Retail Express Digital Edition by betterRetailing

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU? A LOOK BACK IN THE 2014 WORKSHOP P22

december 16 2014 - January 12 2015 betterretailing.com strictly for trade users only

2014’S TOP 10 WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR?

GRAB A PARTNER THE 14 COMPANIES YOU NEED TO WORK WITH NEXT YEAR

P25

P28-42

WORKSHOP

2014

ON OUR SIDE MP FLIES FLAG FOR SMALL SHOPS STEFAN APPLEBY SMALL SHOPS champion Simon Danczuk has promised to take the lead on pushing the issue of illicit tobacco in parliament. The vow is a crucial step in Retail Express’s ‘Smoke Them Out’ campaign, which drew praise from the Rochdale MP. At a meeting in his London office, Mr Danczuk, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Small Shops, told Retail Express two retailers from his Rochdale constituency had spoken to him about a store they believed was involved in the black market. “I will take a lead in parliament on addressing this,” he said. “I’ve had people coming into my surgery about it. Two retailers from a particular road in Rochdale came to see me about this specifically. They spoke to me about a shop further down the street in relation to selling illicit tobacco and alcohol.” At the meeting, Retail Express highlighted the number of calls received during the past 60 days from retailers that are suffering at the hands of disreputable traders, the cost to their businesses and the feeling of helplessness as raided stores are simply reopened. Mr Danczuk promised to look into discussions on the subject that had taken place in parliament in recent months, to “put down a good number of parliamentary questions” and push for a wider debate on the issue.

He praised the community aspect of stores that are trading legitimately. “From speaking to the shopkeepers that came to see me, you can see the contribution to the local community instantly. One of them takes in parcels for local residents; the other sells flowers from

SMOKE

THEM OUT the florist further down the road. He urged retailers to visit their MP and raise this at a local level. He said: “It really brings it home when you speak to constituents. Retailers should see their MP about it.”

ADD TO OUR DOSSIER: CALL US ANONYMOUSLY ON 020 7689 3376 TO REPORT STORES IN YOUR AREA THAT ARE SELLING ILLICIT TOBACCO

TELL YOUR MP: IF THE CAMPAIGN IS TO GAIN TRACTION IN PARLIAMENT, SIMON DANCZUK NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF OTHER MPS REPORT IT: KEEP TAKING YOUR ISSUES TO HMRC

NEWS

Now is the time to get your MP onside A LOT can happen in a week. Starting with the Autumn Statement on December 3, the seven days that followed were hugely positive for independent convenience retailers, with MPs in their droves showing their support for the channel. In his statement, George Osborne pledged to launch a review into the antiquated business rates system. The announcement gave the independent retail sector hope that the current rates system crippling many small businesses could be overhauled to be made fairer. In the interim, the Chancellor announced measures worth £1bn to reduce business rates bills. The statement was followed days later by a raft of MPs pledging their support to business rates reform at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group. You can read what they had to say on page 3 of this issue, as well as ACS chief executive James Lowman’s thoughts on what the Chancellor now needs to do on page 14. Meanwhile, chairman of the group, Simon Danczuk MP, met with Retail Express to give his full backing to our ‘Smoke Them Out’ campaign, which is targeting the illicit tobacco trade. On page 1, he promises to take the matter to Parliament and urges retailers to get in touch with their MPs to discuss the impact of the black market on their businesses. It’s a sentiment echoed on page 15 by one of our Magnificent Seven columnists Christine Hope, who speaks about the importance of having your MP on your side. With election campaigns ramping up in the New Year, there’s a prime opportunity to let your MP know what issues are affecting your store and how they can help you. It’s not the first time we’ve said it and it won’t be the last.

Aussie failure for plain packs SARAH PARSONS ON THE two-year anniversary of the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco in Australia a study has revealed that the legislation has failed to meet its objectives. The Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011 came into force in the country on December 1, 2012, banning all branding and trademarks from cigarette packets except for the brand name, which is only permitted in a standard font. The legislation aimed to reduce smoking among young people, reduce overall smoking and increase the effectiveness of health warnings. However, research carried out by KPMG found that youth smoking rates have increased by 36% and that illegal tobacco sales are the highest in seven years.

KPMG said illegal tobacco was up by 25% between 2012 and 2014, and that annual consumption of the illicit product had risen by 500,000kg. Ronald Ridderbeekx, head of corporate and regulatory affairs for British American Tobacco, said: “It’s clear the experiment in Australia isn’t working: smoking rates have not been affected and the black market has grown by 25%. “Retailers here in the UK are already under pressure

from the illicit market and this would make the problem so much worse.” Ridderbeekx called on the Government to review how existing regulation, such as the tobacco display ban that comes into full force from April 6, 2015, is working before considering the next step. He said: “To help the economic recovery, retailers need help from the Government, not yet more cumbersome regulation.”

RETAILERS IN THE UK ARE ALREADY UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE ILLICIT MARKET AND PLAIN PACKS WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE

GOLD MEDALS FOR FWD THINKERS

EDITORIAL

Louise Banham 020 7689 3353

Reporter Sarah Parsons 020 7689 3371

Reporter Chris Dillon 020 7689 3379

ADVERTISING Director of sales Mike Baillie 020 7689 3367

Account manager Liz Dale 020 7689 3363

Account manager Will Hoad 020 7689 3370

Subscribe online at www.newtrade.co.uk/ subscribe.asp 1 year subscription: UK £65; overseas (EU) £75; overseas (non-EU) £85 Retail Express is printed and distributed by News UK at Broxbourne and delivered to news retailers free by their newspaper wholesaler. Published by: Newtrade Publishing Limited, 11 Angel Gate, City Road, London, EC1V 2SD; Phone: 020 7689 0600; Facsimile: 020 7689 0700

Sales support executive Chris Chandler 020 7689 3382 Managing director Nick Shanagher 07966 530 001

Design and production coordinator Hannah Plowman 020 7689 3380

INDUSTRY’S FINEST: (clockwise from above) Bestway managing director Younus Sheikh; David Cullen; Atif Rashid of Alfa Wholesale; Dee Bee’s Claire Buckel; and Simon Hannah, depot manager for JW Filshill BESTWAY and Today’s Group were among the big winners at the Federation of Wholesale Distributors’ annual awards dinner, picking up a raft of prestigious Gold Medal awards. Bestway scooped a brace, with gold medals for wholesale service to retail, and depot team of the year, with managing director Younus Sheikh and Team Valley general manager Naveed Anwar collecting the gongs. Today’s haul included a lifetime achievement award for David Cullen and gold medals going to Today’s members Alfa Wholesale, Dee Bee and JW Filshill.

50,652 Audit Bureau of Circulations July 1 2013 to June 30 2014 average net circulation per issue

ENERGISING INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

Reproduction or transmission in part or whole of any item from Retail Express may only be undertaken with the prior written agreement of the Editor. Contributions are welcome and are included in part or whole at the sole discretion of the editor. Newtrade Publishing accepts no responsibility for submitted material. Every possible care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information. No warranty for goods or services described is implied.

LONDIS LUCKS OUT: Londis has outlined its vision for the future of the symbol group in a series of meetings across the UK. The group disclosed it had added 60 new stores after shedding 18% of its old estate, with the new stores already outperforming targets.

PLASTIC ARTS: The NFRN has launched an e-petition to include small retailers in plans to charge for carrier bags. It was launched following a debate on the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee’s recent report on plastic bags, where the Government decided not to change its position on including small shops.

@retailexpress betterretailing.com facebook.com/betterretailing

Deputy editor

THE NFRN has welcomed the Northern Ireland Executive’s decision to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol, calling it “a step in the right direction”. Health minister Jim Wells announced the policy, which will establish a baseline price, and said it would likely be introduced after a consultation policy. NFRN chief executive Paul Baxter said: “The NFRN supports minimum unit pricing as a means of reducing harmful drinking, which will protect retailers and help to improve public health.”

RONALD RIDDERBEEKX, BAT

FOR MORE, GO TO OPINION, PAGE 14

Editor Stefan Appleby 020 7689 3376

Ireland booze ruling is on message, says NFRN

Energy contracts OFGEM’S decision to continue to allow auto-rollover for energy contracts for small business has been described as “disap-

pointing” by the Federation of Small Businesses. The energy regulator had considered banning auto-rollover among a raft of changes for small businesses due to come into force next year. It will instead monitor price changes when contracts renew automatically.

FSB national chairman John Allan said: “There is no doubt current auto-rollover energy contracts are unfair and continue to put small business consumers at risk of exploitation. The FSB will continue to gather evidence of this to present to Ofgem in the coming months.”

BEER HUNTERS: #Beermatch, a Twitter-based service from Britain’s Beer Alliance, helps consumers find the best beer to accompany their food. Users tweet @BeerForThat with the hashtag and their chosen dish to receive a pairing in seconds. TANGLED WEB: Half of small businesses lack access to superfast broadband, according to regulatory body Ofcom. Its annual report said 56% of SMEs had access to the services compared with 75% of UK premises overall. It plans to investigate potential solutions.

SMOKE SCREEN: Imperial Tobacco is tackling the illicit trade by releasing a third short film in its ‘Suspect it? Report it!’ campaign. The latest instalment spotlights criminals selling unregulated products openly at local markets. It aims to end the threat to legitimate retailers, for whom tobacco sales account for more than 30% of revenue.

DECEMBER 16 2014 - JANUARY 12 2015 betterretailing.com

RETAIL EXPRESS E-EDITION facebook.com/betterretailing louise.banham@newtrade.co.uk

CRIME BUSTERS: The ACS has asked retailers to share their experiences of crime as part of a wide-ranging survey of the effect of assorted incidents on their businesses. The findings will be used for its 2015 Crime Survey, which shapes its policy and helps influence Government policy. The organisation has also launched two new documents for its members to prevent fuel theft as well as issues surrounding self-scan tills.

TESCO TUMBLE: Tesco has announced that this financial year’s profits will not exceed £1.4bn. The fourth profit forecast in five months is far below the market predictions of £1.8bn to £2.2bn profit made earlier this year. The retail giant saw its shares tumble by 16% following the announcement.

SEASONAL SPREAD: Fewer than three in 10 consumers are planning a big Christmas shop, as shoppers increasingly spread their shopping across different stores and formats. According to food and grocery research experts at IGD, discounters and online retail could benefit from seasonal spending worth £20bn, but all retail channels could prosper. E-NISA: Nisa has launched a new consumer website, www.nisalocally.co.uk, to engage consumers and grow awareness of the symbol group’s brand. The site includes a recipe page, details on its own-label range and its charity work. Nisa members can develop their own store page within the store locator.

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Autumn Statement spells wind of change for business rates RATES RULING: DID GEORGE LISTEN?

LOUISE BANHAM KEY MPs have backed George Osborne’s plans to go back to the drawing board on the British business rates system. Speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group meeting last week, David Gauke MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said concern about business rates had moved up the political agenda. “There is a desire to preserve the high street and this is a great opportunity to shape where we go,” he said. “I aim to do a lot of hard thinking to develop a system that is more sustainable.” He added that 300,000 shops would benefit from the Retail Business Rate Discount and welcomed the contribution of small shops to the review. “I urge all of you to engage, because we’re keen to listen,” he said. Osborne announced Government would review business rates in the Autumn Statement on December 3 (see box for details).

Following heavy campaigning from retailers, industry bodies and Retail Express, George Osborne announced the following measures in his autumn statement: a full review into the future

SIMON DANCZUK MP

structure of business rates to be completed by 2016; the introduction of a Retail Business Rate Discount, giving retail businesses a saving of up to £1,500; an extension of the annual cap of 2% on the business rates multiplier; and extension of the doubling of Small Business Rate Relief. ures announced by Osborne and took the opportunity to put their concerns to Gauke. “The 2% cap on rates increases has been well received by our members,” said ACS chief executive, James Lowman. “But in the longer term, we need to find a fairer and more transparent system for calculating business rates.”

TWITTER REACTION Retailers, business rates experts and industry bodies share their views on the Autumn Statement. Pleased to see review of outdated #BusinessRates system. Something we have long argued for @fsb_policy Andrew Chevis, RSA director, added: “The current system isn’t working. We’ve got to look at the future and not the past.” FOR MORE ON BUSINESS RATES, SEE P14

The £133m increase in business rates for retail will be offset by £150m in discounts #AS2014 @PaulTMRetail Full review of #businessrates is what small shops need, just hope they don’t do a ‘U-turn’ #AutumnStatement #AS2014 @AmitP327 So, Business Rates Review announced and business organisations encouraged to contribute. Can guarantee bira will do that @bira_says

I URGE ALL OF YOU TO ENGAGE, BECAUSE WE’RE KEEN TO LISTEN

One Stop heads for highlands

The meeting was chaired by Simon Danczuk MP and attended by a raft of MPs across the political spectrum, as well as trade organisations, including the ACS, British Independent Retailers Association and the Rural Shops Alliance. Representatives for small shops welcomed the meas-

Beware fake tobacco vouchers, warns JTI, as fraudsters target independent stores

One Stop is planning to take the high road and head north of the border with plans to move into Scotland next year. The Tesco-owned symbol chain will open in the territory from early 2015, with an offering tailored for the Scottish market. It will initially serve Scottish stores from its Wakefield depot.

JTI has warned retailers to be on the lookout for a scam involving fake £5-off tobacco vouchers, circulating in the West Midlands. Consumers have been attempting to use them to buy JTI brands such as Silk Cut and B&H, but the tobacco manufacturer has confirmed the vouchers

are not official and said retailers offered one should contact their local trading standards department. Arif Ahmed of Ahmeds, Coventry, said: “At Christmas you get all kinds of things and they wait until you’re busy to try and pass it off. We’re more vigilant at this time of year.”

express yourself

the column where you can make your voice heard

“We need to focus more on impulse purchases and food-to-go as there is still plenty of growth in this sector. We’re in a town centre and get tourist trade, too, so we need to maximise every impulse sale. At the same time, we still need to cater for local people and regular customers. A lot of it is focusing on what we’re doing at the moment – and then doing it better.” Dave Hiscutt, Londis, Weymouth, Dorset

Business rate review promised but they’ll go up again by a max of 2%...good job Chancellor targeting web rivals with profit grab @steve_hawkes

DAVID GAUKE MP

THE SCAMMERS WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE BUSY TO TRY AND PASS THE FAKE VOUCHERS OFF ARIF AHMED, COVENTRY

The scam comes as HM Revenue & Customs seized illicit tobacco worth £300,000 from an industrial unit in Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire, and a Scottishbased Facebook page – now closed – attracted 17,000 followers in a week after offering illicit cigarettes for sale via a courier.

Retailers look ahead to the New Year. What’s the biggest opportunity for your business in 2015?

“If you haven’t got food-to-go you need to get it – and do it properly. We’ve built up our coffee sales during the past 18 months. Our machine recently broke down, so I’m looking at new options. Finding a supplier that’s cost-effective with the right quality is difficult, but I know there’s potential growth there and I want to do something more substantial, with better quality.” Harry Goraya, Nisa Local, Northfleet, Kent

Do you have an issue to discuss with other retailers? Call 020 7689 3353 or email louise.banham@newtrade.co.uk

“The biggest opportunity for us is the services we have in-store, especially things such as parcel services. We’re now handling 200 parcels a week. We get commission and it brings in footfall. It’s bringing in £70 to £80 a week and 40-50% of people buy something else, be it chocolate or wine. Others come in and see we offer a good service and are more likely to use us again.” Raj Dhillon, Westcombe Park Food & Wine, Blackheath, south-east London

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ALCOHOL

the word on alcohol

Stefan Appleby, editor, Retail Express

Booze bungle spells a dry Xmas in Scotland IF YOU’D told me the authorities in Scotland had managed to get 18,000 alcohol licence holders to undergo statutory training in six months from April this year, I’d have said it sounded like a job well done. But that would hide a huge problem. In the middle of the busiest season of the year, 10,000 Scottish retailers and pub landlords will have their personal licences to sell alcohol revoked. Those who haven’t undertaken mandatory training, as required by legislation introduced in 2009, will be banned from selling alcohol for five years. In April, it was reported that fewer than 2,000 of the estimated 30,000 licence holders north of the border had completed this training. This figure has now risen to 20,000. We don’t yet know how many of the 10,000 that haven’t thus far complied are small stores – as opposed to pubs, restaurants or hotels, for example. What we do know is that this is an unmitigated disaster. There will be small convenience shops north of the border, at a key time of the year, who will find themselves without a licence to sell booze. Who is to blame? It depends on who you listen to. I’ve spoken to Scottish retailers that have fully complied, and did so in good time. They say retailers have only themselves to blame. They should have known the deadline for completion of these important requirements, as any good businessperson would have. But whoever is to blame, an automatic five-year ban is wildly disproportionate. And the fact that about 10,000 people haven’t completed this mandatory training, when the penalty is so draconian, also suggests there has been a real lack of communication and awareness. Quoted in The Herald last week, Stephen McGowan, a specialist in alcohol law, put it simply. “The licensing laws of Scotland are now so unfathomable, scattered as they are across various sources, that even the few true specialists struggle,” he said. If the people paid to know about it professionally can so easily decry it, then something has gone wrong with the system. Designed to raise standards and professionalism, all it will now end up doing is putting retailers already under pressure out of business.

WKD hits jackpot with Vegas launch CHRIS DILLON WKD is hoping to win big next January with the launch of a new limited-edition variant, WKD Vegas. Available in 275ml fourpacks and 70cl multi-serve bottles, retailers can buy the new edition in cases of six. The launch will be supported by a social and online digital media campaign, consumer sampling activity, price promotions and provision of free-standing display units and Vegasthemed PoS kits. The phrase ‘Have you tried new WKD Vegas?’ will appear on 70cl price-marked bottles

OF STORY EK

THE WE

ness. The WKD 70cl PMP stock featuring Vegas neck labels is exclusive to the independent channel. “The success of the stat WKD Brazilian limited edition this year, which generated apRevenue generated proaching £1.5mby WKD Brazilian worth of sales, this year has demonstrated there is a real appetite among consumers for limited editions from WKD,” said Debs Carter, marketing director – alcohol, at SHS Drinks. She added that based on trade and consumer feedback they are confident that WKD Vegas will be a winner for 2015.

of WKD Blue, WKD Red and WKD Iron Brew to encourage customer aware-

£1.5m

SISTER ACT

BLUE Nun has launched an exotic range of lighter and lower-alcohol wines under its ‘Delicate’ brand. The new Exotic range consists of a Rosé with flavours of Mango & Guarana, Exotic White with Coconut & Passion Fruit and Exotic White Caipirinha with Lime. Armin Wagner, sales director export, Langguth, said: “The range has been crafted specifically for women seeking the Blue Nun’s target flavour alternatives already market is women available in cider, spirits, cocktail mixers and RTDs.”

Who’s it for?

CARLSBERG is running an onpack promo that offers customers the chance to win prizes everyday during December. The campaign is expected to reach 1.6 billion UK customers through digital advertising and more than 150,000 promo packs. The prizes include Barclays Premier League tickets and branded gifts. A new prize will be unlocked every day. Ads are featuring on the Sky Sports homepage, the Mail Online sport web page, as well as other key football sites.

SELLERS

BATLEYS, LEEDS*

Frosty Jacks White Cider 2ltr

Carling Lager 4x500ml can PM

*4 weeks to November 27, 2014

White Ace Cider 3ltr PM

Fosters Lager 15x440ml can

Strongbow Cider 4x 500ml can PM

STELLA Artois has unveiled details of its festive campaign, which celebrates Stella Artois’ origins as a Christmas gift. The brand is launching a new TV ad that includes the tagline ‘Originally crafted as a beautiful Christmas gift’. It is also launching a longer 60-second video online that features gifts from the advert being given to unsuspecting people around the world by their loved ones. A series of short films will be released under the hashtag #givebeautifully. Stella Artois has also revealed limited-edition packaging and is including a 330ml Chalice in 6x330ml packs.

Carlsberg sends seasonal cheer to sports fans

TOP 5

Stella plays Santa Claus

the stat

RETAILER VIEW “WE stay open from 9am until 1pm on Christmas Day, and we find we can do about two days’ worth of turnover within those four hours. “I would say 60-70% of what we sell is alcohol, as people want to top

Sandeep Bains, Simply Fresh, Faversham, Kent up their beers, wine and spirits to make sure they have enough to last them throughout the day. “We promote that we will be staying open on Facebook and invite customers to come and have a drink with us.

“I’d definitely recommend staying open on Christmas Day but the best thing retailers can do is to look at who else is staying open. You don’t want to waste your time competing with five or six other stores.”

1.6bn

number of customers the campaign will reach

IAA WINNERS

“THESE AWARDS ARE GREAT RECOGNITION FOR THE HARD WORK RAMESH AND HIS TEAM DO EVERY DAY TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS SAVE TIME AND MONEY, WHILE PROVIDING EXCELLENT LEVELS OF QUALITY AND SERVICE” NICK SHANAGHER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NEWTRADE

Stars of the show On November 26, the best independent convenience retailers in the UK and Ireland joined suppliers at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London for the 2014 Independent Achievers Academy Gala Dinner. The end of the year-long IAA process is a celebration of all that is fantastic in the world of convenience retailing. RETAIL EXPRESS took a look at the winners in the IAA’s 12 categories, and found out their tips on how they made it to the top.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT “ALWAYS INVEST IN STAFF – THEY ARE YOUR MOST VALUABLE COMMODITY”

O VERALL BEST SHOP

Ramesh Shingadia, Londis Southwater Post Office, Horsham, West Sussex

SHOP LAYOUT

MARKETING TO CUSTOMERS “TAILOR YOUR MARKETING TO MEET LOCAL PEOPLE’S NEEDS”

“RESEARCH YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC AND ADAPT LAYOUT TO REFLECT POPULAR MISSIONS”

continues on p18

IAA WINNERS

TIPS FROM THE BIG WINNERS CUSTOMER SERVICE dam Hogwood, A Budgens of Broadstairs, Kent

MERCHANDISING lkesh & Chan Gadher, A Best-one Isleworth, West London

“TREAT EVERY CUSTOMER LIKE A MYSTERY SHOPPER”

“HAVE EPOS DATA FOR PROOF OF WHAT YOU’RE SELLING. WORK WITH SUPPLIERS, OR AT LEAST HAVE A PLANOGRAM IN PLACE”

RETAIL INNOVATION

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

C onrad Davies, Eurospar, Dolgellau, Wales

“BE BOLD, BE CONFIDENT, DO MORE, BELIEVE IN IT, INVEST IN IT. TAKE TIME TO LET THINGS WORK. IF YOU DO SOMETHING, DO IT PROPERLY”

IN-STORE THEATRE E ddie Poole, Poole’s Supervalu Moira Moira, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

“WE DO EVERYTHING FROM DRESSING UP TO FACE-PAINTING. THE SUPPLIERS EVEN GIVE US PRODUCTS TO RAFFLE”

ee Sedani, D One Stop Matlock, Derbyshire

“SAVE MONEY BY CUTTING BACK ON LIGHTING AND FITTING CHILLER DOORS. IT GIVES SHOPPERS AN IMPROVED PERCEPTION OF THE SHOP”

AVAILABILITY ark & Samantha Coldbeck, M Wharfedale Premier, Hull

“APPEARANCE IS VITAL. KEEP STOCKING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. TRY AND KEEP THE AREA CLEAN, TIDY AND GENERALLY WELL PRESENTED”

RESPONSIBLE RETAILING ay Bashir, Lifestyle Express Belle Vue B Convenience Store, Middlesbrough

“I TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW THROUGH RIGOROUS TRAINING TO MAKE SURE I GIVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN”

EFFECTIVE RANGING E ddie Poole, Poole’s Supervalu Moira, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

“WE USE MUSGRAVE PLANOGRAMS, EXPERTISE FROM SUPPLIERS AND OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCAL MARKET TO COME UP WITH AN IDEAL PLAN”

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ophie Towers, Premier Hillingdon S Convenience Store, Burnley, Lancashire

“WE’VE HELPED GET A COMMUNITY CENTRE OPEN AND GIVEN WATER AND FRESH FRUIT TO SCHOOLS. IT HAS GIVEN US LOYAL CUSTOMERS”

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SUPPLIER PARTNERSHIPS

DECEMBER 16 2014 - JANUARY 12 2015 betterretailing.com

WHEELS OF INDUSTRY RETAIL EXPRESS meets the suppliers that can help you take your business to the next level in 2015 THE world of independent convenience retail is at its best when great partnerships are formed. Whether between supplier and retailer, retailer and wholesaler or supplier and wholesaler, these relationships drive the channel forward. They can help retailers to understand core categories and

lead to effective product launches, create excitement at the cash & carry or on the shop floor, and they improve the overall standard of the channel, giving shoppers faith that the offering they get when they walk into an independent store is as good as – or better than – that of a ‘multiple’ operator. During 2014, retailers were able to rely on key suppliers to provide themed PoS around a vast array of sporting events. There was also a huge increase in the number of leading suppliers launching their own category management schemes and online information portals. A number of suppliers upped their investment in direct retail communications through their field teams, and focused on communicating the message about how they help retailers in ways beyond simply launching new products backed by big media spends.

This will continue next year. Beyond the usual key seasonal opportunities, isolated events such as the Rugby World Cup and local community-focused activity, how can retailers make 2015 a consistently fantastic year? Over the next 14 pages we take a look at some of the leading suppliers that are working closely with retailers in order to improve categories, increase sales and energise the convenience channel. You will see what value they can add to your business and how they have already worked with some brilliant convenience retailers. Read the case studies, examine which areas you could improve in your store and then simply call us to let us know. Forming brilliant partnerships with suppliers is vital for retailers looking to add some sparkle into their store, grow their sales and take their business to the next level.

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