NEWS DIGEST

FOODSERVICE DELIVERY HITS LANDMARK FIGURE

HOME DELIVERIES FROM RESTAURANTS AND FAST FOOD OUTLETSTOPPED 10% OF ALL DINNERS, SAYS NEW HIM / MCA INSIGHT DATA.

Deliveries made directly to customers’ homes from restaurants and fast food outlets reached a landmark new market share of more than 10% of all dinners in the last week in May, according to a new Channel Pulse data report from convenience research specialists HIM and MCA Insight.

The new record high has been driven in large part by the re-opening of popular foodservice brands like KFC and McDonalds as well as the increasingly prevalent trend of fully fledged restaurants launching home delivery services to drive at least some revenues under lockdown.

The figure hit 10.3% of all dinners consumed, a significant increase of 2.7% on the previous week, and the first time that it has entered double figures. The development offers the prospect of new opportunities for local retailers seeking to deliver evening food-to-go products to their shoppers.

SPAR REMOVES 300 TONNES OF PLASTIC

Ahead of last Friday’s World Environment Day, Spar said that it had removed nearly 300 tonnes of virgin plastic from 53 own-label products as well as preventing over 100 tonnes of black plastic going in landfill.

It also added recycling information on over 700 Spar own-label products.

By 2025 Spar is aiming to eliminate single use plastic altogether from its own-label range, have an average of 30% recycled content in plastic packaging and ensure 100% of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable.

FACE MASKS IN STORES ‘INEVITABLE’

SCOTLAND’S FIRST MINISTER SAYS FACE MASKS IN STORES WILLINEVITABLY BECOME MANDATORY IN SCOTLAND AS ENGLANDENFORCES THEM ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that she is considering making the wearing of face masks compulsory in enclosed places such as shops and says the decision to enforce this looks “inevitable”.

The announcement was made after further evidence showed that many Scots have disregarded Sturgon’s previous recommendations to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces.

Meanwhile, the UK government made it mandatory last week for people to wear face masks on public transport, although the new rules did not include the enforced wearing of masks in shops.

SCOTTISH NON-ESSENTIAL STORES ‘COULD RE-OPEN NEXT WEEK’

Non-essential stores in Scotland could begin re-opening their doors as early as next week if Scotland moves into the next phase of easing restrictions on 18 June.

The easing could see smaller shops of 80sqm or less reopening and different households allowed to meet indoors, while pubs and restaurants could open outdoor spaces.

Physical distancing and hygiene measures would need to be in place, but the move edged ever closer this week as Scotland announced a second consecutive day of no new coronavirusrelated deaths earlier this week.

REACH TERMS CUT

The NFRN has renewed callsfor a review into fairness in thenews supply chain after Reachincreased cover prices on theSunday Mirror and SundayPeople and cut retail terms.From last weekend the price ofthe two titles rose 10p to £1.80with the percentage terms thatretailers receive adjusted downfrom 20.5% to 20%.

PAYPOINT HOUSING TIE-UP

PayPoint has partneredwith the Housing QualityNetwork, an adviser to housingassociations and councilsacross the UK. PayPointwill offer its digital paymentsolution, MultiPay, to keydecision-makers in the housingmarket and provide guidanceand advice about digitalisingpayments.

COFFEE SALES SPIKE

Uber Eats has revealed thatits sales of coffee grew by149% since lockdown startedin March. Starbucks and CaffèNero are exclusive to UberEats, while Pret a Manger andCosta Coffee – among others –also use the platform.

CJ LANG BOARD

Spar Scotland wholesalerand retailer C J Lang hasannounced the appointmentof Louise Rogers and SonyaHarper to its Executive Board.Rogers takes over as HRDirector from the retiringJohn Connolly. Harper hasbeen promoted to CentralOperations Director.

HIGHLAND FLINGS

The Highland Food & DrinkClub has launched a seriesof virtual panel discussionswith industry leaders. The nextone happens on Zoom at 2pmtomorrow and features TWC’sTom Fender, SGF’s JamieBuchanan and Antony Begleyof SLR and the Scottish RetailFood & Drink Awards. Registerhere.

HEALTHY LIVING WEEK

Spar Scotland is runninga Healthy Living Weekprogramme this week with ahost of activities taking placeonline and in stores around thecountry. The event is supportedby the SGF Healthy LivingProgramme and featurespromotions and activitiestaking place to encourageeveryone to get involved.