SLR December 2022 Edition

NEWS

p6 Retail Violence A new National Assault Pledge tackles violence against shopworkers.

p7 Deposit Return Scheme New government guidance simplifies DRS exemption applications.

p8 Energy Crisis Convenience stores face electricity rates of upwards of 90p per kWh from April.

p10 Off-trade A new report finds convenience stores matched supermarkets on prices after the introduction of MUP.

p12 Business Costs The Chancellor unveils an increase in the National Living Wage.

p13 Crime The BOSS Forecourt Crime Index climbs to a record high during the third quarter.

p14 News Extra Legislation The Scottish government consults on plans to restrict alcohol advertising at sporting events, on buses, online and elsewhere.

p26 Product News Rubicon Raw sponsors GB Snowsport and Coca-Cola’s Christmas countdown commences.

p28 Off-Trade News VK brings back its Candy Cane variant for the festive season and Absolut has something to sing about.

INSIDE BUSINESS

p31 Checkout 2023 GroceryAid Scotland’s game-changing Checkout music festival will return next year.

p32 Product of the Year Awards Cast your vote and help celebrate this year’s best new products.

p34 Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns.

p46 Under The Counter The Auld Boy discovers Spar has started renting cars... in Spain.

FEATURES

p36 Tobacco The Tobacco category is tougher than many to manage, but doing so correctly remains well worth it.

p40 Christmas Core categories are set to help the convenience industry finish the year on a high note.

p42 Christmas Drinks Last-minute purchases are expected to once again help independent retailers maximise sales.

p44 Easter Cadbury Creme Egg’s ‘How Do You Not Eat Yours?’ campaign is set to return for Easter 2023.

Cost-conscious shoppers trading down on price

Almost 90% of shoppers intend to reduce the number of big brands they buy, and a similar number intend to buy a cheaper alternative, according to new research by rewards app Jisp. The research shows loyalty is becoming increasingly important, with 61.2% of Jisp shoppers wanting an in-store loyalty scheme, and 45.2% of shoppers wanting exclusive deals on leading brands.

Post Office renews charity partnership

Post Office has renewed its partnership with the Trussell Trust, which delivered more than £295,000 for the charity last winter. Post Office is hoping to raise £330,000 for the charity this winter in a five-month campaign. For every cash withdrawal, Post Office will donate 1p to the Trussell Trust, at no cost to the customer.

Spar Crosshouse hosts party for customers

CJ Lang & Son has hosted a customer launch party at its newly-opened Spar Crosshouse store in East Ayrshire. The event saw staff and a selection of suppliers on hand to offer product tastings, give out goody bags, and spin the wheel for customer prizes. In addition, Crosshouse Foodbank was presented with a £500 cheque by Spar Scotland and the local girls’ football team attended in their Spar Scotland-sponsored away kit strips.

Peebles Post Office goes on the market

Peebles Post Office and store is up for sale as the current owners are looking to retire. The store currently offers National Lottery, ATM, passport photographs, stationery, toys, and electrical equipment. The shop has nonslip flooring throughout and a rendered ceiling, with strip lighting. The site is offered to the market on a leasehold basis at an asking price of £100,000.

National Assault Pledge tackles violence against shopworkers

e national partnership group includes prosecutors, Retailers Against Crime, British Transport Police, NHS Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, and others.

the victim of an assault can have a long-lasting impact both physically and mentally. It’s not simply part of the job.

e Scottish Grocers Federation has joined emergency services, health colleagues and others to launch a National Assault Pledge, underlining a joint commitment to reduce violence and abuse against front line workers.

e National Assault Pledge builds upon Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone’s Assault Pledge, developed in response to a concerning increase in violence and abuse against Police Scotland o cers and sta .

e group will share best practice, develop preventative measures, and use consistent messaging in their workplaces to support and encourage sta to report incidents.

SGF’s recent Crime Report 2022 highlights the substantial impact of crime on convenience store owners and sta across Scotland, with 100% of respondents reporting some level of the , abuse or violence in the previous year.

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, who has been leading Police Scotland’s drive to reduce the impact violence and abuse has on o cers and sta , said: “Being

“Working in partnership with a number of key organisations highlights our collective approach and united pledge to reduce assaults at work.”

SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema added: “Frontline sta provide an essential community service, and whether they are police o cers, ambulance paramedics or local shop sta , it is completely unacceptable that they are forced to turn up to work and face threating abuse or violence.

“ e National Assault Pledge, launched with partners across Scotland, is an important step forward and adds to progress taken last August with the introduction of the Protection of Workers Act.”

Half of shopworkers consider quitting due to retail violence

Retail violence has resulted in more than two-thirds of shopworkers being stressed or anxious about going into work and nearly half have considered quitting their jobs because of the problem, according to new research by the Retail Trust.

e survey of 1,000 retail sta also revealed that one in three is abused weekly, two-thirds think verbal and physical attacks have got worse in the past two years and a quarter do not report di cult incidents to their employer or manager.

In addition, a YouGov poll of 2,000 shoppers commissioned by the Retail Trust also found that nearly half admit to getting annoyed with a retail worker, and of these, 81% lost their temper or became aggressive. ey blamed most of the frustration on items being out of stock, not enough sta or checkouts, and slow service. In addition, two-thirds said they were being le frustrated by rising prices.

Paddy Lillis, General Secretary of shopworkers’ union Usdaw, said: “We very much welcome the support of the Retail Trust on this issue. eir shocking survey ndings con rm that we do need to continue with our campaigning.”

TRAINING

Training videos to protect shopworkers launched

The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) has launched a series of training videos that have been developed to support and protect retail staff.

The animations provide shopworkers with practical advice and strategies to help them manage issues that they are likely to face on a regular basis, including dealing with and interacting with suspected shop thieves, saying no, personal safety & deescalation, and dealing with disruptive and anti-social behaviour.

ACS Government Relations Director Edward Woodall said: “The NBCC training videos are an invaluable resource for convenience retailers and their staff for keeping store colleagues safe.”

Visit bit.ly/3F5COLC to view the videos.

RECRUITMENT Retail violence is causing shopworkers to leave their jobs

New government guidance simplifies DRS exemption applications

e Scottish Government has published new guidance to simplify the process for retailers who are applying to be exempt from the Deposit Return Scheme, which goes live on 16 August 2023.

Although the guidance doesn’t change the eligibility criteria for an exemption itself, it does provide the following important features:

Q A new Return Point Mapping & Exemption Support service to help retailers identify an alternative return point, and to remove the requirement to share commercially sensitive information with other retailers.

Q Con rmation that the Scottish Government will take the size of a premises into account in determining the risk of breaching obligations relating to environmental health. A retailer

is likely to be approved for an environmental health exemption if the footprint of their premises is 100sq m or less, or if they are a food-to-go retailer and the footprint of their premises is 280sq m or less.

Q Streamlined evidence and assessment processes that better consider the challenges facing specialist, food service, and hospitality retailers. is should also speed up the decisionmaking process for Scottish

Ministers and provide clarity to retailers on the outcome of their application.

e ACS “strongly welcomed” the guidance. Chief Executive James Lowman said: “We will work with our members to help them consider whether to seek an exemption or to make their store a return point. is will be a site-by-site decision and this new guidance makes it more likely that the right shops will act as return points in the scheme.

“ e UK, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments should note the challenges that Scotland is experiencing in using an exemptions system to de ne a workable and economically viable network of return points. We need solutions now on how to map the right network of return points.”

Orkney residents trial bottle deposit scheme

Orkney residents have begun trialling a bottle deposit scheme ahead of the nationwide launch of DRS in 2023.

Islanders are being invited to place any single-use drinks containers into reverse vending machines for recycling as part of the Return and Recycle Orkney initiative, which will then generate a 5p donation to charity for every bottle or can returned.

The trial will not require consumers to pay a deposit on drinks containers, but it is hoped it will provide insight into how the initiative can be rolled out to rural and island communities.

The pilot scheme, which is being delivered by Zero Waste Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, will run until August next year.

Drinks producers warn of ‘impending catastrophic impact’ of DRS

More than 500 business leaders have signed an open letter to Lorna Slater, the Minister responsible for the Deposit Return Scheme.

e letter warns of the “impending catastrophic impact the scheme will impose on both businesses and consumers,” as it called for the scheme to be “paused, revised and rewritten”.

e letter has been signed by representatives from distillers including the Kingsbarns Distillery, Linlithgow Distillery, Orkney Distilling, Dunnet Bay Distillers, the Dornoch Distillery, the North Uist Distillery, Kilchoman Distillery on Islay, and the Summerhall Distillery.

Senior gures from the Kelburn Brewery, Innis and Gunn, Arran Brewery, Cromarty Brewing Co,

Williams Bros Brewing Co, and the Highland Brewing Company have also put their names to it.

In addition, the letter has been signed by representatives from the Scottish Hospitality Group, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the Scottish B&B Association, Punch Pubs & Co, Crie Hydro, and Virgin Wines – as well as some rms based elsewhere in the UK, who sell in Scotland.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government told STV: “Circularity Scotland are responsible for operating the scheme and for setting producer fees.

e Scottish Government is engaging with Circularity Scotland and industry representatives to understand and work through any concerns that emerge as the scheme is implemented.”

One Stop unveils Christmas campaign

One Stop has launched its 2022 festive campaign, which will include weekly interactive games. The games are sponsored by Pepsi, Walkers, Budweiser, Cadbury’s, Pringles, Madri, and Coca Cola. Each time a player wins a game they will be entered into the overall prize draw to win an ultimate Christmas gift bundle or luxury New York city break. Players can also get their hands on some instant win Cadbury’s treats by playing the games.

CJ Lang refreshes livery

CJ Lang has revamped the look of its vehicle fleet. The company said: “Our fleet of vehicles has had a makeover and is now sporting new graphics showing off the great everyday low prices in our stores.” CJ Lang has a fleet of 59 vehicles made up of a mixture of prime movers, trailers, and drawbars.

Premier Girdle Toll set for expansion

Premier Girdle Toll, in Irvine, has been given the green light for expansion. The plans will see the store, which also houses Quinn’s takeaway and butcher, extended to take advantage of the vacant ground at the front and side of the building. The extension, which spans around 34sq m, will allow the store to extend one of its servery counters. It will also see a slight increase in the shop floor.

Morrisons to axe 10

McColl’s stores in Scotland

Morrisons is set to close 10 loss-making McColl’s stores in Scotland. The stores proposed for closure in Scotland are in Kilwinning (Main Street), Helensburgh, Bridge of Allan, Chapelhall, Fort William, Corstorphine, Dalkeith, Dunfermline, and Glenrothes. Morrisons said all the workers affected will be offered roles elsewhere in the company.

DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME

DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME 500 business leaders co-sign a letter to minister responsible for scheme

Co-op to clear shelves of coloured milk bottle tops Co-op is set to remove all coloured milk bottle caps from its shelves to increase recyclability. Shoppers will soon see clear caps on all Co-op’s skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole milk across all its stores in the UK. Green caps will be switched over by the end of next month and red and blue caps will be eradicated in early 2023.

Strathdon c-store goes up for sale

Bellabeg Shop & Post Office, a long-standing licensed convenience store situated in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, has gone on the market as the owners wish to relocate. The recently refurbished Sparbranded store features a coffee machine, lottery terminal, and post office. There is a detached store and sizeable garden to the rear. Bellabeg Shop is on the market at £650,000 for the freehold going concern.

Scottish retailers scoop Camelot prizes

Retailer Devinder Singh, owner of Seven Days in Dunoon, has won £10,000 in Camelot’s latest Site, Stock, Sell online prize draws. The rewards programme recognises National Lottery retailers maintaining high instore standards. Prizes of £1,000 were awarded to Shakir Shakoor of Weaver Row Newsagents in Stirling, Shehzad Aslam of Nisa in Dunfermline, and Sakina and Saleem Masih of Midton Street News and Grocers in Springburn.

Post Office reveals cash transaction dip

Post offices handled £3.26bn in cash withdrawals and deposits in October, slightly down on the £3.35bn handled in September, new data reveals. Post Office data shows personal cash deposits fell 6% month-onmonth to £1.35bn and business cash deposits totalled £1.1bn in October, almost identical to September, and up more than 10% year-on-year.

Thousands of local stores at risk without long-term energy support

Store closures are inevitable if local shops do not receive support on energy bills beyond March 2023, warns the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).

In a letter to the Business Secretary, ACS has called for an extension of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme until at least April 2024 for convenience stores across the UK, giving retailers the certainty they need to be able to keep trading.

Businesses that renewed their contracts at any point a er 1 December 2021 have been eligible for support through the government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme. is support comes in the form of a wholesale price of 21.1p per kWh for electricity and 7.5p per kWh for gas. is is the supported

wholesale price, which makes up part of the overall kWh rate that a business pays. It is currently due to expire at the end of March 2023.

C-stores are facing rates of upwards of 90p per kWh for electricity from April, when the current supported wholesale price expires. For the sector, this equates to a total bill of up to £4.3bn, an average of over £88,000 per store. is could be three to four times what retailers were paying in 2021.

James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “ e case for supporting convenience stores is clear, we provide over 405,000 jobs at store level across the UK, we are the business type that has the most positive impact locally, and we provide an unparalleled

range of products and services on people’s doorsteps. e closure of a convenience store in any community is an enormous loss, so we believe that our sector represents the best return on investment for government looking to provide targeted support.”

ACS is calling on retailers to write to politicians to highlight the impact of rising energy costs on their businesses.

Retailers urged to remind customers about energy scheme vouchers

e NFRN is urging retailers with a PayPoint terminal to ask their customers whether they have received the Energy Support Scheme vouchers and encourage them to cash them in before the 90-day deadline.

All households in England, Scotland and Wales should have begun to receive the rst £400 instalment of the government’s Energy Bill Support Scheme.

For customers who have a prepayment meter, which requires topping up via a key or card in a local newsagent or Post O ce, the help with energy bills comes in the form of a credit voucher sent out by suppliers each month. More than four million people have a prepayment meter, and around half of those are the older, non-smart type of meter, according to the energy watchdog Ofgem.

However, by the end of October, PayPoint revealed that only half of those eligible had redeemed the rst vouchers, which are valid for 90 days.

e NFRN’s National Vice-President Muntazir Dipoti said: “Because of the warmer weather we’ve had, or because they are saving them until nearer Christmas, some people may be hanging on to their vouchers. But it is important that they are aware that the vouchers expire a er 90 days, so they must use them or lose them.”

Consumer group calls on supermarkets to help consumers

Consumer group Which? has identified places in Scotland where people are most likely to struggle to access affordable food.

The study, undertaken with researchers from the Consumer Research Data Centre at the University of Leeds, reveals that the places in highest need of support in Scotland are in the Central Belt. However, there is also a notable concentration in and around Dundee where there is relatively poor access to online food deliveries and people are more likely to be suffering from fuel poverty and on a low income.

The consumer group is calling on supermarkets to sign up to a 10-point plan to support consumers through the cost-of-living crisis.

COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS Which? pinpoints poverty hotspots

through cost-of-living crisis

ENERGY SCHEME PayPoint data shows some people are hanging on to their vouchers

Out-of-home eating occasions rise

Out-of-home eating occasions increased by 15% year-onyear in the 12 weeks ending 3 October, the latest MealTrak figures reveal. The figures, from wholesale experts TWC Group in partnership with food-to-go and out-of-home tracking programme MealTrak, show there were 813 million eating out of home occasions in the 12-week period.

Consumer spending growing

Consumer card spending grew 3.5% year-on-year in October, higher than in September (1.8%), but well below the 8.8% rise in consumer price inflation. Data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, reveals that spending on essential items increased 5.7% year-on-year, steeper than September’s growth (3.3%), reflecting the impact of rising inflation. In addition, fuel spend rose 17.7% year-on-year, 6.6 percentage points higher than last month’s uplift (11.1%).

Police Scotland seize £90k worth of illegal tobacco

Illegal cigarettes and handrolling tobacco worth more than £90,000 have been seized from a property in the Govanhill area of Glasgow. Officers executed a search warrant along with officers from Glasgow City Council Trading Standards and recovered over 211,000 cigarettes and 4.6kg of handrolling tobacco.

Getir to stock Co-op products

Rapid grocery delivery firm Getir is to trial stocking around 300 Co-op ambient and fresh lines. The trial starts on 26 October in Co-op’s Battersea, Earls Court, Seven Sisters, Balham, Tottenham, and Bethnal Green stores in London and will expand to additional locations in the coming months. Getir will also work with Nisa Retail, which will supply its own brand products.

Report highlights impact of MUP

Convenience stores had similar alcohol pricing levels compared to supermarkets in the rst 12 months a er the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of alcohol, according to a new report by Public Health Scotland (PHS).

e report, which evaluates the price and range of alcohol products in the Scottish o -trade sector in the 12 months following the implementation of MUP, shows that alcohol costs in supermarkets increased more than smaller shops, meaning that both were at a similar pricing level. e average price of a unit of alcohol in c-stores increased from 63p to 67p, a rise of 6.3%.

In addition, the report shows that the average price of alcoholic drinks in the o -trade increased in Scotland to a greater extent than was seen in England and Wales over the same period. e increase

in average prices during the study period was also greater than the rises seen between the two years in Scotland prior to MUP.

e greatest increases in price were seen in the types of alcoholic drinks that were priced the lowest relative to their ABV prior to MUP, such as some ciders, perries and supermarket own-brand spirits – all of which tended to be priced below £0.50 per unit prior to MUP being implemented. e products that increased the least in average price, such as some readyto-drink beverages, or those that decreased in price, such as some forti ed wines in convenience stores, appeared most likely to see increased sales.

e report reveals that Buckfast sales increased by 40% a er MUP was introduced, while sales of forti ed wines rose by 18%.

VPZ calls for national vaping policy

Vaping retailer VPZ has called for a national vaping policy to help the Scottish Government reach its 2034 smoke-free ambitions. e Edinburgh-based company is urging health policymakers to introduce greater licensing and controls for selling vaping products.

VPZ says the current challenge facing the industry is imported, unregulated, disposable vaping products becoming readily available from local convenience stores and supermarkets with no regulation or controls.

Doug Mutter, VPZ Director, said: “We are urging the Scottish government to act now and implement measures where avoured products can only be sold from specialist licensed vaping stores, where a Challenge 25 policy is in place and consultation is aimed towards adult smokers and vapers.”

He added: “ is is now a serious threat for the UK that will almost certainly damage the huge progress of vaping in transforming the health of the nation and helping the country meet its smoke-free targets.

“It’s now vital that we have a strong collaboration with the Trading Standards, the MHRA, Border Force, the HMRC, the NHS and the Scottish government to tackle this problem. If we are to meet our ambitions of working towards a smoke-free generation, we now need to be bold and progressive approach where there is also advertising to promote and educate on the health bene ts of vaping.”

Changes were seen in sales across di erent container sizes, including reductions in the amount sold in larger single-item containers, especially for some ciders and own-brand spirits in containers of one litre and over. e amount of beer and cider sold in the largest multipacks also declined, while sales in smaller multipacks increased.

The Association of Convenience Stores has briefed MPs ahead of a rule motion – which allows a backbench MP to make a case for a new bill – on tobacco licensing.

ACS has encouraged MPs to consider how more resources can be directed to trading standards to help them tackle the illicit tobacco trade.

ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “The government should commit to providing additional funding for illicit tobacco enforcement, as set out in the Khan Review, and direct this funding to enforcement teams and local authorities to ensure that they have the staffing and resources that they need to tackle illicit traders.”

ILLICIT TOBACCO ACS calls for ‘targeted support’ to tackle illicit tobacco trade

VAPING Retailer urges health policymakers to introduce greater licensing and controls

ACS updates vaping guides

ACS has updated its Assured Advice guide on selling vapes, helping retailers to tackle the huge rise in illicit products. The new ‘Selling Vapes Responsibly’ guide includes everything that retailers need to know to recognise legitimate products, as well as the age verification policies that should be in place to ensure that products are only sold to those who are legally allowed to purchase them.

Bestway makes senior appointments

Adrian O’Brien will take up the role of Head of Symbol at Bestway Retail on a permanent basis after being seconded to this role earlier this year. In addition, Richard Scrimgeour is joining Bestway Retail as Central Operations Director and Andrew Kenny is joining as Trading Director. Robbie Moore will join Bestway Wholesale as Retail Commercial Manager and Les Mohammed is joining as Head of Trading.

PayPoint retailers see confectionery sales soar

Confectionery sales spiked over the Halloween weekend, new data from PayPoint’s 28,000 UK retailer partners shows. Compared to the previous four weekends, the products most popular among consumers over Halloween were: Cadbury Chopped Nut Black (+116%), Swizzles Chew Bag (+74%), Haribo Tangfastics (+66%), Daim Bars (+48%), Skittles (+42%) and Haribo Maoam Stripes (+37%).

Newsprinters’ Hart to lead News UK retail function

News UK has revealed that Tracey Hart, Newsprinters’ Commercial Director of Operations, is expanding her role to take responsibility for all aspects of its retail function. In her new remit, Hart will integrate the retail function into an endto-end supply chain operation that will also include wholesale, allocation and performance.

Chancellor unveils increase in National Living Wage

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has revealed that there will be an increase in the National Living Wage from the current level of £9.50 an hour for over-23s to £10.42 from April.

SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “ e hike to the National Living Wage from April 2023 represents almost a doubledigit increase and will hit retailers hard particularly as wage costs are a large proportion of shop costs. is in turn will jeopardise pro tability, employment sustainability and ultimately business survival.”

e Chancellor also announced that the energy cap will be raised to £3,000 in April, from £2,500 now.

e NFRN has branded the government’s decision to raise the energy cap without guaranteed support past April as a “terrifying prospect” and may result in the closures of small, independent stores across the country.

James Lowman, Chief Executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, added: “Increases in energy bills are the single biggest concern facing retailers at the moment. We need clarity as soon as possible on what the government intends to do to ensure that convenience stores can keep serving their communities in the new year.”

In addition, the Chancellor announced that electric vehicles will no longer be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty from April 2025.

RAC Head of Policy Nicholas Lyes said: “Vehicle excise duty rates are unlikely to be a de ning reason for vehicle choice, so we don’t expect this tax change to have much of an e ect on dampening the demand for electric vehicles given the many other cost bene ts of running one. e fact that company car tax increases on EVs will be kept low should also keep

ACS urges consistent UK approach for HFSS rules

e Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has raised concerns about the introduction of di erent HFSS rules in Scotland and the impact that they will have on retailers.

In response to an Impact Assessment from the Scottish Government on the details of proposals to restrict the siting and promotion of HFSS products, ACS highlighted the signi cant impact that the proposals will have on retailers.

Chief Executive James Lowman said: “For all included stores in Scotland, but especially for retailers that have stores in both England and Scotland, planning will be extremely di cult and compliance will be expensive.

“We urge the Scottish Government to adopt a consistent approach with the regulations that are already in place to provide a level of certainty for retailers.”

giving eets the con dence to go electric which is vital for increasing the overall number of EVs on our roads.”

Meanwhile, a decision on alcohol duty rates was deferred until next year.

INFLATION

says

The rate of food price inflation will peak at 17-19% in early 2023, then begin to slow over the next 12 months, an IGD forecast has suggested.

The forecast finds inflation will likely remain above zero at the end of 2023, although price reductions may occur beyond that point if market conditions permit. Harvests in 2023 and the value of sterling will be key.

In June, IGD initially calculated that food price inflation would likely accelerate until autumn 2022, peaking at 14-16%, then dissipate by mid2023. However, major strategic changes have affected the food supply chain since June, including significant input cost pressures, a tight labour market, continued supply chain disruption and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Food inflation to peak in early 2023, IGD

HFSS Trade association highlights problems for cross-border retailers

Forecourt crime rising

Rising incidents of unpaid fuel have pushed the latest Forecourt Crime Index to a new record high of 244, according to the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS).

e BOSS Forecourt Crime Index increased by 16.7% to 244.1 during the three months to 30 September 2022, reaching the highest level since the Index was introduced in 2015. e Index collates reports of no means of payment and drive-o incidents made to BOSS Payment Watch, the specialist forecourt fuel loss recovery service.

BOSS has found that during the third quarter 2022 no means of payment incident reports increased by 18.3%, while the number of driveo incidents climbed by 13.8%. Incidents of unpaid fuel are 32% higher than the same period of last year.

e average number of incidents per site rose to 24.8, up from 21.7 in the third quarter of 2022. No means of payment incidents accounted for 65% of all reports and the cost of each incident averaged £78.37, up from £75.54 in the second quarter of the year, while the average cost of a drive-o incident cost increased to £56.63 per incident, up from £53.82 in the previous quarter.

Although the cost of fuel eased during the quarter, BOSS estimates average annual losses per forecourt outlet increasing 22% to £7,026.67, up from £5,766.44 in the same quarter last year. Claire Nichol, the Executive Director at BOSS, said: “ e trend is on the upward curve and even in the face of falling fuel prices, we expect incidents of unpaid fuel to keep growing.

“Forecourts are at greater risk of unpaid fuel incidents during peak periods. Carefully recording information about each unpaid fuel incident means that if a motorist does not return to make a payment, we can be more successful at pursuing those who either forget to pay or deliberately evade payment.”

Scottish wholesalers team up with Volvo to boost electrification

Scottish Wholesale Association and Volvo Trucks have teamed up to trial electric vehicles and to accelerate electri cation across the sector. e partnership aims to boost uptake, and identify, highlight, and eliminate barriers to low-carbon transport solutions in Scotland’s wholesale industry and wider food and drink sector.

SWA members are participating in the pilot that features Volvo’s electric 19-tonne curtainsider truck with rear tail li .

Ylva Haglund, SWA Head of Sustainability and Engagement, said: “We are committed to supporting our members on their journey to a more environmentally sustainable future as we accelerate the transition to net zero and progress towards a circular economy.

“Our aim is to inspire and facilitate action and increase awareness of the ways in which our members can move towards eet decarbonisation and a further seven SWA members have already signed up to participate in the trial.”

Scottish government consults on further action to reduce alcohol-related harm

Convenience Matters with the SGF

Sustainability is undeniably beneficial for c-stores, for the communities they serve and for the environment.

But here’s the rub: to make long-term investments in a business’s sustainability, operators need a viable margin, time, and breathing room to plan. These are all in short supply for retailers just now, many of whom are just trying to keep the lights on.

It may be an overused phrase but making a business more environmentally sustainable can also make it more financially sustainable.

Energy costs are cut, stock and equipment are better managed and customer satisfaction is higher. So, it would make good sense for government and legislators to take those factors seriously. C-stores are community assets and if ministers truly want to promote a green economy, understanding the pressures on our sector and targeting support where it is needed would be a good place to start.

That is especially true during times of extreme economic turmoil and uncertainty. SGF research conducted last month shows energy prices and the cost of living are the main concerns for many retailers. Meanwhile, interest rates, an ever-growing mountain of regulation, and acute inflation on food and drink, are only adding more pressure.

Last month, SGF hosted its regular Cross Party Group at Holyrood – this time focused on sustainability. Thanks to the contributors for their insightful presentations. It’s clear there are many opportunities open to our sector, and convenience retailers are ideally placed to be at the forefront of building more sustainable communities… but only if they have the capacity and headroom to invest in the future.

e Scottish government has launched a consultation on plans to restrict alcohol advertising at sporting events, on buses, and online and elsewhere to reduce the appeal of alcohol and improve the nation’s health.

e government said the proposals have been informed by the Children’s Parliament and the Young Scot Health Panel.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “ ere is clear evidence that adverts which glamorise drinking can encourage young people to drink alcohol and have a detrimental impact on those in recovery from problem alcohol use.

“We are making progress already – with our minimum unit pricing reducing alcohol sales in the o -trade – but with 1,245 alcohol-related deaths last year we know that more needs to be done if we are to tackle Scotland’s problematic relationship with alcohol.”

e consultation announcement came days a er new research, commissioned by alcohol expert body Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and carried out by the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, reveals that the Scottish Premiership has a higher proportion of alcohol industry sponsors compared to most of the other European nations studied.

e study reveals that in comparison to 10 other European leagues, Scotland had the second-highest proportion of alcohol industry sponsors a er Belgium, at 6.4% in Scotland compared to 2.6% across all the countries studied. Moreover, of the 12 Scottish Premiership football teams, six have at least one alcohol industry main sponsor or partner. e report is the reason behind SHAAP launching the Calling Time on alcohol sports sponsorship campaign.

Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Chair of SHAAP, said: “Doctors and the entire healthcare team see the impact of alcohol on people’s health, day in, day out. is is not surprising given how present alcohol products and alcohol marketing are in our everyday lives and the fact that the alcohol industry is allowed to sponsor our sports teams and events – which should be about health, participation and community. at is why we are being joined by others in our call to the Scottish Government to ban alcohol sponsorship in sports.”

Former First Minister Henry McLeish added: “ ere is something very special and unique about the dedication of Scottish football fans and our emotional connection to our clubs and the game. And this

commitment is being capitalised on by the alcohol industry who use sponsorship to increase sales of their products to fans.”

He said: “We must nd a better way to nance Scottish football, nding sponsors with values that align with sports and community and that’s why I support today’s call for a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sports.”

In response to the consultation, Matt Lambert, Chief Executive of the alcohol social responsibility body and marketing regulator the Portman Group, said: “ ese recommendations are entirely disproportionate and inhibit consumers’ ability to make informed choices, and restrict the ability to trade for producers and retailers who ensure that alcohol is sold responsibly.” e consultation also reviews the role of Portman Group’s regulatory remit. Lambert added: “ e Portman Group’s Codes of Practice have played a signi cant role in helping to achieve reductions in underage drinking, through extensive commitments to ensure that marketing and sponsorship does not target under-18s or vulnerable consumers.

“ e Scottish Government’s own Health Survey published last week shows that average weekly intake has fallen to well below the o cial UK Government weekly guidelines. is has all occurred at a time when the amount of advertising spend has increased, suggesting that there isn’t an immediate correlation between them.

“However, there is still work to be done in addressing the small minority that drink to harmful levels and they require targeted health-led interventions.”

e public can view the proposals and give their views on the Scottish Government consultation at consult.gov.scot/alcohol-policy/alcohol-advertisingand-promotion/. e consultation will run for 16 weeks and will close on 9 March 2023.

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

LEGISLATION New rules could restrict alcohol advertising

The government has launched a consultation on proposals that have been informed by the Children’s Parliament and the Young Scot Health Panel.

Northern Ireland. Bringing our world-class food and drink to your table.

Over 100 years ago Northern Ireland introduced whiskey to the world and now our distillers and craft brewers are in the midst of a vibrant renaissance. Over the last decade, our drinks sector has become one of the region’s most dynamic, innovative and export-driven industries. Our drinks producers are winning awards across the globe, driving buoyant sales at home and abroad and our buzzing visitor centres and tap rooms are enticing tourists into cities, towns and villages across the four corners of our beautiful country.

Northern Ireland is now home to over 20 distilleries and breweries producing single malt, pot still and blended Irish whiskeys, gin, poitin, vodka, rum, craft beer, cider and hard seltzers. From Old Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed distillery, to innovative newcomers including Hinch, Echlinville, McConnells, Rademon, Killowen, Copeland and Boatyard you can be sure of Pure, Natural, Quality drinks and a warm welcome. Slainte! Learn how you can serve our quality food and drink.

Northern Ireland. Altogether more.

For further information contact Iain Joannides, Invest NI

E: iain.joannides@investni.com Michelle Charrington, Invest NI

E: michelle.charrington@investni.com

We work with local producers to help identify new trends, bring forward innovative products and grow their business.

CAROLYN THOMSON REGIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER, SBF GB&I

The Javeds’ store has a great range with lots of variety to meet their customers’ needs. They have become an integral part of the community and have plans to extend their store, so they can expand their offering even further while still considering their environmental impact.

They have already implemented some fantastic measures to make their store more sustainable and save money, including fitting doors to one of their chillers to be more energy efficient. They also plan to change the shop layout to allow more space for additional chiller doors.

The store extension will feature a new carpark to allow for easier customer access. As part of this, the Javeds are looking to install up to five electric car charging units to cater for their sustainabilityconscious customers. Jawad has also been looking into the potential of electric delivery vehicles to help reduce emissions.

Finally, the Javeds have already installed LED lights throughout the store to reduce energy consumption and are investigating panels as another way to make their store more sustainable. In a recent project with another retailer, our calculations have shown that installing LED panelled lighting can slash retailers’ lighting costs in half; so now is a great time for other stores to look into this option.

Carolyn Thomson from Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) visited Asiyah and Jawad Javed’s store, Day Today, in Stenhousemuir to find out what sustainability means to them, and what they are doing to reduce their environmental footprint.

Here is some advice from SBF GB&I on how to make your store more sustainable and energy efficient, following in the Javeds’ footsteps:

medium-sized enterprises save money on www.businessenergyscotland.org

Energy Saving Trust may help your business cut energy usage: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Get Switching provides advice and support on finding the best energy deal: www.getswitchinggroup.com

We’ve already made great progress on our target of 100% recyclable packaging across our range by 2025. Consider the environmental footprint of products you are stocking

THE LOWDOWN ON DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEMES

The Scottish Government is due to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme in summer 2023. The aims of the scheme are to increase the recycling rate of drinks containers and reduce littering. We’re passionate advocates for effective Deposit Return Schemes, but we also know their impact will be one of the biggest changes in shopper behaviour in generations so we’re here to support retailers’ through any challenges.

SBF GB&I is the only major soft drinks company to have a comprehensive understanding of how shoppers are going to react to DRS following a major recent study involving almost 8,000 people. We published our findings in a white paper called Deposit Return Schemes: What’s in Store? - to help guide retailers through what the schemes mean for them and their shoppers.

The key element of DRS is that most stores that sell soft drinks will be required to take back used drinks containers. One method for collection is a reverse vending machine (RVM), which can identify the item being returned and ensure the appropriate amount of money is returned.

Asiyah and Jawad have already confirmed the location of their RVM and are feeling well prepared for the introduction of the scheme. If you would like support in getting your store ready for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, please contact your local SBF GB&I representative today.

TO SEE MORE ADVICE AROUND SUSTAINABILITY AND DRS, DOWNLOAD THE STUDY HERE, OR FOLLOW @SUNTORYBF_GBI ON TWITTER AND LINKEDIN

WILL COMMON SENSE PREVAIL?

DRS remains, and should always have been, a glorious opportunity for our sec tor to play a key role in achieving something truly special, truly game changing for the many communities we serve across Scotland. No one has ever doubted that, if we could get it right, DRS could be up there with our finest achievements as an industry.

The problem is, it very much looks like we’re not on course to get it right. DRS is seriously at risk of descending into farce – and from where I’m sitting it all comes down to one thing: planning. Or rather, the lack of it. We’ve had literally years to get our rPet plastic ducks lined up on this one – and the entire supply chain has long been flagging up the monumental hurdles the industry faces in delivering a workable DRS. It’s a monster of a project for everyone involved.

Yet with only about nine months to go until D-Day, we’re still not much closer to answering the key questions – and we’re rapidly running out of time. And what happens when you leave the big decisions until too late in the game? You invariably get bad decisions and low-quality compromises. It should have been simple: local retailers are the obvious choice for return points. There’s more of them than there is of any other type of business. And it had to be cost-neutral, as repeatedly promised. No one would have expected local retailers to have to subsidise the scheme. Couldn’t be simpler.

Establishing a suitable handling fee was always going to be a thankless task, mainly down to the sheer impossibility of calculating a fee that works across the board. But a little more engagement with retailers, large and small, before publishing the proposed fee would have gone a long way to allaying fears.

So we are where we are with a legal challenge and a last-gasp rethink on exemptions which looks suspiciously like it’s designed to provide those pesky retailers with an easier way out and stop upsetting the apple cart. All we were asking for was what we were promised: cost neutrality, or at the very least, something that looks vaguely like cost neutrality.

We can only hope that some common sense prevails, and we can find a way to get everyone pointing roughly in the same direction. We all want DRS to work. We all want to play our part. But you have to meet us halfway. This should have been a life-affirming celebration and something we could all be proud of. It still can be – but we’re running out of time.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

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

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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.

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Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

©55NorthLtd.2022 ISSN1740-2409.

ARE WE HEADING FOR A SUPERMARKET DRS?

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

As 2022 draws to a close and our thoughts begin to turn to 2023, one prospect looms larger than most in the year ahead: the implementation of Scotland’s new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on 16 August next year.

It’s an issue that has been vexing retailers, wholesalers and producers for years and with only about nine months to go until the Scheme is scheduled to go live, it is still mired in confusion, controversy and unanswered questions.

It’s rapidly looking look a huge missed opportunity for Scotland. No one doubts that DRS is A Good ing – but we are stumbling towards the start date and the DRS debate is becoming increasingly fractious. is should have been a massive opportunity to move forward together and create something truly special in Scotland, taking a big step towards a circular economy.

You could write a book on DRS but for the purposes of this article, let’s just focus on two central points of contention here: the Retailer Handling Fee and the issue of exemptions.

HANDLING ERROR

Having been told without consultation that they would have to participate in the DRS and that it would be cost-neutral, retailers quite rightly reacted with anger when the handling fee was nally published.

Original estimates at a fee that would make the scheme cost-neutral for retailers was around the 12p per container mark, so retailers were more than a little aggrieved when Scheme Administrator Circularity Scotland Limited (CSL) nally published its proposed handling fee on May 7, revealing that the actual handling fee would be only a fraction of that earlier estimate: 2.69p per container for manual returns and 3.55p per container (for up to 8,000 containers per week) for retailers using an automated Reverse Vending Machine (RVM). Above 8,000 containers they will receive just 1.35p.

e Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) repeatedly questioned the handling fee and requested that it be reviewed. No dice. So Bellshill local retailer Abdul Majid MBE raised judicial review proceedings in the Court of Session against CSL, challenging the legality of the fees.

Abdul took the drastic step as “a last resort” on behalf of Scotland’s local retailing community, deeply concerned that the handling fee levels will not cover his costs and will be detrimental to his business – and he’s not the only retailer with those concerns. During a recent DRS roundtable

The Scottish Government is making it easier for local retailers to opt out of the Deposit Return Scheme – but opting out risks handing even more footfall to the supermarkets, warns SGF.

hosted by SLR, every major group represented around the table – including Scotmid, CJ Lang and One O One Convenience Stores – said the proposed fee would not even come close making DRS cost neutral. Abdul, for his part, is quietly con dent that his legal challenge will succeed, and if it does?

In very simple terms, Abdul’s point is this: how can a cost-neutral system be implemented when those setting it don’t know what the costs are? And what exactly is a cost? Which costs are included in the calculation? Lost sales space?

Extra sta hours? RVM maintenance fees?

Granted, it was an impossible task to try to establish a handling fee that would work across the board, but many retailers are unhappy with what they see as a lack of real consultation with the industry during this process.

EXEMPTION TIME

Now onto the second point, and one that could be even more disastrous in the longer term for the local retailing sector in Scotland, according to SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema OBE.

A er updating its o cial DRS guidance, the Scottish Government has made it much easier for local retailers to secure exemptions, allowing them to opt out of becoming a Return Point Operator. e original communications made it clear that exemptions would be like hen’s teeth. at no longer appears to be the case.

“ e recent guidance update from the Scottish Government makes the process of applying for an exemption much simpler,” said Cheema. “What we at SGF are deeply concerned about is that by doing so, we may be sleepwalking towards a de facto supermarket DRS. Initial o cial estimates suggested that Scotland would need well over 30,000 Return Points to make the Scheme work. at number has been revised down to just 5,000.

“Local store operators have never said that they want to have all their stores exempt but rather that they want to be part of the scheme. It is essential however that DRS remains cost neutral to Return Point Operators and does not leave them with an additional cost burden or put them out of business.

would still encourage the Scottish Government to intervene and ensure that CSL are only adhering to what the regulations permit them to and not engage in trying to impose a handling fee that legally they are not allowed to do.”

And it’s here that the two handling fee and exemption sticking points converge in what is rapidly becoming an unholy mess for convenience retailers.

VITAL DECISION

Be careful what you wish for, advises Cheema. e temptation to avoid the hassle of DRS by opting out will be attractive to many local retailers, particularly those already struggling to make ends meet, but Cheema strongly advises against this approach.

“If local retailers opt out then customers will have no choice but to visit RVMs at their nearest supermarket to return their drinks containers and get their deposits back. Local retailers are certain to lose footfall, sales and pro ts to supermarkets. Cast your mind back to the when the National Lottery was introduced. Retailers who got it saw footfall and sales rise dramatically and those who didn’t saw their footfall decline.”

It’s also worth pointing out that all the major retail groups in Scotland will not choose to opt out. As SLR was going to press, One O One Convenience Stores announced that it was partnering with RVM Systems for the supply and operation of Reverse Vending Machines in the chain’s stores.

Paul Stirling, Group Retail Director at One O One Convenience Stores owner Scotsman

“We

“

If local retailers opt out then they are certain to lose footfall, sales and profits to supermarkets.”

PETE CHEEMA, CEO, SGF

Hospitality Group, said: “Our retail business has been at the forefront of discussions for the Deposit Return Scheme and this partnership with RVM Systems will enable all our customers to continue to shop locally and fully participate in the scheme. It is important for us that all our stores give our customers the best local experience and convenience for participating in the scheme to enable them to redeem their deposits easily.”

In other words, One O One Convenience doesn’t want to lose footfall and is having to invest a very signi cant sum to achieve that.

WHAT NEXT?

So how did it come to this? It looks increasingly like making exemptions easier is the quick and dirty solution to dealing with truculent retailers: if you don’t like it, just opt out.

But, as Cheema highlighted, local retailers didn’t want to opt out in the rst place, they just wanted a handling fee that would ensure the scheme is cost neutral to them, as it was always intended to be. Why should they be expected to subsidise the cost of the scheme? Indeed, the necessity to ensure that DRS must be “cost neutral” for the retailer is a point that has been repeatedly made by Lorna Slater, Scottish Government Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.

LONG LIST

ese two key issues are of course, by no means represent a comprehensive list of the many problems that lie ahead between now and August. e recent CSL Conference in Glasgow

threw some light on the key challenge of upli frequency, but we’re still a long way away from a formal schedule – and for good reason. Bi a can hardly be expected to provide an upli schedule when it doesn’t even know how many Return Points there will be. And this is a vital issue which a ects everything from what size of RVM a retailer needs to how much storage space will be required in the back of the shop.

en there’s the problem of communicating the scheme to customers. It was suggested at the CSL conference that a media campaign will begin in July, just a month or so before the scheme goes live, a suggestion that was met with unsurprising disbelief. e list goes on, and we will continue to address DRS in every issue of SLR moving forward as we try to unravel this hugely complex issue for you.

STRAIGHT BAT

But one thing is for sure: if DRS does become largely a supermarket DRS, it will be a disaster for our sector. All that local retailers have ever asked is that the Scheme is in line with the rules explicitly set out by the Scottish Government when the legislation was rst passed.

“SGF has been and remains fully committed to a t for purpose scheme,” says Cheema. “Local retailers across Scotland are wholeheartedly committed to helping deliver a world class scheme that will take Scotland much closer to its long-term circular economy goals – but for that to happen recognition must be given and action taken to address the concerns around retailer handling fee levels. We have genuine concerns that under the proposed handling fee levels, many local retailing outlets in communities across Scotland could face closure.”

promoter reserve the right

select

Promoter: Mondelez Europe Services GmBH- UK Branch, Uxbridge Business Park, Sanderson Road, Uxbridge, UB81DH.

Lomond launches ownlabel range

Lomond: The Wholesale Food Co has launched an own-label cooked meats range in response to customer demand for locally sourced, top-quality products. The new range includes sliced cooked meats and joints such as pulled smoked ham hock, sliced topside beef and sliced honeyglazed gammon. The move follows the wholesaler’s launch of a dedicated guide to Scottish produce.

Prepare for Veganuary

Swizzels has called on retailers to get ready to cash in on Veganuary, as the 2023 edition of the annual challenge to try a vegan diet for a month shapes up to be the biggest yet. To capitalise, the brand suggested that retailers prioritise stocking the right range of vegan sugar confectionery; highlight value ranges; and create a Veganuary display. More than 629,000 people signed up for the challenge in 2022.

Spar Scotland unveils new hot food-to-go range

Irish food brand Deli Lites has secured a listing with Spar Scotland for its recently launched range of Planet Café hot foodto-go products. Available from more than 100 company-owned Spar stores, six new heat-to-eat products are inspired by flavours of the world with a focus on premium ingredients and being kind to the planet.

Pepsi Max tops taste test

Pepsi has announced the results of its latest Pepsi Max Taste Challenge, which returned this summer after a two-year Covidinduced break. It will come as no surprise to learn that 70% of participants in a blind taste test preferred no-sugar Pepsi Max compared to the full-fat version of its biggest-selling competitor. Pepsi is putting the word out via a full-scale digital campaign running across Insta, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok, coupled with out-of-home ads.

Product News

SPORTS & ENERGY

Rubicon Raw powers GB Snowsport

Rubicon Raw Energy has agreed a four-year deal as e O cial Energy Drink of GB Snowsport that will see the AG Barr brand sponsor British world-class skiers and snowboarders.

GB Snowsport takes in 12 disciplines including Freeski, Freestyle Snowboard and Para Snowsport, and has a UK fan base of 11.8 million people.

Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr So Drinks, said: “We are looking forward to working with the teams at such an exciting time for the sport.”

Mars Wrigley offers advice on growing gum sales

Mars Wrigley has unveiled availabilityintoaction.co.uk, a bespoke website that offers independent retailers tips on how to create bestin-class gum displays.

The launch follows a 2021 marketing campaign, also named Availability into Action.

Content on the site includes category expertise and merchandising advice, covering topics that include evolving consumption occasions for gum and the importance of its availability.

TOBACCO Makeover focuses on ‘true pleasure of rolling’

New look for Riverstone

Imperial Tobacco has launched a brand new look for its Riverstone roll-your-own brand.

As part of the refresh, Riverstone trade outers have a new design that focuses on the “true pleasure of rolling,” whilst giving a subtle nod to the brand’s heritage with imagery of mountains.

While the Riverstone range has a new look, the tobacco blend remains exactly the same.

New-look Riverstone is available now, in 30g and 50g formats with RSPs of £13.65 and £23.35 respectively.

Red Bull launches live streaming promo

Red Bull has launched a new on-pack competition giving live streaming fans the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to a global Red Bull Gaming Event of their choice for them and a friend.

The competition specifically targets 18–34-year-olds who log in to watch their favourite gamers play live online.

To enter, consumers must nominate their favourite upand-coming streamer. The first 1,000 gamers who nominate will receive a Red Bull sample pack.

The promotion runs across Red Bull Energy Drink 4x250ml & 8x250ml cans and Red Bull Sugarfree 4x250ml and 8x250ml cans.

MINTS & GUM

SPORTS & ENERGY

TOUGH OUT THE TOBACCO CATEGORY – P36

Coke’s Christmas countdown commences

Coca-Cola Europaci c Partners (CCEP) has kicked-o its annual Coca-Cola Christmas countdown with the launch of a brand new onpack promotion.

Festive-themed sharing packs of Coca-Cola Original Taste, CocaCola Zero Sugar and, for the rst time, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Cherry

are available now and feature the brand’s traditional Santa Claus to drive standout on shelf.

Shoppers can scan QR codes onpack for the chance to win a £200 Love2Shop gi card. ere are 1,000 cards up for grabs, as well as thousands of exclusive Coca-Cola and festive gi s.

e promotion runs across plain and price-marked large PET bottles (1.25l, 1.75l and 2l) and multipacks of cans. Convenience retailers can request POS materials from My.CCEP.com.

e on-pack activity is being supported by a multi-millionpound marketing campaign.

Lucozade Sport launches text-to-win cash promo

Lucozade Sport is giving shoppers the chance to win £90 every 90 minutes this winter through a brandnew text-to-win promotion, as part of an ongoing

Shoppers simply need to purchase any Lucozade Sport product and text ‘CASH’ to 62123 to nd out if they’ve won.

Paper packs for Mentos

Perfetti Van Melle has unveiled new paper packaging for Mentos Pure Fresh Gum. The new bottle is made with 90% paper and launched in around 600 Co-op food stores, across the full Mentos Pure Fresh flavour range of Cherry, Tropical and Fresh Mint. A nationwide out-of-home campaign printed on FSCcertified materials supports the new sustainable format.

Urban Eat relaunch targets breakfast market

Urban Eat has unveiled a refresh campaign, to promote the food-to-go brand’s wider and improved range. The refresh includes updated recipes and fillings across the portfolio, new flavours, bigger eats, salads and pasta pots, and a wider breakfast offering, extending Urban Eat’s consumption occasions outside lunchtime. New packaging is

SPORTS & ENERGY Shoppers can win £90 every minutes

SOFT DRINKS Perennial campaign includes scan-to-win promo

Kylie unveils alcohol-free sparkling rosé

Australian princess of pop and former Neighbours star Kylie Minogue has launched an alcohol-free sparkling rosé under her Kylie Minogue Wines brand. The 0% wine is available now from Booker with an RSP of £7. It is produced from selected ingredients that include premium European grapes and high altitude, hand-picked, organic tea from the Yunnan province in China.

New look for Glayva

Whyte & Mackay has given its Glayva liqueur brand a makeover, with a new orange bottle closure and textured label. The new label is also more descriptive than the previous black version. This follows market research which indicated that consumers loved the taste of Glayva and the bottle’s shape and design but were initially unsure of what was inside or what the contents would taste like.

Cash in on cider’s biggestever winter, says Westons Westons Cider is urging retailers to capitalise on what it predicts will be a historic winter for cider. The producer forecasts record cider sales as the first ever winter World Cup transitions smoothly into the festive season. Since cider sales in December usually rise by a quarter compared to November, Westons is advising stores to bring any Christmas offers and advertising forward to make the most of the football.

VK brings back Candy Cane for Christmas

e VK Mixed Packs contain 10 x 275ml bottles of the 4% drink. Alongside Candy Cane, avours include Blue, Strawberry & Lime, Orange & Passion Fruit, Tropical Fruits, Apple & Mango, Watermelon, Black Cherry, and Raspberry & Peach.

and send this to @VKdrink on Instagram to claim their jumper, while stocks last.

ere are also hundreds of Christmas prizes to be won in multiple giveaways across VK’s Insta this Christmas, including VK Santa hats.

RTD brand VK has reintroduced its Candy Cane variant for the festive season.

Candy Cane – with avours of strawberry and peppermint – is available now in limited-edition festive Mixed Packs (RSP £10) and 70cl bottles (RSP £2.99).

In 2019, Candy Cane Mixed Packs sold out across the nation by 15 December.

ose purchasing a Mixed Pack will also be in with a chance of winning an exclusive VK Christmas jumper.

ere are over 100 golden tickets placed randomly in packs; winners must take a picture of their ticket

19 Crimes launches boxed Chardonnay

Treasury Wine Estates has added a Chardonnay varietal to its 19 Crimes bag-in-box portfolio.

19 Crimes Chard (13.5% ABV) is a rich oaked white wine, featuring avours of ripe stone fruit avours so ened with honey, butterscotch and vanilla notes. e 1.5l bagin-box holds the equivalent of two bottles of wine that can be consumed for up to six weeks once opened.

Crimes Red and Rosé 1.5l bag-inbox performance, we are expecting the Chard to deliver a signi cant upli to value sales of the overall bag-in-box category, and continue to strengthen the Red, White and Rosé BiB category, driving value for our brand and our customers.”

“We expect this new product to recruit more millennial consumers and encourage repeat purchase of this much-loved brand.”

Charlie Leaver, Head of Brand at Global Brands, commented: “At VK we love all that Christmas brings, from celebrations with friends and family through to fun avours like gingerbread and candy cane. Following huge demand for candy cane in 2019, we couldn’t help but bring it back for fans to try this year.”

Smirnoff drops new Cherry flavour

Smirno has added a new Cherry Drop (ABV 37.5%) avour to its avoured vodka portfolio.

e new variant is available in a 70cl format (RSP £16.50), initially in Asda exclusively ahead of a wider launch next February.

Whitley Neill

launches

noalcohol gins

Premium gin brand Whitley Neill is expanding into the low and no category for the first time with the launch of four new 0.0 variants. The new launches provide consumers with alcoholfree versions of Whitley Neill’s core range – Rhubarb & Ginger, Raspberry, Blood Orange, as well as a Spiced Dry, tapping into the booming low and no category. All four variants are available now with a £22 RSP.

Like the brand’s wines in bottle, it features AR technology onpack with 19 Crimes’ character Jane Castings coming to life via one of TWE’s Living Wine Labels.

e box is sustainable and more environmentally friendly than transporting glass bottles.

TWE is supporting the launch with in-store and PR activities alongside social and in uencer engagement.

Ben Blake, Head of Marketing EMEA at Treasury Wine Estates, commented: “Based on our 19

It comes with avoured vodka the fastest-growing segment within spirits and cherry a top 10 avour pro le among consumers.

Combining the avour of red cherries with the brand’s vodka, Smirno Cherry Drop has a bright, red, vibrant bottle that stands out on shelves and backlit gantries.

Mark Jarman, Head of Smirno GB, said: “We know that cherry is a trending avour and the popularity of vodka is only increasing, so this launch further establishes Smirno ’s position as a leader in the category”

RTDs Festive favourite returns

VODKA Flavoured spirits keep on coming

WINE TWE targets millennials

Absolut Choir turns up volume

Pernod Ricard’s premium vodka brand Absolut has launched ‘ e Absolut Choir’, fronted by popstar and actor Olly Alexander, to “raise the voices of inspiring changemakers, pioneers and creatives across the UK”.

Singing an entirely new version of his hit song Shine, Alexander and e Absolut Choir aim to turn up the volume on a variety of causes and conversations, including body positivity, disability awareness and equal rights.

To celebrate the new project, Alexander has designed a limitededition wrap for 30,000 of Absolut’s bottles, which will be available from Booker in January.

A three-week media campaign saw Absolut visible across online video and social channels, as well as supported through a media partnership with LadBible. e brand also o ered its media spend, channels and social platforms to the people in e Absolut Choir and their causes so their voices could be heard.

Within e Absolut Choir are trans rights advocate Kenny Ethan Jones, disability champion Sian Lord, body positivity advocate Nyome Nicholas-Williams, Trans Voices Choir directors Coda Nicolae , ILĀ Sebastian and their members, and creatives from the Trans Creative Collective (TCC).

WINE

Dead Man’s Fingers unveils two new tequila drinks

Accolade expands B.INK

portfolio

B.INK, a new brand from Accolade Wines, has launched Rosé and Chardonnay editions in a bid to introduce young professionals to wine.

The launch is supported by digital influencer and paid social media activities. Consumer sampling will run in 2023 across the UK to increase brand awareness.

Chardonnay is the third largest type of white wine in the UK, worth £467m. B.INK’s South Australian Chardonnay is medium to full bodied, combining vanilla and toasted hazelnut flavours with peach and citrus, before finishing with a creamy mouthfeel.

Glen’s freshens up

Glen’s Vodka has undergone an image makeover to strengthen its market position. In the first modifications made to its branding in over eight years, Glen’s has refreshed the packaging design across its full product range to improve shelf standout and quality cues. The updated packaging features a new shield logo and detailed illustrations, bolder and more visible typography, and a brighter and more vibrant colour palate.

Award win for Cù Bòcan

Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt has been awarded ‘Best Whisky’ at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards. The experimental Highland Single Malt is distilled every winter at Tomatin Distillery in limited batches and made with lightly peated Scottish barley. The current range comprises Cù Bòcan Signature, the limitededition Creation series and the newly released limited-edition Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old.

Konnichiwa to Japanese whisky from Love Drinks

Love Drinks has entered the Japanese drinks sector for the first time after taking on the UK distribution for the Ikigai Collection. The independent importer will initially focus on whisky, specifically the Kurayoshi Distillery’s ‘The Matsui Single Malt’, ‘The Kurayoshi Pure Malt’ and ‘The Tottori Blended’ ranges, which are now available to the Scottish off-trade.

Dead Man’s Fingers (DMF) is reaching further into the Tequila category with the launch of a new Co ee Tequila Liqueur (RSP £18, ABV 28%), as well as a ready-to-drink Margarita mix can (RSP £1.99, ABV 5%).

e new liqueur blends tequila with avours of bittersweet co ee to create a “deliciously decadent” drink, to be enjoyed over ice, as a shot or mixed up in a cocktail such as an Espresso Martini.

e new Margarita RTD is made using Dead Man’s Fingers Tequila Reposado liquid, o ering shoppers a ready-to-drink serve in an on-the-go format.

Rosé blends are the highest value rosé varietal, worth £121m, and are a popular choice for B.INK’s younger audience. The brand’s South Australian rosé offers long-lasting, sweet fruit flavours, mixing strawberry, guava, and citrus with hints of red berries.

B.INK Rosé and Chardonnay (both 13.5% ABV) are available now with an RSP of £9.

The Macallan expands Harmony Collection

The Macallan has unveiled The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired by Intense Arabica (RSP £140), as part of the limited annual release series The Harmony Collection. The new single malt celebrates the world of coffee and has been inspired by the Ethiopian Arabica coffee bean. Its hybrid packaging was created using repurposed and recycled materials including discarded coffee bean husks.

TEQUILA DMF launches liqueur and RTD

CHECKOUT SCOTLAND IS BACK!

GroceryAid Scotland has confirmed that its game-changing Checkout music festival will return next year, even bigger and even better than this year’s hugely successful launch event.

Following the incredible success of the launch of Checkout Scotland, the Scottish Committee of industry charity GroceryAid has con rmed that the event will be back next year due to massive demand and fantastic feedback.

e event will return on 31 August 2023, so it’s time to stick the date in your diary and make sure you don’t miss what is sure to be a highlight of next year’s trade calendar.

Held at the start of September this year, the inaugural festival saw over 600 industry colleagues attend an upli ing celebration of the convenience and grocery trade. Checkout Scotland featured DJs, live music and fantastic sponsor activations, providing our industry with the perfect opportunity to chill out, catch up and enjoy some top quality entertainment from stars like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Scouting For Girls, e Feeling and George Bowie.

Checkout Scotland 2023 will be even bigger and even better, once more bringing independent and multiple retailers, wholesalers, brands and supporters together for another fantastic day.

VITAL SUPPORT

Peter Steel, Joint Chairman of the GroceryAid Scotland Committee, told SLR: “I think it’s safe to say that Checkout Scotland was a huge success and the feedback we have had has made it clear that everyone wants to see the event return again next year.

“As well as providing our industry colleagues with a fantastic opportunity to catch up with friends, make a few new ones, listen to some world class performers and have a great day out, Checkout Scotland also helps us raise awareness of GroceryAid and the many vital services it can o er to industry colleagues who may need emotional, practical or nancial help.

“A er the immense challenges of the last few years, the demand for GroceryAid’s services is, unfortunately, at an all-time high. So the more colleagues that know that GroceryAid is there to help the better.”

GET INVOLVED

Whether you want to reward your team, showcase a brand and product, or simply support the charity that supports colleagues in the local retailing sector in Scotland, GroceryAid Scotland would love to see you there.

ere is a range of sponsorship packages to suit brands and suppliers of all sizes. All of the funds raised from the event will go towards helping colleagues in need with emotional, practical and nancial support from GroceryAid.

PROGRESSION NOT PERFECTION

Helping the convenience channel become more sustainable

SLR PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022

The SLR Products of the Year Awards recognises the products that have had a positive impact on stores and sales – and rewards the suppliers who invested in bringing them to market.

YEAR 2022

products is clear to see; innovative launches help to keep local retailers on trend and on track.

at’s why as 2022 draws to a close, SLR has once again launched its Products of the Year Awards.

“We’ve implemented a few things over the past year. We’ve added some doors to our chillers and have bought an electric delivery vehicle. We’ve also got an energy monitoring solution in place that allows us to track our total consumption. By adding doors, we’ve reduced our consumption by a minimum of 25-30%, and we’re taking that even further now by optimising the temperatures at certain times of the day and understanding whether things need to go down to that temperature or not. By doing that, we can make even more savings.”

However small, we want to hear about the steps you’re making on your sustainability journey. Share your ideas with us via @SuntoryBF_GBI on Twitter, and together we can help the channel grow for good.

From fruity- avoured spirits to avoured chocolate, sugar-free so drinks and restaurant-inspired snacks, the steady ow of innovative new products launched in 2022 has o ered local retailers loads of ways to revamp their ranges with ashes of in-store theatre, excitement and fun.

is year there has also been a steady stream of new products to help retailers handle sustainability demands and England’s new HFSS regulations, while also helping consumers cope with the cost-ofliving crisis.

anks to the power and pull of social media, new product launches have also o ered retailers an array of opportunities to engage with their customers online and highlight the freshness and relevance of their instore o ers.

A quick peek at social media feeds of some of the industry’s leading retailers reveals hundreds of likes and comments from engaged customers who are only too keen to try and buy. e power of new

Now in their third year, the Awards are designed to celebrate the hero new products that have had such a positive impact on stores and sales and, crucially, to reward the suppliers who invested in bringing them to market.

Winners of the SLR Products of the Year New Awards will be selected by the local retailing community, with all retailers able to vote for their favourites from our shortlist and explain how their chosen products have helped to shape their success this year.

Once the votes have been cast, the winners will be announced in a special supplement as part of the January 2022 issue of SLR.

All winning products will also be entitled to carry the SLR Products of the Year Awards 2022 winner logo on-pack and in their marketing materials – thereby completing a virtuous circle by helping drive further sales in the future in local retailing outlets across the country, because we all know that shoppers

love an award-winning product.

Engaging and new products are the lifeblood of the local retailing industry and we’re helping celebrate this year’s best launches – with the winners chosen exclusively by local retailers.

Mentos Minis

Perfetti Van Melle

New Mentos Minis bags (RSP £1) contain nine 40 calorie mini-rolls of Mentos. Bags contain a mixture of both Strawberry- and Orangeflavoured rolls. The launch is supported by social media and instore activities. Perfetti Van Melle said: “The introduction of Mentos Minis comes at the perfect time as portion control and health consideration becomes a topic increasingly under the microscope.”

Cigalike Elfbar

Elfbar has announced the launch of Cigalike, a new disposable vape that just looks like a conventional cigarette and designed to support hardcore adult smokers quit their habits. The Cigalike provides around 400 puffs – the equivalent to smoking 50 standard cigarettes. With an RSP of £2.99, it comes in a range of 20 flavours and features an upgraded coil and an ultracompact design with a diameter of 9mm.

Family Saver sausages and grills

KQF

KQF’s new Family Saver range of halal sausages and grills has been developed to new recipes and is available in 1kg packs. The products are designed to help consumers to eat well, despite the fast-rising cost of living. All are sold in packs of 20. The new products include Chicken Grills, Chicken Sausages, Chicken & Lamb Grills, and Chicken & Lamb Sausages. Visit kqf-foods.com or call 01254 56699 to find out more.

Bobby’s brings ‘guiltfree’ Yummy Bar to convenience channel

Bobby’s Foods has signed an exclusive deal to distribute the Yummy chocolate vitamin bar within the convenience channel.

Available in two flavours – Caramel and Strawberry – Yummy Bars contain one-third less sugar than leading brands and 50% of a child’s recommended daily vitamins.

They are made using high-quality cocoa beans and contain no artificial flavours or colours. In addition, they are also nut- and gluten-free as well as being suitable for vegetarians.

Bobby’s is supporting the launch with a free-standing display unit, measuring 1500mm high by 330mm wide x 310mm deep. The FSDU displays 12 shelf-ready packs, each holding 24 bars, generating £288 at retail.

Bobby’s Marketing Manager Carmelina Mancini commented: “Yummy bars are the result of a little bit of science and a lot of innovation which has resulted in a healthier chocolate offering. We have witnessed an increasing demand from consumers for healthier

Chupa Chups Fr-ooze Pop

Perfetti Van Melle

Lollipop brand Chupa Chups has unveiled Fr-ooze Pop, a new sweet treat with oozing candy gel. Available now, it is a fun twist on the classic lollipop and is designed – oddly enough – to be enjoyed with friends. Consumers remove the lid, lick the lollipop and squeeze to reveal a candy gel. Fr-ooze Pop comes in three flavours: Strawberry, Blueberry and Tropical. Each shipper contains 12 displays of 12 lollipops with an individual RSP of £1.

Ginsters Festive Slice

Samworth Brothers

Ginsters is relaunching its Festive Slice for Christmas 2022 on the back of its popularity with both the the brand’s existing consumers and new shoppers alike last festive season. This saw the Chicken & Stuffing-flavoured savoury treat deliver sales of £435,000 for the 11 weeks it was in the market. The 170g Slice has an RSP of £1.65 and is available now.

Smint Mini

Perfetti Van Melle

Smint is now available in a 36-mint format in a convenient pocketsize recyclable tin. Smint Mini has an RSP of 99p and is available in Mint, Spearmint, Sweetmint and Strawberry flavours. The launch is backed by a marketing campaign including social media and instore activities. Perfetti Van Melle commented: “Smint is a must stock for retailers, and with over 60% of people rating Smint as an everyday essential, we are in the prime position to launch our wellloved product in a new format.

confectionery alternatives that still deliver on taste,

Shloer Zero SHS Drinks

Shloer has introduced its first-ever zero-calorie products, with the launch of two new calorie-free SKUs under the sub-brand Shloer Zero. Available in White Grape and Red Grape variants with an RSP of £2.36 for a 750ml glass bottle, SHS Drinks said Shloer Zero is the only branded no-calorie proposition in the adult soft drink category. Prominent Zero branding ensures the new product is easily understood by consumers.

Soreen Christmas Loaf

Samworth Brothers

Tasting just like a Christmas Pudding, and with 159 calories per portion, Soreen’s revamped Christmas Loaf contains a mix of raisins, currants and cherries, along with a hint of citrus and winter spices. It also contains 87% less saturated fat and 38% less sugar than the average Christmas pudding choice and is HFSS compliant and vegan-friendly. The 260g loaf is available now with an RSP of £1.25.

Big moves

Super-premium vodka brand Cîroc has launched ‘Make Big Moves’ – its first TV advert in Great Britain, which runs across video-ondemand, out-of-home and social media. The campaign features fashion model Winnie Harlow, drag queen Bimini, and hip-hop duo Krept & Konan. It aims to give people the power to express themselves.

Get melted

Players by JPS Easy Rolling Tobacco 32g Imperial Tobacco

Imperial has launched a new limitededition convenience-only 32g format for its bestselling Players by JPS and Riverstone rolling tobacco brands. Both are available at an RSP of 14.55. The tobacco giant has also brought back its limited-edition independent-exclusive 21s packs which originally rolled out in April. The launch includes Richmond 21s (RSP £10.65) and Players JPS and L&B Blue 21s (both RSP £10.90).

Kylie Minogue Alcohol-free Sparkling Rosé

Benchmark Drinks

Australian princess of pop and former Neighbours star Kylie Minogue has launched an alcoholfree sparkling rosé under her Kylie Minogue Wines brand. The 0% wine is available now from Booker with an RSP of £7. It is produced from selected ingredients including premium European grapes and high altitude, hand-picked, organic tea from the Yunnan province in China.

Bloo Toilet Blocks Henkel

Toilet hygiene brand Bloo’s new “breakthrough” toilet blocks feature a two-in-one formula that foams and releases blue water with every flush to clean the bowl and prevent the build-up of limescale and dirt, as well as releasing a refreshing scent. Each pack (RSP £2.50) last for up to 800 flushes. Two varieties are available: Original Blue and Limescale Prevention. All packaging is made from 100% recycled plastic.

Festive food-to-go

Urban Eats

Two sandwiches – Turkey Feast and Brie & Cranberry – as well as a Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry panini that’s designed to be consumed hot are available until 30 December. The Turkey Feast sandwich combines turkey breast and sage and onion stuffing in malted bread, while the panini offers three classic Christmas flavours in each bite, and the Brie & Cranberry sandwich gives retailers a seasonal vegetarian option.

Weetabix has launched a new sales-driving campaign for Weetabix Melts designed to drive awareness of the range at point of purchase across the UK. The campaign is supported by a £300,000 investment including proximity outdoor advertising, targeted digital display and e-commerce, and is expected to reach 11 million consumers.

Boursin fights food waste

Boursin has launched a new marketing campaign to tackle the issue of food poverty. As part of the campaign, the Bel UK brand has teamed up with former Masterchef champion and restaurateur Kenny Tutt, and UK charity FoodCycle, to target the 98% of Brits who care about food waste by creating simple, cost effective and tasty dishes.

Ridges on radio

KP Snacks has launched a new radio campaign to promote and drive penetration of its McCoy’s ridged crisp brand that sees McCoy’s partner with Capital FM as a midmorning sponsor on weekdays. McCoy’s is also featuring in 30-second branded adverts on Capital throughout the day to keep the brand front-of-mind.

Tradition given finger

Dead Man’s Fingers has launched its first large-scale brand campaign under its new ‘Give the Tradition the Finger’ positioning, which will run across social, digital and PR over the coming months. The new platform “captures the brand’s unique and disruptive personality, whilst celebrating the fun and freespirited attitude of its audience”.

LOW AND STEADY

Tobacco may well be a tougher category than many to manage but doing so correctly remains well worth it.

BY GAELLE WALKER

Tobacco remains a key product category for many local retailers, helping to drive footfall, associated sales and overall margins.

In fact, according to a recent ASH-commissioned survey of 27,950 small tobacco retailers from across in the UK, 47% said that pro t from tobacco products was an important part of their overall pro ts.

In Scotland speci cally, 31% of Scottish retailers said that pro t from tobacco was an important part of their overall pro ts.

Furthermore, 69% of Scottish retailers said that tobacco was important to their business because shoppers bought another product at the same time.

With stats like that, it’s clear to see why keeping up with the latest developments driving sales in this valuable category remains important.

Read on for our roundup of the key trends set to continue shaping sales now.

DEMAND FOR LOW-PRICED TOBACCO RISES

As the cost of living soars, ultra-value and economypriced tobacco products keep growing their share of sales.

“Overall, we’re seeing continued movement towards low-priced propositions across the entire category as consumer demand for value continues to drive tobacco purchasing patterns,” Imperial Tobacco’s Head of Consumer Marketing Tom Gully says.

As part of this shi , the lower price tiers now account for the majority of sales, with the subeconomy segment making up 63% share of Factory Made Cigarettes (FMC) and the economy segment accounting for 56% of Roll Your Own (RYO) with these value segments growing at 3% and 5% year on year, according to Imperial.

THE MARKET IS SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN FMC AND RYO

ere is now almost a 50/50 market share split across FMC and RYO categories – at 52% and 48% respectively, according to Imperial Tobacco.

Drilling down further and looking at RYO in particular, the consumer drive for value remains a big factor, with the economy segment accounting for well over half of all sales.

RETAILER VIEW

DES BARR, SINCLAIR BARR NEWSAGENTS, PAISLEY

“Our tobacco sales remain down on where they were prior to the pandemic but despite the fall, tobacco remains an important category for our store and a key footfall driver.

“The decline has been driven by a fall in very early morning trade since the pandemic. We used to be very busy between 4.30am and 6.30am but with many people still working from home and shopping habits having changed, that early morning trade has suffered.

“Ultra-value and economy-priced cigarettes remain our biggest selling tobacco category, fuelled by brands such as Kensitas Club along with Players and Chesterfield. Adult smokers are incredibly price conscious when it comes to tobacco, especially female adult smokers who are definitely more willing to chop and change between brands in order to get the cheapest price. Male adult smokers are far more brand loyal and stick to what they know.”

true Pleasure

ACCESSORIES PRESENT NEW SALES OPPORTUNITIES

With more adult smokers moving towards RYO products, sales of tobacco accessories including lters, papers, lighters and other avour-related innovations are continuing to climb.

Imperial’s Rizla Xtreme Flavour Cards, which can be used with RYO products as well as FMCs, are currently selling at a rate of 400,000 packs a week as smokers look to recreate the menthol experience.

POUCHES PACK A PUNCH

When it comes to the tobacco alternatives market, the nicotine pouch category is continuing to grow at “a phenomenal rate” in the UK according to JTI, and is

STG LAUNCHES STRÖM NICOTINE POUCHES

With nicotine pouch sales continuing to gather pace, Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has launched its first ever non-tobacco product: STRÖM. Inspired by its Scandinavian heritage, the product has been designed to offer a premium and plant-based alternative to conventual nicotine pouches.

Launching in three flavours (Fresh Mint, Minty Orange and Juicy Berry), STRÖM will first be trialled in Manchester, before being rolled out to other cities across the UK throughout 2023 and beyond.

The plant-based nicotine pouch also features a unique resin formula and comes in a 100% plant-based plastic container.

STG’s UK Country Director Alastair Williams said: “Retailers would be forgiven for thinking that the nicotine pouch category is already quite crowded, but we’re coming to the market with something more authentic, premium and sophisticated than what is already out there.

“STRÖM offers a prolonged taste delivery which enables an extended flavour sensation for your mouth and throat, as well as providing an equal nicotine release for a consistent and smooth experience.”

now valued at a whopping £2.6m a month.

Just under half of all UK nicotine pouch sales are currently made through convenience and independent channels, with that gure on the climb.

“A key trend within the nicotine pouch category is the continued demand for higher nicotine strengths,” JTI’s Portfolio Brand Manager Bruce Terry says, with Strong and Extra-Strong now making up 76.3% of nicotine pouch sales. Extra-Strong is also the fastest-growing strength.

Demand for mint and menthol products also continues to grow, with the market currently split 80.2% menthol and 19.5% fruit, according to JTI.

CROOKED DEALINGS

The sales and profits of legitimate responsible retailers are continuing to be hit by the illicit trade, which rose by 4.2% last year according to the most recent stats from KPMG’s annual survey, commissioned by Philip Morris International.

The increase is being fuelled by counterfeit cigarettes, consumption of which grew 34.1% in 2021, topping three billion cigarettes for the first time since the study began 16 years ago.

According to Imperial Tobacco’s calculations, a retailer selling £5,700 of cigarettes and £1,300 in RYO products a week could lose £1,233.43 a week in turnover from illicit tobacco sales. Responsible retailers and shoppers are being urged to report all instances or suspicions of illicit sales in a bid to crack down on the crime.

Police and Local Trading Standards teams across Scotland are also continuing their efforts to stub out the illicit trade, with a string of large-scale seizures made in October.

More than 360,000 illicit cigarettes were seized by police from a van on the M74 after officers received intelligence about alleged counterfeit goods. Other seizures made in October included the discovery of 211,000 illicit cigarettes and 4.6kg of hand rolling tobacco worth a total of £90,000 in a property in the Govanhill area of Glasgow.

Retailers and members of the public can report illicit trade anonymously online via the Crimestoppers website or by calling 0800 555 111.

TIPS FOR RETAILERS FROM SWIZZELS

PREPARE FOR A ‘TIGHT’ CHRISTMAS

As over 53% are having to reduce spending to pay their bills, value-for-money confectionery continues to be a hugely popular choice for shoppers, particularly as financial circumstances have changed post-pandemic. Consequently, they are likely to be on a tighter budget – so it’s important to stock the right confectionery to appeal to the masses.

MERCHANDISE SEASONAL TOGETHER

With Christmas and Veganuary comes seasonal ranges of popular sweets. Before Christmas, customers will be on the lookout for any opportunities to stock up on these to fit in with themed parties and even secret Santa gifts, so they are sure to be in high demand.

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF DISPLAYS

Seasonal events are the perfect time to create and produce displays that promote your Christmas offering in an exciting way. Retailers should create a Christmasthemed display in a high footfall area to take advantage of the countdown to Christmas.

Uniqueopportunityfestive

BY ELENA DIMAMA

This festive season promises to be a particularly good one for local retailers this year thanks to the convergence of the traditional festive peak, the rst-ever winter World Cup and the rst Christmas post-lockdown.

e year, as a whole, has been unpredictable, and even downright depressing, but Christmas is always guaranteed to upli sales, at least in particular categories.

Despite the di culties posed last year, Brits still splurged on Christmas celebrations, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Sales of sweet treats reached £62m in December 2021, while a similar amount (£61m) was spent on Christmas chocolates too, with sales soaring by 21%.

THE BIGGEST WINNERS

“With two years of muted celebrations behind us, we’re anticipating this year’s festivities will be bigger than ever as consumers hope to host larger, restriction-free gatherings with family and friends,” Aslı Özen Turhan, Chief Marketing O cer at pladis UK&I, says.

“Seasonal snacks continue to form a key part of the nation’s festive routine when it comes to getting together for Christmas and, despite Covid-19 rearing its head once more, 2021 was no exception,” she adds.

and is set to be a huge for 2022 as consumers have resumed their pre-Covid lifestyles,” Mark Walker, Sales Director at Swizzels, says.

“ erefore, it’s essential to stock a range of bestselling, well-known brands to entice retailers that are hoping to appeal to customers that plan on making the most of the festivities.” Swizzels’ Variety bags have recently been rebranded to include everyone’s favourites in three di erent packs, such as Luscious Lollies 176g, Scrumptious Sweets 173g, and Curious Chews 171g. Swizzels is once again rolling out its Sweet Shop Favourites Tub, which saw a 171% upli last Christmas. Finally, its new Very Berry chew bars build on the success of the company’s agreed licence with Universal, which included the launch of its Minionsthemed range.

Meanwhile, Mars Wrigley is looking to seize the festive opportunity with a host of new products. New for 2022 are M&M’S Santas; Maltesers Mint Reindeers, which come in both 29g self-eat bars and 59g sharing bags; Galaxy Tru es Assortment; and Maltesers Assorted Tru es. Returning Christmas favourites include the original Maltesers Reindeers and Christmas classics such as Celebrations tubs – which have had a brand refresh and now stand out better on shelf – alongside luxury tru es from Galaxy and Maltesers Tru es in white, milk and assorted avours.

biscuits. Using the legacy of seasonal staples, such

e company ensured it was ready for Christmas by giving its McVitie’s Victoria brand a revamp, introducing a new “ultra-premium” assortment – McVitie’s Victoria Chocolate Creations – and refreshing its core McVitie’s Victoria assortment. “ is year’s assortment comprises our most chocolately line-up yet, with 50% new biscuits. Using the legacy of seasonal staples, such as McVitie’s Victoria, will help retailers capitalise on bumper sweet seasonal sales – set to exceed last year’s £174m,” Turhan explains.

Confectionery is also in prime position to drive growth again this Christmas. “Christmas is one of the biggest events in the sugar confectionery calendar

“Christmas remains the biggest occasion for

Senior Brand Manager, Seasons & Gi ing, Mars Wrigley explains.

“Christmas remains the biggest occasion for retailers when it comes to chocolate sales, as people celebrate the festive season not only by buying for others, but also for themselves. Cybi Capaldi, Senior Brand Manager, Seasons & Gi ing, Mars Wrigley explains.

“ is year the selection of chocolates from Mars Wrigley not only taps into current taste trends, such as white and mint chocolate, but also o ers a range of pack sizes from its iconic Christmas classics to suit all customers’ needs and budgets.”

Mars Wrigley not only taps into current taste trends, such as white and mint chocolate, but

Focusing on core categories will let local retailers finish the year on a high note with Christmas and the winter World Cup presenting lots of opportunities.

THE ONE TO REMEMBER

Drinks are a crucial component of Christmas, either for the festive table itself or the periods leading up to and following the big day.

It’s no surprise then, that the category continues to drive stellar sales in convenience during the Christmas period, with shoppers spending £2.2bn on drinks in the 2021 festive season, according to Nielsen IQ.

What’s more, shoppers decided to stay local last year – in part due to various lockdowns in di erent parts of the country. is saw a rise in sales for independent retailers, with Co-Op, Best One, Budgens and Costcutter all enjoying increased footfall, according to Lumina Intelligence.

due to their broad appeal. Many consumers are willing to pay extra for quality choices when they’re drinking at home, so retailers’ ranges should also include options like Aspall Cyder, Staropramen and Cobra,” Fawell adds.

A BIT OF EVERYTHING

STOCK UP TO SEIZE THE MOMENT

Staying local could prove vital to retailers looking to capitalise on last-minute purchases, so stocking up on popular drinks ranges will be key.

“With money tight for a lot of households, we expect ‘big nights in’ to increase in popularity as more people look to save money by enjoying a drink at home, and going out less frequently,” Kevin Fawell, O -Trade Sales Director at Molson Coors Beverage Company, says.

“Independent stores can be the perfect place for hosts to stock up ahead of an event, or for guests to grab something on their way to someone else’s house – convenient locations and a focused range make them ideal for people picking something up last minute.”

Indeed, according to Kantar Worldpanel’s Alcovision GB report, the share of alcohol sales made up by big nights in has grown by over a third over the last 10 years.

“Much-loved favourites like Carling and Coors are popular big night in options

In Scotland speci cally, the last two Christmas periods saw very strong sales, with cra beer growing 19.6% in 2021 compared to 2020.

“Christmas is a key time for customers to try cra beer for the rst time as they explore di erent beer options across the season, and are also more willing to experiment,” Miriam ompson, O -Trade Category Marketing Executive for BrewDog, says.

“Last year saw the strongest sales of midpacks to date in Scotland, at +52.2% vs two years ago, exceeding category growth, and +2.4% vs year ago. We expect this trend to continue as larger formats become popular, increasing in share of cra sales consistently over the past ve years,” she adds.

Brewdog’s impulse-exclusive Mixed 330ml can was a key growth driver for the brand in 2021.

Meanwhile, VK has brought back its Candy Cane avour, a er its Candy Cane mixed packs sold out 10 days ahead of Christmas in 2019. “Following huge demand for Candy Cane in 2019, we

BY ELENA DIMAMA

couldn’t help but bring it back for fans to try this year,” Charlie Leaver, Head of Brand at Global Brands, explains.

Looking at recent launches, Dead Man’s Fingers has also released a new Co ee Tequila Liqueur and read-to-drink Margarita mix can, tapping into both the popular RTD and liqueur categories. “We know that the liqueur category continues to perform well, whilst Co ee avours are also in high demand amongst consumers, so we’re con dent that our Co ee Tequila Liqueur will prove popular with spirits drinkers,” Rachel Adams, Marketing Director, Dead Man’s Fingers, comments.

“Likewise, RTDs continue to see good traction, and have continued to grow faster than any other drinks categories since 2018.”

THIS IS NO YOLK

Cadbury Creme Egg’s ‘How Do You Not Eat Yours?’ campaign is set to return for Easter 2023.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

Easter wouldn’t be Easter without a Creme Egg or 12, and the iconic brand is planning a cracking Easter in 2023 by bringing back its ‘How Do You Not Eat Yours?’ campaign when the top-selling treats reappear on shelves in all their gooey glory.

Mondelez International is encouraging shoppers to once again keep an eye out for an extra special half-milk chocolate, halfwhite chocolate Cadbury Creme Egg. If they can resist eating it, the unique treat can win them up to £10,000.

And there’s plenty of incentive for retailers to keep an eye out too: if a winning egg is found in their store, they’ll win too!* More than 20 Amazon vouchers are up for grabs for lucky retailers, including a top prize of a £1,000 voucher to help them celebrate the season eggcellently.

e competition will put consumers and retailers across the nation to the ultimate Easter test, sparking the annual ‘How Do You Eat Yours’ debate. With social, digital, and out-ofhome activations, everyone will know that the goo is back. Retailers can drum up egg-citement for its return with eye-catching POS featuring this year’s twist on the iconic phrase: How Do You NOT Eat Yours.

Lyndsey Homer, Brand Manager for Cadbury Creme Egg, said: “We were absolutely blown away by the response to our ‘How Do You Not Eat Yours?’ campaign last year. Our fans

the temptation of these delicious half-and-half Creme Eggs to win their prizes. To those who couldn’t resist – don’t worry! We’re giving you a second chance around this coming Easter!”

WHITE ON THE MONEY

Cadbury Creme Eggs are by far the bestselling Easter product and are purchased four times more than the average Easter product [Nielsen, Apr 2022]. is year, the brand is releasing its rst ever product innovation: Cadbury White Creme Egg. White chocolate is growing fast in the category, so this is set to be a truly incremental new product.

Cadbury Mini Eggs 80G bag is the number Easter SKU, with 115 bags bought every minute [Nielsen, Apr 2022]. e brand is also launching a new 1kg bag format for those shoppers whipping up delicious baked goods using the Easter staple as the key ingredient.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Orange Filled bags are also available across the market for the rst time this year. is delicious treat sees the nation’s favourite chocolate [Nielsen, 2021] combined with real orange oil to create this popular avour combination and is certainly set to be a hit with shoppers.

To make the most of the season, Mondelez is urging retailers to split Easter into three phases: getting o to a fast start, building momentum, and then gearing up for a ‘gi ing nish’ as the period reaches its nale.

* T&Cs apply: www.deliciousdisplay.co.uk

e ‘fast start’ phase focuses on shoppers looking for small treats for themselves, such as Cadbury Creme Egg and Cadbury Mini Eggs, and typically runs from January until Valentine’s Day.

For more egg-spert confectionery and seasonal advice, retailers can visit www. snackdisplay.co.uk.

TOP TIPS FROM MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL FOR A FAST START TO THE SEASON:

Q Order sufficient stock of seasonal self-eat and sharing favourites from wellloved brands, such as Cadbury Creme Egg and Cadbury Mini Eggs.

Q Create awareness of the season with your customers using campaigns, competitions and promotions as a talking point.

Q Use POS from shoppers’ favourite Easter brands to highlight products and optimise incremental sales.

NEED A CAR? GET TO SPAR!

Under The Counter jetted off to Ibiza recently for a thoroughly undeserved break from SLR Towers.

And so it was that the White Isle was subjected to the Even Whiter Body, as the Auld Boy reluctantly peeled off his string vest and stripped down to a scandalously revealing thong to soak up

fine, since Mrs UTC had cajoled him into going allinclusive. UTC was therefore reluctant to stray too far from the poolside bar and its dazzling array of watered-down spirits.

On one of his rare forays outside the hotel he was, however, tickled to stumble across a minimercado with quite a USP.

Unlike some of its more high-end Spar siblings in Scotland, this one didn’t boast electronic shelf edge labels, self-scan checkouts and LED lighting. Neither did it offer food- and drink-to-go from the likes of Chicago Town Pizza, Costa Coffee, Calippo, Fanta or Rollover Hotdogs.

What did set it apart from any other Spar the Auld Boy had ever dragged his wizened frame into was its car hire facility.

And even better – judging by the sign – it appeared to rent out the very same model that UTC passed his driving test in.

GRAVE CONCERNS

It’s fair to say that Under The Counter stands considerably closer to the grave than the cradle.

He therefore took more a than passing interest when staff at Co-op Funeralcare in Govan went on strike last month.

Oddly enough, this is the only place in the UK where the Co-op makes coffins.

Now, UTC has been described as a “coffin-dodging auld so-and-so” on more than one occasion, so he was morbidly tickled at the prospect of dropping dead at the keyboard – heaven forbid – and there not being a box to bury him in.

His kind-hearted colleagues were quick to suggest

alternatives, including a Glaswegian version of a Tibetan sky burial.

Instead of leaving him atop a mountain for Himalayan vultures to feast on, this would involve dragging the Auld Boy’s remains up to George Square where the seagulls and pigeons could fight over his scrawny corpse like it

was some drunk’s discarded half-eaten fish supper. A very salty one.

But enough wishful thinking and back to the Co-op. The striking coffin makers are members of Unite. It is unclear whether any fellow trade unionists also walked out, in deepest sympathy of course.

THE PINT OF NO RETURN

Unlike Mrs UTC, Under The Counter doesn’t like spending money. Therefore it’s no surprise that the current cost-of-living crisis is starting to get to him. He was just about keeping his knitting from ripping until Brewgooder boss Alan Mahon predicted that the price of a pint could soon push past the seven quid mark.

Speaking to the BBC, Mahon said the price of raw ingredients, such as wheat and barley, were rising faster than the rate of inflation. He also warned of the impact of “eye-watering” energy prices.

UTC has, of course, been here before many times. At six pounds a pint, a fiver, £4 and so on. But seven quid? When he first started making his own way in the world, The Auld Yin considered himself lucky to be making seven quid a week.

The interview with Mahon garnered over 1,300 comments on the BBC website, none of them positive. One upset reader, BillyBanter, said: “The day I pay £7 for a pint of Tennent’s is the day I give up beer for good!”

Never mind eye-watering energy bills. The mere thought of giving up his beloved Tennent’s, as Mr Banter suggests, brought a tear to UTC’s myopic old eye.