The Week in Retail 68

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THE WEEK IN

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Issue 68 Wednesday 11th August 2021

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

EDITOR’S COMMENT SHARE YOUR NEW S AND VIEW S W IT H M E AT ABEGLEY@ 55N ORT H .C OM

The road to hell You know things are bad when the head of the haulage industry’s leading trade association says even bringing the army in won’t resolve the HGV crisis.

The driver shortage really is the issue that has everything: Brexit, IR35, a global pandemic, food shortages and wastage, and worker rights.

What’s particularly frustrating is that this is not a new problem – it’s been around for more than a decade – and the central issues have still yet to be addressed. The average age of a lorry driver in the UK is over 50 – so we need to make truck driving more appealing to younger people. We need better routes for people to get into truck driving as a career – so, more apprenticeships – and increased efforts to get different ethnicities and women into driving.

We also need to have better wages and improved roadside facilities to make truck driving an appealing career option.

It’s infuriating that the inaction of many key players, coupled with unfortunate circumstances, have left so many independent retailers desperate for stock. Some are spending their precious time searching for alternative suppliers than their symbol groups while others are turning their hands to logistics, spending their hard-earned cash on... forklift trucks.

It’s a real concern that if serious moves aren’t made to ease the shortage soon it won’t be long

before it adds to the already serious problem of retail violence as customers, angry that their favourite cereal or soft drink isn’t available, decide to take their frustration out on the nearest shop worker.

The Road Haulage Association says it would take over a year to train enough lorry drivers to get things back to normal. So it seems the only quick fix to this is for the government to swallow its pride and relax Brexit immigration rules to allow foreign driver to return on a temporary basis. Don’t hold your breath on that one, though. Boris has been dodging questions in Parliament and the Transport Secretary has rebutted calls from the shadow government to lift the restrictions.

It’s hard to see how this shortage will be resolved, but the situation needs to move forward soon, for the sake of all local retailers and the communities they serve.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

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IT

NEW

E L B A L I A V A

NOW

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 W W W.SLR M AG.C O.U K

6

10

20

THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR WHOLESALERS

IN-STORE PROJECTS: ROCKSTAR

Convenience store shoppers grow in value and PayPoint addresses competition concerns.

The crisis in wholesale continues, as the sector battles the effect of driver shortages, the ‘pingdemic’ and Brexit.

We work with Britvic and Broadway Convenience Store in Edinburgh to boost energy drinks sales.

9 Covid-19 update

17 Research: consumer trends

27 Business intelligence

15 Legislation: minimum wage

People returning to pre-pandemic habits by

shopping around more for their groceries.

28 Wholesale news

Eight convenience retailers are ‘named and shamed’ for paying less than the minimum

19 Symbol groups: Spar

30 Picks of the week

wage.

Blakemore Retail and independent Spar

35 Out the box: StarStock

stores take part in Welsh Food Fortnight.

16 Sustainability: food waste

The 2021 ACS Community Barometer.

Welsh retailer CK Foodstores rolls out

24 Technology: ESELs

Gander, an app that lets shoppers save

money while also saving the planet.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

Scotmid and Southern Co-op stores start using electronic shelf-edge labels.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

A new on-trade buying platform lets operators order directly from major drinks brands, cutting out wholesalers.

37 Before you go...

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

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NEWS DIGEST

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

ICONIC CHARGING

SHOPPING TRENDS

the Royal College of Art and

Average spend, visit frequency and basket size grow in convenience

PA Consulting to design an

New data also shows delivery and click & collect also continue to grow despite

iconic British chargepoint

Covid restrictions being eased.

The government has appointed

that will be functional and accessible. The design will be unveiled at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow this November and could be seen on streets as early as next year.

ACCESS TO CASH A record £665m in personal cash withdrawals took place at Post Office counters in July, up 14.3% year-on-year, new data from the Post Office Cash Tracker has revealed. The total value of cash deposits at branches totalled £2.18bn, similar to the previous month, the figures show.

ALDI CREATES JOBS Aldi is to create more than 2,000 jobs across the UK between now and Christmas.

The supermarket is pushing ahead with plans to open more than one new store a week this year. Store assistants can earn up to £10.57 nationally, and £11.32 inside the M25. Aldi also pays for breaks.

The average weekly value of convenience store shoppers increased by 6% during the four weeks ending 27 June, new research reveals.

The latest data from the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme, shows the average weekly value of a convenience store shop increased from £21.68 in the previous four weeks to £22.98. The rise was driven by an increase in average basket size, from +0.1 to 2.8 items per trip, and an increase in visit frequency – from 0.2 to 2.8 times per week.

However, there was a decline in the proportion of shoppers on a planned top up mission – down 1% to 21.6% – with the food-to-go (+0.6% to 15.6%) and meal occasion (+1.8% to 14.8%) missions both recording increases.

In addition, the convenience store delivery continues to grow its share of occasions despite restrictions easing further, growing 0.9% to 7.1% of total convenience store occasions. Click & collect also grew its share by 0.2% to 2.2%.

Senior Insight Manager at Lumina Intelligence, Katherine Prowse, said: “It is a really positive picture for convenience, with spend, footfall and basket size all growing. Despite hospitality rules easing, rising coronavirus cases and the ‘Pingdemic’ will have resulted in many consumers being cautious and opting to cook at home more. Furthermore, many will have hosted gatherings and watched England’s success at the Euros, which is reflected in the growth of the meal occasion mission.”

McColl’s mulls move to boost Morrisons partnership McColl’s Retail Group has confirmed that it is currently exploring options relating to a potential capital raise to increase the number of its Morrisons Daily store conversions, accelerate the pace of roll-out of the conversion programme and strengthen its balance sheet.

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The retailer, which operates a 1,200-strong store network, is converting hundreds of its sites to be Morrisons branded as a part of the partnership, which lasts until 2027.

No final decisions have been made on whether to proceed with a capital raise or with regards to its timing or size.

NEWS DIGEST

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

ASDA SEEKS NEW BOSS

SERVICES

Ofgem consults on commitments offered by PayPoint

Asda has announced that Chief Executive Roger

Energy regulator Ofgem is consulting on commitments offered by PayPoint in an

Burnley has stepped down

investigation into whether the company infringed the Competition Act.

from the business following the completion of a transition

Ofgem launched its investigation in August 2017 to consider whether PayPoint had abused a dominant position by using exclusivity clauses in its contracts with energy suppliers and retailers in a way that was likely to restrict or distort competition for the provision of over-the-counter energy prepayment services in Great Britain.

PayPoint has offered to remove these exclusivity provisions from current contracts and any future contracts entered into during the next five years.

The company also agreed to offer separate contracts to its energy supplier clients for the provision of energy prepayment services. This would mean that energy suppliers and retailers will be free to contract with other payment service providers and to use other providers’ equipment. PayPoint has offered to make a £12.5m donation to Ofgem’s Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.

Ofgem’s provisional view is that the commitments address its concerns but will consider any comments raised in the public consultation before accepting them.

Bestway unveils latest retailer recruitment campaign Bestway Wholesale is launching a new campaign to attract and recruit retailers.

The campaign message is that Bestway Retail, which has almost 4,000 stores in the UK, offers a market leading proposition that includes “unparalleled opportunity and best-in-class service support, product range and rebates”.

period that sees a consortium headed by the billionaire Issa brothers take control of the business. Asda said the process to recruit Burnley’s replacement is ongoing.

PREPARE FOR E10 ACS is reminding fuel retailers to ensure that they are prepared for the rollout of the E10 fuel grade from 1 September, that they have briefed their staff, and communicated the change to their customers to avoid confusion.

EXTRA DAY OFF Central England Co-op is rewarding its 7,800 workers with an extra day off in recognition of their role in

Commenting on the campaign, Mike Hollis, Bestway Retail Director, said: “We’re excited to be showcasing our offer and reaching out to retailers with the launch of this new recruitment campaign that clearly sets out the benefits of our core brands and our combined proposition.”

the Society being named Leading Co-op of the Year for Co-operatives UK. The retailer was shortlisted for supporting communities during the pandemic and its ongoing partnerships with FareShare Midlands and food banks.

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NEWS SPECIAL

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

Vaccine hesitancy falling

CIRCLE K FORMS BITCOIN ATM DEAL

New data shows that some local variation remains.

Forecourt operator Circle K, which has more than 420 service stations across Ireland, has signed an exclusive international partnership with Bitcoin ATM network Bitcoin Depot.

Bitcoin Depot ATMs give users access to bitcoin and over 30 other cryptocurrencies. Users give their cryptocurrency wallet address, insert cash and cryptocurrency is sent immediately to the wallet.

London West and North West (12% to 7%), and West Wales and The Valleys (11% to 5%).

However, there remains some local variation, with hesitancy rates remaining as high as 10% in Outer London East and North East, compared with 2% in parts of Scotland, Cheshire, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight.

The data shows that the likelihood of not having a vaccine also rises in more deprived areas across all English regions.

At the time of writing, the UK was on the brink of a landmark figure for its vaccination rollout, with 74.8% of adults now double-jabbed.

Circle K, said: “We are continually looking at ways to enhance their

TECH SOLUTIONS

People from all parts of Great Britain became less likely to report vaccine hesitancy during the first half of 2021, new research reveals.

Analysis from the Office for National Statistics shows the sharpest decline in hesitancy was in Wales – where the rate decreased from 9% in January to March to 4% in April to July 2021, followed by London (11% to 7%), Yorkshire and The Humber (8% to 4%), and the North East (7% to 3%).

Areas that recorded the highest hesitancy rates during January to March had seen a reduction by April to July, such as Inner London East (13% to 7%), Outer

experience in our stores and be their favourite stop for a growing range of needs and occasions.

Our partnership with Bitcoin Depot further builds on this commitment, giving our brand an important, early presence in the fastgrowing cryptocurrency marketplace.”

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C OV E R

DRIVER SH

CRISIS IN W

Long Road to Recovery Availability issues continue to hit retailers and consumers

S

as the HGV shortage and other issues hit wholesalers.

hoppers are increasingly reporting availability issues as the sector battles the effect of the driver shortage, the ‘Pingdemic’ and Brexit, new research reveals.

Latest consumer research conducted for IGD over the past weekend, 6 to 8 August 2021, finds that 56% of adults claim to have experienced shortages of some food and groceries in-store or online recently, up from 48% a week earlier.

There have been changes in claimed shortages by region, the research shows, with concern now highest in Northern Ireland (74%), London (63%), and the North East (61%).

Claimed shortages remain highest for fresh produce (27% compared to 17% last week). Other high-ranking categories include fresh meat or fish (16%), dairy (13%), tins & packaged foods and soft drinks (both 11% each), bakery and household paper (both 10% each).

The research shows that more adults (32%) have recently felt the need to stock up or purchase more than they normally, up from 27% last weekend. This is still relatively low (50% in January 2021 and a high of 64% in April 2020).

A third (34%) say they will or might stock up. This has remained stable compared to last weekend (33%). However, this is still lower than in January 2021 (45%) and March 2020 (60%).

Stockpiling is highest among 18-24s (45%), those with children at home (38%), and those living in London (48%).

RETAILERS ACT In recent weeks independent retailers have been taking matters into their own hands by collecting their supplies from smaller wholesalers. Walsall retailer Amrit Singh has bought a forklift to help. He tweeted: “I’m buying so much out of symbol so con-

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S T O RY

HORTAGE

WHOLESALE

sistently pointless breaking mine and my staff ’s backs. This tool is a testament to our belief that buying from multiple suppliers and not relying on one will pay dividends.”

Coventry-based retailer Paul Cheema was pictured in the Financial Times unloading stock he’d bought from a wholesaler in Birmingham. He told the newspaper: “It’s a pain, but we are here to serve our community and we need full shelves.”

Adrian Costain, who owns stores on Merseyside, also told the newspaper that he too has resorted to stocking up at a cash and carry. “We are obtaining a much better service from our smaller suppliers,” he said.

Meanwhile, supermarket staff have made with ingenious ways of hiding empty shelves – including single lines of products, filling the empty shelves with cardboard boxes featuring pictures of the missing items, and removing aisles all together.

One shopworker tweeted: “Feel like permanently having a tab open on my phone regarding the issue. How can people be so blind to the fact that having a driver shortage is the issue not that the staff are too thick to order the stock in?”

NO END IN SIGHT And there seems no quick resolution in sight. Using military drivers had been touted as an easy solution to the problem, but this week the boss of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), Richard Burnett, told Sky News this week that deploying army personnel “will not scratch the surface” of the crisis.

Reports suggest there are potentially 2,000 military drivers who could step in, but both the Department for Transport and

The research shows that more adults (32%) have recently felt the need to stock up or purchase more than they normally, up from 27% last weekend.

This is still relatively low (50% in January 2021 and a high of 64% in April 2020).

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C OV E R S T O RY

DRIVER SHORTAGE CRISIS IN WHOLESALE

Ministry of Defence have said that no official request had yet been made.

SHORTFALL The RHA estimates the shortfall of drivers, which stands at 100,000, will take 18 months to solve. Burnett says drivers are underpaid and wage increases will need to be paid for by customers. He RHA says the industry needs more government help with training and apprenticeships and is calling on the government to relax Brexit immigration rules to allow foreign driver to return on a temporary basis.

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The call is supported by the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, who tweeted: “Putting the army on standby and extending drivers hours may be necessary short-term fixes for the food distribution crisis, but don’t solve the HGV driver shortage. We need a seasonal visa scheme to bring in skilled EU drivers until longer-term measures are in place.”

However, in a letter to Labour MPs – seen by the PoliticsHome news website – Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he was opposed to foreign workers being used to tackle the shortfall in truck drivers.

Writing to Shadow Roads Minister Kerry McCarthy, Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds and Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon, Shapps said: “Leaving the EU has provided us with the opportunity to introduce a new immigration system while building a more resilient domestic workforce.”

He added: “I am sure you would agree on the importance of utilising our domestic workforce and supporting the many UK-based workers who now face an uncertain future due to the impact of the measures to tackle Covid-19 and need to find new employment opportunities.”

OCTOBER EXTENSION So far the government has extended the relaxation of drivers’ hours until October. The move has been criticised by the Unite union, which believes that the relaxation of the driving regulations will not resolve the problem of driver shortages and could actually make the situation worse. They claim that more drivers will decide to leave the profession as a result of being required to work even longer hours.

Unite National Officer for Road Transport Adrian Jones said: “Minimum driving hours are there to keep people safe. Relaxing them for six months of the year is foolhardy and will inevitably put workers and road users at risk.

“We will continue advising our members not to put themselves in danger and to exercise their legal right to refuse to drive if they are too tired. The union will fully support those who make that decision, legally and industrially.”

The government is also currently consulting on a package of measures to support recruitment and retention within the road haulage industry to ease pressure on the sector.

OPERATION 18 MYSTERY SHOP VISITS

help prevent sales to those under the age of 18. Make sure your store is ready and prepared to pass a visit:

TOP TIPS

z Always look at customers to assess their age z If in doubt, ask for ID z Ensure all staff are fully trained to correctly ask for ID at all times REMEMBER: If your store doesn’t correctly ask for ID on 3 separate occasions, you could lose your National Lottery terminal.

Rules & Procedures apply. Players must be 18+.

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L E G I S L AT I O N

NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE HMRC

Retailers paying less than minimum wage ‘named and shamed’

E

A number fo convenience retailers were among 191 businesses found to have breached minimum wage law between 2011 and 2018.

ight convenience stores have been named for breaking national minimum wage law.

Investigations by HMRC revealed 191 businesses had breached minimum wage law between 2011 and 2018 and a total of £2.1m was found to be owed to more than 34,000 workers.

The convenience stores found to be in breach of the law were:” ● Martin McColl Retail, Brentwood failed to pay £25,8047.80 to 4,366 workers. ● One Stop Stores, Walsall failed to pay £56,505.04 to 2,631 workers. ● 7 to 10 Food & Wine, Cardiff failed to pay £9,573.74 to two workers. ● Your Local Food & Wine, trading as Premier, County Durham failed to pay £6,144.27 to six workers. ● Big News Trading, trading as Chibber’s Superstore, Calderdale failed to pay £4,545.64 to one worker. ● North East Convenience Stores, trading as Spar, Northumberland failed to pay £1,853.62 to 81 workers. ● Amar Anwar, trading as Benwell Post Office, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4, failed to pay £1,711.04 to two workers. ● R & A Food & Wine (dissolved 05/11/19), Lewisham failed to pay £678.6 to one worker.

The employers named had previously underpaid workers by: wrongly deducting pay from workers’ wages, including for uniform and expenses (47%); failing to pay workers for all the

time they had worked, such as when they worked overtime (30%); and paid the incorrect apprenticeship rate (19%).

Business Minister, Paul Scully, said: “Our minimum wage laws are there to ensure a fair day’s work gets a fair day’s pay – it is unacceptable for any company to come up short. All employers, including those on this list, need to pay workers properly.”

Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage must pay back arrears of wages to the worker at current minimum wage rates. They also face hefty financial penalties of up to 200% of arrears – capped at £20k per worker – which are paid to the government.

Chair of the Low Pay Commission, Bryan Sanderson, added: “The minimum wage provides a crucial level of support, and compliance is essential for the benefit of both the recipients and our society as a whole.”

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

GANDER CK FOODSTORES

Welsh retailer cuts food waste with Gander App lets consumers save money on their shopping while also helping the planet.

S

outh Wales-based CK Foodstores is rolling out Gander, an app that helps retailers sell more of their reduced-to-clear food produce, in 23 of its stores.

Gander displays reduced-to-clear food in real-time, by linking with POS technology used in stores, automatically pushing the reduced price products to the mobile app as they are stickered in-store. Any sold items are automatically removed from the app, providing an instant feed of all reductions in-store at any time.

Heulwen Brown, of CK Foodstores, said: “We know that many of our customers feel strongly about this issue and by introducing the Gander app we will encourage shoppers to purchase in a smarter, more sustainable way while also making savings.”

Households in Wales currently throw away an estimated 400,000 tonnes of food waste per year.

Ashley Osborne, Co-Founder of Gander, said: “A significant proportion of this waste is completely avoidable. For

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retailers reduced food can be exceedingly expensive and at a time when margins are being squeezed, this is revenue sitting on their shelves and that shoppers locally would love to buy, they just don’t know it is there.”

He added: “Generally only 5% of a retailer’s existing shoppers are shopping for reduced to clear food. Gander changes this by putting this same information in the hands of significantly more motivated shoppers which in turn will increase sales of reduced product. For a retailer, this will increase revenue otherwise lost to waste, increase footfall and reduce waste. For the shoppers it will provide them with the ability to access local bargains and save money, while allowing them to positively address the problem of food wastage. A win, win.” ● The Gander app is available for both Apple and Android platforms.

RESEARCH

SHOPPING TRENDS IGD

S

Shopping around IGD research shows that shoppers are returning to pre-pandemic habits.

hopping around for food and grocery items has increased after the further lifting of Covid restrictions, and is now higher than pre-pandemic levels, new research reveals.

IGD’s ShopperVista insight shows the number of food and grocery stores used by shoppers has risen to 13, which is the highest level since December 2018. The shift in shopping culture has been seen most in hypermarkets and supermarkets in the past month and is likely to be driven by a combination of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, the heatwave, and the Euro 2020s.

The research reveals that shopper confidence continues to remain relatively stable. At -3, it mirrors last month’s level, and is one of the highest levels in the past five years.

However, concerns about inflation have doubled since April 2021, with 16% of shoppers expecting food prices to get much more expensive.

Simon Wainwright, Director of Global Insight at IGD, said: “During the pandemic and consequent lockdowns, retailers

have been able to capitalise on relatively captive audiences.

Now, as restrictions lift, shoppers have the freedom to shop around for favourite products, quality and variety. The increase to pre-pandemic levels may be a result of shoppers making up for lost time, boosted by feel-good events, such as the Euro Finals.

“However, this motivation is only likely to be true of more affluent shoppers. Lower income households are more likely to be shopping around for value amid rising concerns around price inflation. Retailers will need to concentrate on driving loyalty to maintain market share, by focusing on range, quality and innovation. There will be a real spotlight on value as inflation rises, particularly for lower income households.”

In addition, the figures show that 75% of shoppers – the same level as last month – still trust the food and consumer goods industry to ensure a good availability of food and groceries despite the operational challenges due to labour shortages.

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@SLRMAG

SYMBOL GROUPS

SPAR WELSH FOOD FORTNIGHT

Welsh wonder

Blakemore Retail and independent Spar stores across Wales back homegrown food

M

ore than 200 Spar stores across Wales are taking part in Welsh Food Fortnight.

The #CaruCymruCaruBlas #LoveWalesLoveTaste campaign, which runs from 5-18 August, sees 230 Blakemore Retail and independent Spar stores across Wales joining with producers to celebrate and promote Welsh food and drink in-store and on social media.

Point-of-sale materials, as well as social media activity featuring the campaign, will enable shoppers to identify a host of Welsh food and drink products easily.

The campaign has been arranged by the government-funded Food & Drink Wales Fine Food Cluster in conjunction with AF Blakemore. A total of 139 independently-owned Spar stores and 91 Blakemore Retail stores are taking part.

AF Blakemore Category Controller Patrice Garrigues said: “Having quality Welsh products in our Spar stores is something that our customers enjoy as part of our range; it gives them choice and the opportunity to support, in many cases, a local business.”

Fine Food Cluster Manager, Jayne Jones, commented: “Spar is a fantastic platform for Welsh food and drink products in Wales, and this campaign builds on activity undertaken in 2015.

“We looked at how we could work with them on a new campaign using the social media networks of the food and drink suppliers, as well as in-store point of sale materials.

Collectively this will raise awareness during the fortnight and help increase footfall and sales.”

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I N-S TO R E P

ROCK

INACT

KEY SOFT DRINK CATEGORY TRENDS ● ENERGY: Energy is one of the fastest-growing reasons to choose a soft drink (Kantar), but shoppers buy energy drinks for a variety of reasons including both caffeinated stimulant drinks and caffeine-free ‘pick-me-ups’. ● ON-THE-GO VS TAKEHOME: Although packs for drinking at home have grown five times faster than singles (Nielsen) during the pandemic, stimulants grew in both take home and on-the-go (IRI). With people likely to be on the move this summer, sales of on-the-go options are expected to accelerate.

Stimulating sales with Rockstar In the latest InAction+ project, we work with Britvic and Broadway

T

Convenience Store in Edinburgh to create further energy drinks sales opportunities with the hugely important Rockstar brand.

he national and local lockdowns have had a major impact on shopping patterns in many product categories, but the spectacular recent growth of stimulant energy drinks has just kept on going. Despite growth in both ‘drink later’ and ‘drink now’

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formats (IRI), single serve sales continue to dominate the category, outpacing soft drinks as a whole with 11.6% growth (Nielsen).

There has been a growth in demand for energy, especially while on the go.

● VALUE FOR MONEY: Understandably, value for money is a key priority for many shoppers in the current climate.

Rockstar is available in price-marked packs for most of its range.

PROJECTS

KSTAR

TION+

1-BAY

4-BAY

PLAN YOUR CHILLER To make the most of the energy drinks category, it’s crucial that retailers pay close attention to how they merchandise their range.

Rockstar should be merchandised with other stimulant brands within the energy drinks category, blocked by variant within the leading brands you have on offer. If you have room for four lines from Rockstar then you should lead with the core range of Original and flavours: ● Rockstar Original ● Punched Tropical Guava ● Xdurance Blueberry, Pomegranate & Acai ● Juiced Tropical, Orange & Passionfruit.

The past year has seen longer working hours, an increase in outdoor exercise and manual labourers still working. As restrictions ease, the focus is expected to return to impulse soft drinks purchases as consumers continue to seek out ‘pick me ups’. Stimulants are well-placed to benefit from this, as caffeinated energy drinks are now the number one single-serve drink in convenience (Nielsen).

Following PepsiCo’s acquisition of Rockstar Energy last year, Britvic is now responsible for the brand in Great Britain, and is working with retailers to drive stimulant drinks sales even further. This

These represent the muststocks for retailers and are all available in both price-marked and plain packs in the popular big can (500ml) format, which has proven successful with energy drinkers, seeing +20.1% growth (IRI), as well as 4 x 500ml multipacks for take-home purchases.

Also, look out for new Rockstar Original No Sugar – available from August in £1.19 PMP format – and, if you have space, extend your range with a number of additional Rockstar flavours to encourage new shoppers into the stimulants segment.

2-BAY

gave us the perfect opportunity to partner with Britvic to help local retailers ensure that they continue to get every penny of sales and profit out of this enormously important category.

JOINT EFFORT To demonstrate the opportunity for further growth within on-the-go soft drinks and the stimulant market in particular, The Week In Retail and Britvic have joined forces to work with Premier retailers Dennis and Linda Williams of Broadway Convenience Store in Oxgangs, Edinburgh for a three-month

project. The project will aim to continue the momentum of stimulant drinks as lockdown restrictions ease, and to provide valuable new insights on the category for Britvic and the store team.

We will share our learnings as we go and hope to provide some useful insight and advice from the project which will be of interest and use to all local retailers.

“We are really excited to work closely with Dennis and Linda on this project in order to understand key insights and continue to fully immerse in what is still essentially a new brand for us,” says Adrian Howe, Rockstar Brand Manager.

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I N-S TO R E P RO J E C T S

ROCKSTAR INACTION+

“We are looking forward to supporting retailers by sharing this insight and key learnings so they too can increase their stimulant sales.”

Dennis Williams comments: “Energy has long been a vitally important category for us and over the last year sales have grown significantly – but we are always looking for ways to continue developing and progressing.

“So we are delighted to be able to work with Britvic and the huge Rockstar brand on the project to see how we can unlock further growth and, of course, share what we have learned with other retailers through the pages of SLR and The Week In Retail.

“I’m particularly excited about the project because the recent major refit of the store means we have a lot more chilled drinks space available to us, as well as some additional space for ambient multipacks. We’re also excited to see how we can leverage the continued growth of our Deli offer, which has grown beyond belief over the last year or so. Being able to work closely with Britvic and gain access to their knowledge and experience of both the wider category and of how energy is performing in stores across the UK is an exciting prospect.” ● Look out for regular updates on the work carried out in-store.

LINDA AND DENNIS

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SYMBOL GROUPS

SPAR JAMES HALL & CO

J

All in a dough’s work Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co makes a piece of history.

ames Hall & Co, Spar wholesaler for the north of England, is set to make its 60 millionth sandwich since production began in 2009.

The family-run business, which serves a network of over 600 independent and company-owned Spar stores across the north of England, produces a range of nine sandwiches and makes over 21,000 of these a day at its purpose-built distribution centre in Preston.

The milestone demonstrates how demand for food-to-go products – including sandwiches – has increased within the convenience market.

The sale of the sandwiches has also raised £600,000 for the Marie Curie and NSPCC charities.

Peter Dodding, Sales and Marketing Director at James Hall & Co, said: “We are in a great place that is far ahead of what we could have imagined.”

WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

TECHN

DIGITA

CO-

Regional Co-ops expand use of digital SEL tech The co-ops say initial trials increased store efficiency, improved pricing and

S

product information compliance, and reduced paper waste.

cotmid Co-op and Southern Co-op stores have begun using electronic shelf labels from SoluM, a Samsung-invested company.

The retailers have been working with Cambridge-based technology company, Herbert Retail, to introduce a new value layer at the shelf edge. The integrated technology enables fast, accurate and confirmed information updates, in terms of critical and accurate retail information, such as pricing and promotions.

Herbert Retail is supplying and installing the electronic shelf labels after initial trials resulted in increased store efficiency, improved pricing and product information compliance, and reduced paper wastage.

Allan Robertson, Programme Manager for Innovation and Change at Scotmid, said: “We are always looking at innovation to pick out the solutions that land real benefit for our customers and colleagues. SoluM’s electronic shelf edge labels look great, transform our stores and present our price and product information more clearly to our customers. Our store teams are really loving this – removing the burden of price and promotion tasks and compliance isn’t just a productivity boost – it’s been a morale boost too.”

The collaboration between the three businesses started at an event hosted by the Association of Convenience Stores as part of a technology showcase where the trio explored electronic shelf labels and the common collective benefits of the solution.

The two retail co-operatives initially trialled Herbert’s technology in two of their stores and have now extended the deployment to take in 23 stores with further installations being planned across the estate, replacing traditional paper-based shelf edge pricing and promotion labels, in favour of digital screen technology.

Paul Sargeant, Southern Co-op’s Business Information and Solutions Manager, said: “The new electronic shelf edge

24 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 68 / WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021

labels sit beside our strong and continued commitment to sustainability, as well as a drive to offer our customers a seamless in-store experience.

“It was great to work cooperatively with Scotmid and Herbert to create an offering of mutual benefit for all. The SoluM electronic shelf edge labels from Herbert really enhance the look and feel of the store whilst giving us the ability to highlight extended information to our customers, such as allergens and country of origin information.”

Herbert Retail will be driving forward with the next phase of the rollout over the coming months.

Mark Channen, Sales and Marketing Director at Herbert Retail, said: “Our electronic shelf labels essentially give retailers

OLOGY

L SELS

-OP

fully compliant digital real estate for the lines that they sell.

The label content can be changed based on a multitude of criteria, to facilitate retail productivity such as better waste management on date sensitive items, or perhaps run timely offers based on seasonal trends or excess stock reduction, and of course there is the elimination of constant paper label waste produced by stores.”

Meanwhile, new research conducted on behalf of the electronic label supplier Pricer finds that 57% of consumers want to be able to access digital information in the aisle to help with shopping decisions.

The survey of 2,000 UK shoppers shows 57% would like to have more access to product details in addition to pricing, while 49% would like more digital signage at the shelf-edge to help inform their buying decisions.

In addition, the research reveals that 49% of shoppers are frustrated that product details at the shelf-edge were inconsistent with information on a retailer’s website and 37% said they had they abandoned a purchase because of excessive information at the shelf-edge.

WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

2021 COMMUNITY BAROMETER ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES

Local stores ‘more essential than ever’ The 2021 Community Barometer reveals that many people have rediscovered their local shops because of the pandemic.

C

onvenience stores, post offices and pharmacies are the services that impact most positively in local communities, according to new ACS research.

The 2021 Community Barometer, which looks at how people feel about the services that are available to them locally, shows that pharmacies are deemed the most essential followed by convenience stores, post offices, banks and petrol stations.

James Lowman, Chief Executive at the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “It’s reassuring but not surprising that local shops and other services are as essential to people’s daily lives as ever. Throughout the pandemic, and even now with more people working from home on a long-term basis, many have rediscovered their local shops and realised the huge breadth of products and services that they offer, as well as their invaluable contribution to the wider local community.

“The findings of this report are a testament to the work that convenience store retailers and their colleagues have put in over the last year to keep their communities going.”

The Community Barometer also names the top five services which have a positive impact on house prices locally, which are: post offices, pharmacies, specialist food shops, coffee shops and convenience stores.

Lowman added: “Many of the positively viewed services in this report, such as post offices, coffee shops and pharmacies, are featured within modern convenience stores, especially in rural and isolated areas where there’s only one place for people to go to get their essentials locally. In other locations, our members are part of a mix of businesses all tailoring their offer to local customers and working together to help maintain vibrant and safe local communities.”

Amanda Jones, Post Office Retail and Franchise Network Director, said: “We’re proud of postmasters who serve millions of customers ever week. For some people this may be their only face-to-face interaction with another person. Postmasters will continue to be at the heart of their local community making sure people have access to important services.”

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WHOLESALE

GREENCITY E-TRIKE TRIAL

G

Greencity trials electric trike deliveries

The e-cargo trike was funded through Glasgow City Council’s Co-Operative and Social Enterprise Fund.

lasgow-based Greencity Wholefoods has started delivering food to retailers, cafes and restaurants using an electric trike in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The company is trialling the Iceni e-cargo trike, which can take loads up to 250kg, this summer. The trike was funded through Glasgow City Council’s Co-Operative and Social Enterprise Fund.

In 2016, the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland estimated that ambient air pollution causes 40,000 premature deaths, over six million sick days, and an estimated social cost of £22.6bn per year. The city introduced Low Emission Zones in 2018 with Phase 2 due to be introduced in 2023, so looking at alternative distribution models for inner city deliveries is essential.

Chris Wallace, who had the idea to trial the e-cargo trike, said: “It’s great Greencity has supported the idea, and if we

28 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 68 / WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021

can make a success of delivering goods in e-cargo trikes in Glasgow, we would then look to expanding delivery options in other cities across Scotland and Northern England. Communities deserve clean air and this is one method that could help mitigate pollution. We need to see more businesses adapt to create a more resilient society.”

Long term member Scott Erwin added: “With Glasgow hosting COP26 in November, it is incumbent upon businesses to find ways to reduce their CO2 emissions and help build a cleaner infrastructure for distribution. This shows one possible alternative mode of transport that could be utilised, but we require greater investment and options on the market for electric vehicles with larger payloads to really make a difference.”

Greencity Wholefoods has been addressing its carbon footprint in recent years; it has installed solar panels at its distribution centre in Dennistoun and is currently retrofitting all its existing lighting to LEDs.

WHOLESALE

HANCOCKS DEPOT UPGRADE

Hancocks unveils revamped Newcastle depot

C

The upgrades will make the shopping experience even better for customers.

onfectionery wholesaler Hancocks is relaunching its Newcastle depot, based in Chester Le Street, after an upgrade.

The depot has been given a new reception area to greet customers and answer queries, and new racking has been added throughout. Checkouts, aisle end boards, promotion areas and lighting have all been replaced to improve customer experience, and the store has been painted inside and out.

The wholesaler will hold a reopening event to mark the occasion, ahead of its grand reopening on 12 August, which will be attended by suppliers from across the UK, local retailers and customers alongside the team from Hancocks. More than 100 deals will be available on the day, alongside prizes and giveaways.

Hancocks’ Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Summerley said: “The last 18 months has been tough for businesses across

the UK. Whilst online has boomed for everyone, investing in bricks and mortar stores is equally important and that’s something we’re committed to at Hancocks.

“Our depots have always been an essential part of our business and many of our customers still prefer to purchase in this traditional way. They can also benefit from the years of experience and knowledge our dedicated teams have when it comes to confectionery, find out about the trends in the marketplace, discover up and coming brands and of course take advantage of all our great deals and offers.”

He added: “We’re delighted with the revamped Newcastle store and are looking forward to welcoming customers back in.

The upgrades we’ve made will make the shopping experience even better for them.”

Hancocks has 14 cash and carrys across the UK and an online channel.

WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – FROSTY JACK’S TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM

FROSTY JACK’S ADDS FROSÉ Brand launches strawberry flavour for the summer.

BrewDog has launched

The TV and video-on-demand

a new advertising

advert will be supported by out-

campaign focusing

of-home, digital, social and

on its credentials as

print, which reinforce Brew-

the world’s first car-

Dog’s ecological message

bon negative brewery.

with the brand’s signature

‘The

Planet’s

humorous, light-hearted

Favourite Beer’ cam-

touch.

paign, which runs

Lauren

Carrol,

throughout August

BrewDog’s Special

and September, high-

Projects Director,

lights that BrewDog

said: “The new

operates in a way that

campaign rein-

helps keep the planet

forces BrewDog’s

alive.

commitment to

BrewDog offsets

having a positive

double its entire carbon

impact, both on our

footprint through tree plant-

diverse audience and

ing initiatives around the

the planet.

world. It also brews using

“We’re proud to

only renewable energy,

be a beer for all and

uses packaging made from

to serve our amazing

easily recycled materials,

global community. As a

and prioritises local ingre-

carbon-negative brew-

dients, as well as trans-

ery, every beer that

porting its beer in the UK’s

is enjoyed around the

first electric 19-tonne truck.

world can have a pos-

The campaign launched

itive planetary impact.”

on Sky Sports on 7 August and

In addition, the pro-

will feature during high profile ITV shows throughout August, including Love

duction of all assets used in the campaign, which aims to reach 26 million

Island and Coronation Street, English Premier League

adults across the country throughout August

Games on Sky Sports, and the upcoming Paralympic

and September, have also been offset through

Games on C4 and All4.

planting trees.

30 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 68 / WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021

NPD AND MEDIA

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

BREWDOG CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS GREEN CREDENTIALS The campaign will feature during English Premier League Games and the Paralympic Games.

BrewDog has launched a new advertising campaign

The TV and video-on-demand advert will be

focusing on its credentials as the world’s first carbon

supported by out-of-home, digital, social and print,

negative brewery.

which reinforce BrewDog’s ecological message

‘The Planet’s Favourite Beer’ campaign, which runs throughout August and September, highlights that BrewDog operates in a way that helps keep the planet alive.

BrewDog offsets double its entire carbon footprint through tree planting initiatives around the world. It also

with the brand’s signature humorous, light-hearted touch.

Lauren Carrol, BrewDog’s Special Projects Director, said: “The new campaign reinforces BrewDog’s commitment to having a positive impact, both on our diverse audience and the planet.

brews using only renewable energy, uses packaging

“We’re proud to be a beer for all and to serve

made from easily recycled materials, and prioritises

our amazing global community. As a carbon-neg-

local ingredients, as well as transporting its beer in

ative brewery, every beer that is enjoyed around

the UK’s first electric 19-tonne truck.

the world can have a positive planetary impact.”

The campaign launched on Sky Sports on 7 August

In addition, the production of all assets used

and will feature during high profile ITV shows through-

in the campaign, which aims to reach 26 million

out August, including Love Island and Coronation

adults across the country throughout August

Street, English Premier League Games on Sky Sports,

and September, have also been offset through

and the upcoming Paralympic Games on C4 and All4.

planting trees.

WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31

NPD AND MEDIA

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

THE ZEST OF BOTH WORLDS Pernod Ricard has extended its Jameson Irish Whiskey range.

Pernod Ricard has added a new zesty flavour to

Jameson Orange is perfectly positioned to tap

its Jameson Irish Whiskey range.

into this growing consumer opportunity.

Jameson Orange, which is bottled at 30% ABV,

“The newest innovation in the Jameson family

comprises triple-distilled Jameson Irish Whiskey

builds on the brand’s carefully crafted process

infused with natural orange flavouring.

to offer an accessible entry point from which to

The growing flavoured spirits category currently

explore a value rich category and engage new

accounts for 95% of NPD volume in the on-trade

consumers. We’re confident that this focus on

and has driven 80% of all off-trade spirits NPD sales

taste and quality will appeal to a broad audience

in the last two years. Orange has also been one

of whiskey fans, bartenders, and curious spirit

of the key growth flavours in the past three years

drinkers looking to explore and experiment.”

and over one-quarter of consumers typically drink orange-flavoured serves.

The drink, which will be available in Booker and Costco from mid-August, is expected to attract

Jameson Orange can be enjoyed over ice with lemonade and a wedge of orange or as an ingredient to enrich cocktails such as the Espresso Martini and Whiskey Sour.

younger millennial and Gen Z drinkers and fla-

Jameson is investing significantly in the

voured imported Whiskey has strong appeal among

new variant’s launch, which is being supported

18-34-year-olds.

throughout October by a through-the-line campaign

Ian Peart, Commercial Director at Pernod Ricard

including digital, social and video-on-demand

UK, said: “With the popularity of flavoured spirits on

media, as well as off-trade, on-trade and eCom-

the rise and Jameson continuing to fly in the UK,

merce activity.

32 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 68 / WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021

NPD AND MEDIA

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

HEALTHY HARVEST

CLEANING UP

TASTE THE WORLD

Calbee is launching a new-

Spar is relaunching its range of

Ritter Sport is launching its

plant-based snacking range,

own-label household cleaning

limited-edition Taste the World

Harvest Snaps. It will be avail-

and paper products under the

range into convenience. Flavours

able from September in two

Spar Home+ brand. The range

include Hula Hula (coconut),

varieties – Sour Cream & Chive

includes bleach, washing up

Buenos Dias (mango and pas-

Lentil Rings and Thai Sweet

liquid, conditioner, disinfectant,

sion fruit) and Marhaba (yogurt,

Chilli Lentil Puffs – in six-packs

toilet cleaner, anti-bacterial wipes

honey & hazelnuts). Spar Scot-

(£1.75), single bags (85p) and

and cleaner spray, multi-surface

land has taken all three varieties.

sharing bag (£1.75).

spray and dishwasher tablets.

RSP £1.50

SUMMER FUN

NEW DRAM

FRENCH FANCY

Horlicks has unveiled its new

Balcones Distilling is launch-

Mademoiselle Desserts is intro-

Summer Club, that gives par-

ing its Texas Pot Still Bourbon

ducing its signature filled French

ents, grandparents and carers

in the UK, through a distribu-

Mini Beignets in UK retail with

lots of free, fun activities to help

tion deal with premium spirits

Spar Scotland. The products, the

them entertain children through-

distributer Mangrove UK. The

brand’s first in the UK, are availa-

out August, as part of its 2021

new drink will also be available

ble in three flavours – Chocolate

campaign activation. The Hor-

from Masters of Malt, Whisky

& Hazelnut, Speculoos and Dou-

licks Summer Club is live until

Exchange and The Drinkshop.

ble Choc. They roll out from

30 August.

RSP £42

mid-August.

WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 33

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)

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX STARSTOCK PLATFORM

StarStock bypasses wholesale A new on-trade buying platform enables operators to order directly from major drinks brands, cutting out the traditional wholesale channel.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? Direct-to-Customer sales.

NOT DIRECT-TOCONSUMER? No, a new first-of-its-kind ordering platform called StarStock says it will “help operators thrive” by allowing them to order directly from major drinks brands, “saving them valuable time and money.”

SO IT ON-TRADE ONLY? Yes, but it’s another example of the traditional wholesale channel being cut out of the supply chain, something we’ve seen more and more often in retail.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Independent pub, club, bar, hotel and restaurant operators can order directly from a growing list of major drinks brands.

StarStock says the platform “provides on-trade operators with the greater buying transparency they need to succeed in today’s challenging marketplace”.

WHICH BRANDS ARE INVOLVED?

CEO SAM ULPH AND MD PHIL NEWTON

WHO’S DOING THE LOGISTICS? Rather than going down the traditional wholesale route, StarStock has partnered with GXO Logistics, a drinks logistics specialist in the UK and Europe. In addition to managing warehousing, order fulfilment and returns, GXO will oversee the delivery of products to venues that place online orders on the StarStock platform.

WHAT IS STARSTOCK SAYING? Sam Ulph, Founder & CEO, said: “The pandemic has shone a light on the value of local independent businesses to their customers and communities. Now, as

they begin to recover and rebuild, it’s time to do things differently.

“StarStock disrupts what has, until this point, been an unmodernised supply chain model. Our platform enables independent operators to order all their favourite brands directly from the businesses that manufacture them – a genuine marketplace for the licensed trade.

Our solution creates a much more transparent marketplace that gives value back to the operator and brand owner, along with the convenience of 24/7 ordering and national consolidated deliveries.”

WHAT IS ASAHI SAYING? Sam Rhodes, Marketing Director, said: “Asahi UK is delighted to collaborate with StarStock as its super premium and premium lager category partner. Its e-commerce platform will provide a valuable tool for the on-trade at this difficult commercial time, providing convenience and efficiency to customers whilst extending the reach of our brands.”

HW DO I FIND OUT MORE? Visit starstock.co.uk.

A fairly impressive list including Asahi UK, Bacardi, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Britvic. Additionally, StarStock says it has “the support” of the British Institute of Innkeeping along with major brewers and drinks brands such as Red Bull, Shepherd Neame, Theakston’s, Robinsons, Fever Tree, Kopparberg and a growing range of regional brewers.

WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 35

£6 MILLION BRAND INVESTMENT BRAND INVESTMENT

ON TV FROM JULY

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

Be damned, Minimum Unit Pricing!

You’ve got to hand it to Frosty Jack, the white cider that Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) did its level best to kill in Scotland.

The infamous 2-litre bottles tripled in price overnight when MUP was introduced, thereby denying a loyal army of strong white cider fans affordable access to their tipple of choice.

The Aston Manor brand, however, has refused to take it lying down and has had a number of attempts at rejuvenating itself. The latest bold attempt is the launch of Frosty Jack’s Frosé, a limited-edition strawberry flavour, adding an unexpected twist on the brand, which apparently remains very popular outside of Scotland.

It’s available exclusively in Bestway.

Where there’s PPE, there’s brass The pandemic brought out the best and worst in people, as challenges like this often do. With people dying en masse and tragedy occurring all around us, you can bet your bottom Euro that there will be some lowlife reprobates out there keen to cash in on the suffering.

The sort of people, for instance, that would be trying to make a quick buck with PPE scams. One such bunch of reprobates has recently been stopped in their tracks by the grandly named European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation.

It’s the sort of story that can make you lose your faith in humanity. An online scam involving the sale of PPE via fake websites was halted after 34 searches took place on 10 Aug across Romania, Ireland and the Netherlands. Some 23 suspects were charged and it turned out that companies in at least 20 countries were defrauded of approximately a million Euros.

WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021 / ISSUE 68 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 37

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: