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Convenience
The
Industry’s
CREAM OF the crop
With a rich abundance of seasonal celebrations and events to support, this autumn looks set to be especially fruitful for Budgens retailers.
Fields are turning from green to gold and as we approach the autumn, with its rich crop of seasonal celebrations, retailers have an abundance of opportunities to harvest plentiful footfall, sales and profits.
From the ‘Back To School’ rush to Diwali, Halloween and Bonfire Night, there’s a whole host of events and celebrations to get behind as we build up to the crucial festive season –and as ever Budgens is helping you to make the very most of them with a plentiful crop of support.
As the home delivery opportunity continues to gather momentum, this issue of Your Budgens includes another great piece on Scoot – Booker’s new low-cost rapid delivery solution, which is already proving massively popular with Budgens retailers across the country. Scoot promises to help you make more and save more – an estimated £34,000 more profit each year to be precise!
Be sure to also check out the feature on Booker’s new Fresh and Frozen Brochure which has been designed to help retailers maximise opportunities across one of the fastest-growing areas in convenience.
Available to all Budgens retailers now, the brochure includes practical guidance on how to optimise their fresh and chilled offers, grow basket spend and respond to evolving shopper expectations around freshness and convenience.
Our latest feature on Booker’s Colleague Networks and the inspiring work of Women@Booker is another must read.
Naturally, this issue of Your Budgens also includes the same scrumptious serving of new product updates, news and inspiring retailer profiles.
So sit back, relax, and read on to bask in the glow of the autumn opportunity.
I wish you all fruitful trading.
Industry News
Booker’s official B2B WhatsApp channel provides retailers with more personalised content and early access to deals and news.
Budgens retailers bag benefits of Booker’s official WhatsApp channel
Budgens retailers are reaping the rewards of joining Booker’s official WhatsApp channel, including first access to unbeatable wholesale deals and special offers.
Launched earlier this summer, the new B2B WhatsApp channel also provides retailers with access to far more personalised content – in line with their fascia, region, branch and more.
Urgent and time-sensitive messages, including order cut-off times, branch closures and weather warnings, can be sent and received in an instant – helping retailers to manage their businesses better.
They can also receive digital vouchers, Club information and updates on pre-sells and promotions.
Retailers who join the WhatsApp channel also enjoy being the first in line to find out about exciting new products, including Group Exclusives.
They also benefit from category insights and top tips to help them grow their businesses.
Retailers can join the channel in a variety of ways, including email sign-up, online, or via the link below.
For more information, speak to your RDM.
WHY JOIN BOOKER’S OFFICIAL WHATSAPP CHANNEL?
SPECIAL OFFERS
Get instant updates on new promotions, special offers and events.
FIRST TO KNOW
Be the first to see new products and Group Exclusives.
INSIGHTS AND TIPS
Get industry insights and category advice to help you grow your business.
STAY UP TO DATE
Keep up to date on trade shows, pre-sells, order cut-off dates, recalls and branch news.
Join here!
Use the sign-up link: app.proconnectplatform.com/join/booker
Convenience stores remain a top three service for communities
Pharmacies, Post Offices and convenience stores are the three services that make the biggest positive difference to communities, new findings show.
Convenience stores remain within the top three services deemed ‘Most essential’; felt to have the ‘Most positive impact’; and viewed as ‘Most important in supporting the local economy’, according to the 2025 Community Barometer, released by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
The report asks UK consumers to rank 16 different local services on a range of areas and – across the main categories – pharmacies, Post Offices and convenience stores ranked as a clear top three.
As part of the Community Barometer, ACS also asked consumers about the main reasons why they use their local convenience store. The top six reasons are:
1. Picking up additional bits of shopping through the week to top up the main shop.
2. Dropping off or collecting parcels.
3. Using Post Office services.
4. Getting additional bits of shopping because they’re the only shop that has what I need.
5. Getting cash out from a cash machine.
6. Doing the main shop for the week.
ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said:
“It’s clear that people use their local shops for diverse range of products and services, and increasingly as parcel hubs to bridge the gap between online and physical shopping, but also for the intangibles like as a social hub.
“Every community has different needs and our members’ superpower is adapting their offer to make sure the right products and services are available.
“We’re proud of our members’ commitment to making everyone welcome in store and being at the heart of their communities.”
Evri to invest £50m in cuttingedge lockers
Evri is seeking to more than double its network of ParcelShops and lockers to 25,000 by 2030.
To support the growth, Evri is investing more than £50m in the launch of an owned, in-house network of smart lockers that it says will “bring dynamic new functionality to the consumer experience”.
More than 10,000 lockers will be rolled out as part of its plans.
Evri currently has a network of more than 10,000 ParcelShops and lockers, which includes its flagship independent shop network, Post Office branches and corporate partners. Its partnerships and investment will more than double this by 2030, with Parcelshops and locker locations set to grow to 25,000 – hitting the 2,000-locker milestone before Christmas 2025.
The announcement follows a 500% year-on-year increase in locker usage, a trend which is anticipated to continue.
HFSS promotion restrictions soon to be enforced in England
Retailers are being reminded of new HFSS promotion restrictions coming into force this October.
New regulations restricting the promotion of products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) will come into force in England on 1 October 2025.
The regulations apply to businesses with 50 or more employees regardless of store floor space size.
Symbol group or franchise retailers may also fall within scope, depending on how staffing and operations are structured.
Under the new rules, volume-based promotions on HFSS products will be banned, meaning retailers will no longer be able to offer:
l Multi-buy deals such as ‘3 for £10’
l Free product incentives like ‘Buy One Get One Free’ (BOGOF) or ‘50% extra free’
l Loyalty point incentives on HFSS items
l Promotions on party platters containing HFSS items
Meal deals and pre-packaged multipack offers will still be permitted under the legislation.
Affected categories include items such as breakfast cereals, yoghurts, cakes, ready meals, confectionery, and soft drinks.
To support retailers, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has developed a summary of the measures and a comprehensive Assured Advice guide.
Speak to your RDM to find out how and if you will be affected or visit acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations for more information.
New guidance on slush sales for parents and stores
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued new guidance urging retailers to not offer free slush refills to children aged under 10.
containing glycerol.
The FSA also advised that children aged seven to 10 should have no more than one 350ml slush drink per day.
Manufacturers of slush ice drink concentrates have also been reminded to use only the minimum amount of glycerol necessary to achieve the frozen effect.
The guidance was timed to coincide with the launch of a new summer communication campaign urging parents and caregivers not to give children under the age of seven any slush ice drinks
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is also urging retailers who sell slush to display signs reminding shoppers that slush containing glycerol should not be consumed by children under seven.
While not a legal requirement, the ACS said that displaying the signage was best practice.
Report calls for urgent action on Post Office Horizon scandal
Sir Wyn Williams has published the first volume of his final report on the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.
Urgent action must be taken to ensure full and fair compensation for the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal, Sir Wyn Williams has demanded in the first volume of his final report on the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.
The 162-page report featured 17 case studies of Horizon victims, illustrating the devastating ways in which their lives had been impacted.
“Between 2000 and 2013 in England and Wales, and for some time after 2013 in Northern Ireland and Scotland, postmasters and others suffered the trauma of criminal prosecution, conviction, and punishment and, for some, punishment meant lengthy periods of imprisonment. I received reports that some people held liable for shortfalls became ill as a consequence; tragically I heard, too, of people of whom it is said that they were driven to take their own lives,” Williams said.
Laid before Parliament in July 2025, Williams made 19 urgent recommendations to resolve issues that are hindering full and fair redress, including that:
l The Government and the Post Office should agree on a definition of ‘full and fair’ compensation, and this should be followed when deciding the level of compensation to offer.
l Horizon Shortfall Scheme claimants should receive legal advice, funded by the Government.
l Close family members of people affected by the Horizon scandal should receive compensation.
Responding to the report, Post Office Chair Nigel Railton, said: “I will do everything in my power to make sure that affected postmasters receive the redress they are entitled to, as soon as possible.”
PayPoint doubles retailer commission for Love2shop gift cards
PayPoint has doubled retailer partner commission on Love2shop gift card sales and revealed new display units.
Retailers can now earn 10% on each physical gift card sold. With £32 being the average gift card value for consumers to purchase, this will earn retailers £3.20 on the sale.
The boost in commission comes at the same time as a newly designed gift card.
PayPoint retailers can also earn 1% commission on digital gift vouchers for a wide range of brands including: Amazon, Deliveroo, Google Play, Netflix, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Rising food prices now top concern for UK shoppers
Food prices are now the top concern for UK shoppers –overtaking worries about energy costs, IGD’s latest Viewpoint report revealed.
The finding came as IGD revealed that food inflation was set to peak at 5.1% in late summer 2025, significantly outpacing general inflation.
Looking ahead to 2027, the report offers cautious optimism, forecasting a gradual decline in food inflation to 1.8% by mid-2027.
Michael Freedman, Head of Economic and Consumer Insight at IGD said: “Amid economic uncertainty, shoppers are cautious with their finances, increasing private label purchases while reducing impulse and indulgence buys.”
Flying high for charity
On Sunday 3 August, Maggie took to the skies attached to the top wing of a 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane.
Carnival capers
St John’s Budgens in Kenilworth, Warwickshire treated shoppers to a tasty serving of street foods as part of the town’s Kenilworth Carnival day over the summer.
Shoppers could watch the carnival procession go past whilst tucking into a juicy burger from The Fire Guys Kitchen and luscious ice creams, desserts and milkshakes from Mylah-Moos.
Run by Budgens retailer Sid Sidhu, the store has started running regular pop-up kitchen events in its carpark, including a delicious display of FilipinoAsian Cuisine from Shellamar’s Kitchen in July. Budgens sales assistant Maggie Thompson has raised a sky-high sum of more than £4,084 for charity after successfully completing an adrenalinefuelled ‘Wing Walk’!
Maggie, of Budgens of Holt in Norfolk, raised the sum for the store’s charity of the year: The Boudicca Breast Cancer Unit at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Maggie raised more than £4,000 via her JustGiving page alone – smashing her original target of £1,000.
Even more money was donated to the store’s charity boxes at the till points.
What a scoop!
Kavanagh’s Budgens of Hinchley Wood in Surrey has been helping shoppers to indulge themselves and stay cool this summer with a brand-new serve over Gelato offer available in store.
Shoppers can choose from more than seven delicious flavours, including Pistachio, Chocolate and Roasted Hazelnut, Sea Salt Caramel, Raspberry Sorbetto and more.
Each scoop costs just £1.15, with shoppers who ‘like and share’ the store’s Facebook page invited to enjoy a free one.
GroceryAid delivers ‘76% increase’ in incidences of support
GroceryAid’s annual impact report has recorded a huge increase in demand for help and saw a 76% increase in incidences of support by the charity in the last year.
The last 12 months have undoubtedly been challenging for many colleagues throughout the independent retailing and grocery channels, a fact borne out by industry charity GroceryAid’s latest 2024/25 Annual Impact Report.
The report reveals that over 139,000 incidences of support were provided to industry colleagues over the last year, a huge 76% on the previous year.
The support provided by the charity includes financial, emotional and practical support. The concerning figures unveiled in the report show that demand for support across all three categories is soaring, in no small part thanks to the continuing cost-of-living pressures facing those working in the retail sector.
As a result, GroceryAid made more than 8,500 financial grants in the period covered by the report, a significant 23% increase on the year before. Almost 6,700 children were supported by the charity’s Schools Essentials Grant, which provides non-repayable grants of £150 per qualifying child. This represented a 12.5% increase on the previous year.
In addition, some 523 financial grants were awarded to caring households, a 35% increase year-on-year (YOY).
Along similar lines, the charity’s debt advice service was accessed more than 15,200 times (151% increase YOY), the cost-of-living advice webpages were viewed more than 52,000 times (136% increase YOY) and the financial wellbeing hub was used more than 5,800 times.
It was a similar story in terms of emotional and practical support with over 12,300 calls taken by the GroceryAid helpline, more than 5,300 in-themoment counselling sessions provided and 1,128 colleagues receiving counselling support (up 67% YOY).
The GroceryAid Annual Impact Report makes for sobering reading but reinforces the importance of the role that the charity plays in helping our industry colleagues through the challenges they are faced with.
SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR
For free and confidential financial, emotional and practical support for all independent retailing colleagues, call the Helpline on 08088 021 122 or visit groceryaid.org.uk
Mission accomplished
Providing meals for now, tonight and all week long, Budgens Westacre has every mission covered following an epic redevelopment.
The-family run Gardner Garages business has a strapline: “fuelling the Gloucestershire motorist for over 50 years.” But the Gardners might want to think about updating it strapline because these days it’s not just motorists that its six stunning sites are fuelling – it’s whole communities.
Take its exquisite new Westacre site near Salisbury for example. Having re-acquired the site’s lease in 2018, the family promptly turned the store, which had been trading as a Bargain Booze, into a Londis.
Then in late 2023, they succeeded in buying the site’s freehold – a move which allowed them to press go on a long-standing development dream.
Operations Director Ashton Gardner explains: “I’d been wanting to do something with the site for ages, but the timing wasn’t right to plough investment in until we acquired the freehold.
“Having previously traded as a Bargain Booze, the store had traditionally been very big on alcohol so when we first converted it to a Londis, we had
FACTFILE
Store name: Budgens Westacre, Salisbury
Operations Director: Ashton Gardner
Size: 2,700sq ft
Best-performing categories: Fresh and chilled, food to go, BWS, soft drinks
Services: Post Office, National Lottery
Opening hours: 24-hour
all the alcohol on one side of the store, and all the other categories on the other - which initially worked quite well.”
However, as time went on, the format started to lose some sparkle. It was clear that a shake-up was needed, including a re-think of the store’s layout and a far greater space allocation for fresh and chilled foods.
And so, a switch to Budgens was decreed - along with a total re-imagining of the store’s customer journey. After nearly nine months machinating the drawing board, a truly transformative plan was settled on.
“We closed in the second week of February 2025 and reopened five weeks later at the end of March,” Ashton explains.
“There was a bit of debate about keeping the store open while the work was carried out but it would have just delayed things so in the end we decided to close and get things done as quickly as possible. Five weeks wasn’t too bad considering the scale of the change!”
Not bad at all in fact. Let’s start at the business end, where
“Fresh, chilled and grocery have all seen massive increases but everything else is showing consistent growth too which is really good to see.”
Ashton Gardner
a total re-development of the store’s back-of-house area has driven key operational efficiencies. “We’ve created a whole compound on the outside so that deliveries can be received straight through the back, rather than the front door which is a hugely positive change,” explains Ashton.
The large, well-structured area also includes new chilled and frozen storage. The store’s large and well-used exterior Revolution laundrette was also relocated nearer the front of the store.
“Going with Budgens meant that our primary focus was going to be fresh - so we’ve made that front and centre of the new space,” Ashton says.
“The new customer base that we are targeting now is the ‘shop on your way home’ one - so when shoppers enter the
Will your case s core a touchdown?
M275943 M304746
store today, they walk straight into a wonderful world of fresh and chilled.
“Straight in front of them is freestanding chiller full of food to go and snacking products. To the left, we have a lovely flower display and then the entire left-hand corner and wall that runs all the way to the back is chillers packed with fruit, vegetables and chilled foods.
“In the old store, we didn’t even have a whole bay of fresh. We were essentially a massive corner shop majoring on BWS, soft drinks and confectionery, so it’s a huge change. You can do your whole weekly shop at Westacre now.
“We’ve also moved the location of the till. It used to be in the middle of the shop and we had to rely on cameras quite a lot to see all the pumps but now it’s in much more of a traditional petrol station location right by the window.”
The store has also been enhanced with a smart new beer cave by the tills, which offers shoppers and extensive choice of chilled BWS products at great value prices.
The only area of the store that hasn’t been totally transformed is the Stone Willy’s Kitchen hot food zone near the back.
“We only fitted that five years ago and had invested in really nice but very costly white ceramic tiles, so we didn’t want to rip those out and start again,” Ashton explains.
The Stone Willy’s Kitchen concept features hot pizzas, burgers and other ready to eat ‘to go’ items from Country Choice. The zone has, however, been tweaked a little with an upgrade of its two existing Costa Coffee machines to ones that also dispense iced drinks. Tango Ice Blast has also been added to the mix.
At the time of going to print, brand new Budgens Westacre had been trading for just over four months and “seeing fantastic growth.”
“Shoppers are thrilled,” says Ashton. “It took them a little time to become aware of the change at first, but the last couple of weeks have been our best. Shop sales are always strong around the Summer Solstice, because we are so close to Stone Henge, but both weeks have been over £50k which is amazing.
“It proves that this really was the right decision and that we are on a great trajectory.”
Deliver big sales growth with Scoot
Booker’s new rapid response delivery service is a fantastic way to quickly grow sales, reach new customers and power up your profits.
There are very few things that you do in a modern convenience store that have the potential to rapidly grow your sales in a relatively short space of time, but home delivery is one such opportunity. That explains the explosion of home delivery over the last four or five years and also explains why a staggering one in every three shoppers is now interested in using rapid grocery delivery services, according to TWS data. The market is expected to hit £2.6bn by 2029.
Consider that in 2019 only 12% of convenience stores offered home delivery, as noted in the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) Local Shop Report. By last year that figure had soared to 47%.
Why is it so popular and why should you consider home delivery if you don’t already offer that service? Well, an average basket spend of £27 is one compelling reason but another, even better one, is the recent launch of Booker’s unique rapid response delivery app Scoot.
Designed by retailers for retailers, Scoot promises to help you make more and save more – an estimated £34,000 more profit each year to be precise!* Scoot facilitates home deliveries to shoppers in as little as 30 minutes.
Unlike many other home delivery solutions, Scoot charges only 1% commission for weekly home delivery sales up to £4,999 – and absolutely no commission on anything above that level.
Those savings alone make Scoot a game-changer for retailers
Did you know?
l Average delivered basket transaction is £27 – that’s three times more than in store!
l One in three shoppers are interested in using Rapid Grocery Delivery.
l Key times for your shoppers to order are Dinner, Lunch and Evening snack and treats.
l The market is set to grow to £2.6bn by 2029 from £2bn.
l 80% of orders are delivered within a mile radius.
l The busiest days for shoppers to order are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
l The top three categories are Treats and Snacks (including crisps, chocolate and sweets) 68%, Cold Drinks (including soft and alcoholic) 62%, and General Food (top-up shop) 48%.
[Source: TWS]
Make more save more with Scoot!
l Make an estimated £34,000 additional profit per year (based on weekly app sales of £2,500)**.
l Only 1% commission charged up to £4,999 of weekly retailer sales.
l Zero commission once you reach £5,000 of weekly sales on the app.
l 0.7% card transaction fee*.
l Next banking day settlement at no additional charge (not included Saturday/ Sunday).
l Zero consumer charges giving you the ability to offer the service for free.
Generate over £130k sales a year*
1m x 1m space required
Up to 200 drinks range
600mm x 1m space required
Available with or without Costa stand
WHY CHOOSE COSTA EXPRESS?
We sell 5 cups of coffee every second. Offer your customers the Nation’s No.1 coffee brand in store. You provide the milk and we provide all other consumables, marketing materials, field service support and training.
Please speak to your Booker RDM to find out more about getting Costa Express into your store. Alternatively, email bookergroup@costacoffee.com for more information.
looking to grow their margins and reduce the cost of doing business, but Scoot offers a whole lot more.
There are no shopper charges, for instance, giving you the flexibility to offer the service for free, should you wish – or set your own delivery, service or minimum order fees.
The slick, intuitive and easy-to-use app connects shoppers directly with participating stores, enabling them to order from a range of products, curated by you, the retailer.
The secure platform also facilitates the ordering, payment, and picking processes, so all you need to do is organise the delivery. Scoot even accepts payment using Apple Pay and Google Pay, something not all home delivery platforms do.
Retailers who sign up to Scoot will also receive support from a dedicated Business Development Manager (BDM) and their existing RDM, who together will assist with on-boarding, including product file set up, training and live support.
Your dedicated BDM and RDM will also help you to develop a plan to grow sales to £5,000 and increase your profitability.
Retailers also receive an exceptional launch support package – including point of sale, digital assets and thermal delivery bags.
As if that wasn’t enough, retailers also benefit from upweighted marketing support including targeted social media adverts, and a contribution towards a full promotional wrap for their delivery vehicles.
Colm Johnson, Managing Director for Booker Retail, said: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help our customers grow their business, so we are incredibly proud to announce the launch of Scoot, to support them in doing just that.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our retailers to increase their basket spend, store sales, and connect with new and existing shoppers in their local communities.
“The feedback from our pilot test has been really positive and we look forward to welcoming more retailers to the platform over the next few months.”
[*based on weekly app sales of £2,500 and 26% gross margin]
Why Scoot?
l What costs are involved for retailers who are interested in introducing Scoot to their store?
l Retailers interested in introducing Scoot to their store will incur a one-time setup fee of only £395.
l There is a 1% service charge on in-app sales up to £5,000 per week. However, this is removed once a retailer consistently achieves over £5,000 in weekly in-app sales, over a four-week period.
l A card processing fee of approximately 0.7% will apply to all transactions.
l Next day settlement of all consumer transactions occurs, with the exception of the weekend and bank holidays. This means the money goes straight into the retailers’ account as opposed to being held for up to a week versus other platforms.
What is the set-up process like for retailers introducing Scoot to their store?
l The setup process for retailers introducing Scoot to their store is designed to be seamless and non-intrusive, allowing them to continue trading as usual throughout the onboarding process.
l Once confirmed, retailers should go live on the platform within two weeks of the merchant ID being completed.
What launch support can retailers expect?
Key support and equipment includes:
l A hand-held terminal to facilitate easy order processing.
l Thermal bags to maintain food temperature during delivery.
l A contribution towards vehicle wraps to help promote the service.
l Digital marketing support with geo-targeted social media campaigns to reach the right audience.
l In-store radio advertising.
l Full Point of Sale suite to promote Scoot in-store.
l The Scoot team will ensure that the retailer’s range is uploaded to the platform and the platform is correctly set up in advance of launch.
l Market-leading and App Exclusive promotions.
To help retailers even further, Scoot has also partnered with the Eskuta brand.
Retailers can receive a Scoot-branded SX-250 Series 4 eBike for easy weekly payments from only £30 a week.
The cost includes damage and theft insurance, an eBike tracker, servicing at your store, and a helmet.
To find out more, visit www.eskuta.com/scoot or call 02476 350 150.
Conquer the fresh and frozen frontiers
Booker’s new Fresh and Frozen Brochure is packed with cool counsel – guaranteed to help you become a true chilled champion and freezer pleaser.
New Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure
Available now, Booker’s new Fresh and Frozen Brochure has been designed to help retailers make the very most of the growing fresh and frozen categories.
Inside, you can discover insights and information on:
l More than 1,800 lines across key categories
l More than 1,500 fresh lines
l More than 250 frozen lines
l More than 300 ownbrand lines
l New and key ‘Must Stock’ lines, including 60 new lines with Buyers’ recommendations
l The shopper trends that are driving today’s shoppers
Once regarded as supermarket territory, fresh and frozen were terrains that few convenience stores dared to tackle.
Today, however, the opposite is true.
60 new lines with buyers’ recommendations
Shoppers’ calls for greater access to quality fresh and frozen products on their doorsteps have intensified since the pandemic – fuelled by the desire to shop more locally and sustainably.
And, as almost every single profile in Your Budgens now clearly shows, convenience stores are answering those calls – lacing up their boots and marching with confidence into the fresh and frozen frontiers.
Budgens retailers are investing in both categories like never before: expanding and reconfiguring their stores to make way for new and improved ranges, purchasing new equipment and display solutions, and investing in staff training to make the absolute most of both opportunities.
Helping them every step of the way is Booker, which has just strengthened its support with the launch of a comprehensive new Fresh and Frozen Brochure.
Available now, this ultimate guide has been designed to help retailers create truly irresistible fresh and frozen offers that drive footfall, sales and profits to new heights.
Featuring information and insights on more than 1,500 fresh lines and 250 frozen lines – including over 300 own-brand lines – Booker’s Fresh and Frozen Brochure is the definitive tool to help retailers plan and perfect their offers.
Split into key sections, including Fresh Fruit, Deli, Cooked Meats, Juices and Smoothies, Frozen Vegetables, Frozen Bread and many more, the brochure provides a deep dive into the vast range of fresh and frozen choices available.
It also shines a spotlight on often lesserexplored categories such as Fruit and Nuts, Fish, Fresh Herbs and Salads –helping retailers add even more colour and interest to their offers.
More than 60 brand-new lines, guaranteed to drive excitement and give retailers the edge, are also showcased.
The guide features a marvellous mix of ‘Must Stock’ lines recommended by buyers, including top-selling Jack’s
We stand for the best.
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branded goods such as Jack’s Garlic Flatbread, British Cooked Ham, Grated Mature Cheddar, Garden Peas and Royal Gala Apples.
Retailers can also digest an appetising array of category insights and market analysis on the latest consumer trends – helping them understand what drives today’s shoppers.
They can also harness top tips for merchandising and creating delicious displays that look good enough to eat.
Commenting on the new Fresh and Frozen Brochure, Booker’s Retail Managing Director Colm Johnson said: “We know that fresh and frozen products are essential for today’s shopper – whether that’s great quality produce for tonight’s dinner or frozen
COOL CAPERS
Convenience stores invested more than £1bn in their businesses over the last year, with refrigeration ringing in as the largest area of investment, according to the ACS Local Shop Report 2024.
Well over half (56%) of convenience retailers invested in refrigeration in a bid to make more of the growing fresh and chilled opportunity.
FROZEN FIESTA
With its cost, convenience and sustainability credentials, it’s little wonder the frozen food market has experienced such a resurgence in recent times.
Frozen vegetables, bread, chicken and potato products – plus ready meals such as pizzas – have all been key drivers of volume and value growth.
In fact, if you remove ice cream (which suffered at the hands of 2024’s washout summer) from the equation, the frozen category achieved value growth of 1.6% on units, up 0.4% in the year to 29 December 2024, according to Kantar data.
Frozen poultry, savoury baked goods, desserts, ready meals and potato products all showed significant value and unit growth, with poultry volumes up 6.5%, savoury bakery up 2.9%, potatoes up 2.2% and ready meals up 1.3%.
“We know that fresh and frozen products are essential for today’s shopper –whether that’s great quality produce for tonight’s dinner or frozen essentials for the week ahead.”
Colm Johnson, Booker’s Retail Managing Director
Retailer view
Ashton Gardner, Budgens Huntley, Gloucestershire
“I remember going to the fantastic Booker Retail Show at Sandown last year and seeing that impressive 15-metre run of refrigeration on display at the entrance – and that’s exactly what we’ve ended up with at our newly developed Budgens store in Huntley.
We can now offer shoppers a full range of fresh meats, meals, deli and dairy items and a wonderful array of fruit and vegetables – and they are delighted.
Shoppers who used to visit us daily for small top-ups are now doing full shops, which is wonderful.”
essentials for the week ahead.
This brochure is designed to help our retail partners unlock that potential with confidence, using fantastic products, strong value and clear guidance. It’s about helping retailers make the most of what the market is telling us customers want more of.”
So, if you’re ready to make strides in fresh and frozen – grab a copy of Booker’s brochure today. Copies will be sent directly to stores and will also be available online and via your RDM.
You won’t regret it.
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Budgens brings you all the latest new products
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Bridging the gap
In our latest feature on Booker’s Colleague Networks, we explore the valuable work and meaningful impact of Women@Booker.
Whether we’re talking tunnels, computers or communities –networks are all about connection: linking people and things together to facilitate collaboration, communication and understanding.
They can also offer a place of safety and support – and that’s exactly what Booker is offering via its four thriving Colleague Networks, which seek to advocate, support and celebrate colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Including Women@Booker, Race & Ethnicity at Booker, LGBTQ+ at Booker and Disability at Booker – the four
networks are open to all colleagues and share three key objectives: Amplify, Celebrate and Consult. Each strives to spark important conversations and foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding across the business.
Over the coming months, we’re taking a closer look at each of the four networks to find out more about how they work, what they offer and the positive impacts they have on colleagues’ health, happiness and wellbeing.
This issue, it’s the turn of Women@Booker – the first of the four networks to launch back in 2023. Your Budgens:
“The Wellbeing Event was put together really well –great organisation and a fun and interactive day.”
Pritpal Kasbe, Range Manager,
Booker
“We recognise the value of female leadership, and we’re really focused on supporting our colleagues’ development and career journeys. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a strong increase in women in our most senior roles including across our leadership team, where the proportion of women has nearly doubled. That shift is significant – not just in the numbers, but in what it says about the culture we’re building together – and especially important in developing talent within the wholesale industry.
We’ve made some meaningful progress across our business and remain committed to creating a more inclusive, supportive environment for everyone; initiatives like our Women at Booker colleague network are helping to make a real difference. We know there’s still more we can do, but we’re proud of the journey we’re on and the positive change that’s already underway.”
Sheila Gallagher, Executive Sponsor
“It was great to be part of a platform where we could hear their experiences, but also share ours and support each other. Hearing the different paths the panel took to get to where they are now gave me the opportunity to speak up, ask questions, expand my network –and it has inspired me greatly.”
Jaime McLaren, IS Analyst
“Every part of the content on the day was absolutely brilliant, with my key takeaway being ‘it’s okay to not be okay’. Also, the inspiring colleagues who shared their stories and listening to them being so open.”
Nikki Watts, Sales Director, Catering
“We’ve had an absolutely brilliant day at the International Women’s Day event. It’s been very inspiring to hear the firsthand experiences from our colleagues, and to have the chance to network and build strong allies to help progress my career.”
Penny Sofela, People Advisor
Since its establishment on International Women’s Day 2023, Women@Booker has touched the lives of thousands of colleagues – providing a safe space for them to come together, share experiences and learn.
The Women@Booker network also strives to amplify the voices of those who identify as female, championing gender equality, raising awareness of gender imbalance and supporting, educating and motivating female careers in a bid to drive positive change.
It does this via impactful communication campaigns, learning and development sessions, and numerous in-person and online events.
Recognising the importance of engaging with and supporting Booker’s male colleagues too – all events, initiatives and learning sessions are open to all colleagues, including men.
Incorporating International Women’s Day in March and International Men’s Day in November, Women@Booker supports numerous national events that champion diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the year.
Women@Booker also organises a number of its own meaningful events and awareness days.
In the last year alone, the network has hosted a Wellbeing Festival and a raft of activity in support of Women’s Health Week.
Women@Booker has also partnered with male suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club and organised a recent Allyship event to outline the importance of allyship to underrepresented groups and what allyship for women looks like.
Colleagues have also been given the opportunity to boost their skillsets with Bite Size Learning sessions and take part in a Speed Mentoring event – among many other things.
With women’s sport having taken centre stage over the summer of 2025 thanks to the Women’s Euros and other major tournaments in rugby union and cricket, Booker colleagues were also invited to participate in a host of engaging events to celebrate female role models at the top of their game.
And there will certainly be no let-up in the months ahead, with
a raft of activity designed to help support career progression set for the autumn – including a further Speed Mentoring event and a Career Upskilling Conference.
Featuring inspirational external speakers, engaging interactive learning and networking opportunities, the conference is expected to attract more than 200 colleagues.
Women@Booker is also currently working on a plan for International Men’s Day 2025 that will focus on promoting positive conversations about men and masculinity.
Further communication campaigns will also seek to continue
“We’ve
seen real progress in male allyship across the Group this year – from amplifying voices not in the room to deeper support and everyday action. While we’re proud of the strides made, we know this is just the beginning of a longer journey toward lasting equity and inclusion. We need to see further commitment across all functions of the business and broader penetration across all bands of colleagues. When we see connections to our purpose alive and thriving in all branch and DC canteens as well as our office spaces, we will know that our passion for allyship is truly making a difference and is embedded in our culture. We are delighted with the forward momentum – but there’s still lots to do.”
Stuart Hyslop, Executive Sponsor
raising awareness of key women’s health topics, including baby loss, ovarian cancer and menopause.
The network’s aims are delivered with the help and support of a dedicated team, which includes two Executive Sponsors, a Chair and Vice Chair, a Steerco Committee with two joint leads, and six colleagues.
It also includes a number of inspirational Network Champions, who strive to advocate for the network and drive positive change – because Women@Booker understands that empowering women empowers everyone.
SoluM digital labels now available to ShopMate users
A new partnership between ShopMate and electronic shelf edge label specialist SoluM makes the technology more accessible than ever.
Implementing electronic shelf edge labels (ESLs) is now easier than ever for retailers using the popular ShopMate Epos system thanks to a new partnership with SoluM, a global leader in the technology.
The collaboration brings cutting-edge ESL systems to independent retailers across the UK, making shelf edge pricing quicker, easier, and more accurate than ever.
ShopMate has partnered with retailers, service providers and wholesalers for 25 years and has over 3,900 customers operating over 6,000 systems.
ESLs automatically update prices and product info in real time, directly from the Epos system. With SoluM’s proven ESL technology integrated with ShopMate, retailers can save time and cut down on admin.
SoluM ESL provides additional benefits with waste management, dynamic pricing, speedy product picking for delivery services and a host of forthcoming new developments around merchandise management.
“We’re always looking for ways to help retailers save time and run their businesses more efficiently,” said Brian EagleBrown, Managing Director at ShopMate. “ShopMate and SoluM are aligned in their approach. Both companies are built on a foundation of providing reliable, long-term solutions that genuinely work for their customers. Like ShopMate, SoluM focuses on technology that proves its worth day in, day out, in real retail environments.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with ShopMate to bring our ESL technology to the UK convenience sector,” said Hugh Walker, Senior Sales Manager at SoluM. “ShopMate has a deep understanding of the challenges independent retailers face, and together we can deliver a smarter, more efficient way to manage pricing and help retailers streamline their processes.”
The SoluM system will be fully integrated with ShopMate, making setup simple and seamless. This partnership means a smarter, more modern way for stores to manage pricing and instore promotions.
Plan of
The Government has published its new Small Business Plan, which aims to support growth by levelling the playing field for small businesses.
The Government’s new Small Business Plan is a positive sign that the Government sees small businesses as an engine of growth, says James Lowman.
The Government has recently published a new Small Business Plan, outlining various ways it intends to support convenience stores and other small businesses. The headline measures focus on finance – both through new legislation to ensure small businesses are paid promptly by their suppliers, and by improving access to finance and making it easier to secure loans for investment.
While these headline announcements are welcome, it’s the detail further on that’s more noteworthy for our sector. An acknowledgement of the impact of crime, problems with the way licensing systems stifle growth, and a commitment to take action on business rates for small businesses are all areas that are much closer to being front of mind for retailers.
Attention in these areas is sorely needed. Shop theft and abuse continue to rise, a tobacco licensing system could prevent stores from opening at all due to their proximity to schools and other amenities, and retailers are facing the prospect of a one-two punch on business rates through revaluation and the potential scrapping of the retail and hospitality relief in the upcoming Budget this autumn.
There’s also the elephant in the room: the cost of employment. In its introductory remarks, the Government cites an increase in the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500 as a positive step, but there’s no acknowledgement of the impact of the rise in the rate of employers’ National Insurance, the lowering of the threshold at which businesses begin paying National Insurance, or the increase in the National Living Wage—all of which have cost the convenience sector an additional two-thirds of a billion pounds this year alone.
Overall, we must engage with the Small Business Plan as a net positive. It signals that the Government sees small businesses as an engine of growth and wants to help facilitate that – even if there’s little money in the Treasury coffers for direct support.
We need to ensure the Government explores more creative, cost-effective ways of reducing burdens on businesses. That means cutting red tape, incentivising investment, and recognising that when business owners take risks, there should be the potential for reward.
