The Week In Retail Issue 50

RETAIL

THE WEEK IN

...MORE IF YOU PLEASE

WRIGLEY HITS 130 IRN-BRU GOES 100% RECYCLED SUN CELEBRATES JAB ARMY

CHARITY

QUARTER OF A MIL IN A QUARTER

NISA’S MADL CHARITY BREAKS RECORD

FOOD TO GO

POST OFFICE

LAST CHANCE ON POSTMASTERS VOTE

THE BIG F2G BOUNCE BACK?

32% GROWTH IN FOOD TO GO PREDICTED

DEADLINE FOR POSTMASTER VOTE DAYS AWAY

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Issue 50 Wednesday 7th April 2021

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B awarrand eness

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Our delicious snowballs and teacakes have been family favourites for 90 years. Following 2019's TV campaign, awareness is at its highest level ever, with 76% of Scots surveyed saying they liked Lees Snowballs and 44% buying Lees products every month.

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sales@leesofscotland.co.uk *Source: JLral. Post TV Campaign Evaluation- Sept 2019 **Refers to Scots who viewed the 2019 TV ad

THE WEEK IN RETAIL

EDITOR’S COMMENT SHARE YOUR NEWS AND VIEWS WITH ME AT ABEGLEY@55NORTH.COM

WHEN WILL FOOD TO GO BE GOOD TO GO? The latest Food To Go Market Report from Lumina Intelligence makes interesting reading.

Long story short, the market has tanked in the last year, down 45% - which will come as a surprise to absolutely no one.

But what is possibly more eye-catching is the prediction that 2021 will see a big rebound with Lumina predicting an increase in the category of 32%. Let’s hope that they are spot on and food to go does indeed get back into gear. PreCovid, it was one of the biggest opportunities in convenience and the blurring of the traditional foodservice / retail boundary was intensifying by the week.

But how exactly has Covid impacted on the category? And what will the legacy of Covid mean for food to go? It seems logical that sales of food to go in convenience will pick up when some sort of normality resumes, but there have to be some big question marks hanging over the category. A minimum level of footfall is required to make food to go work well and the latest TRDP footfall figures show that footfall is improving but

still has a long way to go. And there’s no guarantee that footfall will ever return to pre-Covid levels.

Secondly, there is a serious risk of a hygiene hangover from Covid. Customers have been so used to being uber careful with regards to hygiene and cleanliness that it may take them some time to start feeling comfortable enough to buy relatively high risk freshly made food from c-stores again. It possibly reiterates the need for food to go retailers to operate to the very highest hygiene and safety standards - and make that obvious to their customers.

Thirdly, the whole world has moved on and customers are now very comfortable with home delivery and new ways of getting what they want.

Expecting them to slot back into pre-Covid habits may be understandable, but it’s not necessarily going to pan out that way.

There’s a lot to ponder around food to go and the next few months may need retailers to demonstrate yet more of that famous agility of theirs if they are to secure their share of what we all hope is a growing food to go pie.

ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY

ANTONY BEGLEY, EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

6

11

THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF Covid Passports in the news and Rashford helps double food donations.

16 FOOD TO GO

CHARITY

New Lumina report says Food To Go fell by 45% in 2020 - but will grow 32% this year.

Nisa’s Make A Difference Locally charity raises over quarter of a million pounds in the fist quarter of 2021.

9

COVID ‘PASSPORTS’

19 NO TIME TO WASTE

25 THE SUN RECOGNISES JAB ARMY

CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL HITS THE

AG BARR UNVEILS CARBON NEUTRAL PLAN AND 100% RECYCLED IRN-BRU.

HEADLINES.

NEW TV CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES COVID VOLUNTEERS.

13 POSTMASTER VOTE

21 SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

25 LIDL UPS LOCAL SOURCING ANTE

ONLY DAYS LEFT TO VOTE FOR YOUR NEW POST OFFICE BOARD MEMBERS.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

MARS WRIGLEY CELEBRATES THE 130TH BIRTHDAY OF CHEWING GUM.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

DISCOUNTER PUTS LOCAL PRODUCTS FRONT AND CENTRE IN NEW PROMOS.

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

ALDI EASTER CHARITY Aldi is to donate almost 400,000 meals to charities and people most in need over the Easter holidays. The discounter’s stores are working with local charities, community groups and foodbanks to donate surplus food and around 149 tonnes of food will be donated throughout the UK.

SAINSBURY’S HITS WEMBLEY Sainsbury’s has opened a new convenience format store in London on Wembley’s High Road. The Wembley Place Local store carries a range of over 2,600 and has a selfservice Costa machine.

BOOTS DOWN 18% Like for like retail sales at Boots fell by 17.9% year-onyear as Covid-19 restrictions impacted footfall at stores in the UK. Oline sales rose by 105% in the three months to 28 February, however, as the retailer continued to gain market share in the beauty category. Boots like for like pharmacy sales increased by 3.2% in the period.

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CHARITY

RASHFORD HELPS DOUBLE FOOD SUPPORT FOR THE VULNERABLE

THE SUPPORT OF CELEBRITY FOOTBALLER MARCUS RASHFORD HAS HELPED FARESHARE MORE THAN DOUBLE FOOD PROVISION TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE PAST YEAR

The UK’s biggest food charity, FareShare, has experienced soaring demand through the Covid crisis, with support from Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford’s critical in enabling it to step up to the challenge and double food redistribution Support from Rashford, the UK government and many of the UK’s major food retailers has helped FareShare to more than double food provision and distribute food equivalent of 128.5 million meals to vulnerable children, families and individuals in the past year - the

equivalent to four meals every second.

The charity is marking its oneyear anniversary of working with the 23-year-old England International footballer. The support of many of the UK’s leading retailers, all of which are members of Marcus’ Child Food Poverty Taskforce – with unprecedented food donations, funding, logistical support and donating warehouse space, and the grants provided to FareShare to procure food on behalf of the UK government, has helped transform FareShare’s impact over the last year.

CLARITY REQUIRE ON BAG CHARGES ACS has called on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to confirm the implementation date and communications plan for retailers ahead of upcoming changes to laws on plastic bags.

The new rules will see all retailers in England included in mandatory plastic bag charging, whilst at the same time setting the minimum amount that can be charged for a plastic bag at 10p. The rules were initially planned to come into force on 30 April, but DEFRA are set to revise that date due to issues with the parliamentary timetable.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “There are supposedly just weeks to go and we still don’t have clarity on the implementation date. Small retailers need as much notice and support from DEFRA as possible ahead of the change to enable them to provide advance notice of the change to customers and colleagues, which will reduce the risk of confrontation in store.”

NEWS DIGEST

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

LONDON MAYOR CALLS FOR BETTER PROTECTION FOR SHOPWORKERS

UNITAS CATEGORY GUIDES

SADIQ KHAN BACKS CAMPAIGN FOR NEW LEGISLATION TO OFFER MORE PROTECTION TO STORE STAFF.

launched the two latest

LEGISLATION

Unitas Wholesale has additions to its Plan for Profit

London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s has pledged his support for shopworkers to be better protected as part of his re-election manifesto. Khan said: “The pandemic has horrifically led to a doubling of the rate of incidents of abuse against retail staff, who have done such a fantastic job during the pandemic.

That’s why, I back the campaign to introduce legislation which would classify attacking a retail worker as an aggravated assault to help ensure that those convicted face tougher criminal sanctions.”

Many trade bodies, including ACS and NFRN have campaigned for the government to bring in tougher laws to tackle the increase in cases of physical

and verbal abuse against retailers and their staff.

On 19 Jan, the Scottish Parliament passed the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill, introduced by MSP Daniel Johnson. The new legislation makes attacking a store worker a specific offence, while assaults or abuse relating to the sale of age-restricted products – such as alcohol or tobacco – also become an aggravating factor in law, attracting higher penalties for perpetrators The NFRN is calling on MPs in Westminster to now support the Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill presented by Alex Norris MP in 2020.

category guides for 2021, focusing on the core range for the key Impulse and Grocery, Non-Food, Chilled & Frozen categories.

MEET THE BUYER Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co partnering with the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce to boost procurement opportunities for local businesses across Lancashire.

Local suppliers will have the opportunity to take part in a virtual ‘Meet the Buyer’ event on the 18 May with James Hall’s trading team.

COOL GREEN The British Frozen Food

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES GO LIVE

Increases to the the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage took effect last week effect on Thursday.

The National Living Wage increased by 2.2% increase to £8.91 with 23 and 24-year-olds eligible for the first time. This equates to £345 extra per year for someone working full-time.

In addition the National Minimum Wage rose across all age bands with a 16p increase to £8.36 for those 21-22, a 9p increase to £6.56 for those 18-20 and a 7p increase to £4.62 for those under 18.

Federation has launched a Specialist Interest Group (SIG) on sustainability. A focus of the SIG will be for the BFFF to develop its own policy and guidance to assist members in working towards these Sustainability Development Goals.

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NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

COVID PASSPORTS ON THE HORIZON?

BOOTS ROLLS OUT TASK MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

UK GOVERNMENTS ARE ACTIVELY CONSIDERING THE CONTROVERSIAL INTRODUCTION OF COVID

V

Boots is planning to make use of a task management platform across its 2,500 retail stores. The solution, from Yoobic, is geared towards frontline staff and is based around an app called MyHub which allows staff to organise and check off routine and regular tasks such as checklists, merchandising execution and health and safety tasks.

‘PASSPORTS’ TO ALLOW CERTAIN RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES TO RESUME.

Sturgeon said she was open-minded about using certificates to allow certain activities to resume.

A spokesman for the Scottish Retail Consortium said: “While Covid status certification may well play an important role in certain economic activities, such as international travel, we are sceptical of their value in a retail setting.

“Instances of abuse towards shop workers has spiked over the past year.

We are keen to avoid anything that might increase the potential for yet more flashpoints or frictions between customers and shop workers, including over enforcement.”

FOOTFALL CLIMBS, BASKET SPEND SLOWS The latest Covid Impact report from the Retail Data Partnership, drawing on Epos data from over 3,000 UK independent convenience stores, shows that footfall has continued to gradually increase in Q1 2021 from an average of 1,636 on 4 Jan to 1,950 on 22 Mar. Average basket spend, however, has moved significantly in the opposite direction from £9.24 to £8.44 over the same period. Basket spend trends remained broadly flat through Jan and Feb but began declining at the end of Feb and have continued to do so in Mar. Average store sales turned negative for the first time on a YOY basis on 15 Mar with YOY sales down more than 11% on last year’s equivalent figure.

TECH SOLUTIONS

accines Minister Nadhim Zahawi (pictured) has stated that it would be “remiss” of the government not to consider Covid certification as a way of fully reopening the economy, amid wide scale criticism of the so-called ‘Covid passports’ plan.

Zahawi said: “It’s only right that we look at all these options that are available to us to take our lives back” with the government stating that official certificates showing vaccination, test or immunity status could “provide reassurance”.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola

The app will then provide real-time feedback for more efficient management on in-store operations.

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 9

COVER STORY

FOOD TO GO UK FOOD TO GO MARKET REPORT

FOOD TO GO SET FOR 32% GROWTH IN 2021 THE NEW LUMINA INTELLIGENCE FOOD TO GO MARKET REPORT 2021 SAYS THE MARKET PLUMMETED OVER 45% IN 2020 - BUT PREDICTS A 32% REBOUND IN 2021.

T

he UK food to go market took a fair old beating in 2020, according to the new Lumina Intelligence UK Food To Go Market Report 2021, declining by a huge 45.5%. But the Report also predicts a major rebound in 2021 with growth forecast at 31.6% to £15.3bn, which represents around 72% of its 2019 market value.

Wider recovery and growth, predicts Lumina, will see the channel reaching a value of £22.6bn in 2024.

The Report highlights that less restriction exposed and low-ticket channels are best placed for recovery with convenience store grab and go, supermarket grab and go, sandwich & bakery and travel all expected to recover more swiftly, to over 74% of their pre-pandemic value in 2021.

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 50 / WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021

The report identifies that some of the shorter-term challenges for the sector will evolve into longer term opportunities, spearheaded by shifts in the way that consumers interact with food to go:

OUTDOOR SOCIALISING In the next few months as social restrictions ease, food to go is well placed to capitalise on the outdoor socialising occasion. 21% of consumers say they are likely to purchase food to-go and eat it in a park in the future and this figure rises to 38% for 18-24’s.

Operators including Pizza Pilgrim’s, German Doner Kebab and Megan’s Restaurants have already begun to

COVER STORY

FOOD TO GO UK FOOD TO GO MARKET REPORT

develop propositions that offer portable and high-quality picnic-style meal solutions.

HYBRID WORKING PATTERNS 34% of consumers are planning to work from home in the future, with over half of this proportion bullish in their preference for a high proportion of their workdays to be spent at home.

Food to ‘go home’ is a particular focus, with operators including Costa, Pret A Manger and Marks & Spencer already targeting this occasion with new products featuring clear heat-at-home instructions.

THE COFFEE OPPORTUNITY Coffee has dominated food to go drinks occasions lately, enjoying a 50% share of total drinks consumed over the last 4 months. Reflecting the increase in socialising in outdoor spaces, younger consumers are the most active on coffee walks, with almost 1 in 4 having picked up the habit of purchasing a hot drink to go when on a walk with a friend since March 2020.

The Top 10 food to go channels can look forward to a £1.1 billion sales opportunity between 2022 and 2024, with sandwich & bakery and coffee shop/café segments poised to lead in absolute terms; underpinned by physical outlet growth, a core focus on takeaway/to-go and continued consumer aligned new product development.

Convenience store grab & go remains the largest food to go sub-channel but it’s contribution to growth will fall as it comes under increased pressure to compete with dedicated food to go specialists.

Katherine Prowse, Insight Manager at Lumina Intelligence said, “The sudden shift from a highly transient, on-the-go society, to one with restrictions placed on movement had a significant negative impact on the UK food to go market in 2020, with much trade diverted to other routes to market such as delivery. However, buoyed by the easing of restrictions and the

REPORT METHODOLOGY The data within the Lumina Intelligence UK Food To Go Market Report 2021 was collated using: Q Consumer eating out behaviour across all UK eating and drinking out channels through the Lumina Intelligence Eating & Drinking Out Panel, based on 78,000 interviews each year Q Consumer attitudes and future intentions based on a bespoke survey (n=1000 nat rep) Q Operator sales and outlet performance from Lumina Intelligence’s Operator Data Index Q Supported by commentary/soundbites from senior business leaders and journalists from within the sector. lumina-intelligence.com

swift vaccine rollout, we will see a resurgence of the market in 2021, before a full recovery to pre-pandemic sales levels by 2024.”

“Retail-led food to go channels that are less exposed to tight restrictions and offer low-ticket solutions are best placed to recover quicker. However, operators and retailers will be forced to adapt. The continuation of home and hybrid work patterns for many and the rise in outdoor socialising will result in changes to the ways in which consumers will interact with food to go. Portable food to go solutions will strike appeal with consumers meeting friends/family in parks, whereas a shift in focus on food to ‘go home’, will provide a relevant solution to those home working.”

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

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

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NEWS SPECIAL

POST OFFICE BOARD ELECTIONS POST OFFICE

TIME RUNNING OUT TO HAVE YOUR SAY

T

POSTMASTERS HAVE UNTIL MONDAY TO VOTE FOR THE TWO

9.20A M MOND 12TH A AY PRIL

POSTMASTERS WHO WILL JOIN THE POST OFFICE BOARD.

ime is running out for serving Postmasters to vote for who they want to be elected to become Non-Executive Directors on the Post Office Board with only days left until the poll closes at 9.30am on Monday.

The electorate, made up of around 8,000 serving Postmasters as well as multiple partners, can select up to two candidates and the election process is being overseen independently by Civica Elections Services.

All serving Postmasters should have received a unique code which enables them to cast their vote and they can also see video statements from each of the candidates setting out why Postmasters should vote for them.

VOTIN

FASTFACTS

G DEA

DLINE

Q Voting closes at 9.30am, Monday 12 April Q Six serving Postmasters campaigning to be elected and have set out their pitches in campaign videos Q 8,000 serving Postmasters and multiple partners can vote for up to two

THE SIX SERVING POSTMASTERS CONTESTING THE ELECTION ARE: Q Lee Dearn, Postmaster for Sydenham, Belfast, County Antrim Q Mukhtar Goraya, operates two Post Offices (New Eltham, London and Rosherville, Kent) Q Saf Ismail, operates six Post Offices (five in Lancashire – Blackpool Road, Bolton, Heywood, New Hall Lane, Plungington Road) and Farnworth, Greater Manchester Q Elliot Jacobs, operates seven Post Offices (five in London – Camden, Crouch End, East Finchley, Muswell Hill, Stoke Newington) and Hertford and Potters Bar in Hertfordshire Q Jasbir Parmar, Postmaster for Kempston, Bedfordshire Q Sarabjeet Soar, Postmaster for Styvechale, Warwickshire

candidates Q Two serving Postmasters

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE

will be appointed to Post Office Board as NonExecutive Directors (NEDs) and will have three-year terms on the Board

NICK READ, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE POST OFFICE, SAID “Having two serving Postmasters on our Board sends the clearest signal yet of our determination to ensure Postmasters really are at the heart of our business. I am encouraged by the calibre of the six highly qualified candidates. To sit on the Board of any company carries great responsibility, a responsibility I know our Postmasters will be well placed to fulfil. I look forward to working with our two new NonExecutive Directors.”

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 13

£1.25M

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

17.6K

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

£27.74

average basket spend vs £7.60 industry average (3)

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

(1)

12 Months to 31st January 21 /

(2)

Sources: Lumina UK Convenience Market Report 2020 /

(3)

Sales W/C 31st January 21.

CHARITY

MAKE A DIFFERENCE LOCALLY NISA

QUARTER OF A MIL IN A QUARTER NISA’S MAKING A DIFFERENCE LOCALLY CHARITY SAW A RECORD FIRST QUARTER WITH NISA

N

RETAILERS DONATING OVER £264K, THEIR HIGHEST EVER Q1 TOTAL.

isa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity saw a record first quarter in terms of partner engagement, with Nisa retailers donating their highest ever Q1 total. Nisa stores supported good causes with 585 donations throughout the first quarter of 2021, totalling £264,470, the most ever donated by retailers via Making a Difference Locally during a Q1 period and also

16 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 50 / WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021

the highest number of individual donations made.

Some 322 donations totalling £165,551 were made to good causes across the UK during March alone, and the strong Q1 follows a record month in December which saw MADL’s highest ever monthly total donated.

Kate Carroll, Nisa’s Head of Charity said: “We’re delighted that Q1 was the highest ever first quarter we’ve had in terms

CHARITY

MAKE A DIFFERENCE LOCALLY NISA

of partner engagement and we hope the funds donated will make a real difference for the hundreds of small charities and local community groups to receive them so far this year.

“Many good causes are still struggling to fundraise due to nationwide restrictions but their services have never been more needed, and it’s been truly heart-warming to see how Nisa partners have really responded to the needs of their local communities.”

Since its formation in 2008, Making a Difference Locally has raised over £12.6m and supported charities and other good causes with over 13,000 donations.

HAVE A HEART MADL also launched the second round of its Heart of the Community Awards initiative over the last week, which will support a number of community projects with donations totalling £150,000.

Following a successful launch last October, the Heart of the Community Awards will again enable Nisa partners to nominate a local community project to receive up to £5,000 of funding from Making a Difference Locally, with the emphasis in this round being on good causes that encourage communities to enjoy and spend time outdoors.

Nominations will be accepted from Nisa partners via a dedicated website from 1 April and will remain open until 30th April.

The first round of Heart of the Community Awards saw 34 good causes nationwide benefit from donations totalling £150,000, cementing the initiative as Making a Difference Locally’s biggest funding giveaway to date.

Kate Carroll said: “We received a fantastic response to our first round of funding last year and the feedback from good causes that have benefitted has been incredibly heartwarming, so we’re delighted to be able to bring back the Heart of the Community Awards for a second round of donations.

“With the majority of people in the UK likely to have spent much of the last year indoors due to national restrictions, we wanted particularly to support causes that encourage or help communities to spend time outdoors this time around.

“Independent retailers are at the very heart of their

communities and so are perfectly placed to identify local projects in need of a little extra support and we look forward to helping them really make a difference for their local area.”

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 17

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

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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

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SUSTAINABILITY

NO TIME TO WASTE AG BARR

IRN-BRU TO GO 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC BY SPRING 2022 AG BARR HAS UNVEILED PLANS TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2040 AND WITH IRN-BRU AND

I

RUBICON MOVING TO 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC

BY SPRING NEXT YEAR.

rn-Bru maker AG Barr has launched a new environmental sustainability programme that confirms its plans to be carbon net zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the UK’s proposed 2050 deadline.

Under its ‘No Time To Waste’ initiative, Irn-Bru and Rubicon will be in 100% recycled plastic (rPET) bottles by Spring 2022 with all other AG Barr brands following suit by 2023.

Bringing together multiple energy, packaging and waste initiatives under one collective banner, No Time To Waste publicly reinforces the company’s aim to increase sustainability and ultimately reduce environmental impact.

To date AG Barr has already made great strides through : Q 100% recyclable soft drinks packaging Q clear on-pack recycling messages on all containers Q 20% less plastic in bottles over the past decade Q removal of difficult to recycle plastic sleeves from 14 million bottles Q 50% rPET across Strathmore and Rubicon brands Q 100% renewable electricity at all its sites Q a 41% reduction in greenhouse gases since 2015 and

Q all non-hazardous waste diverted from landfill Under No Time To Waste in 2021 it will also: Q significantly reduce the use of virgin plastic through 100% recycled film on all consumer multipacks Q introduce paper straws on small juice packs Q be among the first in the UK to introduce only plantbased plastics in its 1ltr cartons As a founder member of Circularity Scotland, the new notfor-profit administrator of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, AG Barr is also committed to creating a truly circular system for drinks containers.

Roger White, AG Barr Chief Executive said: “As a responsible business this is a hugely important programme for us. But today’s announcement is only the start. Under our No Time To Waste programme we are openly committing to be carbon net zero by 2040, if not sooner, and plan to involve all our staff, suppliers and customers in achieving our longterm vision”.

To find out more, visit: www.agbarr.co.uk/responsibility/

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19

Give your customers control EDGEPoS Self-Checkout gives retailers more choice to utilise space and staff throughout the store, enhancing the customer shopping experience.

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CATEGORY FOCUS

GUM MARS WRIGLEY

130 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IS SOMETHING TO CHEW ON LAST WEEK SAW MARS WRIGLEY CELEBRATE THE 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY THAT WILLIAM

I

WRIGLEY JR OFFICIALLY REGISTERED HIS COMPANY FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE BIRTH OF THE GUM CATEGORY AS WE KNOW IT.

WHO REMEMBERS ANTONIO BANDERAS TALKING TO A DOUGHNUT?

n one of those strange quirks of fate, a certain William Wrigley Jr first registered his new company 130 years ago on 1 April 1891 and thereby created the gum category that remains as popular today as it was all those years ago.

Wrigley’s business was the first to mass produce chewing gum and the company went on to produce globally iconic brands like Wrigley’s Spearmint, Juicy Fruit and Wrigley’s Doublemint loved by consumers all over the world.

His business went on to dominate the category and still enjoys the vast majority of UK sales in the gum category. Here’s a whistlestop guide to the 130 year history of gum...

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 21

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CATEGORY FOCUS

GUM MARS WRIGLEY

1891

young entrepreneur William Wrigley Jr. sells baking soda. A talented advertiser, he starts to offer his clients a gift for a purchase. Chewing gum becomes this gift, and soon William notices that clients buy baking soda mostly for a chewing gum stick free of charge. He switches the direction of his business and focuses on chewing gum production, opening a new era in the lives of consumers.

1930

scientific community takes an interest in the influence of chewing gum on dental health. The first studies into this matter begin.

1965

chewing gum is sent to space for the first time aboard American spacecraft Gemini IV. Today chewing gum is an obligatory part of the International Space Station food ration.

1973

the first clinical trial that proves the positive influence of sugar-free chewing gum on

dental health is published. The process of chewing stimulates the additional production of saliva, which helps to naturally prevent dental plaque buildup and fights bacteria.

1974

June 26, 8:01 AM – at the same time when dental hygiene revolution takes place, yet another revolution happens in retail.

Wrigley’s gum package becomes the first product in the history of humankind to be bought with the use of a barcode.

The purchase was made in Marsh supermarket in Ohio.

1976

Orbit gum, first ever sugar-free chewing gum was produced.

1980

-2000 – leading world’s dental associations confirm the positive influence of sugarfree chewing gum on oral health. Gum becomes an additional dental hygiene product, while the respective distinctive emblems appear on gum packages.

2020

yet another positive property of chewing gum is revealed in times of the pandemic. Doctors and nurses who work in red zones all over the world put chewing gum package in their pockets to chew a couple of gum pellets when they are thirsty or experiencing dry mouth effect – gum increases the production of saliva and waters mouth. Consumers who observe mask requirements also confirm this property.

Sasha Storey, Senior Brand Manager, EXTRA at Mars Wrigley, says — “It’s remarkable to think that the invention of chewing gum was back in 1891 – and we are still delighting consumers today.

The Wrigley brand has always sought to ensure we drive the market forward – from flavour to format and keeping our brands front of mind for consumers. It’s true that we have a great brand history, but we also have a very bright future filled with innovation, education and inspiration for every retailer.”

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

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COVID-19

JAB ARMY THE SUN

THE SUN CELEBRATES VOLUNTEER JABS ARMY WITH NEW TV AD

T

he Sun has launched a new TV ad campaign thanking the ‘Jabs Army’, the team of volunteers recruited by the paper in partnership with the Royal Voluntary Service to help the NHS get the nation back on its feet.

Since January, The Sun has signed up 50,000 readers to volunteer as part of The Sun’s Jabs Army to help vaccinate the nation from coronavirus.

The crucial Steward Volunteer roles that The Sun recruited form a key part of the NHS Covid-19 vaccination team. Their role includes guiding people on site and helping the vaccination process run safely and efficiently, ensuring social distancing and identifying people who need additional support.

The short film features a range of volunteers, including some famous faces who have volunteered with the Jabs Army

The ad launched this weekend including a spot in Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and will run until Monday 12 April 12 with other high profile spots during The Chase, Emmerdale, Good Morning Britain, Lorriane and Ross Kemp’s new Tiger documentary.

Kemp is one of a number of celebrities who have supported the campaign. Others include Gary Lineker, Jeremy Clarkson and Matt Lucas, plus PM Boris Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Oxford vaccine team. NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens praised the campaign as a ‘key ingredient’ in making the Covid vaccine rollout a success and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of The Jabs Army “We couldn’t do it without them.”

The user generated content concept asked readers to submit selfies as they volunteered in the Jabs Army, with a selection included in the big thank you ad.

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

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Issue 49 Wednesday 31st March 2021

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DARK MATTER

TALENT SHOW

TV KPOW!

Bendicks is adding new

McVitie’s will be the first

KP Snacks has announced

Mint Fondants to its line-up

sponsor of ITV’s brand new

a £2.5M investment with the

this month combining soft

talent show Game of Talents,

launch of a new campaign:

peppermint fondant with smooth

when it debuts on TV screens

KPow! Coaxing the nation to

and 50% dark chocolate. The

this month. Hosted by Vernon

make more snacking moments

launch will tap into the growing

Kay, the new series merges a

‘utterly nut-tastic’, the new

trend for indulgent options as

talent show with a gameshow,

campaign sees KP Nuts make

more shoppers buy darker

inviting viewers to play along at

its first appearance on TV in

chocolate.

home every Saturday night.

three years.

LIFEBUOY SWINGS IN

TROPICAL TWIST

BLUE CLUE

Unilever hygiene brand

Mars Wrigley is launching

Coca-Cola European Partners

Lifebuoy has announced a

EXTRA Refreshers in a bottle

has launched a new, blue

multi-year partnership with

format and tropical flavour,

mystery Fanta variant in 500ml

England Cricket to become the

following the launch of EXTRA

and 2l packs as part of the

‘Official Hygiene Partner’ and

Refreshers singles last year.

#WhatTheFanta campaign.

‘Official Community Cricket

The bottle is available this

The liquid could be one of

Hygiene Partner ’of England

month with new Tropical

several zero sugar flavours

Cricket and ECB ahead of the

flavour also available in a

– and the pack gives nothing

start of the new season.

single packs of seven pieces.

away.

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX LID’S SCOTTISH LARDER

LIDL SHOWS THE WAY ON LOCAL SOURCING Available across all Lidl Scottish stores while stocks last, the range of products on offer includes: Q Baxters Assorted Favourites Soup, 75p Q Bell’s Mini Scotch Pie, £1.49 Q Cosmo Haggis Pizza, £2.29 Q Equi’s Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, £2.29 Q Hall’s Gourmet Ayrshire Cured Ham Honey, £3.99 Q Lee’s 18 Mini Snowballs, £1.49 Q Mackie’s Potato Crisps, 99p Q Mackie’s Rhubarb & Strawberry Ice Cream, £2.49 Q Marshalls Snacaroni Mac & Jack, 99p Q Mash Direct Cauliflower Cheese Gratin, £1.49 Q McIntosh of Strathmore Macaroni, 99p Q Mrs Tilly’s Tablet Popcorn, 99p Q Mrs Unis Chicken Tikka with Raita, £1.59 Q Mrs Unis Haggis Pakora, £1.29 Q Mrs Unis Spiced Onions, 89p Q Reids Scottish Oat Crumbles (Banoffee/ Scottish Honey), £1.29 Q Reids Scottish Shortbread (Salted Caramel/Raspberry & White Chocolate), £1.29 Q Robertson’s Ayrshire Middle Smoked Bacon, £1.59 Q Simon Howie Family Sized Breakfast Pack, £2.99 Q Tunnocks Mini Caramel Wafer Tub, £2.49

28 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 50 / WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX LID’S SCOTTISH LARDER

LIDL IS ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATING ITS COMMITMENT TO TAKING LOCAL AND REGIONAL SOURCING SERIOUSLY WITH ITS LATEST PROMOTION SHOWCASES ON SCOTTISH FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCTS.

Robertsons. In terms of products, there’s everything from biscuits and ice cream to pizza and pakora. The promotion provides fantastic exposure for the brands involved.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

WHAT ARE THE PRODUCERS SAYING?

Lidl’s latest high profile, high impact Scottish Larder promotional showcase programme to embrace locally and regionally sourced products.

Reids Bakery is family-run bakery that produces over 15 million biscuits every year at its Thurso factory. It is managed by husband and wife duo Gary and Tracy Reid. Tracy, the company’s Business Development Manager, said: “Joining Lidl’s Scottish Larder alongside some of the country’s finest producers is a highlight for us. We’re passionate when it comes to bringing unique products to the bakery aisle. We believe attention to detail makes food taste incredible, which is why we use the very best ingredients and experiment with flavour combinations.”

HOW DOES IT WORK? The discounter is offering a range of in-store promotion showcases in its Scottish stores featuring over 30 of Scotland’s best food and drink producers, with prices starting at just 75p.

WHEN DOES IT START? It kicks off tomorrow.

WHY DOES IT MATTER? Both Lidl an Aldi commit substantial time, resources and effort to flying the flag for local sourced products in a way that many other retailers could learn from. The programme of activity also reiterates the importance of local sourcing and highlights some opportunities for local retailers across the UK to make more of locally and regionally sourced food and drink lines.

WHAT SORTS OF PRODUCTS AND BRANDS ARE FEATURED? A wide range from household names like Tunnocks, Baxters and Mackies to much smaller brands including like Reids and

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

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

Grocery colleagues have access to:

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

- Charles Wilson, GroceryAid President

Mental Health Support Offering ‘in the moment’ emotional and practical support for colleagues dealing with shock, anxiety and stress through BACP trained counsellors, our Health and Wellbeing portal and Woebot, our AI Robot App. Bereavement Financial Assistance Providing financial assistance for the loss of a loved one through Covid-19. Available to colleagues who lose a partner or the immediate family of a colleague who has passed away as a result of Covid-19 whilst working in our industry.

Crisis Grants Non-repayable grants, designed to help with financial emergencies. This is available for colleagues experiencing unexpected financial difficulties due to Covid-19 with a year’s industry service.

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

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS APRIL FOOLS DAY

IS THERE NO BEGINNING TO DAN’S TALENTS? Not content with being SGF President, reigning Scottish Local Retailer of the Year and an all round good guy, Musselburgh Nisa retailer Dan Brown has hooked up with some of his store colleagues to release their first album.

Chock full of dance floor bangers like ‘Would you like a bag with that?’ and “Does not scan - must be free’, this is a must for any retail muses out there. And whatever you do, don’t miss the future classic, “Can I speak to the manager?’.

Available from all good record stores. For one day only. April 1st.

LIVEN UP YOUR BEER FIXTURE WITH BIN JUICE

Speaking of April Fools gags, this one was too close to home not to share. It’s the ultimate ale for the craft beer lovers among your customers: Bin Juice.

‘Launched’ by waste collection company BusinessWaste. co.uk and created to let customers enjoy a drink and save the planet, Bin Juice is made using recycled cans and is available in several variants including a brown ale called The Brown Bin and a stout named Black Bags.

Nice try. It’s not as funny as Dan’s though, is it?

WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 2021 / ISSUE 50 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31

More than meets the eye!

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