The Week in Retail 80

RETAIL THE WEEK IN

SYMBOL GROUPS

THE GRADUATES ONE STOP UNVEILS SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

E-CIGARETTES

DOCTORS’ ORDERS

E-CIGS COULD SOON BE PRESCRIBED

BY NHS SUSTAINABILITY

COP26 BEGINS

STORES SUPPORT WOMEN’S NIGHT SAFETY CHARTER MCCOLL’S DRIVES CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT

BRANDS HIGHLIGHT EFFORTS TO SAVE THE PLANET

STORE VACANCY RATE UNCHANGED

+ Brought to you by:

REWILDING AREAS OUTSIDE STORES Commercial Partner:

Issue 80 Wednesday 3rd November 2021

Top performing JUULpod flavours bring in more revenue.

Designed for adult smokers.

•Menthol JUULpods are U.K.’s #2 refill kit in independent shops.4 •Berry JUULpods are the U.K.’s #1 fruit flavour.2 • Mint JUULpods are the U.K.’s #1 closed pod refill kit.1 •The JUUL Starter Kit is the U.K.’s #1 closed system in supermarkets.3

Not for sale to minors.

JUUL is an e-cigarette. This is an age restricted product and age verification is required at sale.

1.IRI total market, value sales, 12 weeks to 11/04/21 sales comparison of top four performing JUUL skus versus the top four performing SKUs of our nearest competitor. 2. Based on additional sales of Mango, Golden Tobacco and Rich Tobacco JUULpods, IRI total market, value sales, 12 weeks to 11/04/21. 3. IRI total market, value sales, Supermarkets, 12 weeks to 11/04/21. 4. IRI total market, value sales, Symbols and Independnets, 12 weeks to 11/04/21.

WARNING: This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.

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

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Green with envy There is only one subject dominating the headlines this week and it’s the COP26 summit being held in Glasgow this month.

The event is giving brands and retailers the opportunity to highlight some of the fantastic initiatives that they have been implementing to make their companies more sustainable. In this issue of The Week in Retail we highlight a few of these initiatives, including the efforts of Lomond: The Wholesale Food Co, Alpro, and Mackie’s, to name just three.

The event is hugely important because sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers. However, we don’t yet know how COP26 discussions will impact on our industry.

A law to ban all wet wipes has this week been introduced to the House of Commons by Fleur Anderson, the MP for Putney. She says it is important the public realises 90% of wet wipes contain plastic and said she is keen to “raise awareness that this is a single use plastic”.

The Labour MP pointed out wet wipes are behind 93% of blockages in UK sewers, which costs water companies around £100m a year which is passed on to consumers.

This is the sort of legislation that could well be introduced in the wake of COP26. Let’s hope if anything comes of the discussions in Glasgow, they are sensible and workable for businesses that are still trying to recover from the pandemic.

For me, one downside to COP26 is that it totally overshadowed Purple Tuesday – the campaign that aims to improve the customer service experience for disabled people all over the UK and Ireland – which took place earlier this week.

It too is a hugely important event. In the UK alone, the spending power of disabled people and their families – the so-called Purple Pound – is worth more than £274bn. However, research by the Purple Tuesday campaign shows that 75% of disabled people have left a store due to poor customer service or accessibility issues.

It was great to see the NFRN getting involved, issuing some top tips to help independent retailers ensure that they provide all their customers with an excellent customer service experience, regardless of if they are disabled or not. These include patience, clear spaces, good lighting, and large fonts. They also covered assistance animals and face masks.

Hopefully next year Purple Tuesday won’t clash with another world-stopping event and more good work and be done to improve the experience for more than 14 million UK customers with disabilities.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

RRP

PACK OF 10

RRP

PACK OF 20

£4.90 THE UK’s £9.60 *

*

No.1 CIGARILLO

1

*RRP effective 28/07/2021. Retailers are free at all times to sell JTI products at whatever price they choose.

[1] IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Total Cigarillo Category, Total UK, Jun 2021.

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80

6

10 THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

Nisa raises awareness of GroceryAid among its retailers, and newsagents are angered by a cut-off extension.

23 SYMBOL GROUPS

SUSTAINABILITY

One Stop launches a new scholarship programme, which will provide four university students with support, guidance, and financial assistance.

A bumper selection of sustainability stories to mark COP26, including news from the Co-op, Lomond, Spar Scotland, Alpro, Mackies and Mars.

9 Covid-19 update

17 Point of sale

32 Picks of the week

12 Symbol groups

Nisa’s Bonfire Night deals.

customers receipt-based personalised

13 Community support

McColl’s partners with Ecrebo to give

36 Out the box: rewilding

offers and messages.

The ACS signs up to the Women’s Safety

19 Business intelligence

Night Charter.

A look at the latest new products and marketing campaigns.

The BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor finds that

The Range is introducing hedgehogfriendly ecological areas outside its UK

15 Vaping

10% of high street shops and more than

E-cigarettes could soon be prescribed by

13% of retail units in shopping centres

39 Before you go...

NHS to help people quit smoking.

have remained empty for over a year.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

stores.

Our latest Retail Randoms.

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

TESCO’S ULTRAFAST PARTNER Tesco has launched a pilot with rapid grocer Gorillas to offer shippers the opportunity to

CHARITY

Nisa partners with GroceryAid The symbol group is working with GroceryAid to increase awareness of wellbeing resources available to retailers.

their shopping delivered in just 10 minutes. The partnership will see Gorillas set up microfulfilment sites at five large Tesco stores, starting with the Thornton Heath Tesco store in South London.

WAITROSE TRIALS EV TECH Waitrose is to become the first supermarket in the UK to trial new electric vehicle technology from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Groceries from Waitrose’s St Katherine’s Dock store in London will be delivered entirely by electric vans equipped with cutting edge wireless charging

Nisa is partnering with GroceryAid to increase awareness of the range of wellbeing resources available to its retailers and their employees.

The symbol group’s field team has been handing out posters and leaflets to its retailers and encouraging them to locate them in areas that are visible to colleagues.

GroceryAid material has also been added to Nisa’s induction packs to make them aware of the support available to them via the industry charity.

Matthew Howie, Nisa Retail Development Manager covering southern Scotland, is the GroceryAid lead for Nisa. He said: “As independent retailers many partners don’t have obvious support for their wellbeing, but GroceryAid exists to provide that and it’s really important that as a symbol group, we share with them the tools that are available and at their disposal.”

Retailers can also read about GroceryAid in the monthly partner-facing Consortium magazine and via the Nisa order capture system.

Howie added: “GroceryAid is a really underutilised tool that we want our partners to be aware of.”

technology..

MORRISONS PUSHES PORK Morrisons is cutting the price of seasonal cuts of pork – such as joints, chops, bellies and steaks – to encourage customers to support farmers and buy more pork products.

The supermarket will also be increasing the amount of meat it prepares.

Healthier, sustainable diets more popular Nearly one-fifth of consumers list the environment as their main motivator for healthy and sustainable eating – a significant increase from 2020 – while 77% have increased or are thinking about increasing their fruit and vegetable intake, research from IGD reveals.

The research shows consumers are increasingly looking to adopt more healthy and sustainable diets, with 58% open to changing their eating habits.

6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 80 WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021

The study also found there has been a rise in people eating meat only twice a week or less.

Mark Little, Director of Health and Sustainability at IGD, said: “From effective marketing and product placement to meal planning and recipe inspiration, there are lots of really practical actions businesses can take to help make sure consumers continue to shift towards healthy and sustainable diets.”

NEWS DIGEST

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

NEWSTRADE

Newsagents anger at cut-off extension Publishers are planning a 30-minute delay in deliveries to retailers in England and Wales because of a World Cup qualifier.

The NFRN has reacted angrily to the announcement of a 30-minute cut-off extension by national newspaper publishers because of an England World Cup qualifier football match taking place next week.

The England men’s team are playing Albania in the group match at Wembley, with kick-off at 7.45pm on 12

November. Publishers are planning a 30-minute delay in deliveries to retailers in England and Wales in a bid to minimise the number of newspapers being sent out the following morning without the result and coverage of the game.

NFRN Head Of News And Connect, Brian Murphy, said: “Saturdays are already the worst day of the week in terms of late newspaper deliveries, and our members are sick and tired of the problem regularly being exacerbated by Friday night football fixtures.

“In the modern era of 24-hour news available on TV and online, anyone interested in finding out a result or reading a match report no longer has to wait until the following morning.”

Murphy will be taking the matter up at the next meeting of the Press Distribution Forum on 10 November.

JET flagship site re-opens after £3m re-build JET Retail UK has re-opened its flagship site close to the Phillips 66 Humber Refinery in South Killingholme, North Lincolnshire, after a complete knockdown re-build.

The £3m project – JET’s biggest site transformation to date – has resulted in a site with state-of-the-art facilities that meets the needs of both HGV and car drivers.

The site has an array of new facilities

including: a larger HGV loading area, separate retail forecourt, full range of Jet-branded fuels, AdBlue facilities, and a Spar-branded store with food-to-go facilities.

Renee Semiz, Director at JET Retail UK, said: “Every aspect of this site and the customer experience has been meticulously considered to produce a facility we can all be immensely proud of.

MORRISONS DEAL PROBED The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ordered Morrisons to stay operationally independent while it considers whether to launch an investigation into the supermarket’s recent £7bn takeover by Clayton Dubilier & Rice.

CHARGE POINTS GROWTH The UK’s supermarkets have installed nearly 1,000 new electric vehicle charge points at their stores in the past 21 months, data analysed by charge point finder Zap-Map and the RAC shows. Rapid chargers at supermarkets have more than doubled in less than two years, bringing the total to more than 450.

FIREWORKS GUIDANCE The ACS is reminding convenience retailers to ensure that they are aware of the rules and guidelines that apply to the sale and storage of fireworks. The trade body has produced Assured Advice Guides to support retailers with ‘Preventing Underage Sales’ and ‘Selling Fireworks’.

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7

TOMATO SOUP

WARMER S NTER I W

Prepar at Cooki ion: 10 m ins ng Serves : 15 mins 4, co sts un der £2

dients

.00

ions,

2. Diss ol water ve the st ock cu .

garlic

and

be in

boiling 3. Ad d stock the vegeta bles, to a sa to simm er for ucepan. St matoes an ir, abou t 15 m and leav d e to inutes 4. Blen . prefer d the soup red. or serv e chun ky if Nu tritio

na

based l Info on a single rmation serving Energ y of 40 0g 86.00 kcals 361.0 Satur Fat 0 kJ ates 0.5 0g Satur ates Sugar 0.01g Salt

0.01g 11.40

g

0.70g Recip e court esy of

al

he

Allerg y Alway Disclaimer s for all check the ergy warni label of ea ngs. ch ingr Time edien Saver t Soup Tips ca heated n be prep ared w hen in in the fridge required. advance an Co or fre ezing. ol before d Cost pu tting Saver Tips Why no freez t make do e som e for uble the am later? ount Tips fo and Blend r Kids th hidden e soup so . that th e vege tables are

Meth od

1. Peel celery and chop the on .

th

uk

Ingre

4 Sm all Size d (24 3 (9g) 0g) O Garlic nions Clove 2 Stic s ks (60 g) Cel 3 Tins ery (400g) Chopp 1 Red uc ed To Stock ed Salt (7 mato es g) Ve Cube getabl (500m e l) Wat er

y li

vin g

pro g

e ra m m

.co

.

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

Wales strengthens its Covid measures

Wales will remain at alert level zero with additional measures in place to reduce the high levels of community transmission.

BURGER KING PUTS CRYPTO ON THE MENU Burger King is partnering with trading platform Robinhood to give its US loyalty club members a chance to win either bitcoin or dogecoin for a minimum purchase of $5 from 1-21 November.

At current prices, a total of $2.6m (£1.9m) is at stake, with 20 bitcoin available,

requirement of carrying out site-specific Covid-19 risk assessments.

Self-isolation guidance has also been updated to reflect the latest data on household transmission. The new guidance states that if someone in your household has symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus you should self-isolate and take a PCR test. You may only stop self-isolating if your test is negative.

Drakeford said: “It is critical all businesses and organisations understand the nature and importance of the alert level zero baseline measures – these will help keep us all safe and help keep Wales open through the autumn and winter months.” ● ACS has produced a one-page briefing on retailer requirements here and posters to use in stores.

dogecoin.

To cash in, customers must join the BK Royal Perks programme and open a Robinhood crypto account. After

TECH SOLUTIONS

T

he Welsh Government is to strengthen its coronavirus protective measures in response to high infection rates.

The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has confirmed that Wales will remain at alert level zero with additional measures in place to reduce the high levels of community transmission. These measures include changes to self-isolating guidance, Covid Pass use, and testing in schools.

The Welsh Government has been consulting with business organisations, including ACS, and is asking businesses to ensure that they are delivering all existing Covid restrictions.

It also reminded businesses of the importance of enforcing the legal regulations around face coverings on their premises as well as their legal

200 ether, and two million

ordering through the Burger King app, customers will receive a prize code via email.

The company said: “As a brand, we are always looking for ways to reward our most loyal guests with exclusive offers that are exciting, unique, and culturally relevant.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 9

C OV E R

ONE S

One Stop launches new

The initiative will provide four young people with support, guid

O

ne Stop has launched a scholarship programme designed to provide opportunities for young people from its communities and to support social mobility.

The One Stop Scholarship Programme will provide four young people, from low-income households – studying an undergraduate degree in Online, Technology or Sustainability – with support, guidance, and financial assistance throughout their university life.

One Stop has been working in partnership with Groundwork to develop and set up the application process and criteria.

The initiative follows a successful trial with two students who have currently been enrolled on the programme from 2021.

Liz Fox, Head of Sustainability and Social Responsibility at One Stop, said: “This is a really exciting proposition for us here at One Stop. The programme provides opportunities not only for us as a business but also for young people looking to progress their careers within an Online, Technology or Sustainability environment.

“We’re looking for candidates to join us directly from the local communities where our stores are located. We’ll help equip them with a number of unique benefits for their career paths, which are not available through any other channel.

“For us, getting the social mobility aligned in our scholarship programme was key and working with Groundwork

The programme provides opportunities for young people looking to progress their careers within an Online, Technology or Sustainability environment, all with a leading convenience retailer.

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 80 WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021

S T O RY

STOP

scholarship programme

dance, and financial assistance throughout their university life.

● Graduate role: Students will also have the opportunity to work towards a graduate role at One Stop, providing real career progression from the minute they start university.

has enabled us to get the programme developed and up and running. We’re delighted to be welcoming our first students into the One Stop team and opening our application process for our next candidates into next year.”

The One Stop scholarship programme offers support including: ● Financial assistance: A bursary of £15,000, which will take some of the pressure off the rising costs of higher education. ● Paid internships: Students will receive two paid internships during their university summer holidays in the areas of Online, Technology or Sustainability, enabling them to get real life work experience.

Liliana Odjo, from Coventry, is currently on the pilot scheme.

She has just entered the University of Warwick studying a fouryear Masters course in Computer Science. She comments: “I couldn’t believe it when I was accepted; it really blew my mind!

I started going to One Stop when I was child, and now, here I am doing their very first scholarship! I think it’s amazing the way they’re helping people in their own communities.

Odjo added: “Because I’m one of the first students on the scholarship I will be working closely with One Stop’s Technology department to help develop the scheme further, so this is another really exciting aspect for me as I’ll be playing such a big part in the future of the programme. I’m also really looking forward to the internships too as I’ll be doing a lot of theory on my course which I can apply in the physical environment. I really want to make a difference as One Stop has made such a difference to me.”

● Business mentor: Mentoring support will be provided from one of the One Stop Leadership Team through-

● Students from a lower income household, applying for

out the students’ degree and as they start their future

university in 2022, are invited to apply from 1 November

career.

2021. The closing date is 31 January 2022.

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

SYMBOL GROUPS

NISA

Bonfire deals to light up Guy Fawkes Night

The promotion includes warming favourites, sweet treats, and alcohol.

N

isa retailers are introducing a raft of deals on warming favourites to help shoppers have a cosy Guy Fawkes Night.

Offers including Ye Olde Oak Jumbo Hot Dogs 560g and Baker Street Classic Hot Dog Rolls 4-Pack for £1 each, Co-op Baking Potatoes 4-pack also at just £1, Stagg Chili 400g at £1.50, and Ben’s Original Long Grain Rice 500g at £2.

Sweet treats on offer include Yorkshire Baking Company Bonfire Treacle Mega Loaf at £2.25 and Parkin Cake is £1.

12 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 80 WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021

Drinks on offer include a San Miguel 12-pack or Thatchers 10-pack for just £9, Coca Cola Zero or Diet Coke 12x330ml for £4.50, and a range of wines and spirits are available as part of the promotion.

The Bonfire Night promotion is in stores from 3 November, supported by themed POS and also featured on Nisa’s consumer leaflets. In addition, offers will be promoted online via Nisa’s website and social media channels, alongside some warming autumn recipes to provide shoppers with meal inspiration.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

WOMEN’S SAFETY NIGHT CHARTER

Local stores pledge their support

T

The charter includes pledges and practical steps that businesses can take to help women to feel safer at night.

he Association of Convenience Stores has signed up to the Women’s Safety Night Charter, reflecting its members’ commitment to ensuring the safety of people entering their stores.

The Night Charter has been created by the London Assembly and Mayor of London to help women feel welcome and confident in their local areas at night. The charter is part of the Mayor’s Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and London’s commitment to the UN Women Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces global initiative.

The charter includes pledges and practical steps that businesses can take to help women to feel safer at night, including:

● Say hello to everyone who comes into store ● Keep your store well-lit into the evening ● Engage with your community on social media ● Be aware of helpline numbers.

ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “Around one-third of convenience stores are open after 10pm when it is dark and the surrounding area is at its quietest. Through taking a few simple steps, local shops can contribute to helping women to feel safer at night.”

Rita King, Joint Chief Executive of Safer Business Network, added: “Local

shops play a vital role in their communities and are well placed to offer assistance to women who may be feeling vulnerable. We hope that many stores all over London will engage positively to help keep women safe at night.”

ACS has developed a graphic highlighting four simple and practical steps that retailers can take to help people feel safer at night.

The Women’s Night Safety Charter is a London-based initiative, but local shops in all areas are being encouraged to consider these steps to make streets safer at night in their communities.

Individual businesses can sign up to the charter here if they are in London.

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 13

Everything a modern convenience store needs

paypoint.com

PayPoint and Snappy Shopper fast home delivery service PayPoint retailers get 50% off the set-up fee!* Sign up today Scan the QR code or visit snappyshopper.co.uk/paypoint-enquiry-form ** Normal fee £500, discounted for PayPoint retailers to £250. For refund, retailer must exceed £2,000 ex VAT of basket sales in a week within 17 weeks of launch. Further terms and eligibility criteria apply. Please see retailers.snappyshopper.co.uk/terms-conditions/ for more information.

LEGISLATION

E-CIGARETTES

E-cigarettes could soon be prescribed by NHS

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency publishes guidance to support bringing e-cigarettes to market as licensed therapies.

E

-cigarettes could soon be prescribed on the NHS in England to help people stop smoking tobacco products in the latest step forward in the licensing process for manufacturers.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published updated guidance for licensing electronic cigarettes and other inhaled nicotine-containing products as medicines, which paves the way for medicinally licensed e-cigarette products to be prescribed for tobacco smokers who wish to quit smoking.

The updated guidance comes after a consultation with the E-Cigarette Expert Working Group, a group of UK experts who provided independent oversight and advice to the MHRA. To achieve a licence, products would need to meet the standards of quality, safety, and efficacy expected of medicinal products. If a product receives MHRA approval, clinicians could then decide on a case-by-case basis whether it would be appropriate to prescribe an e-cigarette to NHS patients to help them quit smoking.

E-cigarettes contain nicotine and are certainly not risk free, but expert reviews from the UK and US have been clear that the regulated e-cigarettes are

considerably less harmful than smoking. A medicinally licensed e-cigarette would have to pass even more rigorous safety checks.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “This country continues to be a global leader on healthcare, whether it’s our Covid-19 vaccine rollout saving lives or our innovative public health measures reducing people’s risk of serious illness.

“A licensed e-cigarette prescribed on the NHS has the potential to tackle the stark disparities in smoking rates across the country, helping people stop smoking wherever they live and whatever their background.” ● The government is set to publish a new Tobacco Control Plan which will set out the roadmap for achieving a smoke-free England by 2030.

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 15

NEW

TROPICAL

Lucozade Zero: Zero sugar, awesome taste. *IRI Volume sales total market L52w 23.05.21 **Tropical-flavoured energy drinks growing at 22%.

IRI INT Total LRS Soft Drinks. Data to 26th July 2020.

LUCOZADE, LUCOZADE ZERO and the Arc Device are registered trade marks of Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd.

TROPICAL FLAVOURS ARE GROWING +22%**

POINT OF SALE

McCOLL’S

McColl’s partners with Ecrebo to drive customer engagement The software will help McColl’s communicate with its customers more quickly and effectively.

M

cColl’s Retail Group is introducing Ecrebo’s POS technology across its whole estate after a successful trial.

The retailer partnered with Ecrebo earlier this month to trial its light-touch POS software in several stores.

The companies are working to leverage customer interactions and data to help McColl’s communicate with the four million customers who visit its stores every week more quickly and effectively. Using Ecrebo’s OnPoint Total Receipt Marketing solution, the retailer will add personalised offers and messages to its receipts issued across McColl’s network of 1,223 convenience stores and newsagents across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Richard Crampton, Chief Commercial Officer at McColl’s Retail Group, said: “The importance of the local McColl’s store for our customers has never been clearer. Our partnership with Ecrebo is all about better understanding their needs so we can provide a more tailored and relevant shopping experience, rewarding them with offers that are tailored to their shopping in real-time.

“Ecrebo’s software enables us to reach every shopper with bespoke savings

whilst giving us the flexibility to target coupons to specific stores or product categories across the estate.”

David Buckingham, Chief Executive at Ecrebo, added: “This relationship with McColl’s is really exciting and especially pleasing as the teams worked hard in an external environment that has never been more challenging. We’ve been impressed with the way in which the team at McColl’s have really leaned in to make this a success.

“McColl’s customers will receive regular, relevant targeted offers to encourage them back in, to buy the things they want and need from their local store.

This is another major retail chain in the UK who are adopting this technology and the results so far have been really encouraging.

“We’re looking forward to building this relationship further and delivering more value over the coming months and years.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80/ SLRMAG.CO.UK / 17

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

STORE VACANCIES

Store vacancy rate unchanged for first time in three years Research shows 10% of high street shops and more than 13% of retail units in shopping centres have remained empty for over a year.

T

he store vacancy rate remained unchanged at 14.5% in the third quarter of the year, 1.3 percentage points higher than in the same point in 2020, new research reveals.

The latest BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor shows no shopping locations saw an increase in vacancies in the third quarter, with shopping centre vacancies remaining at 19.4% for the second consecutive quarter, and vacancies on the High Street remained at 14.5%.

While this is the first time in over three years vacancy rates have not risen, they still remain at a record high.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retail parks remain resilient as the only location type that saw vacancies fall this quarter. This is because many brands are opening stores in out-of-town locations to meet customer demand, and retail parks have become increasingly vital for supporting the expanding online services of some businesses.”

Dickinson added: “Meanwhile, 10% of high street shops and more than 13% of retail units in shopping centres have remained empty for over a year, which is the result of the high costs of opening and running shops in many parts of the country.”

Lucy Stainton, Director of Local Data Company, said: “With vacancy rates being one of the most robust indicators of the health of the physical retail market, it was interesting to see that this quarter the steady increase in empty shops, both pre and especially during the pandemic, have started to stabilise.

“Looking in more detail at the regional picture we can see that many regions are actually seeing a decrease in vacancy as the independents sector in particular returns to growth and these independent operators are taking advantage of properties being more attainable with better rental deals being offered.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80/ SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19

T H G I R E H T K C O ST R U O Y H C T A W T H E TO P 1 0

S U K S G N I PERFORM

Energy drinks are big business so it’s important to get your range right. To find out more about the right range for you visit Sales Supercharged. The exciting new retailer support initiative from Monster. Learn which products are really driving sales. How to give your chiller more merchandising muscle. And get the low down on all the latest consumer trends. Follow our advice now and supercharge your sales.

VISIT SALESSUPERCHARGED.CO.UK TO FIND OUT MORE. © 2021 Monster Energy Company. All rights Reserved. MONSTER ENERGY®, ®, MONSTER ENERGY ULTRA® are all registered trademarks of Monster Energy Company. Source: 4th biggest SKU in Total Soft Drinks, No.1 low calorie SKU in the Energy sector, No.2 flavoured energy drink, No.1 flavoured energy drink – Nielsen – Indies & Symbols– MAT Value TY Period Ending: w/e 26.06.2021. Source: 3rd biggest stimulation brand in GB and is worth £43m – Nielsen Value Sales, Total Coverage, MAT to w/e 26.06.21. Revenue is an estimate based on weekly ROS.

.

E G N A TR .

P M U J S E L A S O F T N U O C C A

R

H T W O R G Y R GO E T A C F O % 69

THE MUST STOCK RANGE FROM MONSTER

T SKU IN 4TH BIGGES DRINKS TOTAL SOFT

LORIE SKU IN NO.1 LOW CAGY SECTOR THE ENER

RED NO 2 FLAVDORUINK ENERGY

RED NO.1 FLAVORUINK ENERGY D

ION T STIMULAT 3RD BIGGESIN GB AND IS BRAND £43M WO RT H

HT IN A S UG

RE TO

¹

EVE

RY

2.

SOURCE: ¹NIELSEN SCANTRACK, TOTAL COVERAGE, MAT W.E. 24.07.2021

DS

BO

MORE MULTIPACKS. MORE SALES. 5 SECON

SUSTAINABILITY

CO-OP

Co-op sparks climate action conversation

Six of the retailer’s flagship stores across the UK have ‘rebranded’ to Co-op26.

C

o-op has launched a national campaign to get people thinking about how they can impact climate change at a community level.

Six flagship Co-op stores across the UK have rebranded to Co-op26 with amplified exterior signage and window vinyl takeovers to reflect Co-op26. The retailer will also rebrand across its social channels to Co-op26 for the duration of the COP-26 climate change conference.

In addition, all of Co-op’s 2,600 food stores will communicate the same in-store messaging via marketing materials, including a full package of interior POS such as hanging boards, shelf edge labels and bunting, exterior bollard covers, and in-store radio takeovers.

The Co-op26 campaign celebrates the retailer’s recently announced partnership with Count us In, which aims to encourage one billion people to take practical steps in their own lives to reduce carbon pollution.

Count us In is made up of 16 simple steps which individuals can take to help reduce their own carbon impact, including eating more plants, switching energy

suppliers, cutting down on food waste, repairing and reusing appliances, and sharing experiences with friends and colleagues to raise awareness around climate action.

Steve Murrells, Chief Executive of The Co-op Group, said: “Climate action needs to be truly accessible and inclusive in order to make the difference that’s so urgently needed.

While the world looks to the COP26 conference to guide

global leaders on how countries can accelerate change, we are shining a spotlight on how Co-op, our customers, members and colleagues can all play their part in the fight against climate change on a community level.

“Through the launch of the Co-op26 campaign and our partnership with Count us In, we want to grab the attention of communities all across the UK to get them thinking, asking questions and taking action, as well as equip them to use their voice and successfully activate the ‘tell your politician’ pledge.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80/ SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

why not buy ? shoppers do.

M Y B L U. H A N DY A N D E A S Y VA P I N G .

F O R E X I S T I N G A D U LT S M O K E R S & VA P E R S O N LY.

This product contains nicotine. 18+ only. Not a smoking cessation product. © Fontem 2021.

SUSTAINABILITY

LOMOND: THE WHOLESALE FOOD CO

Lomond extends green fleet

The wholesaler has added 20 hybrid vehicles, electric company cars for its field sales team, and a fully electric van.

L

omond: The Wholesale Food Co has introduced new hybrid vehicles to its fleet.

The 20 new 7.5 tonne hybrid refrigeration vehicles have been built to a bespoke specification for Lomond to make them as environmentally friendly as possible and as a result, the wholesaler has reduced its carbon footprint by 50% since 2017.

The vehicles also feature the new Lomond livery. The new design, which states ‘Always leading, never following’, was inspired by feedback from a long-standing customer who was delighted with the service and products they received from the Glasgow-based wholesaler.

Barbara Henderson, Director, said: “While the government monitors carbon emissions from vehicles, they don’t monitor emissions from refrigeration, which is actually six times more polluting than the category six engines.

“We have taken out the red diesel engine and fitted a battery so we now have vehicles where the refrigeration is powered by electricity rather than red diesel. In addition to dramatically reducing pollution, this also strips out weight which means we can carry an additional 1.3 ton of stock per vehicle, leading to increased efficiency in our business and less vehicles on the road.”

The wholesaler has also introduced electric company cars for its field sales team. All team members have electric chargers fitted to their homes and Lomond directors, Sam and Barbara Henderson, also drive electric vehicles.

In addition, Lomond has also taken delivery of a fully electric van to be used in the local area. Henderson added: “We

are firmly committed to doing the best we can to reduce our carbon footprint and ensure we take decisions that reduce our impact on the environment, and our vehicles are a major element of this.

“We also take measures within our depot, such as fitting an air curtain to reduce energy wastage and carrying out heat surveys to ensure energy efficiency.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80/ SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

PROTECT YOUR PROFITS

TAKE

RRP

.99 3 £

E PRIC* T S E LOW SHELF ON

THE PEPPERMINT CLICK FILTER CIGARILLO

10

PACK PEPPE RM INT CLICK FILTE R

W I T H VI R GI N I A B LEN D

*Lowest price for a similar peppermint click product. £3.99 is the Reccomended Retail Price only and correct at September 21. Increased stock rotation is not guaranteed by Scandinavian Tobacco Group Ltd.

EX T R A LO W O U T O F P O C KET P RI C E

FOR THE INFORMATION OF TOBACCO TRADERS ONLY

SYMBOL GROUPS

SPAR SCOTLAND

Community cashback campaign launched in time for COP26 The symbol group is sharing out £26,000 between 26 charities, community groups and projects across Scotland.

S

par Scotland has launched a community cashback campaign which will take place during the UK’s hosting of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

The symbol group is donating £26,000 to 26 charities, community groups and projects across Scotland, with each charity receiving £1,000.

Nominations will be shortlisted and customers given the power to decide who will get donations with a public vote.

Colin McLean, Chief Executive of Spar Scotland, said: “We are asking customers, employees and the general public to nominate charities, community groups or projects. We are looking for local litter picking groups, planting trees

and recycling initiatives, community social projects, green space developments and many more green ideas that happen in local communities around Scotland to support. They will then be in with a chance to receive a £1,000 cash donation from Spar Scotland.”

The campaign will be promoted in-store and on digital channels including website, social media, media screens and Spar Radio.

The symbol group will also be publicising how its stores and the team at its Dundee depot are changing processes and cutting back on waste.

The business has embarked on a number its own green initiatives including: ● Zero waste to landfill ● 660 tonnes of cardboard recycled

● CJ Lang Logistics team is a Green World Ambassador, with 100 trees planted this year in partnership with the Green Earth Appeal ● Washing 5,000 trays a week for suppliers, which reduces the amount of plastic in its supply chain.

McLean added: “With COP26 taking place in Scotland this year, we wanted to use the event as a platform to focus on improving the environment and social matters within the communities in which we operate.

“Our donations will hopefully help local communities and if successful we intend on making this an annual initiative.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80/ SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27

S U S TA I

ALPRO

Alpro to cut energy use with £17m factory investment

Investment is part of a £41m plan to ramp up production capacity for plant-based products destined for UK shoppers.

A

lpro, a Danone-owned business, is to invest £17m on a high-speed production facility for its Kettering-based factory, along with a stateof-the-art combined cooling, heat and power (trigeneration) unit and water treatment plant, which will reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions and water usage across the site.

The latest investment is part of a total £41m plan set to ramp up production capacity for its plant-based products destined for UK shoppers, enhance its sustainability credentials, and create new jobs in the local area.

The new high-speed production facility is set to increase production capacity to 300 million litres of soya, oat, rice and

coconut drinks a year – representing 300 million packs of Alpro 1L drinks.

With further planned investment, that number is set to increase to up to 400 million litres as early as 2022.

Alpro has also installed a state-ofthe-art trigeneration unit to simultaneously generate electricity, useful heating and cooling from the combustion of gas – resulting in a more efficient use of primary energy. The move allows the factory – which runs on 100% renewable electricity – to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

The site also boasts a new water treatment plant, that cuts water usage and

28 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 80 WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021

results in 218,000 litres of water being reused on site every day.

General Manager for Alpro, Sue Garfitt, said: “The changes we are installing will not only accelerate the volume of products we are producing in the UK, for UK shoppers – but will also allow us to keep ahead of the curve and continue being the brand to fuel the category growth and whet the nation’s appetite for delicious and healthy plant-based products, and of course, doing this whilst operating in a planet-friendly way.”

The investment also slashes the need for imports, reducing Alpro’s CO2 emissions from transport significantly.

NABILIT

MACKIE’S OF SCOTLAND

Mackie’s wind turbines pass milestone The Aberdeenshire farming business has generated more than 100 gigawatt hours of renewable energy and is now installing a £4.5m low carbon refrigeration system to cut energy use by up to 80%.

M

ackie’s of Scotland has reached the sustainability landmark of generating more than 100 gigawatt hours of renewable energy through its four wind turbines.

The Aberdeenshire farming business has been generating power from its wind turbines since 2005. The turbines produce around 50% more energy than Mackie’s requires to run its business, with the surplus electricity sold into the grid as green energy for the surrounding communities to use.

On top of this, Mackie’s is currently installing a £4.5m low carbon refrigeration system that will cut the farm’s energy use by up to 80%.

Renewable energy consulting engineer and long-time collaborator on Mackie’s projects, Colin Anderson, said: “This is a tremendous feat for Mackie’s and certainly stands as one of the most influential accomplishments in renewable energy production by a private business.

“Mackie’s has been a trailblazer in renewable energy production, becoming one of the first companies to install its own wind turbine in the 1980s. It now has the capabilities to harness wind and solar energy, as well as biomass.”

He added: “More and more businesses are looking at ways in which they can produce their own renewable energy following the template set by Mackie’s.

“Scotland’s potential for renewable energy is one of the greatest in Europe, and through developing these technologies our nation’s dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity can be reduced.”

The company has been climate positive since 2007. Its renewable energy is derived from a mix of wind, solar and biomass energy that produce over 8.5 GWh of electricity each year.

Mac Mackie, Managing Director at Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “We are continuing to invest in new methods which will cut down our carbon footprint.

“Reaching 100 million kWh is a significant landmark for the farm and we are looking forward to hitting the 200 million mark in the years to come.”

More businesses are looking at ways in which they can produce their own renewable energy following the template set by Mackie’s.

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80/ SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

THE PLANET’S FAVOURITE BEER BREWDOG IS THE WORLD’S FIRST CARBON NEGATIVE BREWERY

70% of shoppers would be more likely to purchase a beer made in a sustainable way*

* YouGov BrewDog Commissioned Survey – Beer Drinkers – Sept 2020. Unweighted base: All UK adults who drink beer every month (1735)

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – MARS WRIGLEY

MARS BAR SET TO BE CERTIFIED CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2023 The bars will also be trialled in fully recyclable paper packaging starting in 2022.

Mars bars sold in the UK and Ireland will be certified as carbon neutral by 1 January 2023.

Mars Wrigley says the move will make the Mars bar, which has annual sales of more than 200

The greenhouse gas reductions and high-quality offsets used for Mars bar to go carbon neutral in 2023 are expected to be roughly equivalent to charging more than 13 billion smartphones.

million bars in the UK, the first carbon neutral choc-

Mars Wrigley will work with an independent

olate bar to appear on British and Irish shelves that

auditor to certify the Mars bar as carbon neutral and

is produced by a top five confectionery company.

will be adhering to the PAS 2060 standard for car-

The confectionery giant aims to reduce the

bon neutrality, which is widely considered to be the

Mars bar carbon footprint by more than 20% in the

leading standard of carbon neutral specification.

UK and Ireland by 2023 by supercharging its efforts

Adam Grant, Mars Wrigley UK General Man-

to sustainably transform supply chain agricultural

ager, said: “At Mars, we believe that actions speak

practices, including using satellite data to geomap

louder than words and, to create a world tomorrow

cocoa farms, and accelerated partnerships with

where our planet is healthy, we are clear that bold

suppliers to produce dairy more sustainably.

In addition, the Mars bar will be trialled in fully recyclable paper packaging starting in 2022.

action must be taken today. Our pledge to deliver a certified carbon neutral Mars bar in the UK and Ireland by 1 January 2023, supported by significant

Any emissions that cannot be eliminated will be

reductions in the near term, is the kind of immediate

offset by carbon removal credits based on climate

climate protection intervention needed to deliver

solutions like reforestation and land restoration.

a sustainable tomorrow.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80/ SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – CHICAGO TOWN

CHICAGO TOWN LAUNCHES £2.5M CAMPAIGN The multi-media campaign will run until the end of November.

Chicago Town has invested £2.5m in a multimedia

champions the brand’s generous toppings and

campaign that showcases its range of pizzas and

has been designed to appear as though the huge

toppings. The move comes after a successful

billboard has dropped as a result of having so much

period for the £134m brand, which has maintained

cheese on the pizza.

its lead in the frozen pizza category.

Rachel Bradshaw, Marketing Manager from Dr

The campaign will appear across TV, social,

Oetker, said: “We know that pizza fans love our

digital and out-of-home, including bus supers, rail

delicious flavour and value our generous toppings.

transitions, bus stop wraps, and flyposting.

This new campaign will encourage even more

Notably, the campaign will have a high impact presence at London Waterloo national rail station, which comprises of heavy brand engagement, such as sampling opportunities.

The brand will launch a 96-sheet special build billboard campaign to promote its Loaded Cheese, Cheesy Stuffed Crust Takeaway pizzas. The ad

32 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 80 WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021

pizza moments while showcasing our fully loaded taste credentials.

“We’re really excited to have extended into out of home formats to increase the reach and the impact of our existing masterbrand campaign.”

The multi-media campaign will run until the end of November.

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – KP SNACKS

KP NUTS UNVEILS NEW MOVEMBER CAMPAIGN The campaign aims to get more people talking about testicular cancer.

KP Snacks has launched a new campaign, as part

people diagnosed each year, yet 62% of those who

of its continued partnership with health charity

are most at risk don’t know how to check themselves.

Movember, to get more people talking about testicular cancer.

Jenny Blanco Barcia, KP Marketing Manager, said: “We are extremely proud to be working along-

The Queen of Drag and winner of season one of

side Movember for another year. KP is the UK’s most

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, The Vivienne, will act as

well-known and best loved nut brand, and we want

KP’s campaign ambassador, featuring in scroll-stop-

to use our brand awareness to help raise awareness

ping video content to encourage those with testicles

of testicular cancer and get people talking as there

to check their nuts.

can be a stigma attached to talking about it.

Social content sees The Vivienne bursting into a

“The Vivienne’s sense of humour and appear-

changing room of footballers, telling them it’s time to

ances on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK makes her the

check their nuts for signs of anything unusual. The

perfect ambassador to tell people ‘Whoever you are,

content is humorous, before sharing self-examination

if you’ve got testicles, check them’ as if caught early,

guidance, with the main message being “Whoever

there is a 95% chance of survival. The campaign

you are, if you have ‘em, check ‘em”.

aims to educate those with testicles on the impor-

Testicular cancer is the number one cancer among people with testicles, with around 70,000

tance of checking their nuts, and we encourage our consumers and retail partners to do just that.”

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 33

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – COCA-COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS

COKE KICKS-OFF CHRISTMAS WITH NEW ON-PACK PROMO Twenty-seven million festive-themed sharing packs of Coca-Cola Original Taste and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar are rolling out now.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

purpose is about bringing people

(CCEP) kicks off its annual Coca-Cola

together and making a difference,

Christmas countdown this month with

and this promotion does exactly

the launch of a brand new on-pack promotion.

that.

“We know that a third of

Twenty-seven million festive-themed sharing packs of

shoppers are already planning a bigger Christmas

Coca-Cola Original Taste

than usual as they reunite

and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar

with family and friends,

are rolling out now, fea-

and with 130 years of

turing the strapline ‘win a

heritage at Christmas

meal, give a meal’.

time, Coca-Cola is the

Shoppers can scan

brand to help them

QR codes on-pack for the

make it happen. At the

chance to win e-vouchers

same time, we know

from Love2Shop. And for

there are people for

every entry, Coca-Cola

whom Christmas is

will donate a meal to its

a particularly difficult

long-term charity part-

time, and we want to

ner, FareShare, a charity

support them too.

set up to fight hunger and

“Last

Christmas

food waste by redistribut-

CCEP’s soft drinks were

ing surplus food to frontline

the biggest contributor of

charities.

soft drinks growth (54%

The festive pack designs

category growth) with

and promotion will run across

Coca-Cola Trademark

sharing formats including

taking the spot as the

large PET bottles and mul-

No.1 soft drink brand,

ti-packs of cans.

making it a must-stock

Martin

Attock,

brand alongside other

Vice-President Commer-

CCEP festive favourites

cial Development at CCEP

including Schweppes and

GB said: “Coca-Cola’s brand

34 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 80 WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021

Appletiser.”

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

TWISTED VODKA

VALUE TOBACCO

Smirnoff has extended its range

JTI is introducing a new Sterling

with a Mango & Passionfruit

Essential 50g format to tap into

Boursin has unveiled its first

Twist vodka. The 700ml bottle

the demand for value roll-your-

plant-based alternative to

will be available exclusively from

own products. The new format

cheese, Boursin Plant-Based

Tesco and Booker wholesalers

has an RSP of just £21.20. The

Garlic & Herbs. The Vegan Certi-

from 3 November, before rolling

company has pledged to main-

fied launch offers a combination

out to other markets from March

tain low prices across its entire

of intense garlic, fragrant pars-

2022. It retails at £16.50 and

Sterling Essential range, follow-

ley and chives in a plant-based

£15.99 for a price-marked pack.

ing the Budget last week.

recipe made from sunflower oil.

RUM EXPANSION

GREEN WINE

PINT OF CIDER

Halewood Artisanal Spirits has

Campo Viejo has updated its

British cider brand, Crumpton

added two new core variants to

bottle design and packaging to

Oaks, is launching a four-pack

its Dead Man’s Fingers range.

make them more sustainable.

pint can to broaden its consumer

Dead Man’s Fingers Black Rum

Labels will change from adhesive

base, attract new shoppers to

(70cl, ABV 40%) is available to

labels to recyclable FSC-certified

the cider category and reinforce

all channels. Dead Man’s Fingers

PET paper, and a reduction in

its quality and value proposition.

White Rum (70cl, ABV 37.5%) is

the label size and redesign of

The new offering launches in a

exclusively available via Tesco/

graphics will use less inks and

£4 price-marked pack of four

Booker until 1 January.

paper.

568ml cans.

CHEESE ALTERNATIVE

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 35

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX

Going wild

The Range is introducing ecological areas outside its UK stores.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

introduction of wildflowers and meadow grass, creating the perfect environment for hedgehogs. This also encourages the introduction of a plethora of insects, including bees, butterflies, ladybirds and caterpillars. This includes patches of dill, oregano, lavender, yellow mustard and many other plant varieties. The Range will also be introducing bird boxes.

One of the key elements of The Range’s Rewilding project is the provision of hedgehog houses in these areas.

Hedgehogs can use log piles, compost heaps, shrubs, piles of leaves and other similar materials from your garden to create their own homes, but you can also buy or build a permanent structure to house your prickly garden guest.

Rewilding areas outside stores.

TELL US MORE...

Home, leisure and garden retailer The Range is working with The British Hedgehog Preservation Society and suppliers, Mr Fothergill’s and Johnston & Jeff, to create ecological areas for its stores.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The rewilding areas ­around verges, grassy banks, and dense wooded areas – aim to preserve and encourage surrounding wildlife, helping it to thrive, and each space is up to 6m2.

HOW DO I SET UP MY OWN REWILDING PROJECT? The rewilding project starts with the

36 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 80 WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021

Another important element of the project is joining up habitats where possible by creating Hedgehog Highways, small gaps in the bottom of boundary fences to allow hedgehogs to travel through the environment. Hedgehogs travel around a mile a night, so connectivity is vital.

ANYTHING ELSE? The Range has a line to enable shoppers to create their own rewilding spaces, which includes hedgehog houses.The retailer’s stores will also have collection boxes placed at tills supporting the British Hedgehog Society Preservation.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING? The Range’s Chief Executive, Alexander Simpkin, said: “We take our environ-

mental responsibility very seriously. Partnering with like-minded organisations, on projects such as this, as part of our store expansion programme ensures environmental efficiency. We look forward to continue working with the organisations involved to provide these rewilding spaces in our stores and invite customers to create similar areas in their own gardens.”

Fay Vass, Chief Executive Officer of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said: “It’s been great to support The Range with their rewilding project. Since the year 2000, hedgehogs have declined by half in the countryside, and a third in urban areas, which means this work is vital.

“There’s lots of information and tips on supporting hedgehogs available in stores and online now. Plus, you can create your own rewilding space in your garden as the products are available to purchase instore and online.”

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? There’es more on the Rewilding Project section of The Range’s website.

You’ll find articles and blogs that provide you with information on how to help your local wildlife, as well as peruse all sorts of tools and accessories to get you started on your own rewilding journey.

It is now illegal to sell National Lottery products to anyone under the age of 18

TOP TIPS TO PREVENT UNDERAGE SALES ` Always look at customers to assess their age ` If in doubt, ask for ID ` Ensure all staff are fully trained to correctly ask for ID

ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION ● Passport ● Photo Driving Licence ● Military ID Card ● Or any ID which has the PASS logo, e.g. CitizenCard

NO ID NO SALE Players must be 18+ to buy and play any National Lottery product

Rules & Procedures apply. Players must be 18+.

283789 TNL ATP Column Ad Retail Express AW1.indd 1

28/09/2021 09:24

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 37

RRP

PACK OF 10

RRP

PACK OF 20

£4.90 THE UK’s £9.60 *

*

No.1 CIGARILLO

1

*RRP effective 28/07/2021. Retailers are free at all times to sell JTI products at whatever price they choose.

[1] IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Total Cigarillo Category, Total UK, Jun 2021.

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

No carrots, plenty of stick Tesco has come in for some stick on social media for using cardboard cutouts of produce to fill gaps in the fruit and veg aisle.

The move is the supermarket giant’s answer to the Britain’s rapidly-escalating supply chain crisis, caused by a shortage of HGV drivers and exacerbated by a dearth of pickers and packers on farms and in food processing plants.

Before the Twitter comments predictably degenerated in a pro- or anti-Brexit squabble one wag said that “cardboard asparagus was seen in London and fake carrots spotted in Fakenham”. Another pointed out that “at last the cardboard copper standing in the doorway of the supermarket won’t feel alone”.

The fiendish ploy is not a new one, apparently first surfacing in response to

manufacturers downsizing product ranges. This means that a lot of stores are now just too big. Other tactics include devoting entire aisles to packs of beer and filling fridges with bottles of tomato sauce.

Which brings us nicely to another First World problem that puts the asparagus shortage in the shade: should you keep ketchup in the cupboard or the fridge?

Rubbish photos

You might be aware there’s a climate change conference taking place in the UK just now, and it seems everyone and their celebrity photographer are clamouring to get involved.

Better known for capturing the world’s most famous faces – including royal pensioners Her Majesty, The Queen and Her Madge, Madonna

– celebrity photographer Rankin has now turned his camera on food waste as COP26 kicks-off in Glasgow.

Dialling up the photography analogies up to 11, Paisley-born snapper Rankin explained: “It’s time we viewed food waste through the same, if not a more dangerous lens, than single-use plastics. “Shooting the plastic bottles

out of food waste is my way of bringing this misconception into focus.”

The pictures feature a variety of ingredients including pancakes, cucumbers, strawberries and loaves of bread.

Is it just us, or are the resulting images – which took Rankin and his team more than two weeks to create – just a bit… rubbish?

WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 80 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 39