The Week in Retail 113

RETAIL THE WEEK IN

FUEL PRICES

EXONERATED CMA REVIEW CLEARS RETAILERS OF FUEL PROFITEERING UNDERAG E SALES

VAPING AMONG CHILDREN

ASH SURVEY REVEALS EXTENT OF UNDERAGE USE

● Co-op puts

freeze on sour milk SUSTAINABILITY

NISA’S SUSTAINABILITY GAINS MOMENTUM SYMBOL GROUP’S LEAFLET PRINTED ON ECO PAPER

+

● Shoppers focus on

saving money over quality

● Birmingham-based Nisa transforms

O- C O N C E P T C E W E N S E H AUNC MORRISONS L

Brought to you by:

STORE

Commercial Partner:

Issue 113 Wednesday 13th July 2022

T H E W E E K I N R E TA I L

EDITOR’S COMMENT

It’s all politics The conclusion of the Competition and Markets Authority’s review of the fuel market was one of the highlights of a relatively quiet week in the industry.

The CMA’s review, which was ordered in June, was requested after the price of petrol and diesel increased by more than 60p per litre in the past year.

One concern raised ahead of the review by campaigners focused on whether the 5p cut in fuel duty on 23 March was passed on to customers. In the review, the CMA states that it sees “no evidence… that retailers in aggregate have profited from failing to pass on the duty cut,” noting that there were price reductions in fuel from supermarkets, company-operated sites, and independent forecourts alike.

However, the CMA did have some concerns and has launched a market study that will examine the road fuel market in more depth, making full use of its compulsory information-gathering powers.

The CMA’s findings have been welcomed by many in the sector and you can read their comments on pages 10-11.

While we were all thumbing through the CMA’s report, journalists at the nationals were up to their necks in Tory leader candidates, neither task particularly pleasurable in soaring temperatures.

Commercial real estate solutions and property agents Collier’s is calling on the Tory leadership hopefuls to uphold the Conservative party manifesto and bring in proper business rates reform.

John Webber, head of business rates at Colliers, said: “We call on Rishi, Liz, Penny and the rest of the gang to announce there will be no downward

transition following the revaluation in 2023 and that rates bills will immediately find their true level, comparable to rents. We are saying as much in our response to the government’s recently announced consultation on the issue which ends on 25 July.”

Webber concluded: “It is essential the new leader provides reassurance that rates bills next year will immediately reflect the lower rents we are seeing in the market today – providing incentives for businesses to keep or expand space and for property investors to invest in the sector in these areas.”

Also rumbling on in the background is the impending vote for Scottish Independence. As The Week in Retail went to press, two Scottish MPs were thrown out of Commons for independence-related disruptive behaviour. The two men were protesting about the UK Government’s refusal to transfer the powers necessary to hold a second independence vote to the Scottish government.

It looks like this could go on and on, with many legal challenges ahead, but if there is a vote and it’s a yes this time, I’ll be one of the first in the queue for a Scottish passport courtesy of my Scottish mother and Scottish grandparents.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 3

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CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 13 JULY 2022 / ISSUE 113

6

10

27

THIS WEEK’S NEWS

COVER STORY

CHARITY

An online course aims to keep small retailers on the right side of the law, and the decline in retail sales hits levels not seen since the pandemic.

A CMA review of petrol and diesel prices concludes that the retail market appears competitive overall, but some areas warrant further investigation.

GroceryAid’s recent Barcode Festival, held at Magazine in London, raises a record-breaking £900,000 for the industry charity.

9

Covid-19 update

20 Retail sales

29 Sustainability

Covid restrictions could be reintroduced,

High levels of inflation and the deepening

The Co-op introduces a ‘freeze me’

health minister Lord Kamall warns.

cost-of-living crisis prompt further slowing

message to its own-brand milk products, in

of retail sales growth, BDO figures reveal.

a bid to cut down on 70,000 tonnes of milk

12 Store development A West Midlands forecourt is transformed

21 Cost of living

wasted a year.

30 Wholesale

from a compact kiosk into a fully stocked

As inflation soars, one-in-five UK

Nisa Local store.

consumers will use cash instead of cards

Parfetts champions the best of the industry

to help budget.

with a week of deals, free festival food,

13 Shopper confidence The reality of the cost-of-living crisis hits

23 Community

home as shoppers focus on saving money

Communities are stronger than ever,

over quality.

according to a new report commissioned

14 Plant-based Over three-quarters of meat-eaters would

by Spar UK. 24 Retail footfall

music, and supplier activations.

31 Picks of the week A look at the latest new products and marketing campaigns.

36 Out the box: Morrisons

choose to try a vegan BBQ alternative, new

Total UK footfall in June increases by

Morrisons launches a new eco-concept

research by Co-op reveals.

two percentage points on May’s figures,

store promising a lower environmental

15 Illicit trade Contraband and counterfeit cigarette

according to BRC-Sensormatic IQ data.

25 Vaping

impact in Little Clacton, Essex.

39 Before you go...

consumption increased by 4.2% year-on-

Underage vaping almost doubles in two

There’s a surplus of limbs and a shortage

year in 2021.

years, a survey for ASH reveals.

of paint in this week’s Retail Randoms.

19 Consumer spending

28 Sustainability

Supermarket spending drops as

All of Nisa’s consumer leaflets are now

consumers seek more value from their

printed on paper that is produced from

weekly shop, according to Barclaycard.

100% recycled fibre and is FSC certified.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 5

NEWS DIGEST

THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

MORRISONS APP BOOST Morrisons has unveiled a new and improved ‘My Morrisons’ loyalty programme, making it easier for customers to

COMPLIANCE

Online course aims to keep small retailers on the right side of the law

The newly launched course can be undertaken in-store, on a phone or laptop, and at any time.

save money. The retailer has changed its regular offers, while adding surprise offers, and basket bonuses.

LOCAL SHOP REPORT LAUNCH Retailers can book their free places at the launch of ACS’ 2022 Local Shop Report, which will take place on 15 September. The virtual event will explore the findings of this year’s report and provide a comprehensive look at the stores, people and services within the sector. Retailers can book their places here.

MEGA LOO ROLL ROLLS OUT Sainsbury’s has launched new own-brand double-length toilet rolls, designed to help customers reduce plastic waste. Rolls include double the number of sheets on each roll compared to the retailer’s standard offerings and use 30% less plastic on average.

Prices start at £1.75 for a pack of two double rolls.

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Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) is to offer free online training to retailers to help them prevent underage sales and proxy purchase.

The course can be undertaken in-store, on a phone or laptop, and at any time. It covers the 2003 Licensing Act, how to refuse suspected underage sales, spot attempted proxy purchases, and apply the Challenge 25 policy.

It draws on CAP’s extensive knowledge of working with retailers over the past 15 years and has been created in conjunction with CPL Training, a leader in personal licence training to the hospitality and retail markets.

The course will be available free of charge to all retailers in the 256 CAP areas of England and Wales and is adapted for separate licensing laws in Scotland.

CAP director Kate Winstanley said: “We hope independent retailers will find this short course a convenient and helpful way to ensure they have effective age verification policies in place.”

Information about the course will be distributed to retailers through the network of local CAPs around the UK.

PayPoint launches retailer Summer Prize Draw PayPoint has launched its Summer Prize Draw, which runs until 31 August 2022.

Any retailer that signs up to PayPoint or expands their partnership with the EPoS provider during the course of the promotion, and gets their terminal installed within the following three months, will be entered into the prize draw.

There are 10 Amazon vouchers valued at £100 each up for grabs.

Ben Ford, PayPoint’s retail services director, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for retailers who are thinking of starting or expanding their partnership with PayPoint to do so, with the chance of winning a bit of extra cash in the process.”

The prize draw will take place by midnight on 1 December 2022, when the 10 winners will be drawn at random.

NEWS DIGEST

THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

TRADING

Retail sales decline ‘not seen since depths of pandemic’

New BRC data reveals food sales grew year-on-year in June, thanks to the Jubilee.

NFRN NAMES NEW COO The NFRN has named Graham Stafford as its new chief operating officer. Stafford joined the trade association on 4 July

Retail sales decreased by 1.0% on a total basis in June, against an increase of 10.4% in June 2021, according to new figures from the BRC. In addition, UK retail sales decreased 1.3% on a like-for-like basis from June 2021, when they had increased 6.7%.

Over the three months to June, food sales increased 2.2% on a total basis and 1.6% on a like-for-like basis. For the month of June, food was in growth year-on-year.

Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said: “The Jubilee weekend, which saw street parties across the UK, provided some relief for food and drink retailers as sales grew by nearly 1.5% year-on-year, despite the rising cost across most items.”

and is based at its head office in Durham. He replaces interim chief operating officer Stuart Hale.

Susan Barratt, chief executive of IGD, said: “Food and drink sales fluctuated week by week in June, and with volume sales down and value sales up, we can clearly see inflation coming through.

“However, the overall downward sales trend for volumes means the outlook continues to be challenging, although good weather might provide a welcome boost in July.”

Welsh cross party group on role of local shops The Cross Party Group on Small Shops has met to explore the Welsh Government’s retail vision and how small shops are contributing to the delivery of the strategy to regenerate the retail sector in Wales.

During the meeting, ACS government relations director Edward Woo-

dall highlighted the vital role that local shops play in communities across Wales and to the Welsh economy, outlining the issues that these businesses are currently facing including rising energy bills and employment costs.

ACS government relations director Edward Woodall said: “We will continue to engage with the Welsh Government on their retail vision to help shape the action plan to ensure that it reflects the issues faced by local shops in Wales.”

CO-OP SHOPPERS IN GLASGOW OFFERED PRIME DISCOUNT Shoppers in Glasgow can seize a ‘Prime’ discount with £10 off their first three shops of £50 or more at Co-op on Amazon. The offer is open to Prime customers in Glasgow and surrounding areas including Hamilton and Paisley – and runs until 15 August 2022.

TESCO APPOINTS INNOVATION DIRECTOR Tesco has named Lizzie Reynolds as its new innovation director. Reynolds has been at Tesco for five years, having previously served as store director.

She will now be working with external clients and internal teams to identify new tech, products and ideas.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 7

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NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

GOOD IDEA, SHAME ABOUT THE NAME

Covid restrictions could be reimposed, NHS minister warns

Price intelligence company Skuuudle has introduced an Exhaustive Price Matching (EPM) service, which lets companies monitor their

The stark warning comes as infections rise to ‘near previous peak’ in England.

competitors’ prices.

C

Asda is already using the technology, which compares the cost of thousands of similar products by using AI. EPM lets retailers see the price of not just branded goods, but also of like-forlike products and of the price charged per gram.

The company also ensures its data is reviewed by its quality control team, pointing

respiratory systems,” the health minister added.

“We are always ready to stand up measures should the case rates rise so much that our health system was under pressure, but also what we have managed to do is break the link between infections and hospitalisations, and hospitalisations and death.”

In England, the number of people in hospital and Covid-19 positive is at its highest level for nearly three months.

However, the rate of increase appears to be slowing in recent days.

out that the human touch

TECH SOLUTIONS

ovid restrictions could be brought back if a rising number of cases has an impact on the NHS, health minister Lord Kamall said.

Asked what the government was prepared to do if cases began to impact the health system, the minister told the House of Lords that “if it gets to a point where it is affecting the backlog then clearly measures may well have to be introduced”.

According to official data, 2.7 million people in private households have had the virus over the past week, up 18% from 2.3 million the previous week.

“The largest proportion of those hospitalised are for reasons other than Covid, however, Covid is identified due to the increasing case rates in the community and the high rate of testing in hospital, including among those with no

remains “vital to ensure the highest levels of accuracy”.

A Skuuudle spokesperson said: “At a time when inflation is affecting the marketplace so much, competitor price monitoring is becoming ever more valuable to help retailers develop strategies to gain a competitive edge.”

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 9

C OV E R

FUEL P

Exonerated A CMA review of the road fuel market has concluded that on the whole the retail market seems to be competitive, but there are some areas that warrant further investigation.

A

review of competition in the road fuel market has found “cause for concern” in the growing gap between the price of crude oil when it enters refineries, and the wholesale price when it leaves refineries as petrol or diesel.

The review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found the main drivers of increased road fuel prices are the rising cost of crude oil, and a growing gap between the crude oil price and the wholesale price of petrol and diesel – the so-called ‘refining spread’.

The ‘refining spread’ tripled in the past year, growing from 10p to nearly 35p per litre. Over the same period, the so-called ‘retailer spread’ – the difference between the wholesale price and the price charged to motorists – fluctuated but remained about 10p per litre on average.

The review also found that on the whole, the fuel duty cut appears to have been implemented, with the largest fuel retailers doing so immediately and others more gradually.

It also found that there are significant differences in price between many rural and urban areas.

In light of some of the concerns found and the urgency of the situation, the CMA has launched a market study that will examine the road fuel market in more depth, making full use

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of its compulsory information-gathering powers. An interim update will be published in the autumn.

The CMA was also asked by the UK government to advise on possible measures to increase the transparency that consumers have over retail prices.

The review sets out how an open data scheme could help consumers more easily access and compare local pump

The CMA review has been welcomed by the ACS. Chief executive James Lowman said: “We are pleased that the CMA have acknowledged that retailers did pass on the duty rate cuts to drivers even when wholesale prices were rising. We will continue to engage with the CMA in their formal market study into the fuel market.”

M

eanwhile, the Petrol Retailers Association said it was reassured by the findings of the

prices. There may also be merit in providing more information about prices on motorways, the review found.

Sarah Cardell, CMA General Counsel, said: “On the whole the retail market does seem to be competitive, but there are some areas that warrant further investigation. These include finding out whether the disparities in price between urban and rural areas are justified.

“This area of work is a major priority for the CMA and if we can help, we will.”

review.

Executive Director Gordon Balmer said: “In recent months, we have seen motoring organisations and politicians attempting to scapegoat petrol retailers.

This report exonerates petrol retailers and leaves unanswered questions about the extent to which these critics understand the retail fuel market at all.”

Balmer continued: “We are confident that this report will reassure motorists that petrol retailers are doing their best to keep their communities fuelled and fed, while operating on tight margins.”

Meanwhile, the RAC welcomed the CMA review, but urged the government to ensure it’s in a position to scrutinise the relationship between wholesale and retail prices.

Fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Regardless of the reasons for wholesale prices being what they are

R S T O RY

PRICES

we continue to believe there is clear evidence, not least in the last week, that major retailers are incredibly slow to pass on falling wholesale costs, yet quick to pass on rising ones. The idea of allowing drivers to more easily compare pump prices near them may also prove beneficial.

“The question drivers may have, however, is how long the review will take and when they might see a change to what they pay every time they fill up. As each day goes by and the costof-living crisis is felt ever more keenly, the need for retailers to reflect wholesale prices fairly becomes ever more urgent.”

The CMA has launched a market study that will examine the road fuel market in more depth WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 11

S TO R E D E V E LO P M E N T

NISA

Maypole Nisa undergoes ‘incredible’ transformation

The development has almost tripled the selling space for the retailer and has enabled a much-improved offer.

A

West Midlands forecourt has been transformed from a compact kiosk into a fully stocked Nisa Local convenience store.

Maypole Service Station, located on Maypole Lane in Birmingham, was an established forecourt previously focusing on the fuel side of the business. However, the site had not been operating for a couple of years when it was purchased for development.

The kiosk that previously stood on the site at around 400sq ft has now been demolished and in its place is a

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1,300sq ft store, fitted out to the latest Nisa Local Evolution specification.

The store is open 24 hours a day, serving through a hatch from 10pm.

It offers a full convenience range that includes a strong Co-op own brand presence.

Store development manager, Dave Needham, said: “The new store has almost tripled the selling space for the retailer and so that has allowed for a much-improved offer, moving away from snacking to a comprehensive grocery offering.”

Yogi Moorthy, store manager, says the team has worked on the store’s range and made some changes to the original offer that works better. “It is going in the right direction,” he said. “Sales are growing week on week which is very good.”

Stuart Hawkes, Nisa induction manager who is supporting the retailer, added: “The transformation is truly incredible from what it was before to what it is now. When the customers get in and walk the store, they can see for themselves what is now on offer to them.”

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

SHOPPER CONFIDENCE

Shoppers focus on saving money over quality Research from the IGD shows that all demographics saw drops in their overall confidence.

S

hopper confidence has dropped once again, following a mild lift over the past couple of months, according to the latest Shopper Confidence Index from IGD. The research shows June saw shopper confidence drop 3 points to -24, lower than the previous lowest point of -23 in March 2022, reflecting increasing pessimism among shoppers.

All demographics saw drops in their overall confidence, with the most

significant drops in those aged 45 to 54 – down from -23 to -30 – and lower affluence groups. In addition, the data shows net financial confidence fell four points in June.

As saving money continues to take priority, shoppers are placing less importance on other factors like quality, down from -18 in May to -20 in June.

Rhian Thomas, Head of Shopper Insight at IGD ShopperVista, said:

“The reality of the cost-of-living crisis appears to have hit home for shoppers this month, and that is reflected across their behaviour and sentiment.

“We anticipate shopping behaviour changes will accelerate as shoppers look to save as much money as they can, and being on top of those changes will be critical in the coming months.”

IGD subscribers can access the full Shopper Confidence Index report here.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 13

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

BARBECUES

Plant-based barbies ‘set to sizzle’

Co-op research reveals that three-quarters of meat eaters say they would opt for vegan food at a barbecue.

I

t is set to be a summer of plantbased burgers and sausages, as 78% of meat-eaters would choose to try a vegan BBQ alternative, new research by Co-op reveals.

The poll finds 44% of meat-eaters would be tempted to choose a vegan product, but would judge it by its looks, followed by how it smells (34%) or how it sounds when being eaten (29%).

In addition, the survey reveals that 37% of UK adults have noticed more vegan options at barbecues recently and even more 16–24-year-olds (55%) have noticed a significant change in the traditionally meat-inspired spread.

When it comes to who is responsible for making sure vegan guests are catered

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for, people believe it is mainly the host’s (38%) responsibility rather than the attending vegan guests (19%) for having tasty plant-based food on the menu.

Meanwhile, 35% of UK adults admit they would use a separate grill when barbecuing both meat and plant-based food, yet 23% say they would use the same grill but try and keep the meat and plant-based food apart.

The effort to keep food apart may be totally unnecessary for many, with 10% of respondents admitting to cleaning their barbecue just once a year and 25% admitting to only cleaning it once every six months.

Plant-based product developer at Co-op, Saskia Pinnington, said: “We’re

seeing people expand their barbecue horizons and move away from the standard hot dog and burger, so it’s important as a convenience retailer that we have the range to be able to cater for everyone.

“What’s even more important is that plant-based food shouldn’t cost more than non-vegan food, which is why we’ve price-matched our GRO range to meat and dairy-based counterparts, saving our customers money on the foods they love.”

Co-op is adding several new plantbased products to its GRO range this summer, including GRO The Bhaji Burger, GRO Spicy & Smoky Hawt Dawgs, and GRO Shawarma Kebabs.

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

ILLICIT TOBACCO

Illicit cigarette trade sees biggest rise of past five years A new independent report has revealed that close to one-in-five cigarettes consumed in the UK in 2021 was illicit.

C

ontraband and counterfeit cigarette consumption increased by 4.2% year-on-year in 2021, according to a new independent report.

The report, released by KPMG and commissioned by Philip Morris International (PML), shows that close to one-in-five cigarettes consumed in the UK was illicit (18.1%) – up to almost one-in-three in some areas.

This increase was mostly fuelled by counterfeit cigarettes, now the UK’s most prevalent form of illicit tobacco.

Their consumption grew 34.1% in 2021, topping three billion cigarettes for the first time in the study’s 16-year history.

PML commissions test purchase teams to help gather evidence and intelligence to support prosecutions against retailers of illicit products. The teams report that typically packets of illicit cigarettes cost between £5 and £7.50 – around half the price of legitimate products.

Cem Uzundal, Head of UK Field Force for PML, said: “The KPMG report highlights how illicit tobacco is prevalent in the UK, with counterfeit increasingly becoming an issue.

“Our undercover operatives regularly visit retail premises the length and breadth of the UK, gathering intelligence

that’s shared with trading standards and law enforcement, to assist their efforts to take action.

The report also found significant regional differences in the consumption of illicit products, with Northeast England, Yorkshire and The Humber, and the Midlands all above average for counterfeit and contraband consumption, whereas London, Southeast and Southwest England, the East of England and Wales are all below average.

Uzundal warned retailers selling illicit product: “You stand a very real chance of getting caught and facing the penalties.”

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 15

A DV E RTO R I A L

SNAPPY SHOPPER

Retailer testimonials

Three of the UK’s leading convenience retailers share their thoughts of the Snappy Shopper home delivery platform.

T

he top 10 retailers on the platform average £17,000 delivery sales per week, almost £900,000 per year.

Natalie Lightfoot – Londis Solo Baillieston: “We get loads of five-star reviews. It’s built great customer relations. “The one-on-one relationship you have with your Snappy Account Manager is great – you can reach out to them whenever and they can solve any problem that you’ve got. People are

becoming so much more time poor now, so we really wanted to make it work – it is worth it, and it’s transformed our business. It will pay you back, 10 times.”

Raj – Premier Rawmarsh, Sunderland: “I think their technology is really good – it’s up there with any other technology I’ve seen in the delivery sector. Snappy have been fantastic right from onboarding – they can’t do enough for you.”

David Brown – One Stop Crawcrook: “The Snappy Shopper sales have grown month by month and the launch process was really good – we got a lot of support from head office. Snappy offer promotions such as £5 off when you spend £15 and when that happens, we can get up to a 20% increase in orders daily. Snappy also helped to support our local football team and food bank over the festive period, which was great.”

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 17

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BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

CONSUMER SPENDING

Household budgets continue to tighten amid rising inflation

Spending at supermarkets and specialist food and drink stores decrease as consumers seek value from weekly shop.

C

onsumer card spending grew 6.2% year-on-year in June, but concern around rising living costs continues, with consumers feeling less able to live within their means.

Data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, reveals that spending on essential items increased 4.4%, largely driven by a surge in fuel spend (24.8%) as petrol and diesel prices continued to climb.

Spending at supermarkets and specialist food and drink stores saw year-on-year decreases of -0.8% and -1.1% respectively, with almost half of

consumers (49%) seeking more value from their weekly shop.

In addition, the figures show that although spending at restaurants was down -3.3% compared to June 2021, the category saw a small month-onmonth uplift (0.8%), as did bars, pubs and clubs (up 0.1%). Takeaways and fast food remain popular too, recording growth of 2.3% month-on-month and 9.4% year-on-year, respectively.

The data also reveals more people (91%) are concerned about the negative impact of rising household bills. Consumers are also feeling less optimistic about their ability to live within their

means and confidence in the future of the UK economy has decreased slightly.

José Carvalho, head of consumer products at Barclaycard, said: “The continued rise in fuel, food and energy prices means consumers are having to budget and seek out value where they can for both essential and non-essential purchases.

“While this cautionary approach is impacting supermarket and individual basket spend, there are bright spots to be found, with Brits increasing their discretionary spending on entertainment, travel and takeaways as we head into high summer.”

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 19

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

RETAIL SALES

Cost-of-living crisis weighs on retail sales growth Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO says its latest High Street Sales Tracker confirms that the outlook for retailers “is of concern”.

H

igh levels of inflation and the deepening cost-of-living crisis have prompted further slowing of retail sales growth, new figures by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP reveal.

BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker reveals total like-for-like sales, combined in-store and online, increased by +8.4% year-on-year in June. Total online like-for-like sales remained relatively flat at just +1.6% in June. While this is the online retail sector’s third consecutive positive result, it is a disappointing performance

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given it is based on low growth of +8.2% in June 2021.

The figures show June started particularly slowly, as total like-for-like sales grew by just +4.65% in the first week of the month, which included the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday. Total like-for-like sales increased by +7.63% in the second week of June, and +7.30% in the third week, compared to the same week in 2021.

The final week of the month saw the strongest like-for-like growth, with sales jumping by +18.61% above those recorded in 2021.

Sophie Michael, Head of Retail and Wholesale at BDO LLP, said: “These results confirm that the outlook for retailers is of concern. With consumer confidence at historically low levels, real wages falling to a 20-year low and interest rates set to rise further, there are few signs of encouragement for retailers.”

She added: “Ultimately, retailers will be looking to the government to use the levers at its disposal to get inflation under control, ease the cost-of-living crisis and create the economic conditions where the retail sector can flourish.”

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

CASH

Cash deposits and withdrawals remain steady A Post Office poll has found that one-in-five UK consumers will use cash instead of card payments to help with budgeting during the cost-of-living crisis.

P

ost offices handled more than £3.2bn in cash in June, new figures reveal.

Post Office’s June Cash Tracker data shows personal cash deposits totalled £1.33bn in June, compared with £1.35bn in May. In Northern Ireland, personal cash deposits exceeded £100m in a single month for the second month in a row with £100.2m deposited. Personal cash deposits are far higher in Northern Ireland than in Scotland (£90.0m) or Wales (£68.4m).

Business cash deposits totalled £1.11bn in June compared with £1.13bn in May. This was the fourth month in a

row business cash deposits had exceeded £1bn in a single month.

Meanwhile, personal cash withdrawals totalled £744m in June, dipping 3.4% month-on-month. Overall, £3.21bn in cash was handled by Post Offices in June, compared with £3.27bn in May, £3.14bn in April, and £3.2bn in March.

With the cost of living rising, a new Post Office poll has found that one in five UK consumers will use cash instead of card payments to help with budgeting. More than one-third of respondents (36%) also said they would cancel entertainment and leisure subscriptions such as Netflix or the gym.

Martin Kearsley, Banking Director at Post Office, said: “Postmasters continuing to handle well over £3bn each month demonstrates just how vital being able to deposit and withdraw cash, securely and conveniently, is for millions of people.

Many people will be budgeting now for further financial pressures expected in the autumn.”

Kearslley contintued: “Using cash to budget has been tried and tested for hundreds of years and it’s why we are running our ‘Save our Cash’ campaign to highlight just how important being able to budget with cash is for so many people.”

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A DV E RTO R I A L

SPAR SCOTLAND

SPAR Mosstlodoch Service Station The forecourt store offers a Post Office, car care section, a wide selection of news and magazines, and a large food-to-go area.

“We are very excited to be able to offer a fantastic new SPAR store and forecourt to the local residents of Mosstlodoch.” - Suraj Thapa

A

SPAR store and service station owned by independent retailer Suraj Thapa opened 30 October 2021 in the small village of Mosstlodoch, Moray in Scotland.

The JET-branded forecourt has six lanes and car parking for 20 cars. The site also provides a car wash, vacuum, and air. The large convenience store employs 10 people who all live locally.

Inside it provides a Post Office, car care section, and a wide selection of news

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and magazines. A large foodto-go area including Costa Coffee, Rollover Hot Dogs, Tango Ice Blast and Fwip Ice Cream is available, as well as a hot food-to-go counter.

The store has a huge off-licence section providing an extensive range of spirits and malt whiskies. Paypoint and an ATM are also available for customers to use.

Owner Suraj Thapa said: “We have owned the store for over two years, and

we are delighted to have transformed it into a fantastic SPAR store.

As well as our huge range of malt whiskies, we are stocking a large range of food-to-go, a larger chill range and also local suppliers like Baxters, Sinclair’s and Murdoch’s. We are very excited to be able to offer a fantastic new SPAR store and forecourt to the local residents of Mosstlodoch and to those driving through this northerly area of Scotland.”

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

COMMUNITIES

Half of Brits want to ‘make a difference’ in their community Research by Spar UK shows Neath Port Talbot, Norwich and Dunfermline come out on top as best communities in the UK.

C

ommunities are stronger than ever, according to a new report commissioned by Spar UK. The research finds the key elements of a great neighbourhood include good neighbours (28%), feeling a sense of belonging (22%), and free green spaces (11%).

In addition, the report shows that 31% of respondents said they were involved in activities for local causes including improving the area for others, with 18–24-year-olds most likely to be involved with local community projects, such as litter pick-ups.

The research found that a third of us have lent a hand more since Covid19 and 28% said the community had grown closer. Nearly half (42%) also felt they had got to know people in their neighbourhood more, including people working in local shops.

Nurturing a neighbourhood and helping it thrive was something that 57% found important, saying they wanted to make a difference. The most popular ways to build this sense of

community include coffee mornings (49%), charity jumble sales (43%), and community fun runs or walks (39%).

New community activities have also taken the nation by storm in recent years, including bird-watching groups, baby massage and yoga groups, and community gardening groups.

Spar’s report also revealed the most community-driven locations in the country are Neath Port Talbot, Norwich, Dunfermline, Swansea, Barnsley, Hackney, Derry/Londonderry, Plymouth, Chelmsford, and Preston.

John Drury, a social psychologist from the University of Sussex, said: “It’s no coincidence that the activities that were found to drive happiness most – local get-togethers, pub quizzes and dog walking – are all activities that allow people to extend their social circle and form new friendships. It’s also worth noting that some of the most popular activities locally, such as litter picking and community gardening, serve to improve the community environment. They produce a virtuous circle of happiness in the local community.”

Suzanne Dover, Spar UK Brand and Marketing Director, added: “This report shows exactly what makes a community and how important things like links with local shops are to help build this connection.”

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 23

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

RETAIL FOOTFALL

Footfall rises

Research suggests the cost-of-living crisis is driving more people to shop around for the best deals both online and in-store.

T

otal UK footfall decreased by 10.5% in June compared to pre-pandemic figures, but increased by 2.0 percentage points on May’s figures, according to BRC-Sensormatic IQ data.

The figures, covering the five weeks to 2 July, show footfall on high streets declined by 13.9% in June compared to pre-pandemic figures. This was 0.3 percentage points worse than last month’s rate, but an improvement on the threemonth average decline of 14.8%.

Shopping Centre footfall declined by 24.1% (Yo3Y), 2.6 percentage points better than last month’s rate and above the 3-month average decline of 25.9%. England again saw the shallowest footfall

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decline of the four nations at -9.9%, followed by Wales at -12.7% and Northern Ireland at -14.7%. Scotland again saw the steepest decline at -15.8%.

Retail Parks saw footfall decrease by 8.1% compared to pre-pandemic figures, 1.8 percentage points worse than last month’s rate, and worse than the threemonth average decline of 7.0%.

The UK’s total footfall performance was ahead of Germany (-19.4%), Italy (-21.6%), and France (-23.5%) in June.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The cost-of-living crisis appears to be driving more people to shop around for the best deals both online and in-store,

with the number of visits to individual shops rising in June.

“This was boosted by the Jubilee celebrations and summer heatwave, which more than compensated for the impact of the rail strikes on city centre footfall.

However, this has not translated into in-store and online sales, with volumes down significantly in recent months as consumers tightened their belts.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, added: “This mixed bag of footfall performance will do little to allay retailers’ concerns as the cost-of-living and inflationary pressures continue to weigh heavy in the public consciousness.”

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

VAPING

Survey reveals extent of underage vaping

The ASH research reveals that Elf Bar and Geek Bar are overwhelmingly the most popular vape brands.

V

aping among children aged 11 to 17-years-old increased from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022, according to the annual YouGov youth survey for ASH.The research reveals that proportion of children who admit ever having tried vaping has also risen from 14% in 2020 to 16% in 2022.

The data shows that disposable e-cigarettes are now the most used product among current vapers, up more than

seven-fold from 7% in 2020 and 8% in 2021, to 52% in 2022. Elf Bar and Geek Bar are overwhelmingly the most popular, with only 30% of current users having tried any other brands.

The research also reveals that 92% of under-18s who’ve never smoked have also never vaped, and only 2% have vaped more than once or twice.

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, said: “The disposable vapes

Fog of uncertainty: just how many kids are vaping?

that have surged in popularity over the last year are brightly coloured pocket-sized products with sweet flavours and sweet names, and are widely available for under a fiver, no wonder they’re attractive to children.

“As the Khan review recommended to government, an additional £15m needs to be invested in enforcement, and this should include vaping as well as tobacco products. The laws also need strengthening to prohibit child-friendly packaging and labelling of vaping products and to prevent promotion on social media.”

John Herriman, Chief Executive at Chartered Trading Standards Institute, added: “Trading Standards teams are doing their best to protect young people from underage sales of both vapes and tobacco.

However, this is an increasingly challenging situation as a result of continued government funding cuts for local authorities which has meant spending on trading standards has halved over the last decade or so.

Given the particular prominence around age restriction as a means of reducing smoking rates, in the recently published independent review of smoking by Javed Khan, additional funding is vital for trading standards, so that we can protect our communities and enforce the law.”

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 25

01.09.2022

George Bowie • DJ Cassi • Pretty Ugly Simon Cordiner • Rebecca Vasmant BOOK NOW

For tickets and information visit groceryaid.org.uk/events/checkout-scotland

Money raised from this event will go to GroceryAid, the grocery industry charity. A Registered Charity Reg No. 1095897 (England & Wales) & SC039255 (Scotland).

A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales No 04620683

G O L D PA R T N E R S

S I LV E R S U P P O R T E R S

COMMUNITY

GROCERYAID

Barcode Festival raises record-breaking £900k

GroceryAid says it has provided 61% more instances of support compared to last year and is busier than ever.

M

ore than 4,500 people attended GroceryAid’s Barcode Festival at Magazine, London, and raised a record-breaking amount of more than £900,000 for the industry charity.

The event is the industry’s only music, food, and drink festival, which enables over 200 FMCG companies to reward and recognise colleagues, network with customers, and raise awareness and money for GroceryAid. Attendees were able to enjoy complimentary food, drink and giveaways

from more than 80 sponsors. Supporters provided a range of drinks bars and food stands and the entertainment included live performances from Steps, Tinie Tempah, Bastille, BBC Radio One DJs Rickie and Melvin, and rugby star James Haskell with his Ibiza DJ set.

Steve Barnes, Chief Executive of GroceryAid, said: “Barcode Festival has quickly become a key event in the trade with a record number of colleagues and sponsors attending this year. We are grateful that the industry has embraced the event and bought their enthusiasm

and creativity to make it, once again, a memorable event.

“We have provided 61% more instances of support versus last year and we are busier than we ever have been. We are proud that we are helping so many colleagues when they are facing crises. Ultimately that is the purpose of Barcode, to ensure we as a trade can raise the money to carry on our life-changing work for colleagues in need.”

Barcode will return to Magazine on 6 July 2023. Tickets are available now.

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

NISA

Nisa’s sustainability gains momentum

The paper used for all the symbol group’s leaflets is recycled and FSC certified.

N

isa has revealed that all its consumer leaflets are now printed on paper that is produced from 100% recycled fibre and is FSC certified.

HH Global, who manage all Nisa’s marketing-related print requirements including leaflets and point of sale, has made the latest change as part of an ongoing plan for significant sustainability improvements.

The most recent advance means not only are all paper products produced on FSC paper, but virgin paper is also no longer used for leaflets, further reducing Nisa’s carbon footprint.

HH Global took over the printing contract for Nisa at the end of 2020 with sustainability a key priority, particularly for the high-volume Nisa leaflet.

The paper used for the leaflet is recycled, as well as FSC certified, and these logos are now on all leaflets, giving the reassurance that they have been produced in a sustainable way.

The change to 100% recycled paper for leaflet production for periods 7 to 10, which spans 12 weeks, amounts to: 1,480 trees saved, almost 60% less carbon than previously, and using 14% less water.

Chris Walker, offline marketing lead at Nisa, said: “Working with HH Global, we have clear targets to reduce our carbon footprint, and this is another huge step in the right direction.

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“We are delighted with the savings made over just four periods, or 12 weeks, and will continue to look at making more sustainability gains with other of our paper products.”

Gary Hunter, Nisa’s account director at HH Global, commented: “I’m thrilled by the savings we have made

through the switch to paper that’s produced from 100% recycled fibre that is FSC certified.

“It is fantastic progress and we have plans for further improvements so those savings will keep on coming with more innovative solutions to reduce both carbon and cost.”

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

CO-OP

Co-op to put a freeze on sour milk

The retailer is to introduce messaging across its own-brand milk products from September in a bid to reduce the 70,000 tonnes of milk wasted each year.

C

o-op is introducing a ‘freeze me’ message to its own-brand milk products, in a bid to cut down on 70,000 tonnes of milk wasted a year.

Figures from UK’s leading sustainability experts WRAP, highlight that more than £150m worth of milk is discarded each year, with milk wasted in the home contributing to 90% of this.

A recent survey shows that 66% of UK adults don’t freeze milk at home, 31% of UK adults didn’t know you can freeze milk, and of these 34% say that now they do they will start freezing it.

A new on-pack message from Co-op will read: “Don’t waste me, freeze me, in a suitable, clean container, then defrost in the fridge, use within 24 hours.”

Catherine Dishington, environment and sustainability manager at Co-op, said: “We’re committed to reducing our impact on the planet and we’re trying to help our customers and members make small changes that collectively, can make an impact.

“Freezing food is one of the easiest ways to make the most out of your weekly shop and prevent food wastage but not everyone knows that it’s perfectly safe to freeze milk.

“We hope that by having this message on pack it will not only save customers some money, it should also help them to throw away less.”

Don’t chuck it, freeze it.

Estelle Herszenhorn, Strategic Technical Manager at WRAP, added: “It is fantastic to see Co-op, one of WRAP’s Courtauld 2030 signatories, adopting our best practice guidance by introducing freezing messaging to their own

brand milk. Milk is one of the most wasted food products in the UK so this is a welcome move from the Co-op.”

The new messaging will appear across all Co-op own brand milk products from September 2022.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 29

WHOLESALE

PARFETTS

Parfetts champions best of the industry

The wholesaler’s week-long Parfest 2022 was built around deals on more than 600 lines, which gave customers a chance to increase margins.

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holesaler Parfetts has offered a week of deals, free festival food, music, and supplier activations at its seven depots across the UK. Parfest 2022, “a week to champion the best of cash and carry and convenience wrapped,” delivered a record week of sales of more than £14m.

The week-long event, which took place at depots in Aintree, Anfield, Halifax, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Somercoates, and Stockport, was built around deals on more than 600 lines that gave customers a chance to increase their margins. The event welcomed

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customers with free food ranging from sandwiches and hot drinks to a full festival food offering of burgers, pizza, and fish & chips.

Staff and customers enjoyed grassed festival areas with deckchairs and parasols, while a DJ kept people entertained.

Supplier partners also got involved with an opportunity to engage with retailers in the places they shop, to activate key lines, new NPD, and samples.

Employee-owned Parfetts ensured that its team were at the heart of the event – enjoying games, giveaways, competitions, and free festival food alongside customers.

Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, said: “We set out to create an annual event that brings our trade show to our customers. It allowed suppliers to meet over 10,000 of our customers, who enjoyed exclusive offers, free food and live entertainment. “ It also gives us the opportunity to showcase the best in cash and carry and underline the essential role that wholesale depots play in the sector. And have a bit of fun while we do it.”

Platinum partners for Parfest included Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Hell, Kelloggs, Pepsico, Suntory, and Zenergy.

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – BIRDS EYE

THIS WEEK BIRDS EYE WALKERS CAWSTON PRESS MALIBU + PICKS OF THE WWEK

BIRDS EYE RELAUNCHES GREEN CUISINE WITH £4.4M CAMPAIGN The campaign challenges consumers’ beliefs about plant-based diets and encourages them to reassess their current eating habits.

Birds Eye is relaunching its meat-free Green

The new brand identity builds on the suc-

Cuisine brand with a new advertising campaign

cess and insights of Birds Eye Green Cuisine’s

that aims to challenge consumers’ eating habits.

award-winning 2021 support of Team GB at the

The new £4.4m ‘Welcome to the Plant Age’

2020 Tokyo Olympics when the brand demon-

campaign reveals a distinctive new identity for

strated to consumers that meat-free, and Green

the brand with the introduction of new animated

Cuisine, is truly for everyone.

characters. It is Green Cuisine’s biggest 360° cam-

Elle Barker, Marketing Director on Green

paign to date, including TV ads, new packaging,

Cuisine, said: “Our new brand platform plays off

in-store support, PR and out-of-home advertising.

the insight that choosing plant-based foods can

The alternative protein market is forecast to

sometimes feel like a compromise, even though

become 11% of the overall protein market by 2035,

there are so many benefits to including more

but many consumers feel that the category isn’t

meat alternatives within our diets. Our vision is

relevant for them. Green Cuisine’s new campaign

to make a flexitarian diet accessible to all. Green

challenges consumers’ beliefs about plant-based

Cuisine can demonstrate just how easy, delicious,

diets and encourages them to reassess their cur-

and nutritious it can be to incorporate plant-based

rent eating habits.

options into everyday meals.”

The Green Cuisine range includes chicken-free

The new campaign has launched in the UK

dippers, meat-free burgers and fishless fingers, as

across TV and digital, with the new packaging, PR

well as veg-packed options, including veggie fingers.

and out-of-home rolling out from August onwards.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 31

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – WALKERS

WALKERS SUPPORTS RETAILERS The brand is giving retailers the opportunity to win £1,000 to support their local community.

Walkers has launched a competition offering

RSP PMPs have seen value growth of 9%

retailers the opportunity to win £1,000 to support

within savoury snacks and are the number one

their local neighbourhood. There are 10 prizes

contributor to crisps and snacks growth in value

up for grabs.

vs other segments. They now account for 41%

To enter, retailers must purchase two cases

of crisps and snacks sales in the savoury snacks

of any £1 RSP price-marked packs (PMPs) from

category, growing at +22.1% in the past two years.

a range of qualifying products before 9 August.

Chapman added: “Shoppers are increas-

Mike Chapman, Wholesale Trading Director at

ingly planning in advance more often when and

PepsiCo, commented: “Convenience stores are

where they shop, and therefore those retailers

such an integral part of local communities, and

who choose to offer value for money through

retailers have gone to great lengths over the past

RSP PMPs can look to attract customers, help

few years in supporting their customers through

encourage repeat shopping trips, and increase

unprecedented times. With this competition, we

their savoury snacking sales.”

want to give back and acknowledge the great support that retailers have provided, especially

The competition terms and conditions can be

in recent times.”

found here.

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NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – CAWSTON PRESS

CAWSTON PRESS LAUNCHES BIGGEST CAMPAIGN Brand creates new Sparkling Sharing Bottles, a mix of pressed fruit and sparkling water, for the summer.

Cawston Press is launching its biggest

sugar, which this research shows is more pertinent

campaign this summer to help combat the lack

than ever.

of understanding in fizzy drinks, along with a new ‘No Jiggery Pokery’ tagline.

“It’s exciting to see that such a large number (63%) of people want drinks with more natural

The campaign aims to highlight the “often mis-

ingredients and we hope to encourage the pop-

leading messaging and opaque practices” that

ulation to really consider what they choose to

exist within the soft drinks industry. This is fuelled

consume, and challenge the soft drinks industry

by an insight from its research, which shows that

to do more when it comes to transparency and

63%, would prefer it if fizzy drinks were made with

real ingredients. We make life more difficult for

more natural ingredients, highlighting an underlying

ourselves by not cutting corners and doing things

desire to consume more consciously.

properly to create better-tasting soft drinks. We

Laura Hedderman, Head of Marketing at Caw-

like to call it ‘no jiggery pokery’.”

ston Press, said: “At Cawston Press, we’re on a

Cawston Press will be distributing thousands

mission to shine a light on how it’s possible to

of its soft drinks for free in London this month.

create great-tasting, sparkling soft drinks from

The brand has also created new 750ml Sparkling

real, recognisable and simple ingredients – no

Sharing Bottles, a mix of pressed fruit and sparkling

misleading language, hidden sweeteners or added

water, for summer.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 33

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – MALIBU

MALIBU INVITES CONSUMERS TO ‘DO WHATEVER TASTES GOOD’ The brand will also be present at festivals sampling its range of RTDs to drive consideration among its Gen Z audience.

Malibu has launched a campaign to encourage

Piña Colada and Watermelon Mojito, while they

everyone to get into the summer mindset all year

enjoy immersive performances from world-lead-

round.A new advert takes viewers into the world

ing alternative choir, London Gospel Choir, and a

of Malibu on Coco the coconut horse, where they

selection of DJs provide the soundtrack.

find an inclusive space where everyone is doing what they like, whenever they like.

The ad, which is live now and will run through-

Marnie Corrigan, Brand Director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “This campaign invites consumers to ‘Do Whatever Tastes Good’, to embrace their

out July, will appear on social channels, digital

guilty pleasures and enjoy drinking their favourite

out-of-home, and video-on-demand.

Malibu cocktail or drink, and our new campaign

To drive further awareness of the new brand

features a wide range of moments and new ways in

positioning, ‘Malibu’s Courtside Confessions’ will

which to enjoy Malibu, that’s unapologetically you.”

take over the outdoor terrace at Brixton Jamm, in

In addition, Malibu will also be present at festi-

South London, on 22 and 23 July. The brand will

vals including We Are Festival and South Facing

reward those who share their guilty pleasures,

this summer, sampling its range of RTDs and

and an all-singing-all-dancing judge and jury will

offering branded merchandise to drive consider-

sentence them to complimentary cocktails and

ation among its Gen Z audience. Malibu is also

pizzas, branded merchandise, and bar tabs at

teaming up with beauty salons across the UK by

local on-trade venues. All guests will receive a

sending out exclusive mini-fridges stocked with

Malibu RTD upon arrival and can choose from a

Malibu RTDs for consumers to enjoy while being

menu of refreshing Malibu cocktails including a

pampered.

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NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

BETTER CHEDDAR Cathedral City has launched a

ALTERNATIVE SUCKIES

THOR POWER Actiph Water is introducing three

£5m advertising campaign for

The Collective is rolling a new

limited-edition bottles featuring

2022-23, centred around a new

dairy-free suckies range, in

characters from the launch of

TV ad. Marking the start of the

response to an increase in

the latest Marvel Movie, Thor:

brand’s new three-year ‘Our Make

demand for dairy-free alterna-

Love and Thunder, which is in

it Better Cheddar’ campaign, the

tive snacks for kids. The range

cinemas now. To support the new

ad will air across national TV,

of portable yogurt pouches will be

bottles the brand will be running a

on-demand, YouTube and social

available in two flavours – Straw-

competition offering Thor-themed

media.

berry and Peach & Apricot.

prizes.

BRAAI PROMO

BURNA BOTTLE

MARSHMELLO COKE

Accolade Wines has brought

Pernod Ricard has rolled out a lim-

Coca-Cola Creations has collab-

back its ‘Bring on the braai’ pro-

ited-edition Havana Club 7 Years

orated with Grammy-nominated

motion to its South African wine

bottle in collaboration with Nige-

music producer Marshmello

brand Kumala in partnership with

rian singer Burna Boy. The bottle

to create a limited-edition fla-

barbecue manufacturer Napo-

is available exclusively to conven-

vour. The zero-sugar drink is a

leon Grills. The promotion runs

ience throughout July before a

fusion of Marshmello’s favour-

until 9 August and is available

wider launch next month. A total

ite flavours, strawberry and

across more than 285,000 bot-

of 72,000 bottles will be produced.

watermelon, combined with

tles of Kumala.

RSP £26.99.

Coca-Cola.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 35

NOW THAT’S A

OUT TH

Future proofing

Refill stations, a lot less plastic and self-efficiency are just some of the initiatives in Morrisons’ new eco-concept store.

Morrisons has introduced a store promising a lower environmental impact in Little Clacton, Essex, to limit its carbon footprint.

WHAT’S THE BIG CONCEPT? The year 2030 may seem too far in the future, but in innovation timescale, it really is just around the corner. That’s when the UK government is aiming to create up to £90bn of private investment towards net zero by 2050; a number of companies have made their own pledges around that timetable.

The Morrisons store features 366 loose products, a low-carbon-impact building, next-generation fridges powered by CO2 from agricultural waste,

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roof solar panels to provide a fifth of the store’s energy, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing, a near zero waste backof-house system, along with facilities to recycle customers’ waste.

In addition to low-impact design and decreased packaging and waste, the store also promises a significant number of locally sourced products, a range of biodiversity schemes, more healthy and nutritious foods, and more support to the local community.

WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE? The retailer says the Little Clacton store will emit 43% lower operational emissions than a standard store, while also generating its own power, moving

A GOOD IDEA…

HE BOX

away from gas. Some of the innovation involved in carbon reduction includes using only electricity; solar panels; air source heat pumps using waste heat from fridges to heat the store; ‘EcoBlades’ to trap cold air inside fridges; and exclusive operation of electric morrisons.com delivery vehicles.

Apart from the loose products (including everything from fruit, vegetables, bakery items, frozen products, pet foods), it will also comprise refill hoppers (including pasta, coffee, home baking, pulses and herbs, as well as refillable household cleaning products); plastic-free shopping for over 110 products at the counters using refillable containers; and milk sold only in Tetra Pak. Morrisons is also going strong with supporting local produce with this store, stocking over 250 local beers, spirits, fruits, vegetables, eggs, pies, breads, jams, teas, sauces, biscuits and crisps supplied from less than 35 miles away,

against an average of 50 lines in regular Morrisons stores in the South-East.

The store will also be the first to trial Morrisons carbon neutral eggs.

It will also aspire to be almost zero waste, offering customers the ability to return their waste.

vesting system will be used to flush the store’s toilets and reduce virgin water use of nearly 600,000 litres a year.

Outside the store, a wildlife area has been created in the grounds of the store to offer a home for birds, insects and small animals.

WHAT ABOUT THE BUILDING?

IS THIS A SECTOR FIRST?

In its environmental construction, Morrisons Little Clacton has recycled 99% of the demolition materials from its old store in new builds and reused and reduced steel to lower carbon emissions by 52%. Meanwhile, special car park tarmac has been used to offer a carbon saving of up to 25%. A rainwater har-

No, it’s not. Greggs has recently opened a new Eco-Shop in Great Billing, Northampton, where it will test initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental impact.

Our prediction is that soon more retailers will follow suit, as the country races to meet its own environmental pledges.

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 37

BO O K NO W! THE SLR AWARDS ARE BACK AND THEY’RE LIVE FOR OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY!

LIV E EV ENT:

7 S EPT 2022 R ADIS SO N, GLASGOW

TICK ETS AVAILABLE NOW TAB LE OF 10 £ 125 0 EX VAT TICK ET £ 14 0 EX VAT

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

SHAME

SQUID Leading Spanish wholesaler and importer (their words, not ours), Mevalco, has announced a first for the UK, offering its retail clients Marine Stewardship Council-certified octopus that has been harvested fresh from the Cantabrian Sea. That’s great news for seafood lovers but not so great for normal people. One imagines that the octopuses of Cantabria probably aren’t waving their many limbs in celebration either.

And if you’re foaming at the mouth, certain in the knowledge that the plural of octopus is octopi, then wipe your chin – we just checked on Google. It’s definitely octopuses, octopodes at a push.

Something to do with it coming from the Greek, not Latin. Go and ask Stephen Fry. Known as Old Fisherman’s Octopus, this sustainability harvested cephalopod apparently differs from those collected in

other places. It has a unique flavour (octopus?) which comes from eating shellfish and is fibrous, with a darker colour.

The octopus legs are cut and weighed by hand, presumably by the Old Fisherman. They are immediately

frozen to support flavour and texture and stored for a month before being cooked in their own juices and vacuum-packed to arrive in perfect condition in the UK. In packs of eight, one assumes.

GLOSSING OVER BAD NEWS “May you live in interesting times,” as the apocryphal Chinese curse says. Well, times certainly don’t get much more interesting than 2022.

Climate change is wreaking havoc with the weather, the war in Ukraine tops a depressingly long list of conflicts around the world, women in the US no longer have control over their own bodies, and – no matter how much everyone tries to tell it the party’s over – coronavirus refuses to phone itself a taxi and bugger off.

Closer to home, the cost of living is rising higher than Australian floodwaters, and the good ship Britain is currently adrift on a sea of uncertainty without a captain.

Is it any wonder then that Wickes has run out of optimism?

WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 39

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