SLR September 2021 edition

GEOFF OGLE

FSA boss talks Natasha’s Law SEPTEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 221

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

TOGETHER AGAIN AT LAST

TOM POOK

Hovis man sees bread rise

SGF Conference sees the industry come together face-to-face for the first time in a long time.

+

NEW REALITY

Nisa brings augmented reality to stores

FRANCHISE GROWTH

Co-op adds second Scottish franchise

£1M MAN

Motherwell retailer hits £1m in deliveries Sign up to watch the SLR Awards 2021 – Oct 27, 6pm | SLRAwards.com

*SOURCE: A.C. NIELSEN SCOTLAND IMPULSE 25.01.20. BASED ON AVERAGE STORE SIZE. TENNENT’S AND THE RED T ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THE C&C GROUP

THE RIGHT RANGE FOR SCOTLAND

Introducing Tennent’s Rewards!

Don’t miss out, by signing up you could increase your sales by up to £270 a week!*

What is Tennent’s Rewards?

• A Beer & Cider focussed category plan designed specifically for the shopper in Scotland • A way to grow your sales delight your shoppers, and get rewarded for doing so • Encourage more people to make purchases in your shop.

Benefits For You Increased Sales and Support Grow your sales and earn rewards through support from the Tennent’s Rewards team.

Increased Visibility and POS Easier to shop and maintain availability on fixture, enhancing value, growing sales, and delighting shoppers.

Insight for growth Shoppers in Scotland proportionally spend 42% more on the top 3 Beer & Cider brands than in England & Wales.1 This means more space is required to stop you losing out on sales across the biggest brands in Scotland.

1:A.C. Nielsen 25.01.20

Meeting shopper requirements in a changing environment We are here to support and guide on Scottish legislation and evolving shopper trends.

Unlock the value in your chiller now!

Sign up today at www.tennentsrewards.com or email rewards@tennents.com for more information.

September 2021

Contents

Contents ISSUE 221

NEWS p4

Trading Scots c-store numbers stay static, but the sector sheds 5,000 jobs in the past year. p5 Home Delivery The Snappy Group extends its senior team to help deliver its growth strategy over the next few years. p6 Stores Spar Dornoch opens after a revamp. p7 Health Scottish Government unveils plans to make eating out healthier in a bid to tackle the growing obesity crisis. p8 News Extra Scotland Loves Local Gift Card A new initiative could inject £13m into Scottish towns and cities. p20 Product News Relentless gets a new brand ambassador. p22 Off-Trade News Smirnoff gives away 21 Diamonds.

5

8

20

34

47

50

INSIDE BUSINESS p24 2 Minutes Of Your Time Thomas Pook The Hovis Wholesale & Convenience National Account Manager chews over the Bread & Bakery category. p26 Opinion Geoff Ogle The Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland discusses Natasha’s Law. p28 Technology A new promotional vouchering system combines AR tech from Scandit with Jisp’s consumer app. p30 SLR Awards The second Virtual Festival of Excellence that is the SLR Awards 2021 is just around the corner. p32 InAction+ Rockstar The Rockstar brand is helping to drive sales at Premier Broadway Stores in Oxgangs, Edinburgh. p34 Home Delivery Adeil Hussain’s One Stop Motherwell store hits £1m-worth of sales through Snappy Shopper. p36 Franchises The Co-op opens its second franchise store in Scotland, at Aberdeen University. p38 Services PayPoint joins forces with the Department for Work and Pensions to pay claimants with no bank account. p41 Retailer Events Bestway Wholesale’s annual retailer development programme will take place in person this year. p43 2 Minutes Of Your Time Susann Heinz The Kellogg’s Senior Brand Manager says there’s plenty of room for further growth in the booming Cereals category. p44 InAction+ Ferrero SLR works with Ferrero and Musselburgh retailer Dan Brown to highlight how retailers can cash in on the return to impulse. p46 Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns. p62 Under The Counter The Auld Yin sinks his falsers into a cake that looks like chicken.

FEATURES p48 Breakfast A whopping 98% of people eat breakfast, making it a hugely important occasion for local retailers. p52 Diwali The Festival of Lights presents retailers with a great opportunity to grow sales and meet the needs of the many who celebrate the event every year. p58 Adult Soft Drinks Healthier soft drinks are increasingly important to more and more shoppers, something that’s particularly important in the adult soft drinks sector. p60 Halloween Soft drinks is one of the most important and fastest-growing categories at Halloween. www.slrmag.co.uk

ON THE COVER p12 It was business as usual as the SGF Annual Conference returned after a year’s absence due to the pandemic.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

3

News TRADING Stores lose staff to stay open

First Minister introduces Retail Strategy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined the Scottish Government’s legislative priorities for 2021/22, including a Retail Strategy, which aims to help the sector innovate, thrive and support local supply chains.

Sturgeon also revealed plans to revitalise communities through the development of ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’ where essential services can be accessed within a short walk or cycle.

PayPoint helps digitise benefit payments PayPoint Group has joined forces with the Department for Work & Pensions and ClearBank, a cloud-based clearing bank, to pay claimants without access to a bank account. The new initiative, the Payment Exception Service, lets claimants choose

Convenience stores in Scotland stay in business but shed jobs The number of convenience stores with 76% of customers knowing OTHER KEY in Scotland has stayed broadly the their retailer well enough to have STATISTICS FROM THE same in the past year (5,037), but a chat with them, and 82% of REPORT INCLUDE: there has been a loss of 5,000 jobs convenience retailers regularly Q In 2021 colleagues in the in the sector, a new report reveals. involved in community activities. convenience sector worked a The report from the Scottish SGF Chief Executive, Pete combined 9.6 million hours Grocers Federation shows that Cheema, said: “Convenience Q The average store is open for while stores have put a significant stores have played a huge part 14 hours per day amount of effort into staying open in supporting customers and Q Convenience stores provide and staying in business – in 2021 communities through the very local jobs – the average retailers invested a total of £62m pandemic. Retailers have been travel to work time for staff is in their businesses – this has been determined to stay open but this 10 minutes at the cost of jobs. It is likely that has meant that jobs have been Q On average, there are around the jobs losses have been greater in lost. If there has been a positive 4,100 different SKUs sold in a those stores in town and city centre outcome of the pandemic it is that c-store over a year. locations where there has been a people in Scotland have embraced drastic reduction in footfall. shopping locally and we can see In an indication of the move towards shopping that spending in convenience stores has increased locally, average basket spend by customers in markedly. Convenience stores are in a unique position convenience stores rose from £7.46 in 2020 to £10.82 to support customers and communities, and this has in 2021. Community remained at the heart of stores, grown during the pandemic.”

from a range of methods to receive cash payment vouchers.

These can be used to withdraw funds at PayPoint retailers or Post Offices.

Approved sales mechanism for lottery products

BUSINESS COSTS Warning over Minimum Wage and National Insurance hikes

Government hits retailers with ‘double whammy’

The government has greenlit the introduction an approved sales system for National Lottery products. The Minister of State for Media and Data, John Whittingdale, confirmed plans to ensure store staff who are 16 or 17 would still be able to sell lottery products if they are approved by someone over 18.

This reflects the laws already in place in for the sale of alcohol and tobacco.

SRC makes Budget recommendations The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has published its recommendations for the Scottish Government’s 20222023 Budget. The SRC has called for action to stimulate consumer spending and entice people back to city centres, a modest further discount to business rates in 2022-2023, and a rejection of a ban on shops from trading on New Year’s Day.

4

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

Increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance contributions to fund social care could force local stores out of business, the NFRN warns.

The increase in the National Minimum Wage will be announced by the government this autumn and will come on top of a 1.25% increase in National Insurance contributions paid by both employees and employers.

For an employee earning an annual salary of £20,000, the employer and employee will each pay an additional £130 a year in contributions.

The increase in the National Minimum Wage will also cause an

increase in pension contributions being paid.

NFRN National President, Stuart Reddish, said: “The cumulative effect of the NI changes, minimum wage increase, and resultant increases in pension contributions will push more local businesses towards not being financially viable. Every store put out of business will have a detrimental effect on their local communities.

“We can only hope that the government realises the dangers for the independent retail sector and takes the opportunity to relieve at least some of the burden on store owners, as part of the business rates review this autumn.”

WHOLESALERS

CJ Lang & Son refreshes fleet CJ Lang has welcomed the first of 12 new trailers, part of a £1.6m investment in its fleet, to its Dundee distribution centre.

The new trailers incorporate the latest Thermo King A400 Advancer Refrigeration units – improving fuel efficiency by around 30%, significantly reducing CO2 emissions, and they are quieter too.

Later this year the company will also take delivery of four new Scania rigid vehicles and five new Scania tractor units.

Colin McLean, boss of the wholesaler, said: “This investment will support the growth of both our independent Spar retailer business and our Spar Scotland company-owned store estate.”

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

www.slrmag.co.uk

News HOME DELIVERY Snappy Shopper makes key appointments to fuel growth

Snappy Group extends senior team Caroline MacGregor

Lisa Venter

The Snappy Group has appointed Lisa Venter as Group Operations Director and Caroline MacGregor as Chief People Officer to help deliver its growth strategy over the next few years.

Venter will lead the operations function across the group to streamline growth efforts across all departments. She has experience in operational and growth marketing across technology businesses,

including at Skyscanner. Prior to this, she held a variety of brand marketing roles across a wide range of start-ups before her tenure as Chief Operations Officer at Hypergrowth, an EU-based agency specialising in advising start-ups.

MacGregor joins from Philip Morris International where she was Head of Enablement and Change within the Global Talent Acquisition team. She has strong

ONLINE SHOPPING New grocery partnership kicks-off in Glasgow

Co-op teams up with Amazon.co.uk Shoppers in most Glasgow postcodes can now do a full Co-op grocery shop – with same-day delivery – on Amazon.co.uk, if they have a Prime membership.

Co-op on Amazon will initially be available in most Glasgow postcodes as well as surrounding areas including Hamilton and Paisley, before being expanded across the UK in the coming months.

Prime customers will be able to choose from thousands of groceries, including Co-op own-brand, Co-op Fairtrade, and many more national brands.

John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager, said: “Our partnership with Coop is another way for us to provide our Amazon Prime

www.slrmag.co.uk

customers with more choice, value and convenience to shop for their groceries.

Co-op Food Chief Exec Jo Whitfield added: “With convenience at the core of our approach we are committed to finding new ways to expand access to our products and services, and we are delighted to be able to share our products on Amazon.co.uk. Co-op on Amazon will offer shoppers a shopping experience, with ease, speed and choice of great value products, conveniently.”

experience within retail and FMCG businesses including The Co-op, Heineken, and Aegon.

At The Snappy Group, MacGregor will lead on creating a scalable people strategy to deliver the company’s ambitious growth plans with the creation of 400 new jobs over the next three years.

Mike Callachan, Chief Executive of The Snappy Group, said: “We are thrilled to have been able to attract Caroline and Lisa to the team.

They bring a wealth of experience from highly established retail and technology businesses which will be invaluable as we continue to accelerate our growth plans.

“With our fundraise complete, we are well placed to compete in this fast changing market, and are progressing with our recruitment process at pace.”

FORECOURTS

EG Group opens Spar forecourt store in Elgin EG Group has opened a Spar convenience store on its forecourt in Coxton Park, Elgin.

The Shell-branded forecourt, which is situated on the A96 on the eastern outskirts of Elgin, features eight lanes, dedicated parking for shoppers, a drive-thru Starbucks, a Greggs as well as free WiFi, an ATM, PayPoint, and National Lottery. It will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.

The 3,000sq ft store is serviced by CJ Lang & Son and has a host of food-to-go options, including sandwiches, hot and cold rolls, and pastries.

Mike Leonard, Sales Director for Spar Scotland, commented: “The variety of facilities and services the site offers will deliver real benefits for local residents and visitors.”

Price rises looming Food deflation slowed to 0.2% in August from July’s deflation of 0.4%, the fifth consecutive month when food prices fell, new research reveals. The BRCNielsenIQ Shop Price Index for August shows fresh food prices fell for the ninth consecutive month in August, with deflation easing to 0.6% from a decline of 1.0% in July. In addition, ambient food inflation eased to 0.3% in August, down from 0.5% in July.

Scotmid seeks next top Scottish food and drink product Scotmid has teamed up with Scotland Food & Drink to give producers the chance to win one of five promotional listings across its Scottish sites. The local favourites competition is open to all Scottish food and drink suppliers across different product categories. The winning products will be listed for threeweeks in the 2022 trading period.

CJ Lang appoints Morrisons man CJ Lang & Son has appointed Robbie Moore as Head of Trading. Moore joins from Morrisons, where he headed up core grocery for Morrisons Wholesale and M Daily franchise.

In his new role, Moore will identify sales opportunities, promote maximum loyalty, and ensure approved store development activities deliver added value.

#SayThanks to retail workers, SGF asks public Scottish Grocers’ Federation is asking people to express their appreciation for the role convenience stores have played during the pandemic. The SGF has issued the call as part of a campaign after the Protection of Workers Act came into law. The trade body is highlighting the new measures through it’s Don’t Put Up With It campaign, which champions a zero-tolerance stance against trouble in stores.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

5

News STORES New owner puts food-to-go at heart of offer

Spar Dornoch reopens after revamp

Spar Dornoch, in the Highlands, has reopened after a store refresh.

The store, at Dornoch Business Park, is now owned by local businesswoman Nicole Murray, who also owns Spar Ben View Stores in Golspie.

Deals and offers were available to customers for the relaunch, as well as free sampling and 100 goody bags. Customers who visited were also able to enter a free prize draw to win a 24” TV and 2 x £50 Spar vouchers.

Nicole said: “I am so excited to take over the store at Dornoch. It’s been a busy few months re-vamping the store and we hope customers

will like the few changes we’ve made. We have introduced a great food-to-go range with coffee and bacon rolls, as well as Capaldis ice-cream.”

Also available in-store is the lottery, a news and magazine range, ATM, a slush machine, and PayPoint. The store is open Monday-Saturday 6am-9pm and Sunday 8am-8pm.

Mike Leonard, Sales Director for Spar Scotland, said: “Congratulations to Nicole and all the team at both Dornoch and Golspie. We are delighted to be able to support Nicole with the grand reopening at Dornoch and wish her great success for the future.”

POST OFFICE

Central Scotland postmaster joins Post Office leadership team

MASSIVE SAMPLING CAMPAIGN WILL DRIVE DEMAND

POWER UP YOUR ENERGY SALES

The Post Office has appointed experienced postmaster Hithendra Cheetirala as its first Postmaster Director.

Cheetirala been a postmaster since 2015 and runs post office branches in Falkirk and Cowdenbeath and a mobile outreach van. Working in partnership with another postmaster, he also operates a third branch.

The Post Office says Cheetirala’s focus will be on bringing the postmaster voice into the “day-to-day business”.

Cheetirala takes up the role this month on a part-time basis and will take up his role fully in October. His branches will be run by experienced managers while he undertakes the Postmaster Director role.

Morrisons unveils zero waste stores

Spar UK boss named as new ACS chair

Footfall falls

Morrisons is launching six

The ACS has appointed Spar

decline in retail footfall of

zero waste format stores in

UK boss Louise Hoste as its

all regions at -21.2% for the

Edinburgh, which will have

new chair from November. She

four weeks ended 28 August,

the ability to operate with zero

will succeed Central England

compared to pre-pandemic

waste by 2025. The stores will

Co-op CEO Debbie Robinson

figures, according to new BRC-

collect and recycle shop waste,

as chair of the board. Robinson

Sensormatic IQ data. Wales

customer waste, and unsold

has served as chair since

saw the shallowest decline at

food will be offered through

November 2019 and will remain

-16.5%, followed by Northern

the Too Good to Go app. If

on the ACS board. In addition,

Ireland at -16.6%, and England

successful, the ‘zero waste’

the ACS has announced that

at -17.9%. The data shows

store format will be rolled out

independent retailer Ramesh

footfall on high streets declined

across its 498 stores nationwide

Shingadia will continue in the

by 24.8% in August compared

over the next year.

role of vice-chair.

to pre-pandemic figures.

Scotland saw the deepest

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

6

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

News HEALTHY EATING More red tape in pipeline

Scottish Government unveils plan to make eating out healthier The Scottish Government has outlined plans to work closely with the food industry to make eating out healthier in a bid to tackle the obesity crisis.

The Out of Home Action Plan includes proposals for a code of practice for healthier children’s menus and calorie labelling on menus in cafes, restaurants and takeaways.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “We know that by giving people more information, such as the number of calories in meals, empowers people to make healthier decisions when eating out, or ordering in. This plan proposes bold measures on how we can work with the food industry to create sustainable change to reduce harm to people’s health caused by poor diet and excess weight.

“It remains an unwelcome reality that communities experience health, quality of life and even life expectancy differently across our society and the current health emergency has further highlighted the damaging impact of inequality.

The Out of Home Action Plan is a welcome step in working together with partners to reduce

health inequalities and support people to live longer healthier lives everywhere in Scotland.”

The Out of Home Action Plan has been developed following recommendations made by Food Standards Scotland before the pandemic, as a result of actions agreed in the Scottish Government’s 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan.

Food Standards Scotland Chair, Ross Finnie, said: “While we recognise there has been a significant disruption during the pandemic, the rise in take-away and delivery services means it is critical we work with the sector to take steps that support a healthy diet and healthy weight.”

Public Health Scotland boss Angela Leitch, added: “We have a shared national ambition in Scotland to be a country where we eat well, have a healthy weight and are physically active.

“Local take away businesses, cafes, restaurants and others in the out of home sector continue to play an important role in supporting changes that will help improve our diet and in turn maintain a healthy weight.”

Call to cut card payment costs The Association of Convenience Stores is calling for the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) to prioritise reducing the cost of anti-competitive and opaque card scheme fees. The PSR is currently holding a consultation on its

OPERATION 18 MYSTERY SHOP VISITS

help prevent sales to those under the age of 18. Make sure your store is ready and prepared to pass a visit:

TOP TIPS

z Always look at customers to assess their age z If in doubt, ask for ID z Ensure all staff are fully trained to correctly ask for ID at all times REMEMBER: If your store doesn’t correctly ask for ID on 3 separate occasions, you could lose your National Lottery terminal.

draft five-year strategy, which identifies four key priorities.

MSP tours CJ Lang depot Spar wholesaler CJ Lang & Son has been visited by the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, Tom Arthur, who toured its Dundee distribution centre. The minister also met with the wholesaler’s Chief Executive, Colin McLean, and other senior members of its team and staff in the depot.

DRS deadline challenges The British Soft Drinks Association has called on the Scottish Government to consider the challenges with its deposit return scheme deadline. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed an update is due shortly on the implementation timetable for a deposit return scheme in Scotland.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Rules & Procedures apply. Players must be 18+.

246158 TNL ATP Op18 Vertical Ad SLR AW1.indd 1

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR 7 28/07/2021

15:33

News Extra

Scotland Loves local

NewsExtra BREAKFAST IS BOOMING – P48 GIFT CARDS Spar signs up to nationwide scheme

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF Saying thanks. Being kind.

Showing respect. These things can seem a bit trivial but in challenging times they can be vital in helping to maintain mental health and wellbeing.

A hugely significant development during the pandemic has been the launch of the Protection of Workers Act. For the first time we have legislation which specifically aims to provide shop staff with legal protection from assault, threats, and abuse.

With support from the Scottish government, SGF has been running a campaign to pave the way for the Act. In many ways the first phase of the campaign was aimed at ensuring effective enforcement of the Act by encouraging retailers to report every incidence of crime.

In the current phase we are encouraging customers and the wider community to recognise the outstanding contribution c-stores have made during the pandemic by saying thanks to their local retailer. This part of the campaign received massive support from the First Minister at the SGF annual conference.

We have also been asking MSPs to visit their local store to say thanks and highlight their support for the campaign via social media.

Saying thanks to retailers is a very simple thing – and we know 70% of customers know their retailer well enough to chat with them – but within the context of our campaign it is helping to build on the growing recognition of the importance of c-stores and the key role they play in our communities.

The new Act is helping to create a safer in-store environment through legislation, the other side to that must be to create a safer environment through increased respect for – and kindness towards – shop staff.

8

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

Scotland Loves Local to boost local economy by £13m

Gift card initiative has the potential to provide a welcome boost for Scottish towns and cities.

Spar has become the latest retailer to sign up to the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, a gift card for 32 local authority areas of Scotland, powered by payments provider Miconex and backed by Scotland’s Towns Partnership and the Scottish Government.

Businesses across Scotland can register for free to accept the new Scotland Loves Local Gift Card as an additional payment method, as Miconex expands its Town and City Gift Cards concept from 17 areas of Scotland to 32, and to more than 100 places in the UK overall. Town and City Gift Cards can be spent with retail, hospitality, leisure and services, in both national and independent businesses.

Paula Middleton, Marketing Manager for Spar Scotland, said: “The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card aligns completely with our values at Spar. Community is at the heart of everything we do in our stores that operate in rural areas and towns from Gretna right up to Kirkwall. Our staff know our customers as neighbours, and we’re big supporters of local charities, donating over £1m across Scotland since 2013. People have come to appreciate the value of communities even more in the pandemic, and to realise how important local businesses are. For some customers, the only human interaction they had during the pandemic was through visiting their local Spar store or another local business.

“Spar is a national brand with a local approach.

Fifty per cent of the products on our shelves are either produced or distributed from Scottish production sites. It was a no brainer for us to join the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card. It’s a scheme that supports local businesses and local communities, we absolutely knew we had to get involved. Anything that we can do to encourage people to shop locally, support local

businesses through increased footfall, and create positive communities, we have to do, and the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card ticks all of those boxes.”

More than 8,500 businesses are part of the pioneering Town and City Gift Card concept and local gift cards for over 100 places in the UK and Ireland, which can be spent with retail, hospitality, leisure and services, in both national and independent businesses.

Local gift card schemes are injecting more than £4.6m into the UK economy in 2021, according to Miconex, and the initiative has the potential to pump £13m into Scottish towns and cities.

Miconex boss Colin Munro said: “The idea that national and independent stores can not only co-exist but benefit from the presence of each other is not new, and collaboration is a key tenet of the Town and City Gift Card concept. Both national and independent businesses have their place in our towns and cities and contribute to the overall attractiveness of the consumer offering; the loss of a national brand or a much-loved independent can be devastating for an area.

“Customers want diversity in their towns and cities, and creating successful, vibrant, inclusive towns and cities is very much on the government agenda. By participating in the Scotland Loves Local scheme, nationals and independents have a tangible means to unite, collaborate and contribute to the evolution of their town or city.”

In addition, new Gift Card and Voucher Association (GCVA) research has found that gift cards are a key driver in encouraging shoppers back to the high streets.

The survey of 2,000 UK shoppers, conducted by the GCVA as part of its ‘Gift Back’ campaign, shows gift cards will encourage 63% of shoppers to get out and support retail and hospitality venues. www.slrmag.co.uk

Comment

WE NEEDED THIS Don’t get me wrong, the SGF Conference is always a fantastic event to attend and a great opportunity to catch up with a lot of the industry, learn a few things and enjoy a beer and a laugh with some pals. But after a couple of years off and having to settle for a lot of Covid-enforced virtual conferences, it was a genuine pleasure for us all to actually spend some real, quality time together.

I don’t think it’s overstating the case to say that we needed this. As an industry in Scotland, we needed a platform to come together and remember how enjoyable and rewarding it is to catch up with our industry friends and colleagues, many of whom hadn’t seen each other for 18 months. The vibe at the Conference was warm and comfortable and it was evident to me at least that many people were taking their time with each other to share a bit of chat, catch up and just soak it all in. A far cry from the usual speed-dating quick chats with one contact before swiftly moving on to the next contact that might be useful to you.

Aside from the symbol group flat out sales pitches – I’m sorry, but that’s what they were – the presentations were enlightening and a few key themes began to emerge around important trends like tech, sustainability and the overwhelming need to learn from the last 18 months and use what we’ve learned to build a long term legacy for this remarkable sector.

It was clear too from the couple of days of Conference that the world has been thrown up in the air. Everyone is looking everywhere for fresh opportunities, new partnerships, ways forward. There’s no doubt that Covid will have a very long lasting impact on how our sector operates and, indeed, on how it sees itself. Our role has changed over the last year or so and with that change, as with all periods of huge upheaval, comes big opportunities – and big challenges.

The most obvious short time reflection of that is the bun fight developing among the symbol groups as disgruntled retailers weigh up their options. With most retailers buying from wherever they can and few symbol groups willing to clamp down on this promiscuity, there is an interesting period ahead. Of course, the supply chain challenges are industry-wide. Some groups have coped better than others, but all groups have been affected. So it will be interesting to watch what happens over the coming weeks and months and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some high profile defections in the near future.

But to return to the original theme: we needed a good old get together and congratulations to the team at SGF for putting on a great event in the face of enormous challenges.

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

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

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

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

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Circulation Manager Cara Begley 0141 222 5381 | cbegley@55north.com Scottish Local Retailer is distributed free to qualifying readers. For a registration card, call 0141 222 5381. Other readers can obtain copies by annual subscription at £50 (UK), £62 (Europe airmail), £99 (Worldwide airmail).

55 North Ltd, Waterloo Chambers, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6AY Tel: 0141 22 22 100 Fax: 0141 22 22 177 Website: www.55north.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/slrmag DISCLAIMER The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of 55 North Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

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

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

Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

© 55 North Ltd. 2021 ISSN 1740-2409.

10

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

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

Driving a circular economy

Reduced carbon footprint

No Petroleumbased plastic

Learn more: LRSuntory.com/2030plan

Cover Story

SGF Annual Conference

BUSINESS AS USUAL – AT LONG LAST Despite the facemasks, the SGF Annual Conference – back after a year off in 2020 – delivered a familiar mix of thought-provoking speakers, informative breakout sessions and a bustling trade show, all held under the theme of ‘Drawing On Experience’.

BY FINDLAY STEIN

S

o there we were again, back in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza hotel for the SGF Annual Conference. After a year off in 2020, it was as if nothing had changed.

Everything has changed of course, and a minute’s silence at the start of the first day’s presentations to remember those no longer with us because of the pandemic was a fitting and poignant reflection of that.

Held on 16 and 17 September under the theme of ‘Drawing On Experience’, the conference was kicked-off by SGF CEO Pete Cheema who said the pandemic had twisted the UK’s economy into a new shape, in the favour of the convenience sector: “We are more nimble and able to react more swiftly than our larger competitors and that gives us the edge.”

Cheema said trade bodies like SGF had proved their value, by providing a “vital link between government and the industry”.

As the ‘drawing on experience’ theme suggested, much of the conference was decimated to taking the learnings of the last 18 months and using them to help inform the sector’s strategy over the coming months and years.

RETAIL REDEFINED Leigh Sparks, Professor of Retail Studies at the Institute for Retail Studies, University of Stirling gave an overview of the retail sector since March 2020, or “the month the world changed”, as he put it.

Sparks said retailing was “essentially redefined” with an unprecedented split between essential and non-essential, resulting in panic buying, forced localisation and a massive shift to online sales.

As life gradually returns to normal, Sparks said new patterns were emerging – working from home, for example – and predicted the changes would benefit some retailers but challenge others.

SYMBOL SPEAK The conference heard from several symbol groups and suppliers over the two days. Spar Scotland Sales Director Mike Leonard explained how the business has moved from pandemic to pingdemic and beyond, while Jamie Davison, Business Development Director, Bestway Retail, thanked

Exhibitors Barr Soft Drinks Bobby’s Foods Calbee Group Camelot Carabao Energy Drinks Envipco eXpresso PLUS FIFO UK

12

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

Golden Casket GroceryAid Hancocks Healthy Living Programme PayPoint Reformul8 Partnership Republic Technologies Retail Trust

Sentry SIS Shomoo Milkshakes Sielaff Snappy Shopper Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, Tennent’s/C&C Brands Tomra Vertex | WhyWaste

www.slrmag.co.uk

“Devlin recognised the ‘sterling work’ of his predecessor and announced that PGMA membership now offers the opportunity to trade under the Mace fascia.”

Cover Story

SGF Annual Conference

retailers for the “phenomenal job” during the pandemic. He also revealed plans to bring the Bargain Booze and Wine Rack brands into Costcutter stores, although whether that will include Scotland remains to be seen.

Davison also thanked the recently-retired Jim Amabile for his work with PGMA, the SGF’s buying group supplied

by Costcutter, as did Martin Devlin, Amabile’s replacement at PGMA. Devlin recognised the “sterling work” of his predecessor and announced that PGMA membership now offers the opportunity to trade under the Mace fascia.

SMART THINKING Ken Towle, CEO of Nisa, highlighted the importance of business intelligence to the symbol group and touched on the growing use of technology in the sector, in part driven by Covid-19. He also stressed Nisa’s “one size definitely doesn’t fit all” approach to working with its retailer partners.

Kevin Lowe, Head of Store Implementation for Scotmid explained how supply chain challenges last year led to a strengthening of its relationships with its external partners, as the business grew and expanded its network of Scottish suppliers.

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS ‘Pandemic’ aside, the word on everyone’s lips now is ‘sustainability’ and Jamie Crummie, co-founder of Too Good To Go, revealed the extent of the world’s excess food production and how his company’s app can boost the environmental credentials of retailers.

14

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

As well as being good for the planet, Crummie said the app helped retailers by improving sell-through and cutting waste disposal costs, as well as reaching new customers.

Also tackling sustainability was Matthew Gouldsmith, Channel Director for Route to Market for Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, who publicised the company’s drive to have all its packaging recyclable by 2025 and to be plastic waste-free five years after that.

On a lighter note, Paul Kitt, National Apex Service Manager for Bobby’s Foods, revealed there actually is a Bob behind Bobby’s Foods. Kitt is National Manager for the van-based supplier’s Apex service, which he described as a “hassle-free way of stocking your shelves”.

HUMBLED Day two of the conference heard from new SGF President Dan Brown, newly blinged-up in the trade body’s chain of office, which had been formally handed over to him at the President’s Welcome Dinner the night before.

Brown had been “truly humbled” to see retailers and suppliers pull together to feed the nation during the worst days of the pandemic but warned that tough times still lay ahead for the sector, from logistical and staffing challenges, price increases and further legislation.

Day two also saw Pete Cheema present industry veteran and former Booker CEO Charles Wilson with an honorary life SGF membership. Cheema praised his “unbelievable dedication and devotion” to the industry. Wilson said he was “touched and humbled” to receive his SGF blazer. www.slrmag.co.uk

We have sold a retail business every single day so far in 2021* *working days

Buying or selling? Speak to the experts 0141 352 7309 scotland-retail@christie.com christie.com/retail

christie.com

Cover Story

SGF Annual Conference

VIRTUAL VOICES Not every speaker attended the event in person. A prerecorded Jenny Blogg, Camelot Retail Director, promoted the lottery operator’s ‘Site, Stock, Sell’ programme and highlighted the Lottery’s healthy play initiatives.

Another virtual presentation came from Harry Walker, Google’s Industry Head for Retail, who highlighted three trends that will be sustained from the pandemic: that digital will be a key part of every grocery mission, either instore or online; the battle for the last mile; and the disruption of retail by localism.

LOCKDOWN SURPRISE Rupert Lewis, Director of the Tobacco Manufacturers Association, revealed how the Covid crisis had hampered the illegal trade, with travel restrictions slashing cross-border duty free shopping.

However, Lewis said criminals had moved more of their operations online as a result and called on the government to give HMRC and Trading Standards more resources, and for it take tougher action against lawbreakers. “We cannot let criminals bounce back from Covid,” he said.

T he Br eakouts Tomra Mark Brill, Vice President Sales & Marketing, UK & Ireland, Tomra did a good job of not using his slot as a sales pitch for the Norwegian company’s reverse vending machines, although he did mention its M1 machine, which will comfortably sit in a gondola taking up less than 0.6sq m of floorspace.

Brill instead gave retailers a quick refresher of what the scheme will entail and, drawing on TOMRA’s experience globally, predicted that less than 10% of convenience stores in Scotland will actually install an RVM, saying that stores up to 1,000sq ft could get by without one.

PUNISHING RETAILERS In his closing remarks, Pete Cheema praised the agility of local retailers during the pandemic, before warning against the growing threat to convenience retailers from the likes of Amazon, directly calling on the First Minister to address “the larger issue of more legislation focused on punishing physical-based retailers, rather than online retailers”.

Cheema acknowledged the “tragic consequences” of the coronavirus outbreak but said the move to small and local was “the real success story” of the pandemic.

He said the First Minister’s presence demonstrated how valued the sector is at the highest levels of government and ended by giving Nicola Sturgeon a wish list of “targeted interventions” from the Scottish Government.

In response to Cheema, in a keynote address which praised the actions of Scotland’s local retailers during the pandemic on several occasions, Sturgeon admitted that the lack of a level playing field between online and physical retail was an issue that “does require ever greater attention,” while pointing out the Scottish Government’s very limited powers regarding taxation.

Sturgeon also gave her backing to SGF’s recently-launched campaign to encourage colleagues to report all incidents of retail crime, and praised the Federation’s Healthy Living and Go Local initiatives.

In conclusion, she once again expressed her appreciation for retailers: “Thank you so much for everything you have done over this unprecedented incredibly challenging period.

I very much look forward to working with you in the years to come.”

16

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

C&C Brands Martin Docherty and Mhairi Ross, both National Account Managers for Tennent’s parent company C&C Brands, advised retailers to stock the right range for their location, emphasising that a “one size doesn’t fit all” approach is needed.

“Space is key, your fixture needs to work harder, and also you need to rationalise to make sure you have the right packs in your store,” said Ross.

They also stressed the importance of having chilled packs available, stating that 80% of products in the channel are consumed within three hours.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Serving our communities and improving people’s everyday lives since 1859.

www.scotmid.coop

Cover Story

SGF Annual Conference

Envipco Spencer Robinson, Managing Director of reverse vending machine manufacturer Envipco, like Tomra’s Mark Brill, did an admirable job of not trying to sell his company’s products. In fact, his message to retailers was a blunt one: don’t buy an RVM if you don’t need one.

He too summarised how the Deposit Return Scheme will work and predicted that the scheme – already postponed – won’t start on 1 July next year. Instead, Robinson said a further delay of at least nine months to a year was most likely.

Robinson really set the cat among the pigeons when he casually mentioned that – as the scheme stands – you must collect any drink container sold through home delivery at the point of delivery if the customer wishes, free of charge. A “ticking time bomb,” as Robinson put it, and already happening in Germany, where Amazon use DHL to make the pick-ups.

Camelot Camelot haven’t always gone down well with a roomful of retailers for a number of reasons, so the trio of Scott Chisholm, Charlotte Valles and Johnathan Geddes were quick to win the audience over with a bombardment of chocolate coins and free scratchcards in return for hazarding guesses about the value of the lottery.

There was also mention of Camelot’s Site, Stock, Sell initiative to help boost sales and its Retailer Hub, alongside news of upcoming jackpot draws and a new Christmas scratchcard range.

A section on healthy play revealed that some retailers think 16- and 17-year-olds can still legally play the Lottery, and that 56,000 healthy play printouts have been handed to customers this year in Scotland. This sits against a UK total of 300,000 which, given that Scots account for less than 10% of the UK population, seems disturbingly high.

Food Standards Scotland Stephen Hendry ran through the main points of Natasha’s Law, the new legislation that requires all PPDS (Prepacked for Direct Sale) food to clearly display a full list of ingredients with any allergens highlighted.

It’s an extremely important topic for food-to-go retailers and further guidance is available from both Food Standards Scotland and SGF. The FSS website also offers a menu card tool that’s useful for building recipes, listing ingredients and exporting that list to labelling software.

Even if you don’t sell food-to-go, it’s still a minefield. Take morning rolls, for example. It appears that loose rolls on a tray aren’t covered by the law. However, if the retailer bags rolls up – as many do – then it looks like the bags should be labelled.

Hendry sought to soothe nerves jangled by this complex legislation. He hoped local authorities would take “a supportive approach” and that prosecution would be “the last resort”.

18

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

Everything a modern convenience store needs

paypoint.com

PayPoint and Snappy Shopper fast home delivery service PayPoint retailers get 50% off the set-up fee!* Sign up today Scan the QR code or visit snappyshopper.co.uk/paypoint-enquiry-form ** Normal fee £500, discounted for PayPoint retailers to £250. For refund, retailer must exceed £2,000 ex VAT of basket sales in a week within 17 weeks of launch. Further terms and eligibility criteria apply. Please see retailers.snappyshopper.co.uk/terms-conditions/ for more information.

News

Products

Imperial cuts prices Imperial Tobacco has announced a price reduction on some of its leading brands, with he RSP of both Embassy Signature and Richmond dropping to £9.25. Riverstone Roll Your Own Tobacco 30g and 50g has went down to £11.95 and £19.60.

They join recently launched JPS Players Easy Rolling Tobacco in this new price tier. The prices are only recommended, and retailers are always free to set their own.

Mars pulls plastic from pet food packs Mars Petcare has replaced shrink film with cardboard across all mixed multipack cans of Pedigree, Whiskas, Chappie and Kitekat. The switch will see 180 tonnes of plastic removed from the environment every single year. In July, Mars Petcare announced a recycling programme with Pets at Home which saw dedicated in-store recycling points for pet food packaging introduced across 40 UK stores.

Tilda unveils Impact Report Rice brand Tilda has called for honesty, transparency and precompetitive spirit to tackle the climate crisis with the launch of its first-ever Impact Report. As it seeks to be one of the most responsible rice producers in the world, the report maps out the brand’s operations, impacts and solutions for change. Tilda’s commitments are based around sourcing, manufacturing and packaging, with support for communities at its heart.

New York Bakery Co. serves ‘magical’ breakfasts New York Bakery Co. has named Magic Breakfast as its key charity partner and is donating half a million bagels to the organisation to help in the fight against child morning hunger. The partnership will be supported by a dedicated #MakeMorningsMagic campaign spanning PR and social media.

The bagels will be supplied in

Product News LIGHT UP YOUR DIWALI SALES – P52 SOFT DRINKS Rapper fills Stormzy’s shoes as brand ambassador

Aitch steps up for Relentless Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has unveiled a new campaign for its Relentless energy drink brand, fronted by rapper Aitch.

Not to be confused with ‘H’ from 90s bland dance-pop combo Steps – or the criminal mastermind from TV’s ‘Line of Duty’ – the babyfaced artist, who’s already racked up six top 10 hits and collaborated with the likes of Ed Sheeran, succeeds grime star Stormzy as the Relentless brand ambassador.

The #WithoutLimits campaign is spearheaded by a short film in which Aitch imagines what a day without limits would look like in his hometown of Manchester.

This involves a jet-ski joyride on the Manchester waterways, emerging from a limousine flanked

by white doves, and performing a rooftop parkour routine.

Unsurprisingly, there’s no mention of getting back together with Lisa, Claire, Faye and Lee for a quick rendition of ‘Tragedy’.

The film is supported with teaser, behind the scenes clips and other images. The campaign runs across

YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Also available now, shoppers can get their hands on Aitch x Relentless Origin limited edition 500ml cans which feature an onpack promotion offering moneycan’t-buy prizes. Twenty lucky winners will get to enjoy a fan day with Aitch, and ten runners-up will receive Aitch some merch.

Martin Attock, Vice-President, Commercial Development at CCEP, said: “Partnering with one of the top artists on the UK rap scene is something that we know will resonate well with fans of the brand.

“Combined, our #WithoutLimits campaign and on-pack promotion will drive even more shoppers into stores for a can of Relentless.”

CHEESE

Cathedral City refreshes Nibbles

Cathedral City has given its Nibbles snacking line a packaging overhaul in a bid to broaden appeal and recruit new family buyers.

Available now, new packs feature a smiling face in vibrant colours and call out the product’s format and suitability for packed lunches.

Inner bag designs meanwhile invite younger consumers to play and to learn by mimicking the faces portrayed and answering questions on the back of packs.

Alongside the design revamp, the outer bags are now made with mono-polyethylene laminate and can be recycled with plastic bags at large supermarkets.

Neil Stewart, Cathedral City Marketing Controller, commented: “Our ongoing ambition is to build a sub-brand that resonates with cheese-loving families. Our Nibbles product renovation seeks to address this, with a fun, engaging and appealing pack design, combined with a more sustainable packaging solution so that consumers can feel confident that their product choice is helping to support a more sustainable future for the planet.”

Brand owner Saputo Dairy plans to have 100% recyclable consumer-facing packaging by the 2022 financial year.

Stewart said the move to recyclable outer film was “a major step forward for our brand and for the industry” that brought Cathedral City closer to Saputo’s ambition.

SNACKS

McCoy’s goes full on for pack refresh McCoy’s has announced a packaging update across its core range in all formats, highlighting the ridged crisp brand’s ‘full on flavour’ message.

The refresh rolls out from 30 August, with new packaging introduced across Salted, Cheddar & Onion, Salt & Malt Vinegar, Flame Grilled Steak and Thai Sweet Chicken flavours.

Sue Mackay, Marketing Manager for KP Snacks, said: “McCoy’s is a leader in the CSN category, synonymous with strong and full-on flavours. We are really excited to be able to drive this brand reputation even further with a fun packaging makeover.”

new brightly-coloured ‘Magical’ packs exclusive to the charity.

20

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

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

www.slrmag.co.uk

Products

News

Bread bag breakthrough Kingsmill has unveiled a new bread bag to help demonstrate how a circular economy could work for soft plastics. The bag, which features 30% advanced

CONFECTIONERY Celtic and Rangers included in popular promo

Cadbury Match & Win returns

recycled content, is moving

Cadbury’s Match & Win on-pack promotion is back for its fifth consecutive season.

Appearing on packs from August through to November, the promo is bigger than ever with 19 football clubs – including Rangers and Celtic – taking part.

The prize pot has also been expanded: 10 lucky winners will pick up a pair of VIP tickets to matches of their choice as well as – new for 2021 – annual Sky TV packages. There are also a further 500 pairs of match tickets to be won,

made using a technology called

as well as a host of additional prizes including club shop vouchers.

The promo will be supported by a significant marketing spend including POS material, out-ofhome advertising and digital and social media support.

The entry process is the same as before, with shoppers entering a product’s batchcode and barcode online for a chance to win. The entrant will then be given a predicted score for an upcoming game which, if it matches the result, means a guaranteed win.

Kelly Lawrence, Brand Manager for Cadbury, said: “We know shoppers will be excited to be in with a chance of winning this year’s amazing range of prizes, so Match & Win returning marks a huge opportunity for retailers to drive incremental sales.

“To make the most of this, retailers should stock up on participating Cadbury products and make them really visible through PoS and secondary sitings to create some footballing excitement in their stores.”

to recycled material on a 30% mass balanced basis over the next 12 months. The bags are advanced recycling which upcycles used and mixed plastic to create plastic with the same purity and quality as traditional virgin material.

Christmas confectionery Confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has unveiled its range for Christmas 2021, which contains around 600 lines from over 50 global suppliers. The range features new Bonds Candy Stars 140g and Reindeer Jellies 140g share bags, ‘Festive

SNACKS Premium crisps brand helps out hospitality industry

New Tyrrells campaign backs pub charity KP Snacks and its premium snack brand Tyrrells have launched a new promotional campaign supporting the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC).

From September to November, two million special edition packs of Tyrrells crisps will be on sale, with Tyrrells donating £50,000 to the LTC from sales generated.

Running for the second year in a row, the campaign looks to help the on-trade recover from the pandemic by supporting the LTC, which provides essential help across the industry, from financial hardship to mental health.

The nationwide initiative runs across three of the most popular Tyrrells flavours: Lightly Sea Salted, Mature Cheddar & Chive and Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar in 40g singles format (RSP 85p), as well as the new Tyrrells British Beef & Ale. Beth Minch, Brand Manager at Tyrrells, said: “We are incredibly proud to be supporting the LTC for a second year. As a brand, we are committed to supporting further recovery of pubs and bars after such difficult times. We are eager to see pubs get fully back on their feet and are thrilled to be able to contribute to the valuable work of the LTC through this on-pack promotion.”

Mix’ Shaker Cup from Bonds, and Bonds Sweet Sprinkles to go on cakes, milkshakes, hot chocolates, ice-creams and desserts.

Warbies PMPs Warburtons has re-launched its range of price-marked packs (PMPs) to offer the best value to customers and consumers alike. The refreshed range includes three of Warburtons bestselling products: Half White Half Wholemeal and Wholemeal loaves and 6-pack Crumpets. The PMPs are now live in market across Half White

CUPBOARD STAPLES

More gravy, less cardboard from Bisto

Premier Foods has shrunk the amount of packaging used in its Bisto gravy drum in a bid to reduce the brand’s environmental impact.

The height of each drum has been reduced by 8mm, saving 40 tonnes of paper annually.

It sounds simple, but the reduction meant major changes at Premier’s Bisto production line in Worksop.

This included replacing sensors so that the shorter drums could be detected, as well as making changes to the drum’s sealing and capping machines.

From now on, shoppers will receive an additional 20g of gravy granules – approximately six more portions per tub – in packaging that uses less environmental resources. The price per portion is unchanged.

The changes apply to all variants, which include Chicken, Onion, Turkey and Vegetable.

Savan Sabharwal, Marketing Controller for Bisto, commented: “Reducing the size of our drum is a great example of how small changes can ladder up to make a big difference. We’re really pleased to have found a more sustainable solution.”

Half Wholemeal (£1.15) and Wholemeal (£1.15) loaves, as well as 6-pack Crumpets (99p).

Return of the Christmas Carb Killa Grenade is bringing back its high in protein and low in sugar Gingerbread Carb Killa for the festive period. The triple-layered treat features a soft gingerbreadflavoured nougat centre, which is layered with caramel and dark chocolate chips, and covered in milk chocolate, with white chocolate on top. The bar is available now from Booker Wholesale with an RSP of £2.59.

www.slrmag.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

21

News

Off-Trade

Yeastie Boys come to UK World beer and cider distributor KBE Drinks has signed a deal with New Zealand-based craft brewer Yeastie Boys Brewing Company. Initially, the partnership will look to capitalise on the current trend for flavourful yet easy-drinking lagers and pale ales from credible craft brewers. KBE will focus on driving distribution for Big Mouth Session IPA and brand new super drinkable lager, Superfresh.

Tapping into whisky market Scottish firm Birkentree is setting its sights on dram drinkers with the launch of a new whisky accompaniment made from birch water. As an alternative to adding a splash of water to whisky, Birkentree says its birch water’s “unique and subtle composition” naturally complements single malts. Reflecting its premium nature, a 100ml bottle RSPs

Off-TradeNews GO HARD WITH SOFT DRINKS – P60 VODKA £4,000 sparklers up for grabs

Smirnoff launches limitededition diamond giveaway Smirnoff has unveiled a nationwide promotion to win a diamond.

The ‘21 Diamonds’ campaign will offer consumers the opportunity to win one of 21 diamonds, worth £4,000 each, through a limitededition temperature activated bottle or neck collar.

Shoppers must freeze a limitededition bottle or neck collar to reveal an 8-digit code. This must then be entered online to see if a diamond has been won.

The campaign is supported by a £600,000 marketing spend including social media, YouTube

and a video-on-demand TV ad.

The limited-edition bottle has a striking, premium design to reflect the upmarket nature of the promotion and create on-shelf stand-out.

Nick Payman, Head of Smirnoff GB: “The vodka category is highly populated and we are always looking for new and innovative ways to stand out from the crowd. Smirnoff strives to disrupt the category and the new campaign demonstrates that Smirnoff is no ordinary

vodka. We aim to continue to grow Smirnoff ’s share within the vodka category.

“Almost a quarter of spirits buyers are influenced to purchase because the packaging caught their eye – the beautifully designed bottle wrap and neck collar has stand out shelf appeal and aims to entice shoppers to discover the exciting promotion. Our aim is to continue building awareness and grabbing the attention of audiences.”

at £5.95. For wholesale and distribution enquiries, contact

GIN

hello@birkentree.com.

Whitley Neill steps outside with new campaign

‘Beautifully Swedish’

Premium gin brand Whitley Neill Gin has launched a new £1.2m advertising campaign which taps into summer outdoor eating occasions.

The campaign continues the brand’s ‘Time for a Little Luxury’ message, with its Raspberry, Blood Orange and Rhubarb & Ginger gins taking centre stage. The gins are put at the front of mind for summer eating and drinking occasions, while the campaign also emphasises the versatility of the brand’s 12-strong range.

A range of posters and POS materials, as well as assets for social media channels and digital screens, are available to retailers. These feature a host of serve suggestions to inspire shoppers, The campaign goes live this month and will include out-of-home, print, social media and digital activity.

Molson Coors has launched a new campaign for its fruit cider brand Rekorderlig, including its first TV advertisement in four years. The ‘Beautifully Swedish’ campaign will showcase Rekorderlig’s core range and aims to drive awareness of Rekorderlig’s core offering among 20–34-year-olds in city centres across the UK. It celebrates the spirit of Sweden and centres around ‘doing summer like the Swedish do’.

BEER Stout gets sleek makeover

Low-carbon can Budweiser has announced the launch of a pilot to produce a can with the lowest-ever carbon footprint for an AB InBev beer can produced in Europe. The trial will see the production of five million ultra-low carbon Budweiser 440ml cans made using new inert anode aluminium technology and renewable electricity. The cans will be sold across UK retailers as soon as this autumn.

22

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

New look for Guinness Foreign Extra Guinness Foreign Extra Stout has introduced a new look for its 330ml bottle format and 24 x 330ml multipack.

The design refresh gives the brand a modern look and feel whilst paying homage to its heritage dating back to 1801. The new bottle is rolling out across the GB off-trade this month.

The launch will be backed with media investment including paid-for social media, out-of-home advertising and pallet displays.

Guinness Foreign Extra has also partnered with

Caribbean food and lifestyle platform Original Flava to produce a selection of recipes which include the stout as an ingredient.

Neil Shah, Head of Guinness GB, said: “This latest launch marks an exciting time for the Guinness brand as we look to welcome even more drinkers to enjoy the famous stout, and our recent partnership with Original Flava demonstrates how Guinness can also be used in cooking – showcasing versatility, but always amazing flavour.”

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

www.slrmag.co.uk

Off-Trade

News

When is a lemon not a lemon?

Premium spiced gin brand Opihr has unveiled its latest expression, Opihr Black Lemon Gin, inspired by the flavours of

WINE Find a cork to win a share of £30,000

19 Crimes uncorks new campaign

the Middle East and available

Treasury Wine Estates’ 19 Crimes brand has unveiled a major UK marketing campaign – The 19th Cork.

The campaign calls upon the nation to find ‘The 19th Cork’ concealed within one of 210 winning 19 Crimes bottles. Those who find a winning cork will instantly win a cash prize, with a total of £30,000 up for grabs.

The 19th Cork runs until 31 October across the brand’s Red Wine and Uprising varietals and is supported by digital out-of-home, in-store, PR, digital and eventsbased activities.

launching in-store support for

As part of the campaign, 19 Crimes enthusiasts can get inked for free at a pop-up tattoo parlour in Shoreditch, with 18 designs inspired by the 18th century.

Should consumers opt for a secret 19th design, they’ll not only get a bespoke 19 Crimes tattoo but a clue to the location of a winning 19th Cork bottle.

Ben Blake, Head of Marketing for EMEA at Treasury Wine Estates, said: “As the 19 Crimes brand continues to make waves, we are striving to provide its audiences with memorable and engaging experiences that push the

now priced at RSP £23 (70cl).

Quintessential Brands will be both Black Lemon and the wider Opihr range over the coming months. Black lemons are in fact dried limes and add an earthy, tangy flavour.

SWA wins Race to Zero The Scotch Whisky Association

boundaries of the wine category and encourage our consumers to discover more.

“The 19th Cork campaign is a unique, shareworthy concept that we are confident will drive huge visibility and talkability of the 19 Crimes brand.”

has become Scotland’s first trade association to be recognised as a Race to Zero partner in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow this November. The partnership, which was approved by the UN High Level Climate Action Champions, recognises the Scotch Whisky industry’s

RTDs New campaign coincides with launch of new limited-editions

BEER

WKD ramps up Love Island relationship

BrewDog debuts Planet Pale

WKD is highlighting its relationship with Love Island this summer in a series of TV ads, on-pack promotions and on social media.

The brand, which is the Official Alcohol Partner of ITV2 and ITV Hub’s hit show, will be back on TV with a series of adverts showcasing its Love Island association. The adverts feature a group of WKD bottles enjoying life in their very own sun-drenched villa and the strapline ‘WKD coupled up with Love Island; Love it!’

The ads coincide with the launch of two Love Island limited-edition 700ml bottles of WKD Pink. Both are available in regular and – exclusive to independents – £2.99 price-marked packs.

In addition, a co-branded competition gives shoppers the chance to win thousands of exclusive Love Island and WKD merchandise or money off future purchases. The competition runs across 4x275ml WKD Blue (£4.99 PMP only); 10x275ml WKD Blue; 10x275ml WKD variety pack; and 12x275ml WKD Blue.

Furthermore, WKD brand ambassador and former Love Island contestant Chris Tayler will create weekly videos that will be shared with his 1.1 million social media followers.

Carbon negative brewer BrewDog has launched new BrewDog Planet Pale (4.3% ABV), available now in packs of 4 x 330ml cans (RSP £5) and single 440ml cans (RSP £2.25).

The new sustainable beer joins Brewdog’s core range and replaces BrewDog Pale Ale, with a new recipe and stronger brand proposition, which the brewer hopes will generate excitement and highlight its sustainability credentials.

The launch will be supported by a full marketing roll-out, including digital, social media and in-store POS, featuring the strapline ‘Enjoyed Responsibly Worldwide’.

Described as a “homage to the West Coast style,” Planet Pale delivers “sessionstrength fresh grassy hops with subtle tropical tones of pineapple and lime in the background”.

Alex Dullard, Head of Customer Marketing at BrewDog, commented: “We want to make great beer that people love, whilst also being great for the planet.

“With its sub-5% ABV, new BrewDog Planet Pale, offers a solution for retailers that balances session-ability with flavour, providing the sweet spot for this style of beer.”

commitment to robust net zero criteria in line with globally halving emissions by 2030.

Guinness 0.0 relaunches Guinness 0.0 has returned to shelves after it was withdrawn from sale last October. The relaunch is backed with a new marketing campaign, including a brand-new TV advert.

Neil Shah, Head of Guinness GB, said: “We are incredibly pleased to have Guinness 0.0 back on shelves and in pubs and have put in place additional quality assurance measures to make sure this really is the best alcohol-free Guinness possible.”

Market first for Peacock KBE Drinks has announced a new lychee and lime variant for its Peacock cider brand.

Said by KBE to be the first-ever lychee flavoured cider in the UK market, Peacock Lychee & Lime contains sweet lychees which are balanced by zesty lime.

The launch will be supported by consumer PR, social media, and Asian food blogger and influencer activity, and 25p from every bottle sold will be donated to KBE’s charity partners.

www.slrmag.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

23

Inside Business

2 Minutes | Thomas Pook, Hovis

THOMAS POOK It has been an interesting time for the bread category in Scotland over the last year. SLR catches up with Hovis Wholesale & Convenience National Account Manager Thomas Pook to find out more.

HOW IS THE BREAD AND BAKERY CATEGORY PERFORMING IN SCOTLAND AT THE MOMENT?

FACTFILE Thomas’ career started over 20 years ago in Safeway before he moved into field sales roles for British American Tobacco, McBride Cleaning Products, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate Palmolive & CocaCola Enterprises.

He then moved into Key Account management at Clearly Drinks before joining Hovis.

His current role is National Account Manager Wholesale/ Convenience for Hovis and he has been with them since July 2020.

24

Overall Scotland has a decline in sales of pre-packaged bread (-1.9%), but this fall is less sharp than across total GB (-3.0%). Pre-packaged white bread over-indexes in Scotland, but this over-trade has softened slightly in the latest year. Prepackaged white bread, accounting for the largest proportion of sales, is down -2.9% in Scotland. Bread with bits is the star performer in Scotland +4.4. Similarly, the growth of half and half in Scotland is positive at +3.8.

In the medium-term (12 weeks to 14/08/21 vs 12 weeks to 15/08/20), Scotland shows a decline in total pre-packaged bread sales, but this is expected due to the recovery of Covid and lockdowns on a LFL basis.

In Other Bakery, Scotland has a very strong over-trade in plant bread rolls, this performance is driven by round bread rolls, continental breakfast and sandwich alternatives

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THINGS? The Covid-19 Pandemic has helped the Bread category and reinvigorated the sector. With consumers remaining at home over the last 18 months, it has created more in-home dining experiences for the traditional Breakfast/Lunch & Dinner where consumers have enjoyed bread and other bakery items for their meals. The Bakery category has also been supported by the good weather we have had recently, and therefore driven sales of BBQ and related products.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST TRENDS IN BREAD AND BAKERY THAT RETAILERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF? Whilst White Bread continues to be the No.1 category in bread, it is overstocked by many. Bread with Bits is a growing sector and under-represented in Impulse. There is opportunity for both increased sales and margin for retailers in the Seeded and Bread with Bits segments, which attract more affluent consumers. Hovis Original Seed Sensations Seven Seeds 800g is the No.1 Seeded product within Impulse.

Hovis Granary (medium) is No.3 and Hovis Granary (thick) is No.4. Whilst Brown/Wholemeal is in decline we have seen

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

consumers switch to Half & Half style bread, like our Best of Both 750g.

HOW HAS HOVIS REACTED TO THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE LAST 18 MONTHS? We have worked with all our customers to ensure we continue to maintain a good supply chain of our products, using our national manufacturing footprint to ensure our core range is delivered with minimal disruption. We have even launched NPD during this pandemic which has been well received by both retailers and consumers.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CONVENIENCE RETAILING SECTOR TO HOVIS IN SCOTLAND? Scotland is a very important region to us within convenience.

The brand heritage of Mothers Pride Scottish Batch speaks for itself, so it’s great to support Scottish retailers with our range of both Hovis and Mothers Pride.

TELL US ABOUT ANY RECENT OR UPCOMING NPD This year Hovis has worked to continue on our core range recipes, maintaining our great taste, quality and shelf life.

In February 2021 we relaunched Hovis Best of Both with a new true half/half style recipe which has been well received by consumers and has seen our market share grow to be the No.1 brand within Impulse again in the Half & Half sector.

We have launched the 1886 range with our Brand Ambassador Tom Kerridge, initally with two 450g Cob loaves and a 4-pk Premium Burger Bun. What advice would you give to local retailers in Scotland to help them maximise bread and bakery sales?

The bread with bits category is an area to focus on for growth. 400g is also seeing a return as consumers now start back at work, they no longer need a larger loaf for the small/ single family households. As we approach winter also now, don’t forget muffins are a great addition to the range and we offer a good quality English Muffin with Sourdough and a Cheddar Cheese Muffin.

All data NielsenIQ Scantrack, to w/e 14/08/21. www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

Opinion | Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive, Food Standards Scotland

WHAT NATASHA’S LAW MEANS FOR FOOD ALLERGEN LABELLING New regulations in October will help shoppers make much more informed choices about the pre-packed food they buy – and could even save lives, says Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland.

S

tarting in October, British shoppers can expect to see far more detailed ingredient information carried on all the pre-packed food they buy – be that sandwiches from their high-street delis, fresh pizzas from major supermarkets, even small packets of specialist sweets from family-owned local shops.

The most common reason for food recalls now is because of issues around allergens.

Every food and drink business will be required to list every single ingredient used in what the industry calls ‘pre-packed for direct sale’ (PPDS) items, but most importantly, they will also have to clearly highlight any one of 14 core allergenic ingredients they might contain, such as molluscs, gluten, fish and sesame.

PPDS technically covers any food item that’s packaged, so that the contents cannot be altered before being sold to the customer.

Sesame, of course, was at the centre of one of the UK’s highest profile cases of tragic allergic reaction in recent years, when in 2016, 15-yearold Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died after unknowingly eating a baguette which had been made with sesame seeds.

Her devastated family – and others affected by what’s considered by many experts to be a growing national epidemic of intolerances and allergic food reaction – spent the next three years tirelessly campaigning for better laws to protect allergen suffers from serious or life-threatening reactions to food or drink, to ensure we can all avoid such tragedies ever happening again.

‘Natasha’s Law’ now requires all British food businesses to have complete lists of ingredients printed on all PPDS food product labels, before

26

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

they are offered directly to the public, even from market stalls, food trucks, or ice-cream vans.

Food Standards Scotland has always been fully committed to better clarity on food labels, because informed consumers can make better, more informed decisions that help consumers protect themselves.

The new law’s introduction is a massive step ahead for transparency for consumers of the UK’s food labelling requirements.

It makes it quicker, easier and clearer for around 200,000 food allergy sufferers in Scotland to make safer choices when buying their food.

Latest figures suggest there were 567 Scottish hospitalisations due to anaphylaxis in 2020.

If this new law can save just one illness or tragic loss of life from allergic reaction to something in food, it’s legislation well founded.

Of course, we also appreciate this more complete food signposting now required is a step change, and a potentially complicated one, for many Scottish food and drink producers.

Our figures show 11,230 Scottish businesses – the vast majority small to medium companies, but also 265 larger firms – could be directly affected by the legislation and so could face having to foot potential costs of extra facilities or staff to handle the process.

So FSS has for months been working with countless retailers of PPDS products to ensure they are fully supported and guided in making the necessary changes as they transition to this new era of more comprehensive food labelling.

Core to this has been an exhaustive nationwide engagement process to assess the benefits, risks and impacts of this new legislation accurately and economically. www.slrmag.co.uk

Opinion | Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive, Food Standards Scotland

Inside Business

Allergens must be clearly highlighted. In this example, a different text colour has been used.

Buns and cakes produced by local bakers will need their contents roll-called in full.

We have developed a range of products, practical guidance and online resources, including an allergen training package for them to access, and businesses can also use the free FSS MenuCal tool.

It means, for instance, fresh sandwiches prepared and placed into packaging before lunchtime shoppers eventually buy them, or food prepared and packaged which an operator then sells at a market stall, will have to be comprehensively and clearly labelled.

At hundreds of supermarkets, everyday items such as boxed salads packed on site and placed onto a refrigerated shelf prior to sale, will also have to have their ingredients more thoroughly signposted.

Buns or cakes made by local bakers, too, packaged on the same premises before being sold to others, will now have to have their contents roll-called in full.

Essentially, this new law means the complete gamut of Scottish packaged food produce will now be better protected for millions of us, our families, our friends and loved ones, who might have food allergies.

Even one case of an allergic reaction to something hidden within our food, is one case too many.

With it now firmly in place, coupled with more awareness by everyone to what they are eating, and the financial and operational sacrifices being made to comply right now by food companies across Scotland, we are confident that ultimately Scottish lives will be saved as a result.

Recipes can be more complicated than first imagined. This beef burger has well over 30 separate ingredients.

The law also covers confectionery. Every sweet in a pre-packed pick ‘n’ mix must have its ingredients listed.

Geoff Ogle is Chief Executive, Food Standards Scotland www.slrmag.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

27

Inside Business

Technology | Nisa

NISA UNVEILS AR SOLUTION WITH JISP The promotional vouchering system combines augmented reality technology from Scandit with Jisp’s consumer app.

BY LIZ WELLS

N

isa has partnered with retail technology company Jisp to launch augmented reality (AR) vouchering system Scan & Save.

The system combines AR technology from Scandit, a specialist in mobile computer vision, with Jisp’s consumer app. Scan & Save reads product barcodes and presents consumers with exclusive promotions, which 28

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

they can then save and redeem with their mobile phones.

The solution will help brands focus on minimising carbon footprint and waste through reduced need for in-store POS, optimising budgets, improving commerce/communications and growing sales in store. Retailers will also be remunerated for each scan and redemption of the voucher.

Scan & Save will also support brands and retailers’ marketing efforts when postponed HFSS (high in fat, sugar and salt) legislation is eventually enacted in Scotland. Similar rules come into force in England next October. Jisp ensures compliance with these regulations, as the AR vouchers will only appear to those customers that are actively looking to purchase a product in the HFSS category, and allows brands www.slrmag.co.uk

Nisa | Technology

and retailers to hyper-personalise their offers by fascia, location and customer.

The solution will initially be launched in 12 Nisa stores across the UK and will allow customers to exclusively save up to 60% on more than 65 products across the store from leading brands such as Mondelez, PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, Molson Coors, and Nomad Foods.

Julian Fisher, Chief Executive of Jisp, said: “This is truly disrupting technology that will revolutionise the way brands advertise their products in physical stores whilst maximising sales for retailers. With a crowd of marketing and promotional materials taking up space, messaging can be diluted or, at worse, confuse customers. With Scan & Save by Jisp, chosen promotions are delivered directly to consumers’ mobile phones.

“This technology feeds into our suite of solutions such as home delivery, click-andcollect and scan & go, benefitting brands, retailers and consumers whilst at the same time providing fresh opportunities for advertising post-HFSS legislation. We are exceptionally proud to be the first UK company to provide this service to brands and retailers of any size and shape.”

The symbol group’s Sales Director, Steve Leach, tweeted that the technology had received “really positive feedback” from the Nisa retailers that had trialled it. www.slrmag.co.uk

James Taylor, Head of Central Operations at Nisa, added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Jisp to trial this innovative solution through Nisa partners and look forward to seeing how Scan & Save performs and importantly, the response it gets from independent retailers and their customers.

“This initiative from Jisp is another example of how forward-thinking they are as a business and we’re delighted to be able to work with them on such an exciting project.”

Delivering branded promotions at the point-of-sale, Scan & Save will further allow brands and retailers to deliver personalised campaigns where one shopper will receive an

Inside Business

entirely different offer based on their profile and shopping habits in the Jisp app.

Samuel Mueller, Chief Executive at Scandit, said: “Augmented reality is enabling retailers to innovate and evolve their physical stores from being just a traditional point-of-sale to a more engaging experience by displaying dynamic up-to-date information to the customers, thus improving their shopping experience. We are delighted to see the use of our AR technology in Jisp’s industry-first Scan & Save launch, which brings innovation to independent retailers and their customers, while increasing the opportunity for brands to customise their offerings.”

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

29

Inside Business

SLR Rewards 2021

IT’S ALMOST TIME...

DATE:

The second Virtual Festival of Excellence that is the SLR Awards 2021 is just around the corner, so make sure you get the date in your diary and grab a glass of something to help celebrate the stars of what has been a phenomenal year for the sector.

A VIRTUAL FESTIVAL OF EXCELLENCE 27 OCTOBER 2021 TIME:

6PM

W

e are now approaching the home straight for the SLR Awards 2021, with only a few weeks to go before the big reveal. The second annual Virtual Festival of Excellence will celebrate not only the worthy winners on the evening but also the entire sector which has gone to heroic lengths over the last 18 months or to so keep Scotland functioning.

Communities across Scotland have never been more reliant on their local store than they have been during the pandemic. It was an enormous challenge for the entire industry – retailers, wholesalers, symbol groups and suppliers alike – but collectively we more than rose to the challenge. In fact, it’s widely recognised that the independent retailing sector was second only to the NHS in providing the vital services that

everyone in Scotland relied upon during the toughest time in our collective living memory.

So join us on 27 October at 6pm to celebrate our winners and to celebrate the entire sector. It’s never been more vital to recognise and reward the efforts of retailers across Scotland.

We look forward to seeing you on the night – and don’t forget to grab a glass for the traditional SLR Awards toast to Scotland’s local retailers!

REGISTER TO WATCH WWW.SLRAWARDS.COM/REGISTER-TO-ATTEND

Winners Announced A Virtual Festival of Excellence 27 October 2021

TO REGISTER, VISIT SLRAWARDS.COM OR EMAIL EVENTS@55NORTH.COM

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

30

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

IT

NEW

E L B A L I A V A

NOW

Inside Business

In Action+ | Rockstar

KEY SOFT DRINK CATEGORY TRENDS ENERGY Energy is one of the fastest growing reasons to choose a soft drink (Kantar), but shoppers buy energy drinks for a variety of reasons including both caffeinated stimulant drinks and caffeine-free ‘pick-me-ups’.

ON–THE–GO VS TAKE HOME Although packs for drinking at home have grown five times faster than singles (Nielsen) during the pandemic, stimulants grew in both take home and on-the-go (IRI). With lockdown restrictions easing, sales of on-the-go options are expected to accelerate.

VALUE FOR MONEY Understandably, value for money is a key priority for many shoppers in the current climate. Rockstar is available in PMPs for the majority of its range.

32

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

S

timulant drinks are significantly outpacing the soft drinks category as a whole. Stimulants grew by 11.6% in the convenience channel specifically during 2020, doing particularly well in symbols and forecourts, and caffeinated energy drinks are now the number one single-serve drink in convenience (Nielsen).

Following the acquisition by PepsiCo of Rockstar Energy last year, Britvic is now responsible for the brand in Great Britain, and the company is working with retailers to drive stimulant drinks sales even further.

To demonstrate the opportunity for further growth within on-thego soft drinks and the stimulant

market in particular, SLR and Britvic have joined forces to work with Premier retailers Dennis and Linda Williams of Broadway Convenience Store in Oxgangs, Edinburgh. The project will aim to continue the momentum of stimulant drinks as lockdown restrictions ease, and to provide valuable new insights on the category for Britvic and the store team.

With a core range now implemented and some shelf stripping point of sale added to the chiller, Dennis is delighted with progress so far.

He says: “Rockstar is going very well. The price point of £1.19 is very good compared to some of the other products and customers look for it, as it’s a good brand. www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

Rockstar | In Action+

ROCKSTAR ROCKS OXGANGS! The Rockstar brand is helping to drive sales at Premier Broadway Stores in Oxgangs, Edinburgh, as the latest update of SLR’s project with brand owner Britvic demonstrates.

“The flavours have a point of difference, too. Our best seller is the Xdurance Blueberry Pomegranate & Acai.” (This line was on offer at 2 for £2, price marked at £1.19, in Dennis’s store).

He continues: “Rockstar Punched Tropical Guava also goes well. Part of the education for us is that it’s all about keeping the right range. There is a core set of flavours that drive most of the sales, and with Rockstar there are not too many lines to deal with.”

The brand is appealing to a wide range of customers, Dennis reports.

“The appeal is across the board,” he says. “It’s popular with young people, who are on their way to do some sport or just like the taste.

But we also sell a lot to workmen, www.slrmag.co.uk

especially first thing in the morning when they need an energy boost before they start work.

“Overall, Rockstar is a strong brand that people are looking for, with a point of difference because of the flavour choice and the price point, and a manageable range for retailers.”

Adrian Howe, Brand Manager at Rockstar, adds: “We are really excited to work closely with Dennis on this project in order to understand key insights and continue to fully immerse in what is still essentially a new brand for us at Britvic.

“We are looking forward to supporting retailers in Scotland by sharing this insight and key learnings so they too can increase their stimulant sales.”

PLAN YOUR CHILLER To make the most of the energy drinks category, it’s crucial that retailers pay close attention to how they merchandise their range.

Rockstar should be merchandised with other stimulant brands within the energy drinks category, blocked by variant within the leading brands you have on offer. If you have room for four lines from Rockstar then you should lead with the core range of Original and flavours: Q Q Q Q

Rockstar Original Punched Tropical Guava XDurance Blueberry, Pomegranate & Acai Juiced Tropical, Orange & Passionfruit

These represent the must-stocks for retailers and are all available in both price-marked and plain packs in the popular big can (500ml) format, which has proven successful with energy drinkers, seeing +20.1% growth (IRI) as well as 4 x 500ml multipacks for take-home purchases.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

33

Inside Business

Home Delivery | One Stop Motherwell

MOTHERWELL ONE STOP HITS £1M DELIVERIES MILESTONE

Adeil Hussain’s Motherwell store has reached £1m-worth of sales through the Snappy Shopper delivery service.

O

ne Stop franchisee Adeil Hussain is celebrating after reaching £1m-worth of sales through the delivery service, Snappy Shopper, in under 20 months.

Snappy Shopper allows customers to order their favourite products from their local convenience store for delivery from as little as 30 minutes.

Hussain has been offering the service at his store in Airbles, Motherwell, since February 2020. He introduced the service when Covid was closing in, but as a new concept, things didn’t take off immediately and he was fulfilling just a couple of deliveries a day.

However, when the first lockdown happened Hussain says things really changed pace, and he hasn’t looked back. The infrastructure with Snappy Shopper was in place and a couple of orders per day turned into 15. This figure increased each week, to 55 deliveries a day and could run anywhere up to 100 a day. He has now racked up more than 19,660 orders and 800 customers.

Adeil said: “I was very keen to help my local community get their supplies in whatever way helped them the most. We have a lot of elderly people who get their pension from our in-store post office. I was able to chat to them about the delivery options, explaining they could stay at

home and their shopping brought directly to them. We had 80% of people subsequently take up the service.

“It hasn’t just benefitted the elderly; many people have been shielding or can’t get out so easily. We deliver to mothers with young children, or people who work from home and can’t run down to the shops.”

Hussain says that even though lockdown has finished, customers keep returning. He said: “This service gives people the freedom to browse.

They can look online, see what’s available and take advantage of the offers and promotions, so they can do a more thorough shop. It’s about creating a sense of normality for them.”

He works hard to make the Snappy Shopper delivery service a success and, as well as talking first-hand to his loyal customers, he also uses social media to help spread the word. Hussain said: “At certain times of the year Snappy Shopper provides us with a map of where sales come from. This then enables us to target areas where we’re not so busy and can let potential

customers know what’s available and that we’re there for them.”

John Miller, Head of Franchise at One Stop, says lockdown has shown what the future of convenience retailing looks like and how customers are preferring to shop. People are working differently; needs are changing and convenience is ever more in demand, he says.

Miller added: “This is a fantastic milestone for Adeil and his team and shows how hard everyone has worked to achieve such profitable sales, whilst, at the same time, helping so many in the community.

“At One Stop we are committed to providing our franchisees with opportunities like this and work with a number of delivery partners to get our products out to our customers. We spoke with Adeil as far back as 2017 about a home delivery service but the pandemic accelerated this and continues to provide an ideal way for many people to shop. Congratulations to Adeil for harnessing this enormous growth area and showing what can be achieved.” www.slrmag.co.uk

Recipes

Lunchbox Pasta Salad

king Cooth wi

See reverse

na Bana ers p p i D aration: 5 inmsins

n

taria

vege

ush n, cr on s spoo of a ranflake d ack b s an the b es and raisin sing ak ce U fl 1. rn s. Pla s. the coate plate e plate at each nts separ n separ slice o edie anas and sing a ne nuts Ingr er o g) Ban anas s. U Butt (320 e ban e piece utter on anut b el th unch . Pe into thre peanut anana. g) Pe all b s 2 0 e (8 Sm ak b s •4 one spread ce of oon ran Fl e , ie blesp es 6g) B in th n knife f each p Flak ana ns (1 e • 2 Ta o rn o an o it o b d u C ts th f Fr en g) blesp r nu ce o ixed s (12 • 2 Ta h pie , fruit o ed M oon ) Dri uts ip eacd cereal blesp g N D 0 .

Ta d (3 3 pe •2 ushe oon hop cr sp C ) le b e.

(30g • 1 Ta serv oon blesp • 1 Ta for n

1.00 Prep ng: 0 m under £ s ki Coo s 4, cost e Serv

od Meth

vega

the ping te y dip ri enjo ir favou will e Kids as in th n bana gs! in topp

ient ingred each er claim e label of y Dis th Allerg s check s.

Alway y warning allerg

n atio form al In Fat ition gy Nutr 0g Ener 14.8 d on Base e gl a sin g of in serv 122g

00 288. s kcal kJ 1209

Salt r

s rate Satu g

3.30

Suga

0g 24.8

g 0.40

sy of urte es co Recip

ub nt Cl Pare

vegetarian

for full recipe

Inside Business

Co-op Franchise

CO-OP OPENS SECOND FRANCHISE STORE IN SCOTLAND The University of Aberdeen’s campus store has undergone a £300,000 refit.

BY LIZ WELLS

T

he Co-op has teamed up with the University of Aberdeen to transform the existing campus store and relaunch it as Scotland’s second Co-op franchise store.

The store, located in the Hillhead Student Village, has undergone a £300,000 refurb.

Shoppers are now able to stock up on essentials and find new everyday favourites, with a widerange of bakery products, food-to-go, hot food, an enhanced chilled, fresh and frozen range, meal ideas, award-winning wines, ready meals and pizzas, free-from, vegan and plant-based alternatives, and Fairtrade products.

The store also has a Seattle’s Best coffee machine and self-service tills for further ease, speed and convenience. In addition, students who have a Young Scot or TOTUM card will receive a 10% discount.

36

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

Calum MacLachlan, Head of Commercial Services at University of Aberdeen, said: “Co-op is the perfect partner for the Hillhead Student Village complex. The quality, convenience and values of Co-op resonate strongly with the student population and I’m delighted to be amongst the first UK universities to be partnering with the Co-op on campus.”

Franchisee ORL Group, which also operates the Co-op at Stirling University, added: “The store has been rejuvenated and rebranded following a £300,000 investment and now features an in-store bakery, hot food and a wide range of fresh and student focused meal missions.

“We’re really excited to welcome the students of the University of Aberdeen to our brand-new store and look forward to continue exploring new opportunities with the Co-op.”

“We’re really excited to welcome the students of the University of Aberdeen to our brand-new store and look forward to continue exploring new opportunities with the Co-op.” 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

Cash Payment Vouchers | Services

Inside Business

DIGITAL BENEFIT PAYMENTS VOUCHERS TO DRIVE STORE FOOTFALL

Claimants can now choose from a range of methods to receive payment vouchers that can be used at PayPoint retailers and Post Office branches.

P

ayPoint Group has joined forces with the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) and ClearBank, a cloudbased clearing bank, to pay claimants without access to a bank account.

The new initiative, the Payment Exception Service, enables each claimant to choose from a range of methods to receive their cash payment vouchers. These can be used to withdraw funds at any one of 28,000 PayPoint retailer outlets or 11,500 Post Offices.

Secure digital voucher platform i-movo, part of the PayPoint Group, receives BACS and Faster Payments and translates these into secure digital vouchers, which are issued in real-time using the customer’s chosen delivery method. www.slrmag.co.uk

These include text messages, a unique barcode that can be displayed on a smartphone, a PDF delivered by email or a re-useable magnetic stripe plastic card. The service also offers customers online access to their payments history, while a helpline service provided by PayPoint is also available.

Nick Wiles, Chief Executive at PayPoint, said: “Through this new service, the unbanked will be able to receive their benefit payments simply, safely and conveniently, just like those who do have access to a bank account.

“Fundamental to its success is i-movo’s leading secure digital voucher technology. By drawing upon its experience of the last three years, we have worked with DWP to deliver an

innovative solution that brings new benefits to all stakeholders.”

Charles McManus, Chief Executive of ClearBank, added: “Today it’s imperative that everyone is able to access the benefits of digitisation. We believe digital financial services offer an unmatched level of convenience that is crucial in ensuring no-one is left behind as we advance towards a digital-first future.

“This new service is an important step forward in providing help for vulnerable claimants – one that we are honoured to be a part of – and is testament to the vision of i-movo, PayPoint and the DWP. We’re looking forward to continuing this collaboration, using the latest financial technologies to help those that need it the most.”

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

39

Bestway | Retailer Events

BESTWAY RETAIL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME RETURNS

Bestway Wholesale’s annual retailer development programme will take place in person this year.

T

he Bestway Retail Development Programme 2021, which is designed to help retailers accelerate growth within their businesses, will be held face-toface this year, including in Glasgow at the Hilton on 12-14 October.

The two-day event comprises a day of seminars and a day-long trade show, which offers an opportunity for Bestway’s retailers to meet suppliers and learn about emerging trends, new products and sample these first-hand.

Independent retailers who attend the development seminars are also eligible to enter

the annual Bestway Retailer Development Awards. They will have six months to put into practice what they learn at the seminars with the support of suppliers and their Bestway development managers.

The winning retailers are selected based on their professionalism, implementation of advice received, and sales figures that demonstrate the improvements they have made. The winners will be unveiled at a glittering awards ceremony held in London in May 2022, where the lucky winners will receive a share of the £50,000 prize fund.

Inside Business

“We are pleased to be hosting this years’ programme in person as we know our retailers have missed the direct contact that this scheme affords them alongside the opportunity to connect with each other and our suppliers.”

Dawood Pervez, MD of Bestway Wholesale, said: “Further to the changing of regulations, we are pleased to be hosting this years’ programme in person as we know our retailers have missed the direct contact that this scheme affords them alongside the opportunity to connect with each other and our suppliers.

“Together, we talk about best practice and emerging trends, we share insights and suppliers present new products for the future. Learning from each other and collaborating together is a powerful force that delivers back great value, which in turn helps drive growth and upsell.”

A VIRTUAL FESTIVAL OF EXCELLENCE REGISTER TO WATCH WWW.SLRAWARDS.COM/REGISTER-TO-ATTEND

Winners Announced 27 October 2021

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EVENTS@55NORTH.COM

WWW.SLRAWARDS.COM

@SLRMAG

Inside Business

Senior Brand Manager, Kellogg’s UKI | Susann Heinz | 2 Minutes

SUSANN HEINZ Lockdown has helped drive growth of 9.1% in cereals in convenience and there’s plenty of room for further growth, says Susann Heinz of Kellogg’s.

HOW ARE BREAKFAST CEREALS PERFORMING IN CONVENIENCE? Cereals within Convenience were worth £235m in 2020, with the channel growing ahead of the total market at 9.1% vs 7.2% thanks to more consumers shopping locally during lockdowns, especially for top-up missions. In the past year, the Cereal category has gained share of +0.3ppts within Convenience, with Kellogg’s growing ahead of this at +0.6ppts. To put this into perspective, 70% of sales came from the top 40 products and Kellogg’s accounts for 39.5% of these, with Crunchy Nut being our biggest brand [IRI, Dec 2020].

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE CATEGORY WITHIN AFH? At the height of the pandemic in April, 74% of Kellogg’s Cereal growth in Convenience came from new shoppers entering the category and Crunchy Nut saw +1.4% penetration growth from Convenience alone [Kantar, Aug 2020]. This is no surprise considering that during the pandemic 29% of consumers began using their local corner shop, with 41% saying they want to continue doing so after [Hubbub, Apr 2020]. As a result, Symbols & Indies benefited from a surge in sales of large pack cereals, with most coming from shoppers that were buying cereals in their local store for the first time [Hubbub, Apr 2020].

WHAT ARE THE KEY TRENDS? In 2020, taste became an even more important purchase driver, prompting growth in Everyday Family Cereals, with brands such as Crunchy Nut adding a substantial +£6.5m RSV to the Convenience channel [IRI, Dec 2020].

The main mission in a convenience store is usually a top-up shop, which increased in relevancy as shoppers visited their local store more frequently and basket size expanded. But there was also a rise in consumers using stores to do their full shop. As we return to normality, frequency has dropped but with more people www.slrmag.co.uk

working from home, the top-up shop mission remains hugely important.

WHAT’S NEW? Our new Crunchy Nut Bites cereal launched this summer, comprising crunchy cereal pillows filled with a smooth nutty filling, with flavours of hazelnut and honey. Sales of Crunchy Nut, our flagship taste brand, increased by +26% in 2020, with nut-flavoured cereals worth £205m, having grown in popularity by +14% at a total market level [IRI, Dec 2020].

With this launch we are bringing the nutty taste profile to a new, growing food format for our best-selling cereal brand.

HOW SHOULD RETAILERS STOCK THE RANGE TO MAXIMISE FOOTFALL, SALES AND PROFITS? A great starting point would be to make sure they’re stocking all the recommended best sellers and use NPD to drive incremental sales. It’s also a good idea to group similar products together (i.e., chocolate/flavoured, plain, health, muesli and granola etc.) to make it easy for shoppers to find what they’re looking for. Cereals are best located next to categories such as tea, sugar, bread and canned foods, with on-the-go cereals merchandised next to other on-the-go breakfast products like cereal snacks or fresh fruit, or next to a coffee machine. Using the recommended PoS material is another great way to grab shopper attention and grow sales.

We created www.KelloggsVantage. co.uk to help retailers maximise sales and get the most out of their cereal fixture. It features a range of advice tailored to store type and size, providing detailed advice on demographics, priority locations, as well as suggested must stocks and merchandising advice, including planograms.

For further information, please visit www.KelloggsVantage.co.uk or contact Publicasity on Kelloggs@publicasity.co.uk.

FACTFILE Susann Heinz is the Senior Brand Manager for Kellogg’s UKI, responsible for the Adult Taste portfolio which is worth £200m RSV and includes Kellogg’s #1 cereal brand Crunchy Nut and its latest innovation, Crunchy Nut Bites.

Before joining the company three years ago, Susann worked as Innovation Brand Manager for Muller Dairy in the UKI and Italy.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

43

Inside Business

Ferrero | InAction+

A return to impulse

Stores across Scotland are welcoming back shoppers on the school run and on work journeys in increasing numbers post–lockdown, and impulse confectionery is set to benefit as a result. SLR is working with Ferrero and Musselburgh retailer Dan Brown to highlight how retailers can cash in on the return to impulse.

O

ne of the most significant changes to shopping patterns experienced by retailers during the past 18 months has been a switch from on-the-go purchases to larger take-home packs in traditionally impulse-driven categories such as confectionery.

As circumstances have forced shoppers to spend more time at home, many have opted for multipacks and larger formats of confectionery to share with loved ones or to enjoy their treats throughout the week instead of their usual impulse items. Furthermore, changes in purchasing patterns such as the growth of online shopping have seen a reduction in off-

44

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

shelf display opportunities and promotions on confectionery lines.

However, products such as confectionery retain strong appeal for impulse purchases, meaning there is a big opportunity to grow this category once again now that lockdown restrictions are easing.

To evaluate this, SLR is working with Ferrero and Musselburgh retailer Dan Brown of Nisa Pinkie Farm to explore opportunities to boost the impulse confectionery category once again, particularly when it is stimulated by new product development.

Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero, comments: “Now that people www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

InAction+ | Ferrero

are beginning to return to routines of old – commuting to work, seeking out quick meal deal solutions and little treats for occasional enjoyment – retailers should aim to re-engage shoppers with the confectionery category by stocking the brands they know and love in single formats which are ideal for on-the-go occasions.”

He continues: “The overall trend during lockdown within confectionery was shoppers’ desire to treat themselves and buy more premium lines. Products from brands such as Kinder and Duplo offer exactly that, as they are ideal for those shoppers who are looking for treats to enjoy occasionally whilst on the go.

In fact, when buying chocolate in convenience stores, shoppers are most likely to be buying for themselves (Toluna Surveys), so it is especially important to stock brands which cater for these self-treating occasions.”

Boorer adds: “We’re looking forward to working closely with Dan on this project, as well as further supporting retailers in Scotland by sharing insight and key learnings for their confectionery fixtures. We want to encourage the revival of the impulse sector, which in turn

will drive confectionery sales as a whole, by recommending key product and merchandising opportunities.”

To kick the project off, Dan and the store team merchandised key Ferrero lines within the impulse confectionery section at Pinkie Farm, including some new products such as Kinder Cards, Duplo and Kinder Surprise Natoons lines.

The initial reaction from shoppers was really positive, Dan reports.

“There was definitely a lot of interest,” he says.

“The new lines went particularly well, especially the new Kinder Cards and some of the Duplo lines that we hadn’t stocked before.

“The stock sold through really quickly – within a week or so of it going out. We are reordering them and are going to keep the new lines in stock going forward as a permanent line.

“Impulse sales are picking up for sure. The school run and work run missions had been a bit lost before but you can definitely see them coming back now. We are seeing a lot more people in the store now.”

Keep an eye out for a further update in future issues of SLR.

NEW BRAND HIGHLIGHTS KINDER SURPRISE NATOONS Kinder Surprise has launched a new licence for its eggs this month, featuring a range of animals from North America. The new licence, called Natoons, will be available across both single and multi-pack Kinder Surprise eggs catering for on-the-go, solo treating and at-home sharing consumption. The Natoons range will benefit from a £3.2m media spend including a TV advert, currently running, that focuses on the new range.

KINDER CARDS Ferrero has expanded its biscuit range with Kinder Cards, now available in the UK following outstanding performance of the range in Ireland, Italy, Germany and France.

Kinder Cards deliver the distinctive milk and cocoa taste the brand is known for, between two thin wafers and with a creamy filling. The UK launch will be supported by a £1.82m media investment, which includes a TV campaign.

DUPLO Ferrero has also reinvigorated the chocolate biscuit category with the launch of a new hazelnut and milk chocolate biscuit bar, Duplo. The biscuit bar features two layers of crispy wafer, sandwiched between a smooth hazelnut centre and coated in milk chocolate. Available in a variety of formats, the 18.2g single pack is ideal for shoppers who are looking for a delicious on-the-go treat.

www.slrmag.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

45

Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch

Tootsie Roll Hancocks Hancocks has bagged the UK rights to the legendary American Tootsie Roll sweet. Tootsie Roll is a chewy chocolate flavoured candy, which has remained unchanged since its launch in 1896. It comes as the original Tootsie Roll, Tootsie Mini Bites Theatre Box and Tootsie Peg Bag with individually wrapped candy. Hancock’s will also distribute Tootsie Fruit Chews, Charms Fluffy Stuff, Charleston Chew, Junior Mints and Junior Caramels.

Pot Noodle Fusions Unilever This new range is designed to cater to the more experiential shopper and offer a new flavour experience.

A trio of Asian-inspired flavours – Katsu Curry, Chili Chicken and Thai Green Curry – is available now in 100g packs with an RSP of £1.39. Furthermore, to cater to the three out of four shoppers now looking for plant-based ranges in the category, the Pot Noodle Fusions range is EVU vegan validated.

Lucozade Alert Suntory B&F GB&I Lucozade is adding something new to soft drinks chillers this month with the launch of Lucozade Alert: a new stimulation drink range that contains naturally-sourced caffeine and vitamin B3. It is available in Tropical and Cherry flavours in cases of 12 x 500ml cans (RSP £1.55). £1.39 price-marked packs will also be available. The launch will be supported by PR, digital and social media advertising.

46

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

Get ready for... Kurkure

Kurkure, one of the biggest snack brands in India and Pakistan, has launched in the UK. Kurkure is a brand of corn puffs with a masala twist, developed and produced by Pepsico India, and is named after the Hindi word for crunchy. The snack, which originally launched in 1999, is popular with adults and children alike.

In the UK, the brand is launching in two flavours: Naughty Tomato and Masala Munch.

The roll out of Kurkure in the UK began at the end of August. Both flavours will be available in 100g packs with an RSP of £1 and in 80g £1 price-marked packs.

Pepsico believes the brand will bring the rich heritage of Asian cuisine to tea-time savoury snacking, an occasion that will be more popular as the country comes out of lockdown and people invite guests round more readily.

Fruit Salad Creations Valeo Snack Foods This addition to the Barratt range consists of an assortment of juicy, fruit-shaped gummies that encourage the eater to experiment with their own flavour combinations.

Fruit Salad’s two signature core flavours of pineapple and raspberry are joined by blackcurrant and orange. The sweets are made with 30% fruit juice, natural colours and flavourings, and are suitable for vegans.

Available now in 160g packs, RSP £1.

Dr Akash Beri, Research Senior Scientist within Global Flavour at PepsiCo, said: “We have spent the last 18 months recreating the delicious fusion of rich spices and fragrant herbs for the UK market. I am extremely proud to be part of the team that was been able to bring these exciting authentic flavours to the wider UK market.”

Josephine Taylor, Senior Brand Manager at PepsiCo, added: “We are thrilled to be introducing such a popular and authentic Asian brand to mainstream British culture, an opportunity to celebrate a multicultural Britain. And we don’t want to stop here – we’re already developing an exciting innovation pipeline to continue the momentum beyond its UK debut. The launch comes at the perfect time with Diwali on the horizon, allowing UK shoppers to celebrate together.”

Walkers BBQ Beef Teriyaki Sensations PepsiCo Inspired by Japanese cuisine, the new variant blends the flavours of rich barbecued beef, sweet soy sauce, garlic, and fiery ginger.

The launch looks to capitalise on growing demand for BBQ, which is currently the fastest-growing flavour profile in the Salty Sharing segment (+37%).

Sensations BBQ Beef Teriyaki is available now at an RSP of £1.99 for a 150g sharing pack.

The Good Baker Dr. Oetker This new frozen pizza range offers healthier ingredients and is also big on sustainability. It consists of four varieties: Margherita; Veggie Mix; Meat-Free Bolognese; and Spinach & Pumpkin Seeds. All are meatfree, fully HFSS compliant, some provide a source of fibre, others provide a source of protein and all feature no artificial flavours, with no added sugar. They all come in fully recyclable packaging.

RSPs are £3.69, except for Vegan (RSP £4.19).

www.slrmag.co.uk

Product News & Media Watch Chewits Cloetta UK



Snickers Hi Protein Crisp Mars Chocolate Drinks & Treats

Chewits has expanded its stick pack ranges with four new flavours, available now: Blue Raspberry (30g), Cherry (30g), Sour Lemon Xtreme (34g) and Sour Cherry Xtreme (34g). All RSP at 49p and all are suitable for vegetarians. The new flavours are available to Nisa and Spar retailers, as well as from Bestway, Unitas and Sugro.The launch is supported with a social media campaign.

Mars Chocolate Drinks & Treats is adding a new line to its range of Snickers branded protein bars.

Snickers Hi Protein Crisp contains 20g protein and 217 calories, and combines crispy pieces, Snickers nuts, nougat and real milk chocolate. It will be the fourth protein bar to launch under the Snickers brand and follows on from Snickers Hi Protein White Chocolate bar which launched earlier this year.

Hotlines

Hard and long lasting A new seven-figure campaign for Fox’s Glaciers takes inspiration from the brand’s ‘Satisfyingly Long Lasting’ tagline. A new TV ad takes the experience of successfully skimming a stone and makes it into a longlasting triumph. Launching this month, the campaign will run on TV, video-on-demand, out-of-home, press and social media.

JET’s yellow world Golden Wonder Even More Fully Flavoured Tayto

Frubes Halloween Packs General Mills

Golden Wonder’s new ‘Even More Fully Flavoured’ range of £1 PMP sharing packs rolls out in three flavours: Mature Cheddar & Spring Onion, Chargrilled Steak and Crispy Smoked Bacon. The launch will be supported with a digital campaign, a national ‘Share & Win’ competition and trade marketing support. In cash & carrys from 26 September.

Frubes has launched its first-ever limited-edition Halloween ‘spooky’ pack design and gift-in-pack prom.

Available from October, the 9 x 37g Frubes Variety Pack has an RSP of £2. Kids will be able to collect one of three spooky stickers which are hidden inside, and a cut-out mask also features on the back of packs.

Flavour names have changed to Ghoulish Strawberry, Howling Red Berry and Scary Peach.

‘Yellow World’ is a series of eight short, stylised films designed to highlight the services the fuel brand provides for its customers. The films, including a slinky on a treadmill, will roll out over the coming months across social media channels including: TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram, as well as Sky video-on-demand.

Tomato first Kraft Heinz has poured £1.5m into a new campaign for Heinz Tomato Ketchup called ‘Ketchup. But First, Tomato’. The campaign runs across TV, video-on-demand and outof-home, as well as digital outlets including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

It is expected to reach 40 million people – 83% of all UK adults.

Cooking up a storm Tyrrells British Beef & Ale KP Snacks Available now, in 40g single packs with an RSP of 85p, this new beefy variant taps into a growing consumer demand for meaty flavours in crisps and snacks.

Designed to be “the perfect accompaniment to your chosen drink”, Tyrrells says the new crisps “provide consumers with a favourite pub classic in a delicious snack form”.The Tyrrells brand currently has a retail sales value of £55.4m and is growing at over 10%.

Cathedral City Extra Mature Grated Saputo Dairy UK Extra Mature joins the existing range Cathedral City grated range of Mature and Mature Lighter variants, and is available in a 180g re-sealable pack. The launch comes in response to a 17% growth of the grated cheese sector in the last year, driven by demand from busy consumers.

Within this sector, Extra Mature has outperformed other grated variants with 26% growth.

Soy sauce brand Kikkoman has unveiled a new advert that hits screens this autumn.

‘Cook it up with Kikkoman’ sees the sauce used in a wide variety of dishes and not just Asian food. The national campaign will target a younger ABC1 audience, running from 18 October for four weeks on TV, as well for six on video-on-demand.

Yakult on mission To coincide with the 25th anniversary of its launch in the UK, Yakult’s new campaign, ‘Yakult. The Little Bottle on a Mission’, aims to recruit new drinkers into the brand, whilst strengthening its wellbeing positioning within the category. The campaign includes new creative content for TV, radio, print, outdoor, digital and PR.

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

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

47

Feature

Breakfast

BREAKFAST BOOMING Virtually everyone eats breakfast, making it a hugely important occasion for local retailers. With more people working from home now, it’s vital to get your range right to meet this increased demand.

MAGIC BREAKFASTS The UK’s number one bagel brand, New York Bakery Co., is donating half a million bagels to join the Magic Breakfast charity in the urgent fight against child morning hunger. In partnership with Magic Breakfast, a total of 500,000 authentic New York style bagels will be sent to children who are most at risk of starting their day hungry.

Without a healthy, filling breakfast, a child’s ability to learn is significantly reduced, which in turn can have a devastating long-term impact on their future.

Magic Breakfast works with over 1,000 partner schools in disadvantaged areas of the country, providing nutritious food to around 170,000 children each school day.

48

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

B

reakfast, the most important meal of the day and one enjoyed by 98% of the population, according to Kantar.

That makes it an enormous market for local retailers, whether that’s a breakfast on the go or a traditional box of cereal at home with the family.

It won’t surprise many to learn that the cereal category has enjoyed a strong 2020 in convenience, as many categories did. The category grew 9.1% in convenience [IRI, Dec 2020] as more consumers shopped locally during lockdowns, especially for top-up missions. Among the big winners was Kellogg’s.

“Some 70% of sales came from the top 40

products and Kellogg’s accounts for 39.5% of these, with Crunchy Nut being our biggest brand [IRI, Dec 2020],” says Susann Heinz, Senior Brand Manager for Kellogg’s UKI. “At the height of the pandemic in April, 74% of Kellogg’s cereal growth in convenience came from new shoppers entering the category and Crunchy Nut saw 1.4% penetration growth from convenience alone [Kantar, Aug 2020].

“Symbol stores and independents benefited from a surge in sales of large pack cereals, with most coming from shoppers that were buying cereals in their local store for the first time [Hubbub, Apr 2020].”

To keep that momentum going, Kellogg’s recently launched Crunchy Nut Bites, comprising crunchy cereal pillows filled with a smooth nutty filling, with flavours of hazelnut and honey. Sales of the Crunchy Nut flagship taste brand increased by 26% in 2020 so Heinz’s hopes are high that the new product will find a ready audience – and retailers will see the benefit in the till.

With cereals, it’s always a good idea to make sure that you have the basics right. Heinz recommends that retailers make sure they’re stocking all the recommended best sellers and use NPD to drive incremental sales.

“It’s also a good idea to group similar products together (i.e., chocolate/flavoured, plain, health, muesli and granola etc.) to make it easy for shoppers to find what they’re looking for,” she adds. “Cereals are best located next to categories such as tea, sugar, bread and canned foods, with on-the-go cereals merchandised next to other on-the-go breakfast products like cereal snacks or fresh fruit, or next to a coffee machine. Using the recommended PoS material is another great way to grab shopper attention and grow sales.”

Kellogg’s has also created a website – KelloggsVantage.co.uk – to help retailers maximise sales and get the most out of their cereal fixture. It features a range of advice tailored to store type and size, providing detailed advice on demographics, priority locations, as well as suggested must stocks and merchandising advice, including planograms. www.slrmag.co.uk

Breakfast

Last year also saw a marked rise in shoppers treating themselves to something a little special a little more often, quite understandably, and one brand benefitting from that at the breakfast table is Nutella.

Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero UK & Ireland, says: “Breakfast is one of the fastest-growing areas of the food market, with consumers taking a vested interest in not only what they consume and how they prepare their meals, but how the end result looks too. The popularity of the ‘Instagramable’ meal, particularly brunch, is helping to evolve traditional morning meals as consumers look for versatile ingredients – such as Nutella – to add a layer of excitement and visual appeal.

“We’re conscious that for many shoppers, family breakfasts still need to be quick and easy.

Convenience is still a priority for many, so ways that shoppers can enhance their first meal of the day without investing a great deal of time are appealing. A key strength of Nutella is its versatility, helping shoppers to transform dishes, adding flavour to breakfast without necessarily investing a great deal of time. Consumers looking for a special breakfast can add a delicious touch of Nutella (one heaped teaspoon, 15g) to make toast, pancakes or porridge even tastier.

“2020 was a challenging year for shoppers, so it’s understandable that in hard times, consumers turn to products that they trust for great quality and taste. Chocolate spread featured in 34% of UK households during 2020, an increase of 5% as shoppers looked for convenient, stressfree breakfast options, that didn’t require huge investments of time [Kantar, Jun 2020]. Nutella is perceived by consumers as number one for brand trust, brand love, great taste and good mood [Kantar, Dec 2020], and its versatility and much-loved flavour make it the ideal breakfast spread to stock throughout the year.

“As the number one brand within the spreads category [Kantar, Feb 2021], Nutella is the go-to brand to enhance a breakfast offering, retaining its relevance all year round.”

50

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

Monisha Singh

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Feature

With the pandemic having turned shopping behaviours on their head, there are fresh opportunities aplenty at the critical breakfast period. Widely viewed as the most important meal of the day, breakfast accounts for 19.8 billion occasions and is eaten by 98% of the UK [Kantar, Mar 2021].

While many shoppers prefer a traditional bowl of cereal or plate of porridge, many others prefer something hot to kick their day off. Rustlers is capitalising on this by enabling retailers to meet retailer demand for convenient breakfast solutions to offer their shoppers with the Rustlers All Day Breakfast Sausage Muffin, its number one breakfast product in the impulse channel.

Monisha Singh, Shopper Marketing Manager at Kepak Consumer Foods, the home of Rustlers, says: “Since launching in 2018, the Rustlers All Day Breakfast Muffin is already worth £2m within the impulse channel and following its early success, is seeing 21.9% growth YoY across independents [Nielsen, Mar 2021].

“Rustlers All Day Breakfast Muffin meets shopper demand for a quick and convenient hot breakfast solution, making is a must-stock for retailers wanting to build their breakfast offering. It is ideally suited to be part of a breakfast meal alongside a hot drink. Retailers can position themselves as a daily destination for shoppers by delivering meal deal options throughout the day, offering shoppers value for money with more than half choosing a deal because it is a cheaper option [IGD ShopperVista, 2020].”

Rustlers is also helping retailers optimise their breakfast offering with its innovative Cook in Box solution. Rustlers All Day Breakfast Sausage Muffin is available in the innovative format, served with cheese and brown sauce (RSP £2.50), ideal for the breakfast-to-go occasion.

Rustlers Cook in Box allows shoppers to heat the fully assembled product without even opening the pack, eliminating any messy preparation whilst also acting as a product carrier to enable easy consumption on the go.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Choose the real Costa taste. In a can.

STAY CHILLED. NEW

NEW FOR 2021 – VANILLA LATTE 42% OF COSTA SHOPPERS ARE NEW TO RTD COFFEE, HELPING TO GROW THE SEGMENT**

COSTA RTD IS UP 35% AND GROWING AHEAD OF THE RTD COFFEE SEGMENT*

08

5 449000 276018 CARAMEL LATTE

05

5 449000 276025 LATTE

07

5 449000 292087 VANILLA LATTE

To find out more email connect@ccep.com, call 0808 1 000 000 or visit my.ccep.com Coffee

2021 Costa Ltd. All rights reserved. Coffee from Rainforest Alliance farms. Find out more at ra.org Source: *Nielsen Total Coverage MAT Value 19.06.21 **Kantar Data 52 w/e 13.06.2021

Feature

Diwali

LIGHT UP SALES AT DIWALI Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important festivals on earth and presents retailers with a great opportunity to grow sales and meet the needs of the many who celebrate the event every year.

D

iwali, the Festival of Lights, is among the most widely celebrated festivals on the planet and during the traditional five day course of the event, celebrants enjoy a wide range of activities – many of which offer opportunities for local retailers. Celebrated by more than 1.2m people in the UK, Diwali traditionally brings together family and friends to celebrate the festival of lights. After more than 18 months of restrictions on gatherings and events, Diwali 2021 is set to be an even bigger celebration, with food and drink playing a key part in this.

One fantastic opportunity is for retailers to leverage the popularity of Rubicon, a brand that typically sees big growth during Diwali. In fact, last year saw sales of Rubicon’s 2L packs grow by more than 62% [IRI].

Barr Soft Drinks is encouraging retailers to stock up on Rubicon ahead of Diwali celebrations this year, as the top sales driver of soft drinks during this key seasonal occasion.

Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr Soft Drinks, comments: “With around 35% of shoppers spending more during an event [ShopperVista 2017], bold, bright and fruity Rubicon is perfectly placed to help retailers maximise the sales opportunity around this occasion.

“Traditional shoppers will be looking for brands that they know and trust, and our research shows us that Rubicon 52

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

is perfectly paired with many popular Diwali food dishes. New shoppers use events and celebrations as inspiration to try something new, so Rubicon’s wide range of flavours and formats, available in still and sparkling variants, has broad appeal for every shopper.”

Diwali is getting bigger and more profitable for retailers each year, with soft drinks sales up a considerable 16% last year vs. 2019 [IRI/ Kantar]. Spend per shopper more than doubled for Rubicon stills alone, with the Deluxe range accounting for 35% of total sales [IRI, Nov 2020], highlighting a clear opportunity for incremental sales.

“We recommend that retailers stock a wide range of Rubicon flavours in 2L packs, with a variety of sparkling and still SKUs,” says Troy. “Having a range of flavours is important, as shoppers will be catering for a number of different tastes amongst family and friends, but so too is ensuring availability of larger pack formats.

“Retailers should also utilise impactful POS where possible, to create in-store theatre and attract shoppers to fixture.”

Red Bull is also encouraging retailers to stock up for Diwali, with a particular focus on larger formats and multipacks. A spokesperson said: “With the reduction of organic on-the-go sales, multipacks and larger formats have been vital in bolstering the category, with Red Bull 4-packs bought at a rate of 2.5-per-second over the last year [Nielsen, Jul 2020].

“Average sales price per unit shifts have been driven by increased shopper demand for multipacks due to a change in purchase behaviour over the last year, along with more demand for different sizes in the Red Bull portfolio. Therefore, Red Bull recommends stocking both single and multiple can formats, to appeal to a broader range of shopper behaviours.

Around Diwali, retailers’ focus should be on Red Bull across all channels as Red Bull delivers 20% of multipack sales during the winter period [Nielsen, Jan 2021].”

Around a third of shoppers drink Red Bull socialising and at parties, and 30% of functional drink multipacks are enjoyed socially by shoppers [Kantar, May 2021]. With a variety of flavour and pack sizes, Red Bull multipacks www.slrmag.co.uk

Diwali

D S¹

N

ER

IN A ST O HT RE

BOU G

YOUR DIWALI MUST STOCK.

EV

make a strong functional option for consumers to enjoy and celebrate together with family and friends during Diwali.

Red Bull says its core range is an essential product range to stock and includes Red Bull Original 250ml, 355ml, 473ml and Red Bull Sugarfree 250ml. Red Bull’s Editions range also consists of both PMP and non-PMP cans with flavours including Tropical, Coconut & Berry, Red Edition and the latest Summer Edition in a Cactus Fruit taste all available.

But it’s not just soft drinks that present an opportunity at this time of year, as Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero, explains: “When it comes to celebrating occasions in uncertain times, shoppers tend to rely on the brands they know and love, which we expect to be the case again at Diwali this year.

This is great news for our boxed chocolate range, which offers the perfect solution to shoppers looking for a gift to share with loved ones.

“We would encourage retailers to stock up on those lines to ensure the range appeals to a variety of shoppers, such as Ferrero Rocher or Thorntons Classic. Core lines also have the benefit of retaining their relevance after the event has passed, so retailers can continue to benefit from the sales they encourage.

“At Diwali, shoppers are on the lookout for items that “look fancy” & “further the festivities” [Consumer Connect Studies, 2018]. Ferrero Rocher has always performed really well at Diwali, as the brand is loved by people of all ages and its golden uniqueness makes it the perfect gift. Having become synonymous with the festival, Ferrero Rocher is a must-stock for retailers. We would recommend retailers stock up on Rocher T16 (200g), Collection T15 (172g) & Rocher T24 (300g), as these are the core, allyear-round SKUs that work perfectly as a gift for loved ones at this seasonal occasion.”

Diwali takes place just as consumers will start preparing for other seasonal spikes towards the end of the year – Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night and Christmas. With this in mind, it’s even more important that retailers ensure they are stocking a versatile strong core range that will appeal to shoppers during these celebratory occasions, and maximise the presence of each occasion instore through eye-catching POS and displays.

Feature

O Y 2 .5 SEC

RED BULL ENERGY DRINK AND SUGARFREE, 250ML 4 PACKS. SEE SALES FLY. STOCK UP TODAY.

SOURCE: ¹NIELSEN SCANTRACK, TOTAL COVERAGE, MAT W.E. 24.07.2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2021 | SLR

53

Feature

Fascia Focus | Co-op

WE KNOW FOOD RETAIL

With 2,500 stores and a hugely diverse portfolio of store types, the Co-op is one of the best known and visited retailers in the UK – and a Co-op franchise could be the perfect way to take your business to the nest level.

A

t Co-op we know food retail. With 2,500 food stores, we operate the most diverse store portfolio of any retailer and are one of the UK’s best loved brands and the most visited convenience retailer. Seven years of like-forlike growth has seen us outperform the market and pick up a raft of industry awards along the way. We know that when people work together to achieve a common purpose, great things can happen and we want entrepreneurs and retailers with high quality convenience stores to join us in this unique proposition and share in our continued success.

With an estate that is seeing significant growth, Co-op franchise is a nationwide business, with stores up and down the country, in a variety of location types, including petrol stations, service stations, neighbourhood, urban convenience, campus and rural supermarket. The breadth and flexibility of Co-op franchise makes it is well suited to a range of franchise partnerships.

Co-op is the only retailer to license its master brand to franchisees, and access to an awardwinning convenience store model. They give 54

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

its partners access to its full retail operating systems and the opportunity to run a store that is instantly recognisable as one of the most iconic retail brands.

The quality, convenience and ethical values of Co-op are resonating more strongly than ever with a growing proportion of the population concerned with the impact of their choices on the environment and people in the supply chain. Co-op’s way of doing business makes it the obvious choice for today’s ethically minded consumers.

Having just launched its second franchise store with the same partner in Scotland at The University of Aberdeen, alongside Stirling University, Co-op is delivering quality products and good prices conveniently to students and the surrounding community.

Co-op franchise is a full-service model and operates using all the same technology, processes and procedures as Co-op company stores. This includes support every step of the way from the plan, design, build, and launch of the store, through to extensive training and ongoing support, bringing together the insight

from our owned estate and our partners’ local knowledge.

Retailers who convert to a Co-op franchise have seen remarkable sales growth and customers are quick to re-appraise their newly converted store. Co-op’s strength in fresh food-focused meal solutions, top-up shopping and food-togo transforms their store into a destination for shoppers, who visit more frequently, spend more, and drive higher-margin fresh sales.

Co-op does amazing things, things that make a difference at home and abroad and the team is focused on generating mutual value with likeminded partners, who share the Co-op values and principles, to share in this success and grow together. Through its new and improved membership proposition, the retailer gives back to both its members and communities, demonstrating its purpose beyond profit.

Co-op franchise has recently been upgraded to an Associated Member of the regulatory body, British Franchise Association (BFA), and with several franchisees now operating multisite operations it reinforces Co-op as a highly credible franchise partner. www.slrmag.co.uk

Discover the power of partnership with Co-op Franchise If you’re an ambitious retailer and want to join one of the most iconic grocery brands, we want to hear from you. Find out how we can grow your business and add to your success, together.

As a Co-op franchisee you’ll get...

• To trade your own Co-op store with our full-service operating model • Co-op EPOS and technology suite • Store planogrammed for your catchment • Store design and development support • POS and instore marketing • Full Co-op training programme • Launch marketing support • Award-winning Co-op own brand products • Co-op’s unique Membership proposition • No retailer membership or sign-up fees

Testimonials “My experience of working with Co-op has been nothing but positive, I have felt very supported through the whole process” Bill Sunner, Bottisham Co-op

“I would highly recommend partnering with the Co-op on a franchise opportunity. By following the Co-op operating model and systems we are exceeding our budgeted expectations in all areas” Graham Hattam, Newcastle University Union’s Co-op

Find out more at coop.co.uk/franchise Terms and conditions apply please see website for details coop.co.uk/franchise

Feature

Fascia Focus | Nisa

FRESH THINKING Nisa has a long history of working with many of Scotland’s most progressive retailers and the company has evolved over the last 18 months to ensure it continues to offer the ideal solution for all independent retailers, regardless of store size or location.

N

isa is proud to work with multiaward-winning stores including Pinkie Farm, Ardeer Services, and Greens of Markinch, to name a few, making us the proven partner of choice for many market-leading, independently minded retailers in Scotland.

And with a record number of retailers moving to Nisa Retail in 2020 and those investing in new and upgraded stores enjoying average sales uplifts of 11%, there has never been a better time to join us.

With recent industry recognition including our Symbol/Franchise Group of the Year win at the Retail Industry Awards and the Grocer Gold Awards accolade for Symbol/Franchise Retailer of the Year, retailers can depend on awardwinning support, access to an extensive product range comprising more than 13,000 SKUs and over 2,400 Co-op own brand products.

Retailers have the option to operate under a symbol fascia: Nisa Local, Nisa Express or Nisa Extra, or dual branded, whereby a Nisa partner can maintain their own local identity whilst also benefiting from the strength of the Nisa brand.

Alternatively, a retailer can choose to trade under their own independent fascia.

The latest format, Nisa Express provides a dedicated fascia option and store format for smaller convenience and forecourt sites, and the latest technology and contemporary design providing a first-class shopping experience for the consumer.

Catering for retailers operating in more compact spaces, the option for stores up to 1,000sq ft has been developed with three different format options available – food centric, forecourt and essentials – providing a tailored solution for a wide range of retailers.

Retailers get access to best in class support through Nisa’s new partner proposition, Fresh Thinking, including retail expertise and thought leadership to help continually improve customer

56

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

experience through instore solutions, category insights, store format innovation and expert account management teams.

Fresh Thinking also provides Nisa partners with access to convenience and symbol expertise through an in-house Insight team to help retailers truly understand their customers and their marketplace.

Nisa’s rebate model, Fresh Rewards launched in June and, built on simplicity and fairness, the model gives independent retailers the opportunity to unlock up to 5.5.% rebate with additional benefits available for those embracing Co-op own brand products and with a Nisa fascia store. Retailers can see how much rebate they could earn by visiting www.nisalocally. co.uk/fresh-rewards/.

Nisa provides a complete retail support package which comprises a strong retail focused team, an enhanced category management system, a bespoke staff training facility and a comprehensive marketing package incorporating social media and PR support, leaflets, point of sale material, a personalised Nisa FM radio network and national advertising.

And with its own insight team Nisa, helps retailers truly understand their customers and their marketplace, enabling them to modify their offer to match the ‘local’ demographic.

A comprehensive support structure is provided to ensure retailers continue to push their business forward. Support comes from a strong field team including retail development managers and regional retail managers, as well as a specialist induction team that is dedicated to support new partners during their first 90 days with Nisa, ensuring a smooth transition process.

And we know community involvement is key to independent retailers which is why we enable our partners to support local good causes through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity, which has raised over £12.5 million for good causes to date.

Case study Owner: Harry Ahmed

Store name: Nisa Local Greenock

Location: Greenock, Scotland

Main advantages of membership: The support offered by the Nisa team, even though during the coronavirus crisis they haven’t been able to visit, the support has still been there over the phone whenever needed. And the experience they have, sharing information from across the whole country with guidelines to keep us all safe has been great. Nisa has also enabled me to maintain stock availability during the pandemic.

Why did you choose to join this group rather than one of its competitors?

The expansive range, especially the fresh options and importantly the Coop own brand products. Nisa’s pricing structure was also the best we saw and it is also the most modern looking fascia.

TO JOIN NISA COMPLETE THE FORM ON WWW.NISALOCALLY. CO.UK/RETAILERS/ BECOMING-A-PARTNER OR CONTACT OUR DEVELOPMENT TEAM ON 0800 542 7490. www.slrmag.co.uk

Fresh thinkers wanted Find out more about Nisa opportunities at nisalocally.co.uk/retailers or call

0800 542 7490

Scan the QR code to see Sunny’s story.

Nisa’s fresh thinking has helped Sunny grow his business and double basket spend.

Through the latest retail expertise, innovative format design, a best in fresh range and access to Co-op own-brand range we’ve helped Sunny add value to his business.

He also has the chance to earn up to 5.5% rebate as part of our Fresh Rewards scheme.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING KEY TO ADULT SOFT DRINKS GROWTH

Healthier soft drinks are increasingly important to more and more shoppers, something that’s particularly important in the adult soft drinks sector.

W

hile alcohol sales have witnessed an unsurprising boom under lockdown, the long-term trend towards growth in the alcohol alternative categories continues to gather pace. Low and no alcohol products are

performing solidly, if unspectacularly, and the adult soft drinks category (including mixers) is also driving sales across Scotland.

A key driver behind this, according to Britvic’s latest extensive Soft Drinks Review, is health and wellbeing. In fact, Britvic has identified the

www.slrmag.co.uk

opportunity for every convenience retailer to add a very precise £812 to their annual turnover through functional wellness drinks.

Unsurprisingly after an 18 month health pandemic, consumers are more focused on health and wellbeing than ever, with almost half of people (47%) agreeing they will eat more foods to support their immune systems going forward [Nielsen]. Additionally, one in five people have begun taking vitamins since the start of the first lockdown, with 66% of consumers stating ‘added ingredients to make it healthier’ as important vs 60% pre-Covid and 27% want to reduce sugar [IGD ShopperVista, Sep 2020].

Step forward the adult soft drink.

Britvic obviously views this as an excellent growth opportunity for its Purdey’s brand. Phil Sanders, Out of Home Commercial Director at Britvic, comments: “It’s vital that retailers are adapting their ranges accordingly to take advantage of this shift in consumer demand.

Purdey’s, the UK’s leading sparkling vitality brand, is perfectly placed to lead the wellness soft drinks category. Made with naturally sourced ingredients – real fruit juice, boosted by botanicals and energising B vitamins – it offers a no added sugar energy lift, something we know shoppers are on the lookout for.

“After the challenges retailers have faced in the past year, we’re dedicated to support our customers as they navigate changing shopper needs, and that includes looking ahead and making them aware of growing soft drink trends.

Shoppers are willing to pay more than double the average price for premium soft drinks with added benefits than a soft drink or 34% more [Nielsen, Jan 2021] than the average single serve, which is already priced at a premium.”

The Britvic Soft Drinks Review also identified three key soft drink needs that emerged last

year, which impact upon the adult soft drinks category: ‘energy boost’, ‘in-home refreshment and socialising’ and ‘a new stance of hydration’.

Sanders concludes: “As they adjusted to the ‘new normal’, consumers sought ‘pick me ups’ and stimulants, the leading soft drinks category in convenience, was well placed to benefit. As the channel’s biggest success story, stimulants grew in both take home and on-the-go, bucking the single serve trend. Outgrowing all other soft drinks combined, the segment attracted shoppers to buy more volume per trip at a higher price, performing especially well in symbols and forecourts.”

Carbonates and mixers also outperformed soft drinks overall, playing a key role in refreshment and socialising at home. Cola was the largest contributor to carbonates’ growth in convenience, adding £20.5m to channel sales. Pepsi MAX, the No. 1 sugar free cola in convenience, grew £7.8m and became the third biggest sub-brand in the convenience market in 2020. Traditional mixers were convenience’s fastest-growing category, up +47.8%, followed by lemonade (+26%). Squash was the in-home hydration hero as consumers turned to the tap, accelerating +21.1% (+£8.2m). Robinsons was 2020’s leading squash brand and biggest growth contributor, through its single concentrate and double concentrate ranges and Fruit Creations.

Plain water and flavoured hydration – such as juice drinks, ice tea and water plus – had a more difficult 2020, traditionally strong in on-the-go formats and transient channels and locations like high street and travel, both hit hard by the pandemic.

STOCK UP ON

THE No1 WHISKEY AND COLA BRANDS 2

IN CONVENIENCE

BRITVIC’S STEPS TO SOFT DRINKS SUCCESS Q Protect loyalty in take home – Take home soft drinks shoppers are hugely valuable to convenience versus an average shopper, spending £894 a year versus £446 on average, with spend growing by £58 in 2020 [Kantar, Dec 2020]. Retailers must work to retain long-term loyalty, offering good value versus competitor channels on these formats.

Q Recover and reset food-to-go sales – with soft drinks as the leading category bought on food-to-go missions, it is well placed to support retailers as they recover and reset sales by having the right range to meet new consumer needs.

Q Hero functional wellness to drive more value per drink – provide a range of great-tasting drinks for consumers to manage their health, whether that be sugar free, low calorie or natural options, or through functional wellness drinks with added benefits that offer a chance for retailers to drive up the cost per drink.

www.slrmag.co.uk

For more information about Coca-Cola email Coca-Cola Europacific Partners at connect@ccep.com, call 0808 1 000 000 or visit my.ccep.com.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Jack Daniel’s and Old No.7 are registered trademarks. ©2021 Jack Daniel’s.

All rights reserved.Coca-Cola, Coke, the Dynamic Ribbon device and the design of the contour bottle are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company. ©2021 The Coca-Cola Company. All rights reserved.

Sources: 1.Nielsen; Total Impulse; Value Sales MAT 17.07.21.

2. Nielsen Total Impulse value Sales MAT 17.07.21 (Coke Trademark = Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke).

1

Feature

Halloween

GO HARD WITH SOFT DRINKS THIS HALLOWEEN Soft drinks is one of the most important and fastest-growing categories at Halloween, so it pays to get prepared in plenty of time.

W

hich category grows fastest at Halloween? You’d be wrong if you thought it was confectionery, bakery or even pumpkins, says Amy Burgess, Senior Trade Communications Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP). The answer, as you’ll have worked out by now, is soft drinks [Kantar, Nov 2020].

“This demonstrates that soft drinks are becoming increasingly important and represent a real sales opportunity for retailers during this massive retail event,” says Burgess. “Shoppers pick soft drinks up to support Halloween occasions like parties, movie nights in with family or general social/party occasions with friends – all of which sit within the Together Time driver in our Taste Tomorrow soft drinks category vision, which identifies key opportunities for category growth in the months ahead.”

That’s why it important to ensure soft drinks are visible in-store and on shelf, especially for leading brands that are supported by seasonal marketing activity.

Burgess continues: “Fanta in particular is a popular choice thanks to its longstanding association with Halloween, driven by engaging

campaigns and on-pack activity. Last year, the brand increased in value by 6.5% in the four weeks to Halloween, when one in four of all flavoured carbonates purchased were from the Fanta portfolio [Nielsen, Oct 2020].

“We’ve got even more eye-catching activity planned for the spookiest night of the year in 2021, which is set to be the biggest yet. In the run up to Halloween we’ll be unveiling ghoulish on-pack graphics, engaging shoppers with a new on-pack promotion with epic prizes, a host of point of sale materials to bring theatre in-store and all will be supported by a multi-million pound marketing campaign keeping Fanta front of mind with consumers during this growing seasonal event.”

PACK FORMATS CCEP expects larger packs to remain in high demand as people continue to make the most of the opportunity to socialise at home, and enjoy Halloween with friends and family. However, on-the-go occasions are making a comeback, too. That’s why it’s important for retailers to find the right balance between on-the-go and athome formats, keeping space for both.

Value is likely to be a priority for consumers over the coming months, which is why it is one

of the key ‘enablers’ in CCEP’s Taste Tomorrow soft drinks category vision. It’s all about making consumers’ favourite brands available at a price they’re happy to pay. PMPs have an important role to play, delivering visible value for shoppers and giving convenience retailers a point of difference versus the supermarkets.

Accounting for more than 60% of total soft drink sales in independent stores [Nielsen, Jun 2021], PMPs offer visible value on favourite brands.

HEALTHIER CHOICES Health is now an even bigger motivator for consumers to improve their diet in the wake of the pandemic. In fact, two-thirds of the volume of soft drinks CCEP produces in GB are low or no sugar. This represents an increase of 40% compared to 10 years ago.

Burgess concludes: “Earlier this year we unveiled a refreshed look across our entire Coca-Cola range, and reformulated the recipe of Coca-Cola zero sugar, adding more of the much-loved Coca-Cola taste. We’re distributing more than a million packs with our latest sampling initiative – supported by another £3m media investment to keep the full Coca-Cola Zero Sugar range front of mind with shoppers.”

RANGING & MERCHANDISING ADVICE FROM CCEP Q Availability of best sellers: Dedicate space to best-sellers in key segments like cola, energy and flavoured carbonates – including double facings where needed.

Q Low and no sugar options: Stock a wide range of low and no-sugar variants, and position them alongside the original alternatives, so it’s easy for shoppers to choose the one they want.

Q New products: Remove slower-selling lines to make room for well-supported new products that excite shoppers.

Q Deliver value: Stocking PMPs helps reassure value-conscious shoppers.

Q Cross-category displays: 41% of soft drink shoppers are on a food-to-go mission [HIM CTP, 2019] so place soft drinks alongside categories like snacks or sandwiches to drive linked purchases.

Q Visibility: Signpost displays with clear pricing and promotions, and consider secondary displays to prompt impulse purchases.

60

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

www.slrmag.co.uk

STOCK UP AND GIVE YOUR CUSTOMERS A CHANCE TO

WIN EPIC PRIZES

(OR SCARY SURPRISES)

PROMOTIONAL PACKS INCLUDE: FANTA ORANGE REGULAR AND ZERO PLAIN AND PRICE-MARKED 330ML CANS AND 500ML BOTTLES, AS WELL AS 2LT BOTTLES.

SOFT DRINKS GREW FASTER

FANTA GREW

HALLOWEEN CATEGORIES

DURING HALLOWEEN 2020

THAN 3 OF THE 4 TRADITIONAL

BY 6.5%

(PUMPKINS, BAKERY & SUGAR CONFEC)1

1 IN 4 FLAVOURED CARBS

FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL COCA-COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS AT CONNECT@CCEP.COM, CALL 0808 1 000 000 OR VISIT MY.CCEP.COM. Source: 1. Kantar | FMCG Panel | Take Home | 2W ending 1st Nov 2020.

2. Nielsen ScantrackData w/e 31.10.2020, Halloween = latest 4 weeks. © 2021 The Coca-Cola Company.

PURCHASED WAS A FANTA!2

1 234567 890012

UTC

WHAT WOULD COLONEL SANDERS SAY? When he first saw this story, the auld yin could instantly picture the brainstorming session in Asda’s development kitchen: “Kids love cake. Kids love fried chicken. Kids love birthdays. What about a birthday cake that looks like a bucket of fried chicken?”

And so, it came to pass. A snip at only 12 quid, the Asda Birthday Bucket Cake features soft Madeira sponge layered with jam, covered with frosting, coated in a ‘speculoos’ biscuit crumb and topped with ‘nuggets’. Sadly, for ketchup fans, the ‘tomato sauce’ squirted all over the top of the brute is in fact a drizzle of raspberry jam.

The cake also has more red traffic lights than rush hour in downtown Tokyo, and a portion (there’s 20 per bucket) will supply you with 14% of your daily energy requirements. While it may not be underpinning the government’s anti-obesity strategy any time soon, the Birthday Bucket has proved popular on social media, with the canny shoppers of the Money Saver Online Facebook group hailing it variously as “amazing”, “the best of both worlds” and “clucking delicious”.

However, UTC willl leave the last word to group member Hannah Jane: “Looks good but bet it tastes like shite”.

Actually, he’ll leave the last word to anyone who knows what speculoos is, and didn’t have to look it up on to Google. Anyone?

APOSTROPHE CATASTROPHE Far be it from UTC to make fun of our major multiple friends, but sometimes it’s irresistible. Like this one where the residents of the well-heeled Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh woke up to discover that their Sainsbury’s Local had been rebranded as Sainsburys,Local.

A bit of a stickler for punctuation, the old boy was frankly appalled, as you can imagine. Just what are they teaching them at sign erectors’ college these days?

One can only assume the poor chap or chapess responsible didn’t have a long enough ladder to get the pesky piece of punctuation in the proper position.

To compound its misery, the supermarket giant responded to a tweet pointing out its error by asking the eagleeyed sender to confirm the store’s location.

This despite the tweet clearly stating it was sent from Edinburgh, Scotland (not Edinburgh’ Scotland) and including a picture of the offending store with a ‘Bruntsfield Gardens’ street sign clearly visible.

62

SLR | SEPTEMBER 2021

LIFE’S A GAS With all the kerfuffle around petrol shortages, UTC thought he was duty bound to share a new video game that he stumbled across during one of his many wanders around the darker corners of the tinterweb. If you fancy yourself as a forecourt operator but don’t fancy all the palaver of actually being a forecourt operator and dealing with angry customers running on fumes and desperate for a gallon of unleaded, then UTC has the answer: Gas Station Simulator.

The computer game lets you “buy an abandoned gas station and restore it to its full glory. Renovate, upgrade and expand upon the offered services to keep up with your clients demands”.

Commenting on Gas Station Simulator on pcgamer.com’s forum, a player named Roobarb said: “It’s a solid game and one of the top surprise fun times of the year for me,” before giving it an impressive 85% out of 10.

www.slrmag.co.uk

SGF would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us during our annual conference 2021, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow on 16th and 17th September.

This was the first face to face event of its kind to take place in the city since the pandemic began, and it was wonderful to see everyone and interact in a way in which we have been unable to do so for so long.

We would like to thank everyone who made this conference what it was; from the presenters, exhibitors, those who provided goods and raffle prizes, the venue, our AV team and of course those who gave up their time to come along and join us in Glasgow.

We hope to see you again at our Mini Summit on 18 th November.

For further information on future events please contact Irati Ugarte irati@sgfscot.co.uk or visit our website at: www.scotshop.org.uk

Scottish Grocers’ Federation