NEWS DIGEST

CJ LANG LAUNCHES CLICK AND COLLECT SERVICE

THE WHOLESALER EXTENDS ITS SERVICE BEYOND INDEPENDENTSPAR STORES TO ANY RETAIL BUSINESS.

Spar Scotland wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang has launched a click and collect service aimed at providing trade customers with a full ambient and selected chilled range.

Operating from its 180,000sq ft distribution centre in Dundee, the wholesaler will provide a click and collect service seven days a week, where trade customers place orders via its website before 1430 hours and collect them by 1800 hours the same day. Orders received after 1430 hours will be available for collection the next day.

The service has been in operation since 10 June and CJ Lang plans to add more products over the coming weeks.

GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN ON RELAXING SUNDAY TRADING LAWS

It seems likely that the Westminster Government will drop plans to suspend Sunday trading laws in England and Wales following widespread opposition to the proposal.

The idea had been touted as one way to give the economy a muchneeded boost during the coronavirus crisis but was slammed by unions, shopworkers, convenience store owners, trade associations, symbol groups and wholesalers.

It was also widely reported in the national press that over 50 Conservative MPs had threatened to rebel against the Government and vote down any change.

Commenting on subsequent speculation that the plans had been quietly dropped, a Government spokesperson said Sunday trading was “under review”.

Paddy Lillis, General Secretary of shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw, said: “We appreciate the desire to help the retail sector, but the proposal to undo a long-held and workable compromise on Sunday trading was misguided and overwhelmingly rejected by shopworkers.”

CALL FOR MUP IN ENGLAND IN WAKE OF SCOTTISH FINDINGS

A leading health campaigner has urged the Government to introduce minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol in England.

The call – from Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK – came after a new study found that alcohol sales in Scotland remain at their lowest level since 1994.

In 2019, 9.9 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland – equivalent to 19.1 units of alcohol per adult per week.

Professor Gilmore said the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Wales earlier this year left England behind much of the UK in the race to tackle the alcohol harm crisis.

He said: “It is time for Westminster to step up and prove it takes our nation’s health seriously by implementing MUP as a matter of urgency.”

NEWS UK ADDS TO NFRN’S COVID-19 HARDSHIP FUND

News UK has become the latest company to back the NFRN’s Covid-19 Hardship Fund.

Its contribution brings the fund’s total to £235,000.

The NFRN created the Hardship Fund to help members who are facing severe hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since its launch in April, the Hardship Fund has helped nearly 70 independent retailers and paid out £100,000.

News UK Chief Operating Officer David Dinsmore (pictured) said: “We are proud to be supporting the NFRN’s hardship fund for hardworking retailers who have fallen on hard times and will continue to work with retailers to ensure we continue to serve our readers and your communities.”

SGF LAUNCHES SUPPORT FUND

Scottish Grocers’ Federationhas unveiled a new fundto provide direct financialassistance to retailers and theirfamilies during the Covid-19crisis. For more information onthe fund please download theapplication form on the SGFwebsite.

PAYPOINT AND MFG RENEW PAYMENTS AND PARCELS PARTNERSHIP

PayPoint and Motor FuelGroup have renewed theirpartnership. This will seethe deployment of an EPoSintegrated PayPoint solutioninto 900 locations, and thecontinuation of Collect+ parcelservices in almost 500 stores.

GROCERY IN- STORE GROWS AT THE EXPENSE OF DELIVERY

Following several weeks ofstrong performance for grocerydelivery, grocery in-storegrew share across all mealoccasions, according to HIM’slatest Pulse update. Growthwas particularly strong atdinner, up 4.6pp to 66% share.

SHOPLY MAKES TOP STARTUPS LIST

Home delivery platform Shoplyhas been listed at number67 on the Startups 100, theUK’s longest running index ofdisruptive new startups. Saleson Shoply have risen by over500% during the coronavirusoutbreak and the service isnow available in 40 locations.

FSS OFFERS FREE ONLINE ALLERGY TRAINING

Food Standards Scotlandhas developed a new onlinetraining tool to improveawareness about foodallergens. The free tool, whichshould be of interest to anyretailer with a food-to-gooffer, comprises six modules.Progress can be saved andreturned to at a later stage.

SWA JOINS TOURISM TASKFORCE

The Scottish WholesaleAssociation has been invitedto participate in the newScottish Tourism RecoveryTaskforce.The group will lookat the needs of the tourismand hospitality sector as itrecovers from the impact of thecoronavirus pandemic.