Cash and Carry Management Dec 22

ntents

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers

FEATURES

Caterforce Conference

Caterforce is determined to continue its support for the independent foodservice market, and urges suppliers to invest in its initiatives

FWD Gold Medals

The FWD’s annual awards, held last month, recognised top talent, new products and new ideas in the wholesale industry

Spotlight

Laura Schofield, purchasing manager at Fairway Foodservice In Focus

Robinson Young, Country Range Group and Confex have all celebrated milestone anniversaries this year, and they look back at their achievements.

Tobacco & NGPs

Value and innovation continue to be key factors in the development of the tobacco, vaping and nextgeneration product categories

Fairway ’s Laura Schofield and her fiancé have four daughters between them, so life is very busy – and she’s studying for a Masters!

A ‘Merry Textmas’ campaign is running in over 300 SPAR stores

Turner Price executives celebrate winning CRG member of the year

Michael Robinson has been able to build on his father ’s legacy

Dawood Pervez is to succeed Coral Rose as FWD chairman

HMRC uncovers a £130m illegal tobacco factory in Leicester

See the person behind the role

Address Winlove Publications Ltd

It

’s awards season, when many wholesalers and trade associations recognise the people who have excelled in their business or industry Rewarding employees for exemplary work shows them that they are valued and can boost morale across the workplace. According to Harvard Business Review, ‘celebrating achievements great and small is high octane fuel for further achievement ’ .

In this issue, we have coverage of the winners of various awards on pages 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12, and we offer our congratulations to everyone who has been acknowledged for their exceptional contribution to the business they work for Wholesale, retail and hospitality are all people industries, and it is perhaps even more important during the busy Christmas and New Year period to try to see the person behind the role

Although the festive season brings widespread joy, it is undoubtedly a stressful time for many people This year, the cost-of-living crisis will be adding to the pressure, and I was heartened to hear that Bidfood is funding Hospitality Action’s free 24/7 helpline (0808 802 0282) during the festive period

In addition, the wholesaler has introduced #CheckPlease (page 7), a campaign to help employers and consumers spot early signs of stress in hospitality workers The initiative is also encouraging members of the public to interact with staff in a kind and respectful way

The #CheckPlease campaign should not be needed, but with 30% of hospitality staff saying that they have had to deal with difficult or rude customers daily (3Gem), an initiative that promotes better behaviour can only be a good thing

As Hospitality Action’s chief executive Mark Lewis says, “Not only does this campaign reflect the hard work, dedication and importance of our industry over the festive period, but it also reminds us of the difficulties and stresses that it brings to those in the sector.

“Staff sacrifice a lot so that others can enjoy themselves, and it ’s fantastic that we’re offering support to help them navigate what can be a challenging period ”

Outside of hospitality, people working in wholesale and retail can go to GroceryAid for support You can call the charity ’s free, confidential helpline on 08088 021 122 any time of the day or night and speak to a trained counsellor who will provide you with in-themoment help There are also other resources available through the website if you do not want to talk to a human: www groceryaid org uk/get-help/

At work (and outside of work) I hope that kindness prevails this festive season, and I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year

Sharratt Managing Editor

PO Box 366 East Grinstead RH19 4ZE

Tel (01342) 712100

Email mail winlove@btconnect com

Publisher Winlove Publications Ltd

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Kirsti Sharratt

Contributor Siobhan Kielty

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

Publishing Director Martin Lovell

Media Sales Manager Clare Phillips

4,448 July 2018 – June 2019

Audit Bureau of Circulations

Printed by Bishops Printers ISSN 1352-254X

All media rates, feature lists and deadlines can be accessed online by visiting: cashandcarrymanagement co uk

Kirsti

Birmingham lead

Parfetts has appointed Jon Griffin as general manager of its new depot in Birmingham

Griffin (pictured) has over 30 years of experience in the wholesale and convenience sectors He has held senior roles at Bestway, having managed depots in the Midlands and South Wales

The 100,000 sq ft Birmingham depot – Parfetts’ eighth site – will open in the

New Year, and Griffin will recruit a team of 100 over the coming months

Griffin said: “Parfetts is a great employee-owned company that is bringing something new and exciting to the Midlands market It ’s a fantastic opportunity to build a team that will be laserfocused on delivering the best customer experience In addition, I find that Parfetts has a passion for wholesale that is unique in the industry at the moment.

“Parfetts is investing in the independent retail business to ensure it has the support and margins to thrive. It ’s a true partnership approach that is refreshing, and I’m confident it will drive the growth of the new depot in Birmingham ”

Open banking

J J F o o d s e r v i c e has introduced a new payment method, Pay by Bank, backed with special offers

Pay by Bank allows customers to pay for shopping quickly and securely by using open banking

JJ is working with Ecospend to provide the solution, which initiates a direct bank transfer with prepopulated payment details

The method will help JJ to cut operating costs by incurring lower transaction fees compared with traditional card payments. The wholesaler has said it will pass many of these savings on to customers

Eddie Lanham, chief finance officer at JJ Foodservice, told Cash & Carry Management: “In a world

where prices and fees keep going up, Pay by Bank offers an easy, secure and costeffective payment method, which will help us to keep offering great deals at a time when our customers need them the most.”

JJ has launched a Pay by Bank promotion, offering price drops on 66 popular products to encourage customers to switch to the new payment method

Country Range finishes the year in style

The Country R ange Group announced the winners of its annual supplier and member awards at its ‘An Evening With’ event at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on 1 December

Hosted by the actor James Nesbitt, the event formed part of CRG’s 30th anniversary celebrations

Guests were treated to a champagne reception and a three - course dinner prepared by Clink Events – the outside events operation for The Clink Charity

A special raffle on the night saw the Country Range Group surpass its fundraising target of £100,000, which will be split between Hospitality Action and local causes nominated by the members.

CRG chief executive Martin Ward said: “Our annual

awards are the perfect way for the group’s members and suppliers to get together and celebrate their successes over the past year and I don’t think we could have picked a more special setting than St Paul’s Huge congratulations to all those who picked up awards and a massive thank you to everyone who played a role in helping us smash

our 30th anniversary fundraising target ”

Wholesaler member awards: O w n B r a n d Pe r f o r m a n c e : Henderson Foodservice B r a n d e d Pe r f o r m a n c e :

Savona Foodservice Digital Activation: Birchall Foodservice

Member of the Year: Turner Price

Supplier awards:

M a r ke t i n g E xc e l l e n c e : Nestlé Professional

B u s i n e s s R e l a t i o n s h i p : Unilever Food Solutions Service Performance: d’Arta

I n s i g h t D a t a C h a m p i o n :

Premier Foods

Own Brand Supplier: Ornua Ingredients

Fr o z e n S u p p l i e r : Lamb Weston

B r a n d e d S u p p l i e r : Nestlé Professional Best Newcomer: Agristo In other news, CRG has

refreshed its corporate branding with the introduction of a new logo and a relaunched website

The website will be updated with the latest CRG news, along with information on its services for member wholesalers and suppliers

In addition, the website will incorporate a trading portal for members, so that they can access the latest information on suppliers and products all in one place, and a marketing portal for the members ’ creative teams to access the wide range of assets available to them

Supporting hospitality staff

This festive season, Bidfood has joined forces with Hospitality Action to introduce #CheckPlease – a campaign designed to encourage employers and consumers to spot early signs of stress, be kinder, and check that those working in hospitality are okay

Bidfood is also funding Hospitality Action’s free 24/7 helpline (0808 802 0282) for the festive period. Hospitality Action’s team are on hand to provide help and advice to any hospitality workers who are struggling with the mental health stress and financial pressure the festive season can bring

In addition, toolkits have been assembled to help employers not only to reach out, but also to invigorate their teams through recognition and reward

With 30% of hospitality

staff saying they have had to deal with difficult or rude customers daily (3Gem) during what is meant to be the happiest season of all, Bidfood has also explored ways to help members of the public be more aware of the impact they can have on staff Posters, table-talkers and ‘specials’ menus, will be available through the toolkits, advising consumers on how they can interact with staff in a kind, appreciative

and respectful way, alleviating their stress.

Tim Adams, sales & marketing director at Bidfood, said: “As we approach our first completely normal Christmas since 2019, there is bound to be some nervousness and anxiety amongst workers, so we wanted to launch a campaign to help support those who need it

£100,000 promotion

A F B l a ke m o r e & S o n is giving away up to £100,000 worth of prizes in a ‘Merry Textmas’ campaign, running until 1 January

Live in more than 300 Blakemore Retail and independent stores across SPAR’s Meridian & Welsh Guild, the promotion includes weekly prize draws giving customers the chance to win one of four big prizes, including fuel for a year.

Shoppers can play daily to win one of more than 30,000 spot prizes that are redeemable at SPAR stores simply by sending a text Every valid entry gains one free entry into the weekly draw, and customers can win additional entries by scanning a QR code on a poster at a SPAR store or downloading a ‘Merry Textmas’ app

Bonus payments and appointments at Unitas

Unitas Wholesale is recognising the hard work and dedication of its team with an exceptional payment in light of the cost-of-living crisis

Each employee will receive £500 net The payment comes in addition to a company-wide pay increase earlier in the year

MD John Kinney said: “Our employees are our most valuable asset and are at the heart of everything we do for our membership

“It is with their hard work and dedication to the group that we continue our journey to become a more membercentric organisation, and it is right that we recognise their commitment to the organisation during such a challenging time ”

Unitas has also announced the appointment of Peter Burleigh as trading controller for the grocery category

Burleigh previously spent more than 25 years with Wm Morrison Supermarkets, latterly as senior trading manager More recently he was a director of FMCG Global, working on the Mulrines fruit juice brand, and he has also worked for Sukhothai Restaurants and WH Smith –Do It All.

Kinney commented: “I am delighted to welcome Peter to Unitas at such an important time in our development as we continue to

“We really hope the public get behind this campaign ” reshape the organisation

“Peter is a great addition to our business and has the skills and experience that we are looking for to continue the development of the grocery category ”

In other news, Unitas has appointed two new directors to its board

They are Robert Eastwood, managing director of Small Beer, and Qaiser Aziz, trading director of Global Foods.

Eastwood will represent Unitas’s on-trade division and replaces Andrew Wild, managing

director of Wilds of Oldham, while Aziz replaces James Russell, managing director –wholesale distribution at AF Blakemore, as one of Unitas’s retail representatives

Unitas chairman Mark Aylwin stated: “I am pleased that Rob and Qaiser have joined the already strong board of Unitas They both run excellent businesses and will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the board ”

He added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew and James for the tremendous support they have provided since joining the board ”

Peter Burleigh

Rob Eastwood

Electric dual-temp

Savona Foodservice is now delivering to customers in North Devon and Oxford in dual-temperature vehicles that are 100% electric These are claimed to be the first of their kind in the UK and Europe

“Much time, effort and investment has gone into getting the spec and design of these vehicles right,” said Darren Holloway, director of central operations.

“The Maxus e – Deliver 9 vehicles are unique because the gross vehicle weight is uplifted from 3.5 to 4 tonnes, thereby compensating for the additional weight of the batteries This allows the

vehicle to provide a pay load of 1 2 tonnes, with dual-temperature compartments, and cover a range of 100 miles ”

Compared to diesel vehicles, the electric vans will save 24,960 of carbon per year (based on a range of 120 miles per day, six days per week)

The decision to introduce these vehicles goes hand in hand with the choice of an energy provider that uses 100% renewable energy, which in itself has removed 12% of Savona’s total carbon emissions.

“This is just the beginning of our vehicle replacement programme, and we’re proud to be innovators in our industry for the good of the planet,” said director Kelly Williams

Savona has already adopted other practices as part of its aim to reach net zero For example, it became the first wholesaler in the South West to eliminate single-use plastics from its range

Two more recruits

Confex has two new members: CressCo and Metro Cash & Carry

The Cress Company (CressCo) is a fine food distributor in Dunfermline, Fife

It started in 2004 from a small lock-up in Perth, with a handful of artisan producers looking for local distribution Since then, the business has grown to the point that it now delivers thousands of ambient and chilled stock and pre-order lines nationwide from its sites in Dunfermline, Telford, Leighton Buzzard, and Maltby, with further expansion planned.

Metro Cash & Carry is a Glasgow-based foodservice wholesaler specialising in ethnic and continental produce and also selling a wide range of packaging and cleaning products to its customer base of restaurants, cafes and takeaways

In its 50th year, Confex is up by 72% in value and 78% in volume year to date,

taking it to £3 billion in combined turnover. The new members CressCo and Metro add a further £50 million to this.

Abrar Ahmad, managing director of Metro, said: “We are particularly excited to join Confex to access the CORE range and work more closely with top suppliers Metro Cash & Carry are looking forward to adding a variety of fresh lines to our offering and we look forward to working with Confex to grow our business ”

Good work Portioned

SPAR Scotland wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang is to organise a firewalk next year in support of SPAR’s national charity partner Marie Curie

It will also roll out foodbank bins to company-owned and independent SPAR stores and will work with suppliers to continue to donate to charities and foodbanks

Since 2013 SPAR Scotland has given over £1 million to community-based initiatives and charities. This year, £142,753 was donated.

Marketing manager Paula Middleton said: “We put our values at the heart of what we do; that means supporting the local communities where our stores are situated ”

FWD chairman

The F W D has named Bestway Wholesale’s managing director Dawood Pervez as its new chairman

He will succeed Coral Rose, CEO of Fairway Foodservice, in January and will become the 61st person to head the trade association

in its 104-year history

An FWD Council member since 2018, Pervez wants to see the social and economic contribution of the wholesale sector broadcast to an even wider audience

“People need to understand the role and the importance of wholesale and how big it is,” he said

Pervez will encourage FWD members to participate in three areas: Planet, Talent and Trade, covering sustainability, recruitment and development, and helping suppliers to understand the opportunity the wholesale channel offers for their brands

Brakes has launched a new range of frozen soups in individual 275g pouches under its Sysco Classic brand

The products are all suitable for vegans and can be cooked to order from frozen or defrosted for convenient individual portions in minutes.

The range consists of four varieties: Spiced Winter Vegetable Soup, Parsnip Soup, Butternut & Sage Soup, and Italian Style White Bean Soup

Pervez and Rose

‘Change is crucial’

As part of its aim to achieve £200 million turnover by 2026, Pricecheck has set up a new function dedicated to improving its internal processes, systems and technologies

The business change team is based at the wholesaler ’s head office in Sheffield, and members of the team will work across departments to experience different roles first-hand and identify improvements that can be made.

The team, which is made up of six innovators with a passion for change, is assisting with an array of projects set out in the company ’s Vision 200 strategic plan

Heading up the team are two business change managers: Helen Coulthard, who has over a decade of experience in wholesale distribution including stints with Palmer & Harvey and Bestway, and Rebecca Walker, a longstanding employee of 21

years who ‘knows the business inside out ’ .

So far, the business change team has implemented systems that have already seen a positive impact on the ecommerce and brand distribution sides of the business, from improving the fulfilment of Amazon orders and small pick processes to playing an instrumental part in the launch of the company ’s

new website.

Pricecheck ’s joint managing director Debbie Harrison commented: “In any business, change is crucial to drive innovation, staff development and business growth opportunities By having our own team of experts that thrive from this constant change, we can do business better, and innovate more effectively as a company ”

Purpose Before Profit award

Cotswold

The Theale -based fine food wholesaler and retailer was one of the first UK companies to become a B Corporation in 2015, and it has continuously sought to improve its social and environmental impact for all people, communities and the planet over the past decade.

Paul Hargreaves (pictured with trophy), founder and chief empowerment officer at Cotswold Fayre, said: “While we were delighted to be shortlisted for three awards, this is the one that

we all really wanted to win.

“It was truly a companywide achievement and couldn’t have been accomplished without the team’s constant drive and commitment to create a positive difference in every aspect of

what they do.”

Cotswold Fayre and its sister company Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen produce an annual Impact Report that looks at the company ’s effect on the world as well as its financial performance

Diamond anniversary

KFF (Kent Frozen Foods) has turned 60, and it has been celebrating the milestone with events and giveaways for customers and staff

The wholesaler has been giving customers dualbranded chef ’s jackets, whilst its employees have been able to take part in a regular weekly prize draw to win anything from £50 restaurant vouchers to an overnight stay in London, including a Marco Pierre White dining experience.

“We are extremely proud of the way that KFF has grown over the past 60 years and the fact that it has now become one of the UK’s leading foodservice wholesalers,” says marketing manager James Mills

“With the ongoing support of our parent company, Sysco, we continue to invest in new products and services that further improve our customer proposition in all areas, from online ordering to sustainability ”

Established in 1962, KFF started life as a supplier of frozen food to local businesses within the Kent area, but it now covers a wide part of the south of England and has expanded its product portfolio to include fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh and frozen fish, fresh meat, and a selection of artisan and local products

Fayre has won the Purpose Before Profit award at The Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards

The new business change team.

Greg Suszczenia

the amount raised was over £46,000: justgiving com/ fundraising/greg-suszczenia

Green trailer

Parfetts’ former joint managing director Greg Suszczenia has died.

After finding out that he had terminal brain cancer a year ago, he retired from Parfetts to spend time with his family.

In the last few weeks of his life, Suszczenia (pictured) launched a campaign to raise £5,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity – his target was exceeded several times over as friends and colleagues gave their support to the charity and Suszczenia himself When C a s h & C a r r y Management went to press,

Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, said: “Greg was a dedicated colleague who will be remembered fondly by everyone at Parfetts He led Parfetts through a period of sustained expansion and had a passion for the industry that was clear to everyone he met.

“He retired last year from the industry after a career that spanned buyer, depot manager, trading director and joint managing director at Parfetts. Greg helped oversee the successful transition from a family-owned to an employee - owned business and also served on the Unitas board He was a respected voice in the wholesale sector

“ We share our condolences with his wife Bev and sons Michael and Kristian ”

Charity recognised

Further to its 2022 Pakistan Fund Raising Appeal, which to date has raised more than $2 5 million to help the victims of the flooding in Pakistan, Bestway has been awarded the Charitable Foundation of the Year Award at this year ’s Asian Business Awards

Since the Bestway Foundation was established in 1987 by Sir Anwar Pervez as the charitable arm of the Bestway Group, more than $46 million has been given to worthy causes.

Haider Choudrey (pictured), Bestway Group’s chief financial officer and trustee of The Bestway Foundation, said: “ We are

very honoured to win this award as we stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Pakistan through this terrible crisis.

“It ’s not just about the short-term relief; we are at the forefront of providing sustainable support to help Pakistan rebuild its infrastructure and livelihoods ”

James Hall & Co has taken delivery of its first fully electric refrigerated trailer, which eliminates diesel costs as well as CO2 emissions from the trailer refrigeration unit.

The new trailer, which will transport products to SPAR stores across the North of England, has had a special green livery put on to it to mark it out from others in the fleet

While on site at the company ’s SPAR Distribution Centre in Preston, there is a facility to charge the battery and pre-chill the load space

When off-site, the battery pack provides a five -hour reserve run time to support the trailer ’s fridge when it is not moving and when it is without a mains supply.

The investment in the new trailer is part of James Hall’s continuous replacement programme and the company ’s commitment to running a greener fleet

Ian Farnworth, fleet engineering manager, said: “The trailer is already delivering savings when out on the road We will be monitoring its performance with interest ”

Lifetime achievement

S PA R I n t e r n a t i o n a l has awarded Pat McGarry, group logistics director at Henderson Group, a Lifetime Achievement Award

It is the second accolade that McGarry (pictured) has been presented with this year – he was named the Transport Personality of the Year at the Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards in September

Organisers of the SPAR ‘Connected Retail Conference’ in Rotterdam said that McGarry was recognised for his long and distinguished service to the global SPAR organisation and retail industry, which has spanned over four decades

McGarry commented: “I am humbled and grateful for this recognition for a career that allows me to work with such fantastic people and organisations around the world. To be part of the SPAR International family allows our team to affect change globally ”

‘We need to box clever’

Although the foodservice market has declined over the last couple of years, Caterforce has grown its share, moving from 4.8% to 6.3%. That was just one of the upbeat messages that the group’s managing director Gary Mullineux gave to the 250 delegates at the Caterforce conference, held in Wales last month.

“With the exception of 2020 for obvious reasons, we’ve continued to increase our sales year on year and it was a proud moment in 2021 when we managed to grow sales on 2019’s performance,” he said.

This year, the group bolstered its membership by signing up Dunsters Farm, and Mullineux is predicting further growth: “Our eight family-owned members are investing more than £36

million next year in their people, fleet and warehouses, and by 2025 we expect our group turnover to hit threequarters of a billion pounds.”

As far as central office is concerned, next year there will be an even bigger focus on the end user and customer. “Consumer confidence is at an all-time low, and as disposable income decreases, there will be a fight in the market for customer share,” he pointed out.

“Our commitment to you, the supplier, is to hold our agreements at the same level as this year, which is a big commitment because we’re also experiencing inflation. In return, we need you,

the supplier, to buy into our initiatives. Marketing is really important. It used to be about data and, yes, data is important but that’s a given these days – it is now about customer attention.

“We need to box clever,” he insisted. “We need to be smarter in terms of what we’re doing with inflation – looking at our packaging innovation, product engineering, factory and logistics savings –because we need to support the independent foodservice market.”

At the Caterforce conference, Philip Parker, purchasing director of Pilgrim Foodservice, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his ‘unwavering 40-year commitment to Pilgrim Foodservice and our industry’.

In addition, several awards were given to suppliers in celebration of excellent performances over the previous 12 months:

Most Innovative Product

Norseland for Applewood Vegan Slices Marketing Excellence

La Lorraine for Donut Worry Be Happy Sustainability Champion

Tilda for its responsible sourcing and work to tackle poverty Best Service Levels d’Arta

Mullineux gave an example of the impact of a product price rise: “A 25p per portion increase to Caterforce impacts the menu to our customers at 63p. That moves the price for a slice of cake at a coffee shop up from £3.50 to over £4. At what point does the customer say ‘I’m going to go without?’ That’s why we need to look at what we’re doing in terms of our products, because at some point, customers are going to go without unless we box clever to support the independent market.”

In addition to Mullineux’s report on Caterforce’s progress and priorities, the conference included a ‘meet the member’ networking session and presentations from senior members of the group on marketing initiatives, sustainability and regional specialisms.

“The conference was a huge success,” said Mullineux, adding: “We are focused on delivering the best commercials for our wholesalers. The next 12 months are going to be a real challenge, and we need suppliers to invest in our initiatives to help our members and customers thrive.”

Caterforce continues to strengthen its position in the foodservice market and there is more growth to come, according to MD Gary Mullineux (right).

L to r: Gary Mullineux, Philip Parker, Caterforce chairman Stephen Carr.

Top performers recognised

officer Andrew Selley: “This year’s winner of the Outstanding Contribution Gold Medal is an industry icon.

Wholesalers and suppliers joined together at the FWD Gold Medal Awards last month to celebrate the top talent, new products and new ideas in the industry.

The event, which was held at Old Billingsgate in London, was hosted by comedian Al Murray.

The winners included Andy Kemp MBE, executive director of Bidcorp UK, whose myriad achievements were highlighted by Bidcorp UK’s chief executive

“He has worked in the foodservice and wholesale industries for over 45 years and has worked his way up from being a sales rep pounding the streets of Torquay to being one of the most respected and recognised figures in the industry.

“He has achieved great personal and team success in his senior roles in the industry, especially as group sales & marketing director, but his character has always been to look after the interests of others. He is a trustee and board member of the charity Springboard, he worked with Hospitality Action for 15 years, and he is still working part-time pursuing his passion for, among other things, championing the cause of free school meals for all schoolchildren.” CCM

2022 FWD Gold Medal winners

Retail Brand

Monster, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Licensed Brand

Madrí Excepcional, Molson Coors Brewing Company

Foodservice Brand

Bisto, Premier Foods

Use of Data and Insight

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Service to Wholesale

Britvic

New Retail Product

Madrí Excepcional, Molson Coors Brewing Company

Peter

Matthew Norman, Confex Wholesale Manager

Stuart Shaw, Bestway Wholesale Customer Development

Susan Justice, Bidfood

Emerging Talent Holly Rogers, Bidfood Outstanding Contribution

Andy Kemp, Bidcorp

New Foodservice Product

Radnor 125ml Tetra Pak, Radnor Hills Process Innovation

Britvic

Digital Innovation

Britvic

Green Supplier

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Emerging Talent

Amy Beirne, Halewood Artisanal Spirits

It may have been another tough year for wholesale, but the FWD Gold Medal Awards were proof positive that there is still plenty to applaud in the channel.

Faílte’s Jim Cummiskey collects the Smaller Wholesaler accolade.

Andy Kemp is recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to the trade.

Nasar Khan of Bestway accepts the Retail Wholesaler award.

Andrew Selley is presented with the Out of Home Wholesaler award.

Laura Schofield, purchasing manager, Fairway Foodservice

What is your favourite film, book and song/piece of music?

I was brought up in a music-loving family listening to Queen, The Rolling Stones, and Joni Mitchell, so it really is hard for me to chose just one! But Massive Attack’s Unfinished Sympathy has to be my all-time best-loved song.

I enjoy a Tarantino film, and True Romance is one of my favourites. As Good As It Gets and Groundhog Day are both true feel-good films, and I also love the cult classic The Breakfast Club – I recently introduced my girls to it.

My favourite author of all time is Marian Keyes and I especially adore The Other Side of the Story.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

‘Family life is busy!’

What have been your biggest achievements in work and outside work?

The birth of my identical twin girls Emilia and Isobel. After being born eight weeks early and a tiny three pounds each, it was a tough start for everyone. But they are now 12 years old and making me unbelievably proud every single day.

As well as achieving a First Class degree in International Marketing, in my third year I undertook a placement as a trainee buyer at Primark. What an eye opener, but one that kick-started my love for all things buying. I never looked back!

I will always remember working with Emma Bunton (The Spice Girls) to produce a capsule maternity range whilst a fashion buyer at Mamas and Papas. She was one of the many strong women I have been lucky enough to encounter and inspire me throughout my career.

Who has been the biggest inspiration to you?

This is hard as I have been influenced by so many inspiring people. My sister and mum are incredibly inspiring. Both nurses and working mums, they showed me that dedication and hard work really does pay off.

I am also lucky to have strong male role models. My dad is a civil engineer and the kindest family man who has maintained a positive outlook whilst overcoming personal challenges. My fiancé is an ex professional footballer. His dedication and determination to succeed have seen him obtain a First Class degree whilst working full time, and putting up with five strong women at home!

What approach do you take in business (and in life)?

Planning and organisation are key to keeping the wheels turning, and integrity and trust are critical as the foundation of any relationship, personal or professional.

What are your interests outside work?

I have two children and my fiancé also has two girls, so my family life is extremely busy. I love spending time with them, whether that’s going for meals, watching a film, or attending one of their many drama shows.

I am also studying for a Masters in Nutritional Science and Practice, and planning a wedding, so it’s all go!

To manage my stress levels I love to cook or swim. I also write lots of lists!

I am a qualified PADI scuba diver and I have been lucky enough to dive in the Dominican Republic, the Maldives and Mexico. I have always had a passion for water – for many years I competed as a synchronised swimmer for the City of Bradford Synchronettes. CCM

Switch in studies

At 18, Laura Schofield went to Edinburgh University to study Dietetics but decided it was not the right fit for her, so left and worked in marketing for a year. She then went on to study International Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University and subsequently joined the graduate scheme at Next as a trainee buyer, quickly progressing to assistant buyer. Schofield later worked at Mamas and Papas in fashion and was promoted to a buyer. Driven by a passion for food, she started at Asda in 2011, where she was a buying manager for six years. She then worked in a senior buying role at Hallmark. Missing the food industry, Schofield joined Fairway Foodservice in August 2021 in her current role as purchasing manager for frozen food.

An extra-special year

For a business to not only survive but also thrive for decades is a huge achievement, but add in the past few years of turbulence with Brexit and the Covid pandemic, and a firm’s longevity is even more impressive.

Cash & Carry Management spoke to three businesses that have celebrated milestone anniversaries this year to find out how they have stood the test of time and what have been the most memorable moments along the way.

The non-food sales, marketing and distribution agency Robinson Young, still remains 100% privately owned after 50 years. It is run by managing director Michael Robinson – son of the founder –who joined the business in 1985.

He comments: “Whilst it has been terrific for the whole business to be celebrating 50 years, at the same time it has been probably one of the most difficult in our history to navigate through successfully. All the economic and political turmoil has caused many different issues around operating cost increases, product cost increases, supply chain issues and in some cases recruitment. This has meant that most of the team

have been working harder than ever to try to work through these challenges.

“Having said all that, we had a fantastic response to our 50th birthday party where we invited many former employees, all of whom were very happy to be able to attend and had very fun memories of working with us.

“We like to think that if you spend much time at Robinson Young you become a part of the family, and that stays with you throughout the rest of your career.

“In addition we have had many congratulations and kind words about our achievement from suppliers and customers alike, and I’m both proud and pleased that it seems we are held in good regard by most.”

There have been many memorable moments over the years, he adds, including securing new contracts to represent big-name brands and manufacturers, doubling the size of the warehouse in 1986, and winning numerous industry awards.

Robinson says: “Clearly one of the huge highlights is that we are celebrating 50 years in business – I doubt my father would have expected that.

“For me personally, being promoted to managing director in 1995 is a highlight and it means that I have now not only been in the business longer than my father, but I have also been leading it for longer as well. He did a fantastic job in setting up the business and developing it and I’d like to think that he would be proud that I have been able to build on his legacy.”

The buying group Confex also celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Director Jess Douglas, whose grandfather Julian Loffet established the business and whose mum Nicky Whyte was formerly Confex’s MD, says: “Our 50th year has been eventful! It has been full of the challenges in wholesale for 2022 but we have been astounded by our members’ performance – year to date, Confex is up by 72% value and 78% in volume, which shows the resilience of our membership and industry.

“We started the year with a recordbreaking attendance trade show,” she continues. “We had our first Foodservice Fair in June, followed by a 50th birthday celebration in the Cotswolds. And we recently held our belated conference in Croatia which was a huge success.”

Douglas highlights several big milestones for Confex: 100 members (circa 1990), £1 billion collective member turnover (circa 2002), £2 billion turnover (circa 2013), £3 billion turnover (2022) and CORE own-brand launch (2021).

Left to right: Keith Nash, Robinson Young’s longest serving employee with 36 years of service; MD Michael Robinson; the company’s newest recruit Chloe Hutchins. They are pictured with some of the brands supported by Robinson Young.

Several wholesalers and suppliers, including Robinson Young, Country Range Group, and Confex, have had a great number of reasons to celebrate this year.

“Our own brand CORE is still going from strength to strength,” she says. “Launched in May 2021 with a range of 300 SKUs across ambient, chilled, frozen and non-food, projected sales are for £5 million this year, which is amazing considering we launched during a pandemic. We are also focusing on the Confex Data Insight Programme for 2023 and beyond.”

Elsewhere, Country Range Group has celebrated its 30th anniversary. “It’s been a momentous anniversary year, with a key focus on giving back and thanking the people, companies, groups, organisations and communities that have been pivotal to the group’s success in the last 30 years,” says chief executive Martin Ward.

“The celebrations and fundraising have been potent catalysts in bringing our incredible members, their customers and our suppliers even closer together. There have been charity quiz nights, golf days, gin nights, a sponsored leg wax, a tattoo auction, a parachute jump, sponsored walks, cycles and climbs, lotteries and raffles, football tournaments, abseil challenges, Halloween fancy dress competitions, bake off activities and even a Jail Break contest!

“Each and every activity has created laughter and memories and strengthened bonds within the group and it’s fantastic to have surpassed our £100,000 target, with the money being split between Hospitality Action and local causes aligned with our members.”

From a commercial perspective, 2022 has also been incredibly positive for Country Range, says Ward, especially considering the previous two pandemic years and the current economic challenges being faced.

“Our first face-to-face events since the pandemic have been hugely successful in supporting customers and providing solutions to meet the trends and economic challenges being faced. Our members continue to raise the bar when it comes to customer service; the Country Range own-brand portfolio has been further strengthened; and we can be very proud of the opportunities the group continues to give to smaller food and drink producers and suppliers.

“We’re on course for group turnover to hit the £750 million mark this financial year and I’m confident we have the members, resources, portfolio and most importantly people to help us continue to grow and push for that £1 billion target.”

In terms of defining moments for the group, Ward picks three:

• The group’s true beginnings can be traced back to 1992 when three independent, family-run foodservice wholesale business owners – Colin Birchall, Mike Watson and Chris Creed – got together to form CDA (Caterers Distribution Alliance). The company merged with Countrywide Catering Group in 1997, which was when the first seeds for the Country Range Group were sown.

• In 2000, the company was relaunched under the Country Range Group name, and it has built the brand, reputation and a clear identity ever since. The year also signified the launch of the first Country Range own-brand products, which continue to be pivotal to the group’s growth and reach.

• The first ‘An Evening with the Country Range Group’ event was held in London in 2013. This has now become the highlight of the group’s year where members get together to celebrate the people, businesses and brands that have been key to success. It is fitting that, earlier this month, Country Range held an anniversary party to remember (see page 6) at the iconic venue of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

The first Country Range own-brand products were introduced in 2000.

Julien Loffet (centre), grandfather of Jess Douglas and Tom Gittins, identified a need for a collaborative approach to wholesaling and went into partnership with Birmingham wholesaler Sidney Lumley (left) to establish Confex in July 1972.

Search for value continues

The value of tobacco in the UK totalled £15.2 billion in the last year (IRI), with the ready-made cigarette market accounting for £10.7 billion.

The future of the tobacco industry lies very much within the value of the product as consumers seek out ways to save money, maintains Tom Gully, head of consumer marketing UK&I at Imperial Tobacco.

“If wholesalers and retailers are to successfully cater to the needs of today’s customer and increase sales, then ensuring they are stocking a wide range of value tobacco products is crucial,” he says.

“Given the growing cost-of-living crisis and rising energy costs, this shift towards value tobacco products is a trend that is likely to continue for some time and one that retailers should not ignore,” he adds. “Tobacco shoppers spend more, visit more and have a higher basket spend than other shoppers (Lumina) so are key shoppers to attract.”

With household costs and inflation soaring, shoppers are now even more aware of how much they are spending, Gully points out. “As a result, we’re seeing a move towards low priced propositions across the entire category, resulting in the lower priced tiered products making up a majority of tobacco sales.

“In fact, the sub-economy segment now makes up 63% of factory-made cigarette sales, while the economy segment accounts for 56% of RYO, with these value segments growing at an impressive 3% and 5% year on year (ITUK).”

Imperial Tobacco has introduced two new limited-edition products to help independent retailers deliver added convenience to adult smokers and respond to the rising demand for value that is dominating shopping habits this year.

The independent-exclusive range of 21s packs, which was first launched in March this year, has returned. It features some of Imperial’s best-selling brands including Richmond 21s at an rsp of £10.65, plus Players JPS and L&B Blue 21s, both at an rsp of £10.90.

In addition, Imperial has introduced 32g packs of rolling tobacco for Riverstone and Players JPS Easy Rolling tobacco – its fastest growing brand nationwide. Both brands have an rsp of £14.55 for the new format.

Gully comments: “With demand for value shaping purchasing habits across the tobacco category, these two added convenience formats, developed exclusively for independents, will be sure to be popular with customers.”

Imperial has also unveiled a new look for roll-your-own

brand Riverstone. As part of the brand refresh, the Riverstone trade outers benefit from a new design that focuses on the ‘true pleasure of rolling, whilst giving a subtle nod to its heritage with eye-catching imagery of mountains’.

The Riverstone range has been created to offer a high-quality roll-your-own tobacco blend that is soft and easy to handle, and although the packaging has been updated, the blend remains the same. Riverstone performs exceptionally well on taste, with 70% of consumers buying it again and again after experiencing the taste, reports Imperial Tobacco.

With an rsp of £13.65 for the 30g pack and £22.35 for the 50g format, Riverstone is positioned to tap into the rising demand for value-focused roll-your-own tobacco.

When wholesalers and retailers review their range, it is important to remember that value means different things to different people, says Gully. “Some customers might be focused on the lowest price point, while others may be looking for added-value formats like Players JPS Easy Rolling Tobacco which offers filters and papers in one pack,” he explains. “Therefore ensuring that retailers stock a range that caters for these different value needs is vital in order to effectively cater for their customer base.”

As consumers become increasingly price conscious, this will affect cigars just as much as any other category, points out Alastair Williams, country director at Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK (STG UK). “Having said that, the search for value has been a trend in cigars for some time now, evidenced by the success of our Moments Blue brand, which offers a quality smoke at a low price,” he says.

One of the UK’s biggest ever illegal tobacco factories has been dismantled after a raid in Leicester.

The state-of-the-art factory, which was capable of producing more than seven million cigarettes a week, was uncovered in an operation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) with support from law enforcement partners in Poland.

The sophisticated set-up included professional extraction systems, insulation to hide noise, expensive machinery and accommodation for staff.

It is estimated the two-storey factory would have cost more than £1 million to set up and would have led to lost tax revenues totalling more than £130 million per year.

More than 8.5 tonnes of tobacco was also recovered from the site, worth £3.3 million in unpaid duty.

Nine men were arrested and investigations are ongoing.

Manufacturers are focusing on offering value to price-conscious consumers while also innovating to meet the requirements of smokers looking for alternative nicotine solutions.

£130m illegal factory smashed

CLEAR OUTSIDE SAME PACK INSIDE

As part of our ongoing vision for a Better Tomorrow we are changing the wrapping of Dunhill International from printed film to clear cellophane. However, rest assured, the contents of the BAT outers – whether packs of Dunhill or other BAT brands – remain completely unchanged and are just as authentic as before

If you have any questions or concerns about our new cellophane wrapping, please contact BAT customer service, your Account Manager or local rep

It’s an offence to sell tobacco to person under 18 years of age. For tobacco trade use only. Not to be left within sight of consumers.

Moments is now the sixth best-selling cigar brand in the UK in value terms, but most of its sales go through the multiple grocery channel, suggesting that independent retailers and cash & carries might be missing out by not stocking it.

“With the current cost-of-living crisis only likely to get worse, it’s sensible to assume that value products will only increase in importance across the store, and that will certainly include cigars so cash & carries who don’t currently stock Moments should absolutely do so,” says Williams.

JTI calls for stronger powers for Trading Standards

JTI has called for stronger powers and additional funding for Trading Standards to tackle the illegal tobacco and vape trade. The supplier also stood in parliament in November to highlight the scale of the illegal activity.

Test purchasing recently undertaken for JTI gathered evidence on 95 stores in north-west England selling illegal cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and vapes.

Counterfeit versions of a JTI hand-rolling tobacco brand were found for £4, compared to a retail price of £29 – each pack sold saw the Government lose out on approximately £20 in taxes.

Since 2000, HMRC estimates that illicit activity on tobacco and vape has resulted in a tax revenue loss of £51.3 billion. In the last month alone, over a third of smokers have bought tobacco products that were not in the plain packs legally required in the UK (Kantar).

Ian Howell, fiscal & regulatory affairs manager at JTI, comments: “While Border Force prevents the smuggling of illicit tobacco into the country and HMRC conducts large-scale operations that can lead to the uncovering of major illegal manufacturing sites, it is Trading Standards that undertakes the lion’s share of enforcement action on the UK’s high streets.

“Unfortunately, despite efforts such as Operation CeCe or the Keep It Out campaign, Trading Standards is overwhelmed by the scale of the problem. They do not have access to easy to apply, hard-hitting financial sanctions that would help tackle the persistent actions of rogue retailers who are currently undeterred.”

Using the framework of tobacco ‘track & trace’, the Finance Act 2022 gave HMRC the ability to issue on-thespot fines of up to £10,000 and suspend any required registration in the event of wrongdoing.

“During the consultation process, HMRC promised that these powers would be extended to Trading Standards, but the method and timeframe to accomplish this have not yet appeared. Without this, the criminals selling illegal tobacco will simply carry on regardless,” says Howell.

“JTI is calling for HMRC to extend these powers to Trading Standards, and for the Treasury to allow Trading Standards to retain the money raised through these penalties to reinvest in their services. Criminals should be made to pay the price for their criminal activity.”

Cash & carries are advised not to tie up their cashflow with slow-moving cigar brands as the top 10 account for over 90% of sales. Miniatures remain the engine room of the cigar category, so it is important to get this segment right, and the biggest brand is STG’s Signature.

The cigarillos category now makes up over 46% of the total volume in the cigars market and generates just under £100 million in sales (IRI). STG reports that its Signature Action brand is growing in popularity and a good option for adult smokers who like the peppermint flavour.

Cash & carries should also consider brands in both the small and the medium/large segments. STG’s Henri Wintermans Half Corona accounts for over 72% of sales in the medium/large segment, so is a must-stock, particularly at this time of year since it is a ‘real festive favourite’.

Accessories

Sales of tobacco accessories in the UK are valued at £330 million and showing year-on-year growth of 4.5% (IRI), providing an opportunity for cash & carries to build a range that drives profit.

Against the backdrop of rising costs of living, roll-yourown products offer better value than traditional factory-made cigarettes, driving many shoppers to make the switch, reports Republic Technologies UK. This generates opportunities for cash & carries to encourage sales of tobaccorelated accessories, such as filters, papers and lighters.

“With impressive margins and many options for incremental sales, tobacco accessories can be a valuable profit driver for cash & carries,” says Gavin Anderson, sales & marketing director at Republic Technologies UK.

“The right range of brands and products, highlighted with effective PoS, gives retailers the potential to make sure their store stands out,” he adds.

Rolling papers is currently the second highest value sector within tobacco accessories, worth £97 million and growing by 4.3% year on year (IRI). OCB is the UK’s fastest growing mainstream paper brand (IRI).

With increasing demand for premium paper formats, the slim & tips sub-category is up by 29.5% year on year (IRI). OCB Virgin, Premium and Organic Hemp are all available in a slim & tips format, making the brand a must stock for cash & carries looking to tap into these valuable

DEDICATED TO

true Pleasure

of rolling

As well as offering better value for shoppers, OCB is consistently working on developing the highest quality papers that also give the best natural experience to the user. OCB Virgin and Organic Hemp unbleached paper ranges are 100% vegan, made using acacia gum and sustainable fibres, and presented in sleek packaging using vegetable ink.

“Product development is always at the heart of our approach to the development of the category,” says Anderson. “We regularly review consumer needs, market trends and purchasing habits to help retailers make the most of this growing category.

“We encourage our customers to stock a range of tobacco accessories in different formats to maximise category sales. RYO shoppers tend to be repeat purchasers, so having a good variety of products, with a fully stocked display, will bring consumers back.

“Compact displays, like our branded countertop units, highlight bestselling product lines and NPD, driving increased shopper interest and encouraging impulse sales,” he adds.

Republic Technologies’ brands, which include Swan, ZigZag and OCB, have considerable history in the market and are positioned to offer quality and value for money. “This, combined with our team’s valuable expertise in the category, means that we are well placed to add real value to cash & carries,” says Anderson.

Vaping & next-generation products

The number of vapers in the UK has grown by 3% over the last year to 3.6 million (ECigIntelligence) as more consumers seek out alternative nicotine solutions.

In the UK, vape is now worth around £1.2 billion and is expected to reach £1.47 billion in the next three years. Around 35% of current vaping volume sales take place in the convenience channel (ECigIntelligence).

“To tap into this rising trend, wholesalers and retailers need to ensure they are dedicating sufficient space in store for vaping products and stocking the right range for their customer base,” says Tom Gully, head of consumer marketing UK&I at Imperial Tobacco.

Both closed pod systems and basic open systems remain popular choices for vapers, accounting for 70% of the total UK vaping market size in 2022 (equal shares). There is also significant growth in the disposables category, which is currently worth around £132 million (ECigIntelligence).

Imperial recently announced its entrance into the disposables market with the blu bar vape range. This comprises disposable and ready-touse vape products with a compact pocket size design. Each blu bar device contains 20mg of nicotine in 2ml of liquid, providing up to 600 puffs, and features an LED indicator that lights up when in use.

The new blu bar range has an rsp of £5.99 per device and comprises six flavours: Kiwi Passionfruit, Mango Ice, Banana Ice, Peach Ice, Watermelon Ice and Strawberry Ice. Each blu bar features bursts of colour, both on the device and on the pack, to create stand-out on the shelf and help with range navigation.

He joins PML after seven years at Imperial Brands, where he was corporate affairs director. He also previously worked at defence and security company Lockheed Martin and spent seven years as a diplomat in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Cunningham’s new role at PML involves working across government and the full range of stakeholders to stimulate the adoption of harm reduction policies as the country moves towards a smokefree future.

Commenting on his appointment, he said: “Increased use of e-cigarettes as an alternative to cigarettes has had a significant impact on reducing smoking prevalence in the UK, but more needs to be done.

“The opportunity exists to take advantage of technological innovation to help the UK become a world leader in tobacco harm reduction. We hope the Government will support adult smokers that don’t quit, by improving access to, and awareness of, the full range of less harmful alternatives.”

Gully comments: “Disposables are taking over the vape category, with the segment seeing rapid growth in the last year. In fact, recent figures show they now account for 70% of vape sales (ITUK). We’re really excited to be joining this flourishing market with our new blu bar range, offering a great quality product from the well-known blu brand that consumers know and trust.”

Imperial will be supporting the launch of blu bar with a profit on return deal of up to 43% at wholesalers, as well as through a new dedicated blu bar trade microsite.

Disposable vape manufacturer Elfbar recently launched Cigalike, a vape product designed to look like a conventional cigarette. Its introduction during October coincided with the Stoptober campaign aimed at encouraging people to give up smoking.

Approved by the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Cigalike provides around 400 puffs per device.

Philip Morris Ltd (PML), the UK and Ireland affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), has appointed Duncan Cunningham (below) as external affairs director.

Duncan Cunningham joins PML

To encourage trial, the company teamed up with 20 retail outlets across the UK to launch a challenge among smokers to lay down the equivalent of 50,000 cigarettes during Stoptober. In addition, Elfbar gave samples of Cigalike to 1,000 smokers who committed to handing in their conventional cigarettes in October.

Victor Xiao, chief executive of Elfbar, describes Stoptober as a great campaign to raise awareness of vaping as a “considerably less harmful and expensive option than smoking”.

He adds: “According to the NHS, vaping is one of the best ways to quit smoking. Brands and the retail sector have an important role to play in getting this message out to adult smokers by working closer together.”

It is predicted that the heated tobacco category will be worth £250 million by 2025, with 66% of consumers buying through traditional retail (IRI). The category is already worth £91 million in traditional retail, with growth of 14.9% year on year (IRI).

“There is a huge opportunity in the market, so there really was no better time for JTI to expand and upgrade its portfolio with Ploom X – a new and improved device with upgraded technology designed to deliver a truly unique experience for customers,” explains Mark McGuinness, marketing director of JTI UK.

Ploom X offers an ‘alternative but familiar tobacco experience’ by heating tobacco instead of burning it. Compared to its predecessor, Ploom X is more compact and has a more consistent nicotine delivery and an enhanced flavour sensation. It also has a longer session time of up to five minutes and the ability to use more EVO Tobacco Sticks per charge. One heating mode makes the device easy for customers to use.

McGuinness comments: “The Ploom brand has gone from strength to strength over the past few years.

Building on our growing presence in the evolving heated tobacco category, the launch of Ploom X offers a truly unique experience for customers.”

Ploom X is available in selected retailers within the Greater London area and on ploom.co.uk. The device can be used exclusively with EVO Tobacco Sticks which are available to wholesalers serving retailers within the M25.

Philip Morris Ltd (PML) has commenced the roll-out of IQOS Originals Duo, a revamped and renamed version of IQOS 3 Duo, to indirect retail channels in the UK.

IQOS Originals Duo combines revamped design features with Philip Morris International’s Heatcontrol technology. This uses a flat wide ceramic blade to heat tobacco from the inside, delivering ‘a real tobacco taste and satisfaction’ backed by six years of scientific research and development.

Fully compatible with existing HEETS tobacco sticks, IQOS Originals Duo is replacing IQOS 3 Duo, with no buyback or product swapping necessary. The new stock will filter through naturally.

With an rsp of £39, IQOS Originals Duo is sold as a kit, consisting of the two-piece device – with a compact and lightweight holder – and two packs of HEETS.

Kate O’Dowd, head of commercial planning at PML in the UK and Ireland, believes that IQOS Originals Duo arrives at a time when adult smokers are increasingly on the look-out for an alternative product that is satisfying, less harmful and affordable.

“Affordability is a growing concern among many adult smokers in the UK. The best option for anyone is to quit tobacco and nicotine products completely. If they don’t, then switching to IQOS Originals Duo could work out far cheaper in the long run, with 20 HEETS costing £5 rsp – less than half the average price of a pack of 20 cigarettes.”

First launched in the UK in 2016, IQOS is the UK’s number one heat-not-burn product (Nielsen), and there are 10 HEETS variants, ranging from menthol to traditional tobacco.

Commenting on the expansion of the heated tobacco category, O’Dowd says: “There is no doubt that competition in the smoke-free category is heating up. The real upshot of increased competition is not so much pitting products against each other, but rather providing smokers with a greater choice of alternatives that enables them to switch away from cigarettes, if they can’t or won’t quit completely.”

To illustrate how competition is being set aside to achieve this smoke-free goal, PML commissioned a study last year of around 1,400 convenience retailers which found that over two-thirds would look beyond local competition and work together to help their community go smoke-free.

“With manufacturers bringing better products to market and more retailers than ever before broadening their smokefree offering, I truly believe we can help millions of adult smokers make a better choice,” says O’Dowd.

STG recently entered the fast-growing nicotine pouch category with the introduction of its first non-tobacco product. Originating from Sweden, the home of most nicotine pouches, STRÖM (which is Swedish for stream/flow) is a premium nicotine pouch.

Offered in three flavours (Fresh Mint, Minty Orange and Juicy Berry), STRÖM is initially available to retailers across Manchester for a six-month trial period to March, before being rolled out to other UK cities.