SLR May 2023 Edition

DRS DEBACLE RUMBLES ON

New First Minister pushes DRS back to March 2024 –but doubts remain.

ALCOHOL BAN

DITCHED FM dumps drastic proposals

HOMEGROWN

TALENT

Scottish products in the spotlight

DISPOSABLE HEROES

Disposables drive vaping category

NEWS

06 Food Waste Snappy Shopper teams up with Gander to offer reduced-to-clear items for home delivery.

07 Wages New research from SGF and Stirling University reveals the true cost of employing staff.

08 Access To Cash SGF reassures retailers there are no plans to halve the number of the UK’s free-to-use cash machines.

10 Store Refits Spar Scotland opens its refurbished companyowned store in Drymen.

12 News Extra Legislation Retailers are relieved as the First Minister reconsiders a ban on alcohol advertising.

20 Product News KP reveals a new, impartial ranging guide and retailers can win £3,000 with Birds Eye.

22 Off-Trade News Funkin unveils three new canned cocktails while Brewdog launches a ‘no nonsense’ stout.

INSIDE BUSINESS

27 Local Sourcing SLR takes a deep dive into the importance of local sourcing to convenience retailers.

32 SLR Awards With the 2 June deadline looming, the clock is ticking for all those retailers still enter the SLR Awards.

36 Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns.

62 Under The Counter This month, the Auld Boy gets in a lather over the coronation, cocktails in a can, and Sainsbury’s mince.

FEATURES

38 Sports & Energy As sales drivers go, energy continues to lead the way with innovation and trend setting.

44 Cigars Leaf-wrapped cigarillos continue to drive cigar sales.

50 Price-marked Packs Value for money drives the category, especially for the convenience sector.

56 Vaping Disposable products continue to fuel the vape market’s explosive growth.

60 Breakfast The breakfast category keeps reinventing itself, with brands banking on easy solutions for the busy shopper.

Lottery retailers passing age checks tests

Lottery retailers are correctly asking for ID as proof of age at the first time of asking at the highest rate, according to the results from Camelot’s latest mystery shopper programme. Camelot made more than 11,600 retailer visits as part of its 2022/23 ‘Operation 18’ mystery shopper programme, with 92% of retailers correctly asking for ID as proof of age on their first visit.

Mail cuts margins

The Daily Mail has angered retailers by increasing the cover price of its weekday editions and cutting the percentage margin. The Monday to Friday editions have risen by 10p to £1, but the Mail has said that “market conditions have meant that we have had to reduce the percentage margin to 21.8%”. The news comes weeks after the newspaper introduced enhanced payments for retailers supporting its new subscriptions scheme.

Scotland Loves Local goes digital

The Scottish Government is investing £250,000 to enable the Scotland Loves Local gift cards to operate digitally. The gift cards, which were launched by the government to help Scotland’s towns and neighbourhoods recover from the pandemic through support for local economies, can be loaded with credit and used in participating shops and businesses within users’ local council area.

East Lothian convenience store seeks new tenant

Port Seton News, a c-store in the centre of Port Seton, has been put on the market. Situated on the main thoroughfare alongside the town’s promenade, the store is surrounded by a mix of residential and commercial properties. It also gets seasonal trade from the nearby local holiday park. The current operators now wish to focus on other interests.

Snappy Shopper is first to offer reduced to clear

Snappy Shopper has teamed up with anti-food waste company Gander to become the rst delivery app to o er reduced to clear items for home delivery.

In Scotland, 600,000 tonnes of food and drink waste ends up in land ll each year. Produce that, if distributed more e ciently, could have been consumed.

e partnership initially sees two CJ Lang stores in Scotland – Spar Abronhill and Spar Stonehouse – trialling the feature for a 12week period, with the aim for it to be rolled out across all Snappy Shopper stores in the coming months.

Snappy Shopper and Gander’s new feature works by allowing Snappy Shopper customers to purchase reduced to clear items

for delivery as part of their normal shop, reducing food waste, as well as o ering customers the opportunity to buy a selection of fresh food at reduced prices.

e feature also bene ts retailers by reducing wastage costs, customers by o ering easy and quick access to reduce to clear goods, and the planet by reducing land ll and food waste.

Mike Callachan, Founder and Chief Executive O cer, said: “Our

POSTMASTERS Post Office delivers £26m remuneration improvement for postmasters

The Post Office has increased total postmaster remuneration by £26m for the 2023-24 financial year. As part of the package of remuneration improvements, postmasters will benefit from:

Q A 20% increase in remuneration for banking deposit transactions, for both the per transaction and the per pound deposited rate, effective April 2023.

Q Around £11m of Royal Mail tariff and inflation-linked increases for parcels and stamps negotiated under the Mails Distribution Agreement with Royal Mail Group which came into effect in 2022.

Q Doubling of Payout transaction remuneration confirmed to stay at increased levels.

Q A 12.87% increase in Mailwork payments.

Q A 9.5% increase in outreach remuneration.

Martin Roberts, Group Chief Retail Officer, said: “We recognise that postmasters are facing a tough trading environment, with inflation, business rates and energy prices all adding to the economic challenges. We’ve listened to postmasters who tell us that the bank branch closures mean they are the only location where consumers and businesses can do their banking, which is why we’re increasing banking deposit remuneration by 20%. Alongside this, as a result of the deal we agreed with Royal Mail last year, postmasters will also benefit from Royal Mail tariff increases.”

partnership with Gander to o er reduced to clear items to Snappy Shopper users is something we are incredibly excited about. Not only is this a rst-of-its-kind feature, but it enables our retailers to reduce their wastage, meaning they can improve their margins while also supporting their local community as well as having a huge impact on the environment. We are so excited to see the results it has for both our retailers and customers.”

Sonya Harper, Central Operations Director at Spar Scotland, added: “As a convenience store business, we feel it is important to reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in land ll. is partnership allows us to reach more customers and make even more of a di erence.”

REBATES Cashback for qualifying retailers

Nisa simplifies Fresh Rewards rebate scheme

Nisa has simpli ed its Fresh Rewards rebate scheme, to give retailers the opportunity to be rewarded nancially, as the costof-living crisis continues.

Following retailer feedback, the percentage of nancial returns previously held within a store development fund is now to be given as a cash rebate; qualifying retailers could earn on average £2,300 cashback per rebate period.

Nisa boss Peter Batt said the changes will “allow retailers to reinvest in their businesses faster and more e ciently, in areas of their choosing.”

SGF highlights true cost of employment for retailers

e UK National Living Wage increased on 1 April to £10.42, but the true cost for retail employers will be as much as £14 per hour, according to research by the University of Stirling and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation.

e true cost of employment gure represents a jump of £1.25 from a year earlier and is the highest increase of at least the past eight years.

e study considers statutory costs, such as National Insurance and Holiday Pay, as well as additional expenses such as uniforms and administration costs.

Professor Leigh Sparks, of the University of Stirling, said: “ e increase in the headline gure for the National Living Wage brings welcome relief to many workers struggling with the cost-ofliving crisis, but the true cost to retailers is much higher and comes on top of other pressures on the cost of doing business.

“Convenience and smaller retailers need to have all these costs considered in the round and see a recognition and

amelioration if they are to continue to provide their vital local services for communities.”

SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema added: “Our members tell us that their sta value the bene ts of being able to work locally, with exible hours, but the signi cant increase to wages means that some stores will need to cut sta hours – impacting on local jobs and employment.

“Both the UK Government and the Scottish Government need to recognise that local stores are economic drivers and provide many bene ts for their communities. On top of rising energy prices, business rates and regulatory pressures, ministers can and must do more to alleviate the growing pressure on our sector.”

e True Cost of Employment 2023 paper will form part of SGF’s annual submission to the Low Pay Commission, for inclusion in its report and recommendations to the Prime Minister later this year.

Greens Retail scores hattrick of store openings

Convenience store retail chain Greens Retail has opened three new stores.

Greens of Dunblane, Greens of Strathblane, and Greens of Ceres have opened over the past six weeks, taking the chain up to 19 stores.

e retailer o ers customers a “destination” shopping experience featuring in-store concessions Pret Express co ee-to-go, family bakers Fisher & Donaldson, hot food-to-go, and frozen zzy drink Skwishee.

Harris Aslam, Group Managing Director, said: “We are thrilled to have three further stores join the Greens family in Scotland. e phenomenal response from local communities, which we are an integral part of, is testament to the tailored Greens retail proposition as well as passion which our store and central teams clearly have.

“ ere is signi cant growth to come as well as exciting innovations to be announced in the coming weeks and months across our estate. Whilst the current climate is not without its challenges, there certainly remains lots of opportunity to disrupt the sector and we are excited to lead the way with this.”

To drive footfall into all stores, Greens Retail sister company Skwishee hosted its annual Free Skwishee Day on Saturday 22 April, which the retailer said drove “enormous tra c” across all Greens stores.

Costcutter cuts fuel levy charges

Costcutter has reduced its fuel levy charges in line with its commitment to support retailers.

A spokesperson for the retailer said: “We have seen fuel prices fall over the last quarter and remain consistent and therefore, we are pleased to announce that we will be reducing the fuel levy charges accordingly to £610 + VAT per delivery.”

Costcutter has also confirmed that it will pay back charges on behalf of those who meet a spending commitment of £10,000 per week and achieve rebate criteria until further notice.

Usdaw calls for new deal for workers

Shopworkers union Usdaw has written to new First Minister Humza Yousaf calling on him to support job security, better pay, and fair working conditions.

Tracy Gilbert, Usdaw Regional Secretary for Scotland, said:

“We hope that the Scottish government will continue to engage with workers and employers to deliver their fair work agenda across all sectors in Scotland, including retail. We are clear that our members need more than warm words.”

Co-op launches new member prices

Co-op is to invest more than £240m, across the next five years, introducing new and lower prices. Members will benefit from extra money off the retailer’s freezer filler deal – which offers an average member saving of £8 per deal. Additionally, the retailer is investing a further £15m this May to reduce the cost of more than 60 key lines in stores.

VPZ wants crackdown on underage sales

Vaping retailer VPZ has urged the Scottish government to follow the UK government in cracking down on underage vape sales. Plans unveiled by the UK government include local enforcement squads made up of trading standards officers to carry out test purchases and clamp down on shops selling vapes to under-18s.

Spar Scotland hosts Future Stars finals

Spar Scotland has hosted its second Future Stars national finals at Broadwood Stadium, in Cumbernauld. The Spar Future Stars finals day is a culmination of months of football being played by teams of girls aged between 12 and 16 in teams of eight in local and regional rounds. This year Braeview Academy and Holy Cross High School were champions.

FUEL LEVY

STORE OPENINGS Convenience chain has launched outlets in Dunblane, Strathblane, and Ceres in the past six weeks

SGF adds to team

SGF has made two new appointments to its public affairs team. Aidan Smith has taken up the new post of Public Affairs Assistant, completing the refresh of the team. He will support Head of Policy & Public Affairs Luke McGarty and the Policy & Public Affairs Officer Jamie Mackie. Isabel Finnie has also recently joined the team as Receptionist and Admin Support and will support the work of the entire SGF team.

NFRN criticises Guardian

The NFRN has criticised the Guardian for accompanying cover price rises on its weekday and weekend newspaper titles with margin cuts. Weekday editions have risen by 30p to £2.80. The Saturday edition and the Observer have also increased by 30p to £3.80. At the same time, the percentage margin that retailers receive for selling the newspapers will decrease to 21.5% on weekday editions, 21% on Saturdays, and 23% on Sundays.

Veganuary participants plan diet change

Almost 80% of Veganuary participants say they will permanently change their diet, according to results from the 2023 participant survey. The results show 25% of participants who were not already vegan before Veganuary planned to stay vegan at the end of their pledge. In addition, 72% of those not staying vegan plan to at least halve their intake of meat.

Tranent store for sale

The Wee Shop in Tranent, East Lothian, is on the market. The Blawearie Road store is surrounded by houses. It is in a good location to catch early morning commuters and also benefits from strong seasonal trade from a local holiday park. The business has been run for 38 years by James Thomson who plans to retire. The Wee Shop is on the market on a freehold basis at £75,000.

Retailers reassured on future of free-to-use ATMs

e Scottish Grocers’ Federation is reassuring convenience retailers that there is no plan to reduce the number of free-to-use ATMs across Scotland.

Concerns were raised with SGF a er an ATM operator issued a letter to retailers, claiming that there was no option but to move them onto a pay-to-use system.

e letter states that: “LINK, which governs the ATM network in the UK, wishes to see the overall number of free-to-use ATMs reduced by about 50%.”

In a letter to SGF, LINK has con rmed that this statement is “simply not true” and then explains that they are working to protect the free access to cash network in Scotland, particularly in rural and remote communities.

is is backed up by evidence that the number of free-to-use machines increased from 26,541 in January 2021 to 26,814 in January 2023.

e trade association is urging retailers to carefully check their contractual agreements, before altering their arrangements with ATM operators or moving to a payto-use ATM.

SGF CEO Pete Cheema said: “Misinformation regarding the future of free-to-use ATMs is a serious concern for our members and for convenience retail in Scotland. Many stores are at the very heart of their communities and rely on providing essential local services, and good customer relations.

“Sending out mixed messages and forcing retailers to withdraw their free-to-use ATMs will put many at a competitive disadvantage.

“Being able to provide easily available free access to cash is essential for many rural, remote, elderly and deprived communities and an important part of the o er and range of services available at many stores.”

SGF mourns former President Lawrie Dewar

ACCESS TO CASH ACS launches tool that reveals the change in ATM provision in every UK constituency ACS

Former SGF President and Chief Executive Lawrie Dewar has passed away at the age of 87.

Lawrie served as President of the Federation between 1975 and 1976, before taking on the role of Chief Executive between 1980 and 2000. He was awarded the MBE for services to the grocery industry in 1996 and was awarded Honorary Membership of the Federation in 2021.

SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “Lawrie was a true stalwart and his contribution to our sector cannot be overstated. We are all deeply saddened by the loss, and our thoughts go out to his children and family.”

reveals shift away from free-to-use machines

e Association of Convenience Stores has written to Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Gri th calling for action to protect access to cash across the UK, highlighting the increasing number of convenience retailers being forced to switch from freeto-use ATMs to charged ATMs.

In the letter, ACS has called on the government to review the viability of interchange fees to deliver the ATM network as many convenience retailers are being required by ATM operators to move their free-to-use ATMs to pay-to-use ATMs as a result of the rising costs faced by the operators themselves.

ACS has launched a new tool that reveals the change in ATM provision in every constituency across the UK.

e new ATM Tracker can be found at bit.ly/3LC1NJH. It provides information on:

Q How the total number of ATMs in each constituency has changed since 2018;

Q How the split between free-to-use and charged ATMs has changed since 2018;

Q How many people there are for every one ATM in each constituency.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “We are encouraging retailers to use our ATM Tracker to highlight the scale of the issue to their local MPs and urge the government to take action to protect access to cash across the UK.”

ATMS LINK says it is working to protect the free access to cash network in Scotland

Camelot names new Retail Director

Camelot has appointed Alex Green as its new Retail Director. Green joined Camelot as a Retail Field Sales Executive in 2004 and has been Head of Games since 2019. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Camelot’s retail operations. Green replaces Jenny Blogg, who has been promoted to the role of Commercial Director.

Larger c-store at Wallyford development gets nod

A plan for a bigger convenience store and extra retail unit at the St Clements Wells housing development in Wallyford, in East Lothian, has been given the green light. Seven terraced units instead of six, centrally located within the site, have now been approved. The total number of new homes approved for the Wallyford area – at St Clements Wells and the adjacent Dolphingstone site – is a maximum 2,050.

Clydebank store goes on the market

Singh Stores, an established convenience store in Auckland Place, Clydebank, is up for sale.

Christie & Co believes the new owners could increase turnover by modernising internally and by extending the store’s opening hours, adding a hot food-to-go option and services, such as the National Lottery and PayPoint. Singh Stores is on the market on a leasehold basis at £30,000.

Cost-of-living crisis isn’t hampering big brands

The power of trusted brands still resonates with shoppers despite the cost-of-living crisis, according to new KAM research conducted for Weetabix. It finds two-in-three parents of young children say value for money is vital when choosing what to buy. In addition, 34% of respondents say they are currently looking for ways to shop more economically, but 41% say trusted brands are preferable.

Drymen store relaunches after major refit

Spar Scotland has launched a newly revamped store in Drymen, near Loch Lomond.

Spar Drymen, which is owned and operated by CJ Lang & Son, has been completely refurbished. Customers are greeted with new branding externally and internally, new oors throughout, and enhanced lighting. All refrigeration cabinets have been replaced with modern, environmentally friendly fridges and freezers. e store also has a new sales counter including a self-service checkout area.

In addition, customers are experiencing an improved fresh produce and meat o ering, a range of bakery products, and an extended licensing range.

Steven Irons, Company Owned Stores Operations Director at Spar Scotland, said: “ e investment we have made into Spar Drymen is a continuation of the work we have done to other stores in our estate in recent months and we are delighted with the results they are producing.”

Spar Drymen employs 12 people and is open 6.30am-10pm Mon-Sat, and 8am – 10pm on Sunday. It features a free ATM machine, PayPoint, Lottery, Tango Ice Blast, Costa, and a range of food-to-go items. e refurbished store held a launch event to celebrate the reopening on the a ernoon of 21 April, where

North Ayrshire town to lose main post office service

residents and local shoppers were invited to attend and see what was new at their local Spar store.

Visitors to the opening were treated to goody bags which were lled with a selection of Spar ownlabel products. Brownings the Bakers provided lots of traditional treats and the Spar Spinning Wheel o ered prizes for customers to take away. A prize draw was also held that saw one lucky shopper take home £100-worth of Spar vouchers.

CJ Lang has implemented a signi cant refurbishment programme across its company-owned store estate with many stores already bene tting, including Gatehouse of Fleet, Balmacara, Spean Bridge, Crosshouse, and Hillfoot.

STORE CLOSURES

Glasgow newsagents to close after 23 years

Family-owned Jordanhill Newsagent on Crow Road, Glasgow, has closed after 23 years of serving the community.

Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, has lost its main town centre post o ce service.

e facility was removed from the Nisa Local store, in Glasgow Street, on 25 April a er the postmaster resigned. e closure has le the Post O ce counter at the McColl’s store in Central Avenue as the only remaining post o ce facility in Ardrossan.

Patricia Gibson, North Ayrshire and Arran MP, wrote in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald: “ e loss of the Glasgow Street Post O ce would be felt by the whole community.

“I have secured a meeting with Mark Gibson from external a airs (Scotland) at Post O ce Ltd to discuss retention of Glasgow Street’s post o ce and the ongoing challenges to our post o ce network – and I will continue to pursue the UK Government to do the right thing and save our post o ces.”

e vacancy is advertised on runaposto ce.co.uk and the closing date for applications is 30 September.

Retailers Jagjeet and Gurjeet Sidhu, known as Jack and Julie, bought the shop in 2000. A few years ago, Jagjeet retired and his wife has been running the business since, alongside daughter Nancy and son Johannes.

Nancy Sidhu-Lambe told the Glasgow Times: “We are really grateful that we managed to keep it going for 23 years and it is shutting because of a choice rather than having to close because it means people kept coming.

“The shop has never ever been closed, apart for one month during Covid.”

POST OFFICE Ardrossan’s postmaster resigns

STORE REFIT Company-owned Spar Drymen has been completely refurbished

A TASTE OF NI IN GLASGOW

Scotland is a key target market for Northern Irish food and drink suppliers seeking to expand outside their home market.

Hellbent

The brainchild of South African-born former Ulster Rugby aces Louis Ludik and Schalk Van der Merwe, Hellbent products combine a delicious fusion of South African flavours and quality Irish meat produce, creating a new taste sensation that pays homage to both countries and cultures. The range of beef and pork products includes Original and Chakalaka Boerewors spiced using traditional farmhouse seasoning, Hellbent Burgers, Black & White Pudding as well as a seasonal range of festive Sausages.

Contact: Louis Ludik

E: louisludik@gmail.com

www.wearehellbent.co.uk

Honed Flavours

Honed Flavours has been producing delicious, high-quality sauces for over 20 years. Now based in a recently developed production site, the Honed award-winning range of sauces has never been better and the team delight in creating exceptional new flavours for the retail and foodservice industries across the UK and Ireland.

Contact: Paul McGuigan

E:paul@honed-flavours.com

www.Honed-flavours.com

McColgan’s

Mc Colgan’s Quality Foods is one of Northern Ireland’s leading manufacturers of quality chilled and frozen convenient savoury pastry products for retail and foodservice across the UK and Ireland including: sausage rolls, pasties, jambons, deep filled pies, lattice in both puff and shortcrust pastry.

Contact: William McColgan

E: william@wjmccolgan.com

www.mccolgans.ie

Milgro

Milgro is Northern Ireland’s largest dedicated onion grower and specialises in packing and processing onions, garlic and shallots from its purpose built processing facilities. Recent Innovation has seen the company move into the convenience sector with its ‘Onit’ range of Crispy Onions range for retail and wholesale markets including – Original, Chinese Salted Chilli and Flame

Grilled Steak Flavours

Contact: Conor Nicholl

E: conor@milgro.co.uk

www.milgro.co.uk

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF

Businesses across Scotland breathed a sigh of relief when, last month, the First Minister finally conceded that the Scottish Government must open its doors and listen to the concerns of industry.

Whether it’s the cost of doing business, alcohol restrictions, or the implementation of DRS, government policy is having a material impact on the future of many businesses. Although we have yet to see what the outcome will be, warm words or meaningful action, this is a welcome change of tone from our new FM.

UK Ministers too, have an important role to play. SGF has teamed up with the University of Stirling to produce our annual True Cost of Employment study, which highlights the extra and hidden costs for retailers employing staff.

This year, the National Living Wage has skyrocketed to £10.42, almost a doubledigit percentage increase. On top of National Insurance and Holiday Pay, there are expenses such as uniforms and administration costs. The true cost is £14/hr for retailers – a jump of £1.25 that struggling businesses and customers will have to absorb.

Most retail staff value the benefits of being able to work locally, with flexible hours, but the significant increase to wages means that some stores will be forced to cut staff hours – a damaging impact on local jobs.

It is crucial that both our governments start to look at the long-term impact of these policy decisions. They must listen and act, not just pay lip service.

First Minister shelves plans to move alcohol under the counter

Humza Yousaf has announced plans to take the idea back to the drawing board as he “resets” his relationship with businesses.

Former Scottish President Ferhan Ashiq warned earlier this year: “With the high costs of energy and goods – coming on the back of the stresses for businesses during the pandemic – retailers don’t have the mental or nancial capacity to deal with any further legislation. We are burnt out. Some of our members’ businesses may not survive this year.

“Independent retailers believe that the government should be tackling the issue of problem drinking through better health education and cultural change, not by penalising retailers who are trying to earn a living and providing a living for the people who work for us.”

Independent retailers have expressed relief that Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced plans to drop the ban on alcohol advertising to “reset” his relationship with businesses.

As part of proposals to restrict the advertisement of alcohol, retailers would have to hide these products in cupboards behind tills or under the counter. In addition, the consultation suggested that alcohol could never be shown in shop windows.

e consultation, which was rst launched in January 2023, also suggested potential measures such as banning alcohol advertising in print and online, a ban on sponsorships for sport and live events, and ending the sale of products with drinks companies’ logos.

Yousaf said: “ e aim of this consultation – to reduce the harm

caused by alcohol to children – is admirable; I support it wholeheartedly. But it is clear that some of the proposals have caused real concern to an industry which is already facing challenges on multiple fronts.

“I have therefore instructed my o cials to take these ideas back to the drawing board, and to work with the industry, and with public health stakeholders, to agree a new set of proposals. I believe that all of us want to reduce the harm caused by alcohol, particularly to young people but without undermining Scotland’s world-class drinks industry or tourism sector.

“I am hopeful that by taking a fresh look at this issue, we can nd a way forward which achieves both of those aims.”

NFRN members had previously spoken out about the dangers that this move would pose to retailers.

In response to Yousaf’s announcement, the NFRN’s President in Scotland Hussan Lal, said: “We are pleased to hear that the First Minister has listened to the concerns of independent retailers and has taken the appropriate steps in dropping this consultation.

“Members are already facing enough nancial strain with the rise of the cost of doing business and the growth of retail crime. Having to revamp our stores to put alcohol out of sight would be straining us even further.”

e Scottish Licensed Trade Association also welcomed the news. MD Colin Wilkinson said: “ is is excellent news, and we look forward to engaging with Scottish Government o cials as they revisit these proposals which, in their current form, would be catastrophic for the drinks industry and tourism sector.”

LEGISLATION Retailers relieved as First Minister reconsiders ban on alcohol advertising

DRIVE TOBACCO SALES WITH CIGARILLOS – P44

DRS DELAY: PANACEA OR STICKING PLASTER?

I’ll be honest, it’s not often that I sit down to watch a First Minister speak with any great sense of anticipation – but Humza Yousaf’s first major address to the Scottish Parliament since becoming First Minister promised to bring some fireworks. And, to be fair, he didn’t let us down. Well, not entirely.

Nicola Sturgeon didn’t always enjoy a comfortable relationship with Scotland’s business community, often putting her political ambitions before reality as part of her drive to fast-track Scotland to ‘progressive nation’ status, another little New Zealand if you like.

So, it was very encouraging to hear the new FM talk at some length and with some passion about his desire to reboot the government’s relationship with business. And, even more encouraging, he followed the conciliatory platitudes with some eminently sensible concrete announcements. The alcohol advertising and display proposals were being sent firmly back to the drawing board and, just as significantly, DRS was getting bumped back once more, this time until March next year.

So, on the face of it, Yousaf has achieved some quick wins and succeeded in at least beginning the process of building some bridges with Scotland’s business community. In the specific case of DRS, however, the initial euphoria of hearing that the scheme had been pushed back by almost a year is very quickly replaced by one simple thought: is the postponement long enough?

As it stands today, there are still a raft of very serious and very complex unresolved issues around DRS and, with the best will in the world, it’s hard to see how all of these issues can be satisfactorily resolved between now and next March.

And what about all those local retailers who have already ordered RVMs and reworked their stores to make space? They did that in good faith, having been told time and again by Lorna Slater that, despite clear indications to the contrary, DRS would indeed go ahead in August this year. She was still saying it even after all three SNP leadership candidates stated that they would either postpone or amend it if they gained power.

Those conscientious retailers, then, have every right to be a bit disgruntled –and you can bet your last 20p that the Aldis and Tescos of this world who have been busy reworking their car parks and building huge recycling stations outside their stores won’t take this lying down.

The major concern remains that the FM’s decision turns out not be the panacea he presented it as, but just another sticking plaster that kicks the can further down the track. Don’t be entirely surprised if common sense eventually prevails and DRS gets postponed once more and launched in tandem and in harmony with the English system in 2025.

EDITORIAL

Publishing Director & Editor

Antony Begley abegley@55north.com

Deputy Editor Liz Wells lwells@55north.com

Features Editor Gaelle Walker gwalker@55north.com

Features Writer Elena Dimama edimama@55north.com

Web Editor Findlay Stein fstein@55north.com

ADVERTISING

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

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

DESIGN

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

EVENTS & OPERATIONS

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

Scottish Local Retailer is distributed free to qualifying readers. For a registration card, call 0141 222 5381. Other readers can obtain copies by annual subscription at £50 (UK), £62 (Europe airmail), £99 (Worldwide airmail).

55 North Ltd, Waterloo Chambers, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6AY Tel: 0141 22 22 100 Fax: 0141 22 22 177 Website: www.55north.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/slrmag

DISCLAIMER

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

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

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

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

Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

SGF Mini Summit

18th May 2023

Macdonald Inchyra Hotel

Four industry specific panel discussions on:

Deposit Return Scheme

High Fat, Sugar & Salt Food Restrictions

Alcohol Advertising Restrictions & Minimum

Unit Pricing

Vaping Restrictions

Hear directly from retailers and expert speakers on each of the topics

Free to attend for retailers & SGF Corporate Members

Scan the QR code or visit

DRS DELAYED… AGAIN

The decision to delay Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme for almost a year to address concerns with the initiative has been welcomed by many in the industry.

BY LIZ WELLS

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been delayed once more, this time until 1 March 2024, Humza Yousaf has announced.

e First Minister revealed the delay on 18 April, as he set out his priorities for his government over the next three years in his rst major address at Holyrood since taking over the reins from Nicola Sturgeon.

He said: “I remain committed to this scheme as a way to increase recycling, reduce litter and help achieve our net zero ambitions, but we recognise the uncertainty that continues to be created as a result of the UK Government delaying the decision to exclude the scheme from the Internal Market Act. We had hoped for that decision this week – but it has not come.

“At the same time, I – and the Circular Economy Minister – have heard the concerns of business, particularly about the scheme’s readiness for launch this August. As a result, we will now delay the launch of the scheme to 1 March 2024 – this provides 10 months for businesses to get ready.”

RETAILERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR POSTPONEMENT

The NFRN is calling for retailers who have already signed contracts for reverse vending machines (RVMs) to be compensated for the delay.

The organisation says it will be demanding compensation for those retailers that have already entered into expensive contracts for the RVMs required to operate the scheme. Many of NFRN’s members, it says, have spent large sums of money buying RVMs and altering the layout of their stores to be prepared for the launch of the scheme in August.

NFRN also says it will continue to push the government for grants to help pay for the machines.

Andrew McCaffery, Chief Strategy Officer at environmental compliance data specialist Ecoveritas, said the Scottish Government was coming under pressure to compensate companies that had invested in DRS, when thousands of others had failed to sign up.

“You do have to feel for responsible businesses that have kept on top of this legislation, developed and changed to meet these new requirements,” he said. “Any delay penalises those that have acted quickly.

“You have to wonder whether there might be temporary support or reimbursement for those who have diligently prepared and significantly invested.”

Yousaf used his rst address to o er an olive branch to business, repeatedly reiterating how he intended to work closer with industry to understand their concerns and said the Scottish Government would use the additional time to work with businesses and Circularity Scotland (CSL) to address concerns with the scheme to ensure a successful launch next year.

Yousaf said a package of measures would also be put in place to “simplify and de-risk” the scheme. e big question is, can all of the many serious problems that still beset the scheme be overcome in less than a year?

RETAILER REACTION

Trade associations broadly welcomed the news. SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “ e delay to the go live date, from August to 1 March 2024, is unquestionably the right decision. For business, for the scheme administrator and for the long-term success of DRS.

“We also welcome the First Minister and the Circular Economy Minister’s recognition that there are key operational issues that still to be addressed before the scheme can be introduced, and the central role that the convenience sector

has in delivering a world leading, t for purpose DRS.”

Pointing out that SGF represents more Return Point Operators than the ‘Big Six’ supermarkets combined, Cheema added: “ is delay is an important and positive opportunity to renew our engagement with the minister and Circularity Scotland, and to refocus e orts on delivering a DRS that works for our members and their communities.”

Association of Convenience Stores (ACS)

Chief Executive James Lowman commented: “We are disappointed that we’ve not been able to meet the timetable for DRS in Scotland, but local shops will welcome the additional time to ensure that the scheme can run as smoothly as possible when it is introduced next March.

“Despite the delay, there will still be a 19-month period where the scheme will be operating in Scotland but not in the rest of the UK and this will cause issues, particularly for wholesalers and smaller suppliers.

“It is important to remember that businesses at all levels of the supply chain will need to

commit to tackling the signi cant operational challenges that the introduction of DRS will present, in order for it to work e ectively for businesses and consumers. is is still a tight timetable, but we will continue to engage with the Scottish government and support retailers with the implementation of this scheme.”

e Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) was also in favour of the latest push back, with Chief Executive Colin Smith stating: “We welcome the First Minister’s announcement of a 10-month delay and his continued commitment to support small businesses impacted by the scheme.

“It’s now essential that the Scottish Government, CSL, SEPA and business work together so we can address the myriad practical issues still standing in the way of a workable DRS being launched in March.

Similarly, the NFRN welcomed the delay but called for retailers who have already signed contracts for reverse vending machines to be compensated for the postponement [see boxout].

DRS CHANGES

A few days a er the First Minister’s announcement, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater unveiled a range of measures to make it easier for retailers and drinks producers to prepare for the DRS, while making sure environmental bene ts are still delivered. e changes are:

Q drinks containers of under 100ml will be excluded, removing miniatures and other smaller containers from the scheme.

Q products that sell fewer than 5,000 units per year will be excluded, which will particularly bene t cra producers.

Q all hospitality premises that sell the large majority of their drinks products for consumption on the premises will be exempt from acting as a return point.

Q the online application process for retailers to apply for an exemption from providing a return point has been simpli ed.

Slater said: “Scotland’s DRS will reduce litter on our streets, massively increase the recycling of

drinks containers and help meet our net zero ambitions.

“However, to realise these bene ts DRS needs to be delivered in a way that works for businesses, especially for small drinks producers. e changes I have set out will make the scheme easier for industry to deliver – especially for cra producers – while still making sure the vast majority of drinks containers are captured for recycling.”

In response to the changes, SWA’s Colin Smith said: “One of our aims, and we have been pushing for this since 2019, has been to have a de-minimis approach to ensure wholesalers putting small volumes of a product onto the market aren’t hit hard by DRS.”

Smith said SWA was “extremely pleased” that its ongoing engagement with Slater resulted in her announcement of of a de-minimis for all products below 5,000-unit sales. “ is will not only help our wholesalers and smaller producers, but also reduce the numbers of producers CSL has to deal with, thereby simplifying and derisking Scotland’s DRS.”

INTERNAL MARKET ACT

Slater also repeated her call for the UK government to issue an exclusion from the Internal Market Act for the scheme.

She added: “To move forward with certainty, the UK government must stop delaying the long overdue exclusion from the Internal Market Act. is damaging Act was imposed on the Scottish Parliament a er Brexit without its consent and creates confusion and uncertainty for businesses.

“A er that Act was passed, we engaged in good faith, following the agreed process, and have done so for nearly two years now to agree an exclusion. e UK Government needs to at long last issue an exclusion and recognise the right of the Scottish Parliament to enact legislation in devolved areas without interference.”

Meanwhile, Circularity Scotland said it will continue to support businesses of all sizes across Scotland in getting ready for the scheme’s launch on 1 March 2024.

e organisation commented: “ is new launch date now gives those businesses almost 10 months to prepare and those businesses who have yet to register now have until 12 January 2024 to do so.

“ e Scottish Government’s announcement puts an end to speculation about the timescales for the launch of the scheme and we urge all producers and retailers who have yet to register for the scheme to contact us so we can support them through the registration process.”

Editions

KP unveils impartial ranging guide

KP Snacks has launched ‘25 to rive,’ a new guide that o ers comprehensive and impartial ranging advice, and is designed to help retailers grow sales in the Crisps, Snacks, Nuts and Popcorn category.

e guide gives a core recommendation of 25 SKUs and features a planogram, macro trends, market insights and key category advice.

ing to PMPs – the 25 core range SKUs run across the entire value spectrum and meet all consumption needs.

caters to. ese include

ti ed in the guide are

include KP’s Hula Hoops,

e 25 SKUs identi ed in the guide are the top-sellers from multiple suppliers and include KP’s Hula Hoops, McCoy’s, KP Nuts and Butterkist brands, alongside heritage brands Skips, Nik Naks and Space Raiders. Encompassing a wide range of formats – from singles to shar-

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Lynx acting the GOAT

Lynx has unveiled new limited-edition packaging for its Lynx Africa variant as it looks to recruit a new generation of fans and bring the scent to Gen Z.

as consumers look for

As the cost of living remains stubbornly high, the guide identi es a number of critical market trends which its recommended range caters to. ese include the increasing relevance of on-the-go snacking and meal deals, the growth of Big Night In occasions, and the importance of heritage brands as consumers look for trusted familiar favourites.

Find the new ‘25 to rive’ ranging advice on the SnacKPartners website at bit.ly/3A6aCF2.

SNACKS Transformational tie-in

Golden Wonder has launched a new on-pack promotion across its Transform-A-Snack brand to mark the release of Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts in cinemas from 9 June 2023.

Just because Lynx Africa is the UK’s number one male fragrance, has sold over 400 million units and is sprayed over 21.5 million times every week, brand owner Unilever has taken the somewhat presumptuous step of according it GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) status.

Communicated unmissably on-pack, the inclusion of the GOAT phrase aims to resonate with the Gen Z audience by aligning with their culture through the use of their own language.

An on-pack QR code lets shoppers unlock exclusive GOAT-level Lynx prizes and experiences.

Consumers have the chance to win a trip to New York, where the film is partially set, as well as a host of other movie-related merchandise. The promotion runs across five million packs and is supported by substantial social and digital campaign marketing campaigns.

Golden Wonder Marketing Director Matt Smith said the opportunity to team up with the movie was “the perfect partnership”.

SNACKS New advice to help grow sales

Retailers can win £3k with Birds Eye

Birds Eye has partnered with *shopt to give independent retailers the chance to win £3,000 in a new competition.

A number of other prizes are also up for grabs to help retailers maximise their frozen food o ering and counter the e ect of high energy costs.

As well as three grand, the top prize winner will also receive tailored category advice and a selection of Birds Eye, Aunt Bessies and Goodfella’s stock to help them keep making the most of the frozen opportunity in their stores.

ere will also be nine additional runners-up cash prizes, ranging from £2,000 to £250. As well as these, retailers will receive a £3 reward for stocking Birds Eye products and, for every qualifying entry received, Birds Eye will make a £5 donation to GroceryAid.

To be in with a chance of winning, retailers need to redeem the Birds Eye competition reward on the *shopt app.

e competition comes a er new research from Birds Eye revealed the signi cant bene ts of the frozen food category for retailers over the past year.

e research, conducted by KAM media, surveyed over 200 independent UK retailers and found that 62% of them consider frozen food key to their sales mix. Forty-three per cent of retailers have seen demand for frozen food increase.

Retailers also favour quality, with 67% stating the importance of stocking wellknown quality frozen brands to tap into consumer demand.

CONFECTIONERY Shoppers can meet a top female footballer

World-class Cadbury prizes

Mondelez International is giving shoppers the chance to win a money-can’t-buy experience with a top female footballer with the launch of a new on- and o pack promotion, World Class Wins.

e promo runs until mid-July across a range of formats.

e lucky winner and three guests will meet one of the World Class Wins ambassadors before jetting o on a family holiday of their choice worth £8,000. e winner will also receive match tickets to see their chosen player on-pitch.

Runner-up prizes include match tickets, signed shirts and Cadbury FC vouchers.

HEALTHY

New look for Graze

Unilever’s healthy snacking brand Graze has unveiled a new brand identity and bolstered its sustainability credentials.

e launch of the new brand identity is supported by a £6m marketing investment – the brand’s largest to date –across a range of channels, including TV, PR, social, in-store shopper marketing and digital advertising, running through to October.

Competition seeks to counter the effects of high energy costs

SNACKING Brand overhaul is back by £6m marketing spend

Belhaven cheers its beers

Scotland’s oldest working brewery, Belhaven, has won three medals at the Monde Selection 2023. Both Belhaven Scottish Oat Stout and Belhaven Wee Heavy struck gold, while Belhaven Scottish Ale picked up a silver. This is the second year in a row that Oat Stout has won a gold medal in the Monde Selection. It was also named the ‘World’s Best Oat Stout’ at the World Beer Awards last year.

VK goes big with Blue Multipack

RTD brand VK has capitalised on the popularity of its VK Mixed pack with the launch of the VK Blue Multipack, which contains 10 x 275ml bottles of VK Blue, the 4% ABV sparkling mixed fruit flavoured drink that launched the brand. It is available now, directly from Global Brands and wholesalers and symbol groups including Nisa, United Wholesale Grocers, United Wholesale Scotland, and JW Filshill.

Maiden Mill launches

maiden ciders

Somerset-based Maiden Mill has unveiled its debut 0.5% ABV presses. Maiden Mill Voyage is a golden medium cider with sweet green apple notes while Maiden Mill Flyer is a crisp cloudy medium-dry cider. Both are made using traditional methods and are available in 330ml glass bottles; are gluten free and vegan friendly; and contain 25 calories per 100ml. Contact specialist alcohol-free supplier Wise Bar Trader to stock.

2001: a spiced rarity

Tomatin Distillery has unveiled its latest limited-edition single malt, Tomatin 2001, which is exclusive to the UK. Bottled at 57.4% ABV, the whisky has been matured in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butt to develop a complex flavour profile, offering a mix of dark sweetness and bitter notes. It is available in a 70cl bottle which comes in solid display box, at an RSP of £395. A total of 658 bottles have been released.

Funkin launches three new summer serves

while the sparkling Aperitivo Spritz o ers a natural orange avour and fresh botanicals.

All three will roll out into wholesale over the coming weeks a er initially launching in Sainsbury’s or Morrisons and will be available in 5% ABV 200ml cans (250ml for Aperitivo Spritz) with an RSP of £2.10. A 10% ABV 700ml Lime Margarita Bartender Edition bottle (RSP £9.50) will also launch.

Funkin Cocktails has added three brand-new serves to its canned cocktail portfolio.

e trio comprises Aperitivo Spritz, Lime Margarita and Berry Woo Woo, and lands just in time for the key summer trading period.

Lime Margarita and Berry Woo Woo both bene t from Funkin’s Nitro format, which infuses nitrogen for a bartender-quality freshly poured look and mouthfeel,

Ben Anderson, Funkin Cocktails Marketing Director, commented: “With lighter evenings already in full swing and Bank Holiday season just around the corner, cold and refreshing cocktails are going to be front of mind for shoppers, so our new additions are a great opportunity to help them expand their repertoire and drive additional sales in this hugely popular and fast-growing category.

“ is latest wave of innovation is all part of our mission to build genuine excitement around enjoying bar quality cocktails wherever our consumers are.”

WINE 19 Crimes new ad gets gritty

The 19 Crimes brand has launched a new campaign designed to recruit new consumers into wine.

Madrí Excepcional launches summer campaign

Molson Coors’ Spanish-inspired lager Madrí Excepcional is back on TV screens with the return of its ‘Door Roja’ ad supported by a £4m summer marketing campaign.

The five-month campaign, titled ‘El alma de Madrid’ or ‘The Soul of Madrid,’ aims to bring the vibrancy, warmth and progressive spirit of modern Madrid to the UK. At its heart is a 60-second TV ad shot in the Spanish capital.

Alongside this, the campaign also includes video-on-demand, experiential, social activities, influencer partnerships and out-ofhome advertising including billboards and pop-up displays.

The brand has also launched its first-ever connected platform, called ‘Madrí Conectada’. Through this, consumers can access personalised city maps to Madrí Excepcional destinations, exclusive music gigs and their nearest Madrí Excepcional stockist.

The biggest yet for 19 Crimes, the campaign centres around a new short film shot in Slovenia and is. Locations include an abandoned shopping centre and Michelinstarred restaurant, and the film is soundtracked with ‘Eat Slay Chardonnay’ by garage punks Nobro. It is described by brand owner Treasury Wine Estates as “gritty and spontaneous, pushing the boundaries of creativity in wine marketing”. The campaign includes video, social, print and out-ofhome activities.

BEER

Brewdog unveils ‘no nonsense’ stout as golden cans return

BrewDog has added Black Heart, a brand-new draught stout to its core range.

e 4.1% ABV “no nonsense” dry Irish-style stout comes in single 440ml, 4x440ml and 10x440ml can multipacks and is available exclusively from Booker in the convenience channel.

Described as “smooth,” “creamy,” “all head” and “all heart,” Black Heart is also said to be – Guinness aside – the rst stout to feature an in-can widget for a pub-style pour.

Alex Dullard, BrewDog’s Head of Customer Marketing at BrewDog, said: “We will be supporting the

FLAVOURED SPIRITS

launch with a widespread tonguein-cheek media campaign, creating noise around stout and providing some much-needed vibrancy to the category to excite consumers and drive trial.”

e launch is further supported by in-store assets and POS.

It coincides with the return of Brewdog’s infamous Gold Can competition, with a number of limited-edition gold cans hidden in packs of its beer.

e brewer has apparently learnt its lesson this time around and is keen to stress that the cans in question are only gold-plated,

JJ Whitley launches lemon flavour

although their lucky nders will also pocket £5,000 in cash. is follows a media storm that erupted during a previous promotion when BrewDog cofounder and Chief Executive James Watson thrice mistakenly tweeted that the cans were made of solid gold – which the Advertising Standards Authority said meant they were worth more than £350,000 each.

His ill-judged social media activity hit Watson’s pocket hard, as he ended up shelling out £500,000 from his own pocket to placate disgruntled winners.

Halewood Artisanal Spirits has added a new Lemon Citron variant to its JJ Whitley Vodka range.

Distilled in the UK, JJ Whitley Lemon Citron adds a zesty twist to cocktails and simple mixers. It is available to order now, with an RSP of £17 for 70cl bottle.

The new launch also showcases new JJ Whitley glass bottles, which are made using a closed loop recycling system in Yorkshire, significantly reducing environmental impact of the manufacturing process.

Rachel Adams, Global Marketing Manager for Halewood Artisanal Spirits said: “We’re confident that this will be popular choice as we approach the spring months.”

up Blumenthal BBQ promo

Molson Coors has launched a new barbecue-themed on-pack promotion for its Staropramen brand.

e promo sees Staropramen partner with chef Heston Blumenthal and his ‘Everdure by Heston Blumenthal’ BBQ range in a global campaign under the tag line ‘BBQ Like an Expert’.

Consumers have until 30 June to scan a QR code on packs of Staropramen and in-store POS to enter, with the chance to win an Everdure by Heston Blumenthal 4K BBQ, as well as Staropramen-branded BBQ accessories and supplies.

e campaign will be supported by digital advertising, paid social media activity, and in-store POS.

e promotion builds on the brand’s 11.4% value sales growth a er a multi-million-pound investment last year, which included the launch of Staropramen’s biggest-ever marketing campaign – ‘Brewed By Experts, For Experts’ – and more recently the launch of Staropramen 0.0% in March.

New whisky for beer fans

Malt brand Jura has extended its ‘Cask Edition Series’ with the launch Jura Pale Ale Cask Edition, which is aimed at beer lovers looking to get into whisky, and whisky lovers seeking something different. At 40%, the whisky is “ideal for sipping in a beer garden with friends in the sunshine, matched with a blonde or pale ale beer of your preference”. It has an RSP of £35 and comes in 70cl format with an accompanying tube.

Broadland puts the ‘tea’ into RTDs

Norfolk-based winery Broadland Drinks has unveiled Twistea, a semi-sparkling, flavoured alcoholic tea. It is available in Blood Orange & Mandarin, White Peach & Mango, Lemon & Lime, and Rhubarb & Ginger 250ml cans. All are 4% ABV, vegan-friendly, gluten-free, low in sugar, and contain fewer than 90 calories per can. To stock, retailers should email sales@ broadlanddrinks.com.

Hardys campaign returns

Wine brand Hardys is back on TV screens with its ‘Certainty’ campaign. On air now and set to reach 20m adults in the UK, the campaign runs across national TV, video on demand and YouTube, with primetime slots during ITV’s Coronation Street and The Chase. The advert features a couple at various stages of their lives drinking Hardys Crest and ends with the campaign tagline “Then. Now. Always.”

Jameson connects with consumers

Pernod Ricard’s Jameson brand has rolled out Jameson Connects, a “not so serious whiskey club” and new immersive digital platform that lets consumers get closer to the Irish whiskey. Using a QR code on bottle necks, Jameson fans can gain access to events, experiences and content, helping them to ‘Join In. Enjoy More’ and ultimately ‘Widen the Circle’.

BEER Molson Coors teams up with molecular gastrochef Staropramen fires

FUTURE PROOFING YOUR BUSINESS

Henderson Technology realises that retail is a rapidly changing business and recognises the impact of innovative technology. e company provides forward-thinking solutions for convenience store and forecourt retailers, enabling their business to maintain its competitive edge and ultimately boost pro tability.

EDGEPoS covers the three main areas of running a retail business –operational e ciency, security and business development.

With continuous development and innovative integrations and partnerships, EDGEPoS is now one of the most powerful and feature-rich systems in the UK.

EDGEPOS RETAIL

EDGEPoS Retail is an EPOS So ware solution supporting businesses from one to y lanes. e system delivers across all business needs, whilst carefully addressing the key areas of security, operational e ciency, and business development within a store.

EDGEPOS HEAD OFFICE

EDGEPoS Head O ce can help to reduce administration overheads and sta time by controlling areas such as pricing, product maintenance and o ers, across all sites from one central location. Multi-site operations require enhanced control and reporting to enable retailers to be proactive in decision making, aiding store success.

Multi-site operations require enhanced control and reporting to ensure that when they are o site they have their nger on the pulse of the business, as much as when they are walking the store.

EDGEPoS Head O ce provides real time sales reporting across all of sites so that performance can be tracked from one location.

EDGEPOS SELF-CHECKOUTS

e Self-Checkout is simply bolted onto one or more existing EDGEPoS tills and requires no additional counter space. e EDGEPoS SelfCheckout di ers from other products on the market. It gives retailers more choice to utilise space and sta throughout the store, enhancing the customer shopping experience.

EDGEPOS ESELS

e EDGEPoS electronic shelf label (ESL) system is a tool to display speci c product pricing on shelves. e automated ESL system reduces time and cost for pricing management, improves pricing accuracy and allows dynamic pricing. Dynamic or demand pricing is a concept by which retailers can modify pricing for a myriad of reasons, such as: to match demand, because of online competition, stock levels, shelf life of items or to create promotions.

MILLER’S KEYSTORE IN FORDEL

Drummond Miller said: “EDGEPoS gives me an advanced reporting functionality. The reports are there on the back office and I have them scheduled to be in my email inbox every day at a specific time, with no work required at all from my manager. This has been a huge help and time saving.

“The margin control on EDGEPoS is second to none. Again, the reports are sitting in my inbox, and I can raise any concerns in the weekly meeting with my staff and we have the time to review these and strategize to sort them out immediately.

“In terms of fuel integration, it is completely seamless. EDGEPoS integrates with all fuel cards and my current EFT card provider for ESSO.

“The support is fantastic. I leave my staff to log calls, I receive an email ticket when they log a call, and at our weekly meetings we go through these to see if there are any issues.”

BURNPARK SERVICE STATION IN KILMARNOCK

Another retailer to install the EDGEPoS system onsite is Manpreet Bawa from Burnpark Service Station in Kilmarnock. Manpreet, who fronts Bawa Group, has a wealth of experience in using EPOS systems and made the decision to install EDGEPoS into his Gulf and Premier branded store, with the EDGEPoS Go Live in May last year.

He said: “We are delighted with the functionality of EDGEPoS. It allows us to be able to refund a fuel transaction instantly right back onto the existing pump it came from. A simple refund function and it appears back on the till.

“Over the years we found it really hard to find a system which can easily do our wetstock management, instead of having to pay an outside company to do it. Henderson Technology has reduced the cost when it comes to wet stock management. We used to have to do it every day. Now we do it once or twice a week and the fuel stock is always perfect to within a litre.”

WESTHILL SERVICE STATION IN ABERDEEN

Darren Moir, Store Manager at Westhill Service Station in Aberdeen, has worked for the family run store for over 30 years. He said: “We chose EDGEPoS over other systems because of the ease of use. That, alongside the ability to install the system within our timeline; and the competitive pricing model secured the partnership between Westhill Service Station and Henderson Technology.”

Westhill Service Station has also implemented the fully integrated Appetite! Home Delivery and Click n Collect App instore.

KEEP COMPETITIVE WITH EDGEPOS

COOPER BROTHERS, JET AND KEYSTORE FORECOURT IN GLASGOW

Another store to benefit from EDGEPoS is Cooper Brothers, a JET and Keystore branded forecourt in Glasgow. A two lane EDGEPoS fuel system was installed into site in August 2019. Garry Gibson, General Manager, said: “We had been with our last EPOS provider for over ten years, and were being constantly let down with the system and the service. We even had to close the service station at times due to the lack of support from old our EPOS provider. When I met Henderson Technology, I was immediately taken aback by how easy the system was to use, and the fuel functionalities available on the EDGEPoS system.

“We also use the EDGEPoS fuel bunkering functionality on the system, and the credit accounts on the system have been a game changer. We can automatically email out the customer statement at the end of the month without having to do any manual work, and then the customer is able to come instore and pay off their account at the till by credit or debit card and it automatically tallies up on the back office. It could not be simpler.”

EDGEPoS is the future of retail technology and with its innovative and cost-effective self-checkout solution for retailers, alongside the award-winning Gander, Appetite and Ubamarket app integrations. Henderson Technology works with all its customers to ensure that the award-winning EPOS solution brings added functionality and integrations into the fuel forecourt and convenience sectors.

For more information and to find out how you can get a free tailored EDGEPoS demo visit

Web: www.henderson.technology

Social: @_HendersonTech

Email: sales@henderson.technology

Telephone: 028 9094 1900

CASE STUDY:

CASE STUDY:

CASE STUDY:

CASE STUDY:

No m at t er w h at you’re pack ing, w e’v e go t you c ov ered.

e d.

LOCAL HEROES

As the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards, an annual awards programme dedicated to the getting more Scottish products into Scottish shops, prepares to announce its 2023 winners later this month, SLR examines the importance of local sourcing.

BY FINDLAY STEIN

the local economy. And this can really set you apart from your competitors and appeal to shoppers who also care about sustainability and supporting their community. It’s a win-win. e bene ts don’t end there though. You can also build stronger relationships with suppliers. In Dan’s words, local suppliers “tend to be very responsive, very proactive and very willing to work with us in ways that big producers can’t. We’ve had local suppliers happy to create bespoke products just for the store, for instance.”

WHAT IS LOCAL?

But what does ‘local’ mean to Scots – and what types of products are they looking for? A survey conducted on behalf of the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards (SRFDA) by its research partners 56 Degree Insight in November 2021 discovered that for 52% of Scots, ‘local’ means ‘Scottish’ – though for a sizeable minority it is more local than this: regional or even their town or city (39%).

The idea of local sourcing isn’t a new one, but many local retailers really got switched on to it during the pandemic when – as stocks got low – a number of big brands e ectively turned their backs on c-stores to keep their supermarket pals sweet.

As usual, our sector rose to the challenge, and forged new links with smaller, local producers to keep shelves stocked with essentials.

But going local isn’t something you should do out of necessity: sourcing your stock from within Scotland or even closer to home has a number of bene ts for you, your customers, your community and indeed everyone else.

Because the products aren’t travelling halfway round the world, local sourcing reduces carbon emissions and energy consumption, which can help slow down climate change.

What’s more, reduced travelling time also results in fresher products with a long shelf life. Local sourcing also supports your local economy and creates jobs in your area.

ere’s also a simpler reason, as Dan Brown, Manager of Pinkie Farm Convenience Store in Edinburgh, explains: “We’ve always tried to use local producers because our customers like local products.”

So, by o ering locally sourced products, you’re burnishing your image as a retailer with a demonstrable commitment to sustainability, supporting local businesses, and promoting

So, for convenience stores to entice Scottish buyers, stocking products which clearly display their origins to the most local of levels will appeal. Illustrating this, when respondents were asked about their preferences for either ‘Scottish’ or ‘British’ branding, there was little doubt that a Scottish identity was important for the overwhelming majority: all things being equal (price, quality etc.), 65% would select a product labelled Scottish and displaying the saltire over one that carried British branding such as a Union Jack – only 10% would prefer this type of branding.

e research was strictly non-political and focused on the appeal, purely from a product/branding perspective. ere is no doubt that agging up the ‘Scottishness’ of food and drink products attracts interest and presents a real opportunity for convenience stores who are better placed to source and stock smaller, locally sourced food and drink items than their supermarket rivals.

e survey also discovered that moving beyond ‘Scottish’ branding and stocking products which are as local as possible could yield even greater returns: 22% of Scots describe local provenance as ‘very important’ and another 41% describe it as ‘quite important’ when it comes to decisions on what they might buy.

is demonstrates a clear desire for locally produced food and drink. But what particular types of ‘local product’

“We’ve always tried to use local producers because our customers like local products.”

65% of Scots would choose a saltirebranded product over one with a Union Jack

have the greatest appeal? Four categories stand out: fresh meat, poultry and sh; fruit and vegetables; dairy products; and bakery goods. In each case two-thirds or more of Scots describe locally produced/reared/grown versions being readily available as important to them.

is will probably strike a chord with retailers who stock local bakery or meat products and know that, furthermore, customers are o en willing to pay a premium for these.

at said, there was clear support for locally produced food and drink across all categories.

is means that if convenience stores took the lead in sourcing such products, it would provide them with clear ammunition in the ght against the mults.

COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS

So, we can all agree that local sourcing is the greatest thing since sliced bread (from the bakery just up the road, obviously) and that, all things being equal, the majority of Scots prefer Scottish products. But all things aren’t equal, are they? Locally sourced products can be more expensive than their mass-produced inferior rivals and everyone’s counting their pennies just now.

A second 56 Degree Insight survey conducted at the height of the cost-of-living crisis last November unsurprisingly found that price has become a more important factor for more than three-quarters (78%) of Scots. What’s more, over half (56%) agreed that factors other than price are now less important when they are shopping. is has resulted in changes in how people shop – in particular by an increasing use of discounters, frozen food shops, and stores like B&M.

However, there seems to be no decline in the desire to buy local produce, shop locally and to do the right thing in relation to environment –so long as the price is a ordable.

Again, over half (55%) of the 1,000 Scots surveyed agreed that they are concerned about where the food they eat comes from and that, despite rising prices, products being produced locally remains important for a signi cant percentage of them, with 42% rating 7 or more out of 10 on a scale where 0 is ‘not at all important’ and 10 is ‘vitally important’.

In fact, one-third stated that compared to a year ago food and drink being produced locally has become more important to them (8% much

more/4% slightly more) while its importance has not changed for most (58%).

It’s not surprising that the survey found that products being produced locally continue to be more important for certain demographic groups – especially those less a ected by the cost-ofliving crisis and those in the more a uent socioeconomic groups.

With shoppers keen to make every penny count, the survey also asked if it was important that a product’s quality is recognised through an award/badge shown on the packaging. Again, a signi cant percentage (38%) gave this a rating of 7 or more out of 10.

SRFDA

is brings us nicely to the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards, which were launched in 2020 and will present its third batch of awards at the Radisson blu in Glasgow on 23 May.

e SRFDAs have local sourcing at their heart and one simple goal – to help get more fantastic Scottish food and drink products onto more retail shelves in Scotland.

THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL SOURCING

CONSUMERS WANT IT!

Q 54% of Scottish shoppers are more likely to choose products clearly labelled as Scottish

Q 56% of shoppers look for products with clear provenance

Q 57% actively choose local products to minimise food miles

RETAILERS BENEFIT!

Q Supports the local economy and local jobs

Q Creates a point of difference from nearby competitors

Q Strengthens relationships with the local community

Q Generates shopper loyalty

Q Drives footfall, sales and profits

Q Minimises food miles

Q Helps create in-store theatre

“We understand just how important it is to support the country’s many fantastic small local producers”

MCLEAN, SPAR SCOTLAND CEO

57% of shoppers actively choose local products to minimise food miles

ey encompass the entire food and drink retailing sector – from the smallest deli all the way up to the supermarkets. Similarly, the SRFDAs take in producers and suppliers of all sizes from one-person artisan businesses to global giants. If their products are made and marketed in Scotland, they can enter.

A quick glance through the list of nalists will con rm this, with products from Aldi and M&S on the shortlist, along with well-kent names like Mothers Pride and Equi’s rubbing shoulders with brand’s you’ve possibly never heard of, like Nudie Snacks and Puddledub.

And that’s very much the point, as SRFDA Sales Director Helen Lyons explains: “We aim to unearth the very best products that Scotland has to o er – then help get them on shelves across Scotland.”

“Every product is judged on its own merits – not compared to others – during a fair and transparent month-long judging process which gives all products the same opportunity to win regardless of where they came from.”

All winners and shortlisted entrants are permitted to carry the SRFDA on-pack logo, something that – as we’ve already seen – helps in uence buying decisions and grows sales.

SUPPORTING SCOTLAND

Since their inception, the Awards have attracted a prestigious band of sponsors and partners, all of whom recognise the importance of local sourcing, particularly products from smaller businesses.

Spar Scotland, for example, are supporting the Awards for the third year in a row. e company’s CEO, Colin McLean, said: “As a family-owned business with more than 100 years of history in serving hundreds of communities across Scotland, we understand just how important it is to support the country’s many fantastic small local producers.”

Commenting on the SRFDAs, McLean added: “We view this as a fantastic celebration of Scottish food and drink but with a clear commercial aim: to grow sales for both small producers and the retailers who stock their products.”

He concluded: “Supporting small, local producers helps sustain local economies across Scotland, it helps safeguard jobs and it helps minimise our impact on the planet thanks to signi cantly reduced ‘road miles’. is is a great opportunity to help Scotland’s local suppliers grow and thrive.”

LOCAL FOOD CHAMPIONS

e Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) is another SRFDA sponsor which demonstrated its commitment to local sourcing with the launch of a new Wholesale Local Food Champion training programme.

e programme encourages Scotland’s wholesalers to appoint an individual to take responsibility for shaping the local sourcing strategy within their business.

Colin Smith, SWA Chief Executive, said the goal is to see wholesalers nominate at least one individual within their business to be trained to become a Wholesale Local Food Champion.

“ ese champions will then have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the importance

of a strong, local food and drink supply chain –and become a point of contact for suppliers to start engaging with your business,” Smith said.

“Comprehensive training will also include one-to-one mentoring support with each champion receiving a certi cate of completion and Wholesale Local Food Champion marque to help producers easily identify individuals/ wholesalers that can potentially help support their business.”

e programme is fully funded and backed by the Scottish Government, and the rst 20 Champions start training this month.

2023

SGF GOES LOCAL

Another Scottish Government-funded scheme designed to boost the availability of Scottish produce in stores is the Go Local Programme. Launched by SRFDA partner the Scottish Grocers Federation in 2020, it o ers Scotland’s local retailers up to £5,000 in matched funding to provide dedicated, long-term display space for locally-sourced Scottish products.

Applications are still open to phase 4 of the programme, which will allocate a further £190,000 to least 40 geographically and demographically diverse stores to help consumers access more fresh, quality Scottish produce.

Now in their third year, the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards have one simple goal: to help get more fantastic Scottish food and drink products onto more retail shelves in Scotland.

SC OT TI SH RE TAIL FO OD & DRINK AWARDS 20 23

The 2023 winners will be announced at a celebratory lunch and presentation ceremony to be held at the Radisson blu hotel in Glasgow on Thursday 25 May. A limited number of tickets, priced £75 + VAT, are still available – see the website for more details and to book. scottishretailfoodanddrinkawards.com

SLR AWARDS 2023: IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Set to be held once more at the Radisson blu hotel in Glasgow on 6 September, the event will again see the cream of Scotland’s local retailing community gather to honour some of the best retailers, stores and initiatives in our sector.

With the cost-of-living crisis, soaring energy bills, supply issues and a shambolic countdown to the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme, it’s been yet another challenging year for our convenience store community. e sector has – as it always does – risen to those challenges and we are determined – as we always are – to recognise and pay tribute to the very best of Scotland’s local retailers.

We know how di cult running a convenience store can be – we did it with Woodlands Local – and you may well think setting aside a chunk of your valuable time to make an entry is the last thing you need but being shortlisted or winning an award can have a massively bene cial e ect on your store, your team and your customers.

With a deadline of Friday 2 June, there isn’t much time le if you wish to enter the SLR Awards 2023.

And why wouldn’t you? e prestigious event comes of age this year, as we celebrate 21 years recognising the very best of local retailing. It’s bound to be an incredibly special evening, and we want you there!

e easy-to-use entry portal has been live for a couple of months now, and the entries are coming thick and fast. However, the clock is ticking, and the 2 June entry deadline will be here before you know it.

If haven’t entered yet, now is the time to do it to ensure you don’t miss out on your chance to be up on stage come September smiling for the camera and holding one of convenience retail’s most prestigious awards.

What’s more, just entering the Awards in the rst place will bene t you: it forces you to take a step back and see your store through the eyes of your shoppers. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily challenges of running the store and lose sight of what’s right in front of your eyes. Taking a deep breath and casting an objective eye over every aspect of your business will help you gure out what you’re getting right as well as spotting where there is room for improvement.

So, what are you waiting for? It won’t cost you a penny, so visit slrawards.com and enter as few or as many categories as you choose. For advice on how to optimise your submission and to make your entries as strong as possible for the judges, please email events@55north. com.

With only a month left to make submissions, the clock is ticking for retailers still enter the SLR Awards.

The countdown continues...

Scotland’s deposit returns scheme (DRS) starts on 1st March 2024.

That’s when retailers will do their bit for recycling and reducing litter by collecting cans and bottles from consumers and paying out deposits.

And now retailers will receive 3.7p for the first 8,000 containers collected per week using a reverse vending machine (RVM).

TOMRA already provides 7 out of 10 of the RVMs used across the world today.

As well as o ering a range of machines for di erent environments and spaces, we provide digital cloud-based tools and service technicians to keep everything running smoothly.

How does the Deposit Return Scheme work?

DRS involves shoppers paying 20p extra – the deposit – for drinks sold in plastic bottles, cans or glass bottles. Putting a deposit on drinks encourages everyone to bring them back to places like local shops and supermarkets. Like consumers, retailers and wholesalers pay the deposit, then receive it back.

Balance retail space and recycling volume with a space-e cient standalone machine

Solutions for small stores

More compact than you think M1

Process up to 17 containers per minute

Size (mm):

960 x 638 x 1670

Footprint of 0.62 sqm

Solutions for medium stores

Make recycling easy for you

T70 Dual Process up to 45 containers per minute

Size (mm):

1293 x 1040 x 1800

Footprint of 1.4 sqm

Crumpet Thins

Warburtons

Crumpet Thins are available now in packs of eight. Following in the wake of the brand’s original Crumpet and Giant Crumpets, the new wrapped bakery item is aimed at those wanting a lighter breakfast or snack option. Crumpet Thins are produced with the same ingredients as the brand’s original crumpets but come in at just 61 calories each and are non-HFSS.

Tastes like summer

Cadbury Chocolate Topping Sauce

Mondelez

Available now in cases of 6 x 950g squeezable bottles at an RSP of £6.99, Cadbury Chocolate Topping Sauce is ideal for drizzling over desserts, ice cream, pancakes and more. It is suitable for vegetarians, can be stored at an ambient temperature, is made using 100% sustainably sourced cocoa and packaging is recyclable. Each bottle typically contains at least 60 servings.

Graze Peri Peri Crunch

Unilever

Healthy snacking brand Graze has added a new Peri Peri flavour to its Crunch range, available now in 28g punnets with an RSP of £1.20. Peri Peri Crunch offers crunchy nuts in a “bold” Peri Peri seasoning, is HFSS compliant and – according to the brand – the first-ever Peri Peri flavour in the nuts category. The launch follows nine months of research and development to perfect the new variant, which recorded a purchase intent of 75% in the brand’s consumer testing.

Barr Soft Drinks is rolling out two limited-edition Irn-Bru Xtra summer flavours in a bid to help retailers make the most of the seasonal soft drinks sales peak.

Irn-Bru Xtra Tropical and Ice Cream will both be available from 9 May, launching in a 69p price-marked 330ml single can for impulse retailers and a plain can multipack for the grocery channel. However, just like the Scottish summer, they won’t be around for long.

The launch will be supported by an “attentiongrabbing” media campaign that is predicted to reach 94% of 16–24-year-olds at least 45 times through a combination of out-of-home advertising, influencer activity and social media content.

Vibrant, eye-catching point of sale material will also be available to help retailers create some in-store theatre and attract shoppers to the soft drinks fixture.

Coronation sandwiches

Urban Eat

Sandwich brand Urban Eat is marking the coronation of King Charles III with a limited-edition pair of sandwiches: Smoked Ham & Egg and, unsurprisingly, Coronation Chicken. Both are available until 9 June in Union Jack packaging. The launch is supported by POS, store posters and social media activity. To stock, contact the Fresh Food For Now Company sales team on 0116 236 1640 or email hello@ foodfornow. co.uk.

Regal Signature

Barr’s last limited edition that was available in single serve and take-home packs was Fiery Irn-Bru, which achieved a 70% trial rate amongst consumers in Scotland, while Irn-Bru Xtra delivers a 12% increase in sales value in summer and is currently outperforming the overall low-calorie carbonate market.

Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr Soft Drinks, said the launch presented “an unmissable opportunity” for retailers: “Our limited-edition flavours always build excitement with shoppers, who can’t wait to pick it up it while they can.”

He added: “We know that summer is a key period for soft drinks and new flavours are driving growth in carbonates. Last year flavour innovation brought in £32m to the total category and around a third of this was throughout the summer months.”

Imperial Tobacco

Developed exclusively for Scotland, Regal Signature cigarettes provide a firm filter and a round-cornered box for a contemporary and more premium feel. Kingsize and Superkingsize formats are available in packs of 20 (RSP £11.60). Rolling tobacco in a modern-looking portrait pouch with a resealable zip lock is available in 30g packs (RSP £16.30) with papers and tips, and 50g packs (RSP £26.75) with papers.

Président Lighter Slightly Salted Spreadable Butter

Lactalis

Président Lighter Slightly Salted Spreadable Butter has 50% less fat compared to standard butter and is available now in 250g tubs with an RSP of £2.90. Made in Brittany with “the finest milk and cream,” it is said by Lactalis to be the first to market lighter spreadable butter offering a genuine dairy product, with no added vegetable oils.

Cadbury Twirl Mint

Mondelez

Cadbury’s latest limited-edition Twirl is available in cases of 48 x 43g singles with an RSP of 75p. The launch is supported with PR, digital and social media activities in a bid to drive visibility and encourage trial among shoppers. Twirl Mint performed well in concept testing, prompting Mondelez to encourage retailers to order stocks early to avoid disappointment. To find out more, retailers should visit SnackDisplay.co.uk.

Wham Space Babies

Valeo Snackfoods

Launching under the Barrratt brand, Wham Space Babies is available from Hancocks and Unitas in cases of 12 x 100g bags in both plain and £1.25 price-marked packs. The sweets are super-sour, supersquidgy, baby-shaped gummies that come in raspberry, apple, banana and strawberry flavours. The launch is supported with Instagram and TikTok influencer activities that target Barratt’s ‘tween’ audience.

Brothers Raspberry Ripple Brothers Cider

Brothers Cider has continued its annual tradition of launching an unusual flavour with a new raspberry and vanilla flavour. It is available in 500ml and 330ml glass bottles, and in 6 x 330ml and 10 x 330ml multipack can formats, with RSPs aligned to existing variants. The launch will be supported with influencer partnerships, social media activity and POS materials.

Sterling Dual Double Capsule Leaf Wrapped

JTI

The latest addition to JTI’s cigarillo portfolio offers double the flavour, with a combination of peppermint and berry mint capsules. It is available now with an RSP of £6 for a pack of 10. An introductory £5.70 PMP is available to convenience retailers. For more information, contact your local JTI Sales Representative, visit jtiadvance. co.uk or call 0800 163503.

Nurishh Plant-Based Greek Style Cubes

Bel UK

Nurishh’s latest plant-based alternative to cheese taps into growing consumer interest in Medierranean diets and is available in 150g packs with a £2.70 RSP. Dairy free, lactose free and gluten free too, Nurishh Plant-Based Greek Style Cubes are a good source of Vitamin B12 and offer a lower calorie and fat content than the main market competitor.

Dove Derma Hypoallergenic Care Body Wash

Unilever

The launch follows research that found 94% of UK women had a dry skin condition, and 47% of those feel less beautiful and less confident as a result. The body wash is fragrance-free, absent of any potentially irritating ingredients, and apparently relieves dryness in just one shower. It is available in 450ml packs made from 100% recycled plastics with an RSP of £3/£2.50.

Mealtime magic

Coca-Cola’s new global brand campaign and platform, A Recipe for Magic, encourages people to get together and share more than just the food on the table. It is spearheaded by American model, mum and food lover Gigi Hadid. A new ad sees Hadid invite some friends round to rustle up homemade pasta and share some laughs over a bottle of Coke.

Keep it to yourself

Chocomel has kicked-off three months of promotional activity with a TV advert under the banner ‘Chocomel, Sharing Not Required’. Featuring a man enjoying a can in the bath, the playful ad encourages adults to keep Chocomel just for themselves. It airs on ITV, Sky, C4, video on demand, and YouTube throughout spring and into summer.

French connection

Häagen-Dazs has unveiled a new UK marketing campaign to support the launch of its new macaron ice cream range. The £1m campaign runs across TV, online video, digital and social media channels. The campaign focuses on the meaning of French connection, with activities helping to celebrate and bring people together.

Kids brands on box

Yoplait has secured its first-ever sponsorship deal for Petits Filous and Frubes on Paramount TV’s children’s brands in the UK. A six-figure investment sees Petits Filous embark on a six-month TV sponsorship of Milkshake!, Channel 5’s preschool strand, while Frubes has launched a three-month sponsorship of the Nickelodeon brand.

Bring Back the Biscuit Break

McVitie’s has unveiled ‘Bring Back the Biscuit Break,’ its first masterbrand campaign in almost 10 years, which is fronted by Martine McCutcheon. The marketing push kicked off with PR, social, out of home, radio and shopper marketing activities. It will be bolstered by a series of partnerships with media organisations.

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

POWERING AHEAD

BY ELENA DIMAMA

The energy drinks segment remains a huge sales driver for convenience stores, with the category having enjoyed a whopping 18.9% year-onyear growth, according to Nielsen.

Within that, the sports drink segment has also experienced a huge 63.3% upli year-on-year, in the latest 13 weeks to 1 April 2023.

“Energy has established itself as one of the biggest growth drivers in so drinks, and that shows no sign of slowing down. In 2022, energy drinks added more than £210m to the category and saw sales value increase by 14.2%,” Amy Burgess, Senior Trade Communications Manager at Coca-Cola Europaci c Partners (CCEP) tells SLR.

e category is also being helped by pricemarked packs, especially over the course of this

past year or so, when the cost-of-living crisis has squeezed disposable incomes. “ e stimulation market is the fastest growing so drinks segment in recent years and new packs will showcase a new £1 PMP to help retailers drive value in their range at a time when consumers are price-conscious,” Matt Gouldsmith, Channel Director, Wholesale, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, notes.

SUGAR DOWN

“ e long-term trend towards drinks with lower sugar shows no sign of stopping,” Gouldsmith explains, “with consumers becoming much more aware of their health and wellbeing. e low- and no-calorie segment continues to perform brilliantly, accounting for almost 48.3% of total so drink sales.”

As sales drivers go, energy continues to lead the way with innovation and trend setting.

To make sure it stays on-trend, Lucozade has launched its new Lucozade Sport Zero Sugar, moving the brand into the low- and no-sugar segment, which accounts for almost 48.3% of total so drinks sales, according to Nielsen. Available in Orange & Peach and Raspberry & Passion Fruit avours, it contains 4kcal per serving and zero sugar, and is designed to appeal to consumers who do not currently buy into the Lucozade Sport brand.

PROMISING FUTURE

Summertime is a prime opportunity for independent retailers to promote their sports and energy drinks ranges, as a number of outdoor events could boost sales.

“Marketing campaigns and sponsorships of sports events such as Formula 1, World Cup,

TOP TIPS TO GROW SALES FROM LUCOZADE

Q Provide an appealing range of low- and no-sugar energy and sports drinks to meet the needs of shoppers looking for healthier options.

Q Ensure healthier choice soft drinks are easy to find when shoppers are browsing the category.

Q Group similar products together and position top-selling segments at eye level for ease of shop.

Q Locate Everyday Energy next to Carbs and Stimulation drinks. These products meet both energy and refreshment needs, and are often considered substitutes.

Q Many shoppers are value-conscious; price-marked packs provide shopper confidence and should be considered as part of your range.

ENERGY SPACE

1 in 3 on-the-go so drinks sold are energy drinks* so give them the room they deserve! Hero the fastest growing brands like Monster to maximise sales.

MERCHANDISING

Help shoppers navigate the fixture by grouping energy brands and create clear segments for Traditional, Zero Sugar and Flavoured energy sectors.

MULTIPACKS

Single cans are great for on-the-go but don’t forget to keep your multipacks chilled for shoppers who want energy now and for later.

For planogram advice and to hear from Amrit and other retailers just visit: salessupercharged.co.uk

RIGHT RANGE

Kick out the slow sellers. Double face the SKUs that really deliver. Include zero sugar energy too, like Monster Ultra, the No.1 zero energy brand.** And don’t forget flavoured favourites like Monster Juiced.

INNOVATION

Innovation drives sales, so create fixture excitement with the latest launches. Remember, 67% of energy innovation sales are from Monster.**

and outdoor sports including wind sur ng, cli diving and rock climbing give additional sales for sports drinks identi ed to consumers for extreme sports, like the Red Bull brand,” Bestway tells SLR.

“In the UK, sports events such as football, rugby, the London marathon and Wimbledon, along with summer music festivals and food & drink festivals are among the key events where consumers purchase energy drinks during the warm weather to keep hydrated.”

e King’s Coronation, in the meantime, is a major national event ideally placed to attract shoppers outdoors, purchasing NPDs and creating their own drinks at home, using energy and sports drinks as mixers.

STAY AWAKE

According to recent Suntory data, 75% of adults have reported concerns about tiredness, while

TOP TIPS FROM BESTWAY

Q Retailers should ensure that they keep their shelves well stocked with different flavours and include pack formats for consumers purchasing to share.

Q For NPD, retailers should use promotional materials such as posters, shelf talkers, and banners.

Q Retailers should have a theme when it comes to key national events, including the upcoming Coronation and have a section in the store specific for these occasions to cater for consumers who will be planning outdoor street parties.

Q Retailers should stock PMP singles to cater for the Drinks-to-go market and as part of meal deal promotions.

Q Cross-merchandise the category with cola, flavoured carbonates, juices, squashes and water (flavoured, still and sparkling).

the stimulation drinks segment remains the fastest-growing so drinks segment in recent years.

“ e Lucozade Alert range responds to a clear consumer need, as a high ca eine energy drink with Vitamin B3 to help combat tiredness, from the trusted brand Lucozade,” Gouldsmith notes. “Lucozade Alert has invested in a new striking and colourful 500ml can design across all three avours – Cherry Blast, Tropical Burst & Original Lucozade – and launched in market from January. e brand has amassed a worth of over £10m in value sales since launch and is continuing to grow.”

PERFORMANCE BOOST

“In the performance energy category, Reign Total Body Fuel is leading the way, accounting for more than half of the value of this subsector (62%),” Burgess adds. “It contains 200mg of naturally sourced ca eine, with a recipe enriched with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and Vitamins B3, B6 and B12, which may contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue to a normal energy-yielding metabolism.”

e brand has added two new avours, Peach Fizz and Orange Dreamsicle, which clocked up almost £2.8m of sales within nine months of launch, according to Nielsen. “To build on this, earlier this year we launched Reign Mango-matic, tapping into the popularity of Mangoavoured drinks,” she explains.

IT’S A WRAP

Leaf-wrapped cigarillos continue to drive cigar sales.

BY GAELLE WALKER

NEW PRODUCT ALERT!

STERLING DUAL DOUBLE CAPSULE LEAF WRAPPED

JTI has expanded its cigarillo portfolio with the launch of the new Sterling Dual Double Capsule Leaf Wrapped, offering double the flavour with a combination of peppermint and berry mint capsules.

Available now across all UK channels, Sterling Dual Double Capsule Leaf Wrapped has an RSP of £6 for a pack of 10 –although retailers are free to set their own prices.

There will also be an exclusive introductory price marked pack of 10 launching at £5.70 in the Convenience and Independent channels.

The innovation joins JTI’s already successful Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped range.

While total cigar sales remain a little muted compared with 2022, within the category the cigarillo segment is continuing to party hard.

Cigarillos have reported ongoing growth in both the grocery and convenience channels over the past three years but particularly over the last 12 months, where they have contributed valuable pro ts to retailers’ tills.

e category is now worth around £8m a month according to JTI, whose Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped range is currently “the fastest growing cigar brand in the UK” and commands a 92.4% share of the market according to IRi Market Place data for December 2022.

Available in smaller packs of 10, as well as 20s, the category is well met by adult smokers on a

budget along with those looking to manage their consumption.

STG UK Country Director Alastair Williams is also keen to highlight the key cigarillo opportunity for local retailers, especially when it comes to avoured products, such as its Signature Action brand.

“Our Signature Action brand is not the bestselling cigarillo on the market, but its sales have grown by over 64% in the last year,” he says.

e brand, which transitioned from Signature Dual in 2021, o ers adult smokers a Virginia Blend tobacco encased in a natural leaf wrapper with a peppermint click lter.

In a bid to grow its cigarillo sales share even further this year, JTI has just launched its latest o ering: Sterling Dual Double Capsule Leaf Wrapped.

CIGARILLOS MOTOR ON

The cigarillo category has continued to grow in both grocery and convenience channels, particularly over the last 12 months, and is now worth approximately £8m a month, showcasing the category opportunity available for retailers.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

STG recently announced a fresh new look for its Moments brand.

The new pack design can be seen now on packs of Moments Blue and Moments Original, with packs of Moments Panatella following closely behind in May.

Moments Blue has been the fastestgrowing value for money (VFM) cigar in the UK and according to STG is “well-known amongst tobacco-selling retailers as a popular choice amongst those customers who are looking to save money”.

Source: IRi Market Place Dec 2022

NEW UP

STG’S ALASTAIR WILLIAMS SHARES HIS TOP TIPS FOR STELLAR SALES

“To boost cigar sales, it’s important that retailers stock the right range rather than a big range, as the top ten brands account for over 90% of sales – so don’t tie up your cashflow with slow moving brands.

“It’s also always worth reminding retailers that as cigars are exempt from the plain packaging legislation, we recommend they stock them on the middle shelf of the gantry where they are visible, and more likely to be purchased by adult smokers who can see them.”

e new capsule product provides adult smokers with “double the avour” by combining two on-trend avours –peppermint and berry mint.

Commenting on the launch, JTI Marketing Director Mark McGuinness says: “Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped has had a strong couple of years since launching in 2019 and we wanted to build on this success by providing retailers with new avours that respond to current trends.

“We know that berry is already a popular avour within other categories, such as Vape and Heated Tobacco products, so with this innovation we know we can help retailers drive incremental sales in their store.

“What’s more, the lower price point and the fact we can o er a 10-pack, means retailers can cater to those shoppers looking for value-for-money tobacco options – something we know is important for many right now.”

Alongside cigarillos, STG’s Williams also urges local retailers to sharpen their sights on miniatures, which remain “the engine room of the cigar category”.

“By far the biggest player here is our Signature range, which is ably supported by our Moments brand, which o ers a good quality smoke at a cheaper price,” he adds.

“ e cigar category remains an important part of your tobacco o er, not only for the revenue it brings into your till, but as a driver of footfall and repeat business from regular customers and the associated basket spend which goes with that.

“ e other thing worth mentioning here is pro t margins, as cigars’ are typically three times those of cigarettes.

“For example, our Moments Blue brand o ers up to 18% margin when sold at its RRP, and there’s certainly not many products in the wider tobacco category that can match that,” he concludes.

*RRP effective 16 March 2023. Retailers are, of course, free at all times to sell JTI product at whatever price they choose.

TO PROTECT YOUR PROFITS IT’S TIME TO

TAKE

10 PACK

PEPPERMINT CLICK FILTER WITH VIRGINIA BLEND

LOW OUT OF POCKET PRICE

THE PEPPERMINT CLICK FILTER CIGARILLO

PMPS STILL REIGNING

Value for money drives the category, especially for the convenience sector.

BY ELENA DIMAMA

The search for value shows no sign of waning for shoppers across the country, with price-marked packs (PMPs) ideally placed to drive sales for independent retailers.

According to research by Lumina, a h of shoppers have said they would choose a particular convenience store if they knew it stocked PMPs, while 56% of retailers said they have been selling more PMP products during recent times, according to a Mondelez International survey.

SAVINGS OPPORTUNITY

Two-thirds of the population believe it is important to make savings on their grocery bills, Nielsen’s recent State of the Nation Report found, with 69% of consumers planning to shop at many stores to take advantage of o ers and 60% actively looking out for and trying to buy products when on promotions.

Meanwhile, 60% of consumers believe that the PMPs they see on-shelf are on a special promotion, according to Lumina, as price

remains the second-most-important factor for shoppers.

“PMPs are a huge growth driver when it comes to the convenience channel, as shoppers perceive products in this format to represent great value for money – encouraging them to purchase on impulse. In fact, despite only making up 12% of SKUs in convenience stores, PMPs represent a huge three-quarters of sales in the channel,” says Aslı Özen Turhan, Chief Marketing O cer at pladis UK&I.

“With economic uncertainty manifesting itself once more, shoppers are opting for the bestselling, everyday snacks which they view as a permissible treat or ‘a ordable indulgence’. Now more than ever, good value is a hugely important purchase motivator, so stocking the branded bestsellers – such as our range of Jacob’s Mini Cheddars PMPs – is independent retailers’ ticket to driving higher volume sales.”

Price-marked packs can also pair up with another pro table category – that of meals, which is why Kepak’s Rustlers brand is also available in this format.

“PMPs continue to provide a vital reassurance of value, with all of Rustlers’ bestsellers available in this format, however, value isn’t just con ned to the price of a single product,” Ross Davison, Head of Convenience at Kepak (Foods Division), explains. “Product promotions also highlight good value and drive impulse purchase, such as an on-pack promotion giving shoppers something extra.”

CRISPS AND SNACKS

Stocking up on crisps and snacks PMPs has become a natural choice for independent stores, as PMPs are largely purchased on impulse. “What’s clear is that independent retailers can encourage shoppers to spend more in-store by stocking the bestselling snacking lines in this format. Consumers expect to see classic snacking lines in store anyway, so o ering these at a price point which represents good value for money is essential to boosting overall basket sales,” Turhan adds.

Jacob’s Mini Cheddars PMPs are already worth £3m in the convenience channel alone, according to Nielsen, with pladis o ering PMPs across a range of biscuits, including McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives and McVitie’s Chocolate Hobnobs.

“In terms of general advice, we’d encourage independent retailers to invest time in merchandising their snacking fixtures in the best way possible. An attractive display with a range of the bestselling PMPs and popular NPD – placed at shopper eye level and located in high footfall areas – will have a strong influence on shopper purchasing decisions. It’s about making the shopper experience as seamless as possible, so themed space and signage, and offering secondary sitings – such as at point of sale – are essential considerations in order to maximise sales.”

WAKE UP BOOST

e breakfast category is also bene tting from the multipack PMP format, especially as shoppers look for quick and convenient solutions to snack on in the morning. To capitalise on the trend and in keeping with the wider economic background, Mondelez is now o ering its widest-ever range of PMPs across its brands and formats.

Belvita has introduced a new PMP format on its Honey & Nut avour, as a result of the brand’s drive to enter the category.

“As part of the brand’s aim to attract new shoppers and help add value to the category, the new belVita Honey & Nut PMP taps into the healthier multipack space within the convenience channel and communicates value to price-conscious shoppers,” Susan Nash, Trade Communications Manager at Mondelez International, notes.

In addition, Weetabix brought back its £1.29 PMP o er across the 250ml core range, as shoppers continue to focus on value for money. “Price-marked packs is king in wholesale and convenience, so the importance is crucial, even more so now as we hit the cost-of-living crisis,” Darryl Burgess, Head of Sales for Weetabix, tells SLR. “We’ve worked closely with our wholesale and convenience partners to ensure product availability over the past year, as well as o ering advice to retailers so that they stock the topselling cereal brands to cater for the rise in at-home breakfasts.

“We continue to invest in the category as well, with popular NPD such as Weetabix Melts, available as a £2.99 PMP, and our awardwinning Weetabix On e Go Ca é Latte, which was launched exclusively in the impulse channel to tap into the signi cant on-the-go opportunity retailers have.”

NEW PMP FOR THATCHERS’ BESTSELLER

A new £5.49 price-marked pack has been launched by Thatchers Cider for its 4 x 500ml can pack of Thatchers Gold.

The new PMP is available exclusively to convenience retailers.

Jonathan Nixon, Commercial Director at Thatchers Cider, commented: “The Gold 4x440ml can pack is the top selling branded apple cider 4-pack in the major multiples so this new price-marked pack of 500ml cans provides a strong opportunity for convenience and independent stores to offer a point of difference.

“It will drive sales and demonstrate to shoppers they are seeing value for money.”

OPTIMAL SALES, PRIME PROFITS!

TIPS AND TRENDS FROM KEPAK

Q At a time of low confidence in spending, the price sensitivity shown by shoppers is set to continue through 2023 and the convenience channel will continue to benefit by offering price-marked packs. Products like Rustlers that are backed by sustained, heavyweight marketing support will have even stronger appeal.

Q Savvy shopping is no longer just the domain of those on a tight budget. For many shoppers, the stigma once associated with finding a bargain is waning and they’re prepared to seek these savings, becoming common practice in FMCG today. PMPs at accessible price points help to attract new customers and encourage repeat purchase from both brand loyalists and impulse shoppers.

Q Alongside offering PMPs, tiering is essential to highlight value propositions. Blocking products in good and better ordering from left to right makes the category easier and quicker to shop whilst offering obvious trade-up options from value to premium products.

Q Value isn’t just confined to the price of a single product. Meal deals and bundle offers are popular with shoppers seeking for value for money. Product promotions also highlight good value and drive impulse purchase, such as an on-pack promotion giving shoppers something extra.

SWEET RISE

Sharing treats is still a big sales driver even for squeezed households, providing room for bigger margins in the confectionery category.

“As the cost of living rises, shoppers will be looking to reduce expenditure,” Gabriella Egleton – Senior Brand Manager – Kervan Gida UK, explains. “One of the ways they’ll do this, similar to during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, will be by replacing nights out with nights in, and picking up their favourite feel-good foods and drinks to enjoy at home.

Price-marked packs which highlight value to the consumer, and encourage impulse buys, will be key to driving sales at this time.”

e confectionery brand is o ering its Bebeto 150g Big Mix, 150g Big Fizzy Mix, 150g Strawberry, and 150g Fizzy Watermelons

gummy lines in £1 PMP, as 82% of retailers say £1 PMPs are “must-stock” items, described as “the main driver of growth in Convenience & Impulse”.

What’s more, Hancocks is also o ering it Bonds of London range in a PMP line marked at £1.25, with avours including Fruit Pastilles, Jelly Beans, Giant Strawbs, Chocolate Peanuts, Midget Gems, Fruit Jellies and Chocolate Honeycomb. “Our price-marked packs re ect confectionery trends for our convenience customers to get the most out of the products. Our Bonds pricemarked sweets bag range appeals to customers of all ages, with a dedicated sweet bag range for kids at a lower price point,” Kathryn Hague, Head of Marketing at Hancocks, says. “Customers can still treat themselves even when they’re watching the pennies.”

still treat themselves even when they’re watching

Source: IRI, Confectionery category, Value Sales, 52wks to 25/12/2022, Total Symbols & Indies

BOOM TIME

Disposable products continue to fuel the vape market’s explosive growth.

BY GAELLE WALKER

The total UK vape market is now worth £1.2BN

DISPLAY DO’S AND DON’TS

Within convenience stores, retailers can display, advertise and promote vaping products in and around the store so using eyecatching POS and countertop display units can really help drive visibility and grab the attention of shoppers as soon as they walk through the door.

However, retailers must make sure that they are fully compliant with the Children and Young Persons Act 1991 by displaying a prominent notice in store stating that it is illegal to sell vape products to anyone under the age of 18.

When deciding on ways to display vape-related products, retailers must also ensure that they are merchandised only to appeal to adults by ensuring counter display units and gantry furniture are kept at adult eye level, and away from any child- or adolescent-related products.

Like a runaway train, the UK’s vape market continues to barrel ahead –propelled by the seemingly unstoppable disposables market which now accounts for a whopping 83% of all vape sales.

e category experienced “a remarkable increase” from £141m in 2021 to £973m in 2022 according to Imperial Tobacco and, despite environmental concerns and heightened calls to clamp down on disposables, sales momentum continues to build.

e boom in disposable products also led to a signi cant rise in the number of vapers in the UK in 2022, from 3.7m in 2021 to 4.3m in 2022, with numbers continuing to climb in 2023.

Responding to growing demand for disposable products, Imperial launched its new Blu Bar device at the start of the year.

Recently extended to 10 on-trend avours including Strawberry Ice, Blueberry Sour Razz and Watermelon Ice, the new disposable product o ers 600 pu s.

PML also entered the disposable fray in March when it launched its new VEEBA device. Commenting on the launch, PML External A airs Director Duncan Cunningham said: “With VEEBA, we have responded to the immediate need for a smoke-free o er to be commercialised responsibly, and that is sustainable, compliant, and adheres to the highest manufacturing standards and strict quality control measures.

“We have made VEEBA available in retail environments nationwide, with an aim to increase adult smokers’ access to a compliant disposable e-cigarette that we believe can actively contribute to tobacco harm reduction.”

e range is available now in nine avours, all of which have been given colour- or seasonthemed names as opposed to avour descriptors. ese include: Veeba Summer, Veeba Coral and Veeba Gold.

WASTE MATTERS

Convenience stores selling any type of vaping or e-cigarette device are now required by law to help with the safe and responsible disposal of them under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling legislation.

All retailers who sell more than £100,000-worth of electrical equipment, including vape products, a year must now offer shoppers a free in-store take-back service.

Retailers who sell less than £100,000 worth of vape products a year can join the Distributor Take Back scheme (DTS).

Enforcement of the regulations began in March with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) now empowered to take action against vape retailers who do not comply.

Retailers found in breach of the legislation can face prosecution and fines. For more information and to join the DTS visit dts.valpak.co.uk/ Vape manufacturers such as Imperial Tobacco also offer takeback schemes for consumers.

Blu.com offers a free takeback scheme to help adult vapers dispose of its used products responsibly. The Blu Easy Returns scheme allows vapers to send back their blu devices, including disposables, pods and e-liquid bottles.

PML also offers a collect, return and recycle programme for its used VEEBA devices.

TWO TRIBES

Imperial has identified two very defined audiences in the vape category: The ‘First Steppers’ and the ‘Next Steppers.’

First Steppers, Gully explains, are in their 20s and are open to exploring, innovation and trying new things. Many of them still live at home which also means that they have a higher disposable income. Their key priorities are convenience, flavour and availability and their reasons for use are very social, making them a key audience for Blu’s new disposable Blu Bar brand.

‘Next Steppers’ meanwhile, are aged between 30 to 40 and have a “very different” attitude towards vaping that is more planned and often centred around smoking cessation – making them a good fit for its next-generation Blu 2.0 device.

Away from disposables, pod systems also remain a popular choice for adult vapers, accounting for 17% of the UK market.

Giving vaping’s soaring popularity, retailers across the country have been investing in their displays with many convenience stores now opting to bring vapes out from behind the counter into shop- oor displays where adult vapers can more clearly browse their ranges and promotions. Stores lacking the space or funds to invest in this way should not be deterred though, Imperial’s Head of Consumer Marketing Tom Gully says.

“ ere’s always more than can be done to create brilliant displays, especially given the speed at which the vape category develops. Making sure all branding or POS is up to date and looks professionally nished, is key to driving awareness of new innovations. Eyecatching counter display units can also help draw shopper attention and interest to speci c vape products and are particularly ideal for any stores that are restricted on space.”

35% of vaping volumes occur in convenience

BUT FIRST, BREAKFAST

BY ELENA DIMAMA

TOP TIPS FROM PREMIER FOODS

1. Use secondary sitings and create an eye-catching dedicated breakfast display with the key products people will be on the lookout for – including cereal, porridge, pancake mixes and sweet treats as well as fruit and spreads, to inspire shoppers with products from trusted brands, such as Ambrosia Porridge and McDougalls Pancake Mixes.

2. To attract those in a rush, create point-ofsale displays so that consumers won’t miss convenient breakfast options like the Ambrosia Porridge Pots.

Convenience and speed are crucial for breakfast shoppers, with demand rising for options that can be consumed on the go or at home.

Brands looking to tap into the growing trend of health keep innovating, focusing on convenience and versatility, which could in turn help independent retailers capitalise on the growing category.

According to the latest data from Mintel, cereal, bakery and porridge are the three most popular options for food to be eaten at breakfast, followed by fruit.

A HEALTHY START

“We found that some still enjoyed a bowl of cereal at home or at work, but for others they returned to previous behaviours such as picking up a snack bar on the way or buying breakfast with their morning co ee,” Darryl Burgess, Head of Sales for Weetabix, says. “ erefore, it’s been a promising time for breakfast drinks and bars which are again showing signs of long-term growth.”

According to Burgess, 7% of breakfasts were skipped at the beginning of 2022, which then dropped to 5% at the end of the year. “ e prediction for 2023 is this trend will continue as value-orientated shoppers look to snack a little less and focus more on three good meals a day, with a healthy breakfast that sets you up right for the day ahead,” he adds.

Health is one of the most noteworthy trends in the category with brands up and down the breakfast aisle vying for the healthiest credentials.

Courtney Lewis, Customer Director for Independent Convenience & Wholesale at Premier Foods, tells SLR: “Breakfast is o en considered the most important meal of the day – and for many, this means looking to healthier

options. Recognising this, Ambrosia has created its porridge pots that contain British wholegrain oats, real fruit, as well as providing a source of protein, bre and calcium.”

Meanwhile, zero-added sugar in products is a highly sought option, which Dole has also recognised.

“A recent survey by StreetBees of nearly 50,000 consumers showed that the number one attribute sought when deciding on what to eat and drink was ‘no added or low sugar’ content. is should be front of mind for retailers when considering their breakfast o er and con rms Dole’s fruit in juice and fruit in jelly cups as very credible options, as all the variants have zero added sugar, arti cial sweeteners, or avourings, are less than 100 calories per serving, and come in convenient and recyclable packs which can be eaten at home or on the go,” Andrew Bradshaw, UK Sales Director at Dole Sunshine Company, notes.

HOLY COFFEE

Drinking is not to be undermined when thinking about breakfast sales; almost two-thirds (64%) of morning food-togo occasions involve co ee, according to Lumina Intelligence. Within this, ready-to-drink (RTD) co ee is becoming an increasingly popular breakfast choice, according to CocaCola Europaci c Partners (CCEP), with its own research showing that one in ve enjoy an RTD co ee with a morning snack.

“Costa Co ee’s RTD range is outperforming the segment by some margin, up 60.7% in value,” Amy Burgess, Senior Trade Communications Manager at CCEP, said. “ is success can be put down to the widespread popularity of Costa Co ee, the nation’s favourite co ee shop for the last 12 years, and the quality of what’s inside the can.”

The breakfast category is constantly reinventing itself, with brands banking on quick and easy solutions for the busy shopper.

CORONATION BLEAT

Operation Golden Orb is not the title of the next James Bond film but the code name for the coronation of Prince Charles, as Under The Counter keeps calling our new king.

To be fair to UTC, Charles was prince for a considerable time. The only person who can rival his mum for time spent on the throne is possibly the Auld Boy himself, although the less said about his lengthy spells away from his desk with a red face and a Racing Post the better.

The coronation also brought some colour to UTC’s cheeks, when he discovered it cost somewhere between £50m and £100m. This was a lot cheaper than Bond’s last £250m outing. It was also a lot more cheerful.

Try telling that to UTC though, who was outraged that so many of his hard-earned tax dollars got splurged on the ceremony.

The tight-fisted Auld Boy was in a minority though, as Brits blew around £10m on balloons, bunting and banners to mark the big day. The most-searched-for decorations on Amazon were crowns which, at an average cost of £7.34, were considerably cheaper than the actual one plonked on Charlie’s nut.

The St Edwards Crown is valued at upwards of £4m for the materials alone and ironically, as UTC was at great pains to point out, only graced the King’s napper briefly in Westminster Abbey, never to be worn by him again. This, UTC whined, is not good value for money.

By comparison, the Auld Boy’s bunnet, which we hesitate to put a price on, is seldom off his head and does a far better job of keeping his bald spot warm than “any fancy bejewelled number with holes in it”.

MUSH ADO ABOUT PACKING

Sainsbury’s found itself going through the social media meat grinder last month when it started vacuum packing its minced beef – a move that will save more than 450 tonnes of plastic every year.

It also, according to irate shoppers, has turned the mince to mush. Social media comments like “a rectangle of mushed offcuts” and “turns the mince into mush” give you the squished-up picture.

The supermarket giant must have known it was fighting an uphill battle when it put out leaflets headed “New minced beef packaging. Same quality product”.

This didn’t stop one customer said it felt “like I’ve just bought someone’s kidney to cook at home”.

This could well have belonged to Under The Counter. He recently phoned in sick, citing “kidney problems”. As in, he kidney be bothered getting out of bed.

A big fan of mince – both eating it and talking it – the Auld Boy took a keen interest in the story when he finally turned up at SLR Towers.

Channelling his dear, departed mother –who always gave him short shrift if he ever had the temerity to suggest her cooking looked less than appetising – Under The Counter had this suggestion for the Sainsbury’s whingers: “Shut up and eat it. It’ll get turned to mush where it’s going.”

BRU CAN’T FOOL UTC

Under The Counter loves April Fool’s Day. Not because of the japery but because he enjoys spotting all the outrageous stories.

In this age of dumbing down, however, his task is made easier by scribblers who do everything but tack April Fool disclaimers to spoof stories – perhaps to distinguish them from the real fake news.

And so, on 1 April, the Auld Boy wasn’t taken in by news that coconut rum brand Malibu had teamed up with Irn-Bru to launch cans of Mali-Bru on a gullible world.

He almost wished it was true, for it was a belter of a ruse which must have involved a fair bit of to-ing and fro-ing between Pernod Ricard and Barr Soft Drinks. ‘Stockists’ Morrisons and hospitality operator The Scotsman Group were also in on the wheeze.

But the story shows that, as Mark Twain said, there’s no such thing as a new idea.

Painstaking research by UTC (typing ‘Malibru’ into Google) revealed the drink first reared its coconutty head in 2010. Not on 1 April though, but on 1 January – when a recipe was uploaded to the makemeacocktail.com website.

The significance of the date was not lost on the Auld Boy, who was probably right in thinking Malibru was created by desperate Hogmanay revellers who had otherwise drunk the party dry.

Vodka and diluting juice anyone?

Interested in growing your business through wholesale and getting your products into retail, hospitality, on-trade and the public sector?

Speak to us about our Delivering Growth Through Wholesale training programme and our members’ own Wholesale Local Food Champions.

The Scottish Wholesale Association is the official trade body for Scotland’s food and drink wholesalers and distributors.

We are committed to supporting our members to create a stronger, more sustainable food and drink supply chain.

www.scottishwholesale.co.uk

Contact John Farrell, Member Development Officer: john@scottishwholesale.co.uk

074 8521 1669

Scottish Wholesale Association, 30 McDonald Place, Edinburgh EH7 4NH

We are proud sponsors of

STOCK UP ON THE UNEXPECTED