NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
CO AND PAYPOINT RENEW
RESEARCH
PayPoint across its 121 stores
LOCAL RETAILERS SEE 85% GROWTH
in the region.
THE LATEST KANTAR MARKET DATA HAS FOUND THAT
East of England Co-op has renewed its partnership with
INDEPENDENT AND SYMBOL RETAILERS ARE SEEING GROWTH IN
STAY CLOSED TO CRIME Crimestoppers Scotland is asking the public to report suspicions to ensure business can open in the future but stay #ClosedtoCrime. Attacks on ATMs and convenience stores
EXCESS OF 85%.
Local retailers are continuing to see huge increases in year-on-year sales during the coronavirus pandemic with the latest figures from Kantar suggesting that independent and symbol retailers saw growth of 85.5% in the four weeks to 19 April.
This compares with considerably more modest growth for the supermarkets, which saw Tesco lead the way with a 12.5% increase while Asda grew by just 3% over the same period. The Co-op saw sales rise 42%.
are among crimes that harm local businesses, disrupting services and employment prospects, says the charity.
ODDBINS SAVED A “substantial part” of the high street wine retailing business Oddbins has been bought out of administration by an asyet unnamed buyer. Around 28 stores are expected to be salvaged.
SCOTTISH RUM FEST The inaugural Scottish Rum Festival will now be held virtually on Friday 24th July for trade delegates. Find out more at www.ScotRumFest.com
6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 7 / WEDNESDAY 3RD JUNE 2020
COSTCUTTER BACK IN THE GAME AFTER AN ‘OUTSTANDING’ YEAR Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) has reported one of its strongest set of financial results to date, with sales increasing by 10% to £426m for the period 1 January to 31 December 2019. The symbol group also saw a £9m rise in earnings before tax (EBITDA) to £5.1m, completely reversing 2018’s loss of £4.2m. CSG boss Darcy Willson-Rymer (pictured) said 2019 had been an “outstanding” year. The lockdown-induced resurgence of the convenience channel was reflected in a 22% rise in non-tobacco sales across the first four months of 2020, and Willson-Rymer plans to convert the ‘lifeline’ shoppers
responsible for the spike into loyal Costcutter regulars through its Shopper First programme and by helping retailers become even closer to local communities through an increased focus on digital experience and platforms such as Uber Eats.
