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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
NEW RM PARCEL SERVICE WILL ‘HIT RETAILERS HARD’
INDEPENDENT RETAILERS WILL BE HIT HARD BY ROYAL MAIL’S NEWPARCEL PICK-UP SERVICE, SAYS NFRN.
NFRN says the new parcel collection service announced by Royal Mail will be a severe blow to many of its members. Royal Mail’s Collect Plus will see postal workers pick up packages directly from customers at their doors for a fee of 72p per parcel, in addition to postage costs.
Many smaller independent retailers already offer a parcel collection and return service to customers during opening hours, and will lose vital revenue because of the move by Royal Mail.
NFRN member Graeme Pentland, who owns Ashburton Village Store in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, said: “This is definitely going to be a blow to us. We have contracts with two of the major parcel delivery companies and also have our own service, whereby customers can have their parcels delivered to the shop.
“This is a growing part of our business, so the move by Royal Mail is bound to have a detrimental effect on us and other independent retailers, as well as the couriers.”
WHOLE FOODS ADDS IN- STORE FARMING
AMAZON-OWNED WHOLE FOODS MARKET IS TO INSTALL ‘VERTICALFARMING FACILITIES’ IN TWO STORES ALLOWING SHOPPERS TOBUY PRODUCE GROWN IN-STORE.
Whole Food Market is to install ‘vertical farming facilities’ in its High Street Kensington and Fulham stores as part of a partnership with urban farming company Infarm. The modular units will let shoppers buy produce that has been grown in-store.
Products available will include herbs, lettuce, kale, and sorrel. Measuring 2sq m, Infarm’s units can produce more than 8,000 plants per year, with the first harvest from the Kensington store due on 19 November.
Vertical farming is marketed as a way to grow fresh produce closer to where it is consumed, helping shorten the food supply chain and cut down on field to fork mileage.
BRTIVIC RENEWS PEPSICO TIE UP
Britvic today has reached agreement with PepsiCo for a new and exclusive 20-year franchise bottling agreement in Great Britain for the production, distribution, marketing and sales of its carbonated soft drink brands – including Pepsi, 7UP and Mountain Dew. The new agreement extends the relationship to 31 December 2040, and includes the Rockstar energy brand, for which Britvic will take responsibility from 1 November this year.
Britvic also announced its intent for all plastic bottles in GB to be made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET) by the end of 2022 – three years earlier than originally planned, and ahead of the previous target of 50%. This will cover the entire GB portfolio of Britvic-owned and PepsiCo brands.
CO-OP EXTENDS HOME DELIVERY IN SCOTLAND
Co-op is expanding the roll-out of its online shop in Scotland and increasing the number of slots available for customers. The retailer has partnered with same-day delivery specialist Gophr to offer a new service that will
initially go live with six Co-op stores this month in Glasgow. This will be followed by a roll-out to more than 50 shops across Scotland in the coming weeks.
The service will result in thousands more delivery slots being made available across Scotland. Deliveries can be made up to four kilometres from a store and in as little as two hours. Customers can choose from around 4,500 products and can track their deliveries in real time.
PAYPOINT SELLS ROMANIA
PayPoint has agreed to sellits Romanian business toInnova Capital for a cashconsideration of around £47m.The sale is consistent withPayPoint’s focus on its keystrategic priorities and thedelivery of enhanced growthand value in its core UKmarket, which is where the netproceeds will be invested.
UKVIA APPOINTS DUNNE
Vaping industry stalwart JohnDunne has been confirmedas Director General of the UKVaping Industry Associationafter a vote by the trade body’sfull membership. Dunne waspreviously responsible for theUKVIA’s member recruitmentactivity. He is also the UKVIA’sprimary media spokesperson.
IN THE BAG
Scarborough retailer ProudfootGroup has raised £10,000 forgood causes in its four storesthis year from the sale of 5pcarrier bags alone. Proudfootstores have also supportedlocal causes with more than£67,000 in donations raisedthrough Nisa’s Making aDifference Locally charity.
PP-EG DEAL
PayPoint has extended itspartnership with EG Groupin a move that will see thecontinuation of its bill paymentand parcel services in nearly400 of EG Group’s forecourtsites across the UK. The dealsmeans EG Group locations cancontinue to offer PayPoint’sintegrated bill payment solutionin addition to Collect+.
CAMPARI SIGNS UP
The Portman Group, the socialresponsibility and regulatorybody for alcohol in the UK, haswelcomed Campari UK as itsnewest member. They are thefifth member to join this year,bringing total membership to13. The Campari Group wasfounded in 1860 and now hasa portfolio of over 50 majorbrands in the premium andsuper premium sectors.
GINSTERS BACKS FARMERS
Ginsters is extending its longtermsupport of British farmingby contributing in 2020-21 toThe Prince’s Countryside Fundand showcasing the hard workof farming families with regulardonations and support onpack.
