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THE WEEK IN
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RESEARCH
EUROS
IRN-BRU EMBRACES TOURNAMENT VIRGINS IRREVERENT EUROS CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF
DRS CONCERNS ACKNOWLEDGED PAYZONE WINS NATIONAL EXPRESS SUSTAINABILITY CREDENTIALS TOOL
+
SHOPPER VISIT FREQUENCY CLIMBS
VISIT FREQUENCY AND SHOPPER VALUE UP IN APRIL NEWSTRADE
SPAR SCOTLAND DELISTS THE TELEGRAPH
RETAIL CHAIN REMOVES PAPER OVER TERMS
HENDERSON MARKS 25TH DIGITAL SEL INSTAL Commercial Partner:
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Issue 57 Wednesday 26th May 2021
n ee b er ev n s a h s es en r a w Lees’ brand a
B awarrand eness
76%
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of Scots like Lees Snowballs
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T H E W E E K I N R E TA I L
EDITOR’S COMMENT SHARE YOUR NEW S AND VIEW S W IT H M E AT ABEGLEY@ 55N ORT H .C OM
Evolution of the news trade reaches new milestone The news that Spar Scotland took the decision to completely delist The Telegraph in all of its 100+ company-owned stores for a short period this week was as surprising as it was revealing. Relationships between major publishers and retailers have been strained for a long time now, thanks principally to what retailers view as continually eroding margins. The newstrade category has been under severe pressure in recent years as the world moves online. While all major publishers have had to respond to that – invariably with cost-cutting exercises of varying levels of severity – one of the most galling steps for retailers has been a steady erosion of margins. When so many publishers are sinking quicker than the Titanic, it was always likely that pressure would be put on margins as publishers sought to exploit every opportunity to cut costs, but the uncomfortable fact remains that, without independent retailers, there is no newstrade. It’s an intractable situation to an extent but it’s the voices of the retailers themselves that speak loudest.
Which takes us neatly back to Spar Scotland. Under Colin McLean’s leadership, Spar Scotland has been transformed from an ailing business into a modern, progressive wholesaler. As part of that evolution, Spar Scotland has also become far more media-friendly. Despite that, the company was surprisingly coy this week. Granted, McLean was on holiday when we contacted him but he did respond and sent us to their PR department, who passed us onto their external PR agency – who then issued us with a single line stating that The Telegraph would be re-listed as of today. So we may never find out how the two resolved their differences – but one thing is for sure: the episode marks a milestone in the deterioration of the relationship between retailers and publishers. Publishers are struggling and that’s unlikely to change. So the move does not bode well for future conflict, which is a concern because – despite many concerns over the category – it remains a massive footfall driver and a good source of reliable, regular profit for retailers.
ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY
ANTONY BEGLEY, EDITOR
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3
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CONTENTS
WEDNESDAY 26 MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 W W W.SLR M AG.C O.U K
6
11
16
THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF
SPAR SCOTLAND DELISTS TELEGRAPH
RETAIL TECH: DIGITAL SHELF EDGE LABELS
The Environment Committee highlights the concerns small stores have over the Deposit Return Scheme.
The move by wholesaler CJ Lang looks to be the culmination of a long running dispute over retailer terms.
Henderson Technology celebrates its 25th installation this year of a digital shelf edge labelling solution.
09 Covid-19 update
17 Research: shopper behaviour
20 Picks of the week
The latest coronavirus-related news.
Average shopper visit frequency and
A look at the latest new products and
13 Bill payments: Payzone
shopper value in convenience both began
marketing campaigns.
Payzone wins long-term contract to provide
to climb in April, according to a new report
24 Out the box: Dayrize
ticketing services for National Express.
from Lumina Intelligence.
15 Store refurb: Spar Haworth
18 Off-trade: Cider
Spar wholesaler James Hall celebrates
A new digital solution lets consumers quickly and easily assess the sustainability
Westons Cider steps up its ambitious
credentials of products they are buying.
the re-opening of a store in West Yorkshire
growth plans by bringing all packaging in-
27 Before you go...
after a major six-week refurbishment.
house with a new £3m canning line.
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WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5
NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
ACHIEVERS RETURNS
RETAIL CRIME
Association (SWA) Achievers
Usdaw shopworkers petition to be debated in Parliament
Awards, the long-established
Usdaw’s parliamentary petition seeking to protect retail staff from violence,
industry programme that
threats and abuse has been timetabled for a parliamentary debate on 7 June.
The Scottish Wholesale
rewards outstanding performance across the wholesale trade in Scotland, is to return in 2022. Online applications via the SWA website open on 14 June.
VAT DEFERRAL Businesses that deferred VAT payments last year have under a month left to join online to pay in monthly instalments under the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme. The online portal for the new payment scheme closes on 21 June 2021.
AMACOR HITS 14 Amacor Capital has announced the opening of its 14th store, a Nisa Local in Bradford, following a fast fourday turnaround that saw the existing store cease trading as a Co-op, then get re-branded and freshly stocked with an improved range. The new 4,000sq ft store comes hot on the heels of Amacor’s 13th store completion earlier this month.
6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 57 / WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021
Shopworkers union Usdaw has confirmed that its parliamentary petition that seeks to protect retail staff from violence, threats and abuse has been timetabled for a parliamentary debate on Monday 7 June 2021. Usdaw seeks the support of MPs and the Government to deliver on the aims of the petition with new legislation. The petition attracted 104,000 signatures and is backed by major retailers and the industry’s leading trade bodies, with research by the Co-op showing its aims have public support as well. Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “I am grateful to our reps, activists and members who worked hard to pass the necessary 100,000 signatures,
which has now secured a parliamentary debate. This is a hugely important issue for shopworkers, with incidents of abuse doubling during the pandemic. Abuse should never be just a part of the job. “We now urge MPs to support the aims of the petition and persuade the Government to back legislation to protect shopworkers. They have the perfect opportunity by accepting an amendment from Sarah Jones MP to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which we hope will be supported in the bill committee. “Retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union are jointly calling for legislation, so it is time for the Government and MPs to listen.”
Jisp and Marin’s pair up All-in-one shopping app Jisp has partnered with POS specialist Marin’s Quad UK to launch Digitally Enabled POS (DE-POS) – a marketing and compliance solution for the convenience sector. DE-POS lets consumers redeem pre-existing trade offers between FMCG brands and major wholesalers by scanning QR codes with their mobile phones. This will let participating brands have access to real-time data highlighting
who is buying their products, where and when via seamless digitally-enabled offers. The reports will directly correlate to ROI figures, enabling brands to analyse the success of the campaigns and hyper-personalise their future promotions. Stephen Back, Sales Director at Marin’s, said the tech would allow independent retailers to compete at the same level as major multiples.
NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME
Environment Committee highlights small store DRS concerns
FLEET OF FOOT JJ Foodservice has sunk more than a million pounds on 20 state-of-the-art, 13.5 ton Isuzu
A new report from the Environmental Audit Committee on the introduction of a
delivery vehicles to support its
DRS has recognised several challenges faced by small retailers.
continued expansion plans. The wholesaler reported record
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed a new report from the Environmental Audit Committee on the introduction of a deposit return scheme, recognising a number of challenges faced by small retailers. The report follows written and oral evidence sessions from stakeholders
including ACS, setting out the Committee’s recommendations for a scheme that is workable and sustainable for all retailers and that has a meaningful impact on recycling rates. These include a scheme that has the same scope in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to minimise the risk of fraud, including all sizes of packaging as part of an ‘all-in’ model, setting the minimum deposit level at 20p, including cartons and including glass subject to it being able to be compacted (not crushed). In its report, the Committee also recognises concerns raised by ACS about the difficulties of operating a manual returns system, and the need for a well-designed set of return points.
M&S swings into £201m pre tax loss despite growth in food sales Marks & Spencer has sustained a £201.2m pre-tax loss in its latest full year accounts to 27 March, a swing into the red after a £67.2m profit the previous year. The company’s food division grew like for like sales by 1.3% over the period but clothing and home sales fell 31.5%. M&S Chief Exec Steve Rowe nonetheless hailed the figures positively: “By
going further and faster in our transformation through the Never the Same Again programme, we moved beyond fixing the basics to forge a reshaped M&S.” The company’s tie-up with Ocado delivered impressive revenue growth of 43.7% and added a share of net income of £78.4m.
sales last week following the re-opening of indoor dining on 17 May, with customer accounts up 32% compared with the same period in 2019.
MCCABE RE-ELECTED Labour MP Steve McCabe has been re-elected as chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Retail Crime. The MP for Selly Oak has been chairman of the cross-party group since November 2018.
POUNDLAND CONVENIENCE Poundland has opened two convenience stores as part of a pilot of its new Poundland Local format. The 2,500sq ft Barnsley and 2,800sq ft Hornsea stores will focus mainly on food, but will also sell a range of non-food lines. The retailer is targeting small town, residential and urban neighbourhoods it doesn’t currently service.
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7
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NEWS SPECIAL
COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
Consumer confidence returning quickly
DOMINO’S PAYS STAFF IN BITCOIN
New GfK data shows consumer confidence is rising rapidly as lockdown
Holland’s leading
measures continue to be relaxed.
Domino’s Pizza franchisee is offering to pay its employees in Bitcoin. Immensus Holdings operates 16 stores in the country and is allowing its staff to choose how much of their salary above minimum wage they (minimum wage must be paid in Euros by law). The company has over 1,000 employees
The index measuring expectations for the general economic situation over the coming year has similarly improved by 15 points, some 58 points higher than in May last year. The forecast for personal finances over the next 12 months remained the same as it was in April.
Glasgow left in Tiers Glasgow was left as the only area in Scotland to remain in Level 3 as Moray moved into Level 2 at the end of last week. Moray changed protection level after “improvement in coronavirus prevalence” with case rates falling sharply from 98 per 100,000 to 37 per 100,000 and cases of Indian variant lower there than in other parts of the country.
Both the proportion of cases and of positive tests have continued to rise in Glasgow, with the Indian variant thought to be driving the spread. A further £1.05 million per week has been made available to Glasgow City Council to provide additional support for businesses in hospitality and leisure in Glasgow of up to £750 per week.
who can opt into the scheme.
TECH SOLUTIONS
N
ew figures from GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index show that consumer confidence grew rapidly this month as people regain some optimism about the future. The Index increased by six points in May.
wish to receive in Bitcoin
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 9
Choose the real Costa taste. In a can. STAY CHILLED. NEW
NEW FOR 2021 VANILLA LATTE COSTA RTD COFFEE DOUBLED IN SIZE IN 2020*
THE RANGE ADDED £3.7M INCREMENTAL SALES TO THE CATEGORY IN 2020*
08
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To find out more email connect@ccep.com, call 0808 1 000 000 or visit my.ccep.com Coffee
2021 Costa Ltd. All rights reserved. Coffee from Rainforest Alliance farms. Find out more at ra.org Source: *Total Coverage MAT Value Nielsen Total GB Week Ending 26.12.2020.
C OV E R S T O RY
SPAR SCOTLAND THE TELEGRAPH
Spar Scotland delists The Telegraph Spar Scotland wholesaler CJ Lang delisted The Telegraph this week in company-owned stores after an escalation of a dispute over retailer terms.
I
n a striking indication of the increased tensions between retailers and news publishers, Spar Scotland delisted The Telegraph this week in its portfolio of over 100 company-owned stores. Empty fixtures were a feature of stores across Scotland following the intensification of a debate over retailer returns, it is understood. The move did not impact upon independent Spar retailers across the country. When contacted by The Week In Retail yesterday, Spar Scotland confirmed that: “Supplies of The Telegraph have been re-instated. The Telegraph will be available from company owned Spar Scotland stores on 26 May 2021.” It was not clarified, however, what brought the short-lived delisting action to an end.
The showdown appears to be the culmination of a long-running dispute over retailer terms, with the Saturday edition of The Telegraph offering retailers the lowest margin of any national newspaper at just 19.1%.
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11
NEW AWARDS FOR NEW NEW NEW AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS FOR FOR FOR A NEW NORMAL A NEW A NEW A NEW NORMAL NORMAL NORMAL ENTRIES OPEN SOON ENTRIES ENTRIES OPEN ENTRIES OPEN SOON OPEN SOON SOON
Event: 27th October Event: Event: November Event: November November 2021 2021 2021 Winners celebration: November
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B I L L PAY M E N T S
PAYZONE NATIONAL EXPRESS
Payzone drives growth with National Express contract Payzone has signed a new long-term contract with National Express to provide ticketing services to customers of Payzone stores across the UK.
P
ayzone has signed a long-term contract with National Express Coach to provide coach ticketing services to customers of Payzone’s stores. Payzone says retailers will benefit from “a significant commission structure” and an “uptick in footfall and basket spend”. National Express is the largest operator of scheduled coach services in the UK providing over 21m journeys in 2019. As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, Payzone retailers are well placed to capitalise on the expected growing demand for travel ticketing services. The contract award marks another milestone for the combined strength of the Post Office and Payzone networks, following the success of tie-ups with British Gas, Scottish Power Smart Metering and Jersey Electricity.
Simon Lambert, Commercial Director for Payzone Bill Payments, said: “The National Express brand is well known across the UK, so we are thrilled to be partnering with them and expanding their offer into the Payzone estate. National Express will complement our existing transport ticketing portfolio and will support footfall and basket spend for Payzone retailers at a pivotal time in the UK’s roadmap out of lockdown.” John Boughton, Commercial Director at National Express UK Coach commented: “Joining forces with Payzone provides our customers with even more choice by allowing them to purchase tickets at a time and location convenient to them. We look forward to a mutually beneficial and successful partnership.”
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 13
RETAIL TH E WE EK IN
GRA ZE DEBUTS ON TV RUS TLE RS UNV EILS ‘COO K IN BOX’ ALD I IN COP YCAT ERP ILLA R BAT TLE
...MO RE IF YOU PLEA SE
GROCERY
CO UL D AM AZ ON ST EA L CO-O P’S 6T H SP OT?
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SUSTAINABILITY
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Issue 52 Wednesday 21st April 2021
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S TO R E R E F U R B
SPAR HOWARTH JAMES HALL & CO
J
Spar Howarth ready for the new world order
Spar wholesaler James Hall is celebrating the re-opening of its store in Haworth after a major six-week refurb.
ames Hall & Co, Spar wholesaler for the north of England, is celebrating the re-opening of its Haworth store after a significant six-week refurbishment. Nestled in the picturesque village of Haworth in West Yorkshire, the store now features a much wider range of products and services including a Graham Eyes butchery counter and food-to-go offering, alongside Spar’s freshly ground Fairtrade 100% Arabica coffee brand, Cheeky Coffee. The village had been served by a pop-up store that maintained a basic range of essentials while the refurb was completed. Graham Eyes High Class Butchers is a trusted North West family brand, known for great produce and locally sourced meat. Already featured in several northern Spar stores, Graham’s award-winning sausages and homemade ready meals are particularly popular with Spar customers, along with competitive multi-buy deals and seasonal specials. A new Clayton Park food-to-go offering will serve hot and cold sandwiches, pastries
and a selection of cakes, cookies and pies. Spar Haworth employs 25 local people and has served the village since June 1999. Fiona Drummond, Company Owned Stores Director at James Hall, said: “After 22 years in the village, we are delighted to unveil this latest investment for Spar Haworth, offering residents additional facilities and the very best in modern convenience shopping. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen an increase in customers looking to stay local and gain more from their rural convenience store: in addition to the new in-store butchery counter and food-to-go stand, we have also added LED lighting and energy saving fridges, new floors, shelving units and a refreshed fascia. “The range of products on offer includes a fantastic range of every day essentials, big brand names and plenty of award-winning Spar brand lines.” The new store is open from 7am to 10.30pm, seven days a week.
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 15
TECH
ELECTRONIC SHELF EDGE LABELS HENDERSON TECHNOLOGY
F
Henderson’s electronic SEL milestone
Henderson Technology is celebrating its 25th installation this year of digital shelf edge labelling solutions, which took place at a Eurospar in South Belfast.
amily business Creightons of Finaghy, Balmoral and Black’s Road, operating in the heart of South Belfast area since 1936, has installed EDGEPoS Electronic Shelf Edge Labels (ESELs) into all three of its convenience forecourts this year. The Eurospar store in Balmoral is celebrating its fifth birthday this year and is the 25th ESEL installation for Henderson Technology in 2021. Andrew Porter, General Manager at Creightons, started working in Creightons Finaghy whilst on summer break from his degree in pure mathematics. Now, over 27 years later, Porter is one of the brains behind one of Northern Ireland’s best-known and most successful convenience retail groups. Porter said: “We no longer wanted to use paper SELs as it was a time consuming, laborious and cumbersome process to print labels and apply them to the shelves when there are new products, price changes and promotion changeovers to manage. We also wanted to see the margin benefit instant price switches from ESELs would bring to the stores. “We decided to install EDGEPoS ESELs from Henderson
16 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 57 / WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021
Technology in all three stores with Eurospar Balmoral being the most recent install to take place. The results have been amazing with immediate benefits. The ESELs look professional, are easy to read and add to the modern feel of our store. Our staff and customers love them as the pricing is 100% accurate at all times, giving our customers great confidence. “The ESELs have freed staff up as price changes and promotion switches are instant. We have also noticed an improvement in the replenishment and merchandising on the shop floor as staff have more time to concentrate on these tasks. “In all my years in retail, the EDGEPoS ESELs are easily the best technology product that we have installed in-store. Our next plan is to introduce EDGEPoS Self-Checkouts in all three stores with the recent development of the BP integration with Self-Checkout. One thing that sets EDGEPoS apart is the reliability of the system.”
RESEARCH
SHOPPER BEHAVIOUR LUMINA INTELLIGENCE
T
Visit frequency started to climb in April
Average shopper visit frequency and shopper value in convenience both began to climb in April, according to the latest Convenience Tracking Programme.
he UK convenience retail channel saw growth in average shopper visit frequency and average weekly shopper value during April, according to the latest insight from Lumina Intelligence’s Convenience Tracking Programme. Compared with the previous four weeks to 4 April, the following four weeks saw average visit frequency to a convenience store reach 2.6 times per week (up 8%) and average weekly shopper value hit £29.09 (up 4%). Perhaps unsurprisingly, average basket size fell 3% to 3.3 items. Planned top-up remains the number one mission driving shoppers to convenience stores, however its share of visits fell 2.7% to 29.2% during the period. This change has been driven by an increase in shoppers on a food-to-go mission, up 2.1% to 12.6%. The data also indicates an increase in the proportion of shoppers using delivery and click & collect services. The proportion of convenience store shoppers using delivery services increased 40% to 4.5% and for click & collect there was an increase of 8% to 1.1%. The proportion of convenience store shoppers purchasing price-marked packs or buying on promotion also increased. Over half (55.2%) of convenience store shoppers purchased on promotion and 46.5% purchased a PMP (up 2.4%). The top three categories for PMPs are: Chilled foods (exc. milk)
– 10.9%
Bakery (wrapped)
– 7.1%
Soft Drinks
– 6.8%
Alice Dolling, Insight Lead at Lumina Intelligence, said: “Despite restrictions of the UK hospitality industry beginning
Fastfacts ● average visit frequency
+8%
● average shopper value
+4%
● proportion of shoppers using home delivery +40% ● proportion of shoppers using click & collect +8% ● average basket spend
-3%
to ease, convenience retail benefitted from increased visit frequency and spend in April. Increased movement of people has also had a positive impact on the food-to-go category, which has increased share of total visits. As restrictions ease further, we expect food-to-go to continue to grow its share, particularly as workers return to offices. “At the beginning of the year, we predicted the trend towards delivery to be one of the lasting legacies of the pandemic. Our latest data continues to support this prediction, with the proportion of convenience store shoppers using delivery to conduct their shopping increasing by 40% in April.”
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 17
CID
WEST
STOWFORD C
NEW
Westons backs growth pla Westons Cider has stepped up its ambitious growth plans by
TAKE A BITE OF OUR
H
aving set out the latest steps in its efforts to make Tesco stores “the easiest place for customers to shop for affordable, healthy, sustainable food”, Tesco has today announced that these commitments are now being extended to Booker “to further improve access to healthy alternatives for Booker’s business customers.” Westons Cider, the UK’s leading authentic cider maker, has unveiled a brand-new canning line at its Herefordshire mill. The £3 million production line, which began packaging 440ml cans of Westons’ bestselling Stowford Press earlier this month, produces 12,500 cans per hour and reflects the increasing dominance of canned products within the cider category and beyond. The latest investment in the business also represents a significant step forward, as Westons Cider continues to target ambitious growth plans amid a challenging year for cider in the on-trade and a bumper one in the off-trade. “Over the past year it’s become clear just how important it is for us to control our own destiny, particularly when it comes to getting our world-renowned ciders from our mill into people’s hands,” explains Helen Thomas, MD at Westons Cider. “Bringing all of our canning requirements in house means we’ll control our supply chain end to end and will no longer be reliant on third parties. This will mean we can provide a better service to our customers by
18 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 57 / WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021
DER
TONS
CANNING LINE
NEW
ans with £3m canning line bringing all packaging in-house with a new £3m canning line.
responding even more quickly to future upticks in shopper demand. We see this as a great opportunity to futureproof the Westons Cider business by removing some of our external costs – plus the price fluctuations that often come with these – and exploring packaging alliances with some of our key partners.” Cans have become a vital format for the cider category in recent years, as shoppers move away from value amber and white ciders, often packaged in plastic HelenThomas, MD bottles, towards more premium options. Cans now make up more than half (59%) of all off-trade cider sales [IRI, Jan 2021]. “Shoppers love cans because they’re easy to chill, recyclable and lightweight,” adds Thomas. She continues: “Last year, as shoppers’ habits changed due to the impact of Covid-19, many of us switched to less frequent, higher spend shopping trips. This means multipacks, particularly those in canned formats, now command even more attention in-store. In fact, our Stowford Press 10-pack is up 540% year-on-year [IRI, Mar 2021], demonstrating just how popular larger pack formats are becoming.” Westons Cider currently operates comprehensive on-site packaging facilities for all its bottled, bag-in-box and draught ciders lines. This latest investment will mean all cider cans produced will now be packaged at its site in Herefordshire. The news coincides with an update to Westons Cider’s Stowford Press four-pack, which has undergone a packaging refresh. The updated multipack incorporates a lighter cardboard structure, meaning 29 tonnes of cardboard is removed from across the brand every year. It will appear on shop shelves from June.
TAKE A BITE OF OUR
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – IRN-BRU TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
IRN-BRU EMBRACES TOURNAMENT VIRGINS With an estimated 1.4m Scots about to do something they’ve never done before – watch Scotland at a major championships – Irn-Bru is embracing these Tournament Virgins.
Irn-Bru estimates that around 1.4
the men talking about being more
million Scots are about to collec-
‘experienced’ while his partner
tively experience something they’ve
seems nervous to have his ‘first
never experienced before: Scotland
time’… before revealing they’re get-
reaching the finals of a major football tournament. The brand is getting behind these ‘Tournament Virgins’ with a typically irreverent new campaign. Irn-Bru is pledging to help prepare all tour-
ting ready to watch the Scotland game at kick-off on TV. The films end with a question to the viewer – will this be your first-time seeing Scotland at a major competition? Enjoy it with an Irn-Bru.
nament virgins for the momentous occasion of
In honour of Scotland’s summer of football,
cheering on the men’s team at a major competition
Irn-Bru has also launched a full range of new can
for the first time in 23 years.
designs featuring iconic phrases that Scots will
To kick things off, Scotland’s favourite soft
hopefully be shouting from the rooftops come
drink has launched two brand-new films on Irn-Bru
the first Scotland game on 14 June. They include
socials. The first captures a teen girl, cringing at
‘YA DANCER’, ‘YES SIR’, ‘BOOGIE’, ‘GET IN’,
her mum’s insistence of having a ‘mother daughter
‘BELTER’ and more.
chat’ in her bedroom about her ‘first time’. The
Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at AG Barr,
cringe turns to shock as her mum explains that she
said: “We – along with the rest of the nation –
had her first time with her Aunt Helen in France
could not be more excited to see Scotland back
back in 1998 – before cutting to reveal that she is
representing at the Euros this year and we’ve got a
talking about going to the World Cup.
whole lot of surprise and delight moments planned
The second film, coming soon, features a couple sitting together on the couch, with one of
20 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 57 / WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021
to help the next generation lose their tournament virginity in fun, memorable ways.”
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – TENNENT’S TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
TENNENT’S ‘MADE FOR THIS’
Scotland’s favourite lager is backing the Scottish national team this summer with its biggest campaign in a decade.
With excitement building for the Euros this summer
staff incentives, exclusively for Tennent’s Lager
across most of the UK, Scotland’s favourite lager is
customers.
celebrating Scotland’s return to major tournament
Cameron Matthews, Tennent’s Senior Brand
football for the first time in 23 years with a new
Manager, said: “We’ve stood shoulder-to-shoul-
‘Made For This’ campaign’
der with Scotland supporters for almost 50 years
Fronted by Scotland star Ryan Christie, the
– we’ve celebrated, we’ve commiserated, and
campaign is the biggest in a decade for Tennent’s
together we’ve lived in hope that the national team
with outdoor advertising also live across Scotland
would have another chance to shine. It’s been 23
and multichannel through-the-line activity planned
years in the making but without a doubt, it’ll be
throughout the summer.
worth the wait.
Over one million promotional packs of Tennent’s
“We’re renowned around the world for what we
Lager will be available in participating retailers
bring to major tournaments, and this summer we’re
nationwide – the brand’s biggest ever promotion –
ready to show everyone that we’re made for this.
with 4,500 prizes up for grabs including personalised
This campaign is a recognition of the scale of the
Tennent’s football tops, mini footballs, captain’s arm-
occasion in front of us, and a celebration that we’re
bands and vouchers for the Tennent’s online store.
ready to return to the international stage.
Additionally, over 1,300 bars across the country
“Some of us are fortunate enough to remember
will be decked out with Tennent’s football supporter
the last time we were there, while for others, this will
kits including limited-edition glassware to celebrate
be their first taste of following Scotland at a major
the milestone occasion. Tennent’s is also making
finals – either way, we can’t wait to help make this
over £10,000 worth of limited-edition Tennent’s
summer the most memorable yet for Scotland fans
X SFA tops and stylish trainers available as bar
as we raise a pint to whatever lies ahead.”
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 21
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – KAHLÚA TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
KAHLÚA HIGHLIGHTS ITS COFFEE CREDENTIALS Leading coffee liqueur brand Kahlúa has launched a new bottle design with stronger coffee cues and a reduced ABV.
Mar 2021] in value over the last 12 months as consumers have embraced at-home cocktail making. The new bottle design seeks to express the brand’s authenticity in a bold way, heroing coffee liqueur messaging with an emphasis on real coffee claims and Mexican provenance. It also features a new brand logo complemented by a matt label finish to enhance the modern look and drive on-shelf appeal. Chris Shead, Off-Trade Channel Director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Kahlúa is in double-digit growth as consumers have been experimenting with serves such as the Espresso Martini at home, and the brand is set to continue this momentum with an eye-catching new look that will enhance its visibility on-shelf. The pack refresh is a natural evolution for the brand, and we’re confident it will attract coffee lovers and recruit incremental shoppers to the category.” Along with the new bottle design, Kahlúa Original has reduced its ABV to 16% to address evolving consumer trends towards conscious drinking and Kahlúa, the number one coffee liqueur,
lower-alcohol options, whilst offering the
has launched a new bottle design with
same rich and distinct flavour the coffee
stronger coffee cues together with a
liqueur brand is known for.
more contemporary brand image. The
The new Kahlúa bottle is being rolled
pack refresh is set to capitalise on the
out across the off-trade this month and
growth of the brand’s Original SKU,
will be available from all major whole-
which has increased 90.6% [Nielsen,
salers.
22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 57 / WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
WHOLEGRAIN & GO! Ferrero has launched a new
GUNNING FOR GROWTH
FEEL EVEN BETTER Nichols’ incubator brand Feel
55g wholegrain variant of its
Innis & Gunn has unveiled a new
Good Drinks has announced
Nutella & Go! product, the first
look for its ‘Originals’ range, led
that it has become the first soft
extension of the snack brand
by flagship beer ‘The Original’.
drinks brand in the UK to become
in five years. The new line con-
The redesign and repackaging
climate positive. The move is
tains 80% wheat and oat cereal
also takes in ‘Caribbean Rum
part of NIchol’s nine-year action
sticks alongside a classic Nutella
Cask’ (formerly named Blood
plan to continuously reduce the
dip.
Red Sky) and ‘Irish Whiskey
carbon impact of the brand’s
RSP: £1.02
Cask’.
products.
CARIBBEAN SPIRIT
GRAZE BOOST
TYRRELLS ON AIR
Edinburgh-based Harpalion Spir-
Graze has launched a new and
KP Snacks is launching a new
its has launched new rum brand,
improved Oat Boosts range with
£250,000 radio campaign for its
‘Cabal’. The 43% ABV rum is
new packaging and two new
premium snacking brand Tyrrells.
created using both pot and col-
flavours, Cherry Bakewell and
The campaign features two ads
umn distillation techniques, with
Chocolate Cookie. The range of
and runs until 20 June. The first
rums from Central America and
4-packs contains at least 45%
ad features new English Smoky
the Caribbean then finished in
less sugar than the average
Barbecue flavour and the sec-
Pedro Ximénez casks.
cereal bar.
ond focuses on Sea Salt & Cider
RSP: £40
RSP: £2.50
Vinegar.
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23
N O W T H AT ’ S A
OUT TH
DAYR
Sustainability credenti
New startup Dayrize has launched a new digita
easily assess the sustainability cred
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? A solution that lets consumers assess the sustainability credentials of any product they are planning on buying, or have bought, in a matter of minutes.
WHO’S DOING IT? A company called Dayrize, a ‘cleantech’ startup that says it is on a mission to save the planet through sustainable shopping.
WHAT DOES IT DO? Dayrize has developed a proprietary sustainability assessment tool which rapidly and robustly assesses the environmental impact of any product in minutes instead of months. For the first time, consumers will be able to easily compare the sustainability of all products without leaving the platform they’re shopping on, and make an informed decision based on a product’s measured environmental impact.
WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM? Dayrize was apparently created to meet the needs of “a growing conscious consumer base that desires to buy sustainable products but finds it difficult to not only find them, but to make sense of the many labels and claims on the environmental performance of products and companies”. Additionally, the costly, complicated and time consuming nature
24 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 57 / WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021
of Life Cycle Assessments – the industry standard approach for measuring a product’s sustainability – puts it out of reach for most businesses, leaving consumers in the dark about environmental impacts.
HOW DOES IT WORK? The tool uses artificial intelligence to analyse product sourcing, manufacturing information and various relevant datasets to rapidly and robustly assess and standardise the environmental impact of any product. This complex application of technology creates a simple output for consumers: a single, meaningful figure they can understand, known as the Dayrize Score.
THE DAYRIZE SCORE? The Dayrize Score has been developed by a team of scientists and the methodology for arriving at the score is continuously peer reviewed by leading experts in the field. The score is based on the principle
that a truly sustainable product (a score of 100) is one that fulfils a meaningful purpose, is designed in a circular manner, is non-hazardous, responsibly sourced, fully recyclable, and regenerative. The rigorous score evaluates five key factors across the entire product cycle – from raw material extraction to disposal – which together provide a holistic assessment of sustainability performance: ● Circularity: How well an individual product minimises waste by reusing and recycling resources to create a closed loop system ● Climate Impact: How greenhouse gas intensive the production of the product has been ● Ecosystem Impact: What the impact
A GOOD IDEA…
HE BOX
RIZE
ial analysis made easy
al solution that allows consumers to quickly and
dentials of products they are buying.
have on the planet. For each purchase, shoppers will see how much CO2, water and land use has been saved by their purchasing decisions.
AND BRANDS?
of the product is on biodiversity and water depletion ● Livelihoods & Wellbeing: How each product impacts the health and wellbeing of the people involved in creating it ● Purpose: How meaningful a product’s purpose is by looking at the value that it provides, and the potential it has to be an accelerator for good.
HOW DO SHOPPERS USE THE SITE? Shoppers can check the sustainability credentials of any product on the Dayrize website and have a unique opportunity to see their ‘Dayrize Savings’ in real-time, and understand the difference their individual purchase choices
Along with helping consumers make better informed decisions to buy more sustainably, Dayrize will also work with brand partners by offering ongoing knowledge and insights on methods to improve the sustainability of their products and raise their Dayrize Score on the platform. Dayrize will provide brands that cannot afford to conduct complex and costly product Life Cycle Assessments with information on the environmental impact of their products, and actionable feedback on how to improve their sourcing and production. Dayrize will also be reinvesting 5% of its annual profits to support its brand partners in redesigning their products and value chains to lower their impact.
WHICH PRODUCT CATEGORIES DOES IT ANALYSE? At the moment it focuses principally on fashion and health and beauty, but the breadth of categories covered will expand in future.
WHAT IS DAYRIZE SAYING? Vincent Hoogduijn, Dayrize CEO and Co-founder, comments: “Most people have the intention to shop sustainably but have sadly been underserved by the confusing process of assessing the true impact their purchase has on the planet. Through green washing, many brands have further added to the confusion and inadvertently created a sense of cynicism in many shoppers. “At Dayrize, we wanted to make the process of assessing the sustainability of a product accurate and easy to understand for the average consumer. We’ve done the rigorous legwork of building a ground-breaking standard that simplifies and democratises sustainable shopping. We hope by doing this, people can begin to see how making small changes in their purchasing habits can add up to huge differences for our planet.”
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? www.dayrize.com
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25
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 RETRO SWEETS / EGGLESS EGGS
Nostalgia’s not as cheap as it used to be For reasons best known to itself, website freshstudentliving. co.uk has apparently been researching inflation in the cost of retro sweets. Why that information would be useful is anyone’s guess, but the research concluded that some of the nation’s favourite sweets that have stood the test of time now cost as much as 10 times more than they did 30 years ago. The average price increase for the sweets researched was 250.5% with the highest increase award going to a packet of Toffos, originally 20p, but now costing £2.32 – an increase of over 1000%. Where exactly you can buy long-discontinued Toffos for £2.32 was not revealed. The Flake, originally 99p in the 90s, now costs £1.50. Which seems fair enough after 30 years. Surprisingly, the humble Dib Dab apparently began life costing 20p and, all these years later, still costs 20p. Apparently the top three retro sweets are, in order: Flumps, Refreshers and Rainbow Drops. Do with this information as you see fit.
Straw poll on eggless-egg We have a question for you: would you be open to trying a vegan egg alternative to help you ‘veganise’ some of the nation’s favourite dishes? If new research from The Vegan Society and ‘no-egg egg’ brand Crackd is accurate, only 2% of you will politely decline the opportunity. A survey of 1,000 non-vegan Brits apparently found that 98% would be up for trying Crackd’s vegan egg replacement. The survey was carried out to mark Crackd getting listed in Morrisons. Apparently Crackd is perfect for everything from apple sauce to aquafaba. We’re sure you know what aquafaba is, but just in case: it’s the liquid left over from cooking chickpeas.
With the unforgettable tag line of “made, not laid”, Crackd is a pea-protein alternative to eggs which cooks like a beaten egg and has the same texture as an egg when it’s cooked. It lasts seven days in the fridge when open and unopened it has around a 30-day shelf life. Each bottle contains the equivalent of eight eggs. The survey also asked consumers where the product should be sited in-store. Thirty per cent said they would look for it in the dairy-free milk and yogurts section, 21% think it should be alongside plant-based meats, 17% said between vegan cheeses while 13% would expect it to be with plant-based ready meals.
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY 2021 / ISSUE 57 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27
More than meets the eye!
B awarrand eness 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. There’s never been a better time to stock up.
Scotland loves Lees 01236 441 600
sales@leesofscotland.co.uk *Source: JLral. Post TV Campaign Evaluation- Sept 2019 **Refers to Scots who viewed the 2019 TV ad
76%
**
of Scots like Lees Snowballs
