THIS WEEK'S NEWS

NEWS DIGEST

COVID-19

NFRN HARDSHIP FUND HITS £200K WITH £20K HANDED OUT IN FIRST TWO WEEKS

THE NFRN’S HARDSHIP FUND TO SUPPORT CASH-STRAPPEDMEMBERS HAS RAISED OVER £200K WITH OVER £20K HANDED OUTIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.

Contributions from key suppliers have sent the NFRN’s Covid-19 Hardship Fund soaring to £200,000 in just under three weeks. Having only opened on 6 April, the fund has already awarded grants totalling £20,000 to cash-strapped members.

Companies pledging support include Booker, Coca Cola European Partners GB and Japan Tobacco International.

NFRN districts and branches have also contributed generously to the Fund.

NFRN National President Stuart Reddish (pictured above) said: “The impact of coronavirus on the lives of independent retailers is unprecedented, and now more than ever they need as much help as possible.

“The Hardship Fund team is working diligently to quickly assess applications and to deliver the grants where they will make a real difference.”

Terms and conditions and the application form can be found on the NFRN website.

534% SNAPPY SHOPPER GROWTH

Dundee-based mobile app and web-based convenience store home delivery platform Snappy Shopper has reported a five-fold increase in store numbers on the back of demand from retailers and customers during the coronavirus crisis.

In the five weeks since lockdown, Snappy Shopper reported a 534% increase in platform sales in comparison to the previous five weeks.Platform customers have increased by 360% over the same period and average basket spend has increased by 51%, from £21.52 to £32.49.

COVID-19

CORONAVIRUS TESTING EXTENDED TO CONVENIENCE WORKERS

THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS EXTENDED CORONAVIRUS TESTINGTO COVER MANY MORE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, INCLUDING LOCALRETAILERS, THEIR STAFF AND THOSE WHO LIVE WITH THEM.

The UK Government has extended Covid-19 testing to essential workers with symptoms and people who live with essential workers and have symptoms. This includes convenience retailers and their staff.

The Scottish Government has also confirmed that testing is being made available in Scotland, despite initially publishing a document suggesting that only “supermarket workers” would be included in the programme.

The issue was quickly clarified in an exchange between the Scottish Grocers’ Federation and the Scottish Government.

To find out how to access the service, turn to page 10 for a full handson guide.

ONLINE GROCERY MARKET TO ‘GROW BY A THIRD’ IN 2020

New research from Mintel has forecast that the online grocery market will grow by 33% in 2020 to reach an estimated value of £16.8bn, up from £12.7bn in 2019.

The rise follows four consecutive years of slowing growth: in 2019 growth fell to a historic low of just 2.9%. The market is set to be worth £17.9bn by 2024, growing by 41% over the five-year period.

The research also revealed a dramatic change in online shopping habits over the Covid-19 lockdown period, habits that Mintel believes could prove lasting. In the very early days of the spread of the coronavirus, 7% of Brits increased the total amount of online shopping (both food and non-food). In the space of fewer than two months, online shopping has grown by 36%.

Meanwhile, 50% of Brits have tried to limit the time they spend in-store, while a further 9% have used click-andcollect more.

NEW SPAR UK MARKETING DIRECTOR

Spar UK has appointedSuzanne Dover as its newBrand and Marketing Directorfollowing the departure ofMichael Lawless.

Dover worked mostrecently at Hovis, supportingbrand development initiativesand prior to this held seniormarketing positions withNewell Brands, MizkanEurope, Mission Foods andSMA Nutrition.

LOW AND NO THE WAY TO GO

Sales of low and no-alcoholbeer appear to have grownby 33% for the four weeksto March 21st with 16% ofBrits saying they are drinkingless or not at all during thecoronaviruslockdown.

The datafrom Nielsenalso found thatin the four weeksto 11th April,sales of low andno alcohol beercontinued togrow by 14.8%.

From 2013to 2018, thecategory hasgrown by 232%.

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/