SLR June 2021 edition by 55 North

JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 218

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Officially

Perfect for Scotland’s softer water

Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards winners already securing listings!

SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOD & DRINK AWARDS 2021

Award-winning Teas

for

Four Generations Scottish Sales Manager James McFarlane james@punjana.com

DEAN BANKS

Masterchef finalist launches gin

JOHN LEE

SGF reflects on the Scottish elections JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 218

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IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE... YOU

Entries are now open for the SLR Awards 2021, a virtual celebration of a remarkable industry.

GREEN LIGHT Time to truly embrace sustainability

GOOD TO GO? The food-to-go challenge

Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards winners already securing listings!

SUMMER DRINKS

Top tips to max sales SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOD & DRINK AWARDS 2021

1ST OCTOBER 2021 Allergens and Ingredients

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

June 2021

Contents

Contents ISSUE 218

NEWS p6 Newstrade Former Booker boss Charles Wilson steps out of retirement and onto Menzies Board. p7 Trade Associations Jim Amabile, long-serving MD of SGF’s buying group PGMA, announces retirement. p10 Charity Spar Scotland distributes £30,000 amongst 24 charities and community groups. p11 Local Sourcing Scotmid boosts its local sourcing credentials with new butcher counter in Broxburn store. p12 Wholesalers SWA confirms its Achievers awards will return in 2022, with two new categories. p14 News Extra Spar UK Louise Hoste uses annual conference to announce a £125m investment in the business. p22 Product News A popular Cadbury’s promotion returns and Irn-Bru celebrates Scotland’s tournament virgins.. p24 Off-Trade News Lambrini launches a new four-pack while Pernod Ricard pours out an Argentinian Malbec.

INSIDE BUSINESS p29 Industry Awards Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards The winners of these new awards have already started gaining more listings for their products. p28 SLR Awards The SLR Awards has been fully reformulated to deliver an exciting new awards for a new era full of opportunity. p32 Local Producer Focus Lunun Gin When you can’t find the perfect house gin for your restaurant, you create your own. At least that’s what Dean Banks did. p34 Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns. p70 Under The Counter The Auld Yin might be short of a marble or two, but he can still tell the difference between a seat and some meat. Or can he? FEATURES p36 Energy Drinks Still a huge sub-category within soft drinks, it’s vital retailers work Energy Drinks as hard as possible this summer to maximise sales and profits. p42 Sustainability With suppliers making massive strides in creating more sustainable products, the time for retailers to capitalise on this trend in-store is now. p50 Summer Drinks Sport, sun and eased restrictions means this summer could be a bumper one for local retailers. p58 Price-marked Packs Shoppers are more mindful than ever about their spending and PMPs have a vital role to play in maximising sales and profits. p60 Confectionery The next few months could offer a sweet opportunity for retailers. p65 Software Henderson Technology’s Epos platform is not only future-proof but also integrates with best-in-market thirdparty tech solutions. p66 Food-to-go Very few categories got decimated quite like it under lockdown but, with restrictions easing, how should retailers return to food-to-go?

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ON THE COVER p20 The SLR Awards has been fully reformulated to deliver an exciting new awards for a new era full of opportunity.

JUNE 2021 | SLR

News NEWSTRADE Former Booker boss buys 10% stake in news wholesaler

Andrew Thornton sells up Sustainability champion Andrew Thornton has sold his awardwinning Thornton’s Budgens store in Belsize Park, North London to Irish retail chain the Kavanagh Group. The store is famous for its plastic-free zones of unpackaged products and for selling milk and peanut butter on tap. Andrew will act as an advisor to the new owners, with a focus on environmental issues and keeping up with the latest food trends.

Charity doughnuts National Doughnut Week is just around the corner, running from 10 until 18 July, and is seeking to raise lots of money for brain injury charity The Children’s Trust from the sale of doughnuts. Last year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic and the organisers are keen to make up for it in 2021. The last National Doughnut Week in May 2019

Charles Wilson steps out of retirement and onto Menzies Board Former Booker CEO Charles Wilson is joining the Board of Menzies Distribution after buying a 10% stake in the company. Wilson led Booker for 15 years overseeing its transformational growth to a leading UK wholesaler and merging with Tesco in 2018 at which point he joined the Tesco executive team. Wilson, who was diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago but remains in remission, had retired in February after deciding it was “time to take things a little easier”. In a letter circulated to newspaper publishers, Menzies said: “Charles joining Menzies is a fantastic endorsement of our growth and diversification strategy to be the

national partner of choice to the publishing and retail markets. “Charles’ wealth of experience across both retail and publishing markets will support Menzies execute our growth strategy, widening our service offer and geographical coverage for your benefit. “We are looking forward to the insight that Charles will bring to support our ambition of customer growth through our unique set of services and capabilities.” The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) welcomed the announcement. National President Stuart Reddish said: “This is a hugely positive move. Charles has been

a good friend of independent retailers and on behalf of the NFRN, I very much welcome his appointment to the Menzies board. “Charles is extremely well respected within the independent retail sector and will bring with him a wealth of retail experience and expertise. At Booker, his ethos was always about the customer, seeing retailers as individuals rather than numbers. “We hope he will bring some fresh thinking and a pro-active approach towards addressing the issues faced by independent news retailers.” In 2020, Wilson received the SLR Special Recognition Award to mark his achievements.

raised over £32,000. Register your store to take part at nationaldoughnutweek.org/.

Rise in retail crime A British Retail Consortium survey has revealed a sharp rise in the number of attacks suffered by retailers, with the number of incidents of violence and abuse now reaching 455 a day – almost one a minute. The financial cost to the retail industry was put at £2.5bn a year. According to the survey, the police response to retail crime incidents was rated as ‘good’ or ‘fair’ in just 40% of cases, while only 6% of violent incidents ended in prosecution.

Henderson landmark Henderson Technology has celebrated the 25th installation this year of its EDGEPoS Electronic Shelf Edge Labels (ESELs). The install took place in Creighton’s of Balmoral, a Eurospar forecourt in Belfast. Aside from the time- and laboursaving benefits, Creightons General Manager Andrew Porter said he wanted to see the margin benefit instant price switches from ESELs would bring.

AWARDS Applications welcomed from outstanding community retailers

ACS launches Raj Aggarwal Trophy The Association of Convenience Stores has announced that the Raj Aggarwal Trophy, which celebrates outstanding community retailers, is now open for entries. Applications are welcomed from any convenience store operator, independent retailers and managers of multiple-owned outlets. To enter, applicants must submit a short film (maximum of five minutes), which shows what they have done in the past year to support their local community and what they have done in the past year to support fellow retailers. The judges are: Sunita Aggarwal, Raj’s wife; Jonathan James, Managing Director of James Convenience Retail; Avtar Sidhu, owner of Budgens Kenilworth; and ACS boss James Lowman. The films will be judged using the following criteria: engagement of colleagues in conceiving and delivering activity; impact on local community; sustainability of activity; and overall work to

support other retailers. Two finalists and the ultimate winner will be invited to attend this year’s Heart of the Community conference on 12 October, where the winner will be announced at a parliamentary reception with Retail Minister Paul Scully. Email sarah.johnson@acs.org. uk for more information about the award and to submit your entry or nominate a retailer. Entries must be received by Monday 13 September.

HMRC

Not long left to join VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme Businesses that deferred VAT payments last year don’t have long left to join online to pay in monthly instalments under the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme. The online portal for the new payment scheme closes on 21 June 2021. The March, April and May joining dates have passed, but businesses can still spread their payments across up to eight equal monthly instalments, interest-free, if they join by 21 June. Payments can easily be set up via the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme portal. Eligible businesses that are unable to use our online service by 21 June 2021 can ring the HMRC Coronavirus Helpline on 0800 024 1222 to join the scheme until 30 June 2021.

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News TRADE ASSOCIATIONS Boss of Federation’s buying group retires

Amabile bows out after 21 years at SGF Scottish Grocers Federation has announced the retirement of Jim Amabile, the long-serving Managing Director of PGMA, the Federation’s buying group. Amabile will officially retire on 31 August after 21 years with the trade body. Amabile joined SGF in 2000 to become Commercial Manager of PGMA after a long career stretching back to 1968 when he started out in the industry as assistant buyer with Allied Suppliers Scotland, owners of then Templeton Massey & Lipton grocery stores. In 1975 he left to join the Nestlé sales force where he spent 24 years and progressed to a role as a National Account Manager. Within a few years of joining SGF, he stepped up to become MD of

PGMA, a role which encompassed responsibility for all parts of the company, including implementing many of the procedures and financial controls required to ensure the group’s sustainability. PGMA has provided vital support to retailers in rural and island communities and Amabile is widely credited as playing the key role in ensuring that PGMA has remained a strong, viable and successful company. SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “Jim not only has many years of outstanding service to SGF and PGMA, but has provided strategic guidance and support to me personally in my role of SGF CEO. He has been a source of invaluable counsel to me,

PGMA, the SGF board and our staff. He will be sorely missed.” SGF has put a robust recruitment process in place to ensure both an effective handover and a minimal impact on customer service.

Parcel firm helps Glasgow breathe easier DPD has launched Project BREATHE, an air quality monitoring programme, across six UK cities including Glasgow. A network of more than 400 sensors mounted on DPD PickUp shops close to schools and play areas, as well as on delivery vans, provides real time data that visualises air quality and identifies hotspots.

Saputo buys Scots vegan cheese maker Montreal-based Saputo has bought dairy alternatives producer Bute Island Foods, owner of the award-winning vegan Sheese brand. The business, unsurprisingly located on the Isle of Bute, currently employs around 180 people. Saputo has pledged more than five million Canadian dollars (£2.9m) over five years to support community initiatives on the island.

NEWSTRADE Vaccine campaign recognised

Sun sticks it to rivals with jab campaign award The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign has won Editorial Campaign of the Year at the Campaign Publishing Awards. The campaign recruited 50,000 volunteers to help the NHS roll out the most ambitious vaccine programme in British history, partnering with the Royal Voluntary Service, the NHS and government. The Campaign Publishing Awards said: “This was a solid social awareness campaign which delivered impact and motivated a call to action when most needed. The judges called it flawless, effective and creative, and admirably cause driven.” Supported by Britain’s biggest businesses including Sky, BT, Bentley and BA, The Sun set out to correct mistruths and encourage the country to get jabbed. The cross-party campaign won backing from the NHS, PM Boris Johnson, Labour leader Keir Starmer, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Oxford vaccine team plus a range of stars including Gary Lineker, Jeremy Clarkson, Matt Lucas, Ross Kemp, Prue Leith and Sarah Ferguson. Victoria Newton, Editor in Chief of The Sun, said: “I’m thrilled that, once again, Jabs Army and the brilliant work of everyone involved at The Sun has been recognised as Editorial Campaign of the Year. I want to send a big thank you to our Sun readers who gave up their time and signed up to Jabs Army in the country’s time of need, as well as our business partners who supported the campaign helping to make Jabs Army such a phenomenal success.”

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WHOLESALERS

Sugro teams up for better rebate management

EV charging investigation powers down

Buying group Sugro UK has partnered with Enable, a B2B rebate management software provider. The partnership will automate and streamline Sugro’s rebate management process and provide a specialised portal that will let member wholesalers make sense of their overriders, rebates and promotional deals in real-time. Sugro Head of Trading & Marketing Yulia Petitt commented: “At Sugro we are committed to working with both Members and Suppliers to deliver technological solutions that will give the Group an opportunity to optimise total earnings across numerous complex ORD agreements, rebates and promotional deals.”

electric vehicle charging sector,

The Competition and Markets Authority will not undertake an in-depth investigation into the despite raising concerns earlier in the year. The competition watchdog had found emerging issues around investment, competition and how consumers interact with charging facilities, but has now decided a Market Investigation Reference would be a disproportionate response.

CBD use higher than ever The UK consumer cannabidiol (CBD) market is predicted to generate £690m in 2021, according to a new report jointly published by the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry and Centre for Medicinal Cannabis. The report calls for more government intervention and investment to ensure that the UK optimises what it describes as “Britain’s quiet cannabis revolution”.

JUNE 2021 | SLR

TAP INTO

SOFT DRINKS TRENDS Giving the best-selling soft drinks the most space on shelf is crucial to growing and maintaining sales. Craig Starling from Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) joined Suki Athwal at his Shop Around The Clock store in Tenterden, Kent, to find out how small changes can make a big difference.

THE RETAILER

THE STORE

SUKI ATHWAL, SHOP AROUND THE CLOCK, TENTERDEN, KENT

CRAIG STARLING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SBF GB&I

“We’re really lucky to be on a busy main road. We see a lot of tradesmen, builders and care workers who shop in the morning and at lunch, which are our two busiest times.

“Suki’s soft drink chiller is smaller than you might expect from such a large store, but it’s ideally located near the entrance, and his range is very focused on key lines.

“Our off-licence and food-to-go areas drive trade for us. Within soft drinks, energy is the biggest performer, but flavoured carbs are also selling really well.”

“Suki could grow his sales by making sure he uses big brands as signposts to draw his customers in and by catering for changing shopper trends”.

THE OPPORTUNITY

8%1 85.5%2

GROWTH IN SALES OF DRINK-LATER FORMATS DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN PERIOD AMOUNT OF SALES DRIVEN BY THE FIVE MUST-STOCK SEGMENTS – CARBONATES, ENERGY, WATER, JUICE AND SPORT

THE LESSONS

GIVE DRINK-LATER DRINKS MORE PROMINENCE 1 SBF GB&I Category research, 2020 2 EXT IRI, MarketPlace, GB, latest 52 week data ending 21.02.21

GIVE YOUR BIGGEST SELLERS THE PRIME POSITION

RANGE DRINKS BY CATEGORY, NOT SUPPLIER

THE RESULTS

31%

INCREASE IN WATER SALES, BASED ON DATA FROM THE LAST FOUR WEEKS

57%

INCREASE IN SALES OF TAKE-HOME ENERGY DRINKS, BASED ON DATA FROM THE LAST FOUR WEEKS

THE CHANGES WE MADE

1. GIVE DRINK-LATER DRINKS MORE PROMINENCE

BEFORE

AFTER

Suki has a lot of tradespeople buying drinks for the day in the morning. We also know that drink later drink sales have grown by 8% during lockdown, so we’ve brought drink later energy drinks into the main chiller to help drive sales.

2. GIVE YOUR BIGGEST BEFORE

AFTER

SELLERS THE PRIME POSITION

Energy drinks are Suki’s biggest seller, so we’ve put that on a priority shelf in line with where shoppers’ eyes will naturally be drawn. We know this will drive sales.

3. RANGE DRINKS BY

CATEGORY, NOT SUPPLIER

BEFORE

AFTER

TO SEE MORE OF SUKI’S SHOP AND FOR ADVICE FOLLOW @SUNTORYBF_GBI ON TWITTER AND LINKEDIN

A lot of retailers range their drinks by supplier – but shoppers don’t shop this way. We’ve ranged products together by type – colas with colas, and all flavoured carbs together, for example – so shoppers can easily find what they want.

News CHARITY Twenty-four groups benefit from Community Cashback campaign

More action needed on junk food, says watchdog Food Standards Scotland has published its strategic ambitions for the next five years, placing a renewed emphasis on “improving the Scottish diet and associated negative health consequences”. The Scottish

Spar Scotland hands £30k back to communities

Government’s had planned to curb junk food promotions but its Bill on Restricting Foods Promotions was put on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Nisa teams up with Jisp All-in-one shopping app Jisp has signed a partnership agreement with Nisa to offer its home delivery, click & collect and scan & go solutions to almost 4,000 stores nationwide. Nisa will also be integrating with Jisp’s EPoS system to provide retailers with up-to-date products, promotions, prices and stock levels for aligned sales through the app as well as in store. To register interest email sales@jisp.com or visit jisp.com/sign-up/nisa.

Unitas focuses on Energy Drinks and Hard Seltzers Unitas Wholesale’s latest ‘Focus On’ mini category guides have been published. Unitas partnered with CCEP to provide key insights on Energy Drinks and with Budweiser Brewing Group to help retailers better understand the Off-trade’s next big thing –

Spar Scotland has revealed the results of its second Community Cashback poll, which received over 10,000 votes. Launched on 1 March, the campaign ran until 9 May. Customers, store staff and Spar Scotland employees could nominate a local charity or community group for the chance to receive a share of £30,000. Twenty-four charities each received cash sums ranging from £750 to £2,000. Four were chosen in each of six areas around Scotland. Life Challenge Outreach project, based in Buckie, received £2,000. John Coppard from the charity said: “I want to thank all the SPAR customers for the nomination and the wonderful donation of £2,000

to our charity. This donation is very timely as our funds have dwindled to an all-time low. This injection of funds will allow us to get the bus out so we can reconnect with people with addictions.” The charity has a big green bus which hosts many people from the local community looking for help with addictions and other issues. It acts as a drop in service within a non-judgemental environment. Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “During the pandemic we have seen how local community groups and charities have suffered and we hope the winners can benefit in some small way from the donation.” A full list of winners can be found at bit.ly/3fR0erD.

PAYMENT SERVICES

Payzone gets onboard with National Express Payzone has signed a longterm contract with National Express Coach to provide coach ticketing services to customers of Payzone’s stores across the UK. Alongside a significant commission structure, Payzone said retailers will benefit from the uptick in footfall and basket spend as new and existing customers come in-store to purchase coach tickets. National Express is the largest operator of scheduled coach services in the UK and, before lockdown brought the country to a halt, provided over 21m journeys in 2019. The contract win follows Payzone’s partnership deals with British Gas, Scottish Power Smart Metering and Jersey Electricity. Simon Lambert, Payzone’s Commercial Director, said: “National Express will complement our existing transport ticketing portfolio and will support footfall and basket spend for Payzone retailers at a pivotal time in the UK’s roadmap out of lockdown.”

Hard Seltzers. Both are available for free from participating Unitas member wholesalers, and free to download via the Plan for Profit website and app.

FMCG giants join forces for recycling push Mars, Mondelez, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever have formed a £1m fund to help make flexible plastic recycling economically viable for recyclers and easier for consumers. The fund seeks to improve flexible plastic recycling and cut plastic pollution by giving the material a stable value, which will increase its supply and enable industry to become more ‘circular’.

HOME DELIVERY Snappy Shopper juggernaut shows no sign of slowing

Snappy Shopper and PayPoint pair up PayPoint and home delivery app Snappy Shopper have announced a new partnership. Launching in July, the tie-up will see PayPoint One retailer partners given access to the Snappy Shopper platform and the ability to offer customers home delivery and click & collect services. Dundee-based Snappy launched in 2017 and has grown rapidly in the past 18 months. The company’s research shows that participating retailers often see substantial returns, with the average in-app basket spend around 3.5 times higher than that in-store. The PayPoint One system will integrate directly with the Snappy Shopper platform, meaning there is no need for additional kit or technology for retailers that sign

up. Once they pass a simple suitability check, designed to ensure that a store has the potential to operate a delivery service profitably, they will benefit from a fast set-up process, customer service support seven days a week, and wide-reaching marketing support. Nick Wiles, Chief Executive of PayPoint, said: “The pandemic has accelerated two key trends in retail: support for local retailers and demand for fast, convenient fulfilment. Our partnership with Snappy Shopper caters to both of these, meaning we’re not only future-proofing our own business but we’re helping our PayPoint One customers to do the same. This collaboration is a firm statement of our commitment to the convenience retail sector.”

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News LOCAL SOURCING Scotmid boosts local sourcing credentials with new partnership

Scotmid launches butcher counter at Broxburn store Scotmid Co-operative has unveiled a new butcher counter within its store in Broxburn, in a move which further extends the convenience retailer’s partnerships with Scottish businesses. The Butchery Broxburn, which has opened to meet growing customer demand for fresh, high quality meats and meat products, is run by Border Meats. The business was selected by Scotmid for its excellent reputation in providing locally sourced, ethically farmed meat – and its ability to trace all its products direct from farm to fork. A key focus of the new butcher offering is a state-of-the-art dry age cabinet, home to a range of excellent quality dry age steaks. Customers can also choose from a selection of more than 350 products, from staple favourites such as topside and silverside as

well as cuts including rolled belly pork, chump chops and pork supremes, beef haggis olives, tomahawk steaks and brisket. The new butcher counter forms part of Scotmid’s wider local sourcing strategy, which focuses not only on provenance, but also supporting local suppliers.

Kirsty George, Local Sourcing Manager at Scotmid, said: “We are delighted to introduce this new butcher counter to our Broxburn customers, as part of our ongoing ambition to extend our relationships with quality Scottish suppliers for the benefit of our customers.”

TRADE SHOWS

Nisa reveals Expo 2021 date Nisa has announced the date for its 2021 annual trade show and, for the second year running, it will be held as a virtual event. Using the same online platform that was introduced for the 2020 Nisa Expo, the two-day event will take place on 28 and 29 September. John McNeill, Chief Operating Officer at Nisa, said: “The Nisa Expo has been at the very heart of Nisa for more than 20 years, providing the perfect opportunity for exhibitors and partners to interact, help each other grow their businesses, get the latest news and advice from suppliers and learn more about the benefits of being part of Nisa and the Co-op.” Registration is set to open later this month.

NEW limited edition

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JUNE 2021 | SLR

News WHOLESALERS Industry awards event comes back bigger and better

Brits in dark over processed food A survey of over 2,500 UK adults by plant-based food company Upfield found that nearly twothirds of them don’t know, or aren’t sure, what the definition of processed food is. Over half (51%) said that they believe the word processed – when related to food – is associated with being unhealthy. The NHS defines a processed food as any food that has been altered in some way during preparation.

Better energy deals Energy regulator Ofgem has proposed amending the Standard Licence Conditions of energy suppliers to include: transparency over brokers fees and costs; requiring suppliers to only work with brokers signed up to a qualifying alternative dispute resolution scheme; a 14-day cooling off period for new contracts; and banning suppliers

SWA Achievers to return next year The Achievers Awards, an industry programme that rewards outstanding performance across the wholesale trade in Scotland, is to return in 2022 with two new awards. The Community Service Award will recognise the efforts of wholesalers in supporting their customers, staff and communities during the pandemic, while the Best Technology Initiative will reflect the way in which wholesalers are investing in digital and tech systems from new online ordering and data capture systems through to systems that improve picking and business efficiencies. Best Business Initiative replaces the previous Best Marketing Initiative while the two new awards introduced for 2020 – Rising Star of Wholesale (open to employers aged 26 and under) and Green Wholesaler of the Year – are back for 2022. Meanwhile, a special supplier award has been added for 2022 that recognises either a company, team or individual who went above and beyond anything expected of them during the last year. This award is not restricted to support of wholesale but could include fundraising, charity work or community activity. Entries will open on 14 June and will be quick and easy via scottishwholesale.co.uk, where a full list of categories may also be viewd.

Supporting suppliers will judge the wholesale categories, supervised by an independent panel of judges with cross-sector experience and knowledge. Any wholesaler with a depot in Scotland may enter the competition. “We refreshed Achievers two years ago in response to feedback from wholesalers and sponsors, and to reflect the areas of business that are most important to our members,” said SWA boss Colin Smith. “In 2022, the competition will further evolve to take cognisance of the events of the last 14 months that have forced wholesalers and suppliers to diversify into new areas and implement significant change in order to survive.” The gala dinner and awards presentation will take place at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh on Thursday 10 February 2022. Tables can be booked by contacting kate@scottishwholesale.co.uk.

from requiring microbusinesses to provide notice of their intention to switch.

Five-fold Bestway basket boost with Jisp Bestway has reported an average basket spend of £48 for customers using the Jisp all-in-one shopping app, which it said was a 500% increase in participating stores versus the industry average. Jisp’s Home Delivery, Click & Collect and Scan & Go services were recently made available to all of Bestway’s retail partners and corporate stores following a successful trial period.

New ZWS recycling boss Zero Waste Scotland has named Ray Georgeson as its new Head of Resource Management, Waste and Recycling. Joining in July 2021 – exactly one year before the Deposit Return Scheme goes live in Scotland – he will lead on several programmes that will maximise the value from waste and support the organisation’s overall ambition of leading Scotland towards using products and resources responsibly.

NEW STORES Spar Scotland says ‘hiya’ to Hayats

AWARDS

Wellbank welcomes Spar

JTI takes top employee wellbeing award

After running their family business in Wellbank for several years, independent retailers Mariam and Samar Hayat have decided to join Spar Scotland. At 1200sq ft, the store is located at 2 Mattocks Road, Wellbank, Dundee. The Hayats have run a shop in Wellbank for the last three years but recently invested heavily to refit their store, which will offer Paypoint and Lotto as well as food-to-go options F’Real milkshakes and Tango Ice Blast. Mariam and Samar said: “We are very much looking forward to opening this new store in the community of Wellbank and surrounding areas. “We have run the local shop for three years but are so excited about the much wider range of products and services the brand new shop will offer, and the fantastic range and promotions from Spar.” The store is only a ten-minute drive from Spar Scotland wholesaler CJ Lang’s distribution centre in Dundee. Mike Leonard, Sales Director for Spar Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mariam and Samar, not only to Spar Scotland but also to the network of stores we have across the country. “From our base in Dundee we offer a constantly expanding supply of over 9,000 products including local suppliers and food-to-go, working with over 300 suppliers and supplying Spar stores across the country. “Spar stores play an important role in communities the length and breadth of Scotland and Spar Wellbank is an excellent addition to our growing network.”

JTI has become the first company in the UK to achieve Investors in People’s ‘We invest in wellbeing’ Platinum accreditation. This recognises the company’s “outstanding” support for employees and exceeding its own goals to reach the highest standards in employee wellbeing. ‘We invest in wellbeing’ assesses companies across social, physical, and psychological wellbeing. Top companies exhibit: a culture that champions inclusion, diversity, community, and family-friendly policies; support across physical activity, nutrition, musculoskeletal and environmental factors; effective communication; and amplification of employees’ voices.

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Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF The dust has now settled on the Scottish Parliament election. During the campaign, the consistent line from the media was that the result would have a massive (and earth-shaking) impact on the constitutional future of the UK. A nation held its breath. However, in reality there is a sense in which this was the election that never happened. As with the 2016 election, the SNP failed to achieve an overall majority and once again will be propped up by the Scottish Greens. It seems unlikely that the Prime Minister will agree to a referendum any time soon and, despite all the talk of the ‘democratic pressure’ on him to agree to a referendum request, the SNP has in fact only gained one more seat than it did at the 2016 election. The Independence Supermajority simply failed to materialise. For SGF though, the business of government goes on. It is clear that the Scottish government will bring forward legislation to restrict the promotion of foods deemed to be high in fat, salt, and sugar. For once England is leading the way on this, but this means the Scottish government will not want to be undone by bringing less strict regulations! We will also see consultations on restricting the marketing of alcohol and on restricting the marketing of vaping products. On a brighter note, the SNP has committed to retaining the Small Business Bonus Scheme. This is something we called for in our election manifesto and we are very happy take the credit for it! Overall it is very much a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Spar looks to future with £125m investment Managing Director Louise Hoste announced a £125m investment in Spar UK at the symbol group’s virtual conference, where its state-of-theart next generation store was also unveiled. Spar is determined to maintain its lead in the convenience market by investing £125m in the business over the next 12 months. So said Spar UK Managing Director Louise Hoste, addressing the symbol group’s virtual conference, held on 27 May 2021. Hoste said the investment was to support colleagues whose dedication and focus resulted in “accelerated growth” for the business last year. “Our independent retailers, store and wholesale colleagues are our real heroes of the last 12 months. They were consistently there for our customers,” she said. Spar’s sales have grown 8.5% over the last two years, achieved from bigger baskets (up 31%) and changes in the mix and pack sizes, and the bulk of the investment (£100m) will be made in stores. The remaining £25m will go on improving Spar’s IT capability and supply chain. The latter will include everything from depots to vans and electric bikes for home delivery. “The potential is huge,” said Hoste. She also took the opportunity to praise the symbol group’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, when stores partnered with multiple charities to ensure communities had access to essential items, with a strong focus on delivering to the vulnerable. Spar continues to support its national charity partner, Marie Curie, by fundraising and has already distributed over one million pieces of PPE to Marie Curie Nurses. Hoste said: “Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the collaborative strength of Spar and the critical role of independent community retailing.” This was exemplified by the response of Spar’s five UK wholesalers who worked together with suppliers to maintain “a great supply chain” throughout the pandemic, supplying stores with exceptional availability. As a result the symbol group stayed on top of sales growth. Unique changes in ranges and pack sizes were made to accommodate customer needs. “Spar is the most compelling and competitive convenience proposition in the UK,” said Hoste. “We are part of world’s largest food retail voluntary chain and benefit from best practice sharing. Our brand is

Spar UK Managing Director Louise Hoste

distinctive. By using data, we have a modern approach to delivering profitable store formats and propositions.” One of these data-driven new formats will be revealed with the major redevelopment at Carnon Downs in Cornwall. The 2,600sq ft store is the first in the country to unveil the new Spar UK store design concept. The state-of-the-art next generation store will include a strong focus on provenance, with a wide range of local Cornish products across many categories, along with an up-front butchery counter branded in the Cornish language and emphasis on the store’s reputation for fresh and chilled produce. A décor of dark grey fixtures and wood effect tiles feature strongly among the warm colours, materials and finishes used throughout the store, along with messages conveying support for local suppliers and producers, with products identified by Cornish flag stickers. There will be a refill station section where customers can bring their own containers and buy loose products such as nuts, cereals, pulses, rice and flour. Local wines, craft beers and an artisan bakery will also feature, and the layout will consider the proposed High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) legislation. With Spar enjoying seven years of continuous growth, a bullish Hoste concluded: “Spar is the leading convenience symbol group in the UK and the only proposition for independent retailers looking for a profitable future. “Spar has shown great resilience with developments in retail, own label and across our supply chain. We have proven how adaptable we are. We look to benefit from our scale, whilst adding value to the local communities we serve. The future in convenience is with Spar.”

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

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Comment

IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE... YOU The SLR Awards is always a highlight of the year for us here at the magazine – but this year’s Awards has the makings of something very special indeed. By the time our Awards roll around on 27 October, we will – hopefully – be entirely clear of the dreaded Covid word that has haunted the industry and the people of Scotland for well over a year now. The Awards will hopefully allow us to take a communal deep breath and have a look back at what this phenomenal industry has achieved over the last year and a half. With chaos all around us since March last year, very few of us have had the chance to stop, switch off and reflect on the year that may prove to have changed local retailing forever. Our plan is to ensure that the SLR Awards 2021 delivers a platform to do just that. For my money, the local retailing sector was the star of the community show last year and deserves all the praise it has received, alongside our fantastic soul brothers and sisters in the NHS. The parallels between local retail and the NHS, incidentally, are quite striking when you think about it: perennially under-rated, under-valued, under-paid and overworked, the two sectors have quietly gone about their business with minimum fuss and maximum impact. Where would Scotland have been last year without the NHS and the local retailing sector? So to finally win some long overdue praise and recognition from everyone from politicians to the fabled ‘man in the street’ means a lot to this sector. I hope I’m right in saying that local retailers across Scotland have gone up in the estimation of a lot of shoppers – and long may that continue. And this issue really is the crux of the matter: can we build a lasting legacy out of the sector’s hard-earned victories and successes over the last year or so? Anecdotally, it seems from recent discussions with many retailers that store turnovers are remaining elevated. Not quite as high as they were last year, but many have told me they’re still trading 20% up or more on 2019 figures. Whether that’s just the tail end of the Covid effect or an indication of a longerterm trend, it’s too early to say. But one thing is for sure: local retailing has the best platform it’s had in years to maintain and build on this momentum. Yes, it will mean changes to how we do pretty much everything in-store. But change is ultimately a good thing and if we want to remain relevant – and become even more relevant in future – that inevitably means changing to remain in line with today’s shopping habits, patterns and behaviours. At the SLR Awards we intend to recognise and reward the retailers that have embraced that change most effectively and – more importantly – to share their stories with a wider audience, so that we can all benefit.

EDITORIAL Publishing Director & Editor Antony Begley 0141 222 5380 | abegley@55north.com Editorial Manager David Rees drees@55north.com Web Editor Findlay Stein 0141 222 5389 | fstein@55north.com Editorial Contributor Karen Peattie

ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing Director Helen Lyons 07575 959 915 | hlyons@55north.com Advertising Manager Robert Aitken 0141 222 5302 | raitken@55north.com

DESIGN Design & Digital Manager Richard Chaudhry 0141 222 5388 | rchaudhry@55north.com

EVENTS Events & Operations Manager Kirsty McDowall 0141 222 5383 | kmcdowall@55north.com

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Circulation Manager Cara Begley 0141 222 5381 | 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.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

SLR | JUNE 2021

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NEW AWARDS FOR NEW NEW NEW AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS FOR FOR FOR A NEW NORMAL A NEW A NEW A NEW NORMAL NORMAL NORMAL ENTRIES OPEN NOW SOON OPEN ENTRIES ENTRIES ENTRIES OPEN ENTRIES OPEN SOON OPEN SOON SOON

Event: 27th October Event: Event: November Event: November November 2021 2021 2021 Winners celebration: November

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

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Cover Story

SLR Awards 2021

A NEW AWARDS FOR A NEW ERA A Virtual Festival of Excellence

NEW AWARDS FOR NEW NEW AWARDS AWARDS FOR FOR A NEW NORMAL A NEW A NEW NORMAL NORMAL ENTRIES OPEN SOON ENTRIES OPEN ENTRIES SOON OPEN SOON

Event: November Event: November Event: November 20212021 2021

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EVENTS@55NORTH.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR FOR CONTACT MORE MOREEVENTS@55NORTH.COM INFORMATION INFORMATION CONTACT CONTACT EVENTS@55NORTH.COM EVENTS@55NORTH.COM

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SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

SLR Awards 2021

EVENT: 27TH OCTOBER WINNERS CELEBRATION: NOVEMBER Reflecting the monumental changes in the local retailing landscape over the last year, the SLR Awards has been fully reformulated to deliver an exciting new awards for a new era full of opportunity.

he local retailing landscape has changed almost beyond recognition over the last year – and it looks likely that when we do finally emerge fully from Covid, the world will be a very changed place. However, our commitment and resolve to keep shining a light on the outstanding achievements of the sector remains firmly in place. The SLR Awards 2021 – our second Virtual Festival of Excellence – will be our homage to an exceptional industry that has shone brighter than any other in the last year. To reflect the changed nature of local retail over the last year, we have refreshed our list of awards categories and added several new ones. We are delighted to launch the 2021 SLR Awards with a new and improved Call For Entries Brochure and entry process making it easier than ever to enter and ensure that you have the opportunity to have your achievements over the last year recognised. SLR Publisher Antony Begley commented: “2020 was a year like no other and, while the world threatened to fall apart, local retailers were the heroes in the front-line ensuring that it didn’t. Selflessly and resolutely serving communities across Scotland, local retailers kept villages, towns and cities supplied with all that they needed when many other sectors simply couldn’t.

“That effort, commitment and passion deserves special recognition – and that’s exactly what we intend to do at the new and refreshed SLR Awards 2021. “With very little clarity available in terms of what the future holds for us, we have committed from day one to deliver this year’s SLR Awards in a virtual format once more. It’s not how we would ideally want to do the awards as nothing beats getting together with retailers, suppliers and wholesalers and sharing a beer and a chat – but the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues in this industry must remain our number one concern. “With that in mind, we intend to produce another Virtual Festival of Excellence and build on our learning from last year. Everyone has had to learn new ways of working and adopt new strategies for coping with an enormously changed world, and we at SLR are no different. Remaining agile and being able to adapt to changing circumstances has been key for us just as much as it has been for you. “But our ultimate goal remains exactly the same: to recognise and reward the local retailing industry in Scotland. And there’s a lot to celebrate after the year that was 2020. A heroic effort deserves heroic recognition and this year’s awards will see us recognise and reward our winners, but it will also be a celebration of this entire, unbelievable sector.”

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Cover Story

AWARDS CATEGORIES GROUP CATEGORIES Q Symbol / Fascia/ Franchise Group of the Year Q Symbol / Fascia/ Franchise Community Initiative of the Year Q Symbol / Fascia/ Franchise Innovation of the Year PRODUCT CATEGORIES Q Biscuits Retailer of the Year Q Confectionery Retailer of the Year Q Food-to-Go Retailer of the Year Q Forecourt Retailer of the Year Q Fresh & Chilled Retailer of the Year Q Lottery Retailer of the Year Q Newstrade Retailer of the Year Q Off-Trade Retailer of the Year Q Scottish Brands Retailer of the Year Q Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year Q Vaping & Nicotine Replacement Retailer of the Year IN-ACTION CATEGORIES Q Community Retailer of the Year Q Covid Hero(es) of the Year Q Home Delivery Retailer of the Year Q New Store of The Year Q Post Office Retailer of the Year Q Refit of The Year Q Responsible Retailer of the Year Q Team of the Year Q Sustainability Retailer of the Year Q #ThinkSmart Innovation Award Q Unsung Hero of the Year Q Young Scottish Local Retailer of the Year Q Scottish Local Retailer of the Year

JUNE 2021 | SLR

News

Products

Embassy upgrade Imperial Tobacco has upgraded the packaging on some of its Embassy Signature variants with several new features including a resealable foil tab, ensuring the last cigarette in the pack is just as fresh as the first. Launching from July, the new fresh protect

Product News SPOTLIGHT ON SUSTAINABILITY – P42 CONFECTIONERY Free tickets for popular attractions promotion returns

Cadbury’s Merlin promo back on packs

packaging will feature on Embassy Signature Gold and New Crush variants, which are both available with RSPs of £9.50 per pack of 20s and £47.50 per pack of 100s.

Kids go free with CCEP Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has brought back its ‘Kids Go Free’ on-pack promotion for Capri-Sun, in partnership with Merlin Entertainments. The promo gives families free child entry (worth £29) with a paying adult to Legoland Windsor Resort. It is supported by paid social media advertising and instore activity. Unique QR codes

Cadbury has joined forces with Merlin Entertainments once again for the return of its summer onpack promotion that offers free entry to some of the UK’s top attractions. Available for six months, the promo offers a free standard ticket with every purchase of a fullpriced adult ticket to Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park and Legoland Windsor. The cross-category promotion

will run across selected products from Cadbury’s chocolate and biscuits ranges for the full six months, and Cadbury’s seasonal range will join the line-up when in market. The offer will appear across more than 68 million packs of 21 different SKUs. It will be supported with a highimpact campaign between July and August across social and digital advertising as well as in stores. Sophia Geddes, Brand Manager for Cadbury at Mondelez, said: “Merlin’s family attractions are visited by millions of people each year, existing to create magical experiences for their guests. This is what makes this partnership the

perfect fit, supporting Cadbury’s purpose to inspire joy and generosity for families this summer and beyond. “We know this promotion is important to families but this year we know it’s even more relevant for our consumers who are seeking more opportunities to enjoy quality time with their loved ones. We’ve had six successful years working with Merlin and this year will be no exception. In fact, shoppers have loved this promotion so much in previous years that we have decided to extend the offer from four months to a massive six-month period and have also added more products to the on-pack range.”

on five million promotional packs can be used to redeem the voucher until 30 August.

Valeo refreshes brands Valeo Snack Foods has relaunched its Fox’s Glacier and Poppets brands with fresh new looks, as well as a programme of NPD. Fox’s Glacier has given its Peppy the polar bear a makeover, and has also subtly referenced his old sparring partner Fox. Available as a single-serve cardboard carton or a sharing pouch format, the new Poppets packaging uses primary colours to show off sweet’s many different centres.

New tube sensation GSK Consumer Healthcare is launching fully recyclable toothpaste tubes across its specialist and science-based oral health brands, including Sensodyne and Aquafresh. This will begin with Sensodyne Pronamel tubes, which will be available in fully recyclable alternatives this July. It is anticipated the business will be

SNACKS

SOFT DRINKS

KP Snacks has teamed up with Bestway to offer retailers the opportunity to win the ultimate ‘money can’t buy’ experience at one of cricket’s newest and most exciting tournaments, The Hundred. Retailers have the chance to win a VIP experience for eight, including tickets to The Hundred final at Lords cricket ground on 21 August, access to an executive box, hospitality, travel and accommodation expenses. Thirty runners-up prizes of £100 of stock vouchers are also available for retailers to win and celebrate a ‘Hundred’. KP Snacks is the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, a new 100 ball cricket competition. The partnership will be promoted across eight core KP Snacks brands: popchips, Butterkist, Pom-Bear, Tyrrells, KP Nuts, Hula Hoops, McCoy’s and Skips – all of which feature on team shirts. Every time retailers buy six of the of eight Hundred featured brands at Bestway, in any format, they will be automatically entered into a free Prize Draw for a chance to win. The competition is open until 15 July. The promotion rekindles memories of a 2019 Wolf Blass competition, when Coatbridge Day-Today retailers Shoaib Ahmed and Khalid Iqbal were bowled over when they won VIP hospitality tickets to see Pakistan take on India in the Cricket World Cup.

To celebrate the seventh year of continued sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League, Pepsi Max has launched a new on-pack promotion. The promo gives consumers the chance to win instant cash via a QR code, to the value of £10, £20 or £100. It features some of the world’s top football players on promotional packs including, for the first time, female footballers like Dutch star Shanice van de Sanden. Promotional packs are available until the end of July, in both takehome and onthe-go formats, including 330ml cans as well as 500ml and 2-litre bottles. The promotion is supported by TV, social media, in-store and online activity.

KP and Bestway pair up for retailer cricket competition

Shoppers can score with Pepsi Max

making over a billion recyclable tubes per year by 2025.

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

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Products

News

Lucozade has a ball Lucozade is gearing up for the summer of sport by giving away thousands of limitededition Lucozade Sport footballs through a text-to-win competition

SOFT DRINKS Barr brand helps one-quarter of Scots for a new experience

Irn-Bru celebrates tournament virgins

running across the full Lucozade

An estimated 1.4 million Scots are about to collectively experience their first time this summer – by watching Scotland’s men’s team play in the Euros. To celebrate, Irn-Bru is pledging to help prepare all tournament virgins for the momentous occasion of cheering on the men’s team at a major competition for the first time in 23 years. To kick things off, the brand has launched two new films on Irn-Bru socials. The first captures a teen girl, cringing at her mum’s insistence of having a ‘mother daughter chat’ in her bedroom about her ‘first time’ – which was watching Scotland in France in 1998. The second film features a couple sitting together on the couch,

consumers, will see the brand

Sport range. A £2.5m advertising campaign that includes social, digital, television and in-store marketing activity means that 75% of all adults in the UK, approximately 36 million throughout the warmer months.

Robot pirates clean up The Coca-Cola Foundation is supporting a campaign run by environmental charity Hubbub to remove 95 tonnes of litter from Britain’s waterways. The ‘Treasure Your River’ campaign also seeks to prevent a further

with one of the men talking about being more ‘experienced’ while his partner seems nervous to have his ‘first time’… before revealing they’re getting ready to watch the Scotland game at kick-off on TV. The films end with a question – will this be your first-time seeing Scotland at a major competition? Enjoy it with an Irn-Bru.

To mark the nation’s summer of football, Irn-Bru has also launched a full range – available now – of new pack designs that feature iconic phrases that Scots will hopefully be shouting from the rooftops when the final whistle blows to end the first Scotland game on June 14. They include ‘Ya dancer’, ‘Yes sir’, ‘Boogie’, ‘Get in’, ‘Belter’ and more.

90 tonnes from entering seven of the UK’s vital river systems, including the Forth in Scotland. For a reason not entirely clear, two robot pirate ships cruised round London’s docklands to mark the launch of the activity.

Not going nuts in lockdown A new study commissioned by Cadbury, to mark the launch of

BOTTLED WATER Highland Spring checks you’re drinking enough water

Staying hydrated is easy pee-sy

To mark the launch of its new 10-litre hydration pack, Highland Spring has unveiled a urine colour chart to help people check they’re drinking enough water. The scale, created in partnership with print industry colour experts the Pantone Color Institute, highlights five key shades ranging from clear to dark yellow that are indicative of healthy hydration. Highland Spring said the pack marks a first in the natural source water category in British retail. Its cardboard outer is FSC certified and fully recyclable – as is the plastic inner. Carol Saunders, Highland Spring’s Head of Marketing, said: “We know it can be embarrassing to talk about our pee, but it’s an important indicator to help us staying hydrated.”

BISCUITS

Ferrero gobbles up Burton’s Biscuits Ferrero has bought Burton’s Biscuit Company from current owners the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board. Burton’s employs approximately 2,000 people across six production sites in the UK, including Livingston and Arran. The company, which has been making biscuits since 1935, generated sales of more than £275m during the last 12 months. Its brands include Maryland Cookies, Jammie Dodgers, Wagon Wheels, Paterson’s and Thomas Fudge’s. The move is the latest in a series of Ferrero acquisitions that include Biscuits Delacre, Kelsen Group and Fox’s. For those interested, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, which holds assets of around $221bn, invests and administers the pensions of the Canadian province’s 331,000 active and retired teachers. It bought Burton’s in 2013.

its new Nuttier range of bars, found that nearly half of adults (47%) feel they have achieved the perfect balance in life – as lockdown has allowed them more time to do the things they love, such as reading (43%), cooking (43%) and gardening (41%). Cadbury Nuttier features two sides packed with fruit and nuts and finished with a layer of chocolate.

Have a (healthy) heart Reduced sodium salt brand LoSalt has partnered with the World Heart Federation in a bid to raise consumer awareness of the link between sodium consumption and hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure. Hypertension is responsible for 10.8 million deaths annually and one of its biggest risk factors is adding lots of salt, which is high in sodium, to food.

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JUNE 2021 | SLR

News

Off-Trade

New look Kahlúa Kahlúa has launched a new bottle design with stronger coffee cues and a more contemporary brand image. The pack refresh seeks to capitalise on the 90% growth in value of the brand’s Original SKU over the last 12 months as consumers embraced at-home cocktail making. Kahlúa Original has also reduced its ABV to 16% to address evolving consumer trends towards conscious drinking and loweralcohol options.

Doom Bar fridge pack Sharp’s Brewery has launched a new Doom Bar ‘fridge pack’ across the UK off-trade, to tap into growing demand for multipack formats and a move towards fewer, but bigger, grocery shops. The fridge packs, which include 10x440ml cans

Off-TradeNews SOAK UP SUMMER DRINKS SALES – P50 RTDs Halewood brand gets set for summer

Lambrini launches new four-packs Lambrini, the UK’s no.1 perry brand, is growing its RTD range with a new four-pack format, which is available now across all four flavours – Cherry, Rhubarb, Mango and Strawberry. The launch of the new 4 x 250ml pack follows the successful launch of the Lambrini cans range earlier this year and has been designed to help retailers tap into the growing consumer demand for convenient formats to enjoy both at home and on the move. Graeme Sharp, Brand Manager for Lambrini said: “With the arrival of better weather, we know that consumers are spending more time outdoors. During these occasions, convenient, ready to drink formats are key. The RTD format, along with the delicious range of flavours containing just 99 calorie per can, make our Lambrini cans range perfect for tapping into

this opportunity. Now, the new four pack format is a great way for retailers to trade customers up to make a bigger purchase.” The brand is also investing £500,000 in out-of-home and print advertising during the summer. The new four-packs are available to order now. RSP £5, ABV 4%.

of Doom Bar, are encased in a recyclable cardboard sleeve, and

CIDER

Magners promo offers staycations and home upgrades

include an easy to carry handle and quick tear-open fold. Doom Bar is the UK’s best-selling cask

Magners Irish Cider is helping drinkers to refresh their environment as part of a new six-month promotion, When Time Bears Fruit. The brand has partnered with Handpicked Cottages to offer 20 staycation retreats, complete with a fully-stocked fridge of Magners, along with thousands of home-improvement prizes including BBQs, TVs, smart lighting, Bluetooth speakers and more. The promotion is valid now across Magners Original 10x440ml can pack, 8x500ml bottle pack and single pint bottle. Consumers can scan QR codes on promotional packaging to be taken to a microsite where they can enter and find out immediately if they are a winner and what prize they have won. Zoë Atkinson, Magners Brand Manager, said: “Spring and summer are well known as cider season, with lots of opportunities for drinkers to enjoy a refreshing Magners over ice so we wanted to help them refresh their surroundings too.”

and bottled ale.

Everything looks rosé for Jam Shed Jam Shed is tapping into the ever-growing rosé category with its first pink variant, Jam Shed Californian Rosé, available now with an RSP of £7. Billed as the perfect drink for the warmer months, the rosé category is worth over £809m and growing at a rate of 25.7%. Jam Shed Californian Rosé is refreshing and punchy, with flavours of strawberries, cream and a hint of melon with a crisp finish. BEER Target drinkers like redesign

Spirited move from Hooch Hooch has launched three flavoured spirits, developed on the back of the brand’s core RTD flavours – Lemon, Pink and Hoola. All are ‘true strength’ spirits at 37.5% ABV and include three fun and uncomplicated flavours: Lemon Gin, Raspberry & Lemon Gin and Mango & Lime Rum. RSPs for the spirits are £20 each and they are available from Booker and independent wholesalers.

Innis & Gunn look to brew future success with new look Innis & Gunn has unveiled a new look for its ‘Originals’ range, led by its flagship beer, ‘The Original’. The ‘Originals’ portfolio includes ‘The Original’, ‘Caribbean Rum Cask’ (formerly named Blood Red Sky) and ‘Irish Whiskey Cask’. Each of the beers will now be available in clear glass bottles so the colour of the contents can be seen.The bottles are embossed,

highlighting the Innis & Gunn brand name and the brewer’s home city, Edinburgh. In research, target drinkers responded well to the redesign and repackaging with 74% stating intent to purchase. The brewing methods and the beers themselves will not change. The new bottles will roll out from this month, with Original

and Caribbean Rum Cask available from Bestway, Booker and JW Filshill. Irish Whiskey Cask will be available from July.

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SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Off-Trade

News

New name, new boss The Old Curiosity Distillery has renamed as the Secret Garden Distillery and appointed André de Almeida as new Managing Director. The distillery’s output

WINE Rutas de Cafayate taps into popularity of Argentinian wine

Pernod Ricard unveils new Malbec

will now be known as Secret

Pernod Ricard is extending the launch of its new Argentinian wine brand, Rutas de Cafayate, into the Impulse channel with an approachable and smooth Malbec. The wine looks set to capitalise on the popularity of Argentinian wine as the fastest growing Country of Origin, which is up by +45.6% in value sales in the Impulse channel, Malbec is also growing +44.6% in value. Situated 1,750 metres above sea level in the Salta desert, the Cafayate is produced in one of the highest wine regions in the world. Its characterful flavour reflects the vineyard’s unique location nestled amongst the mountain ranges of

spirits business to the role,

the Calchaquí Valley, where Rutas de Cafayate is produced under sustainable practices. Deep purple in colour with hints of plum and strawberry on the nose, its structure and silky tannins offer good concentration and balance on the palate. The wine is described as “perfect for dinner parties and sharing with friends”. Lucy Bearman, Pernod Ricard UK Wine Portfolio Director, commented: “Our ambition is to lead premium wine in every Country of Origin we operate in, and we’re set

to disrupt the Argentinian wine category with Rutas de Cafayate. The interaction between the climate, the soil, the geographical location, the height, the vines and the work of every person involved in Cafayate’s winemaking process gives it a unique expression and personality. We’re confident that the brand will recruit those already enjoying Malbecs and, with its standout contemporary pack design, new-to-category drinkers.” Rutas de Cafayate Malbec is available now from major wholesalers, RSP £8.50.

Garden Gin. De Almeida brings a wealth of experience in the having worked in senior GTR/ duty free and domestic roles for Edrington, William Grant & Sons and Loch Lomond Group, amongst others.

Pernod Ricard draws blanc Pernod Ricard’s wine business, producers of New Zealand wine brands Brancott Estate and Stoneleigh, will be unable to meet global Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc supply this year after one of the smallest New Zealand harvests in 10 years. Extreme spring frost events significantly impacted yields following an earlier than normal budburst. Bunch sizes were also

BEER Biggest marketing activity in more than 10 years from Tennent’s

New Tennent’s campaign is made for Euros

With excitement building ahead of Scotland’s return to a major men’s football finals on 14 June, Tennent’s Lager has launched a new campaign, Made For This, to celebrate that the nation’s players and fans are made for the big occasion. The campaign is spearheaded by a short film in which Scotland star Ryan Christie delivers a rallying call to Scots reflecting on his now infamous post-match interview in Serbia, which had the nation – and even Sir Alex Ferguson – in tears. Made For This is Tennent’s biggest campaign in over a decade, with outdoor advertising live across Scotland and multichannel activity planned throughout the summer. Alongside a barrage of on-trade activity, over one million promotional packs of Tennent’s will be available – the brand’s biggest-ever promotion – with 4,500 prizes up for grabs including personalised Tennent’s football tops, mini footballs, captain’s armbands and vouchers for the Tennent’s online store.

REGULATION

Portman Group has no time for quickie The Portman Group has upheld a complaint against Quickie wine, made by a member of the public who expressed concerns over its sexist branding. The label is a blatant copy of the cover of ‘Quickie’, a 1950’s pulp fiction novel. Unsurprisingly, the Group’s Independent Complaints Panel found the illustration of an underdressed buxom blonde adjusting her stockings as “objectifying and demeaning to women” and that it “caused serious offence based on gender and sex”. The complainer also said the term ‘Quickie’ could encourage excessive or fast consumption of the beverage but the Panel found that, in this instance, the word ‘quickie’ didn’t encourage consumers to drink rapidly. However, the product’s name did fall foul of a Portman Group rule that bans any association with sexual activity or sexual success.

down, impacting juice extraction levels.

Heineken bottles it As official partner of Euro 2020, Heineken has launched a limitededition range of bottles. Each features a different country’s flag, with the entire collection encompassing all the qualifying teams. Consumers can also win match tickets to the tournament or an official Adidas match ball. Running until 29 June, all consumers have to do to take part is go online and enter the code found on the packaging to find out if they have won.

Pimm’s pimps bottle Pimm’s is welcoming in the summer with a refreshed design for Pimm’s No.1 bottle backed a £1m+ marketing campaign, ‘We will summer’. Unchanged for over 30 years, the Pimm’s No.1 overhaul gives the bottle a modern new look and feel whilst paying homage to the original iconic design. The brand has also rolled out a new raspberry and redcurrant aperitif, Pimm’s Sundowner (18% ABV).

www.slrmag.co.uk

JUNE 2021 | SLR

Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards 2021 | Industry Awards

SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOD & DRINK AWARD WINNERS UNVEILED! Created to help get more fantastic Scottish food and drink products onto more Scottish retail shelves, the winners of the inaugural Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards have already started gaining new listings!

ith interest in local sourcing arguably higher than ever, a new industry awards has recognised and rewarded some of Scotland’s finest food and drink products. Created specifically to help get more of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink products onto more Scottish retail shelves, the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards have already seen winners gaining new listings, despite the winners of the inaugural awards only being announced very recently. After almost three weeks of intensive judging involving hundreds of products and more than 60 expert judges from across the food and drink sector, the results include a selection of outstanding Scottish products targeting retail listings in Scotland. www.slrmag.co.uk

Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards Director, Helen Lyons, said: “We were delighted to see so many fantastic Scottish food and drink producers take part in the awards which have one very simple goal: to get more of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink products onto more Scottish retail shelves. “The Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards were created not only to help producers secure listings but to help retailers unearth fantastic Scottish products to stock in their stores. “With interest in locally, regionally and nationally sourced products arguably higher than ever among Scottish retailers and consumers, this has been a fantastic time to win a Scottish Retail Food and Drink Award. I would like to congratulate all of the winners on their fantastic achievement.”

Inside Business

UK OPPORTUNITIES While the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards are centred on Scottish products, a small number of categories allowed UK producers targeting listings in Scottish store to highlight their products. Among the UK Producer winners at the Awards was Northern Ireland’s Thompson’s Family Teas for its Scottish Blend product. Still blended by cousins Ross and David Thompson at their state of the art tea blending facility in Belfast, Thompson’s Family Teas have collected numerous awards over the years, including more than 100 Great Taste gongs. Each blend is taste tested by a Thompson to ensure that it meets the exacting standards set by the Thompson family which have been passionately adhered to for over 120 years. Ross Thompson said: “To win a Scottish Retail Food & Drink Award is very exciting and is an acknowledgement of our dedication to importing and blending the world’s finest teas. Only the best leaves, which are highly prized and command a greater price, find their way into our award-winning blends. It takes a certain amount of courage to choose what is best over what is most profitable; we stay focused on sourcing leaves with superior taste and flavour, and simply can’t be persuaded to do it any other way.”

JUNE 2021 | SLR

Inside Business

Industry Awards | Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards 2021 THE WINNERS

FOOD PRODUCTS BAKERY Large Producer Q McGhee’s Bakery, Hand Crafted Ginger Marmalade Slice Highly Commended Q McGhee’s Bakery, Crispy Morning Rolls

HOT BEVERAGES – TEA & TISANES

SALT

Small Producer Q Wee Tea Company, Rhubarb Rooibos UK Producer Q Thompson’s Family Tea, Thompson’s Scottish Blend

Small Producer Q Isle of Skye Sea Salt Co, Pure Sea salt Crystals

ICE CREAM BILTONG & JERKY Small Producer Q Big Beefys Biltong, Original Beef Biltong

Large Producer Q Mackie’s of Scotland, Traditional Real Dairy Ice Cream MEATS – BURGERS & SAUSAGES

BISCUITS – SAVOURY Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Oatcake Bites - Lockerbie Cheddar BISCUITS – SWEET Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Orkney Caramel Shortbread Commended Q Aldi, Specially Selected Shortbread Rounds - Lemon CHEESE Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Scottish Vintage Cheddar Highly Commended Q Lidl GB, Deluxe Orkney White Cheddar CHOCOLATE, CONFECTIONERY, TABLET & MINTS Own Label Q Lidl GB, Caulder’s Confectionery Scottish Macaroon Large Producer Q Tilly Confectionery, Malt Whisky Tablet INNOVATION AWARD Q Dr Heff’s, Dr Heff’s ‘Remarkable Mints’

Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Scotch Aberdeen Angus Dry Aged Steak Burger UK Producer Q Kin & Kind, Hellbent Chakalaka Small Producer Q Uradale Farm, Beef Sassermaet MEATS – HAGGIS, BLACK & WHITE PUDDING Small Producer Q The Farmer’s Son, Scottish Black Pudding Slices Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Black Pudding Highly Commended Q The Farmer’s Son, Scottish White Pudding Slices MEATS – STEAK Own Label Aldi, Specially Selected Scotch Aberdeen Angus Ribeye Steak, 36 Days Matured PLANT BASED UK Producer Q The Russian Food Company, Galette Goodness - Wild Mushroom & Spinach QUICHES, PASTIES, PIES

DAIRY Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Jersey Milk Small Producer Q Mossgiel Organic Farm, Mossgiel Organic Whole Milk

Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Steak & Porter Ale Pie UK Producer Q McColgan’s Quality Foods, Goats Cheese & Caramelised Red Onion Quiche

FISH

READY MEALS & ACCOMPANIMENTS

Own Label Q Aldi, Ginger, Chilli & Lime Infused Scottish Salmon Fillets Small Producer Q Thule Ventus, Salt Cod Pate

Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Chicken Balmoral UK Producer Q Wilson’s Country, You Say Potato Fresh Cut Chips

SALT – FLAVOURED SALT Small Producer Q Hawkhead Whisky Smoked, Whisky Smoked Black Garlic Salt SNACKS Small Producer Q Growers Garden, Growers Garden Broccoli Chips – Cheese Large Producer Q Tilly Confectionery, Mrs Tilly’s Scottish Tablet Popcorn Highly Commended Q Highland Crackers, Seeded Cracker Mix

DRINKS PRODUCTS BEER Gold | Small Producer Q Five Kingdoms Brewery, Dark Storm Stout Gold | Own Label Q Aldi, Anti Establishment IPA Q Aldi, Williams Brothers, Rubus Grapefruit IPA Silver | Small Producer Q Five Kingdoms Brewery, Captain Morrison’s IPA Bronze | Small Producer Q Lerwick Brewery, Azacca Amarillo IPA COLD BEVERAGES – COLD BREWS Small Producer Q Cushiedoos Drink Better, Cushiedoos

SPICE MIXES

GIN

Small Producer Spice Pots, Korma Spice Pot Highly Commended Q Zepice, Coconut, Lemongrass & Kaffir Lime Gourmet Curry Store Cupboard Products Small Producer Q Aye Pickled, Kimchi Hot Sauce Highly Commended Q Isle of Mull Seaweed, Seaweed Chutney Q Screaming Chimp, Mango & Papaya

Gold | Small Producer Q Bothy Trading, Gin Bothy Gunshot Infused Gin Q Lunun Gin, Lunun Gin Gold | Own Label Q Aldi, Eidyn Scottish Botanical Gin Silver | Small Producer Q Billingtons of Lenzie, Lenzie Gin Bronze | Small Producer Q Cairngorm Gin Company Ltd, Cairngorm Gin Q North Point Distillery, Crosskirk Bay Gin

STORE CUPBOARD PRODUCTS – SOUPS

GIN – FLAVOURED GIN

Own Label Q Aldi, Specially Selected Sundried Tomato, Lentil & Smoked Paprika Soup STORE CUPBOARD PRODUCTS – SWEET SPREADS Small Producer Q Sarah Gray’s, Raspberry Jam

Gold | Own Label Q Aldi, Toradh Scottish Rhubarb and Ginger Gin LIQUEURS Gold | Small Producer Q Cairns Exclusive Drinks Company, Cairns Scotch Whisky Liqueur Q Hemisphere Brands, Magnum Cream Liqueur OTHER SPIRITS Gold | Small Producer Q Badachro Distillery, Dancing Puffin Vodka Gold | Large Producer Q GM Spirits, Edinburgh Rum Gold | Own Label Q Aldi, 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky Silver | Small Producer Q Bothy Trading, Rum Bothy Spiced Rum Q North Point Distillery, Skerra Spiced Rum

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards 2021 | Industry Awards

Inside Business

AWARDS SECURE NEW SPAR LISTINGS FOR MCGHEE’S Glasgow-based McGhee’s Bakery has secured new listings in Spar Scotland as a direct result of winning Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards. Spar Scotland will be listing McGhee’s award-winning Hand Crafted Ginger & Marmalade Slice from this month. The listing came as a direct result of the product winning a Scottish Retail Food & Drink Award and sees it go on sale in all of Spar Scotland’s 107 company-owned stores as well as being offered to over 300 independent Spar retailers in Scotland. “When we first got involved with the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards it was because the Awards shared the same goals and aims as we hold dear in Spar Scotland,” says the company’s Head of Food-to-Go Stephen Brown. “We are both committed to getting more fantastic quality Scottish products onto more Scottish shelves and we are delighted to be listing McGhee’s Hand Crafted Ginger & Marmalade Slice.” Gordon McGhee says: “We were delighted to win and also over the moon that winning an Award has led to this new listing with Spar Scotland. We absolutely look forward to sharing this delicious and award-winning product with a much wider audience across Scotland.” And that wasn’t the only good news for McGhee’s. The discussions with Brown and Spar Scotland also led to an initiative which will see the bakery’s iconic Crispy Morning Roll spreading its wings beyond its Glasgow heartland. The product secured a Highly Commended prize at the recent Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards. “We will be trialling the Crispy Morning Roll in regions like Fife and Dundee,” explains Brown. “In Glasgow, the product is an absolute institution – and for very good reason. It’s a perfect example of a simple product done really, really well – and we are aiming to establish whether customers outside of Glasgow will be similarly enchanted.”

FRESH TAKE ON SCOTTISH FAVOURITE Scottish confectionery business Tilly Confectionery was among the winners this year, securing an Award for its innovative take on a Scottish classic: Mrs Tilly’s Malt Whisky Tablet. Launched last year as a variation the company’s awardwinning Scottish tablet, the product was available in a themed Burns Night box format and features a subtle hint of Malt Whisky blended through it. The tablet – with its medium-hard, melt in the mouth texture coupled with a creamy flavour – certainly hit a sweet spot with the judges, who described it as “utterly delicious” and “very hard to put down”. It is also gluten-free as well as being free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

PLATINUM WINNERS Every category winner was eligible to be considered for the ultimate Platinum Awards. A further judging session allowed the judges to analyse these products once more and vote for their Platinum winners.

100 % Pure Scottish Sea Salt #Loch to Larder Multi Award Winning Made on the Isle of Skye Premium quality Great provenance Eco-friendly process, using only the sun and wind Unique flavour & ‘sweet’ finish enhances any dish Stylish, recyclable packaging makes an ideal gift

Find out more about us: www.isleofskyeseasalt.co.uk Contact us: info@isleofskyeseasalt.co.uk Follow us: Instagram: @skyeseasaltco

PLATINUM – FOOD Q Small Producer: Thule Ventus, Salt Cod Paté Q Large Producer: Mackie’s Of Scotland, Traditional Real Dairy Ice Cream PLATINUM – DRINK Q Small Producer: Lunun Gin, Lunun Gin Q Large Producer: GM Spirits, Edinburgh Rum

www.slrmag.co.uk

JUNE 2021 | SLR

Inside Business

Local Sourcing

THE MAKING OF PLATINUM AWARDWINNING LUNUN GIN

When Masterchef Professionals finalist Dean Banks was looking for the perfect house pour gin for his restaurant and couldn’t find it he decided to create his own, and his creation offers retailers a great opportunity to expand their Scottish gin range with a Platinum Award-winning option. BY ANTONY BEGLEY

e’ve been talking for long enough about when the gin bubble is going to burst but summer after summer the category continues to deliver for retailers – and this summer looks set to be no different. While flavoured gins are driving most growth, there is also increasing interest in locally, regionally and nationally sourced gins. Local retailers in Scotland are fortunate on that front, with an extensive range of fantastic quality Scottish gins available to them. One of these is Lunun Gin, the creation of Scottish chef Dean Banks, possibly best known for being a finalist in the Masterchef: The Professionals TV show in 2018. Lunun Gin recently received a Platinum Award in the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards where it was described by the judges as “a work of art in every sense”. The story of how the gin came to be is an inspiring one. Banks, who now operates the

chain of outstanding Haar restaurants – two in St Andrews and one in Edinburgh – explains: “It all started when we were looking for a Scottish gin to become our house pour in Haar. We bought every bottle of Scottish gin we could find and while many were fantastic, none of them were exactly what I was looking for.” Banks admits that the one that came closest was Harris Gin, but being something of a perfectionist, ‘close’ wasn’t close enough. “So I decided to create my own gin to my own precise specifications!” he laughs. Banks had an old school friend in his hometown Arbroath who was an experienced distiller; they quickly set about helping the chef transform his dream into a delicious, liquid reality.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Local Sourcing

“In my head, I wanted the gin to be a reflection of my cooking. At the restaurants we always hero Scottish produce, but we try to give our dishes a twist. So I wanted to do the same with the gin. I’m proud to be Scottish and I’m proud of Scotland’s natural produce so I wanted to make something with a Scottish heart.”

ASIAN TWIST That twist that Dean gives to his dishes, and the one he wanted to give to his gin, was an Asian one. He says: “I have travelled extensively in Asia and there’s something about that fusion of top quality Scottish ingredients with more exotic flavours that just works. With that in mind, I drew up a list of botanicals that I wanted to try and drove to the Chinese supermarket and picked them all up. I wasn’t at all sure that they would work because some of them didn’t instinctively seem like obvious choices. We used things like kaffir lime leaf, kombu kelp and Sichuan peppercorns.” www.slrmag.co.uk

The result? “It was astonishing,” enthuses Dean. “We nailed it first time! We tried a variety of percentage mixes and a variety of ABVs from 39% to 45% and it was the 41% version that was the sweet spot, strong enough to hold the flavour but not to overpower it.” The fact that Dean’s Lunun Gin won a Platinum Award at the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards shows that the expert judges agreed. Dean’s attention to detail, however, extended far beyond just the liquid. Lunun’s bottle and label were described by the judges as “a work of art”. “When we were designing the label, I wanted it to look distinctive on the shelf or the gantry and I wanted it to reflect the character of the gin itself,” explains Dean. “The label is actually a stylised view of Lunun Bay, a place where I spent a lot of time as a child. And in the logo we subtly incorporated two kaffir lime leaves and Sichuan peppercorns.”

Inside Business

LISTINGS GALORE Lunun Gin finally went on sale for the first time in October 2019 and has gone on to secure listings in a number of wholesale, retail and hospitality outlets. Winning a Platinum Scottish Retail Food & Drink Award can only help Banks share his creation with an even wider audience. “I was absolutely delighted to win the Platinum award,” he concludes. “Particularly because it was a blind judging done by a panel of experienced, expert drinks industry specialists. Scotland boasts some of the best gins in the world, in my opinion, so to come out top against that sort of competition is just wonderful.” Though Banks did admit to taking a brief moment out to celebrate his win with a glass of his award-winning gin, he was quickly back at work. After the challenges of lockdown, he is now in the process of opening two new restaurants, one in St Andrews and one in Edinburgh – and Platinum award-winning Lunun Gin will no doubt be a star attraction on the drinks list. JUNE 2021 | SLR

Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch

Ristorante Pizza Margherita Pomodori Dr. Oetker Dr. Oetker Ristorante has launched its first vegan pizza in the UK, Ristorante Pizza Margherita Pomodori, following UK consumer demand for more inspiring plantbased frozen options. It offers a thin, crispy base and tomato sauce, topped with a melted grated pizza topping, sun-dried and cherry tomatoes, along with a basil ‘pestostyle’ garnish. It is available now with an RSP of £3.69.

Cadbury Chocolate Gift Cards Mondelez Each pack comprises of a fun gift card containing 20 Cadbury chocolate pralines, available now in cases of 10 x 112g/114g with an RSP of £3. A variety of vibrant gifting designs combined with either Hazelnut Creme Hearts or White Chocolate Truffle Flowers offers an option for every gifting occasion. There is also a space for shoppers to write their own personal message.

Walls Yummies Unilever The latest addition to the Walls Responsibly Made For Kids line-up comes in two variants – Tropical and Berry – and is available now in 4-packs with an RSP of £3. Kids can embark on a ‘treasure hunt’ to find hidden gummy sweets, derived from seaweed, that are hidden within the ocean and tropical island themed lollies. Each lolly contains only 49 calories and 8.8g of sugar. For more information, retailers should visit unilever. com.

Soft drinks market turns sour for AG Barr Barr Soft Drinks has unveiled a new range of limited-edition flavours under its eponymous Barr brand. Sour Berry and Sour Apple roll out from July for a limited time only and have been developed to drive excitement around the Barr range, whilst delivering an incremental sales opportunity for retailers. Both will be available in outers of 12 x 500ml PET bottles, priced-marked at 79p. POS will be available from the end of July to signpost the flavours and help retailers drive sales of the full Barr range. The manufacturer hopes the two flavours will give its Barr carbonates range, which is currently worth £44.2m, a further boost by offering “a unique taste that will intrigue and excite shoppers”. Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr Soft Drinks, said: “Limited edition flavours are always very popular with shoppers, where taste is still the key driver. Not only do they drive sales but increase brand engagement and conversation whilst creating excitement at fixture. New flavours in the category have delivered more than £50m worth of sales over the last two years, and consumer research has shown us that Barr lovers will be excited to try the Sours range, so retailers should make the most of this seasonal sales opportunity, before it’s gone.”

Bounty Protein Bar Mars Chocolate Drinks & Treats The new and improved Bounty Hi Protein bar contains 18g protein and 207 calories. It offers two pieces, made with real milk chocolate and featuring a layer of desiccated coconut on the top and in the base. Singles (57g) RSP at £2 and packs of 12 x 52g at £19.99. The brand has also launched Hi Protein Chocolate and Coconut flavour whey protein powder (875g, RSP £19.99).

Oat Boosts Graze The new and improved Oat Boosts range offers new packaging and two new flavours: Cherry Bakewell and Chocolate Cookie. Both are available now in packs of 4 x 30g bars with an RSP of £2.50. The new products contain at least 45% less sugar than the average cereal bar and are a good source of fibre. The launch comes in response to demand for more indulgent flavours. To stock, please contact sales@ graze.com.

Nutella & Go! Wholegrain Ferrero Ferrero has added a Wholegrain variant to its Nutella & Go range, the first extension of the snack brand in five years. Nutella & Go Wholegrain contains 80% wheat & oat cereal sticks alongside a classic Nutella dip. It is available now for a limited time only in cases of 12 x 55g with an RSP of £1.02. New POS and displays are available via the Ferrero trade website yourperfectstore. co.uk, where retailers can also find more information on this and other Ferrero products.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Product News & Media Watch Pepsi Max Lime Britvic

Barratt Liquorice Novelties Valeo Snack Foods

Pepsi Max is adding Lime to its flavour range this summer, initially as a Tesco Group exclusive. It will be available from early June to Londis, One Stop, Premier and Budgens retailers, as well as from Booker, before rolling out further in late August. It will launch in cases of 8 x 2L bottles, cases of 12 x 1.25L bottles, cases of 3 x 8 cans and as a 24-can multipack. Cola is the number one segment within the soft drinks category.

popchips Veg Vibes KP Snacks

A complete product refresh for the retro treat unveils a new tapered carton pack containing a 400g assortment of Liquorice Comfits, Pontefract Cakes, Liquorice Bites and Jelly Buttons in a new pick and mix format, with an RSP of £2.50. It will be widely available from midAugust after launching as an Asda exclusive. The redesign has enabled an 89% plastic reduction and the carton itself is also widely recyclable.

Wow Bakes Graze

This new range from KP’s flagship ‘better for You’ brand launches in two flavours, Sriracha and Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar. Both will be available in 85g sharing and 23g singles formats. The new light and crunchy snack is made of chickpea, rice and sweet potato, and has been designed to meet bold flavour notes shoppers are looking for. The brand recently debuted on TV with a £2.3m campaign.

The new and improved Wow Bakes range offers fewer than 90 calories per bar, with 40% less sugar than the average cake bar and 30% less than the average cereal bar. Flavours include Lemon Drizzle, Chocolate Hazelnut and Salted Caramel. Available now in packs of 5 x 24g bakes with an RSP of £2.69, the cake bars don’t contain any artificial colours, sweeteners, flavours or preservatives. To stock, contact sales@graze.com.

Hotlines

Officially awkward Snickers has launched a new campaign to acknowledge its ‘officially awkward’ position as sponsor of both the Scotland and England football teams who will face each other during this month’s Euro 2020 tournament. To overcome the problem the brand has invented a new country ‘Bothlands’ in an ad created by a half-Scottish and half-English director.

Have it all Müller has launched its biggest-ever Müllerlight marketing campaign with the first in a series of seven interconnected new adverts. The ad stars World Champion Heptathlete and Müllerlight brand ambassador Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Scottish runner Laura Muir – the 1500m European Champion – will also feature in the campaign.

Fit to burst Ribena has unveiled a new £2.4m marketing campaign to support its new Ribena Sparkling range this summer. The campaign – part of a £6.6m media spend for the brand this year – includes a new end-frame for the brand’s TV advert, out-of-home advertising, social media promotion, new in-store point of sale material and the tagline ‘Bursting with Refreshment’.

Make your play Slow roasted seasoned nuts Signature chocolate nuts Forest Feast

Vegan confectionery Hancocks

The Slow Roasted six-strong range is seasoned then slowly roasted in small batches. Signature Chocolate Nuts (three variants) combine the nutritional goodness of nuts with the indulgence of Belgian chocolate. Both ranges RSP at £3 for a 120g pack.

With the country’s vegan market growing at an exponential rate, Hancocks has introduced a variety of new dairy- and gelatine-free products. The wholesale company has added more lines from Swedish confectionery brand Bubs including Cool Melon and Sour Raspberry & Lemon Foam Skulls, Strawberry Cheesecake and Watermelon Foam Sweets, and Banana Mini Ovals. Prices start at £7.59 for 2.6kg. Visit hancocks. co.uk for further information.

Doritos is back on TV with ‘Make Your Play,’ a 12-week campaign that encourages shoppers to ap-proach life in a more playful, selfexpressive way. It centres on a reimagined perspective on the triangular shape of the Doritos chip, turning it into a play symbol that can inspire people to express themselves in a creative, fun way.

Eat them to defeat them Jamie Oliver, Emma Thompson, Amanda Holden and Stephen Mulhern are among the stars voicing an ad to get kids to eat more veg as part of Veg Power’s ‘Eat Them To Defeat Them’ campaign, supported by a media alliance between ITV, STV, Channel 4 and Sky, and funded by 10 food and retail brands including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and Lidl.

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

JUNE 2021 | SLR

Feature

Energy Drinks

HIGH ENERGY APPROACH

Energy drinks remain a huge sub-category in soft drinks and it’s vital retailers work it as hard as possible this summer to maximise sales and profits.

s all local retailers know by now, energy is big. It’s beyond big, accounting for over half of all total soft drink sales (depending on which data you trust), and it deserves both the space to breathe in the chiller and the attention from retailers that these sales merit. But over and above ensuring energy has an adequate share of space in-store, what should retailers be looking to do this summer to leverage every penny of sales and profit out of this vital category?

LOW SUGAR “Ongoing trends, such as the demand for lowersugar drinks, will likely continue throughout the category irrespective of the radical changes brought on by coronavirus,” says Matt Gouldsmith, Channel Director, Wholesale, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I. “We have seen a long-term trend towards drinks with lower sugar as consumers are becoming more aware of their health and wellbeing. With 45.8% of soft drinks shoppers agreeing they “try to lead a healthy lifestyle” [IRI, Nov 2020], retailers should ensure their chillers are stocked up on lower-sugar soft drinks such as Ribena Light and Lucozade Zero – now worth a combined £43.7m [IRI, Mar 2021] to capitalise on the ongoing trend towards lowersugar choices. In fact, this segment of the market is extremely important in contributing to the

growth of take-home soft drinks, with Diet and Zero drinks growing 19.3% [Kantar, Sep 2020] and outperforming the total drink-later market.” Red Bull also highlights the continually important role played by low and no sugar lines in the energy category. A spokesperson said: “As we head into summer 2021 and beyond, Red Bull will continue to offer choice to shoppers as the range continues to evolve, meeting new and emerging consumer demands. The Red Bull portfolio has been enhanced to include a sugar free variant of almost every pack in the range. This has clearly resounded with shoppers as in the latest six months, Red Bull sold 33.3% more sugar free volume through multipacks – with these variants also growing penetration by 31.9%.”

MULTIPACKS This growth in sales of Red Bull multipacks is reflected throughout the category with multipacks growing their share of the market under lockdown. Red Bull has helped retailers cash in on this growth, and the growth of sugarfree lines with the launch of a Red Bull Zero 250ml four-pack. “Bringing a reformulated Red Bull Zero back to the market last year has driven brand growth and driven engagement with new shoppers,” says the spokesperson. “Selling more than 1.4m cans since its 2020 re-launch, Red Bull Zero is one of the biggest NPD contributors of growth

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

TARGET YOUR SALES THIS SUMMER.

NEW: RED BULL PRO CANS FEATURING FOOTBALLER TRENT ALEXANDER ARNOLD. SEE SALES FLY. STOCK UP TODAY.

Feature

Energy Drinks

RANGING AND MERCHANDISING Suntory recently worked with independent retailer Umesh Patel of UP1 News in Silvertown in East London to find out how small changes can help to grow soft drinks sales this summer and all year round:  BLOCK YOUR SOFT DRINKS BY CATEGORY.  It’s important to group the same types of drinks together. After putting all flavoured carbs together in one block in the chiller, sales in this category grew 7.1%. This will also help shoppers find what they want more easily.  WITHIN EACH CATEGORY, ARRANGE BY FORMAT.  Range formats within each category together so they flow smoothly. Putting colas together, for example, and then segmenting this section further into cans and formats, will improve the ‘shopability’ of the category by making it easier to find the right format.  BLOCK ENERGY BY CATEGORY AND HIGHLIGHT YOUR TAKEHOME OFFER.  Energy and sports drinks account for 30% [IRI, Nov 2020] of total soft drinks sales in convenience, so it’s an important segment of any retailer’s chiller, especially in the summer, with drinks satisfying different shopper needs. By blocking sports and energy by need state – starting with stimulants, flowing into sports, then energy and finally natural energy, customers will be able to easily find the right drink for the right occasion.

to the overall Sports & Energy category. Due to strong rate of sale, trade and shopper demand for this pack, we have launched a Red Bull Zero 250ml fourpack to meet these emerging needs for bigger packs for sharing, storing and enjoying.”

VALUE Value appears to be more important to shoppers than ever over the last year and that trend looks set to continue, as Suntory’s Gouldsmith explains: “We understand how important it is to offer competitively priced drinks for retailers who want to demonstrate value to their shoppers. To help retailers cater for shoppers drinking more soft drinks at home, we have reduced the on-pack price of some of our most popular drink-later products, including Lucozade Energy 1L format drinks. Reduced to £1.50, these drinks will tap into the continued popularity of price-marked packs, and the growth in sales of drink-later formats.” The reduced PMPs across the Lucozade Energy drink-later range offer a lower everyday price to consumers at a time when many shoppers are looking for increased value from their regular purchases. “Now is the perfect time for retailers to capitalise on the popularity of the drink later format with a new reduced price-marked pack,” says Gouldsmith.

“To help retailers make the right choice on what to stock we offer the option of price-marked or non-price-marked packs across our range of soft drinks, including leading-brands Lucozade Energy, Lucozade Revive and Lucozade Sport.”

REFRESH One major development to be aware of is the recent relaunch of the Rockstar brand, the first significant move since Britvic took over the distribution of the brand in the UK from AG Barr last year. The relaunch featured a bold new pack design, reformulation of its original flavour and a multipack to capitalise on the increasing demand for take-home formats. Acquired by PepsiCo last year, Rockstar’s refresh aims to recruit new shoppers into the energy drinks market by making the brand more accessible to a wider audience through a bold and more premium design. The activity will be supported with digital, in-store and outof-home activations. Already a well-known and recognised brand in the UK and the third biggest energy drink in the world, Rockstar is also reformulating its Original flavour to further improve taste and will include the additional benefit of Vitamin C. The brand’s pack redesign includes a bolder logo and sports a more premium design with strong flavour messaging, positioning it as the ‘go-to’ energy drink.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

STOCK UP NOW Lucozade Sport provides carbohydrates and electrolytes to enhance hydration and help maintain performance during endurance exercise.

LUCOZADE, LUCOZADE SPORT and the Arc Device are registered trade marks.

MONSTER’S TOP TIPS FOR SUPERCHARGED SALES

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Energy Drinks

1. STAY COOL Shoppers are more likely to buy an energy drink for immediate consumption if it’s chilled. Make sure they have easy access to cold cans.

2. GET YOUR RANGE RIGHT It’s important to stock products in all the main energy segments. Using sales data is a good way to identify which lines can be removed to make space for new launches.

3. KEEP IT CLEAR Help shoppers navigate the fixture by grouping brands within each sub-sector. If you can, signpost your Traditional, Zero Sugar, Flavoured and Performance Energy offerings.

4. ALLOCATE SECONDARY SPACE

RAW POWER While it was launched earlier this year, the summer presents the perfect opportunity for retailers to cash in on Barr Soft Drink’s newest energy drink, Rubicon Raw. An innovation built on a foundation of consumer insight, the company says Rubicon Raw offers something truly new and different to today’s energy drinks market, featuring 20% real fruit juice. “We launched Rubicon Raw to meet the needs of today’s developing energy consumers,” says Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr Soft Drinks. “We have invested heavily throughout the development of Rubicon Raw to understand

Energy drinks are big drivers of impulse sales and need to be visible throughout your store. Branded coolers and display units are a great way to maximise standout.

5. GET BEHIND PROMOTIONS Bring the category to life by offering exciting promotions that tap into your shoppers’ interests. Who doesn’t want to win a moneycan’t-buy Monster prize?

6. KNOW YOUR SHOPPERS Price Marked Packs can reassure shoppers that they can get the products they want, at an affordable price.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Energy Drinks

the energy consumer better, and what’s relevant in their lives today. They adopted the category as young adults, but many have matured and evolved as consumers since then, and they’re calling out for something new. “The average age of an energy drinker is older than one might think at 31, and their needs are moving on. They are life maximisers, people who want to get the most out of life. Energy drinks fuel that lifestyle.” Troy adds that flavour remains really important to energy drinkers and that they are looking for “more than just functionality”, He explains: “Eight of the fastest growing Energy SKUs are flavoured, four of which are juice based [IRI, Oct 2020]. The number one reason consumers like Rubicon Raw is that it’s made with 20% real fruit juice, which together with caffeine from green coffee beans and B-vitamins provides a big energy hit that is full of flavour.” The Rubicon Raw range comprises three variants – Raspberry & Blueberry, Orange & Mango and Cherry & Pomegranate, with natural flavours and no artificial colours. The launch is being supported by a £1.5 m consumer, social and shopper marketing campaign designed to raise awareness and encourage trial. In line with Barr Soft Drink’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the Rubicon Raw outer case will be wrapped in 100% recycled film, which has less than half the carbon footprint of its virgin plastic equivalent. The levy-free 500ml Rubicon Raw range is available in plain pack (RSP £1.29) and a £1.29 PMP with a range of in-store and in-depot POS to signpost the category and engage shoppers at the fixture.

FLAVOUR As Tory highlights above, flavour remains a key driver in the category. Shoppers want stimulation and energy, but they also want products to taste great. Having a choice of flavours allows

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retailers to ensure they have something to cater for most of their shoppers’ tastes. “Flavours is a strong area of growth for the soft  drink  category,” says Gouldsmith. “The Lucozade Energy range has already contributed a significant £60.7m [IRI, Nov 2020] worth of sales to the energy category, showing just how important it is for retailers to offer a diverse selection for shoppers to choose from this summer.  “Last year, Lucozade Energy introduced a cool new addition to its category-leading range – Lucozade Energy Citrus Chill. The lemon & lime flavour is perfectly refreshing for the summer months and is available in 380ml PMP and standard packs.”

NPD Some 72% of the energy sector’s growth last year has come from new products [Nielsen, Sep 2020], and more than half of that’s been down to the Monster brand. Eager to maintain momentum, the brand came flying out of the blocks earlier this year with three new product launches. Monster Mule is an energy twist on the iconic Moscow Mule, and the first ginger-flavoured energy drink in Great Britain. Monster Ultra Fiesta blends mango flavour with the Monster energy blend, delivering an energy boost with no calories or sugar and Monster Juiced Monarch brings together a mix of peach and nectarine using real fruit juice for enhanced taste. Lucozade has added  a twist to retailers’ shelves with the launch of Lucozade Zero Tropical. Available  in 500ml bottles and 4x380ml multipacks, Lucozade Zero Tropical is the Lucozade brand’s first ever flavour exclusive to the Lucozade Zero range.

SINGLE CAN While much of the excitement in the energy category is around multipacks, Red Bull is encouraging retailers not to lose sight of the fact that single cans are still the bedrock of the category. “Understanding the formats shoppers want most has always been central to Red Bull,” says a spokesperson. “Red Bull Energy Drink 250ml is not only our most familiar and best-selling SKU but it’s also the single most valuable soft drink in the UK.” JUNE 2021 | SLR

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Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY: THE TIME IS NOW Consumers are more interested in the sustainability credentials of the products they buy and the retailers they buy from than ever. With suppliers making massive strides in creating more sustainable products, the time for retailers to capitalise on these trends in-store is now. CASE STUDY: YAZOO

very credible study of consumer buying patterns over the last couple of years has shown one thing very clearly: shoppers are more focused and more interested in the sustainability credentials of the products they buy and the retailers they buy from that ever before. This very significant trend is already affecting buying decisions, with many shoppers shunning products, brands or retailers that don’t pass muster. This huge shift has not escaped the attention of producers and suppliers. Practically across the board, suppliers have been dedicating themselves to reducing their carbon footprint in a whole 42

array of creative, innovative and commendable ways. Sustainability has gone from being the worthy but dull preserve of CSR (corporate social responsibility) departments to becoming a vital thread that runs through everything that many huge companies do. All of the major soft drinks suppliers, for instance, have moved mountains over the last few years as some 65% of soft drinks shoppers claim that sustainability is important in their decisionmaking [Streetbees, 2020]. Even more tellingly, 9% of consumers cite sustainability unprompted at point of purchase for their choices, a 125% increase on 2019 levels. And you know that the landscape has changed dramatically and

Q The UK’s number one traditional flavoured milk brand [IRI, Dec 2020], YAZOO, has officially transitioned to 100% rPET packaging across its 300ml and 400ml packs. The packs, which are on shelves now, also feature easy peelable sleeves to make stripping and correct recycling even simpler. Q Increasing from the previous 20% figure and expected to save over 32m kilograms of non-recycled plastic, the change has been finalised ahead of its end of 2021 schedule, with the rest of the range due to follow next year. Q Sustainability is a huge priority for us, it’s just as important to YAZOO as it is to consumers,” says Kate Allison, YAZOO Marketing Manager at FrieslandCampina UK. “We’ve been on the journey to become a more circular brand for some time, and this latest project is a big phase of that.” Q We’re really proud that we’ve hit this milestone ahead of our plans and it means we can get started on the next steps sooner. We’ve already introduced Tetrapak cartons and bendable paper straws across our No Added Sugar range, and we’re always looking for new ways to make changes to our business, in line with environmental concerns.”

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

we have a plan to make all of our plastic bottles 100% sustainable by 2030.

Driving a circular economy

Reduced carbon footprint

No Petroleumbased plastic

Learn more: LRSuntory.com/2030plan

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Sustainability

CASE STUDY: HIGHLAND SPRING Q “Providing healthy hydration in an environmentally sustainable way” is, says Highland Spring, the core purpose of its business. The company has been ranked the most ethical natural source water brand for the 12th year running in The Good Shopping Guide’s ethical rankings and says environmental sustainability “will continue to underpin all our activity in 2021”. Q The company will be increasing the number of products available in recycled plastic (rPET) and will continue to focus on ultimately reaching 100% rPET across all Highland Spring products as the quality and quantity needed becomes available, with a target of 50% recycled content in bottles by 2022. In the meantime, every Highland Spring bottle can be recycled to give it another life. Q Highland Spring is also continuing to work with Hubbub, an environmental charity that encourages consumers to make better choices when it comes to looking after the environment and recycling, particularly ‘on-the-go’. Highland Spring worked with Hubbub on the #LeedsByExample campaign to change consumers’ behaviour when it comes to disposing of their rubbish, with the ultimate aim of increasing recycling rates for food and drinks packaging. The Leeds pilot scheme was extremely successful and was rolled out across Swansea and Edinburgh, with more towns and cities to be added to the campaign. Q The launch of Highland Spring’s 100% recycled and recyclable eco bottle marked a significant milestone in the producer’s efforts to help consumers understand the value of plastic as a material which should be kept in the circular economy. This move was followed by the roll-out of the Wild Life kids eco bottle, which underlined the business’ commitment to remain at the forefront of environmentally sustainable innovation.

sustainability is slowly becoming ‘cool’ when self-proclaimed beer punks BrewDog put their carbon negative commitments front and centre in many of their consumerfacing comms. With pressure, then, from both the consumer and supplier ends of the supply chain, now is a great time for local retailers to step up the plate and start putting sustainability higher up their own business agendas. While all retailers already recycle their plastic, cardboard and food waste (by law) and many use LED lights and low energy refrigeration, you’d be hard pressed to find a store

that communicates this fact to its customers. This is a simple, easy win for retailers – and the fact that it very rarely happens suggests that sustainability remains resolutely in the ‘when I get around to it’ category for time-pressed store owners and managers. Understandable as that may be, sustainability is a huge issue for shoppers and it’s only getting bigger. Cop26 in Glasgow later this year will only serve to ratchet the pressure up even further and the arrival of DRS, be that next year or more likely the following year, will turn the pressure up yet another notch or two.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Let’s create a great recycling experience. LY EVER YM BAL O L I G

1M IL

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TE NU

PLASTIC BOT TL ON LI

The deposit return scheme (DRS) is due to come to Scotland in July 2022. Make it easy with TOMRA, the global leader in reverse vending technology.

Source: Global Packaging Trends Report by Euromonitor International (2017)

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Sustainability

CASE STUDY: SUNTORY BEVERAGE & FOOD GB&I

Q “Our Growing for Good vision drives us to make sure what we do as a company always benefits the wider community so that as we grow, so does our ability to do more for our society and the environment,” says Matt Gouldsmith, Channel Director, Wholesale, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I. “This is the mindset that has led us to support our retail partners in their own CO2 reduction journey.” Q Gouldsmith adds: “The importance of stocking great-tasting, big brands with positive sustainability stories now cannot be understated. Retailers making them a prominent feature of their range will reassure customers that sustainability is being taken seriously.” Q As a Suntory Group business, the company has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from direct operations and by 30% across its value chain by 2030, as part of an existing global commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Q Since 2015, the company has reduced its carbon footprint in GB&I by a quarter thanks to a new energy and water-efficient bottling line, continued investment in warehousing and operations efficiencies and using increasing amounts of rPET in primary packaging. Q The shift from using virgin plastic made from fossil fuels to rPET reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 79% and the company is on track to use 50% sustainable plastic packaging across its drink bottles by 2025. Q New transparent sleeves on Lucozade Energy enable ‘bottle-tobottle’ recycling. This means the bottles can be funnelled into a clear plastic waste stream, helping to give every bottle the optimum chance of being recycled back into a bottle. Q New packaging for Ribena 500ml bottles last year made the brand the largest selling soft drinks brand with bottles made from 100% rPET that are also 100% bottle-to-bottle recyclable. Q Paper straws are now a permanent feature on Ribena juice cartons, saving up to 16 tonnes of plastic from being produced per year.

So why not take a fresh look at sustainability sooner rather than later? The great news is that you probably already have a load of success stories to tell, even if you haven’t thought about it much before. Why not generate some social media posts telling your shoppers about all the recycling you do? A few bits of in-store POS could help add to the story and then you could get into discussing low energy lighting, heating and refrigeration. You’ve already done the hard part: all you have to do now is tell your shoppers about it. Also great news is that the fact that the sustainability credentials of your store are improving with every day that passes without any effort on your part: the products you receive into your store every week are quickly improving thanks to the efforts of suppliers.

Again, why not leverage this information by telling your customers all about it? The very fact that you’re talking about sustainability on social media and in-store will undoubtedly resonate with some of your customers and, arguably, community retailers have more of a responsibility to keep an eye on their carbon footprint than other retailers. You can lead from the front with a little time and effort and enhance your store’s reputation into the bargain. To help give you a flavour of the work being down by major suppliers, here are four case studies which illustrate both how seriously suppliers are taking this challenge and how you can leverage their efforts in-store to show your shoppers that sustainability matters to you.

CASE STUDY: QUORN Q Quorn is the UK’s No. 1 meat free brand, with annual sales in excess of £203m and is the first meat free brand to introduce carbon footprints to its packaging. Q “Quorn has been a trailblazer in the meat-free sector since we sold our first product in 1985,” says Gill Riley, Marketing Director at Quorn Foods UK. “Now, as a £203m brand, we believe it is our responsibility, along with other food and drink companies like ours, to come together to make a positive impact on the planet.” Q “Delivering sustainable nutrition is at the heart of everything we do,” says the company, which is why it has joined over 100 leading businesses by signing up to The Climate Pledge, committing to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Q Earlier this year Quorn launched a new ‘Helping the Planet One Bite at a Time’ campaign to show shoppers that switching to Quorn is an easy and tasty change everyone can make “that comes with huge benefits to people and the planet alike”. Q The company is continuing to roll out the carbon footprint of its products onto its packs so consumers can make informed decisions at the point of purchase. It’s an initiative the company believes needs a collective effort from across the food and drink industry to empower more consumers to make food choices based on the environmental impact.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

*Bottle is 100% recycled plastic. Label and cap are not made from recycled plastic. Bottle, label and cap are 100% recyclable.

Our eco bottles are made from 100% recycled* plastic and are 100% recyclable

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Summer Drinks

LIQUID SUMMER:

TREND WATCH

Sport, sun and eased restrictions means this summer could be a bumper one for local retailers in Scotland when it comes to drinks of all types – and you won’t go far wrong by following the current biggest trends.

fter a year to forget in many ways, the pieces are finally falling into place for what looks like a summer to remember. The sun is back out, albeit intermittently, we have topclass sport coming out of our ears and, to cap it all, lockdown restrictions appear to be finally entering their final stages – barring any unforeseen bumps in the road. One group of categories that are set to play a massive role this summer is drinks. Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, impulse drinks, take home drinks,

multipack drinks, low alcohol drinks and more. You name it, they’re all going to play a part in what could well be a bumper summer for local retailers. But where to begin when planning your ranging for the months that lie ahead? Well, a sensible place to start is simply by ensuring that your range is in line with the current major consumption trends. On the following pages, SLR offers a quick guide to some key factors to consider:

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BRAND GROWTH OF +14% VALUE YOY FASTEST GROWING FLAVOUR

DELIVERING GREAT CASH MARGINS DON’T MISS OUT, STOCK UP NOW! www.drinkrio.com *IRI Marketplace Data Symbols & Independents 52 weeks Total Soft Drinks 21st February 2021

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Summer Drinks

LARGER FORMAT PACKS One of the most prominent trends over the last year has been the growth of larger format and multipack SKUs. “Given the trends of recent months where we’ve seen an increase in drink-later formats, we can expect sales of larger formats and multi-packs to be popular this summer too, says Matt Gouldsmith, Channel Director, Wholesale, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I. “Multi-packs are driving growth and our portfolio replicates this, as we’ve seen strong growth of 9.1% in Lucozade Energy’s and 9.9% in Ribena’s drink-later portfolios [both IRI, Nov 2020]. “In fact, the top three 1L Lucozade Energy SKUs represent 22% [IRI, Nov 2020] of the brand’s total sales, meaning it’s increasingly important retailers have a larger format offering in-store for this demand, especially as shoppers start enjoying the warmer weather in their gardens.”

BARR’S SOURS RANGE Barr Soft Drinks has just launched a new limited edition Sours range comprising Sour Berry and Sour Apple. Available next month for a limited time, the launch will be supported by instore POS.

LOW AND NO ALCOHOL Low and no alcohol products have also been steadily growing in popularity over the last year or two and represent another major opportunity to grow sales in a busy summer. “Social occasions are becoming increasingly diverse to give choice to those who choose not to drink alcohol as well as those who do,” says Hannah Dawson, Head of Category Development, Off-Trade at Diageo. “Therefore, there has never been a better time for retailers to revamp their no and low drinks offering to deliver on high quality taste and experience. Across the off-trade, no and low spirits are the fastest growing no and low segment with volume sales growing at over 250%. As a result,

THREE FOLD HARD SELTZERS Molson Coors is ploughing £5m into its Three Fold Hard Seltzers brand, hoping to help drive the growing category in the UK. Three Fold comes in three fruity varieties – Red Berries, Tropical and Citrus – and is naturally vegan-friendly and gluten-free. Each 330ml 4% ABV can contains only 93 calories and the range is available as single cans and variety six-packs. The launch is supported by a comprehensive digital, social and out-of-home media campaign.

we recommend placing recognisable category leaders on shelf, such as Gordon’s 0.0% which launched in December 2020 and is already the top selling no and low spirit in the off-trade and the newly launched Tanqueray 0.0%, to encourage people to trade-up.”

HARD SELTZERS Hard seltzers is a category that has made a lot of noise in convenience in recent times but has yet to truly spark into life in terms of delivering big sales. That may change this summer and one company gambling on that happening is Molson Coors. The beer giant is ploughing £5m into the launch of its Three Fold hard seltzer brand. “All the signs point to hard seltzers being the next drinks category to firmly establish itself in the UK,” says Charlotte Revill, Brand Manager at Molson Coors. “We expect its rapid growth in the US to be mirrored here and a major investment in our own product is to ensure that we, and our customers, are at the forefront of this quickly emerging category.

NPD AND LIMITED EDITIONS Customers seem to love new products and limited editions and that trend looks set to continue this summer across both soft and alcoholic drinks. “Limited edition flavours are always very popular with shoppers, where taste is still the key driver,” says Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr Soft Drinks. “Not only do they drive sales but increase brand engagement and conversation whilst creating excitement at fixture. New flavours in the soft drinks category have delivered more than £50m worth of sales over the last two years [Kantar, Mar 2020].” To help retailers cash in on this trend, Barr Soft Drinks has just unveiled a new Sours range. “Consumer research has shown us that Barr lovers will be excited to try the Sours range, so retailers should make the most of this seasonal sales opportunity, before it’s gone,” says Troy.

SLR | JUNE 2021

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Summer Drinks

PIMM’S SUNDOWNER While never quite as popular in Scotland as it is down south, many shoppers still enjoy a Pimm’s during summer. To help grow sales this year, Diageo has unveiled a refreshed design for Pimm’s, a new marketing campaign and a new raspberry and redcurrant aperitif, Pimm’s Sundowner (18% ABV).

LOW AND NO SUGAR The growth of low and no sugar soft drinks, propelled along by the Sugar Tax, means that more low and no sugar soft drinks are now sold in convenience stores than full sugar products – something that should be reflected in retailers’ chillers. “We have seen a long-term trend towards drinks with lower sugar as consumers are becoming more aware of their health and wellbeing,” explains Suntory’s Gouldsmith. “Almost half of shoppers are trying “to lead a healthy lifestyle”, so retailers should ensure their chillers are stocked up on lower-sugar soft drinks such

as Ribena Light and Lucozade Zero to capitalise on the ongoing trend towards lower-sugar choices this summer. “This segment of the market is also extremely important in contributing to the growth of take-home soft drinks with Diet & Zero drinks growing 19.3% [Kantar, Sep 2020] and outperforming the total drinklater market.” So, while this is hardly a comprehensive list of every trend, it offers some insight into some of the factors that are likely to be key in growing summer drinks sales, footfall and profits over the next few months.

REFRESHED COKE RANGE

PEPSI MAX LIME Pepsi MAX is adding Lime to its flavour portfolio this summer, aiming to help retailers continue to capitalise on the increasing popularity of flavoured cola, which is growing ahead of the rest of the soft drinks category. To help retailers cater to a variety of consumer needs, the new flavour will roll out in 2L and 1.25L bottles, as well as in 8 and 24 x multipack cans. The lines will initially be available as a Tesco Group exclusive – which includes Londis, One Stop, Premier, Budgens, Tesco and Booker Wholesale – before rolling out further late August.

The recently introduced new look for the Coke range is sure to help drive sales this summer as the entire range was brought together in an evolution of the ‘One Brand’ Strategy that launched worldwide in 2016. The new design is simplified, removing added elements such as the red disc, to elevate the iconic trademarks with global consistency. As a visual metaphor to uplift, the new design also proudly raises the Coca-Cola logo to the top of the label. The intent is to provide a simple and intuitive navigation system that carries across all Coca-Cola variants, while simultaneously celebrating the Coca-Cola logo. The updated design will be led by Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which has also debuted an evolved recipe that brings it close to that of the iconic, Coca-Cola Original Taste.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

Summer Drinks

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HIGHLAND SPRING FLAVOURED CANS Highland Spring’s new Flavoured Sparkling Water range offers retailers something new from the brand, available in individual 330ml cans (RSP £1.15) and 4 x 330ml multi-packs (RSP £3.25). The new format is a first for the brand and will sit in the ‘canned sparkling water’ segment. The range introduces three fruity variants: Pear & Elderflower; Blackberry, Plum & Hibiscus; and Rhubarb & Ginger. At under 35 calories a can, all three Highland Spring flavours contain no added sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Now, it’s time to look at some of the products that could help retailers make the most of a unique summer…

RED BULL CACTUS FRUIT Red Bull launched its latest Summer Edition in March – Cactus Fruit – delivering all of the functional benefits of Red Bull Energy Drink, along with an invigorating burst of berry that blooms into an exotic fruit and violet flower taste. Red Bull Summer Edition in 2020 proved so popular with shoppers that it has now become a permanent SKU known as the Red Edition.

RIBENA SPARKLING A massively popular brand, Ribena has brought its unique taste and vitamin C to the flavoured carbonates category with the launch of Ribena Sparkling in two flavours: Blackcurrant and Raspberry. Both are both available in 500ml and 2L bottles and – newly available – 330ml single cans. Designed to sit alongside retailers’ flavoured carbonates range in the chiller – separately from Ribena’s core juice drinks – Ribena Sparkling is ideal for shoppers looking for exciting new flavoured fizzy drink options for barbecues and other summer occasions.

MALIBU WATERMELON Malibu is launching two new products offering a slice of summer to the brand’s 18-24 year-old target consumer: Malibu Watermelon and Malibu Watermelon Lemonade RTD. Malibu Watermelon blends Caribbean rum with the ripe, juicy and refreshing taste of Watermelon while the Malibu Watermelon Lemonade RTD lets consumers enjoy Malibu’s hero serve in a ready-to-drink 250ml format.

TENNENT’S LAGER No summer drinks feature would be complete without Tennent’s Lager and the iconic brand is making the most of the www.slrmag.co.uk

JUNE 2021 | SLR

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Summer Drinks

Euros with a new media campaign, Made For This, featuring Scotland star Ryan Christie. Made For This is Tennent’s biggest campaign in over a decade, with outdoor advertising also live across Scotland and multichannel through the line activity planned throughout the summer.

Distilled in St Petersburg using quality Russian ingredients, the JJ Whitley Vodka range provides retailers with a premium vodka at an accessible price point. Now, with the addition of the new pack sizes, the range will also enable retailers to tap into a wider range of shopper missions.

WHITLEY FRACTIONALS JJ Whitley Vodka has extended its range with the addition of new 35cl and 20cl formats across its best-selling variants, including JJ Artisanal Russian Vodka and Raspberry Vodka.

RELAUNCHED ROCKSTAR Rockstar underwent a relaunch last month, the first major move since Britvic took over distribution of the big-selling energy drink from AG Barr last year. The relaunch includes a bold new pack design, a reformulation of its original flavour and a new multipack to capitalise on the increasing demand for take-home formats. The activity is being supported with digital, in-store and out of home activations.

LAMBRINI 4-PACK Lambrini fans are in for a treat this summer with the launch of a new convenient four-pack format across all four flavours: Cherry, Rhubarb, Mango and Strawberry. The launch of the new 4 x 250ml pack formats follows the successful launch of the Lambrini cans range earlier this year, and has been designed to help retailers tap into the growing consumer demand for convenient formats to enjoy both at home and on the move. The brand is also investing £500k spend in above the line advertising during the summer months, including out of home and consumer titles. The new four pack formats are available to order now. RSP £5, ABV 4%.

KAHLÚA With cocktails enjoying yet another revival, the refresh of the leading coffee liqueur brand Kahlúa is good news for retailers. The pack redesign capitalises on the growth of the brand’s Original SKU over the last 12 months as consumers have embraced at-home cocktail making. Along with the new bottle design, Kahlúa Original has reduced its ABV to 16% to address evolving consumer trends towards conscious drinking and lower-alcohol options, whilst offering the same rich and distinct flavour the coffee liqueur brand is known for.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

*Source: Nielsen. Total Coverage, MAT to 02.01.21 Enjoy Responsibly.

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Price Marked Packs

THE REAL VALUE OF

PMPS

With many shoppers more mindful than ever about their spending, price marked packs play a vital role in maximising sales and profits, says Britvic’s Phil Sanders.

here’s no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on shopper behaviour and one of the most noticeable trends of all has been a huge increase in the importance of value to consumers – but value means different things to different shoppers. “The pandemic and the ripple effect of economic hardship have caused considerable changes in the way consumers are behaving and valuing products,” says Phil Sanders, Out of Home Commercial Director at Britvic. “This has altered traditional shopping missions, purchases and overall basket spend, with many people now more mindful about their spending. Looking at soft drinks specifically, sales of on-the-go formats have been impacted by lockdown as people have spent significantly more time at home.” Looking ahead however, with the vaccination programme in full swing and the government’s roadmap offering hope of a not-too-distant return to some sort of normality, consumers will start to feel more confident about returning to variations of their old daily routines – and retailers will need to prepare accordingly. “But as we experience a challenging ongoing financial period, shoppers will still be looking to spend wisely and PMPs can offer assurance that they are getting great value,” says Sanders. “Therefore, retailers need to be prepared for the expected recovery, by stocking cans or 500ml bottles from well known, trusted brands to help revive on-thego sales. 58

VALUE FOR MONEY “Robinsons, for instance, the number one GB squash brand [Nielsen, Dec 2020], saw 27.0% value sales growth during the first lockdown [Nielsen, Mar 2021], showing that shoppers were not compromising on brands they know and love during the uncertain times. Offering PMPs of well-known brands provides shoppers value for money across favourites they would be looking to purchase on a regular basis. For example, retailers can stock our £1.49 pricemarked 900ml bottles of Robinsons Orange, Apple & Blackcurrant and Summer Fruits squash.” Britvic is also supporting independent retailers with a new £1 price-marked offering, updating its 500ml PMP offering to a competitive single price point of £1, across its whole no added sugar range. This range includes Pepsi MAX, Pepsi MAX Cherry & Raspberry, Diet Pepsi, 7UP Free and Tango. “This temporary move will allow retailers to clearly communicate value to their shoppers, at a time when this is so important as a result of the pandemic,” comments Sanders. “The exciting new Tango Sugar Free Dark Berry flavour will also include this £1 price mark on pack. “Sugar free choices are of particular importance in the fruit carbonates segment, having grown +18% in the last two years [Nielsen, Jan 2021]. As we head towards the summer, the addition of the new PMPs will also encourage impulse purchases with more people expected to be on the move.”

BRITVIC’S TOP TIPS TO MAXIMISE SALES Q Be Visible – Posting clear POS in-store and posting on social media channels can help increase basket spend. Make sure soft drinks are in a prominent location in-store, such as close to other on the go food items for smaller formats, and use gondola ends for take-home soft drinks. Restock shelves frequently to keep up with demand – any gaps in the chiller represents potential missed sales. Q Stock favourites – Shoppers are seeing more value in the familiar brands they trust. This could be down to shoppers spending less time browsing due to health and safety concerns, therefore they are defaulting to the familiar. Q Great merchandising – We recommend segmenting the chiller into four areas - carbonates, stills, energy & wellness and water & water plus. Always make sure single serve drinks are kept chilled and ready to drink straight away to drive impulse purchases from thirsty shoppers. Q Know your events – Make sure you are aware of key upcoming events, including Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and Easter. Ensure you are prepared with the right range and enough stock to keep up with demand catering for all family needs.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

*NielsenIQ, Scantrack, Total Coverage Total Fruit Carbonates - Tango RSV, Abs Value Growth YOY 52w/e 24.04.21

Time to

Feature

Confectionery

THE MAKINGS OF A SWEET SUMMER With Covid restrictions easing off, the sun occasionally shining and a summer of sport ahead us, the next few months could offer some sweet opportunities for retailers.

daptability has been the watchword in local retailing for the last year or so, as the sector has evolved quickly to keep pace with rapidly changing consumer behaviour – and that applies particularly in the vital, high volume confectionery category. “Staying relevant in an ever-changing market is key for brands and retailers to thrive within confectionery,” says Susan Nash, Trade Communications Manager at Mondelez International. “Whether they offer consumers authenticity, quality, lower sugar content or simply a great core line from a brand they know and love, brands and retailers must ensure their ranges embody these trends to stay ahead of the curve.” Confectionery is one of those indulgent, affordable categories that shoppers of all ages turn to in order to add a little pleasure to their lives – so staying relevant is key to unlocking maximum sales, footfall and profits, particularly when it comes to chocolate confectionery. As part of this drive to ensure relevancy, Mondelez has revealed a new identity for Cadbury Dairy Milk. The pack’s new look and feel includes a redrawn Cadbury wordmark, a new look for the Dairy Milk logo and a new pack design based on the original Dairy Milk packaging.

SLR | JUNE 2021

“Chocolate is eaten as a treat and we know that consumers’ purchasing decisions are mostly driven by taste,” says Nash. “As we mature, our taste preferences change and many older consumers prefer the higher cocoa hit of dark chocolate brands such as Darkmilk, which offers consumers the best of both worlds with the richest, creamiest bar Cadbury has ever made.” Also helping retailers cash in on this is Green & Black’s, the premium chocolate brand, which has announced a packaging refresh across its Organic tablets range. The new visual identity highlights the brand’s commitment to ethically sourced cocoa, and high quality, delicious chocolate. Additionally, the packaging refresh for five

Green & Black’s Dark bars will be registered with The Vegan Society. Cadbury is also joining forces with Merlin Entertainments once again for the return of its popular summer promotion. Live now and available for six months, the on-pack promo offers a free standard ticket with every purchase of a full-priced adult ticket to a host of the UK’s top attractions including Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park and the Legoland Windsor. As well as this, retailers should also ensure their range includes both single bars and multipacks from the leading brands to suit the needs of these consumers who are buying confectionery on smaller trips or as part of their weekly shop. www.slrmag.co.uk

Non Price marked packs available. Retailers are free to set their own prices.

Feature

Confectionery

Mondelez has also shaken up the gifting confectionery market with the arrival of a new range: Cadbury Chocolate Gift Cards. The gift cards let retailers target new shoppers to help grow their gifting confectionery sales all year round, tapping into mini-seasons and birthdays gifting moments. The cards come in a variety of gifting designs combined with Hazelnut Creme Hearts and White Chocolate Truffle Flowers offers shoppers an option for every gifting occasion. NPD is another area that helps retailers stay relevant and fresh so new bars like Cadbury Wispa Gold Duo will help tap into this, while the return of Cadbury Twirl Orange helped drive shopper excitement once more. Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero, agrees that affordable luxuries will be 62

SLR | JUNE 2021

the order of the day this summer. “Following a challenging year, chocolates present an opportunity for shoppers to treat family and friends,” he says. “Confectionery is one of the few categories where shoppers are willing to spend money on the products that they love, to treat themselves and loved ones.” Ferrero’s premium, established brands – Ferrero Rocher, Ferrero Collection, Raffaello, and Thorntons – offer consumers high quality treats or gifts, which are in demand and suit the growth of the ‘big night in’ occasions too. Boorer says premium Boxed Confectionery will continue to play an important role in driving confectionery sales this summer, so it’s important that the right pack formats are offered to suit shopper missions and baskets size. “For example, Ferrero Rocher 300g and Thorntons Classic 262g are ideal offerings that make it easier for shoppers to switch to these premium brands that will help drive bigger basket sales for retailers,” he advises. With less shopping around (89% of shoppers visiting just one store) as a result of the events in 2020 and more deliberate ‘big’ shops [Shopper Intelligence Report, May 2020], people are more willing to add new or alternative products to their basket if their usual items are not immediately available, believes Boorer. “In addition to this, with shoppers feeling pressure to reduce the time spent in-store, the disrupted in-store experience is leading to more impulsive purchases of ‘treat’ products, particularly from secondary locations or offshelf displays in store.” These factors go hand in hand with the popularity of the big night in, which shoppers are increasingly looking to access products that will enhance their experience at home.

Sugar confectionery remains a key sales driver and Boorer advises retailers to stock brands that shoppers trust and recognise, like Tic Tac. “The three biggest flavours that consumers are looking for are mint, fruits and extra-strong mint,” he comments. “The Tic Tac core range (Lime & Orange, Strawberry Fields, Fruit Adventure, Intense Mint and Fresh Mint) includes products that suit each of those needs, catering for different shoppers’ tastes. “Our Fresh Mint flavour is arguably what Tic Tac is most recognised for, and the ever-present product has been joined by Intense Mint as part of the core range. Both of these products are available as T1 and T100 packs.” For Mars Wrigley, the success of the overall sugar confectionery category is driven by its own dynamic innovation programme, which has been received positively by both new and existing shoppers, says Victoria Gell, Fruity Confections Brand Director. “The positive impact of innovation alongside our bestselling core range, has ensured that sales are strong,” she says. “Following the launch of Extra Refreshers singles in 2020, the launch of Extra Refreshers in the popular bottle format aims to ensure that consumers have access to their favourite gum whatever the occasion, at home or on the go. We are also expanding the Refreshers portfolio with a new Tropical flavour to capitalise on the popularity of tropical flavour profiles with younger consumers.” To make the most of the growing number of sharing occasions, Gell also advises retailers to focus their displays on products that are ideal for sharing such as Starburst ‘Tear and Share’ Pouches, which are individually wrapped and offer a variety of flavours for everyone to enjoy. www.slrmag.co.uk

Take control of your convenience store EDGEPoS, developed for the convenience and fuel forecourt market by Henderson Technology provides a forward-thinking EPOS solution for retailers. � Reliable, fast and flexible software � 24/7 customer support � Global customer base � Award winning innovation � Easy to use and implement

Are you tired with the lack of support and service from your current EPOS supplier? Work with a team who can deliver the most progressive system today and discover how EDGEPoS can prepare your business for the future. � +44 (0)28 9094 1900 � sales@henderson.technology

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INTEGRATION KEY IN FUTURE-PROOFED EPOS

Henderson Technology has been developing and installing not only a futureproof Epos software system for the convenience and fuel forecourt market, but also one that integrates with best in market third party technology companies around the UK.

eveloped for the convenience and fuel forecourt market by Henderson Technology, EDGEPoS has been adopted by dozens of retailers across Scotland. More than 50 stores have installed EDGEPoS across Scotland, England and Wales this year, making it Henderson Technology’s biggest year of growth since its GB launch in 2018. One of the most recent retailers to install EDGEPoS system is Manpreet Bawa from Burnpark Service Station in Kilmarnock. Manpreet has a wealth of experience in using Epos systems and made the decision to install EDGEPoS into his Gulf and Premier-branded store just last month. Manpreet said: “What I am most amazed at is the functionality within EDGEPoS of being 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. On any system I have used in the past this has been a laborious exercise on the back office, often resulting in us having to put up with wrong wet stock reports.” EDGEPoS is a live system, which means that all updates are instant and automatic. Selfpopulating PLUs make for speedier transactions, with the top 15 PLUs automatically populating on the till, based on the live sales being processed at that till. EDGEPoS facilitates credit www.slrmag.co.uk

accounts, allowing the cashier to check and print balances from the front till, and process payments from the till. The retailer then has the option to automatically email out statements to the customer directly from the back office. The system allows dual currency between sterling and euro and offers multiple tender options between cash, card and local accounts. All No Means to Pay and Drive Offs are recorded at the till, so there is no need to keep separate log books. Advanced Age Checking is built in, allowing the cashier to accept or refuse a sale, and all data is recorded on the back office. Retailers can run their own deals and promotions on the system, with full customisation with pre-set start and end dates and times for promotions. In-store coupons can be set up as required and can be used to create customer loyalty and return visits. A ‘2p per litre off fuel’ or ‘£1 off next £10 grocery spend’ are proving popular with EDGEPoS retailers. Darren Moir, Store Manager at Westhill Service Station in Aberdeen, said: “We had researched Epos systems for 18 months to ensure we chose the right solution for us. We chose EDGEPoS because of the ease of use of the system, alongside the ability to install the system within our timeline, and the competitive pricing model. “More recently, we have implemented the fully integrated Appetite Home Delivery and

Click ‘n’ Collect App in-store. We can’t wait to see the results and benefits that Appetite brings to this busy BP and Spar branded forecourt.” Another store to benefit from EDGEPoS over the past two years is Cooper Brothers, a JET and Keystore-branded forecourt in Glasgow. Henderson Technology installed a two lane EDGEPoS fuel system in August 2019. Garry Gibson, General Manager, said: “We had been with our last Epos provider for over 10 years, and were being constantly let down. We even had to close the service station at times due to the lack of support. I met Henderson Technology at the Forecourt Roadshow in Edinburgh and immediately was taken aback by how easy the system was to use, and the fuel functionalities available. After having a demo I knew it was the system for us to grow our business. We installed two tills instead of one and this has proven to be a lifeline in the pandemic, allowing us to maintain social distancing in-store and operate a one way system. “We also use the EDGEPoS fuel bunkering functionality, 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 and it automatically tallies up on the back office. It couldn’t be simpler.” JUNE 2021 | SLR

Feature

Food-To-Go

IS FOOD-TOGO GOOD TO GO ONCE MORE? Very few categories got decimated quite like food-to-go under lockdown but with restrictions being eased and footfall slowly returning in stores, how should retailers approach a profitable by challenging category?

ast year was, for many retailers, a very challenging but very positive one. Retailers outside of city centres and transport hubs generally saw their sales go through the roof as customers turned to local stores in their hour of need. As a result, sales in most categories duly rocketed skyward – but in some categories, the pandemic inflicted a catastrophic blow. Among those categories was food-to-go. While food-to-go had been in strong growth in 2019 with many stores evolving their offer to reflect an increasing blurring of the retail / foodservice boundary, the onset of lockdown killed it stone dead for many. Food-to-go relies largely on regular, solid, predictable footfall so severely depressed customer traffic made it exceptionally difficult for retailers to maintain a viable, profitable food-to-go offer. With Covid restrictions easing and customers returning to stores, however, the big question is how do retailers react? Turning food-to-go back on bit by bit is difficult but with footfall numbers still suppressed, how can retailers begin to ease back into food-to-go without the huge commitment required to provide an extensive menu at all day parts without risking huge waste and lost effort? The answer to that question will vary store to store, but one relatively straightforward step could be to take a minimumfuss approach to adding some hot food-to-go options in-store with the minimum effort required of staff.

Reacting to what’s in front of them, rather than waiting for the old normal to return is the key, believes Kepak Consumer Foods, the company behind the Rustlers brand. “2020 saw a rapid change in consumer behaviour, namely the shift to more home working that could have long-term implications for the food-to-go category in convenience,” says Ross Davison, Convenience Controller. “Retailers should adapt their offering to fit with evolving shopper needs rather than waiting for old habits to return. “Now, with the easing of restrictions, retailers have a significant opportunity to make more money from their food-to-go fixtures with Rustlers bespoke range of instore solutions, which in turn will drive in store sales and retailer demand for our products.” Having recently launched a new range of complete foodto-go solutions in the convenience channel, Rustlers is continuing to evolve its offer to adapt to a changing world. “We’re helping the channel optimise hot food-to-go offerings with our innovative Rustlers Cook in Box solution,” explains Davison. Rolling out now across convenience, Cook in Box allows shoppers to heat a fully assembled burger without even opening the pack, eliminating any messy preparation whilst also acting as a product carrier to enable easy consumption on the go. Davison comments: “Together with the brand’s new range of food-to-go solutions, Cook in Box creates a low cost,

“Retailers should adapt their offering to fit with evolving shopper needs rather than waiting for old habits to return.” ROSS DAVISON, KEPAK

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

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TM,®,© 2021 KELLOGG Europe Trading Limited. Convenience retail stores managers/owners only. Prizes may be transferred to store employee upon allocation. UK only. Entrants must be 18+. Open from 00:00 17.05.2021 to 23.59 11.07.2021. Internet access required. To enter weekly prize draws: (1) Create a display of Pringoooals promotional products (200g) in your store, (2) Take a picture of the display and email, along with your full name, store address and telephone number, to displays@pringlespromotions.co.uk. Entries judged on creativity to select winner. 8 x ’Hat-Trick of Prizes’ packages to be won. Each prize package includes; £1,000 cash prize paid via BACS, 1 x Sony Smart TV (RRP £595) and 1 x Sony Bluetooth Speaker (RRP £99).1 winner per week. 8 winners in total. Max 1 prize per store. See full judging criteria and full terms at: www.pringles.com/uk/tsandcs.html Promoter: Kellogg Marketing and Sales Company (UK) Limited, Orange Tower, MediaCityUK, Salford M50 2HF (company registration number 03237431).

Feature

Food-To-Go

low wastage approach for retailers who want to capitalise on the growing demand for food-togo.” Whatever food-to-go solution you adopt, one sure way of growing incremental sales is by ensuring that every customer at your foodto-go counter leaves with an item or two extra. Often this will involve crisps and snacks. Matt Collins, Trading Director at KP Snacks, comments: “Food-to-go remains an important mission and scalable channel. This previous hero category has undoubtedly faced big challenges and impact as a result of the Covid pandemic through reduced mobility, stay at home messaging, and national and regional lockdowns. “However, food-to-go is a longterm, resilient growth trend, serving a transient population and on the go society. The category is insulated for recovery and we expect the market to rebound to growth as restrictions ease and footfall and frequency returns, with ‘starved’ consumers remerging as the UK slowly makes its return to some semblance of a new normality.” Collins agrees that adaptability will be key in fully leveraging the food-to-go opportunity and developing solutions appropriate for current shopper behaviours. “In this environment, be ready, be brave, be curious and invest to build back the food-to-go category and as a result, win share as the market rebounds and recovers,” he advises. “It will be important to move at pace, pivoting and adapting as the environment changes around us and the conditions for success permit.” In terms of how crisps and snacks feed into that 68

strategy, Collins says: “Operators will need to offer the right product mix to deal with economic disruption and consumer confidence, delivering and demonstrating great value and unlocking more cautious spending through promotional purchasing.” What does that mean in practice? “Firstly,” says Collins, “stock the right core range of familiar and trusted big brands that consumers recall, recognise and trust. Make sure to include a balance of portfolio formats to serve all occasions and missions. McCoy’s and Hula Hoops Grab Bags perfectly fulfil a hunger fill mission for those looking for a bigger eat, while popchips is ideal for those seeking a lighter snack. “Secondly, create value by understanding customer expectations, whether that be through premium or value offerings. 51% of shoppers look for meal deals when buying food-to-go and 34% of shoppers would pay more than £5 for meal deals if the products were high quality [IGD 2019]. Lastly, bring stock to life through theatre, display and activation to inspire and engage. Position your snacks with high visibility to encourage customers to create bigger baskets and cater for all customer missions: weekday lunchtimes are the most popular time for eating out, so it’s important to have the right products, at the right price and in the right place to help maximise your sales and make sure to excite and interrupt with NPD and innovation to entice consumers.”

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

UTC

VEGAN-FRIENDLY MEAT AND GREET The auld boy had to look twice when this particular email popped into his inbox. Having re-familiarised himself with a few of the outdoor quaffing spots in Glasgow since lockdown restrictions were eased somewhat, he now has a keen eye for an outdoor seating area where he can enjoy a rollie through a hole in his mask and a quick pint of Hugh. And if you’re looking for some furniture to make your outdoor seating area stand apart from the competition, you could do worse than these, ahem, attentiongrabbing pieces. You wouldn’t see anything like this outside of Costa, would you? Notoriously intolerant of veganism, the auld boy was fair disappointed to learn that the furniture is made not out of great slabs of meat – as he first imagined – but of rose quartz.

NEEDS MUST

Despite appearances, UTC isn’t one of those old codgers that think the youth of today are going to hell in a handcart. He cites this marvellous example of ingenuity and creativity on the part of one young lady who clearly demonstrated creativity and ingenuity when it came to dealing with the thorny problem of running out her smoke of choice. Having some experience himself of the sheer panic that sets in when he realises his baccy tin is empty five minutes after his local store shut, he empathises with her and salutes the wonders she’s worked with a plain fag and a stick of Vick’s. He hopes the evil minds behind the Menthol Ban are happy now.

THEM’S THE BRAKES It was inevitable, really. When your company is called Brakes, there’s going to come a time when you find yourself as an internet meme as the result of a brake failure. Destiny has been fulfilled.

SLR | JUNE 2021 www.slrmag.co.uk

SUPPORTING GROCERY COLLEAGUES The GroceryAid Covid-19 Fund is designed to help colleagues who need support now and throughout the full impact of the pandemic. Grocery colleagues have access to:

“Amid the huge challenge of Covid-19 our trade has done a great job of keeping the nation fed. GroceryAid has raised a special Covid-19 fund to help our industry colleagues at this time of need. The 24/7 Helpline will deal with concerns and assist with financial stress caused by this terrible virus.” - Charles Wilson, GroceryAid President

Mental Health Support Offering ‘in the moment’ emotional and practical support for colleagues dealing with shock, anxiety and stress through BACP trained counsellors, our Health and Wellbeing portal and Woebot, our AI Robot App. Bereavement Financial Assistance Providing financial assistance for the loss of a loved one through Covid-19. Available to colleagues who lose a partner or the immediate family of a colleague who has passed away as a result of Covid-19 whilst working in our industry. Crisis Grants Non-repayable grants, designed to help with financial emergencies. This is available for colleagues experiencing unexpected financial difficulties due to Covid-19 with a year’s industry service.

GroceryAid Helpline: 08088 021 122 Visit: www.groceryaid.org.uk Follow us:

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