The Week in Retail 65

RETAIL

THE WEEK IN

SYMBOL GROUPS

PREMIER UNVEILS ITS LATEST VISION INSIDE MANDEEP SINGH’S £56K A WEEK STORE

NATIONAL LOTTERY

UNDER-18S GET LOTTERY GREEN LIGHT

UNDERAGE STAFF CAN STILL SELL LOTTERY BESTWAY’S STRONG YEAR JUST DAE IT! NISA’S FLAGSHIP FORECOURT

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WHOLESALE

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Issue 65 Wednesday 21st July 2021

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£6 MILLION BRAND INVESTMENT BRAND INVESTMENT

ON TV FROM JULY

PART OF THE BESTWAY WHOLESALE FAMILY

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

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

Mandeep’s 56,000 reasons why keeping it simple works One thing that Premier has always been good at, as far as I can see, is being able to focus on what really matters to consumers and retailers. The UK’s biggest symbol group doesn’t do refreshed formats very often but when it does, it’s always worth a nosy. Its latest ‘concept’ store, for want of a more appropriate description, is Mandeep Singh’s Teynham Road store in Sheffield – and the new concept is very much true to form.

While many new store concepts focus on fancy tech and next gen bells and whistles, Premier takes a much simpler and more direct route to focus on delivering what today’s shoppers really want and delivering the margins that retailers need. And if the results from Mandeep’s store are anywhere close to accurate, it’s been a resounding success.

To be doing £56k a week out of a 1,750sq ft store is pretty remarkable. To have increased profits by 6% is arguably even more remarkable. And it’s been achieved with a distinct lack of rocket science.

Working together, Mandeep and the Premier team simply focused on what shoppers want these days while never losing sight of margins, which is

not as simple as it sounds. Essentially, Mandeep has understood all of the key trends and made space for all of them – often at the expense of traditionally important but often low volume or low margin categories.

A new section features things like F’real, Tango Ice Blast, Fanta Frozen, Hershey Milk Shakes and coffee, all delivering a minimum POR of 70%. A new food-to-go area already serves over 50 deals a day. Chilled and fresh space has been doubled to over 10m. Weekly sales of fruit and veg alone already top £500. Frozen has also been doubled to 10m and weekly sales are over £1,200. A three-bay vaping zone delivers sales of over £2k a week while a walk-in beer cave, complete with beer kegs, has resulted in sales and profits growing by 50%.

To round it out, the Singh’s Drop delivery service makes the store accessible to a much wider audience and delivers weekly sales in excess of £15k.

In other words, no rocket science required. Just a vision and a focus and a commitment to bring everything shoppers want into one place. And Mandeep has 56,000 reasons to believe he got it right.

ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY

ANTONY BEGLEY, EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

£6 MILLION BRAND INVESTMENT BRAND INVESTMENT

ON TV FROM JULY

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 21 JULY 2021 / ISSUE 65 W W W.SLR M AG.C O.U K

6

10

18

THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

PREMIER REVEALS ITS NEW VISION

STORE PROFILE: NISA POCKLINGTON

Sainsbury’s pulls out of wholesale as Poundland nears the 200-store chilled and frozen milestone.

The symbol group unveils a fresh new format working with Mandeep Singh at his Teynham Road store in Sheffield.

A flagship Nisa Local forecourt store sees a 75% sales bump after refitting to reflect a change in shopper missions.

9 Covid-19 update

21 New store: Spar EG Group Blantyre

24 Picks of the week

The latest coronavirus-related news.

A new EG forecourt and Spar store

15 Annual results: Bestway Wholesale

in Blantyre proves an instant hit with

commuters and local workers.

Bestway Wholesale Group saw sales rise 1.4% last year, with profits up 81.8%.

17 Charity: GroceryAid Scotland

22 Symbol spotlight: Nisa

A look at the latest new products and marketing campaigns.

28 Out the box: shampoo bars

A new partner proposition and a fully

Alberto Balsam, the UK’s biggest shampoo brand, launches new shampoo bars that

The ‘Just Dae It’ sporting challenge kicks

updated rebate model offer two more

off next week, with industry colleagues

reasons for retailers to align with the

29 Before you go...

invited to join in, or simply donate.

symbol group.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

tap into sustainability concerns.

Our latest Retail Randoms.

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 21ST 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/

ONE STOP DUNKIN Dunkin Donuts are now

SUPERMARKETS

Sainsbury’s pulls out of wholesale

available in all 300 One Stop

SimplyFresh revealed yesterday that Sainsbury’s has unceremoniously decided

stores across the UK. The new

to pull the plug on its wholesale business.

listings follow a successful trial in 15 stores. Dunkin Donuts currently sold in One Stop stores are the Boston Crème double pack and the twin pack Strawberry Frosted Ring Rainbow Set.

NEWCASTLE NEW LOOK Confectionery wholesaler Hancocks is relaunching its Newcastle depot with a major event on 12 August to mark the occasion. The Chester Le Street branch will feature more

SimplyFresh has announced that Sainsbury’s has decided to unilaterally pull the plug on its wholesale arm to allow it to focus on its core business.

The move means that the supermarket will stop supplying

SimplyFresh with Sainsbury’s-labelled products and the agreement between the two companies has been terminated.

According to Sainsbury’s, the option exists for SimplyFresh to continue to receive supplies for another 12 months.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We are simplifying our business so we can focus on what matters most to our customers – lower prices, exciting new products and convenient ways to shop.”

The spokesman said Sainsbury’s had started talking to its retail partners and colleagues about what its plans mean for the future of wholesale and that it was committed to supporting them.

than 100 promotions available on that date only, along with prizes and giveaways throughout the day.

TYPHOO TRANSFORMED Typhoo Tea has announced London-based Private Equity firm Zetland capital as a new majority shareholder while current shareholder Abercross has also expanded its shareholding. The major investment will allow Typhoo to “reassert” its brands in the UK and internationally.

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Under-16s can continue to sell Lottery The UK government has confirmed that, under heavy pressure from retail groups, it has abandoned plans to move the minimum age for those selling National Lottery products from 16 to 18.

The announcement followed widespread concern in the wake of last year’s raising of the age restrictions on buying Lottery products to 18.

Minister for Media and Data, John Whittingdale, commented: “In order to minimise the impact on retailers and offer additional flexibility, the government intends to introduce an approved

sale mechanism for National Lottery tickets.”

NEWS DIGEST

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

DISCOUNTERS

Poundland chilled added to 200 stores

ACS SPEAKERS The Association of Convenience Stores has

Discounter Poundland has further increased its food and drink offer by adding

starting naming speakers for

chilled and frozen ranges into almost 200 stores.

its Heart of the Community conference (18 October, London), with Retail Minister Paul Scully MP and Ipsos MORI Chief Executive Ben Page confirmed. Find out more and book your place.

LIDL HEALTHY TARGETS Poundland is set to reach a major milestone over the next few weeks in its rollout of chilled and frozen food ranges to its stores. The discounter is set to pass the 200 stores mark very soon.

Project Diamond Ice will then see a further 37 stores converted to allow

them to host new ‘shop-within-a-shop’ areas to accommodate the chilled and frozen ranges. The ranges include products from all main categories.

Shoppers will be able to by new freezer bags for £1.50 to help take their purchases home.

Lidl is to increase sales of healthy and healthier products to at least 85% of total sales by 2025. The retailer has developed a bespoke nutrient profiling scheme based on Public Health England’s traffic light system and will also

Scotmid backs ‘local first’ campaign Scotmid has thrown its weight behind the Scotland Loves Local campaign, with its chief executive stressing the critical need for people to choose local.

Scotland’s largest independent retail co-operative is among those sponsoring the drive for people to support the businesses around them as they recover and rebuild from the impact of Covid-19.

Scotmid Chief Executive John Brodie said: “Scotmid’s core purpose is to serve our communities and improve people’s everyday lives, so we are delighted to support an initiative with the same

objective. Throughout the pandemic, communities have depended on local businesses working tirelessly to meet their changing needs.

“We must continue to support those who have been there for us; local businesses are a key part of the post-pandemic revival.

“The message to ‘think local first’ is simple but powerful. The future of businesses and jobs around us depends upon the decisions we all make.

“Choosing local makes a real difference.”

assess over 200 lines annually for improvements to meet the healthy or healthier criteria.

TESCO TACKLES HUNGER Tesco is making a donation to charity FareShare for every piece of fresh fruit and veg sold in its stores until 8 August. The retailer expects to sell enough produce for FareShare to redistribute up to three million meals to charities and local community groups supporting children.

WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7

NEWS SPECIAL

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

New era as restrictions come to an end

WALMART ADOPTS ROBOTS

Monday saw most Covid restrictions dropped or eased as the UK moves into a new era, although concerns remain.

US retail giant Walmart is set to deploy robotics at

Scotland and England both entered a new phase of the Covid pandemic on Monday with many of the restrictions being dropped or eased. Mask-wearing restrictions have been formally dropped in many scenarios in England, though face covering rules in Scotland remain in place.

S cot l and move d to Level 0 on Monday, which means up to 15 people from 15 households can meet outdoors without distancing but staying one metre away from other groups. In cafes, bars and

restaurants a maximum of 10 people from four households can meet while at home a maximum of eight people from four households can meet.

In England there are now no limits on how many people can meet and the 1m guidance has been largely removed.

25 regional distribution centres.

The plan will take several years to complete and follows a 2017 pilot in Walmart’s Brooksville, Florida distribution centre to improve stocking and unloading.

The system utilises a complex algorithm to store cases like “puzzle pieces”. It uses fast mobile bots to speed the intake process and increase the accuracy of

Central England Co-op has updated its Covid-19 measures as part of an ongoing effort to keep colleagues, customers and communities safe. The new measures are based on feedback from colleagues.

Screens will remain at checkouts and automatic hand sanitiser stations will also stay at the entrance to food stores. However, one-way systems will be removed. Colleagues and customers

will be strongly encouraged to continue to wear face coverings and free masks will still be on offer.

Store signage will be relaunched with a new ‘stay safe and leave a space’ message. The retailer will continue to ask customers to remove their face covering if they are wearing one when buying restricted products and customers will continue to be asked to pay with card or contactless if possible.

future orders.

TECH SOLUTIONS

Central Co-op clarifies new in-store measures

freight being stored for

By using dense modular storage, it also expands storage capacity.

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C OV E R

PREMIER TEY

MANDEEP SING

Premier reveals its new vision The UK’s biggest symbol group has unveiled a fresh new format working with Mandeep Singh at his Teynham Road store in Sheffield.

P

remier, the UK’s number one symbol group, has unveiled its latest thinking in a store in Sheffield as it aims to take the brand to the next level. As part of a trial with Sheffield retailer Mandeep Singh, his store on Teynham Road has been completely redesigned to reflect the latest and emerging trends to maximise sales and profits for retailers.

The store has been extended to 1,750sq ft with all fixtures repositioned into zones to reflect the latest shopping patterns. The store front has been opened up to allow greater visibility into the store and posters have been placed to highlight the value available through Premier’s promotions. The store has also trialled new and improved POS and this will be rolling out across the whole estate in the coming months.

Working in partnership with Mandeep and his team, the new improvements include: Q Refresh @ Premier – at the front of the store, this new area includes F’real, Tango Ice Blast, Fanta Frozen, Jolly Rancher, Hershey Milk Shakes, along with coffee and hot chocolate. This has seen a great reaction from shoppers and has really increased footfall. The products deliver a minimum of 70% POR which

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has increased the store’s daily cash profit significantly.

Q Food to go area – this is completely new and offers a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches, as well as paninis, sausage rolls, pies and pasties. It has been a real success. Also available is the Premier Meal Deal that includes a sandwich, crisps and a drink for only £3, with the store selling over 50 deals a day.

Q Chilled & Fresh – the store has more than doubled the fresh and chilled space to over 10 metres, which has seen the introduction of over 200 new lines from BRP, local suppliers and more products from the local Booker branch range. The offer includes over 30 lines of fruit and vegetables such as parsnips, corn and asparagus.

Sales for fruit & vegetables alone are over £500 a week and this continues to grow significantly. Another highlight is the great value everyday essential products such as 2 x 2L milk at only £2 and an 800g loaf at just 95p, which continues to drive footfall.

Q Frozen Zone – positioned at the back of the store, this new zone really appeals to shoppers with a skylight and a vastly

FastStats

Weekly sales now £56k Margin up 6% Footfall up more than 2 growing Over 6,000 shoppers s Average basket spend

S T O RY

YNHAM ROAD

GH, SHEFFIELD

k

20% and still

served a week almost £10

WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

C OV E R

PREMIER TEY

MANDEEP SING

improved range. Frozen space has been doubled to 10 metres and sales continue to grow. Mandeep is now selling over £1,200 of frozen food a week, with the Premier exclusive frozen Meal Deal performing particularly well.

Q Vaping @ Premier Zone – this innovation has seen the introduction of three full bays of vaping solutions, which includes equipment as well as liquids. This means the store offers a full service solution to cater for all shoppers needs’ so they do not need to seek a specialist alternative. Sales are now over £2,000 per week and growing.

Q Beer Cave – this allows the store to maximise sales from chilled beer, wine and spirits and gives the store a competitive advantage locally. This too has a skylight to draw shoppers into the room. The store is now selling over 40 beer kegs a day from zero before the re-fit. Sales have increased 50% and profit has also increased by 50%.

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“We are really, really ple that we are seeing – sales and expectations and we’ll have pay

Mandee Q Delivery – Singhs Drop is a great new home delivery addition to the business with sales now over £15,000 a week. Deliveries to shoppers’ doors are within 30 minutes. Home delivery is one of the busiest and fastest-growing areas of the whole business. Over 27,000 people follow the store on Facebook; social media has proved to be a massive driver in delivering this growth.

Mandeep commented: “We couldn’t be more pleased with the store – it’s fantastic. We have created something that I’m really proud of and our shoppers’ reaction has been amazing.

S T O RY

YNHAM ROAD

GH, SHEFFIELD

eased with the numbers profits are both exceeding our y back in a year, which is great.”

ep Singh “We have kept a big focus on supporting local suppliers and have introduced bread, cakes and pies all from a local bakery and also a wide range of locally sourced fresh meats through our local butcher. There are also lots of pictures of Sheffield throughout the store and also of my family, which I think is really important as we are here to serve our local Sheffield community.”

Mandeep said he was “really, really pleased” with the numbers the redesign has generated: “Sales and profits are both exceeding our expectations and we’ll have pay back in a year, which is great.”

Martyn Parkinson, Sales Director, Booker – Retail, said the store “looks amazing”. He added: “Not only that, it is delivering more profit for Mandeep. These improvements are future proofing the business, so the store can continue to grow and build on these new elements while capturing all the latest consumer trends. Sales are now at a stunning £56,000 a week. Margin has increased by 6% and footfall has increased by over 20% and still growing strongly. The store is now serving over 6,000 shoppers week in, week out and I’m proud that basket spend is averaging nearly £10.

“We have learnt a lot from this project, and I’m really pleased to be able to take the successes and roll them out to both our existing retailers and any new members. This is a really exciting time for Premier as we build upon more people shopping locally and ensuring our retailers have everything they need to maximise their store. Any retailer who would like to know more can simply contact their local Booker branch who will be happy to help.”

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WHOLESALE

BESTWAY WHOLESALE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

Bestway Wholesale profits rise 81.8% Bestway Wholesale Group saw sales increase 1.4% and EBITDA rise 81.8% in 2020.

B

estway Wholesale Group has reported a “strong performance” for the trading year to Jun 2020 with revenues up 1.4% to £2.55bn in 2020 and EBITDA up a steep 81.8% from £20.8m for the same period.

Despite market conditions in the wholesale sector remaining challenging in the financial year to end June 2020 with the catering sector being impacted heavily in the final quarter of the period by Covid, Bestway Wholesale has returned strong financial results with increased revenues and profitability.

Commenting on the financial performance, Managing Director Dawood Pervez emphasised that during this year the Bestway team had remained focussed on the integration of Bestway Retail into the business and delivering the associated

scale benefits. He said: “It’s all about the customer and meeting their needs. The year to end June 2020 saw new challenges with pressure from the grocery sector continuing with major supermarkets such as Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsburys entering the wholesale market.

“As a sector, we also had to absorb the continued impact of the National Living Wage as well as the additional costs and associated uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and Brexit.

“Our commitment to delivering improved service and convenience to customers proved to be the right approach.

The continued focus and investment in the supply chain has helped us offer better service levels alongside a growing emphasis on our online and digital strategies, which have been a catalyst in meeting the needs and changing behaviours of both our customers and the end consumer.

“Throughout the onset of Covid in 2020, we moved with agility and spent significant time and resource in ensuring all sites were robust from a health and safety perspective. This was a key priority to ensure protection for both our team here at Bestway, and our customers – whether in depot or for delivered services.

“We continued to improve and manage availability of products during this period which resulted positively on sales and during the year we continued to help our customers increase their margins and profitability. We have also continued to champion the interests of independent retailers – as has been our heritage for 45 years now.”

In early 2021, Bestway Wholesale acquired the Costcutter Supermarkets Group enhancing its retail proposition by around 1,500 stores. Bestway Wholesale is now integrating Costcutter alongside Bestway Retail.

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CHARITY

GROCERYAID SCOTLAND JUST DAE IT

Just Dae It... for GroceryAid Next week sees GroceryAid Scotland’s’Just Dae It’ sporting challenge kick off with industry colleagues \

W

invited to join in, or simply donate to support the vital work done by the charity.

ith many of those in the convenience retailing and grocery industry having had no choice but to spend far too much time at home sitting on their backsides over the last 18 months, GroceryAid Scotland is launching the perfect excuse to get up out your chair, get a bit exercise and raise some money to help less fortunate colleagues in the industry.

The two week long Just Dae It sporting challenge starts on Friday and runs until 8 August and everyone in the industry is being urged to get involved.

All you have to do is run, walk, wheel, jump, swim or whatever else takes your fancy. You can do it alone or with your work colleagues, friends or family. There’s no set distance and there are no rules. Just set yourself a challenge and go for it. And don’t forget to ask for sponsorship so that GroceryAid can continue to support your industry colleagues in need.

And, after the year we’ve had, that need has never been greater.

Businesses across Scotland and further afield will be taking part:

SGF

staff aim to complete 383 miles, the distance between the SGF Head Office in Edinburgh and the GroceryAid head office in Sandhurst.

Scottish Local Retailer and The Week In Retail Publisher Antony Begley will (try) to run ‘10k a day’ for the fortnight.

Nisa’s retail team are targeting 820 miles – the distance between its northernmost and southernmost stores.

Other business taking part include Highland Spring, Morrisons, G101, JW Filshill and many more.

It’s not too late to take part. It’ll be great for you and it couldn’t be easier to get involved. And if you can’t take part, then please consider making a small donation.

SGF targets 383 miles!

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) and the SGF Healthy Living Programme have announced that they will be Just Daeing It. Members of the team aim to complete 383 miles during the fundraising fortnight, equating to the distance between the SGF Head Office in Edinburgh and the GroceryAid head office in Sandhurst.

SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema, who will be taking part in the challenge himself, said: “After so many months of working from home for some us, Just Dae It is a great opportunity to get up off our seats, get a bit of exercise and raise much needed funds into the bargain. All donations will be greatly appreciated and will go a long way to help a fantastic charity which supports our sector, right here in Scotland.”

Donate via JustGiving.

Sign up now! To join in, all you have to do is visit JustGiving and click on the ‘Start Fundraising’ button to create your own page. It’s quick and easy and means that any money you raise automatically goes directly to GroceryAid.

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S TO R E P

NISA POCKLING UMAR

Sales up 75% after refit at flagship

A refit to reflect a change in shopper missions and local demographics has generated a 75% increase in sales at a

A

change in shopper mission and demographic at a flagship Nisa Local forecourt store has led to a major refit that has seen sales rocket by

almost 75%.

The Covid outbreak led to commuter footfall dropping dramatically at Pocklington Services but at the same time, local people started using the store for their groceries, leading to an impressive increase in shopper numbers and basket spend.

Umar Patel, Director at Brookfield Retail, who own the East Yorkshire site, said the whole focus of the store has changed in response to customer demand.

“When lockdown happened last year, local people started coming into the store because they saw that they didn’t have to queue, and they felt safe,” he said. “We were getting lots of new customers and they wanted good quality, fresh products.

“The promotions worked well but we knew if we wanted to retain the new customers, we needed to give them a store and a range that they loved.”

A substantial investment has now been made in the store with a raft of key changes to allow more chilled and frozen products to be added to the range and the grocery range has also been expanded with gondolas increased in height to add additional shelves to each bay.

A dedicated food to go area has been created close to the entrance comprising Costa Coffee, Tango Ice Blast, fwip, Rustlers, Ringtons Tea, free water refills and hot food cabinets.

Outside, new signage has been installed with a 3D white Nisa Local sign above the entrance and new fascia panels with Nisa Local, Co-op, Subway and Costa Express branding to create an eye-catching display for approaching traffic.

The store now boasts more than 300 Co-op own brand lines across chilled and frozen and a further 500 in ambient.

Premium frozen range Gourmade is also available and selling well.

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PROFILE

GTON SERVICES PATEL

p Nisa forecourt

a flagship Nisa Local forecourt store in Pocklington.

“People are using the store as a destination shop now because we are offering them the range that they need.” - Umar Patel, Director Umar added: “People are using the store as a destination shop now because we are offering them the range that they need. Shoppers are coming in and filling their baskets and since the shop fit-out we have just been getting busier and busier.

“The Nisa team has worked brilliantly on this project and the support we’ve received has been excellent. Together we have created a fantastic store and customer feedback has been great.”

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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:

S TO R E P RO F I L E

EG GROUP, BLANTYRE SPAR SCOTLAND

New EG forecourt a hit in Blantyre A new EG forecourt and Spar store in Blantyre has been an instant hit with commuters and local workers.

A

brand new EG Group forecourt and Spar store has been an instant hit with shoppers on East Avenue in Blantyre, Lanarkshire. The new site has been a blessing for commuters and workers in the area.

With eight lanes as well as dedicated parking for shoppers, the forecourt also boasts an external ATM and is open 24 hours, seven days a week.

With 3,500sq ft of selling space, the Spar Scotland store has a host of food-to-go options including sandwiches, hot and cold rolls and pastries, as well as a Starbucks unit, so there’s

no shortage of choice for those looking for caffeine and tasty sustenance. Fresh produce, Lottery and Paypoint services and free Wi-Fi further enhance the offering in-store.

Mike Leonard, Sales Director for Spar Scotland, said: “We’re very excited to see Spar EG Group Blantyre open. This new forecourt is in a prime location for those who are busy and on the go and need fuel and food easy to hand.

“Blantyre sees our partnership with EG Group extend even further, with 18 stores currently part of the estate. We’ve every hope that this store will prosper in the future.”

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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 21ST JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – KP SNACKS TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM

KP REVEALS PLANS FOR THE HUNDRED KP Snacks, the official team partner of The Hundred, which gets underway today, is launching a campaign to champion healthier lifestyles and get people active.

KP Snacks has revealed the details of its partnership

The manufacturer is also offering free and easy

with The Hundred, the new action-packed 100 ball

ways for consumers to get engaged with cricket

cricket competition. The Hundred runs for a month

through its recently launched ‘Everyone In’ hub.

from today until 21 August and KP has a range of

‘Everyone In’ is an easy-to-use digital platform

initiatives and activations in place. The company is

offering simple, fun ways for people to get active

looking to champion healthier lifestyles and inspire

this summer through cricket, alongside lots of fun

people to get more active through cricket, while

video content with some of the male and female

driving sales of its core range.

stars of The Hundred.

Throughout the tournament, KP Snacks brands

As a final element of the partnership, KP Snacks

will feature on the

and McCoy’s, the

team shirts, including:

sponsors of Man-

popchips, Butterkist,

chester Originals,

Pom-Bear, Tyrrells,

have partnered with

KP Nuts, Hula Hoops,

Co-op in Manches-

McCoy’s, and Skips.

ter to give away

The brands will also

thousands of balls

feature in broadcast

and bats to inspire

idents and in ad spots

people to get more

during broadcasting

active

breaks, as well as

cricket during the

through in-ground

partnership.

promotion on the big

through

Marketing Direc-

screens.

tor Kevin McNair

Furthermore, the

commented: “At KP

snacking giant has been encouraging retailers to

Snacks, we care about doing the right thing and

purchase cases of its promoted products for a chance

we believe that snacks can be enjoyed as part of

to win match tickets and merchandise to enjoy them-

a balanced and healthy lifestyle, including reg-

selves and with their families. Implementing retailer

ular exercise. Our vision is to support healthier

bundle deals, depot activations, and merchandising

lifestyles and inspire families across the UK to

including aisle end displays, KP Snacks is using its

get more active.

partnership and brands to incentivise, engage, and

“Over the next five years, our partnership with

inspire its convenience retailing partners to celebrate

The Hundred aims to help thousands of families up

The Hundred.

and down the country to get more active together.”

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NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – RUBICON TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM

RUBICON UNVEILS ‘UNBORING’ AD AG Barr is bringing back its No Added Boring campaign for Rubicon as part of a £4m investment in the brand. The campaign will reach 87% of 16-34 years olds seven times. will perform even better. “This year we’re also launching a targeted OOH campaign, that will be personalised based on location and weather, to really tap into meeting consumer needs for an exciting refreshing drink when they need it most.

“We’ve challenged ourselves to create the most unboring outdoor ads of any soft drink. Targeting areas of urban local discovery, think local high streets where we’ve all been spending our time of late rather than city centres.”

The activity will also include five-weeks of Rubicon will be back on TV next month as AG Barr

national sampling and the brand’s biggest ever

brings its No Added Boring campaign back as part

social campaign.

of a £4m investment. The campaign will reach 87% of 16-34 years olds seven times.

Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at AG Barr says: “It’s been a positive year for Rubicon. This campaign will build on our growth by continuing to build awareness of Rubicon with soft drink shoppers.

“The campaign invites shoppers to step away from the mundane and try something a lot more interesting. We’ve looked at all the major touchpoints for our target consumer of 16-35-year-olds, and created a campaign designed to reach them in as many places as possible on their path to purchase.

“The TV ad will run for six weeks, starting in the peak summer month of August, on national screens, video on demand, Spotify and social

What you need to know £4m campaign Will reach 87% of 16-34 years olds seven

times

platforms with spots in the breaks of the top per-

Runs in Aug and Sep

forming programmes and sports of the summer.

On national TV, VOD, Spotify, digital,

The No Added Boring ad worked really well for

outdoor and sampling

Rubicon last year so we’re confident that this year

WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – MARS PETCARE TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM

MARS AIMS TO END PET HOMELESSNESS Mars Petcare wants to end pet homelessness by 2030 and is kicking off a new Adoption Mission commitment with a £1.3m TV campaign from Pedigree.

Mars Petcare is working towards its global ambition

shoppers to support the campaign through their

of ending pet homelessness by 2030 with the UK

choice of purchase.

launch of its Adoption Mission commitment this month.

Working in partnership with the Association of

Through two of its most recognisable brands –

Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) and its members,

Pedigree and Whiskas – Mars Petcare will be donating

Mars Petcare will be providing a comprehensive

three million meals to dogs and cats in rescue centres

programme of support to shelters across the UK.

across the UK and a special programme of support

The company is aiming to help shelters overcome

will also be delivered to shelters and owners to ensure

some of the barriers they face when it comes to

all pets are wanted, cared for and welcomed.

pet adoption and tackle abandonment scenarios.

Kicking off the Adoption Mission, a new £1.3m

Arthur Renault, Marketing Portfolio Director at

TV campaign from Pedigree went live on Monday

Mars Petcare, comments: “The Adoption Mission

featuring the tag line ‘Feel the good. Adopt’. The

will deliver work that will truly make a difference for

advert aims to highlight the good that can come from

dogs and cats across the country, supported by our

pet adoption, showcasing the unconditional love and

petcare category leaders Pedigree and Whiskas,

happiness that adopted pets can bring to families.

to help raise maximum awareness of the positive

From next month, in-store POS materials will

impact of pet adoption and help us work towards

be available to retailers to spread the word on the

our global ambition of ending pet homelessness

Adoption Mission, encouraging new and existing

entirely by 2030.”

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NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM

REAL FOOD BARS

SQUEEZING SALES

BURT’S SPURTS

Nature Valley is bringing new

Swizzels has launched a

Burts Snacks has unveiled a new

‘real food’ Full Mix bars to the

Squashies Squashathon cam-

‘So Burts It Hurts’ £1m summer

UK, after last year’s US launch.

paign for summer on its social

marketing campaign, its first in

Available in multipacks in two

channels. There are 60 days of

nearly a decade. Aimed at the

variants – Peanut Butter & Blue-

summer-themed challenges for

South West of England, the

berry and Peanut Butter & Cran-

consumers to get involved in

campaign hopes to raise aware-

berry – the launch will be backed

with daily prizes on offer. POS

ness of its range of hand-cooked

by a £1.5m marketing campaign.

and display units are available

crisps that are produced using

RSP: £2.89 (promo £1.50)

to retailers.

locally sourced ingredients.

SPICE TOUR

GUT FEELING

FOUNTAIN FEST

Spiced gin brand Opihr has

The English Institute of Sport

In a multi-million-pound catego-

launched a Spice Tour consumer

(EIS) and Yakult have teamed

ry-boosting campaign, Fountain

campaign to show consumers

up as the brand is named an EIS

Beverage Co’s Hard Seltzer has

across the UK just how accessi-

Preferred Performance Nutrition

partnered with Live Nation to

ble spice can be, including how

Supplier. They will collaborate

become the first Official Hard

it can enhance the flavour of gin.

with research into the gut micro-

Seltzer Partner across the Read-

The format is a series of free

biota, as well as enhancing edu-

ing & Leeds, Creamfields, Park-

online masterclasses that run

cation and awareness around

life, TRNSMT and Warehouse

until Sep. Find out more.

the importance of gut health.

Project festivals.

WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX SHAMPOO BARS

Could you clean up with shampoo bars?

Alberto Balsam, the UK’s biggest shampoo brand, has launched new Shampoo Bars that tap into sustainability concerns.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? Shampoo bars.

WHICH ARE? Bars of shampoo.

YES, VERY GOOD. NOW WHAT ARE THEY? They are literally bars of shampoo. Like soap, but shampoo.

OK. WHAT’S THE POINT? Well, Alberto Balsam, the UK’s number one shampoo and conditioner brand by volume [Kantar, Feb 2021] says the launch of Shampoo Bars is “the brand’s biggest innovation in 10 years”. It also says it’s “democratising access to sustainable beauty”, whatever that means.

ARE BARS MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN NORMAL SHAMPOO? Apparently. The Unilever brand says the bars are 100% plastic free, the packaging is made from recycled material which is 100% recyclable, and FSC-certified cardboard. And the bars can last up to 70% longer than a standard bottle.

Alberto Balsam says it’s making ‘greener’ affordable to all and is contributing to Unliever’s wider commitment to ‘Less Plastic, Better Plastic, No Plastic’.

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WILL SHAMPOO BARS GET CONSUMERS IN A LATHER? Over 7.7 million households buy Alberto Balsam products each year [Kantar, Feb 2021], so there’s a decent chance that the brand will be able to drive some decent trial. Additionally, it is estimated that the ‘natural space’ in the UK market will grow by £21m.

ESTIMATED BY WHO? That would be the Unilever UK Category Insights Team.

WHAT FLAVOURS DO THEY COME IN? Shampoo Bars are available in three 75g bar variants: Sunkissed Raspberry,

Nourishing Coconut & Lychee and Juicy Green Apple, all at £2.50 a pop for shoppers.

WHAT IS UNILEVER SAYING? Carly Burford, Marketing Director at Unilever UK&I, says: “We’re transforming our much-loved liquid formula into innovative bars and making them freefrom plastic.

“As the number one volume shampoo and conditioner brand in the UK, we’re making sustainable choices easier for all the family whilst delivering a great haircare experience and our signature long-lasting, 24-hour fruity fragrance that Alberto Balsam holds.”

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

Veganism: there’s a lot of it about

With veganism still very much A Thing, plenty of retailers have had a go at improving the range of vegan-friendly products they carry in-store. Often this can mean having to go to specialist suppliers, but it turns out that many of the products you probably already stock are unintentionally vegan.

For some unexplained reason, comparison website Uswitch has been trawling c-stores and supermarkets in search of common products that are accidentally vegan.

So, time to test yourself. How many of these products did you know were vegan? Jammie Dodgers, Warburtons Crumpets, Fruit Pastilles, Coco Shreddies, Kettle Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar Crisps, Cadbury Bournville Plain Chocolate, Jacobs Cream Crackers, Lotus Biscoff Smooth Caramelised Biscuit Spread, and Mr Kipling Apple and Blackcurrant Pies.

And not forgetting Pot Noodle Chow Mein.

That’s the ticket

Gazza drops by

Hat’s off to a Londis store in Weymouth for this bit of footyinspired creativity.

Was is just bizarre luck? Or perhaps a staff member with too much time on their hands? You choose.

Meanwhile, Londis Stour Road in Christchurch had a day to remember when two unlikely things occurred on the same day: England beat Germany at football and Paul Gascoigne dropped into the store.

WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY 2021 / ISSUE 64 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

The revolution will be digitised!

Home delivery | Integrated Epos | Digital loyalty | Frictionless solutions | Customer data | Amazon Fresh and much more

CLICK TO READ ‘ T E C H & D ATA I N L O C A L R E TA I L’ NOW! One of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a huge acceleration of the adoption of technology in the local retailing sector across the UK. While home delivery was the undoubted star of the 2020 tech boom, there are countless other examples of technology being used to either save money or make money.

So, with that in mind, we present our retailer’s guide to tech, data and why the revolution will be digitised. We hope you enjoy it and that it helps you improve your business.