The Week in Retail 96

RETAIL

THE WEEK IN

STORE DATA

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

HENDERSON TECHNOLOGY UNVEILS EDGEPOS ANALYTICS NATIONAL LOTTERY

CAMELOT LOSES LICENCE

ALLWYN ENTERTAINMENT TO RUN LOTTERY SYMBOL GROUPS

HEALTHY EATING NISA TEAMS UP WITH BETTER HEALTH CAMPAIGN

● McColl’s reaches

Morrisons Daily milestone

●

Co-op extends robot delivery

●

Forecourt crime soars

+

BOOTS: FIRST UK RETAILER TO ADD ACCESSIBILITY / LANGUAGE OPTIONS TO WEBSITE

Brought to you by:

Commercial Partner:

Issue 96 Wednesday 16th March 2022

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.

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

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Parting is such sweet sorrow This week saw the surprising news that, after almost 30 years, Camelot is to lose its National Lottery licence.

The Gambling Commission has declared Czechowned Allwyn Entertainment as the Preferred Applicant of the fourth National Lottery licence.

Allwyn’s bid chairman was Sir Keith Mills, the British business entrepreneur who founded the Air Miles and Nectar customer loyalty programmes, so maybe it’s not a huge surprise they won.

In addition, the company already operates lotteries across Europe, including those in Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus and Italy.

Allwyn says it has built a team of local experts in the UK who work closely with its lottery brands across Europe to both learn and share best practice in lottery operations, with a particular focus on how to improve draw-based games.

The company says it will now work to deliver on its comprehensive transition plan to ensure a smooth handover from the current operator, led by its Chair Justin King – former Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s and a senior adviser to the Snappy Group.

King says Allwyn is focusing on ensuring the lottery plays an even bigger part in society by increasing participation, improving safeguards, and giving back more to good causes.

This all sounds very promising. I just hope Allwyn doesn’t forget the role retailers play in this, but with King's experience I'm pretty confident it won't.

Camelot, which has operated The National Lottery since its inception in 1994, will step down from 1 February 2024.

More concerning news for retailers came from the government, which is considering banning people under the age of 25 from buying cigarettes.

It has appointed former Barnardo’s Chief Executive, Javed Khan, to conduct an independent review on how to stop public smoking.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 3

£6m BRAND ON TV INVESTMENT FROM MARCH

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96

6

10

18

THIS WEEK’S NEWS

COVER STORY

HOME DELIVERY

Under-25s could be banned from buying cigarettes, and petrol retailers urge the government to take action on fuel duty.

EPoS software provider Henderson Technology launches EDGEPoS Analytics, a new tool for quick remote store analysis.

Co-op and Starship Technologies extend their robot delivery partnership to a further 20,000 Northampton households.

9

Covid-19 update

14 Legislation ACS calls for an urgent review of HFSS regulations.

15 Business services Camelot to lose National Lottery licence.

16 Sustainability

17 Store openings McColl’s Retail Group opens its 200th

Food-to-go market predicted to exceed its

Morrisons Daily store.

pre-pandemic market value in 2022.

19 Symbol groups

24 Confectionery

Nisa Retail teams up with the government’s Better Health campaign.

22 Forecourts

New NFRN posters help NI retailers

BOSS warns forecourt operators to be

prepare for a carrier bag price hike.

vigilant as number of drive-offs soars.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

23 Food-to-go

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

Bonds launches a new app.

25 Picks of the week 27 Out the box: accessibility Boots makes its website more inclusive.

29 Before you go...

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

HERMES REBRANDS Hermes UK is rebranding as ‘Evri’ with a new logo and brand identity that will be rolled

TECH

Jisp helps make convenience more convenient for brands

Media platform helps brands execute a strategy, measure success, and track ROI.

out across all its locations, vehicles and ParcelShops.

The revamp will also see Evri opening a fully UK-based customer service team and adding 200 experts who will be based in local depots.

ICELAND’S SWIFT GROWS Iceland has opened the second of its new-format ‘Swift’ convenience stores, in Wembley, north-west London.

This will be followed with three further stores within the M25 as Iceland expands the concept it launched a year ago as a single-store pilot in Newcastle.

SAVE THE BEES PLEASE SuperValu has launched the Save The Bees Campaign in partnership with the All-Ireland Pollinator plan and SuperValu TidyTowns. The scheme will see all 3,241 primary schools in Ireland be sent a SuperValu Save the Bees Pollinator Pack, in addition to a pollinatorfriendly garden kit.

Jisp has launched a new platform to help brands engage more effectively with retailers and customers through the independent convenience channel.

The Jisp Media platform helps brands execute a media strategy, measure its success, and track ROI. In addition, it provides brands with a connected convenience commerce solution, in-store, online and via mobile.

From digital vouchering, social media, in-app media and one-to-one personalisation, all the way through to broader mass reach campaigns.

Greg Deacon, Chief Customer Officer, said: “We want to ensure we provide a more relevant and personalised offer to assist brands winning in the channel. Our new platform will bring together in-store, online and mobile

experiences and use it in a way that helps our brand partners to be more efficient, whilst building stronger partnering between retailer and wholesaler.

We’re excited to work with our suppliers to drive better engagement with customers and add value to their businesses.”

Jisp Media is already helping brands including Kellogg’s, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Heineken, Friesland Campina, Budweiser Brewing Group, Molson Coors, Red Bull, Hovis, Graze, and Bird’s Eye.

Making a Difference Locally hits milestone Donations to Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity have reached a milestone amount this month.

Since the charity’s formation in 2008, more than 16,000 individual donations have been given to charities and other good causes across the UK, including foodbanks, refuges and hospices,.

Nisa stores supported local charities and groups with 2,060 donations, totalling £1,055,227, in 2021.

6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 96 / WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022

Kate Carroll, Nisa’s Head of Charity, said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate this tremendous amount of donations made, and we look forward to many more.”

One recent beneficiary of a MADL donation was Children’s Hospice South West, which received funding of £250 from Gwilliams of Edington, Somerset, to provide music therapy to children and families at Charlton Farm children’s hospice.

NEWS DIGEST

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

FEVER-TREE WARNING

TOBACCO

Under-25s face cigarette buying ban

Government appoints anti-smoking tsar to conduct independent review on how to stop the public smoking.

Fever-Tree has lowered its profit guidance, citing a “global backdrop of inflationary

People under the age of 25 could soon be banned from buying cigarettes under plans being considered by the UK Government. It has appointed Javed Khan as its anti-smoking tsar to conduct an independent review on how to stop the public smoking.

There are still six million smokers in England, where smoking among people aged 18-30 shot up by 25% during the first lockdown, with the equivalent of 652,000 more young adults taking up the habit compared to before the pandemic.

Khan, the former Chief Executive of children’s charity Barnardo’s, told The Times: “We are thinking seriously about the age of sale.”

Khan’s report will investigate different ways to combat smoking in youngsters including campaigns on social media platforms led by young people.

pressures,” coupled with the war in Ukraine. The company has now downgraded its profits outlook to between £63m and £69m, down from £69m to £72m. Fever-Tree reported an 8% rise in pre-tax profits to £55.6m last year.

MOTHER’S TREAT He said: “Just look at the Covid experience, mass marketing has a big effect, it really works.

“The government went hell for leather, it made an enormous difference in vaccination rates. So why not do something like that again?”

Khan will present his report, including suggestions on tackling smoking, to Health Secretary Sajid Javid next month.

PRA urges government to act on fuel duty The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has written to the Chancellor urging him to cut fuel duty in the upcoming Spring Budget to reduce the burden of soaring energy costs and fuel prices.

In its letter, the PRA explains that rapid increases in the wholesale prices of petrol and diesel have had to be passed on to motorists and outlines how the current crisis comes as fuel operators

are investing to adapt to the government's Net Zero Strategy.

PRA Executive Director Gordon Balmer said: "The PRA urges the government to follow the example of Ireland in cutting fuel duty to reduce the burden of soaring fuel costs. The government is well-positioned to implement this measure as the high cost of fuel has seen VAT revenue increase.”

Nisa is making various deals available to help retailers make the most sales opportunities in the run-up to Mothering Sunday. Shoppers can buy Celebrations 380g for £3, Lindt Lindor 200g for £4, Co-op Prosecco Rose 75cl for £8, and Co-op Irresistible London Dry Gin 70cl for £17.

ASDA SUPPORTS UKRAINE Asda and its charity Asda Foundation have announced a £1m package to support displaced Ukrainian families in Europe and the UK. The supermarket is providing immediate support for families leaving their homes and longterm support for Ukrainian refugees that arrive in the UK.

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 7

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

SHOPPERS ARE IN FOR A TWEET

Scientists identify new Covid variant

Twitter is beta testing

Combined viruses come about when someone is infected with two variants at the same time.

Twitter Shops, a new feature which will let retailers showcase up to 50 products on their profiles.

It means that when consumers discuss products on their timeline, they can also browse them on Twitter.

The company said: “Like all of our Twitter Shopping features, Twitter Shops is part of a larger

in the human population against both variants and there is no reason to think this will pose a danger to vaccines.

Maria van Kerkhove, WHO Covid technical lead, said this mutation was "to be expected, especially with intense circulation of Omicron and Delta".

She confirmed her team had not seen "any change in severity", and that in the places where Deltacron has been found, "there are very low levels of this detection".

Researchers will continue to track its effects.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “There are also so-called subvariants of Omicron and we're not concerned about any of those at this important time. We keep it under review."

professionals of all kinds who come to Twitter to do business.”

TECH SOLUTIONS

D

eltacron has been officially identified as a new Covid-19 variant, with confirmed cases in France and the US. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the strain, which combines mutations from both Omicron and Delta, has also been found in the Netherlands and Denmark.

Scientists say combined viruses come about when someone is infected with two variants at the same time, and their cells then replicate together.

The news may cause concern because the Delta variant had more severe effects on those who caught it, while Omicron was more infectious. However, scientists stress there is now substantial immunity

effort to better support

The new feature is currently only available to selected retailers and managed partners in the US. Twitter added: “As we continue to test, we’ll explore how to make Shops more discoverable; adding new ways for merchants to tell their brand story through their shops.”

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 9

C OV E R

HENDERSON T

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Henderson Technology has launched a tool for quick remote store analysis.

E

PoS software provider Henderson Technology has launched EDGEPoS Analytics, a tool for quick remote store analysis.

The tool provides an overview of the data from inside a store, accessible from any remote location through any modern browser on desktop or smart device.

EDGEPoS Analytics takes the data from the EDGEPoS back office once a day and holds up to two years of historical data for evaluation and comparison.

When the user logs in, they are presented with dashboard data which includes sales, margin, average spend, basket-size, transactions, year-onyear comparative sales, top departments, top 10 lines, and operator stats. This is all shown in an easyto-read, graphical format.

A reporting facility is also available on EDGEPoS Analytics, where store and site owners can generate, email and schedule reports automatically from the Analytics dashboard.

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 96 / WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022

"We have prioritised what retail data owners want and placed it into this quick, easy to use and intuitive tool"

S T O RY

TECHNOLOGY

"We developed EDGEPoS Analytics so timely information can be accessed from the EDGEPoS system."

Darren Nickels, Retail Technology Operations Director at Henderson Technology, said: “We understand retail and how owners and managers are not always in store to get the data they need.

As a result, we developed EDGEPoS Analytics so timely information can be accessed from the EDGEPoS system.

“We have partnered with Limitless Insights to develop a cloud-based platform, connecting the customer to transactional data from the EDGEPoS

back or head office. We have prioritised what retail data owners want and placed it into this quick, easy- to-use and intuitive tool.”

EDGEPoS Analytics is now available to all EDGEPoS retail customers across the UK. In addition, Henderson Technology has recently relaunched its partnership with Envisage, which offers EDGEPoS customers two seamless Sage links to connect EDGEPoS to their Sage accounting package.

Nickels added: “We are delighted to be able to offer Envisage to all our EDGEPoS customers across the UK. EDGEPoS Analytics and Envisage are great examples of how we understand the retail environment and it is our continued ambition to be the most progressive and future-proofed EPoS software system in the UK. We would encourage any convenience or forecourt retailer to contact us today for an EDGEPoS demonstration.”

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 11

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)

T R A D E A S S O C I AT I O N S

HFSS RESTRICTIONS

ACS calls for urgent review of HFSS regulations Trade body's call follows Parliamentary exchange on regulations.

T

he Association of Convenience Stores has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for an urgent review of the introduction of location and promotional restrictions on high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) products.

The HFSS regulations, set to come into force in October, will impact a wide range of products including cereals, yogurts, ready meals, and juices. Thousands of retailers are set to be included within the regulations, which affect stores over 2,000sq ft (location restrictions) and businesses with over 50 employees (volume promotions – includes some symbol groups and franchises).

ACS wrote to Johnson following a recent exchange during Prime Minister’s Questions. Johnson was asked about the upcoming HFSS regulations and their potential impact on the food sector. In response, he stated that the industry had been given “more time” to consider the impact of the regulations. Despite this claim, retailers are still preparing for the implementation of the regulations, at a cost of more than £90m to the convenience sector alone.

The letter outlines the burden that the regulations will have on convenience retailers. The letter also highlights the huge uncertainty still remaining about the detail of the rules, which has arisen

14 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 96 / WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022

because the government is yet to publish official guidance on the regulations.

The letter states: “With only seven months left until the implementation of the biggest regulatory change to the sale of grocery products in England for a generation, there remains a huge amount of uncertainty for local shops, supermarkets and food suppliers. At present your officials cannot indicate to industry, including thousands of small local shop owners, a clear definition of the products impacted by the regulations or the promotional mechanism that can be used to sell them.”

ACS has produced Assured Advice about the regulations.

BUSINESS SERVICES

NATIONAL LOTTERY

Allwyn wins bid for lottery licence Preferred applicant has committed to investing in the National Lottery, which is expected to deliver growth and innovation across its products and channels.

T

he Gambling Commission has named Allwyn Entertainment as the preferred applicant for the fourth National Lottery licence.

The selection of Allwyn follows a “fair, open and robust” competition which received four applications at the final stage. This is the highest number of applications since the first National Lottery licence was awarded in 1994.

Camelot UK Lotteries has been named as reserve applicant.

Allwyn has committed to investing in the National Lottery, which is expected to deliver "growth and innovation across the National Lottery’s products and channels", the Gambling Commission said.

Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission Chief Executive, said: “I am confident that the success of the competition will lead to a highly successful fourth licence – one that maximises returns to good causes, promotes innovation, delivers against our statutory duties, and which ultimately protects the unique status of the National Lottery.

“We look forward to working with all parties to ensure a smooth handover.”

John Tanner, Gambling Commission Executive Director added: “We were impressed by the overall standard of applications, including the range and quality of innovation proposed, and the high level of confidence and

ambition demonstrated for the prospects of the National Lottery under the fourth licence.”

In response, NFRN National President, Narinder Randhawa, said: “We have always had a great partnership with Camelot, so we are disappointed for them to lose the licence after almost 30 years.”

He added: “Thousands of our members have lottery terminals in their stores and have played a major part in the success of the National Lottery.

“We are confident we can establish a good working relationship with Allwyn to continue the support for independent retailers in the future and look forward to a seamless transition.”

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 15

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

PLASTIC BAGS

NFRN offers retailers help as changes loom Each carrier bag will cost 25p in Northern Ireland from 1 April 2022.

T

he NFRN has created a series of posters for its members in Northern Ireland to display to prepare customers for the forthcoming price hike on carrier bags.

The posters, which advise that from 1 April 2022 carrier bags will cost 25p, can be downloaded from the NFRN’s website.

The NFRN challenged the drastic increase when advised by Environment Minister Edwin Poots, in November 2021. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs was warned that while the increase was beneficial from an environmental standpoint, it would impact on independent retailers at a time of great financial uncertainty.

Former Fed Northern Ireland President, Judith Mercer, said: “From an environmental standpoint, it makes sense. We want there to be less plastic, but this price increase is a big jump.”

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

McCOLL'S

Retail group reaches Morrisons Daily milestone

Store conversion programme restarted in February 2022 after a scheduled pause over the festive season.

M

cColl’s Retail Group has opened its 200th Morrisons Daily store with the conversion of a McColl’s store in Southport.

The roll-out of Morrisons Daily stores is a key component of McColl’s’ strategic focus on food-led convenience, driving incremental sales and sales-mix improvement across the store.

The store conversion programme re-commenced in early February, following a scheduled pause over Christmas and New Year. So far in 2022, the Group has opened 31 Morrisons Daily stores, and a further seven will be converted next week.

The retailer says Morrisons Daily conversions continue to deliver the strongest performance across the business, with a two to three year payback on investment, and McColl’s remains on track to complete 450 Morrisons Daily store conversions by the end of its 2022 financial year.

Jonathan Miller, Chief Executive of McColl’s, said: “We are extremely pleased to reach the milestone of 200 Morrisons Daily stores. The Morrisons Daily stores are fundamentally reshaping our business into a more profitable and sustainable model in the medium term, as well as providing customers with access to a

wider range of products, greater value and a supermarket-quality fresh food and grocery offer.

"It’s been a brilliant effort from the teams of both businesses to deliver this number of store conversions in such a short period of time and I want to thank them and our 16,000 colleagues who have continued to work incredibly hard to keep supplying our community stores with the food, goods, and services they need.”

At the end of February, the retailer confirmed it remains in ongoing discussions with its lending banks towards a longer-term agreement.

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 17

H O M E D E L I V E RY

CO-OP

Co-op, Starship Technologies extend robot delivery partnership Consumers in the Blackthorn, Far Cotton, Grange Park, Southfields and Thornton Park areas of Northampton can now access the same-day delivery service.

C

o-op and Starship Technologies have extended their partnership in Northampton, with an additional 20,000 households in the area now able to access the service and receive on-demand grocery delivery via robots.

Consumers in Blackthorn, Far Cotton, Grange Park, Southfields and Thornton Park can now access same-day delivery through a fleet of Starship robots.

Orders are made through the Starship food delivery app, which is available for download on iOS and Android, with groceries picked fresh in local Co-op stores – which act as micro-distribution hubs – and delivered in as little as one hour or less.

Consumers can choose from a range of more than 2,000 grocery items and watch in real-time via an interactive map as the robot makes its journey to them. Once the robot arrives, they receive an alert, and can meet and unlock it through the app.

Chris Conway, Co-op’s Head of eCommerce, said: “Co-op is committed to exploring new and innovative ways to increase access to our products and services. Orders are picked locally, in-store, and a key part of our strategy is to use our physical footprint to also offer same-day, rapid, home deliveries.”

18 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 95 / WEDNESDAY 9TH MARCH 2022

Andrew Curtis, UK Operations Manager at Starship Technologies, added: “Local residents in Northampton have embraced the benefits of contactless delivery over the past 18+ months and we are very happy to be able to offer our service to even more communities across the town from today.

“The environmental benefits of autonomous delivery are clear, and it has also been very encouraging to see how much the robots have been welcomed and integrated as part of the local community in Northampton.”

SYMBOL GROUPS

NISA

Nisa teams up with the Better Health campaign Tie-up will enable Nisa partners to demonstrate they are responsible retailers who care about their shoppers.

N

isa Retail has teamed up with the Department of Health and Social Care’s Better Health campaign, which aims to help families eat better and move more.

Better Health has updated the NHS Food Scanner App to make it easier for parents to find healthier food and drink for their children by making a few easy swaps.

The app allows shoppers to scan products and find healthier alternatives with

a selection of Co-op own-brand items qualifying as 'good choice' products within the app. This is in addition to fruit and vegetables which are automatically included as healthy choices.

Retailers will receive point of sales material to support the Better Health Food Scanner campaign, including window posters, small talkers, and wobblers.

In addition, messaging will feature on the symbol group's radio and digital channels.

Regan Howard, Brand Manager at Nisa said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Nisa to be involved with a national campaign, helping to educate shoppers into making better choices and enabling Nisa partners to demonstrate that they are responsible retailers who care about their shoppers.

“It is also a timely opportunity to support those partners who will need to make changes due to new HFSS regulations coming later this year.”

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 19

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

FORECOURTS

Operators warned to be vigilant as reports of unpaid fuel soar British Oil Security Syndicate says it has received reports of motorists using large containers to draw and store fuel.

T

he UK has seen a 215% quarter-on-quarter increase in reports of No Means of Payment and Drive Off incidents, new data from the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) reveals.

The figures also shows that the number of litres of unpaid fuel increased by 68% during the first week of March, compared with the first week of December. However, the average number of litres per incident fell from 55 litres in December to 41 litres in March.

BOSS has also received reports about some motorists using large containers to draw and store fuel. In one instant a

small compact car was reported to have drawn 128 litres of petrol.

Claire Nichol, Managing Director at BOSS, said: “High fuel prices make not paying for fuel more attractive to criminals and we’ve seen the number reports about unpaid fuel increase significantly in recent weeks.

“The fall in litres-taken per incident suggests that motorists who deliberately evade paying for fuel are nervous about filling up completely as it might draw attention to their actions.”

Nichol added: “We’d advise forecourt operators to be extra vigilant during

22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 96 / WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022

peak periods. They should also retain any CCTV recordings, and ensure that information about vehicles involved in either driving away from a forecourt without paying for fuel, or a motorist claiming to have no means of payment for fuel, is accurate.

“Should the number of incidents continue to rise, we could see the BOSS Forecourt Crime Index reach the highest level since records were introduced.” ●

A free copy of the BOSS Drive-Off

Prevention guide can be downloaded from the BOSS website.

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

FOOD-TO-GO

Food-to-go market set to grow Lumina Intelligence predicts food-to-go market will fully recover in 2022 and exceed its 2019 pre-pandemic market value.

T

he UK food-to-go market is forecast to grow by 31.8% in 2022, to a value of £21.3bn, according to the new Lumina Intelligence UK Food To Go Market Report 2022.

The report predicts that food-to-go channels will not only fully recover but will exceed their 2019 pre-pandemic market value.

Food-to-go will grow by £1.7bn from 2022-2025, with robust growth of 2.5% per annum, to total £23bn in 2025, the report forecasts.

In addition, the report shows that convenience store grab-and-go remains the largest channel in the market, at a share of 28.3%, but the channel is losing share to higher spend food-to-go specialists as consumer quality expectations increase.

The UK food-to-go market is set to see a net increase of 1,517 sites in 2022, led by sandwich & bakery, coffee shop, and

travel segments. Outlet growth in the market is expected to reach its highest figure in six years, at 1.2% in 2025, to 156,120 outlets.

The report says operators are diversifying outlet coverage in line with changes to consumer habits post- pandemic, with operators targeting more drive-thru, travel-led sites, as well as neighbourhood and suburban locations.

Drink and lunch hold the biggest share of food-to-go occasions by day part, with 66% of occasions, the report finds.

Blonnie Whist, Insight Director at Lumina Intelligence, said: “Growth is set to be driven by a number of factors. Firstly, the reopening of hospitality, as well as recovery in city centre footfall, will drive food-to-go occasions as more consumers return to offices at least some of the working week.

Secondly, recovery in travel and tourism will boost food-to-go throughout key parts of 2022. Thirdly, food-to-go is a relatively low ticket item and is well placed to capitalise on tighter budgets as consumers feel the impact of cost increases across food, fuel and utility bills as well as taxation.”

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 23

C O N F E C T I O N E RY

BONDS

Bonds unveils new app and website Deals will be automatically added to carts so retailers won’t ever miss a promotion.

B

onds has launched a new app allowing retailers to buy its confectionery from their smartphones. The app – along with a new website – offers all the deals retailers get from their Bonds representative, with hundreds of lines available.

Orders can be placed at any time of day and delivered free of charge within 48 hours. The minimum order is 10 cases.

Both the app and website allow retailers to shop from a selection of brands including Bonds of London confectionery; children’s novelty brands including Crazy Candy Factory, Pez and Zed;

Vimto; and an extensive range of American brands like Tootsie, Sour Punch, Warheads and Red Vines.

Retailers can be sure they’re getting the best value for money with deals automatically added at checkout.

To use both the app and the website, retailers are advised to contact their Bonds representative to get a unique log in, which will allow them to place orders instantly.

Craig Beal, Head of Sales from Bonds Confectionery, said: “We’re really excited about what the Bonds app and website will be offering to retailers. We’re certain

24 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 96 / WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022

that it’s going to make the lives of retailers a lot easier.

“They can place and track orders 24/7 as well as having one go-to hub for all of the latest deals and the newest seasonal products like the Bonds Easter range – everything will now be in one place.

“Offering retailers a great range and value for money is important to us, which is why when they checkout, any current deals will be automatically added to their cart, so they won’t ever miss a promotion which is just another great feature of the app.”

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – DIET COKE

DIET COKE LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN The campaign includes an on-pack partnership with London Fashion Week that give consumers the chance to win thousands of prizes.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has

sales in GB and sales growing by 5% year on year,

launched a new campaign for Diet Coke which

Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero sugar continue to

encourages consumers to embrace a “positive,

be firm favourites with shoppers.

unapologetic attitude”.

“The Diet Coke ‘Love what you love’ campaign

The campaign includes a TV advert that fea-

is the first piece of activity which will help us cel-

tures one women’s rush hour journey and her

ebrate 40 years of the brand, delivering strong

conviction to transform her commute with roller

activation in store for our customers to help drive

skating and a sip of Diet Coke.

sales while rewarding loyal fans of Diet Coke.”

In addition, Diet Coke has unveiled an on-pack

Omar Sadiq-Baig, Senior Brand Manager at

partnership with London Fashion Week to give

The Coca-Cola Company, added: “We are really

consumers the chance to win thousands of prizes

excited to launch the new Love What You Love

including luxury retail vouchers, weekend stays at

global campaign, created to celebrate the positive

a top London destination, and exclusive access

and unapologetic attitude of Diet Coke’s core, loyal

to runway shows.

fanbase who ‘love what they love’.

The fully integrated global campaign also

“With our new global campaign and on-pack

includes a multi-screen AV, with out-of-home,

partnership with London Fashion Week in GB, we

social, digital, PR support, and POS activation.

aim to inspire and reward our loyal fans. Because

Martin Attock, VP Commercial Development at CCEP, said: “With a 55% share of zero sugar cola

loving what you love is always in fashion, and that is something worth celebrating.”

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 25

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

ORIENTAL SPICE

TROPICAL TWIST

WHITE SMARTIES

Whitley Neill has announced the

Diageo has unveiled new Gor-

Nestlé is launching Smarties

launch of a new Oriental Spiced

don’s Tropical Passionfruit

White in the UK, available exclu-

variant, inspired by the brand’s

Distilled Gin (37.5% ABV). It

sively in Asda before rolling out

founder Johnny Neill’s travels

willwill be available from early

to c-stores in June. Smarties

to the Indian subcontinent. It is

April in a 70cl format with a

White will come in recyclable

distilled with a focus on the exotic

£16.50 RSP in both plain and

paper packaging and will launch

flavours and aromas of Asia, and

price-marked packs. The launch

in a 38g hexatube (RSP 70p),

(43% ABV) is available to order

will be supported by a £700,000

followed by a 100g sharing bag

now. It has an RSP of £26.

marketing campaign.

(RSP £1) later in the year.

SMART SALT

TEQUILA DEBUT

MUM’S THE WORD

Smart Salt Retail has launched

Halewood has expanded its

Fatherson Bakery has launched

Suölo, a range of reduced

Dead Man’s Fingers range with

a range of fairy cakes for Moth-

sodium sea salt seasonings,

Tequila Reposado. The brand’s

ering Sunday. The bakery also

which has a 50% reduction in

debut in the Tequila category

offers a Victoria sponge sharing

sodium. The four-strong range

offers a Reposado liquid that has

cake and Mothers’ Day cup-

includes Sea Salt; Sea Salt &

been aged in bourbon barrels

cakes. Six fairy cakes RSP at

Black Pepper; Sea Salt, Black

to create notes of vanilla and

£2.75, the sponge has an RSP

Pepper & Seaweed; and Sea

honey. It is available from Booker

of £5, and the large cupcakes

Salt & Black Pepper & Chilli.

with an RSP of £22.

have an RSP of £4.50 for two.

26 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 96 / WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX

Boots boosts accessibility More than 13 million people in the UK experience barriers when shopping online, Recite Me will make it easier for them to navigate around Boots.com.

WHAT’S THE STORY? Boots has partnered with Recite Me to become the first retailer in the UK to add accessibility and language options to boots.com, making online shopping more inclusive and customisable.

Recite Me is a cloud-based web accessibility assistive toolbar that allows website visitors to customise a site in a way that works best for them.

HOW DOES THAT WORK? At a touch of a button, the Recite Me toolbar can be launched providing text to speech functionality, fully customisable styling features, reading support aids and a translation tool with over 100 languages, including 35 text-to-speech voices and many other features.

More than 13 million people in the UK experience barriers when shopping online, and this new technology will enable customers to create a customisable and inclusive shopping experience, making it easier for them to navigate around the website.

that boasts more than 100 languages including 35 texts-to-speech. These features give control to website visitors to manage how they view and interact with content to suit their individual needs.

GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE

Paula Bobbett, Director of E-Commerce at Boots UK, said: “We are delighted to be launching this market-first technology to boots.com, helping customers to customise the site to suit their own needs.

"The launch of the Recite Me accessibility tools help those customers who find it more challenging to shop online to browse, shop and manage their accounts hassle-free.”

For customers who have visual impairment, the new tools can change the font size, isolate sentences, and swap the colour of the page to make it easier for those customers to read.

The Recite Me assistive toolbar also includes screen reading functionality, multiple reading aids, customisable styling options and an on-demand live translation feature

WHAT IS BOOTS SAYING?

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 27

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

ASDA BAN FOR SCAN SCAM MAN We’ve all done it. Stood at the self-scanning checkout and considered not paying for the carrier bags.

However, one enterprising crook in the West Midlands has turned the idea on its head by instead buying some plastic bags and not his shopping.

In an endearing display of brand loyalty that took the concept of ‘the big shop’ to a whole new level, 43-yearold Kenneth Hollis bagged over £4,000 worth of stock from five Asda stores around Birmingham during a fourmonth crime spree.

His modus operandi entailed scanning plastic bags then tapping ‘finish and pay’ before loading his shopping into said bags. It is unclear whether he made a beeping sound as he passed his ill-gotten gains across the scanner.

He then paid for the bags using a debit card. This is very commendable

– don’t run up a huge credit card bill buying stuff you can’t afford, eh Kenny?

Staring down the barrel of some serious jail time (but probably not bagged for life) when he returns to court for

sentencing next month, Hollis was bailed on condition that he steers well clear of the UK's 600-odd Asda stores.

Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s must be overjoyed.

CHOCOLATE BUNNY

to “eww no” and “wtf no”. More

NPD, as we all know, is the lifeblood

tern emerging.

eagle-eyed readers will note a pat-

of the retailing industry. However,

One wag, with a firm grasp of the

Sainsbury’s seems to have gone

real (i.e. non-chocolate) meaning of

too far with a seasonal addition to

Easter, added: “You've taken it too

its on-the-go range: Carrots & Choc-

far. Please Jesus, come back soon.”

olate Flavoured Houmous.

What has slipped under the radar

Badged-up as an ‘Easter Bunny

though, is that anyone daft enough

Snack,’ the £1 treat sounds even

to take Sainsbury’s at its word and

more appetising deconstructed

feed chocolate to a bunny – Easter

into its constituent parts of carrot

Members of Facebook’s crack

or otherwise – will more than likely

batons, cooked chickpeas, golden

culinary 'Snack News & Reviews'

end up with a dead rabbit on their

syrup, sesame seed paste, cocoa

group were quick to condemn the

conscience.

powder and concentrated lemon

product. Comments ranged from

juice.

“no, no and no” and “no, just no”

And with no prospect of a resurrection.

WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 96 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 29

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