The Week in Retail 94

RETAIL THE WEEK IN

HOME DELIVERY

CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO?

● Go Local grant

fund opens for applications

●

Rising prices shape shopper behaviour

●

ACS launches calorie labelling guidance

RETAILERS DISCUSS THE OPPORTUNITY DELIVERY PRESENTS

SYMBOL GROUPS

STORE OPENINGS

CAMBRIDGESHIRE STORE GETS FRESH START

EXPERIENCED PAIR TAKE ON ELY STORE

+

RETAILER RECRUITMENT SPAR SCOTLAND PLANS TO GROW ITS BUSINESS

ASDA, TESCO TRIAL PLANT-BASED PROTECTION FOR CITRUS FRUITS

Brought to you by:

Commercial Partner:

Issue 94 Wednesday 2nd March 2022

A VAPE YOU CAN TRUST QUALITY TESTED BY EXPERTS. LOVED BY VAPERS. DISCOVER MORE AT VUSE.COM VUSE CHARGE BEYOND This product contains nicotine and is addictive.

For adult nicotine consumers only. For trade use only.

New ePod 2

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

EDITOR’S COMMENT

UK stands with Ukraine You would have to be living under a rock to have missed news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but lesser reported is the impact that it is going to have on the people of the UK, who are already being stretched by the rising cost of living.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has warned the war in Ukraine will inflict an ‘economic cost’ on the UK and worsen the cost of living crisis, and experts have warned the Russian invasion could result in soaring fuel and food prices.

Ukraine currently accounts for 12% of global wheat exports, 16% of corn exports, and 18% of barley exports. The Black Sea is a major cargo route; if sea transport is disrupted it could also have a massive impact on food inflation.

In addition to grains themselves, the price of pre-prepared foods with wheat as the main ingredient, such as bread, cereal and pizza, could also be affected.

The Food and Drink Federation says past experience shows that disruption to Ukraine’s exports will have an impact on global food supplies and on the price of a range of key commodities, such as vegetable oils and maize, which are important in UK food production.

Meanwhile, the invasion has seen both petrol and diesel prices reach new record levels. A spokesman for the RAC said Russia’s actions are likely to push petrol pump prices up to £1.50 a litre very soon.

As a result, long queues and panic buying have already been seen at a number of locations around the UK as people try to fill up ahead of price spikes caused by the war. Some forecourts have resorted to closing off pumps after running out of supply, mostly diesel, and several supermarkets are already said to have reserved fuel for carers and key workers.

Since the invasion of Ukraine began there have been protests around the UK and organisations have also been acting to support Ukraine’s people, indeed broadcasts of adverts featuring Russian meerkat Aleksandr Orlov and his loyal companion Sergei will be restricted on television, because of concerns about sensitivities surrounding the invasion.

Meanwhile, a bar and diner in Wales has announced it will not be selling any Russian products in an attempt to show its solidarity with Ukraine. I wonder what this might eventually mean for retailers, will the strength of feeling eventually see supermarkets forced to remove vodka, chicken Kievs, stroganoff, and blini from their shelves?

Russia said its delegation was ready for the second round of peace talks with Ukraine —let’s hope for everyone’s sake they prevail.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 3

£6m BRAND ON TV INVESTMENT FROM MARCH

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94

6

10 THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

McColl’s seeks fresh funding and MPs pass a key amendment to the Police and Crime Bill.

9

Covid-19 update

20 Trade associations ACS launches new guidance for retailers on upcoming calorie labelling regulations, coming into force from April this year.

21 Local sourcing The Scottish Government greenlights the

29 COVER STORY

COMMUNITY

A panel of top retailers discuss the massive opportunity that home delivery presents to the convenience retail sector.

Surplus Christmas trees donated by Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co add some greenery to Sherwood Primary School in Lancashire.

23 Newstrade A local newspaper publisher seeks to

February supermarket spend falls, as own-

persuade customers to digital editions.

labels outperform brands for the first time

24 Store openings

in three months, new Kantar figures reveal.

A husband-and-wife retailing team give a

31 Picks of the week

Cambridgeshire store a new lease of life.

40 Out the box: plant-based protection

25 Symbol groups

roll-out of phase 3 of the SGF Go Local

Spar Scotland embarks on a new retailer

Programme.

recruitment drive.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

27 Business intelligence

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

Asda and Tesco introduce plant-based protection for citrus fruits and avocados.

43 Before you go...

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

MORRISONS ADDS ‘PODBACK’ Morrisons is partnering with recycling scheme Podback to enable customers a way to recycle coffee pods.

Customers can pick up free Podback Collect+ recycling bags from its customer service desks. The bags can be filled with used coffee pods then taken to one of 6,500 Collect+ drop off points.

AMAZON BOUND

BY CODE Amazon has become the 14th retailer to be bound by the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. The Groceries Code Adjudicator, Mark White, will be working with Amazon’s Code Compliance Officer to help the retailer transition to complying with the code.

ZERO EMISSION ZONE PILOT Britain’s first Zero Emission Zone pilot has launched in Oxford. The pilot will allow Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council to gain useful insights before introducing a larger ZEZ covering most of Oxford city centre next year, subject to further public consultation.

6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

TRADING

McColl’s seeks fresh funding

The statement comes after McColl’s warned its 2022 profit would be “slightly behind” current expectations.

McColl’s Retail Group has addressed reports, which claimed it was looking for fresh funding to stay afloat.

The retailer, which operates 1,100 stores across Britain – with about 200 of them trading under the Morrisons Daily format, confirmed it remains in ongoing discussions with its lending banks towards a longer-term agreement.

McColl’s said: “The group has received the necessary agreement to roll forward its financial covenant test periodically, and continues to receive credit support from its key commercial partner to enable these discussions.

“The group continues to believe that a financing solution will be found that involves its existing partners and stakeholders. A further update will be made as and when these discussions conclude.”

The statement comes after McColl’s warned its 2022 profit would be “slightly behind” current expectations.

The retailer expects profits of between £20m and £22m, down from a previous forecast of £27m. McColl’s said it is starting to experience strengthening margin, and has taken further mitigating actions, including a full review of pricing and costs.

Retail prices continue to rise Shop Price inflation accelerated to 1.8% in February, up from 1.5% in January, marking the highest rate of inflation since November 2011.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen show food inflation remained unchanged at 2.7% in February. Fresh Food inflation accelerated in February to 3.3%, up from 2.9% in January, the highest inflation rate since March 2013. However, ambient

Food inflation slowed to 2.0% in February, down from 2.4% in January.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said: “Food inflation remained the key driver behind higher prices, particularly for fresh food which has been impacted by poor harvests, both in the UK and globally. There is little sign of change, with the Bank of England predicting price rises to continue until at least the spring.”

NEWS DIGEST

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

CRIME

MPs pass amendment to Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill Move sends a strong message against assaulting public-facing workers.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME The 2022 Convenience Leadership Programme starts in less than two weeks. The course has been designed

Independent retailers have praised MPs after an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that makes attacking a shop worker an aggravated offence was passed in the House of Commons.

During the debate earlier this week, Justice Minister Tom Pursglove said the move would “send a strong message that assaults against public-facing workers are totally unacceptable and will reinforce the seriousness with which the courts treat such offences”.

In response, NFRN National President Narinder Randhawa said: “Everyone involved in retailing deserves to work in an environment that is safe.

Sadly, the reality is that theft, vandalism, and physical and verbal attacks are all too familiar for many NFRN members.

for area managers, buying teams, independent retailers, sales and market research specialists, and consultants to develop their expertise in convenience retailing.

TESCO ACTS ON WIPES Tesco has revealed that it will

“For some considerable time, the Fed has been calling for the government to get tough on those who assault retail workers. The fact that MPs have now passed an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that will make it an offence to assault anyone providing a public duty is very good news indeed.”

Consumer confidence hits lowest headline score for 13 months, says latest research Fear about the impact of price rises from food to fuel and utilities, alongside increased taxation and interest rate hikes, has created a perfect storm of worries that has shaken consumer confidence.

Consumer confidence decreased by seven points in February to reach -26, the lowest headline score for 13 months, new research reveals.

GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index, which is conducted among 2,000 people aged 16+, shows that all measures were down in comparison to the 21 January announcement.

Joe Staton, Client Strategy Director GfK, said: “There’s clear anxiety in these findings as many consumers worry about balancing the household books at the end of the month.”

stop selling branded baby wipes containing plastic from 14 March. The supermarket, which is the UK’s biggest seller of baby wipes, stopped using plastic in its own-label baby wipes two years ago. Tesco sells more than 75 million packs each year.

CURRY NIGHT DEALS Nisa retailers are helping shoppers cut the cost of curry night with the symbol group’s latest Mid-week Meal deal. The promotion runs until 8 March and features all the ingredients needed for an Asian-inspired family feast. The promo is supported on the Nisa Locally social pages and with POS.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 7

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

Wales retains legal requirement for face coverings in shops

RETAILERS SIGN UP TO PRICE MATCHING SERVICE

Face coverings will continue in Welsh retail, possibly for another month, but a review is expected later this week.

Asda, Primark and Lyreco are some of the retailers using new software that allows stores to monitor competitors’ prices on similar products.

The new technology, which has been developed by price intelligence company Skuuudle, uses artificial intelligence to let retailers see the price of not just

will continue to consider the latest scientific and medical evidence to inform our approach. Later this week I will be setting our longer-term plans to manage the pandemic, as we carry out the regular three-week review of the regulations.”

Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the decision. General Secretary, Paddy Lillis, said: “It is sensible and measured to keep the requirement to wear a face covering in shops. While Covid appears to be in decline, the pandemic is not over yet. Wearing a face covering protects others and we welcome that the Welsh Government has been clear and consistent on it being mandatory in stores.”

like-for-like products, and of the price charged per gram.

The platform also ensures

TECH SOLUTIONS

T

he Welsh Government has retained the legal requirement for shoppers to wear face coverings, if they are able to.

The requirement is being phased out in some public venues, but face coverings will continue in Welsh retail possibly for another month, but a review is expected on Friday.

First Minster, Mark Drakeford, said: “Now is the right time to relax the general requirement to wear a face-covering in many indoor public places. But we will keep the legal requirement in place in retail, public transport and health and social care, which are widely used and essential sectors.

“This is part of our cautious and careful response to the pandemic. We

branded goods, but also

data is reviewed by a quality control team.

“Customers use price to measure everything about your business, and they decide to buy from you when they are convinced the price and service you offer gives them the greatest value,” a company spokesperson said.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 9

Our Bread. Our Brand. Our Story.

Here at Hovis we have been baking bread from the finest ingredients for more than 130 years. Our range may have changed and evolved over the years, but our exceptionally high standards of care and expertise never will.

Since 1886...

® Established back in 1886, have had a long presence in Scotland, first starting on Paton Street then moving to Duke Street, Glasgow in 1983.

We employ approx. 350 colleagues locally, all who show fantastic commitment in baking and delivering excellent quality bread every week. The Glasgow team have an average service of over 20 years across the site; this is testament to the family spirit everyone ® brings with them every day to bake our best and Mothers Pride® bread.

We were proud to launch the Hovis Bakers Since 1886® range in April 2021. Since the launch, new loaves, rolls, burger buns and hot cross buns were created using our extensive baking experience to deliver products with great quality and taste.

Hovis has the #1 unit share across three types of bread in the impulse channel #1

#1

IN LARGE WHITE

IN LARGE WHOLEMEAL

30.5% Unit Share1

36.2% Unit Share3

#1

IN LARGE SEEDED & GRAINS 29.9% Unit Share2

White:

Half & Half:

Wholemeal / Brown:

Bread with Bits:

Other Bakery:

1. Source: NielsenIQ Scantrack, unit sales for the pre-packaged white bread loaves category, loaves 600g and over, for the 12-month period ending 04/12/21, for the total GB impulse channel (Copyright © 2021 NielsenIQ)

Regional:

2. Source: NielsenIQ Scantrack, unit sales for the pre-packaged bread loaves with seeds and grains category, loaves 600g and over, for the 12-month period ending 04/12/21, for the total GB impulse channel (Copyright © 2021 NielsenIQ)

3. Source: NielsenIQ Scantrack, unit sales for the pre-packaged brown/ wholemeal bread loaves category, loaves 600g and over, for the 12-month period ending 04/12/21, for the total GB impulse channel (Copyright © 2021 NielsenIQ)

C OV E R

SNAPPY RO

ROUNDTABLE: H

With home delivery the biggest opportunity to hit convenience retailing in decades, S on the banks of Loch Lomond to discuss the m

T

here have been many consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, some good and some not so good. Probably the biggest opportunity, however, has been the massive upsurge in the popularity of home delivery. And it’s fair to say that home delivery presents perhaps the biggest opportunity in living memory for local retailers to turbocharge their businesses and very quickly grow sales and profits.

With that in mind, SLR and The Week In Retail hooked up with Dundee-based home delivery specialists Snappy Shopper last month to invite a select group of top local retailers and other industry insiders to a working lunch to discuss the ins and outs of home delivery.

Not every retailer attending the session offers the service and in his introductory remarks The Week In Retail Publishing Director Antony Begley pointed out that while providing a home delivery service unquestionably involves hard work, it can have a transformational effect on businesses for remarkably little risk or financial outlay. He cited award-winning Londis retailer Natalie Lightfoot, who frequently says home delivery is the best thing she’s ever done in her store on the outskirts of Glasgow.

It’s certainly the case that basket spends tend to be much bigger – typically north of £26 – and with no indication that demand for the service is slowing post-Covid, it’s important to get in there before your competition. Begley said this

AROUND T would be a “big win,” since customers are very reluctant to change suppliers once they have a solution they are happy with.

Getting in first, then, is half the battle.

CATCHING THE WAVE Snappy Shopper is the major player in home delivery in Scotland and the business has grown in tandem with the explosion of the market, as David Thomson, the company’s UK Independent Sales Controller explained.

Industry veteran Thomson joined Snappy in January 2020, just two months

12 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

● Irfan Bashir, Premier Group NJ ● Antony Begley, SLR ● Jim Carroll, One Stop ● David Fair, Snappy Shopper ● Barry Hanif, Nisa ● Matthew Howie, Nisa Retail ● Jay Javid, Premier Group NJ ● Saj Javid, Premier Group NJ

before the start of the first national lockdown. At that point he was employee number nine. The company now employs more than 170 people.

S T O RY

OUNDTABLE

HOME DELIVERY

SLR and The Week In Retail invited a panel of top retailers to Cameron House Hotel massive opportunity it presents to the channel.

THE TABLE ● Phil Knox, Best One ● Dael Links, Snappy Shopper ● Stephen McIndoe, Premier Group NJ ● Daniall Nadeem, Nisa Bellshill ● Saleem Sadiq, Spar Renfrew ● Waseem Sadiq, Spar Renfrew ● Faisal Sattar, MHouse Solutions ● David Thomson, Snappy Shopper

Thomson highlighted that home delivery “isn’t for everyone”. “It’s a jump, a step out of the norm, but it doesn’t need to be a big hassle,” he said. A small

investment at the outset makes “all the difference”.

Conversely, home delivery “is not rocket science,” said Thomson. Get the basics right and do it well and you will be well on the way to growing your business, he said, referring in particular to one Dundee retailer who is bringing in an additional £1.5m annually for following two golden rules: deliver what’s ordered, and deliver it when you say.

“Do that and you’ll keep your customers”, he explained.

For Jim Carroll, Franchise Business Development Manager Scotland for One Stop, the three key factors are availability, accuracy of picking and price.

He said Snappy dovetails into the symbol group’s franchise stores really well. The beauty of home delivery for Carroll is its simplicity. It’s “just a product and a price”, he said. Snappy Shopper users, he explained, don’t see any possible negative aspects of stores like poor service, cold shopfloors, faulty equipment or bad lighting.

Another veteran of the industry, Carroll likened the impact of home delivery to the impact longer opening hours had back in the 1980s. “Convenience didn’t exist at that point with stores closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays,” he explained. “Eight till late created the biggest opportunity independent retailers had ever seen – and they grasped it.

Home delivery is today’s equivalent of that game-changing shift.”

WHY ISN’T EVERYONE DOING IT? So then, if home delivery offers big rewards and is bang on the zeitgeist, why isn’t everyone doing it?

For Jay Javid, Director of PGNJ which operates a chain of stores in and around Glasgow, it’s because of concerns he has as a multi-site operator over setting up and managing price files centrally for nine stores. His mind was quickly put at ease by retailer Saleem Sadiq who has five Spar stores and offers home delivery through Snappy: “There’s no need for a central operation,” said Saleem. His and his family’s stores all work independently of each other and it works just fine, thank you very much.

Rather than diving right in with nine stores, however, Thomson advised multi-site operators to err on the side of caution and start with stores they know are going to do well. Learn as you go with the stores that are likely to be successful quickly, then use those learnings to roll the offer out to other stores.

Unsurprisingly, the lack of easy (or any) integration between EPoS systems and home delivery platforms was also an issue for some of our retailers. In an ideal world, delivery apps would update in tandem with in-store prices via a simple API with the EPoS system - but this is rarely if ever the case.

EPoS houses are notoriously reluctant to integrate with third party software.

“Whichever EPoS provider hits that

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 13

C OV E R

SNAPPY RO

nail on the head will end up smiling,” said Jay Javid.

Saleem highlighted that he did have to manually update the Snappy Shopper app, but it wasn’t “a major headache”.

Daniall Nadeem’s Nisa Bellshill store handles upwards of 50 deliveries per day through Snappy and Daniall admitted: “It’s time. It’s effort. But it’s worth it.” He spends two to three hours matching the Snappy menu to his product file but the results make it worth his while.

Thomson said Snappy was very much aware of the integration problem and are making significant progress on that front – although the problems invariably occur with the intransigence of the EPoS providers and that’s proven a very tough nut to crack right across the UK. Begley suggested integration was 90% of the problem and asked attendees to imagine a world where the EPoS fully integrated with the home delivery app and the store also had digital shelf edge labels (SELs).

“The three or four-weekly nightmare of changing promotion cycles would be gone. No more replacing hundreds of price tickets in-store, no more replacing boxes and boxes of POS, no more uploading promotions into the Snappy app. Hit the button and literally everything updates instantly.”

For Jay Javid, “integration is the only thing” stopping him.

DRIVER DILEMMA Saleem Sadiq’s biggest problem is not integration but getting hold of drivers.

Saleem is “fighting with Uber” to get drivers and would prefer to piggyback off third-party drivers.

Snappy is “dabbling” with ‘last-mile’ delivery itself, which Thomson said could

“If you want to get to five figures, you’ll need Facebook.”

– David Thomson on the power

of social media

work in established areas. He said it was very difficult for retailers to engage with last-mile suppliers because of their business model, citing the high commission taken by the likes of Uber Eats as proof of this – typically 30% or 35%.

Despite many concerns, however, getting home delivery up and running is actually very inexpensive with no longterm commitments. Give it a go and it’s working you’ll see the results in the till.

Thomson explained that, essentially, once a retailer hits the £2,000 a week mark from home delivery then they could start thinking about investing £400 to £500 of that in a driver and van. Even doing just

14 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

£2,000 a week is enough to make a small financial contribution to the business.

And, he added, “when retailers hit two grand, they’re on their way to five”.

Saleem also wondered aloud about using taxi companies. Thomson’s advice was to engage with a taxi driver and not a taxi firm, as it’s individual drivers and not companies who must perform due diligence around age-restricted purchases.

This issue of underage sales was a concern for retailer and EPoS supplier Faisal Sattar of MHouse Solutions.

Thomson highlighted that sales of age-restricted products is a very important issue but said that retailers simply have to have the same processes in place for deliveries as they have in the store itself. He also stressed the importance of training drivers around Challenge 25.

Drivers must hit a “customer looks over 25” button before they can complete a delivery of age-restricted products made through Snappy Shopper.

S T O RY

OUNDTABLE

Furthermore, the Snappy retailer dashboard also has a digital refusal log.

RIVAL FEARS Retailers also expressed concerns about rival stores signing up for Snappy Shopper. Snappy looks at a model of one store per 10,000 people, which is enough for that store to build a “great business,” Thomson said, adding that social media was “absolutely key” to success. He quoted the case of two Dundee stores roughly three miles apart which are both doing well because they’re both very vocal about offering home delivery.

Thomson explained that experience shows that when two good retailers operate home delivery in some sort of proximity to one another, the result is a net gain for both stores.

If anything, Thomson said, it was harder to start up in isolation, where there weren’t any other Snappy Shopper stores around.

Jay commented that “everyone wants to be exclusive” and compared home delivery to the Lottery and PayPoint, which have mushroomed to a point where “everyone’s got them”. But exclusivity is no guarantee of success. Doing the job well is likely to deliver growth under most circumstances.

will put up with anything if they know in advance,” he said. “Phone them. It’s the same if the delivery’s going to be late. Ninety-nine per cent of the time they won’t have a problem if you give them a call and say you’re going to be 10 minutes late.”

GET VOCAL ON SOCIAL The importance of social media was a recurring theme throughout the session.

Thomson put it bluntly: “If you want to get to five figures, you’ll need Facebook.

We talk endlessly to retailers who don’t have a good Facebook page about the importance of having one.”

He said stores with a significant amount of ‘likes’ on their Facebook page

“Everyone wants to be exclusive.”

– Jay Javid on market saturation

– over 1,000 for example – were those with the highest home delivery sales, and that you must take customers with you on your journey.“If it’s as simple as giving someone a lollipop for liking your Facebook page then that’s the sort of stuff you need to do at the start of your journey,” he advised.

Nisa Business Development Manager Matthew Howie made a good point that TikTok and Instagram were probably growing quicker than Facebook, citing Nisa retailer Daniall Nadeem who generates a lot of hype around pre-sales on these apps which are more popular among many younger shoppers. Daniall puts products on Snappy with a ‘coming soon’ logo and when they become active “it just blows up”.

Daniall said his TikTok content, which focuses on in-store displays, new products and, of course, dancing, was “just a bit of fun”. Fun maybe, but it does engage with a totally different

SWAP SHOP Concerns around range and substitutions were another worry for Jay. Thomson’s advice was to keep ranges as tight as possible on the app, especially at the outset, to help avoid having to substitute. “And if you must substitute,” he advised, “then get the customer’s consent first, and don’t charge more”.

Begley backed this up. “Several retailers have told me that customers

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 15

C OV E R

SNAPPY RO

audience from Facebook. This struck a chord with Saleem’s son Waseem, who labelled Facebook “a dying platform”.

Dying it may possibly be but it remains by some clear distance the most important platform for home delivery retailers for the time being.

Dael Links of Snappy suggested setting up a Facebook community group as a great way to target customers wth an active interest in your business, rather than just everyone on Facebook. Multi-site retailer Barry Hanif added that the social meda wasn’t necessarily about promotions but “reminding customers the shop is there”. Begley agreed. “Social media should be about establishing and building relationships, not just selling stuff,” he said. There was broad agreement that the vast majority of posts should be about community engagement in some sense.

Faisal Sattar advised retailers unsure about social media to simply get younger staff to help: “Just give them a work phone

“Keep footfall drivers to drive footfall into stores.”

– David Thomson on promotions

KEY FINDINGS ● Get in before the competition ● A small initial investment pays dividends ● It’s better to charge for delivery ● Deliver what’s ordered, when you say you’ll deliver it ● Call your customers if there’s a problem ● Social media is key ● Don’t go crazy with promos ● Be prepared to invest in a driver and van ● Challenge 25 training for drivers is crucial

to make content for you and you’ll soon see much bigger engagement.”

PROMOTION PUZZLE Opinion was split over offering promotions on the app for home delivery. At this point, it’s simply not practical to offer every single in-store promotion on the app too – and many retailers around the table suggested that it’s not even a good idea to offer promotions at all.

Saleem Sadiq, for instance, made the valid point that promotions tend to drive impulse sales, not planned purchases.

And most customers don’t open the Snappy app looking for deals; they open it to buy something they want or need and pricing is of secondary importance.

16 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

David Thomson suggested that in his experience the top performing home delivery retailers make great use of promotions on the Snappy app. “Customers like promotions,” he said, and they also can be used tactically to help manage fresh and other short-coded stock.

Time and effort are also major considerations. Daniall Nadeem used to upload Nisa’s full promotional leaflet to the Snappy app but stopped due to the time it took. Without an API to automatically upload the promotions, he has to manually upload each promotion individually. He now focuses instead on ‘Wow!’ deals and freezer promotions.

He schedules posts to run every couple of hours and says that these scheduled posts on Facebook, TikTok and Instragram see “two or three sales come in on Snappy that I wouldn’t pick up in-store”.

Begley suggested that getting the first order from a customer is the hardest one.

Data shows that three-quarters of the

S T O RY

OUNDTABLE

time, customers will order again after making that first purchase. He suggested a strong initial incentive would soon pay for itself in repeat business, citing one retailer who actually offers a £40 bottle of champagne to new customers, getting the £40 back inside a couple of orders.

BIG BASKETS Of course, the great attraction of home delivery is the bigger baskets. It doesn’t take too many £200 spends, which is not unusual, to claw back the cost of that bottle of bubbly.

There are several reasons for this.

Antony Begley discussed the psychology of spending money, quoting research which found that handing over cash in stores has been shown to trigger the same reaction in the brain as occurs when physical pain is felt. In other words, spending cash hurts. The same research found that spending on credit cards or apps, conversely, didn’t trigger those some

responses in the brain. By extension, using a smartphone for a home delivery order is further divorced from the reality of parting with your hard-earned.

There are of course many fairly obvious reasons why home delivery order values tend to be higher. David Thomson suggested baskets were bigger because shoppers didn’t have the same distractions they faced in-store and could take time to check their cupboards to see what needed replenished.

Theorising aside, one very concrete reason is linked to delivery charges.

While it might be tempting to offer free delivery to attract business, this can

“Customers will put up with anything if they know in advance.”

– Antony Begley on the importance of communication

quickly become a problem, with customers ordering little and often. The consensus around the table was that sales in fact increase when a delivery charge is added. The number of deliveries will fall but basket size will increase dramatically as shoppers seek to make the most of that £3 delivery fee.

The impact that pressures from higher fuel costs and rising wages might have on delivery charges in future was also discussed.

With rising costs across the board, it will surprise no one if retailers feel the need to increase delivery charges in future.

Snappy’s £3 delivery fee is only ‘advisory’ and Thomson stressed that it’s entirely up to retailers, although he did warn retailers to tread carefully around deliver fees, particularly where retailers are considering charging more than a rival store.

And so, as the session ended, talk of the soaring costs of doing business turned to the emergence of dark store operators like Getir and Gorillaz, which Thomson sees as a threat to not only the delivery market but also the traditional convenience model.

Dark operators are thankfully thin on the ground in Scotland but they are huge in major cities down south, so it’s probably only a matter of time before they start targeting Scotland, particularly major cities. The best form of defence against this? Attack.

And the conversation came full circle, reinforcing the idea that getting started now is the best way of protecting your business from dark stores in the future.

With that in mind then, should any local retailer asking themselves, “Can I afford to offer home delivery?” instead be asking: “Can I afford not to?”

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 17

TRADE ASS

CALORIE LABELLING

ACS’s new guidance on calorie labelling rules

Trade body says it’s essential retailers understand their responsibilities when it comes to new requirements.

A

ssociation of Convenience Stores has launched new guidance for retailers on upcoming calorie labelling regulations, which will start coming into force in England and Wales from April this year.

The new rules, which primarily affect the out-of-home sector, will require retailers in scope to add calorie and portion information to menus and displays of products like ready to eat pizzas, hot beverages, bakery items and pre-packed for direct sale foods. Retailers will also be required to clearly display a notice highlighting the number of calories recommended for an adult in a day.

Retailers who have more than 250 employees are considered to be within the scope of the rules, but the government intends for symbol and franchise retailers to be included. As part of the guidance, ACS urges retailers to contact their symbol or franchise operator to find out whether they’ll have to make changes in-store and online to comply with the regulations.

There are also important exemptions for businesses that have their own offer of food for immediate consumption. If a retailer is providing food that would otherwise be in scope of their rules independently of their symbol/franchise arrangement, then as long as that retailer

20 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

has fewer than 250 employees themselves they are exempt from the new labelling requirements.

ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “It’s essential that retailers understand their responsibilities when it comes to the new calorie labelling requirements.

For the majority of businesses in scope, this will mean contacting your supplier about the new materials that will have to be displayed in-store, but there are some for whom more significant planning is required. We urge retailers to engage with the guidance, and come to us with any questions about the detail.”

Detailed guidance for retailers is available.

O C I AT I O N S

SCOTTISH GROCERS’ FEDERATION

Go Local grant fund now open for applications

Scottish Government gives its approval for the roll-out of phase three of the SGF Go Local Programme.

C

onvenience retailers in Scotland are being encouraged to apply for a match-funded Go Local grant, worth up to £5,500 per store.

The SGF Go Local project aims to support Scottish convenience stores to provide dedicated, long-term display space for locally sourced Scottish products, with a focus on fresh and healthy, coupled with enhanced consumer engagement. The project is funded by the Scottish Government and is delivered in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink.

Stores that took part in the initial pilot saw a 40% increase in sales of local products and delivered additional local economic benefits in excess of £159,000 per store. The programme lets stores support local, Scottish producers, and give these businesses a vital route to market to help with the recovery post Covid-19.

SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “The decision from the Scottish Government to fund the third phase

of Go Local demonstrates a clear commitment to increasing the local supply base amongst the convenience sector in Scotland.

“As consumers continue to seek out the best quality Scottish products from their local convenience stores, we will work together with the Scottish Grocers Federation to ensure we are creating and maximising any opportunities for

Scottish producers to work with these retailers.”

Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon added: “It’s clear to see that convenience stores throughout Scotland are playing a key role in the economic recovery and in supporting local suppliers to find a new route to market. In addition, retailers are able to develop their proposition by offering their customers a high quality, locally sourced, fresh and healthier food offering. Everyone benefits.”

The grant is open to all Scottish convenience retailers, however, multi-site operators will be limited to one application per company.

Applications close on 31 May 2022 subject to the number of applications received. Apply for funding.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 21

Stock up on Players Easy Rolling Tobacco Our cheapest Rolling Tobacco* High quality

Easy rolling blen

d

30g RRP**

£12.95 For Tobacco Traders Only. *Based on ITUK RRP as at October 2021. **RRP: For the avoidance of doubt, retailers are free at all times to determine the selling price of their products.

N E W S PA P E R S

ARCHANT

NFRN urges local newspaper publisher not to ditch print The trade body understands Archant is asking subscribers of its Life magazines if they would consider receiving their May issue via an app.

T

he NFRN has condemned publisher Archant’s move to persuade its Life magazine subscribers to switch from printed editions to digital. The Fed understands subscribers to the regional publisher’s 20 county Life magazines are being asked if they would consider receiving their May issue magazine content via an app instead of in a print copy.

Archant claims the new “eco subscription” is not compulsory, but told subscribers it would be a chance for them to “save paper”.

The publisher says this is part of a strategy set out in the middle of last year to achieve net zero-emissions at the company.

Narinder Randhawa, NFRN’s National President, said: “This move comes at a time when the owners are looking to sell the company and just goes to show the contempt that they have for retailers who have supported their titles for decades.”

The NFRN’s Head of News and Connect, Brian Murphy, said: “I would

remind Archant, and any other publishers who may be thinking of following a similar strategy, that there are very few examples of it being successful.”

Archant, which operates more than 140 local, regional and national brands, recently launched two new apps for readers of The Hunts Post (Huntingdon) and The Comet (Stevenage) as its major investment in app technology gathers pace. The apps provide exclusive content, podcasts and videos, as well as push notifications on local breaking stories.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 23

S TO R E O P E N I N G S

NEW BARNS STORES

Cambridgeshire store gets fresh start The store’s new owners have experience of the convenience sector.

H

usband-and-wife team, Dinesh and Harsha Makwana, has bought a closed Spar store in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The two-storey store has both a convenience retail offering and Post Office services.

The couple has worked in various industries during their careers, including owning two c-stores for a number of years – one of which they have since sold and the other lies just 10 miles from Ely. Since acquiring the business, which is located in a residential area, Dinesh and

Harsha have reopened the Post Office service and conducted a refurbishment and fitting-out of the store. The business has also undergone a full rebrand, and now trades as New Barns Stores.

The couple said: “We decided to purchase the business as we recognised an opportunity and with our 10 years of experience in the convenience retail sector, we believe we’ll be able to make this venture a success.

“We have already equipped the store with modern-styled facilities that are

24 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

catered for all ages, and more importantly, we’ll be able to offer a convenience store for everybody to get their everyday items.”

Lawrence Roberts, Associate Director at Christie Finance, who sourced funding for the acquisition, added: “Dinesh and Harsha were keen to re-open this convenience store in order to bring these vital services back to the local community, and I am delighted to have secured a competitive funding package which has allowed them to do this.

SYMBOL GROUPS

SPAR SCOTLAND

Major retailer recruitment drive now underway Company appoints Jane McCulloch as Business Development Manager to support the drive.

S

par Scotland has embarked on a new retailer recruitment drive as part of plans to grow the business and accelerate its transformation plans.

The Scottish wholesaler and convenience retailer, who recently won Symbol Group of the Year at the 2021 SLR Awards, is looking to recruit a significant number of new retailers from across the country.

The family-owned business already services more than 300 Spar stores and has a distribution network with

a fleet of 55 vehicles. The company has also appointed Jane McCulloch as Business Development Manager to support the drive.

McCulloch said: “I’ve been working in retail for 22 years having started with Asda whilst studying Retail Management at Glasgow Caledonian University.

I worked for various retailers during my career including previous time at CJ Lang where I enjoyed seven years with the family-run business. To widen my skill set I moved on to work at United

Wholesale Scotland followed by the last four years with Costcutter Supermarket Group. I am delighted to have returned to CJ Lang where my independent retail career started, as I firmly believe Spar are the strongest brand within the convenience sector in Scotland.”

In addition, the company now has a dedicated development team that focuses on supporting the onboarding of all new retailers, as well as taking responsibility for refurbishment projects for long, well-established Spar retailers.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 25

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

TAKE-HOME GROCERY FIGURES

Rising prices begin to shape behaviour

Kantar figures show online sales were down by almost 20% year-on-year over the past month.

H

ouseholds in the UK spent £26 less on average at supermarkets in February, as own-label sales did better than brands for the first time in three months, new Kantar figures reveal.

Kantar’s latest take-home grocery figures in the UK show that supermarket sales fell by 3.7% over the 12 weeks to 20 February 2022. However, sales remain 8.4% higher than the same period before the pandemic in 2020.

Kantar says the annual decline reflects last year’s winter lockdown when the public was eating more meals and snacks at home.

Fraser McKevitt, Head of Retail and Consumer Insight, Worldpanel Division, UK, said: “It’s important to flag that the drop in monthly spending isn’t all down to savvy budgeting. With the formal end to Covid-19 restrictions in England, more of us are now eating on the go, buying sandwiches, salads and snacks on our lunch breaks, and enjoying meals out with friends and family. That means we’re buying less food and drink to have at home.”

Kantar’s figures show that the discounters are especially benefiting from shoppers making more visits to stores.

Meanwhile, online sales were down by almost 20% year-on-year over the past month.

Kantar figures also reveal that shopper routines were disrupted by extreme weather. Storms Dudley and Eunice resulted in nearly seven million fewer shopping trips during the week ending 20 February compared with expectations for this time of year.

It wasn’t all bad news though. Sales of chilled desserts and still and sparkling wine jumped by 15% in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, and sales of boxes of chocolates leapt 53%.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 27

STERLING

What are your R O L L I N G TO B ACCO customers ESSENTIAL asking for?

What’s the

What value rolling tobacco do you offer?

I’m looking for rolling tobacco with paper and filters included

GREAT VALUE

EVERYDAY VALUE

EXTRA CONVENIENCE

RRP £13.65**

RRP £14.60**

RRP £22.35**

RRP £23.95**

RRP £14.70**

Sterling Rolling Essential 30g & 50g

Sterling Rolling 30g & 50g

Sterling Rolling 3 in 1 30g

Whole leaf

Original

Original

CHEAPEST rolling tobacco you offer?*

We offer a number of rolling tobaccos, including:

Blend Rolling papers Filters Cellophane overwrap

Scan now to complete a quiz to win a £100 Love2Shop Voucher*** *Providing Sterling Essential is cheapest on the shelf **Retailers are free at all times to price JTI products at whatever price they choose. ***Competition available from 18/02/2022 - 27/03/2022. All entries in with a chance to win. T&Cs available upon completion of the quiz.

COMMUNITY

JAMES HALL & CO

Spar and James Hall & Co bolster Sherwood’s forest Children and teachers at Sherwood Primary School have planted Spar Christmas trees to add fresh foliage to the school grounds.

S

par wholesaler James Hall & Co has donated surplus Christmas trees to Sherwood Primary School in Fulwood, Lancashire, to let the children add some fresh foliage to the school grounds.

Work is currently underway across the school grounds to improve the environment and education of pupils.

Year 5 teacher and Forest School Leader, Michael Stanton, said: “We’re grateful to Spar and James Hall & Co for the donation of Christmas trees and they will go a long way to enhancing the school surroundings after the recent loss of some of our ash trees.

“As a country we don’t look after nature as much as we ought to, and our children are spending less and less time in the outdoors. Here at Sherwood, we have dedicated days of education in the outdoors for skills development to improve this. This is boosted further as the outdoors runs as theme across all curriculum areas, and we also have our extracurricular school Eco Club.”

Green-fingered Freya Houghton, a Year 5 pupil, added: “I wanted to be involved in planting the trees as I love the outdoors and I help plant flowers in the garden at my grandad’s. It’s fun and

I find it a good way to relax. It is also a nice feeling when you have finished, and you see all the colour.”

Tom Murphy, Marketing Manager at James Hall & Co, said: “It’s fantastic to see the children at Sherwood are so aware of the environment around them and that they were so keen to help with the digging and planting of the Christmas trees. “’Nurturing our neighbourhoods’ and ‘passionate about local’ are two of Spar’s brand pillars, so I am delighted that we have been able to support Sherwood Primary School’s green agenda.”

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 29

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – NORDIC SPIRIT

JTI EXPANDS NORDIC SPIRIT RANGE The brand is introducing a new Spearmint flavour alongside an Extra-Strong strength for its existing Bergamot Wildberry variant.

Nicotine pouch brand Nordic Spirit is expanding

strength to Nordic Spirit’s portfolio, so retailers can

its portfolio with the launch of a new flavour,

benefit from this rapidly growing category.

Spearmint, and a new Extra-Strong nicotine strength for Bergamot Wildberry.

Mark McGuiness, Head of Marketing at JTI UK, said: “The Nordic Spirit brand has gone from

The new launches (RSP £6.50) are available

strength to strength since launching in 2019, with

in an extra-strong strength to reflect the growing

its range of nicotine pouches pivotal in driving

demand for stronger variants in the nicotine pouch

category growth. We strive to innovate and meet

category. The brand says strong and extra-strong

evolving customer demand and the new launches

now make up 72.6% of nicotine pouch sales and

do just that – helping retailers take advantage of

extra-strong is the fastest growing strength, so the

the increasing market for stronger variants.

latest variants will help retailers provide a range of

“Retailers can now stock a full range of Nordic

options for customers seeking a stronger nicotine

Spirit flavours to ensure that every customer’s taste

experience.

is catered for, whether they prefer menthol flavours

In addition, mint flavours already account for

such as Mint and Spearmint or fruit flavours like

77.6% of the nicotine pouch category and the new

Elderflower and Bergamot Wildberry. With Regular,

addition enables retailers to offer their customers

Strong or Extra-Strong strengths available across

a sweeter tasting alternative to the classic mint

these flavours, retailers can offer something for

variant.

everyone.”

Meanwhile, Bergamot Wildberry makes up

Nordic Spirit Bergamot Wildberry Extra-Strong

63.8% of all nicotine pouch fruit flavour sales. The

and Spearmint Extra-Strong will be running at

brand says the new strength caters to growing cus-

20% POR, with the potential for wholesale deals

tomer appetite for fruit flavours and adds another

in the future.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 31

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – TANGO

TANGO INTRODUCES BERRY PEACHY The new variant is the first edition of the brand’s sugar-free rotational flavour series Tango Editions.

Britvic is launching Tango Editions, a

that flavour and taste are important con-

sugar-free, rotational flavour series

siderations when choosing a soft drink,

aiming to drive excitement for retailers

and seven out of 10 saying that sugar

and shoppers.

content or lack thereof is important.

Tango Editions combines “bold flavours, bold liquids and bold pack designs” aimed at standing out on shelf and in the chiller.

The first edition ‘Berry Peachy’ is a peach and rasp-

Sugar free carbonates are the most sought out option (54%) when it comes to on-the-go soft drinks, so the single 330ml cans and 500ml bottles will be ideal options for driving this occasion.”

berry-flavoured drink. The new

Tango Editions Berry Peachy

flavour is available in a variety

Sugar Free will be supported

of formats to help cater to the

through digital and social

many shopper missions currently

communications, and in-store

driving sales in the channel. Mul-

activation across retailers in

tipacks and 2L bottles are ideal

out-of-home, convenience and

for sharing occasions, while

wholesale.

500ml bottles and 330ml cans will suit shoppers who are seeking refreshment while on-the-go.

Phil Sanders, out-of-home Commercial Director at Britvic, said: “We know that convenience shoppers are constantly looking for something new to try, particularly in the fruit carbs category. This is exactly why we have developed the Tango Editions range – to disrupt consumers through the introduction of a rotational flavour series which combines bold tastes, bold liquids and bold pack designs.

“Introducing no sugar products without compromising on taste is exactly what shoppers have come to expect, with nine out of 10 saying

32 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – BATCHELORS

BATCHELORS OFFERS RETAILERS CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES The giveaway marks the brands partnership with Pokémon.

Batchelors is giving convenience retailers

Retailers wishing to enter the

the chance to win a range of prizes to

competition, which runs until 7

celebrate its partnership with Pokémon.

March, need to visit Premier Foods’

The partnership, which launched in

dedicated convenience website.

stores nationwide at the end of January,

Courtney Lewis, Customer Direc-

is offering prizes through an on-pack pro-

tor for Independent Convenience &

motion and campaign. The promo sees

Wholesale at Premier Foods, said:

Pokémon characters feature across pack-

“We have been amazed by the incred-

aging for Batchelors Super Noodles and Pasta

ibly positive reaction to our new partnership with

‘n’ Sauce ranges.

Pokémon across the convenience and wholesale

One retailer will win a Nintendo Switch Console

channel, and are delighted to be able to invite

along with a copy of Pokémon Legends: Arceus

retailers to get involved. It’s our way of thanking

game and Batchelors stock, while a further 10

them for all their hard work and support over the

winners will receive a prize bundle containing a

years, giving them the chance to win fantastic

Batchelors-branded FSDU and stock from the core

prizes to help generate sales.”

Batchelors line-up to fill it, including bestselling products from the Super Noodles and Pasta ‘n’ Sauce ranges.

● Promotional packs are available until the end of March.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 33

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – MOLSON COORS BEVERAGE COMPANY

MOLSON COORS LAUNCHES MADRÍ EXCEPCIONAL IN OFF-TRADE Launch will be supported by a multi-million-pound investment to drive momentum.

Molson Coors Beverage Company is launching

crisp, which we already know from our on-trade

Madrí Excepcional in the off-trade to help

success appeals to consumers.

retailers capitalise on the fast-growing world lager category.

“It has enjoyed a strong start in the on-trade after 12 months and is now available in over 6,000

The rollout will build on the European-style

pubs and bars across the UK, with one of the

lager’s success since launching in the UK on-trade

highest rates of sale in the lager category. We’re

in October 2020, where it has already broken into

confident it will help retailers drive sales in the

the top-10 best-selling draught world lagers, and

off-trade too, and we will be throwing our weight

currently has the third-highest rate of sale per

behind the brand with a comprehensive multi-chan-

outlet in the category.

nel marketing programme to put it front of mind

The launch will be supported by a multi-mil-

for consumers.”

lion-pound investment to drive momentum behind

Madrí Excepcional is a collaboration between

the brand, including TV, video-on-demand, out-

Molson Coors and Madrid’s La Sagra Brewery. It

of-home and digital activity, as well as several

aims to capture The ‘Soul of Madrid’ and has all the

high-profile partnerships and activations.

taste characteristics of a modern European-style

Ryan Mclaughlin, Marketing Controller for Pre-

lager. The crisp, clean and refreshing beverage is

mium Beers, Western Europe at Molson Coors,

full of flavour and aroma at 4.6% ABV, serving a

said: “The World Lager category continues to go

refreshing, balanced taste born from the streets

from strength to strength and Madri Excepcional’s

of modern Madrid.

34 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – HEINEKEN UK

HEINEKEN UNVEILS STRONGBOW ULTRA DARK FRUIT

Backed by a £12m marketing campaign the launch will cover digital, television ads, and impactful point-of-sale to drive sales in stores.

Heineken UK has launched Strongbow Ultra

Y and Z, want to see alcoholic drinks that fit with

Dark Fruit, a 4% ABV fruity cider at 95 kcals per

their desire to lead more balanced lifestyles.

slimline can, which is available in grocery and

However, the category falls behind other FMCG

convenience stores from 1 March.

segments such as desserts and snacking with

Strongbow Ultra Dark Fruit is a light cider with natural berry flavourings and the familiar Dark Fruit

limited lower calorie options, leaving a big gap in the market.

colour. It is targeted at 18 to 40-year-old men and

“Ultra is a refreshing, thirst-quenching cider

women and ranked in the top 10% of all alcohol

sold in 330ml sleek cans at 30% fewer calories

concepts tested among its target audience.

ml for ml compared with Strongbow Dark Fruit

Strongbow Ultra Dark Fruit is rolling out in single

and taps into the lucrative on-the-go and impulse

330ml cans and packs of four and 10. It will be

occasions, providing a big sales opportunity for

backed by a £12m marketing campaign covering

stockists UK-wide.”

digital, television ads, and impactful point-of-sale

Holms added: “With 59% of consumers looking

to drive sales in stores, as well as a 500,000 mini

for lighter choices when shopping and 60% of Brits

sampling can campaign.

saying taste is the most important factor when

Heineken UK Cider Brand Director, Rachel

buying a drink, there is a clear gap in the market

Holms, said: “Consumers, especially generation

for a lower calorie, flavourful cider, which Ultra fills.”

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 35

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – MOO FREE

MOO FREE EXTENDS EASTER RANGE

New range is presented in sustainable packaging and made from recycled materials which is fully recyclable.

Moo Free, the free-from, vegan chocolate

gluten, soya, and palm oil.Each Easter egg is

specialist, has expanded its Easter collection

presented in sustainable packaging, made from

with the launch of two new products for the

recycled materials, which is fully recyclable.

convenience channel.

The new additions are available from Han-

The brand has created its very first all-white

cocks, Harrisons, Green City Wholefoods,

hollow Easter Egg. The White Bunnycomb

Holleys Fine Foods, House of Sarunds, Suma

Crunch Easter Egg (185g) comes with a white

Wholefoods, and The Health Store.

bunnycomb crunch bar, which is coated in white

Andrea Jessop, Moo Free Chief Executive,

chocolate using Rainforest Alliance cocoa. The

said: “Easter can be a frustrating time of year if

egg has an RSP of £5.99.

you suffer with allergies or follow a plant-based

In addition, the brand has also launched

diet. We have set to change that frustration.

Moofreesas Organic Easter Egg (185g), which

Without compromising on taste or product qual-

includes a hollow chocolate Easter Egg and a

ity we sourced the highest-quality cocoa to

bag of the newly launched Moofreesas malt

create our chocolate and crafted a range of

balls. Both the Easter Egg and Moofreesas are

eleven products that will bring excitement to

made using single-origin organic cocoa from the

everyone’s Easter.”

Dominican Republic and are free from dairy,

The additional Easter products increase the Moo Free Easter offering to 11 free-from and vegan options.

36 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – ROCKSTAR

ROCKSTAR MAKES BESTSELLERS HFSS COMPLIANT Disruptive out-of-home advertising and social media campaign will accompany rand in June.

Rockstar is reducing the sugar content across

much sugar. Through this move, we are aiming to

its core range of energy drinks, making its six

encourage continued growth within the category

bestsellers HFSS compliant.

by energising those health-conscious consumers

The updated Rockstar core range – with less

and meeting even more energy needs.

than 4.5g of sugar per 100ml – will start rolling out

“We want to show our support for convenience

from mid-March in both plain and price-marked

retailers of all store sizes by directly responding

packs, with a disruptive out-of-home advertising

to the needs of their shoppers who can now enjoy

and social campaign for the brand following in June.

lower-sugar versions of the drinks they know and

The flavours available include Original, Punched

love, without having to compromise on taste. In

Tropical Guava, XDurance Blueberry Pomegranate

fact, maintaining the great Rockstar taste has been

Acai, Juiced El Mango, Juiced Tropical Punch,

our priority in formulating these new liquids, with

Juiced Tropical Orange Passion Fruit – alongside

research showing that nine out of 10 shoppers say

Original No Sugar and Punched Sour Bubbleburst,

taste is the important consideration when buying

which already fall under the HFSS restrictions.

a soft drink. Rockstar’s 500ml formats are also

Phil Sanders, out-of-home Commercial Director

well-placed to tap into retailers’ optimism around

at Britvic, said: “When it comes to energy drinks,

the return of food and drink-to-go, with a third of

44% of non-buyers state the reason they don’t

retailers expecting sales to grow beyond their 2019

buy into the category is that they contain too

levels in 2022.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 37

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – GOLDEN WONDER

GOLDEN WONDER MARKS 75 YEARS WITH THE RETURN OF FAN FAVOURITES Three heritage packs also feature an on-pack competition to win one of 75 experience vouchers.

Golden Wonder is celebrating its 75th birthday

devoted consumers to be part of the celebration

by bringing back Beef & Onion and Chip Shop

by giving them just what they want – their favourite

Curry flavours in classic 1970s packs.

flavours in packs that bring back wonderful mem-

This follows a vote to discover consumers’ alltime favourite Golden Wonder varieties.

The brand’s flagship Cheese & Onion flavour will also receive an old-school makeover.

ories – as well as offering them the opportunity to create some new memories.”

The on-pack promotion is also running across Golden Wonder’s recently launched £1 crisps

All three heritage packs also feature an on-pack

range.Promotional packs are available now and

competition to win one of 75 experience vouchers.

the campaign is being pushed across social, digital

As part of the promotion, every entrant will receive

and trade channels throughout 2022.

10% off at experiencedays.co.uk Matt Smith, Golden Wonder’s Marketing Director, said: “On our 75th birthday, we wanted our

38 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

Golden Wonder is advising retailers to stock up now, so they don’t miss out on the party.

Find out more.

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

UNFILTERED STELLA

CARAMILK HIT

CRISPY DEAL

Cadbury is rolling out a Caramilk

Walkers and Doritos are offering

Stella Artois has rolled out an

line of chocolate buttons, follow-

shoppers 12 holiday vouchers

unfiltered lager supported by a

ing the Caramilk bar’s popularity

given away daily until 23 May,

media campaign beginning in

last year, when it became one of

as part of an initiative organised

May. Initially an Asda exclusive,

the company’s best-selling new

with Easyjet. The competitions

it rolls out in convenience stores

products. Available from April,

consist of a star prize of a £2,000

from April. It comes in 660ml bot-

the buttons will come in bags

holiday voucher and 11 worth

tles, 12 x 330ml bottles and 6 x

of 105g and 90g, with RSPs of

£500. The brands will also launch

330ml cans with an ABV of 5%..

£1.99 and £1.49 respectively.

a joint media promotion.

FRUITY WATER

FLEXI LATTE

MARMITE LOVE

Bottled water brand Volvic has

Kenco is rolling out its latest

Unilever-owned snack brand

expanded its Touch of Fruit

range of Iced/Hot Lattes. The line

Graze has launched a new 28g

Sugar Free range with a new

allows consumers to enjoy a latte

punnet of its Marmite-flavoured

Peach & Raspberry flavour. The

either hot or cold in two differ-

Crunch sharing bag, for shoppers

new line is available in a 1.5L

ent flavours, salted caramel and

looking for a healthy, on-the-go

bottle, exclusively in Asda in

vanilla. The product aims to help

option. The vegan snack is avail-

until March, and then rolled out

retailers maximise sales all year

able to convenience retailers

to other large supermarkets and

round by tapping into the cate-

now with a recommended selling

convenience stores.

gory driver of personalisation.

price of £1.20.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 39

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX

Plant-based shelf-life revolution

Supermarket giants Asda and Tesco are introducing plant-based protection for citrus fruits and avocados in UK stores to increase shelf life and prevent food waste.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Apeel’s plant-based protection is made from the same materials found in peels, seeds and pulp, aiming to slow down the spoiling process.

It works by sealing moisture in and keeping oxygen out so that quality and freshness can be maintained for longer.

The protective extra ‘peel’ aims to slow the water loss and oxidation that causes produce to spoil.

WHAT ARE THE SUPERMARKETS DOING? Asda is introducing the plant-based protection for citrus fruits and avocados in 150 stores to increase shelf life and prevent food waste. Meanwhile, approximately 80 Tesco Extras and Superstores around the Peterborough area are stocking Apeel-coated Jaffa Oranges, Jaffa Sweet Easy Peelers and Lemon Packs to understand the effect it has on shelf life.

WHY IS THIS TECHNOLOGY SO IMPORTANT? Food waste is a global issue, identified as a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK alone, food

waste is responsible for an estimated 36 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, according to charity Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Apeel’s technology could help the supermarkets move towards their target of cutting food waste.

In addition, Apeel could also help reduce plastic packaging. Currently, the shelf life of cucumbers is extended by using plastic wrap. This will no longer be needed if Apeel is able to replicate the protective benefit of packaging.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING? Asda Senior Director, Dominic Edwards, said: “We are always looking for ways to improve the shelf life of our products and make it easier for our customers to make more sustainable food choices whilst making their money go further.”

“During this programme, we will be learning more about the benefits of longer-lasting produce for our customers, and we are looking forward to seeing what further developments this could lead to in the future.”

Apeel Chief Executive, James Rogers, added: “Asda is obsessed with helping

40 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 94 / WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022

their customers’ budgets stretch farther.

Now with the availability of longer-lasting produce, Asda has opened a new dimension of value for their shoppers.

When shoppers have more time with their food, more of what they buy gets eaten instead of thrown away. How often does saving money help save the planet?

It’s happening every day at Asda.”

Asda is introducing the plant-based protection for citrus fruits and avocados in 150 of its stores while 80 Tesco Extras and

Sarah Bradbury, Tesco Group Quality Director, said: “Tackling food waste is one of the ways we’re working hard to minimise our environmental impact and help protect the planet.

“Apeel could be a powerful tool in helping us cut waste in our supply chain and help customers reduce it in their homes.”

Superstores around Peterborough are stocking Apeelcoated Jaffa Oranges, Sweet Easy Peelers and Lemon Packs.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 41

S E L A S R U O Y P U R E POW

HIGH CAFFEINE ENERGY DRINK WITH THE INDESC

RIBABLE TASTE OF IRN-BRU

FROM THE N0.1 SCOTTISH GROCERY BRAND *

*Source: Kantar World Panel, Value Sales, Take Home Non-Alcohol Brands, MAT to 06.09.21, Total Scotland

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

E H T IN M E IT D E T C E P X E N U BAGGING AREA We’ve all been there, doing the big shop and suddenly remembering we need to schlep all the way across town to the Ann Summers to buy a new vibrator.

Annoying, isn’t it?

The good news is that Tesco has this week started stocking Lovehoney sex toys.

As part of an exclusive brand partnership, the “sexual wellness” company’s products are appearing in more than 250 Tesco Extra stores across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Six products – that cryptically promise to “suit all needs” – will appear on shelves, with prices ranging from £4.99 to £24.99.

Lovehoney CCO Debbie Bond, said: “As the sexual happiness people, we believe that everyone should have a

fun and fulfilling sex life, and we look forward to being able to share our fabulous product range with the Tesco customers.”

To test the waters, The Week In Retail asked a Tesco customer if they would

consider buying a sex toy alongside their shopping.

“I’d be too embarrassed to stick it in my basket,” was the reply. Which begs the follow-up question: where would you stick it then?

THE RING’S THE THING Pizza Express has just taken conspicuous consumption to a whole new level with its new ‘pizza bling rings’.

Now, we always thought a bling ring was the anal equivalent of a vajazzle, but these special diamond en-crust-ed (see what we did there) beauties apparently give the wearers unlimited access to free nosh.

The rings form part of a promotion for the new Pizza Express Club app, and there are just 10 of them up for grabs. These will be dished out at random to people who achieve Gold Status on the app over the next three months. As far as we can tell, going for Gold simply involves getting your chops around a shedload of pizza.

However, anyone else who flashes their ring can

Pizza Express says the lucky winners “can flash

expect to be on the Sex Offenders Register for – maybe

their rings for free pizza, sides and dough balls for life”.

not life – but a couple of years anyway.

WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 94 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 43

HEETS Mauve HEETS Mauve offers a crisp menthol tobacco blend with a taste of dark forest fruits.

At £5 RRP*, your sales opportunities, like our range, are continuing to grow.

ORDER TODAY

*RRP = Recommended Retail Price. All on shelf prices selected by retailer alone.

This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.

This material is restricted to those who are involved in the business of the sale or distribution of tobacco who are aged 18 years and over. This material should not be made available to the public or sent to anyone else. IQOS is not risk free and is for adult use only. This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.