SLR September 2024 Edition

WISHAW WONDERLAND

Racetrack takes local retailing up another notch

We’re empowering retailers to promote and offer healthier options while engaging with their communities through our range of support plans.

Choose the plan that aligns with your objectives and embark on a journey towards a more health-conscious and sustainable shopping experience.

Find out how you can enhance your support: Call 0131 343 7602 or visit

06 Deposit Return Scheme A government minister erroneously says DRS will roll out sooner than expected.

07 Retail Crime Londis retailer Natalie Lightfoot to share her experiences in Scottish Parliament.

08 Convenience Chains PGNJ Group plans a major business restructure and expansion.

10 New Stores MHouse’s Asif Ashraf nails ‘most strategic’ store opening yet.

12 Community SGF underscores its commitment to local businesses by signing the Scotland Loves Local Pledge.

13 Promotions Spar Scotland’s Euro 2024 instant win promotion scores with shoppers.

14 News Extra Sustainability The Scottish Government seeks opinions on charging for single-use cups.

24 Product News McCoy’s launches an epic promotion while KP has £45,000 to give to local retailers.

26 Off-Trade News Malibu launches a cheeky new campaign and Carlsberg Marston gives Hobgoblin a makeover.

INSIDE BUSINESS

28 Store Profile Premier Girish’s@Barmulloch Girish Jeeva’s relentless drive for perfection has seen him create a cutting-edge store in Barmulloch, Glasgow.

33 Spar Scotland Trade Show SLR takes a 21-page deep dive into this month’s upcoming event, including an exclusive interview with boss Colin McLean.

55 Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns.

66 Under The Counter The Auld Boy lets loose on shoplifters, seagulls and snowflakes.

FEATURES

56 Breakfast More people are enjoying breakfast at home these days, so why not tempt them with something new?

59 Fascia Guide Could now be the right time for a fresh start with a new symbol partner that better meets your specific needs?

Racetrack Wishaw The Sud family’s latest

Waitrose to open

100 new c-stores across UK

Waitrose has unveiled plans to open 100 new convenience stores over the next five years. The new stores will be located across England, Wales, and Scotland, though specific locations have not been disclosed. The first new store is set to open in Hampton Hill, London, later this year. The expansion will treble the posh supermarket’s footprint in the convenience channel.

New PayPoint tie-up lets businesses deposit cash

PayPoint has announced a partnership with Teya, a provider of card payment solutions for businesses. Teya customers can now add funds directly into their business accounts at PayPoint stores. The process works via the Teya app where customers can put in cash for a specified amount by generating a unique barcode. The PayPoint agent then scans the barcode to complete the transaction.

Indie retail enjoys ‘biggest growth since January’

Sales in independent retailing outlets in July grew at their fastest rate since January, up 3.5% year-on-year (YOY), according to the latest Barclays Consumer Spend report which combines hundreds of millions of customer transactions with consumer research. This improved performance was in stark contrast to sales in supermarkets which flatlined at 0.0% YOY in the same month.

New wholesale fund to boost Scottish produce The Scottish Wholesale Association has launched a new fund to help increase the volume of local Scottish produce sold through wholesale channels. SWA has secured £195,000 from the Scottish Government to deliver the initiative and will provide match funding of up to £10,000 per business for wholesalers whose applications to the new fund are successful.

Confusion over DRS timetable

Defra has con rmed that the UK’s much-delayed deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers is still planned to launch in October 2027. is came a er a government minister said the roll out of the scheme would be brought forward.

In response to a question tabled by the Liberal Democrats asking if there were plans to introduce

CHARITY

DRS before October 2027, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said, “Yes.”

In a written answer of 29 July, Creagh also said: “We are reviewing the suite of packaging reforms and are going to work with our devolved government counterparts, industry and other stakeholders to determine the next steps for the Deposit Return Scheme.”

However, on 19 August Defra said the new Labour government didn’t want to move the date forward and was determined to continue with the current timetable. is will see DRS roll out across the UK from October 2027, with separate schemes in each of the four home nations.

e UK government and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have agreed to align on the key elements of DRS such as a uniform level of deposit, labelling and a single point of registration for producers and retailers. However, Wales remains the only country that wants to include glass bottles in the scheme.

Spar invites Marie Curie to Blooming Great Tea Party

Spar and Marie Curie have been encouraging people to bake their favourite cakes, hold a tea party and raise vital funds to help ensure more people, whatever their illness, get the end of life care they urgently need.

From 8 to 28 August, participating Spar stores supported the Blooming Great Tea Party by hosting tea parties and fundraising for the UK’s end of life charity Marie Curie.

During the campaign, shoppers also showed their support by buying selected products in their local Spar store. Every sale of well-known household brands including Diet Coke, Rubicon Sparkling Mango, Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate, and McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Digestives meant 5p per unit was donated to Marie Curie.

Lily Whitlam, Corporate Partnership Lead at Marie Curie, said it was fantastic to see so many stores get involved.

She added: “On behalf of everyone at Marie Curie, a massive thank you to Spar colleagues, suppliers and shoppers for getting behind this campaign. Every pound raised is vital to help us improve end of life care and give people the vital emotional and practical help they need.”

The partnership has raised more than £3.5m since 2017.

Scotmid CEO John Brodie retires as Karen Scott steps up

Scotmid Chief Operating O cer, and former head of SemiChem, Karen Scott, is set to take the helm as the company’s new Chief Executive as Scotmid announced John Brodie’s retirement last month, a er two decades as CEO.

e co-operative said: “Our CEO, John Brodie, has retired a er over 30 years with the society, nearly 20 of those as Chief Executive.

“John is a chartered accountant who worked in an accountancy practice before joining the society in 1993 as Chief Financial O cer. He was appointed acting CEO in 2004 and CEO in February 2005.

“We would like to thank John for his considerable service over the past 30 years and wish him well in his retirement.”

Londis indie to speak on retail crime in Scottish Parliament

Glasgow-based Londis Solo Convenience owner, Natalie Lightfoot, has bravely agreed to speak about her experiences of shop the and sta abuse at the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s

Cross Party Group on Independent Convenience Stores in the Scottish Parliament this month.

Natalie, who recently shared how crime is a ecting her business and wellbeing with Scottish Local Retailer, will also be talking to MSPs and peers about the longterm impact that retail crime has had on her mental health.

“ is a ects our own lives beyond just our livelihood,” said Natalie. “As independent business owners, we get painted as fat cats. MSPs have lost touch with real life, sometimes you need to shock them back to reality.”

Fed mourns first female

President Margaret Adams

Margaret Adams, the Federation of Independent Retailers’ rst-ever female National President has died.

Maragaret and her husband David owned a store in Largs, North Ayrshire for many years and joined what was then the NFRN in 1989. Margaret became a stalwart of the Federation in the Scotland district and nationally, becoming National President in 2000/01.

Current National President Mo Razzaq said: “Margaret Adams was a pioneer for women in convenience – not just hardworking, but her dedication was unparalleled. e Scottish district will remember her as a local legend who helped put the Fed on the business map.

“On a personal level, Margaret has been an inspiration for me, who was both helpful in her advice and also with her knowledge of the Federation.”

Longstanding Fed member Peter Wagg, who owns stores in London, recalled rst meeting Margaret and David Adams 30 years ago as fellow members of the NFRN national council.

He said: “It was obvious that Margaret was destined to become the rst female NFRN National President: highly respected, a commanding no-nonsense presence, and she could de nitely hold her own in meetings, where she was o en the only female councillor present.

“When she was National Vice-President in 1999, Margaret asked me to join her and the then President Alan Dryden to become the founding directors of the NFRN Mutual Ltd, now e Retail Mutual.”

A ercely proud Scot, just a few days before her passing Margaret was posting pictures of her local Oban Pipe Band, which had just retained its World Championship title.

e Fed said its thoughts and sincere condolences were with Margaret’s husband David, son Scott and daughter-inlaw Kelly.

She will be speaking alongside Douglas Meikle of the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership and Ron McNaughton of Food Standards Scotland.

Meikle will discuss the ‘It’ll Cost You’ campaign, which raises awareness that purchasing alcohol for someone under 18 is a criminal o ence.

Meanwhile, McNaughton will share his expertise on the issue and impact of food crime in Scotland. e meeting will take place in Committee Room 2 of the Scottish Parliament at 6pm on Tuesday 17 September.

Girvan c-stores buoy spirits of RNLI volunteers

Volunteers at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Lifeboat Station in the burgh and harbour town of Girvan in Carrick, South Ayrshire, smashed their fundraising target of £5,000 by completing a 200-hour float challenge, backed by their super supportive local Premier and Morrisons Daily stores.

To celebrate 200 years of RNLI, pairs of volunteers at Girvan Lifeboat Station took turns to spend eight hours a day for eight days floating on a life raft in Girvan Harbour. Generous Girvan Premier and Morrisons Daily on Dalrymple Street helped to boost morale and energy levels with multiple lunch and breakfast donations, featuring hearty sandwiches, wraps, fruit juice and plenty of Costa Coffee.

RNLI Girvan said: “Without our community’s support, we wouldn’t be able to make a success of what we do, and once again our local businesses have stepped up big time to help us out.”

Confex restructures

Buying group Confex is restructuring after doubling in size and turnover since the pandemic. This will see the launch of two dedicated retail and foodservice divisions. Kirsty Winkel has been appointed to the newly created position of Retail Controller. She will oversee the retail division of the group, while Foodservice Controller Matt Norman will be in charge of foodservice.

Women drive in-store parcel services

More than two-thirds (68.4%) of people using Collect+ or other in-store parcel services are female, new data from PayPoint has found. Almost half (45.3%) of service users are mums who live with their partners and children, and 45% are aged between 18 and 34, the research highlighted. Soft drinks and confectionery are the most likely categories to be purchased by shoppers visiting a store to use parcel services.

Mars gobbles up Kellanova

Confectionery giant Mars is set to become even bigger with the purchase of Kellanova in a deal worth nearly $36bn (£28bn). The acquisition, which eclipses Mars’ $23bn acquisition of Wrigley in 2008, should be completed in the first half of 2025. Legal experts expect regulators to give it the nod. The buyout comes against a background of rising food and drink prices in the UK, as well as a clampdown on junk foods.

Crowdstrike crisis

helps Post Office cash transactions top record July saw a new record for Post Office cash handling with cash deposits and withdrawals hitting £3.77bn for the first time in a single month. The warm weather played a part in the increase, while the global Crowdstrike IT outage, which impacted banking services, meant Post Offices saw a 13% surge in cash withdrawals on 19 July.

CHARITY

NEWSTRADE Current President Mo Razzaq leads tributes

CRIME Natalie Lightfoot will share her experiences with MSPs

Hefty fines in pipeline for not sharing

petrol prices

The government is consulting on penalties for forecourt retailers not complying with new fuel price transparency measures. Fines for non-compliance could be up to 1% of worldwide turnover or 5% of daily turnover. The CMA is pushing for an independent app-based ‘fuel finder scheme’. The Labour government has yet to announce a timetable for the so-called ‘Pumpwatch’ initiative.

7-Eleven in sights of rival Global convenience store giant 7-Eleven is poised to be taken over by Canadian rival Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) in a deal worth £29.7bn. Owner of 7-Eleven, Seven & i Holdings is considering an offer from ACT, which operates the Circle K chain. Any deal is likely to attract the attention of competition watchdogs, given that 7-Eleven has more than 13,000 stores in the US and Canada, and ACT has more than 9,000.

ICO launches new privacy notice generator

The Information Commissioner’s Office has launched a new tool to help small businesses create a bespoke privacy notice. Under data protection law, every organisation that holds people’s information needs to explain why it holds it and what it does with it. The new generator can quickly create tailored privacy notices relevant to small businesses in a number of specific sectors, including retail.

Booker teams up with Snappy Shopper

Londis, Budgens and Premier retailers are set to benefit from a strategic partnership between Booker and home delivery service Snappy Shopper. The groups claim that the rapid delivery market is thriving and the new agreement will further enhance the home delivery options available to Booker retailers, helping to drive sales and cash profit.

PGNJ Group to restructure and open three new sites

Jay Javid has revealed major plans to restructure PGNJ Group and open three new stores in and around Glasgow by March 2025.

He told Scottish Local Retailer that the business, which currently operates 11 Nisa stores, would be looking to take on key personnel when it moves to bigger headquarters shortly. “We’re totally restructuring the company instead of me writing everything on the back of a fag packet!” he said. “We’re constantly trying to change and get better at what we do.”

e ambitious retailer added: “I’m opening three new stores. Hopefully one will open this year and the other two in the rst quarter of next year. One is an excommunity centre, one is a new build, and one is a showroom.”

As part of plans to streamline the business, Jay recently rolled out Lavazza On e Move co ee at six of his stores.

He wanted a co ee o er that would work as well at a 5,000sq store as it did in a 1,200sq store and claimed, “Lavazza tted the bill perfectly”, highlighting that two of the stores had seen a 100% increase in like-for-like sales since switching from their existing self-serve o er. He said that the machines were

COMMUNITY Mo Razzaq eases back to school anguish Retailer

treats school kids

Big-hearted Blantyre retailer Mo Razzaq decided to cheer up local schoolchildren with some snacks on their rst day back at school last month.

He gave out free Kids’ Packs to every child who visited the store between 7am and 12 noon on Wednesday 14 August. Packs included a bottle of Ice Valley water, a Cadbury Freddo Bar and a pack of Golden Wonder crisps.

e generous gesture earned Mo much praise from the local community and beyond, with a Facebook post highlighting the giveaway racking up over 500 likes and being shared more than 350 times.

Yvonne Maclean, who follows the store on Facebook, said: “What a kind, thoughtful thing to do, brightens up our morning reading this,” while Catherine Hunter said: “Such a lovely gesture, always thinking of others, amazing.”

easy maintenance, taking just 15-20 minutes a day to clean, compared with one of his other machines which took an hour and a half.

Another major draw with the new machines was their ability to o er oat milk, which Jay claimed was bringing in a lot of new customers.

But what clinched the deal for Jay was the relationship he has built with the co ee rm. “It was nothing to do with margin,” he said. “It’s that we have a good contact and that was a game changer for me. I liked the ethos of Lavazza, they’re very family oriented and so are we. e dots connected straight away. “It suited our needs and we took the plunge and we’re very happy. I can’t stress enough to other retailers to get them in and try it out.”

FORECOURTS The stores form part of an EG On The Move pilot scheme Trio of

Co-op franchise stores open

ree Co-op franchise shops opened in Scotland last month as part of a seven-store trial with forecourt operator, EG On e Move.

Nitshill Services on the south side of Glasgow last week was rst to launch, followed by sites in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire and Macmerry, East Lothian.

All three o er electric vehicle charging while the Co-op convenience stores feature self-service Starbucks co ee and a focus on fresh, chilled and healthy produce. e food service o er at Nitshill includes Greggs, while Portlethen has a branch of fast-food pizza restaurant Sbarro and Macmerry includes a Starbucks drive-through, Subway and Greggs.

e other four stores in the trial are based in Billingshurst, Doncaster, Finmere and Ipswich.

Zuber Issa, CEO, EG On e Move, said: “We look forward to working with Co-op to consider other locations across the network.”

Nitshill Services

Have a Voice on the Generational Smoking Ban

What it is and what it means for you

The Generational Smoking Ban is back on the table after the new Labour Government reintroduced The Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the King’s Speech. The legislation would dramatically impact how tobacco can be sold and will affect all retailers that sell tobacco products in the UK.

What is the proposed legislation?

The proposed legislation would see the minimum age at which a person can be sold tobacco products – including cigarettes, cigars and heated tobacco – increase each year by one year, starting in 2027. Therefore, anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be allowed to be sold tobacco products.

What could the bill mean to independent retailers?

Increased crime and violence

Bobby Singh, BB Nevison Superstore & Post Office, Pontefract

“Age verification is already one of the top reasons for violence against retailers* - an increase in ID checks due to the proposed ban would bring a whole load of confrontation to our counters.”

A slippery slope to other products

Avtar (Sid) Sidhu, Budgens Kenilworth

“The new legislation brings inconsistency to age-restricted items and could set a dangerous precedent for other categories. What is the Government going to move on to next?”

After months of engaging with retailers, we hear their call to increase the minimum legal age of purchase for tobacco to 21, as the only viable alternative to the Generational Smoking Ban. A viable alternative –increase age of purchase to 21 21

Rise in illicit trade

Sue Nithyanandan, Costcutter Epsom

“Illegal tobacco is a growing problem, and the illicit market will be rubbing its hands in anticipation if the legislation is introduced.”

Hard to enforce

Trudy Davies, Woosnam & Davies News Llanidloes

“The generational ban would be really impractical to enforce. Increasing the age of purchase to 21 would not only be an easier alternative for retailers to implement, but also fairer for consumers.”

You can still have your say

The new Labour Government must listen to the voice of retailers, to create a workable and practical alternative to the Generational Smoking Ban.

Raise your concerns with your new local MP. Scan the QR code to find yours.

For now, it’s business as usual. You should continue to sell tobacco products as normal.

RTD Watch

SLR is working with Red Star Brands and its fast-growing RTD brand Four Loko to provide you with regular updates on the performance of an increasingly important category.

MHouse’s Asif Ashraf nails ‘most strategic’ store opening yet

FAST FACTS

RTDs continue to flourish in the alcohol market, with value growth of +2.4% adding nearly £12m in sales in the last 52 weeks. Scotland is outperforming the market in RTDs as it sees over 15% growth in value sales!

Vodka-based RTDs is one of the strongest sectors within the RTD space. However, we are also starting to see positive moves in RTD cocktails, which is enjoying a 20% share

The convenience channel benefits from strong brands within the RTD sector as they drive the growth in the market, growing at +14% in the last 52 weeks.

Two brands are dominating the growth in the Scottish RTDs, with Four Loko the #1 driver, contributing to 42% of the total category growth and adding over £5m in sales, followed by Au Vodka as the #2 growth driver.

Four Loko sees success in the Scottish convenience market as it boasts +46% value growth and is the fastest-selling brand (Avg Value ROS last 26 weeks) in Scotland with seven SKUs in the top-15 best-selling SKUs in the RTD Category. Four Loko White and Dark Berry Burst are the top-selling SKUs in the market.

Asif Ashraf has turned an empty unit in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, into a bustling c-store by using data analysis to tailor his o er and power sales.

“Traditionally, we open near another store and go cut price to get custom, but this time we’ve grown from scratch, concentrating on social media and on being the best shop and not the cheapest,” the MHouse EPoS founder told Scottish Local Retailer.

He got the lease and licence for his fourth Spar store in March and delegated the task of hiring sta to a manager. “I’ve been really hands o with this one – I handed it over to store manager Claire from my Motherwell store,”

he explained. “She was in charge of hiring the team and training them up. She takes ultimate responsibility for the shop. It’s been the most stress-free experience for me!”

Meanwhile, Asif focused on using intel to improve his o er. He wanted to ensure that he o ered the right pricing range for the mida uent area, so he took data from a couple of his other stores in similar areas and replicated it.

Assistant manager Lorna was busy creating engaging social media posts, while Asif analysed which had the strongest cut through. “It’s been more strategic than I’ve ever been – we’re using social media gures to see how people are responding to di erent posts,” he said. “It helps that I own a marketing media company as well. We do targeted advertising for di erent pro les of customer, test it and double down on stronger responses.”

So far the store, which measures around 2,000sq , has exceeded targets, turning over just under £20,000. “Our original target was to reach £20,000 before the end of year,” he said. “Now, I’m aiming for high 20s to £30,000.”

WHOLESALERS Tom Slaven warns members that the SWA must remain agile

‘Important

work ahead,’ says new SWA President

e Scottish Wholesale Association’s new President, Tom Slaven, has warned members that the organisation must remain agile and be capable of “adapting to the evolving economic and political landscape, as well as changes within our sector”.

Slaven was addressing the trade association’s President’s Lunch (15 August), at which he received his ceremonial chain of o ce.

“My goal is to nurture the growing con dence of the SWA and provide the tools and support needed to spread this optimism throughout the Scottish wholesale sector and to all our members,” he said. “We have important work ahead.”

Retail Director of United Wholesale Grocers, Slaven was appointed SWA President in June. His speech also paid tribute to his predecessor, Julie

Dunn, for her leadership over the last seven years, including during the pandemic.

Slaven also revealed that the annual Scottish Wholesale Association conference will return in 2025, taking place at a new venue – Ardoe House Hotel & Spa in Aberdeen – on ursday 5 June. e event, he

noted, will provide a platform for SWA members, suppliers, and other stakeholders to share ideas, discuss current industry challenges, and network.

Furthermore, SWA will host a webinar on the market overview in partnership with TWC, Kantar and others (date in September to be con rmed).

Shop prices enter deflation

Shop prices fell for the first time in nearly three years last month, according to the latest BRCNielsenIQ Shop Price Index. The 0.3% deflation rate was down from inflation of 0.2% in July. The fall was driven by non-food retailers discounting heavily to shift their summer stock after a difficult period of trading caused by poor weather and the continued cost-of-living crisis. Food inflation slowed to 2.0% in August.

RNLI launches new lifeboat thanks to Scotmid Scotmid’s year-long charity partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has raised £274,000. The funding has enabled the RNLI to buy a new Atlantic 85 lifeboat, which will form part of the relief fleet used to assist in critical rescues. The lifeboat will be named ‘The Spirit of Cooperation,’ aligning with the community retailer’s values and core purpose.

C-stores still in demand, says Christie & Co Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has reported that buyer appetite for retail businesses in Scotland remains strong, following the sale of two local stores in Perth and West Lothian. Muirton Post Office was sold to Irfan Ashghar, a Perth convenience store and Post Office owner, while J Dunbar & Sons in Armadale went to local operator, Abdul Manan, who has plans for a refit.

Fake vodka found in Coatbridge store Environmental health officers have recovered more than 40 bottles of counterfeit Glen’s vodka from a shop in Coatbridge. The move came after a customer reported that the product they had purchased smelled of nail varnish remover. Samples were sent for analysis. A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said the haul was “a significant discovery”.

SGF highlights need to shop local

e Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has underscored its commitment to supporting local businesses by signing the Scotland Loves Local Pledge.

SGF hopes this will encourage other businesses and organisations to follow suit and make a promise to target support and spending with those around them.

e move came at the start of Scotland Loves Local Week (26 August), seven days of action spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership to rally people to boost the Scottish economy by spending with local businesses.

Jamie Buchanan, SGF’s Go Local Programme Director, signed the pledge on behalf of SGF at Anand Cheema’s Costcutter store in Falkirk.

Anand said: “Convenience stores like mine are there for local people whenever they need them. But we can’t be there for the community if residents are not here for us.”

He added: “Like every other kind of local shop, we need people to think more about what they can buy in their community –supporting the jobs of their friends and neighbours – before turning to online giants.” PROXY

Paisley retailer moves store round

corner

Paisley KeyStore retailer Jack Singh has relocated his long-established store in Well Street to a purposebuilt site just a few metres away in Wellmeadow Street.

e well-known family-run business, which has served its local community in the west end of the Renfrewshire town for over 25 years, has more than doubled the size of its store to 2,000sq following a complete re t of a former restaurant building.

Jack has invested more than £500,000 in the project. e refurbishment included a new roof, lighting and ooring, as well

KEEP

as extending space for chilled and frozen, bringing in Costa co ee, Tango Ice Blast and installing a beer cave which Jack thinks may be one of the biggest in Scotland – if not the biggest.

e move was forced by a Renfrewshire Council regeneration plan which includes the building of hundreds of new ats in the area, which Jack hopes will signi cantly expand his customer base.

Jack commented: “Our customers are amazed, and many are saying they can’t believe how big our range is now. We’ve always been rooted in the community here in the west end of Paisley, so for our customers to remain so loyal and come with us on this journey is the best thing about relocating our store.

“I’m 100% delighted. It’s a fantastic store and we couldn’t have wished for a better outcome.”

Scotmid backs

‘It’ll Cost You’ campaign

Scotmid stores in Glasgow are supporting the “It’ll Cost You” campaign, which raises awareness of proxy purchasing and that those breaking the law will receive a fine or jail time, with messages via digital screens and in-store radio.

The campaign, organised by Police Scotland, the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership (SAIP) and Community Alcohol Partnerships, kicked off at the beginning of July.

Throughout the school holidays, radio adverts were played over Scotmid’s in-store radio, ensuring that shoppers understand the legal implications of buying alcohol for under-18s. The group is also displaying campaign graphics on digital screens, highlighting the consequences of proxy alcohol purchases.

Ian Lovie, Scotmid Compliance Manager, said: “Our role in the campaign is to make our customers in our communities understand the implication of purchasing alcohol for under-18s. The campaign is a great example of working together with local law enforcement, to make the communities we serve safer.”

Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland, said: “This campaign showcases the benefits of key partners working together to inform the public of dangers associated with underage drinking, as well as the criminal consequences for supplying those under 18 with alcohol.”

NEW STORES Council regeneration project forces flit

80,000 Spar customers take part in Euro 2024 promotion

Spar’s Win With Every Goal digital campaign saw 1.1 million instant rewards issued, with a Kilmarnock shopper picking up a grand prize of £10,000, as 80,000 Spar customers took part in the Euro 2024 promotion.

Spar wholesalers and distributors CJ Lang & Son and James Hall & Co. put Scottish and English rivalries aside to team up for the promotion, which ran between ursday 6 June and Sunday 14 July.

More than 750 Spar stores participated in Win With Every Goal in 2024, with a total reward pool of more than £700,000.

To play, customers spun a virtual wheel on the Spar app which randomly assigned them a team. ey could then choose to receive an instant reward whenever their team scored or conceded a goal, redeeming their prizes at participating Spar stores. Users could also play a daily virtual scratch card for more chances to win.

Kenny Foster, age 54, from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, was Win With Every Goal’s £10,000 grand prize winner in Spar Scotland’s distribution area.

He said: “I can’t thank you all enough for this – it hasn’t really sunk in yet! I loved playing Win With Every Goal and I got all my work mates into playing it too.

“I got Ukraine to begin with, and I had them to concede. When they got knocked out, I then got Belgium, but I think Belgium played that night and got knocked out too! I thought to myself ‘ah that’s just my luck’ – but I haven’t been so unlucky a er all!”

As well as the 1.1 million instant rewards issued, inclusive of grand prize entries, there were 880,000 scratchcard plays equating to a play every 3.8 seconds. One lucky customer in the North of England and Scotland respectively also won £200 every day of the 39-day campaign.

Healthy Living Programme and Snappy go bananas

SGF’s Healthy Living Programme and Snappy Shopper offered free bananas to customers last month to launch their new partnership. The collaboration is set to support Scottish independent retailers offer healthy choices, increase sales and assist in the goal of achieving a healthy nation. The partnership also aims to promote healthy eating habits among children and adults alike.

Post Office vouchers support more families

The number of cash payouts made via the Post Office Payout voucher service, which enables eligible families to access £15 per child a week over the summer, is expected to increase by 30% YOY to over one million. This is a 170% increase in three years, as families struggle during a prolonged period of high inflation, high energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis.

Visit businessenergyscotland.org Call 0808 808 2268

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters

with the SGF

Don’t put up with it! Report it! That is the message SGF is sending out to retailers on shop theft, abuse, threatening behaviour, and violence – the no.1 issue for our sector.

The best way to convince the Scottish Government to take more action and help police target offenders, is to report every crime – although we know this can be onerous and time consuming.

That is why SGF has teamed up with Retailers Against Crime to relaunch our ‘Don’t Put Up With It!’ campaign (dontputupwithit.scot). With all-new in-store posters, and updated information for those facing the scourge of retail crime, it is backed by GroceryAid, Crimestoppers and the Cyber & Fraud Unit.

The campaign was first launched alongside the Protection of Workers (Retail) Act in 2021. It is now more important than ever for retailers dealing with a tsunami of crime and anti-social behaviour; well over 10,000 cases of abuse and assaults have been reported to police since the Act came into force.

There is no doubt we face an uphill challenge, with many criminals confident there are no consequences for their actions. What’s more, many retailers are understandably concerned that reporting a crime will only result in wasted time with no results.

However, SGF sits on a range of retail crime and protection of worker groups, and we work closely with Police Scotland and the Scottish Government, pushing them to do more. The message we keep hearing is that the higher the volume of incidents reported in a local area, the more officers will do to crack down on the potential culprits and bring them to justice.

So… don’t put up with it! Report it!

Ministers propose 25p single-use cup charge

Despite its inability to launch the deposit return scheme, the Scottish Government now plans to increase the burden on retailers by introducing a charge for disposable drinks containers.

As was widely expected across the industry, the Scottish Government has launched a public consultation on a minimum charge for singleuse cups, with a 25p levy proposed. If implemented, the charge will roll out across Scotland by the end of 2025.

Although labelled a ‘latte levy’ in some quarters, the charge would apply to any single-use container, including those for slush, milkshakes and other cold drinks. Biodegradable and compostable containers would also be included. However, exemptions would apply for speci c locations and uses, like schools. Free drinks in hospital or care settings would also be excluded.

e consultation follows the introduction of the Circular Economy Bill, which passed into law in August, giving Ministers and local authorities new powers to increase reuse and recycling rates.

e idea is that a charge will incentivise customers to switch to reusable alternatives and cut CO2 emissions.

Gillian Martin MSP, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, said the Scottish Government wants to build on the success of the single-use carrier bag charge introduced in 2014. is, she said, “demonstrated that a charge can raise awareness, change behaviour and promote responsible consumption”.

e number of plastic bags given out from stores in Scotland dropped by 80% – some 650 million bags –in the rst year a er the 5p charge was launched.

“A charge for single-use disposable beverage cups will therefore be modelled on this approach, where appropriate, as it will be familiar and has been shown to be e ective,” Martin added.

With this in mind, the consultation proposes that retailers would – like the carrier bag charge – be able to retain “reasonable implementation costs”. Similarly, Ministers are seeking views on whether the proceeds should be kept by businesses, who would be encouraged to donate them to charity, or collected by government.

Similar schemes already exist in Europe. e Netherlands introduced a guideline charge of 25 cents on plastic, single-use cups in 2023. Ireland passed comparable legislation in 2022 – although it has yet to come into force.

Proposals to cut the number of single-use items have already received high levels of support.

is year’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map consultation saw more than 70% of respondents back the introduction of a charge on throwaway items.

Linda Williams, of Broadway Convenience Store in Edinburgh, told SLR she had mixed views about the proposals. “I am

absolutely all for cutting waste, and we already do as much as we can,” she said. “I do believe that some people will respond to the new charge and change their behaviours but, as usual, it’s the shopkeepers that will be le at the sharp end and given the job of enforcing it, which makes us the bad guys. is is what happens pretty much every time a new piece of legislation is introduced.”

e Scottish Retail Consortium criticised the proposed charge. Deputy Head Ewan MacDonaldRussell said: “Retailers are already taking action to improve the recycling of cups and reduce the use of disposable cups, including o ering nancial incentives to use reusable containers and changing materials to be more biodegradable.

“ erefore we question, at a time where the economy is atlining and high streets are struggling, whether this is the time to introduce a new cost to hard-pressed consumers.”

ere is also a feeling that the last thing businesses need is yet more legislation heaped on them, especially given the Scottish Government’s ability – or lack of –to implement new initiatives.

UKHospitality Scotland’s Leon ompson commented: “Coming hot on the heels of the shambolic Deposit Return Scheme, businesses already have little faith in Scottish Government delivering on new schemes.”

NEW DIRECTIONS

Think what you like of the off-the-wall approach to retailing that Shamly, Viks, Guna and Rits Sud take to convenience retailing, but there’s no question that they’re pushing the boundaries of what local retailing is and does with their rapidly growing chain of Racetrack stores.

From that mould-obliterating initial store in Ibrox to the latest new openings, every store has been meticulously (and expensively) crafted to deliver stores the likes of which we’ve never seen in Scotland before. Visiting a Racetrack store is more of a sensorial experience than a shopping trip.

Inspired by trips to the US, the Middle East and beyond, the Racetrack concept is unique in Scotland – and that Wishaw store that graces this month’s cover is the most ambitious yet. That’s partly down to the fact that it’s the biggest so far and, at 4,500 sq ft, it has allowed the family to bring all four of their brands into the same space for the very first time.

Three of those four brands focus squarely on high margin categories: Hoagies (food to go), Tubbies (desserts) and SpeedQueen (launderette) while Racetrack is the more traditional convenience brand.

In numbers, the store is astonishing: 70+ flavours of slush, 53 digital screens, 4 jumbo digital screens, 3,600 vaping SKUs, 150 nicotine pouch SKUs and 26 staff working 15 different shifts.

Most striking of all is the fact that the store delivers a blended margin of 45%. It’s impossible to find the words to describe the store accurately although the feature and photos in this issue will give you a fair idea and, hopefully, inspire you to drop by for a nosey first hand.

For me, the family have fully grasped the ‘destination retail’ model and run with it at 100 miles an hour. With so many stores looking increasingly similar and stocking broadly the same range, it’s long been clear that you have to give shoppers compelling reasons to pass another store and visit yours. Racetrack demonstrates what happens when you live and breathe that philosophy.

So much so that when I was sitting on a train one day just as the store was opening, I happened to hear one end of a mobile phone conversation and it became clear during the course of the call that the person on the other end of the line was planning a day trip that weekend from Falkirk to visit “that new Tubbies shop in Wishaw” that was “apparently amazing”. The power of Instagram.

When is the last time you heard of a family taking a day trip specifically to visit a convenience store that’s just opened?

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

EDITORIAL

Publishing Director & Editor

Antony Begley abegley@55north.com

Deputy Editor Sarah Britton sbritton@55north.com

Features Editor Gaelle Walker gwalker@55north.com

Web Editor

Findlay Stein fstein@55north.com

ADVERTISING

Sales & Marketing Director Helen Lyons 07575 959 915 | hlyons@55north.com

Advertising Manager Garry Cole 07846 872 738 | gcole@55north.com

DESIGN

Design & Digital Manager Richard Chaudhry rchaudhry@55north.com

EVENTS & OPERATIONS

Events & Circulation Manager Cara Begley cbegley@55north.com

Scottish Local Retailer is distributed free to qualifying readers. For a registration card, call 0141 22 22 100. Other readers can obtain copies by annual subscription at £50 (UK), £62 (Europe airmail), £99 (Worldwide airmail).

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WELCOME TO A WISHAW WONDERLAND

The Sud family in Glasgow have long been famed for taking local retailing in entirely new directions and their latest spectacular store in Wishaw pushes their concept further than it has ever been pushed to date.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

There are many retailers in Scotland doing fantastic work and pushing the boundaries of what local retailing is and means, but it’s probably fair to say that nobody is pushing as hard as the Sud family. If you’ve ever walked into a Racetrack store, you’ll know exactly what I mean. If you haven’t yet had that privilege, all I can do is urge you to take a morning o and go and visit one or two. Stepping inside is what can only be described as ‘an experience’ – and it’s an experience like no other.

Shamly, Viks, Guna and Rits Sud have forged an enviable reputation over the last decade or so for taking convenience retailing in an entirely new direction with each new store pushing harder and further. e family’s new 11th store in Wishaw is no exception and is undoubtedly the most spectacular yet – but it didn’t come easy.

RACETRACK WISHAW IN NUMBERS:

Q 26 staff working 15 different shifts

Q 3,600 vaping SKUs

Q 150 nicotine pouch SKUs

Q 70+ flavours of slush

Q 4 jumbo digital screens

Q 53 standard digital screens

Q 4 different brands

Q 45% blend margin

“We actually signed the lease for the new store over two years ago,” explains Guna, Group Retail Manager. “But it has taken us two years to get the store exactly how we wanted it. Wishaw ticked every box for us. Being in a retail park, it had lots of parking and it was a big enough store for us to include all of our brands for the rst time. Yes, there’s an Aldi and a Home Bargains next door but we decided our o er had more than enough to compete with them.”

e store is indeed big. At 4,500sq it gave Guna and family something they had never had before: the space to include all four of their brands. Guna explains the model: “Racetrack is our standard convenience retailing brand, Hoagies is our food-to-go brand, Tubbies Dessert Lab is our dessert brand and SpeedQueen is our launderette brand.

“We have these brands in our other stores but Wishaw gave us the opportunity to have all four in the same space for the rst time. It was really exciting.”

e store was rst fully tted out in Christmas 2023 but when the family rst walked into it a er the re t, something wasn’t quite right. “ e minute we walked in, we just agreed that it wasn’t working the way we hoped,” recalls Guna. “We originally had the SpeedQueen launderette at the front door, which would have allowed us to operate it as a 24/7 service that shoppers could access even when the store was closed at night. But when we rst walked in, we just realised that it wasn’t setting the right tone to have shoppers walk through a launderette before they got into the store.”

RIP IT UP AND START AGAIN

So what did they do? “We ripped it up and started again,” laughs Guna. “It seems nuts now to think about it, but we were so committed to getting it just right that we felt we had no choice.”

So the re t was re tted and, 18 months later, the store nally opened on Friday 10 May. “It has

been a long journey but we did the right thing,” says Guna. “It’s ying.”

Indeed, it’s ying so fast that the store is already hitting numbers that the family had projected would take 12 months to reach –and it is more or less permanently packed with shoppers.

Take one step inside and you quickly realise why. “It’s basically our standard store concept on steroids,” explains Guna. And where to begin when describing the RaceTrack Wishaw experience?

To get a small avour of the experience, consider that the store has more than 70 avours of slush, a Havana cigar humidor, a huge beer cave, four jumbo digital screens and 53 standard-size digital screens, Scotland’s only SpeedQueen ozone-technology launderette, a full hot and cold food-to-go solution (all made fresh daily in-store), the list goes on and on.

“We try to create destination stores that give shoppers as many unique reasons as possible to visit us,” explains Guna. “Take vaping, for example. Vaping is a huge category that’s very high margin and most stores do it – but we

decided to take it to the next level. In Wishaw there’s very little competition so we have gone big on it. We have over 3,600 vaping SKUs and over 150 nicotine pouch SKUs. It’s essentially a vape shop within a shop and the turnover we get from vaping alone is probably similar to the entire turnover of a small convenience store.”

en there’s Hoagies, the food-to-go brand. It o ers a huge range of hot and cold food options as well as an extensive range of grab-and-go food to go. All of it is made fresh every day in the purpose-built kitchen.

Similarly, the family’s Tubbies dessert brand features heavily. “Around 40% of the sales space in Wishaw is dedicated to Tubbies. We have a very loyal following and Tubbies is unique in combining over 70 avours of slush, desserts, cakes, donuts, wa es, pancakes, sundaes, ice cream milkshakes and more.”

e chilled beer cave features a full range of chilled beers, wines, ciders and RTDs as well as kegs, and features a special imported German and Belgian beer section, as well as the trademark Havana cigar humidor that features in all Racetrack outlets.

Premier Racetrack Wishaw

REGAL SOLUTION

en there’s the SpeedQueen launderette. “ ere are over 1,000 SpeedQueen units in Europe but none in the UK,” says Guna. “So we negotiated the exclusive licence for Scotland. It uses coldwater washing using ozone technology that is eco-friendly and hugely e cient and e ective. In fact, we even use it ourselves as a family!”

Interestingly, it’s a cashless system that works using an app. Shoppers prepay and then receive a noti cation to their phone when their washing is ready to collect.

Similarly, the Hoagies section of the store features touchscreen ordering pillars. “Shoppers are so used to ordering that way now because businesses like McDonald’s use it and it’s also proven very e ective in up-selling, much more so than when sta try to up-sell.”

You will notice that pretty much everything highlighted above has one thing in common: high margins. “We work hard to push margins as high as we can get them,” says Guna. “With the cost of doing business so high these days, we need the margin. We achieve 45% blend margin by combining high-margin categories with lower-margin categories like the value range of products we o er to compete with our retail neighbours.

“A lot of the solutions we put in place, particularly the tech solutions, mean that shoppers can self-serve. at helps us push sta ng costs down but it also helps enhance the shopper experience, so it’s a win-win.”

Having said that, the store still has 26 sta working across 15 separate shi s! “A lot of what we do is labour intensive,” explains Guna. “Preparing food and desserts all day every day takes a lot of work and time, but it’s what we do. It’s how we work, so we’re used to it.”

With a much bigger business these days, Guna and family now rely more than ever on their various teams across the stores.

“Back in the day we would more or less manage a store each but as we grew that was no longer possible,” he explains. “As we were preparing for Wishaw to open, we put our manager through a nine-month training course and trained the full management team alongside. at means when

“Wishaw gave us the opportunity to have all four of our brands in the same space for the first time. It was really exciting.”

GUNA SUD, GROUP RETAIL MANAGER

I walk in, there’s nothing for me to do, which is wonderful!”

TRADITIONAL ROOTS

All of this glitz and glam however, doesn’t mean that Racetrack Wishaw has lost its convenience store roots. “If anything, we’ve actually focused more on traditional convenience in this store than in our other stores. We listened to Premier and basically agreed to do most of what they suggested. e store is also more heavily branded as a Premier store than our other sites because it helps drive footfall, as shoppers know the Premier brand.

“We also run every Premier promotion because we know value is key for our shoppers. at helps get them through the door in the rst place and we then hope that, once they’re inside, they might be tempted by everything else they nd.”

For Guna and his family, every day is a school day. “We are always on a learning journey,” he says. “When we rst started out we were taking inspiration from the US and the middle east and south-east Asia. As we’ve grown, we now have the chance to learn from within the group. So, all the learnings we have made in the other stores have informed how Wishaw looks. But by the same token, some of the things we have learned in Wishaw and our other newer stores have been fed back into the original stores. It’s just a process of constantly trying to improve and stay ahead of the game.”

Which is why things never stand still at Racetrack for long. “We’re developing a groupwide loyalty app at the moment that shoppers will be able to use for every product in every store,” concludes Guna. “And we’ve got our 12th store opening later this year in Glasgow city centre. And we’re looking at doing more standalone unmanned 24/7 SpeedQueen sites. We already have one in the West End of Glasgow but we’re looking at doing more. ere’s always something going on.”

Win a £500 Amazon voucher with belVita Healthier snacking brand belVita has launched a competition for indies to mark the roll-out of its new PMP. The brand’s top-selling SKU – a 5 x 50g multipack of belVita’s Soft Bakes Choc Chips – is now available as a £1.99 PMP, and a £500 Amazon is up for grabs to celebrate the launch. Four runner-up stock bundles with a retail value of £150 can also be won. Retailers can visit snackdisplay.co.uk to enter.

Year’s supply of Maryland cookies up for grabs

Maryland is celebrating the launch of its White Choc variant with a convenience-only competition. Five winners will be able to transform their stores into a ‘Mary-land,’ with POS, themed decorations and stock to sample. What’s more, one of these retailers will also bag the grand prize of a year’s worth of stock. To enter, retailers need to purchase one case of both White Choc and Choc Chip variants.

Frubes unveils ‘Golden Ticket’ on-pack promo

Children’s yogurt brand Frubes has unveiled its biggest-ever on-pack promotion, with £45,000 in cash prizes. The ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion runs across three limited-edition packs that will be on shelves until the end of September. Shoppers have the chance to win one of five golden tickets hidden in packs, valued from £1,000 to £5,000. In addition, 7,000 instant win prizes of £5 are also up for grabs.

Win flights or stock in Yazoo retailer competition

Running until 13 October, a new Yazoo competition will see five lucky retailers receive £2,500 flight and hotel credit, while a further 200 will win five cases of free Yazoo stock. To be in with a shout of winning, retailers should purchase any four cases of Yazoo 400ml PMP or Yazoo Thick N’ Creamy 300ml standard packs then scan the QR code on POS in participating depots.

SNACKS Five American road trips up for grabs

McCoy’s unveils epic promotion

KP Snacks has unveiled a new onpack promotion giving shoppers the chance to win one of ve American road trips.

e two new SKUs capitalise on the strength of the £1.25 pricemarked pack segment, which is growing ahead of the overall category. At the moment, £1.25 PMPs account for 61% of Bagged Snack sales in independent retailers.

e promo runs across the latest additions to its McCoy’s Epic Eats range – Grilled Cheese and Flamin’ Fajita – two avours inspired by America’s iconic diners and food stands. Both new non-HFSS variants roll into stores this month in 65g packs price marked at £1.25. Running until 20 December, the promo also sees discount vouchers for participating UK restaurants and diners up for grabs.

John McDougall, Brand Manager for McCoy’s, said: “McCoy’s is wellknown and loved for its dynamic avour proposition and continues to cater to the demand for bold, new and di erentiated products.

with two new and diners up for grabs.

“We are thrilled to be refreshing the Epic Eats range

refreshing the Epic Eats range

Fanta launches Halloween flavour

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has announced details of this year’s Fanta Halloween activity, including the launch of a brandnew Beetlejuice-themed limited-edition variant called Fanta Zero Afterlife, limited-edition packs across the rest of the range, and a new marketing campaign.

The new flavour comes as Fanta and Warner Bros team up for the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to 80s comedy-horror flick Beetlejuice. Available now, the bold green liquid offers a crisp apple taste and comes in bottles and cans with a black and white striped design that also features the film’s main character.

Furthermore, the full Fanta flavour range has been given a temporary makeover featuring Beetlejuice Beetlejuice characters.

The new flavour and pack designs are supported by a multimillion-pound marketing campaign called ‘Summon What You Wanta’. This includes paid social media, influencer activity, digital, out-of-home advertising, and experiential activations.

Free POS materials are available from My.CCEP.com to help create in-store theatre and get shoppers into the Halloween spirit.

with two new additions, perfect for exciting shoppers and ensuring the range remains relevant within the category. By launching the new PMPs alongside an exciting onpack promotion, we are driving engagement and tempting shoppers to try something new.”

SNACKS Golden Wonder teams up with Transformers movie

Golden Wonder is celebrating the release of the new Transformers One movie by giving shoppers the chance to win a family trip to Orlando plus free theme park entry.

The promotion, running across five million packs of Golden Wonder Transform-ASnack, also offers chances to win runner-up prizes including movie merch and more.

The film hits the big screen on 11 October.

Special packs are available now and the promo runs until end of October.

The campaign is supported on digital and social media channels and further boosted by a strong trade plan.

KP reveals £45k retailer incentive

KP Snacks has unveiled a new £45,000 retailer incentive to boost sales of its Heritage brands.

Running until 13 October, the giveaway o ers retailers the chance to win one of 90 £500 cash prizes by buying four cases of stock across Discos, Space Raiders, Nik Naks, Roysters, and Wheat Crunchies.

New POS kits to drive standout of the range in-store and help increase retailer sales are also available. Featuring the strapline ‘Extra Taste, Extra Fun and Extra Sales,’ the new POS includes dump bins, shelf wobblers and shelf strips.

Pauline Warren, Heritage Portfolio Manager for KP Snacks, commented: “Our Heritage range delivers great value to shoppers through unique and avourful brands that consumers trust and love. We are delighted to spotlight this vital range which continues to perform extremely well within the Convenience channel, contributing to the growth of the Bagged Snacks segment.

“By leveraging familiar brands which deliver everyday value and strong consumer appeal, retailers can boost their sales.”

Set the Beetlejuice loose

Maynards Bassetts has unveiled a spook-tacular new campaign to mark the release of the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie, in cinemas from 6 September.

The campaign includes two new limited-edition products, Maynards Bassetts Spooky Gums and Maynards Bassetts Liquorice Mix; an on-pack promotion with a spooky trip and more than 1,000 other prizes up for grabs; and in-store displays to drive excitement and trial.

Promotional packs are available now, giving shoppers the chance to win vouchers or a spooky two-night city break. Entry is via a purchase-and-scan mechanic.

Spooky Gums come in surprise flavours and an assortment of colours, shaped as black, purple and green coffins, spiders, books, tombstones and worms. The Liquorice Mix features an assortment of black and white shapes, ideal for Halloween. Both are available in 130g packs with and RSP £1.35.

Tequila slam dunk

Mangrove Global has been named as UK distributor of Cincoro Tequila, a luxury tequila brand that was launched in 2019 by basketball legend Michael Jordan and four other NBA stars. Three of the brand’s five expressions are available from Mangrove: Cincoro Blanco (RSP £90), Reposado (RSP £120), and Añejo (RSP £150). The move into the British market comes with tequila the fastest-growing spirits category in the UK, growing by 9.1% at the end of 2023.

Love Drinks loves gorillas

Love Drinks has added to its collection of ethical spirits after taking on distribution for the award-winning Karisimbi Rum brand. Ten per cent of profits from every bottle sold goes to help protect and conserve the gorilla population of Mount Karisimbi, which sits on the Rwanda/DRC border. The Britishmade artisan range includes White Rum, Spiced Rum and Golden Rum. All three have RSPs of £35.89 for a 70cl bottle.

Spirit of Oz comes to UK

Speciality Brands has been named as exclusive UK distributor for Australian whisky brand Starward, and will handle its four core whiskies, Nova, Left Field, Solera and Fortis (100 Proof), alongside limited releases. Distribution across all channels will be supported by a programme of events, tastings, and sampling. Contact sales@ specialitybrands.com for trade queries.

New Altos ad shakes up tequila category

Pernod Ricard’s premium tequila brand Altos has kicked off a humorous new campaign to challenge negative perceptions about the spirit. Bursting the bubble of pomposity surrounding celebrity tequilas, the campaign stars average barman ‘Alan’. It runs across social, digital and video on demand, and is expected to reach an estimated 7.2 million consumers.

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING Olympic diver highlights dangers of swimming drunk

Tom Daley gets behind cheeky Malibu campaign

Malibu has teamed up with Olympic diving champion Tom Daley for a new campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking alcohol in and around water.

‘Don’t Drink and Dive’ o ers a light-hearted take on responsible drinking but lands a serious message given that a quarter of drownings involve alcohol.

e campaign is spearheaded by a lm starring Daley resplendent in a pair of custom-knitted budgie smugglers emblazoned with the message, ‘Don’t Drink and Dive’.

It is supported by oating outof-home displays that will ‘pop up’ across water hot spots across the UK, while social and paid digital content will go live on both Daley’s and Malibu’s platforms.

Thatchers unveils sustainable cider

Thatchers has launched Juicy Apple into the off-trade, a new sustainable cider that’s been available in pubs since April.

The 4% ABV cider is in Morrisons now and will be more widely available across all channels in the months ahead. It comes in a single 500ml bottle (RSP £2.50), 4 x 400ml can packs (RSP £5.75) and 10 x 440ml can packs (RSP £11).

The launch is supported by a PR and digital advertising campaign aimed at “fun-loving, eco-conscious, new cider drinkers”. The outof-home, social media, mobile display and influencer messaging will reach more than half of all 20-somethings in the UK.

LIQUEURS ‘Freeze To Win’ returns

Jägermeister has launched a new on-pack promotion, giving consumers the chance to win VIP tickets to top festivals.

For the third year in a row, temperature-sensitive back labels on bottles reveal a secret code when chilled to -18ºC, which the brand says is the optimum temperature to bring out the herbal liqueur’s blend of 56 herbs, roots and botanicals.

Other prizes include miniJägermeister-branded freezing cradles, branded shot glasses, Jägermeister Jenga sets, e-shop vouchers, and more.

Hobgoblin ‘still ugly’

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company has unveiled a fresh look for its Hobgoblin cra beer range, with a new visual identity that puts the brand’s namesake character front and centre.

In consumer testing, Carsberg Marston said that sentiment towards the new design had been overwhelmingly positive, with drinkers seeing the new identity as more modern, eye-catching and characterful.

To support Hobgoblin’s new look, Carlsberg Marston will launch a new in-

store campaign in major retailers later this year.

Jo Marshall, Director of Marketing, Cra & Ales at Carlsberg Marston, said: “Our new visual identity takes inspiration from our rich history, but reinvigorates our goblin as a modern, characterful personality to win over new drinkers far and wide.

“For our brand loyalists who have been with Hobgoblin for many years, have no fear – we may have a new look, but we’re still proud to be ugly!” Up your

Red Stripe launches RTDs

Heineken’s Jamaican beer brand Red Stripe has expanded into canned cocktails with the launch of a new range of RTDs in the UK.

The new range, called Rum Stripe, includes three flavours: Rum Punch, Cherry & Cranberry, and Pineapple & Coconut.

Reflecting a growing trend for RTDs that put hairs on your chest, each cocktail has an ABV of 7.5% and comes in a 250ml can with a £2.75 RSP.

The drinks are vegan-friendly and free from artificial flavours and colours.

The Rum Stripe range was initially introduced in Jamaica and comes to Britain after proving popular with drinkers in the USA.

The UK launch was initially supported by a sampling and branding blitz at last month’s Notting Hill Carwnival.

m e a l time with 7UP

No1 Lemon and Lime brand in the UK*

CHASING PERFECTION

Only six years on from buying his first store, Girish Jeeva’s relentless drive for perfection has seen him collect a plethora of industry awards and create a cutting-edge store in Barmulloch in Glasgow.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

“The only downside of all the investment is that we’re running out of things to improve!”

GIRISH JEEVA

It was intended as a throwaway comment but when young Glasgow retailer Girish Jeeva told the judges during our visit for the SLR Awards that he’d “sort of run out of stu to improve,” it told us everything we needed to know about his passion, his commitment and his dedication to constantly investing in his business.

He also joked that his accountant had urged him to go easy on the spending – but it turns out that’s just not Girish’s approach to business.

It’s no surprise then that he picked up the # inkSmart Innovation Award at this year’s SLR Awards. Within 30 seconds of entering the store the judges were already beginning to think they’d found their winner.

Premier Girish’s@Barmulloch is a 2,000sq  exercise in staying on top of all of the latest trends in local retailing and responding to them in very short order.

In no particular order, there’s a beer cave, a Refresh@Premier drinks-to-go zone, a huge vaping unit on the shop oor, digital shelf-edge labels, self-scan tills, a bespoke loyalty scheme, real-time video-based age veri cation systems, home delivery and more. e list goes on.

Most recently, Girish is testing an AI-driven the -prevention system. “It basically monitors the whole store in real-time using video and ags up to sta any suspicious behaviour on the shop oor,” he explains.

“ e team behind the counter get an immediate alert and a screengrab of the suspicious behaviour and an alert is announced over the Tannoy warning shoppers that the is illegal and that we will prosecute anyone we catch.”

e big question is: does it work? “It’s early days,” he says, “as we’re still in the testing phase but it seems to work very well. We spent a lot of

time simulating the s ourselves and it worked every time, so we’re hopeful it will make a di erence.”

RELENTLESS GROWTH

e upshot of all this perfectionism and investment is that the Barmulloch store weekly turnover now regularly tops £70k. “ e only downside is that we’re running out of things to improve!” laughs Girish.

It might look like Girish just can’t resist the temptation to buy the newest, shiniest thing on the market – but the numbers suggest very strongly that his approach is working, and in some style.

Take home delivery. He introduced it for the rst time about 18 months ago and, working with Snappy Shopper, now does around 500 deliveries a week and generates sales of between £10k and £12k a week on home delivery alone.

e success has inspired him to dip into the piggy bank again, buying two fully wrapped and branded cars to make the deliveries.

en there is the store’s striking vape unit on the shop oor which is another huge sales driver. “Vape is still huge,” he says. “We can easily do £10k a week or more on vapes alone.”

To put all of this into some sort of context, it’s worth noting that Girish only took this store over in November 2020. Prior to that he only bought his rst store, a much smaller unit on London Road in the East End of Glasgow, about six years ago.

It’s a remarkable journey in a very short space of time.

“I started in retail working at my uncle’s petrol stations,” he explains. “I was e ectively running his two petrol stations for him and I started thinking about buying my own store. en, aged 24, I got the opportunity to buy the London Road store. It had been closed for about two years and was quite small at just 800sq and it was in need of a lot of work, but I gured that it was a great place to start learning about how to be an independent retailer on my own.”

He decided to “take a punt” and go for it. “I didn’t pay much for it and it only had about £10k of stock but I got stuck in and reinvested every single penny back into more stock and slowly adding new kit like chillers,” he says. “I didn’t take a wage and I just kept my head down and worked hard.”

Within six months he had grown weekly turnover to between £7k and £8k and by the end of the rst year he was regularly hitting £12k a week.

“I was very well aware that I wouldn’t be able to keep growing sales forever because it was a small store in an unusual location, but I got it

to £15k a week, which I was pretty pleased with under the circumstances,” he recalls. “But I was ambitious.”

BIG IDEAS

So, having proven himself in a small store, he started looking around for one with bigger growth potential. “Firstly, I wanted a bigger store and secondly I wanted one within a more residential area with more chimney pots around it,” he says. A er three years of running London Road, he found a store that potentially ticked every box for him.

“I rst heard about the Barmulloch store through a family friend,” he explains. “At that point I still didn’t have all that much experience but as soon as I saw the store, I just knew it was the site I needed. From my experiences at London Road I already had a clear vision for Barmulloch, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.”

Girish signed on the dotted line in November 2020. “At the time, Premier was launching a new large concept store model and they asked me if I’d like to be the rst in Scotland to implement it – and I jumped at the chance,” he says.

“ e store was not in great shape so I knew I’d need to commit substantial investment to bring my vision to life. Was I nervous? Absolutely! But

I had faith in my vision and I got lots of support from Booker.”

e rst step was a full-scale re t that rendered the store unrecognisable to locals. “ e previous owner had had it for about 30 years and when I bought it, it looked like it hadn’t been re tted since its doors rst opened!” laughs Girish. “We closed the store for a full month in January 2021 to let us do the re t then we re-opened in midFebruary with a launch party.

“ e response from the local community was amazing! ey just loved having a top-notch store at the heart of their community.”

Prior to Girish taking over, the store was doing around £25k a week. Within four weeks of the re t, sales hit £50k a week.

“We had actually budgeted to hit £50k a week by the end of the rst year a er the re t, but we hit our target inside a month!” says Girish. “ e key elements of the Premier concept – the Refresh@Premier zone, the shop oor vaping unit, the expanded fresh and chilled section and so on – all worked an absolute treat.”

Despite transforming the store in every sense, Girish’s relentless ambition continued to drive him on, as it does to this day.

“ e re t was brilliant and it worked so well, but I’m a bit obsessive by nature and I gradually worked my way around the whole store, tweaking here and there to ensure we were continually improving and progressing.

e Premier concept was spot on, but I spent a year just perfecting it for my particular store and customer base. I made so many little changes! I expanded the chilled range, I added more space for crisps and snacks, I changed and moved the counter on three or four occasions, learning every time I made any changes.”

One of the most major changes came in August 2023 when Girish was doing one of his frequent ‘store safaris,’ visiting stores around the UK. “A er that tour, I decided to add a standalone beer cave and I also added a self-checkout till,” he comments. “Some of the changes helped cut costs but my primary concern has always been the shopper experience and service quality.”

His many tweaks and improvements were having a positive impact on sales and pro ts, which might partly explain Girish’s now wellestablished commitment to continually reinvesting in his store. “If I see something that I think will help our in-store team, improve the

store itself and enhance the shopper experience, I buy it!” he laughs. “My accountant doesn’t always approve – but he’s not a retailer!”

TAKING THE BEST BITS

Having run out of things to improve at Barmulloch, Girish turned his attention back to his London Road store. “We knew that it didn’t have the potential of Barmulloch but we wanted to see what we could do in a much smaller store with what we’ve learned at Barmulloch.”

e re t took the best of Barmulloch and condensed it into a space that’s less than half the size. Miraculously, he still managed to nd room for a beer cave and a Refresh@Premier zone, as well as a good fresh and chilled range.

“Sales have de nitely increased signi cantly, but we knew it was never going to drive improvements on the scale of Barmulloch,” says Girish. “But I’m glad we did it.”

So what’s next in Girish’s vision? “I think we’ve done most of what we can do in the two stores, although there will always be room for improvement,” he says. “I wouldn’t rule out another store, but to do that I need a bigger team. Building a great team is the hardest thing

in retail but I’m lucky because my team is just brilliant. ey know exactly what needs to be done and what I expect – and they totally buy into that vision.

“Before I buy another store, I would want the team for the new store already trained and experienced in how we do things before we move them into the new store because I would want it to be perfect from day one.”

at passion for perfection is evident on the walls and shelves of Girish’s o ce, littered as they are with industry awards and commendations. “My rst-ever award was the Young Retailer of the Year Award at the SLR Awards, and it really opened my eyes up to the bene ts of entering and winning awards. e most important thing is that it motivates me and my team. Being recognised for doing things well is important to them and it lets them know that they really are doing an outstanding job and makes them feel part of a great team.”

Since that rst win, Girish has claimed awards at an array of events and, of course, has just added the SLR # inksmart Innovation Award to his collection. A very worthy winner with a very bright future ahead of him.

RAISING THE BAR FOR SCOTTISH RETAIL

Spar Scotland returns to Aviemore this month for a third time to host its annual Tradeshow & Conference. After our incredible 2023, which encouraged retailers to Take A Fresh Look at their businesses, the theme for this year’s unmissable event is Raising The Bar.

Scotland’s largest show in the convenience retail industry brings together Scotland’s leading symbol group Spar; independent retailers and company owned store colleagues; CJ Lang & Son colleagues from support functions; and suppliers to highlight and celebrate new products and identify future opportunities with Spar in Scotland.

Attendees came away buzzing after last year’s event and this year’s tradeshow promises to be every bit as enlightening as we hear from key speakers and learn about which trends are impacting our sector and how Spar is adapting and evolving to stay at the front of the pack in what is an extremely tough and competitive landscape.

THAT’S SHOW BUSINESS

Spar is promising surprises aplenty at Aviemore this year with a winning mix of networking opportunities, innovative exhibitors, sparkling awards and, of course, bags of entertainment.

Colin McLean, the CEO of Spar Scotland, said: “We had a brilliant event in 2023 and we were blown away by the success of it all. Our 2024 event will take place on Thursday

THE ONLY WAY IS APP

26th September when all roads will lead to Aviemore as we return to the MacDonald Hotel and Resort for a third year running.

“The theme for 2024 is ‘Raising the Bar’ and once again we will have a few surprises in store for those attending. Our tradeshow will be supported by business presentations where we will share future plans for our continued

growth. The Spar Scotland Awards will return for a third year, and we will host a gala dinner. The evening festivities will be rounded off with a live band, entertainment, and plenty of dancing.

“With over 200 suppliers exhibiting this year, this event is hotly anticipated. It promises hands-on networking opportunities like no other in the Scottish convenience retail market.”

The ‘Spar Scotland Tradeshow 2024’ app has been created to help you find your way around the show in the most efficient way possible.

The app can be downloaded ahead of the event and is packed with information including:

Q Day and evening agendas

Q Floor plans

Q Exhibitor lists

Q Information on Spar Scotland Awards and nominees

Q Information on the Gala Dinner and raffle prizes

Q Information about 100s of deals on the day that are exclusive to independent retailers attending the event

The app is available from both the Apple App Store and Google Play

READY FOR THE FUTURE

The unbelievable transformation of Spar Scotland over the last half dozen years has left the business in great shape to face the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead, says Spar

Scotland CEO Colin McLean.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

As just about anyone who comes into close contact with Spar Scotland will tell you, the transformation of the business over the last five or six years is simply remarkable. The Spar Scotland of today is essentially unrecognisable from the one that was on its knees when CEO Colin McLean took over in 2018.

It was, at the time, a seemingly strange decision by the former Scotmid COO to join an ailing business that was on a downward spiral as far as commercial performance was concerned and, perhaps more worryingly, seemed to be devoid of vision and strategy.

McLean, however, clearly had a strong belief in himself and saw enough potential in the business to feel that he could turn it around. Time has undoubtedly proven him correct and he has undeniably “reawakened the sleeping giant”.

That’s not to say the job is complete. McLean told SLR this time last year that at that time he felt that he and his team “had completed the first phase of our project to take Spar Scotland back to where it belongs”.

With all the adulation and relief of turning CJ Lang back into a solid, highly profitable business now behind him, the next phase of the brand’s evolution is arguably even more important.

“The journey continues,” he says calmly. “We have done a great job so far but we can’t rest on our laurels. We are in a good place but we will just keep our heads down, stick to our plan and keeping doing what we do. Today, it’s about tweaking, not overhauling. It’s about continuing to

regroup, to refocus and to refresh our offer to keep us ahead of the competition as a Scottish company exclusively focused on serving the Scottish market.”

One of the problems McLean faces, of course, is the same one that every successful CEO faces: consecutive years of growth and record profits have a tendency to set expectation levels high for the wider business and Board.

“Yes, we have delivered strong growth over the last five or six years”, he says, “and indeed we have delivered another year of record sales and record profits but this year is likely to be tough. There are a lot of challenges at the moment, and we find ourselves in the midst of a difficult economic climate, as the entire trade does. The awful summer weather hasn’t helped, obviously, but the fact remains that we are the best-performing Spar RDC in the UK and the strength of the business we have built in the last six years puts us in a very good position to weather any storms coming our way, as well as allowing us to exploit the opportunities that are sure to arise in future.”

CHAIN GANG

It’s clear, however, that McLean has made a typically robust job of exploiting the opportunities that arose over the last 12 months. The acquisition of three Eddy’s Food Station stores in April in the aftermath of the collapse of Stephen Thompson’s venture back into local retailing, as well as the acquisition of nine Scotfresh stores last October, have further strengthened CJ Lang’s flourishing company-owned stores division.

The Eddy’s integration, says McLean, is going “really, really well” while the Scotfresh integration, he admits, “had some initial teething problems but is now at full pace”.

For all the excitement and column inches surrounding the new stores joining the group, McLean insists that his primary focus at the moment is consolidation: “Our primary task is to focus on improving the stores we have, and we have an ambitious programme in place that includes adding digital SELs to all stores, a constant schedule of major refits and

rolling out our Barista Coffee offer. It’s already in 25 stores and we should have it in all company-owned stores by the end of November.

“We are also in the process of rolling out the latest, updated version of our food-togo offer into more stores, including the Leuchars store which is one of the former Eddy’s outlets.”

This is the much-improved 2.0 version of food to go trialled initially to huge success in the Spar Garthamlock store under the indefatigable Store Manager Gerry Haughey. So successful is the new version that it’s already being replicated by the Blakemore RDC down south, the biggest Spar RDC in the UK. “It’s very flattering,” comments McLean.

All of this is being backed by Spar Scotland’s biggest-ever investment package.

“Essentially, what we’re trying to present to our customers is Spar at its best,” says McLean.

BEHIND THE SCENES

The transformation of Spar Scotland over the last half dozen years hasn’t been restricted to only the highly visible elements like new stores, new concepts and so on. Behind the scenes the business has also been transformed with heavy investment in systems, processes and equipment that have helped the business meet challenges and exploit opportunities – and will continue to do so in future.

In early 2023 CJ Lang engaged Relex Solutions to deliver integrated store and distribution centre forecasting and replenishment as well as providing improved allocations and promotional forecasting.

Relex also helps drive improved order accuracy, sharing of forecasts with suppliers and fresh assortment optimisation.

“Our use of Relex gives us access to market-leading forecast and replenishment solutions to optimise our processes, increase visibility throughout

our operations, and maintain quality in our customer offer,” says McLean.

Spar Scotland has also invested heavily in its fleet of vehicles and continues to do so as sales and demand grow, enhancing efficiencies and also pushing its sustainability agenda.

Along the way, McLean has also transformed the senior management team at the business to bring strategic vision and experience. Chris Boyle joined as Finance Director in May, the same month that Della Myers joined the team as Trading Director. In January this year, Frank McCarron joined as Company Owned Store Director.

The success of this evolution can be witnessed in the striking spike in the last few years in the number and variety of industry awards that the business has claimed. As well as being named Symbol Group of the Year on two separate occasions at the SLR Awards, CJ Lang’s company-owned stores have picked up countless awards in the last few years. Most recently, CJ Lang won the Technology Initiative of the Year prize at the Grocer Gold Awards 2024.

“Who would have thought a little company like ours would be winning Grocer Gold Awards?” says McLean with a smile.

And Spar Scotland keeps growing its presence among consumers with an ongoing programme of marketing, advertising and awareness campaigns, including TV advertising on STV and a high-profile partnership with the SFA.

And how could we forget the Spar Scotland Trade Show, undoubtedly one of the highlights of the local retailing calendar in Scotland.

“The first year we did it, it was absolutely phenomenal,” says McLean. “I didn’t think it could get much better, but then last year we outdid ourselves. The big challenge is keeping raising the bar when it has been set so high, but we have a few tricks up our sleeves for this year,” he laughs.

“I would encourage every Spar retailer to join us in Aviemore. It will be worth your while, I promise you.”

THE TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY CONTINUES!

A year of constant evolution has seen Spar Scotland continue to improve its offer and further cement its position as the country’s leading symbol group. Let’s take a look back at some of the many highlights …

SEPTEMBER 2023

SPAR SCOTLAND TRADESHOW DRIVES ITS TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY

Thursday 28 September saw the year’s biggest retail event in Scotland take place. Over 800 delegates attended Spar Scotland’s annual tradeshow and conference in Aviemore, which was supported by over 200 FMCG suppliers exhibiting on the day.

OCTOBER 2023

CJ LANG & SON APPOINTS NEW COMPANY OWNED STORE DIRECTOR

CJ Lang & Son announced that Frank McCarron will join as Company Owned Store Director in January 2024. McCarron has helped build a number of major businesses and brings with him a wealth of retail operations experience, having worked in the food retail sector for over 35 years.

His most recent position was Senior Regional Business Manager with Scotmid. He previously held the position of Area Manager with Botterill’s convenience stores and prior to that worked in several retail operations roles.

SPAR FREUCHIE RELAUNCHES WITH DONATIONS MADE TO LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Freuchie is situated in the heart of a farming area in Fife, 30 miles north of Edinburgh, and the Spar store in the village hosted a fun launch day on Wednesday 11 October for local shoppers to enjoy.

The 2,203sq ft company-owned store invited locals to attend a launch party to celebrate the store refit.

CJ LANG & SON ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF SCOTFRESH STORES

CJ Lang & Son announced the acquisition of Glasgow-based convenience chain ScotFresh Group.

ScotFresh was an award-winning independent retail operation based in Glasgow and the Scottish central belt. The acquisition saw the nine ScotFresh-branded stores and 130 colleagues move over to be supported by CJ Lang & Son.

NOVEMBER 2023

SPAR SHINES IN ERSKINE

Residents in the town of Erskine in Scotland benefited from a refurbished Spar store, which was officially relaunched by Gavin Newlands MP on Friday 24 November 2023.

The 2,891sq ft Spar store was fully refitted and boasts an improved range of fresh foods and food to go, plus energy efficient refrigeration, new shelving, flooring, ceiling, lighting, and graphics.

SPAR SCOTLAND DONATES £165,000 TO SCOTTISH CHARITIES

C J Lang & Son announced it had given away £183,000 to hundreds of local charities and good causes around Scotland during 2023.

Almost 300 Scottish organisations, groups and charities benefited from a charitable donation, including Langlee Carnival, Kirrie Thistle CFC Girls U14s football team, Dundee Pride and many more.

SPAR SCOTLAND CELEBRATES RECORD YEAR WITH HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMME

Spar Scotland celebrated a record-breaking year with SGF’s Healthy Living Programme (HLP), delivering 19 events. These saw HLP speak to and engage with more than 2,000 primary school pupils in Spar stores around the country during 2023.

DECEMBER 2023

DAVID SANDS ELECTED VICE-CHAIR OF SPAR SCOTTISH GUILD

Leading independent retailer David Sands was elected as the Vice-Chair of the Scottish Guild and has since represented Scottish retailers on the National Guild Board of Spar.

David replaced independent Spar retailer Saleem Sadiq who had served as the Scottish Guild Board Director since 2016.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY TO SPAR CROSSHOUSE

Spar Scotland’s award-winning Spar Market store situated in the small village of Crosshouse in East Ayrshire, hosted a Christmas party

DANIALL NADEEM JOINS THE SPAR FAMILY

Leading independent retailer Daniall Nadeem, who owns a convenience store on Motherwell Road in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, switched to Spar after five years with Nisa.

The 2,500sq ft Spar store is situated on the grounds of a former pub and offers several services including Lottery, hot food, Snappy Shopper home delivery and a free-to-use

JANUARY 2024

LORRY LIVERY CELEBRATES WORLD ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Spar Scotland celebrated its role as an official event supporter of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships by rebranding two of its delivery vehicles with bespoke livery.

SPAR SCOTLAND AND ROLLOVER HOTDOGS DONATE £5,000 TO MARIE CURIE

Following a hugely successful promotion with Rollover Hotdogs in 80 Spar Scotland company-owned stores during December 2023, £5,000 was donated to Spar’s national charity partner, Marie Curie, on 10 January.

SHOPPERS FLOCK TO PINKIE FARM’S NEW BARISTA BAR

Pinkie Farm Spar in Musselburgh, East Lothian, revealed 100% growth in coffee sales after becoming the first independent Spar store in Scotland to install the premium coffee-to-go brand, Barista Bar.

The concept, which was developed by Henderson Foodservice, part of the Henderson Group, expanded into Scotland with an exclusive £2.5m distribution deal with CJ Lang & Son.

FEBRUARY 2024

BARISTA BAR COFFEE ARRIVES IN SPAR HALBEATH

Spar Scotland announced the grand opening of two Barista Bar coffee units at company-owned store, Spar Halbeath, in Dunfermline on 27 February 2024.

SPAR GARTHAMLOCK CELEBRATES LAUNCH OF WORLD ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

To celebrate the start of the launch festivities of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Spar Garthamlock held a party on 20 February.

Scottish athlete, Eilidh Doyle, joined in the activities on the day and was surprised with a birthday cake from the store team, delivered by one of Spar Scotland’s newly designed liveried lorries to promote the world sporting event.

SPAR KINCORTH WELCOMES THE SCOTTISH GAS WOMEN’S SCOTTISH CUP

Following the announcement last year of the extension of Spar Scotland’s four-year partnership with the Scottish Football Association (Scottish FA), the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup visited Spar Kincorth, Aberdeen, on 1 February.

The cup’s presence was accompanied by Area Manager Garry Brailsford playing the bagpipes.

MARCH 2024

WINNERS OF 2024 SPAR FUTURE STARS CUP CELEBRATE

Spar Scotland’s festival of football for Scottish school girls, called Spar Future Stars, took place at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld on 27 March.

The overall winning schools, St Ninians High School and Ross High School, were presented with the Spar Future Stars Cup for their respective age groups.

SALEEM SADIQ CELEBRATES RENFREW STORE’S 30 YEARS WITH SPAR

Award-winning independent retailer Saleem Sadiq celebrated his Renfrew shop’s 30th anniversary with Spar by holding an in-store party on 22 March.

Having moved to the UK from Pakistan in the 1960s speaking almost no English, Saleem went on to graduate from the University of Glasgow before joining the family retail business.

Saleem said: “It has been a journey over the decades, and it will hopefully not end with me – the next generation is already knocking on the door! Waseem, one of my sons, has already joined the family business and he hopes to carry the Spar name on within our family convenience business well into the next 40 years!”

Colin McLean, CEO of Spar Scotland added:

APRIL 2024

CJ LANG & SON ACQUIRES THREE STORES

“Congratulations to Saleem, the Sadiq family and all the staff and customers of Spar Renfrew. Local retailing is at the heart of everything they do, and we wish Saleem continued success with his business – both in this generation and the next.”

CJ LANG WELCOMES NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR

Chris Boyle took on the role of Finance Director at CJ Lang on 20 March.

He joined the company from United Wholesale Scotland where he held the position of Finance Director. Prior to this Boyle held a variety of Finance positions within retailers M&Co and Botterills Convenience Stores. He brought with him a wealth of experience in convenience retail and has a deep understanding of the sector.

CJ Lang & Son announced the acquisition of three prominent convenience stores, which previously traded as Eddy’s Food Station stores. Located in Larbert, Greenock and Leuchars, the stores have been fixtures in their respective communities for years.

Colin McLean, CEO of CJ Lang & Son , said: “We are happy to welcome these three convenience stores into the Spar Scotland family, following the sad news of its previous owner recently entering into administration.

“We recognise the the challenges that many convenience store operators face at the moment, but we are pleased we have been able to work quickly to secure the future of these stores and keep the store staff involved.”

MAY 2024

PINKIE FARM CELEBRATES 10TH BIRTHDAY

Pinkie Farm Convenience Store, which is part of the David Sands Group, proudly celebrated its 10th anniversary on 31 May.

Over the past decade, the Musselburgh-based convenience store, has been serving its local community by providing exceptional customer service, high quality products, excellent store standards and a welcoming atmosphere.

Run by Dan Brown and partner, Nicole, the store changed supplier to Spar Scotland in 2022.

Brian Straiton, Independent Sales Director at Spar Scotland, said: “Our partnership with Pinkie Farm is very important to us and to show our appreciation for the positive impact the team continue to make in Musselburgh, we provided the store and the local community with a fun birthday party.

“Congratulations Spar Pinkie Farm – we are excited to work with you over the next decade and beyond.”

JUNE 2024

SPAR SCOTLAND GETS THE PARTY STARTED AT GARTHAMLOCK

Spar Garthamlock kicked off the school holidays in style with a fantastic Summer Party, featuring giveaways, discos and dancing. The store celebrated the start of summer with a lively event on 28 June.

SPAR SCOTLAND BREWS UP A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION WITH BARISTA BAR

Spar Scotland marked an exciting milestone by transforming Spar Halbeath into a coffee lover’s paradise on 21 June.

In celebration of the successful rollout of Barista Bar in 20 company-owned stores, wholesaler CJ Lang & Son and Barista Bar treated customers to an array of festivities, including an hour of complimentary hot drinks across stores.

SPAR SCOTLAND KICKS OFF THE EUROS WITH COLIN HENDRY

Former professional Scottish footballer Colin ‘Braveheart’ Hendry helped launch Spar Scotland’s Win With Every Goal

customer campaign at Spar Keith on Friday 7 June 2024.

The Scotland legend attended the store event along with colleagues from Spar Scotland to celebrate the campaign which was created to run alongside the Euro 2024 football tournament.

CJ LANG & SON STRENGTHENS EXECUTIVE TEAM

The wholesaler boosted its executive team with the appointment of new Trading & Supply Director Della Myers. She joined CJ Lang on 3 June from Costcutter Supermarkets where she held the role of Trading Director for Convenience in Bestway Retail. Myers succeeded existing Trading Director Richard Collins, who is retiring.

AUGUST 2024

SPAR SCOTLAND’S EURO 2024 ACTIVITY SEES

SHOPPERS WIN BIG

Spar Scotland wholesaler

CJ Lang & Son teamed up with Spar wholesaler for the North of England, James Hall & Co., for a hugely successful Win With Every Goal digital campaign, which saw 1.1 million instant rewards issued during the biggest football tournament of the year.

More than 750 Spar stores –and 80,000 customers – took part in the promotion and Kilmarnock Spar shopper

Kenny Foster was awarded a grand prize of £10,000.

JULY 2024

SPAR SCOTLAND WINS TECHNOLOGY ACCOLADE AT THE GROCER GOLD AWARDS 2024

Spar Scotland scooped the Technology Initiative of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards 2024, held at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London on 2 July.

The group won the award for its rollout of an in-store digital innovation solution that includes discreet camera technology to help manage in-store ranges and availability.

EXHIBITORS LIST 2024

LICENSED

Accolade Wines Ltd G13

Asahi UK Ltd D03

AU Vodka G02

Australian Vintage Ltd G15

Bibendum Off Trade / Yealands D12

Brewdog plc G01

Broadland Drinks Ltd E04

Brown-Forman UK E13

Budweiser Brewing Group UK & I E01

Budweiser Budvar UK Ltd E10

C&C Group plc (Tennent’s) E05

Campari UK G16

Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company D04

Casella Family Brands Europe Limited F03

Cider Of Sweden (Kopparberg) E02

COLD TOWN BEER E14

Concha y Toro UK G04

Damm Brewery UK Ltd G12

Diageo Great Britain G17

Funkin UK Ltd E12

Global Brands Ltd D11

GM Drinks D05

Williams Brothers Brewing Co. G14

Heineken UK G07

Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd E15

Intercontinental Brands Ltd (ICB) G10

International Beverage Holdings Ltd F01

J Chandler & Co (Buckfast) Ltd D02

Millennium Group D13

Molson Coors Beverage Company E07

Nice Wine G11

Off Piste Wines E03

Pernod Ricard UK Ltd E11

PROOF DRINKS LTD E06

Proximo Spirits UK G08

Red star Brands - Four Loko F04

Sazerac UK D06

SHS F06

Thatchers Cider Company Ltd F02

The Glen Turner Company G06

The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company F08

Treasury Wine Estates D10

Whyte & Mackay Ltd G05

William Grant & Sons UK Ltd G09

Differentiator Brands G03

Disaronno F07

CIGS/TOBACCO/VAPE

FTG BREAD & CAKES

Brownings the Bakers J06

Europastry Benelux BV C04

Genius Food J11

Grupo Bimbo UK K03

Fresh Food For Now N16

Hovis J02

Lancashire Eccles Cakes J07

DMcGhee and Sons Ltd K02

Moffat Catering Equipment J04

Rollover J01

R T Stuart Ltd L02

FrozenBrothers J09

Matthew Algie K05

Warburtons Ltd K04

Vicky Foods J05

Country Choice Foods LTD K01

Fordham Fine Foods J12

Howell’s C03

iSqueeze Ltd C05

Nisbets J13

Barista I01

SFC Wholesale Ltd J10

Rich J03

Simply Doughnuts Ltd J08

Rational UK H06

CONFECTIONERY

Anderson Veitch & Co Ltd L07

Bazooka Candy Brands International K06

Dunhills Pontefract (Haribo) L04

EuroFood Brands N06

Golden Casket N07

Lindt N10

Mars/Wrigley N02

Mondelez UK Limited (Cadbury) N04

Tilly Confectionery Ltd N09

Nestle UK Ltd L05

Perfetti Van Melle N05

Swizzels Matlow Ltd N03

Storck UK L06

Cloetta N08

SSC Brands / Mighty Fine L08

CRISPS & SNACKS

Kellanova B02

Kettle Foods Ltd B06

Olly’s C02

KP Snacks B04

Taylors Snacks A09

Walkers Pepsico E16

Tayto Group Limited A08

Pladis UK C01

Savoursmiths Crisps B05 Calbee B03

SOFT DRINKS

AG Barr B01

Boost Drinks LTD B10

Britvic A12

Coke C17

Grace Foods UK Ltd A10

Hip - Pop B08

Suntory B14

Red Bull Company Limited J14

Vimto Soft Drinks A13 VIT HIT A14

Nutrabolt B12

Actiph Water B13

Get More Vits B16

Sneak Energy B09

Prime Hydration UK Ltd A11

Fever Tree B15

Flawsome B11

CHILLED

Danone N14

Blakemore Meats L14

Grahams L18

Holy Moly L14

LSI Germany (Jack Links / Peperami) L16

UFIT N16

May & Raeburn Ltd L13

Lectalis UK & Ireland L12

Nomadic Foods N13

Noresland L17

Pilgrims Food Masters Ltd N15

Tropicana Brands Group N12

Compleat Food Group N11

Strathmore Foods LTD L11

P.K.Foods Glasgow Ltd L15

Huel L10

MARKETING / OTHER

SPAR BRAND Wine Bar

Entertainment LTD

Fed (NFRN)

Guild

Proud sponsor of the SLR Awards

We recognize the outstanding achievements of local retailers across Scotland x

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SPAR’S BEST RETAILERS HONOURED AT GLITTERING AWARDS

CJ Lang’s Spar Scotland Awards recognise and celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding contributions.

Aviemore will remain at the centre of the action on the evening of 26 September as retailers, suppliers and Spar employees and representatives top off their annual tradeshow and conference with the third annual Spar Scotland Awards. The awards will honour those who demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence across a host of categories, including:

Q Independent Community Store of the Year

Q Company Owned Community Store of the Year

Q Independent Store of the Year

Q Company Owned Store of the Year

Q Independent vape store of the year

Q Company owned vape store of the year

Q Independent SPAR brand store of the year

Q Company owned SPAR brand store of the year

Q Supplier of the Year (multiple categories)

Q NEW Future Stars

The Independent Community Store of the Year will go to a Spar store that engages, empowers and supports their community, making an especially strong, effective contribution to its local area.

Independent and Company Owned Store of the Year awards will be given to two retailers adhering to the highest standards, with teams who are truly passionate about their work and embedded within their local communities.

Supplier of the Year awards will be given to companies based on product supply, NPD and promotional support activity.

Working in partnership with the Scottish FA, the new Future Stars award is designed for open to CJL colleagues across the business.

Winners are selected by a panel of CJ Lang & Son Area Managers and Executive team members, as well as category sponsors.

Colin McLean, CEO of Spar Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions within Spar in Scotland.

“This year in addition to recognising our independent retailers, company owned stores and suppliers, our new Future Stars award is aimed at recognising the fantastic talent we have across our business in Scotland.

“Spar Scotland Awards underscores our commitment to celebrating innovation, excellence, and the community spirit within Spar, and we look forward to honouring the remarkable individuals, stores, and suppliers who drive positive change and inspire others.”

DAY AGENDA

7.30AM Registration opens

8.15AM Supplier briefing

9.15AM

Independent Retailer briefing

10.00AM Tradeshow opens

3.15PM CJ Lang & Son Staff briefing

4.00PM Tradeshow closes

EVENING AGENDA

6.45PM Doors open

6.00PM Drinks reception

6.30PM Evening proceedings commence including the annual SPAR Scotland Awards

7.35PM Dinner service commences

10.00PM Live entertainment

1.00AM Evening closes

Northern Ireland.

It’s time to take it personally. Northern Ireland’s producers put the heart and soul into food and drink.

Eye-catching brands, beautifully packaged and bursting with fl avour. Wherever consumers are seeking out satisfying breakfast options, drinks and snacks-to-go, or a crafty cake to go with their afternoon cuppa, we’ve got you covered. We grow, brew, blend, bake and chocolate coat with care to bring you the tastiest treats.

See us at the Spar Scotland tradeshow in Aviemore on 26th September.

For more information contact Michelle Charrington E: michelle.charrington@investni.com

WORKING WITH SPAR SCOTLAND…

To find out exactly what it’s like to work with Spar Scotland, we spoke to a number of partner organisations to hear what they had to say…

MICHAEL CHISHOLM, SFA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER:

“The SFA is delighted to present the new Future Stars award alongside Spar Scotland. The award will have its inaugural outing in Aviemore in September at Scotland’s largest tradeshow. We are very proud of our partnership with Spar Scotland and are excited to be able to offer this opportunity at their annual show. The Future Stars nominees will be those from the Spar family who have demonstrated they have a bright future ahead of them much like the young footballers involved in the Spar Future Stars Cup.”

ROBERT GRAHAM, MANAGING DIRECTOR, GRAHAM’S FAMILY DAIRY:

“The Spar Scotland Awards is a superb event that recognises the valuable work being done by independent and company-run stores across the country.

“As a family business, our values at Graham’s Family Dairy closely align with CJ Lang, who we’ve been working with for a number of years. Since we started providing milk to Spar shops, we’ve had a brilliant working relationship with CJ Lang, launching some of our most popular products into the market there first.

“We’ve been delighted to support the Spar Scotland Awards. We’re now looking forward to attending the tradeshow at Aviemore for a third year in a row to celebrate the stores nominated for their outstanding standards.”

KATHRYN NEIL, PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, SGF HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMME:

“The HLP have continued to partner with Spar Scotland on several events over 2023/2024. In the last year Spar have served 3,579 pupils a healthy breakfast in conjunction with HLP and encouraged the younger generation of shoppers to purchase healthier products in store. Spar Scotland have a strong community focus, and this cements the principles of HLP.

“Spar recognises the importance of branding in store and have been the first symbol group to add the HLP logo to their ESELs, which in turn directs the consumers to make a healthier purchase.

“We are delighted to be returning to Aviemore and having the opportunity to speak with all the Spar Scotland team, retailers, and suppliers. It’s always proven to be a very well-organised and worthwhile event to be part of.”

CHRISTINE CONNOR, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS & PHILANTHROPY MANAGER SCOTLAND, MARIE CURIE:

“The relationship between Spar Scotland and Marie Curie is a very real and very special relationship. We have worked together now since 2017 and share a focus on supporting our local communities and being there for each other.

“Across the years Spar Scotland has raised £397,993.68 which comes from a blend of action-packed staff fundraising to the highly valued local support from their customers who pop their pennies into the collection cans.

“As with any partnership, support works both ways, and it is a privilege to support Spar Scotland at its Trade Show. Here, we get the opportunity to say thank you first hand to staff, store managers and suppliers who support us.”

- Brand new Kids packaging, with the addition of two new chicken meals

- New 400g Beef Lasagne, made with 100% Scotch Beef

New this Autumn McIntosh Classics

No.1 brand in ready meal market in Scotland on both sales value and volume

On average 10 packs of McIntosh Macaroni Cheese are sold every minute in Scotland

Must stocks for all chillers with 5 of the top 7 branded meal solution products in Scotland on volume sales

Convenience, affordability and local - 3 key trends shopper are seeking that McIntosh provide

*Source: IRI, 52 w.e 24th December 2023

CHAMPIONING WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WITH

THE SFA

Spar Scotland has long been a passionate supporter of women’s football and continues to play a key role in helping develop the sport for women of all ages and abilities across Scotland.

At Spar Scotland we’re very proud to be sponsors of the Scottish Women’s National Team since 2019. We’ve extended this partnership to 2027, supporting them as they enter their playoffs later this year and beyond, and we hope they qualify for the Women’s Euro’s in 2025.

As Grassroots partners, at Spar Scotland we fund a tournament called Spar Future Stars. Aimed at 12–16-yearold school girls right across Scotland, the tournament gives them the opportunity to play in a fun but competitive

environment. Teams of eight take part in local and regional rounds. This all culminates in a national final festival of football where the girls come together and compete.

Since taking a knock during Covid the tournament has come back stronger than ever with record numbers of girls participating – and teams competing in S1 – returning year after year. It’s a great tournament which appeals to communities right across Scotland and we love being even just a small part of these girls’ futures.

MAKING THE MOST OF THE SPAR SCOTLAND TRADE SHOW

THE SPAR SCOTLAND TRADE SHOW OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND DEVELOP AS A RETAILER, BUT DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT…

Susan Hutchison, Spar Abbey Road, Scone, Perthshire “The last tradeshow was really, really good. There were lots of thought-provoking ideas from the show – a different way to display something or a different product. The destination is a great one for the majority of people. There’s lots of accommodation so myself and my son go up the night before to prepare for the day ahead. It’s a full-on day from the minute you start. The best thing for me is to be able to speak to suppliers directly. They’re there with their stands, telling you about new products.

One year, we saw a F’Real machine at the tradeshow. I’d never have had a milkshake machine in store before we saw it there. You get the chance to try things and speak to people. It’s not to be missed.

Apart from the fact you’re meeting a lot of different suppliers, you also meet lots of retailers. They’re doing things differently to you and also they’re having the same problems as you. It’s more crucial for independents to come as they’ll benefit more from speaking to suppliers, retailers and people from CJ Lang who they might not have come across – someone from buying or someone from marketing for example.

As we move forward it’s inspirational – and I don’t use that word lightly. I have been in retail for 35 years in the same family business – we just celebrated 65 years last year.

CJ Lang is a family-run business as well – so they’re similar to us. It’s important that they understand us and we understand them, the tradeshow is crucial. To come together with other retailers you feel part of something, you feel you’re not on your own.

Daniall Nadeem, Spar Motherwell Road, Bellshill, North Lanarkshire I went to the Spar Scotland tradeshow last year. I thought it was fantastic. I wanted to chat to different retailers and suppliers and engage in conversation. It was a combination of being able to see what Spar was able to offer, what product ranges and suppliers were available that we weren’t aware of and the support that suppliers offer.

Also, it’s about getting into the nitty gritty and being vocal about any concerns you have and having the opportunity to speak to the right people.

Being a massive Scottish retailer – and after coming from Nisa down south – to see brands like Malcolm Allan and Mrs Tilleys was great – there’s a big focus on being Scottish.

The biggest takeaway for me last year was on coffee and food to go. Barista Bar was at the show. I looked at it and several months on, we moved over. It was the best thing we’ve done.

I would say keep an open mind, come and have a good time, experience Spar, visit every single stand, and make sure you are having the right conversations with the right people.

I would recommend every single retailer to go to this event. Everybody is so busy at their stores on a daily basis. This is the only time retailers get to get together – find out who is doing things differently.

That’s one thing I love about Spar: we have such a great network of incredible retailers at the peak of their game. With every symbol group there’s always a lot of different misconceptions about stock, deliveries, etc. It’s easy to talk to a Spar rep, but there’s nothing like speaking to a retailer to answer those questions for you.

SPONSORS

Thank you to our Tradeshow and SPAR Scotland Awards Sponsors…

WALKERS

Every day millions of people in the UK enjoy our snacks, oats and beverages. The 4,500-strong team behind these household names is spread across our 10 UK sites including our Quaker oats mill in Cupar and our Walkers crisp factory in Leicester – the largest crisp factory in the world.

Our vision is to ‘Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with PepsiCo Positive’. Behind this vision lies a passion for sustainability and a commitment to doing business in the right way. We strongly believe that integrating purpose into our business strategy will be the key to our future success.

HOVIS

Hovis Limited is a baking business owned by Endless LLP. We’re based in High Wycombe and employ 2,800 people across eight bakeries, one flourmill and three distribution centres in the UK.

We’re proud to be part of a baking heritage that goes back more than 130 years, now delivering more than a million of our muchloved loaves every day throughout the UK and Ireland.

A leading brand within the Impulse Bakery sector, we pride ourselves on the taste and quality of all our bakery products, but then they all do have Hovis tradition baked into them.

GRAHAM’S THE FAMILY DAIRY

Graham’s The Family Dairy produces an award-winning home-grown range of high-quality food and drink. The family-run business was founded in 1939 by Robert Graham in Bridge of Allan, where he reared 12 cows, milked them by hand, then made all deliveries by horse and cart.

Today Graham’s Family Dairy produces a diverse selection of award-winning dairy

products including the Gold Top and Organic ranges of products, milk, cream, butter, spreadable butter, ice cream, cottage cheese, quark, yogurt, Kefir and protein-rich products. All products are made using the finest ingredients from 100 specially selected Scottish farms.

IMAGEDATA

imageData Group prides itself on offering one of the most comprehensive print services available in the UK. imageData are well known as the experts for variable data to print shelf edge price tickets, SKU code labels, investment reports, renewal and reminder correspondence, as well as direct mail and door drops.

Our recent investment of over £2m in stateof-the-art production equipment is perfect for 3D items: pallet wraps, floor standing display units and countertop display units.

Offering a fast turnaround service, we manage the entire process from start to finish, including CAD design. Our Business Support Team are available to offer guidance on best solutions to suit whatever campaign or budget required.

EUROPASTRY

Europastry is a leader in the frozen bakery dough sector. For over 35 years, we have been offering the best bakery products, using the tradition of master artisans as our guide and innovation to develop the best products as our strategy.

We are passionate about forming part of the most innovative company in the sector. We manufacture frozen, part-baked and fully-baked bread, American sweet bakery, viennoiserie and savoury products.

The sweet bakery range includes a large range of Dots, Europastry’s donut brand and are famous throughout Europe for their quality and taste.

ARNEG

Manor Concepts Ltd is the wholly owned UK subsidiary of the Arneg Group, an international leader in the design, production, cabinet on-site and off-site refurbishment and installation of equipment for the retail sector.

Manor Concepts/Arneg have partnered with CJ Lang since January 2022 supplying Spar Scotland with the very best and most energy efficient refrigeration shopfloor cabinets in the marketplace for all store refits.

We have a great working relationship not only with CJ Lang but also with their preferred installation and service partner GSS.

We look forward to our continued successful store refurbishment journey with our very valued customer.

RELEX

RELEX Solutions helps retailers and consumer brands drive profitable growth across all sales and distribution channels by maximising customer satisfaction and minimising operative costs. Our marketleading, unified supply chain and retail planning platform helps retailers and consumer goods companies align and optimise demand, merchandise, supply chain, and operations planning across the end-to-end value chain. We drive recordhigh product availability, increased sales and margin, improved sustainability, and the best return on investment in inventory, space, workforce, and capacity. For more information, visit www.relexsolutions.com.

JTI

JTI is a leading international tobacco and vaping company with operations in more than 130 countries. In the UK, JTI’s brands include Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut, Mayfair, Sovereign and Sterling, as well as a number of other tobacco products including handrolling tobacco (Amber Leaf), cigars (Hamlet), and pipe tobacco (Condor). JTI is also a major player in the international vaping market with heated tobacco brand, Ploom, and e-cigarette brand, Logic. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, JTI employs over 40,000 people and in 2024 was certified Global Top Employer for a 10th consecutive

year. JTI is a member of the Japan Tobacco Group of companies. For more information, visit www.jti.com.

VAPE SUPPLIER LTD

Vape Supplier Ltd (VSL) is the UK vape industry’s largest and leading distributor, offering over 7,000 fast-moving SKUs across the UK and internationally. Collaborating with some of the biggest global brands in the vape and FMCG sectors, including SKE Crystal, Gold Bar, Elf Bar, Lost Mary and IVG, VSL are the exclusive category partner to CJ Lang/Spar Scotland. VSL supplies all market channels from major national retailers through to wholesale and independent convenience retail.

SFA

The Scottish FA are delighted to present the new Future Stars award alongside SPAR Scotland. The award will have its inaugural outing in Aviemore in September at Scotland’s largest convenience retail event. We are very proud of our partnership with SPAR Scotland and are excited to be able to offer this opportunity at their annual show. The Future Stars nominees will be those from the Spar family who have demonstrated they have a bright future ahead of them much like the young footballers involved in the Spar Future Stars Cup.

MRS TILLY’S

Established in a family kitchen in 1997, Mrs Tilly’s has grown to become one of Scotland’s best loved confectionery brands and is now a Top 20 Scottish Take Home grocery brand (source: Kantar). The business is still owned and run by the founding family. Famous for traditional sweet confectionery treats such as tablet and fudge, the product range has further developed in recent years to include macaroon, toffee and more recently tabletflavoured popcorn.

RED BULL

Red Bull Energy Drink is appreciated worldwide by top athletes, students, and in highly demanding professions as well as during long drives. A cold can of Red Bull makes an excellent partner for busy, active lifestyles. Each can contains 80mg of caffeine per serving and 27g of sugars.

It also includes taurine, an amino acid naturally occurring in the human body, and B-group vitamins B6, B12, Niacin (B3) and Pantothenic Acid (B5). Available in 4-packs, 12-packs, 24-packs and Variety Packs. Red Bull Energy Drink comes in an aluminium can, which is one of very few food packages that can be almost completely recycled.

CCEP

CCEP are excited yet again to be supporting the fantastic Aviemore ’24 trade show. We’ll be showcasing new products and supporting Spar Scotland’s plans for 2025 and beyond. What’s more, we’re pleased to be sponsoring the ‘chill out zone’ to give you somewhere to rest your legs while you enjoy a cold drink from us! See you there!

FRESH FOOD FOR NOW

At Fresh Food For Now, we pride ourselves on delivering fresh food daily, managed by a team of experts. Our commitment is to bring some of Britain’s best-loved food-togo brands to businesses across the UK, up to seven days a week, regardless of your business size.

We are dedicated to helping our customers grow their businesses by providing the products and services they need to succeed. Our advanced distribution facility, combined with a broad range of both company-owned and partnered market-leading brands, enables us to offer a comprehensive selection of products for all dayparts.

Choose Fresh Food For Now to elevate your business with a wide variety of high-quality products and unparalleled service.

AG BARR

Established over 140 years ago in Scotland and now operating across the UK and internationally, AG Barr have been creating and building great tasting brands that people love, and our business has grown as a result. Employing 860 people across nine UK locations, we are proud to be a responsible business that listens to our consumers, builds lasting customer relationships, takes care of our employees, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact.

GSS CONTRACTS

GSS Contracts Limited was established in 2014 with the primary aim of growing a market-leading Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service and Installation business. From its Scottish office, based in East Kilbride, the Company has grown sustainably, both locally and nationally, over the past decade, by delivering a first-class level of performance across a significant portfolio of projects across the UK.

GSS Contracts has focused its business within the Convenience retail sector, developing partnerships with well-known retailers as well as supporting the growing independent retail sector. This is reflected in the level of repeat business GSS Contracts continues to receive from these clients.

At the heart of our business there are 3 core values that we ask our people to live by. Through trust, honesty and integrity we ensure our 60 employees enjoy a safe and secure place of work, in our offices or on our sites. For our clients, it is the way we do business. Here is to the next 10 years!

COUNTRY CHOICE

Country Choice is the UK’s leading supplier of in-store bakery and retail foodservice products.

In addition to a wide range of high-quality frozen, chilled and ambient products, our customers enjoy access to on-site training, equipment and concepts and marketing support.

So whether you’re a bakery or café looking for new products, or a convenience store or forecourt needing advice on how to introduce a bakery or food to go, Country Choice can supply and support you with everything.

As well as offering a range of innovative high-quality, nutritious branded products designed to enhance the appeal of your in-store bakery or food service company, we ensure you’re set up for success, with branded equipment, fast delivery, marketing support and plenty of training and advice.

Veev One

Philip Morris

Veev One uses compact ceramic heating technology and has a low-level e-liquid detection system, to help avoid the burnt taste users get when they’re running dry. It has a rechargeable battery and offers up to 1,000 puffs per 2ml pod. These are available in 12 flavours spanning three taste categories: aromatic, cooling & crisp, and warm. Starter kits (RSP £8.99) consist of one device and two pods. Two replacement pods weigh in at £5.99.

Coca-Cola Oreo Zero Sugar

Coca-Cola European Partners

The new limited edition, inspired by the bond between friends, boasts a Coca-Cola taste with a hint of Oreo cookie flavour. It comes in 250ml sleek cans adorned with Oreo cookie embossments and stacked Coke bottles. A ‘Bestie Mode’ lets chums sync their music tastes via Spotify. This is accessed by an on-pack QR code, which also reveals a map of locations where the drink is available to buy.

Fruittella Multipacks

Perfetti

Van Melle

Fruittella has unveiled two multipack formats of its bestselling Summer Fruits and Berries & Cherry sticks. Both packs contain four sticks of individually wrapped chews that are made using real fruit juice and contain only natural colourings and flavours. They are also vegan friendly, and free from dairy, gluten and nuts. The multipacks have a £1.50 RSP and are available in cases of 18.

Candy Castle Crew treat bags

Rose Marketing

The three new Halloween-themed treat bags are available in shelfready cases of 18 x 90g packs, all price-marked at £1. All three are halal-friendly. Gummy Pumpkins and Fizzy Gummy Brains contain pretty much what you’d expect from their names, while Fizzy Freaky Mix offers six spooky shapes including a skull, owl, ghost, bat, witch’s hat and pumpkin.

Plenish partnership

Walkers Smokin’ BBQ

Sauce

PepsiCo

Britvic’s dairy alternatives and juice shots brand Plenish has kicked-off a six-month partnership sponsoring Channel 4’s breakfast programming. With an estimated reach of over nine million people and running until 31 January 2025, the campaign will cover key sales periods for the brand, including Organic September and Veganuary.

Soreen on screens

Soreen’s new £2m campaign – its biggest ever – centres around a new TV advert, ‘The Soreen Squidge’ll Pick You Up’. The ad features a twist on the 80s A-ha song, ‘The Sun Always Shines on TV,’ and celebrates the brand’s Original Malt Loaf. It also appears on video on demand, Meta, TikTok and YouTube, bolstered by in-store promotions and POS.

Walkers has added a new Smokin’ BBQ Sauce flavour to its core range. The brand said the move will help retailers meet shopper preferences for their favourite flavours, with BBQ seeing the largest growth in popularity over the past year. The NPD is available now in a variety of formats, including a 45g grab bag (RSP £1), 25g multipacks of six (RSP £2) and a 70g £1.25 pricemarked pack.

Back with a bang

Cereal startup Surreal has launched a new advert starring Neil Burgess, better known as Barry Scott from the Cillit Bang ads. This time, Burgess stars as ‘Gary Scott,’ who is very similar to the man who promoted cleaning products. However, instead of shining up pennies, Gary bangs on about how Surreal is high in protein and contains zero sugar.

There’s nuts…

Cherry Sugar Free will rejoin Tango’s core range from October. It will be available in a 330ml can (RSP 80p), 500ml plain bottle (RSP £1.99), 500ml £1.25 price-marked bottle, 2-litre bottle (RSP £3.19), and multipacks of eight cans (RSP £5.29), 18 cans (RSP £9.69) and 24 cans (RSP £12.49). The launch will be backed by PR, social, influencer and shopper media activities.

A new campaign for KP Nuts highlights the brand’s superior quality and leading position within the segment with the strapline, ‘There’s nuts, then there’s KP Nuts’. The 13-week campaign features across out-of-home channels and social media, where the brand is also partnering with TikTok influencers to deliver funny and engaging content.

Water laugh

Jammie Dodgers is back on the box for the first time in a decade with a playful new TV advert. The ‘Really Fruity’ ad sees a whole family – grandma included – get pulled into a Dodger-induced water fight. Everyone is encouraged to have fun and ‘act their shoe size, not their age’. The ad is part of a wider £2m campaign that runs until 26 October.

Tango Cherry Sugar Free Britvic

START THE DAY WITH SOMETHING NEW…

Flexible working and changing consumer behaviours means more people are enjoying breakfast at home, so why not tempt them with something new?

STARBUCKS

Starbucks chilled coffee is the leading player in the RTD category within the breakfast market and has grown sales volumes by 25% in the last 12 months [Kantar/Nielsen, Jan 2024].

The brand is looking to maintain and accelerate that growth with the launch of a range of new Starbucks Protein Drinks with Coffee. Carrying an RSP of £2.75, the range is available in three flavours: Caffe Latte, Chocolate Mocha flavour, and smooth Caramel Hazelnut flavour.

In March, Starbucks also extended its range of no added sugar chilled coffee drinks with the launch of new Starbucks Frappuccino Caramel No Added Sugar (RSP £2.10).

BEAR FRUIT

The breakfast opportunity has always been a reliable if unspectacular one for retailers but the growing number of people working from home, at least part of the time, is potentially creating a fresh opportunity to grow sales of breakfast products.

To help retailers meet that demand, SLR has taken a look around for some of the latest NPD, promotions and news.

FRUBES

Top-selling kids’ yoghurt brand Frubes is currently running its biggest ever on-pack promotion offering £45,000 in cash prizes to help drive sales during England’s back-to-school period.

Fruit snacking brand Urban Fruit becomes BEAR Fruit this month. The move combines both BEAR (value sales £33.22m) and Urban Fruit (value sales £9.46m) into one BEAR Masterbrand to continue disrupting the snacking category by offering greattasting healthier fruit snacks made from real fruit.

The ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion will be clearly communicated in three limited-edition packs hitting shelves until 30 September. There is the chance to win one of five ‘Golden Tickets’ hidden in packs of Frubes valued from £5,000 to £1,000. In addition, there will be 7,000 instant win opportunities worth £5 each.

The combined portfolio will benefit from the strong visual identity and category-leading customer share of BEAR to upscale exposure, drive brand growth and fuel incrementality.

The Urban Fruit line up, comprising gently baked dried fruit such as mango, strawberries and pineapple will join the BEAR brand, known for its popular Yoyos and Fruit Splits, made with real fruit.

All products are made with real fruit with no preservatives, count as one of your 5-a-day, are HFSS compliant, and contain no added nasties.

The promotion is supported by additional marketing activity developed to appeal to the Frubes core consumer including a new creative campaign on video on demand and online video, an influencer campaign focused on gaming and a fun social media campaign entitled ‘You’ve been Frubed’ that plays on 90s nostalgia.

DOLE

As health concerns around Ultra Processed Food continue to grow, Dole is encouraging retailers to stock up on quick and convenient healthier solutions like its range of 198g fruit cups, priced at just £1.50.

Ideally suited to the chiller, the cups have a shelf life of more than 90 days which minimises waste, whilst delivering all the health benefits of fresh on the go, and even come with a handy wooden toothpick to aide eating on the move.

TIME FOR A CHANGE?

The local retailing sector never stands still so it makes sense to keep on top of your options as you focus on maximising sales and profits in your business – so could it be the right time for a fresh start with a new symbol partner that better meets your specific needs?

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

Covid may be behind us but it still casts a long shadow over the local retailing sector – and the rest of the economy. e hospitality sector hasn’t fully recovered, the way shoppers consume food and drink both in and out of home has changed rity on what the future might bring.

So how exactly are local retailers in Scotland meant to prepare for the future?

WHAT NEXT?

e simplest answer to this question is possibly a one-word answer: investment. Today’s shoppers are so used to high retail standards that the old days of getting away with a messy, shambolic ‘corner shop’ business model no longer cuts it. Shoppers have grown so accustomed to clean, neat, orderly, precise retail that they expect the same standard – or similar – of their local convenience store.

Which is precisely why it’s so encouraging to see what looks to me like record levels of investment in the Scottish local retailing sector. Judging the SLR Awards in 2023 was an eyeopener. e amount of investment the judges witnessed was staggering. Even more staggering was that we saw it all over again during the judging for this year’s awards.

Gone are the days of ‘major’ £50k re ts. ese days, major seems to mean £200k or £300k –and that is entirely to the credit of today’s local retailing entrepreneurs. What is also reasonably clear is that the vast majority of re ts are taking place in stores that are part of symbol groups.

Working with a major partner that understands retail and has the experience of working with hundreds or even thousands of other stores to inform the vision clearly holds some attraction.

In the last ve years or so, the clear trend in re ts has been towards a more standardised, modular approach. at explains why so many Spar Scotland stores look similar to one another, and why so many modern Premier stores are doing the same.

But the logic here is inescapable. Yes, we may lose out on that quirkiness and uniqueness that characterises the local retailing channel, but on the ipside we tend to gain sales and pro ts. Most major symbol groups now e ectively o er a menu of tried and tested ‘modules’: a food-togo solution, a vaping solution, a beer cave and so

on. All retailers then have to do is work out how many they can t into their store and which ones are most appropriate for their speci c customer base.

It’s smart retailing – and it works. e majority of stores that have followed this model have, in my experience, seen the bene t in the till.

But it’s not all about re ts. If you don’t have the cash to spend £150k on a full re t, there can still be major gains to be had from working with a symbol group, franchise partner or similar to take your store to the next level.

All symbol groups have access to a wealth of insight and experience that only comes with working with huge numbers of stores over many years. Tapping into that can only be a positive. And it’s not all about pricing and range. Sure, they’re vitally important but of most importance is one thing: the cash pro t your store delivers. And yes, it is cash that matters most. You can’t take percentages to the bank, as the old retail motto has it.

Joining another symbol group, however, is not a silver bullet that will x all of your problems in one fell swoop. It can be, but it’s certainly not a given. ere is a strong case to be made that one group may mesh with your own business model and vision better than another – but a lot of the success retailers enjoy as part of a symbol group is attributable to the way they approach the partnership. It takes two to tango.

Symbol groups are, in my experience, far more selective in choosing retail partners these days. ey want to work with retailers who will truly work in partnership and deliver bene t for both parties.

A partnership, by de nition, involves both partners pulling their weight, working closely together and meeting the challenges and exploiting the opportunities together. At the end of the day, the groups rely entirely on partner stores as the public face of their business, so wanting to drive standards up is something that all parties should welcome.

So, the rst thing to ask yourself when looking at a new partner is a simple question: would my business be better, stronger and more pro table with a di erent symbol or franchise partner? And if so, why and how? And are you prepared to truly commit to the partnership?

Only by truly working hand-in-hand with your symbol group will you fully exploit the many opportunities that exist.

So it takes a clear eye and an honest view of your own business to decide whether the grass is indeed greener. Key here is rst identifying the areas of your own business that aren’t performing the way you want them to. Whether that’s margins, stock levels, sta ng, admin, pricing or something else. A new symbol group can’t x all of these problems for you on day one.

ey can help on lots of fronts, but they can’t wipe the slate clean for you in an instant.

Once you’ve identi ed the weak areas, then it’s time to analyse the various options on the table, trying to establish which groups are most likely to be able to help you with the weaknesses you’ve already identi ed.

Comparing symbol groups is a complex task and some would say that there is no completely reliable way to analyse how good a symbol group is until you’ve signed on that dotted line and actually started trading.

Talking to other retailers is a great way to learn more about each of the major groups but, once again, tread carefully and don’t take everything you hear as indisputable fact. All you’re hearing is one person’s subjective view. If another retailer feels like they had a bad time with a particular group, that doesn’t mean you will too.

But, a er all that, if you are still keen to test the waters, we have produced a brief guide to some of the leading symbol groups in Scotland and across the UK. ere are some very clear di erences between the groups but the key is not to judge a symbol group on just one or two factors like delivery charges, promotional pricing or claimed availability levels. Try to judge each group in the round, and try to establish what each group could bring to your speci c store with your particular customer base.

OPTIONS GALORE

Recruitment activity is as aggressive as it’s ever been, and more and more groups are targeting Scotland. If you are looking to change group, you’ll have a long line of suitors at your door but be prepared for some tough conversations, even from groups desperate to grow in Scotland.

In return for the enormous support that symbol groups can o er local retailers, they will be looking for commitment and drive from their retail partners. ere are very few quick wins in this game and only by forging a strong, positive partnership with your symbol group can you maximise your returns over the longer term.

PREMIER IS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN

As part of the UK’s largest symbol group, Premier retailers benefit from a fantastic promotional programme, group exclusives, access to Euro Shopper and Jack’s own-brand products and unrivalled levels of support.

Premier is the UK’s largest symbol group with more than 4,600 stores across the UK, with over 500 of these in Scotland, making it the biggest symbol operator in Scotland. Backed by Booker, the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler, Scottish Premier retailers bene t from group exclusives with delivery at cash and carry prices and the convenience to top up at any of our 23 branches in Scotland to maximise availability.

Premier retailers bene t from a fantastic promotional programme covering all categories which is backed up by a comprehensive EDLP program. e Premier Program is designed to drive footfall and increase cash pro t with our Mega Deals giving POR of over 15% and most of our core deals o ering at least 20% POR. Our dedicated Scottish promotions each period also o er a real point of di erence from the competition.

Premier is committed to helping Scottish retailers reduce costs and supporting both retailers & shoppers alike.

Key incentives include:

Q Reducing energy consumption with e cient LED lighting, Beer Caves, So Drink Caves area and refrigeration units.

Q Extending our spend and save scheme to include vape products, earning retailers up to 5% rebate.

Q Linking up with Healthy Scotland to support communities and children across Scotland.

Q Food donations points in store via Fareshare.

Scottish retailers have access to over 600 ownbrand products through Jack’s and the Euro Shopper brands. Euro Shopper is our entry-level value range and Jack’s is part of the Tesco family and mid-tier. Both exclusive ranges come in PMPs and o er strong PORs.

Premier’s store development teams will design and implement our latest thinking in stores, including So Drinks walk-in refrigeration units, Beer Caves, Refresh Zones, £5 lunchtime ‘Mega Meal Deal’ and local Scottish Bakery lineups, whilst ensuring stores are as energy e cient and sustainable as possible.

Some Scottish stores who have invested over £200k have seen this pay back within 12 months and Premier’s small store format model means that now any Scottish stores from 300sq + can bene t from the Premier model.

FIT FOR THE FUTURE WITH LONDIS

Almost 200 retailers have joined Londis in the last year thanks to its commitment to keeping business simple and focusing on helping retailers make more and save more.

Londis has had a fantastic year of recruitment with almost 200 retailers joining the Londis family. Londis now has over 2,300 members and almost three-quarters of our recruits have come from other symbol brands.

We are always looking to develop our own brand, o er the best possible value to shoppers and strong margins for our retailers.

Competition in the convenience sector is always strong and at Londis we are always on the lookout for ways to help our retailers by helping them to Make More or Save More on Added Value Services. We focus on making Londis simple to do business with. Being part of a bigger group means we can o er more than most of our competitors with exclusive products and deals and our promotions remain some of the strongest in the sector.

We have continued to deliver the bene ts of being part of a bigger group with more Group Exclusives, rst to markets and NPD than ever before, keeping Londis retailers ahead of the game. We have continued to make Londis simple to do business with whenever possible, providing extra bene ts such as free recycling,

investing in our infrastructure and also continuing to develop our exclusive added value service deals to help crime prevention and also to innovate in the food- and drinks-to-go area.

Our promotions remain the best in the market and our margins some of the strongest and this along with product innovation means Londis stores stand out from the competition. Londis remains a zero-cost model which really helps and being part of a bigger group helps us stand out from the competition; we have a laserlike focus on putting the customer rst.

e past year saw Londis launch our Store Of e Future, showcasing all our latest thinking including digital screens, new-look POS, a walk in alcohol chiller and merchandising e ciencies throughout the store.

We have added extra SKUs to our Jack’s range and also introduced more and bigger promotions to drive sales further including new key promotions on Chilled & Fresh lines to drive sales. We also spend a lot of time ensuring the quality of our own-brand products as without that you won’t retain consumer loyalty.

e on-the-go mission is seeing continued growth this year and Londis retailers can access

some great deals. Home delivery is de nitely here to stay, and we continue to work with all our supplier partners to help our retailers tap into this market.

We are investing record amounts into technology within our business to continue to ensure Londis are easy to do business with and that we are t for the future. To help our retailers, we have brokered exclusive deals with a number of ESEL companies with reduced charges, interest-free credit and extended warranties.

One of the biggest challenges over the past year has been in ation, rising costs and the continued cost of living crisis for consumers.

e challenge from the increased presence of the multiples in the convenience sector has meant we have also had to up our game to make sure our o er remains the best in the market and we support our retailers to be as competitive as possible.

We have developed our own brands, delivered our best ever SLAs and worked hard with our Added Value Service partners to help our retailers save more and make more, all whilst maintaining availability.

ere’s never been a better time to join Londis.

Harry Singh

Carstairs Junction

FEEL THE POWER OF DAY-TODAY

BENEFITS FOR JOINING THE DAYTODAY SYMBOL GROUP INCLUDE

1 JOIN FOR FREE!

No initial costs, allowing retailers to invest where it matters most: in their stores and communities.

2 UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE DEALS AND COMPETITIVE PRICES

Access to a treasure trove of exclusive deals and the most competitive wholesale prices around.

3 PERSONALISED SUPPORT FROM EXPERT DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS

Our expert Development Managers provide personalised support, leveraging their industry knowledge to help stores thrive. From strategic planning to operational guidance, Day-Today is committed to the success of every member.

4. TAILORED FASCIA FORMATS FOR EVERY STORE STYLE

One size does not fit all and Day-Today understands the unique identity of each store. Choose from a range of tailored fascia formats that complement and enhance your store’s individual style and location.

5. EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE: OUR STORES HAVE EARNED LOCAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS!

Our stores are award-winning establishments that have earned local and national recognition. Joining Day-Today means aligning with excellence, benefiting from the same strategies and practices that have delivered many awards.

6. STAY AHEAD WITH CUTTING-EDGE TRENDS AND INNOVATIONS

In the dynamic world of retail, staying ahead is crucial. Day-Today keeps its members at the forefront by providing insights into cutting-edge trends and innovations. Be it technology, product offerings, or customer engagement strategies.

7. DYNAMIC MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Including campaigns, signage, and materials that amplify your store’s visibility, exceed customer expectations and create a buzz in your local community.

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, nding the right symbol partner is paramount for local retailers seeking a fresh start. Day-Today stands tall as the fastest-growing cash and carry retail chain in the UK. Founded in 2003 with the simultaneous opening of 30 stores, Day-Today has grown into a network of over 300 shops in Scotland, embodying a commitment to service and community.

At the heart of Day-Today’s success is a commitment to going the extra mile for customers. ese stores take pride in servicing local communities, presenting a cash and carry ‘one-stop-shop’ concept for all essentials. e Day-Today group understands that rst impressions matter, striving for excellence to ensure a lasting connection between customers and their local stores. O ering a fresh, modern, and professional convenience store service, Day-Today delivers the perfect package for your neighbourhood or high street.

Day-Today is not just a symbol group; it’s a catalyst for success in the world of retail. e accolades amassed by Day-Today stores over the years are testament to their dedication and success.

In the world of retail, the right symbol partner can make all the di erence. Day-Today goes beyond the conventional symbol group experience. Joining us is not just a strategic business move; it’s an immersive journey into a supportive community. e phenomenal growth, community-focused approach, and industry accolades position Day-Today as a top choice for local retailers aiming for success. As the SLR Symbol Group, Fascia & Franchise Guide unfolds, consider the unmatched bene ts of joining the Day-Today symbol group—a partnership that goes beyond convenience, embracing community spirit and retail excellence. Explore your options wisely and let Day-Today be the cornerstone of your success story in the coming year.

NO JOINING FEES

ACCESS TO THE BEST DEALS AND PRICES

STORE DEVELOPMENT AND RETAILER SUPPORT

FREE MARKETING TOOLS

WIDE RANGE OF OWN BRAND PRODUCTS

THIEVIN’ STEVEN

Under The Counter was delighted when a serial shoplifter got banged up after a three-month crime spree. Layton Richards had stolen £3,463.96-worth of stock from 19 different stores along the south coast of England, his haul including 798 Crème Eggs.

The 29-year-old from Portsmouth is now starting an eightmonth stretch in the big hoose. UTC wondered if he was sharing a cell with another wrong ’un who has previously graced these pages, the man whose name sounds like a Scots euphemism for a toilet, Joby Pool.

stealing a whopping 200,000 of the tasty treats in one fell swoop.

If you’re thinking “that’s one hell of a trench coat with very deep pockets he must have been wearing,” a word of clarity is required. Rather than loiter in seaside c-stores, Pool instead blagged an articulated lorry chock-full of chocolate. Or rather, he tried to.

A shoplifting seagull has been banned from a convenience store in Wyke Regis, Dorset.

The brazen bird allegedly nicked 30 bags of crisps during a twomonth crime spree, boldly blagging them from a shelf adjacent to the store’s entrance. Posters now advise customers to shut the door behind them, although moving the crisps closer to the till and siting a large and starving feral cat in their place could also work.

Regular readers will recall that Pool was himself incarcerated last July, also for nicking Crème Eggs. Unlike Richards, who averaged 33 eggs over 24 separate offences, Pool operated on a grander scale,

Caught in mid-getaway on the M42, he is now doing 18 months. It is often said the polis don’t take shoplifting seriously. However, if you compare the two sentences, it seems that at least the judiciary does.

Shoplifter Richards was handed around one month of jail time for every 100 Crème Eggs stolen, according to the Auld Boy’s abacus. He reckons that if the truck-taking Pool was subject to the same sentencing guidelines, he’d be sewing mailbags for the next 167 years.

BURN NOTICE

Tesco has recalled its Plant Chef 2 Meat-Free Burgers With Melting Middle because “the centre of the burgers may maintain a high temperature once cooked”.

Who’d have thought cooking something would increase its temperature?

“This may result in a burn risk to customers,” warned the supermarket giant.

Or, as Under The Counter scathingly reworded it: “There is a danger of snowflakes melting.”

Readers of a certain age will know where this is going. Much like Godwin’s law dictates that Hitler will eventually crop up in every online discussion, any story involving scaldingly hot foodstuffs will sooner

Store manager Stuart Harmer had tried switching the feathered fiend’s favourite BBQ flavour with something a tad more piquant, but the gull wasn’t deterred. Let’s face it, if you’re happy pecking at a dead rat’s innards or a drunk’s vomit, your guts can surely handle a bag of Spicy Nik Naks.

The news came as no surprise to Under The Counter. He recalled a store in Bangor, Wales being similarly afflicted in 2022. And he was far from confounded to find that the Wyke Regis seagull was called “Steven” – as in Steven Seagal, geddit? – because that’s what the bird from Bangor had also been dubbed.

Could it be the same avian pest? According to research published in one of the Auld Boy’s favourite reads, the journal Frontiers of Marine Science, seagulls will travel 100 miles to visit their favourite chip shops. So perhaps.

Unfortunately, UTC’s own research ground to a halt calculating how far it is from Bangor to Wyke Regis. Google Maps revealed a distance of 200 miles.

But, as the Auld Boy wailed in anguish, “That’s as the crow flies, it doesn’t say a thing about seagulls.”

or later circle back to that 1970s teatime treat, the Findus Crispy Pancake.

These came in a variety of flavours, including minced beef, cheddar cheese, and napalm. All of which were more than capable of “burning the mooth aff ye,” as the Auld Boy eloquently put it, before going off on one about the nanny state and how life was so much better when cars didn’t have seatbelts.

For anyone in possession of a melting-middle burger, Tesco politely advises: “Please don’t eat.” You can take it back to a store for a full refund instead.

Under The Counter not-so-politely advises: “Just blow on the damn thing before you gub it.”

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