The Week in Retail 88

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SYMBOL GROUPS

PERFECTLY FORMED

BOOKER UNVEILS ITS NEW SMALL STORE FORMAT

WHOLESALERS

NEXT-GEN TALENT

PARFETTS LAUNCHES TWO-YEAR TRAINING SCHEME ● TRAIN TICKETS

FROM C-STORES

+

FORECOURTS

EIGH GHT MORE YEARS

M&S FOOD AND BP EXTEND PARTNERSHIP

● PORTION CONTROL PACKAGING

● RISE OF THE ROBOTS

VEY REVEALS WALES LOVES CONVENIENCE STORES, ACS SUR

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Issue 88 Wednesday 19th January 2022

Raise a BRU for Burns on January 25th

“

Stocking up with BRU’s the thing, If you want your till to go ker-ching

”

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

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Damned if they do, damned if they don’t One of the main talking points of the week has been the tricky subject of underage sales.

At a time when staff already deal with too many incidents of violence and abuse, trying to get the customer’s age right on age-restricted products is just another added stress for local retailers.

Often, asking for age identification is a risky business for staff, who must deal with shoppers that can react violently. This has prompted Usdaw to renew calls for a change in law to put the onus on the customer – not the retailer.

Let’s make no bones about it; nothing is an excuse for abuse. Especially towards people who kept us fed throughout the pandemic, while literally risking their lives.

The union’s call reminds us of the absurd reality for local retailers: shopworkers are expected to police the rules or themselves face fines. It was unenforceable for mask-wearing and it is unenforceable now.

The Think 25 policy is a legal requirement in Scotland but has been identified by Usdaw as a “key flashpoint for abuse, threats and violence”. The ACS has now launched a new campaign to boost awareness of Challenge 25 among consumers, aiming to widen the use of the policy for age-restricted products beyond alcohol.

Raising awareness over the issue is much needed. The consuming public needs to know the policy, and retailers need to be confident in their day-to-day activities.

Elsewhere this week, in more exciting news, we had a first look at the new small format Premier store by Booker, in County Durham. Taking the best learning from Mandeep Singh’s store in Sheffield, it has successfully replicated many of Singh’s store’s features in a much smaller space. Turn to page 10 to read all about it.

What’s more, Nisa announced it was implementing a national roll-out of Jisp’s AR vouchering system, having successfully piloted it for two months last year. Retailers who participated in the trial accumulated a combined discount redemption of £36,211 with over 2,300 unique shoppers – a whopping 81% of them becoming repeat redeemers.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

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CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88

6

10 THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

ACS launches an enhanced Challenge 25 Campaign and Nisa takes Jisp’s Scan & Save technology nationwide.

25 COVER STORY

WHOLESALE

Booker this week unveils its first small format for Premier retailers, with a flagship store in Wheatley Hill, County Durham.

Parfetts launches ‘Limitless,’ a twoyear-long programme to prepare four trainees for a career in the wholesale sector.

9 Covid-19 update

21 Business services

27 Packaging

15 Forecourts

BP and M&S extend their partnership, and Shell opens its first UK EV charging hub.

18 Newstrade

Payzone stores in Wales to start selling selected rail tickets for local journeys.

28 Picks of the week

Average basket size rises and the Post

32 Out the box: robot shops

Office puts in a “resilient performance”.

19 Community retailing

26 Sustainability

essential services in Wales, ACS finds.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

control packaging solution.

22 Business intelligence

Menzies Distribution restructures.

C-stores provide one of the top three most

Cadbury launches a “category-first” portion

first omnichannel retail stores in the

Southern Co-op extends its Reducing Our Foodprint initiative.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

The robots are taking over in JD.com’s Netherlands.

35 Before you go...

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

MORRISONS CUTS NO JAB SICK PAY Morrisons has confirmed it has cut sick pay for unvaccinated

AGE-RESTRICTED SALES

ACS launches enhanced Challenge 25 to better support local stores

staff who are forced to isolate

New campaign seeks to boost awareness across all age-restricted products

after being exposed to Covid.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched a new campaign to boost shopper awareness of the Challenge 25 policy on age-restricted products and better support local retailers.

The enhanced campaign aims to widen the use of Challenge 25 beyond alcohol and highlight the policy to customers earlier in their store journey and not just at till points.

The ACS has also worked with the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group to provide a range of new materials which remind customers that they’re likely to be asked for proof of age if they look

Unvaccinated Morrisons workers who are told to isolate but test negative now get statutory sick pay of £96.35 a week. Covid-positive staff get full sick pay regardless of vaccination status.

PARFETTS HIRE Parfetts has appointed Richard Fleming as Head of Operations (West) as it seeks to develop its delivered service for the Stockport, Aintree and Anfield

under 25 and are purchasing different age-restricted products.

The new materials include posters, shelf edge labels and online assets on alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, fireworks and lottery. All materials are available to download.

Launching the new campaign, ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “We know from our Crime Report that enforcing the law on age restricted sales is one of the biggest triggers of abuse in stores, so it’s essential that we provide as much support to colleagues as possible by reducing the risk of confrontation.”

depots. Fleming, who joins the business from Booker, will report to Parfetts Wholesale

New Nisa Local leaves shoppers “impressed”

director Andy Whitworth.

SNAPPY SNAPS UP NEW CFO The Snappy Group has expanded its senior team with the appointment of Barry McGonagle as Chief Financial Officer. McGonagle, who joins from travel company Travix International, will lead the company’s financial operations and “set the finance strategy to power Snappy Group’s growth”.

Shoppers in South Ockenden, Essex are rallying around the village’s new convenience offering after Nisa Local retailer Henry Sudhir transformed an old retail unit into a modern fresh-focused store.

Sales at the store, which had laid dormant for more than six months before Harry took over, are now growing

6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 88 WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022

week on week, following a 200sq ft extension and total refit. The reborn 935sq ft store now features a dedicated food-to-go offer and a full chilled range, which has been sited at the entrance.

It also includes BWS for the first time.

Commenting on the launch, Henry said: “Previously the shop had not stocked any chilled range and no alcohol and that is something we have made the most of, and which customers seem to really like.

“Our customers have been really impressed with what we have done.

The extension in particular takes them by surprise, and they can’t believe the difference.”

NEWS DIGEST

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

TESCO GROWS WHOOSH

TECHNOLOGY

Nisa takes Jisp’s revolutionary Scan & Save technology nationwide

Tesco’s one-hour delivery service Whoosh will be

The roll out, which is due to begin on 26 January, follows a successful pilot.

available from at least 600 stores by the end of next

Nisa will begin a national roll-out of Jisp’s revolutionary Augmented Reality (AR) vouchering system, Scan & Save, to retailers this month.

The move follows a successful pilot, which resulted in 82,116 scans, 40,001 taps and 32,895 redemptions on Scan & Save-branded AR vouchers from September to December. Participating retailers accumulated a combined discount redemption value of £36,211 with more than 2,300 unique shoppers, 81% becoming repeat redeemers.

Julian Fisher, Chief Executive of Jisp, said: “Our pilot achieved above and beyond what we hoped to accomplish, benefiting everyone from retailers and brands, all the way to the customers.

We’re delighted to be working with Nisa to bring even more retailers our exclusive

year. Tesco launched a pilot last year in a Wolverhampton store, then expanded the service to London and Bristol.

Whoosh will be available at 200 locations by the end of next month.

technology to help grow sales, increase loyalty and understand more about customers’ shopping habits through our data.”

James Taylor, Head of Central Operations at Nisa, added: “Scan & Save is a superb solution for any retailer looking to deliver high-end technology that is often only accessible at larger supermarket chains. We’re excited to see more positive results in the upcoming months working with Jisp.”

Deliveroo is partnering with HumanForest to boost sustainable delivery services across London. Riders can access the e-bike platform, by buying bundles of minutes as and when they need them, for delivering or for leisure.

● The roll-out begins 26 January.

ALDI FOCUSES ON BRITISH SUPPLIERS

MFG puts £50m behind 60 EV hubs in 2022 MFG plans to invest more than £50m on dual-fuel and EV only sites across its nationwide portfolio in 2022.

The investment will see MFG install over 350, ultra-rapid 150kW EV chargers at 60 hubs throughout the UK. In addition, MFG will energise a further 20 sites in the first quarter of the year.

MFG hubs will consist of between four and eight ultra-rapid 150kW EV chargers per site, which can add 100

SUSTAINABLE DELIVEROO

miles of range in approximately 10 minutes, subject to the charging capability of individual car batteries.

William Bannister, Chief Executive at MFG, said: “Our EV sites are modern in design and provide a high-quality retail and consumer experience for the community and for motorists to use whilst charging their vehicles. We look forward to delivering on our strategic plans throughout 2022.”

Aldi has reaffirmed its promise to prioritise home-grown suppliers as it works towards its commitment, made a year ago, to spend an additional £3.5bn a year with British businesses by the end of 2025. Aldi has invested an extra £1.6bn with British suppliers since the start of the pandemic.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7

CONVENIENCE STORES

WANTED

AS A RAPIDLY GROWING CHAIN OF CONVENIENCE STORES, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW SITES. If you own a site, store or group of stores that fit the below criteria and you are considering a sale, then please contact us for a confidential and swift discussion

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Freehold and Leasehold sites considered (with additional premium for freehold sites) Goodwill premium paid for existing trading convenience stores throughout Scotland (ideally trading at 20k per week + excluding services) All sites must be a minimum of 2000 Sq. Ft. retail space (no maximum) All existing property / store (trading and vacant units) conditions considered Locations throughout Scotland considered

RAPID DECISION & COMPLETION AVAILABLE! For a discreet & confidential no obligations discussion - please send details to

harris@glenshire.co.uk or call on 07791174697

*terms and conditions apply

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

Omicron uncertainty prompts change in festive shopping tack

AMERICAN CO-OP TRIALS AUTONOMOUS SUPERMARKET

IGD expects to see more “reactive shopping” in 2022 as consumers adapt their habits to deal with challenges.

Israel-based computer vision company Trigo has teamed up with Wakefern Food Corp to pilot an

R

using AI-based check-out technology.

Already partnering with Tesco and German supermarket giants such as Aldi Nord, Rewe and Netto, Trigo uses AI to help retailers transform into fully

impacted by the Omicron variant, 44% said they shopped online or used click-and-collect to avoid going into stores.

Looking ahead to 2022, IGD expects to see more “reactive shopping,” as consumers adapt their habits to deal with challenges as they arise.

The year ahead is also likely to see shoppers increase their focus on saving time with many shoppers set to seek out retailers who can supply them “faster and with more convenient solutions,” IGD said.

“Quick commerce will play a huge role in this as it continues to grow,” it added.

autonomous, digital stores that are GDPR-compliant.

Shoppers use an app to

TECH SOLUTIONS

ising uncertainty surrounding the new Omicron variant had a direct impact on how and where shoppers bought their food at Christmas, latest IGD ShopperVista research reveals.

While 56% of shoppers said they had experienced a “return to normality” at Christmas, 32% said Omicron affected their celebrations in some way, while 27% claimed to have avoided making plans altogether due to the uncertainty of potential last-minute restrictions.

Fear and ambiguity over the new variant prompted 35% of shoppers to start their festive shopping earlier, while 17% delayed it until the last minute due to uncertainty over plans.

Of the shoppers who used convenience stores for some of their Christmas shopping, 45% said they did so to pick-up last-minute items. This was also the case for 25% of quick commerce shoppers.

Meanwhile, of those shoppers who claimed that they were directly

autonomous supermarket

scan a QR code as they enter and are then free to pick up items and leave without having to check out, as there is no exit gate.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 9

C OV E R

BOOKER W

Good things come

Booker Wholesale has launched it

B

ooker has this week unveiled a new flagship small format Premier store.

The 600sq ft VG Foodstore in Wheatley Hill, County Durham, has been run by the Dhinsa family for more than 35 years and was previously independent.

Brothers Steve and Jassy, who have taken over the running of the store from their parents, decided the time was right for a refit and it closed for six weeks as it took place. The new format takes the best learning from Mandeep Singh’s store in Sheffield, which trialled lots of new elements to attract consumers, and has won praise from retailers. Since it launched a year ago almost 250 retailers have visited Mandeep’s store with the view of copying it. However, the store is 1,800sq ft and its refit cost in the region of £150,000 to £175,000.

Martyn Parkinson, Booker Sales Director, said: “We found retailers wanted to replicate it but in a smaller store. So we worked on how to get the best bits into a smaller space. That was a real challenge. “Luckily Steve and Jassy were looking to have a refit, they had visited Mandeep’s store, and asked us to implement whatever we could from Mandeep’s into their store.”

SIMPLE FASCIA The small format store has a simple fascia that features the opening times and the services offered by the store, such as Post Office, Lottery and PayPoint, because services are currently playing a huge

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 88 WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022

S T O RY

WHOLESALE

in small packages

ts first small format Premier store.

part in driving footfall. The store has clear windows, to let light in, but also shoppers feel safer if they can see in and out. Outside posters advertise the mega and wow deals, sandwich deal, and other footfall drivers. Booker says it is trying to keep the number of deals

advertised outside down and focus on key footfall drivers.

FRESHEN UP The store also features Refresh@Premier, which includes fwip, Hersey’s Freeze, Jolly Rancher Slush, and Douwe Egberts coffee. This helps attract a younger demographic and the section takes up to £1,600 a week, attracting people from neighbouring villages, at a margin of 65%.

The biggest transformation for the store was its chilled solution. It now has 5m of long-life chill. The brothers were keen to introduce more chilled but were put off by the possibility of wastage. However, through Booker, they have access to 330 lines of long-life chill.

Chill sales have subsequently grown from £200 to £3,000 a week and the section attracts more new customers than anywhere else in-store.

The shop’s soft drinks section is probably the busiest cabinet. Around 20% of the range was taken out and replaced with on-trends and Americans. The store now chills larger bottles, popular with workmen and youngsters for immediate consumption, and multipacks – a growing trend.

The refit has also seen the store’s frozen offering grow. Previously it had one small freezer, and now the retailers are seeing huge category growth.

In the impulse aisle, small bags were removed – reducing the range by onethird – because bigger bags increase

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOD & DRINK AWARDS 2022

The Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards 2022

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C OV E R S T O RY

BOOKER WHOLESALE

basket spend. In addition, Booker aims to keep items in shelf-ready packaging, so retailers only have touch stock once and replenishment is efficient. “We are really conscious that the retailers are saying ‘keep it efficient, don’t add any complexity’ because labour is expensive and it’s quite difficult to recruit,” said Parkinson.

The impulse aisle also features American confectionery and multipacks, which offer greater value than singles.

In addition, Parkinson said Booker is trying to encourage Premier retailers to work with local bakeries, butchers, and breweries.

The store’s spirits are backlit to increase stand out and the offer includes fractionals. “We are definitely seeing a switch in January to value in halves and quarters,” Parkinson added.

The store also features chilled alcohol multipacks – a point of difference from the multiples.Also new to the store is 1m of vaping. From a standing start, the category is currently taking £2,300 a week at 45% margin. Medicines were brought out from behind the counter to beside the till. Staff can still keep an eye on them, but sales have increased 50% because customers no longer need to discuss their ailments.

Meanwhile, the store still features newspapers, magazines, and greetings cards so it keeps its CTN identity.

RANGE ROVING The retailers regularly talk to customers about the range and if they feel something is missing they will bring it back.

For example, the pet food range was

recently extended to include treats and bird food.

Previously the store made £8,000 sales a week on average, but the week before Christmas it made £20,000.

The store plans to roll out home delivery and has bought an empty unit next door for storage and picking purposes.

Steve said: “The format is brilliant – other retailers have been surprised at the range we stock. My advice to other retailers is 100% do this – I should’ve done it before. Everyone at Booker believed in us and gave us the best help.”

The monthly spend to join Premier is £16,000 but Booker gives retailers time to build up to this if they are reinvesting into their store and a local RDM will be there to help retailers grow footfall and sales. All marketing is free.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 13

SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOD & DRINK AWARDS 2022

The Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards 2022

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FORECOURTS

BP

M&S Food and BP extend forecourt convenience

Partners plan to invest in the look and feel of ‎stores and supply chain to maximise availability ‎and reduce food ‎waste.

B

P and M&S have agreed to extend their forecourt convenience deal until 2030.

The pair first teamed up in 2005 to introduce M&S Food stores at BP retail sites in Great Britain, offering a tailored curated range of fresh quality food for the customer on the move. M&S Food is now available at almost 300 BP-operated sites across the country.

Alex Jensen, BP’s Senior Vice-President for Mobility and Convenience, Europe and Southern Africa, said: “We’re proud to continue to build on nearly two decades of our great partnership

with M&S, one of the UK’s leading food retailers. BP’s partnership with M&S Food has led the way in the UK and we aim to continue to innovate and grow to meet our customers’ needs.”

He added: “Of course, our sites provide advanced fuels, but our customers also want high-quality healthy food options, for now and for later. And they also want increasingly convenient ways to buy that fit in with their busy lifestyles.

BP’s partnership with M&S Food has led the way in the UK and we aim to continue to innovate and grow to meet our customers’ needs.”

M&S CEO and M&S Food Managing Director, Stuart Machin, said: “M&S Food is famous for great quality food at fantastic value and over the past 16 years our partnership with BP has given many more customers the opportunity to enjoy our wide range of delicious sandwiches, meals and everyday staples in almost 300 locations across Great Britain.

“This extended commitment will enable us to work together to invest in the look and feel of the stores, building on the M&S renewal programme, and our supply chain to maximise availability and reduce food waste.”

BP AND M&S FIRST TEAMED UP IN 2005 OFFERING M&S FOOD AT BP RETAIL SITES. NOW M&S FOOD IS AVAILABLE AT ALMOST 300 BP SITES ACROSS THE UK.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 15

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FORECOURTS

SHELL

Shell Fulham opens its first EV hub in London Site features a sustainable design including a timber canopy.

S

hell has opened its first electric vehicle charging hub in the UK in Fulham, where petrol and diesel pumps at an existing forecourt have been replaced with ultra-rapid charge points.

The site, part of a global pilot, marks the first time the company has converted one of its existing sites to cater solely for electric vehicles.

Shell Fulham features nine high-powered, ultra-rapid 175kW charge points which can charge most vehicles from 0-80% within 10 minutes, three times faster than more widely used 50kW rapid chargers.

The chargers at Shell Fulham run on 100% certified renewable electricity and

the facility features a sustainable design including a timber canopy with built-in solar panels, and roof and shop windows that employ double glazing with high insulating properties.

The hub includes a comfortable seating area, free Wi-Fi, a Costa Coffee café, and a Little Waitrose & Partners.

István Kapitány, Shell’s Global Executive Vice-President for Mobility, said: “EV drivers are looking for a charging experience that is as fast, convenient and comfortable as possible. This is exactly what Shell Fulham aims to offer. It joins our growing network of Shell Recharge sites at forecourts and other locations,

our ubitricity on-street charging network, and our Shell Recharge Solutions for homes and businesses as we increasingly help EV drivers to charge wherever they need it. It also gives us all a glimpse into the future of mobility.”

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison added: “It’s fantastic to see Shell leading the way with their brand-new charging hub, offering EV drivers an easy and rapid charging experience. With more people making the switch to EVs than ever before, this is exactly the type of facility we need to help make the transition as simple as possible for drivers up and down the country.”

IT’S ELECTRIFYING. SHELL FULHAM HAS NINE ULTRA RAPID CHARGE POINTS WHICH CAN CHARGE MOST VEHICLES FROM 0-80% IN 10 MINUTES.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 17

N E W S PA P E R S

MENZIES DISTRIBUTION

News wholesaler announces restructure NFRN welcomes the move. Calls it a ‘demonstration of Menzies’ commitment to the industry’.

also as he is a key figure within the Press Distribution Forum.

“Grant has also been a frequent guest at our Annual Conference and he presented at our event last October so he understands the NFRN and appreciates the challenges and issues we face, as well as the need for a timely supply of newspapers and magazines.”

SUN COVER PRICE INCREASES 5P

N

ews wholesaler Menzies Distribution is to restructure.

Under the move, a newstrade business unit has been created, with Grant Jordan, the news wholesaler’s General Manager Newstrade, becoming Managing Director.

Menzies Distribution Chief Executive Greg Michael said that the restructure would enable the company to build on its “dedicated focus on best in class service and customer satisfaction for all our customers, across all our markets”.

In a letter to the NFRN, Michael added: “Grant and the team will

continue to focus on delivering our newstrade solution for our retail, publisher and distributor partners.”

Michael added that this move was “another critical milestone in Menzies’ growth story,” while promising “absolute business continuity, with no change to existing relationships.”

NFRN National President Narinder Randhawa said: “The move demonstrates that Menzies remains committed to the news industry.”

He added: “The NFRN and its members have worked closely with Grant for many years, in his roles at Menzies and

18 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 88 WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022

News UK has increased the cover price on the weekday and Saturday editions of The Sun by 5p but maintained retail terms.

The price rise came into effect on 17 January; weekday editions now cost 70p and the Saturday edition costs £1.

NFRN Head of News Brian Murphy said: “The problem of dual distribution and cost in London still needs to be addressed, particularly at this time of acute driver shortages and late deliveries.”

On 24 January the direct delivery charge rises by 3%, although 50% of the increase is being deferred for six months in what News UK describes as “a gesture of goodwill”.

W E L S H R E TA I L

ACS

Consumers put Welsh c-stores at heart of their community The almost 3,000 convenience stores in Wales continue to provide an essential service for customers during the ongoing pandemic, says ACS 2022 report.

C

onsumers in Wales rate convenience stores as the service that has had the most positive impact in the community and one of the top three most essential services, according to the ACS’s 2022 Welsh Local Shop Report.

There are almost 3,000 convenience stores in Wales. These have continued to provide an essential service for their customers due to the efforts made by the sector’s 25,000 colleagues. Key figures from the report include:

being over 60. In addition, the majority of Wales’ local shop colleagues (61%) plan to keep working in the convenience sector in the future, with around one in three looking toward a more senior role.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Local shops in Wales are essential job creators, providing local, flexible and secure employment for over 25,000 people in communities across the country.

Despite challenges in the employment

market, we’re pleased to say that less than one in five people working in local shops have been there for less than a year. This is a long term, secure career path.”

Lowman added: “Our colleagues working in Welsh local shops should be celebrated for going above and beyond, supporting customers throughout the pandemic, adapting to new and changing regulations, and organising community activities to help local charities.”

● The convenience sector in Wales generates more than £2.7bn in total sales. ● Convenience stores in Wales have invested £35m in their businesses over the past year. ● 82% of stores now accept contactless payment. ● 83% of independent retailers in Wales engaged in some form of community activity over the last year.

The report also reveals that 20% of people working in local shops have been in the business for more than 10 years, with just 18% being there for less than a year. The convenience sector is also an important place for age diversity, with 21% being between 16 to 24-years-old and 14%

ALMOST 3,000 C-STORES IN WALES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19

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BUSINESS SERVICES

PAYZONE

Convenience stores in Wales to sell train tickets The new pilot – a first for rail ticketing – will involve stores in 90 different locations.

C

onvenience stores in Wales are to start selling selected rail tickets for local journeys from 24 January.

Transport for Wales (TfW), powered

by SilverRail retailing technology, will become the very first train operating company in the UK to partner with Payzone to make the purchasing of rail tickets possible through its in-store devices.

The pilot will involve stores in 90 different locations and its main objective is to make it easier and more convenient for customers to purchase tickets.

David O’Leary, TfW’s Commercial and Customer Experience Director, said: “This is an exciting pilot that gives customers additional choices about how and where their purchase their rail tickets. This is the very first time in the UK that rail customers will be able to buy their tickets in their local convenience store and it also gives customers the added choice of purchasing with cash, especially if their local station does not have a ticket office or only has a self-service machine that accepts cards only.”

Noel Goulty, Head of Transport and Ticketing at Payzone, added: “This is

truly a first for rail ticketing, bringing the retailing of rail tickets to the centre of Welsh communities.

“This strategic partnership with SilverRail will deliver a fully accredited system on behalf of Transport for Wales, which is exclusive to Payzone and allows passengers to buy rail tickets, whilst popping into their corner shop.

“We are committed to innovating in this space to become the default high street network for cash ticketing. This is a genuinely exciting time for Transport for Wales and we are delighted to be part of the team delivering on their strategy.”

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 21

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

PAYPOINT

Essentials and cold remedies drive convenience sales PayPoint data shows consumers purchased an average of 4.25 items per basket across its network of convenience stores.

A

verage basket size in convenience stores increased significantly at the end of last year, according to new data from PayPoint’s UK network of 28,000 retailer partners.

Despite different lockdown restrictions across the home nations, between October and December 2021, consumers purchased an average of 4.25 items per basket across PayPoint convenience stores, up 12% on the previous quarter.

Analysis of PayPoint’s different product categories also found that several categories saw double digit growth yearon-year. There was a 13% rise in foodto-go (which includes family favourites such as Cadbury Mini Rolls and croissants), a 12% jump in grocery (significantly attributed to sales of energy drinks such as Lucozade) while sales of household items (including toilet rolls and cleaning products) increased by 10%.

22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 88 WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022

Sales of Halls and Lockets increased by 95% year-on-year and 92% year-onyear, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2021 as a large number of Brits sought quick relief from the many nasty colds going around.

PayPoint has also published its latest Convenience Basket Register – a quarterly glimpse of big sellers across six key product categories between October and December 2021. The top selling products included: Cadbury Choc Mini Rolls (5 pack), Cabico Tortillas Wraps, Lanchester Dairies Fresh Milk, Utterly Butterly, Halls Mentholyptus Extra Strong, Halls Soothers Blackcurrant, Young’s Fish Fingers (10-pack), Cadbury’s Flake 99 Cone, Lucozade Energy Orange, Boost Sport Orange, Knights Cider (four-pack), and San Miguel (four-pack).

Anthony Sappor, Head of Retail Proposition & Partnerships, commented: “Throughout winter, people nationwide continued to shop locally and support their nearby convenience stores. An increase on the number of items purchased per convenience store shows that despite the numerous benefits of shopping online, it’s the UK’s convenience store sectors that Brits continue to rely on for many of the day-to-day purchases.”

BUSINESS SERVICES

POST OFFICE

Post Office delivers ‘resilient performance’ Data shows network availability at its highest level since before the pandemic, with 11,596 branches trading in December.

P

ost Office has reported a “resilient performance” in its latest trading statement. The Post Office reveals there were 50.5 million customer transactions during the four-week period to 26 December 2021, down just 1.7% on the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, and down only 1.5% on 2020.

Total network income for the fourweek period increased by 15%, compared with the same period in 2019, to £73.8m.

However, it fell 5% when compared with the “exceptional” 2020 period.

The data shows network availability was as its highest level since before the pandemic, with 11,596 branches trading in December.

It also revealss that 3,100 branches offered click-and-collect services for DPD and Amazon for the first time and around 70% of parcels were collected within one day of arriving at a branch.

Meanwhile, mails and parcels overall volumes were up versus the same period in 2019, reflecting broader trends in e-commerce growth. Drop & Go, the Post Office’s fast-track service, continued to support businesses and online sellers sending parcels with sales value increasing by 60% compared with 2019.

The update shows cash and banking services “excelled” as small and independent businesses relied on their local branches to deposit cash takings. Post Office Travel Money saw a 100% increase in like for like sales compared with the same period in 2020 when greater travel restrictions were in place. Euros were the most popular currency accounting for around 65% of weekly sales over the period. After US Dollars, the most popular currency sales were UAE Dirham and the Australian Dollar.

In addition, Post Office Travel Insurance saw a 445% increase in sales of its products compared with the same period last year and were up 13% on 2019.

Post Office Chief Executive, Nick Read, said: “It’s a testament to the determination and hard work of postmasters that so many branches remained open, providing essential services to their community, with well over 11,500 branches trading.”

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

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WHOLESALE

PARFETTS

Parfetts supports next generation of talent

Two year-long Limitless Programme will equip participants for a career in the wholesale sector.

P

arfetts has launched a management development scheme to support the next generation of talent in the business.

The first cohort will undertake a structured development programme that will see them complete 16 weeks in key departments across the business over two years. The first two weeks will be focused on getting a basic understanding of the business by spending time in each depot, retail, and all departments within Head Office.

The first four trainees are Denxel Osarenmwinda from Manchester, Jonathan Webb from Liverpool, Michael Whalley and Jack Seddon, both from Southport. Their backgrounds are in law, construction, and hospitality.

Guy Swindell, joint Managing Director of Parfetts, said: “Parfetts growth is driven by its people and culture. Traditionally, we have always promoted from within where possible and provided training to ensure people are equipped to do well. As the business continues to grow, it is clear that we need to diversify our talent pool and develop the next generation of talent, and I’m confident that we’ve developed a scheme that will provide a best-in-class experience for these young people. We’ve called the scheme the Limitless Programme because we believe the depth and breadth of the

training will equip the participants for a thriving career in the wholesale sector.”

Louise Slater, Head of HR and Compliance at Parfetts, added: “We’ve put a lot of thought into structuring the programme. The selection process was rigorous and workshop-based to ensure that we are recruiting the right set of skills.”

Parfetts operates the fast-growing Go Local fascia. There are more than 1,000 stores trading under the fascia and its retail club has in excess of 5,000 members. It operates across the north, midlands and Wales through a national logistics network, digital channels and seven wholesale depots.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

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

SOUTHERN CO-OP

Southern Co-op extends food waste initiative Stores included in the scheme are located in Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Somerset, Surrey, and Wiltshire.

S

outhern Co-op has extended its Reducing Our Foodprint initiative, which sees stores selling selected products past their ‘best before’ date, to nearly 100 more convenience stores in the south of England.

The Food Standards Agency advises that products past their ‘best before’ date are safe to consume but may not be at the optimum quality intended by the producer.

Southern Co-op’s waste reduction scheme aims to keep as much produce as possible in the food chain and reduce the amount sent off for anaerobic

digestion. Products included in the initiative include tinned fruit and veg, dried pasta and rice, confectionery, selected condiments, sugar and sweeteners, coffee, tea and jams, as well as chilled products such as soft fruit and fruit juices.

Fresh products will be sold up to two days after their ‘best before’ date and ambient products will be sold up to seven days after their ‘best before’ date.

Stores which are included in the Reducing our Foodprint initiative are based across Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Somerset, Surrey, and Wiltshire.

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Initial trials took place at 13 stores run by the regional co-operative and proved a success with most products being sold within a day of being reduced.

Between April and September 2021, there were 16,862 items processed at the 20p price point across 11 of the 13 stores.

Simon Eastwood, Chief Operating Officer for Retail at Southern Co-op, said: “Customer feedback from the trials of this scheme has been largely positive with many of the products being snapped up as soon as they get reduced.

“There are a large number of products that are still good enough to eat past their ‘best before’ date – many of us are already familiar with this in our home environment so this just takes it one step further.”

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – CADBURY

CADBURY LAUNCHES CATEGORY-FIRST PORTION CONTROL PACKAGING The new Twist Wrap mechanism enables consumers wishing to save half for later, to twist and seal packs shut.

Cadbury is rolling out a “category-first” packaging

Cadbury owner Mondelez International said

initiative designed to help chocolate consumers

the development strengthened its commitment to

achieve better portion control and “more mindful

promoting healthier snacking – with portion control

snacking”.

“recognised as one of the most effective ways of

Launching across its Cadbury Duos range, the

helping people to balance their calorie intakes”.

new Twist Wrap mechanism enables consumers

Cadbury Brand Manager Kelly Lawrence said:

wishing to “save half for later,” to twist and seal

“Following good results during concept testing,

their packets shut.

we’re excited to announce the new packaging this

Cadbury says the development is the first of its kind for any chocolate brand in the UK. The new packaging is made using a memory

year, allowing shoppers to indulge in a sweet treat then easily reseal and save the remainder of the product for later.

technology solution, meaning the wrapper stays

“We’ve put a lot of time and investment into

twisted by a single twist – preserving fresh flavour,

portionable packaging as a way of empowering

texture and shape.

consumers to snack in a more mindful way, and

The new bars will start to hit shelves from the

we are excited to see what shoppers think.

end of January with packaging rolled out across

“Duos are the growth driver of singles, particu-

five key variants of the Cadbury Duos portfolio:

larly in the independent convenience channel, so

Cadbury Wispa, Cadbury Wispa Gold, Cadbury

an important part of any retailer’s chocolate range.”

Boost, Cadbury Double Decker and Cadbury Dairy

The Cadbury Duo range makes up 24% of the

Milk.

Duo market according to Mondelez.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – CADBURY

CADBURY KICKS OFF BIGGEST-EVER FC PARTNERSHIP Babybel Plant-Based is made using a Vegan Society-approved blend of coconut oil and starch.

Cadbury has kicked off a new Cadbury FC

Shoppers seeking to enter the prize draw must

partnership for 2022 offering shoppers the chance

buy any promotional product from across the

to score a volley of football-themed prizes featuring

Cadbury range and visit winaday.cadburyfc.com

some of the UK’s most successful clubs.

to enter the product’s batchcode and barcode.

The new ‘Win A Day In Their Boots’ competi-

The promotion runs until 23 March 2022 across

tion allows shoppers to claim thousands of prizes

all Cadbury products in tablet, multipack, bag and

– including behind-the-scenes experiences with

singles formats, as well as Heroes.

eight top-flight football clubs: Arsenal, Aston Villa

The launch of the new campaign will be sup-

Women, Chelsea, Leeds United, Liverpool, Man-

ported by a marketing campaign that will reach

chester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham

more than 80% of UK shoppers across out-of-

Hotspur.

home and radio advertising according to Mondelez

Winners will get the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a football player with an exclusive behind the scenes tour of an official club training facility or stadium.

Other top prizes include signed boots and VIP Matchday Experiences.

International, as well as social media and in-store PoS support.

The campaign will also be supported by the 19 partner clubs, reaching 74% of all UK football fans and more than 35 million UK followers through their social media channels.

Lots of instant win prizes are also available,

Cadbury Brand Manager Bryony Tate said:

including more than 2,000 £5 or £10 ‘Love2Shop’

“Our previous Cadbury FC partnerships have been

vouchers, which can be spent in a host of leading

incredibly successful and our newest promotion

well-known high street stores.

Win A Day In Their Boots really builds on those.”

28 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 88 WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – HARDYS

HARDYS TV COMEBACK AND NEW EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP Certainty campaign will see Hardys’ flagship wine range showcased alongside some of the UK’s most popular TV shows.

Accolade’s wine brand Hardys is returning to TV

April, alongside in-store sampling activity with a

in March as part of a £3m marketing campaign

focus on the Easter sales period.

seeking to champion its “consistency and quality”.

Accolade Wines Marketing Director for Europe

As part of a deal with ITV, the ‘Certainty’

Tom Smith said: “Hardys’ consistency in quality and

campaign will see Hardys’ flagship wine range

wine style, year in year out, was the inspiration

showcased alongside some of the UK’s most

for our confident new creative, which shows how

popular TV shows.

we’ve been a constant in people’s lives, present

The TV campaign, the brand’s first since 2018, will also be supported by in-store activity, digital advertising, social media, and PR.

in key moments and for memorable occasions, throughout the decades.

“The consumer landscape will always

Activity will also be backed by a new partnership

change, and the last couple of years have cer-

with online learning platform Learning With Experts

tainly shown that, but our new campaign ahead

which will invite shoppers to leave a review of

of an exciting year of NPD for the carbon-neu-

Hardys wine, via a dedicated microsite, in return

tral brand, offers reassurance to retailers and

for a free lesson on a subject of their choice.

consumers that with Hardys you can always

The promotion will be advertised on more than

be certain. The promotion with Learning With

three million Hardys neck flags across stores from

Experts will further reinforce shoppers that they are making the right wine choice, especially around the busy Easter period.

“This significant investment will promote Hardys’ enduring status, and we expect it to deliver strong incremental sales and profit across the market.”

Globally, Accolade Wines will invest more than £6m to further support growth as part of Hardys’ ‘Certainty’ campaign.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – FANTA

FANTA’S COLOURFUL GLOBAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN Campaign launches in Great Britain with a 30 second TV advert, digital and social media content.

Fanta has launched its first ever global campaign,

to keep Fanta’s young adult audience engaged

which aims to inject colour into the greyness of

through innovation and campaigns, which also

everyday life.

includes Fanta’s annual, much-anticipated, Hal-

The brand says the Colourful People campaign is “rooted in the belief that people who are expressive and playful at heart will make other people feel welcome and encourage playfulness in the world to fight back the ‘grey’ of everyday”.

The campaign launches with a 30-second TVC and digital and social media activity. The content features people at work, at home or socialising, but with a twist that “only Fanta can bring”.

Martin Attock, Vice-President of Commercial Development at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, commented: “Fanta has been enjoyed for over 80 years – growing to become the number one flavoured carbonates brand in GB, four and a half times bigger than its nearest competitor.

“The ongoing popularity of the brand has seen it grow by 7% over the last year, and we continue

30 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 88 WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022

loween activity.”

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

RASPBERRY RUM

BATMAN BISCUITS

CITRUS FLAVOURS

Dead Man’s Fingers is expand-

Biscuit brand Oreo is team-

Pladis is bringing back McVitie’s

ing into the cream liqueur

ing up with superhero Batman

Jaffa Cakes Lemon & Lime. The

category with its new launch.

ahead of the launch of the hotly

brand said the success of its other

The Raspberry Rum Cream

anticipated ‘The Batman’ film

flavours proves customers want

Liqueur features aromas of fresh

on 4 March. The collaboration

to test new flavours and formats.

raspberries and can be enjoyed

will include the launch of a Bat-

The variant joins existing Pine-

neat over ice or mixed up into

man-embossed Oreo biscuit and

apple, Cherry and Passion Fruit

a Raspberry White Russian or

limited-edition packaging avail-

flavours, available in 122g boxes

a Raspberry Espresso Martini.

able in store from mid-January.

priced at £1.20.

GOING NUTS

ALERTING FLAVOUR

CRISP CAMPAIGN

Weetabix has extended its Oat-

Lucozade is adding its Lucoz-

Walkers has launched a

ibix range with a nutty variant,

ade Original flavour to its Alert

campaign to celebrate the

Oatibix Flakes Nutty Crunch. It

range, following £1m generated

nation’s love and appreciation

will roll-out from 28 February in

in less than two months within

for its crisps. The campaign

450g packs, retailing at £3.29.

the convenience sector. It will be

includes TV and digital activity

The brand is to launch a new

available from February in 500ml

and aims to remind consumers

pack design across its entire

plain and PMP cans. The launch

that the brand’s offering appeals

range, supported by a TV advert,

will be supported by digital and

to the many trends and occasions

as part of a £2m investment.

social media advertising.

currently seen across the market.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31

NOW THAT’S A

OUT TH

Robotic shops debu Robots are ready to take charge of order picking and delivery

WHAT IS IT? Self-described as a “one-stop shop for food and non-food”, the concept was developed by Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, responsible for the debut of the contactless Amazon Go brand last year in the UK.The two new stores (in Leiden and Rotterdam), called Ochama (a shrunk-down combination of ‘omnichannel’ and ‘amazing’), are the company’s first physical stores in Europe and are entirely operated by robots.

They contain both food and non-food items, with eleven product categories at launch including anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to office furniture, available for pick-up or delivery.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The stores aim to allow shoppers order products online through Ochama’s app, where the full range of products are offered, before the automated warehouse at the physical stores take care of the rest.

It is only available to members, who can join for as little as €10The ‘futuristic’ pick-up shops include a fleet of robots, such as AGV (automated ground vehicles) and robotic arms amongst others, to pick, sort and transfer the products.

By scanning the QR code provided in the app, shoppers can watch as their orders are carried to them on a conveyor belt.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR RETAILERS? Ochama’s Chief Operation Officer Mark

den Butter noted that by fully tapping the technologies in logistics and supply chain management, the shops “can bring down the product price by an extra 10% at the benefit of the chain’s member customers”.

The format also brings together online ordering and pick-up in a way that is quite popular in China, but has

32 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 88 WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022

not yet made its way as successfully in Europe.

“With rich experience in retail and cutting-edge logistics technologies that the company has accumulated over the years, we aspire to create an unprecedented shopping format for customers in Europe with better price and service,”

A GOOD IDEA…

HE BOX

ut in the Netherlands in JD.com’s first omnichannel retail stores in the Netherlands.

said Pass Lei, General Manager of Ochama, JD Worldwide, added.

The concept also hopes to help create a greener environment in urban locations. “There will be no queue and fewer traffic jams to do the chores as they can go for convenience, benefits and everything in one stop at Ochama,”

said den Butter. “No more driving across town, and going from shop to shop to get various products.”

WILL THIS CATCH ON? Judging by JD.com’s previous innovations, this has the potential to be a gamechanger for Europe. Sure, Argos has used

conveyor belts for decades, but this is automation on a different level.

The new concept promises to add even more item categories, making Ochama a true one-stop shop, mirroring a wellknown trend in JD.com’s native China.

What’s more, retail digital innovation involving robotic autonomy, including Amazon Go, has been grabbing retailers’ attention and is fast evolving as an attractive concept that promotes convenience.

It’s hard to know what the next big thing will be, but this one has been in the works for quite some time, with more retailers adopting it around the world.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 33

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

!

E K A C T A E m e h t t e L Julia Child, an American TV chef equivalent of Fanny Craddock, once said: “A party without cake is just a meeting.” Boris Johnson and all those involved in the lockdown parties rumpus probably agree.

However, it will doubtless be leaked that, while Britain was bunkering down, Downing Street staffers were filling up suitcases with Victoria sponges to keep “meetings” in full swing.

And they probably got them from Tesco.

It appears the canny supermarket giant is now selling cakes (a steal at only £7.50) specially designed for meetings (just in case you want to celebrate but government restrictions don’t permit you to throw a party).

Boris would do well to remember Marie “Let them eat cake” Antoinette.

She too was indifferent to the suffering of the masses and partied on regardless. Look where that got her.

The Week In Retail has launched a competition to celebrate partygate.

To enter, guess how many Tesco Party Meeting Cakes would fit in a large suitcase.

Pop your answer on the back of a P45 and send to 10 Downing St, London. There are no winners. Except perhaps Rishi Sunak.

BURNS SCUPPERED

ing trolley worth

Andre, god love him. Now, we’re not

an estimated

comparing the former glamour model

£25,000.

to some minced-up sheep lungs, but

T h e r e ’s

a

News has reached The Week In Retail

couple of things

that “the UK’s poshest haggis” is to

wrong here.

be served at a Lake District hotel’s Burns Night celebration.

you can pick up a haggis for less than three quid.

Who knows, the Borrowdale

First, a 25

might even be serving Grants Pre-

grand carving trolley does not a posh

mium Haggis (£1.50) straight out of

The Borrowdale Hotel near

haggis make. Katie Price turned up to

the tin. Delicious, but not posh.

Keswick is promising “a night to

her wedding in a horse-drawn glass

Secondly, what about those white

remember” by serving the traditional

carriage and nobody thought she

plastic castors? Even Katie Price

Scottish dish on a silver-plated carv-

was Cinderella. Except perhaps Peter

wouldn’t give them house room.

WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 88 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 35

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK •Menthol JUULpods are U.K.’s #2 TO GET YOUR PRODUCT LISTED PLEASE CONTACT RAITKEN@55NORTH.COM refill kit in independent shops.4

Top performing JUULpod flavours bring in more revenue.

•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

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

Designed for adult smokers.

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.

36 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE XX / WEDNESDAY XXXX 2021