RETAIL
THE WEEK IN
HEALTHY EATING
HEALTHIER STORE LAYOUT IMPROVES FOOD CHOICES
THE IMPACT OF STORE MERCHANDISING ON PURCHASING DECISIONS
UNDER PRESSURE
ON-DEMAND GROCERS STEP UP
PLATFORMS UNVEIL HIGH-PROFILE SPONSORSHIPS TECHNOLOGY
HENDERSON PARTNERS WITH NEARST
A SIMPLE WAY FOR RETAILERS TO ESTABLISH A GOOGLE PRESENCE
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MANCHESTER STORE LOSES TOBACCO GANTRY BARCODE FESTIVAL RAISES OVER £750,000 BURY STORE FLOURISHING WITH NISA
ACS REVEALS HOW HARD RETAILERS ARE WORKING
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Issue 72 Wednesday 8th September 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
Online rapid delivery firms turn the screw The runaway train that is on-demand grocery delivery continues to gather pace in the UK, with Getir and Zapp this week unveiling new marketing partnerships, with a Premier League football team and a leading music festival respectively. Partnerships of this magnitude are unusual for early-stage start-ups, yet they are becoming a key strategy in the noisy rapid delivery market, as multiple competitors look for relevant ways to cut through and reach key demographics. These partnerships come as Zapp has won a licence to begin operating in Reading and Getir is looking to expand to Merseyside, with plans to take over a warehouse in Aintree, Liverpool, according to media reports. The juggernaut rolls on in Europe too, with news that convenience retail giant Carrefour has invested in start-up Cajoo, the French specialist of everyday grocery delivery in under 15 minutes, to help boost the platform’s service. Carrefour will help Cajoo with its procurement. The market for online rapid delivery of convenience groceries could be worth £4.4bn by 2025, according to research by Berenberg. However, the broker said: “If UK grocers do nothing, their sales will be cannibalised”. It also gave the chilling warning: “Independent convenience store operators would likely lose out the most.”
Convenience retailers aren’t sitting back doing nothing. The Association of Convenience Stores’ Local Shop Report, which was published this week, reveals that 22% of 47,079 convenience stores in the UK currently offer local grocery delivery. The research reveals 39% of stores offer home delivery over the phone, 10% offer delivery through a store website, and 15% offer delivery through a thirdparty app. This noisy dangerous runaway train seems daunting, but thanks to the efforts of the likes of Snappy Shopper and Jisp, convenience stores have the means to combat these rapid delivery services. It’s essential that retailers make the most of what’s available on the market to combat these services because the rise of third-party online food delivery services, borne out of the pandemic, will not be slowing down any time soon and one can expect to see a few new players entering the market too.
LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3
CONTENTS
WEDNESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 W W W.SLR M AG.C O.U K
6
10
18
ON-DEMAND GROCERS TURN UP HEAT
THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF Retailers’ community engagement revealed, and a new study uncovers impact of store layout on health.
CHARITY Barcode Festival raises more than £750,000 for GroceryAid while Nisa retailers support clean water charity The One Foundation.
Rapid delivery services increase their marketing activity in UK with highprofile sponsorships.
9 Covid-19 update
17 Illicit tobacco
26 Picks of the week
The latest coronavirus-related news.
13 Convenience store news
A Manchester-based retailer has his gantry removed by Imperial after getting caught
Two retail tech firms buddy-up and a
20 InAction+ Perfetti Van Melle
switching to a symbol.
sales and profits with the confectionery
giant.
consumer spending increases.
TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG
Two award-winning retailers grow footfall,
14 Business intelligence The decline in shop numbers slows and
31 Out the box: Weyify
with illicit tobacco products.
loss-making indie enjoys strong sales after
25 Advertising feature: Shopt
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG
A look at the latest new products and marketing campaigns. A new app looks to take the hassle out of zero-waste shopping for consumers and retailers alike.
33 Before you go...
Our latest Retail Randoms.
WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5
NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
CLINTONS MOVES INTO BOOZE National card and gift retailer Clintons is partnering with independent Shropshire distillery, Henstone, to offer a
COMMUNITY RETAILING
ACS reveals how hard retailers are working to keep communities going Report shows that despite all the challenges posed by the pandemic, 80% of stores are engaged in their community.
premium selection of drinks from its online store. The retailer will offer all seven of Henstone’s products.
BAINES SAYS BYE John Baines, Trading Director of Unitas Wholesale, is to retire from the business in May 2022. Baines has played a leading role in the buying group since he joined Nisa/Today’s in 1994. He was pivotal in both the 2012 demerger of Nisa Today’s and in 2018 in the merger of Today’s Group and Landmark Wholesale to form Unitas.
BP INVESTS IN PAYMENTS PROVIDER BP Ventures is investing €10m in Europe’s leading in-car digital payments provider Ryd. The company offers a convenient single digital payment solution for drivers via its app or integration with smart car systems. BP aims to learn and benefit from Ryd’s secure, scalable and flexible digital payment options.
Almost half of independent convenience store owners have worked every day over the past year, new research reveals, doubling the total from last year (24%). The 2021 Local Shop Report, published by the Association of Convenience Stores, shows that despite all the challenges faced by stores over the past year, 80% of stores are engaged in their community in some form. Most collect money for local and national charities, and more than one in three donate to local food banks. Stores are also still investing in providing a better and wider range of services, with more than £500m invested in the past year alone. The report also reveals that more than 70% of the UK’s 47,000 convenience
stores are run by independent retailers and there are almost 400,000 people working in the sector. Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “The people running and working in convenience stores are some of the hardest working people in the UK and are absolutely crucial to their communities. With more people working from home or hybrid working, there is more of a reliance than ever on the local shop to provide essential groceries and a wide range of services that have otherwise disappeared from high streets and local parades.” ● Read the full report.
Co-op makes Original Factory move Co-op and The Original Factory Shop have confirmed plans for up to 30 concessions to open inside the convenience retailer’s food stores over the next 15 months. The concessions will sell The Original Factory Shop’s range of bargain-based clothing, pet supplies, electrical and homewares and will also offer a party shop service and click-and-collect. The move forms part of Co-op’s work with partners to create additional
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services in-store and create a compelling offer for its communities. Outlets will initially open inside stores in: Hereford, Plympton, Stornoway, Whitby, Prudhoe, Shotts, Kippax, Cranleigh, Machynlleth, and Lampeter. The Co-op’s Mark Matthews said: “Co-op is committed to operating at the heart of local life and creating value in our communities – we are working to develop new ways to provide added services and choice, conveniently.
NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
HEALTHY EATING
Healthier store layout improves customers’ food choices, study shows Research by University of Southampton in partnership with Iceland Foods looks at the impact of store merchandising on purchasing decisions.
NISA GOES BACK TO SCHOOL Nisa has launched its latest Back to School campaign which features offers on a range of lunchtime lunchbox essentials and also a range
Removing confectionery and other unhealthy products from checkouts and the end of nearby aisles and placing fruit and vegetables near store entrances prompts customers to make healthier food purchases, new research shows. The study, from the University of Southampton in partnership with Iceland Foods, shows store-wide confectionery sales fell and fruit and veg sales increased when non-food items and water were placed at checkouts and at the end of the opposite aisles, and an expanded fruit and veg section was repositioned near the store entrance. Beneficial effects were also observed for household fruit and vegetable purchasing and individual dietary quality.
of breakfast cereals. The campaign is supported by POS and digital activity.
COVID MEASURES FOR HIGH STREETS COULD STAY Temporary measures that
Dr Christina Vogel, Principal Research Fellow in Public Health Nutrition, said: “The findings of our study suggest that a healthier store layout could lead to nearly 10,000 extra portions of fruit and vegetables and approximately 1,500 fewer portions of confectionery being sold on a weekly basis in each store.”
boosted high streets and hospitality during the pandemic could be made permanent after a public consultation was launched. Measures such as marquees being put up in pub grounds, street markets operating all year round, and permitted development rights are to be considered.
Snappy Group expands senior team The Snappy Group has appointed Caroline MacGregor as Chief People Officer and Lisa Venter as Group Operations Director. The pair will be instrumental in helping to deliver its growth strategy over the next few years, the company said. MacGregor joins from Philip Morris International where she was Head of Enablement and Change within
the Global Talent Acquisition team. She has strong experience within retail and FMCG businesses. Venter will be leading the operations function across the MacGREGOR group in order to streamline the growth efforts across all departments. She has experience in operational and growth marketing across a number of technology businesses, including at VENTER Skyscanner.
NI BAG DROP Northern Ireland’s carrier bag levy annual statistics show that 56.2 million carrier bags were dispensed by retailers between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. This was 30.2% lower than the year before, with 24.3 million fewer bags dispensed, partly due to the levy being waived for home delivery of groceries during the pandemic.
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NEWS SPECIAL
COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
UK government rebuts reports of October lockdown plans
AI TACKLES UNDERAGE BOOZE SALES Supermarkets will next month begin using
Media reports suggest plans had been drawn up to extend the school halfterm holiday, if the number of hospitalisations continue at the current level.
artificial intelligence (AI) technology to tackle underage alcohol sale as part of a Home Office trial. The Telegraph reports that the trial will use supermarket checkouts, which will ask customers for permission to take a photograph of their face, make an approximation of their age, then
prevent unsustainable pressure on our NHS”. In other news, Signature Pubs, which owns 24 venues in Scotland, is hoping to encourage young people to get the Covid vaccine at the same time as applying for a job. The group needs to hire about 120 people due to staff shortages and is running a recruitment drive in conjunction with NHS Grampian. Candidates will be able to apply for positions across the company while getting vaccinated. Director Nic Wood told BBC Scotland that getting vaccinated was not a condition for getting employed, but it would “make life a lot easier” in terms of staff isolating.
deleting the image. The face is not linked to an identity. The technology,
TECH SOLUTIONS
T
he UK government has denied media reports suggesting that it’s planning an October lockdown in England. The i newspaper said plans had been drawn up to extend the school half-term holiday, if the number of hospitalisations continue at the current level. The paper said a full lockdown was unlikely, but the government could introduce some rules as part of a ‘firebreak’. However, the Department for Education said the report was “not true” and the prime minister’s spokesman also denied it. He told the BBC that plans had been kept for a range of scenarios, “but these kind of measures would only be reintroduced as a last resort to
before analysing it to
developed by digital identity verification company Yoti, has learned to estimate the ages of 16- and 17-year-olds within one year of accuracy, and those aged 13-24 within a 1.5 year range, after analysing tens of thousands of images.
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C OV E R S T O RY
ON-DEMAND GROCERS ZAPP / GETIR
Under Pressure
O
Rapid delivery services step up marketing activity in UK with high-profile sponsorships.
n-demand grocers this week stepped up their charm offensive in the UK this week announcing a sponsorship deal with a Premier League football club and well-known music festival. Zapp, the 24/7 rapid delivery service, has been unveiled as the headline sponsor for the London-based Wireless festival. The hip hop, rap and grime festival has been renamed ‘Zapp presents Wireless’. Attendees can expect a number of Zapp experiences, from the Zapp Convenience Store, Zapp VIP Area, and Zapp Viewing Platform to ticket giveaways and VIP upgrade opportunities. The Zapp Convenience Store will operate as an on-site click-and-collect service, delivering festival essentials directly to the event. Festival goers can use the Zapp app to shop on-demand from a selection of specially curated products, from sun cream and backup battery chargers to tampons and waterproof ponchos, which will be quickly picked, packed and ready for collection at the store. Shoppers who find a golden sticker on their order will get access to the Zapp Viewing Platform to watch artists from high above the crowds. There will also be Zapp vending machines
on-site, giving festival attendees the opportunity to win tickets to the Zapp VIP area or Zapp branded merchandise. The partnership will be supported by an extensive marketing campaign and on-site advertising. It follows Zapp’s sponsorship of All Points East at the end of August. David Pepper, Live Nation’s Vice-President of Sales, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Zapp, a business at the forefront of the rapid delivery revolution, to bring convenience to our fans at Wireless this year.” In addition, Getir has signed a three-year agreement to become the new and Official Training Wear Partner of Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur. Since launching in the UK in January, Getir has completed one million grocery deliveries across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Brighton, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Bristol, and expects to operate in up to 15 UK cities by the end of 2021. Todd Kline, Chief Commercial Officer of Tottenham Hotspur, said: “We look forward to supporting the growth in awareness of the Getir brand using the global appeal of the club and by delivering unique experiences and match day activations at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for our fans using Getir’s world-class technology.”
Meanwhile in France….
The Carrefour group has invested in start-up Cajoo, the French specialist of everyday grocery delivery in under 15 minutes, to help boost the platform’s service. Only five months after its launch, Cajoo is already operating in 10 cities in France and has more than 100,000 users. Cajoo currently offers delivery of nearly 2,000 food and non-food products in under 15 minutes thanks to its network of dark stores.
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i e
o c l h d
The funding will enable Cajoo to speed up its development in France and Europe, while leveraging Carrefour’s operational expertise so it can optimise its model and expand its services. Elodie Perthuisot, the Carrefour Group’s Executive Director of E-Commerce, Data and Digital Transformation, said: “Quick commerce is an underlying market trend that emerged during lockdown and is now increasingly established in consumers’ habits, in all of Carrefour’s geographies. As the leader in home delivery in France, Carrefour is capturing this new trend and is
exploring with Cajoo all value-creating strategic opportunities on this new high-growth segment.” Henri Capoul, co-founder and Chief Executive of Cajoo, added: “We are delighted with this structural partnership with Carrefour, which will help us shore up our leadership position in quick commerce in France and speed up our development in Europe. Cajoo will be able to offer a completely new consumer experience thanks to its agility and technology, bolstered by Carrefour’s logistics and operational expertise.”
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BRAND GROWTH OF +14% VALUE YOY FASTEST GROWING FLAVOUR
DELIVERING GREAT CASH MARGINS DON’T MISS OUT, STOCK UP NOW! www.drinkrio.com *IRI Marketplace Data Symbols & Independents 52 weeks Total Soft Drinks 21st February 2021
NEWS
CONVENIENCE STORES HENDERSON TECHNOLOGY / NEARST / NISA
Henderson Technology unveils NearSt partnership NearSt provides a simple way for retailers to establish an online Google presence.
BAZ FLOURISHING WITH NISA
E
PoS software solution supplier Henderson Technology is partnering with British retail technology firm NearSt. The technology from Google-backed NearSt was developed to make products on physical store shelves visible to shoppers searching online nearby. Search engines use the technology to show real-time local product availability directly in search results. The tech has seen widespread uptake by British retailers as an easy way to fight back against large online retailers. Darren Nickels, Retail Technology Operations Director at Henderson
Technology, said: “It is a very simple way for retailers to establish an online Google presence, with triggered updates every 15 minutes between EDGEPoS and NearSt.” Nick Brackenbury, Chief Executive and co-founder of NearSt, added: “People are increasingly getting used to going online even to do the simplest of grocery shops, so this is also the perfect post-pandemic solution for those who want the convenience of online and the ability to shop locally.” NearSt has formed similar partnerships with EPoS providers Cybertill and ITS Retail.
Bari Aslam, known as Baz, has injected new life into his Bury convenience store by moving his independent fascia to Nisa and launching as a symbol store. Baz said 1,500sq ft Fishpool News was losing money, despite a loyal customer base, and since launching as a Nisa Local four months ago, weekly sales have increased four-fold. Increased demand has seen store opening hours extended. He added: “I own the property, but the store wasn’t making money and I wanted to make a proper go of it, so I decided to act and move to a symbol group.” The store was closed for two weeks for a refit, which saw additional chillers and shelving added to create the space to expand the range. Baz said: “Before we re-fitted there was no BWS, we only had one chiller and a drinks fridge, and the range was much smaller. Now we are a destination store with everything our shoppers need, under one roof.”
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BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
STORE CLOSURES / RETAIL SALES PWC / LOCAL DATA COMPANY / BRC-KPMG
Decline in number of stores slows
A
Research shows the number of closures is falling faster than the number of openings.
lmost 3,500 stores opened in the first six month of 2021, compared to 8,739 closures, new data shows. The research by PWC and The Local Data Company reveals that the number of closures is falling faster than the number of openings. As a result, the overall net closure rate is 750 lower than it was at the same point last year. City centres (-4.3%) are faring worse than commuter towns (-3%) and villages (-2.3%), the research shows. Footfall in cities is yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, as more people work from home,
and in the longer term move towards a hybrid working model. In addition, the research shows that takeaway chains have been buoyed by a rise in delivery, as well as walk-in demand. Lisa Hooker, Consumer Markets Lead at PWC, said: “Consumers still want a physical shopping experience and a number of chain stores and restaurants are opening. There is opportunity for operators who can be nimble, taking advantage of the current situation to either open new stores or to move stores to better locations.”
Retail sales show signs of slowing down Retail sales increased by 3.0% in August, compared to a growth of 3.9% in the same month last year, new figures reveal. The BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for August also shows that over the three months to August, food sales increased 2.9% on a total basis and increased 1.9% on a like-for-like basis. This is below the 12-month total average growth of 5.4%. Don Williams, Retail Partner at KPMG, commented: “Retailers will be pinning their hopes on a more
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predictable normal, with white collar workers returning to city centres in greater numbers from this month and a buoyant Christmas fuelled by some of the savings that consumers have made over the last 18 months of lockdown and restricted spending. “Nonetheless, successful retailers will have to work very hard to ensure the right availability of the right product to satisfy the requirements of an ever more demanding customer.”
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
CONSUMER SPENDING BARCLAYCARD
Consumer spending grows as Brits return to the office
C
Spending at supermarkets and food and drink specialist stores bolstered the figures.
onsumer card spending rose by 15.4% in August, compared to the same period in 2019, new research reveals. Data from Barclaycard shows that spending on essential items grew 14.5% in August compared to the same period in 2019. The figures were bolstered by spending at supermarkets and food and drink specialist stores, which were up 15.2% and 76.9%, respectively. The data also shows that of those returning to the office, 34% plan to spend more on takeaway breakfast or lunch, and 26% intend to up their spending on socialising after work. Confidence in the UK economy rose to its highest point since February 2020, with 78% of Brits confident in their
+14.5%
Spending on essential items grew 14.5% in August compared to the same period in 2019.
ability to live within their means each month, and 71% feeling optimistic about their household finances. However, this optimism could be dampened by concerns about rising prices, as 64% of consumers worry that everyday items are becoming more expensive, and of those, 42% are already making changes to their lifestyle as a result. In addition, 35% say rising inflation will make them more likely to seek value in the purchases they make, and 30% are concerned about the impact of inflation on the value of their cash savings. These
fears have led to 37% of Brits making cutbacks now to ensure they can afford higher outgoings for Christmas. Raheel Ahmed, Head of Consumer Products, said: “Socialising, shopping, and staycations were top of the agenda for Brits in August, as families and friends made the most of the school holidays, giving a welcome boost to hospitality and leisure businesses. “Over the coming months, these sectors should also benefit from Brits returning to the office, as colleagues enjoy long overdue catch-ups over postwork meals and drinks.”
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CRIME
ILLICIT TOBACCO IMPERIAL TOBACCO
Manchester store loses tobacco gantry after conviction
A
The store will no longer receive any sales support from Imperial Tobacco UK.
Manchester-based retailer has had his tobacco gantry removed by Imperial after violations of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. Jilani’s News, located on Wilmslow Road, was visited by Manchester City Council’s trading standards after a tip off from a member of public. During the visit a quantity of illicit tobacco products were seized, including 495 cigarettes and 168g of rolling and chewing tobacco, all of which did not have the required labelling and health warnings. Despite numerous attempts by officers to contact the store owner, 52-year-old Mumtaz Jilani, to invite him to attend a formal interview following the seizure, he failed to attend, and officers moved to prosecute. As a result, Jilani was given an 18-week custodial sentence at Manchester Crown Court as this followed a previous 24-week sentence suspended for two years, and the new offences were carried out during their period of suspension. In addition, Jilani was ordered to pay costs of £1,120, plus an £128 victim surcharge. In addition, the store will no longer receive any sales support from Imperial Tobacco.
Now you see it, now you don’t. Store has gaping hole where gantry used to be.
James Hall, Anti-Illicit Trade Manager at Imperial Tobacco UK, said: “We are fully supportive of law enforcement agencies in their endeavour to demonstrate that illicit tobacco trade will not be tolerated. It harms honest retailers
and damages communities. We applaud the member of public who notified the authorities and the local trading standards teams for securing this conviction.” Imperial continues to assist in the reporting and investigation of these reprehensible activities wherever possible. Its dedicated anti-illicit trade app SARA, which launched in January 2018, has now received more than 2,900 reports of potential illegal trade activity which it has shared with law enforcement. Seizures have been made in premises reported in 259 of these and 130 social media posts have also been removed.
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CHARITY
BARCODE FESTIVAL GROCERYAID
Barcode Festival raises over £750k for GroceryAid
T
he Barcode Festival, held last week in London, raised more than £750,000 for sector charity GroceryAid. Attendees enjoyed headline acts including DJ Scott Mills, Rudimental and Becky Hill, alongside chefs Levi Roots and Ainsley Harriott. GrcoeryAid said: “What an incredible day we had, raising money for GroceryAid, and celebrating the grocery industry at its finest. We had amazing food and drink, live cooking demonstrations, industry bands, lip sync battles and headline acts lighting up the stage, not to
Attendees enjoyed acts including DJ Scott Mills and chefs Levi Roots and Ainsley Harriott.
mention 75 corporate sponsors.” The charity added: “We are pleased to announce that thanks to our
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wonderful industry, Barcode Festival has made more than £750,000 for GroceryAid and this money will go a long way towards helping grocery colleagues in their time of need.” In addition, GroceryAid has unveiled that that Barcode Festival will return to Magazine London on Thursday 7 July 2022 and is asking interest parties to register their interest or book now to avoid disappointment. The charity provides advice, support and financial help for people in the grocery trade who are facing challenges in their lives.
CHARITY
THE ONE FOUNDATION NISA
Nisa retailers raise a further £100,000 for water initiative Every bottle of Co-op water sold helps to support clean water projects and changes lives around the world.
N
isa retailers have raised £100,000 in less than four months to support The One Foundation, a charity that helps fund clean water projects around the globe. The landmark comes less than four months after Nisa retailers reached the £500,000 fundraising milestone, which was donated to the charity in March this year. The symbol group’s retailers have now raised a total of £626,809 for The One Foundation since becoming part of the Co-op group in 2018. The sum has helped the charity’s global investment in clean water, sanitation and hygiene, and
Nisa retailers have now raised an impressive total of £626,809 for The One Foundation.
has changed lives for the better in some of the world’s poorest communities. For every litre of any still, sparkling or flavoured Co-op own-brand water sold, 3p goes to the One Foundation. Danielle Sylvester, wholesale category controller at Nisa, said: “It is wonderful that by doing something as simple as stocking Co-op water in their stores, our partners can make such a valuable contribution to a brilliant charity. “And to reach another milestone donation total within just four months of hitting the half a million mark is just fantastic.”
The One Foundation and Co-op have spent 12 years investing in clean water, sanitation, and hygiene projects around the world. They are also pioneering partners for Water Unite, and now, every bottle of Co-op water purchased helps to support clean water projects and changes lives around the world. To date, Co-op water sales have raised more than £10m for clean water projects and have assisted The One Foundation in many projects, while providing support to programmes in Fairtrade cocoa, sugar, tea and flower growing communities worldwide.
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INACT
PERFETTI V
Driving fresh confectio
In the latest instalment of our special InAction+ series of features with confectioner to find out how they’ve been getting on with growing fo
T
he last year or so has clearly been a challenging one on many fronts for both retailers and consumers – but the fact that more shoppers than ever have come to rely on their local store has been a boon for the sector. The impact of that trend has been seen in the till as sales across most categories have experienced significant increases – but there’s always room for more growth. That’s why we hooked up with international confectionery giant Perfetti van Melle (PVM) and a couple of Scotland’s leading local retailers: Natalie Lightfoot of Londis Solo in Baillieston and Ferhan Ashiq of Day Today Prestonpans. The challenge? To bring some fresh excitement to the confectionery category and see if, by working together, we could boost footfall, sales and profits even more in an already buoyant category. And let’s face it, with the challenges of lockdown and the pandemic, it’s hardly surprising that many shoppers have been looking for affordable, enjoyable treats that can add a little sparkle to their day. To put this in-store trial in some sort of context, it’s worth noting that the total Sugar Confectionery market is worth a whopping £1.22bn in the UK. Within this, PVM’s share is worth over £55m with sales driven primarily by
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USINESS
TION+
VAN MELLE
onery growth with PVM
ry giant Perfetti Van Melle, we catch up retailers Natalie Lightfoot and Ferhan Ashiq ootfall, sales and profits in the confectionery category.
MEET THE RETAILERS... Taking part in our InAction+ instore project with PVM are Londis retailer Natalie Lightfoot and Day Today retailer Ferhan Ashiq. NATALIE LIGHTFOOT Together with her husband Martin, Natalie runs the multi-award winning Londis Solo Convenience Store in Baillieston in Glasgow. Natalie and Martin are the reigning SLR Confectionery Retailers of the Year so are the perfect partners for a project aiming to boost sales in this vital category. The pair have been retailers for over 13 years and despite the store’s small size at under 600sq ft, they manage to maintain a strong range of products with a particular focus on confectionery. FERHAN ASHIQ Another seasoned retailer, Ferhan owns and runs a highly successful Day Today store in Prestonpans that offers a great range of products and services, including a significant food-to-go business. Ferhan is a very active, engaged retailer and is the current Scottish President of the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN). He also has a very strong confectionery offering and relies heavily on his EPoS system to ensure his range is optimised and reviewed regularly.
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PERFETTI V
“We sold the entire outer of Mentos Choco & key brands like Mentos – worth £20m – and Fruittella, worth £18m. The confectionery giant is, however, targeting further growth and is placing special emphasis on the Scottish market. This upweighted focus on Scotland is centred around the critical impulse occasion and the opportunity to grow unplanned sales and increase basket spends. Confectionery still remains one of the top purchases in the local retailing channel and in this project we are working with our partners to help unlock more opportunities to grow sales and profits.
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO? In this project we were keen to keep it simple and to illustrate how small changes can make a big difference in-store. A new range of products and POS was installed in both test stores and sited in various high traffic areas to help drive impulse sales. Natalie and Ferhan also received professionally-designed social media collateral to help them advertise their new products to their customers on Facebook and Instagram. Part of the project focuses on the recently refreshed packaging and design for the entire Fruittella product range, across all 30 SKUs. The aim of the refresh was to grow the appeal of the brand to young adults. Fruittella’s carbon footprint was reduced through the use of thinner and more lightweight packaging that will save over five tonnes of plastic every year.
RESULTS We are delighted to report that the new ranges and POS were a big hit in-store for both Natalie and Ferhan – and both retailers embraced the opportunity enthusiastically. Ferhan comments: “When we first received the stand, we sited it next to the ATM to try to drive impulse sales as customers waited on their cash. Sales were good and we were pleased – but then we moved the unit to the till point just to see what would happen. Wow! We sold the entire outer of Mentos Choco & Mint in a day and half. Our customers couldn’t get enough of them! “The Mentos Fruit product was also hugely popular and was our second-best seller, selling 24 packs in the first 24
PVM TOP FIVE MUST-STOCK PRODUCTS WITHIN SUGAR CONFECTIONERY ● ● ● ● ●
Mentos Pure Fresh Rolls Fruittella Juicy Chews £1 PMP Mentos Mint £1 PMP bag Smint 8g Chupa Chups Wheel
hours. Mentos Rainbow and Spearmint were also popular and sold really, really well.” Mentos Choco & Mint was also Natalie’s star performer, as she explains: “Mentos Choco & Mint was our best selling product, and still is. We rattled through the outers in no time and, despite availability challenges from our
22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 72 / WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021
wholesaler, we managed to get stock in and keep our customers happy! We sold 73 units of Mentos Choco & Mint in the first week and 59 and 50 respectively of the Mentos Mint and the Mentors Rainbow roll. “You have to remember that we didn’t stock most of these lines before the trial so we’re growing the category
USINESS
TION+
VAN MELLE
Mint in a day and half.” – Ferhan Ashiq THE SUGAR CONFECTIONERY CATEGORY AND PERFETTI VAN MELLE ● ● ● ●
The total Sugar Confectionery market is worth £1.22bn Within this, PVM is worth over £55m These sales are driven primarily by the Mentos and Fruittella brands, worth around £20m and £18m respectively PVM is the UK’s number one manufacturer in the £28.5m Better for You confectionery market.
popular with shoppers doing home delivery orders, particularly when Natalie and Ferhan highlighted the new range on their social media posts. Ferhan explains: “PVM kindly did a very professional post for us, and we suggested that customers added a product or two to their home delivery order – and lots of them did! Every little additional sale matters, so it’s been a great project!” ● All data IRI, Jan 2021. and we’re growing choice for our shoppers. We work hard to introduce new and interesting confectionery, so these lines have really helped.” Both Natalie and Ferhan said that a 2-for-£1 deal they trialled was an enormous success. “At the till point, a 2-for-£1 deal will always sell well and we will definitely be keeping these lines in stock moving forward,” says
Natalie. “The stand is really vibrant and eye-catching too, so that definitely helps drive impulse sales. We’ve been really pleased!” Ferhan agrees: “The 2-for-£1 deal was a massive hit for us too. That really took sales up to another level and, as Natalie says, the stand itself is really well designed. It’s quite compact but very eye-catching.” The lines have also been
● For more information on this article, or PVM’s loyalty reward scheme, call 01753 442 112
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23
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REWARDS APPS SHOPT
Shopt goes on staycation Rewards app launches campaign to help stores make the most of the summer holidays.
S
hopt, a cash rewards app for their business by connecting them with convenience retailers, has brands, regardless of size of store or localaunched a new Staycation tion. Shopt gives every retailer the chance campaign. to hear about new products, core lines, The free Shopt app, which has over ranging advice and market trends – and 24,000 users, connects retailers with earn rewards for stocking the products FMCG brands and helps them to stock that their customers love. the latest NPD and core lines in store “With 93% of accommodation in and get advice from suppliers, whilst popular areas fully booked in the UK, receiving cash rewards. there is a clear opportunity for local The campaign runs until the end of stores to capitalise on. Our staycation September and offers big-name promo- campaign, which features an array of tions so that stores can make the most of topical summer products, is a fantastic the summer holidays, ensuring shelves way to reintroduce existing members to are stocked with bestselling summer the app and entice new sign-ups. core lines, such as soft drinks, the latest “Between 100-150 offers go live every month – across multiple brands from NPD and on-trend products such as hard seltzers. The Depending on the offer, campaign runs retailers upload photos of until the end of September and the products on shelves for offers big-name Shopt to review, engage with promotions supplier content or provide feedback to receive cash rewards. The Staycation campaign brings multiple brands together, offering cash rewards up to £10 per promotion. Also available through the app is exclusive supplier content which retailers can claim incentives against. Alexa Hester, Marketing Communications Manager at Shopt, said: “Our aim is to help convenience retailers grow
all the categories – so there is something for everyone. The app offers an instant connection to brands, at a time that suits the retailer, at the touch of a button.” Independent retailer Sanjiv Kumar added: “I’ve found the Shopt app to be a one stop shop solution. It’s like having a rep in your hand and it’s great to be incentivised to feature some of the products. The Staycation campaign has already proven useful this summer, introducing me to new brands and core favourites. ● Retailers can download the Shopt app from either Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – KRAFT HEINZ TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
KRAFT HEINZ INVESTS £1.5M IN NEW KETCHUP CAMPAIGN The national campaign will run until the end of the month.
The campaign’s creative offers standout graphics and clear messaging: ‘Taste from the Ground Up’. Short videos feature tomatoes growing on the vine and bottles of Heinz Tomato Ketchup at the centre, for example, with light-hearted music. Kraft Heinz says the timing of the campaign comes during a key sales period as the summer months present a big moment for its ketchup brand with social meal occasions peaking. As the summer ends, the brand says, this campaign continues to serve as reminder of Heinz Tomato Ketchup’s unmistakable taste, with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Doron Lass, Brand Manager for Heinz Sauces, said: “This campaign celebrates the unmistakable taste of Heinz Tomato Ketchup by reminding our consumers that the taste they know and love is achieved by using premium quality tomatoes with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.”
Kraft Heinz is investing £1.5m in a multi-media campaign for Heinz Tomato Ketchup. The national ‘Ketchup. But First, Tomato’ campaign reinforces that the tomato is at the heart of the brand. The campaign, which is launching now, will run until the end of the month. Advertising will be broadcast across TV, broadcaster video-home-demand, and out-of-home, as well as on digital outlets including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. It is expected to reach 40 million people — 83% of all UK adults.
26 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 72 / WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – LUCOZADE TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
HIGH CAFFEINE LUCOZADE ALERT LAUNCHES The new range will be available from mid-September in Tropical and Cherry flavours.
Lucozade is adding something new to soft drinks
Zoe Trimble, Head of Lucozade Energy at Sun-
chillers this month with the launch of Lucozade Alert:
tory Beverage & Food GB&I, said: “Lucozade Alert
a new stimulation drink range that contains naturally-
is high in caffeine with Vitamin B3 for an energising
sourced caffeine and vitamin B3. It will be available from mid-September in Tropical and Cherry flavours in cases of 12 x 500ml cans (RSP £1.55). £1.39 price-marked packs will also be available. The launch will be supported by PR, digital and social media advertising.
boost, all with the great Lucozade taste that your shoppers know and love. “We’re delighted to be bringing this new nonHFSS product to market.” Samantha Coldbeck of Wharfedale Premier in Hull added: “I was very pleased to hear Lucozade
Brand owner Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I
was entering the stimulant drink market. This is a
advised retailers to range the cans within their current
huge category for us, and Lucozade is a recog-
stimulation category in the chiller, and away from Lucoz-
nised and trusted brand. I’m looking forward to
ade Energy as it caters to a different consumption need.
building my sales with this exciting new launch.”
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK – FOX’S GLACIERS TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
FOX’S READY TO ‘REVITALISE BOILED SWEETS’ WITH NEW AD The TV ad focuses on the experience of successfully skimming a stone.
Valeo Snack Foods has launched a new seven-figure
The TV ad takes the experience of successfully
campaign for Fox’s Glaciers to support the brand’s
skimming a stone and makes it into a long-lasting
recent redesign.
triumph.
The campaign takes inspiration from Fox’s new
Valeo Marketing Director Russell Tanner said:
‘Satisfyingly Long Lasting’ tagline and imagines what
“Fox’s has an impressive 91% brand recogni-
life could be like if all good things lasted as long as a
tion, but we need to build on this awareness and
Fox’s sweet. It comes after a packaging makeover for
encourage reappraisal of the brand, highlighting
the brand, which got a fresh, modern update earlier
the adventurous new flavour extensions on offer
this year.
and getting consumers excited about the Fox’s
Launching this month, the campaign will run on
brand again.
TV, video-on-demand, out-of-home, press and social
“We’re ready to revitalise boiled sweets and
media. A second wave of activity is planned in early
support retailers to drive sales in an often-ne-
2022 for digital audio and in-store.
glected category.”
28 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 72 / WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021
NPD AND MEDIA
PICKS OF THE WEEK TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM
TOBACCO TRENDS
FESTIVE FLAVOUR
ASIAN FLAVOURS
Imperial Tobacco has reduced
Grenade’s high-protein and low-
Unilever has launched Pot
the prices of some of its lead-
sugar Gingerbread Carb Killa
Noodle Fusions, a new range
ing brands. From 6 September
is back for the festive period. It
designed to cater to the more
the RSP of Embassy Signature
features a gingerbread-flavoured
experiential shopper. A trio of
and Richmond will drop to £9.25
nougat centre, layered with car-
Asian-inspired flavours – Katsu
and Riverstone Roll Your Own
amel and dark chocolate chips,
Curry, Chili Chicken and Thai
Tobacco will fall to £11.95 and
and covered in milk chocolate,
Green Curry – is available now
£19.60 for its 30g and 50g for-
with white chocolate on top.
in 100g packs.
mats, respectively.
RSP £2.59
RSP £1.39
*19 Crimes Red and Uprising only
UK & ROI, 18+ only. 01.09.21 – 31.10.21. Purchase any 19 Crimes Promotional Product (Red Wine and The Uprising only) and find the 19th Cork to win. Purchase required. Prizes: 10 x £1,000, 200 x £100. ROI: Win euro equivalent - Max prize fund: 2,000€. Retain winning cork to claim. Winning cork includes unique code and prize value. Call free number to claim: UK 0808 1969134; ROI 0808 1969135. Winners must claim prize by 17:00 BST on 30/11/21. Visit www.19crimes.com/19thcork for full T&Cs, prize details and NI NPN. Promoter: Treasury Wine Estates EMEA Limited.
SPOOKY SWEETS
CORK CAMPAIGN
MODERN LOOK
Hancocks has made additions
Treasury Wine Estates’ 19
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
to its Halloween range. Bubs
Crimes has unveiled a new
has introduced a new look for
vegan Cool Cola Skulls, vegan
campaign, which calls upon the
its 330ml bottle format and 24
Liquorice Skulls, vegan Big Sour
nation to find ‘The 19th Cork’
x 330ml multipack. The design
Skulls, and vegan Mini Sour Skull
concealed within one of hun-
refresh gives the brand a modern
Mix have joined the range. It will
dreds of winning bottles. There
look and feel while paying hom-
also introduce new pick & mix
are 210 winning corks that let
age to its heritage dating back
ranges from Kingsway, including
consumers instantly win a cash
to 1801. The new bottle design
Monster Jellies.
prize from a £30,000 pot.
rolls out this month.
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29
A VIRTUAL FESTIVAL OF EXCELLENCE REGISTER TO WATCH WWW.SLRAWARDS.COM/REGISTER-TO-ATTEND
Winners Announced 27 October 2021
Scottish Grocers’ Federation
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EVENTS@55NORTH.COM
WWW.SLRAWARDS.COM
@SLRMAG
NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…
OUT THE BOX WEYIFY
Taking the hassle out of zero waste shopping
New self-checkout app Weyify makes zero-waste shopping as easy as a trip to the supermarket.
WHAT IS WEYIFY?
THEN WHAT?
It’s a dedicated self-checkout app-based solution to make zero-waste shopping as simple, fast and convenient as going to the supermarket – customers just scan, weigh, and pay.
The app automatically deducts the weight of the container from the weight on the scales and adds the difference to their cart. When they’ve finished shopping, customers can choose to pay in the app with card, Apple Pay WHAT DOES THE or Google Pay. Alternatively, APP’S CREATOR Weyify they can always cough up THINK? provides all the tech needed, at the till. Del Currie of Analog including scales, Republic said: “People Shopify integrations SOUNDS GOOD. are dipping their toes and centralised WHAT KIT WILL MY into zero waste – they inventory. STORE NEED? know it’s the right thing Weyify provides everything a to do for the planet. But right now, zero waste shopping takes serious retailer needs from trade-approved scales, a branded app, to Shopify intededication. So we used our team’s experience to build a solution that makes zero-waste shopping fast and easy for everyone.”
HOW DOES IT WORK? Customers keep a pre-weighed library of containers in their Weyify app, from jars to brown paper bags. They scan the QR code on the product they want to buy, they select the container they want to fill from their library of containers, and they place the filled container on the nearest scales and scan the QR code on the scales.
grations and centralised inventory. Whether a customer has purchased at POS, through the app or via an online store, the inventory is deducted and managed through one central location.
WHAT ARE RETAILERS SAYING? Jordan Perata already uses Weyify at Kilo, her zero-waste shop in London: “This is self-checkout refill shopping made easy. It’s the kind of development that can change the landscape of zero waste shopping. The app is easy to use, customers love it, and once they have their containers loaded in the app, they keep coming back because everything is so convenient.”
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31
BEFORE YOU GO
RETAIL RANDOMS
Water things coming to? If you’ve ever stumbled through yet another list of foods that are bad for you and/or bad for the environment then consoled yourself with – say – a nice glass of water, it turns out you can’t even do that any more. According to a new top-10 list from food waste company BusinessWaste.co.uk – rather dramatically titled ‘Planet killers: The worst foods you can buy and need to stop buying’ – water makes a surprising appearance at number nine. As Business Waste says: “Water is a human right. But sold across the world in plastic bottles? Has humanity gone totally mad? Yes, yes it has.” The list also includes avocados, sugar, beef, strawberries, palm oil, coffee, chocolate, fish and bagged salad. “That’s nearly all of our favourite foods on that list,” said the company’s Mark Hall, surely not meaning bagged salad. “You can’t even go for a chippy tea without wondering where your dinner’s come from, and that should be a big worry for all of us. “And we’re so gutted about coffee and chocolate. That’s two-thirds of my diet.” Beneath Hall’s light-hearted approach lies a serious message though: shop local. And stop buying bagged salad.
Yeast beast released On the subject of food and drink that should be banned for the good of the planet, Camden Town Brewery has launched a limited-edition beer that celebrates so-called ‘iconic’ spread, Marmite. There’s more to this seemingly senseless pairing than first meets the eye though. A slightly deeper dig into the story, one that would no doubt make Woodward and Bernstein proud, reveals that Marmite is essentially a by-product of the
brewing process, with most of the UK’s beer yeast ending up smeared on toast. In fact, at the height of the lockdown in 2020, Unilever stopped banging out all but 250g jars of its nation-dividing
spread because the UK-wide pub shutdown led to a shortage of brewer’s yeast, So then, as a planet-saving stroke of circular economy genius, making Marmite from beer and then making beer from Marmite makes perfect sense after all. Now then, who’s for a glass of water? ● Camden Marmite Ale will be available at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Ocado, Waitrose and Morrisons from 13 September.
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 72 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 33
IT
NEW
E L B A L I A V A
NOW
