS
TO YEEP! LINK-UP
Parcel firm DPD is to expand its UK out-of-home network, by adding 8,000 parcel lockers over the next five years.
The partnership with YEEP! will see DPD add to its existing network of 12,000 Pickup parcel stores and lockers across the UK.
The YEEP! network comprises open, battery-powered parcel lockers, enabling shoppers to conveniently pick up and drop off parcels within their local communities.
On a wing and a dare
Intrepid sales assistant Maggie Thompson from Budgens of Holt in Norfolk is preparing to take to the skies as part of her next charitable initiative with a sponsored wing walk!
The adrenaline-fuelled feat will see Maggie walk along the wings of a flying aeroplane!
Set to take place on 29 June 2025, the sponsored wing walk will help to raise funds for Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s new Boudicca breast cancer unit.
She’s aiming to raise £1,000 for the new unit, with sponsorship donations able to be made online via her dedicated JustGiving page (justgiving. com/page/budgens-of-holt-wingwalk).
Shoppers can also sponsor her in-store.
The wing walk is the latest in a long line of astonishing fundraising initiatives for Maggie, who walked 100 miles over six days to raise money for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust last year.
Aisle always love you
St John’s Budgens and Post Office in Kenilworth has played a memorable role in the wedding of a local couple.
Local shoppers Beccie and Alex first locked eyes across the store’s aisles and were determined for it to play a part in their special day.
The couple asked if they could have some of their official wedding pictures taken in-store where they first met.
Commenting on the touching tribute, the in-store team said: “Huge congratulations to Beccie and Alex, we hope you both had an amazing wedding day and wish you all the best for your future as husband and wife.”
Budgens retailer laces up for London marathon
Jonathan Fraser, co-owner of the Fraser’s Budgens group successfully completed the London Marathon in just 3h 49 minutes on 27 April!
Jonathan also smashed his fundraising target - raising more than £8,500 for children’s’ charity WellChild.
Commenting on his JustGiving page ahead of the Marathon, Jonathan said: “You may know that I do like a run and have done a few halves… this however, turns out to be a totally different challenge and is feeling increasingly daunting. I will however, do it to my best and enjoy it… even the pre-6am freezing, moonlit training runs!”
Founded in 1954, Frasers Budgens owns and operates five community-focused Budgens stores across Oxfordshire.
The stores support a number of charities including Sobell House and Sue Ryder – with its Three Mile Cross store having raised £1,352.89 for Sue Ryder earlier this year.
Give your team the chance to ‘win their summer’ with GroceryAid’s first ever industry-wide raffle!
GroceryAid has launched its first ever raffle in support of GroceryAid Day 2025.
Thursday 8 May will see grocery industry colleagues from across the country come together in celebration of GroceryAid Day –the annual day of awareness designed to showcase the array of incredible support available to colleagues experiencing tough times.
This year, on GroceryAid Day, the industry charity will be launching its first ever raffle to create even greater impact – and give grocery colleagues the opportunity to ‘win their summer’.
For just £1.50 per ticket, you can give your colleagues the chance to win some incredible prizes this summer, including: £1,000 worth of grocery vouchers, theme park trips and heritage days out, VIP event tickets, spa days, TVs, pizza ovens and more!
out about GroceryAid.
To help you do just that, GroceryAid has put together a handy toolkit, providing you with physical and digital assets to share with your organisation.
WIN THIS SUMMER!
The raffle toolkit includes:
The raffle is a fantastic opportunity for you to reward your team and support a great cause.
Whether you’re buying for a small team or your entire business, it’s the perfect way to recognise hard work and say thank you – all while raising awareness of GroceryAid and helping us provide relief to more grocery colleagues going through tough times.
YOUR RAFFLE TOOLKIT
You can play your part in telling colleagues about the raffle so that everyone can have the opportunity to get involved and have a chance to win whilst supporting and finding
l An A4 poster to print and display around the workplace.
l Digital assets for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
l Editorial content including a PowerPoint presentation.
For just £1.50 per ticket, you can give your colleagues the chance to win some incredible prizes this summer!
l £1,000 grocery vouchers
l Theme park trips and heritage days out
l VIP event tickets and luxury getaways
l Spa days, pizza ovens and stateof-the-art TVs
l Summer supplies and more!
GroceryAid Day 2025 and the industry raffle are designed to raise awareness of the charity’s free and confidential financial, emotional and practical services that are available to grocery industry colleagues 24/7, 365 days a year.
If you, or any of your team, need immediate emotional support you can call GroceryAid’s FREE and confidential Helpline on 08088 021122 and speak to a trained counsellor.
Support and further advice are also available through the website groceryaid.org.uk/gethelp. The website has an accessibility toolbar which translates the content into more than 100 different languages, as well as text to speech in 60 different languages.
Raffle rules
The GroceryAid raffle opens on 1 May and closes on 31 May for digital entries and 6 June for postal entries. Maximum 20 entries per person.
Looking to buy 20+ tickets or have any questions?
GroceryAid Day is the best way to help you ensure that your colleagues reach out for support should they need it.
Simply contact your Relationship Manager at GroceryAid or email raffle@groceryaid.org. uk to help you make it happen quickly and easily.
Paws for thought
Gomshall’s former vets has been transformed into a shiny new Budgens store that’s got some serious bite.
As a former veterinary centre, number 36 Station Road was always the purr-fect place for Gomshall’s residents to tend to their pets’ needs.
And now, following an intuitive development into a state-of-the-art Budgens, local shoppers finally have a place that tends to their needs too – with all agreeing that the old building’s new guise is pawsitively exceptional.
Owned by business partners Dinesh Ranavaya and Bhupat Odedra, the 1,500sq ft store sits on the main road through the picturesque Surrey Hills village of Gomshall – a mecca for walkers,
cyclists and bikers.
It’s also just a mile from the tourist hotspot of Shere – the chocolate box village which has starred in countless British blockbusters – from Bridget Jones to The Holiday, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and many more.
“The location was the perfect place to open a store,” Dinesh explains. “Gomshall is an affluent Surrey village, that receives a high volume of passing trade, especially in the summer months. It’s also home to lots of local residents and serves a number of surrounding small villages.”
“However, despite all that, there was no convenience store, meaning that local people and passers-by had to drive into Shere, where they must pay to park, or travel even further afield to top up.
“I came across the empty unit, which was formerly a vets, in early 2024 and the opportunity to open a store there jumped out at me immediately.
“Given the demographic and lack of local competition, we knew that fresh and chilled would be a key category – and so Budgens was the ideal fit.
“The Budgens team were a fantastic support to us when it came to planning the development, range and merchandising.
“We added a small in-store kitchen at the back, so that we’d be able to bake off hot food to go – and the shopfloor itself was kitted out with smart dark grey floors, fixtures and fittings for a clean and professional look throughout.”
The perfectly groomed store opened for business on 22 March 2024.
Responding to the local need for quality fruits, vegetables, meats, meals and more, Budgens Gomshall boasts 14 metres of fresh and chilled foods – which already account for more than 30% of weekly sales.
“We offer the full range of Jack’s ready meals which are very popular, but we also have a lot of shoppers who like to cook from scratch and pop in to buy all the components they need to make meals at home,” Dinesh says.
“Deli and dairy sales are especially high, particularly cheese. We offer the full range of cheeses available through Budgens and shoppers love the variety.”
Four doors of frozen foods towards the back of the store offer shoppers more convenient meal components and solutions, along with the Budgens Frozen Meal Deal – ideal for busy families and sharing occasions.
A comprehensive drinks offer, housed within a smart 1.25m wine fridge and 2.5m beer chiller, is the perfect partner to the store’s appetising food offer.
“Wine and beer is one of our biggest-selling categories
FACTFILE
Store name: Budgens Gomshall, Surrey
Retailers: Dinesh Ranavaya and Bhupat
Odedra
Size: 1,500sq ft
Staff: 5
Opening times: 7am-10pm
Best-performing categories: BWS, fresh and chilled, food to go
Services: Parcel collection, PayPoint, National Lottery
“We always knew this store would do well – but just how well, is a continuous source of surprise and delight.”
Dinesh Ranavaya
– with wine sales currently outstripping beer, due to our demographic which is primarily middle-aged and relatively affluent shoppers.
“Mid-priced wines are the strongest-selling tier and at this time of year, rosé, white and sparkling wines are especially strong and helped by the Budgens’ Wine Festival which prompts a lot of shoppers to stock up on promotional lines.”
The store also boasts a footfall-driving ‘Good To Go’ foodto-go zone featuring quality coffee from Smokin’ Bean and refreshing chocolate or strawberry milkshakes from the selfserve Think Fresh Shakes machine.
Shoppers can also enjoy a cool cup of Jolly Rancher slush and tuck into a range of hot, ready to eat products, from the store’s Bake & Bite unit.
“Food and drinks to go have been an incredible success since we opened, especially in the summer months, and on weekends, when the village gets flooded with cyclists, walkers and other visitors to the area, who pop in for refreshments and snacks,” Dinesh adds.
Last summer, weekly store sales hit £28,000 a week, with Dinesh anticipating an even more impressive performance this summer, now that the store has fully bedded in and following the recent completion of new local housing developments.
“This summer we’ll also be expanding our range of ‘free from’ foods in response to local demand, and we’re also exploring the launch of home delivery with Booker’s new Scoot platform which we also expect to do very well and bring in a whole new audience.”
The store has also brought in a bevy of other beneficial services for local people, including parcel collection and PayPoint.
“Local reaction to our opening was so positive and even now, one year on, we are still being complimented on the difference we have made to local lives,” Dinesh says.
“We always knew this store would do well – but just how well is a continuous source of surprise and delight.”
“In this game, there’s no time to pause, you’ve always got to be thinking about your next move –and how you can improve.”
Kalpesh Pau
“There’s a lot of supermarket competition in this area so I wanted to stand out from the crowd. The Budgens brand wasn’t that widely known in these parts and I’d always wanted to be part of the Booker group – so Budgens was the perfect fit,” he explains.
“A lot of thought went into the planning. Because of the high levels of competition, we needed a stand-out offer and I was keen to introduce as many footfall drivers and innovative touches as possible.”
As such, Kal’s store was one of the first Budgens stores to incorporate a Beer and Wine Cave into its design – a move which has promoted BWS sales to more than double.
“The beauty of the beer and wine cave is that we can chill
large packs down – it’s a real benefit to shoppers – especially on match days as we’re only a couple of miles from Sheffield Wednesday’s ground,” he explains.
The large store also features a smart ‘Good To Go Zone’ brimming with footfall-driving drinks-to-go solutions including coffee, Tango Ice Blast and Snowshock Slush.
Desserts are another tasty USP.
“We’re surrounded by housing – and I knew there was a big opportunity to go after the evening dessert market,” Kal explains.
As such, the store features a ‘Kal’s Cool Desserts’-branded counter serving up a delectable display of freshly cooked
waffles, milkshakes and cookie dough creations.
“The desserts bring so many people in – and they look great on social media too – another area where we have focused extensively,” he says.
“At the moment, anything featuring Kinder Bueno flies off the shelves, so we’re topping lots of things with those! We’re also constantly updating the range – we’ve just launched a new Easter-themed Mini Egg Cookie Dough and at the start of this week we introduced store-made brownies too. In just the first week we’ve sold more than 100 of them!” he exclaims.
And Kal’s food-to-go offering certainly doesn’t end there. The store also features a range of freshly baked pastry products from Country Choice and local sweet treats from Potts Bakery in Barnsley.
“We’re also just about to launch Cookiesmith Cheesecakes later this month,” he adds.
Shoppers at Kal’s Budgens can also treat themselves to a lordly lunch – courtesy of ‘Kal’s Hot and Hot and Cold Sandwiches by Jackey’s’ – a new offer introduced last summer when the Jackey’s sandwich shop next door closed.
THE STORE FEATURES A ‘KAL’S COOL DESSERTS’-BRANDED COUNTER SERVING UP A DELECTABLE DISPLAY OF FRESHLY COOKED WAFFLES, MILKSHAKES
AND COOKIE DOUGH CREATIONS
“The owners were thinking about retiring but I said: ‘No you’re not ready for that yet!’ I suggested that they come and work with us and make sandwiches here instead of their standalone store – and it’s been a great success!” he adds.
The range includes a vast selection of home-made preprepared sandwiches to go plus made-to-order hot and cold options.
“We also sell a wide range of sandwiches that we buy through Budgens and sell as part of the £4.50 Meal Deal,” Kal says.
“The lunch market continues to boom and in the next few weeks we’re also planning to launch new Meal Deals on our in-house hot and cold sandwich range,” he adds.
Fresh and chilled is another star performer and accounts for just over 20% of the store’s sales and growing.
“Shoppers love the fact that they can pop to us for a quick meal for tonight or lunch solution. The Jack’s brand is great –shoppers love it around here. There used to be a Jack’s store just around the corner, so shoppers trust it.”
The Post Office is another significant footfall driver – and under Kal’s watch, that side of the business has tripled since
he took over in 2017.
“Thanks to the Post Office, our incredible food-to-go offer, fresh and chilled choice, beer cave and more, we really have become a first port of call for the community,” Kal says.
The store also does a lot of work in the community, including sponsoring three different local teams and supporting a wide range of local initiatives. In May for example, Kal’s Budgens will be supporting a local sponsored run – with 500 free goody bags for competitors.
The launch of Snappy Shopper home deliveries in 2023 has further enamoured local shoppers – with home delivery currently accounting for 23% of total sales.
“I’m so proud of this store and everything that we have achieved here so far,” Kal says.
“Sales soared by 50% when we first re-opened as Kal’s Budgens but today they are up more than 100% and still growing.”
And there’s still lots more on the cards for Kal, who’s already planning another mini refit which will see the store’s ‘Good
To Go’ zone relocated slightly closer to the front. The move, Kal explains, will give the zone even greater impact – and free up space near the back for a dedicated promotional space for bulk packs.
“In this game, there’s no time to pause, you’ve always got to be thinking about your next move – and how you can improve.”
This is certainly a game that Kal is playing to win.
THE US’S FASTEST GROWING ENERGY DRINK
CHILLED AND DELI RANGE RESET NEW CHANGES TO MORE THAN 85 FRESH LINES!
Including:
l 68 new lines
l 9 price mark changes
l 6 recipe and price mark changes
l 7 new case sizes
l Also look out for the exciting new fresh guide to be published soon!
new packs of Spanish Tapas and Italian deli meats from Charcutti.
Featuring Serano Ham, Chorizo and Lomo, the new Spanish Tapas packs will enable shoppers to create pictureperfect antipasto platters, ideal for sharing with friends and family.
Those looking to elevate their sharing games even further will also be able to bolster their boards with a selection of quality mezze products from the Unearthed brand, including new Mini Chorizo Cooking Sausages, Serano Ham Croquetas, Middle Eastern Hummus and aromatic Muhammara Dip.
Shoppers seeking a taste of far-flung shores can also enjoy exotic new Thai Style Chicken Bites from Delicatessen Fine Eating. With an RSP of £1 they’re shore to score highly.
MEALS IN MINUTES
Budgens retailers will also be able to offer their shoppers a taste of Italy thanks to new products from La Famiglia Rana – the quality fresh pasta brand that’s growing at 94% in convenience.
New products include fresh Tortellini pasta, in Prosciutto & Mozzarella and Spinach & Ricotta flavours, along with
Garlic & Mozzarella Gnocchi.
The quality products, which enable shoppers to whip up tasty summer meals in minutes, also benefit from a long shelf life and deliver minimum PORs of 25% for retailers.
To top it all off, a selection of fresh La Famiglia Rana sauces, including Sundried Tomato & Pecorino Cheese, and Mushroom & Roasted Garlic, are also available.
Why not remind your shoppers to pair their pasta with some cheese shavings and a crusty loaf of garlic bread?
Enjoy juicier sales with new PMP packs
New PMP packs are available across a range of picnic-perfect soft drinks, including Tropicana juices, with Tropicana Smooth Orange, Tropical Fruits, Multivitamin and Original Orange 250ml bottles all available in £1.50 PMP packs delivering a minimum POR of 22.5%.
300ml bottles of Copella Cloudy Apple Juice are also available in a new £1.50 PMP format, which offers retailers an equally refreshing minimum POR of 22.5%.
Look out also for 850ml long life cartons of Tropicana Original, Smooth Orange and Tropical Fruits, all of which also come in a new £2.95 PMP format.
THE UK'S NO.1 WATER BRAND
SUMMER MUST STOCK
Shoppers looking to fill up in a flash (of the microwave) can also add new La Famiglia Rana Bolognese Lasagne slices to their baskets.
The first to market ready-made lasagne portions offer shoppers a scrumptious slice of fresh beef lasagne for an RSP of £4 each. A Vegetable Lasagne option is also available.
A new range of lunch pots from leading sports nutrition brand MyProtein should also prove popular with shoppers seeking a healthy, flavour-packed, protein hit this summer.
Available in flavours including Chipotle Beef Chilli and Firecracker Chicken, pots have an RSP of £4.25 and deliver minimum PORs of 24.5%.
SNACK ATTACK
Budgens’ Chilled and Deli Range Reset also includes a number of new products and PMP formats in the lucrative sides, snacks and dips market, which shines at this time of year.
As demand for protein-packed snacks continues to soar, look out for new
high protein Beef Jerky snacks from Jack Links, which has launched a new Teriyaki Beef flavour – along with Honey BBQ and Original Beef from the Wild West Jerky company – the ideal accompaniment to a cold drink on a hot day.
Be sure to also stock up on brand new Peperami Chicken Bites in Tikka and Roasted flavours too! Available in £1 PMP packs, the new meat snacks from the Peperami brand are made from 100% chicken breast and are perfect for packing into picnics.
Recipes for success
A number of key Jack’s deli products have been given a recipe refresh ahead of the key summer picnic season.
Your Budgens: Beer and Cider Festival
Festival of fl avour
Beer & Cider Festival
Give your sales some hop with the Budgens Beer and Cider Festival, which is back from 22 May to 16 July.
Bees are buzzing, lawns are looking lush and the sun, for now, has got his hat on (with an umbrella underarm).
It can mean only one thing: Britain’s famously unpredictable summertime is here and ready to drench shoppers with its seasonal serving of showers and shine.
And while the sporadic nature of British summertime can prove challenging for some sectors, for convenience stores, it’s an opportunity to play to their strengths.
the warmer months, according to Mintel – highlighting just how important both categories are to summer sales.
From spontaneous garden get-togethers to impromptu BBQs, convenience store retailers are ideally placed to meet shoppers’ needs – and one category they can excel in, is beer and cider.
Beer features in 65% of BBQ occasions according to BrewDog, while 66% of cider drinkers mainly drink cider in
to 16 July, the Budgens Beer and Cider Festival also includes a mighty measure of special offers and everyday low prices across standard and premium multi-pack lagers, premium pints, low ABV products and more.
As ever, the Beer and Cider Festival will be supported with an array of high-impact POS and signage which retailers can use to give their offer even more clout.
TOP TIPS
l Have small packs chilled and ready to consume to make the most of summer socialising.
l Consider a mix of larger packs to meet the needs of bigger gatherings.
l There is a clear trend towards berry and tropical profiles so focus on stocking sweet and juicy flavours for summer.
l Make sure to support all deals with the relevant POS.
Leaflet deals also include 10x330ml multipacks of Rekorderlig Wild Berries for an RSP of just £7.99 and Thatchers Apple and Blackcurrant 4x440ml for just £5.99, offering a POR of 20%.
The Budgens Beer and Cider Festival also includes eye-catching deals on low to no beer and cider brands including Birra Moretti 0%, Heineken 0%, Corona
Mouthwatering Mega Deals
*All prices correct at time of going to press.
Cero, San Miguel 0.0%, Peroni Zero and brand-new Madri Zero all of which feature a promotional RSP of just £4.75 and PORs of between 21% and 29.7%. Look out also for 4x440ml packs of Thatchers Zero, which will be available for the everyday low price of £4.75 offering retailers a decidedly juicy POR of 40%.
Give your sales some oomph with Scoot
Did you know?
l Average delivered basket transaction is £27 – that’s three times more than in store!
l One in three shoppers are interested in using Rapid Grocery Delivery
A pint of milk, a loaf of bread, a couple of pizzas and a packet of crisps – five years ago, the vast majority of shoppers would have popped to their local store to top up on such items.
These days, however, there’s a lot less popping and a lot more clicking – as shoppers’ love for ondemand home dwelivery services burns ever brighter.
Booker’s new rapid response delivery service can help you reach new customers and power up your sales and profits.
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 c-store owners – helping them to reach new customers and ignite sales and profits.
Did you know that the average delivered basket transaction is £27? That’s a margin-maxing three times more than in-store!
l are treats.
Key times for your shoppers to order are Dinner, Lunch and Evening snack and
l
The market is set to grow to £2.6bn by 2029 from £2bn.
One in every three shoppers is now interested in using rapid grocery delivery services according to TWS data, with the market expected to hit £2.6bn by 2029.
Its rise has already been nothing short of meteoric.
l orders within radius.
80% of orders are delivered within a mile radius.
l to l categories soft 48% shop)
The busiest days for shoppers to order are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Helping retailers to make the most of the red-hot rapid response delivery opportunity is Scoot – Booker’s brand-new app that facilitates home deliveries to shoppers in as little as 30 minutes.
The top three categories are Treats and Snacks 68% (including crisps, chocolate & sweets), Cold Drinks – including soft and alcoholic) 62%, and General Food 48% (top-up shop)
In 2019, just 12% of c-stores offered home delivery, according to the Association of Convenience Stores’s (ACS) Local Shop Report – but by 2024 and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, that figure had soared to 47%.
C-stores’ use of social media, the key medium for promoting home delivery, has similarly surged.
In 2019, only 39% of convenience stores had a Facebook page, while just 11% were on Instagram.
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!*
With only 1% commission charged up to £4,999 of weekly in-app sales – and zero commission once you hit £5,000 a week, it’s also an outstanding low-cost proposition.
Grab It ORIGINAL Chicken on a Stick
Grab It nice&spice Chicken on a Stick
Grab It Chinese Chicken on a Stick
Grab It vindaloo Chicken on a Stick
MAKE MORE SAVE MORE WITH SCOOT!
l Make an estimated £34,000 additional profit per year (based on weekly app sales of £2,500)**
l Only 1% commission charged up to £4,999 of weekly retailer sales.
l Zero commission once you reach £5,000 of weekly sales on the app.
l 0.7% card transaction fee*
l Next banking day settlement at no additional charge (not included Saturday/Sunday)
l Zero consumer charges giving you the ability to offer the service for free.
* 0.7% is the average transaction fee. ** based on 26% gross margin.
There are also no shopper charges – giving you the flexibility to offer the service for free, or set your own delivery, service or minimum order fees.
The app connects shoppers with participating stores, enabling them to order from a range of products, curated by you, the retailer.
The secure platform also facilitates the ordering, payment, and picking processes, so all you need to do is organise the delivery.
Retailers will also receive support from a dedicated Business Development Manager (BDM) and their existing RDM, who together will assist with onboarding, including product file set up, training and live support.
[*based on weekly app sales of £2,500 and 26% gross margin]
SCOOT FAQ’s
What costs are involved for retailers who are interested in introducing Scoot to their store?
Retailers interested in introducing Scoot to their store will incur a one-time setup fee of only £395.
There is a 1% service charge on in-app sales up to £5,000 per week, however this is removed once a retailer consistently achieves over £5,000 in weekly in-app sales, over a four-week period.
A card processing fee of approximately 0.7% will apply to all transactions.
Next day settlement of all consumer transactions occurs, with the exception of the weekend and bank holidays. This means the money goes straight into the retailers’ account as opposed to being held for up to a week versus other platforms.
What is the set-up process like for retailers introducing Scoot to their store?
The setup process for retailers introducing Scoot to their store is designed to be seamless and non-intrusive, allowing them to continue trading as usual throughout the onboarding process.
Once confirmed, retailers should go live on the platform within two weeks of the merchant ID being completed.
What launch support can retailers expect?
Key support and equipment includes:
l A hand-held terminal to facilitate easy order processing.
l Thermal bags to maintain food temperature during delivery.
l A contribution towards vehicle wraps to help promote the service.
l In-store radio advertising.
l Full Point of Sale suite to promote Scoot in-store.
l Digital marketing support with geo-targeted social media campaigns to reach the right audience.
l The Scoot team will ensure that the retailer’s range is uploaded to the platform and the platform is correctly set up in advance of launch.
l Market-leading and App Exclusive promotions.
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 www.eskuta.com/scoot or call 02476 350 150.
CHEETOS TWISTED SWEET AND SPICY & FIERY JALAPENO
DAIRY MILK LOTUS BISCOFF
TAKIS BLUE HEAT
NERDS GUMMY CLUSTERS BERRIES AND FRUITS FLAVOURS
RED BULL SUMMER EDITION
LUCOZADE SPORT JUDE
DELAMERE SALTED
HUEL VANILLA BLACK EDITION
Everyone is Welcome at Booker
The Booker Group’s four flourishing colleague networks seek to advocate, support and celebrate colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life.
As community hubs and key service providers, convenience store retailers are keenly aware of the acute need to make their stores open, accessible and welcoming to all.
That necessity for everyone to feel welcome is certainly not lost on The Booker Group either – which is leading by example and championing inclusivity via four flourishing Colleague Networks that seek to advocate, support and celebrate colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Including Women@Booker, Race & Ethnicity at Booker, LGBTQ+ at Booker and Disability at Booker, the four thriving Colleague Networks share three key objectives: Amplify, Celebrate and Consult - with each striving to spark important conversations and foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding across the business.
Open to all colleagues, the networks create safe spaces for sharing experiences via regular events, both on- and off-line.
WOMEN@BOOKER NETWORK
Launched in 2023, the Women@Booker Network focuses on empowering women within the company by fostering connection, support, and professional development.
Through Women@Booker, the company hosts a range of events, seminars, and workshops that focus on a variety of important topics such as leadership, career progression, work-life balance, and women’s health.
The initiative promotes gender equality, enhances workplace culture, and contributes to Booker’s commitment to diversity and wellbeing, benefiting both employees and the business.
The Women@ Booker Colleague Network recently organised an in-person International Women’s Day event on 8 March which saw nearly 200 colleagues across the business come together to celebrate and reflect.
In addition to supporting women, Booker Group also recognises the importance of mental health and wellbeing for all employees, also working closely with men’s mental health and suicide awareness charity, Andy’s Man Club.
LGBTQ+ AT BOOKER NETWORK
The LGBTQ+ at Booker Network is run by members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies – and seeks to ensure everyone is welcome at Booker – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Created in 2023, the Network offers a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ colleagues to come together to share experiences and issues with each other.
The LGBTQ+ at Booker Network also supports Pride events across the country and has supported a Vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance and run sessions – to help allies understand how they can support Trans+ colleagues.
In February 2025, the network hosted two events in support of LGBTQ+ History Month – a time to celebrate the history, achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.
RACE & ETHNICITY AT BOOKER NETWORK
Created in September 2023, the Race & Ethnicity Network provides a space to celebrate diversity, spark meaningful conversations, and help shape an inclusive future at Booker.
With progressive Executive Sponsors, passionate Chairs and three dedicated committees focusing on Events & Comms, Colleague Feedback & Insight, and Talent & Development, the network offers a powerhouse of voices and ideas to drive change.
The Network has supported and embraced numerous celebrations over the past year including Understanding Ramadan, Celebrating EID and Diwali and Black History Month.
DISABILITY AT BOOKER NETWORK
Launched in December 2024, Disability at Booker is the newest Colleague Network –and aims to provide a safe space for disabled colleagues and allies to share experiences, knowledge and activities.
The Disability At Booker Network also keeps the wider business informed about disability initiatives and celebrates the contributions of colleagues with disabilities to promote understanding.
The network recently hosted two key events in support of Neurodiversity Week between 17-23 March. The events included interactive listening groups providing a deep-dive into neurodiversity, including misconceptions and discussing how Booker could better support neurodivergent colleagues.
A separate virtual event explored the power of neurological differences and celebrated diverse ways of working.
Are you complying with the Simpler Recycling Legislation?
How do I obtain a quote?
Visit collectmywaste.com and use the code ‘BOOKERWASTE’ and your Booker customer number for a free, discounted quote, and follow the quick and easy steps.
What types of waste can I get collected?
General waste, dry mixed recycling, food waste and glass as well as one-off clearances. What bins or containers can you provide?
A variety of wheelie bin and front-end loader containers are available in all sizes to suit your needs. A skip hire service is also available.
Once I have my quote and have agreed to proceed, what is the next step?
Once your services are set up and processed, you will be contacted by your Collect My Waste Account Manager to discuss any further specific requirements. A welcome email will be sent confirming all relevant details such as delivery date, collection schedule and contact details.
When will I need to make my first payment?
Your first payment will be taken by credit/debit card or Direct Debit shortly before the service starts.
How can I request an extra collection or arrange for excess waste to be cleared?
You can request an emergency collection or arrange for excess waste to be cleared via your online account or by contacting the customer service department on 01992 765260.
Am I able to view my account information and collection history?
Yes. All information will be readily available to you via a quick and easy-to-use online portal where you can view all your important waste and recycling statistics.
How do I keep up to date on the progress of my collections?
You can contact Collect My Waste at any time to discuss any issues but as soon as you’ve downloaded the app, you will receive notifications on the morning of each waste collection day indicating which collection(s) are due. Similarly, in the afternoon, notifications will confirm that collection(s) were made.
New recycling legislation came into force on 31 March to help improve recycling rates – and Booker has an exclusive deal in place which can help you save up to 11% on waste management costs.
New requirementsrecycling
The four waste streams that need to be segregated under the new legislation are:
l Dry recycling (glass, metal and plastic)
l Paper and card
l Food waste
l Black bin waste (to be sent to landfill)
Benefits:
l Instant quote showing best price for each service
l Booker Group exclusive discount on every collection
l Easy to use app that holds all your data and invoices in one place
l Connected, real-time updates about your collections
l Environmentally friendly with real-time analytics reported
The UK Government has been working on simplifying recycling processes as part of its commitment to moving towards a zero waste, circular economy to create a future where we keep our resources in use for longer and reduce waste.
The Simpler Recycling Legislation went live on 31 March 2025 for all businesses with more than 10 FTE employees and will also apply to all micro-firms with fewer than 10 FTE employees from 31 March 2027.
It requires convenience stores in England that produce waste collected in customer-facing bins and from their business operations, to separate their waste into the following four streams: dry recycling; paper and card; food waste; and black bin waste.
Businesses who do not comply with these requirements by 31 March 2025 (or 31 March 2027 for those with fewer than 10 FTE employees) are at risk of receiving a compliance notice from the Environment Agency.
To help customers comply with the new legislation and cut the cost of doing business, Booker has secured an exclusive deal which will help you make significant cost savings on waste management.
Every penny that you can save on costs helps boost profits and build stronger businesses – and the Booker deal can deliver savings of up to 11% for your business, subject to terms and conditions.
Working with its waste management partner Collect My Waste, Booker has secured a deal that helps catering customers gain access to better prices for the collection of general waste, mixed recycling and much more.
The service is available via a simple, easy-to-use app and website – collectmywaste.com – which provides instant quotes showing the best prices for each service, including a Booker-exclusive discount.
Simply choose the service you require, and you will be kept up to date in real time on the progress of your collection, helping you organise your team and maximise efficiency.
Collections are made by professional, friendly drivers who know their way around and can ensure fast, no-fuss pickups to let you get back to the business of running a great store and focusing your attention on your business and your shoppers.
*Terms and conditions apply
NEW CHESTERFIELD FINE CUT
20.50 £ RRP*
*POR = Profit on Return. All on-shelf prices are selected by the retailer alone. Margin is calculated on the stated RRP (recommended retail price). All pricing decisions rest with the retailer and therefore margin may be affected by the retailer’s chosen selling price.
This material is restricted to those who are involved in the business of the sale or distribution of tobacco who are aged 18 or over. This material should not be made available to the public or sent to anyone else. (This is to replace “this communication is for the information of the tobacco trade only).
Access
all areas
The ACS has revamped its Everyone Welcome guide which sets out the key changes stores can make to be accesible and supportive to all.
James Lowman urges retailers to check out the ACS’s newly- updated Everyone Welcome guide to see the key changes that can be made to stores and processes, so that everyone is truly welcome.
Everyday activities such as shopping can present their own challenges for some colleagues and customers, and therefore it is important to ensure that our spaces are accessible and supportive for those who need themparticularly as not all needs are immediately apparent or visible. To help retailers equip themselves with knowledge about the different needs that customers may have when visiting a store, we’ve revamped our Everyone Welcome guide which sets out the ways that stores can adapt their environment and processes to ensure that they are providing the correct support for disabled and vulnerable customers, as well as those with additional needs.
We know that convenience stores are a community hub for all ages and demographics of customers, as well as a place where people can re-enter the workplace or find work when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to, so it’s important that we as a sector highlight the fact that everyone is welcome in our stores. The Everyone Welcome guide gives you and your
colleagues the tools to be confident when serving customers or employing people with additional needs as a result of dementia, sight loss, hearing loss and hidden disabilities, among others. It also covers how to ensure that you’re catering for additional accessibility needs that some customers might need, such as those who use wheelchairs, walking frames, or walking sticks.
For those who have additional needs, it’s important that they know they can go into your business and shop with confidence, so we’ve created a tool that you can use to shout about what you do in store. You can generate a poster specific to your business which includes everything from baby change facilities, wider aisles and hearing aid loops to quiet hours, level access and being dog friendly.
Just visit the ACS website (ACS.org.uk) and click on the Everyone Welcome link to get started.
