Your Budgens October / November 2022

Oct / Nov 2022

A community focus is setting sales alight in Rowley Regis Unwrap fantastic value this festive season with Jack’s Liven up sales with local products Volume 16

NEWS • MEDICINES • FROZEN • BUDGENS SCANNING APP

Introducing the

Same simplicity, enhanc

JUUL2 Starter Kit M279025

JUUL2 Starter Kit

JUUL2 Device Kit M279043

Autumn Tobacco M279045

WSP: £19.76 / Sell £9.99 POR: 40.66%

Virginia Tobacco M279047

JUUL2 Device

WSP: POR:

Now available, stock up on

Introductory offer available from 15th Designed for adult smokers. Not for sale to minors.

Improved performance claims compared to original JUUL. This is an age restricted product and age verification is required at sale.

TM and © 2022 JUUL Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.

WARNING: This product contains nicotin

e all new JUUL2

®

ced vapour experience

Crisp Menthol M279049

Polar Menthol M279053

£30.29 / Sell: £6.99 35.00%

JUUL2 pods

Summer Menthol M279057

Ruby Menthol M279055

WSP: £22.99 / Sell: £5.99 POR: 42.43%

n the JUUL2 product range

h August, 2022 - 13th November, 2022

ne which is a highly addictive substance.

Clean Up with the

1

UK’s No.

Cleaning Tools Brand!*

Variant Code

Budgens Variant Description Code

Variant Items in Pack Size Sell Unit

M256897 495222_1 Spontex Scrub & Wipe Pad

sgl

8

M208712 957399_1 Spontex Microfibre Cloths

4pk

6

M233724 149222_1 Spontex Essentials Sponge Scourers

10pk

12

M233725 149223_1 Spontex Essentials Sponge Cloths

4pk

12

* Source: IRI Household, Value Sales, 52 w/e 11/06/22, Total UK.

Your Budgens: Contents

e… u s s i s i h t In 7

STEWART FENN’S WELCOME

Retailers have a sparkling opportunity to win big this winter with the World Cup and festive period

9

NEWS Budgens retailers hailed at The Convenience Awards 2022

NEWS

11

DRS advice updated for retailers in Scotland

COMMUNITY NEWS

13 15

Forecourt retailers are investing in efficiency and services

GROCERYAID UPDATE

23

The industry charity has published its events calendar for 2023 and you’re invited to get involved

Festive fun Cash in on fantastic festive deals

24

Budgens retailer Mohan Palinisamy has transformed the fortunes of a former Coop store in Rowley Regis

CUSTOMER PROFILE

30

Experienced retailer Palwinder Singh has invested in key changes to help boost footfall, sales and profits at Budgens Birches Barn Road

GET SET FOR CHRISTMAS

A round up of charitable initiatives from within the Budgens community

INDUSTRY NEWS

CUSTOMER PROFILE

36

Budgens retailers have a unique opportunity to light up their festive sales this year

JACK’S

42

Jacks has the ideal range to help deliver fantastic value every day

LOCAL SOURCING

57

NEW PRODUCTS

A snapshot of some of the fantastic new Jack’s products available to Budgens retailers

60

SOCIAL MEDIA

Top tips on how to enter the digital world

63

TOBACCO CLUB Budgens has added new lines to its popular Tobacco Club range

COFFEE PODS

66

Coffee pods can offer tasty opportunities to brew bigger sales

EPOS

72

A cutting-edge EPoS system can help retailers achieve key efficiency wins

50

How local products are helping retailers cook up additional footfall, sales and loyalty

Pod profits Grow coffee sales with pods.

BUDGENS Email enquiries@bookerretail. co.uk Your Budgens Team Email yourbudgens@budgens. co.uk IT and customer services helpdesk Tel 0800 298 0758 All rights reserved. ©Booker Retail Partners.

All information within correct at time of printing.

Volume 16: October / November 2022 Your Budgens October 22.indd 5

Cover Story

Budgens retailer Mohan Palinisamy has transformed the fortunes of his new site in Rowley Regis, Sandwell, by introducing a new community-led approach including new ranges, services and an enhanced focus on value for money.

The changes have prompted daily footfall to soar to more 1,000, while sales are up by more than two-thirds, driven by fresh, chilled and drinks to go.

5 07/11/2022 16:48:39

Price Marked Packs Crunch Corner

368366

Y D E LI C IOU S , C RE AM

Y O G UR T

Müllerlicious...

creamy yogurt with a whole lot of crunch or real fruit compote for you to tip… or dip!

Fruit Corner

368365

NEW SMOOTH & CREAMY DESSERT MADE WITH MELTED CADBURY MILK CHOCOLATE CDM

495279 Cadbury Dairy Milk PMP 2 pack

• PMP is the No.1 promotional mechanic wanted by retailers* • PMP are wanted by 71% of retailers* • 30% of shoppers are more likely to buy PMP products on impulse* *Lumina Convenience Reporting 2022

AddingTaste to Life

Welcome: Stewart Fenn

LET’S WIN BIG THIS

! r e t win

With both the World Cup and the festive period just around the corner, there are endless opportunities to win big.

Welcome to your latest edition of Your Budgens, as we look ahead to what promises to be a massive opportunity for us all over the next couple of months as the first-ever winter World Cup adds even more excitement to an already packed festive calendar.

The World Cup runs for almost a full month from the end of November and should help drive footfall, sales and profits for Budgens retailers over this crucial period.

With matches virtually every day there will be endless opportunities for retailers to help their shoppers stock up for parties and get-togethers as friends and families gather round TV screens to watch one of the biggest sporting events in the world. One highlight will surely be the Wales v England match at 7pm on the 29th of November.

That is a sales opportunity not to be missed!

Volume 16: October / November 2022

While the festive season is likely to see shoppers treating themselves and their families and friends a little, there’s no question that value continues to be vitally important – and that will be doubly so once the new year rolls around. That’s why the rollout of the Jack’s own brand is so important, offering Budgens retailers a real point of difference.

We have already rolled out over 500 products and the range will extend to around 550 products

by Christmas. This will allow you to offer your shoppers fantastic quality and exceptional value alternatives across virtually every important product category. Just as critically, the Jack’s range delivers exceptional PORs for retailers.

I wish you all a fantastic trading period over the next couple of months and a very merry Christmas.

7

GREAT

NEW

RICHER,

TASTE

CREAMIER,

AND EVEN MORE

PROFIT-IER

M250808

M250832

Stock Up Today ©2022 Costa Ltd. All rights reserved.

M267212

To find out about further ways we can support you please visit MY.CCEP.COM

News: Charity

In the

s w Ne

Time to ‘level the playing field’

Winning stores from across the country have received donations towards their nominated charities.

Retailers’ community efforts strengthened with key Hero Awards funding Budgens retailers across the country are being supported in their efforts to make positive differences in the local communities that they serve, as part of the Budgens’ Hero Awards.

Launched as part of Budgens’ 150th birthday celebrations in July, the Hero Awards reward good causes with a share of the overall £50,000 Community Fund.

Each store in Budgens’ 350-strong estate is eligible to enter, with each winning store receiving a £150 donation towards their nominated good cause.

Winners are selected each month by an independent judging panel.

In a bid to kick the Hero Awards off with a bang, Budgens doubled donations to winning stores in August and September, with each winning store having received £300.

Entries have flooded in since the awards launched, with 24 winning stores having received donations so far.

Donations have been made to a wide array of good causes including local air Volume 16: October / November 2022

Uppingham Budgens in Rutland donated £300 to the Future Dreams breast cancer charity ambulance services, hospices and local schools as-well as national charities.

Avtar Sidhu (Sid) of St John’s Budgens in Kenilworth, was one of the lucky retailers to have won a £300 donation towards his local good cause: St John’s Primary School, in August.

Commenting on his win, Sid said: “The donation has made a huge difference to our valued local school, which is striving to implement a number of new sustainability initiatives.

Retail trade union Usdaw is calling on the Government to introduce an online sales tax to help ‘rebalance the taxation of the retail sector’ between online and in-store retail.

Usdaw is urging the Government to introduce a tax on online-only retailers and use the subsequent revenues to help bricks and mortar retailers when business rates rise in April next year.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “The current business rates system places bricks and mortar retailers at a significant disadvantage to online retail. In effect this amounts to nothing more than an unfair ‘Shops Tax’ and action has to be taken to level the playing field.

“Cutting the ‘Shops Tax’ will help encourage growth in retail, reinvigorate town and city centres and allow retailers to innovate and protect and create jobs.”

“The entry process was very simple to complete and I would strongly urge other Budgens retailers to talk to their local RDMs about entering.”

9

Product Description

Midas Code

Size

Nakd Cocoa Orange Bar

M217763

18 x 35g

Nakd Peanut Delight

M236605

18 x 35g

Nakd Blueberry Muffin Bar

M242653

18 x 35g

Nakd Bakewell Tart Bar

M224715

18 x 35g

News: DRS

DRS advice updated for retailers in Scotland Key Dates:

January 2022 – Exemption opens for Return Point Operators

Circularity Scotland, the administrator for next year’s Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland, has issued new advice for retailers preparing for the new regulations.

March 2023 – Registration opens for Return Point Operators August 2023 – DRS scheme goes live for consumers

With Scotland’s new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) set to come into force on 16 August next year the DRS Scheme Administrator, Circularity Scotland, has issued fresh advice and information to retailers to help them prepare for the new regulations.

l Clearly display information on how the customer can redeem the deposit; l Operate a return point (unless exempt) or takeback service; l Store returned empty containers in a safe way.

Under the scheme, consumers will pay a 20p deposit whenever they buy a drink in a single-use container and will get their deposit back when returning the empty bottle or can for recycling. Circularity Scotland aims to recapture 90% pf Scotland’s single-use containers.

RVM V MANUAL

The Deposit Return Scheme will cover all drinks sold in PET plastic, metal and glass which are between 50ml and 3l in size.

For every scheme container returned to store, retailers will receive a handling fee from the scheme administrator to cover the costs associated with taking part in the scheme.

RETURN POINT OPERATORS

For retailers using an RVM, handling fees will be 3.55p per container for the first 8,000 containers returned each week and 1.35p for each additional container.

As businesses which serves drinks to customers to consume off the premises, Budgens stores must charge a deposit for each drink sold in an ‘in scope’ container and they must operate a Return Point to allow their customers to return their containers to them after use. They will then be paid a handling fee for every container returned.

This means Budgens retailers in Scotland must: l Only sell drinks from registered producers; l Only sell drinks to consumers in Scotland that a producer has made available for sale in Scotland; l Charge the 20p deposit when selling a drink that is part of the scheme; l Make it clear to the customer that the drink is part of the scheme and a deposit applies; l Clearly display the price of the deposit (20p) in any place that a drink is displayed for sale;

There will be two main ways to return empty containers: over the counter, or by using a reverse vending machine (RVM) that scans containers when they are returned and then refunds the deposit.

Retailers who opt for manual handling will receive 2.69p per container.

EXEMPTIONS

Retailers can apply for an exemption consideration if they wish. There are two ways to obtain an exemption: l If you can show that there is an alternative return point nearby that has agreed to take back containers on your behalf. l If you can show that there is no reasonable way of operating a return point on the premises without a significant risk of breaching relevant legal obligations e.g. food safety.

Visit depositreturnscheme.zerowastescotland.org.uk/applications to apply for an exemption.

Please note that advice and guidance continue to change and evolve, so it is vital that Budgens retailers in Scotland regularly check they have the most recent information. Visit circularityscotland.com and sign to up receive the latest updates.

For more information, please visit: www.circularityscotland.com www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/waste/deposit-return-scheme/

Volume 16: October / November 2022

11

WRAPPED BAKERY IS THE NO. 1 DESTINATION CATEGORY IN CONVENIENCE STORES1 STOCK THE UK’S NUMBER 1 BAKERY BRAND 2

TOASTIE (800G)

WHOLEMEAL (800G)

6 ROLLS

No. 1 wrapped bread product2

Second biggest wrapped bread sector, after white in the channel3

No. 1 brand in wrapped rolls2

6 CRUMPETS

ORIGINAL BAGELS

WHOLEMEAL (400G)

No. 1 brand in crumpets2

Total Warburtons Bagels drive the most growth vs other brands2

No. 1 brand in 400g wholemeal2

SEEDED BATCH

TOASTIE (400G)

TEACAKES

Large seeded drives the most growth in bread3

No. 1 400g bread SKU2

No. 1 teacakes SKU2

To order new products, get the latest advice, or connect with your Territory Manager, visit warburtons-trade.co.uk or call 0800 Lumina Convenience Tracking Programme November 2020 - March 2021 Based on NielsenIQ RMS data for the Wrapped Bakery Category for the L52week period ending 11.09.21 for Total Coverage inc discounters, Unit and Value Sales (Copyright © 2020, NielsenIQ).

3 Based on Nielsen IQ RMS data for the Wrapped Bread Category for the L52week period ending 11.09.21 for Total Impulse, Unit and Value Sales (Copyright © 2020, NielsenIQ).

1 2

953 5636

News: Charity

In the

s w Ne

Budgens retailers from across the country have been making a positive impact on their local communities with a raft of different local initiatives and support

Smashing store Budgens Southwater and Post Office, in West Sussex, donated 100 coconuts for Castlewood School’s annual Blackberry Fair.

The school thanked the store for helping to keep the fair’s coconut shy stand going all day.

It added: “We would also like to thank you for allowing our free roll delivery from Warburtons to be delivered to you. Thank you for your continued support for our school.”

Running kind CT Baker Budgens of Aylsham & Holt staff members Maggie Thompson and Connor Rouse have run the London Marathon for Children with Cancer UK. The pair, who have spent the past few months training, raised more than £8k between them for the charity.

Children with Cancer UK is dedicated to raising money for research and providing care for children with cancer and their families.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

Caring cakes Budgens of Blashford, Hampshire, has raised £339 for Sunny Day’s Children’s Fund by holding an in-store cake sale.

The charity helps children under the age of 18 years with a wide range of adverse medical conditions including leukaemia, cerebral palsy, deafness and blindness, terminal illnesses, and all other life-limiting conditions.

All the cakes sold were baked by the store’s staff.

13

Weetabix On The Go is the No.1 Breakfast drink* Breakfast drinks are growing at +20% YOY** MERCHANDISE IN YOUR CHILLER

M176702 Weetabix OTG Drink Strawberry 8 x 250ml M176703 Weetabix OTG Drink Chocolate 8 x 250ml M176704 Weetabix OTG Drink Vanilla 8 x 250ml

*Nielsen Data to 16th July 2022 Breakfast Drinks 12we Value Share **Nielsen Answers | 52we vs. LY | 18th June 2022

Industry

s w Ne

Other key findings from this year’s Forecourt Report include: The UK forecourt sector creates more than 84,000 jobs, with 23% of staff being in the business for more than 10 years.

69% of forecourt retailers are active in their communities, raising money for local charities, getting involved with local projects, and donating to food banks.

One in five customers of forecourt stores visit every day (21%), with 80% visiting at least once a week.

There are currently 768 electric charging devices located on 446 forecourt sites across the UK.

Forecourt retailers investing in efficiency and services Independent forecourt retailers are making significant investments in their businesses, spending around £18,000 on average last year, according to the Association of Convenience Stores’ 2022 Forecourt Report.

The report shows that across the sector, the most common form of investment is refrigeration, with stores either looking to expand their range of fresh and chilled goods or upgrade their refrigeration to make it more energy efficient.

Half of the forecourt stores in the sector have doors on their chillers, with 39% using LED lighting and 8% using solar Volume 16: October / November 2022

panels to reduce electricity costs.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “It’s essential that the government recognises the crucial role that forecourts play in their communities.

These businesses are community hubs in their own right, providing essential services and an ever-increasing range of products for customers along with fuel and alternative power solutions.

The energy support package that has been provided to forecourts has been a lifeline for many, and we encourage the government to include forecourts within the list of vulnerable sectors that need longer-term support.”

Average fuel prices peaked in July this year, at 188.6p for petrol and 197.3p for diesel.

Lowman added: “This has been a turbulent year for fuel supply and pricing, with international events determining the price that consumers pay at the pump. It is encouraging to see that fuel prices are trending downward after peaking in the summer, especially as everyone is looking to cut costs where possible.”

ACS has been working with the Competition and Markets Authority on its investigation into the fuel market, highlighting the different factors that affect the cost of a litre of petrol or diesel at the pump.

The CMA’s initial findings earlier this year recognised that retailers have little control over the cost of fuel, making very small margins themselves, while changes in currency markets and the ‘refining spread’ contributed to much bigger variations in prices.

15

News: Industry Update

Autumn sees change in shopping behaviour Total till sales increased by 4.7% in the past four weeks, although volume sales fell by 6%, according to new data from NielsenIQ. In the past four weeks, most categories saw value growth increase due to inflation, but volume growth slowed.

Pet, dairy, crisps, snacks and bakery experienced the highest levels of value growth.

NielsenIQ’s survey of shoppers in August shows British shoppers are focusing on four main coping strategies to manage rising inflation: monitoring the cost of their overall shopping basket, opting for private label products, shopping more at the discounters and opting to stop buying certain products.

Over the past 12 weeks, private label has performed better than brands and now accounts for 53% of FMCG spend.

Mike Watkins, NielsenIQ’s UK Head of Retailer and Business Insight, said: “In recent weeks there has been a small shift away from fresh to frozen, slightly less spend on fruit and vegetables and fresh meat, fish and poultry and slightly more spend on impulse confectionery and soft drinks, with the latter helped

by warm weather at the end of summer.

“The start of the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup should boost some categories, such as drinks and snacks, and there may be more meal occasions at home as friends and family get together to watch the sport at home.”

Welsh Government introduces Bill to ban single-use plastic bags The Welsh Government has introduced a Bill which bans or restricts the sale of some of the most commonly littered single-use plastics in Wales, including a ban on plastic bags which are currently subject to a 5p charge.

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill prohibits the sale of nine single-use plastic products, including: cups, cutlery, drink-stirrers, lids for cups or takeaway food containers, straws, plates, balloon sticks, carrier bags and cotton buds.

The Bill will also make it an offence to supply or offer to supply littered and unnecessary disposable single-use plastic Volume 16: October / November 2022

products to consumers in Wales.

Wales was the first UK nation to introduce a single-use plastic bag charge at 5p per bag, with Scotland and England following with their own plastic bag charges. The charge has been successful in reducing the amount of bags in circulation, as well as raising money for good causes.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is calling for a minimum implementation period of 12 months from when the Government guidance on the regulations is published, to implementation of the ban, to allow retailers sufficient time to sell through existing stock and source alternative products.

17

brewed in barcelONa Estrella Damm is an award-winning, premium lager,brewed in barcelONa with mediterranean ingredients since 1876.

News: Industry Update

Out-of-home eating occasions increasing

Cash makes a comeback new data reveals Cash usage has been subject to a “sustained recovery” since the UK came out of lockdown, the latest Quarterly Bulletin published by the Bank of England reveals.

According to the data, cash use has proved resilient over the last two years, with both a recovery in the transactional use of cash and the value of banknotes in circulation now being close to their highest ever level.

The number of out-of-home eating occasions increased by 2% year-on-year in the 12 weeks ending 5 September 2022, new data reveals.

The data from wholesale experts TWC, in partnership with food-to-go and out-ofhome tracking programme MealTrak, show there were 793 million eating out of home occasions in the 12-week period.

In addition, value sales rose by 14% year-onyear for the 12-week period.

Multiple retailers achieved steady and significant growth of 48% in the last 12 weeks, driven by their “more affordable food-to-go offers.”

Other retail channels including convenience stores also performed well, with eating out occasions up by 10% through convenience stores specifically.

Forecourts and discounters were also found Volume 16: October / November 2022

to be outperforming the total market, with eating out occasions up 13% and 11% respectively.

However, the MealTrak data showed that sandwich shops, coffee shops and fast food & takeaway outlets were the biggest losers, with all showing a decline in eating out occasions.

Tom Fender, Development Director at TWC, said: “Overall, it’s still good news for the food-to-go and eating out market as it continues to grow despite the cost-of-living crisis. However, growth is slowing, and we are seeing value growth continuing to significantly outpace ‘occasions’ growth as inflation continues to rise.”

The report also highlights how hybrid working may present opportunities for Budgens retailers as more workers spend more days at home at each week, potentially generating new sales occasions for nearby retailers with a food-to-go offer.

Cash-handling experts Volumatic said the Bank of England findings proved that the UK was “definitely not ‘going cashless’ anytime soon.”

Volumatic, Sales & Marketing Director, Mike Severs said: “Cash is seeing a real resurgence and is here to stay, so businesses need to take note and give customers the choice to pay by cash if they want to, especially as the festive season is approaching and more consumers are turning to cash to help them budget during these difficult economic times, we find ourselves in.

19

THE UK’S NO.1 CHILLED COFFEE *

Stock up now *Nielsen 13/08/22

News: Industry Update

Price marks ‘more important’ than price itself

New research has found that 62% of independent retailers believe shoppers would still buy pricemarked products if suppliers increased pricing.

Vaping harm reduction claims verified The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has published its first vaping evidence review and has reconfirmed the finding that vaping is “at least 95% less harmful” than combustible tobacco.

The review is in line with previous findings

by Public Health England and was welcomed by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).

New research from digital and data experts TWC has revealed that 62% of independent retailers feel that their shoppers would still buy price marked packs (PMPs) if suppliers increased the price of them a little.

The research was conducted in August and September this year and the findings indicate that retailers believe that it is the price flash on a PMP, rather than the specific price point itself, that triggers consumer purchase.

Eight in 10 retailers agree that shoppers

like PMPs and 78% agreed that PMPs demonstrate good value for money to shoppers.

Tom Fender, Development Director at TWC, commented: “There is no doubt that consumers like PMPs and their role in communicating value is critical at this time with the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Independent retailers have their own challenges in managing the rising business costs of running their stores – and product margins need to reflect retailers’ costs in 2022.”

John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA, said: “It’s good to see that the experts involved in this latest review stand by the estimates that vaping is ‘at least 95% less harmful’ than combustible tobacco and that it ‘poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking’.”

Independent store numbers rise in Scotland The total number of convenience stores in Scotland rose by 61 to 5,098 in the last year, according to the Scottish Local Shop Report 2022, published recently by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF).

The number of people employed in the sector also rose last year, up 16.7% on the previous year, bringing the total number of independent retailing jobs to 49,000.

Pete Cheema, CEO of the SGF, said: “The contribution of convenience stores and retail over the past few years cannot be overstated.

“Despite very difficult and challenging circumstances for many in convenience retail, staff and local shop owners across Scotland have continued to play an absolutely essential role in both the Scottish economy and for people in their communities.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

21

NATURE VALLEY IS THE UK’S #1 CEREAL BAR *

M220784

M209892

M209893

M224393

M224336

STOCK UP NOW

Source: *Nielsen, 52 Weeks ending 27th August 2022 | Category: CEREAL BARS | Market: Total Coverage including Discounters

News: Industry Update

GroceryAid unveils 2023 calendar of events Industry charity GroceryAid has published its calendar of events for next year and is asking Budgens retailers to get involved where they can.

After the challenges of recent years, it’s an unfortunate fact that demand for the financial, emotional and legal services offered by industry charity GroceryAid are more in demand than ever.

Last year, the charity spent more than £5m supporting colleagues from across our industry while thanks to a rise of more than 150% in applications for financial support. In fact, GroceryAid received an average of 744 applications for financial support every month over the last year.

To provide that support, the charity requires support in turn from the industry, including from independent retailers.

More than 80% of GroceryAid funding comes from its events calendar which is why it is asking Budgens retailers to get involved where they can once more in 2023.

Plan ahead The 2023 events calendar offers everything from established annual events such as the Sporting Lunch and the GroceryAid Ball, to unique events such as Barcode, Checkout Scotland and D&I in Grocery LIVE! In other words, there is an event to suit every business.

Demand for the events continues to increase and your loyal support enables GroceryAid to provide help to those colleagues across the industry who need our help more than ever before.

So, if you can help by getting involved in some way, please do.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

2023 Events

If you need support of any kind, contact GroceryAid’s free and confidential 24/7 helpline on 08088 021 122.

GET INVOLVED

MORE IN DEMAND THAN EVER GroceryAid’s services are unfortunately more in demand than ever, which is why it is important to support the charity if you can. The last year has seen: l 61% increase in welfare support instances for industry colleagues; l 98% increase in the number of Relate counselling sessions delivered; l 101% increase in legal advice referrals; l 744 applications for financial support per month, up 150% on the previous year.

GroceryAid Ball – 16th Mar 2023 Windermere Row – 4th May 2023 GroceryAid Golf Day – 29th Jun 2023 Barcode Festival – 6th July 2023 Coast to Coast Cycle – 19th-23rd July 2023 London to Brussels Cycle – 7th-10th Sep 2023 Clay Pigeon Shoot – 22nd Sep 2023 D&I In Grocery LIVE! – 6th Oct 2023 Sporting Lunch – 10th Nov 2023

23

Retailer profile: Mohan Palinisamy

Valuable asset Footfall, sales and goodwill are surging in the WestMidland’s town of Rowley Regis.

When it comes to community engagement, lots of convenience retailers talk a good talk. However, in the West Midlands town of Rowley Regis there’s a store not just talking the community talk, it’s walking, running and jumping with it.

Owned by retail entrepreneur Mohan Palinisamy, Budgens Rowley Regis is a shining example of the success that can be attained when corporate-level professionalism is fused with the power and flexibility of an independent’s community-led approach.

The fortunes of the 2,850sq ft former Co-op store have been transformed since Mohan’s ‘Samy Group’ took the helm in 2019 and with Budgens’ support, went on to instigate a raft of meaningful changes designed to better meet local needs.

Mohan, whose Samy Group operates more than 40 stores nationwide under the Budgens, Londis and Premier fascias explains: “We chose Budgens because of the excellence that we knew the brand could deliver on fresh and chilled – an area that we were keen to develop in order to make more of the basket-shopping opportunity,” he says.

STORE FACTS Store name: Budgens Rowley Regis Retailer: Mohan Palinisamy Store size: 2,850sq ft Best-performing categories: Fresh and chilled, alcohol, tobacco, food-to-go Services: Post Office, Lottery, PayPoint, Collect + Opening hours: 24 hours Staff: 9

24

Making more of that opportunity involved boosting the store’s total refrigerated offer to more than 50 metres in a bid to give more space to in-demand chilled foods, food-togo and evening meal solutions, plus fresh produce.

Attractive wooden trays have also been added to lend the store’s now comprehensive fresh fruit and vegetable range a “market-style” feel that is supported by the strong value for money messaging boasted by the Jack’s brand.

Giving shoppers the reassurance of Tesco quality at a competitive price-mark, Mohan says that Jack’s has been “exceptionally well received” by shoppers, with fresh sales alone having risen by more than 30% since the own-brand was introduced earlier this year.

“Rowley Regis has a mixed demographic with some more affluent shoppers and some who are on a much tighter Volume 16: October / November 2022

budget but these days value for money is important to all, regardless of demographic. Everyone likes a good deal, especially in the current climate, so it was really important that we developed a strong value offer and communicated it very clearly,” he explains.

The store’s strong value for money offer is supported by prominent in-store messaging throughout, with large ‘Special Offer’ hanging posters in the aisles and ‘round pound’ shelf barkers showcasing its extensive range of quality products at value prices.

Artfully stacked promotional multipacks of beer and cider also greet shoppers at the entrance to the store, while further in, the grocery aisles feature a bargain-priced range of homewares and other non-food essentials in eye-catching price-marked shelf-ready packaging.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

25

A value-priced meal deal, offering shoppers a ‘main, a drink and a snack’ for just £4 is also helping to boost the store’s food to go sales – another category which has been extensively developed under Mohan’s leadership.

In addition to its new range of chilled sandwiches, wraps and snacks-to-go, Mohan has introduced a footfall-driving food-to-go zone to the side of the store featuring Rollover hot dogs, Dunkin Donuts and a hot food bake-off. The drinks and slush offer meanwhile includes a Costa Express machine, Tango Ice Blast, F’real and Fwip plus freshly squeezed orange via the I Squeeze brand.

Coffee-to-go sales are currently cresting £500 a week while sales of star performer Tango Ice Blast hit more than £220 a day over the summer.

“We chose Budgens because of the excellence that we knew the brand could deliver on fresh and chilled – an area that we were keen to develop in order to make more of the basketshopping opportunity.”

Mohan Palinisamy, Budgens Rowley Regis

“The old store only offered only a very limited range of foodand drinks-to-go but we knew it was a category that local shoppers and passers-by were crying out for, and they’ve certainly thanked us for developing it,” Mohan says.

“The store is based on a busy main road and features a large, easy-to-access carpark so it’s the perfect place for them to pop in and stock up on whatever they need for the day ahead,” he adds.

In a further effort to really “be there” for local shoppers whatever the time of day or night, Mohan has also introduced 24-hour opening. “There’s a decent night-time economy around here and also lots of shift workers who stop in for a hot drink or snack on their way home so it’s great that we can be there to serve those shoppers when they need us,” Mohan adds.

The store’s round-the-clock opening also garners multiple operational and efficiency benefits, allowing key work such as cleaning, filling and merchandising to be done in the quieter trading hours.

“It also means that the store is always ready to meet the early-morning rush of shoppers who pop in on their way to work or school,” Mohan adds.

Another new string to the store’s bow has been the introduction of a Post Office at the start of this year, granting local shoppers convenient access to a wide range of essential services.

“We are a true community store; everything we do, every change we make or new range or service we introduce is led by local needs,” Mohan explains. “That flexibility to hone our offer to the precise needs of a local community is the big advantage that we have as independent retailers.”

Fortunately for the good people of Rowley Regis, the store’s efforts to meet local needs don’t stop at innovative food-toVolume 16: October / November 2022

27

IT’S THE TASTE

Retailer profile: Mohan Palinisamy

“Before we took over, the store would take a maximum of £30,000 a week at its busiest but now we take £50,000 a week at the absolute minimum, and we make a 24% margin on that.

Mohan Palinisamy, Budgens Rowley Regis

go solutions, value prices and extended fresh and chilled ranges.

In addition to supporting a variety of local good causes, Mohan and his in-store team have introduced a variety of meaningful community schemes including Too Good To Go Magic Bags. The clever app-based scheme not only helps to minimise food waste but crucially for Mohan, ensures that good food makes it to the shoppers who need it most.

A small range of local products, including breads, eggs and milk also caters to shopper demand for products sourced nearer to home, as well as keeping valuable money within the local economy.

All in all, the changes that Mohan and the Budgens team have made has led to a significant rise in the store’s footfall, sales and profits, with around 1,000 shoppers passing through its doors each day.

Around 20 of the store’s loyal elderly shoppers, including some with mobility issues, have also been loaned trolleys to keep at home which help them cart their groceries back with ease.

“Before we took over, the store would take a maximum of £30,000 a week at its busiest but now we take £50,000 a week at the absolute minimum and we make a 24% margin on that,” Mohan says.

“It always makes us smile when we see them walking towards the store with their Budgens-branded trolleys. It’s a small gesture which has made a really big difference to many of our valued elderly shoppers,” he adds.

“We are so happy with what we have been able to achieve here and are genuinely optimistic about the future. We’ve got more innovations to come, so watch this space!” he concludes.

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Retailer Profile: Palwinder Singh

Buried treasure Palwinder Singh has invested in key changes to help him unearth greater footfall, sales and profits.

Footfall, sales and profits – the three riches that all retailers great and small relentlessly pursue.

One retailer who has been fortunate enough to accrue greater quantities of all of these in recent months is convenience stalwart Palwinder Singh, who has successfully operated his 3,000sq ft neighbourhood store in a leafy suburb of Wolverhampton for 40 years.

After joining the Budgens brand a year ago, Palwinder made several key improvements to his business in June 2022, in a bid to further boost the coveted trio.

30

Responding to growing shopper demand for a greater range of fresh and chilled products, Palwinder invested in growing the store’s fresh space by more than five metres, upgrading its “tired” chillers with smart new energy-efficient ones with doors in the process.

The move has allowed him to offer a far greater range of in-demand fresh and chilled products including meal-for-tonight solutions, and a wider array of quality fruit and vegetables.

Located at the front of the store the attractive new fresh and chilled offer also serves an important

Volume 16: October / November 2022

aesthetic role, gifting shoppers with a bright, attractive and appealing view as soon as they enter.

Adding to this visual treat are smart new upright freezers which have also replaced the store’s old bank of bulky chest freezers.

“Not only do the new upright freezers really allow our frozen food offer to shine, but they have also given us vital space back on the shop floor,” Palwinder says.

“It feels so much less cluttered now. Shoppers have far more space to move around and shop the store.

“Losing the bulky old chest freezers has also allowed us to extend the length of a number of key aisles, including fresh, chilled and impulse,” he adds.

The introduction of an eye-catching new drinks-togo offer formed the second key change made to the store in June 2022; it was one that certainly scored highly with shoppers during the long hot summer.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

STORE FACTS Store Name: Budgens Birches Barn Road, Wolverhampton Retailer: Palwinder Singh Store size: 3,000sq ft Best-performing categories: fresh, chilled, BWS Services: Lottery, Post Office Opening hours: 8am-9pm Staff: 10

“We’ve never offered coffee before so it’s something new for shoppers and having such a strong and wellknown brand as Costa has already proved a fantastic footfall driver.

The slush is also a great hit with younger shoppers and sales really motored over the summer holidays.”

Palwinder Singh, Budgens Birches Barn Road

31

CRISP. BRIGHT. REFRESHING.

BROOKLYN PILSNER

Retailer Profile: Palwinder Singh

“Together with the new Jack’s range and the Euroshopper brand, which continues to be a strong seller here, our promotional positioning has been greatly strengthened and has really boosted our competitiveness in the eyes of our shoppers.”

Palwinder Singh, Budgens Birches Barn Road

“The ‘on the go’ opportunity has really grown in the past year but it’s one which we were definitely not making the most of prior to the refit,” Palwinder says. “We are based on a busy main road through a fairly affluent residential area on the outskirts of the town centre, so we do benefit from high volumes of trade from local shoppers, passers-by and commuters.

“With the help of my Budgens RDM Peter Kowalczuk we introduced a new ‘drinks to go’ offer including Costa Coffee, Hershey’s Freeze and Fizzee slush.

“We’ve never offered coffee before so it’s something really new for shoppers and having such a strong and well-known brand as Costa has already proved a fantastic footfall driver. The slush is also a great hit with younger shoppers and sales really motored over the summer holidays,” he adds.

Thirdly, in a bid to deliver a clearer value-for-money proposition, the store was also remerchandised to help its promotions and key value-for-money Volume 16: October / November 2022

brands stand out more clearly.

“Shoppers are becoming increasingly priceconscious and are seeking out value wherever they can,” Palwinder says.

“Since joining Budgens a year ago we had introduced a really good range of deals and brands that offer great value for money, but the old, cluttered layout meant that they weren’t being shown at their best and didn’t really stand out enough to shoppers,” he adds.

Led by his RDM Peter, a remerchandising exercise, including the introduction of four new promotional ends, has “really helped to highlight the value message” to shoppers.

“We now offer three promotional ends for Grocery and one for Beers, Wines and Spirits,” Palwinder says.

“Together with the new Jack’s range and the Euroshopper brand, which continues to be a

33

Retailer Profile: Palwinder Singh

strong seller here, our promotional positioning has been greatly strengthened and has really boosted our competitiveness in the eyes of our shoppers.”

The store’s “tired, old” counter area was also replaced with a smart and welcoming counter, while an attractive backlit spirits display was created on the back wall.

“The feedback from shoppers has been nothing short of phenomenal. They are all so pleased with the changes that we’ve made and for my part I’m delighted. I’ve run this store for 40 years and it’s been given a wonderful fresh new lease of life. It’s a such a pleasure.”

“Spirits have always been good sellers but thanks to their new more eye-catching positioning we’ve witnessed a steady increase in sales,” Palwinder adds.

Equally pleasurable has been the resultant rise in sales, which have grown by more than 10% since June. “The majority off this rise is coming from fresh foods and drinks-to-go so the extra sales are particularly profitable in terms of margin too,” Palwinder says.

“The bright backlit display gives the store a really nice modern feel that complements all the other changes we’ve made and brings the whole offer bang up to date.”

“None of this could have been achieved without the support of Budgens though. Having the strength of a brand like that at your back is so reassuring in these uncertain times.

New LED lighting fitted throughout the store has further helped to enhance its newfound sense of light and space.

“The team helped me right the way through the refit process and their support and advice on new products and merchandising has been invaluable.

“All in all, what we’ve done has given shoppers a far more pleasant environment in which to shop in, as well as more choice than ever before and a strengthened value offer,” Palwinder adds.

My RDM Peter has been a particular help, always happy to go the extra mile – so much so that he even stayed late to help us mop the floors on the night before launch. Support like that is incredible.”

Volume 16: October / November 2022

35

Your Budgens: Christmas

Sweet sales this Christmas With Christmas and the World Cup happening at the same time for the first time ever, Budgens retailers have a unique opportunity to light up their festive sales this year.

The festive period has always presented retailers with a sleigh-load of opportunities to unwrap better sales and profits and, fortunately for Budgens retailers, 2022’s festive season looks set to shine even brighter than ever thanks to a certain global football festival.

For the first time in history, the World Cup will take place in winter and will run for a month from the end of November, adding some extra glitter to this year’s festive opportunity.

Last year, total seasonal sales grew by a tasty 6% according to Mondelez International and, with no restrictions in place for 2022 and shoppers hungry to enjoy special moments with friends and family, this year looks set to be even better.

Set to kick off in Qatar on 20 November, the World Cup will also pave a sweet pathway into the 2022 Christmas period, uniting friends and families and driving the key sharing

36

occasion earlier than usual at this time of year.

With success at Christmas all about planning, it makes sense for retailers to stock up early and take advantage of every day of the Christmas countdown.

As ever, Budgens has a fantastic promotional plan to help retailers make the most of 2022’s very special footfall, sales and profitdriving opportunity.

Bagged chocolates Perfect for sharing with friends in the run-up to the festive season, or for shoppers who just want to treat themselves, Budgens’ festive line-up includes a great range of bagged chocolates and other confectionery items, including a range of key American lines. Reese’s Peanut Butter Mini Pouches, for example, will be on offer to shoppers for just £4, gifting retailers a POR of 20%.

Shoppers keen to bag tasty alternatives to chocolate Volume 16: October / November 2022

Create a Christmas-themed display in a high footfall area at the start of November to take advantage of the Christmas countdown.

Offer shoppers the opportunity to trade up by stocking gifting items with low-priced impulse items.

Be sure to promote new products and Group Exclusive Deals on social media as well as in-store to drive further excitement and footfall.

Make use of Budgens’ merry melange of festive POS to create eye-catching displays and spread welcome Christmas cheer.

treats will also be able to snap up a range of key bagged lines from leading sugar confectionery brands including sharing bags of Haribo Puck Penguin on offer for any ‘2 for £2’ and offering retailers a POR of 25%.

Total seasonal sales grew by 6% last year Nielsen Jan 2021

Novelty Chocolates Offering shoppers a tasty range of lowpriced impulse items including joyful novelty products is of course another great way to rack up key sales in the run-up to the festive season.

New from the Maltesers brand this year and tapping into the shopper trend towards mint-flavoured chocolate are Mint Reindeers – sure to give sales some hoof.

Budgens retailers will be able to offer these sweet treats on an eye-catching ‘2 for £1’ deal which offers them a scrummy POR of 30.6%.

Another new confection sure to turn heads this year is the Lindt White Chocolate Teddy which has an RSP of £3.50 or is also available on a ‘2 for £6’ deal. Free supplier POS is also available.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

PERFECT POS Retailers will have an even better chance to help their festive ranges shine this Christmas with a sparkling suite of Budgens Seasonal POS in attractive and eye-catching red and gold and green and gold colourways.

The POS highlights how Budgens retailers are ‘Bringing Christmas Together’ and also reinforces its ‘150 years at the heart of community life.’

Aisle messaging also includes POS to highlight ‘Christmas Value,’ Great British Meat and ‘Offers on wine.’

37

Your Budgens: Christmas

NEW PRODUCTS Also guaranteed to attract shoppers’ attention this festive season is Budgens’ line-up of new and Group Exclusive Deals – yet another benefit of being part of a bigger group.

Key Group Exclusive lines this year include Terry’s Chocolate Orange Ball Toffee Crunch, which is also available as part of a WIGIG deal offering shoppers the chance to buy ‘Any 2 for £3’.

Shoppers searching for vegan treats need look no further than the Nomo brand whose Cookie Dough Drops Box is also available for a Group Exclusive RSP of £3.99 offering retailers a POR of 20.3%.

Tapping into the shopper trend for indulgent flavoured coffees, Matchmakers Caramel Coffee sticks will also be available on a Group Exclusive deal offering shoppers the chance to snap up two 120g boxes for just £3.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

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New products such as these also give retailers a great opportunity to build excitement on social media, as well as in-store.

Impulse-friendly advent calendars are yet other product that shoppers will be keen to bag before the 1 December cut-off.

According to Mondelez International the advent category saw growth of 21% year-on-year last Christmas.

Budgens retailers have an array of scrumptious advent calendars from big name brands including Milkybar, Kinder, Cadbury Heroes, Toblerone and Reeses to chose from – all offering POR’s of more than 20% and sure to help Budgens retailers get the Christmas countdown off to a bang.

BOXING CLEVER Helping retailers to take advantage of the key gifting opportunity this festive season, Budgens retailers will also be able to choose from a sleigh-load of big-branded boxed chocolates and treats.

Shoppers after great value gifting options can snap up boxes from the bestselling Cadbury Milk Tray brand – whose WSP of £15.95 for 6x360g boxes has been held for 2022. Shoppers will be able to bag a box for just £3,99 offering retailers a POR of 20.1%.

Shoppers after more premium boxed options will also be able to treat their nearest and dearest with new 305g boxes of Guylian Belgian Classics at an RSP of £4.99 and 220g Lily O’ Brien’s Petit Desserts Gift Wrapped Boxes also available for a Group Exclusive RSP of £4.99 offering retailers a POR of 25.2%.

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Your Budgens: Jack’s

Value matters more than ever

Given the economic uncertainty facing shoppers these days, value is more important than ever – and Jack’s is the ideal range to deliver fantastic value every day.

The festive period which lies just around the corner is typically a time of year when shoppers tend to loosen the purse strings a little and treat themselves, their family and their friends to some affordable treats and luxuries to make the most of this unique time of year. That trend is likely to be in evidence once more over the next couple of months but there is little question that the challenges of the last few years will have an impact on shopper spend.

For many shoppers that will mean an even more keen focus on value and on ensuring that they make their money go as far as possible – and this is where the Jack’s own brand range is set to offer Londis retailers the perfect opportunity to deliver fantastic value and outstanding quality for their shoppers every time they visit your store.

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Volume 16: October / November 2022

SHOUT ABOUT JACK’S!

To continue to drive your sales and profits by leveraging the power of the Jack’s own brand, making the products unmissable in-store is vital.

All Londis stores have received full, high quality, eye-catching POS to help them communicate the range effectively to their shoppers. This POS kit includes: l Shelf cards l Shelf strip l Freezer vinyls l SEL backers l Posters l Barker ears l Pennants l Toblerone topper And don’t forget too, that you can order additional materials from the Londis Printshop including Banners and spare POS kits.

Latest Jack’s launches Pet Products The Jack’s range continues to grow and is fast approaching completion, Among the latest Jack’s pet products to be launched are: Product description

Case size

WSP

RRP

POR

Jacks Cat Cuts In Jelly With Salmon PM79

12x415g

£4.65

£0.79

41.1%

Jacks Cat Sticks Chicken And Liver PM100

16x30g

£7.99

£1.00

40.1%

Jacks Chewy Strips Rich In Chicken PM85

15x150g

£6.79

£0.85

36.1%

Jacks Small Log Bones With Chicken PM100

14x180g

£6.99

£1.00

40.1%

Jacks Tasty Treats PM85

12x100g

£5.59

£0.85

34.2%

Jacks Meaty Sticks With Beef PM85

14x100g

£5.69

£0.85

42.6%

Jacks Cat Cuts in Gravy Mix Selection PM399

4 x 12pk

£9.29

£3.99

30.2%

Jacks Cat Cuts in Jelly Mix Selection PM399

4 x 12pk

£9.29

£3.99

30.2%

Jacks Cat Cuts in Gravy With Lamb PM49

24 x 100g

£5.79

£0.49

40.9%

Jacks Cat Cuts in Jelly With Chicken PM49

24 x 100g

£5.79

£0.49

40.9%

*All prices correct at time of going to press.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

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Latest Jack’s launches Domestic The Jack’s range of domestic and household products has increased significantly with new lines including: Product description

Case size

WSP

RRP

POR

Jacks Firelighters

24x15s

£15.79

£1.19

34.0%

Jacks Tealights

36x20pk

£52.49

£2.25

22.2%

Jacks 12 Large Refuse Sacks Tie Top PM199

15x15s

£14.79

£1.99

40.5%

Jacks 60 Sandwich Bags PM139

10x60s

£6.69

£1.39

41.4%

Jacks Baby Soft And Dry Size 3 Nappies PM299

3x18pk

£6.25

£2.99

30.3%

Jacks 20 Swing Bin Liners Tie Handle PM169

12 x 20s

£9.39

£1.69

44.4%

*All prices correct at time of going to press.

GET SOCIAL!

Another effective way of encouraging try and repeat purchase of Jack’s products is to make as much use as possible of social media.

By highlighting Jack’s promotions, flagging up newly launched products or simply talking about the range on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, you can help drive awareness of the fantastic value and quality of the range, as well as driving fresh footfall, sales and profits.

BRP offers a great suite of social media assets that you can make use of to shout about your Jack’s range, making it really quick and easy to create attention-grabbing posts.

Speak to your RDM about how we can help.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

45

It’s on VITAMIN B3 HELPS REDUCE TIREDNESS

LUCOZADE AND THE ARC DEVICE ARE REGISTERED TRADE MARKS OF LUCOZADE RIBENA SUNTORY LTD. © LUCOZADE RIBENA SUNTORY LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Yes, many shoppers are likely to spend a little more on those special festive items that makes Christmas such a special time of year – items like premium alcohol, for instance - but the flip side to this indulgence could well be that they then become more intent than ever on optimising their spend in other areas of their shop.

Optimising spend could mean buying into many of Londis’s fantastic festive promotional deals and it could also mean seeking out great value in the form of every day low pricing – and this is where Jack’s offers Londis retailers a huge competitive advantage over other retailers in their area during the Christmas period.

Latest Jack’s launches Ambient The Jack’s ambient food range has been expanded with the recent introduction of:

Product description

Case size

WSP

RRP

POR

Jacks Sliced Beetroot In Vinegar PM99

6x340g

£3.99

£0.99

32.8%

Jacks Tuna Chunks In Brine

12x145g

£9.99

£1.29

35.5%

Jacks Tuna Chunks In Sunflower Oil

12x145g

£9.99

£1.29

35.5%

*All prices correct at time of going to press.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

47

Your Budgens: Jack’s

“Feedback from retailers and shoppers shows the Jack’s range meets the need for great quality products at amazing value prices.”

Then, after the excesses of the festive period when the new year rolls around and shoppers tighten their belts once more in January, Jack’s also offers an exclusive and powerful tool to deliver value and help shoppers manage their budgets.

Feedback from both retailers and shoppers has made it crystal clear that the Jack’s range meets a very specific need for great quality products at amazing value prices, while also delivering the sorts of PORs that Londis retailers need to run profitable, thriving businesses.

While most Jack’s lines deliver at least 30% POR, a massive number of the 500 or so Jack’s products already launched carry even higher PORs, upwards of 40%.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

49

Your Budgens: Local Sourcing

Local lovelies

Shoppers just can’t stop falling in love with local products – lending retailers a basket of opportunities to embrace better footfall and sales.

From freshly baked bread still hot from the oven to beers brewed just around the bend, local products’ reputation for freshness and quality has long-since endowed the category with a generous serving of shopper appeal.

And, as we plough through the autumn months, Budgens retailers from across the country are reporting renewed support and enthusiasm for local products – driven by an increasingly wide number of reasons.

In fact, according to latest IGD ShopperVista figures for September 2022, just under 80% of shoppers currently say that buying local products is “important” to them, while 29% class it as “extremely” important.

While local products remain key for injecting a bit of in-store artistry and rustic charm to retailers’ ranges, to today’s shoppers, local products have a value that goes way beyond flavour and aesthetics.

DELICIOUS DISPLAY

By their very nature, local products lend themselves perfectly to the creation of welcome in-store theatre and unique selling points.

Wicker baskets or wooden boxes can be used to create attractive displays for products such as local fruit, vegetables or cakes.

Stores with a bit more space can use hay bales or barrels to create impactful fixtures for other categories such as local ales or wines.

Don’t forget to support local products with in-store signage. Eye catching shelf edge labelling can be created with the use of chalk boards.

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Volume 16: October / November 2022

SOCIAL SELLING

Social media can act as a powerful engine to help drive sales of local products which often lend themselves to picture-perfect posts.

Budgens retailers such as Sanjay Chandarana of Budgens Wattonat-Stone regularly post about their local product ranges, with posts prompting positive comments from local shoppers. Leanne also reports increased footfall and sales of local products after posting.

Social media can also act as brilliant tool to help connect local suppliers with retailers. Arun says that several local suppliers contacted him directly after seeing his store’s posts on social media.

By their very nature, “locally” produced products have travelled far fewer “food miles” than many bigbrand alternatives, earning them big sustainability brownie points with climate-conscious shoppers.

Sanjay Chandarana of Budgens Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire explains: “Local products are a key USP for us and we sell a wide range of goods from the local bakery as well as products local fruit and vegetable suppliers and we even have a whole chiller dedicated to meat from the local butcher Bridget B’s. Shoppers love the fact that products come from just a few miles away, traceability and food miles really matter to them.”

In many cases, freshly produced local products like bread and bakery items, as well as fruit and vegetables, are also sold in loose, packaging-free formats which generate minimal and in some cases no packaging waste – another key concern for shoppers and retailers alike.

The small-batch production methods and ability for retailers to make and receive regular orders in volumes tailored to their needs also makes local Volume 16: October / November 2022

produce a relatively “safe” category in terms of food waste.

The same is true for shoppers who, in many cases, can buy local products in the precise quantities that they need and, in some cases, even have products made to order.

“We really try to remain local wherever we can,” Sanjay adds.

“It gives us such a strong USP and local shoppers love it. All local produce is also highlighted with the Discover Local point of sale to really drive the point home.”

51

hOW tO GrOW yOur sales WIth chOcOlate sInGle bars

sInGles

With On-the-GO MissiOns increasinG in cOnvenience it is iMpOrtant tO re-fOcus On yOur sinGles ranGe. here are sOMe tOp tips tO suppOrt yOu On best sellinG ranGes and What tO fOcus On tO drive yOur sales.

hOW tO display:

1. Group packs together

Bags

Solid Bars

2. Group brands together Colours help shoppers pick their favourite brands

3. Put your best sellers in the best location and double face them

sinGles are hiGhly iMpulsive* – sO Make theM unMissable in stOre!

23%

Of shoppers in independent or symbol store buy something on impulse

17%

56%

Of impulse purchases are confectionery

excite existinG custOMers and attract neW custOMers by stOckinG neW flavOur sInGles

Of shoppers purchase on impulse because of visibility

28%

Of shoppers purchase on impulse because of a promotion or PMP*

M279514

stOck the best sellers! tOp 10 sinGles in Independent and syMbOls** 1

6

M940140

2

M146947

7

M115492

3

M146899

8

M260712

4

M202100

9

M811687

5

M128674

M202099

10

M032557

6 Out Of the tOp 10 are cadbury!

sinGle bar shOpper facts and tOp tips:

16% singles are bought on a food-to-go mission.***

TIP: To drive impulse purchasing, position singles near food/coffee.

Younger shoppers are buying more chocolate singles and have a higher basket spend.*** TIP: Make sure you stock the latest products to attract them.

Brand is the most important reason for singles purchasing.***

Promotional purchasing is growing in convenience.***

TIP: Make sure you have enough stock of the best sellers.

TIP: Clearly signpost offers and consider PMPs.

HFSS Legislation applies from October 2022 to Retailers. Help is available through ACS at www.acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations *Lumina, CTP, 2022 **Nielsen, I&S, 52 Weeks, 7.3.2022 ***Lumina, CTP, 2022

Your Budgens: Local Sourcing

“Bridget B’s is a fantastic local butchery business which also has a traditional butchery shop in Watton Highstreet,” Sanjay explains.

“We sell lots of their pre-prepared convenience meats in our store; things like marinated chicken breasts, burgers, kebabs and BBQ selection packs. Sales are really strong all year round, but they were especially so over the summer.”

Local products can also act as powerful tools to help attract budget-conscious shoppers,

with many local products often available for great value price points. Budgens Watton at Stone goes to great lengths to highlight the incredible value for money offered by its range of fruit and vegetables sourced from Covent Garden Market. As its post from 24 September states: “Our fruit and vegetables come from Covent Garden Markets – it’s exactly what you get in farm shops but at a reasonable price!”

As Sanjay attests, social media can and does act as a powerful tool for promoting the joys of local produce.

“Products from local and small suppliers form a key part of our online communications to shoppers as they are such a USP,” Sanjay adds.

“We recently started selling a range of freshly caught local fish products from Ramus Seafood and social media was a great way of driving awareness of it and showcasing the range.”

From vegetables from Covent Garden Market to bread from the nearby village of Letchworth and

Volume 16: October / November 2022

GLORIOUS GIFTING From ales to biscuits, chocolates and cheeses, local products can also function as perfect gifting items – especially in tourist areas.

And with the festive season fast approaching, retailers who embrace the category also have an opportunity to drive key sales and profits as shoppers seek to answer their gifting needs with local loveliness.

Central Billing Supplier Cotswold Fayre recently revealed a new selection of gifting products for the 2022 festive season including 65 lines from certified B Corps, organisations officially achieving exceptional sustainability standards.

Alissia Festa, seasonal buyer at Cotswold Fayre says: “This year we have focused on providing retailers with some exciting alternatives to the traditional advent calendars and gift sets.

“Last year Cotswold Fayre saw an increase in festive alcoholic products, in particular its Christmas-themed gins.

The novelty of eye-catching bottles and different flavours created a popular gift category.”

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CENTRAL BILLING BENEFITS

Budgens retailers also have access to products and exclusive preferential deals from almost 200 suppliers, including a number of local, small and independents, across a vast range of categories via Central Billing.

Categories covered include fresh and frozen, bakery and cakes, grocery, and beers wines & spirits.

Prices are centrally negotiated and with low minimum order quantities and other benefits include less time-consuming administration because costs are charged to retailers weekly and set up as one direct debit going out of your account.

Speak to your Budgens RDM for more information.

fresh meats from Bridget B’s, a flick through Budgens’ Watton at Stone’s Facebook feed reveals a litany of posts highlighting its local range, with many posts featuring positive shopper comments and praise.

Kavanagh’s Budgens in the small Surrey village of Hinchley Wood is another store reaping the rewards of a well-managed range of local products.

In Hinchley Wood, many local products, including tomatoes, onions, herbs and breads are displayed in attractive “offshelf” displays that add a market-style feel and welcome touch of in-store theatre.

“The off-shelf displays have allowed us to introduce greater in-store theatre with quirky lines such as French onions as-well-as interesting local ones such as tomatoes for example, which we displayed in beautiful baskets on the shop floor in the summer months,” Noel says.

“In addition to creating an appealing market-style look the attractive offshelf displays also help us to get away from plastic packaging which is something that shoppers are also very keen to do and certainly something that we as a business are focused on too,” Noel adds.

Also enhancing the store’s visual appeal are two new spider fridges Volume 16: October / November 2022

which showcase a delectable selection of Sussex cheeses and premium deli meats in the main chilled aisle.

“Shoppers can’t get enough of the Sussex cheeses, they’ve added a real point of difference and together with the deli meats and local produce have really helped to elevate the offer and our talkability factor,” Noel adds.

By their very nature, local products lend themselves perfectly to attractive artisan-style displays: wooden boxes, wicker baskets, wine barrels, or even bales of hay or straw. All of these can be used to create welcome instore theatre and unique points of difference.

And those are still far from the only benefits. Display, sustainability and waste wins aside, local products also offer independent retailers yet another meaningful way in which to support the communities in which they trade, by keeping sorely needed money within local economies where it can help to support local people and jobs.

Shoppers’ renewed support for local stores and enterprise was welldocumented during the lockdown years and now, as the cost-of-living crisis bites, it’s a trend which looks set to keep on growing, giving Budgens retailers even more reasons to lock in on local.

55

What’s new: Products

W E N

JACKS TEALIGHTS

s t c u

CASE SIZE: 36x20pk WSP: £52.49

rod

p

RSP:

JACKS TUNA CHUNKS IN SUNFLOWER OIL

£2.25 POR: 22.2%

JACKS TUNA CHUNKS IN BRINE

CASE SIZE: 12x145g WSP: £9.99

Budgens brings you all the latest new products

JACKS 12 LARGE REFUSE SACKS TIE TOP PM199 CASE SIZE: 15x15s WSP: £14.79 RSP: £1.99 POR: 40.5%

RSP:

CASE SIZE: 12x145g WSP: £9.99

£1.29 POR: 35.5%

RSP:

£1.29 POR: 35.5%

JACKS 60 SANDWICH BAGS PM139 CASE SIZE: 10x60s WSP: £6.69 RSP:

£1.39 POR: 41.4%

JACKS CAT CUTS IN JELLY WITH SALMON PM79 CASE SIZE: 12x415g WSP: £4.65 RSP:

£0.79 POR: 41.1%

JACKS 20 SWING BIN LINERS TIE HANDLE PM169 CASE SIZE: 12 x 20s WSP: £9.39 RSP: £1.69 POR: 44.4%

Volume 16: October / November 2022

57

VUSE2 EPOD - 6 VARIANTS CASE SIZE: 5 x 2pk WSP: £22.99 RSP:

£6.99 POR: 23.3%

BAROSSA INK RED CASE SIZE: 6 x 70cl

JAM SHED CHARDONNAY CASE SIZE: 6 x 70cl

WSP: £34.99 RSP:

£8.99

WSP: £27.29 RSP:

POR: 22.16%

£6.99

POR: 21.92%

VUSE GO - 6 VARIANTS 10 x single WSP: £32.31 RSP: £5.99 POR: 35.2%

WISE WOLF CHARDONNAY CASE SIZE: 6 x 70cl

CASE SIZE: 6 x 70cl

WSP : £39.89

WSP : £39.89

RSP:

£10.99

POR: 27.41%

LOST MARY - 6 VARIANTS 10 x single WSP: £27.26

RSP:

£5.99 POR: 45.3%

WISE WOLF CABERNET SAUVIGNON

RSP:

£10.99

POR: 27.41%

Your Budgens: Social Media

Unleashing the power of social Social media has never been more important for Budgens retailers and to help you take those important first steps into the digital world Budgens has created a beginner’s guide on the subject. We share a few tips from the guide below.

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE l A picture or video of your store – or something branded. l Your logo – ideally as it appears above your store. l Your address details.

To create a page: l Go to facebook.com/pages/create to get started. l Click to choose a page category (choose local business or place). l Select a more specific category from the dropdown menu and fill out the required information (choose supermarket/ convenience store). l Click ‘Get Started’ and follow the on-screen instructions.

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Social and digital media have long been two of the most effective means of communicating with your existing shoppers, as well as grabbing the attention of new potential shoppers in your locality. If anything, the importance of these channels has grown over the last 18 months so it’s the perfect time to embrace the opportunities that social and digital offers to retailers.

Social media is easy to access, is widely used by the general public and, in its simplest forms, is completely free. Many Budgens retailers have already enjoyed great success with their social and digital media presence, boosting footfall and basket spend while increasing awareness of their stores and their value to the communities they serve.

One new Budgens store that understands the huge power of social media is Budgens Battersea Park Road in London.

Owned by seasoned Budgens retailer Anthony Benedict, the business views social media as “critical” and devotes a lot of time and effort to it.

Anthony comments: “We’ve been very active on social media for a long time so we know how important it is when you open a new store, like we did recently with Battersea Park Road. It’s an important tool for us to talk to our shoppers – and potential shoppers – and we see it as critical to how we run the store and the business.

“Social media is just so versatile and powerful, and it can be entirely free. We post lots of times every day and we try to produce our content in a way that replicates how we communicate with our shoppers in real life. That means a little bit of fun but always professional and polite. That’s how we treat shoppers in-store so that’s how we treat them in social media too.”

Tracking just how successful social media is in terms of driving footfall, sales and profits is, says Anthony, quite difficult – but he knows that it definitely works: “It’s hard to get precise and to put an ROI on the effort you put into social media, but we know for sure that it delivers big commercial benefits. It brings new shoppers to our door, it helps generate interest in exciting new products, it generates community engagement. It does all these things and keeps awareness levels of our store really high in our local area and beyond. It just works.”

Volume 16: October / November 2022

If you are not already using social or digital media to drive business in your store, then now is the right time to start.

However, making that first foray into the digital world can be daunting for the inexperienced, so Your Budgens is here to give you some highlights from the Budgens guide to social media, which you can request from your RDM. Just follow these key pointers to start giving your store an effective digital and social media presence.

GET GOOGLING

An important first step is to make sure that your store shows up on Google searches and maps. Google is one of the most important channels your business should be appearing on – it has over two billion monthly users and 3.8 million searches take place every minute!

To ensure useful information about your business appears alongside any local area search, there are a couple of simple steps to take with Google.

If your business already shows up as a location on Google Maps, you simply need to “claim” it. In the panel containing the address/hours/phone, click on the link saying ‘Own this Business?’ and continue from there. Remember to input information useful to a potential shopper: business name, opening hours, and phone number. If possible, add pictures too – potential shoppers will want to see photos of your business, so the better the pictures and the more of them, the more it will attract the shopper.

If your business is a new build, you will need to register it Volume 16: October / November 2022

with Google. In this case, there is a step-bystep guide they will take you through.

MAKE NEW FRIENDS

Setting up a social media presence is easy to do, but it is important to remember that it is an ongoing commitment, not just a one-off.

Platforms such as Facebook are interactive, and users are both hungry for new information and likely to make comments of their own on your page, so it is very important to keep posting new content and to monitor the activity on the page itself.

Retailers who wish to get involved with social media should consider the following: l You need to post regularly to keep the shopper engaged. l Keeping a constant stream of interesting material like photos, videos, recipes etc. is difficult, and can be time consuming.

The worst thing you can do is set up a Facebook page that you don’t maintain.

Be patient, as you may not attract much attention to start with unless you are investing money in advertising.

By having a social media presence, you are potentially opening up a channel for customer complaints that should be monitored frequently and with care.

Everything you post, and almost every interaction you have with your shoppers, will be in the public eye.

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duOs

hOW tO GrOW yOur sales WIth chOcOlate duO bars

duOs are drivinG the GrOWth intO sinGles** & With hiGher value per unit can drive MOre £ tO yOur till!

Get tO knOW the shOpper and tOp tips*

The Duos shopper is incremental to the standard singles shopper

1. The right range Are the best sellers listed?

The Duos shoppers drive the On the Go and Food to Go Missions

Brand is a key driver for purchase so stock the best sellers

hOW tO drIve duOs In stOre? 2. In store visibility

On shelf or secondary display

Duos shoppers tend to be older and attract more males than standard singles*

3. Drive rate of sale

Link Duos with a drink or meal deal

excite existinG custOMers and attract neW custOMers by stOckinG neW flavOur duOs M270083

stOck the best sellers: ** tOp 10 duOs in I&s rankinG Order

1

M146948

2

5

M270069

6 9

M146915

M242976

M270065

3 7 10

M173343

M267515

4 8

M905820

M264942

M270067

Great products to trade up shoppers & make more £ for your store HFSS Legislation applies from October 2022 to Retailers. Help is available through ACS at www.acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations *Kanter Take Home October 2021. **Nielsen, I&S, 52 Weeks, 7.03.2022

Pricing: Tobacco Club

Budgens Tobacco Club extended

with new lines

Budgens has added new lines to its popular Tobacco Club range offering retailers even more opportunities to add an extra 2% POR to their sales.

Budgens Tobacco Club

otfall

l Increase fo

e RSPs l Competitiv l Lower WSPs

Budgens has further increased the appeal of its already very popular Tobacco Club with the addition of five new lines, offering Budgens retailers even more opportunities to add an extra 2% POR to their tobacco sales.

The new Chesterfield and Marlboro Gold Rolling Tobacco lines benefit from significantly reduced WSPs which help deliver POR increases of 2% on every pack sold.

To take advantage of the Budgens Tobacco Club and benefit from reduced WSPs, all that retailers have to do is sign up and agree to sell the qualifying lines at RSP or below.

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

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

ORs l Improved P

Earn an extra 2% POR on Tobacco Club Products Volume 16: October / November 2022

63

YOUR CLEANING ESSENTIALS NEW 800ml SIZE

M280406

M280419

M280422

Pricing: Tobacco Club

NEW TOBACCO CLUB LINES NOW CHEAPEST ON DISPLAY

Chesterfield Case size: 10 x 20s

WSP: £74.92 £73.33 RSP: £9.54 POR: 5.8% 7.8%

Marlboro Gold Rolling Tobacco Case size: 5x30g

WSP: £47.78 £44.17 RSP: £13.02 POR: 11.9% 13.9%

Volume 16: October / November 2022

65

Top of the pods With shoppers thirsty for more premium inhome coffee solutions, the growing coffee pod market can help retailers brew up even stronger sales and profits.

From sweet and creamy Cappuccinos to short and punchy Espressos and dark and velvety Americanos, coffee is a serious business these days.

retail coffee but the pandemic forced drinkers to make more coffee in-home and replicate the quality of fresh onpremise brews.”

According to Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), more than 24 million households in the UK currently buy coffee – a huge number that highlights the benefits to retailers of stocking a diverse range of coffee products. However, with the global Covid-19 pandemic and series of nationwide lockdowns accelerating the “in-home barista” trend, what that range looks like has changed quite considerably in recent times.

Helping shoppers to replicate the quality, freshness and indulgence of coffee shop drinks quickly and conveniently at home is the UK’s growing coffee pod category, which now accounts for just under 20% of the total retail coffee market.

With many UK shoppers continuing to work from home, there has been a shift in how shoppers consume coffee which in turn has boosted demand for premium coffee products that shoppers can prepare and enjoy in the comfort of their own homes.

Mintel Food & Drink Associate Director Jonny Forsyth elaborates: “For years coffee shops have taken share from

66

The popularity of these pocket-sized profit-boosting pods has soared since 2019 according to JDE, with more shoppers buying into the category and those shoppers spending 8% more on coffee pods too. The frequency at which shoppers are buying into the category has also grown by 10%. It’s a simple sum which clearly adds up to a hot opportunity for Budgens retailers who, according to JDE, still possess significant potential to grow their share of sales.

While coffee pods currently account for Volume 16: October / November 2022

19% of total coffee sales, only 3% of those sales are currently made in the impulse channel – signifying significant “headroom to grow,” JDE says.

Fortunately for Budgens retailers, harnessing this growth is now easier than ever, with a strong range of big-name coffee pod brands from the Tassimo and Nescafé Dolce Gusto families, as well as Nespressocompatible pods from the L’OR brand.

Retailers looking to grow their share of coffee pod sales would do well to stock at least one variety of each of the most popular coffee shop style drinks, including a Latte, a Cappuccino and a

Coffee pod category growth l % change MAT VS two years ago l Shoppers + 5% l Spend per shopper + 8% l Frequency +10% (Source: Nielsen data to 18/6/22)

Volume 16: October / November 2022

Black Coffee offer, JDE says.

JDE’s Costa by Tassimo brand includes an Americano a Latte and a Cappuccino – all three of which will be subject to strong consumer deals in Budgens stores during NP07 and NP08. Offering retailers PORs of 25%, the retail promotions will also be supported by Q4 marketing and category activations.

Another way for retailers to stir up stronger coffee pod sales is by introducing a small range of popular flavours, allowing shoppers to further personalise their drinks and up the inhome indulgence ante even more.

As Mintel’s Forsyth explains: “For many shoppers the key to coffee making has moved beyond the desire for it to simply be ‘good coffee’; it’s now about brewing creative coffee, adding the same style and aspiration you would see in a coffee shop.”

Flavours can play a big role here.

According to recent Kantar WPO research, shoppers’ top-three coffee flavours are caramel, vanilla and gingerbread. Of these, caramel is the

“For years coffee shops have taken share from retail coffee but the pandemic forced drinkers to make more coffee in-home and replicate the quality of fresh on-premise brews.”

Jonny Forsyth, Mintel

67

Your Budgens: Coffee Pods

leading flavour, with 43.9% of coffee drinkers choosing it as their favourite (Kantar, Feb 2022).

Looking further ahead JDE says that the coffee pod market is expected to continue growing over the next five years and beyond, versus less premium segments such as Instant coffee which, by comparison, is expected to continue its slow decline.

In fact, by 2026 JDE expects the value of the coffee pods market to have grown by a further 7.3% to £410m, comfortably ahead of the Roast & Ground and Specialties & Mixes segments.

Now with numbers like that, it’s clear to see why retailers should jump on board the hot and steamy coffee pod opportunity.

24 million households buy coffee

COFFEE SHOP FAVOURITES

Budgens retailers have access to a range of pod products from bigname coffee shop brands that offer shoppers the chance to enjoy an authentic coffee shop experience without leaving the house.

The range includes a variety of SKUs from the Costa by Tassimo coffee pods.

COFFEE PODS CHIP AWAY AT INSTANT COFFEE’S LEAD

Coffee pods grew their share of the UK Coffee market by 6% between 2020 and 2021 – to account for just under 20% of the total retail market according to Mintel.

The growth in Coffee Pods was much faster than Ground Coffee and Coffee Beans, which grew by 2.4% in the year, while Instant Coffee, which still accounts for the lion’s share of the market, saw its share decline by 1% over the same period.

(Source Mintel UK Coffee Report 2021)

Volume 16: October / November 2022

Key lines from the Costa by Tassimo pods range include: l Tassimo Costa Latte Coffee Pods x8 (case of five) WSP £24.49 RSP £5.99 POR 18.2% l Tassimo Costa Cappuccino Coffee Pods x8 (case of five) WSP £24.49 RSP £5.99 POR 18.2% l Tassimo Costa Americano Coffee Pods x 16 (case of five) WSP £24.49 RSP £5.99 POR 18.2%

69

POD-TASTIC STATS FROM JDE l The coffee category is healthy with potential for strong growth which can be unlocked by driving coffee pod sales. l The coffee pod market is growing as shoppers continue to look to recreate coffee shop experiences in the home. l More shoppers are buying coffee pods, spend per shopper is increasing and so is frequency. l There is still lots of headroom to grow coffee pods in impulse by including the top brands. l The coffee pod market is expected to continue growing over the next five years and beyond versus less premium segments. l JDE expects the value of the coffee pods market to have grown by a further 7.3% by 2026, while the instant coffee segment is expected to decline by 4.8%.

“The pandemic has accelerated the in-home barista trend, prompting shoppers to make more coffee at home and attempt to replicate the quality of the fresh, on-premise brews they were accustomed to drinking in coffee shops pre-pandemic.”

Mintel Food & Drink Associate Director Jonny Forsyth

TOP TIPS l Merchandise stock by sub-category to help shoppers navigate your range more easily. l Use POS to further improve visibility of products and drive higher basket spend. l Make sure your range covers at least one variety of each of the most popular coffee shop-style drinks, including a Latte, a Cappuccino and a Black Coffee offer, such as an Americano. l Flavoured lines can help you add further interest to your range and tap into shopper demand for more indulgent products. l Caramel is the most popular coffee flavouring in the UK.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

71

Your Budgens: EPoS Systems

Push your business up a gear with nextlevel EPoS In today’s complex trading environment, a cutting-edge EPoS system like ShopMate can help you improve efficiencies and grow profits.

Independent retailing can be a complex process at the best of times and after the unprecedented challenges of recent years, the benefits of a modern EPoS solution that can help you take your store to the next level, have never been so important.

Fortunately for Budgens retailers, Budgens has a long-standing relationship with RDP (the Retail Data Partnership) which has continued to develop its offer over the past year, adding a raft of new benefits to help retailers operate their businesses even more efficiently and profitably.

RDP’s ShopMate system is among the

SERVE YOURSELF With speed of service a key concern for busy time-pressed shoppers, RDP has also launched a new Self-Serve Queue busting solution for 2022. The new ShopMate self-serve has functionality built into the existing software and allows the till to either be assistant-managed or consumer managed.

most-advanced systems available today.

Created specifically for independent retailers and developed over the years in response to their direct feedback, ShopMate offers retailers an array of excellent benefits that can have a positive impact on the bottom line, where it matters most.

BENEFIT NOW

Among the key benefits are automatic price and promotion updates, a comprehensive selection of intuitive reports and insights and the opportunity to extend the power of your ShopMate till with added value services including full back office or head office functionality and a Local Loyalty scheme.

Not only does RDP supply the Booker price file, it also manages its own RDP Price File which compliments the Booker file for non-wholesale related products, so if you purchase local products, these are catalogued, VAT rated and updated to the RDP price file for all RDP customers.

Electronic Delivery Notes are provided for all products purchased with Booker.

Regardless of whether the products are

73

Your Budgens: EPoS Systems

purchased in branch, via the Web or from the till; so long as a Booker account number is used, the electronic invoices are uploaded to the till providing immediate stock control for you.

Suggested and Electronic Ordering via the till also means that you can create an order without ever leaving the till.

New for 2022 is the new OnLine Management Suite providing all RDP customers with the ability to manage their reporting remotely via laptop, PC, Tablet or phone. The suite also offers real- time sales analysis and the ability to compare year on year product performance at either product or category level.

Another new opportunity for 2022 is the RDP Self-Serve Queue busting solution.

No hefty price tag for ShopMate selfserve - the functionality is built into the existing software and so the till can either be assistant-managed or consumer managed.

The MediaMaster Advertising screens provided FOC by RDP also allow retailers to advertise promotional offers at the point of sale. Not only are Budgens promotions advertised but retailers can include local business, store only promotions or sponsorship adverts within the media feed as well as supporting local community projects through adverts created by the RDP Marketing Department.

Additionally, ShopMate benefits from

CONNECTED

an expert UK-based technical support team, ready to help you whenever you need them.

The automatic price and promotion updates functionality mean you and your team will no longer lose huge amounts of time setting up promotions every period and updating pricing for the shop floor.

The reporting functionality offers quick, easy and intuitive access to all of your store’s most important data, allowing you to understand your business at a much deeper level and make better informed decisions on every level.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

The Budgens ShopMate EPoS bundle includes everything you need to start leveraging the power of a system that can you take your store to the next level.

A touchscreen full colour till, a thermal receipt printer and a Datalogic/ Honeywell Orbit scanner are all included, as are a laser printer, power and router connection cables and a standard or flip-top till.

Training and installation costs just £450 and, for just an extra £45, retailers can access a pre-install scanner that lets them set prices before the ShopMate system even arrives, meaning that they can hit the ground running on day one.

The system itself is free for Budgens retailers, while weekly service fees are just £15.50 for one till, £23.00 for two tills and £25.00 for three tills.

With a long history of serving the independent channel, ShopMate works with leading partners including Barclaycard, Dojo, FreedomPay, NetPay, Worldpay, i-movo and PaperRound among others, to ensure that retailers get the right support in the right areas at all times and have access to best-in-class solutions.

KEY BENEFITS l Promotions and prices updated automatically. l Intuitive reports and insights. l Make more use of your till with added value services. l Expert UK-based technical support. l Budgens EPoS Bundle

WHAT’S INCLUDED…

l Flytech touchscreen till system. l Epson Thermal Receipt Printer. l Datalogic/Honeywell Orbit Scanner. l Mono Laser Printer. l Power and Router Connection Cables. l Standard or Flip-Top Cash Drawer.

SERVICE FEES l One till: £15.50 per week l Two tills: £23.00 per week l Three tills: £25.00 per week

Training and Installation is only £450 and, for just £45, Budgens retailers can take advantage of ShopMate’s pre-install scanner to set prices into ShopMate before it arrives, leaving you ready to trade straight away. The total cost of £495 can be spread across two monthly Direct Debit instalments if desired.

Contact your RDM for further information about getting your ShopMate EPoS System.

Volume 16: October / November 2022

75

Your Budgens: Birthdays

s n e g d u B s y a d h t Bir

5 7 46

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

Volume 16: October / November 2022

23

25 22

1

21

24

9 2

17

16

15

11

19 18

12

20 3

10

13 14

8

76

Your Budgens: Birthdays

1

YEAR

1

BIRCHES BARN ROAD Wolverhampton

3

YEARS

8

West Midlands 2

YEARS

2

STANTON ST QUINTIN Nr Chippingham Wiltshire

2

YEARS

3

CORRINGHAM Stanford-le-Hope Essex

3

YEARS

4

ANLABY ROAD Hull East Yorkshire

3

YEARS

5

EDGEHILL ROAD Scarborough North Yorkshire

3

YEARS

6

HESSLE ROAD Hull East Yorkshire

3

YEARS

7

CREEKMOOR SERVICE STATION Poole

6

YEARS

4

YEARS

9

YEARS

YEARS

10 SCAYNES HILL Scaynes Hill

9

YEARS

YEARS

11

13

COOKHAM Cookham

YEARS

5

12 LONG MELFORD Sudbury

15 YEARS

YEARS

13 ASHDENE NORTH Hurst Green

SPRING BANK Hull

Aylsham

17 TROWBRIDGE

Trowbridge

18 BELSIZE PARK

Belsize Park London

Suffolk

6

16 AYLSHAM

Wiltshire

Berkshire

YEARS

Tadley

Norfolk

West Sussex

5

15 TADLEY Hampshire

Bristol

4

Hurst Green East Sussex

Dorset

9 DUNDRY Dundry

14 ASHDENE SOUTH

17 YEARS

19 CHISWICK

Chiswick London

East Sussex

East Yorkshire

e m o c Welto Budgens

Store openings and refurbs We’re delighted, as always, to welcome new stores to the Budgens family.

20 NETTO ROMFORD LTD Romford, Essex

21 BUDGENS - CHERRY HINTON Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

22 PEREGRINE RETAIL LTD

Market Deeping, Lincolnshire

23 CK’S SUPERMARKET LTD Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire

24 J & T & G WILLIAMS

Hook Norton, Oxfordshire

25 WESTONVS LIMITED Spalding, Lincolnshire

Volume 16: October / November 2022

77

A

ch

w in 1 o t e c an

000s of fee

l- g o

od

i t h e ve r y p a c w s e z i k pr

This autumn, Yakult are on a mission to make your customers feel great.

With every promotional pack of Yakult purchased there’s a chance to win 1000s of feel-good prizes, including 7 luxury spa breaks.

Promotion supported by outdoor media and digital.

STOCK UP NOW

Variant code

Variant Desc

Case

M205934

Yakult Light

5

M217985

Yakult Orig Mlk Drnk 20D

5

18+. Promotion open from 01/09/2022 – 29/12/2022. For full T&Cs visit yakultmission. com. For GB, applies to any promotional Yakult 7x65ml pack only. While stocks last.

For NI, no purchase necessary.

ACS Update: 2022 Local Shop Report

At your The Local Shop report highlights the breadth and depth of services that convenience stores offer to their customers.

Local Shop Report highlights the critical role independent stores play in local economies and communities

Every year, we produce what we believe to be the definitive look at the UK convenience sector, the people running stores, the colleagues working in those stores, and the communities that they serve.

cases losing money on the provision of that service. 44% of convenience stores now provide a free to use cash machine and 18% provide a charged one, compared to 49% and 23% last year. While this may not seem like too much of a significant shift, local shops are now often the only place that consumers can access cash locally, so every ATM lost has an impact.

The 2022 Local Shop Report reveals some impressive numbers about the sector: 48,590 stores providing 405,000 flexible, local and secure jobs, contributing over £9bn in taxes, and investing over £605m in improvements in refrigeration, Energy price hikes haven’t impacted what we offer much … yet, but if we don’t get long-term support on energy bills, lighting, and full store refits. These figures are absolutely the sector won’t maintain the levels of chilled and crucial in showing how important local shops are frozen space we currently offer. Unsurprisingly, to the economy, especially at difficult times like there is a dramatic uptick in the percentage this.

IF YOU of stores that have energy saving measures WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE like solar panels (currently 5%).

One of the aspects of the industry that the POLITICAL WORK OF ACS report highlights is the breadth and depth CALL These issues are symptomatic of a of services that convenience stores offer to wider trend in convenience in 2022 – their customers. Since starting the report in retailers are facing increased costs in all 2012, the overall level of service provision OR LOG ON TO areas of their businesses, whether it be has grown steadily. However, this year we’ve www.acs.org.uk employment, utilities, fuel, service provision, noticed a concerning trend in the number of delivery costs or product costs, and are already both free to use, and charged, cash machines making difficult decisions about what they can that are provided by convenience retailers. keep offering and where they need to cut back. The We’ve been campaigning for several years on the issues of Local Shop Report is an important tool for us in educating interchange fees, the business rates levied on ATMs, and the new Ministers and Government officials on the importance importance of providing access to cash to local communities, of the UK convenience sector and forms a key part of our with the warning that providing an ATM in store is becoming campaigning activity to help stores keep trading successfully a difficult proposition for many retailers who are in some into the future.

01252 515 001

Volume 16: October / November 2022

79

NO.1 W H I S KY S ’ K U I N G R O U S E C O U N T RY SPE N D T I M E

Number 1 Blend across all bottle formats.*

STOCK UP NOW!

THE FAMOUS GROUSE & GINGER 50ml The Famous Grouse 150ml Ginger ale Build over cubed ice Serve in a highball glass and garnish with a wedge of lime. *Nielsen Scantrack, Total Off-Trade, Data to 25.07.22

Oct / Nov 2022

A community focus is setting sales alight in Rowley Regis Unwrap fantastic value this festive season with Jack’s Liven up sales with local products Volume 16

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