SLR August 2023 Edition

ALL CHANGE AT MENZIES?

What will InPost’s £49.3m acquisition of 30% of Menzies mean for retailers?

DRS: WHAT NOW?

SGF boss ponders what lies ahead

SYMBOL STAR

Premier’s year as king of the symbols

COMMISSION CAP Lottery commission to remain unchanged

✓ Built around a retailer, not a computer user

✓ Simple to use till, powerful admin tools

✓ Built from retailers perspective

✓ Reduces labour by downloading products, price changes, invoices and promotions

Benefits of MPos

✓ Reduces labour by allowing one click order generation and one click invoice downloads - easily shave off 10 hours of work per store

✓ Emails store performance to the user with real actionable data once a week rather than stats heavy reports that overwhelm the user

£7,800

✓ Increased control on stock; all stock deliveries downloaded and all stock adjustments emailed to the owner; NO stock is unaccounted for

✓ Based in Scotland with excellent support and training program

✓ Easy to use Hand Held terminal to control the store from shop floor

✓ Integration with Credit Card terminals, Zapper, Cigarette Gantry, Loyalty Schemes and more

✓ Developed and supported by people that know the retail trade

06 Energy Regulator Ofgem unveils a series of reforms aimed to improve customer service for businesses.

07 National Lottery Incoming licensee Allwyn sets out the next steps for retailers ahead of its takeover from Camelot.

08 Refits Spar Scotland relaunches three company-owned stores in Grangemouth, Fife and Dundee.

10 Vaping Pressure mounts on the Goverment to ban disposable vapes.

11 Wages The SGF and ACS raise concerns over soaring wage costs with the Low Pay Commission.

12 News Extra Pricing The CMA concludes its investigations into grocery and fuel prices.

18 Product News Suntory’s ‘Win The Weekend’ competition returns and Costa launches its first on-pack promotion.

20 Off-Trade News A new Captain Morgan variant sets sail and Havana Club teams up with a cult streetwear brand.

INSIDE BUSINESS

23 Checkout Scotland Four lucky retailers have each won a pair of tickets to GroceryAid Scotland’s flagship music event.

24 Symbol Group Special Premier As the SLR Awards approach, we reflect on another strong year for Premier, our reigning Symbol Group of the Year.

28 Deposit Return Scheme With only a couple of years until the next DRS implementation date, there’s still plenty to ponder, says SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema.

32 Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns.

50 Under The Counter Too time-pressed in the morning for breakfast? The Auld Boy has some sage advice.

FEATURES

34 Forecourts The forecourt sector pushes ahead with leaps in technology while preparing for the EV deadline.

38 Advertising Feature Henderson Technology Spar Mullusk is getting ahead of the game in key areas of opportunity with Henderson’s help.

40 Nicotine Despite a double whammy of inflationary and potentially regulatory pressures, nicotine products still hold strong value for retailers.

46 Back To Uni Students flocking back to university present a good opportunity for retailers to boost early autumn sales.

48 Halloween The increasingly popular annual frightfest gives retailers a vital sales springboard into the festive season.

Retailers call for financial support for security kit

Independent retailers have renewed calls for government grants to help them improve their security systems as several sets of data have shown that shoplifting is rising due to the cost-of-living crisis and record inflation. The NFRN’s decision to push the government for these grants was taken at its annual conference in June.

Win £5k to improve your store with *shopt

*shopt, a cash rewards app for convenience retailers, is offering its users the opportunity to win £5,000 to improve their stores. The competition, which runs until 21 August, gives retailers the opportunity to win Lucozade and Ribena POS, Lucozade, Ribena, Mars Wrigley, and Diageo stock and Walkers merchandise every week, and be entered into a prize draw. Retailers need to download the *shopt app, register and complete the summer competition entry form.

Allwyn appoints new boss

Allwyn UK, the operator of the next National Lottery licence, has appointed Andria Vidler as its new Chief Executive. Vidler will lead Allwyn as it prepares to become the operator of The National Lottery in February 2024, with the mission of increasing funds generated for good causes over the course of the 10-year licence. Vidler has worked for a range of UK media businesses, including EMI, Bauer Media, and the BBC.

Nisa partners with Just Eat

Nisa has teamed-up with Just Eat to launch on-demand online delivery across the UK. Shoppers will be able to order items from participating Nisa stores for delivery in as little as under 30 minutes via the Just Eat app and website. Retailers will be provided with in-store marketing support including shelf talkers, posters, and window and door stickers, as well as a dedicated telephone support team.

Ofgem unveils energy reforms to help businesses

Q Minimum capital requirements for supplier nances: Ofgem has decided on the level of capital suppliers are required to hold to ensure they are more resilient to market shocks.

Q Introducing better complaint handling.

Energy regulator Ofgem has proposed a series of reforms to further improve standards of customer service for businesses.

Following extensive engagement with energy suppliers, businesses, consumers and other organisations, Ofgem has announced:

Q A Non-Domestic Market Review ndings and consultation: e review summarises the challenges businesses face and proposes a number of actions for the sector, Ofgem, and government to address.

TECHNOLOGY

Q For the non-domestic market, some of the immediate changes Ofgem has taken to help include working with industry to adapt the Retail Energy Code to avoid excessive delays and unreasonable requests for documentation during tenancy changes and urging suppliers to be more exible with businesses who signed up for peak xed rate prices.

ere are issues agged in the review that require regulatory change, so Ofgem will consult on:

EDGEPoS partners with Deliverect

Henderson Technology’s EPoS software system EDGEPoS is partnering with Deliverect, a platform for managing online orders.

Deliverect provides a solution that brings together all online order and delivery channels directly to an EPoS solution.

Key benefits include:

Q All online orders in one place.

Q Central menu management.

Q No need for separate tablets to manage delivery orders.

Q No need for manual re-entry of delivery orders at the POS.

Q Insights and reports on product and delivery channel sales.

Q Extending micro business protections to all businesses so energy bills spell out what is being paid to energy brokers plus allowing businesses to resolve disputes.

Q Creating better guidance over ‘deemed contract rates’ between customers who have not yet agreed contractual terms to avoid problems like overcharging.

Ofgem’s is asking the government to consider further protections in areas it doesn’t have the power to regulate, like energy brokers. Ofgem is also asking for businesses to be given access to the energy ombudsman.

Eddy’s Food Station partners with Iceland

Eddy’s Food Station stores in Greenock and Buckhaven have undergone a £600k refurbishment as the retailer begins working with Iceland.

Both stores have been fully refurbished inside, with state-of-the-art fridges and freezers, and a dedicated food-to-go area installed. e upgrade is designed to support the store’s fast-food service.

In addition, the 4,000sq Eddy’s Food Station in Buckhaven has been converted to a dual-branded fascia with Iceland Local.

Mike Leonard, Head of Retail at Eddy’s Food Station, said: “We are pleased to have delivered a rstclass facility for the towns and are proud to invest in

the town and especially the local community around our stores.

“One of the most satisfying aspects of the project has been not simply the visual transformation of the store but also the partnerships we have established with both national brands and local suppliers.”

Justin Addison, Iceland Foods International and Wholesale Director, added: “ e expansion of Iceland Local will make our unique range of frozen and grocery products available to customers in a completely new type of location, complementing our 1,000 companyowned Iceland and e Food Warehouse stores on the nation’s high streets and retail parks.”

PARTNERSHIPS Eddy’s Food Station in Buckhaven has a dual-branded fascia with Iceland Local

Henderson Technology is piloting Deliverect with five

EDGEPoS UK forecourt and convenience retailers and will be launching it to EDGEPoS retailers next month.

Allwyn reveals financial impact of National Lottery changeover

Allwyn, the incoming licensee for the National Lottery, has revealed that commission levels will remain the same for draw-based games, scratchcards, and prize payments under the new licence.

In addition, Allwyn will be removing the monthly lease fees for existing Compact Lottery Terminal retailers in the Fourth Licence, saving some retailers up to £600 per year, and introducing additional player protection measures.

Payment terms will remain the same for all games and any bonds and direct debit mandates already in place will automatically transfer from Camelot to Allwyn.

e announcement came as Allwyn set out some next steps for

National Lottery retailers ahead of its takeover on 1 February 2024.

Allwyn will be contacting National Lottery retailers to tell them how they can electronically transfer their existing Retailer Agreement from Camelot to Allwyn ready for the start of the new licence. is will need to be done by 18 December 2023 so retailers don’t experience an interruption to their National Lottery service.

Katharine Challinor, Allwyn’s Retail Director, said: “Retailers will soon be hearing from us on how they can easily transfer their existing Retailer Agreement. eir Camelot Retail Sales Executive will also visit their store to guide them

TOBACCO Businesses caught selling illegal products face £10k fines

Tougher penalties introduced to tackle illicit tobacco

New sanctions to tackle the illicit tobacco market came into force on 20 July.

Under the new rules, any business or individual caught selling illegal tobacco products will face nes of up to £10,000.

In addition, Local Authority Trading Standards can now refer cases to HMRC for further investigation. HMRC, where appropriate, will administer the penalties and ensure the appropriate sanction is applied and enforced.

HMRC’s Deputy Director for Excise and Environmental Taxes, Nis Bandara, said: “ ese sanctions build on HMRC’s enforcement of illicit tobacco controls, will

strengthen our response against those involved in street level distribution, and act as a deterrent to anyone thinking that they can make a quick and easy sale and undercut their competition.”

As the stronger powers came into force, HMRC and National Trading Standards revealed that more than 27 million illicit cigarettes and 7,500kg of hand-rolling tobacco were seized in the past two years. e measures have been welcomed by the NFRN. National President Muntazir Dipoti said: “ e Fed has been at the forefront when it comes to calling for action to address these issues, so we welcome the tougher sanctions that have been introduced.”

through the process and answer any questions they might have. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank National Lottery retailers for their continued support.”

Retailers will receive a welcome pack early in the New Year and receive information about the training they will be required to complete digitally ahead of the changeover.

Allwyn and Camelot have jointly set out a timeline of what retailers can expect in the leadup to 1 February. is includes the ongoing site surveys and a series of pre-planned Lotto and EuroMillions event draws over the summer and autumn, and National Lottery Christmas activity.

Snappy Shopper partners with MHouse

Spar Scotland sells out

Scottish Spar wholesaler CJ Lang & Son has revealed that all exhibitor space at its annual tradeshow and conference, which takes place in Aviemore on 28 September, has sold out. The event, at the Macdonald Hotel & Resort, will have 200 FMCG suppliers in attendance. The tradeshow will be followed by a gala dinner, where the winners of the annual Spar Scotland Awards will be announced, and live entertainment.

First Scotland Loves Local Week to take place

The first Scotland Loves Local Week, which aims to build upon and deliver the campaign’s wider aims of creating better, stronger, more sustainable places, will take place at the end of August. Delivered in partnership with SGF and key stakeholders from across Scotland, Scotland’s Towns Partnership Love Local Week will take place from 28 August to 3 September.

One-in-five cigarettes smoked in UK is illicit

Snappy Shopper has teamed up with MHouse to integrate its MPos Epos system with Snappy Shopper retailers.

The integration of Snappy Shopper with MHouse simplifies the ordering process; orders placed through Snappy Shopper can be directly sent to the MHouse MPOS system, enabling store staff to fulfil them quickly.

The partnership enhances operational efficiency and enables local businesses to optimise basket spend, resulting in improved revenue potential and customer satisfaction.

Consumption of illicit tobacco in the UK has risen, increasing to 3.61 billion in 2022, according to research by KPMG. The research commissioned by Philip Morris International shows that despite overall cigarette consumption declining, illicit consumption rose by 3.1% in 2022 to reach 21.2% in the UK. Nearly four in 10 smokers say increased living costs are turning them to ‘cheaper’ tobacco.

Scots prefer contactless, survey finds

Scots are the most likely to pay by contactless, with two in three saying it’s their favourite way to pay, according to research by Takepayments. The poll shows contactless is by far the most popular payment method in the UK overall, followed by mobile payments, then by cash. Nearly one-in-three people admitted to never carrying cash.

One Stop raises money for Young Lives vs Cancer

One Stop is partnering with Young Lives vs Cancer for the second year running and selling special edition Care Bear badges and keyrings, with all proceeds going to the charity.

Available in all stores across the UK, customers can get their hands on four badges and four keyrings featuring six Care Bear characters at £1 and £2 each. They can also enter a colouring competition and a raffle.

Penny Petroleum plans to revamp Fife forecourt

Penny Petroleum is seeking planning permission to refurbish Garvock Filling Station in Halbeath, Fife. If approved, changes would be made to the shop to include a drive-through collection kiosk. A new canopy and signage would be installed, with associated forecourt works to the surface and three new islands with six pumps and one offset fill point. Forecourt areas would also be resurfaced.

Usdaw launches future of retail work plan

Retail trade union Usdaw has launched a new blueprint for the future of retail work to ensure that retail jobs are better jobs. The plan would be based on a new economic framework to support retail growth and drive investment in quality retail jobs, better pay and secure work, protection of workers legislation, retraining, fair treatment and equality, and stronger protections for retail workers.

Nisa retailers growing with Scan & Save

Nisa partners have seen more than £1.46m in added sales since signing up for Jisp’s Scan & Save app, which offers a loyalty and reward scheme. Since the app was made available to Nisa retailers at the start of 2022, there have been over 1.2 million AR voucher scans and approaching one million redemptions made in Nisa stores alone with Scan & Save.

Spar Scotland relaunches Grangemouth store

Illegal cigarettes and tobacco seized in North Lanarkshire

Spar Scotland has relaunched three stores in recent weeks.

e symbol group relaunched its 1,319sq company-owned Grangemouth store a er a re t.

e store has had new energye cient CO2 refrigeration installed throughout to provide shoppers with a greater range of fresh and frozen foods, beers and wines, so drinks, and sandwiches.

Spar Newhouse Road also had new graphics added, giving it a fresh new look and appearance.

e store has also been decorated internally and externally, with new feature lighting for a brighter look, new electronic shelf edge labels, and the CJ’s food-to-go area has been remodelled to allow for a new range of refrigerated sandwiches.

In addition, Spar Scotland has relaunched its 1,584sq store in East Wemyss, in Fife, a er a revamp.

e store has had a ra of changes including new CO2 energy-e cient refrigeration installed throughout and the store front door has been moved to create space for the dedicated CJ’s food-to-go area, which includes Costa Co ee, Rollover hotdogs, F’real, and Tango Ice machines.

Spar Scotland has also relaunched its 1,859sq companyowned store on Ballindean Road, Dundee, a er a re t. e store has had a new counter and back-line installed and the entrance area has also been revamped, with the addition of a CJ’s food-to-go area.

North Lanarkshire Council’s trading standards officers have seized more than 24,000 illegal cigarettes as part of a joint operation to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.

In total, 24,500 cigarettes and 7.55kg of hand-rolling tobacco were removed from four premises in Coatbridge, Airdrie, Wishaw, and Newmains.

The action was part of Operation CeCe Scotland, a joint initiative between Scottish trading standards services and HMRC.

Paul Bannister, Protective Services Manager, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco products costs the Treasury £2bn each year and harms legitimate businesses.”

Asda launches appeal over Glasgow reverse vending machine decision

Asda has launched an appeal to install a reverse vending machine at its store in Maryhill, Glasgow, a er the council refused to give it a certi cate of lawful proposed use.

e supermarket wants to put in a reverse vending machine to get ready for Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which has been delayed until at least October 2025.

e machine would be located under a shelter beside the store’s main entrance on a large area used by customers going into the shop on Rothes Drive.

However, Glasgow council planners said the machine potentially faces a road, which is not allowed. ey said it is questionable whether the reverse vending machine is within the shop’s curtilage, which is also required.

An appeal statement from Asda said: “To date all other applications have been approved by their respective local planning authorities for stores at Dumbarton, Coatbridge, Dundee Kirkton, St Leonards

(Dunfermline), Irvine, Middleton Park (Aberdeen), Blantyre, Clydebank and Hamilton.”

e statement added that the position of the machine on a “paved area adjacent to the store entrance is therefore clearly within its curtilage”. It said that the government has stated it “would allow the installation of reverse vending machines in carparks associated with retail outlets”.

DRS Asda is appealing after Glasgow council refused to approve its plans for a reverse vending machine

REFITS Spar Scotland has relaunched stores in Grangemouth, Fife, and Dundee in recent weeks

Pressure mounts on government to ban disposable vapes

Local councils in England and Wales are calling for disposable vapes to be banned in the UK due to a “growing epidemic” among under-18s and environmental and health concerns.

e move follows 23 councils in Scotland signing up to a campaign calling for a ban on disposable vapes.

England and Wales’ Local Government Association (LGA) has said it is “crucial” a ban comes into force “rapidly” to stop a ood of single-use vapes into the UK.

e LGA has described disposable vapes as “a hazard” for waste collectors which are “almost impossible” to recycle without going through special treatment.

In addition, the LGA raised concerns about avoured vapes and the impact they have on children and young people, particularly how they are marketed.

David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils are not anti-vapes, which are shown to be less harmful than smoking and have a place as a tool to use in smoking cessation.

“However, disposable vapes are fundamentally awed in their design and inherently unsustainable products,

meaning an outright ban will prove more e ective than attempts to recycle more vapes.

“Single-use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, are expensive and di cult to deal with in our recycling centres. eir colours, avours and advertising are appealing to children and the penalties for retailers selling them don’t go far enough.”

NFRN National President Muntazir Dipoti responded: “A ban on singleuse vapes may, at rst, seem like a straightforward, e ective way of addressing underage vaping and litter. However, like the anti-smoking organisation ASH, we believe a ban would risk ‘turbocharging’ an already booming illicit market.”

SGF calls for more collaboration to deliver environmental targets

e SGF has written to the Minister for the Circular Economy, highlighting that proposed measures set out in the Scottish government’s Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill, could place even more pressure on the sector.

e bill will give ministers new powers to install further local recycling targets, potentially place charges on single-use items and put a full ban on the disposal of unsold consumer goods.

SGF has called for a more collaborative approach, working alongside retail and small businesses, to deliver on Scotland’s environmental targets, noting that additional restrictions and regulations should only be used as a last resort.

SGF boss Pete Cheema said: “We believe the best way to deliver on our nation’s environmental targets is for ministers to collaborate and listen to the concerns of businesses critical to the Scottish economy.”

EXPANSION PLANS

Edinburgh wholesaler and food retailer grocer joins buying group

Edinburgh’s largest independent wholesaler and food retailer grocer, Margiotta, has become a member of Sugro UK, a buying and marketing group of more than 90 independent wholesalers.

Joseph Margiotta, Director of Margiotta, said: “Being part of the Sugro team enables us to be much more competitive for our customers, along with dealing with some great brands.”

Sugro’s Business Development Manager, Shruti Senapati, added: “We are delighted to welcome Edinburgh’s famous family-run convenience store chain to the Sugro family.”

SUSTAINABILITY Trade association believes the Circular Economy Bill could place more pressure on retailers

VAPES England and Wales’ Local Government Association says it is “crucial” a ban on disposables comes into force

Next level heated tobacco is coming

Trade bodies raise wage concerns with Low Pay Commission

e SGF and ACS have met with representatives of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to raise concerns that soaring wage costs could hamper employment and put some small businesses at risk.

Testimonies gathered by the LPC, alongside responses to the annual consultation exercise, will inform the Commissioner’s recommendations to government for the 2024/25 National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW).

e LPC currently estimates the NLW rate required to meet its 2024 target will be between £10.90 and £11.43, with a central estimate of £11.16 and seeing a further rise of up to £1.01 on this year’s NLW.

However, a recent survey of SGF members shows that more than 70% of

respondents were less likely to hire more sta , due to the wage increases, with many working over 65 hours per week, just keep costs down.

SGF Chief Executive, Pete Cheema, said: “ e Commissioner and Ministers, in both Westminster and Edinburgh, must recognise that local convenience stores are vital economic drivers that provide many bene ts for their communities. On top of rising energy prices, business rates and regulatory pressures, our governments can and must do more to alleviate the growing pressure on our sector.”

At the evidence session, ACS Chief Executive James Lowman highlighted the importance of the LPC’s independence in recommending future wage rates based on its own economic analysis, rather than bowing to political pressure and arbitrary targets.

Scotmid funds new air ambulance mascots

September 2023

Scotmid has given £15,000 to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) so that the country’s only charity-funded air ambulance service can purchase six new mascots to support its fundraising and public engagement.

e three paramedic bears and three helicopters are set to make hundreds of public appearances every year.

FORECOURTS

Lynne Ogg, Scotmid Communities Manager (North), explained that the funding had come from its Community Connect scheme, following a vote by Scotmid members.

“We understand the positive impact mascots can have in raising a charity’s pro le and encouraging engagement at events,” she added.

Auchinleck petrol station to raise roof

Motor Fuel Group has secured planning permission to increase the height of the canopy at its petrol station in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire.

The owners of the Jet service station on Main Street, which has a Londisbranded store, asked East Ayrshire Council for permission to increase the canopy by 50cm primarily to keep customers dry and the forecourt illuminated. www.slrmag.co.uk

COMMUNITY Scotmid’s latest donation came from its Community Connect scheme.

SALARIES SGF and ACS meet with representatives of the Low Pay Commission

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF

Across the globe, c-stores continue to have a positive impact on the communities they serve. While the sector faces challenges, people will always need a local hub for staple items and key services.

Our Scottish Local Shop Report highlights that the UK sector is expected to grow another £3bn by 2025, to £48.6bn. This chimes with experiences across the world. For example, rough estimates show that c-stores are worth over $2.1T globally (according to GrandView Research).

The Scottish Government has recently completed its consultation on Local Living: 20-minute Neighbourhood Planning. This idea puts communities and local living at the heart of the planning framework. A proposal we at SGF have broadly welcomed.

As economic multipliers, local stores have a significant role to play in its success. That is why SGF has called for the guidance to recognise and promote the benefits of a vibrant local economy and thriving local employment. That means a collaborative approach, working with local businesses, on development and town planning.

Modern life, for many, often doesn’t parallel with more interconnection. Working from home, reducing carbon footprint, and having access to day-to-day needs, all within walking distance, is the direction of travel for many communities. That is the goal the Scottish Government has set out, and convenience retailers are perfectly placed to support it.

This makes it even more puzzling when Ministers add to the burden of regulation on retailers, on multiple fronts all at once. It is one thing for Ministers to come up with a welcome idea, and another to deliver it as intended.

CMA takes action after price investigations

with stronger price competition between all of the supermarkets and discounters.”

In response, ACS Chief Executive James Lowman, said:

“ e conclusion that policy-makers should draw from this report is that the best way to promote lower prices for consumers is to help retail businesses to navigate a period when their costs are extraordinarily high.”

e Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has written an open letter to grocery retailers urging them to ensure they are complying fully with their obligations under the Price Marking Order 2004 (PMO) and related legislation.

Over the past two months, the CMA has assessed how retail competition is working in the UK grocery sector.

e CMA found that some of the problems stem from the unit pricing rules themselves, which allow unhelpful inconsistencies in retailers’ practices and leave too much scope for interpretation. As a result, shoppers may be nding it hard to spot and compare the best deals. e CMA is also recommending that the PMO needs to be tightened up.

In its open letter to grocery retailers, the CMA said: “Grocery retailers should review their unit pricing practices in light of our report. We expect that where grocery retailers identify practices that fail to meet the clear and unambiguous requirements of the PMO, they will take immediate action to correct them.

“In addition, we are calling on all grocery retailers to give shoppers the unit pricing information that they need to make meaningful

comparisons, particularly for products on promotion, ahead of any reforms to the PMO. Doing so will ensure that grocery retailers are also complying with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, which require retailers to give consumers material information in a manner that is not misleading.”

e CMA expects grocery retailers to:

Q ensure that they unit price all their products of the same type using the same metric;

Q display the unit price of each product clearly next to the product and selling price instore and online;

Q give unit prices for products on promotion for all types of promotions where this is feasible;

Q review sta practices, training and procedures so mistakes in unit price labelling don’t occur.

e CMA said it will continue to monitor unit pricing practices in this sector and if it identi es examples of continuing noncompliance it will consider whether enforcement action is necessary.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “ e overall evidence suggests a better picture than in the fuel market,

In addition, CMA has set out its plan for more competitive fuel prices: a new fuel nder scheme to enable drivers access to live, station-by-station fuel prices on their phones or satnavs.

e scheme would be made possible by new compulsory open data requirements and backed by a new ‘fuel monitor’ oversight body. e proposals are the key recommendations by the CMA to UK government following its in-depth study into the road fuel market which found a weakening of competition in retail since 2019.

e fuel nder open data scheme would need statutory backing through legislation to ensure fuel retailers provide up-to-date pricing and make that available to drivers in an open and accessible format that can be easily used by thirdparty apps, through a dedicated fuel nder app, or both.

e fuel monitor would track prices and margins on an ongoing basis and recommend further action if competition continues to weaken in the market.

In response, Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: “ e logistics surrounding fuel pricing are complicated and it is vital that the government consult with industry to ensure a smooth implementation.”

PRICING The competition watchdog concludes its investigations into grocery and fuel prices

THE DRS BABY AND THE BATHWATER

The entire concept of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has suffered an unholy beating over the last five years, so much so that simply mentioning the term ‘DRS’ is generally enough to raise the hackles of whoever you happen to be talking too in this industry. It’s been demonised. But we are at risk of throwing the DRS baby out with the bathwater.

The scheme as proposed by the Scottish Government was deeply flawed. But with the latest phase in the seemingly never-ending saga that is DRS now behind us, it seems worthwhile to take a deep breath and try to detach the politics and money and heat from the very commendable and entirely sensible concept of a DRS.

If DRS had been cost-neutral as the legislation stipulated, we wouldn’t be having this debate. But it wasn’t, so we are.

The fact remains however that, as local retailers, we have responsibilities to the many communities we serve across Scotland. We have responsibilities to our family and friends. We have responsibilities to the next generation. We have a responsibility, in an indirect sense, to everyone who lives in Scotland. Hell, we have responsibilities to everybody living on planet earth.

Now I don’t want to get all Greta Thunberg on you, but we are facing a global climate crisis and we all have a role to play. Local retailers just happen to have the opportunity to play a more important role than most. Zero Waste Scotland data shows that only 1.3% of the resources Scotland uses are recycled back into the economy. Over 98% of Scotland’s material use coming from virgin resources. Scotland’s per capita material footprint is 21.7 tonnes, nearly double the global average of 11.9 tonnes. That’s just not something to be proud of.

DRS offers one of the simplest and most efficient ways to start making a big dent in those appalling numbers. We really shouldn’t forget this when the DRS debacle kicks back into gear again, as it surely will.

Initiatives like DRS are fundamentally necessary. There’s no other way of putting it. And achieving a UK-wide DRS will require compromise by all. We need the next discussion to be a grown-up one. We need the four UK governments to listen to industry and build a fit-for-purpose DRS. And that too will involve compromise from all quarters – including from retailers. Our role as community retailers demands that we look after our communities, and DRS offers the opportunity to do that in the most meaningful way possible.

I sincerely hope we find a way to get this thing done, be it in 2025 or be it later. I like to think of Scotland as a progressive, modern nation. Let’s hope we can behave like one come 2025.

EDITORIAL

Publishing Director & Editor

Antony Begley abegley@55north.com

Deputy Editor Liz Wells lwells@55north.com

Features Editor

Gaelle Walker gwalker@55north.com

Features Writer Elena Dimama edimama@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 222 5381. Other readers can obtain copies by annual subscription at £50 (UK), £62 (Europe airmail), £99 (Worldwide airmail).

55 North Ltd, Waterloo Chambers, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6AY Tel: 0141 22 22 100 Fax: 0141 22 22 177

Website: www.55north.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/slrmag

DISCLAIMER

The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of 55 North Ltd.

Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher.

All copyrights are recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endevoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.

This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

ANTONY BEGLEY,

DIRECTOR

PUBLISHING

PARCEL LOCKER FIRM SNAPS UP 30% STAKE IN MENZIES

The £49.3m deal follows a partnership between the two companies earlier this year, which saw Menzies becoming InPost’s exclusive logistics provider in the UK.

BY LIZ WELLS

Menzies Distribution doesn’t appear near the top of many retailers’ Christmas card list so the news that parcel locker service InPost has agreed to buy a 30% stake in the news wholesaler for £49.3m will undoubtedly raise a few eyebrows across the retailing landscape.

e deal comes a er a partnership between the two companies earlier this year, with Menzies becoming InPost’s exclusive logistics provider in the UK.

As a result, InPost has a three-year option to acquire the remaining 70% equity stake, exercisable at any time during the option period. In addition, InPost will have two non-executive seats on the Menzies board of directors, which will allow it to have in uence over key strategic decisions but not over the day-to-day operations of the company.

It’s the rst major development since former Booker CEO Charles Wilson acquired a 10% stake in the company a couple of years ago and joined the board as a non-executive director. Many expected Wilson’s involvement to have a major impact on the business considering his

outstanding track record of turning the fortunes of challenging business round.

HISTORY

Edinburgh-based Menzies Distribution was previously part of John Menzies, one of Scotland’s oldest companies dating back to 1833, but in 2018 the company sold o its distribution business to focus on aviation activities.

Now Menzies has a national network of more than 100 depots that sees it deliver to over 47,000 locations every day. Menzies provides newstrade distribution services, B2B nal-mile parcel delivery and full-load transportation and warehousing solutions. e business employs approximately 5,000 people and runs more than 3,200 vehicles.

As a result of the InPost deal, Menzies’ ownership structure is as follows: 52% of the equity stake and voting rights is held by private equity company Endless; 30% is held by InPost; and 18% is held by other shareholders, including the current management of Menzies.

Meanwhile, InPost, which pays retailers £800 + VAT per year for installing a 2m locker on their property, has also recently entered into agreements with Transport for BP, Greater Manchester, Morrisons, Vinted, and WHSmith to install lockers on their sites. It claims the number of customers visiting its lockers has more than trebled year on year. InPost’s growth means nearly half of residents in Birmingham, Manchester and London live within a sevenminute walk of an InPost Locker.

Currently, more than 5,000 convenience stores and other sites in the UK now have an InPost parcel locker, the company said in March.

BENEFITS

e companies say the agreement will mean that InPost will have the ability to scale at speed to match increasing consumer demand; consumers will have a secure, low-cost and environmentally sustainable way of sending and receiving parcels; suppliers and publishers will have a fast, coste ective, secure and sustainable route to the consumer; and retailers will have a new national sustainable and e cient alternative route to market.

InPost will also be able to leverage operating synergies, including using existing routes and cross-utilisation of assets, and use the company’s

“Our mediumterm forecast is that we want to have 15,000 parcel lockers in the UK in a five-year horizon.”

capability to provide deliveries over 360 days a year.

Rafał Brzoska, Chief Executive of InPost, said: “With this strategic transaction, we have reached a signi cant milestone, which represents an exciting opportunity for both our UK business and InPost Group as a whole. With Menzies, we can o er a unique service in the UK e-commerce market by delivering parcels over 360 days a year. We look forward to the transformative impact of this partnership.”

Michael Rouse, Chief Executive International at InPost, says the relationship marks an important next step in InPost’s journey as it looks to strengthen its position as the UK’s leading out-of-home delivery provider.

“Acquiring a minority stake in Menzies will enable us to work as one with our distribution partner, sharing the same vision and ensuring that we aim for the same result,” he says.

“Menzies has one of the largest time-critical delivery networks in the UK and we are excited by how the collaboration will enable us to accelerate our growth and the service we can o er our customers.”

Greg Michael, Chief Executive of Menzies, added that the company is excited about the opportunities the partnership will create for its clients, business, and its people.

“InPost and Menzies are uniquely positioned to deliver fast, sustainable delivery and returns in the UK bene ting consumers, retailers, suppliers and our colleagues. We look forward the future and supporting InPost’s next phase of growth in the UK.”

NEW HORIZONS

During a meeting with journalists, InPost Group Chief Financial O cer Adam Aleksandrowicz said the deal is a catalyst that may even allow it to accelerate the growth of its parcel locker network. “Our medium-term forecast is that we want to have 15,000 parcel lockers in the UK in a ve-year horizon,” said Aleksandrowicz, quoted by the ISBnews agency.

e big question for retailers is how this development will impact upon their own operations. Menzies has long had a complex and o en di cult relationship with Scotland’s local retailers and hopes may be high that this sale represents a fresh opportunity to build a brighter future together.

“With Menzies, we can offer a unique service in the UK e-commerce market by delivering parcels over 360 days a year.”

New TV ads spearhead Müller overhaul

Müller Yogurt & Desserts has unveiled a new multi-millionpound TV campaign as part of a major brand refresh that will air for 17 weeks, supported by ondemand video, YouTube and PR. Müller has also revealed plans to redesign its branded packaging. From September, new designs will start to roll out across all Müller Corner, Müllerlight, Müller Rice, Müller Bliss and Müller FRijj products.

Anthon Berg launches Christmas range

Danish chocolatier Anthon Berg has unveiled its range of premium Christmas gifting confectionery, spearheaded by two advent calendars alongside an assortment of chocolate liqueurs and marzipan. Anthon Berg is distributed in the UK by World of Sweets. For more information on its year-round and Christmas ranges, call 0330 202 0903 or email help@ worldofsweets.co.uk.

Dole brings some sunshine to top Tour team

The Dole Sunshine Company has announced a partnership with Dutch cycling team Jumbo Visma. Dole will provide the team’s riders, including the winner of this and last year’s Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard, with a selection of healthy snacks to be consumed as part of their training and nutrition regime or as an on-the-go snack during race days.

Win an England top with Weetabix

Weetabix has launched a new on-pack promotion to celebrate the Women’s World Cup. Products including Weetabix Original, Weetabix Banana, Weetabix Chocolate and Weetabix Protein feature the campaign through to the end of September. Shoppers purchasing any of these packs will be in with the chance of winning an official FA shirt, with a new winner every 90 minutes.

Win The Weekend returns

SBF GB&I’s Win e Weekend competition is back for a second year, this time o ering even more chances for retailers to win a welldeserved break to rest, recharge and spend much-needed quality time with loved ones.

Last year SBF GB&I gave convenience store owners across the nation the chance to win a cash prize for an all-expenses-paid break away from their business, supported by an experienced guest retailer to look a er things in their absence.

e rst Win e Weekend competition winners, Tracy and Michael of Greens of Bassingham in Lincolnshire, took two days out of their store to go on a luxury spa break. SBF GB&I got award-

winning retailer Paul Cheema to mind the shop while they relaxed.

For the second Win e Weekend competition, SBF GB&I is doubling down and giving two lucky retailers a two-day break at a local spa. e winners will also be o ered help to cover their absence in store through SBF GB&I’s network of experienced retailers and in-house

CONFECTIONERY £1,000 up for grabs as brand celebrates 95 years

Swizzels gives a grand away to mark birthday

Swizzels is celebrating its 95th birthday by giving retailers a chance to win a cash prize of £1,000 when they buy any three cases from the Swizzels hanging bag range as part of its Super Retailer campaign.

e range includes Curious Chews, Drumstick Squashies, Scrumptious Sweets, Refreshers Choos and Luscious Lollies.

To enter, retailers need to visit swizzels.com/superretailercompetition and upload their invoice or receipt. e competition closes at 11:59pm on 30 September.

Clare Newton, Trade Marketing Manager at Swizzels, said: “Our 95th anniversary is a great opportunity to celebrate and support the wonderful retailers we work with and help them enhance their o erings, while o ering them the chance to win £1,000, which could be used to make improvements within their store or allow them to take a well-earned break.”

experts. Eight runners up will win a cash prize to go towards taking time o to relax.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply email your name, your store name and address, and a contact phone number, with the subject line ‘Win e Weekend 2’ to SBFTrade@hanovercomms.com.

Win the Weekend was launched on the back of research which found that 78% of retailers value the health of their business over their own physical or mental wellbeing. More than half (55%) said they wouldn’t even leave an experienced member of sta to look a er their store to help them have time o .

Entries close at 5pm on 29 September 2023 and terms and conditions apply.

SNACKING KITS Lunchables becomes Lunchers

Dairylea has launched new and improved recipes for its Lunchables range under the new name Lunchers.

The move aligns the product with the rest of the Dairylea portfolio which includes Dunkers, Snackers and Filled Crackers.

As the name implies, Lunchers can be packed for easy out-of-home consumption and offers crackers, Dairylea cheese and Ham or Chicken options.

Ria Rianti, Senior Brand Manager at Mondelez, said: “The new packs will have an improvement on our previous recipe, containing less salt and saturated fat, while still being a good source of calcium and protein and maintaining the same great taste and quality as our other Dairylea products.

“We would recommend retailers to give Lunchers a prominent position in chillers to make the most of the launch.”

Retailers can visit SnackDisplay. co.uk for further category advice and insight.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SLRMAG

SOAK UP SALES FROM RETURNING STUDENTS – P46

Last year’s winners, Tracy and Michael of Greens of Bassingham

Costa celebrates first on-pack promo with retailer competition

Coca-Cola Europaci c Partners (CCEP) has launched its rst-ever on-pack promotion for the Costa Co ee ready-to-drink (RTD) chilled co ee Latte range. Running until 30 September, consumers can scan QR codes on promotional 250ml cans of Costa Co ee Latte, Caramel Latte and Vanilla Latte variants to access a Costa game and have the chance to win one of thousands of prizes that are up for grabs. ese include summer getaways to Ibiza and USA, festival tickets, tech gadgets, food delivery vouchers and more.

e on-pack also runs across 4x250ml packs of Costa Co ee Latte and Caramel Latte.

e promotion is supported by a summer marketing campaign that includes social media video content, out-of-home advertising, sampling, and festival partnerships.

SNACKS

To mark the arrival of Costa’s rst on-pack promotion, CCEP is giving independent convenience retailers the chance to win a share of £7,500 in cash for themselves and a local good cause.

Retailers can enter into a series of prize draws when they either purchase cases of Costa at participating wholesalers or request POS kits from My.CCEP.com and showcase them being used in store alongside key Costa lines.

SNACKS A total of £15,000 is up for grabs Win

£2k with PepsiCo

PepsiCo is giving local retailers the chance to grab a grand or two in its latest giveaway.

Five lucky winners will each receive £2,000 in cash, with ve runners-up prizes of £1,000 also up for grabs.

In a rst for the so drinks and snacking giant, the giveaway is open to independent away-from-home operators as well as independents. To enter, operators or retailers must simply purchase three cases of any qualifying product in a single transaction from a participating wholesaler and text their entry by 31 August.

Qualifying products include all 32.5g x 32 Walkers, all 45g x 32 Walkers, all Walkers Max 50g, all Walkers Baked 37.5g, all Doritos 40g x 32 & 48g x 24, PopWorks 28g x 18, PopWorks Sweet & Salty 85g, PopWorks Sour Cream & Onion 85g, PopWorks Sweet BBQ 85g, all Walkers snacks single serve and grab, all Snack A Jacks 23g x 24, all £1.25 PMP.

Golden Wonder unveils £1 price-marked packs

Golden Wonder has launched its bestselling crisp flavours in £1 price-marked packs.

The £1 PMP range includes Cheese & Onion, Spring Onion, Salt & Vinegar, and Chip Shop Curry flavours and is available now.

One-pound PMPs have been the main driver of snacks category growth over the past four years, growing over three times faster than the market.

However, inflationary pressure is forcing many brands to move above the £1 price point – but not Golden Wonder, as the brand’s Marketing Director Matt Smith explained: “Having spoken to retailers and consumers, the importance of sticking to the £1 price point comes through loud and clear.”

Smith continued: “Instead of raising the headline price of our £1 PMPs, we’re sticking with £1 – demonstrating Golden Wonder’s commitment to making great-tasting snacks, with great consumer value, whilst also delivering strong retailer margins.”

Maltesers gets behind working mums

Maltesers has unveiled a new on-pack campaign to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the UK’s working mums. Launched under the brand’s ‘Let’s Lighten the Load’ platform, the shopper-led campaign looks to encourage working mums to laugh together through the tough stuff, whilst also highlighting the importance of support from allies in their network.

Ribena and Hasbro team up once again

Ribena has brought back its on-pack partnership with global gaming brand Hasbro for a third year. New for 2023, prizes include Ribena Monopoly Travel Edition packs and Cluedo mini boards, along with Cluedo, Risk and Five Alive. For the first time, the Hasbro promotion features on bottles across Ribena’s ready-to-drink range, as well as its Squash and Sparkling ranges. It runs until the end of August.

Will Paddington promo bear fruit?

Fruit smoothie snack brand GoGo squeeZ has teamed up with Paddington bear for a new on-pack promotion that goes live in mid-August, just as the schools go back. Promotional packs give shoppers the chance to win one of more than 1,000 prizes, including a two-night family adventure at Port Lympne Safari Park. The promotion will be bolstered by “strong” marketing support.

Lu unveils new PMP

French biscuit brand Lu has added a new price-marked pack to its Lu Le Petit Chocolat range. The new 150g packs are available now, price-marked at £1.69. Mondelez advised retailers should be sure to stock up on the new format to make the most of the brand’s success and marketing investment in 2023. For more ranging and merchandising advice, retailers can visit snackdisplay.co.uk.

SPFL extends Glen’s deal

The Scottish Professional Football League has signed a multi-year extension to its partnership with Loch Lomond Group. The move will see Glen’s Vodka continue as an Official Partner and ‘The Spirit of the Scottish Professional Football League’. It will also have exclusive presenting rights to each division’s Manager of the Month and Manager of the Season awards for the duration of the partnership.

Pernod Ricard takes over Sovereign distribution

Pernod Ricard has started distributing the Sovereign Brands portfolio of superpremium wine and spirits, including Luc Belaire, Bumbu Rum, McQueen & The Violet Fog and Villon. Distribution has moved from Amber Beverage as part of a long-term partnership between Sovereign Brands and Pernod Ricard that started in September 2021.

Black Tot launches latest commemorative rum

Black Tot rum has unveiled the fourth edition of its ‘perpetual’ rum blend, Master Blender’s Reserve 2023 (ABV 54.5%, RSP £145). The super-premium rum is released yearly on the anniversary of Black Tot Day, 31 July. This day commemorates the historic event in 1970 when the British Navy discontinued the daily rum ration, a tradition which had been in place since the early 1800s.

Glencadam brings back 18 Years Old Single Malt

Glencadam Distillery has relaunched its 18 Years Old Highland Single Malt (RSP £145). The whisky is bottled at 46%, at natural colour, is non-chill filtered and matured in hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon casks. The distillery, located in the town of Brechin, Angus, was mothballed between 1999 and 2003, which led to Glencadam 18 Years Old being unavailable in recent years.

Captain Morgan returns with Black Spiced variant

Captain Morgan is expanding its portfolio with the launch of Captain Morgan Black Spiced rum based spirit (40% ABV).

e 70cl bottle (RSP £23) is available now exclusively online, before a wider roll-out into the convenience and grocery channels from September.

e new product is a “smooth, premium spiced spirit drink, boasting a full-bodied avour with notes of vanilla, black cherry, and caramel” and comes in a bottle designed for maximum on-shelf standout.

Captain Morgan Black Spiced joins the brand’s range of rum-based spirits

that includes Captain Morgan Sliced Apple and Captain Morgan Tiki, which is currently Britain’s no.1 avoured, rumbased spirit.

Eleanor Morgan, Captain Morgan Marketing Manager at Diageo GB and no relation, said: “We are proud that Captain Morgan has been able to maintain incredible popularity with consumers thanks to the brand’s ability to innovate and be at the forefront of market trends. We know that rum presents a huge opportunity for retailers and operators, and this latest innovation is set to help tap into new occasions.”

‘Tommy gun’ whisky gets bullet

Retailers have been asked to stop placing orders for Bartex Bartol’s Cosa Nostra Scotch Whisky, after drinks industry watchdog the Portman Group ruled it had “a direct association with violent, aggressive, dangerous and illegal behaviour, and caused serious and widespread offence”.

The Group’s issuing of a Retailer Alert Bulletin (RAB) – its most severe sanction – came following a complaint from a member of the public and Bartex Bartol’s subsequent failure to comply with the Group’s decision.

Malibu partners with Aries

Following a global brand refresh, Malibu rum has announced a partnership and limited-edition collaboration clothing collection with luxury streetwear brand, Aries.

A six-strong range of merchandise “brings to life the fantasy of a blended past, with references pulled across the decades, remixed to create a post-modern ideal of an endless summer”. The collection ranges in price from £40 to £1,200 and can be purchased either in Aries’ flagship Soho store, or online at ariesarise.com for a limited time only.

Bartex also came under fire from the Portman Group in 2014, when a RAB was issued against its Red Army Vodka. This came in a tasteful Kalashnikov-shaped bottle with matching hand grenade.

PORTMAN GROUP

RUM

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SLRMAG

TURN A TRICK WITH HALLOWEEN TREATS – P48

Havana Club teams up with cult Gen Z brand

Havana Club has joined forces with streetwear brand Places+Faces for a new limited-edition bottle design.

e launch is supported by a digital and social media campaign, as well as out-of-home advertising. Brand owner Pernod Ricard has also developed a range of POS materials, and the bottle is available to impulse retailers with a set of Havana Club playing cards illustrating di erent brand serves.

e vibrant colours and textures of Havana inspired the bright and summer feeling of the bottle. Bringing together elements inspired by the Cuban sky and sun, the bottle label takes direct inspiration from the Places+Faces

BEER New ad highlights brand’s colour-changing packs

Coors keeps it fresh with new TV ad and on-pack promo

Molson Coors has unveiled the next stage of its multi-millionpound ‘Keep It Fresh’ campaign for its Coors brand with the launch of a brand-new TV ad and on-pack promotion.

e new ad features a group of friends on their way to a party when the main character orders a fresh ride for them – a pack of CGI-generated bears. e ad highlights Coors’ on-pack thermochromic ink, which turns the mountain peaks on all Coors bottles and cans blue when the beer is cold enough to drink.

Shorter versions of the ad will run across Channel 4 through Coors’ ‘Comedy on 4’ sponsorship.

e campaign also takes in out-of-home, cinema, videoon-demand, digital, social media and in uencer activities.

Point-of-sale materials include digital front-of-store activations, aisle ns, shelf frames and FSDUs.

As part of the campaign, consumers will be able scan QR codes on promotional packs throughout the summer for a chance to win an exclusive mountain experience with VIP tickets to Snowbombing festival in Austria, or one of 1,000 Bluetooth speakers. e promotion is supported by new outof-home advertising.

Abigail Spencer, Coors Marketing Controller at Molson Coors, said: “ e TV ad and on-pack promotion will reward Coors fans with the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime experience, keep Coors’ Mountain cold refreshment front of mind with consumers and help our customers to drive sales in-store over the summer.”

‘+’ icon, and the colour palette, golden cap and Havana Club logo in gold foil, ensures the bottle will stand out on-shelf.

e bottle is complemented by a selection of merchandise including t-shirts and a hoodie. ese are available on placesplusfaces.com, with 50% of sales going to Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health (BLAM).

Josh McCarthy, Brand Director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Over the last few years we’ve built a solid position as a street culture icon amongst Generation Z, and this partnership continues a run of authentic collaborations from the bestselling rum brand.”

SUSTAINABILITY

Heineken boosts green credentials

Heineken has announced a £25m investment into its Manchester brewery to install heat pumps to reduce its carbon emissions.

The sum will be used to install heat capture technology that will power several stages of the brewing process.

Until now, gas has been used to generate the heat needed for these stages. Once completed, it is estimated the new tech will result in a circa 45% reduction in gas use at the site – which produces over 700 million pints of Heineken, Birra Moretti and Foster’s annually – leading to a reduction of carbon emissions.

Spar unveils own-label raspberry vodka

Spar has entered the flavoured spirits market with the launch of an own-label raspberry-flavoured vodka. Available in 70cl bottles price-marked at £14.99, the new spirit has been distilled five times and filtered three times for a smooth mouthfeel and clean, fruity flavour. The launch is supported in-store with POS and graphics, internal and external communications, and digital comms.

Glen Scotia launches new

30-Year-Old

Glen Scotia has unveiled a new 30-Year-Old single malt (non-chill filtered, 47.3% ABV, RSP £2,000), which is being released as part of its new ‘Spirit Safe’ collection with the distillery’s artist-inresidence, Alice Angus, who has produced four works of art that have been transferred onto a limited run of 120 premium display boxes and bottle labels.

Wines from Ukraine

Kingsland Drinks has been named as sole UK distributor for Ukrainian wine brand, Bolgrad. Six wines, each with an RSP of around £10, are available: a Pinot Grigio, a Chardonnay and a Chardonnay Sukholimansky in white wines, as well as a Pinot Noir rosé. In reds, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Saperavi are also available. A further wine, Odesa Black, will be added later in the year. Each bottle has a Ukrainian flag on the label.

Alcohol duty changes

The Government’s new alcohol duty comes into effect this month (1 August) and sees all alcoholic drinks taxed solely on their alcohol by volume (ABV) instead of by a more complex method, which uses four separate taxes for beer, cider, spirits, wine and made-wine. Wine drinkers face the biggest single increase in almost 50 years, with the tax paid on a bottle of still wine going up by 44p. The duty on a bottle of vodka increases by 76p while port rises by £1.30.

YOU’RE GOING TO CHECKOUT SCOTLAND 2023!

Four lucky retailers have each won a pair of tickets with SLR to GroceryAid Scotland’s flagship music event later this month.

With the Checkout Scotland 2023 music festival taking place on the 31st of this month, SLR ran a fantastic reader competition o ering four pairs of tickets to readers – and the lucky winners have been drawn at random from SLR’s magic competition hat.

We’re delighted to announce that the following four retailers have had their entry plucked from the hat and each will receive a pair of tickets to the hottest music event in retail in 2023! You had to be in it to win it!

Q Natalie Lightfoot, Londis Baillieston

Q Julie-Ann Whyte, Nisa Whyte’s of New Pitsligo

Q Graham Watson, Premier Moniaive

Q Girish Jeeva, Premier Barmulloch

Checkout Scotland is GroceryAid Scotland’s agship event and takes place at Barras Art & Design. e acts feature something for everyone with crossover dance music star Example headlining this year’s event. He will be joined by

popular Irish girl group B*Witched and legendary Scottish songsters e Supernaturals.

e event is set to build on the phenomenal success of last year’s launch event, and over 800 industry colleagues are expected to attend the musical extravaganza.

Checkout Scotland will once again help raise awareness of the free and con dential support that GroceryAid o ers to all industry colleagues in need of a little help. at support ranges from nancial and emotional to practical, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact peter.steel@groceryaid.org.uk to nd out more about sponsorship opportunities or with any other queries about Checkout Scotland 2023.

If you didn’t have any luck winning tickets, you can still buy them at groceryaid.org.uk/event-bookings/CS2023 for £75 + VAT.

PREMIER: SLR SYMBOL GROUP OF THE YEAR

As we approach the SLR Awards 2023, we take the opportunity to reflect on another strong year for Premier, our reigning Symbol Group of the Year.

PREMIER: A BRIEF HISTORY

Q 1994 – Premier launched

Q 2001 – First Premier store launched in Scotland

Q 2003 – Premier reaches 1,000 UK stores

Q 2007 – Premier reaches 2,000 UK stores

Q 2008 – Bespoke Scotland leaflets launched

Q 2014 – Premier reaches 3,000 UK stores

Q 2022 – Premier reaches 4,000 UK stores

Q 2022 – Premier named SLR Symbol Group of the Year

Q 2023 – Premier reaches 500 stores in Scotland

With the SLR Awards 2023 rapidly approaching in September, it’s the ideal opportunity to take a look back at how the last 11 months or so have been for Premier, our reigning Symbol Group of the Year. Premier will be hoping to make it two in a row at the SLR Awards but whether they achieve that feat will be down to our panel of judges.

In the meantime, it seems appropriate to look at how Premier has progressed in Scotland over the last year and nd out how winning the SLR Symbol Group of the Year title in 2022 helped Premier continue its growth in Scotland.

500 STORES

It has undoubtedly been a great year for Premier up here, capped by the recent opening of the 500th premier store in Scotland, Anila and Zul qar Ali’s store in Tranent – but it’s fair to say that Premier has been building solid momentum for at least the last few years.

e fact that Premier has added more than 150 stores in Scotland in the last two-and-a-half

years says it all. And it’s worth noting that, with 500 stores, Premier now accounts for around 10% of the entire local retailing market in Scotland. e question of how the Covid years a ected the growth is open to debate but it seems clear that Booker Sales Director for Retail Martyn Parkinson and his team enjoyed great success, with many retailers taking advantage of Premier’s no-nonsense approach to partnering with retailers and with its increasingly joined-up approach to store development.

Premier has long o ered a simple, straightforward model that focuses on pro t –and that message appears to have landed well with many retailers during the pandemic.

BLUEPRINT MODEL

Over the last year or two, however, Booker has strengthened its o er to retailers through the use of a Premier ‘blueprint’, essentially a modular approach to store development that allows retailers the opportunity to pick and choose from a list of proven solutions that have been clearly shown to help retailers build busy,

pro table stores and maximise pro ts from the space available in-store.

at approach is, for instance, readily identi able in Premier Ali’s in Tranent where a £210,000 investment saw Anila and Zulfaqir work with the Premier team to implement as many of the ‘modules’ as possible.

In Tranent this meant the addition of a Refresh@Premier Bar featuring hot and cold drinks-to-go, a beer cave, a vape bar, a greatly extended fresh and chilled bay and a strong frozen o er, all complemented by Premier’s rolling promotional programme. e store also tted digital shelf edge labels and runs a home delivery service through Snappy Shopper.

e one thing that most of the Premier ‘modules’ have in common is a focus on highmargin, high-volume, minimum-intervention products and services that deliver maximum pro t.

If you’re wondering whether it worked, the simple answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ In Tranent, sales were up 50% in just the rst 10 weeks a er the re t, and Anila and Zulfaqir were welcoming

“The one thing that most of the Premier ‘modules’ have in common is a focus on high-margin, high-volume, minimumintervention products and services that deliver maximum profit.”

around 1,000 more customers a week to their store.

e Refresh@Premier Bar is taking over £3,500 a week from a standing start – with margins of around 65% – and the home delivery service has grown by about 30% since the re t and now takes around £6,000 a week. And Premier is con dent there’s still plenty of growth to come.

HONING SKILLS

is modular approach has been honed by Premier over the last ve years or so in agship stores like Mandeep Singh’s Premier store in She eld and, more recently, Premier Talbot Village in Bournemouth.

Scottish retailers now considering joining Premier are encouraged to visit these stores to see for themselves how it works. ese days, however, retailers in Scotland are no longer having to travel down south to see the best of Premier. ere’s plenty of stores worth a visit in Scotland now, including Shak & Jen’s Premier in Sauchie, Jaz Ali’s Premier Grangemouth and Bill Gatt’s Premier store in Whitehills on the north Aberdeenshire coast, a thoroughly impressive

store built as part of a huge £1.6m investment.

And it’s this huge uptick in investment that excites Martyn Parkinson most, with a steady stream of retailers in Scotland prepared to invest in their businesses to deliver modern, pro table stores.

“ e really encouraging thing for us is that retailers are seeing what we are doing with the Premier model, they’re seeing other Premier stores reap the bene ts and they’re willing to invest in refurbishing their own stores to a very high standard,” says Parkinson.

“ e Tranent store, for example, saw £210,000 invested and none of that was on building work – that was all re t and that’s a considerable investment.

“We know how tough it is out there at the moment and that’s why we’re working so hard to get our Premier retailers’ margins up to 30%. Stores that follow the blueprint typically see margins increase by 6% or 7%. It’s all about creating a great in-store environment and working smart in key categories, keeping costs down and maximising PORs. We believe that if you follow our blueprint, you will get margins

to 30% and you can expect full payback on your investment within 12 months.”

ONWARDS

To mark its 500th Scottish store achievement, Premier is planting 500 trees in Scotland as part of its ongoing extensive sustainability commitments as well as phasing our printed promotional lea ets and replacing them with scannable QR codes. Additionally, it is o ering the chance to win £10,000 towards a new Refresh@Premier Bar to retailers who join the Premier family in the next six months.

Additionally, Premier donated 500 family meals in Scotland through the Fareshare charity, helping to support families in need across the country.

“It’s an exciting time in Scotland for Premier,” concludes Parkinson. “We were delighted to win the SLR Symbol Group of the Year award last year and it has undoubtedly helped us continue to progress in Scotland. We have a long and very successful history in Scotland and I’m looking forward to welcoming more Scottish stores to Premier in the future.”

WASTED OPPORTUNITY

DRS: WHAT NOW?

With DRS postponed yet again, many retailers have breathed a sigh of relief – but with only a couple of years to go until the next implementation date, there’s plenty to ponder, says SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

Straight o the bat, SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema leans forward in his chair and says: “It’s utterly critical that it’s made clear that SGF supports a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Scotland. We understand the importance of tackling the environmental challenges we face, and we see that local retailers in Scotland have a pivotal role to play.”

He takes a deep breath, sits back, and adds: “But we need a DRS that’s t for purpose. We need a DRS that is cost-neutral for retailers, just as it clearly states in the legislation. at’s all we’re asking for.”

GROWING CHALLENGES

With that, Cheema relaxes enough to laugh at the rst question: where are we now with DRS?

“Well, it was a bittersweet moment when DRS was postponed. As an industry we were relieved

because the DRS as presented by the Scottish Government simply wasn’t workable, but we also understood what it meant for Scotland,” he says.

“Where we are now though is a tough question to answer. e challenges we faced getting a workable DRS in Scotland were enormous, so when you think of the challenges that will face us delivering a UK-wide system, it’s pretty daunting. You’re dealing with not one but four governments and even then, there isn’t even a sitting government in Northern Ireland, so it looks like a huge, huge task.”

at task is also complicated by the fact that, presumably, England will take the lead on building an ‘interoperable’ scheme that, somehow, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow. e elephant in the room here is that England hasn’t yet built its own scheme, so there’s nothing to ‘interoperate’ with.

Q A recent Circularity Gap Report from Zero Waste Scotland shows that only 1.3% of the resources Scotland uses are recycled back into the economy, with over 98% of Scotland’s material use coming from virgin resources.

Q That means Scotland’s per capita material footprint is 21.7 tonnes, nearly double the global average of 11.9 tonnes. The report concludes that consumption in Scotland is unsustainably high.

Q The latest available figures from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency show that household recycling rates in Scotland remain stuck at 42% and that the amount of Scottish household waste landfilled in 2021 was 664,000 tonnes, an increase of 4,000 tonnes (0.6%) from 2020.

“ e industry collectively relieved a sigh of relief a er the DRS announcement but what is really worrying is that we now have more hurdles to clear than we did when we were just working on a Scottish system – and there’s not a lot of time to get everything in place.

“Frankly, we couldn’t get everything in place on time just in Scotland, so it’s worrying that we’re going to have to do it all again but across four nations, not one, and all by 2025.”

PRESSURE MOUNTING

And as if the politicians building a t-forpurpose and legal DRS didn’t have enough to keep them busy, the to-do list seems to be growing, rather than shrinking.

“Obviously Abdul [Majid] recently won his judicial review case against the DRS administrator Circularity Scotland (CSL),” says Cheema. “Primarily Abdul was challenging the legality of the retailer handling fees which CSL was seeking to impose on retailers – but the success of his case throws up a whole ra of new issues around the legality of the system in Scotland.

“ en you have CSL being placed into administration, and we don’t know yet whether CSL will be replaced by a new body or whether we are looking at a UK-wide administrator, presumably based in England.

“And in addition, you have both the Scottish and Welsh Governments making strong statements about how they do not intend to have an English DRS system imposed on them. ese are not the sorts of issues that get resolved quickly – and that’s not forgetting that Parliament is in recess for several months so we’re not likely to see anything much happen before September.”

And these are only the big picture challenges, the tip of the proverbial DRS iceberg. ere is a world of smaller but no less critical realworld challenges to face for retailers, producers, wholesalers and more.

“It’s a sorry situation, it really is,” says Cheema.

FRESH APPROACH

In the great DRS debacle, however, one thing has largely been forgotten: the fact that we are facing a global climate crisis and there is a dire need for governments around the world to face up to their responsibilities. DRS is, despite the evidence of the last few years, one of the simpler solutions that has been proven to be extremely e ective across the world and would help Scotland achieve its sustainability goals, something that everyone living and working in Scotland has the moral obligation to take seriously.

A recent Circularity Gap Report from Zero Waste Scotland shows that only 1.3% of the resources Scotland uses are recycled back

into the economy, with over 98% of Scotland’s material use coming from virgin resources. at means Scotland’s per capita material footprint is 21.7 tonnes, nearly double the global average of 11.9 tonnes.

To put it bluntly, the need for DRS – a cost neutral, t-for-purpose DRS – is greater than ever.

ROADMAP

So how do we get there? “I think the most important thing that legislators can do when creating a UK-wide DRS is to actually engage with industry,” says Cheema. “During the DRS debacle in Scotland, the Scottish Government and CSL repeatedly stated that they regularly consulted with industry and their actions were ‘industry-led’. I’m sorry, but that just wasn’t my experience.

“Scottish Grocers’ Federation represents more Return Point Operators than any other organisation, yet we were regularly excluded from important conversations and key meetings. We had to battle time and again, just to be allowed to contribute, which I nd unacceptable, as local retailers in Scotland will provide more Return Points than any other sector.”

Frustration aside, Cheema remains philosophical, if understandably sceptical, about how we actually get to D-Day and deliver a working DRS.

“In a sense we haven’t nished the rst phase of DRS, if you want to call it that. DRS in Scotland has been postponed but there’s a lot of issues that have yet to be cleared up. We’re likely to see suppliers taking legal action, you’ve got Bi a having invested around £80m in sites around Scotland that they can’t use for at least two years, you’ve got supermarkets who have attened car parks to install DRS points. You’ve got Reverse Vending Machine manufacturers who have invested millions in Scotland in preparation for various go-live dates. e Scottish National Investment Bank put £9m into DRS. ere’s a lot of people who made big investments in good faith having been told time and again that DRS was de nitely happening on schedule. And at SGF, we invested endless hours and energy and people in the whole process and it’s all, e ectively, come to naught. We’ve all lost out.”

And then, of course, there is the human side, as Cheema points out: “And that’s before you get to the 55 employees at CSL and the countless people being made redundant across Scotland as the industry scales back its operations because DRS won’t go live until 2025 at the earliest.”

NEXT STEPS?

Perhaps the most frustrating thing of all, however, is the current lack of urgency around DRS. “It’s been kicked into the long grass again, the politicians are in recess for months and DRS has very quickly become a non-issue,” re ects Cheema. “We’ve been here before, of course. is is exactly what happened the last time DRS was postponed. It became a forgotten issue and it was only picked up again a er it was too late, as we all discovered to our cost.

“We can’t let that happen again. It would be unforgiveable.”

So does Cheema believe it can be done in time? A wry smile precedes his answer: “Honestly, it’s hard to see how it can all be sorted in such a relatively short space of time, particularly as there seems no sense of urgency at the moment. ere are so many challenges to face and every stakeholder needs to start addressing these issues right now.

“At SGF, we’ll do all that we can as usual to represent the needs of our members but there’s a lot to be done and it will require a monumental e ort on the part of a lot of individuals and organisations to get there by 2025.”

A politician’s answer to a simple question, then, but Cheema has had to play politics for a long time on DRS – and it’s likely his political skills will be called on again in future.

McVities White Chocolate Digestives pladis

Pladis has added White Chocolate Digestives (232g, RSP £1.89) to its core McVitie’s range to meet growing demand from shoppers. The new biscuit launched into Sainsbury’s and the Co-op last month, with a wider roll-out starting on 14 August. A £1.99 price-marked pack is also available. The launch is supported by PR, shopper marketing and social media activities.

Three more on-trend flavours join blu bar lineup

Wheat Crunchies Spicy Tomato

KP Snacks

The new flavour is available in both a 70g £1.25 PMP and a 45g grab bag (RSP £1). The new products seek to capitalise on ‘spicy’ being the third-fastest-growing flavour profile. The launch comes as £1.25 PMPs represent 18 of the 20 best-selling CSN SKUs within independent and symbol stores. KP Snacks is also currently driving 39% of total £1.25 PMP sales.

Jacob’s Crinklys non-HFSS pladis

The new range – which contains 30% less fat than fried potato crisps – is available now in Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar flavours in multipacks of 6 x 23g bags (RSP £1.35). Both variants are also available in 150g sharing bags. Exclusive to independents, Salt & Vinegar is also rolling out in £1.25 price-marked packs.

Imperial has announced the launch of three further flavours for its blu bar range to help retailers tap into the rising demand of disposables and drive sales this summer.

Available now at the same RSP of £5.99, the new additions joining the blu bar line up include Tropi-cal Mix, Apple Ice and Mint Ice, taking the total flavour range up to 13 variants. Collectively, these flavour characteristics, including apple, pineapple, mint and mango, accounted for 10.75% of all vaping sales over the last six months, with their share contribution almost doubling vs. the same pe-riod a year ago.

The fully compliant blu bar range has been extensively tested and offers a compact design for on-the-go vaping convenience, with each device providing up to 600 puffs.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Chocolate Surprise Egg Hancocks

Timed to coincide with the launch of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie, which is in cinemas now, this impulse treat is available now in shelfready cases of 24 x 20g white and milk chocolate eggs which contain a collectable surprise toy. The eggs have an RSP of £1.20.

Chicken Pie

Pukka Pies

Tom Gully, Imperial Tobacco’s Head of Consumer Marketing UK&I said: “Disposables are the main driving force behind sales within the vaping category at present, with figures showing the sec-tor has seen a 58% value growth in the last half year alone.

“To help retailers take advantage of the sales and profits available in this growing category, our three new blu bar variants have been carefully selected to tap into the top taste trends in the market. With a range of 13 different flavours now available, our blu bar range provides everything retailers need to cater for a wide range of consumer taste preferences.”

To find out more about the blu bar range and have the chance to win a prize, retailers should visit blubarhub.co.uk where “the more you learn, the more you earn”.

The brand’s first-ever single pack frozen pie has specially developed for the convenience channel and is available in a £1.49 price-marked pack and can be cooked from frozen in a microwave oven in four minutes. It comes in a ‘foil’ case which is said to guarantee “great-tasting pastry and no soggy bottoms”. For more information or to order, contact trade@ pukkapies. co.uk or call 0116 264 4000.

Bottlegreen Mediterranean Orange & Lemon Cordial SHS Drinks

The new Mediterranean Orange & Lemon Cordial contains 30 servings and comes in a 500ml glass bottle with a £4.05 RSP. It launches alongside three sparkling pressés: limitededition flavour Blood Orange Spritz and two permanent additions to the brand’s ‘light’ range, Raspberry Lemonade and Ginger Beer. All come in 750ml glass bottles with a £3.20 RSP.

Feastables

Icon Foods

Spar has secured a deal to be UK convenience distributor of YouTube star MrBeast’s Feastables range of four SKUs – Original Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Crunch, and Deez Nutz – until January 2024. The 60g countlines are priced between £2 and £2.49. The launch will be supported by online activity, POS, social media, instore radio, and consumer competitions.

Maryland Choc Chip Minis

PMP

Fox’s

Burton’s Companies

The first-ever price-marked pack for the Maryland Choc Chip Minis range is priced at £1.29 and is available now in 118.8g (6 x 19.8g) mini bags. The new format aims to drive mini biscuit sales within the channel by helping retailers make the most of the growing PMP opportunity; pricemarked packs account for 73% of independent outlet ‘sweet biscuit’ volume sales.

Butterkist Crunchy Hazelnut Chocolate Popcorn

KP Snacks

Butterkist’s new Crunchy Hazelnut

Chocolate flavour toffee popcorn comes in £1.25 price-marked packs that roll out to convenience retailers at the end of this month, in the wake of 155g sharing bags (RSP £2), which launched in Co-op stores at the start of July. The launch is supported by a social media campaign that encourages consumers to ‘Go Grab the Butterkist!’

Burts Beef & Mustard Ridges Europe Snacks

Available from September, the new flavour will sit alongside the brand’s Reaper Chilli & Lime Ridges as Burts focuses on expansion into the hand-cooked crinkle market. Beef & Mustard Ridges are hand-cooked and made using real organic beef. Available in 40g, each pack is gluten free, and free from added MSG, artificial colours and artificial flavourings.

Galaxy Vegan Salted Caramel Bar

Mars Wrigley

The new Galaxy Vegan Salted Caramel bar rolls out as part of a refresh of the Galaxy Vegan product range. Gluten-free, dairy-free and registered with the Vegan Society, the new SKU is made with hazelnut paste and filled with creamy salted caramel, with a design and taste like the mainstream confectionery equivalent. It is available now with an RSP of £3 for a 100g bar.

Good Stuff Barista Milk

Müller Milk & Ingredients

The result of more than a year of product testing and development, Müller Good Stuff Barista

Milk is available in one litre cartons with an RSP of £2.10, and is designed to be “perfect” with coffee. It is made from British milk, with 100% natural ingredients, and sold in 100% recyclable packaging. The launch will be backed by an autumn marketing campaign.

Instant lift

Kenco has launched a £6.4m media campaign that will see a new advert reach 96% of coffee-drinking adults. With the tagline ‘We rise by lifting each other,’ the ad tells the story of a frustrated girl who can’t play football due to a lack of facilities – until her Kencofuelled dad rallies the community to renovate a neglected nearby pitch.

Let’s twist again

Oreo’s ‘What’s your Oreo twist?’ campaign is back until the end of September and aims to drive engagement among the brand’s core millennial and Gen-Z consumers. It features three short films showing people eating the biscuits in a number of unusual ways. The films are bolstered by PR, digital, social media, advertising and in-store activities.

Dream on

SodaStream has launched ‘If You Can Dream it, You Can Stream It,’ a new multichannel media campaign that aims to inspire people to expand their creative horizons and reimagine their world in sparkling new ways. The campaign runs across video-on-demand, digital, and social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram.

Hot and sweet

Werther’s Original has launched ‘A Little Piece of Warmth,’ a campaign to get people to cook using the brand’s caramel sweets. A microsite features a series of recipes including banana & sultana oat bars and caramelised Korean beef with sticky rice. Other activities include digital advertising; social media; live events; and magazine and podcast sponsorships.

Another day, another milkshake

Yazoo is back to TV with ‘Just another day with Yazoo’. Running until late August, the £3m campaign airs on a number of national TV channels and video-on-demand. The humorous ad uses the TLC song ‘No Scrubs’ as a backdrop to engage with Generation Z and is predicted to reach 67.6% of UK adults at least once.

for all the latest product news, head to www.slrmag.co.uk/category/product-news/

FUEL SPEED AHEAD

Atechnological boom and boost of EV charging investment is good news for forecourts, despite in ationary pressures on household incomes and concerns over pump prices.

EV TO THE RISE

With recent speculation about a potential delay to plans to ban petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2030, the government has con rmed that the date will not change.

is provides some sense of clarity for the sector and forecourt retailers have already started the transition to the EV future, with the help of their fuel distributor partners.

“We have a unique set of resources to enable a dealer to explore new opportunities now and in the future including partnering Dealers through the Energy Transition,” Jenny Lockwood, Head of Retail Dealer for Certas Energy, says. “ is means providing the consultation, hardware, installation, and so ware solutions.

“We have created a new brand for e-mobility and energy transition, EVOLO, which will span across domestic, commercial, and roadside services. One of the key projects we have initiated is around E-Mobility and the building

of a network of ‘on the road’ rapid charge points to bring consumers and business users a complete solution.”

Meanwhile, the government has published regulations that mean operators will have one year to ensure contactless payment is available with all chargers with a power of 8kW or more.

e regulations will also require 99% reliability of rapid charge points, measured as an annual average. Operators will also need to ensure consumers can check whether a charge point is in use and working before they arrive.

COMPETITION MATTERS

Concerns around pump prices and healthy competition are felt across the sector, with the regulator stepping in to introduce a new fuel nder scheme to give drivers access to live, station-by-station fuel prices.

is would be facilitated by new compulsory open data requirements and backed by a new ‘fuel monitor’ oversight body. ese proposals follow the CMA’s in-depth study into the road fuel market, which found a weakening of competition in retail since 2019.

e challenge that pump price volatility presents is one also addressed by Gulf. “Last

UNPAID FUEL COSTS OPERATORS £98M A YEAR

The latest Forecourt Crime Index from the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) has revealed that reports of unpaid fuel incidents have increased by 18.6 % in the 12 months to Q1 2023.

The overall trend is upward, according to the organisation, with the BOSS Forecourt Crime Index for Q1 2023 having recorded a further increase taking the index to 245, compared to 199 for Q1 2022.

In the most recent quarterly report from BOSS, despite an increase in the number of unpaid fuel reports, the average volume of litres lost per Drive Off Failure to Pay incident fell by 41% when compared to Q4 2022 and by 3.9% for No Means of Payment incidents.

As a result of the latest Forecourt Crime Index, the organisation estimates that the average annual losses per Forecourt outlet are now £11,530. At current fuel prices, this means incidents of unpaid fuel are costing UK forecourt operators £98m per annum.

The forecourt sector is pushing ahead with technological breakthroughs while preparing for the EV deadline.

year, Gulf launched PricePro, a complimentary pricing tool to enable Gulf dealers to make more informed decisions relating to fuel pricing,” Lockwood notes.

“ e situation that existed before we introduced PricePro was unacceptable. It favoured the large groups, fuel companies and those with the clout. It was not a level playing eld for smaller operators, so we have e ectively made available much of the same pricing intel as used by the major players, available by phone or PC, with potential savings of up to £950 a week.”

TECH REVOLUTION

Technology is at the forefront of helping forecourt retailers navigate the current landscape with a lot more con dence. “New technologies are driving the renaissance of the independent sector and this will continue although smaller sites with limited scope for development look more vulnerable than ever as higher interest rates, labour shortages and rising costs take grip,” Lockwood adds. “Within Certas Energy and Gulf Retail, we have every reason to be upbeat as more new dealers joined the Gulf network, buoyed by our relentless focus on driving down costs and driving-up the pro ts of every Gulf dealer.”

Henderson Technology is also ramping up its o ering, with Fuel Pay, a streamlined way to pay for fuel without going in the store. e app, launching in August 2023, promises a “simple,

secure, streamlined” way to complete customer payments, combined with a quicker and more convenient experience. “ e pandemic showed us how customers can shop in di erent ways, and this trend has continued,” Darren Nickels, Retail Technology Operations Director, notes.

“We knew forecourt sites have a multitude of customers who want to drive onto the forecourt, fuel up, but not enter the shop to pay or purchase additional items. Our Appetite! app already o ers grocery click & collect and delivery options, but we saw there was a demand for quicker and frictionless fuel transactions.

“For those using Appetite! we wanted to provide multiple solutions on one app for every touch point in both convenience stores and forecourt sites, so we created Fuel Pay so every forecourt site could have the opportunity to take a share of the customers who just want to pay and go.”

Meanwhile, Gulf has introduced a new telemetry tool, called Foresite, which helps highlight key trends and opportunities in each store’s sales. “Live trials of Foresite have started, tracking measures include fuel to shop conversion rates, loyalty take-up and use per category, joint purchases like meal deals and much more. And by embedding loyalty data alongside sales data, it helps Dealers set up Gulf’s award-winning loyalty scheme, Oomph, in the way that works best for their businesses and priorities,” Lockwood explains.

Powered by:

SSE ENERGY SOLUTIONS REVEALS DUNDEE EV CHARGING HUB

SSE Energy Solutions has installed a new EV Charging hub in Dundee with a total of 24 ultra-rapid charging bays.

The new hub at the Myrekirk roundabout has a total capacity of almost two-anda-half megawatts, with eight of the bays powered by 360-kilowatt charge units, capable of delivering up to 60 miles of range in just three minutes, believed to be the first publicly accessible hub anywhere in Scotland to feature charge units this powerful.

The remaining 16 bays will feature 150-kilowatt charge units, sufficient to deliver just under 8 miles of range per minute of charging to a standard family car.

FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE

BRINGING LOCALLY SOURCED FRESH FOOD AND FOOD TO GO TO FORECOURTS

Spar Mallusk in Newtownabbey, a large town just north of Belfast, is a a forecourt site which plays a hugely important part role in the community the store serves. e forecourt and convenience store outlet was speci cally designed following extensive local customer research and built - a ‘For Now’ zone, and a ‘For Later’ zone which includes May eld Village Butchers and an amazing array of fresh foods, 75% of which are supplied by local fresh suppliers.

e multi-million-pound investment by Henderson Retail consists of an all-new forecourt and convenience store outlet which also brings the rst ever Barista Bar Co ee Drive- ru exclusively to the local area.

FUTURE FORECOURT CONCEPT

Damien Nevin, Henderson Group Retail Development Manager says the outlet is the future of forecourt retailing: “ is modern outlet is multipurpose, packed with new services and products under one roof. When designing this site, we wanted to ensure we were delivering on freshly prepared food to go options, alongside an abundance of value driven local products and essentials for tonight’s tea and beyond, as well as attractive consumer services that make us stand out in a busy marketplace.”

FIRST EVER BARISTA BAR COFFEE DRIVE THRU

is future-proof site strategy has resulted in a unique and exclusive foodto-go o ering, from Spar’s newest food to go brand, Delish, complemented by Northern Ireland’s rst Barista Bar Drive- ru and a Subway counter, a combination of products and services that will be a huge draw to the high footfall, low dwell time shopper the team expect for the area.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Delish and Barista Bar in-store can also be ordered online via the Spar Savvy Shopper App and collected at store, a real plus for time pressed consumers.

Nevin says: “Every part of the store has been considered and built for di ering shopper demands. Barista Bar, created by Henderson Foodservice, has seen exceptional growth in the past couple of years.

“Shoppers can expect the full Barista Bar experience at the drive-thru with signature cappuccino, americano and lattes, alongside specialities from at whites to mochas and chai teas. ere is even more choice available as customers will be able to personalise their drinks with a plantbased milk alternative (oat) and the decaf options available. We will also have seasonal specialities, and shoppers can take advantage of a full hot breakfast, lunch and treats menu from Delish.”

In-store, Spar Mallusk houses three Barista Bar machines, one of which is new concept, Barista Bar Planted, providing the same great taste and quality of a signature Barista brew with non-dairy options at the touch of a button. It is only the second machine to be introduced to stores in Northern Ireland.

Nevin continues: “Delish at Spar Mallusk o ers the full new experience including a Burrito Bar, Southern Fried Chicken, Chicken Pick ‘n’ Mix,

Henderson Technology is working with Spar Mullusk to help the store get ahead of the game in key areas of opportunity like fresh food, food to go, drive thru coffee and cutting-edge Epos.

SOME POPULAR FUEL FEATURES ON EDGEPOS:

Q Fuel payment cards integrations such as Esso, BP, Texaco, Gulf

Q Fuel VAT receipts can be printed separately for the customer

Q No Means to Pay and Drive Off reporting at tills

Q Fuel Pump price changes at till

Q Instore Coupons, i.e. 2 pence off per litre of fuel – printed from till receipt printer

Q Employees have the ability to authorise fuel straight from the tills

Q Fuel information is clearly displayed along the bottom of the till system, allowing employees to be aware of which particular fuel has been selected at each pump

Q Fuel is documented on the back office including drive offs and sales

Q Fuel prepay option

Q Fuel bunkering facilities

Q Integration with fuel loyalty programmes such as BPMe, Oomph, Nectar, Star Rewards

Q Wholesaler Links integration

Q OPT integration

Q White label Pay at the Pump integration

Q Refund fuel back onto pump it was released from

Q Live tank gauge and wet stock report

Q Full Credit Accounts in system

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS –

Q Reliable, fast and flexible software

Q 24/7/365 customer support

Q Global customer base

Q Award winning innovation and technology software and service

Q Easy to use and implement

Rotisserie Chicken, and indulgent Ice Cream & Shakes. We have carefully selected the range to provide our shoppers with fantastic quality and choice, in an easy to order format, at great everyday value.”

THE ADDITION OF MODERN EDGEPOS TECHNOLOGY

Retail technology has played a huge role in the development of Spar Mallusk. “ ere is a whole layer of systems that the customer does not see, and then our future concept additions that the customer can see and use,” adds Nevin.

On the forecourt, there are ten lanes of EDGEPoS scanning, three of those are cash and card self-checkout lanes, which has a massive positive impact of getting customers in and out of the store quickly. e Glory Cash Management has been integrated into the cashier and self-checkout tills, as well as the back of house Glory system.

“We brought in new technology which was an integrated project between Henderson Technology and Bludot Technologies, which sits in the form on two self-serve kiosks for our food-to-go counters. Customers can come into the store, order, and pay for their food on the self-serve kiosks, and go to the collection point instore to grab n go.

“ e team at Henderson Technology have always been key to us delivering our latest ideas in retail technology, and meeting all customer demands in the expected ways of serving, ordering, and paying in these recent times. is is the key bene t to having a technology partner within our Group. e retail stores lead the ideas of what the future of retail looks like, and Henderson Technology innovate and deliver these solutions for the Group and beyond.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR EDGEPOS?

Henderson Technology has two exciting app integration launches upcoming this summer. e introduction of Fuel, Pay, Go! and Fuel, Pay, Assist! will be a market rst. e single app platform is a white label Pay@ e Pump app integrated with EDGEPoS system and pumps. Additionally, it allows forecourts to o er Pay@ e Pump assistance. ere are 2.6 million blue badge drivers across the UK and using the system they will be able to arrive on the forecourt, identify their pump on the app and request assistance from the team in the store. e assistant fuels up for the customer, and the transaction is processed and completed through the app.

Later in the summer, Henderson Technology will be launching a Deliverect link, which allows EDGEPoS to link to multiple platforms, including Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eats and many more.

TELEPHONE 028 9094 1900

A FINE BALANCE

Vaping and traditional tobacco are still categories with huge potential for independent retailers, with a shi towards the value price sector, especially in Scotland.

e tobacco category is worth £14bn each year before tax, with the Factory Made Cigarettes market (FMC) accounting for 66% of all tobacco sales in Scotland, compared to 53% in the rest of the UK, according to data from EPOS 3 month shares (May-July 2022).

THE NEED FOR VALUE

“With more consumers looking for ways to reduce spending amid soaring household costs, we’re seeing a shi towards low-priced propositions across the entire tobacco category,” Tom Gully, Head of Consumer Marketing UK&I at Imperial Tobacco, notes.

“ is trend is particularly prevalent in Scotland where 21.2% of FMC sales are in the value price sector (vs. 11.4% in England) and 27.1% of Roll Your Own (RYO) sales are in the value price sector (vs. 15% in England).”

e need for value products is likely to remain a dominant trend in the category for some time, as we move into the winter months and in ation persists, with 58.7% of all sales volumes currently in the value or ultra-value FMC and RYO sectors, according to Circana. Gemma Bateson, Sales Director at JTI UK, explains: “As existing adult smokers continue to look for more a ordable options in the market, retailers should focus on stocking ultra-value tobacco brands now more than ever.”

One of the sectors bene tting from the squeeze is RYO tobacco, which now accounts for nearly half (46%) of all tobacco sales, according to the ITUK Report on Trade.

“As demand for RYO tobacco grows in light of the rising consumer appetite for value, the tobacco accessories category provides a substantial sales opportunity for retailers,” Gully adds.

VAPING BOOST

e vape market is expanding at a signi cant rate, with the number of vapers in the UK

having increased from 3.7m in 2021 to 4.3m in 2022, according to ECigIntelligence.

Gully says: “We’re currently seeing signi cant growth in the disposables category. Now worth 83% of all vape sales, the market saw a remarkable increase from £141m in 2021 to £973m in 2022.

“In order to cater for this growing demand, we recently announced our entrance into the expanding disposables market with our new blu bar vape range. Recent data also shows that both closed pod systems and basic open pod systems remain popular choices for vapers, accounting for 17% of the UK vaping market.”

Imperial Tobacco recently extended the blu bar range with four new avours – Blueberry Ice, Blueberry Sour Razz, Berry Mix and Grape Ice.

Demand for avours is dominant in the heated tobacco sector as well. In order to keep on top of trends, JTI is o ering eight EVO tobacco avours, including Bronze, Amber, Green, Magenta, Purple, Ruby, Green Option, and Purple Option.

Nicotine products hold strong value for retailers despite the double whammy of inflationary and potentially regulatory pressures.

VAPE SUPPLIER LAUNCHES COMPLIANCE PROGRAMME

Vaping and alternative nicotine products distributor Phoenix

2 Retail has introduced a compliance testing programme to support standards across the vape FMCG market.

The ‘Pre 2 Post-Market’ Compliance Testing Program is supported by several brands, FMCG retailers, trade bodies and trading standards to support improvements towards the target of a smoke-free date of 2030 across the UK.

Phoenix 2 Retail CEO Chris Kelly said: “Working in partnership with regulators, brands and retailers, developing a pre- and post-market testing program will deliver the improvements the market and the industry requires.

“Phoenix 2 Retail has taken the initiative to assist and lead the discussion and solution on how we improve and support brands and retailers in delivering a smoke-free future.”

ENVIRONMENTAL STRIDES

Up to 26 million disposable vapes were consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the last year, of which an estimated 10% were littered and more than half were incorrectly disposed of, according to a report by Zero Waste Scotland.

In light of the ndings, Scotland’s Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater has invited Ministers from the other UK governments to discuss how to tackle the growing problem.

Separately, England and Wales’ Local Government Association (LGA) has recently said it is “crucial” a ban comes into force “rapidly” to stop a ood of single-use vapes into the UK market. It described them as “a hazard” for waste collectors, adding they are “almost impossible to recycle without going through special treatment”.

However, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has sounded alarm bells over the review. In a letter to Slater, UKVIA Director General John Dunne outlined two major concerns with the report – the process of the review and the “lack of impartiality”. He questions why the public and the wider vape sector were not invited to contribute to the review.

Dunne also said that the approach to this report di ers from a previous Scottish consultation on the advertising and promotion of vaping products, which allowed consumers to “have their say”. Dunne wrote: “ is gives the impression that the consultations were merely a box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine attempt to engage with the views of both the vaping sector and those who have successfully transitioned from smoking to vaping.”

Meanwhile, ANDS, a distributor of alternative nicotine delivery systems, introduced a new 99%-plus recyclable and recoverable single-use vape. “If these single-use vapes are restricted or banned over environmental fears as is being talked about in some circles, smokers could lose what many believe to be a very convenient, accessible and compelling alternative to conventional cigarettes,” Fadi Maayta, President of ANDS, said when unveiling the product.

REGULATION KNOCKS

e potential impact of disposable vapes to the environment is not the industry’s only headache. A recent report by the Children’s Commissioner has called for plain packaging for vapes, a ban on disposable vapes, and a ban on the vaping

THE UK’S No1 FASTEST GROWING SUPER COMBO FROM

TIPS FOR RETAILERS BY IMPERIAL TOBACCO TOBACCO

When it comes to merchandising, this is unique to every store and depends on what space there is available. However, we recommend that retailers make it clear that they sell tobacco by displaying products within an installed gantry. Even if retailers choose to stock tobacco products under the counter, it’s really important there’s signage that informs shoppers that tobacco is sold in store to avoid missing out on sales.

VAPING

It is always a good idea to have a strong visual display of vaping products, positioned away from the main gantry where possible, with clear information on pricing to enable customers to browse at their leisure without the need to handle and inspect products. Where space is limited, even a small countertop unit can help achieve this, especially if it is well organised and fully stocked. Making sure it is positioned in a well-lit part of the counter will also help increase visibility of products even further.

industry from selling ‘nicotine-free’ vapes to under-18s.

It’s also recommending age-of-sale signage on vaping products to be mandated in the same way that it currently is for cigarette products, while calling for the new Illicit Vape Enforcement Squad to update local trading standards to make on-the-spot nes and xed penalty notices for shops selling vapes to under-18s illegally easier.

In response, UKVIA said it agreed that youth vaping “has to be urgently tackled” but highlighted that “banning single-use vapes is not the answer to the issue”.

John Dunne, Director General of UKVIA, explains: “Vapes, whether designed to be single or multiple use devices, are age-restricted products, such as alcohol or aerosol spray paints and should never be sold to children. is is an access issue not a product issue.

“ e fact is Trading Standards needs increased government backing to tackle rogue traders and cut o the source of supply to minors.”

UKVIA is proposing on-the-spot nes of at least £10,000 per instance for those caught selling to young people or selling illegal products; a retail registration scheme to ensure retailers meet strict standards before being permitted to sell vapes; and a national test purchasing e ort to ensure those selling vapes aren’t supplying to minors.

Meanwhile, local councils in England and Wales have also called for disposable vapes to be banned in the whole of the UK. In a statement, LGA said councils are “concerned about the impact vaping is having upon children and young people.

“It is worrying that more and more children – who have never smoked – are starting vaping.”

LGA noted that councils are especially concerned by the marketing of vapes with designs and avours “that could appeal to children, in particular those with fruity and bubble gum avours, and colourful childfriendly packaging”. It called for “strict, new measures to regulate the display and marketing of regular vaping products in the same way as tobacco are needed”.

Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board said: “Councils are not anti-vapes, which are shown to be less harmful than smoking and have a place as a tool to use in smoking cessation.

“Single use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, are expensive and di cult to deal with in our recycling centres. eir colours, avours and advertising are appealing to children and the penalties for retailers selling them don’t go far enough.”

Ian Howell, Fiscal and Regulatory A airs Manager at JTI UK, notes: “We’re seeing a growing issue of children being able to access disposable vapes.

“We’re concerned about the use of inappropriate naming and packaging on some items which could potentially appeal to children, including cartoon imagery or imitations of well-known confectionery and so drink brands.

“One of JTI UK’s core principles is that tobacco and nicotine vaping products should not be consumed by anyone under the age of 18. ey are for adult consumers only who have made the decision to use those products.”

Howell concludes: “ erefore, keeping them out of the hands of under-18s is really important.”

THE ILLICIT TRADE CHALLENGE

Illicit trade is another challenge hanging over the sector, especially in the current cost-ofliving crisis.

New gures, by the TMA Anti-Illicit Trade Survey 2022, have shown that 73% of smokers bought illicit tobacco within the last year (vs 71% in 2021), while nearly four in 10 consumers claimed that increased living costs had impacted their purchasing habits and where they now choose to buy cheaper (illicit) tobacco.

New tobacco track and trace sanctions came into force on 20 July, including a penalty of up to £10,000 for persistent o enders holding illicit tobacco products; the seizure and potential destruction of tobacco products; and the deactivation of track and trace codes temporarily or permanently for businesses that persistently break the rules, thus restricting or removing the ability of o enders to purchase or sell tobacco in the UK.

“As demand for vape products continues to rise, we’re unfortunately now also seeing an increase in illicit trade in the category which may pose a threat to consumer health,” Gully notes.

“Disposable vapes have seen impressive growth over the last year and this popularity has made them an area of focus for illicit traders. As a result, we’re seeing an increasing number of non-compliant vape products come to market that are disguised to appear as something else to avoid detection, such as a recent seizure which saw an illicit vape product made to look like a highlighter pen.

“ ese products o en feature names that are seemingly designed to appeal to children, like dget spinners, gummy bears and ice lollies,” he adds.

Get £600 off every year

As part of our continued support investment into the vape category, we are giving retailers a £50 voucher every month that can be redeemed on orders of £500 or more, which will run for 12 months*

FUEL FOR THOUGHT

Universities are vibrant hubs of young shoppers that tend to focus on food-to-go and healthier trends.

Students ocking back to university present a good opportunity for retailers to boost sales in the early autumn period, just a er summer has gone and right before the Halloween season.

Lunchtime trends and food-to-go ranges can come in handy for shoppers looking for a pickme-up between inductions, new lessons and “back to routine” occasions.

HEALTHY SNACKING

Health remains a top priority for consumers, especially younger shoppers. “Bold and spicy avours are popular among the younger demographic, so retailers should cater to university students by stocking punchy and permissible products. Launched earlier this year, popchips Hot & Spicy brings a kick to the healthier snacking segment,” Matt Collins, Trading Director at KP Snacks, says.

“Nuts also o er a tasty and nutritious option for university students snacking on the go or looking to enjoy healthier treats during nights spent in.”

FOOD-TO-GO BOOST

More than half of shoppers (53%) look for meal deals when buying food-to-go, according to IGD, making the lunchtime occasion a big opportunity for retailers nearby universities and student accommodations.

To make the most of this occasion, KP Snacks has recently launched McCoy’s Epic Eats, a brand-new product range featuring Nacho Cheese and Spicy Salsa avours, available in a 45g Grab Bag format and £1.25 PMP.

Meanwhile, Golden Wonder has also launched its crisps in a £1 PMP range that includes Cheese & Onion, Spring Onion, Salt & Vinegar, and Chip Shop Curry avours.

“Having spoken to retailers and consumers, the importance of sticking to the £1 price point comes through loud and clear,” Matt Smith, Marketing Director for brand owner Tayto, says.

“Instead of raising the headline price of our £1 PMPs, we’re sticking with £1 – demonstrating Golden Wonder’s commitment to making great-tasting snacks, with great consumer value, whilst also delivering strong retailer margins.”

ASTON MANOR UNVEILS RETAILER COMPETITION

Aston Manor Cider’s ‘Straight Outta Crumpton’ advertising campaign is back on screens this summer.

The advert forms part of a wider multichannel marketing campaign, and airs across Channel 4, Channel 4 Music, Gold, Dave, Sky Music Channels, Sky Max, Sky Showcase, Sky Comedy and Comedy Central, among others.

The campaign will also feature on digital channels including ITVX, All4 and Skymedia, as well as out-of-home adverts and social media platforms.

An animated ad sees Aston Manor bring to life the world of cider through the lens of hip-hop, from break dancers and low riders to golden mouth grills, and DJ decks.

To celebrate its return, Aston Manor is giving retailers and wholesalers the chance to win £1,000 cash. To enter, you need to buy any case of Crumpton Oaks before 31 August 2023, scan the QR code and upload a picture of your invoice. There are no limits on entries, with one invoice per entry permitted.

Katie Walker, Brand Manager at Aston Manor Cider, said: “We are proud to share that Crumpton Oaks Cider is now the number one value cider brand in the impulse channel and we believe a lot of the brand’s success is down to our Straight Outta Crumpton campaign.”

THE UK’S NO.1 STRONG AMBER CIDER BRAND

TREATS WITH NO TRICKS

TIPS FOR RETAILERS BY SWIZZELS

Q Having a great availability of products is key and the visual merchandising aspect of the shopper experience can help maximise sales. Displaying these products in a coherent way, with the correct amount of shelf space per product group and brand, is a fantastic way of piquing consumer interest.

Q Making use of smaller spaces, especially near to other occasion-based products, such as crisps and soft drinks, will invite customers to potentially purchase items that they wouldn’t have usually considered, especially when they are purchasing for at-home movie nights for example.

Halloween has established itself as one of the biggest celebrations of the year, giving retailers the opportunity to boost sales ahead of the all-important Christmas season.

Sugar confectionery and sharing snacks will be key for a successful Halloween for retailers, with a ordable treats expected to be in big demand for trick-ortreaters, especially during the cost-of-living crisis.

Overall, Halloween spending in the UK was estimated to total £687m last year, according to Forbes, with the seasonal sales having increased year-on-year for over a decade.

SUGAR DRIVE

“Halloween is expected to be very pro table for retailers as it’s a highly anticipated event that allows people to enjoy a ordable treats,” Clare Newton, Trade Marketing Manager at Swizzels, says. “ e cost-of-living crisis has led to a greater desire for a ordable treats than ever before which brings sugar confectionery to the forefront as one of the most popular categories.

Swizzels has launched 60g Squashies as an ‘On e Go’ option for shoppers looking for a more portable format of their sweet treats. e company has also introduced new Minions Sherbet Dips with three avours, including Fizzy Orange, Sour Apple and Tangy Berry.

Bebeto has also seen a sales upli in treat items and sharing packs bought by families and other households, citing confectionery as a “winning category” for Halloween.

e brand introduced new 150g sharing bag of Bebeto Spooky Mix last year, containing Halloweenshaped fruity gummies in blackcurrant, apple, orange, and strawberry avours.

SNACKING OPPORTUNITY

Confectionery sales can o er a welcome upli in margins, with sharing snacks performing well in the spooky period.

“Halloween o ers retailers an unmissable opportunity to maximise on confectionery sales,” Hancocks explains. “ e key to driving these sales is planning early, stocking up and merchandising the lines for optimum visibility in store.”

they normally would do, so buying a sugary treat

“Sugar confectionery remains one of the most popular categories for people to treat themselves, especially a er not being able to engage in the activities they normally would do, so buying a sugary treat seems like a reasonable and a ordable solution to cheer themselves up.”

e company o ers prepackaged and portioned Bonds Candy Cups, while new for this year is a range of Candy Realms variants, including Candy Realms Spooky Tubes, Alien Balloons with Popping Candy, Skull Candy Pops and Spooky Mallows.

Halloween is an important date in the retail calendar, helping to boost profits ahead of the festivities.

“Halloween is the UK’s third biggest retail event in the confectionery calendar, and retailers can maximise sales uplift by ensuring they stock affordable products suitable for both parties and trick-or-treat occasions. Creating themed displays and in-store theatre help to drive additional footfall to confectionery areas.”

OUT OF THE RACE

Under The Counter has an over-inflated sense of his own worth and likes to think that Scottish Local Retailer would struggle to replace someone with his years (and years) of experience.

But not even the Auld Boy is so self-deluded to think that the magazine would come apart at the staples were he to don his tatty anorak and take a last waltz out of SLR Towers. So, he was both fascinated and appalled to discover a c-store had to shut up shop when Alex – a quite clearly indispensable member of staff – decided to explore alternative career opportunities.

It should be pointed out that the store is not – as UTC momentarily imagined – part of the Scottish multi-award-winning RaceTrack Pitstop chain but one that trades under the US-based RaceTrac fascia.

Apart from being spelled incorrectly, Racetrac is apparently one of America’s premier forecourt operators. It also likes to claim, in lieu of having anything remotely interesting to brag about, that it was “the pioneer of self-service gasoline in Alabama, Florida and Georgia”.

Under The Counter could only wonder if RaceTrac was forced into pioneering self-service gasoline because the pump attendant had “done an Alex” and flounced off the forecourt.

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

Never one to miss the most important meal of the day, Under The Counter was shocked to discover a whopping 89% of time-pressed working Scots are skipping breakfast.

According to a study commissioned by yfood – which is something called a smart food brand – Scotland’s wage slaves miss out on breakfast nine times a month on average, with Gen Z (91%) most likely to leave the house with rumbling guts.

Containing people whose birth year falls between 1996 and 2010, Under The Counter missed the Gen Z bus by several decades. He is, however, a paid-up member of the Gen Zzz cohort –people who fall asleep at their desk between 14:30 and 16:00.

Over half (55%) of those surveyed said they get so hungry that they stop off for a packet of crisps on the way to work, while five in 10 (50%) tuck into a packet of biscuits for breakfast. The Auld Boy stayed awake long enough to figure out this means 5% must be hoovering up both crisps and biscuits. The breakfast of champions, indeed. While yfood suggests sipping one of its nutritionally complete ready-to-drink meals instead of demolishing a bag of Monster Munch and six KitKats, UTC has a far more elegant solution.

The Auld Boy likes to breakfast on a bowl of Sugar Puffs followed by tea and toast. However, to save time in the morning, he cunningly consumes these just before his weary old head hits the pillow last thing at night.

NO FOOL LIKE AN OLD FOOL

Under The Counter took a sudden and unexpected interest in genealogy recently.

Not because SLR’s resident coffindodger supreme wanted to form a deeper connection with his ancestors but because he wanted to shave two years off his age.

UTC reckoned this was entirely feasible if he could dig up some South Korean roots on his somewhat withered family tree.

This nonsense made perfect sense to the Auld Boy, as South Koreans all became a year or two younger last month when the country scrapped its unconventional agecounting methods.

For reasons that must have seemed reasonable at the time, much like cracking open a bottle of Bailey’s at three in the morning instead of taking two paracetamol and going to bed, South Koreans had been using a system which said that newborns were a year old. Even better, you then racked up another year on 1 January.

It doesn’t take a genius – luckily – to work out that someone born on Hogmanay will therefore turn two on Ne’erday.

Even North Korea ditched the frankly bonkers practice back in 80s, around the same time as UTC was cutting a dash in a Sergio Tacchini shellsuit.

Anyway, the closest the Auld Boy got in his fruitless search on ancestry.com was a great-great grandparent from South Lanarkshire, not South Korea.

It’s all a moot point though because, just like infinity plus one is still infinity, ancient minus two is still very old indeed.

#LetsTalkGroceryAid

Our services cover a range of self-help or referral led support and advice.

SELF-CARE

08088 021 122