The Week in Retail 81

RETAIL THE WEEK IN

WHOLESALE

CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN

XXX

BESTWAY INVESTS £250K IN FESTIVE PUSH

SYMBOL GROUPS

NEW STORES FOR SPAR SCOTLAND

AIRDRIE AND MOSSTLODOCH WELCOME NEW STORES NISA DOUBLES NUMBER OF STORES OFFERING SCAN & SAVE UK SET TO BREAK EV RECORDS CONVENIENCE STORE PENETRATION INCREASES SUSTAINABILITY

REFILLABLES

CO-OP AND UNILEVER LAUNCH TRIAL

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Issue 81 Wednesday 10th November 2021

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

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Long road ahead The driver shortage issue continued to rumble on this week – and could stretch until the end of next year according to some predictions – with some concerning news that 38% of consumers are reporting finding it harder than normal to buy essential items.

Barclaycard’s latest Consumer Confidence figures reveal that the top five items that consumers are struggling to get hold of are: fresh fruit and vegetables, ingredients for home cooking, frozen goods, fresh meat and fish, and soft drinks.

But not all is not lost. The national press has this week been reporting that Network Rail is working with other freight carriers, ports and trade bodies to ensure Christmas food and goods make it to shops in time.

The rail organisation is reportedly increasing capacity on lines to and from Felixstowe from 37 to 40 services a day and has reduced disruption caused by engineering works on the Fenland route from the port. It is also working with operators to deliver longer, heavier trains so more goods can carried, which is excellent news for the environment as well as consumers.

More positive news came as ministers unveiled a sweeping review on driver training, a move which has been welcomed by the haulage trade bodies Logistics UK and the Road Haulage Association and by the Unite union.

Minsters have also been addressing the need for more lorry parking and better services in lorry parks in England.

And if things get really desperate, Walmart has begun using driverless trucks in the US, and Kodiak Robotics – one of the last privately held autonomous truck outfits in Silicon Valley – has raised $125m in new funding to expand autonomous service capabilities coast to coast.

It appears things are moving in the right direction, the government is tackling longstanding issues, but only time will tell whether that’s enough to help stores avoid Christmas shortages this year.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

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AWARD WINNG TEAM Sy mb ol G r o up of the Yea r

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CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81

6

10 THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

Illegal vape devices are seized in Walsall, and the Government tackles the HGV driver shortage.

41 COVER STORY

SUSTAINABILITY

Co-op and Unilever team-up for two reusable packaging store trials, to gain a deeper understanding of consumer behaviour towards refillable packs.

A Scottish Wholesale Association report highlights the scale of the challenge the food and drink wholesale sector faces in transitioning to net zero.

9 Covid-19 update

29 Business intelligence

39 Trade association news

15 Wholesalers

Bestway’s Christmas marketing campaign.

C-store visits rise; ‘bleak’ consumer confidence; ‘big shop’ trend returns.

Retailer margins cut and a new report into the card-acquiring market review.

17 Symbol groups: Spar Scotland

35 Post Office

45 Picks of the week

Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals

49 Out the box: eCargo bikes

exceed £2.9bn for second month running.

Two new stores open.

19 Symbol groups: Nisa

Scan & Save stores double; Amacor

37 Forecourts

Capital extends portfolio; cutting food

waste; £4 steak & chips deal.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

DHL trials an electric delivery bike with a range of around 40 miles.

Trade body SMTT says the UK is set to

51 Before you go...

break electric vehicle records.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

Our latest Retail Randoms.

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

JJ TO TARGET RETAIL IN 2022 JJ Foodservice unveiled plans to double its home retail range from 500 products to 1,000 by

VAPING

Trading standards continues mission to ‘vaporise’ illegal vapes Hundreds of illegal and branded vape pens have been seized in Walsall.

the first half of 2022 at its first supplier conference in London.

The company also revealed new projects for 2022 including new branches and improved service for customers.

CRACKING NEWS An online petition asking supermarkets to stop importing eggs for use in British products has become one of the most successful on change.org.

The petition, which has more than 35,000 signatures, was launched by British Lion Egg Processors and has received support from MPs and celebrity influencers.

NI CARD SCHEME EXTENDED The deadline to spend Northern Ireland’s £100 high street voucher has been extended by two weeks. The pre-paid Spend Local cards were due to expire on 30 November but will remain valid until 14 December. The cards aim to encourage people back to their local high streets and support local businesses.

Bags of illegal super strength disposable vape pens have seized from a range of shop premises in the centre of Walsall.

The vapes, seized during a series of recent covert operations, have an estimated street value of £14,000.

Trading standards officers bagged up hundreds of illegal and branded

vape bars, bearing popular names like GEEK Bar Pro, Super Stix, and Elf. Some of these vapes contain five times the amount of nicotine and e-liquid that is legal – with an average vape yielding up to 1,500 puffs – the equivalent of smoking over 100 cigarettes. Another brand seized on the day was the ‘ELUX Bar’ – a single device has a total puff count equal to 200 cigarettes.

Councillor Garry Perry, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, said: “The sale of these super strength pens and vapes is widespread in a range of businesses – not just in Walsall, but across the whole country. The council is very concerned to see products like these ‘normalised’ in different settings. In some cases, they have even turned up in fish and chip shops.”

Spending on essential items increases Consumer spending at supermarkets and food & drink specialist stores grew 14.2% and 69.2%, respectively, new research reveals.

The latest data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, shows that 38% of consumers report finding it harder than normal to buy essential items due to shortages on the shelves, although this does

6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 81 WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021

represent an improvement on last month.

The top five items among shoppers who were struggling to make some purchases were: fresh fruit and vegetables (42%), ingredients for home cooking (30%), frozen goods (28%), fresh meat and fish (25%), and soft drinks (24%).

Meanwhile, fuel spend saw 5.5% growth after last month’s 11.1% surge.

NEWS DIGEST

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

FOOD AND DRINK SALES MUTED

SUPPLY CHAIN

Government tackles driver shortage Ministers outline the latest in a raft of 30 measures to support the logistics sector.

Food sales increased by 1.5% on a total basis and 0.3% on a like-for-like basis in the three

The government has this week unveiled new measures to tackle the driver shortage, which is still hampering the food and drink supply chain.

Ministers announced a sweeping review on driver training which will seek to improve compulsory ongoing training for HGV drivers.

Drivers currently need to undergo five days of periodic training every five

years to ensure they remain fully qualified, but some drivers are left to pay for this themselves and are not paid while attending courses.

The government is also working to identify lorry parks across the country where short-term facilities such as temporary toilets, showers and catering can be delivered in the coming months. It has committed to review guidance that will assist this.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This is the latest in a raft of 30 measures we’ve taken to support this vital sector and encourage drivers to return to the job or kickstart a new career in the industry. These measures are working – there is no backlog of HGV licence applications and we’re seeing over a thousand more people than normal apply for a licence each week.”

Best-One digital investments bearing fruit Best-One has seen the strongest growth of tracked convenience brands across the 12-weeks to 17 October, according to Lumina Intelligence’s latest Convenience Tracking Programme.

The figures – which look at key metrics around basket size, frequency, and how spend has changed when compared with the previous 12 weeks – show BestOne’s share of occasions increased by 1.2 percentage points.

The result comes as Best-One is heavily investing in digital platforms and trials around hybrid offering of its stores.

Mike Hollis, Bestway’s Director of Retail, said: “The coming 12 weeks will also give us further fascinating insights into how consumer behaviours may be shifting and with the festive season about to shift up a gear – it will be highly competitive period as the sector competes for share of market.”

months to October, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. The figures are below the 12-month total average growth of 4.7%. The BRC said items intended for Christmas gifts started to see a significant increase in demand.

FINANCIAL AID GroceryAid is dedicating November to chat about money and the support it can offer. The charity has introduced a new Financial Wellbeing section to its website, with information on budgeting, creating financial breathing space, and preparing for large financial outgoings.

SAINSBURY’S BACK IN BLACK Sainsbury’s has reported a 5.3% increase in sales to £15.7bn in the six months to 18 September. Grocery sales rose 0.8% despite tough comparatives last year. The multi returned to profits in the half-year, posting a pre-tax profit of £541m, compared to a loss of £179m a year earlier.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7

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.

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

Government acts to resolve remaining Covid-19 commercial rent debts

WALMART INTRODUCES DRIVERLESS

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill could establish a legally-binding arbitration process for landlords and tenants who have not reached an agreement.

Walmart is operating two operating autonomous trucks without a safety driver behind the wheel in the US. The two vehicles are being supplied by Gatik, a start-up that focuses on logistics for the retail industry, to deliver online orders from a distribution centre to a store in Bentonville, Arkansas.

From there customers can

should negotiate with their landlord in the expectation that the landlord waives some or all rent arrears where they are able to do so.

From 25 March 2022, new laws introduced in the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill, introduced in Parliament this week, will establish a legally-binding arbitration process for commercial landlords and tenants who have not reached an agreement following the principles in the Code of Practice. Subject to Parliamentary passage, this will come into force next year.

These laws will come into force in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland will have a power in the Bill to introduce similar legislation.

collect their orders.

The trucks are running on a seven-mile loop of public roads between

TECH SOLUTIONS

T

he government has unveiled new laws and a Code of Practice to resolve the remaining commercial rent debts accrued because of the pandemic. Commercial tenants are protected from eviction until 25 March 2022 following government action last year. This provides time for landlords and tenants to negotiate how to share the cost of commercial rent debts caused by the pandemic.

These negotiations will now be underpinned by a new Code of Practice, providing landlords and tenants with a clear process for settling outstanding debts before the new arbitration process comes into force. The code sets out that, in the first instance, tenants unable to pay in full

the store and distribution centre for 12 hours a day.

The Walmart and Gatik are partnering on a similar initiative on a 20mile route in Louisiana between Metairie and New Orleans, Walmart announced in December, but that system still uses safety drivers.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 9

C OV E R

REFI

Unilever partnersup with C The trial will test ‘Refill on the go’

C

o-op and Unilever have partnered to launch two refill packaging store trials, with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of consumer behaviour towards refillable and reusable packaging in a convenience environment.The partnership follows the successful launch of Unilever’s largest refill trial in Europe in Asda’s sustainability store in Leeds last year.

The trial will test two refill models – ‘Refill on the go’ and ‘Return on the go’ – and some of Unilever’s best-known brands will be available in reusable stainless steel bottles.

Unilever’s ‘Return on the go’ scheme – which is being trialled near Wolverhampton – enables consumers to pick up pre-filled stainless-steel bottles and return in-store once used.

The ‘Refill on the go’ approach – trialled in a larger Co-op store in West Yorkshire – allows customers to purchase and refill re-useable stainless-steel bottles using a standalone refill machine in-store.

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 81 WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021

The trial – which tests different refill models, store formats and locations – is now available in Co-op’s convenience store in Wolverhampton Rd, Codsall, and will extend to the Co-op store in Marsh, Huddersfield, later this month.

Ian McCutcheon, Head of Format Development for the Co-op, commented: “We are continually working to develop new ways to provide added services and choice conveniently. The refillable packaging trials with Unilever are designed to test and learn from consumer behaviour, while providing easy and quick ways for shoppers to cut their plastic consumption.

S T O RY

ILLS

Coop to expand refill trial and ‘Return on the go’ concepts.

steels bottles, we continue to test different models, store formats and locations across the UK to see how shoppers respond, what works best, and what we need to adapt and change. Working closely with partners like Co-op, we can help people to make more sustainable choices every day and reduce the single use of virgin plastic with the speed and urgency needed.”

Co-op has unveiled a raft of sustainability measures this year. The convenience retailer announced its 10-point climate change action plan where it pledged to radically reduce the carbon that comes from its Ian McCutcheon products and operations, to become a Net Zero business by 2040 and, including selling fully carbon neutral own-brand food and drink by 2025.

The Co-op already sources 100% renewable electricity to run its stores and has launched an in-store soft plastic recycling scheme for packaging that is unlikely to be collected by local councils’ kerbside collection, and has formed a number of partnerships to combat food waste.

“We need to support consumers in making ethical purchasing decisions – by making it easier for [them] to make small changes, together, we can make a big difference to our environment.”

“We are facing into a climate and environmental crisis, and we need to act now to support consumers in making ethical purchasing decisions – by making it easier for shoppers to make small changes to their lives, together, we can make a big difference to our environment.”

Unilever UK & Ireland General Manager and Executive Vice-President, Sebastian Munden, added: “Our trials with Co-op include our first test of refillable products in a smaller convenience store setting, helping us to further build our understanding of how refills work in different store sizes, locations and shopping missions.

“There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ for reuse and refill. Offering a range of our trusted brands and products in refillable stainless

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

P U R E W O P S E L A S YOUR

H T I W K N I R D Y G R E N E E HIGH CAFFEIN U R B N R I F O E T S A T E L B A B THE INDESCRI

H S I T T O C S 1 .

0 N FROM THE * D N A R B Y R E C O GR *Source: Kantar World Panel, Value Sales, Take Home Non-Alcohol Brands, MAT to 06.09.20, Total Scotland

ENERGY *1IS GROWING 6 X FASTER THAN SOFT DRINKS & DELIVERS THE HIGHEST*2 PROFIT PER LITRE FOR RETAILERS

NEARLY 1 IN 2 DRINKS SOLD IS AN ENERGY DRINK*3

FLAVOURS NOW ACCOUNT FOR 34% OF MAINSTREAM ENERGY PRODUCTS*4

66% of shoppers always buy the same size*5 energy can

MERCHANDISE WITH ENERGY

FLAVOURED ENERGY IS GROWING FASTER THAN ORIGINAL ENERGY*4

RETAILERS SEE 70% GROWTH FROM LISTING BOTH SIZES*6 OF IRN-BRU ENERGY

BLOCK BY BRAND

2 FACINGS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT

STOCK THE FULL RANGE TO MAXIMISE YOUR GROWTH OPPORTUNITY *1: IRI MARKETPLACE, VALUE SALES, MAT TO 28/08/2021, SCOTLAND CONVENIENCE. *2: IRI MARKETPLACE, PPL & AVERAGE MARGINS, MAT TO 19/04/2020, SCOTLAND CONVENIENCE *3: IRI MARKETPLACE, VALUE ESALES, DRINK NOW, MAT TO 28/08/21, SCOTLAND SYMBOLS & INDEPENDENTS. *4: IRI MARKETPLACE, VALUE SALES, MAINSTREAM DRINK NOW ENERGY EXCL. ORIGINAL, MAT TO 28/08/21, TOTAL COVERAGE *5: IRI Marketplace, Value sales, MAT to 14/08/21, Total Scotland. *6: RETAILER DATA AUGUST 2021

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)

WHOLESALE

BESTWAY WHOLESALE

Bestway unveils £250k Christmas campaign A Christmas house will be constructed in around 35 depots and POS theatre will feature in smaller sites to showcase festive products.

B

estway has launched a Christmas campaign across all its nationwide depots, representing more than £250,000 of investment.

The ‘Your Home This Christmas’ campaign, bring held in collaboration with key suppliers, has been designed to create theatre, fun, and visual appeal.

It will see a large Christmas house constructed in around 35 depots with large sleighs and reindeer, and POS theatre in smaller sites where space is a challenge.

Retailers can visit the Christmas house, which is packed with

festive products. Each features a supplier-branded room, with product pallets that will rotate in four weeks to refresh the product offers. Large digital screens will highlight special products, retailer promotions, and supplier content.

The campaign is supported by a competition giving retailers the chance to win a share of a £56,000 prize fund. There will be one lucky winner every two weeks in each depot across the campaign, where the winner receives credit of £250 to be taken in January 2022, giving a total of 224 winners over eight weeks.

Kenton Burchell, Trading Director for Bestway Wholesale and Retail, said: “Our Christmas house encompasses theatre and is a perfect forum for suppliers to showcase their Christmas products. Never before have we looked to physically ‘bring alive’ Christmas in this way, or with such investment.

“What’s really important here is that after a challenging two years for the whole industry, the whole concept is designed to support, appreciate and reward our customers, and our suppliers too.”

Bestway’s Your Home at Christmas campaign is also supported by a trade press media campaign and through the company’s digital platforms, including a Bestway digital ‘takeover’ campaign, which is prominent across its website.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 15

.

E G N A R T H G I .

R P E M H U T J STOCK TCH YOUR SALES WA COUNT AC S U K TH S G W N O I R M G R Y O R F O EG PER T 0 A 1 C P Y O G T R E E H N T E FOR 73% OF

THE MUST STOCK RANGE FROM MONSTER

3RD BIGGES

T IC SKU

LORIE SKU IN NO.1 LOW CRAGY SECTOR THE ENE

RED NO 2 FLAVDORUINK E N E R GY

RED NO.1 FLAVORUINK E N E R GY D

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

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: Top 10 performing SKUS = 73% of energy category growth, Nielsen Total GB MAT Value w/e 19.06.2021. 3rd biggest IC soft drink SKU in Indies & Symbols, 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. 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.

SYMBOL GROUPS

SPAR SCOTLAND

Airdrie welcomes new Spar store

I

The Stirling Street store previously operated under the Day Today fascia.

ndependent retailer Jigneshkumar Chauhan has opened a new Spar store on Stirling Street, Airdrie.

The store, which previously operated under the Day Today fascia, features Smokin’ Bean coffee, Tango Ice Blast, f ’real shakes and smoothies, Fwip Ice Cream, Rollover Hot Dogs, Brownings Bakery, ATM, Lottery, and PayPoint.

Jigneshkumar said: “I am delighted to be the latest independent retailer to join the successful Spar family in Scotland. I am so happy with the support I have received since moving to Spar and I regret not joining sooner.”

Derek Murray, Regional Sales Manager for Spar Scotland, added:

“Jigneshkumar is new to Spar, but already he is looking to see how he can

develop his business further. We look forward to watching his business grow.”

SPAR MOSSTLODOCH SERVICE STATION OPENS DOORS Retailer Suraj Thapa has opened a store and service station in Mosstlodoch, Moray. The store provides a Post Office, car care section, and a wide selection of news and magazines. A large foodto-go area includes Costa Coffee, Rollover Hot Dogs, Tango Ice Blast, and Fwip Ice Cream, as well as a hot foodto-go counter. Paypoint and an ATM are also available for customers to use.

In addition, the JET-branded forecourt has six lanes and car parking for 20 cars. There is also a car wash, vacuum and air.

Suraj said: “We have owned the store for over two years, and we are delighted to have transformed it into a fantastic Spar store. As well as our huge range of malt whiskies, we are stocking a large range of food-to-go, a larger chill range, and also local suppliers.”

Derek Murray, Regional Sales Manager for Spar Scotland, said: “They have invested in a significant refit, and the store and forecourt look fantastic. We are looking forward to supporting the business and its development well into the future.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 17

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

NISA

Nisa doubles number of stores offering Jisp’s Scan & Save The symbol group says the response to the Scan & Save initiative has been “absolutely brilliant”.

N

isa Retail has doubled the number of stores participating in Jisp’s Scan & Save rollout, bringing the total to 25.

The news comes after a successful eight-week pilot, with nearly 400 customers making more than 12,700 scans, 5,800 taps, and 3,300 redemptions on 65 big-brand products.

To boost customer engagement Jisp launched a ‘Scan a Grand’ competition where any lucky shopper can scan a participating product barcode and win £1,000. So far four winners have been selected, with the company extending the competition to reward a further six lucky winners. The company has also launched another Cadbury hamper competition with Mondelez, where any Cadbury Nuttier bar scan can grant a big box of chocolate goodies delivered to a customer’s house.

Jisp is now almost tripling their offers via augmented reality vouchers. More than 150 products will be Jisp-enabled in stores from brands such as Hovis, Molson Coors, AB InBev, Kellogg’s, Britvic and FrieslandCampina.

Julian Fisher, Chief Executive of Jisp, said: “What a fantastic achievement for everyone involved to see positive results

in such a short amount of time. I believe I speak for all our partners when I say that the stats have been overwhelming and well above expectations. We see that people are not only adopting this new way of shopping quickly but are also coming back for more deals, which boosts loyalty and brings additional sales for brands and retailers.”

James Taylor, Head of Central Operations at Nisa, added: “The response to the Scan & Save initiative has been absolutely brilliant and it’s great that we’ve been able to increase the number of Nisa partners getting involved in the service.

Scan and Save is an excellent way of improving engagement with shoppers, which is so important.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19

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%**

SYMBOL GROUPS

NISA

Another acquisition for Amacor The Nisa retailer has already bought five stores this year.

I

ndependent convenience group Amacor Capital has added another store to it portfolio with the acquisition of a West Yorkshire business.

The Nisa Local symbol store at Denby Dale, near Huddersfield, has become the 17th store for the group that operates shops across northern and central England, as well as parts of Wales.

Amacor, a Nisa retailer for the past three years, primarily targets existing sites to take over and the group has ambitions to grow the business to more than 30 stores in the next 12 months.

The latest store will retain its Nisa Local fascia following the sale, meaning shoppers will still be able to access the existing range including the Co-op own brand as well as the popular promotions and deals.

Alex Wilson, Head of Acquisitions at Amacor, said: “We’re delighted to get this sale over the line and make it our 17th store for the group and number five for the year.

“We’ll be keeping the same in-store team with one of the existing members of staff being promoted to the store manager role, meaning shoppers will not only continue to be able buy the same great products but they’ll also see the same friendly faces.”

Amacor plans to install a coffee machine and to introduce newspaper sales.

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 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 21

SYMBOL GROUPS

FOOD WASTE

Cumbria retailers tackle food waste

Nisa Local store in Barrow-in-Furness are encouraging their customers to use food waste app Gander.

A

recently launched Nisa Local store in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, is partnering with app Gander to tackle food waste.

The solution enables the store to list reduced to clear products onto the app, which sends alerts to those who are signed up. They then call into the store, knowing what products are available.

The app updates in real-time meaning as soon as a product is sold it no longer appears on the app. The app is free to download from the Apple and Android app stores.

Retailers Karen and Paul Stephenson are promoting the app in store to encourage customers to download it and help reduce the amount of food going to waste and save money at the same time.

Karen said: “We have a really big fresh range in the store which means there is a risk of high levels of waste, especially as it is still early days and shoppers are getting used to what we stock and so we are still tailoring the range.

“The Gander app works really well at a local level. When reductions are

made in store, customers are alerted and can then pop in to get their bargain. As well as highlighting savings to our local community it also helps to reduce waste and the amount of food going to landfills so the store and our customers are able to play a small part in sustainability and tackling the global issue of climate change.”

The Gander app is also proving popular with other Nisa retailers. In August it was announced that CK Foodstores, in South Wales, is rolling out the food waste app to 23 stores.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

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till And s

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journey towards 100% recycled or renewable plastic in all our bottles, and the creation of a circular economy for our PET packaging.

To find out more email connect@ccep.com, call 0808 1 000 000 or visit my.ccep.com *Except label and cap. ©2021 Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. All rights reserved.

COCA-COLA, COCA-COLA ZERO SUGAR, DIET COKE, SMARTWATER, FANTA, SPRITE, DR PEPPER are registered trade marks.

SYMBOL GROUPS

NISA

Nisa’s steak night deals The symbol group’s latest Big Deal provides retailers with an opportunity to inspire shoppers.

N

isa retailers will this month be offering shoppers a Big Deal on a steak dinner for two.

The deal, which is running until Tuesday 23 November, includes two Co-op Ranch Steaks and Co-op Skinny Fries for £4, saving Nisa shoppers up to £3.50 off the RSP. Nisa’s latest Big Deal also includes a vegan alternative: Co-op GRO Kievs alongside Co-op Skinny Fries for £3.50.

Shoppers can also pick up a Co-op Irresistible Sticky Toffee Sponge

Pudding for £2, saving £1.89, and a bottle of Co-op Fairtrade Shiraz for £5.50.

The offer is supported by a range of in-store POS including bus stops, shelf talkers, wobblers and shelf stripping, as well as being highlighted to consumers on the Nisa Locally social media pages and website.

Hannah Goodwin, Nisa’s Seasonal Manager, said: “Most shoppers plan at least some of their weekly meals however over a third change their minds to reflect the products they can spot on

offer, making our latest Big Deal a great opportunity for our partners to inspire shoppers this November.

“With more than half of shoppers purchasing their meal for tonight on impulse, we’re encouraging our partners to ensure the offer is highlighted with the dedicated POS and placed in a high footfall area of the store to draw maximum attention.

We also recommend stocking additional accompaniments to The Big Deal, such as desserts and refreshments, to enhance the offer and drive additional basket spend.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

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BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

LUMINA INTELLIGENCE

Convenience store penetration increases, data reveals Consumers are visiting convenience stores more frequently, according to new research by Lumina Intelligence.

T

he proportion of shoppers visiting convenience stores increased by 9% in the 12 weeks ending 17 October, new research reveals.

The latest data from the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme shows the proportion of shoppers using c-stores rose from 49% to 58% in the past 12 weeks.

During the same period, shoppers visited convenience stores more frequently, up 4% to 2.8 times per week on average and, despite a 3% decline in average basket size, basket value increased by 21% from £8.58 per trip to £10.38.

In addition, the proportion of convenience store occasions that were delivered increased by 2% to 7% and click-and-collect rose slightly by 0.2%, as in-store declined by 2% to 91%.

The research shows planned top-up remains the primary mission within convenience, accounting for 23% of all trips.

Newsagent missions increased by 2% to 21%, driven by older consumers becoming less risk averse due to the rollout of booster vaccines.

The proportion of shoppers purchasing on impulse increased by 1% during the 12-week period, to account for 56% of purchases. “It was on promotion/ special offer” increased as a reason for impulse purchasing, with consumers eager to utilise promos, and purchasing of price-marked packs increased to 48%.

Commenting on the research, Katherine Prowse, Senior Insight Manager at

Lumina Intelligence, said: “A real positive for UK convenience is the large increase in spend per trip and the increased frequency. The decrease in basket size indicates that either shoppers are opting for more premium products or prices have increased – we expect a combination of the two.

“Delivery continues to be an opportunity for retailers to widen their shopper catchment area, despite restrictions easing and great movement of people.

More convenience stores are working with the likes of Deliveroo and Uber Eats, as well as start-ups including Snappy Shopper and Getir to boost their delivery offerings.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE

Consumer confidence figures paint ‘bleak picture’ for winter IGD research shows concerns around food price inflation are at elevated levels..

C

onsumer confidence has fallen to its second-lowest level since 2013, following a decline in five out of the past six months, new research shows.

The October 2021 Shopper Confidence Index from ShopperVista – which provides category, insight and commercial professionals with shopper insights – shows shopper confidence fell to -11, down from -9 in September.

The research reveals concerns around food price inflation are at elevated levels, with 84% of shoppers expect food and grocery prices to increase in the year ahead, and a record 28% expect them to get “much more” expensive. As a result, 26% of shoppers expecti to focus more on saving money in the year ahead, which is the highest level recorded in six years.

The research shows overall financial confidence has declined, with 34% of shoppers expecting to be worse off in the year ahead, up 3% on last month. Confidence has declined across all income groups, but particularly amongst lower income households.

In addition, shopper confidence is declining across most age groups, but particularly among 25 to 34-year-olds and the over-45s.

Simon Wainwright, Director of Global Insight at IGD, said: “It comes as no surprise that shopper confidence has decreased once again, following the steady decline we’ve seen in recent months. It paints a bleak picture for the winter and shoppers will remain highly sensitive to price rises and news relating to availability. With labour supply stretched thin and declining confidence, the Christmas trading

period is likely to be a challenging time.”

He added: “While some households will look for ways to trade-up this Christmas to compensate for missing out on last year, ‘savvy shopping’ will become increasingly prevalent. People will shop around to get the best deals and private label products will grow in popularity. Value will be top of shoppers’ minds for the foreseeable future.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31

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On the lead up to Christmas, Schweppes Mixer sales in convenience go up by around 50%, so stay stocked up!!**

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To find out more email connect@ccep.com, call 0808 1 000 000 or visit my.ccep.com to request festive Schweppes POS.

Source: Nielsen Total Impulse Value MAT w/2 19.06.21* Nielsen Value Symbols and Indies 2 weeks to Christmas 2018 = 50%; 2019 = 60%; 2020 = 44%**

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

KANTAR

Shopper habits stabilise

Kantar’s research shows that after a tough 18 months consumers are gearing up for bigger and better celebrations.

T

ake-home grocery sales in the UK fell by 1.9% over the 12 weeks to 31 October 2021, but are still 7.3% higher than pre-pandemic figures, according to new data from Kantar.

The figures show the general trend towards bigger, less frequent trips to the supermarket seems set to stay. Households visited the supermarket 15.7 times in the past month on average, up from 15.3 trips in 2020, but consumers are still making 40 million fewer trips per month than in 2019. At this rate, it would take three years to get back to our old shopping patterns, Kantar said.

The research shows digital sales accounted for 12.4% of the total grocery market for the second month in a row.

A fifth of households consistently order groceries online each month, becoming long-term converts.

The figures also shows that sales of cold treatments this month doubled compared with last year, while cough liquids shot up 147%.

The data shows after a tough 18 months, consumers are gearing up for bigger and better celebrations. An unrestricted Halloween drove sales of pumpkins up 26% in the four weeks to 31 October, and with trick or treating back on the cards seasonal confectionery grew by 27%.

The research shows that 4.7 million households bought mince pies in October and frozen poultry sales are 27% higher year-on-year. In addition, 1.6 million households bought their Christmas pudding this month as well, 400,000 more than last year.

Kantar predicts that, as prices increase in certain categories, they expect shoppers to continue to shop around to find the best deals, and already households visit an average of 3.3 supermarkets per month to find the best value for money.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 33

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BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

POST OFFICE

Deposits, withdrawals exceed £2.9bn for second month running New figures show that business and personal cash deposits were still up more than 15% year-on-year.

P

ost Offices handled almost £3bn in cash deposits and withdrawals in October, continuing the strong performance seen in September, new research shows.

The latest Post Office Cash Tracker shows that business cash deposits exceeded £1bn for the fifth month in succession, although saw a 5% fall month-on-month, and personal cash deposits dipped 1.8% monthon-month. Overall, business and personal cash deposits were still up more than 15% year-on-year.

Post Offices saw the highest amount of personal cash withdrawals all year in October, with more than £692m taken out over the counter, an increase of 1% on last month and up almost 18% on last year.

Martin Kearsley, Banking Director at Post Office, said: “Small businesses, particularly in the hospitality and leisure sectors, recognise the value of cash now more than ever. Many of their customers rely on cash, and to ensure services they offer are available to everyone in their communities, they need to accept cash to operate. Post Offices are a local,

secure and reliable place where they can quickly deposit it without missing out on trade.

“October saw another strong month across our network in supporting customers and businesses to deposit and withdraw cash conveniently and securely. Postmasters are keeping their branches open long hours, playing an essential role in the cash ecosystem in their community.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 35

MAKING YOUR STORE

MORE SUSTAINABLE By becoming more sustainable retailers can ensure their store is fit for the future, save time, effort and energy, make their store a more pleasurable place for shoppers and ultimately increase their sales.

We know, however, that it can be difficult to know where to start on the topic.

Which is why this year we teamed up with The Energy Saving Trust to make changes in Amit Patel’s 900sq ft. store in Sandiacre, Derbyshire, and create a case study to show retailers how they can get started on their own sustainability journey.

BEFORE

Our partnership with Amit helped him save more than £600 a year.

The savings we made show that by

AFTER

making changes that benefit both their local community and the wider world, convenience retailers in the UK could cumulatively save an astonishing £28.3M every single year.

The project team made a range of changes both large and small in Amit’s store, designed to show that starting your sustainability journey is something every store can do, without having to spend thousands of pounds.

We implemented new LED lighting, new chillers and new shelving in Amit’s storeroom, as well as making a raft of smaller changes including replacing his CCTV monitor, his heater and adding in a new door-closing mechanism.

By analysing Amit’s monthly electricity consumption we showed that there was a nine per cent reduction during the installation period, which climbed to a 12% reduction after all the installations were completed. That equates to potential financial saving of £610 a year.

We know that not every store is in a position financially to invest in replacing their chillers, but our work in Amit’s store shows that not every change has to be as large as that to make a real difference. Crucially, this project highlights the importance of progression, not perfection.

PROJECTED ANNUAL SAVINGS Comparing a year before with a YEAR DURING all installations Comparing a year before with a YEAR AFTER all installations

Before After

35671 32514

Difference Difference (%)

-3157 -9%

Financial Saving

£446

Before After

34882 30566

Difference Difference (%)

-4316 -12%

Financial Saving

£609

THE RESULTS

£610

PROJECTED ANNUAL SAVINGS FOR AMIT FROM ALL CHANGES

£28.3M

TOTAL PROJECTED SAVINGS ACROSS THE UK’S 46,388 CONVENIENCE STORES

ANDREW PHEASANT, HEAD OF REGIONAL ACCOUNTS AT SBF GB&I “We know that not every store is in a position financially to invest in replacing their chillers, but our work in Amit’s store shows that not every change has to be as large as that to make a real difference.

AMIT PATEL, PREMIER TOWN STREET IN SANDIACRE “This project has been fantastic to work on. I’m already seeing the benefits of the changes – both in terms of my energy savings and the feedback from my shoppers, who love what I’m doing and the way the store looks now.

“If the UK’s 46,388 convenience stores made these sustainability-focused alterations, the total savings across the channel could be up to £28.3M per year.”

“Thinking more about how we impact the environment is incredibly important for many reasons, and I urge all retailers to look at how they can start doing just that”.

TO SEE MORE OF AMIT’S SHOP AND FOR ADVICE FOLLOW @SUNTORYBF_GBI ON TWITTER AND LINKEDIN

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

UK set to break EV records, says SMMT

The trade body is forecasting that businesses and consumers will take up around 287,000 of the latest zero-emission capable cars during 2021.

N

ew plug-in vehicle uptake rates have accelerated so rapidly that more will join Britain’s roads in 2021 than during the whole of the past decade, according to the latest forecast from SMMT. The trade body now expects Britain to break its plug-in records, forecasting that businesses and consumers will take up around 287,000 of the latest zero-emission capable cars during 2021 alone – around one in six new cars.

The UK is aiming to be the first major automotive market to end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars in 2030.

Electric vehicle registrations are also expected to exceed those of diesel by the end of 2022 based on current predictions.

The SMMT said the rise is even more remarkable given that 2021 is expected to be a relatively weak year for new car registrations, some 30% below the average recorded over the past decade. The semiconductor shortage has reduced overall global car production, but manufacturers have done all they can to ensure the availability of as many plug-in vehicles as possible.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “As Britain hosts COP26 and seeks to align the world in committing to achieving net zero and limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, our

latest outlook shows the UK experiencing a surge in plug-in vehicle uptake. Massive investment by industry as well as long standing government incentives have seen us go from just 188 new plug-in cars in 2010, to almost 300,000 in 2021.

“To achieve net zero by the desired date, however, uptake rates must continue to grow. This requires ongoing incentives to help consumers make the switch and significant investment in public charging infrastructure. Backed by the ingenuity and innovation of the automotive sector, we can then deliver zero-emission mobility that is accessible and affordable for all.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 37

BUSINESS NEWS

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Newsquest cuts retailer margins NFRN reacts angrily to news that Newsquest is reducing retailers’ margins at the same time as increasing the price of its regional and local titles.

P

ublisher Newsquest is reducing retailers’ margins at the same time as increasing the price of its regional and local titles.

The daily editions of the Worcester News, Swindon Advertiser, Bolton News, Flintshire Leader, and Wrexham Leader went from 75p to 80p on 8 November. Copies of the Oxford Mail rose 7p per day to 85p and the price of the Lancashire Telegraph increased by 3p to 75p per edition.

Most of Newsquest’s weekly titles are also subject to increases of 5p or 10p per copy.

In addition, the publisher intends to reduce its terms to retailers from 15% to 14.5% in the case of most of its titles.

NFRN Head of News and Connect, Brian Murphy, said: “Other major publishers including Reach, News UK and GNM have all included pro rata terms

for retailers as part of price increases to their titles. These publishers recognised and publicly acknowledged the vital part independent newsagents and retailers have played to maintain and increase sales of newspapers during the Covid pandemic.

“The decision made by Newsquest is nothing short of disgraceful and shows a total lack of appreciation for the independent retail sector.”

The NFRN warned that its members affected by the changes may think twice about continuing to stock these titles.

CARD-ACQUIRING MARKET REVIEW REPORT WELCOMED The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed the publication of the Payment Systems Regulator’s (PSR) final report into the card-acquiring market review.

The report recognises the need to encourage retailers to search and switch or negotiate a better deal with existing

providers and to reduce the obstacles to retailers getting a better deal.

ACS Chief Executive,

James Lowman, said: “We are calling for the Payment Systems Regulator to further investigate and remedy card scheme fees to ensure the market functions well for acquirers, retailers and ultimately consumers.”

The PSR will launch a remedies consultation in early 2022.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 39

S U S TA I N

SCOTTISH WHOLES

Wholesalers ‘need government help’ to reduce carbon footprint An SWA report highlights to the Scottish Government and its agencies the scale of the challenge the food and drink wholesale sector faces in the transition to net zero.

S

cottish food and drink wholesalers want to reduce their carbon footprint but need more support from the Scottish Government to get there, a new report concludes.

The report – the Scottish Wholesale Association’s (SWA) findings from the first phase of its ‘Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry’ project – asks for wider financial support from government to set up a wholesale fleet audit service, enable the transition to green fleets, and for research that will help identify further routes to efficiencies within the wholesale sector.

Colin Smith, SWA Chief Executive, said: “We need the Scottish Government to provide financial support for wholesalers to implement a wholesale industry-wide driver efficiency training programme to reduce emissions.

“Some of our members are already using tools to help reduce emissions through driver efficiencies but we need more financial support to enable more wholesalers, particularly smaller ones who have suffered so much over the past 18 months, to join us on this important journey.”

The report’s other key findings include:

● The Scottish wholesale indus-

● There are currently no commer-

try fleet operates a total of 2,198

cially viable zero-emission HGVs

vehicles.

available in the UK.

● Its baseline vehicle carbon emis-

● Hydrogen-powered vehicles would

sions equate to 111,000 tonnes of

appear to be the only commercially

CO2 per annum.

viable option for HGVs but adop-

● 75% of the sector’s total fleet emissions are from HGVs.

tion is many years away. ● The prohibitive cost of vehicles/

● HGVs account for 48% of the total

adaptation, and lack of fuelling

fleet and represent more than

infrastructure, is preventing whole-

3% of all the HGVs registered in

salers transitioning to hydrogen.

Scotland.

40 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 81 WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021

● Vans account for 16% of the total

NABILITY

SALE ASSOCIATION

fleet and contribute to 17% of total fleet emissions. ● 46% of vans are refrigerated but there are currently no commercially viable electrically refrigerated vans available.

The SWA hopes that – by becoming a sector lead and sharing the reports and insight with the wider food and drink industry, along with the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise – a more collaborative approach can be taken to transitioning to net zero.

Earlier this year, the SWA joined forces with London-based Arcola Energy to identify the business case for fuel cell technology in the UK’s transition to zero-emission road freight. The Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Cell Freight Trial (SHyFT), led by Arcola, has secured funding from the Department of Transport’s Zero Emission Road Freight programme for the design of a trial of hydrogen fuel cell trucks, supported by a green hydrogen refuelling

infrastructure in Scotland. SWA members are involved in this trial.

Smith said: “Our work, designed to help SWA members and the wider wholesale sector become greener and more sustainable, will also help other sectors.

“Our plans to decarbonise the wholesale food supply chain and achieve netzero emissions by 2045, if not before,

are ambitious but as we have heard during the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow – countries, governments and businesses must be bold in their approach.”

He added: “Our research will help wholesalers cut through the vast amount of information that is available to them by homing in on the immediate actions they can take to start their own net-zero journeys.

“It also highlights to the Scottish Government and its agencies the scale of the challenge the food and drink wholesale sector faces in the transition to net zero and, crucially, reiterates our commitment to work in partnership and face the challenges together.”

The second phase of the SWA project will focus on wholesalers’ buildings and cold storage with phase three then concentrating on how people/employees move around to, from and within their jobs.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 41

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NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – COCA-COLA

COCA-COLA UNVEILS REAL MAGIC CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN The campaign is supported by a series of activations across various channels, including influencer partnerships and consumer-led activity.

Coca-Cola has launched a seasonal campaign

Christmas campaign under the new Real Magic

that spotlights and celebrates the magic of

brand philosophy for Coca-Cola. With a simple and

community and togetherness.

uplifting message of unity, inclusion and positivity

Real Magic at Christmas is anchored by a

at its heart it aims to remind us that all we need

new short film which is supported by a series of

for a magical Christmas is shared moments with

activations across various channels, including

community and the ones we love.”

influencer partnerships, consumer-led activity and charity initiatives.

Simon Lloyd, Chief Creative Officer at denstuMB UK, said: “Magic is all around us, but most

The new ad, created by dentsuMB UK, begins

of the time we don’t even notice. This story is set

with a boy moving into a new flat with his mum at

in an apartment block in the USA, but it could be

Christmas. He notices there’s no fireplace and the

anywhere. For most people in the world, living

realisation hits him – no chimney means no Santa.

stacked up on top of one another is a reality – so

So, he decides to make one himself. The boy starts

close yet still strangers. But then global pandemic

building a chimney of boxes and neighbours quickly

also brought neighbours together like never before.

band together to help finish it in time for Christmas.

With Christmas cancelled for many last year, this

The 60-second ad will air on 1 December.

humble holiday story focuses on what matters:

Manolo Arroyo, Global Chief Marketing Officer at The Coca-Cola Company, said: “This is our first

community and generosity that connects us in an imperfect world.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 45

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – MARS FOOD

BEN’S ORIGINAL LAUNCHES FIRST UK MARKETING CAMPAIGN The fully integrated campaign first aired in the United States before rolling out to the UK.

Mars Food has launched the first Ben’s Original

our vision of inclusivity that celebrates individuality.

marketing campaign in the UK.

We are not defined by our age, gender, sexuality

The first adverts from the campaign, called

or race – what defines us are the personality traits

‘We’re all original recipes’, shows the unique rec-

and quirks that make us all unique. Because we’re

ipes, traditions and interactions that make each

individuals… we’re all original.”

family original.

The fully integrated campaign, which was devel-

The adverts feature a collection of six diverse

oped by The&Partnership, first aired in the United

and real households who gather around the table

States before rolling out to the UK. The first burst

for their favourite meals featuring Ben’s Original

of UK activity includes two television ads, as well

long grain rice. These include a nuclear family, a

as digital, social and video-on-demand formats that

pair of friends, three roommates, a single-parent

will air on a variety of different platforms.

family, a family who uses sign-language, and a multi-generational family.

Andre Moreira, Executive Creative Director at The&Partnership, said: “This Ben’s Original

Rafael Narvaez, Global Chief Marketing Officer

campaign is based on the simple, but strong belief

and R&D Officer at Mars Food, said: “The inspiration

that every meal, every family, every single one of

for the new campaign came from the simplest of

us brings something different to the table. We all

places – our brand name. Original not only speaks

have an original story to tell. Because we’re all

to the quality of the world’s best rice brand, but also

original recipes.”

46 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 81 WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

SLICED APPLE

CURRY RICE

LOADED BITES

Captain Morgan has launched

Tilda is tapping into the growth

Calbee has expanded its Loaded

Captain Morgan Sliced Apple to

of shoppers experimenting with

range, following the success of

tap into the ongoing popularity of

modern Asian cuisine with its

last year’s Loaded Fries. Loaded

flavoured spirits. The 25% ABV

new limited-edition Katsu Curry

Bites are available in two flavours

spirit drink is rolling out to Spar,

rice. This ready-to-heat recipe

– BBQ Beef and Sour Cream

Nisa and Bestway in a 70cl bot-

from Tilda features a blend of

& Onion – in cases of 8x6x16g

tle format (RSP £16.50) during

aromatic curry spices combined

multipacks, cases of 11x55g £1

November, with wider availability

with carrots, tamarind and coco-

PMPs, and 8x90g sharing bags.

in the spring.

nut cream. RSP £1.59.

All RSP at £1.

COCKTAIL CANS

CHRISTMAS COGNAC

JOY OF PARENTING

Startup brand Whitebox has

Heinz for Baby is launching a

launched a new range, after its

The House of Hine has pre-

new ad campaign to celebrate

Negroni drink sold more than

sented the latest edition of its

the joy of parenting. The

60,000 cans. All Whitebox prod-

H by Hine artist gift box for the

campaign showcases footage of

ucts have similar ABVs to drinks

festive season. This year’s art-

parents experiencing moments

served in bars. The eight-strong

work was created by French

of pure joy with their children.

range (RSP £3.50 to £7) includes

artist Sasha Ferré. It is available

The campaign initially launches

classic cocktails, old fashioneds,

at The Whisky Exchange and

across digital video and social

and whisky highballs.

Master of Malt. RSP £38.

media channels.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 47

why not buy ? shoppers do.

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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.

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX

On your bike

Logistics giant DHL is trialling an eCargo bike with a load capacity of 2 cubic metres and a range of around 40 miles.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

WHAT IS DHL SAYING?

DHL is trialling of the use of an eCargo bike for small-item home delivery.

Natalie Frow, Vice President Operations - Home Delivery at DHL Supply Chain, said: “With ambitious sustainability targets to hit, we’re always looking for new ways to structure the mix of our fleet to reduce overall emissions.

“The EAV eCargo bike has the potential to transform the way we make many home deliveries, not just in the urban environment but across the country, so we’re looking forward to seeing the results of the trial.”

WHERE’S THAT HAPPENING? Operating in Edinburgh, the eCargo bike will deliver items that do not require two-person services.

WHY EDINBURGH? The city was selected as its mix of terrain and size of the city provides the ideal environment to test the bike as part of DHL’s last-mile fleet.

WHAT’S THE BIKE LIKE? It has a load capacity of two cubic metres and a range of around 40 miles on a single charge. The eCargo bikes have been specifically designed for urban environments, and are zero-emissions, reliable, easy, and cheap to operate.

ANYONE ELSE? Leo Bethell, Head of Partnerships at the bike’s manufactuer EAV, commented: “It’s pivotal for the logistics industry to adapt to the changing urban environment, by embracing transport that is clean, efficient and unsusceptible to congestion.”

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 49

IT’S ON

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

Polar scare With the COP26 Climate Change Conference in full swing, luxury aged rum brand Cabal has perhaps picked the worst time imaginable to launch its latest limited edition – rum made using Polar ice.

You know, the stuff that’s melting at an alarming rate because of the aforementioned climate change.

It turns out the ice was “brought back” from Antarctica by explorer Luke Robertson, who is apparently the first Scot to complete a solo, unassisted and unsupported trek to the South Pole.

Just 50 bottles of this “unique product” have been made, and are only available through a silent auction to be held on board HQS Wellington in London on Saturday 27 November 2021.

The intrepid Mr Robertson is probably kicking himself (unless he’s still wearing crampons) that he didn’t ask a mate along to the South Pole so Cabal could get enough ice for 100 bottles.

TWIR has it on good authority that climate activist and rum afficionado Greta Thunberg won’t be hanging around in the UK after COP closes to get her bid in.

Pure joy?

If you’ve already read Picks of the Week, well done. You’ll be aware that Heinz for Baby is launching a new ad campaign to celebrate – as the brand puts it – “the joy of parenting”.

The ‘Pure Joy’ campaign apparently pays homage to the “real, chaotic joy” of parenting. Cue pictures of spotless adorable babies sitting in spotless adorable highchairs as their spotless adorable parents spoon baby food into their spotless adorable mouths.

Well, that covers the “joy”. What about the “real” and “chaotic”? Like a three-in-the-morning stint at the

changing table goggling bleary-eyed at a screaming tot, as faeces ooze out the neck of its Babygro.

Commenting on the campaign’s launch, Georgina Fotopoulou, Marketing Lead at Heinz for Baby, said:

“We want to show how Heinz is a brand that understands [parents’] needs and is there, by their side.”

In that case Georgina, you’d better start passing the wet wipes. And keep them coming.

WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 81 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 51

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

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