The Week In Retail Issue 4

RETAIL

THE WEEK IN

RETAILER INTERVIEW

DELIVERING GROWTH

AYR RETAILER ADDS £20K A WEEK

PRICE WAR LOOMING? BIOFOGGING FIRST ZERO WASTE RETAILING

k here to ay pl

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OUR COVID-19 HEROES TRIBUTE

video

KEEP SHINING THROUGH...

Commercial Partner:

Brought to you by:

Issue 4 Wednesday 13th May 2020

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THE WEEK IN RETAIL

EDITOR’S COMMENT SHARE YOUR NEWS AND VIEWS WITH ME AT ABEGLEY@55NORTH.COM

KEEPING COMMUNITIES GOING COMES AT A COST I don’t think there’s any doubt that the way local and community retailers are viewed by the great British public has changed over the last couple of months – and hopefully forever. The longer Covid-19 has dragged on, the more reliant communities across the nation have become on their local stores, and the more they seem to be realising and appreciating how vital local stores are in good times and in bad.

Communities also appear to increasingly appreciate the courage and commitment that local retailers are displaying in keeping their stores open and ensuring that everyone gets what they need. And we’re talking about real courage here. As I’ve said before, retailers are literally risking their lives every day by pulling up those shutters and allowing hundreds of people to cross the threshold.

And if you think that’s just hyperbole, then just take a second or two to consider the growing list of local retailers who have lost their lives to coronavirus. Among those tragic deaths was a man I considered to be a good friend, the force

of nature that was Raj Aggarwal. I knew Raj for more years than I can remember; he was a gentle and jovial human being with a vigorous lust for life who was truly loved. It’s heart-breaking.

That’s the real cost of keeping community stores open – and we can only hope that every community in the country remembers the sacrifices that local retailers made and the risks that they took in order to keep them in their daily essentials.

And it’s for that reason, among others, that we decided to invite the UK’s local retailing community to come together, albeit virtually, for the video you see on the front cover of this issue.

This is our celebration of the outstanding industry we are privileged to be involved in - and it’s also our tribute to Raj and all of the community retailers who have lost their lives to coronavirus.

This is a special industry. Let’s hope your customers remember who was there for them in their hour of need in the months and years to come.

ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY @ANTONYBEGLEY

ANTONY BEGLEY, EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

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CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 WWW.SLRMAG.COM

6

10

THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF Post Office to top up June pay as the furlough scheme is extended for another two months.

8

13

COVID-19 UPDATE

14 HOW’S YOUR WEEK BEEN… ROSS MACPHERSON?

Ayrshire retailer’s two stores make an extra £10k a week each from home delivery.

18

OPINION

LET US SPRAY United Wholesale (Scotland) uses innovative ‘bio-fogging’ disinfection in its three depots.

22

COMPANY PROFILE: LOCAL HEROES

A ROUND-UP OF THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS

KATIE JENKINS THINKS A MASSIVE PRICE

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH LEES OF

NEWS FROM THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

WAR IS ON THE CARDS.

SCOTLAND.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

20

OUT THE BOX

25

FASCIA UPDATE: COSTCUTTER

A LOOK AT THE LATEST NEW PRODUCTS

ADDING ZERO WASTE REFILL STATIONS TO

CSG EXPANDS ITS COMPREHENSIVE RANGE

AND MARKETING CAMPAIGNS.

YOUR STORE IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

OF SUPPORT MATERIALS AND GUIDANCE FOR RETAILERS.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5

NEWS DIGEST

THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

RATES REVALUATION POSTPONED

POST OFFICE

The revaluation of business

POST OFFICE TO TOP-UP JUNE PAY FOR POSTMASTERS

rates in England planned for

POSTMASTERS WILL RECEIVE A 15% TOP-UP OF THEIR VARIABLE

2021 will no longer take place

REMUNERATION IN JUNE FROM THE POST OFFICE.

as the UK Government aims

The Post Office has announced that it will add a 15% top-up to the variable remuneration received by postmasters in June. They had previously guaranteed independent postmasters 100% of their remuneration in April and 90% in May. The guarantee covered both fixed and variable remuneration. The rate of remuneration reflects previously announced increases that came into effect on 1 April. All branches that are currently receiving fixed remuneration will continue to do so in June.

to help reduce uncertainty for businesses affected by coronavirus. NFRN President Stuart Reddish said that “the business rates system is broken and continues to do enormous damage to retailers.”

Regional Manager

(Scotland and Northern England) Motor Fuel Group, the UK’s largest independent petrol station operator, is looking for a Regional Manager based in Scotland to lead a team covering around 100 contract managed sites, using your skills and experience to grow the business across fuel, food to go and store ranges.

Candidates will need: • A proven record of deliveringxxx standards and performance across multiple sites in the independent, motor fuel or grocery multiples sector.

• To have successfully developed and managed a regional team.

• Great commercial acumen.

• The ability to communicate and influence a range of stakeholders.

• Strong financial planning and control skills.

In return we offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Visit www.motorfuelgroup.com go to the Vacancies section and apply online now!

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NEWS DIGEST

THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

COVID-19

FURLOUGH EXTENDED TO OCTOBER – BUT COMPANIES TO ‘SHARE’ COST

GROCERYAID £1.5M FUND Industry charity GroceryAid has launched a £1.5m Covid-19 fund to support grocery colleagues as the global pandemic continues.

CHANCELLOR RISHI SUNAK HAS EXTENDED THE FURLOUGH

The fund will provide emotional

SCHEME FOR WORKERS ON LEAVE FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO

and financial support.

MONTHS, BUT EXPECTS TO START SHARING THE COSTS FROM AUGUST.

The UK furlough scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus is being extended to October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced yesterday.

But he added that the government will ask companies to “start sharing” the cost of the scheme from August onwards.

The scheme pays affected employees 80% of their monthly wages up to £2,500.

Around 7.5 million workers are now covered by the scheme, up from 6.3 million last week.

From August, the furlough scheme will continue for all sectors and regions of the country but with greater flexibility to support the transition back to work.

Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring furloughed employees back part-time.

NFRN FUND SWELLS JPI Media, Just Employment Law and Warburton’s are the latest companies to back the NFRN’s Covid-19 Hardship Fund. Since the fund’s launch last month, nearly £32,000 has been paid out to cash-strapped members. Members can apply for a grant via the NFRN website.

£621M IN GRANTS PAID SO FAR IN SCOTLAND

RENT SUPPORT CALL

As of last Tuesday, some £621m in grants have been awarded in Scotland, according to reports from the country’s Local Authorities.

Over 71,000 applications had been received for the Small Business Grant Scheme and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant Scheme across Scotland. Of these, 53,765 had been awarded.

The total number of reported applications fell between 28 April and 5 May, although this is largely due to an

Helen Dickinson, Chief

improvement in reporting, with double counting significantly reduced now.

This grant support is worth over £1bn to business and is part of a wider business support package worth over £2.2bn.

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “These grants provide urgently needed support for retailers operating smaller premises and who are trying to weather the current crisis, particularly those with shops currently in hibernation.

Executive of the British Retail Consortium, has urged the Government to support rents for retail properties in the wake of a new Vacancy Monitor which revealed a consistent increase in the number of stores lying empty.

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

LOCKDOWN EASED IN ENGLAND; AS YOU WERE IN SCOTLAND

BREWER HELPS FEED KIDS Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn has announced a sixfigure charity partnership with Meals & More to end ‘Holiday Hunger’, where children struggle to get food to eat when they are not in school. As many as 350,000 have not eaten enough since Covid-19 restrictions came into force according to the latest research.

RETAILER HITS 1,000 DELIVERIES

PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON UNVEILS AN EASING OF LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS IN ENGLAND WHILE FIRST MINISTER NICOLA STURGEON HOLDS HER LINE IN SCOTLAND.

P

South Yorkshire Nisa retailer Chris Taylor has just made the store’s 1,000th delivery since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The store currently opens only in the afternoon

rime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled a slight easing of lockdown restrictions in England which will allow an increased number of people to return to work as well as granting more scope for people to venture outdoors.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that the situation north of the border remains more or less as it was with

only a slight relaxation in exercising rules.

While Johnson did loosen the guidelines, he urged people to avoid public transport and to keep to social distancing advice.

Garden centres can now reopen and sports that are physically distanced – such as golf – are now permitted.

Two people from different households can now meet outdoors as long as they stay more than 2m apart.

with mornings reserved for restocking and picking orders for delivery.

NHS STAFF QUIT VPZ, the UK’s largest vaping retailer, has published data showing that more NHS staff are quitting smoking than ever before. In the last month alone, over 1,100 NHS staff have used the campaign discount scheme to access products to help them stamp out cigarettes for good.

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SCOTTISH CORONAVIRUS DEATH TOLL FALLS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEK The number of people who have died from coronavirus in Scotland has fallen for the second week in a row.

The National Records of Scotland showed that 415 deaths have been linked to the virus in the past week. This figure is 110 fewer than the previous week.

The total number of deaths in Scotland linked to Covid-19 now stands at 3,213. Of these, 91% of the

people who died with the virus in April had an underlying health condition.

The figures also suggested, however, that people living in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to die than those in the least deprived.

More than half of all virus-related deaths are in care homes, but the percentage has fallen from 60% to 57% and the number of deaths from 314 to 238.

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

SWA CALLS ON MSPS TO HALT DRS

QUEUEBUSTING CHATBOT Lidl Ireland has unveiled a novel approach to help shoppers ensure that they avoid long queues when visiting the discounter during the coronavirus outbreak. A new WhatsApp chatbot helps customers in real-time ensure they visit stores during the quietest periods. They simply message with the day and time they plan to shop and the chatbot advises on how busy the store is likely to be.

T

WHOLESALE TRADE BOY URGES MSPS TO HALT DEPOSIT RETURN

he Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has urged MSPs to halt the Scottish Government’s deposit return scheme (DRS) ahead of the final Holyrood vote on the draft regulations today.

While SWA welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government had postponed the “go live” date from April 2021 to July 2022, it has reiterated concerns over the negative impact DRS will have on its members, many of whom are already struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Colin Smith, SWA Chief Executive of the SWA, said: “Wholesalers and our partners in retail, tourism and hospitality represent some of the sectors most badly impacted by Covid-19 – SWA has members who

have lost 80% of their trade overnight while receiving no Government assistance two months into this crisis.

“We are urging MSPs to support their local businesses and halt the DRS regulations at this time, taking unnecessary pressure off our members and their customers. The regulations can then be revisited when we have a better understanding of the ‘new normal’.”

PAYPOINT SCRAPS FEE INCREASES PayPoint is scrapping this year’s planned inflation increase to service fees for retailers in a bid to help ease monthly cashflows during coronavirus.

Fees instead will remain at 2019 levels and PayPoint is also moving permanently to billing the service fee in arrears with an option for retailers forced to close their stores to claim a service fee refund while they are closed.

TECH SOLUTIONS

SCHEME AS INDUSTRY STRUGGLES DURING CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.

The service is driven by shopper behaviour analysis by the German discounter to offer advice on the best times to shop to avoid queuing outside.

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RETAILER INTERVIEW

ROSS MACPHERSON DAY-TODAY DOONFOOT / DAY-TODAY BARRASSIE

HOW’S YOUR WEEK BEEN...

ROSS MACPHERSON

IT’S BEEN A WHIRLWIND LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR AYRSHIRE RETAILER ROSS MACPHERSON WITH HUGE SALES GROWTH IN BOTH OF HIS STORES AND AN EXTRA £10K A WEEK IN EACH STORE ON HOME DELIVERY.

HOW’S YOUR WEEK BEEN ROSS? Good. Very, very busy but good and both the Barassie and Doonfoot stores are doing really well.

HOW WELL? Sales in Doonfoot have almost trebled and Barrassie has seen growth of between 50% and 75% a week, even though we partially close it three days a week.

WHY DO YOU CLOSE IT? It’s purely a safety issue. Our deliveries from the wholesaler are so big at the moment that we literally don’t have the space to restock the store and have customers wandering around the

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RETAILER INTERVIEW

ROSS MACPHERSON DAY-TODAY DOONFOOT / DAY-TODAY BARRASSIE

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

RETAILER INTERVIEW

ROSS MACPHERSON DAY-TODAY DOONFOOT / DAY-TODAY BARRASSIE

store at the same time as we can’t guarantee their safety, or that of our staff. So we close for a few hours three days a week which lets us get the store stocked back up safely and efficiently. Our customers have been really understanding.

AND YOUR HOME DELIVERY SERVICE IS FLYING? It’s unbelievable, really. We introduced home delivery way before coronavirus as it was something I thought that had potential to grow both businesses. We went with Snappy Shopper and launched it only in Barrassie and it was doing really well. We were aiming to add around £3k a week to the sales. Then Covid-19 happened so we added it the service at Doonfoot too and for the last month or so we’ve doing about £10k a week in home delivery sales.

£5K IN EACH STORE? No, £10k extra in both stores!

SO, AN EXTRA £80K A MONTH? It’s crazy, isn’t it? The basket spend for home delivery is extraordinary. Barrassie’s average basket spend is £43 and in Doonfoot it’s £34.

HOW MANY DELIVERIES ARE YOU DOING? We do around 70 a day for Barrassie and 35 a day at Doonfoot. There are extra costs, of course.

We have three drivers at Barrassie, all people on furlough or who have been made redundant, so that’s quite a nice story too. And in Doonfoot we have two students. All of them have been trained in licensing to ensure they can properly check IDs on any orders with age-restricted products.

HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE FOR DELIVERY?

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£3. And it’s opened up a whole new world for us.

We do a lot of leafleting so we’re getting orders from three and four miles away, customers who would never have used us before. They’ve got stores closer to them but I guess they like the convenience of having their shopping delivered to their door for them. And we don’t hike prices, so they’re paying the same as they would if they came to the store, which will hopefully keep them using the service.

SO YOU SEE THIS IS A LONG TERM STRATEGY? Definitely. As I say, we introduced it way before Covid-19 and I think we will retain a lot of our new home delivery customers. We’re not kidding ourselves on. Lots of people will go back to using supermarkets once this is all over but I think we’ll retain quite a few of them.

HOW ARE THE STORES THEMSELVES COPING? We’re seeing huge spikes across lots of categories, particularly fresh and chilled. We always did a lot of fresh fruit and veg but it’s gone through the roof now. We have little availability issues here and there like everyone does, but we’re pretty much sorted for most things. We’ve also added plants and garden items out the front of both stores and they’re doing really well for us too. It’s the perfect time to get creative and innovative because customers really appreciate the effort you make.

AND YOU’VE PUT IN PLENTY OF EFFORT! Well, I’m working seven days as a lot of retailers are, but we have a responsibility to our communities so that comes first. I’ll get a day off at some point!

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM

BAT GETS MINTY

CARABAO PMPs

STAR WITH HARIBO

BAT has added three new mint

Energy drink Carabao is

Haribo has teamed up with ITV

vaping flavours (Peppermint

launching 69p price-marked

to invite viewers to recreate

Tobacco, Just Mint and

cans from next month. The

its popular ‘Boardroom’ ad by

Creamy Mint) in Vype ePod

330ml cans will be available

submitting their own versions

and Vype ePen 3 Pod format,

across Original, Green Apple

with the chance of having them

just in time for the Menthol Ban

and Mandarin Orange flavours,

broadcast on 23 May as part of

which kicks in next week.

and are available from Confex,

ITV’s ‘The People’s Ad Break’

RSPs: £29.95 (ePod) /

Spar, Sugro and Unitas.

project.

£35.94 (ePen)

RSP: 69p

FANNY’S BACK

WIN WITH WEETOS

GREEN FILTER

AG Barr’s ‘Irn-Bru Gets You

Cereal brand Weetos is

Imperial Tobacco has

Through’ campaign returns this

launching an on-pack promo

announced product

week with re-runs of the classic

next month offering shoppers

enhancements across five of

TV ads including Fanny,

the chance to win £500 to

its brands as part of its new

Steamy Windows and Electric

spend towards sports kit and

Green Filter range. Green

Lady to cheer up Scots during

equipment. The promo will run

Filter features include a white-

the global pandemic and

across 500g and 350g PMP

tipped firm filter that “resonates

celebrate their ability to bounce

(£2.49) packs until August.

with menthol consumers”.

back.

RSP: £2.49

RSP: £9.65

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 13

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 INNOVATION UNITED WHOLESALE (SCOTLAND) DEEP CLEAN

UNITED IMPLEMENTS

‘BIO-FOGGING’ FIRST

UNITED WHOLESALE (SCOTLAND) HAS BECOME THE FIRST WHOLESALER IN SCOTLAND TO UTILISE INNOVATIVE ‘BIO-FOGGING’ DISINFECTION TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS AND STAFF IN ITS THREE DEPOTS.

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NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 INNOVATION UNITED WHOLESALE (SCOTLAND) DEEP CLEAN

G

lasgow-based delivered wholesaler and cash & carry business United Wholesale (Scotland) has become the first wholesaler in Scotland to make use of an innovative method of deep cleaning its three depots in Glasgow and Grangemouth.

The ‘bio-fogging’ technology used is also deployed in hospitals and was implemented using a specialised handheld device to deliver a disinfectant solution in a mist form.

After a few hours, the treated areas become safe to the public.

Each of UWS’s three depots have now been successfully decontaminated during closing hours to ensure no harm can come to customers or staff. The move is part of United’s commitment to undertake a deep clean of their properties as they prepare for the potential easing of lockdown restrictions in order to provide reassurance for customers and staff – and ultimately, protect the NHS. The operation was carried out by the specialist PSS Group and means that the nearly 3,000 retailers who shop at UWS can continue to provide the nation with vital supplies without any worry of catching the virus.

Mohammad Abdur Rajak, Owner of Day-Today Bridgeton, said: “It’s fantastic to see UWS is taking safety

of its customers and keyworkers seriously. The recent deep clean at its depot with fog technology gives us that much needed confidence and that added layer of security whilst shopping at any of their three warehouses.”

Mr Sijad (CJ), Floor Manager of UWS’s Queenslie depot, said: “Staff are very happy that we are getting a deep clean.

It gives them confidence that we can continue working without the constant worry of our safety. We all feel a great sense of pride that our company is going above and beyond to look after the safety and well-being of their staff.”

Chris Gallacher, MD of UWS, added: “Our depots have remained open during the coronavirus crisis and we have introduced many safety measures to protect our customers, including social distancing. We want to do everything we can to not only protect our workforce and customers, but to help drive down coronavirus cases and care for our NHS. Deep cleaning is a sensible plan for all businesses ahead of the easing of lockdown restrictions and provides reassurance to customers using the premises. We have just completed the two trial c-stores which are part of our symbol group, Day-Today – I can confirm this was a massive success and I would encourage all wholesale and retail groups to carry out this procedure.”

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OPINION

IS A MASSIVE PRICE WAR LOOMING? KATIE JENKINS, MARKETING DIRECTOR, KAM MEDIA

IS A ‘MASSIVE PRICE WAR’

ON THE HORIZON?

WITH THE SUPERMARKETS BUILDING BIG WAR CHESTS AS CORONAVIRUS DRIVES HUGE SALES, IS THERE A HUGE PRICE WAR LOOMING? AND WHAT CAN LOCAL RETAILERS DO TO RESPOND, ASKS KATIE JENKINS?

T

PLAY CONVENIENCE TALKS SERIES

here is no shortage of predictions, advice or insights about what the ‘new normal’ might look like in a post-lockdown world. At KAM we’ve had some absolutely fascinating interviews with a range of convenience experts over the last few weeks as part of the Convenience Talks series. But this week was the first time I heard anyone really mention ‘price’.

“There is a massive price war coming because the nationals will want to keep their market share and new customers, and they’ve got a war chest now” according to Scott Annan, founder of the Independent Retailer Owners Forum.

So, what will this mean for convenience? As an industry we’ve gained many new customers, visiting regularly and buying into a wider range of categories. We’ve developed relationships with new suppliers and embraced new technologies to keep our staff and customers safe and happy.

Focussing on offering the cheapest prices

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obviously isn’t the answer for convenience retail.

Annan thinks the way to retain our new customers is to offer even better service, wherever the customers wants it. As always, with convenience, service is king, but never more so than now. ‘Where-ever and whenever’ should be a key focus, with many industry experts predicting that home delivery from convenience retail will be the ‘new norm’.

There is, however, no ignoring the fact that we now have a much more ‘cautious consumer’ on our hands. Cautious because they’re still scared of this virus (quite rightly) and this is affecting where and how they spend their money.

Jonathan James of James Retail told us that “customers are coming back to where they think they are safe. We’re seeing a lot of people come to us because they feel safer in smaller shops.

“It’s not until people feel safe that they’re going to shop anywhere near how they were before this virus.”

OPINION

IS A MASSIVE PRICE WAR LOOMING? KATIE JENKINS, MARKETING DIRECTOR, KAM MEDIA

The number one priority for retailers, at least in the medium term, needs to be ensuring that customers trust that a store is a safe place for them to be. They’re not going to risk a small price saving on the safety of themselves and their family.

But there is no denying that this ‘cautious consumer’ will also be more cautious spending their money and we’ll likely see a rise in the importance again of delivering ‘perceived value’.

The supermarkets may well engage in an almighty price war. But both Annan and James are in agreement that the biggest opportunity for convenience retailers is in retaining the new customer base that they’ve gained during lockdown, and retaining these customers is most certainly not about offering them the very cheapest prices.

In order to grow their spend and loyalty, we need to deliver against their specific and changing needs.

We need to learn about them, gain their trust and react fast to their demands by delivering outstanding service wherever and whenever they require it.

Events like this happen once in a lifetime.

(I hope!) It is unlikely that we will ever get this kind of opportunity again to test our weaknesses, experiment with our business and adapt. Staying close to what our customers want, need and feel is going to be even more instrumental than ever in helping prepare for the next phase.

*Consumer Talks is a series of 10-minute interviews with convenience industry thought-leaders, focusing on how to survive and thrive post-lockdown.

You can watch here

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX ZERO WASTE RETAILING

ZERO WASTE RETAILING AS CONSUMER INTEREST IN THE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES TO GROW, ONE GREAT SOLUTION IS ZERO WASTE REFILL STATIONS. WE SPEAK TO GREENCITY WHOLEFOOD’S CRAIG MCCORMACK TO GET THE LOWDOWN ON HOW TO ADD ONE TO YOUR STORE.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? Self-service zero waste refill stations.

HOW DO THEY WORK? Customers simply bring their own containers and take as much of what’s on offer as they like. No packaging, no plastic bags, no waste.

WHAT WOULD A BASIC STARTER RANGE LOOK LIKE? The range will vary depending on

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location, but common products are porridge oats, muesli, lentils, nuts and dried fruits. Herbs and spices can also be great value compared to small jars.

HOW BIG IS GREENCITY’S FULL LOOSE RANGE? We have hundreds of items and are adding to this constantly.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SET UP A STATION? Gravity feeders attached to the wall

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX ZERO WASTE RETAILING

work really well and they are priced at around £100, depending on the size of the unit. There are lots of options, though, and some retailers simply reuse old sweet jars for herbs, spices and smaller loose goods. You also need weighing scales. It’s about what works for you: all-singing all-dancing or low budget but beautiful.

CRAIG HELPS SCOTMID LOCAL SOURCING MANAGER KIRSTY GEORGE INSTALL A REFILL STATION IN STOCKBRIDGE, EDINBURGH.

WHERE DO RETAILERS GET THE EQUIPMENT? We don’t sell fixtures so have no allegiance with any company. I know quite a few of our customers have used HL-Display and the feedback has been positive, but there are lots of options on Google.

WHAT PACK SIZES ARE AVAILABLE FROM GREENCITY? Sizes differ depending on products.

Oats and muesli are available in 10kg and 25kg. Pasta is often 6kg and 10kg.

Herbs and spices tend to be 500g to 1kg. Liquids for washing up, laundry, cleaning and body care vary between 5l and 20l.

HOW LONG DOES STOCK LAST IN THE UNITS? Most products have an extended shelf life and we can always advise people on this. Most products like oats, muesli etc are the same as the traditional bagged items. The odd exception are items like yeast which has a more limited life once opened.

HOW CAN RETAILERS ENSURE CLEANLINESS AND HYGIENE? The units are cleaned after each batch is sold, which is quick and easy. If you use scoops or tongs these should be cleaned every night after use.

MARGINS? That really is up to retailers. We sell

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items at a wholesale price and don’t promote a particular RSP. Retailers could easily look to add 25-35% margin.

WHO’S ALREADY DOING IT? There are dozens of retailers in Scotland using self-serve zero waste units. It has grown dramatically in the past 12 months and there are some shops dedicated specifically to zero waste retailing.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU DELIVER? We deliver to most areas weekly, although the cities are more often than weekly. You can also collect from Greencity if you place orders the day before.

DO YOU OFFER START-UP SUPPORT FOR RETAILERS? Absolutely. We are always happy to speak to retailers or visit them if they are interested. I would always recommend a conversation with us before setting up as we can offer advice based on what you sell presently and give suggestions of what would work for a retailer and a specific store.

HOW DO RETAILERS FIND OUT MORE?

Visit www.greencity.coop.

COMPANY PROFILE

LOCAL HEROES LEES OF SCOTLAND

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video 22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4

COMPANY PROFILE

LOCAL HEROES LEES OF SCOTLAND

THE ICONIC LEES OF SCOTLAND BUSINESS HAS BEEN MAKING ITS MUCH-LOVED CONFECTIONERY AND

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MERINGUES SINCE 1931 AND IS GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH WITH CUSTOMER AWARENESS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

ees of Scotland is undoubtedly one of the best known home-grown food businesses of all and while it may be famous for many reasons, the one thing that many consumers (and retailers!) of a certain age will associate with the brand is its iconic ‘Lees Lees more if you please’ jingle.

That jingle helped make the brand a household name in Scotland and, it seems, the company has continued to build on that position.

Recent research shows that Lees brand awareness is at an all-time high following a successful TV advertising campaign focusing on one of their bestselling products, Lees Mini Snowballs.

Based in Coatbridge just outside Glasgow in a modern 80,000 sq ft factory, the company has been producing a tempting range of confectionery and meringues since 1931. It now employs 250 people and recent years have seen Lees of Scotland go from

strength to strength.

As the original creator of the Macaroon bar, Lees now have a wide product range including Meringues, Teacakes, Snowballs, Mallow Dreams, Tablet, Jaffa Bars and Coconut Ice Bars.

The dedicated new product development team at Lees of Scotland are committed to continuously improving the product offering for retail and wholesale customers, investing in new equipment and technology along the way. Lees of Scotland’s products are widely available in the UK and maintain their status as well-respected Scottish brand.

BUSINESS INVESTMENT In 2019, Lees of Scotland increased their investment in equipment which included innovative machinery to allow the company to continue to expand their Meringue category and a massive overhaul in their air and water systems.

Following the success of a number of new Meringue products, including Lees Meringues with Dark Belgian Chocolate and two new flavours of Extra Special Meringues created for Asda’s own label, Lees invested in a new chocolate enrober to allow the busy factory to meet demand.

In addition to this and with the need to expand Meringue production capacity, the Lees factory doubled the size of their internal hot-room, this is where the Meringues sit to remove moisture before packaging. This has significantly increased efficiency within the Meringue production process.

SNOWBALLS Snowballs continue to be Lees’ bestselling product line and are considered to be a great snacking option for the whole family. Sold in a variety of pack types for all occasions, including packs of 6 and 12 Snowballs

or packs of 12 and 18 Mini Snowballs. The soft and fluffy mallow with a chocolate coating, topped with flakes of coconut are suitable for vegetarians and contain no gluten or artificial flavouring. The Snowballs contain only 79 calories and Mini Snowballs contain 50 calories, making it a calorie controlled snacking option.

Snowballs also continue to be central to Lees’ marketing and PR plans for 2020 with a number of exciting campaigns in the works to help promote the product.

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

Time to Make the Change to Costcutter Peter Juty, Costcutter Meopham

It’s time to make the change from operating on your own, to having the expert help and support required to grow your business.

Unique Shopper First insights to tailor your store to attract new shoppers Fantastic support with the best BDM to store ratio in the sector Amazing range, including Co-op Own Brand products n Unmatched commercial terms including a rebate of up to 6%

Time to ! e g n a h C e h t t e k c o P Peter Juty joined Costcutter in late 2019 and has already grown his sales by 15%

join our thriving community of independent retailers Y To get in touch at www.freshstart.costcutter.co.uk

SYMBOL SPECIAL

SOCIAL DISTANCING SUPPORT COSTCUTTER SUPERMARKETS GROUP

Download all materials free here!

COSTCUTTER EXTENDS SOCIAL DISTANCING SUPPORT TO RETAILERS Costcutter Supermarkets Group has further expanded its comprehensive range of support materials and guidance for retailers.

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ostcutter Supermarkets Group is helping local retailers keep their shoppers and staff safe during the Covid-19 crisis by further expanding its range of support materials and guidance.

To help independent retailers throughout the UK, all materials are now available for free to independent retailers simply by downloading from its dedicated website at www. freshstart.costcutter.co.uk. The online support package includes a comprehensive guide to implementing social distancing in store, vital point-of-sale materials and the stories of individual Costcutter retailers, sharing their experience of serving their local communities while meeting the current challenges.

Dave Wyatt, Store Manager at Crawley Down Costcutter and Shell garage (pictured), said: “I’m keen to share our experience with my fellow retailers. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and health of our shoppers and staff and the feedback we’re receiving to our in-store safety measures and social media guidance is amazing.

“Not only do our shoppers tell us they feel safer, but we are also seeing new shoppers come to our store because they have heard about the enhanced safety measures.”

Dave’s story, and those of other Costcutter retailers, are featured on CSG’s Freshstart website, sharing their experiences and advice on social distancing measures, help

for vulnerable customers and key workers and the use of social media to ensure their online presence offers the right guidance and support for shoppers.

Dave comments: “Our Facebook page keeps the local community up to date with when stock is arriving, as well as providing details about the in-store safety measures.

Shoppers can also contact the store team to arrange delivery for vulnerable customers.

Staff at Crawley Down have worked hard to maintain high levels of stock and the store has seen daily sales triple – largely due to an influx of new customers.

“We’ve also ensured that outside our opening hours of 5am to 9pm, the store is open for NHS, care workers and emergency services to refuel throughout the night should they need to,” adds Dave. “Nothing my team has been experiencing compares to the tireless and selfless work that our NHS and emergency services are doing and I’m delighted to be able to give something back.”

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 / ISSUE 4 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

n ee b er ev n s a h s es en r a w Lees’ brand a

B awarrand eness

76%

**

of Scots like Lees Snowballs *

Our delicious snowballs and teacakes have been family favourites for almost 90 years. Following last year’s TV campaign, awareness is at its highest level ever, with 76% of Scots surveyed saying they liked Lees Snowballs and 44% buying Lees products every month.

There’s never been a better time to stock up.

Scotland loves Lees 01236 441 600

sales@leesofscotland.co.uk *Source: JLral. Post TV Campaign Evaluation- Sept 2019 **Refers to Scots who viewed the 2019 TV ad