SLR March 2021 edition. by 55 North

MARCH 2021 | ISSUE 215

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STEPHEN McGOWAN

Not the time to tinker with MUP

MATT GODDARD MARCH 2021 | ISSUE 215

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TIME TO REPORT EVERY CRIME SGF and Police Scotland ask retailers to report every in-store crime. The spirits category InAction – p26

Walkers boss talks formats and value

DRS PROGRESS

Scheme Administrator created

TECH TALK

Tech adoption ramps up

NICOTINE PORTFOLIO Fresh approach to nicotine

March 2021

Contents

Contents ISSUE 215

NEWS p6 p7 p8 p10 p11 p12

p18 p20

Wholesalers Darren Goldney to leave Unitas. Deposit Return Scheme Applications for exemptions open as the scheme administrator is created. Rural Shop Report The UK’s rural shops provide a lifeline for isolated communities. Health & Wellbeing A new Healthy Living Scotland promotion encourages children to have fun with food. Coronavirus Scotmid teams up with Scottish celebrities to keep people smiling during lockdown. News Extra Decarbonisation An ambitious new SWA project hopes to entirely remove carbon from the wholesale food supply chain by 2045. Product News Coca-Cola’s new campaign goes beyond words and Walkers takes a different approach to snacks. Off-Trade News There’s confusion over hard seltzers and Beefeater launches a new ﬂavoured gin.

INSIDE BUSINESS p22 Minimum Unit Pricing Stephen McGowan Now halfway through its six-year pilot, MUP should be allowed to run its course, says licensing expert. p24 Deposit Return Scheme The organisation that will be in charge of DRS in Scotland has been formed. p26 InAction Spirits In the first of a new series, SLR teams up with Pernod Ricard and our Spirits Retailer of the Year to offer some great advice on making the most of spirits. p28 Hotlines The latest new products that suppliers want to see on your shelves. p54 Under The Counter A teary-eyed Auld Yin fondly remembers when Kensitas Club coupons were Scotland’s second currency. FEATURES p30 Nicotine & Accessories While factory-made cigarettes remain a vital revenue stream for retailers, more and more shoppers are now taking a ‘nicotine portfolio’ approach. p36 Impulse Impulse sales have been transformed under Covid with shoppers increasingly looking to larger format and sharing products. p38 Technology The coronavirus pandemic has hugely accelerated the uptake of technology in the Scottish local retailing sector. p46 Energy Drinks After a relatively slow year in terms of NPD and new activity, the energy drinks category is rapidly making up for it in 2021.

ON THE COVER p16 Retail Crime A new SGF campaign urges retailers to report every crime that happens in or around their store.

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MARCH 2021 | SLR

News WHOLESALERS Unitas Wholesale boss looks for fresh challenge

Border Biscuits raises £1m for charity Border Biscuits Community Support (BBCS), an initiative of the eponymous biscuit maker, has donated a total of £1m to charities. The Lanark-based business gives 10% of its profits to good causes via the initiative, which was founded in 2010. BBCS has contributed to over 170 not-for-profit organisations including Archaeology Scotland, Rotary International and New Lanark Trust.

Union blocks Tesco’s ‘ﬁre and rehire’ tactic Retail trade union Usdaw has won an interdict in the Court of Session against Tesco forcing some of the staff at its Livingston distribution centre onto a new contract, which would result in those affected losing between £4,000 and £19,000 per year. The judgement means Tesco can’t unilaterally withdraw entitlement

Darren Goldney to leave Unitas Darren Goldney, Managing Director of Unitas Wholesale, is to leave the business in April. He will be succeeded by the current Sales and Marketing Director John Kinney. Goldney will leave the group after three-and-a-half years following his appointment as managing Director of Today’s Group in November 2017. Kinney has been with the organisation since 2011 and was Retail Director prior to his current role. Goldney said: “It is difficult to express how proud I am of our achievements over the last three years, not just in what we’ve managed to bring together for members but also in the way we have collaborated to achieve positive change across our business. “We’ve step-changed our use of technology, driven down operating costs, our members’ sales have grown collectively, and we have

expanded the services we offer to both members and suppliers in reaching the near 200,000 customers we serve.” “I am immensely proud of the staff and my team, and I am extremely thankful to the board and members for their support. That ‘change agenda’ has been the most invigorating of my career – and it has inspired me to take my Unitas experience and passion for leadership to find the right new and fresh challenge. “John has the insight, capability, drive and depth of character to lead Unitas Wholesale in the next phase of its journey.” Paying tribute to the outgoing MD, Unitas Chairman Simon Hannah said: “Darren has played an enormous role over the last few years and earned widespread respect not just as a business leader but also for his integrity and passion.

“We say goodbye to him with the warmest of wishes for the future and our thanks for leading the group to its current position of success and strength. “The board is delighted that John Kinney will now take up our main leadership role – we are confident that his drive and strategic thinking will be extremely valuable in a rapidly changing and competitive landscape.”

to retained pay and/or terminate contracts so it can re-engage a workers on new terms.

ACS calls for card payments market overhaul

NEWSTRADE Will Scottish news wholesaler follow example of English counterparts?

Pressure mounts on Menzies to freeze carriage charges

The Association of Convenience Stores has said urgent action is needed to improve the card payments market. The call came in response to a Payment Systems Regulator consultation on the supply of card acquiring services. ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said the Government needed to introduce practical measures to make it realistic for retailers to compare and switch acquirers.

Ayrshire forecourt chooses EDGEPoS Ayr Road Service Station, a JET-branded forecourt in Dalmellington, East Ayrshire, has installed Henderson Technology’s EDGEPoS system. Owner Brian Connolly said: “The ease of use of the front end till has proven to be a great hit with the cashiers. We have had extensive training on the back office system and I’m delighted

Scotland’s local retailers are waiting to see if Menzies Distribution will follow the examples set by two news wholesalers south of the border in freezing carriage charges. Smiths News was first to act, announcing a suspension of any review of carriage charges until September 2022, prompting the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) to call on Menzies to follow its example. NFRN National President Stuart Reddish said: “We are delighted that Smiths News is displaying such strong support for its retail customers during times of such hardship.”

Then, less than 24 hours after the Smiths announcement, News UK DTR (Direct to Retail) said It would once again postpone its review – this time until May 2021. It had previously deferred until this month. Reddish said: “We hope this latest news will put even more pressure on Menzies Distribution to follow suit.” Branding carriage charges as “unfair and illogical,” Reddish warned that any further increases could push yet more newsagents out of business. Menzies Distribution was approached for comment by SLR but did not respond.

POST OFFICE

Post Ofﬁce expands Digital Identity services offer with Yoti partnership In a move that secures new, additional revenue for Postmasters, the Post Office has expanded its presence in the identity services market with a new partnership with digital identity company Yoti. The rollout includes an app that combines customers’ personal data and biometrics to create a secure, reusable ID on their phone, and in-branch services for customers who do not have a smartphone or who prefer face-to-face contact. The deal also connects Post Office customers with online businesses, by letting companies use identity verification services for fraud detection, e-signatures and customer authentication.

with everything so far.” KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SLRMAG

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News DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME Drinks producers, retailers and trade associations unite to form Circularity Scotland.

DRS scheme administrator created as applications open for exemptions Circularity Scotland, the organisation that will run the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Scotland has been formed. The new, not-for-profit scheme administrator is the result of a partnership between drinks producers, retailers and trade associations. If approved by the Scottish Government, the company will seek to work with companies throughout the supply chain – producers, retailers, hospitality and wholesalers – to help deliver a scheme that is ultimately expected to collect more than 90% of drinks containers in Scotland. DRS regulations passed by the Scottish Parliament in May 2020 paved the way for drinks producers and importers to nominate a scheme administrator to fulfil the

DRS obligations on their behalf. The scheme – already postponed because of coronavirus – is now scheduled to go live on 1 July 2022. Consumers will pay a 20p deposit on each glass, can or PET plastic container purchased and be reimbursed when the empty container is returned. The news came as Zero Waste

Scotland announced it is now accepting applications from retailers who wish to be exempt from collecting empty bottles and cans as part of the scheme. The two exemption criteria are: proximity to an ‘alternative return point’ and when taking back containers means a store is unable to meet food safety standards. There is no time limit on applying, it can be done any time between now and July 2022. SGF advice is that there is no need to apply now – between July 2021 and October 2021 is likely to be the best time. Turn to page 24 to find out more about the DRS scheme administrator, including a full list of the initial members of Circularity Scotland, and some tips to help retailers prepare for DRS from reverse vending machine supplier Tomra.

IGD launches new brand identity Grocery industry education and training charity IGD has unveiled a new brand and purpose, featuring a new visual identity and narratives that tell the story of the organisation. The new brand strengthens the identity and understanding of the organisation’s two halves. Its trading company has been rebranded to Commercial Insight, while the charity will now be known as Social Impact.

Red Bull/Bestway launch soft drinks category tool Red Bull has partnered with Bestway Wholesale to create an online category tool that gives retailers tailored advice on how to maximise soft drinks sales in-store via a simple step-by-step consultancy process. The tool then calculates the best SKU ratio, delivering a personalised, downloadable planogram. Visit softdrinkscategorytool.com/gben/bestway.

Müller names new Commercial Director

WHOLESALERS Partnership puts diversity at the top of the agenda

CHARITY

Women in Wholesale teams up with FWD

Müller Milk & Ingredients has

SPAR Scotland gives more cash back to communities

appointed Liam McNamara as

SPAR Scotland is launching its second Community Cashback campaign this month, to give away a further £30,000 to groups and charities who provide a variety of worthwhile services to communities around the country. Twenty-four charities benefitted from the first Community Cashback campaign held last October when shoppers and staff of SPAR stores placed nearly 7,000 votes for their most deserving local causes. Another 24 winners will now be chosen from around Scotland, with the chance of winning one of the four different monetary prizes from £750, £1,000, £1,500 and £2,000. The £30,000 prize fund is being donated by SPAR Scotland. Community Cashback campaign is open to all Scottish community groups and charities. The closing date for nominations is 28 March 2021. Voting for the shortlist runs from 12 April to 9 May 2021 and prizes will be distributed at the end of May 2021.

becoming Britain’s go-to supplier

Women in Wholesale (WiW) is partnering with the Federation of Wholesale Distributors to help put diversity, inclusion and mental health awareness at the top of the wholesale channel’s agenda. Now in its fifth year and with more than 700 members, WiW will be part of the FWD’s Supporting Wholesale mission, giving the initiative wider reach and visibility. “With this partnership – we can achieve greater lobbying inﬂuence,” said WiW Chair Clare Bocking. “Helping us to truly achieve the change that we want to see.” WiW is an educational networking event set up by Elit Rowland in 2016 to inspire, support and progress women working in wholesale. Since WiW’s inception, the FWD has dedicated 50% of bursaries and awards to females. Coral Rose, Chair of FWD, said: “The past ten months have taught us that creating an inclusive work environment is not just about gender and race equality. It’s about mental health and well-being, too. Working together we will be able to expand our support and knowledge to the sector, creating a truly effective workforce in the pandemic era.” Rowland will continue to run the WiW brand and events, coordinating with the FWD.

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Commercial Director, as part of the company’s drive towards of private label dairy products. He brings more than 25 years FMCG and retail experience at a general management and senior commercial level, across a wide range of channels and with both private label and branded goods.

Aldi launches click-andcollect in Scottish stores Aldi has launched click-andcollect services in Scotland for the first time, after extending its current UK trial to stores in Montrose and Whitburn. Customers can order from a full range of groceries online then collect them, in pre-booked one-hour slots. They can also choose to have their shopping loaded into their boot by an Aldi colleague.

MARCH 2021 | SLR

News RURAL SHOP REPORT More and more rural consumers relying on their local convenience store

New to Nisa retailers offered dedicated support Nisa has created a new role of induction manager to support retailers who have just joined the symbol group. The induction manager will steer new Nisa partners through the first three months of their membership and become a key point of contact. The induction process will have a clear plan of activities tailored to the needs of each individual Nisa partner to ensure a successful introduction to the business.

Bestway’s Costcutter buyout gets green light Bestway Wholesale has completed its acquisition of Costcutter from Bibby Line Group, following FCA approval. has taken over the reins. Former Costcutter CEO Darcy WillsonRymer, who has stepped down, is replaced at the top by Bestway boss Dawood Pervez. Integration of the two businesses will be led

UK’s rural shops provide lifeline for isolated communities The Association of Convenience Stores has urged the Government to recognise the importance of rural shops and ensure that they are not left playing catch up when it comes to being able to provide services to their customers. The 2021 ACS Rural Shop Report has revealed how crucial the UK’s 17,000+ rural shops are to their local communities, with findings from this year’s report showing that throughout 2020, rural consumers have increasingly used their local shop for a wider range of products, and one in five reporting that they depend on their local shop more now than a year ago. More than a third of the UK convenience sector is made up of rural shops, often trading in isolated locations with no other businesses nearby. Between them, these shops

provide local, ﬂexible and secure employment for over 126,000 people – employment that fits around other commitments like caring for family members, studying, and childcare. ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Rural shops have been absolutely essential to their communities over the last year, helping customers to shop safely and putting in place new services like home delivery to support those who aren’t able to get out to stores. The message from this year’s report is that rural shops have become even more important during the Covid pandemic, retailers now have even closer relationship with their customers, are employing more people, are taking part in even more

community activity, and offer a range of wider and more powerful range of services than ever. These businesses have been crucial at a time when more people are feeling isolated due to the pandemic.” Additional key findings from this year’s Rural Shop Report include: Q Rural shops have invested over £197m in their businesses over the last year Q Four out of five (79%) rural shops are actively engaged in their communities, with almost half of rural shops (42%) making donations to a local food bank over the last year Q 21% of rural shops now provide a home delivery service of groceries in their local area.

by Naser Khan, Bestway’s Chief Operating Officer.

Unitas launches latest ‘Focus On’ guides Unitas Wholesale has teamed up with PepsiCo Walkers and Mars Wrigley to publish the latest editions of its Plan for Profit ‘Focus On’ mini category guides. The latest guides include key insights and advice on the Snacks and Gum & Mints categories. They are available for free at participating Unitas member wholesalers and via the Plan for Profit website and app.

Jones and Hofer take seats on ACS Board The Association of Convenience Stores has appointed two new directors as new representatives from the Co-op and BP. Ali Jones, Customer Director at the Co-op, has held several board positions in general merchandise retailing businesses. Hanna Hofer, Vice President of BP’s UK operations and dealer business, has most recently worked with BP in Shanghai and before that in various roles in the UK and

HOME DELIVERY Snappy Shopper hits store number milestone with symbol group

Fifty and counting for Snappy and Nisa More than 50 Nisa stores have signed up with Snappy Shopper since the symbol group formed a partnership with the home shopping app last September. Nisa expects a further 250 to 500 stores will be using the app by end of 2021. Close collaboration between the two businesses has enabled Snappy Shopper to quickly identify suitable Nisa stores. “We have been working with Nisa to identify stores with the potential to succeed with the Snappy Shopper app. We have also taken the Nisa team through the onboarding process, so retailers are supported in every way through the process,” said Andy Batt, Head of Group Development at Snappy Shopper. Every Nisa store joining Snappy Shopper benefits from an onboarding, launch and sales ramp up process, which sees operations

and marketing teams working handin-hand to ensure stores quickley reach their full sales potential. “We work jointly to optimise retailer performance during the initial stages and we are delighted to see how the partnership is progressing. It is important to us that retailers and the group as a whole can make the most of the partnership,” said Batt. Harry Ahmed, owner of Nisa Local Greenock launched Snappy Shopper just before Christmas. He commented: “The app is driving sales for us in store as well as online. “We’re doing 35 to 40 deliveries every day and the orders vary from a few items all the way up to a full shop with average basket spend about £35 but going up to around £150.” “I really think this is the future. You have to look ahead and as more and more businesses are going online, we have to have that offer too.”

LOTTERY

Drag lottery into digital age, says Camelot rival The National Lottery needs to be “dragged into the digital age,” according to the Chairman of a company bidding to take over from current operator Camelot when its term ends in 2023. In an interview with the Financial Times, Sir Keith Mills of Czech company Sazka, also claimed the money raised for good causes has plateaued and said he worried that “unless the National Lottery is reinvigorated it will go into a decline”. Camelot, which has run the Lottery since 1994, has disputed this, noting that it runs Europe’s largest online lottery by revenue. Since a restructuring in 2014 it has increased contributions to good causes by 14%.

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NO. 1 SPANISH

WINE BRAND IN THE UK

STOCK UP NOW THE UK’S FAVOURITE RED WINE*

CAMPO VIEJO

£1M ATL

THE CATEGORY*

THROUGHOUT MARCH

GROWING OVER X2 MARKETING CAMPAIGN

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News HEALTH & WELLBEING New promotion encourages children to have fun with food

Mirror acts positively on NFRN concerns The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) has praised newspaper publisher Reach for acting on members’ concerns by accompanying price rises on its Monday to Friday editions of the Daily Mirror with pro-rata terms. In January, Reach increased cover prices on several titles but cut the margin to 20%, prompting dismay among newsagents.

pladis appoints inclusion and diversity advisers Snacking giant pladis has convened a global advisory board to support the company’s journey to create a vibrant, inclusive and diverse workforce. Advisers joining the board are Dame Kelly Holmes, British Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion; Ade Adepitan MBE, Paralympic medallist and TV presenter; Alastair Campbell, writer, strategist and mental health campaigner; and Stevie Spring

Healthy Living Scotland goes bananas SPAR Scotland has been chosen by Healthy Living Scotland as the first retailer to launch its new instore promotion, Cooking with Welby for Families, which encourages children and their families to have fun with some healthier recipes. Participating SPAR stores will give away a free reusable shopping bag and recipe cards with every bag of bananas sold, giving parents and carers something different to do whilst staying at home during lockdown. The bags feature a QR code that takes consumers to the Healthy Living website, where all the recipes are available. The campaign launched on 16 February in SPAR Mastrick and will run in a total of 21 SPAR stores across Aberdeen and Dundee. Gillian Edgar, Field Manager for Healthy Living Scotland, said: “We were delighted to launch this promotion in a selection of SPAR stores on Pancake Day and give families the opportunity to cook a healthier banana pancake!” Healthy Living Scotland is rolling out the ‘Cooking with Welby for Families’ campaign to all convenience retailers in Scotland.

CBE, Chairman of mental health charity Mind and Coop Group board member.

Improved allergen labelling becomes law New legislation which requires food-to-go operators to include the product name and full ingredients, including allergen

CHARITY Health and wellbeing platform for under-25s launched

HOME DELIVERY

GroceryAid launches new support service for young people

Costcutter partners with Appy Shop

information, on pre-packed for direct sale foods will come into force on 1 October 2021. These include sandwiches made then packaged by the business and boxed salads placed on a refrigerated shelf prior to sale.

Lockdown hits Post Ofﬁce small business deposits Data from the Post Office’s January Cash Tracker shows the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on small businesses and the self-employed with business cash deposits down over 40% compared to January 2020. In contrast, personal cash deposits were up 4.6%. Business cash deposits totalled £582m last month. That compares to £788m

To mark last month’s Children’s Mental Health Week, GroceryAid has partnered with Kooth, an organisation that specialises in digital mental health for children and young people. Through Kooth, GroceryAid now offers a mental health and wellbeing platform which can give confidential online counselling and support to children, students and young people aged 11-25. If you work in the grocery industry your children

or dependents can access this free service by signing up to Kooth. With parents and carers juggling home schooling, working and parenting, the service could help them help alleviate some pressures that their children might be feeling. Students away from home or those who have been unable to go back to university may be showing heightened anxiety and Kooth’s selfhelp tools and forums could help them talk about their feelings. Kooth gives children and young people easy access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced counsellors. Access is free of the typical barriers to support: no waiting lists, no thresholds, no cost and complete anonymity.

Costcutter Supermarkets Group has teamed up with online shopping platform Appy Shop to offer home delivery and click-and-collect to its independent retailers. Appy Shop can be used as a standalone service by store owners. The cloud-based platform can be accessed via PCs, mobile devices or tills and retailers can make as much of their range available to shoppers as they want. Shoppers can place orders for home delivery or click-andcollect, either for immediate delivery or collection, or for a future time slot. An order history function is available for repeat orders and a shopper favourites option enables quick and repeat orders.

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News CORONAVIRUS New initiative encourages communities to stay connected

Scotmid shares smiles during lockdown Scottish celebs have come together to help Scotmid launch an initiative to keep communities smiling – and feel connected – throughout the current lockdown. Comedian Janey Godley, Still Game’s Mark Cox and Homes under the Hammer presenter Martel Maxwell are supporting Scotmid’s #sharingsmiles campaign. The initiative follows Scotmid’s first lockdown #sharingsmiles campaign, which ran last year. Children across the country were encouraged to draw a picture or write a letter and send it in to Scotmid. These were then shared with residents at more than 60 care homes in Scotland, to help residents feel more connected with the outside world, at a point in time when family visits were restricted, and feelings of loneliness and isolation were on the rise. This time, Scotmid is asking people of all ages to share their favourite jokes and help raise a

smile by showing those who remain shielding or who are finding the continued lockdown restrictions a struggle, that their communities care. Scotmid is also raising awareness of its 2021 charity partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Funds raised through the partnership will enable vital development and expansion of their outreach service, CHAS at Home, ensuring they can support children and families in every community across Scotland. Still Game’s Mark Cox (pictured), said: “There has never been a more important time to come together in our local communities and support one another – and what better way to cheer each other up than by telling some jokes! I’m looking forward to hearing what makes others laugh and to sharing a few of my own favourite jokes too.” Those looking to participate can send their jokes to lynneogg@ scotmid.co.uk.

BEFORE AFTER

AWARDS Spar Scotland wholesaler recognised for environmental best practice

CJ Lang wins green gong

CJ Lang, in partnership with Gatechurch, has won a Scottish Green Apple Environment Award for Environmental Best Practice in 2021. The Spar Scotland wholesaler and retailer has now been invited to have its winning paper published in The Green Book, an international work of reference on environmental best practice. Colin Chapman, the company’s Distribution Director, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have received this Green Apple Award. Our internal teams have been working tirelessly on environmental and CSR initiatives for many years. This award goes some way to recognising all their hard work.” The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s leading awards for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries. The awards are organised by The Green Organisation – an international, independent, non-political, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.

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To get regular updates on the project, follow SBF GB&I on Twitter at @suntorybf_gbi

MARCH 2021 | SLR

News Extra

Wholesalers | Decarbonisation project

NewsExtra TAKE A FRESH APPROACH TO NICOTINE – P30 WHOLESALERS SWA launches ambitious clean energy project

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF No one could have predicted the way that 2020 played out. Equally no one could have predicted the remarkable way that convenience retailing has responded to the pandemic. Hindsight gives us 20/20 vision but if we look back at the past decade, we might see that the ways the sector responded to and adapted to earlier challenges helped build an industry which could cope with Covid. In the early years of this century competition was a huge issue as the supermarkets massively increased their big format stores and then moved aggressively into convenience. There were casualties, but one consequence was to drive up standards across the convenience sector. Additionally, retailers were forced to become more entrepreneurial, more responsive to changing customer behaviours and to offer a very wide range of product categories and services. The other major development was the growth in symbol group stores. Trading under a wholesaler’s fascia increased independent retailers’ buying power and helped to ensure continuity of supply. Key aspects of this were maximising selling space, reducing storage space and moving to a just-in-time stock control system facilitated by increased use of technology. These changes were incremental, and it was almost impossible to piece them together and assess the longterm impact. But as the fog of war clears, we can see that the tough times of the past and the highly effective way in which retailers adapted enabled them to weather the Covid storm and be well placed to thrive as we begin to move to a lessrestricted environment.

SLR | MARCH 2021

Wholesale industry sets 2045 net-zero emissions target The first phase of a project to entirely remove carbon from the wholesale food supply chain will focus on fossil fuel alternatives for distribution fleets.

The Scottish Wholesale Association has embarked on the first phase of an ambitious project designed to help members and the wider wholesale sector become greener and more sustainable, and ultimately decarbonise the wholesale food supply chain and achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, if not before. As part of ongoing efforts towards mapping a plan to decarbonise the supply chain, the SWA will focus on distribution fleets – with a particular focus on Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) and Electric Vehicle (EV) technologies – in this first phase of the Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry Project. The environmental impact of members’ cold storage facilities will also be researched ready for phase two which will look at energy and buildings. The SWA has recruited a graduate from Strathclyde University for an initial 12-week placement to carry out the first phase of the project. Jessica Palmer’s appointment is through the Environmental Placement Programme, run by Bright Green Business and supported by the Scottish Government. Palmer, who has completed her MSc in Environmental Entrepreneurship, will investigate areas of high pollution and energy consumption within the wholesale industry, with a particular focus on distribution fleets and cold storage facilities, identifying and recommending how these could be made more sustainable and environmentally efficient. Colin Smith, SWA Chief Executive, said: “We’re hugely excited to be driving this vital project. While there are various decarbonisation projects in place in Scotland, the SWA – through our Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry Project – has the opportunity to be the first organisation in the UK to investigate and implement the private commercial

use of HFC technology and/or EV technology at a sector-wide level. “As a result, the Scottish wholesale industry could become Scotland’s first ‘commercial testbed’, particularly for HFC. Carrying out this project on an industry scale will generate bigger benefits to our members than if they do it alone – not only in time and cost savings, as we are conducting the research on their behalf, but also in hopefully being able to attract funding. “Jessica’s report will provide members with a reference tool which will enable them to make calculated investment decisions for the future decarbonisation of their businesses as well as contributing data towards the creation of a wholesale industry net-zero transition plan for 2045.” The SWA will be working closely with its affiliate member the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and its members which include the developers, producers, manufacturers and infrastructure engineers of HFC and alternative fuel source products. The project outputs will also help identify where investment and infrastructure requirements should be directed by the manufacturers and developers of those alternative fuels and vehicles. Smith added: “The project will also make recommendations to the Scottish Government, and enterprise organisations, for financial investment in helping the wholesale food and drink supply chain transition to greener technologies.” In addition, the SWA will be pushing for members to get access to some of the £109m Scottish Government funding set aside for business investment in this technology. Meanwhile, the new Scottish National Investment Bank has been tasked with offering preferential investment to companies looking to use greener technology. www.slrmag.co.uk

Comment

PLAY YOUR PART IN THE WAR ON RETAIL CRIME After all the euphoria recently of seeing Daniel Johnson’s Shopworkers Protection Bill clear the final hurdle before becoming law later this year, the reality is beginning to set in. As Johnson himself pointed out in his exclusive interview with SLR at the time, the Act becoming law is only “the start of a new set of challenges”. Yes, the law will make it a specific crime to assault, threaten or abuse a shopworker while they carrying out their job, but there is a whole world of change that must take place for that law to become effective in helping to actually curb retail crime rates. One of the most effective tools available to retailers to help drive that agenda forward is very simple: report every crime, every time. It’s heartening to see SGF, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government working together to launch a campaign to encourage retailers to do exactly that. If you’ve been in the retail game a while, you may recall that, a very long time ago, SLR ran a very similar campaign entitled ‘Every Crime, Every Time’. The principle was very simple. Only when Police Scotland begins to appreciate just how much retail crime goes un-reported can they begin to grasp the scale and severity of this problem. We all know why retailers don’t bother reporting most in-store crime, but Johnson’s new law offers a tantalising escape route out of the eternal and selfperpetuating loop of neglect that we find ourselves in. Only by working together as a sector can we ensure that Johnson’s work can be transformed into what we all want: an industry where staff don’t need to fear for their safety and wellbeing for simply doing their job. So I would ask you to put your past experiences to one side, park your scepticism, and simply focus on making a point of reporting every crime that happens in your store. If the entire sector does their bit, the numbers will speak for themselves – and the enormity of the problem will become crystal clear to all. Retailers have been accepting the unacceptable for far too long now. As the SGF campaign says: don’t put up with it. Report retail crime. And start now.

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

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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.

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Cover Story

Retail Crime

SGF CHALLENGES RETAILERS TO START REPORTING RETAIL CRIME

As part of a new initiative with Police Scotland, the Scottish Grocers’ Federation is urging retailers not to put up with retail crime and to play their part by reporting every crime that happens in and around their store.

SLR | MARCH 2021

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Retail Crime

ith Daniel Johnson MSP’s Protection of Workers Act having now cleared all hurdles before becoming law later this year, the battle against retail crime is set to enter a new era – but for that era to be ushered in as quickly and effectively as possible, the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) is urging retailers to play their part. A new statutory offence will be created of assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker and will provide further legal protections when the worker is carrying out their statutory duties such as age-restricted sales. For the Act to be effective, however, retailers must report retail crime every time it occurs. All incidents must be reported so that criminals come to realise that their acts will not be tolerated - and will be punished whenever possible. SGF is now launching a new campaign to help prepare for the new legislation, and to ensure its effectiveness. That campaign has now been unveiled with a £50,000 investment by the Scottish Government and aims to tackle one of the major concerns around retail crime: the fact that there is serious under-reporting of incidents. The cost and inconvenience to retailers of reporting may have become a deterrent as are concerns about how seriously the authorities take retail crime. But SGF is now asking Scotland’s local retailers to help tackle this challenge by reporting all retail crimes. The key campaign message is – Don’t Put Up With It’ and the call to action is ‘Report Retail Crime’. SGF Head of Policy and Public Affairs Dr John Lee said: “No-one should have to put up with thefts or suffer abuse, threats or violence

“For the first time, a new offence will be created to specifically deal with instore crime. For the Act to be effective, however, retailers must report retail crime.” as they go about their work. So, our message to retailers is clear: Don’t Put Up With It. Tell the police. Some of what our shop staff have to put up with can be frightening and disgusting. As an industry, we should not have to sit back and tolerate it.

Cover Story

“This new law must be a watershed. The rights of retailers will never have been stronger. We need to make it clear that there is no room for crime in Scotland’s stores.” The campaign is fully endorsed and supported by Police Scotland and Crimestoppers. Daniel Johnson told SLR: “The new law won’t solve all of the industry’s huge problems but it is a huge step forwards for the industry.” Johnson did accept however that the hard work really begins now: “In a sense, the Bill becoming law is only the beginning of a new set of challenges for the retail sector. We have a lot of work to do in order to communicate the new law both to retailers and to consumers.” A key element in this process, then, is ensuring that Police Scotland are well aware of the frequency and severity of the sorts of crime retailers face every single day. To play your part, it’s important than you report every crime. Among the local retailers supporting the campaign is former SGF president Abdul Majid. He said: “I have seen what a devastating impact crime can have on retailers, their staff and customers. We should not have to put up with it. “Police Scotland and the Scottish Government need to know how big the problem is. We all need to report every single incident that happens in our stores.”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Report every crime by calling Police Scotland on 101 and Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Support the campaign by posting on social media using the hashtag #dontputupwithit. Display campaign materials in-store and on social media. These can be downloaded at dontputupwithit.scot

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MARCH 2021 | SLR

News

Products

Baked by Rich’s rolls out in SPAR stores Rich’s has launched a further

ProductNews

distribution drive for its Baked range through an extended partnership with CJ Lang. After launching cookies in select CJ Lang sites last summer, the partnership has been extended to include muffins and buns and has been rolled out across the convenience giant’s estate of 108 company-owned SPAR stores.

New Utterly Butterly packs take ﬂight Saputo Dairy UK has launched a new packaging design for its value Spread, Utterly Butterly. Already rolling on to shelves, the new packaging features a ‘spin’ on the traditional Utterly Butterly logo, introducing an image of a daredevil wing walker atop a plane, in a nod to the brand’s aviation heritage. Utterly Butterly sponsored the AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers – the world’s only aerobatic formation wing walking team – from 1999 until 2006.

Fresh look and sustainable cocoa for Weetos Weetos has unveiled a fresh new look, with the addition of a ‘Loved by kids, approved by parents’ sticker on the front of packs. This follows WSS shopper

WHY YOU SHOULD ACT ON IMPULSE – P36 SOFT DRINKS Coca-Cola teams up with Tyler, The Creator

Coke’s new campaign goes beyond words Coca-Cola has launched a new campaign to “express the indescribable experience of drinking a Coke”. This follows a poll in which a quarter of Brits said they couldn’t put the taste and experience of consuming the soft drink into words. The campaign is built around an original track by American rapper Tyler, The Creator which – according to the brand – “truly brings to life the iconicity of a Coca-Cola through a unique interpretation highlighting this indescribable experience”. Activity includes TV, online video and radio advertising, as well as interactive out-of-home advertising, shopper activation, PR and a digital and social media approach where fans are invited to express their own Coca-Cola

experience on their own social media channels. Rolling out across Europe over the coming months as an extension of the campaign, a reformulated Coca-Cola Zero Sugar will launch with a brand new packaging design. The campaign continues the company’s ‘Open’ platform,

which aims to inspire and uplift people to being open to new possibilities and experiences while remaining optimistic during the pandemic. Tyler, The Creator, said: “It was really cool to have the opportunity to work on a Coke commercial, forever grateful. The end result came out amazing.”

insight for June 2020 which found that nine out of 10 kids love, and eight out of 10 parents

BISCUITS

would recommend Weetos.

Wagon Wheels gears up for Stig promo

The refreshed packaging also outlines the brand’s sustainability credentials, with all cocoa used for the wholegrain cereal certified as sustainable by UTZ.

Danone buys Earth Island Danone has strengthened its plant-based business with the acquisition of Earth Island, USbased manufacturer of Follow Your Heart plant-based cheese and egg-free mayonnaise Vegenaise. The company also produces plant-based salad dressings and VeganEgg. Danone intends to increase its plant-based sales worldwide from more than two billion euros

In its biggest ever on-pack promotion, Wagon Wheels is giving consumers the chance to win a money can’t buy track experience with Top Gear’s anonymous racing driver The Stig, at the Top Gear test track in Surrey. The instant win promo also involves a temporary name change for the brand to Stig On Wheels, with The Stig featuring prominently on all Wagon Wheels SKUs. The activity runs to the end of May, with 30 consumers winning a track day and 90 runners-up receiving subscriptions to Top Gear magazine. It will be supported by a social media campaign on Top Gear’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter profiles.

CONFECTIONERY

Chupa Chups ﬁnds partner for video games Chupa Chups has announced a new yearlong link-up with Excel Esports which sees the brands work together on an exclusive content series to coincide with the start of the electronic gaming league this month. Both parties will collaborate on social media posts, including player celebrations like birthdays and achievements. The Chupa Chups logo will also feature on both the LEC and BTXL players’ jerseys, which are due to be released in the coming weeks. Sally Fenton, Brand Manager at Chupa Chups, said: “We are thrilled to have found a partner in Excel Esports, an organisation that shares many of the same values and audience, with both youth and fun in our core identities. The partnership was longawaited given the numerous times our consumers have said that lollipops are the favourite sweet to enjoy while playing!”

in 2020 to five billion by 2025. KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SLRMAG

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News

Products

IS THE TIME TO SNACKS Walkers adds to HERO range and reveals DRIVE 25

Walkers changes savoury snack tack Walkers has extended its HERO 20 range of bestselling crisps and snacks SKUs in symbols and independents. The new HERO 25 range include a greater focus on £1 PMP lines among singles and multipack products. Guy Harvey, Impulse Category Director for PepsiCo, said: “2020 saw a number of major changes to how people shop in the Impulse channel, many of which still remain relevant today. Shoppers are continuing to look for larger pack formats across £1 RRP PMP, bigger bag sharing and multipacks.” Based on this, Harvey said it was a “no-brainer” for Walkers to evolve its recommended range of core bestsellers.

The snacking giant has also launched an additional element to its recommended ranging strategy, the DRIVE 25 range. Aimed at medium and larger stores, this offers greater choice and breadth to shoppers, focusing on a list of 25 products. These lines offer retailers the ability to tailor their range needs either by offering new products or by offering additional packs in the best performing segments like £1 PMP. The HERO 25 and DRIVE 25 ranges include bestsellers that make up 35% of crisp and snacks sales in symbols and independents. Walkers is also offering a number of rewards through the *shopt app, focused on HERO 25 and DRIVE 25 ranges.

STOCK UP

ON NORDIC SPIRIT!

Lyle Mitchley, Reduced Risk Products and Brand Portfolio Manager at JTI UK

The nicotine pouch category presents a huge profit opportunity for retailers as the demand for convenient nicotine products continues to grow. Still a prominent trend as we look ahead to 2021, we want to make sure retailers make the most of this opportunity and take the time to consider how stocking Nordic Spirit could be a good move for their store.

MICRO-SNACKS Kepak launches Rustlers ‘100 Pounder’ on-pack competition

Shoppers could be quids in with new Rustlers promo Rustlers has unveiled ‘100 Pounder,’ an on-pack promotion that gives shoppers the chance to win £100 when they buy a Rustlers Quarter Pounder. Aside from driving trial among new audiences and increasing penetration of the product, which is made with 100% British & Irish Beef, the campaign serves to reinforce its provenance credentials and elevate the quality perceptions of the brand. The promotion will run from 22 March for one month, across 2.7 million packs of Rustlers Quarter Pounder, and will be supported by in-store and online activity. “As the UK’s No.1 Chilled Ready Meals brand, we recognise that convenience cannot afford to come with compromise. Whilst Rustlers is synonymous with convenience and speed, it also has fantastic quality credentials, which will be strongly dialled up as part of this promotion,” said Monisha Singh, Shopper Marketing Manager at Kepak.

RANGE Get your flavours right. Nordic Spirit Mint is essential, but consumers like choice. Nordic Spirit is also available in Bergamot Wildberry and Elderflower variants.

VISIBILITY Make sure your Nordic Spirit display is seen. Countertop displays are your best solution.

KNOWLEDGE IS KEY! Make sure you and your staff understand the product.

The activity follows the launch of Rustlers’ new identity and national marketing campaign ‘Surprise Yourself, It’s Better Than You Think’, which put the brand’s quality credentials at the heart of its messaging, as part of a wider strategy to drive reappraisal and broaden the micro-snack’s appeal.

Learn about Nordic Spirit through your sales rep, JTI Advance or

*IRI Market Place, Unit Share, Nicotine Pouch Category, Total UK, Aug 2020. To verify contact us via nordicspirit.co.uk/contact.

This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance.

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MARCH 2021 | SLR

News

Off-Trade

Meet the Mud House winemakers Mud House has launched

Off-TradeNews

‘Meet the Winemakers,’ a new competition that’s part of the Accolade brand’s continuing ‘Taste the Adventure’ campaign. Prizes include 10 ‘Wine Tastings in the Wild’, consisting of a guided foraging walk, a multicourse tasting menu, and a

TURN ON TO TECH – P38 HARD SELTZERS Hardly anyone knows about the off-trade’s ‘next big thing’

Public confused by hard seltzers, says Portman Group

virtual wine tasting session. There are also 500 Mud House backpacks up for grabs. The competition runs until 31 May.

Whitley Neill launches Watermelon & Kiwi ﬂavour Premium gin brand Whitley Neill has added a new, limitededition 43% ABV Watermelon & Kiwi variant to its range. The new expression “boasts notes of delicately fresh and fruity watermelon sorbet, balanced out by zesty lime and tart tropical citrus notes of freshly picked

Drinks marketing watchdog the Portman Group has released new guidance on hard seltzers and the results of consumer research which shows that just 7% of UK consumers had heard of the term ‘hard seltzer’. Traditionally popular in the US, hard seltzers are essentially alcoholic sparkling water. In the US, ‘hard’ is a phrase commonly associated with alcohol, particularly cider. Across the Atlantic however, the phrase isn’t currently translating.

In November 2020, the Portman Group commissioned YouGov to carry out consumer polling on perceptions and understanding of the terms ‘hard’ and ‘hard seltzers’. Highlighting their relatively new arrival to the market, 93% of UK consumers had not heard of hard seltzers. In total, less than a quarter (21%) had heard of at least one of ‘hard water’, ‘alcoholic sparkling water’ or ‘hard seltzer’. Polling showed that understanding of the terms associated with

alcoholic seltzers was highest in younger consumers aged 18 to 24, perhaps because hard seltzers are specifically targeted at this market. Over two-thirds (68%) of British consumers didn’t understand whether ‘hard’ was being used to convey either the alcoholic content, alcoholic strength, or both. Additionally, nearly two-thirds (64%) did not feel the term was useful when used to indicate alcoholic content on soft drinks or alcoholic drinks.

Kiwi, all with a subtle liquorice root and piny juniper finish.” It is available now from Booker with

BEER

an RSP of £26 (70cl).

Kestrel ﬂying with TV documentary and global marketing push

New £13.99 price-mark for Lamb’s Spiced Rum Pernod Ricard has added a new £13.99 price-mark to 70cl bottles of Lamb’s Spiced Rum against the backdrop of 70% growth for the spiced rum category in convenience. The new 70cl £13.99 PMPs are available now from all major wholesalers. A spokesperson said Lamb’s performance had “been on the

Scottish beer brand Kestrel has launched a major international marketing push built around a new TV documentary series which tells the story of The Flying Kestrel, the company’s transformation of an abandoned 1930s Riley Kestrel car into a land speed record breaker. The new two season show – which features star mathematician Rachel Riley – will be broadcast worldwide from this month. A new 40-second TV commercial ‘Brewed for the Bold’ is set to be released to coincide with the show’s launch, backed by a marketing campaign that spans print, social and digital, PR and e-commerce.

up” since the brand rolled out new packaging – including a hexagonal bottle – in 2019.

Jose Cuervo uncorks convenience PMPs

FLAVOURED RUM Premium brand unveils 1.75-ltr format

Dead Man’s fans demand big bottles

In a bid to “drive both consumer confidence and retailer value,” Tequila brand Jose Cuervo has launched a price-marked pack for convenience stores. The £15.99 price-mark runs across Jose Cuervo Especial Silver 500ml and Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado 500ml bottles. Both are available from a number of wholesalers including Bestway,

Spiced rum brand Dead Man’s Fingers has extended its range to include a new, 1.75-ltr bottle format (RSP £50) across six of its most popular flavours. The move sees the brand’s Spiced, Pineapple, Mango, Raspberry, Passionfruit and Lime all available in the new, larger size. The new format, which is 2.5 times bigger than a traditional 70cl bottle, has been created in response to ongoing demand from fans across the brand’s social media channels.

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News

Off-Trade

Treasury brews up coffeeinfused wine Treasury Wine Estates has added The Deported Coffee Infused Red, a coffee-blended wine, to its 19 Crimes portfolio. Available

GIN New variant is a peach

Beefeater keeps the ﬂavours coming Pernod Ricard has announced the launch of a new flavoured gin, Beefeater Peach & Raspberry (37.5% ABV, 70cl, RSP £18.99). It will be available exclusively in Asda for four weeks from 25 March 2021, before rolling out across the off-trade. The new variant is inspired by two recipes from Beefeater founder James Burrough, who created Peach Liqueur and Raspberry Gin in the 1800s. The flavours have been given a modern twist by the brand’s Master Distiller Desmond Payne.

Chris Shead, Off-Trade Channel Director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Flavoured gin represents a huge opportunity as it makes up 40% of premium gin in the UK and is growing +21.6%. Beefeater Blood Orange (+59.3%) and Beefeater Pink Strawberry (+6.1%) are performing exceptionally well since launch. Introducing new and exciting flavours is not only a fantastic recruitment tool for the category, but also a great way to tap into different occasions and consumer taste profile needs.”

from April with an RSP of £10, it is a balanced blend of red wine is infused with a dash of freshly-roasted Colombian cold brew coffee. Ben Blake, Head of Marketing EMEA at Treasury Wine Estates, said: “Under-35s are intrigued by wine fusion products.”

Britvic taps into stay-athome drinking surge Britvic has launched its branded tonic water into convenience for the first time, with the nation’s third-largest mixer brand in the on-trade available exclusively to wholesale in cases of 12 x 850ml bottles in both Classic and

GIN New ﬂavour and RTDs for Diageo brand

Tanqueray turns out Blackcurrant Royale Diageo’s premium gin brand Tanqueray is expanding its portfolio with a series of new launches. Available now is Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale (41.3% ABV, 70cl, RSP £25). Inspired by Charles Tanqueray’s travels to France, it combines the four botanicals of Tanqueray London Dry Gin with French blackcurrants, vanilla and the floral notes of black orchid. In April, the brand is also set to introduce two brand new RTD 250ml can formats for Tanqueray London Dry Gin and Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Distilled Gin (6.5% ABV, RSP £2.50). The RTD category is currently +22.5% ahead of the offtrade BWS market, with premium premix brands growing +43%. Adrienne Gammie, Marketing Director for Gins, Pimms and Baileys, said: “The gin category continues to thrive, and this is primarily motivated by consumer demand for new and exciting variants. Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale is an extension of the brand’s commitment to introducing rich and exciting new choices to the market.”

VODKA

Low Calorie variants. The move

Absolut gives sustainability a new twist

is designed to help retailers capitalise on the rising demand for traditional mixing products at home, up 58% as a result of the

Absolut has launched its 2021 limitededition bottle. Made of 60% recycled glass, it is Absolut’s most sustainable glass bottle to date. The launch is supported by media, PR and influencer activity. The design is blue in colour and made of 60% recycled glass, highlighting the importance of sustainability and circular packaging. The design also includes 16 swirls embossed into the glass, which have been inspired by moments of togetherness, whether that be in spirit or in real life, as well as the swirling motion found when stirring cocktails. The Absolut limited-edition bottle is available to the convenience channel in a 70cl format, RSP £20.

pandemic.

Scotch exports clobbered by Covid and tariffs Global exports of Scotch fell by more than £1.1bn during 2020, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. The export figures are the lowest they have been in a decade, as the combined impact of Covid-19 and the 25% tariff in the United States hit distillers hard. Scotch exports fell 23% by value to £3.8bn last year and the number of 70cl bottles exported fell by 13%.

New report marks 25 years of marketing compliance The Portman Group has published a new report to mark the 25th anniversary of its Code of Practice. The report, which looks at the period 2018 to 2020, showcases a 95% compliance to the Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks, an increase from 92% in 2012. The report also covers the development of the sixth edition of the Code.

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MARCH 2021 | SLR

Inside Business

Opinion | Stephen McGowan, Partner, TLT

MUP:

THE GRAND EXPERIMENT MUST RUN ITS COURSE Now halfway through its six-year pilot in Scotland, Minimum Unit Pricing should be allowed to run its course with no increase in unit price, argues TLT Partner Stephen McGowan.

inimum pricing of alcohol (MUP) is halfway through its six-year pilot in Scotland, with the world waiting expectantly to see what this “grand experiment” will deliver. It is the first scheme of its kind and therefore an important trial of a system designed to address the impact of MUP on the nation’s health and the alcohol and associated industries. Scotland is a meaningful place to run this pilot, but its findings will also likely help shape important policies in other jurisdictions, in addition to the longer-term regulation of alcohol in Scotland. This becomes even more important after the pandemic, which has had such a profound impact on individuals and retail, leisure, food and drink operators alike. It took several years to reach the scheme we have. An important part of bringing it about was the European and in turn Scottish courts’ recognition that the Scottish Government had agreed to a so-called “grand experiment” and, as part of that, a “sunset clause”. This legislative brake was critical to the courts’ acceptance of the scheme, because it

SLR | MARCH 2021

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Stephen McGowan, Partner, TLT | Opinion

meant that the policy was essentially under a live review process, and a decision on whether to reverse it would have to be actively considered by Parliament within a set period of time. That set period is, in essence, a six-year pilot project – a live, real world study, under the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 and attendant regulations. The actual unit price is 50p. It was on the basis of this 50p figure that all the modelling was done, all the political jostling occurred, and in turn it was on this figure that the courts approved the six-year experiment. The 2012 Act created a legal requirement for Parliament to produce and assess a report at the five-year mark, in order to inform the decision to “stick or twist”. That report will therefore have to be delivered to Parliament in 2023, with the decision to extend or abolish MUP made by 1 May 2024. The Scottish Government appointed NHS Health Scotland (now Public Health Scotland), and in turn the academics who had modelled the scheme, to draw up this report. Crucially, this report is required by law to not just focus on the impact of MUP on alcohol health, but the impact of the scheme on licence holders and producers of alcohol. The work on this report has, as it turns out, been progressing as a series of “mini studies”, most of which are funded by the NHS or its corollary MESAS (the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy), with some studies funded separately through universities. Inevitably, each study – of which there will be at least 27 – has triggered a flurry of arguments for and against the unit price from its supporters and detractors. Likewise, separate stories on alcohol health, sales and so on – be they from the ONS, WHO or anyone else – have led to calls from pressure groups, politicians and others on the matter. www.slrmag.co.uk

The health aspects of this regulation are of course genuine and serious, and the official studies will bear much weight in the final analysis and conclusions. But agitating to change the rules of the experiment halfway through runs the risk of undermining it altogether, and we must remember the aforementioned conditions under which it was brought about in the first instance. There will no doubt be a long and learned debate about the efficacy of the scheme at the conclusion of the review. There have been and will be ups and downs in the data across the life of the pilot project as a result of macro-influence: societal, environmental and economic factors. Not least of these is the pandemic, which, according to data issued by Public Health Scotland, has

Inside Business

resulted in a 6% drop in alcohol consumption. Figures from the NHS, Drinkaware, HMRC and so on represent a relatively brief snapshot in time, and so the scheme must be allowed to play out within the parameters the courts and Parliament has agreed. Minimum pricing in Scotland was a world first, and the world is watching. Calls for it to be tinkered with, calls for the MUP to be increased, calls for it to be abolished, should in my own view be put to one side: at least for now. Stephen McGowan is a leading licensing solicitor and partner at UK law firm TLT LLP. He is the author of the forthcoming book ‘Alcohol Licensing Law in Scotland’, Edinburgh University Press, to be published in summer 2021.

MARCH 2021 | SLR

Inside Business

Deposit Return Scheme

DRS ADMINISTRATOR

CREATED D

rinks producers, retailers, and trade associations have joined forces to establish Circularity Scotland, a new, not-for-profit scheme administrator. If approved by the Scottish Government, the company will seek to work with companies throughout the supply chain – producers, retailers, hospitality and wholesalers – to help deliver a scheme that is ultimately expected to collect more than 90% of drinks containers in Scotland. Donald McCalman, Interim Director of Circularity Scotland, said: “This is an important moment in the move to deliver a Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland. We have a shared vision for a scheme that delivers truly impactful environmental benefits and contributes to a circular economy in Scotland. “We’re confident that our not-for-profit company can help to operate a DRS system that works for everyone. The DRS will provide huge environmental benefits for Scotland and accelerate the Scottish Government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2045.” The scheme is scheduled to go live on 1 July 2022. It will require consumers to pay a 20p deposit on each glass, can or PET plastic container purchased, which is then reimbursed when the empty container is returned. Initial members of Circularity Scotland include Accolade Wines, Association of Convenience Stores, Barr Soft Drinks, British Beer & Pub Association, British Soft Drinks Association, Britvic, Budweiser, Coca24

SLR | MARCH 2021

The organisation that will be in charge of running the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Scotland has been formed.

Cola European Partners, Co-op, Heineken, Highland Spring, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Natural Source Waters Association, NFRN, Sainsbury’s, Scottish Grocers Federation, Scottish Wholesale Association, Suntory Beverage and Food, Tennent’s owners C&C Group and Tesco. SGF boss Pete Cheema said the formation of the company was a “major step forward” in creating a world-leading deposit return scheme for Scotland. Colin Smith, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wholesale Association, commented: “We look forward to working with the board representatives in implementing the UK’s first deposit return scheme and one that reflects the whole supply chain.”

TOMRA WELCOMES NEWS Recycling technology company Tomra has welcomed news that the scheme administrator for Scotland’s deposit return scheme has been formed. Truls Haug, Managing Director of TOMRA Collection UK & Ireland, said: “This is a big step forward in establishing a DRS and turning off the tap of pollution in Scotland. When we look at deposit return systems around the world, we see that having a central, not for profit administrator is a key feature of the highest performing schemes.” Haug offers the following advice to retailers to help them begin preparing: Consider whether you will accept containers back manually or automate returns using a reverse vending machine. Start with the volume of containers that you sell in your store, as this is a good indicator of how many may be returned to you. Think about the layout of your store and the space available. Remember that reverse vending machines can be placed outside if adequately protected. Get informed about how the scheme will work for retailers. There is plenty of information on Zero Waste Scotland’s website, or get in contact with us at Tomra and we will be happy to provide specific advice for your store.

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

1M IL

E PURCHASE AR D ES

Get in touch to find out more: tcs.uk@tomra.com

TE U N

PLASTIC BOT TL ON LI

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Inside Business

InAction | Spirits

UNLEASHING THE SPIRITS! In the first of a new series of InAction features, SLR teams up with Pernod Ricard and SLR’s Spirits Retailer of the Year Moira Dean to offer some great advice on making the most of spirits.

ith the world changing so fast and consumer trends evolving so quickly, SLR is introducing a new series of advice-led features geared to helping local retailers ensure they are staying ahead of the game in key categories. In this first article, we team up with global spirits giant Pernod Ricard and reigning SLR Spirits Retailer of the Year Moira Dean of Premier Dundee University to offer a fastpaced refresher on the vital spirits category. Moira runs the outstanding 2,500sq ft store on the University campus and knows just how vital the spirits category is to her weekly turnover and profits.

RANGE Focus on the biggest selling brands and products but ensure that your range is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is tailored for your specific customer base. A mix of value and premium lines is vital, as is a good selection of formats and sizes.

SITING Siting spirits on a backlit gantry where the tobacco fixture used to sit is a great way of driving impulse sales in spirits. Make them unmissable in-store.

FORMATS Under lockdown, it’s a good idea to cater for the demand for larger pack formats – so 1-ltr

bottles are a great idea, particularly in lines that already sell well in standard sizes.

FRACTIONALS To minimise out of pocket spend and to allow customers less expensive access to premium brands, a good range of fractionals can really help.

PMPS Value has never been more important and nothing reassures customers like pricemarked packs.

THINK PREMIUM While value is critical, don’t overlook the vital role of premium brands and products. Many shoppers will only settle for the ‘real thing’, so boost sales and profits by stocking premium lines prominently.

GO LOCAL Over the last year more and more shoppers 26

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have been looking to buy locally produced spirits, often gin. There’s a great selection available these days and shoppers will often pay a premium.

STAY ON TREND Gin is clearly the biggest trend in the off-trade just now but rum is increasingly popular, as are Irish whiskeys. Premium vodkas can also sell well, and flavoured spirits are massive at the moment. Keep your range fresh and exciting.

GET SOCIAL One of the best ways of driving footfall is to shout about your spirits range on social media, particularly if it’s a new product or pack size.

NPD Nothing excites shoppers like brand new lines, so if you stock anything new, let your shoppers know. www.slrmag.co.uk

Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch

New recipe Starmix Haribo Haribo has added fruit juice to its Starmix recipe and thrown an apple-flavoured green bear, a blackcurrant-flavoured purple bear, and an apple-and-lemon-flavoured ring into the mix. The updated mix is available now from wholesalers from February in a variety of formats. Haribo said: “As tastes evolve we know that it is our responsibility to ensure that we continue to deliver the best tasting, quality sweet confectionery to the category.”

Barr reveals Rubicon Raw

Kingsmill 50/50 Seeded Allied Bakeries Kingsmill has unveiled two new loaves that combine healthier white ﬂour with seeds: Kingsmill 50/50 Multi-Seed and Kingsmill 50/50 No Bits Multi-Seed. Both are available now with an RSP of £1.35. The launch is supported by an integrated marketing campaign including shopper, TV, radio, outof-home, digital, PR and inﬂuencer support.

Flipz Cookies & Cream pladis Snacking giant pladis has added a new Cookies & Cream variant to its Flipz range, which offers an on-trend ﬂavour combination of the brand’s signature salty pretzel coated in a sweet Cookies & Cream glaze. The new product is available now in a 90g pack format at an RSP of £1.50. A pladis spokesperson commented: “We’re confident that the latest addition to the Flipz lineup will be a hit with British shoppers.”

SLR | MARCH 2021

Barr Soft Drinks has launched Rubicon Raw, a big can energy drink from its exotic juice brand Rubicon. The range comprises three variants – Raspberry & Blueberry; Orange & Mango; and Cherry & Pomegranate – all made with 20% fruit juice, natural ﬂavours and no artificial colours. All are sugar levy free and available in 500ml plain packs (RSP £1.29) and a £1.29 PMP. The launch will be supported by a £1.5m consumer, social and shopper marketing campaign designed to raise awareness and encourage trial. A range of in-store and in-depot POS is available. In line with Barr’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the Rubicon Raw outer case is wrapped in 100% recycled film, which has half the carbon footprint of its virgin plastic equivalent.

Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped 20s JTI JTI has launched its king size cigarillo product Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped in a brandnew 20s format. Available now with an RSP of £9.10, Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped 20s follows the same stick configuration as the 10s, with a mentholated Virginia blend tobacco and capsule filter that releases a peppermint ﬂavour when crushed.

The launch follows considerable research by the company to better understand energy drink consumers. Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr Soft Drinks, said the new product “ticks all their boxes”. He added: “Flavour remains really important to energy drinkers, they are looking for more than functionality, they want a great tasting product. Eight of the fastest growing Energy SKUs are ﬂavoured, four of which are juice based. “We are confident that Rubicon Raw will help retailers provide energy shoppers with the product they’re looking for – a big boost of energy with a fruity and refreshing taste experience.” To stock call 0330 390 5678 or email salesoffice@ agbarr.co.uk.

Cadbury Twirl Orange Mondelez Mondelez has brought back its Twirl Orange single bar as a permanent addition to the Cadbury portfolio. The 43g bar is available now in cases of 48 with an RSP of 69p each. The launch is supported by a tongue-in-cheek campaign: ‘Twirl Orange – the unlimited edition. Exclusively available everywhere.’ The limited-edition variant was the number one singles NPD of 2020 and one of the fastest-selling chocolate bars of the year.

Babybel Plus Bel Group Functional cheese Babybel Plus launches with two variants, Babybel + Vitamins and Babybel + Live Cultures, available now in cases of 20 with an RSP of £1 per 2 x 20g pack. Both are rich in protein and calcium, and are free from additives, colours, ﬂavours and preservatives. Babybel + Live Cultures is enriched with a billion active lactobacillus bacteria, while Babybel + Vitamins is packed with Vitamin B12.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch Handmade Pakoras The Pakora Explorer

Lucozade Zero Tropical Suntory Beverage & Food

Scottish start-up the Pakora Explorer has launched a range of pakora packs aimed specifically at the foodto-go market: Vegetable Pakora (190g, RSP £3.50); Chicken Pakora (250g, RSP £4.20) and Mixed Vegetable & Chicken Pakora (340g, RSP £4). Packs have a seven-day shelf life and comes with a tub of pakora sauce. To find out more email info@pakoraexplorer.co.uk.

White Chocolate Protein Mars Chocolate Drinks & Treats

Lucozade has launched Lucozade Zero Tropical, the brand’s firstever ﬂavour that’s exclusive to the Lucozade Zero range. The new drink is available now in 500ml bottles (RSP £1.49, cases of 12) and 4 x 380ml multipacks (RSP £2, cases of six). A comprehensive marketing campaign including outdoor advertising, PR, digital and social media activity goes live in the summer.

Cadbury Sandwich Snack Mondelez

Mars Chocolate Drinks & Treats has launched Snickers Hi Protein White Chocolate bar, made with real white chocolate, 20g protein and containing 233 calories. Also available now is Snickers Hi Protein White Chocolate Caramel and Peanut ﬂavour whey protein powder, which offers 21g of protein and 144 calories per serving. For stock enquiries email jordan.white@shssales.co.uk or call 0758 302 3838.

Cadbury Sandwich Snack contains 63% Cadbury chocolate sandwiched between crunchy biscuit. Packs of six 22g bars are available now in cases of 27 with an RSP of £2 per 6-pack. The launch will be supported by a marketing campaign later this year. Mondelez also launched Cadbury Cookie Bites into the Cadbury Biscuits range in cases of 8 x 110g sharing bags (RSP £1).

MEDIAwatch



Keep it Kookie Maryland Cookies is going all out to encourage consumers to ‘Keep it Kookie’ with a £750,000 fully-integrated, digital-led marketing campaign spearheaded by a new commercial which will run extensively across YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on primetime TV. The activity is set to reach over 14 million consumers.

Spread some real love Saputo Dairy has launched ‘Spread the Real Love,’ a new marketing campaign for its Clover brand that “encourages Clover parents to break free from today’s social pressure to be perfect”. Now live across social channels, including bumper ads on YouTube, paid and organic activity on Facebook and Instagram, the campaign will run until 4 April 2021.

Boldly going across the Galaxy Mars Wrigley is supporting a modern new look and direction for its Galaxy brand with the launch of a bold new TV campaign. Underpinned by ‘Makeba’, the breakout song by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jain, the ad is a collaboration between a range of artists, animators and compositors to bring the new look to life.

Kentucky Fried Lineker Cheetos Footballs £1 PMP Pepsico

Drumstick Chocolate Swizzels

PepsiCo has launched its Cheetos Footballs – and Smiths Funyuns Onion Flavour Rings – value snacks in new £1 price-marked 60g packs. Both are available now and the launch will be supported by extensive in-store marketing. PepsiCo hopes to repeat the success of the Cheetos Twisted £1 PMP, which was “a big hit with consumers” and is the number two best-selling snack.

Swizzels has adapted its 60-yearold Drumstick lolly ﬂavour and combined it with milk chocolate. The result is a chocolate bar filled with a raspberry and milk fondant centre and real raspberry pieces. Cases of 20 x 100g plain packs (RSP £1) are available from wholesalers now and a £1 price-marked pack will follow a little later in the year. Packaging is 100% recyclable.

A new TV ad for new Walkers MAX x KFC ﬂavoured crisps plays on the resemblance between Walkers’ brand ambassador Gary Lineker and KFC’s Colonel Sanders. It will feature heavily across TV, digital and social media until early April. Further activity includes Walkers’ first-ever TikTok Top View creative and a Twitter Spotlight takeover.

Elevation nation Tilda’s new campaign, ‘Elevate your plate’, aims to show consumers how the brand’s products can turn “any meal into a masterpiece”. Launching across TV and video-on-demand, the ad marks the start of Tilda’s seven-figure marketing investment into its Ready To Heat range, which will be the brand’s focus throughout 2021.

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

MARCH 2021 | SLR

Feature

Nicotine & Accessories

FRESH APPROACHES TO NICOTINE While factory-made cigarettes remain a vital revenue stream for retailers, the last year has seen an increasing number of shoppers adopt a ‘nicotine portfolio’ approach.

here are many reasons why the factory-made cigarette category is in slow decline – legislation, health, fashion, affordability – but there’s no doubt that the last year has helped shift many consumers towards seeking out alternatives for their nicotine fix. Coronavirus, of course, has had an impact on the category with many shoppers having more time on their hands but also less cash, and the Menthol Ban last May also made an impact. No longer able to get the menthol products they preferred, shoppers were jolted into seeking out alternatives. For many that was a straight swap to plain tobacco products, but for many others it meant checking out what else was available – and the list of alternatives is growing fast, from vaping to nicotine pouches, from Roll Your Own (RYO) to flavoured insert cards. 30

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One consequence of all this flux has been the rise of the ‘nicotine portfolio’. Duncan Cunningham, UK Corporate Affairs Director at Imperial Tobacco & blu, says: “The tobacco market remains heavily price driven, and this has led to an uplift in consumers switching into Roll Your Own, as well as value Factory Made Cigarettes (FMC). We’re also seeing a rise in dual users buying both RYO and FMC for different occasions, as more shoppers move to a nicotine portfolio approach.” In fact, Nielsen figures suggest a quarter of consumers are now dual smokers. But that nicotine portfolio approach is now broadening even further with shoppers combining vaping, nicotine pouches and other alternatives with their consumption of regular tobacco products, often choosing a specific solution for specific occasions.

With this in mind, retailers must be wellequipped with a strong product range across all categories in order to cater for this trend and keep one eye on their sales so they can adapt their range to meet the needs of their customers. “The increasing consumer shift towards RYO products, for instance, presents new sales opportunities for tobacco-related accessories,” suggests Cunningham. “To tap into this trend and take advantage of the incremental sales on offer, retailers should make sure they’re fully stocked at all times of filters, papers, lighters and other flavour-related innovations like Rizla Flavour Cards and Rizla Polar Blast Crushball filters, to cater for the rising number of consumers buying into the RYO segment.” The Rizla Flavour Infusions range has been extremely well received by both consumers and www.slrmag.co.uk

O EL

’VE GOT U V YO

18+ only. This product contains nicotine and is addictive. For adult nicotine consumers only.

*Bas en

ADVENTURE EVERYWHERE #1 NICOTINE POUCH IN SCANDINAVIA*

ADVENTURE EVERYWHERE. LEARN MORE AT VELO.COM

QR CODE AREA

sed on Nielsen RMS data on Volume Share and Share of Modern White Segment for the 12-month period nding October 2020 for Sweden & Denmark total retail market. Excludes Norway where nicotine pouches without tobacco cannot be sold. VELO is sold under the brand name LYFT in Sweden and Denmark.

Feature

Nicotine & Accessories

retailers, who voted it as winner of the Tobacco Accessories category in SLR’s recently launched Products of the Year Awards 2020. Rizla Flavour Infusions comprise flavour cards that can be used with traditional factorymade cigarettes or RYO tobacco products. Simply insert a flavour card into a packet of cigarettes or tobacco and wait at least 60 minutes, or leave it in longer for a stronger, more intense flavour. Latest Imperial Tobacco figures show they are currently selling around 900,000 packs a week as consumers look to recreate the menthol experience. A new entrant to the flavoured cards subcategory is Republic Technologies’ Swan brand. Launched last month, Swan Flavour Fusion Cards let consumers create their own level of flavour in a packet of cigarettes or RYO tobacco in just 30 minutes and comes in two variants: Fresh Burst and Menthol (RSP 39p 34

SLR | MARCH 2021

per card). Each outer contains 25 individual cards. “Following the change in legislation last May, we have seen a significant number of consumers looking for flavour alternatives to menthol cigarettes,” says Gavin Anderson, Head of Sales at Republic Technologies. “The iconic Swan brand is a beacon within the tobacco accessories category and is synonymous with quality and value. We’re confident that this latest product innovation will enable retailers to drive sales within their tobacco accessories fixture.” Nicotine pouches is another sub-category gaining traction in local retailing with JTI’s Nordic Spirit brand leading the way. The range recently won a couple of awards. Kieran Marsh, Reduced Risk Products and Brand Portfolio Manager at JTI UK, comments: “Nordic Sprit took home first prize in the Nicotine Pouch category at this year’s Product www.slrmag.co.uk

Nicotine & Accessories

of The Year awards. Since launching in 2019, the range has gone from strength to strength and is the number one nicotine pouch product in the UK.” Additionally, Nordic Spirit Elderflower was voted best new product in the nicotine pouch category at the SLR Products of the Year Awards 2020. JTI also recently entered the heated tobacco category with the launch of its Ploom concept, the first major competitor to Philip Morris’s established IQOS solution. Kate O’Dowd, Head of Commercial Planning UK & Ireland, at Philip Morris says: “Over the past 12 months, we have seen demand for heated tobacco increase significantly. Following the menthol cigarette ban in May last year, a third of the 1.3 million smokers who chose menthol cigarettes were looking to make a switch to either a heated tobacco or e-cigarette product. www.slrmag.co.uk

“IQOS is now the number one smoke-free product in the UK, thanks to a large extent to the great work of our retail partners.” With RYO performing well over the last year, the tobacco accessories market is flourishing in Scotland, worth almost £29m [IRI, Nov 2020]. Filters and papers are key here with filters second only to matches, with sales in Scotland up almost 3% year-on-year, delivering annual sales in excess of £6.8m. Interestingly, environmental considerations are now influencing shoppers’ decisions, with increasing demand for more natural products, reduced packaging and removal of single-use plastics. Republic Technologies has responded to this trend with an increased focus on environmentally-friendly NPD. This has led to a surge in demand for category-boosting products such as OCB

Feature

Virgin Slim and OCB Virgin Slim & Tips, which are unbleached papers, with OCB natural gum which is sustainably sourced from African acacia trees. “We’ve also seen increased interest in Premium Paper & Tips formats, such as OCB Virgin Slim & Tips, OCB Premium Slim & Tips and OCB Organic Hemp Slim & Tips, with the sub-category now worth over £2.1m and growing at 46% year-on-year in Scotland,” says Anderson. “Demand for OCB products is such that it is currently the fastestgrowing paper brand in the market [IRI, Nov 2020].”

MARCH 2021 | SLR

Feature

Impulse

BIG VALUE Impulse sales have been transformed under Covid with shoppers increasingly looking to larger format and sharing products, while also focused on value for money.

s with so many things, the pandemic has transformed the impulse category. No retailer could have failed to notice the huge shift towards larger format packs and sharing packs as well as an even sharper focus among consumers on value for money. Fortunately, some of the key brands in impulse categories have been watching – and responding. Snacking giant Walkers has recently announced two major initiatives that will specifically help local retailers. The first sees the company launch a new range of pricemarked packs exclusively for the convenience channel. The second sees the company offer 20% extra free on many of its leading £1 PMP bags. The new PMP range has been created to offer everyday value to shoppers and, for the first time, two multipack SKUs will include a 36

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price-marked flash: Walkers Classic Variety and Quavers Cheese 6-packs. New larger Doritos and Walkers Sensations PMP sharing bags have also launched with an RSP of £2, having increased in size by 20g. The £2 PMPs will be available across three SKUs: Doritos Chilli Heatwave, Doritos Tangy Cheese and Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli. These offer better value than the existing 65g £1 RRP bags. Matt Goddard, Wholesale Trading Director at PepsiCo, comments: “As we begin the slow transition out of lockdown, larger packs are likely to continue to dominate over singles. Additionally, 65% of shopping trips to symbols and indies consist of take-home products, but 88% of sharing purchases occur outside of the impulse channel. This presents an opportunity for these stores, as retailers can capitalise on a bit of the market traditionally purchased ‘elsewhere’.

Additionally, Walkers has added 20% Extra Free to many of its bestselling £1 PMPs snacks, helping Symbols and Independent retailers offer greater value to shoppers. A “20% Extra Free” flash features on nine SKUs, including Quavers, Wotsits, Monster Munch, Squares and French Fries. KP Snacks is also focusing on larger format packs, as Trading Director Matt Collins highlights: “£1 PMPs have seen significant growth in the last few years and this format will stay increasingly relevant during and post the pandemic. “Retailers and manufacturers should use PMPs, especially £1 PMPs which are highly versatile, and other promotional offers to create value and heighten appeal and awareness.” KP offers retailers 22 PMPs across the KP family and Collins advises that Hula Hoops and McCoy’s Fire Pit are must-stocks. www.slrmag.co.uk

Feature

Technology

TECH FAST The coronavirus pandemic has hugely accelerated the uptake of technology in the local retailing sector. SLR looks at how tech is being adopted in Scottish stores.

ne of the upsides to the coronavirus pandemic has been the effect it has had on the uptake of various forms of new technology by retailers across Scotland. While many of these new solutions were already being considered, there’s no doubt the pandemic encouraged retailers to accelerate their plans and their implementation schedules. Possibly the biggest driver of new tech adoption has been the monumental growth of home delivery, but for most tech solutions to work optimally, retailers also need to a solid platform to build from – which means a great EPoS system. Bolting on tech solutions like home delivery, click-and-collect, self-service tills, digital shelf edge labels and so on can be done as ‘workarounds’, but more and more retailers are learning that a fully integrated EPoS system is required to really get the best out of new tech.

HOME DELIVERY Home delivery has been the star of the show for the last year with almost three-quarters of local retailers now estimated to be offering some form of solution. One of the leading players in the sector is Dundee-based Snappy Shopper. The company has gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months and recently unveiled its second national TV campaign urging shoppers to use the app and buy directly from their local participating retailer. The campaign also ran across radio and digital and marked the second time the company had invested a six figure sum in advertising to generate sales for its 700 retailers. Philippe Rondepierre, Snappy Shopper Marketing Director, says: “We made significant gains in awareness and consideration during the last campaign and growth in the number of new users has accelerated significantly since our first campaign which took place last autumn. This time, our traditional media and digital activity ran concurrently, to 38

SLR | MARCH 2021

make the most of the growth in On Demand Convenience.” The company also recently unveiled its first Snappy Shopper ‘millionaires’ – retailers who have reached £1m in app sales. The two were Dundee retailers Mo Syed of Family Shopper and Akky Hyatt of Hyatt Supersave. Mo was the first pilot store to use the

Snappy Shopper app and says: “2020 was a tough year for everyone in business but the addition of the Snappy Shopper app sales has really helped us. We are now fulfilling over 50 orders on weekdays and at weekends we are getting over 100 orders a day.” Akky comments: “We are doing all we can to help our local community to have access to essential items through the Snappy Shopper app. We have been doing this since October 2019 and it has grown to 120 deliveries on a weekday and up to 150 deliveries on a Saturday and a Sunday since lockdown. Everything from the shop is now available through the app – from non-food, health & beauty to seasonal lines.” Encouragingly, Snappy Shopper retailers are finding that home delivery sales are not reducing in-store sales, as Harry Ahmed www.slrmag.co.uk

Technology

Feature

FORWARDS

at Nisa Local Greenock, comments: “I was worried at the start if it would affect the instore shop sales, but I have found that most people who use Snappy Shopper are new customers. I would say I have done quite well mainly because I promote Snappy Shopper deliveries a lot on Facebook, as my Facebook page is quite strong. Also, I have been giving leaflets to customer that come in store.” Most recently, Snappy Shopper celebrated adding its 50th Nisa store since partnering with the symbol group in September last year. The group expects to have as many as 500 stores using the app by the end of this year.

EPOS But while home delivery may be driving the adoption of tech, 2020 has also revealed to many retailers that in order for them to add www.slrmag.co.uk

new technologies and drive growth in their stores, a great EPoS system is required. With many major players reluctant to integrate with third-party suppliers of software, the more flexible EPoS houses are seeing new doors open every day. One example is Northern Ireland-based Henderson Technology who have been aggressively targeting growth in Scotland in the last couple of years. Henderson started 2021 by announcing a new partnership with Celestra who now handle in-store installations of Henderson’s solutions in Scotland. Built around the company’s EDGEPoS EPoS platform, Henderson offers a range of fully integrated tech solutions that retailers can simply ‘plug in and play’. These include the Appetite home delivery, click-and-collect and hot food app; electronic shelf edge labelling; self-checkout; Gander; Ubamarket; Blu Dot Technologies; BPme; and the Glory Cash Management system. Darren Nickels, Retail Technology Operations Director, says: “Since developing EDGEPoS in 2010, we have enjoyed constant growth and expansion, and I am looking forward to continuing on an upward trajectory, enhancing the technology even further and creating an even more attractive offering for retailers.” The company already has wholesaler links in place for Booker, Costcutter, Spar, JW Filshill and Deebee Wholesale and a strong relationship with Unitas Wholesale, as well as fuel integrations with BP, Texaco, Jet and many others. Another company offering a flexible approach to meeting the specific needs of retailers is Motherwell-based MHouse Solutions, whose MPos EPoS is already used by hundreds of retailers in Scotland and further afield. MARCH 2021 | SLR

£1.25M

sales generated by our top retailer in 12 months (1)

17.6K

av. weekly delivery sales by top 10 stores in January (2)

£27.74

average basket spend vs £7.60 industry average (3)

Fully supported onboarding, sales ramp up and dedicated Account Manager to help you succeed call: 0333 900 1250 email: contact@snappyshopper.co.uk web: retailers.snappyshopper.co.uk

(1)

12 Months to 31st January 21 /

(2)

Sources: Lumina UK Convenience Market Report 2020 /

(3)

Sales W/C 31st January 21.

Advertising Feature

Epos

COOPER BROS TRANSFORM BUSINESS WITH EDGEPOS Lanarkshire retailers Cooper Bros have revitalised their business with the introduction of Henderson technology’s EDGEPoS system and the Azpiral Staff Loyalty Programme. THE LOWDOWN Q Retailer: Cooper Bros Service Station Q Location: Newmains, Lanarkshire Q Solutions: EDGEPoS and Azpiral Loyalty Q Results: Enhanced business development and staff loyalty

SLR | MARCH 2021

ooper Bros is a family-owned, independent company specialising in tyre fitting services and has been serving motorists in Central Scotland for over 50 years. Their main depot in Newmains, Lanarkshire has a JET and Keystore Express-branded service station with Costa Coffee, Amazon Locker, and Wi-Fi facilities.

EDGEPOS ONSITE Henderson Technology installed a two-lane EDGEPoS fuel system in August 2019. Garry Gibson, GM, says: “We had been with our last EPoS provider for over 10 years, and were being constantly let down with the system and the service. 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 on the EDGEPoS system. After having a demo I knew it was the system for us to grow our business. We decided to install two tills instead of one, and this has proven to be a lifeline in the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing us to maintain social distancing instore and operate a one-way system for transactions. “Henderson Technology were also in the process of developing the wholesaler link with JW Filshill and we knew this would vastly improve operational procedures in store, allowing us to send orders electronically to our supplier, and also allow us to have full stock control instore, and use sales-based suggested ordering throughout the store.” So what are the main differences with EDGEPoS? “There are too many to list,” says Garry. “We use the automated report scheduler and we have live access to detailed margin reports at the touch of a button. One thing we couldn’t live without now is the capability to deal with a fuel refund. At least once or twice per day, a customer will pay for the wrong fuel transaction and return instore to pay for the correct fuel transaction. On our old system, we had to go through a whole manual process and the customer could have been waiting for over 20 minutes. With EDGEPoS it is treated as a simple refund, and the fuel transaction appears instantly back on the existing pump it was taken from. It takes less than ten seconds to rectify. “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 any manual work, and then the customer is able to come instore and pay off their account at the till by credit or debit card and it automatically tallies up on the back office.”

AZPIRAL STAFF LOYALTY Cooper Bros also instigated the Azpiral Staff Loyalty programme instore at the end of 2020. Garry says: “We wanted a simple way to reward our staff for their loyalty instore. The Azpiral Staff Loyalty scheme is fully integrated into the EDGEPoS system and each member of staff has their own card offering them 10% off all grocery purchases and 2p per litre off fuel. The full Costa range is also supplied at a special discount of £1.50 per cup.” Has it worked? “Absolutely,” says Garry. “We are able to export reports to Excel which gives us the average spend of individual staff members every month, see exactly what they’re buying instore, and tailor offers and rewards to that member of staff. We also run a monthly prize draw where we can upload a spend onto the winner’s loyalty card to spend in-store. It has raised staff morale over this difficult period where all of the staff have gone above and beyond for our customers.”

CONCLUSION The standout area where Garry and the team onsite have seen a difference is the support levels provided by the Henderson Technology helpdesk. Garry says: “In the 18 months we have had EDGEPoS in, we haven’t been let down once. All calls have been answered within 60 seconds and every call has been resolved in a friendly, efficient and professional manner. “I couldn’t recommend EDGEPoS enough. It’s not just the functionality of the system, it’s been the whole process from the initial demonstration to the install and training, and the aftercare that we have received. I have already referred EDGEPoS to a number of retailers across the JET network, and will continue to do so.”

www.slrmag.co.uk

Introducing Azpiral, world-class customer loyalty technology, a pioneering platform that equips you with proven real-time solutions for your customer engagement needs.

AzpiralPRO Cloud-based solution. Capture and analyse consumer basket data. Automate personalised offers and promotions in real-time. Data capture from multiple touchpoints. Fully integrated with EDGEPoS. cus Gain usable customer insights. Reward customers based on their proven preferences. Communicate effectively through multiple channels – SMS, Email, Push Notiﬁcation, in-App messaging, EDGEPoS Messaging. Measure and analyse consumer behaviours and marketing impact. Incentivise customers with gift cards and coupons in-store and online.

For more information contact sales@henderson.technology or visit www.henderson.technology

Advertising Feature

Epos

MPOS: THE SOLUTION THAT DELIVERS EXTRA PROFIT As one of the UK’s leading Epos suppliers, Motherwell-based Mhouse Solutions is focused exclusively on saving cost, driving efficiency and adding profit for local retailers.

“With our personal experience in the retail space that aggregates beyond 30 years, we established the formula and perfected the recipe.”

POS systems have been nothing short of a revolution in the retail space. Businesses like grocery and convenience stores are equipping themselves with a technology that reduces their dependence on labour while simultaneously saving cost and boosting efficiency. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, a plethora of opportunities have introduced themselves and appeared in the realms of retail. With integrated credit card systems, loyalty apps, cloud technology, delivery partners, and even CCTVs playing a part in optimizing your stores, it can become a daunting task to individually maneuver through the vast sea of potential feasibility. As a solution that merits its value, and EPOS system can help you with just that. A system that manages the operations of your store should have the capacity to allow other tools to operate as additional limbs. This would create a singular system where you have the ability to control all the additional features and technological integrations you might wish to introduce to your 44

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premises, and your EPOS system is the key to the kingdom as it is a technology that complements all else. We as a dynamic company aim to work with the most pragmatic, efficient, and value-driven technologies that are out on offer. With feedback from our customers in mind, we are always developing and creating room for more integrations. After all, our mantra is to make your life easier and help you make that extra profit. As a retailer, the bank account will always remain as the bottom line. Regardless of how efficient a new method or gimmick may be. The relevance is established through the impact it has on the numbers. MPOS was created while keeping that model in mind, as a bespoke system created ‘For retailers, by retailers’. With our personal experience in the retail space that aggregates beyond 30 years, we established the formula and perfected the recipe. Now, we have eliminated the redundancies and added features to help you optimize your stores. After all, we’re all for making you comfortable, with a heavier wallet. www.slrmag.co.uk

Helping you to make an extra 3% Gross Profit Ease of use

Simple to use touch screen till software

Backoffice admin software

Cigarette Gantry integration

Indepth reporting and analysis

Touch screen handheld device to control the shop from the shopfloor

Supplier Data links with all major Wholesalers

Credit Card integration

Weekly health check reports to guide you to improve your sales and margin.

Access to background database with over 100,000 products

Benefits of MPos ✓ Built around a retailer, not a computer user ✓ Simple to use till, powerful admin tools ✓ Built from retailers perspective ✓ Reduces labour by downloading products, price changes, invoices and promotions

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

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

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

✓ Based in Scotland with excellent support and training program

✓ Easy to use Hand Held terminal to control the store from shop floor ✓ Integration with Credit Card terminals, Zapper, Cigarette Gantry, Loyalty Schemes and more ✓ Developed and supported by people that know the retail trade

So How much Could our System make for you? We can demonstrate a 3% uplift in Gross Profit in using our system.

£5,000 £10,000 £15,000 £20,000 £25,000

£7,800 Current Weekly Turnover Extra profit per annum

£15,600 £23,400 £31,200 £39,000

Even a Single Lane system can more than pay for itself in the first 4 months!

MHouse, 349 Shields Road, Motherwell, ML1 2LD

Tel: 0800 242 5360 email sales@mhousesolutions.com

Feature

Energy Drinks

energy

EVOLVES After a relatively slow year in terms of NPD and new activity, the energy drinks category is rapidly making up for it in 2021.

SLR | MARCH 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

Energy Drinks

he year 2020 will go down in retaining history as a year like no other with the pandemic affecting every aspect of the local retailing sector. This included dramatic changes to the ways many customers shop, a shift that has particularly dramatic effects in a key category like energy drinks. “The current situation has, as in so many other categories, changed the way some sports and energy drink consumers shop, with many continuing to work from home, says Matt Gouldsmith, Channel Director Wholesale at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I. “However, many core occasions within the category remain the same – with some shoppers looking for an allday energy uplift and others a gentler lift when they need it. “Scottish retailers should stock a range of options to enable shoppers to find the right drink for them throughout this year. 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 retailers’ chiller, 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.” In terms of growth drivers, it’s important to remember shoppers want variety when buying sports and energy drinks. “We are investing in ambitious innovations across our leading portfolio to drive sales for Scottish retailers by giving consumers a choice of drinks in exciting flavours to meet a range of performance and energy needs,” says Gouldsmith. And Suntory is not alone in driving the NPD agenda. Major shifting consumption patterns have been reflected in a spate of www.slrmag.co.uk

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interesting and innovative new product launches and initiatives this year from many of the major manufacturers. Last year was a relatively slow year in terms of NPD as retailers, wholesalers and suppliers focused on getting (and keeping) the basics in place to get stock onto shelves, but the manufacturers are making up for it this year. With consumer trends changing so fast, it’s no surprise that new products have been created to tap into the latest purchasing patterns.

KEY TRENDS TO BE AWARE OF INCLUDE: Q Growing demand for lowersugar drinks Q An increased focus on health and wellbeing Q The important role of flavours Q The growth of take-home packs Q More focus on PMPs and value in general

SLR takes a look at some of the best energy NPD in recent months…

RED BULL SUMMER EDITION – CACTUS FRUIT Category captain Red Bull launches the latest in its seasonal Editions series this month with the unveiling of this year’s Red Bull Summer Edition in a cactus fruit flavour. Priced at £1.35, the latest flavour delivers 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. With Red Bull Editions growing at 32.6% in value last year [Nielsen, MARCH 2021 | SLR

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Energy Drinks

TOP TIPS

MONSTER’S FOR SUPERCHARGED SALES 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 Energy drinks are big drivers of impulse sales and need to be visible throughout your store. Monster-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. And don’t forget to allocate space to take-home packs, especially at the moment.

SLR | MARCH 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

Energy Drinks

Feb 2021], now is the perfect time for retailers to stock up on new flavours to maximise sales over summer. Red Bull Summer Edition in 2020 proved so popular with shoppers that it has now become a permanent SKU known as the Red Edition. Following this success, Red Bull hopes the new cactus fruit Summer Edition will continue to drive category growth while satisfying energy drink consumers who would try a tropical fruit flavour. Shoppers are buying Red Bull Editions more frequently with average frequency double its rate a year ago [Kantar, Dec 2020]. To help drive overall category growth, the launch is supported with 360 instore marketing investment and is available in eye-catching 250 ml green cans for purchase from various retail locations across the UK.

RUBICON RAW ENERGY Home-grown giant Barr Soft Drinks has launched a Big Can Energy drink under its Rubicon brand. Rubicon Raw was built on a foundation of consumer insight and the company believes it offers something truly new and different to today’s energy drinks market. Rubicon Raw is 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. “We’ve 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 the Energy consumer www.slrmag.co.uk

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.” The Rubicon Raw range comprises three variants - Raspberry and Blueberry, Orange and Mango and Cherry and Pomegranate, with natural flavours and no artificial colours. The launch will be supported by a £1.5m 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 more 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.

MONSTER MULE, ULTRA FIESTA AND JUICED MONARCH Coca-Cola Enterprises has already unveiled three new Monster lines this year:

MONSTER MULE An energy twist on the famous Moscow Mule cocktail, Monster Mule is the first

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RANGING AND MERCHANDISING ADVICE Coca-Cola European Partners offers the following advice: Core Best Sellers & Larger Packs: Allocate the most space to best-sellers including double facings where needed – to avoid running out of stocks during peak times of the day. Ensure you increase space for larger packs for at-home sharing occasions. Low & No Sugar Options: Stock a wide range of low and no-sugar variants. Position these alongside great tasting original alternatives, so it’s easy for shoppers to choose the one they want. Cross category seasonal displays: 41% of Soft Drink shoppers are on a Food to Go Mission. Place soft drinks alongside complementary categories like snacks to drive linked purchases and use clear pricing and promotions to grab shoppers’ attention Space & Promotions: Group key soft drinks segments like Energy together to make the fixture easy to shop and consider stocking price-marked packs as they offer visible value, reassuring shoppers that they can get the products they want, at an affordable price.

MARCH 2021 | SLR

R A G U S O R E Z O T N I T GE H C T CA

IN W O R G E R A NKS I R D Y G R E N UGAR E

ZERO S

Zero sugar energy drinks are big business. Time to take advantage with Sales Supercharged. The exciting new retailer support initiative from Monster. Learn which products are really driving sales. How to give your chiller more merchandising muscle. And get the low down on all the latest consumer trends. You’ll even get the chance to grab some free stock. Follow our advice now and supercharge your sales.

10 FREE CASES OF MONSTER OR RELENTLESS Source: Zero Energy Drinks Are Growing – Nielsen Total Coverage Value (% growth 6%) MAT w/e 31.10.20. Source: Monster Ultra is the No.1 brand driving the category with +22% growth – Nielsen Total Coverage Value (Monster Ultra Value Share 36%) MAT w/e 31.10.20

. Y G R ENE . E V A W S E L A AS .1 B

HE NO T S I A R T L U NSTER

H. T W O R G % 2 H +2 T I W Y R O G E CAT E H T G N I V I R RAND D

NEW

®, MONSTER ENERGY ULTRA® are all registered trademarks of Monster Energy Company

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Energy Drinks

ginger-flavoured energy drink in GB. The new 500ml variant contains 32mg of caffeine per 100ml and delivers a satisfying taste of spicy ginger with a hint of lime.

MONSTER ULTRA FIESTA Monster Ultra Fiesta blends a juicy mango flavour with the renowned Monster energy blend, giving consumers a tasty energy boost with no calories and no sugar. The light and refreshing tropical variant will help retailers tap into consumers’ continued awareness of their calorie and sugar intake.

MONSTER JUICED MONARCH Bringing together a mix of peach and nectarine, Monster Juiced Monarch combines real fruit juice with Monster’s unique energy blend. Named after the Monarch butterfly, the new variant comes in eye-catching packaging with street culture-inspired butterfly designs. Simon Harrison, Vice President, Commercial Development at CCEP GB, says:

“72% of energy sector growth over the last year has come from new products [Nielsen, Dec 2020]. Much of this is thanks to the huge success of Monster’s new variants which contributed to over half of this. We know there’s big demand in the market for new and exciting flavours, including in the low calorie energy segment. We’re confident that our latest launches, supported by impactful marketing campaigns that the Monster brand is known for, will appeal to new and existing energy drinkers and will drive sustained growth throughout this year.” To help retailers determine which segments and variants to stock, how many of them, and how to bring the category to life instore, Monster and its distributor Coca-Cola European Partners have launched a new retailer support platform: SalesSupercharged. co.uk. Visit salessupercharged.co.uk for more tips, trends, inspiration, equipment info and POS – and the chance to win free stuff!

LUCOZADE TROPICAL In February, Lucozade added a twist to retailers’ shelves with the launch of a brandnew drink: 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. To support the launch, a comprehensive marketing campaign including outdoor advertising, PR, digital and social media activity goes live in the summer. Low and no sugar soft drinks present a huge opportunity for retailers – making up more than half of total soft drink volumes sold. Over the past few years, shoppers’ spending on zero and low-sugar drinks has increased by around a third, showing just how important it is for retailers to pay attention to this new zero-sugar energy brand flavour.

RED BULL’S BESTWAY TOOL Red Bull has launched an online tool through Bestway Wholesale to help retailers maximise energy drink sales by stocking the most profitable soft drinks in-store. The partnership sees a new digital consultancy tool created to enabl retailers to receive tailored advice on how to maximise soft drinks sales in-store. The online platform is quick and easy to use and takes retailers through a simple step-by-step consultancy process, first asking for the store’s geographic location, followed by the chiller size – either via pre-suggested measurements or bespoke entry, followed by submitting the number of facings per branded SKU. The tool then calculates the best SKU ratio, delivering a personalised, downloadable planogram. The tool is available to stores in Scotland and aims to help retailers remove soft drinks from their chillers that aren’t performing as well in the store’s local area, and replace with more popular SKUs to maximise profit and sales by advising which facings should be decreased or upweighted. The tool also allows retailers to simply access the suggested replacement SKUs through Bestway online, delivering a seamless purchasing transaction from start to finish. In addition to offering bespoke ranging advice, the platform offers category insight and information, via a downloadable education resource; ‘Three Steps to Sale Success’. The Category Tool will roll out across additional wholesale partners across 2021. To find out more about the Soft Drinks Category Tool, please visit: www.softdrinkscategorytool. com/gb-en/bestway 52

SLR | MARCH 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

SUMMER CHOICES. SUMMER SALES. 5M

R E C AT E G O

RED

ADDED

NGE RA

LL 250ml BU

*SPORTS & ENERGY CATEGORY. SOURCE: NIELSEN SCANTRACK, SPORTS & ENERGY, LATEST 26 WEEKS TO W.E. 16.01.21).

UTC

BURNING BINS TO GET HIGH? STOP ARSON ABOUT...

WHO REMEMBERS KENSITAS COUPONS?

Not much moves UTC to tears, being the emotionally stunted old codger he is, but an email that randomly dropped into his inbox recently damn near had the auld boy welling up at his laptop. For no apparent reason, a loyal reader named David Anderson got in touch to say that he’d found a load of old Kensitas Coupons gathering dust in a drawer. The more mature retailers among you might remember the good old days when Kensitas Coupons were a thing. You got a coupon in every pack of Kensitas Club and you could save them up to buy stuff from the Kensitas catalogue. In Scotland they were a legitimate form of currency, even before empty Irn-Bru bottles were christened ‘gless cheques’. Anyway, David Anderson told us he got these coupons around 30 years ago and he’s wondering if he can still use them. We’ve promised we’ll get onto JTI and get it sorted for him.

UTC had to check it wasn’t April already when he received a press release from waste removal specialists Divert.co.uk the other day. It concerned the return of ‘Britain’s stupidest craze’: burning bins to get high. Many retailers will no doubt have suffered from some reprobate setting fire to one of their bins, no doubt putting it down to malevolence. But apparently there’s a darker side to it. Myth has it that burning wheelie bins and sniffing the fumes has the same effect as highs from recreational drugs. You’ll be amazed to learn that sniffing burning wheelie bins doesn’t, in fact, get you high. Wheelie bins are made from high density polyethylene, which releases carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the air when set alight. So it’s more likely to kill you than get you high. Regardless, there are apparently some bin-burning connoisseurs out there who believe different colour bins give different highs. The class A top doggy is apparently the brown bin which is highly prized among bin-burning aficionados for its mind-bending aroma.

A BILLION RUBBER BANDS...

Known as Ceefax in his youth (because he was full of useless information), the old boy has a keen eye for pointless random stats – so imagine his joy when he learned that someone had discovered through a freedom of information act request that the Royal Mail buys nearly a billion rubber bands a year. Apparently millions of them get tossed into the street by posties every year, leading several organisations to label the Royal Mail “the nation’s top litterer”. The auld boy thinks they’re stretching it a bit with that claim.

SLR | MARCH 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:

Kantar World Panel, Value Sales, Take Home Non-Alcohol Brands, MAT to 06.09.20, Total Scotland

SCOTTISH GROCERY BRAND*

STOCK THE NO.1