RETAIL
THE WEEK IN
STORE FORMATS
‘SPAR MARKET’ FASCIA UNVEILED BLAKEMORE OPENS FIRST NEW FORMAT STORE
HOME DELIVERY-
SNAPPY RAISES £19.4M PAYPOINT CHIPS IN £6.6M
COVID-19
MASKS ‘UNTIL CHRISTMAS’ ‘NORMAL’ SHOPPING RETURNS 3 ONE STOPS IN A DAY
+
FREEDOM DAY ON MONDAY!
NEW ERA BUT CONFUSION REMAINS
19 CRIMES JOINS THE HARD SELTZER GANG Commercial Partner:
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Issue 64 Wednesday 14th July 2021
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ON TV FROM JULY
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If it’s clarity you’re looking for... So, for most of the UK, Monday will indeed be a Freedom Day of sorts. Health Secretary Sajid Javid is hell bent on a free-for-all as of Monday and Nicola Sturgeon has surprised a few folk by announcing this week that Scotland has brought forward its own version of Freedom Day - Level Zero Day - to fall into step with England. So far, so nice and clear. But since both announcements were made, a wave of challenges and media interviews has revealed that all is not quite as clear cut as we’d been led to believe. Clarity has been a very scarce commodity over the last 18 months so why should Freedom Day be any different? First we had Boris saying the legal requirement to wear masks was being ditched on Monday, replaced by a rather woolly sounding set of ‘government advice’. Then London Mayor Sadiq Khan weighed in saying that wearing masks would
remain a requirement on the city’s transport network, even after the legal requirement to do so is dropped. Then we had Nicola Sturgeon saying the requirement to wear masks in Scotland would “in all likelihood” remain “for some time to come”. Only for Deputy First Minister John Swinney to tell the BBC that it was “entirely conceivable” that Scots would still be required to wear face coverings until Christmas. And we also have retail trade unions, trade bodies and various other stakeholders demanding that wearing masks in shops be exempted from the plan to dump mask wearing and also demanding, quite understandably, how it will actually work if shoppers aren’t legally bound to wear masks in stores but retailers want them to. Looks like we’ll be making up as we go along for a little while longer.
ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY
ANTONY BEGLEY, EDITOR
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3
CONTENTS
WEDNESDAY 14 JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 W W W.SLR M AG.C O.U K
7
14
20
THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF
SHOPPING RETURNING TO ‘NORMAL’?
HARD SELTZER CLUB GROWS
PayPoint invests £6.6m in Snappy Shopper, Freedom Day looms and it’s masks until Christmas for Scotland.
The latest CTP data shows that shopping patterns may finally be starting to return to ‘normal’.
19 Crimes becomes the latest big brand to launch a hard seltzer product.
6 Face-coverings
14 Back to ‘normal’?
23 Picks of the week
Deputy FM predicts ‘masks until Christmas’
Lumina Inteligence data tracks what looks
10 Cover story: Spar Market
like some sort of return to more ‘normal’
shopping patterns.
Blakemore unveils first ever ‘Spar Market’ larger store format.
12 Delivering for retailers
16 Fresh Thinking from Nisa
Snappy Shopper raises £19.4m and Nisa retailers smash the £100k a week
19 What do Bru taste?
milestone with Deliveroo.
TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG
marketing campaigns. 24 Out the box: Tesco commitment
Nisa discusses its Fresh Thinking proposition for independent retailers. Irn-Bru hits small screen with a challenge.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG
A look at the latest new products and
Tesco to tackle ‘opportunity inequality’ and support 45,000 young people.
27 Before you go...
Our latest Retail Randoms: Parmesan on strawberries and coloured boiled eggs.
WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5
NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
PEDAL POWER Ten cyclists from AF Blakemore and independent Spar stores
COVID-19
‘Masks until Christmas’ in Scotland
are set to cycle 368km over
Deputy First Minister says it’s “entirely conceivable” that masks will remain
three days take across Wales
mandatory until the end of the year in Scotland.
in aid of GroceryAid. The Coast to Coast challenge takes place next week and the 10 will be join 70 other riders from across the industry. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/afbcoasttocoast
HEAD START Women in Wholesale has helped nine representatives from wholesale, buying group and FMCG businesses to become fully qualified Mental Health First Aiders. They were taught how to recognise the
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney says it’s “entirely conceivable” that rules on wearing face coverings in Scotland could remain in place until
Christmas. In a BBC Scotland interview, Swinney elaborated on Nicola Sturgeon’s previous confirmation that face coverings would remain for “some time” by stating that the Scottish Government believes face coverings are especially important to protect people who are clinically vulnerable. He also reiterated that Scotland would adopt a “careful and cautious approach” to the suppression of Covid and said that Scottish Government modelling predicts that Scotland could his many as 10,500 new Covid cases on Monday when restrictions will move to Level Zero.
warning signs of ill mental health and offer support, particularly in a crisis – and prevent them in the first place. The certification is accredited by The Royal Society for Public Health and the Department of Health.
B&M BOOM B&M’s group revenue has increased by 3.1% in its first quarter with its core B&M UK fascia delivering two-year like-for-like sales growth of 21.3% compared to pre-Covid pandemic levels in 2019.
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Peter opens three One Stops in a day Pembrokeshire retailer Peter Robinson has opened three One Stop stores in a day after a fateful meeting with fellow One Stop franchise holder Sunder Sandher at a London awards ceremony. A life-long retailer who owns five stores in Pembrokeshire, Peter decided to join the group and has refitted three of his stores, spending £500k, and launched them all on the same day. One Stop contributed £150k. The three stores are at East End Square, Albion Square Pembroke Dock and Charles Street, Milford Haven. Peter
is already planning a further expansion of the One Stop brand in the area.
NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
HOME DELIVERY
PayPoint invests £6.6m in Snappy
THINK SMALL, BORIS With Boris Johnson expected
PayPoint has contributed £6.6m of a total £19.4m raised by Snappy Shopper to
to announce that the
fuel future growth for the home delivery giant.
regeneration of high streets will be key to his new strategy to
Paypoint has made a substantial “£6.6m strategic investment” in home delivery platform Snappy Shopper, alongside other investments in its latest Series A fundraise which topped out at £19.4m. PayPoint CEO Nick Wiles joins the Snappy Shopper Board as a Non-Executive Director alongside Board Advisers Justin King, former Sainsbury’s CEO, and and Gordon Blair, former F1 team director. The investments are expected to create 400 new jobs over the next three years. Snappy Shopper now has over 1,500 business partners and are than one millions users.
regenerate local communities, the NFRN has urged him not to ignore small shops. NFRN National President Stuart Reddish said: “We would call on the Prime Minister to widen his plans beyond the high street. Shops away from the high street have had a tough time during lockdown. The lengths that small shops have gone to in keeping their customers fed and safe has been extraordinary, but many For the full story, click here.
Clarity required on store recycling The Association of Convenience Stores has responded to a consultation launched by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England, highlighting the impact new regulations would have on the convenience sector. As part of the Environment Bill, businesses will be required to separate their waste for collection from 2023. This consultation is seeking views on the types of waste materials to be included, the extent to which new duties
should apply to different types of businesses, and measures to reduce the cost of recycling and waste management for micro-firms in particular. In its submission, ACS outlined support for the proposed in-scope materials and waste streams given the sector’s low volume of waste (glass, paper and card, metal, plastic and food waste). The submission also highlights the need for reporting obligations to fall upon the waste management company rather than the retailer. ACS’ full submission is available here
are fighting for survival.”
NOT UPLIFTING Retail trade union Usdaw has expressed disappointment that the £20 uplift in Universal Credit will end in September. A survey by Usdaw found that 57% of workers on Universal Credit are struggling to pay their gas and electric bills and 80% would be worried or very worried if the Government removed the £20 weekly uplift. Usdaw again urges the Government to do the right thing by listening to low-paid workers who are struggling to make ends meet.
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7
PART OF THE BESTWAY WHOLESALE FAMILY
Scottish Grocers’ Federation
NEWS SPECIAL
COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
Mask confusion remains as Freedom Day nears
SOUNDS GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
Monday will be an historic day across late parts of the UK as England and Scotland commit to a Freedom Day of sorts, though mask rules will differ across nations.
Recipe box business Gousto has joined forces
Monday coming - 19 July - marks a major milestone in the Covid-19 pandemic as both England and Scotland are set to end the vast majority of restrictions. Following Health Secretary Sajid Javid’s wholehearted commitment to the ‘Freedom Day, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has now confirmed that the whole of Scotland will move to Level Zero on the same day. Confusion will remain however, particularly around the mandatory wearing of face masks. Sturgeon said that mandatory wearing of face masks will remain in place “in all likelihood” for some time to come. In England, the legal requirement to wear face coverings will be lifted
on Monday, replaced with ‘government guidance’. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government “expects and recommends” that face coverings are worn in crowded and enclosed spaces. In London, however, passengers on the city’s transport network have been told by Mayor Sadiq Khan that they must continue wearing masks, even after it stops being law to do so in England. In Wales, coverings will remain mandatory on public transport and in health/social care settings, but ministers are as yet undecided on rules in shops while some rules could be relaxed in Northern Ireland on 26 July.
with with Spotify to create a new platform that will offer recipe recommendations based on the listening preferences of Spotify users. Shaun Pearce, Gousto’s Chief Technology Officer, says: “We focus on inspiring dinner time adventure through innovation. Our recommendation engine uses intelligent algorithms to serve up recipe suggestions that are catered to our customers’ preferences.”
Retail trade union Usdaw has written to the Business Secretary calling on the Government to reverse their plans to end compulsory face coverings and social distancing in shops on 19 July. Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, says: “The Government should not be weakening safety measures. There is no reason why requirements to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing in busy public areas
like shops cannot continue. Retailers may attempt to enforce their own face covering policies, but in the absence of a legal requirement, this is likely to result in further increases in abuse, threats and violence towards retail workers. “Wearing a face covering in shops is not merely a personal choice, it is an important measure to help protect workers who have no option but to interact with large numbers of people.”
will elevate Gousto
TECH SOLUTIONS
Usdaw warns against ‘weakening safety’ in stores after 19 July
“The new platform customers’ cooking experience and provide even more recipe
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S TO R E F
SPAR M
GWYNEDD
Blakemore launches first ever ‘Spar Market’ store Blakemore Retail has launched its first ever Spar Market fascia for larger format stores in Gwynedd, Wales.
S
par wholesaler and retailer Blakemore Retail has commented: “Spar Market is an exciting new format for relaunched its store in Bala, Gwynedd in Wales under Blakemore Retail that will help differentiate our Bala store the new Spar Market fascia following a complete for the location and market. refurbishment. “New store formats and our Store Cluster Strategy mean that we are better able to design stores to reflect the core The Spar Market format is designed especially for larger shopping missions of our customers than ever before. convenience stores with a focus on fresh foods catering for “All of the new features have been designed with the cuscustomers on ‘making a meal’ or ‘grab and eat’ missions. Customers looking for meal solutions can choose from tomer in mind and offer something for everyone.” AF Blakemore’s County Bridge fresh meat range and an To enhance the customer experience, self-scan checkimproved selection of products across fresh, frozen and outs have been introduced to the shop for the first time. grocery categories perfect for either a daily top up or Colleague headsets are also helping to drive efficient weekly shop. operations by improving Hoping to attract communication among staff members. Home local shoppers and tourists, the store feadelivery is available via tures an extensive the Snappy Shopper app. range of fresh produce For customers lookand food from local ing for more sustainaMatt Teague, ble shopping solutions, suppliers, including Blakemore Retail MD Ellis Eggs, Edwards of the store features a Conwy, Blas y Fwyd, Spar Natural refill staVillage Bakery and Henllan Bakery. tion for dried goods. Meanwhile, for those looking for food on the go, a new With all staff members living within a mile of the shop, Daily Deli hot service counter offers delicious ready-to-eat Spar Bala prides itself on being a real community store. Since food from breakfast through to the evening. A self-serve opening, it has raised more than £7,000 for local communities. Philpotts coffee machine, Tango Ice Blast frozen slush Over the last 18 months, the store has supported many machine and F’real shakes and smoothies bar offer immecharities and organisations with monetary and goods donadiate refreshment. tions, including Meithrinfa Akroyds Creche, Awel y Coleg Blakemore Retail Managing Director Matt Teague and Snowdon Food Bank.
“All of the new features have been designed with the customer in mind and offer something for everyone.”
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O R M AT S
MARKET
D, WALES
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SERV
HOME DE
SNAPPY SHOPPER SE
Snappy raises £19.4m, including £6.
Dundee-based home delivery platform has raised over £19m in a Series A fundraise, including a su
T
he Snappy Group, owners of the Snappy Shopper home delivery platform, has announced that it has raised £19.4m in its Series A fundraise round. That figure includes a substantial £6.6m strategic investment from PayPoint as well as investments from Highland Tech, Justin King, Maven Capital Partners, Kelvin Capital and Scottish Enterprise. Mercia Asset Management previously provided the Company with funds and remains an investor. PayPoint CEO Nick Wiles, Lord Laidlaw of Highland Tech and Frank Skivington, formerly of Skyscanner, join the Board as Non-Executive Directors alongside Board Advisers Justin King, former Sainsbury’s CEO, and and Gordon Blair, former F1 team director. The investments are expected to create 400 new jobs over the next three years as the rapidly expanding company invests in people, technology, partner services and marketing. Snappy Shopper currently has 90 employees. The company has revealed that it has seen a 16% increase in total sales in the past four weeks to 21 May compared with the same four weeks in January. Annualised sales for the group is £132m. It was also revealed that Snappy has grown from 220 to 1,540 business partners since December 2019, and to more than 1 million users across the UK. The company aims to continue that growth as part of its new three year plan with the recently announced partnership with PayPoint alone
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enabling thousands of PayPoint retailers to implement its home delivery and click and collect solutions through the PayPoint One Epos system. Mike Callachan, CEO and co-founder of the Snappy Group, said: “Demand for the fundraise exceeded our expectations and we are pleased to have attracted such high-profile investors and advisers. The proceeds will significantly accelerate our next phase of growth across the UK, including investments
VICES
ELIVERY
ERIES A FUNDRAISER
.6m from PayPoint
ubstantial investment from PayPoint.
in new services for our retail and hospitality partners and new hires across the business. “Post lockdown the demand for home delivery and the desire to shop locally is greater than ever, but the increasing number of anonymous dark stores is a threat to local businesses and communities, which must not be underestimated. We are well placed to empower local business to offer another great service to their customers, and better compete in this fast-changing retail market.” Nick Wiles, Chief Executive of PayPoint, said: “We’re
Nisa retailers smash £100k a week Deliveroo barrier Nisa retailers using the Deliveroo app smashed through the £100,000 weekly sales barrier last week as the fine weather and the final stages of the European football championship saw shoppers step up their purchases. Currently more than 90 Nisa partners use Deliveroo, one of Nisa’s official delivered services partners, with more retailers signing up to the service every week.
“Snappy has grown from 220 to 1,540 business partners since December 2019 and to more than 1 million users across the UK.”
In the run-up to the weekend, sales comfortably beat sales of £100,000 with customer demand growing for a delivery solution.
delighted to be investing into the Snappy Shopper business, building on the partnership that we announced recently to integrate their home delivery and click and collect technology with our own. This investment will enable PayPoint and our network of convenience retailer partners to remain at the forefront of retail and consumer trends.” Justin King, investor and advisor to the Board, added: “The Snappy Group is ideally placed to provide local shop owners with a cost-effective and professional home delivery service. Our focus on community stores and local businesses is a key differentiator, driven by local customers and tailored ranges. Community stores are brilliant distribution centres whose importance has only been magnified during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He said: “About 10% of our turnover now comes from Deliveroo and it certainly has opened up a new market to us.
Paul Cornell, owner of Nisa Local Chelmsford, signed up for Deliveroo before the pandemic and has experienced a strong growth in sales via the app.
“Our Deliveroo drivers often pass three or four larger supermarkets to get to us and without a doubt, those customers would not have come to our store, so we are able to capture them via the app. “We set up a few years ago before Christmas, thinking people would mostly use us when they ran out of alcohol for example, but it has become a really strong part of our business and there are now around 600 lines across all categories available via the app.”
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RESEARCH
CONVENIENCE TRACKING PROGRAMME LUMINA INTELLIGENCE
Is the journey back to ‘normal’ shopping underway? The latest CTP data shows that the easing of Covid restrictions is being accompanied by major shifts in shopping behaviour as consumers appear to be returning to older habits.
A
ccording to the latest data from the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme, the average weekly value of convenience store shopper decreased by 25% during the four weeks ending 30 May. Despite a stable visit frequency (2.6 visits per week), shopper value decreased as average spend fell significantly from £29.09 in the four weeks to 2 May to £21.68. This decline was driven by a drop in basket size, which fell by 0.6 items per trip, as the proportion of shoppers on a planned top up mission declined by -6.6% to 22.6%. Encouragingly, the number of shoppers on a food to go mission increased by 2.4% to 15.0%. With restrictions easing and hospitality dine-in reopening, the latest data suggests shoppers are becoming more transient and on-the-go and the share of meals consumed in-home is reducing. A shift to a more on-the-go society that is less time rich is reflected by a 1.7% increase in the proportion of shoppers using a delivery service, which further indicates that the shift towards delivery is permanent and not just a lockdown phenomenon.
FastStats Average weekly shopper value falls 25% Average spend falls £29 to £21 Basket size drops 0.6 items per trip Visit frequency remains stable Food to go mission shoppers up 2.4% Shoppers using home delivery up 1.7%
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Commenting on the results, Senior Insight Manager at Lumina Intelligence, Katherine Prowse, said: “As expected, the reopening of hospitality outlets and fewer travel restrictions has resulted in a change in shopper behaviour. There will continue to be a rebalancing in the share of occasions between in and out of home, as shoppers return to their favourite pubs, bars and restaurants.” “Greater freedom of movement has also resulted in a shift to more transient, on-the-go shopper trends. Food to go has grown its share of missions, with these lower ticket missions impacting spend, despite visit frequency remaining consistent.”
PROMOTED
NIS
SYMBOL S
Fresh Thinkin
Nisa’s new Fresh Thinking partner proposition and a fully update even more compelling reasons to join the r
N
isa is proud to work with multi award-winning stores including Pinkie Farm, Ardeer Services, and Greens of Markinch, to name a few, making Nisa the proven partner of choice for many market-leading, independently-minded retailers in Scotland. And with a record number of retailers moving to Nisa Retail in 2020 and those investing in new and upgraded stores enjoying average sales uplifts of 11%, there has never been a better time to join us. Retailers get access to best in class support through Nisa’s new partner proposition, Fresh Thinking, including retail expertise and thought leadership to help continually improve customer experience through instore solutions, category insights, store format innovation and expert account management teams. In addition, Nisa’s new rebate model is set to launch on 28 June. Built on simplicity and fairness, Fresh Rewards gives independent retailers the opportunity to unlock up to 5.5.% rebate with additional benefits available for those with a Nisa fascia store. Retailers can see how much rebate they could earn by visiting the Nisa website. Fresh Thinking also provides Nisa partners with access to convenience and symbol expertise through an in-house Insight team to help retailers truly understand their customers and their marketplace, access to planograms, marketing support, central helpdesks and expertise and the Co-op promotional plan. With recent industry recognition including
our Symbol/Franchise Group of the Year win at the Retail Industry Awards and the Grocer Gold Awards accolade for Symbol/Franchise Retailer of the Year, retailers can depend on award-winning support, access to an extensive product range comprising more than 13,000 SKUs and over 2,400 Co-op own brand products – all delivered by Nisa’s industry-leading supply chain. Retailers have the option to operate under a symbol fascia: Nisa Local, Nisa Express or Nisa Extra; or dual branded, whereby a Nisa partner can maintain their own local identity whilst also benefiting from the strength of the Nisa brand. Alternatively, a retailer can choose to trade under their own independent fascia. The latest format, Nisa Express, offers a dedicated fascia option for retailers operating in spaces up to 1,000sq ft. A choice of three format design options – food centric, forecourt and essentials – helps to accommodate the individual demographic and shopping missions of each store, with formats and ranges that are tailored for the specific market. The Nisa format team works closely with partners and shop fitters to create the ideal solution for each individual location, and retailers can benefit from the bespoke service Nisa offers with an added incentive of a 10% saving on all new refits until the end of the year.
“Built on simplicity and fairness, Fresh Rewards gives independent retailers the opportunity to unlock up to 5.5.% rebate with additional benefits available for those with a Nisa fascia store.”
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D F E AT U R E
SA
SPOTLIGHT
ng from Nisa
ed rebate model launching later this month offers independent retailers ecord number of retailers aligning with the group.
Nisa provides a complete retail support package which comprises a strong retail focused team, an enhanced category management system, a bespoke staff training facility and a comprehensive marketing package incorporating social media and PR support, leaflets, point of sale material, a personalised Nisa FM radio network and national advertising. A comprehensive support structure is provided to ensure retailers continue to push their business forward. Support comes from a strong field team including retail development
managers, regional retail managers and fresh food development managers, as well as an induction team dedicated to supporting new partners during their first 90 days with Nisa. Partners can also support local causes through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity, which has raised more than £12.5m for UK communities to date. ● To Join Nisa complete the form or contact our development team on 0800 542 7490.
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 17
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – WEETABIX TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
MELTING INTO SUMMER Weetabix Melts is hitting TV screens for the first time this summer as part of a £2.5m brand investment.
Weetabix is ploughing £2.5m into its Weetabix
fibre, low in salt and fortified with vitamins and iron.
Melts brand this summer as the range hits TV
Gareth Turner, Head of Brand at Weetabix Food
screens for the first time this summer as part of a
Company, said: “Taste is the number one driver of
campaignt to boost awareness of the tasty portfolio.
purchase and we’re ensuring our new tasty addition
The TV creative aired for the first time on Mon-
will be highly visible this summer. The campaign
day and brings to life Weetabix Melts’ key messag-
will drive awareness whilst a mix of digital and
ing of taste and excitement, through a combination
in-store activity will encourage increased purchase.
of live action and animation.
“HFSS is a hot topic and Weetabix Melts allow
Additional support comes via a social media
us to appeal to shoppers looking for a tastier
and influencer campaign, including direct links to
option at breakfast or for a snack, with the added
purchase, as well as through in-store POS across
reassurance of health and quality.”
wholesale and grocery to increase consideration and drive trial. The advert is expected to reach 25 million
What You Need To Know
consumers in the UK, each viewing the advert on
£2.5m campaign
average four times across July.
TV ad launched on Monday
Weetabix Melts is available in two flavours,
Two variants: milk and white chocolate
milk and white chocolate, and maintains a strong
No red traffic lights, non-HFSS
nutritional profile with no red traffic lights and clas-
RSP: £2.99)
sified as non-HFSS. The products are also high in
18 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 64 / WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – IRN-BRU TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
WHAT DO BRU TASTE?
A new Irn-Bru TV ad is challenging consumers to identify what they can taste when they sip Scotland’s other national drink.
For decades, it’s been the subject of many of a
lucky fan winning a year’s supply for the best
lively debate: what exactly does Irn-Bru taste like?
tried-and-tasted video. As well as airing on TV
Often described as “indescribable”, the iconic
across the country, the ad can be viewed by
Scottish drink is now challenging the nation to
scanning QR codes found on cans and bottles.
put their taste buds to the test and pinpoint the
TikTok stars including ex-Goggleboxer Tom
BRU-nique flavour of the soft drink.
Malone Jnr, Yorkshire Peach and Demi Yates
A new TV launched yesterday featuring a
have already had their say on the #IRNBRUChal-
bar brawl in a wild west saloon where Bru fans
lenge by posting videos on the platform - which
fighting over over whose definition of the unique
have already set tongues wagging.
taste is correct. Order is restored by a lone cow-
Tom Malone Jnr, said: “Irn-Bru’s great taste
boy who strikes peace by proposing everyone
debate really does have the internet fizzing. I’ve
agrees “it tastes magic”.
seen all sorts of weird and wonderful flavours
The ad forms part of the £6m investment in
shared; fresh oranges, sherbet, strawberries. I
the brand with the campaign running across a
even saw someone describe the taste as fizzy
number of media channels, including TV, digital
unicorn tears. So, I can’t wait to see what the
and social, reaching 90% of 16-34 year olds in
UK come up with when they take part.”
Scotland and the North of England.
To join in the fun, simply use #IRNBRUchal-
The Great Taste Debate challenges the pub-
lenge and tag IRN-BRU on TikTok (@irnbruof-
lic to grab a can, take a sip, and tell them what
ficial) , Instagram (@IRNBRU), Twitter (@
flavours they detect via social media with one
IRN-BRU), or Facebook (@IRNBRU).
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – 19 CRIMES TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
19 CRIMES JOINS THE HARD SELTZER CLUB Wine brand 19 Crimes is the latest big name drinks brand to enter the hard seltzers category.
Can you even call yourself a proper drinks company
Ben Blake, Head of Marketing, EMEA at Treas-
these days if you haven’t launched a hard seltzer in
ury Wine Estates, says: “This is a first for Treasury
the last few months? Following the lines of Molson
Wine Estates, as we launch a seltzer under the
Coors and Asahi, Treasury Wine Estates’ innovative
disruptive 19 Crimes brand. The brand will con-
wine brand 19 Crimes has become the latest player
tinue to push the boundaries of the traditional wine
in what is becoming a busy and noisy category.
category to appeal to a younger demographic by
Leading millennial wine brand 19 Crimes aims to
igniting their sense of discovery through the intro-
continue disrupting the wine category with the addi-
duction of different products and flavour profiles.
tion of two new hard seltzer products to its portfolio
“The new seltzers will not only appeal to those
to appeal to a new generation of wine drinkers. Presented in a 330ml can which leverages the distinctive look-and-feel of the 19 Crimes brand, the
seeking refreshment occasions, but they will also meet the increased demand for lower ABV drinks options.”
two new flavour combinations include Lime Bitters
The launch will be supported on social media,
and Raspberry & Black Pepper. At 5% ABV and
as well as through sampling activations across
containing 99 calories per 330ml, the flavour profile
the year.
is, according to the brand, “well-rounded achieving
RSP: £2.50
a bold yet refreshing taste – reflective of the 19 Crimes portfolio”.
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NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – MAGNERS TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
MAGNERS BACK WITH ‘WHEN TIME BEARS FRUIT’ CAMPAIGN Magners Irish Cider returned to TV screens on Monday with its first above the line campaign in four years. sic part of Magners DNA and When Time Bears Fruit shifts the focus from the time spent creating Magners much-loved cider to time being spent enjoying it and the reward of time well spent in that moment. Earlier this summer, Magners launched a When Time Bears Fruit on-pack promo offering the chance to win luxury staycations and thousands of home improvement prizes. The promo is currently in market and available across Magners Original 10x440ml can pack, 8x500ml bottle pack and single pint bottles in the off trade.
Rosé glow For the first time in over four years, Magners Irish Cider returned to TV screens on Monday as the
Magners has also unveiled Magners
cidermaker embarks on a new brand campaign,
Rosé cans, a light blush apple cider that
When Time Bears Fruit, supported by
has been canned for extra convenience,
a six-figure multi-channel advertising spend across TV, video on demand,
making it even easier to pick up a pack for staycations and camping trips.
digital and social media. Ad spots are featuring around TV hits Love Island
Magners Rosé is made with
and Gogglebox, targeted at both new
apples from the same orchard
and existing audiences.
as the Original recipe but uses
The hero 60s creative, titled The
sweeter apples to create a
Alchemy of The Orchard, has been
refreshing ‘pink drink’ twist on
designed to move Magners from the
the classic.
Clonmel orchard firmly into the world of its drinkers, attracting a younger generation of drinkers to the cider as
The new line is available in
4-packs at £5 RSP.
well as reintroducing it to loyal fans. Time has always been an intrin-
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 21
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – FIBRE ONE 90 CALORIE TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
SHOPPERS INVITED TO JOIN THE ‘CRAVE CLUB’ IN NEW AD Fibre One 90 calorie from General Mills is investing £3.5m as it returns to TV with a new advert to mark the launch of its biggest campaign to date.
Fibre One 90 calorie from General Mills, the UK’s
its messaging.To amplify the campaign further,
third biggest snack bar brand [Nielsen, May 2021],
Fibre One 90 calorie has partnered with women’s
is investing £3.5m in a new TV ad as it returns to
lifestyle title Grazia for the first time. The brand
screens this summer with a new TV ad to mark the
will be the sole sponsor of the Grazia Life Advice
launch of its biggest campaign to date, ‘Crave Club.’
Podcast, which will see a star-studded line-up of
Live now across TV and VOD, the new hero
guests interviewed by host Rhiannon Evans over
creative showcases the ‘Crave Club’ as a secret
the coming year, drawing thousands of listeners
society of like-minded, supportive people who have
every week. Fibre One 90 calorie and Grazia will
discovered the freedom of having what they crave
also collaborate on branded content and live events
without any fear of self-judgment.
to continue building connection between shoppers
With 90 calories or less, the Fibre One range is
and the brand.
perfect for people looking for a permissible treat and
The campaign is expected to reach four million
to add fibre into their diet without compromising on
new target consumers. It follows a recipe renova-
taste, says the brand.
tion last year which saw the brand reduce the sugar
A new social media strategy will see the brand
content of its best-selling brownie range by 30%.
refresh the look and feel of its platforms and elevate
Fibre One Chocolate Fudge Brownie RSP: £2.89
22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 64 / WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
MICHELIN PICNIC
CLEAN UP
GRATE NEWS
Cider brand Aspall is giving con-
Lifebuoy, the world’s biggest
Lactalis UK & Ireland is adding a
sumers the chance to win a pic-
hygiene soap brand, is bringing
new Grated Mozzarella to its Gal-
nic prepared by Michelin-starred
its expertise to the home care
bani portfolio, aimed at foodies and
chef James Knappett. One lucky
category with its first-to-market
offering a simple and convenient
winner and five of their friends
range of dermatologically tested
way to add mozzarella to a variety
will enjoy a picnic at a location of
cleaning products, the new five-
of dishes. Made with pasteurised
their choice prepared by Knap-
piece multi-surface antibacterial
cow’s milk, Galbani Grated Moz-
pett, chef at the two-Michelin Star
Lifebuoy Botanitech range.
zarella is suitable for vegetarians.
restaurant, The Kitchen Table.
RSPs: £1.40 - £4
RSP: £1.90
CARBON CAPTURE
VEGAN CHEESE
PANTRY PICKS
Australian wine brand Linde-
Bel UK has announced the
Cottage Delight has launched
man’s has launched a new mar-
launch of Nurishh, the brand’s
The Great British Pantry range
keting campaign, Step into The
first range of plant-based alter-
of premium sauces, condiments
Sunshine, to drive awareness of
natives to cheese: Nurishh Moz-
and preserves. The range
its Carbon Neutral certification.
zarella Style Block and Nurishh
includes 13 classic flavours cov-
The campaign includes the crea-
Cheddar & Mozzarella Style
ering sauces, chutneys, pick-
tion of carbon-absorbing canvas
Blend Grated.
les, jams and curds, backed by
murals, developed by street artists Nerone and Jody Thomas.
eye-catching POS. RSP: £2.50
RSPs: £2.49 - £3.25
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23
NOW THAT’S A
OUT TH
TESCO ‘OUTLOO
Tesco to help 45,000 young people ‘jumpstart their career’ Tesco aims to help target ‘outlook inequality’ by committing to helping over 45,000 young people “jumpstart their career and build employability skills”.
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
TELL US MORE...
Tesco is committing to helping 45,000 young people give their career a jumpstart over the next year as part of a drive to tackle ‘outlook inequality’.
30% said they expect to ‘end up in a dead-end job’ and that ‘people like me don’t succeed’. This figure rose to 43% amongst those from lower income families. Some 44% said they thought few or none of their life goals were achievable, again rising sharply to 61% among those from less affluent backgrounds. One third of young people (34%) do not feel equipped to compete in the job market, rising to more than half (52%) among those from less affluent backgrounds. Finally, young people from lower income families were twice as likely to not feel optimistic about the future (33%) and that they were discouraged by setbacks (47%).
WHICH IS? A new report has found that post-pandemic young people nationwide have lowered their ambitions, particularly those from lower income families. ‘Outlook inequality’ is leading them to be less optimistic, less ambitious and feel less equipped to compete in the job market.
WHO DID THE REPORT? A think tank called The Social Market Foundation. The research and the subsequent report was supported by Tesco. It canvassed over 1,000 16-25 year olds up and down the country and found that while 60% feel optimistic for the future, a significant number feel increasingly pessimistic. Overall, young people are less optimistic now than after the great recession of 2008/09. Half say they have lowered their ambitions since the pandemic, and this rises sharply among those from lower income families.
24 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 64 / WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021
SO WHAT’S TESCO DOING ABOUT IT? Committing to helping over 45,000 young people build employability skills and jumpstart their careers in the next year, whatever their background. Tesco will provide a range of potential opportunities to these young people through: Continued participation in the
Government Kickstart scheme and offering work placements as part of our Movement to Work collaboration Thousands of permanent roles
for young people across the Tesco business Offering degree apprenticeships,
graduate roles, and a Business Diversity Internship Pre-employment and outreach
in partnership with The Careers Enterprise Company, Speakers for Schools and IGD
ANYTHING ELSE? The supermarket is also extending its partnership with youth charity The Prince’s Trust for a further five years with the ambition to reach 200,000 young people most in need. The partnership aims to provide confidence building and skills development programmes in hundreds of schools across the UK, including resources to support mental health and wellbeing.
WHAT’S THAT MEAN IN THE REAL WORLD? Tesco’s commitment to create opportunities for over 45,000 young people includes new hires (on average
A GOOD IDEA…
HE BOX
OK INEQUALITY’
Tesco hires over 9,900 young people under the age of 25 every year), the projected reaching of 29,796 young people with the Prince’s Trust in the year 2021-22 and a further 5,230 young people with IGD, Speakers for Schools and the Careers and Enterprise Company.
WHAT’S TESCO SAYING? Natasha Adams, Tesco’s Chief People Officer, said: “Inequalities in society are having a big impact on the outlook and chances of young people. At the same time, a whole generation is grappling with the disruption that Covid-19 has caused to jobs and education. We must not allow a two-tier
system to emerge where some are equipped with the confidence to get on and others are left behind. Businesses like ours need young, diverse talent. We are committed to creating opportunities for all and want young people to see that everyone’s welcome at Tesco, whoever you are and whatever your background.”
WHAT’S THE PRINCE’S TRUST SAYING? Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive, said: “We are enormously proud to be working with Tesco over the next five years to reach more young people and support them into the
world of work. Young people’s employment prospects and aspirations have been hit hard by the pandemic and for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, it is harder still. This generation of young people have faced a disrupted education and now look to enter a volatile jobs market, so we need to make sure the odds don’t stay stacked against them. “More than ever, it’s crucial that we work with partners like Tesco to support young people to upskill, train and access job opportunities; long term commitments such as these mean we can make a real difference to the lives of young people across the UK.”
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / 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
Grate cross-merchandising idea?
Looking for a fresh cross-merchandising idea to liven up your store this summer? Well, with Wimbledon fresh in the memory, it must have seemed like a good time for the strawberry industry to have a punt at raising its profile, what with the traditional Wimbledon strawberries and cream palaver. While cream may be the go-to partner for strawberries, the more culinary adventurous among you might be aware of the posher balsamic vinegar and strawberries pairing. But a ‘berry breeder - yes, that’s what the press release referred to her as - is urging consumers and retailers to go posher still
with a fresh suggestion: Parmesan cheese on strawberries. Lucy Marie Slatter, head breeder at AVA Berries, says the pongy Italian cheese “is known to bring out the berry’s unique flavour characteristics”. (Known by whom, we wonder?) While we’re at it, Lucy says research by AVA Berries revealed that nine out of 10 Brits are storing and preparing their strawberries ‘wrongly’. More than a third (37%) remove strawberries from the fridge and wash with cold water, which Lucy says drastically reduces the sensory experience. So, yes. Time to get the Parmesen next to the strawberries in your store and watch sales rocket.
Sorry...what?
Every so often we get a press release so baffling and impenetrable that it just blows our tiny minds - and one from sustainable packaging solutions company Huhtamaki did just that. We often see them around April Fools Day, but this is July. According to the release, Huhtamaki has launched the first 100% plastic-free egg carton for cooked coloured eggs in Europe. Sorry. What? Cooked coloured eggs? Is that a thing? It appears we have the Germans to blame because they apparently love a hard-boiled egg as a snack or with lunch
or dinner. 80 million packs are sold a year over there - and are invariably sold in plastic packaging. Unfortunately, the release doesn’t go into too much detail about why the eggs are coloured. And, if you look at the photo, Huhtamaki appears to be claiming credit for inventing....a bog standard egg box. If you read this far, well done you.
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27
Let’s create a great recycling experience. LY EVER YM BAL O L I G
1M IL
E PURCHASE AR D ES
Get in touch to find out more: tcs.uk@tomra.com
TE NU
PLASTIC BOT TL ON LI
The deposit return scheme (DRS) is due to come to Scotland in July 2022. Make it easy with TOMRA, the global leader in reverse vending technology.
Source: Global Packaging Trends Report by Euromonitor International (2017)
