The Week In Retail Issue 30

RETAIL

THE WEEK IN

DATA

DATA GENIE OUT THE BOTTLE

SPAR SCOTLAND TO SELL SALES DATA

COVID-19

LOCKDOWN 2.0 WILL BE DIFFERENT

THE LATEST LOCKDOWN WON’T BE LIKE THE LAST

RETAILER PROFILES

MITAL SIGNS UP WITH COSTCUTTER

INNOVATIVE CHAIN TAKES SIX STORES

+

HFSS AD CONSULTATION INTRODUCING GENERATION P COKE CHRISTMAS AD PREVIEW

SOLUTION FOR COMMON TOUCHPOINTS Commercial Partner:

Brought to you by:

Issue 30 Wednesday 11th November 2020

Symbol Partner:

L A U T VIR SLR REWARDS 2020 A VIRTUAL FESTIVAL OF EXCELLENCE With Coronavirus ruling out live events for the foreseeable future, this year’s SLR Rewards will for the very first time in their near 20-year history be going virtual!

On Friday 11th December at 6pm we will be bringing the entire Scottish local retailing industry together, as we do every year, but this time retailers will be able to join the party from the comfort of their own home, or store, via their PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE

FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER, 6PM

THE WEEK IN RETAIL

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

CJ LANG TAKES DATA GENIE OUT OF THE BOTTLE Amidst the flurry of news, trading updates and initiatives unveiled at last week’s Spar Scotland virtual trade show, was the announcement that Spar Scotland wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang will make its sales data available to suppliers and stakeholders. I’m assuming that “will make available” means “will sell” but that little detail aside, this is potentially very big news.

As far as I’m aware, no other wholesaler sells its sales data to suppliers – but it’s a huge opportunity that has lain unexploited and unmonetised for years. If suppliers want grocery data, they can easily get it from Nielsen and Kantar and, by all accounts, the data is pretty robust. After all, the research agencies are essentially only dealing with the four major supermarkets. (The discounters don’t sell their data to these guys, I believe.)

But if you are a supplier and you’re looking for reliable data on the huge convenience market, you’ve got a job on your hands. Your only three practical options are 1) going direct to around 50,000 independent retailers to ask them to part with it, which isn’t very practical at all; 2) go to the Epos companies who see a lot of sales data from independent stores – but that route is also fraught

with huge practical, tech and political issues; or you go to symbol groups and wholesalers. Thus far, wholesalers haven’t proven very keen to share their sales data – for obvious reasons.

But this deal between CJ Lang and digital and data specialists TWC has broken a mould – and I would not be surprised to see other wholesalers follow suit. The deal sees CJ Lang make its wholesale sales data and retail data from its 109 company-owned stores available. OK, it’s only a fraction of the total Scottish market, but it’s a decent-sized fraction and, most importantly, it will be by far the best data available to suppliers to get a handle on what’s actually selling in Scotland.

Suppliers routinely pay very handsomely for good data – and this data will be good.

This could signal a big shift moving forward.

So many big decisions by suppliers in the convenience channel are currently made based on pretty low volume, low quality data. Gaining an accurate read on the Scottish convenience market, arguably the first ever accurate read, has the potential to trigger some major changes in future – and CJ Lang should be commended for starting that ball rolling.

ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY

ANTONY BEGLEY, EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

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CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

6 THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

14

22

DATA: CJ LANG & SON

LOCKDOWN 2.0: LUMINA INTELLIGENCE

The Spar Scotland wholesaler and retailer is to make wholesale and retail sales data available to suppliers and stakeholders.

The ‘real’ Living Wage rises to £9.50 per hour and a consultation on banning online junk food ads starts.

What will the likely impact of a second lockdown on food shopping and consumption behaviour be?

10 COVID-19 UPDATE

21 CHRISTMAS ADVERTISING: COCA-COLA

28 CONSUMER TRENDS: GENERATION P

13 NEWS EXTRA: STORE RETAIL GROUP

STORE RETAIL GROUP PENS LONG-TERM TRADING DEAL WITH COSTCUTTER.

16 SLR REWARDS

THE MOST REWARDING AWARDS IN THE RETAIL CALENDAR GOES VIRTUAL.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

A SNEAK PREVIEW OF ‘THE LETTER’, COKE’S NEW EPIC CHRISTMAS AD.

50 TO 64-YEAR-OLD SHOPPERS PRESENT A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR RETAILERS.

26 BREXIT

31 OUT THE BOX: SAFEWRAP

A WARNING FOR THE PM FROM SCOTLAND’S FOOD AND DRINK ORGANISATIONS.

27 PICKS OF THE WEEK

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

NEW PRODUCT REDUCES THE RISK OF CORONAVIRUS TRANSMISSION.

35 BEFORE YOU GO...

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

BRUSH WITH SUCCESS

LIVING WAGE UP TO £9.50 LIVING WAGE

Designed by

Alisha Razzaq – Age 8

An eight-year-old girl from Blantyre has been named the Designed by

Alisha Razzaq – Age 8

winner of Spar Scotland’s first ever lorry design competition.

Alisha Razzaq from Blantyre will see her design emblazoned on a Spar wagon and also received a goody bag and a framed image of her winning entry.

PAYPOINT ACQUISITIONS PayPoint has bought two

THE LIVING WAGE FOUNDATION HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW RATE OF £9.50 PER HOUR FOR THE ‘REAL’ LIVING WAGE.

The 20p rise means the rate is now 78p more than the Government’s National Living Wage, which is currently £8.72 for those aged 25 and over. A lower rate applies for younger workers.

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis welcomed the increase in Living Wage rates but called for at least £10 per hour for workers of all ages. He said the new rate “clearly shows that the Government’s so-called ‘National Living Wage’ is nothing of the sort.

“We are expecting the Low Pay Commission to announce their recommendations for next year’s minimum wage rates anytime soon and we hope they will follow the example of the Living wage Foundation. Usdaw is calling for a rise in line with the commitment to two-thirds of median earnings, which should be seen as the minimum required to recognise the outstanding contributions of our key workers.”

card payments and card terminal leasing businesses – Handepay and Merchant Rentals – for £70m. The acquisitions will create a combined national card payments business with a customer base of over 30,000 SMEs.

QUAIL GETS NOD Digital headset supplier Quail Digital has been added to the Association of Convenience Stores’ club of trusted suppliers. The company’s headsets are currently used by retailers including Aldi, Lidl and Superdrug.

EROS ADDS CROSSFORD STORE Eros Retail has snapped up another store in Fife, a former Co-op in Crossford near Dunfermline. The store will trade under Eros Retail’s Greens banner, with Greens of Crossford opening its doors to customers for the first time next week.

Sitting on the village’s Main Street, the store had been a Co-op since 2012 after the company bought the David Sands chain. The store’s existing team will keep their jobs and, since Greens is serviced by Nisa, Co-op brands will remain on shelves. Locally sourced additions to the offer include products from Wicked Cheesecake and

6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 30 / WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

Breadwinner. A Fisher & Donaldson bakery concession will be introduced as part of an overhaul of the store, which will also see investment in energy saving technology.

Eros boss and former SLR Retailer of the Year Harris Aslam said: “We are thrilled to be opening three new Greens stores in Fife in November and look forward to working very closely with store teams, customers and local suppliers to retain the strong performing elements of the existing stores whilst introducing lots of exciting new products and concessions.”

NEWS DIGEST

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

LEGISLATION

ONLINE HFSS AD BAN CONSULTATION KICKS OFF

CJ LANG PROFITS Spar Scotland wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang has reported a rise in sales and underlying

THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS LAUNCHED A CONSULTATION ON

profits as it continues to

PROPOSALS TO COMPLETELY BAN ONLINE ADVERTS FOR FOODS

implement its strategy for

HIGH IN FAT, SUGAR AND SALT (HFSS).

growth. To the year ending 30 April 2020, turnover increased

The consultation will run for six weeks and will collect views from industry stakeholders and the public to help the government understand the impact and challenges of introducing a total ban on advertising HFSS products online.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am determined to help parents, children and families in the UK make healthier choices about what they eat. We know as children spend more time online, parents want to be reassured they are not being exposed to adverts promoting unhealthy foods, which can affect eating habits for life.”

by 3.4%, to £194.2m while underlying pre-tax profits doubled to £1.5m.

SAINSBURY’S CLOSURES Sainsbury’s is to cut 3,500 jobs with the closure of 420 Argos

RETAILERS SCOOP £20K WITH LOTTERY

outlets and all its meat, fish

A total of 11 National Lottery retailers scooped £20k between them in the first quarterly prize draw of Camelot’s new-look retailer rewards programme, ‘Site, Stock, Sell Online’.

As well as the usual £10k quarterly prize for one lucky retailer, Camelot added a further 10 separate £1k prizes to increase the number of retailers who can win big in each draw – making a difference to smaller shops, in particular, during the current challenging circumstances.

This big winner this time around was Ali Irtiza (pictured), owner of East End Convenience Store in Paisley, who collected £10k.

standalone Argos stores will

and deli counters. The 420 close by March 2024, although Sainsbury’s said it would open 150 Argos outlets in its supermarkets.

GUINNESS 0.0 RECALLED Guinness has recalled its new non-alcoholic stout Guinness 0.0 only two weeks after it launched. The Dublin-based brewer took what it called a “precautionary measure” after microbiological contamination could mean some products were unsafe. It urged buyers to return cans to stores for a full refund and said it was “working hard” to find out the cause.

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7

THE UK’S BEST SELLING CRAFT BEER IS NOW CARBON NEGATIVE.

TOMORROW STARTS TODAY.

AT BREWDOG, WE BELIEVE THAT BY HAVING THE CONVICTION TO DO THINGS ON OUR TERMS, AND BY LIVING THE PUNK DIY ETHOS, WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD WITH CRAFT BEER… ONE GLASS AT A TIME. AND OUR WORLD NEEDS CHANGE NOW MORE THAN EVER. From working with the best experts in the world, to double offsetting all our emissions, and from waging a war on waste, to investing heavily to reduce our emissions to zero, we are putting everything on the line for what we believe in.

We are learning as we go and will continue to make mistakes. We promise to share the good and the bad from our journey to become the world’s most sustainable drinks business.

MAKING SURE THAT WE, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS HAVE A PLANET TO BREW BEER IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST FOCUS OF BREWDOG. FOREVER.

NEWS SPECIAL

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

midst of the second English

MULTS FACE NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS CHALLENGE

lockdown are no longer

SUPERMARKETS ARE FACING MASSIVE LOGISTICAL AND IN-STORE

BIG ISSUES Big Issue North sellers in the

permitted to sell the magazine.

This means that they are not eligible for furlough, and as they cannot work from home, hundreds of homeless and vulnerably housed people are now without a source of desperately needed income.

CASH DEPOSIT SLUMP Cash deposits by business and personal customers at Post Office branches in October totalled £1.91bn, a drop of £92m compared with September. The introduction

S

CHALLENGES AS THEY ARE FORCED TO BLOCK OFF PARTS OF THEIR STORES UNDER LOCKDOWN IN ENGLAND.

upermarkets are facing tough decisions and challenges under the latest lockdown restrictions in England as they must block off parts of their stores following government advice.

The guidance said that, from 5 November, shops in England that have “sufficiently distinct parts” such as mezzanine levels were told they should close the areas selling non-essential items, often non-food products such as clothing or homewares.

The major supermarkets have all stated they are complying with regulations, although some are advising customers that staff can instead collect items from restricted areas on their behalf.

of circuit breaks and tiered restrictions in parts of the UK were blamed for the fall.

ASSEMBLY BACKS USDAW Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed London Assembly support for the union’s Freedom From Fear campaign.

A successful motion expressed concern about the level of abuse and violence against shopworkers and called on the Government to support The Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill.

HARRY HELPS FIGHT HUNGER The team has been making up packages for those who are struggling and have been supported by customers who have also made donations, in a bid to help local people in need. The 1,500sq ft store, which opened at the beginning of March just as the coronavirus outbreak hit, has quickly established a place in the community; the launch of the foodbank is in response to the support it has received.

The store is operated by the Ahmed family and owner Harry Ahmed says he wants to help locals in any way possible. He said: “We are very grateful to have our business here and to be doing well thanks to the support of the locals. We just wanted to help and give something back and we have seen how much some people are struggling right now. Nobody needs to feel embarrassed.

We just ask that people contact us.”

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 30 / WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS SPECIAL

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

FOOD AND DRINK STORES SEE 50% INCREASE IN OCTOBER THE LATEST BARCLAYCARD DATA SHOWS THAT CONSUMER SPENDING DIPPED BY 0.1% IN OCTOBER AS HEIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS TOOK

C

HOLD, BUT SPENDING IN FOOD AND DRINK STORES, INCLUDING LOCAL RETAIL, SHOT UP BY OVER 50%.

onsumer spending declined 0.1% yearon-year in October, as further restrictions and the arrival of colder weather encouraged Brits to stay at home and turn to online shopping. However, spending in food and drink specialist stores, which includes independent retail, increased by more than 50%. That’s according to the latest data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions.

LIDL TEAMS UP TO TACKLE HUNGER

Spending on essential items grew 4.2% YOY, driven largely by a 13.9% rise in supermarket expenditure – though this was the smallest increase in the category since February 2020.

Food and drink specialist stores however – including c-stores, butchers and greengrocers – rose by 50.7% as nearly half of shoppers (48%) looked to support local businesses.

A third (33%) of Brits say they are stockpiling essentials in preparation for potential shortages.

Lidl has launched a ‘Teaming up to Tackle Hunger’ scheme which will allow customers to donate directly to their local community at the till by scanning a flyer with their smartphone – and Lidl will match every donation.

Mandi Leonard, GroceryAid Welfare Director, has re-issued the charity’s offer of help to anyone in the convenience and grocery industries who may be facing tough times during the pandemic. In an open letter Leonard highlighted the amazing work the sector has done but also encouraged everyone to take time for their mental wellbeing.

She said: “When you’re busy with work and trying to cope with new, unusual circumstances, it might not feel possible to take care of yourself.

This may feel even more difficult if you

are working long hours or under a lot of pressure. But even doing small things for yourself can make a big difference to your mental wellbeing.

“As we face Lockdown 2.0 it’s important that everyone within your organisation is aware of the support available to them more than ever.

Please remind them of all the services we are here to help with, ensuring your colleagues are aware of the ways GroceryAid can help.”

Find out more about how the charity can help you or your colleagues.

TECH SOLUTIONS

GROCERYAID CAN HELP

Customers can give between 35p and £2.45 by simply scanning the flyer when they pay for their shopping to donate one of five essential food items to their local communities – tuna, cereal, chopped tomatoes, milk and rice. Each donation will then be matched by Lidl and sent directly to the store’s local food partner.

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

DESTINATION RETAIL AN SLR GUIDE TO BECOMING A ‘DESTINATION STORE’ WHY IT MATTERS... AND HOW TO DO IT. CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW TO READ IT NOW

DESTINATIO RETAIL N

AN SLR GUID E TO ‘DESTINATIO BECOMING A N STORE’ W HY IT MAT TE

READ NOW

RS... AND HO

W TO DO IT .

OCTOBER 20 20 HOME DELIVE RY

/ FOOD-TO-G O / DIFFERENT LOCAL SOUR IATED RANGE CING / SUS / TAINABILITY / TECH

Destination

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06/10/2020

18:03:05

NEWS EXTRA

STORE RETAIL GROUP COSTCUTTER

MITAL MORAR’S SRG SIGNS WITH COSTCUTTER

H

INNOVATIVE MANCHESTER BUSINESS STORE RETAIL GROUP PENS LONG-TERM TRADING DEAL WITH COSTCUTTER.

ighly innovative Manchester-based retailing business Store Retail Group (SRG) has signed a new long-term trading partnership with Costcutter Supermarkets Group.

Formerly with Simply Fresh, the multi award-winning Group, headed up by well-known and highly regarded retailer Mital Morar, operates six stores across the Manchester region and the deal is a major coup for Costcutter.

SRG agreed terms and commenced trading with Costcutter earlier this month. The partnership will see Costcutter work alongside Mital to provide expertise and support to further develop his creative retail business. It will also supply both centrally and direct-to-store for the group’s stores which include the General Store and Foodhall brands.

Plans are already underway to expand the partnership with the potential for more sites to be brought onboard under the agreement before the end of 2020 and into 2021.

Commenting on the deal, SRG founder Mital Morar said: “I’m very pleased to be aligning my business with CSG. I’ve been particularly impressed with their partnership approach to business development and the wealth of expertise they can bring to our group. My team and I are excited for the future of our partnership and to already be working collaboratively on a number of new opportunities.”

Jamie Davison, CSG Business Development Director, added: “SRG is a progressive and well-respected group and we are delighted to announce this new partnership. Partnering with Mital and his team is testament to our leading offer and levels of support which will enable SRG to respond to and

thrive in today’s challenging market. We are looking forward to supporting them as they further develop and expand their unique retail offering.”

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DATA

SPAR SCOTLAND SALESTRACK

SPAR SCOTLAND UNVEILS GROUND-BREAKING DATA PLAY SPAR SCOTLAND WHOLESALER AND RETAILER CJ LANG & SON IS TO MAKE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL SALES DATA AVAILABLE TO SUPPLIERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, IN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE AN

S

INDUSTRY FIRST MOVE.

cottish Spar wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang & Son, Scotland’s largest independent retailing and distribution company, has revealed a groundbreaking new sales data reporting service that will make wholesale and retail sales data available to suppliers and stakeholders for the very first time.

CJ Lang is working with data and digital specialist TWC to develop and launch the service, call Spar Scotland SalesTrack, which will not only give its suppliers access to the company’s wholesale shipment data but, in what is believed to be an industry first, the group is also giving suppliers visibility of retail sales from its 108 company-owned Spar convenience stores. The new service is scheduled to launch on Monday 18 January 2021.

Colin McLean, CEO of CJ Lang & Son, says: “Today’s trading environment is about understanding how our retailer and consumer shopping behaviours are changing and ensuring we all adapt fast to meet demand and expectation across products, systems and service. This includes rewarding loyalty, increasing customer retention and getting to understand our customers’ buying preferences better. One size does not fit all.

“Harnessing data in a way that gives all our partner suppliers visibility and knowledge of what is happening across wholesale shipments and at a retail point of sale will enable us all to work closer together. It will enable us

14 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 30 / WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

COLIN MCLEAN, CEO OF CJ LANG & SON

all to do ‘better business’ together. Our SalesTrack service will provide suppliers with the most accurate read yet as to what is happening from a wholesale and retail perspective in Scotland.

“Importantly, we wanted to create a system that is easy to navigate and interpret and TWC impressed us with their ability to apply tech in a way that is manageable, understandable and surprisingly addictive.”

Tom Fender, Development Director for TWC, says that the two data sets (wholesale shipment data and retail Epos data) will sit side by side on TWC’s dashboard, where they will be accessible to users anytime, anywhere, and on any device.

“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist or have a PhD in stats to use our reporting tool,” he says. “We’ve designed it for busy execs ‘on the go’ so they can access information at their finger-tips. It’s intuitive, cloud-based and will help aid growth and upsell.

DATA

SPAR SCOTLAND SALESTRACK

“Our SalesTrack service will provide suppliers with the most accurate read yet as to what is happening from a wholesale and retail perspective in Scotland.”

[Colin McLean, CEO, Spar Scotland]

“The last eight months have been hugely challenging for all businesses but UK convenience stores, underpinned by a world class supply chain, have been a vital lifeline to communities.

The sector now has more customers and more fans than it did eight months ago. But change also creates a need for data, to better understand customers, whether they are retailers, or shoppers so that businesses can collectively deliver against their needs.

“Emerging trends need to be spotted early. Gaps in performance or listings need to be plugged quickly. A one size fits all approach to business is ineffective and inefficient.

We need to work together to cleverly pinpoint opportunities with laser like focus and deliver data-led solutions which improve performance.”

Fender says data allows TWC to understand the ‘push’ metrics and will enable CJ Lang & Son to work more strategically and effectively with suppliers whilst also

monitoring the trends driving the consumer ‘pull’.

“This visibility of data also enables effective forecasting and helps users identify emerging trends so they identify the ‘size of the prize’ and make TOM FENDER, quick decisions based on knowledge DEVELOPMENT and fact not hearsay,” he adds.

DIRECTOR FOR TWC “We work on the basis that great digital execution can only be achieved from excellent insight and CJ Lang’s investment in this service will undoubtedly further underpin its position as the leading independent distribution and wholesale company in Scotland.”

TWC’s service team will be giving support 24/7 to ensure all users can easily access the information they need.

McLean concludes: “We believe our new data service will deliver a range of benefits that include sales growth, more customers, greater loyalty and customer retention.

Everything we do seeks to deliver excellence in service, satisfaction and customer engagement.”

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EVENTS

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL SLR REWARDS 2020

SLR REWARDS 2020: A VIRTUAL FESTIVAL OF EXCELLENCE WITH CORONAVIRUS RULING OUT LIVE EVENTS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, THIS YEAR’S SLR REWARDS WILL BE GOING VIRTUAL FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN ITS NEAR 20-YEAR HISTORY!

S

LR is excited to confirm that for the first time since we first launched the Rewards almost 20 years ago, we will be holding the event virtually.

With coronavirus ruling out live events this year and for the foreseeable future, this year we will be instead hosting a virtual festival of excellence.

On Friday 11 December at 6pm we will be bringing the entire Scottish local retailing industry together, as we do every year, but this time retailers will be able to join the party from the comfort of their own home, or store, via their PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

Coronavirus has turned the world upside down which is why it is more important than ever that we recognise and celebrate the fantastic role that local retailers play in communities the length and breadth of Scotland.

And we want you to help us create a very special event where we can raise a glass to this phenomenal industry sector and come together – in a virtual environment – to praise, thank and honour Scotland’s heroic local retailing sector.

Antony Begley, SLR Publishing Director, said: “We are both delighted and excited to be launching the first ever

SLR Rewards in virtual format. Clearly, it’s not how we had envisaged the Rewards and we would have much preferred to bring the entire Scottish local retailing industry together for a great night as we’ve been doing for almost 20 years – but coronavirus has made that impossible. The safety and wellbeing of all our industry friends is paramount.

“But we are thoroughly looking forward to recognising and rewarding this absolutely amazing sector in a virtual environment.

It’s been a long, tough year for us all so it will be a pleasure to end the year with a celebration of the entire Scottish local retailing sector. I think we’ve demonstrated over the last seven or eight months just how valuable our sector is to every community across Scotland and I sincerely hope that the heroic efforts of local retailers across the country during these tough times will be rewarded with increased loyalty from shoppers long into the future.

How this industry is perceived by shoppers has changed forever and we have a golden opportunity to build a lasting legacy.

“I look forward to virtually welcoming you all on 11 December.”

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE

16 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 30 / WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

EVENTS

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL SLR REWARDS 2020

Beer, Cider, Wines & Spirits Retailer of the Year Q Premier Dundee University Q Premier Smeaton Stores, Kirkcaldy Q Spar Havannah Street, Glasgow Biscuits Retailer of the Year Q Eurogarages Spar Duncansfield Q Best-one Redding Supermarket Q Spar Dalrymple Confectionery Retailer of the Year Q David’s Kitchen Falkirk Q Eurogarages Spar Hamilton Q Londis Solo Convenience Store, Baillieston Q Spar Leuchars Crisps & Snacks Retailer of the Year Q David’s Kitchen Falkirk Q Eurogarages Spar Lomondgate Q Spar Camelon Food to Go Retailer of the Year Q Brysons Londis, Prestwick Q David’s Kitchen Falkirk Q Nisa Pinkie Farm Convenience Store, Musselburgh Q Spar Havannah Street, Glasgow Forecourt Retailer of the Year Q Brysons Londis, Prestwick Q Jet Nisa Ardeer, Stevenston Q Premier Racetrack Autoport Services, Glasgow Fresh, Chilled & Frozen Retailer of the Year Q Premier Dundee University Q Nisa Pinkie Farm Convenience Store, Musselburgh Q Spar Renfrew

THE FINALISTS

Newstrade Retailer of the Year Q Joes, Loanhead Q J&R McInnes, Dalry Q Premier Turriff Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year Q Day-Today Barassie Q Eurogarages Spar West Highway, Clydebank Q News 24, Glasgow Q Spar Boswell Park, Ayr

Vaping Retailer of the Year Q Premier Racetrack Autoport Services, Glasgow Q Spar Havannah Street, Glasgow Q Wazs, Broxburn

VIRTUAL

Community Involvement Retailer of the Year Q Day-Today Bourtreehill Q Londis Solo Convenience Store, Baillieston Q Nisa Pinkie Farm Convenience Store, Musselburgh New Store of the Year Q David’s Kitchen Kirkcaldy Q Spar Freuchie Q Spar Havannah Street, Glasgow

Best Refit of the Year Q Highclere Food Store, Inverurie Q Premier Racetrack Autoport Services, Glasgow Q Nisa Bellshill Q Nisa Pinkie Farm Convenience Store.

Musselburgh Responsible Retailer of the Year Q Family Shopper Blantyre Q Londis Solo Convenience Store, Baillieston Q Premier Racetrack Autoport Services, Glasgow Scottish Brands Q Eurogarages Lomondgate Q Greens of Ellon Q Nisa Pinkie Farm Convenience Store.

Musselburgh Sustainability Q Greens of Ellon Q Highclere Food Store, Inverurie Q Premier Dundee University Q Premier Watson’s Grocer, Moniaive

When? Friday 11 December, 6pm

Team of the Year Q Best-one Whitburn Post Office Q Day-Today Lochside Q Premier Smeaton Stores, Kirkcaldy

Where? Instore, on your sofa or wherever you happen to be

ThinkSmart Innovation Award BP Mearnskirk Day-Today Redburn Road, Prestonpans Premier Racetrack Autoport Services, Glasgow

Dresscode: Come as you are

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 17

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CHRISTMAS ADVERTISING

COCA-COLA GIVE SOMETHING ONLY YOU CAN GIVE

COCA-COLA UNVEILS CHRISTMAS AD COCA-COLA HAS ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF THIS YEAR’S CHRISTMAS TV AD – AND WE HAVE A SNEAK PREVIEW OF IT HERE FOR YOU.

C

oca-Cola’s long tradition of epic, cinematic Christmas TV ads is set to continue with its latest festive ad – and you can check it out here before it hits small screens in the UK next month.

The new ad, entitled The Letter, takes a be-in-the-moment theme and centres around ‘This Christmas, give something only you can give’ – yourself – and encourages people to be truly present with one another this Christmas. This year marks 100 years of advertising for Coca-Cola and its iconic association with Christmas.

Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, the ad unwraps the magic of Christmas in a hope-filled tale about a father’s unremitting love for his daughter and his journey to make her Christmas wish come true.

Kris Robbens, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “This year, the Christmas season is set to be more meaningful than ever before. Coca-Cola has been celebrating the festive season through our advertising since the 1920s, featuring uplifting messages of unity and joy. Our new advert reflects the real magic of Christmas – our greater appreciation for loved ones, a sense of community and our need to be present with each other this Christmas, above all else.”

The drinks giant will certainly get its money’s worth from the ad, which will feature in 91 markets around the world.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 21

COVID-19

LOCKDOWN 2 LUMINA INTELLIGENCE

LOCKDOWN WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME AS THE UK HEADS BACK INTO LOCKDOWN FOR A SECOND TIME, LUMINA INTELLIGENCE CONSIDERS THE LIKELY IMPACT ON FOOD SHOPPING AND CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOUR, REFLECTING ON THE KEY TRENDS OF LOCKDOWN ONE.

INCREASED SHOPPING ONLINE FOR GROCERIES While there has been less strict advice for swathes of the population to ‘shield’, there will be many people keen to avoid going out to busy shops, as well as those wishing to plan ahead and secure grocery delivery slots given this became such a race in the first lockdown. Penetration of online grocery increased to four in 10 shoppers in April 2020, compared to just three in 10 in February 2019 and we predicted that grocery delivery would be a legacy behaviour coming out of the pandemic.

HOW WILL IT BE DIFFERENT? Through the spring and summer, many grocers significantly increased their online grocery capacity – Tesco for example more than doubled the number of delivery slots to more than 1.5 million a week. Greater capacity should mean there are enough slots to go around, although if panic buying sets in again then demand could well outpace even this increased supply.

1. STOCKPILING At the beginning of the first lockdown, shoppers were regularly faced with empty shelves and panic buying set in. The ‘stockpiling’ mission became a significant feature of shopping in supermarkets and online, accounting for 11% and 17% of shopper missions to these channels respectively in March 2020.

HOW WILL IT BE DIFFERENT? Over the summer, the stockpiling mission fell back to single

22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 30 / WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

digits, but we are seeing it creep back up again, particularly online, where it reached 14% in w/c 19 October. The level of stockpiling will be led by consumer fear of out of stocks and therefore the grocers – as well as the UK government – are sending a clear message that there will be enough food to go around provided the public shops sensibly, with some grocers already implementing limits on the number of items shoppers can buy in certain categories.

2. FOODSERVICE DELIVERY INCREASES SHARE After a slow start, foodservice delivery picked up pace throughout the first lockdown. Initially there was limited supply as most major operators closed their doors completely and many smaller foodservice operations didn’t have delivery capability. Over the months that followed, supply returned to the market with an increasing number of operators offering delivery, takeaway and drive thru services – ahead of the reopening of dine-in at the beginning of July. As a result of this additional capacity – and strong demand from consumers who were seemingly bored of home cooking – we saw delivery usage increase from an average of one meal a month (pre-pandemic) to around five (with a strong bias towards younger consumers).

HOW WILL IT BE DIFFERENT? Now that restaurants, pubs and cafes have established operating procedures taking account of social distancing and other safety restrictions, many more operators are able to continue to trade through the second lockdown. Due to the shutdown of most of hospitality, delivery & takeaway will

COVID-19

LOCKDOWN 2 LUMINA INTELLIGENCE

be a valuable lifeline for these businesses. Hence, we do not expect the reduction in supply that was seen in March, with the likes of McDonalds already announcing that they will continue to operate their takeaway, drive thru and delivery services throughout November.

3. CONTINUED SCRATCH COOKING Over a third of consumers reported that they were cooking from scratch more in April 2020 – arguably no surprise with the hospitality industry largely shuttered and more time to spare with over two-thirds of UK adults working from home at that time.

HOW WILL IT BE DIFFERENT? We identified scratch cooking as another legacy from the pandemic, with an increasing proportion of households upskilled in this area, as well as the economic benefits of eating in. Certainly, intentions were positive, with 37% of

consumers saying that they planned to scratch cook more post lockdown. We have no evidence to suggest this has changed – with hospitality outlets closed for dine-in, there are limited options (besides delivery of course) and with consumer confidence in further decline, consumers will be managing their budgets closely.

Whilst no-one welcomes another national lockdown, there are slightly fewer restrictions this time, plus we are facing into it from a ‘new normal’ that is very different to March (when lockdowns were an alien concept). With much of the country already in local lockdowns, plus limited socialising and mixing, means that lockdown two is less hard to accept. From our research it’s clear that when it comes to food and drink, many of us haven’t fully returned to our old ways: scratch cooking, online grocery shopping and delivery as an occasional treat will remain key behaviours. Let’s hope we don’t have to add panic buying and consequent out of stocks to that list.

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

BOOST YOUR VALUE SALES AND STOCK UP ON PINT CANS! 60% of shoppers only buy pint can formats, with the pack size growing +£37 million last year.*

Convenience retailers saw their average annual sales increase by £383 when stocking the pint can format vs 500ml can.**

We’re optimising our portfolio to help you meet the growing demand in pint cans. From October, we’ll cease production of the 500ml can.

Stock up on our 568ml and 440ml cans today. ©2020 AB InBev UK Limited, all rights reserved.

*NEILSEN GB Total Impulse – Value (in £M) – 2019 ** Nielsen Scantrack |YTD 05.09.20 | Impulse channel

ALCOHOLIC SPARKLING WATER. YEAH, THAT’S A THING NOW.

Please drink responsibly. Over 18s only.

BREXIT

NO-DEAL WARNING OPEN LETTER

FOOD AND DRINK BODIES TACKLE PM ON NO-DEAL BREXIT RISKS ELEVEN OF SCOTLAND’S LEADING FOOD AND DRINK ORGANISATIONS HAVE MADE A DIRECT PLEA

E

TO THE PRIME MINISTER TO WARN OF THE “PERILOUS SITUATION” FACING THE FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY IF THERE IS A NO-DEAL BREXIT.

leven of Scotland’s leading food, drink, seafood and farming organisations have taken the “unusual step” of making a direct plea to the Prime Minister to warn of the “perilous situation” facing the food and drink industry if there is no-deal Brexit.

The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) is among the group and SWA Chief Executive Colin Smith said the trade association had ensured the letter stated that distributors were included within the businesses asked to be given a financial compensation package, where they encounter losses as a direct result of border or market disruption.

In the letter to Boris Johnson, the groups stress the damage that coronavirus has caused this year and warn that the “fallout from a no deal would be catastrophic”. The UK’s Brexit transition period is set to end on 31 December.

In recognising the enormity of the task facing the UK Government in negotiating new trade deals, the letter states: “The end of the transition period and ever-increasing uncertainty on the terms of our new trading arrangement with the EU compounds these concerns. The EU is the destination of 70% of our food exports. It is also the largest market for Scotch whisky. Indeed, our food and drink exports are four times more important to the Scottish economy than to the English economy.

“Tariffs, border disruption for high value perishable goods, and certification costs are all far greater threats for the food and drink sector than they are for other sectors in the

26 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE XX / WEDNESDAY XXXX 2020

SIGNATORIES: Q Scotland Food & Drink Q Food and Drink Federation Scotland Q National Farmers’ Union Scotland Q Quality Meat Scotland Q Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Q Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers Q Scottish Bakers Q Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation Q Scottish Seafood Association Q Seafood Scotland Q Scottish Wholesale Association

economy. And our food producers are extremely reliant on labour from the EU, such as the North East where over 70% of the workforce in seafood processing are EU nationals.

“So, what we do in the next 60 days is critical to the survival of many food, drink, farming, fishing and seafood businesses, and the supply chain and jobs they support.”

NPD AND MEDIA

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

MULTIPACK WIIINGS

EMBASSY VALUE

CALL OF DUTY

Red Bull is urging retailers to

Imperial Tobacco is launching

Mountain Dew is partnering

stock up on multipacks this

a new Embassy Signature

with Activision on its new Call

Christmas and has launched

range that has all the features

of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

a new 4-pack of Red Bull Zero

of premium factory made

game for an on-pack promo.

new insight showed Red Bull

cigarettes without the premium

Shoppers will be able gain

multipacks trade +59% during

price tag. The range of Gold

double XP points with every

the festivities with more in-

and Silver variants has a

purchase of Mountain Dew.

home consumption occasions

wholesale price of £46.50.

The promo is supported with

driving increased demand.

RSP: £9.30

wider marketing activity.

MUCHOS TV ADS

VICTORIA RE-WRAPPED

FESTIVE JUICE

KP snacks is running a new

Snacking giant pladis has

Tropicana is kicking off the

TV campaign for its McCoy’s

rewrapped its Victoria selection

Christmas season with a

Muchos range on Channel

in its most sustainable

festive pack design created

4 and Dave until the end of

packaging yet. The Christmas

to drive cut-through during

this month, The ad depicts a

biscuit assortment includes a

the busy festive season.

Mexican wrestling match with

downsized card outer and an

Tropicana’s seasonal on-pack

Mucho McCoy entering the ring

updated cloudy plastic, fully

design is rolling out in-store

to square off against an inferior

recyclable tray.

now across 950ml, 1.4l and

tortilla chip.

RSPs: £3 to £12

1.6l formats.

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27

CONSUMER TRENDS

GENERATION P IGD

INTRODUCING...

GENERATION P MOVE OVER MILLENNIALS, GENERATION P IS WHERE IT’S AT IF THE LATEST PREDICTIONS FROM IGD ARE ACCURATE AND THE OLDER ‘PERENNIAL SHOPPERS’ MARKET COULD OFFER HUGE OPPORTUNITY

M

FOR LOCAL RETAILERS.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

illennials have been hogging the limelight for too long and it’s time they stepped aside to make way for Generation P: The Perennial Shoppers. That’s the view of global industry research and training charity IGD, which has just unveiled some new flagship research which appears to show a huge opportunity for retailers who target this sector.

But what exactly is Generation P? Essentially, the group comprises older 50 to 64-year-old shoppers who, according to the research, are surprisingly “digitally savvy, experimental and willing to spend more for quality”. IGD even goes so far as to predict that Generation P is set to drive the international grocery sector up by an incremental $116bn over the next couple of years, creating a $1,460bn opportunity by 2022.

The group already accounts for a chunky 30% of all food and drink spend across three key markets covered by the research: the UK, Singapore and the USA. Generation P, says IGD, is “one age group to invest in for the future”.

Generation P is set to grow in in size and significance over the next two years and IGD’s research has identified opportunities for retailers (and suppliers) to engage with these shoppers.

Simon Wainwright, Director of Global Insight at IGD, says: “This research shows how significant Perennials are to grocery. They are an engaged group of shoppers who are accessible when approached in the right way. Competition is already fierce between retailers looking to find new ways to

28 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 30 / WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

attract shoppers and Covid-19 has made it hard to chart the future. Having a clear focus on your shoppers and knowing how best to reach them will be crucial to success. That’s why the time is right to focus on this often-overlooked group.”

According to the research, Generation P shoppers in general: Q Are increasingly engaged online grocery shoppers.

Over half (56%) of Generation P shop online for food sometimes, with a third (33%) predicting they will do more in the future.

Q Have an affinity with brands that they have grown up with, but also hold private label products in the same high regard. While 67% of these shoppers buy particular brands because they have grown up with them, the same number (68%) indicate that they are also very satisfied with the quality of own-label products, with 58% trusting them as much as brands.

Q Value convenience and quality over price. A significant 75% of 50-64-year-olds say they are sometimes tempted to spend more on better quality products, and 56% will sometimes spend more on products because they are easier to prepare and cook.

Q Would like to select products with specific ethical or environmental credentials but tend to prioritise other factors in their purchasing decisions. Looking into the future, over half of Generation P (54%) indicate that issues around the environment will take on greater importance

CONSUMER TRENDS

GENERATION P IGD

WHAT IS GENERATION P? Q 50 to 64-year-old shoppers Q already account for 30% of food and drink spend Q digitally savvy Q experimental Q willing to spend more for quality

for them, however 49% admit they will always prioritise factors such as quality and price.

When drilling down specifically into UK data, IGD also noted some interesting trends among the group of UK Generation P shoppers. Compared to the other global markets analysed, they are: Q The most likely to buy new and different food and grocery products.

Q The most likely to cook from scratch.

Q The least likely to buy prepared foods or eat out.

Q The most likely to prioritise specific ethical and environmental factors in their shopping such as animal welfare and reducing the amount of packaging.

Q The most likely to check out offers in store and buy on impulse..

Q The least likely to plan their shopping trip

Commenting on the opportunities with this age group, Wainwright says: “Perennials have embedded digital and online behaviours which they will carry forward and continue to develop into later life. However, this is a generation that doesn’t go digital purely for the sake of going digital – adoption of new technologies for them is driven by their proven practical benefits, and these have to outweigh those of established interactions and processes, such as traditional ‘analogue’ store-based shopping.

“Perennial shoppers show aspects of being habitual both in how they shop and in having an affinity for products that are familiar to them. In cases where they have grown up with products this affinity clearly can go back decades. However, it is clear that they also continue to evolve in terms of their tastes and choices, showing an ongoing willingness to trial new and different products as well as pragmatic considerations such as balancing quality with value for money.”

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

Helping you to make an extra 3% Gross Profit Ease of use

Simple to use touch screen till software

Backoffice admin software

Cigarette Gantry integration

Indepth reporting and analysis

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Supplier Data links with all major Wholesalers

Credit Card integration

Weekly health check reports to guide you to improve your sales and margin.

Access to background database with over 100,000 products

Benefits of MPos ✓ Built around a retailer, not a computer user ✓ Simple to use till, powerful admin tools ✓ Built from retailers perspective ✓ Reduces labour by downloading products, price changes, invoices and promotions

✓ Reduces labour by allowing one click order generation and one click invoice downloads - easily shave off 10 hours of work per store

✓ Increased control on stock; all stock deliveries downloaded and all stock adjustments emailed to the owner; NO stock is unaccounted for

✓ Emails store performance to the user with real actionable data once a week rather than stats heavy reports that overwhelm the user

✓ Based in Scotland with excellent support and training program

✓ Easy to use Hand Held terminal to control the store from shop floor ✓ Integration with Credit Card terminals, Zapper, Cigarette Gantry, Loyalty Schemes and more ✓ Developed and supported by people that know the retail trade

So How much Could our System make for you?

We can demonstrate a 3% uplift in Gross Profit in using our system.

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Even a Single Lane system can more than pay for itself in the first 4 months!

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NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX VERACO

WRAPS REDUCE RISK OF VIRUS SPREAD BRITISH COMPANY LAUNCHES A RANGE OF ANTIMICROBIAL ADHESIVE PADS AND WRAPS FOR FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES THAT REDUCE THE RISK OF VIRUSES INCLUDING COVID-19.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

IS IT NEW TECHNOLOGY?

A range of antimicrobial adhesive pads and wraps to be used on frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, shopping baskets and handrails. The products kill up to 99.99% of common bacteria and help reduce the risk of spreading viruses including Covid-19.

No, antimicrobial silver technology has been used in paints and coatings for hospitals, but until now the technology hasn’t been available in a range of solutions that can easily be installed in retail environments.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

Yes, they’re being used by organisations including the NHS, Toyota, London Metropolitan University and fashion retailer COS.

Launched by London-based Veraco, the pads and wraps use ‘Silver Ions’ technology which apparently “breaks down the biological make-up of micro-organisms, in order to stop the spread and reproduction of dangerous pathogens”.

SO THEY CAN HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS? Exactly.

HOW DO RETAILERS USE THEM? They wrap around or are attached to frequently touched surfaces like hand rails, touchscreens and trolley handles.

HOW LONG ARE THEY EFFECTIVE? They work 24/7 and work instantaneously on touch for up to two years.

ANYBODY ALREADY USING THEM?

WHAT ARE VERACO SAYING? Co-Founder George Strong commented: “In a post-Covid world we are going to be far more hygiene-conscious.

People will continue to avoid touching public doors, handles, screens and so on as best they can and there will be continued expectations on business to support that change in behaviour. This pandemic has changed hygiene standards and we see our products as part of setting that standard across the world.”

“We knew the technology worked but we wanted to also create products that looked good and were really easy to use.

We have a range of different shapes and sizes, and we can also produce customised designs for our trade customers.”

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31

BOURTREEHILL IRVINE

www.uniteduk.com

UnitedWholesaleScotland

www.day-today.co.uk

MyLocalDayToday

www.usave.org.uk

“Day-Today have undertaken a full critique of my store and they have delivered on every point.

The team at Day-Today have made a number of positive changes to the store layout so I’m now making the sales floor work much harder.

My sales have never been higher and my customers love what we’ve done with the store.”

Imran Ali”

CO-OWNER IMRAN ALI

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SUPPORTING GROCERY COLLEAGUES The GroceryAid Covid-19 Fund is designed to help colleagues who need support now and throughout the full impact of the pandemic.

Grocery colleagues have access to:

“Amid the huge challenge of Covid-19 our trade has done a great job of keeping the nation fed. GroceryAid has raised a special Covid-19 fund to help our industry colleagues at this time of need. The 24/7 Helpline will deal with concerns and assist with financial stress caused by this terrible virus.”

- Charles Wilson, GroceryAid President

Mental Health Support Offering ‘in the moment’ emotional and practical support for colleagues dealing with shock, anxiety and stress through BACP trained counsellors, our Health and Wellbeing portal and Woebot, our AI Robot App. Bereavement Financial Assistance Providing financial assistance for the loss of a loved one through Covid-19. Available to colleagues who lose a partner or the immediate family of a colleague who has passed away as a result of Covid-19 whilst working in our industry.

Crisis Grants Non-repayable grants, designed to help with financial emergencies. This is available for colleagues experiencing unexpected financial difficulties due to Covid-19 with a year’s industry service.

GroceryAid Helpline: 08088 021 122 Visit: www.groceryaid.org.uk Follow us:

BEFORE YOU GO...

RETAIL RANDOMS COLOUR CATCHER | GROCERYAID

PR WASHOUT

PR TARTED UP AS LEGIT RESEARCH – A USER’S GUIDE

As regular readers of SLR will know, we do love a bit of PR tarted up as legitimate research. It’s an infuriatingly common practice in the world of PR these days – and here’s a fine example of how to do it that arrived on our desk this week from the good people at Colour Catcher: 1. Come up with a weird, attention-grabbing headline then link it to something current. Covid is ideal. In this instance: “1 in 10 Scots are purposely damaging their other half ’s laundry following a feud in lockdown!”

2. Always refer to it as a study, not a press release, and reference bizarre insights. In this instance: “Key highlights from the study include: a quarter of couples go two to three days not speaking after laundry sabotage.”

3. Hide the methodology and scope of your ‘research’ and always refer to your sample size as “nationally representative”. In this instance, it’s buried right at the bottom of the release where few journalists will ever reach.

4. Use charts to make it look official and like proper research. In this instance, there are two charts highlighting the “Top colours to run” and the “Top clothes causing colour damage”.

5. Keep up the ‘research’ ruse right until you spring the sales line. In this instance, there are four paragraphs and two charts before you get to: “Rachel Ferreira, from Colour Catcher, comments: “To help make life at home easier, we are getting people in Scotland to #DareToMix with our new campaign by using Colour Catcher

in every wash. This simple addition to the washing will not only prevent colour run accidents but also protect the brightness of clothes and save up to two hours a week on time spent doing the laundry.”

6. Don’t forget to add the price, a link to where people can buy it and, for added measure, launch a social media ‘challenge’, as highlighted above.

Job done.

AND A WEE WORD FROM PETER...

It’s all very well having a joke and a laugh and a bit of bantz, but we’re well aware of how challenging life is for many of us at the moment, including some of our industry colleagues. SLR is represented on both the GroceryAid Scotland Committee and GroceryAid’s national committee for independent retailers, so we hear a lot of the stories first hand.

With that in mind, we thought it would worth sharing with you a video made recently by Scottish committee

co-Chairman Peter Steel, formerly of McCurrach’s.

Give it a watch – but most importantly, make sure that everyone that you work with knows that GroceryAid can help in many different ways. It’s ok to need some help sometimes, it really is.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 30 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 35

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