5 minute read
GUILD TALK
View from HQ
By John Farrand managing director
I DO NOT recall when Christmas grocery sales became mainstream news in January, but it feels recent. Along with the images of folk ghting to buy a discounted television set, it is a new year rite of passage to read how the multiples have traded over the festive period.
You may well switch o from the various supermarket food & drink stats, we’re in the independent retail sector a er all. It makes it doubly di cult to decipher as the media seems to quote slightly di erent gures depending on your news feed of choice.
Let me pick out some sales stats for you that curiously should warm the retail heart as we kick-start the year. According to Nielsen, M&S was up 9.9% in the four weeks to 1st January and Kantar stated that Ocado was up 8.4% in the four weeks to 26th December. Kantar also reported that Christmas sales of premium own-label lines in Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda were up 6.8%.
Even considering that in ation is running at 3%-5% depending on who you believe, it is good news for us all, as it demonstrates that shoppers traded up when buying their mince pies, Stilton and Yuletide-themed water ke r. They are our customers too. There’s a round-up of deli-world performance on page 9 to make it more relevant to you. It seems we followed the trend in the mults with retailers reporting positivity around sales. I expected FFD to be reporting stock issues given the import debacle, but it was lack of sta and challenging rota management that chimed more o en according to our shopkeepers.
The Word on Westminster
By Edward Woodall ACS
I’M WRITING THIS the week before the Sue Gray inquiry into No.10 parties has been published, but it would still be fair to say that the future of Boris Johnson’s premiership hangs in the balance. For all his campaigning flair and cut-through with the public there was always a big question mark over his capacity to lead and govern effectively. Now mid-term, he is crashing from scandal to scandal, has a cost-of-living crisis on the horizon and his leadership credentials are looking fragile.
However, there are a number of reasons why he might survive. Firstly, Johnson wants to carry on – allegedly he has expressed an interest in being ‘world king’ from a very young age. He is also motivated to create a stronger legacy from his time in office. His whole premiership has been tarnished by the pandemic, and the Brexit dream he sold is yet to be delivered (and may never).
Secondly, it appears that noone amongst his Cabinet is willing to brandish the knife to Boris Johnson’s premiership. Perhaps a reflection that front runners, Sunak and Truss, are not ready to run yet and fear the repercussion of failing to fully tear down brand Boris that runs so deep in the Conservative party.
Finally, I think Conservative backbenchers are not sufficiently organized and decisive about The PM’s replacement. The Conservative party has been known for its ruthlessness in removing leaders and adapting its offer to voters, but they have also never been so divided. They are split between red wall MPs in the North and red cord-wearing MPs in the South.
What does all this mean for industry watching on the side? Well, probably an extended period of “operation red meat” meaning lots of little fast-tracked policies that play well to the right of the media and Conservative party. This is a worrying space as we have seen how this has undermined Government’s willingness to act quickly on issues that impact the food industry, like supply chain. Or move too quickly on complex areas like the sale and marketing of certain ‘less healthy food’.
You could also draw from the upward spend that a decent chunk of the population still has money burning a hole in the pocket for decent cheese, charcuterie and [insert your favourite deli product here] a er 20-odd months of no
holidays, eating out less and no train fares because we’re all working from home.
And the other annual retail news favourite? 2020 gave us Colin the Caterpillar and 2021 was gin-gate. M&S are suing Aldi for duplicity: the bottle shape, an integrated light feature, a winter forest graphic and, suspended in the spirit, edible gold leaf akes. Unsurprisingly the intellectual property infringement doesn’t seem to extend to how great the gin tasted.
Edward Woodall is head of policy & public affairs at small shops group ACS edward.woodall@acs.org.uk
Great Taste 2022 general entry open
Great Taste Members' Fortnight – the two weeks before general entry opens in which Guild members may enter at a discounted rate – is set to close at midday on 1st February, marking the opening of general entry.
Great Taste entry is then open to all, though places are limited. General entry is set to close on 14th February at midday, though the competition will close early if the entry limit is reached. Judging will take place from mid-March to mid-June at venues in Dorset and London.
Retail promotion
Following last year’s successful
Great Taste Retail Promotion
photography competition, the Guild is once again offering one lucky Great Taste retailer the opportunity to win a series of professional photographs of their shop. The images can be used for your own marketing purposes in print, online or across social media.
To be in with a chance of winning, you must register to take part by emailing
stephanie.hare-winton@gff.
co.uk. Running throughout February 2022, it will help you to highlight and sell more Great Taste-winning products. There are limited numbers available, so don’t delay in booking your place. Simply email Stephanie to order your free promotional pack today.
The Guild of Fine Food represents fine food shops and specialist suppliers. Want to join them? gff.co.uk
GENERAL ENQUIRIES Guild of Fine Food
Guild House, 23b Kingsmead Business Park, Shaftesbury Road, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5FB UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1747 825200 Fax: +44 (0) 1747 824065
info@gff.co.uk gff.co.uk THE GUILD TEAM: Managing director:
John Farrand
Special projects director:
Tortie Farrand
Sales director:
Sally Coley
Operations & marketing director:
Christabel Cairns
Sales manager:
Ruth Debnam
Sales executives:
Becky Haskett Sam Coleman
Operations managers:
Claire Powell Meredith White
Events manager:
Stephanie HareWinton
Marketing manager:
Sophie Brentnall
Financial controller:
Stephen Guppy
Accounts assistant:
Julie Coates
Chairman:
Bob Farrand
Director:
Linda Farrand
