Retail Express - 13 February 2024 by BetterRetailing

GET WINE RIGHT

Find out how to keep sales booming all year round with these top tips P20

GET YOUR WINE SALES POPPING

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 STRICTLY FOR TRADE USERS ONLY

2024 13-26 FEBRUARY betterretailing.com

CATEGORY ADVICE WINE

finds out how CHARLES WHITTINGtheir wine ranges with t retailers can adapt te even more profi the seasons to genera

SPRI

NG OPPORTUNITIES

existing down within their recreate the restau- shop, looking for lower-priced there prices to home. In spring, for example, yet others will shop rant experience at is possible are re- items, AS a category, it significant gift opportubuy their wines “While many Brits of a variety of are in around and are on for wine in the form to split wine up in their consumption spirits when they region, by nities and Mother’s ducing the oppor- and ways – by grape, by offers or look onby Valentine’s Day can also en- hospitality venues, is clear,” promotional price and, most importantly, while Easter tunity for retailers line for discounts. wine sub- Day, sales of more premium says Jo Taylorson, head of marcolour. The four key and well-priced preValue white, rosé courage red, are the order of product managecategories options. mium products are cri- keting and Drinks. and sparkling. While the cost-of-living here, and getting your ment at Kingsland of these previous the day that value should Demand for each consumers “We know from with the sis means a consideration, remix right will keep varieties will change downturns that some on the price ladder.” will- always be high- economic will trade shouldn’t sacrifice season, as will people’s consumer groups amounts tailers certain reasonable pay at to ingness value options for their wine.

VAPE BAN ‘NIGHTMARE’ • Government accused of excluding small shops in decision-making over new crackdown on vapes • Disposable ban and other measures set to cost stores tens of thousands of pounds in sales • Inside: how your business will be impacted and how to prepare P3

RETAIL CRIME

ACS RURAL SHOP REPORT

STORE ADVICE

Gov’t rejects proposals to give retailers better protection from violent incidents

Convenience stores on top for having the most positive impact on their communities

Retailers share how they are making profit from every inch of their shelves

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SUPPLIER

VIEW

Jo Taylorson, head of marketing and t, product managemen Kingsland Drinks

is quite a traditional challenge that it most widely “WINE faces the bottles being the category, with glass are in good growth Bag-in-box wines and embrace accepted format. as consumers realise within the sector drinking occasions. format brings to the benefits the have become increasingly “Bag-in-box wines couple of years, due to changes past es. popular over the and circumstanc in lifestyles, budgets a surge in demand as casual seen benefits in “Bag-in-box has the have recognised and value at-home drinkers , freshness, quality terms of convenience is lightweight, helps prevent for money. Bag-in-box can stay fresh for up to six wine wastage and the weeks.”

our say

Megan Humphrey, editor

When is enough enough? HOW many more independent retailers need to lose their lives before the government acts? Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen some of the most graphic injuries I can remember during my time at Retail Express, following brutal attacks on shop workers. There is no doubt these perpetrators have no fear, and due to a criminal-justice system notoriously not taking the right action, they know they will get away with it. We live in a world in which someone being held at knife point or getting hit with a hammer is an everyday occurrence. How has it got this far? I don’t understand what else the government needs to understand the gravity of what hard-working individuals are having to endure to earn a living. That’s why news that proposals to give retailers better protection have been rejected is a devastating blow. The government is there to protect its citizens, and it is failing. The police also must be held to account – we are aware of THESE numerous violent incidents they PERPETRATORS have failed to attend. We’ve worked with government KNOW THEY to raise the seriousness of the WILL GET issue, and previously managed to secure funding to help store ownAWAY WITH IT ers invest in security measures, but we know that’s not enough. The situation has got a lot more serious since then, however, and Retail Express also needs to step up. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED FROM US TO FEEL BETTER PROTECTED IN YOUR PLACE OF WORK, SO GIVE ME A CALL ON 07954 161101

The five biggest stories this fortnight 01

Gov’t votes against proposals to better protect retailers

MEGAN HUMPHREY

MPS have rejected proposals to put more stringent laws in place to better protect independent retailers against crime. Shadow minister Alex Norris con�irmed he’d tabled an amendment last month to the Criminal Justice Bill that would make it an offence to assault a shop worker, carrying a 12-month prison

sentence, or a �ine of up to £10,000. However, he expressed his disappointment last week, after the government chose to vote against the proposal again. The move would have mirrored the law Scotland introduced in 2021, spearheaded by MSP Daniel Johnson. Last year, the British Retail Consortium recorded 850 incidents of violence and abuse

against retail workers every dent, Muntazir Dipoti, said: day, double that of pre-pan- “Shop workers have to deal with physical and verbal atdemic �igures. Shoplifting also increased tacks on a near-daily basis. “With no current effective by an average of 27% across 10 of the UK’s largest cities in deterrent, these attacks in our stores will continue and will the past year. Trade bodies had pledged continue to seriously affect their support for Norris’ the lives of ordinary, innocent people who are simply doing amendment proposal. The Fed’s national presi- their jobs.”

@retailexpress betterretailing.com facebook.com/betterretailing Editor Megan Humphrey @MeganHumphrey 020 7689 3357

Editor – news Jack Courtez @JackCourtez 020 7689 3371

News reporter Alice Brooker @alice_brooker 07597 588955

News editor Alex Yau @AlexYau_ 020 7689 3358 Features editor Charles Whitting @CharlieWhittin1 020 7689 3350

Editor in chief Louise Banham @LouiseBanham Features writer Jasper Hart @JasperAHHart 020 7689 3384 Specialist reporter Dia Stronach 020 7689 3375

Production editor Ryan Cooper 020 7689 3354

Head of marketing Kate Daw 020 7689 3363

Account managers Megan Byrne 07530 834 009

Sub editors Jim Findlay 020 7689 3373

Head of commercial Natalie Reeve 07856 475 788

Lisa Martin 07951 461 146

Robin Jarossi

Associate director Charlotte Jesson 07807 287 607

Head of design Anne-Claire Pickard 020 7689 3391 Senior designer Jody Cooke 020 7689 3380 Junior designer Lauren Jackson

Commercial project manager Iff y Afzal 07538 299 205 Account director Lindsay Hudson 07749 416 544

Management accountant (maternity cover) Michael Stack 020 7689 3383 Managing director Parin Gohil 020 7689 3388 Head of digital Luthfa Begum 07909 254 949

Production coordinator Chris Gardner 020 7689 3368 Cover image: Getty Images/Ryan McVay

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40,152

National Lottery

ALLWYN began operating the National Lottery this month, marking the start of the fourth licence, ending Camelot’s 30year reign. The Czech company has pledged to grow its retail network during its time as operator, already con�irming plans

PO compensation

to double its �ield sales team FORMER postmaster Alan by spring. Bates has rejected his governStore owners revealed a ment compensation offer over new retailer charter agree- his involvement in the Post ment in the post ahead of the Of�ice’s Horizon scandal. go-live date on 1 February, Bates, who inspired the ITV outlining how it intends to series Mr Bates vs The Post support retailers and what it Of�ice, described the offer as expects from them. “offensive” to The Telegraph,

Menzies charge rise

RETAILERS supplied by Menzies Distribution will see their weekly carriage charge increase by around 3% from April. The minimum charge for seven-day newspaper and magazine deliveries will rise

by £1.15 per week to £39.42. The maximum charge will increase by £2.18 to £72.54. All increases are capped at £4.99 per week. The annual charge is well below the current rate of in�lation.

claiming it had been “around a sixth” of what he requested. He told the newspaper: “It’s a terrible way to treat human beings. I have heard from several subpostmasters who have received similarly derisory offers, while others are still waiting.”

Asda c-stores

ASDA is to open 110 convenience stores in the UK throughout February to accelerate its growth strategy in the convenience channel. The openings comprise of 109 former convenience stores acquired from Co-op

and EG Group last year, as well as one additional new store, that will all sit under the Asda Express brand. The supermarket said it is on track to reach 1,000 UK stores in total for the �irst time in its 58-year history.

Audit Bureau of Circulations July 2022 to June 2023 average net circulation per issue

Retail Express’ publisher, Newtrade Media, cares about the environment. 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 Media Limited 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.

For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘Menzies’

To view a map of the Asda Express stores, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘Asda’

@retailexpress facebook.com/betterretailing

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

megan.humphrey@newtrade.co.uk 07597 588972

Small shops ignored by gov’t in vape-ban decision MEGAN HUMPHREY THE government has been accused of excluding the views of retailers and trade bodies from its vaping and tobacco consultation, which resulted in an outright ban on singleuse disposables. At the end of last month, UK and Scottish governments revealed how they intend to crack down on youth vaping, including a ban on single-use vapes and a number of restrictions on the sale of other vaping products, alongside the generational ban on the sale of tobacco products. However, the response, available publicly online, stated ministers “have not considered the views” of any organisation or individual that disclosed links to the tobacco industry, when determining their policy response. A total of 307 responses were removed. Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) chief executive Pete Cheema described the move as “not right or democratic”. He said: “SGF represents the whole of the Scottish convenience sector, from the smallest city shops to essential rural shops that are lifelines for their communities, yet our views have been entirely ignored. “It is true that our members sell tobacco products, but that makes their concerns even more valid, whether they are about an increase in illicit trade, more

GOOD WEEK FOOD TO GO: Kepak is launching a fully automated Rustlers machine into convenience from April. The unit is 60cm wide and features a chiller at the bottom and a digital display at the top. The microwave scans the barcode of the Rustlers product and automatically sets the heating time for the customer. Prices start from £48 per month. For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘Rustlers’ HOME DELIVERY: GoGetters is looking to tie up with independent retailers outside of major cities, and is offering commission rates of 15-30% per order. It has 300 partners and specifically targets locations where Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Getir don’t have a presence. One notable partner it is working with is Spar chain Eat17. For the full story, go to betterretailing.com and search ‘GoGetters’

potential for �lashpoints when serving customers or the practicalities of delivering these policies in store. “Ministers received 28,000 responses to their consultation, which were analysed at breakneck speed, yet the views of SGF and many Scottish retailers have been expunged from the records. “What is even more galling is that SGF put forward a considered and balanced view on behalf of all its members to work constructively and deliver the best outcome for retailers and the communities they serve.” Although no formal announcement has been made on timings, the plans are expected to come into

express yourself “THEY have been selling so well and I know other shops have had the same experience. It’s been very popular for something so new. We’ve had a lot of people ring up the store to ask if we sell them as they couldn’t get them anywhere else. I think the popularity of women’s football has grown so much and there’s a really strong following from fans. We’ve recently had a new display delivered to help catch people’s eyes to buy them.” David Lomas, Lomas News, Bury, Lancashire

force later this year, or in early 2025. Sales �igures from thousands of local stores provided to Retail Express by Retail Data Partnership show the average independent store stands to lose £35,904 in annual revenue and £15,978 in annual pro�it from disposable vapes. Independent retailers described the ban as a “nightmare”, representing as much as 20% of their overall pro�its. Announcing the plans, prime minister Rishi Sunak said it was right that “strong action” was taken to stamp out vaping among children. Legislation The government told Retail Express there would be

the column where you can make your voice heard

“at least” six months from when the law is passed for stores to sell through their stock, after which it would be illegal to sell any remaining stock. It has also been announced that speci�ic legislation will be introduced restricting �lavours that are “marketed to children”. However, what this means has not yet been con�irmed, with multiple sources urging more clarity as it is “unclear what constitutes childfriendly �lavours”. The formal consultation response published by the government hinted at “sweet and fruity” �lavours. Manufacturers will have to follow more stringent laws to produce “plainer”,

less visually appealing packaging. The government will also be introducing changes to how vapes are displayed in shops, “to move them out of sight of children and away from products that appeal to them, like sweets”. Sources suggested this could involve moving vapes behind counters or placing them behind gantry doors. Independent retailers in England and Wales selling illegal vapes to children are also set to face new �ines. Trading standards of�icers are to be given new powers to issue £100 on-thespot �ines, in addition to a maximum £2,500 �ine, which local authorities can already impose.

How is Panini’s Women’s Super League sticker collection performing?

“WE’VE been stocking all the elements to the collection, and they’ve been outselling the men’s ones since they launched. I never expected that to happen, but they are really strong sellers. We’ve seen a lot of regular customers coming back to restock to try and locate the missing stickers for their collection book. There’s a really big opportunity there.” Eugene Diamond, Diamond’s News, Ballymena, County Antrim

“THE women’s football stickers have been selling very well. We are really pleased that we started stocking them because women’s football is so popular right now, and everyone is after them. We’ve reordered quite a few due to the demand we are seeing. Panini has also shouted about how well they are doing which reinforces confidence in the category.” Andy Howell, Loch Lomond News, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow

Do you have an issue to discuss with other retailers? Call 020 7689 3357 or email megan.humphrey@newtrade.co.uk

BAD WEEK SECURITY: Alarm provider BT Redcare is closing its operations from August 2025, leaving retailers to find a new provider. Customers were informed of the closure, with the firm stating: “We have made the decision to cease all new Redcare orders with immediate effect.” One retailer said Redcare is one of two main providers, creating challenges in finding a replacement service. SHOPLIFTING: Store owners in five regions in England and Wales reported a 50%-or-above rise in shoplifting last year, compared with the year before. Statistics from the Office for National Statistics revealed Derbyshire, Durham, Gwent, Northumbria and Sussex as having the most dramatic increase, with incidents in Sussex up by 69%.

NEWS

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

Rural shops reign supreme MEGAN HUMPHREY

CONVENIENCE stores continue to have the most positive impact on their local area, generating £17.1bn in sales in the past year, according to the ACS’s latest Rural Shop Report. Published last week, the report highlights the difference the UK’s 17,986 rural shops make to isolated communities. More than four in five

(83%) engaged in a range of different community activities over the past year, employing more than 170,000 people, the majority of whom live within easy walking distance of their workplace. ACS chief executive James Lowman said the trade body is calling on MPs to help rural retailers in “the battle against shop theft and abuse, to enable stores to continue providing access to cash for custom-

ers, and to level up the digital infrastructure that connects rural shops so that they can invest in modernising their businesses”. Convenience stores were deemed the second-mostessential service in their community, beaten by post offices, but ahead of pharmacies. When asked what rural residents most wanted to see on their high streets, banks came out on top, followed

by specialist food shops and pharmacies. Rural services network chief executive Kerry Booth added: “Rural shops play a critical role at the heart of our rural communities, helping to reduce isolation and loneliness, and enabling residents to benefit from services that, due to poor connectivity or lack of transport links, they would be otherwise unable to access.”

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MEDICINE SUPPLY ISSUES SUB-ZERO temperatures across the UK caused supply of on-the-shelf medicines in convenience to be affected. A notice to stores by wholesaler Harrisons Direct said: “Due to the current overnight low temperatures, we may have to temporarily delay delivery of any orders containing GSL medicines.” However, retailers reported no issues with supply

from wholesalers Booker and Bestway.

Snappy EPoS deal SNAPPY Shopper has penned a deal with EPoS company IPOSG, to improve its home delivery app. The platform now has seven confirmed UK partners. Snappy Shopper’s chief executive officer and co-founder, Mike Callachan, said: “We are

*Based on ITUK RRP as of December 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, customers are free at all times to determine the selling price of their products. For Tobacco Traders Only.

continually looking at ways we can make the lives of retailers and app-users easier”. He said IPSOG’s technology would “provide the convenience to accelerate the growth of online food and grocery sales even further in 2024”.

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PRODUCTS

Cadbury’s Easter launches PRIYA KHAIRA MONDELEZ International has brought back its popular shell eggs ahead of Easter, divided into three easy-to-shop categories. Its 2024 range has been categorised as Surprise & Delight, Traditional Gift or Special Gesture. Each category has been designed to make the positioning of each pack clearer for shoppers. There are six different Cadbury eggs available as part of the Surprise & Delight range, including Dairy Milk Buttons, White Buttons, Freddo Faces, Caramel Nibbles, Giant Buttons and Mini Egg Easter eggs. Charlotte Parkes, senior

brand manager for Cadbury Easter, said: “The Easter season has always been a staple in the retail calendar, but the holiday is blooming more than ever for shoppers, with 84% celebrating the occasion in 2023. “As the end of the season approaches, we know that gifting grows in importance, and our shell-egg range will create excitement and magic for consumers.” The Cadbury Worldwide Hide will also return for Easter 2024. It encourages people across the UK to hide an egg for someone they love virtually anywhere in the world using Google Maps. The Cadbury Easter range will be supported by in-store

Horlicks unveils on-pack promotion HOT beverage brand Horlicks has unveiled its latest on-pack promotion, offering shoppers a free three-month subscription to Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place app with every purchase and the chance to win one of 10 ‘Wellness Weekends’. This follows Horlicks’ sponsorship of Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Festivals in 2023 and represents the next phase of the brand’s ‘Find your happy place’ campaign. The promotion is redeemable on all 400g lines, including Horlicks Original, Instant, Chocolate and Vegan, until the end of March. Rebekha White, brand manager at Aimia Foods, said: “Building on our

successful sponsorship of Fearne Cotton’s festivals last year, we are excited to take our partnership to the next level with this on-pack promotion, providing shoppers with even more ways to �ind their happy place.”

PERFETTI Van Melle has launched Fruittella Simply Strawberry in a 170 sharing bag. The new format is available to the convenience channel now at a £1.50 RRP. It is an expansion of the brand’s top-selling �lavour, with each sweet individually wrapped to encourage portion control. Additionally, it is vegan, and free from dairy, nuts and gluten. The supplier recommends it as a sharing product for a big night in, or as a gift for upcoming holidays including Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter. Lauren Potter, senior brand manager at Fruittella,

said: “Perfetti Van Melle has been providing consumers with top-quality treats for over 120 years and we are delighted to continue to encourage Fruittella enthusiasts to share the fruity fun with Simply Strawberry’s new sharing bags.”

Fruittella targets sharing occasions

PoS and a fully integrated advertising campaign across TV, outdoor and social media.

Domestos expands Power Foam range DOMESTOS has expanded its Power Foam range with the addition of Domestos Power Foam Toilet & Bathroom Floral Burst and Domestos Power Foam Toilet & Bathroom Limescale Remover. Both launches are available in 450ml and 650ml packs, each including the 360-degree spray trigger that works upside down. According to supplier, Unilever, the Power Foam range is used in more than two million UK households and has delivered more than £6m in retail sales value since launching last year. Unilever is supporting the expanded range with a marketing campaign across TV, in-store PoS, digital and

outdoor displays. Rachel Rose, Domestos brand manager at Unilever, said: “Domestos Power Foam is our most disruptive innovation for a decade, offering a premium toilet cleaning range.”

COCA-COLA Europaci�ic Partners (CCEP) has launched an on-pack promotion offering shoppers the chance to win one of 25,000 Domino’s pizza vouchers, as well as a trip to Naples, Italy. The ‘Love Pizza? Win a Pizza’ promo began on 29 January and runs for eight weeks across 1.75l plain and price-marked and 1.25l bottles of Coca-Cola Original Taste, as well as 2l and 1.75l

plain and price-marked and 1.25l bottles of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Shoppers need to scan QR codes on promotional packs and go through the Coca-Cola app, where they can enter the promotion. They are then entered into a biweekly draw for a weekend trip to the Italian city in June, where four winners will get a chance to visit the Pizza Village in Naples.

Absolut sweetens its vodka range PERNOD Ricard has unveiled its latest variety, Absolut Hunni, which is now exclusive to the UK. It is available to the wider off-trade from April following its launch in Tesco last month. Absolut Hunni (38% ABV) has an RRP of £22. It has no added sugar and has a honey taste, which the supplier says offers �lavoured vodka fans an alternative to fruit-led options. Honey has also been identi�ied as an emerging �lavour pro�ile in the UK spirits market. The bottle’s packaging has black and yellow stripes to aid stand-out on shelf and

emulate the appearance of a honeybee. Ian Peart, commercial director for Pernod Ricard UK, said it has been designed to be enjoyed with lemonade and “elevate at-home consumption occasions”.

FRIDGE Raiders has unveiled Poppers, a new range of high-protein chicken bites, launching in a Cheesy Nacho variety. The range will be available nationwide from April at an RRP of £1.30, following its launch in Tesco meal deals last month. Parent company Pilgrim’s Food Masters said food-togo shoppers are looking for snacks that prioritise taste and provide protein. Its launch precedes a year of marketing for the brand, including TV advertisements, as it looks to build on the growth of the foodto-go category. Fridge Raiders has achieved 10% annual retail

sales value growth to be worth £112m, having doubled since 2019.

KP SNACKS has launched a retailer giveaway tied to its McCoy’s Epic Eats range, worth £30,000 in wholesale credit. Until the end of March, retailers will have a chance to win one of 100 £300 wholesale credit prizes. Retailers can enter into the prize draw when they buy a case of both new McCoy’s Epic Eats varieties – Bangin’ BBQ and Chip Shop Curry Sauce – in a £1.25 price-marked pack (PMP) format from participating wholesalers. Participating wholesalers include Bestway

Wholesale, Unitas Wholesale, Millennium, NBC, Hardy Bros, Musgrave NI, Filshill, Savage & Whitten, Turner & Wrights, Dee Bee, SOS, O’Reillys and Sugro. The supplier is continuing the media campaign it launched last year to support the launch with outdoor advertising from mid-February until the end of April.

Fridge Raiders adds new ‘Poppers’ line

Love Pizza? Win a Win wholesale credit Pizza with Coca-Cola with McCoy’s promo

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

Absolut reveals ‘Born to Mix’ campaign a more diverse world and a better future. “We’ve loved working with Olly again, as he enters

Sombrero Mexicano enters UK market

ABSOLUT has collaborated with singer-songwriter and Eurovision contestant Olly Alexander as part of its ‘Born to Mix’ campaign. The campaign follows the launch of its limited-edition bottle, Absolut Mosaik, designed by the singer. The ‘Born to Mix’ campaign involves a collaboration between Olly Alexander and changemakers Lady Phyll, Trina Nicole and ShayShay to promote diversity and inclusion, and bring people together. Leanne Banks, marketing director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “At Absolut, we

continue to support and promote the individuals who are making moves and taking inspiring steps to build

Peroni collaborates with Ferrari with limited-edition bottles

Nestlé unveils Aero ChocoHazelnut sharing bar

PERONI Nastro Azzurro 0.0% has announced a global partnership with Ferrari. To celebrate the partnership, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% has unveiled limitededition bottles of Tifosi Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, with each bottle individually numbered from 1 to 2,024. A short �ilm titled ‘The Brake In’ has also been released, featuring Scuderia

Ferrari team drivers. Paolo Lanzarotti, chief executive of�icer at Asahi Europe & International, said: “We intend to elevate every moment for the fans who embody the very passion and �lair so pivotal to both Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% and Ferrari. “Launching with our limited-edition Tifosi Nastro Azzurro 0.0% bottles, we are

NESTLÉ Confectionery has released its new Aero ChocoHazelnut �lavour sharing bar. The launch comes in response to frequent consumer demand for the �lavour across Aero’s social media channels. The Aero Choco-Hazelnut �lavoured 90g bar is available in a price-marked pack. Michael Kehoe, assistant brand manager for Aero,

beginning this partnership exactly as we mean to go on – a celebration of and collaboration with the fans.”

a huge year, and we are proud to fund such important initiatives that aim to bring people together.”

LWC Drinks has introduced a new line of cream tequila liqueurs as part of its Sombrero Mexicano range. The lineup consists of Strawberry, Mango and Passionfruit �lavours. The range is available with a launch offer that enables retailers to buy two �lavours and get a strawberry �lavour for free until the end of March. The packaging aims to target Gen Z customers. Nic Ponticakis, spirits category manager at LWC

Drinks, said: “Cream liqueurs are continuing to have their moment in the on-trade, with consumers seeking out fun drinking experiences and shared moments with friends, which shots lend themselves to perfectly.”

said: “Aero’s chocolate bubbles have been loved worldwide for decades and this new hazelnut �lavour takes it to a whole new level. “We hope our Aero fans will enjoy the indulgent taste experience of the rich hazelnut �lavour while feeling the bubbles melt.” Additionally, Aero has recently launched a 145g Aero Peppermint sharing bar. The

bars are available to convenience retailers now.

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PRODUCTS

New pick-and-mix lineup PRIYA KHAIRA HANCOCKS has unveiled the latest additions to its Kingsway range of pickand-mix products. The latest launches include non-alcoholic novelty Kingsway Pint Pots, which have a beer �lavour, and Cherry Scandi Fish. Coming soon to the range are Kingsway Giant Cola Bottles, Heart Throbs, Fizzy Rings and Filled Whales. Kingsway recently launched its Mega Value range, which includes Fizzy Strawberries, Cola Bottles and Peach Rings. The bulk bags range in size from 2.5kg to 3kg, and have an RRP of £7.99 or £1.29 per 100g.

Kathryn Hague, head of marketing at Hancocks, said: “We are very proud to stock a huge range of Kingsway pick-and-mix lines, offering variety and choice for retailers and customers. “Our range includes vegan lines, nostalgic �lavours, innovative treats and unique �lavour combinations. “Incorporating a range of value, sour, gummy and chocolate treats is a sure way to win over customers and bring more interest and excitement to stores. “Retailers looking to expand their range should consider clear signage and PoS when merchandising their pick and mix. “These can be merchan-

Echo Falls brings in new fruity flavour ACCOLADE Wines has expanded its Fruit Fusion portfolio with the introduction of a watermelon-andkiwi-�lavoured wine. Echo Falls Fruit Fusion Watermelon & Kiwi has a 9% ABV and an RRP of £5.50. The product will be available exclusively in Booker from March to May. The brand is hoping to appeal to a younger consumer demographic, tapping into demand for RTD cocktails and sweet ciders. Maggie Applegate, brand manager for Echo Falls, said: “We’re pleased to go above and beyond for Booker customers with this exclusive launch of a delicious new �lavour.

“We recognise that retailers looking to attract young shoppers must be able to rely on Echo Falls, and expanding our Fruit Fusion range ensures they can do just that through their wholesaler.”

PEPSICO has unveiled its latest marketing campaign for Doritos named ‘For the Bold in Everyone’. The campaign is Doritos’ �irst global campaign, and it will run throughout 2024. The commercial, directed by BAFTA Award-winner, Gary Freedman, aims to in-

spire people to embrace their individuality and break free from societal norms, closing with the tagline ‘Be triangles in a world of circles’. The global campaign is set to debut in the UK with content featuring spokespeople including Pete & Bas, Dan Mancina and Colette Zacca.

dised as part of a wider pick-and-mix display or in pre-packaged themed bags,

decorated with coloured ribbon or in the branded Kingsway Pick N Mix Paper Bag.”

Speedy rice taps into shopper trend TROPICAL Sun has launched a microwaveable Jollof Rice along with a ready-made Jollof Cooking Sauce. According to Google Trends data, searches for West African recipes have signi�icantly increased over the past 12 months. A recent poll suggested that a �ifth of British consumers are interested in exploring and cooking West African cuisine. Tropical Sun has released its Jollof range to tap into this growing trend and make the process cooking of this quintessential West African dish quick and easy. The Tropical Sun Jollof Rice has an RRP of £1.29 and the Tropical Sun Jollof

Cooking Sauce has an RRP of £1.99. The products are available at Wanis International Foods and other wholesalers.

NESCAFÉ has revamped its packaging across its product portfolio including Nescafé Original, Nescafé Gold Blend, Nescafé Azera and its Nescafé Frothy Coffee range. The packaging refresh ampli�ies the acute accent on Nescafé and aims to make the products stand out to capture customer attention. The brand aims to highlight its commitment to sustainability by placing ‘100% responsibly sourced coffee’ on every new jar and pack. Nescafé’s rebranding efforts will be supported by extensive marketing campaigns across multiple channels, including TV, digital and social media. Sophie Demoulin, market-

ing director at Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to embark on this major rebrand of Nescafé and to unveil its exciting new look. “This relaunch represents a signi�icant milestone for our brand as we continue to evolve and stay ahead in the ever-changing coffee industry.”

Doritos unveils Bold Nescafé packaging gets a new look new campaign

Cash prizes up for grabs from Cadbury AS part of its 200th anniversary celebrations, Cadbury has launched its Great Retail Ideas Exchange competition. The Great Retail Exchange competition invites retailers to share their ideas around retail success. All submissions will be judged by a panel of industry experts who will select the winners. The retailer with the best idea put forward will win the top cash prize of £5,000, while the next 10 best ideas will win £1,000 each. All other ideas will be entered into a prize draw which will see 20 further prizes of £500 given to 20 additional winners.

To enter, retailers need to submit their ideas via Cadbury’s retail trade website, Snack Display. The Great Retail Exchange aims to reward the retailers who have helped support the brands’ growth.

THE Coca-Cola Company and Pernod Ricard have announced that Absolut Vodka & Sprite ready-todrink (RTD) cocktails are now available to purchase in the UK. Absolut Vodka & Sprite 250ml cans have an ABV of 5% and an RRP of £2.30. The cans are available in wholesale and convenience and will roll out across other retail channels throughout the spring. The launch will be supported by a summer marketing campaign, which will include PR, social media and in�luencers, sampling and out-of-home advertising. Francesco Ottaviano, global RTD portfolio director at

Pernod Ricard, said: “While Absolut Vodka and Sprite have long been enjoyed together around the world, we now unite two powerhouse brands in a unique ready-todrink product.”

Absolut Vodka and Sprite unite

Just Desserts adds loaded brownie range JUST Desserts Yorkshire has added a range of loaded brownies to its range. The fully loaded brownie range includes a Loaded Oreo Brownie, a Loaded Caramelised Biscuit Brownie and a Loaded Malteser Brownie. The Loaded Oreo Brownie is topped with buttercream and Oreos. The Loaded Caramelised Biscuit Brownie is a classic chocolate brownie topped with Lotus �lavoured buttercream and biscuits. The Loaded Malteser Brownie, is topped with fudge icing, Maltesers and white chocolate. The brownies cost £17.80to-£18.50 per tray and they have an RRP of £2.50 per piece.

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

Webbox Naturals campaign revealed PET food manufacturer Pets Choice has invested half a million pounds in a multichannel campaign for its cat and dog food brand, Webbox Naturals. The campaign, which sees Webbox Naturals advertised on TV for the �irst time, also accompanies the launch of refreshed packaging. The marketing campaign includes the brand’s �irst TV ad across Sky and video-ondemand channels. The brand is also investing in out-of-home activity, shopper activations, social media, and online and digital platforms.

Lisa Melvin, head of marketing at Pets Choice, said: “We’re also adding a 100% money back guarantee to the product offering. “We hope this, coupled with engaging activations, will reiterate our commitment to providing the best quality at great prices, and to generating success across the food and treats categories.” The Webbox Naturals range comprises food and treats for cats, dogs, �ish and general wildlife.

EPICURIUM has added Fhirst Living Soda and Gunna Immune Boosting Drink to its range of functional drinks. Fhirst Living Soda is a range of zero-sugar beverages that feature pre- and pro-biotics. It is available in Cherry Vanilla, Ginger Mandarin and Passion Fruit �lavours, and has an RRP of £2.20. The drinks are vegan and

gluten-free, and contain 5g of pre-biotic plant �ibre per can. Gunna Immune Boosting Drink is available in Mojito Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade and Tropical Lemonade �lavours, and has an RRP of £1.50 per can. Gunna Lemonades are low in calories and are made with natural ingredients, and provide vitamin C and zinc for immune support.

Paragon acquires new partnership PARAGON Brands is now the exclusive distributor of Zamora Company spirits and liqueurs. Zamora Company’s portfolio consists of Licor 43, Martin Miller’s Gin, Villa Massa and Yellow Rose. Chris Jones, managing director at Paragon Brands, said: “Zamora’s prestigious products have clearly struck a chord with consumers. “This perfectly aligns with our range of pioneering brands, which are united by quality and substance, and

have rich stories to tell. “We look forward to shaking up the UK market together.” Jeremy Rockett, area manager UK & ROI at Zamora Company, added: “We look forward to Paragon Brands helping us �ind our place in at-home and on-premise consumption.”

The promotion runs across its Green Cuisine Veg Fingers, Fishless Fingers and Chickenless Dippers ranges. Alongside the on-pack promotion, Birds Eye Green Cuisine will run a digital content series that will provide insight into the lifestyles of British Olympians. The series aims to educate shoppers on the nutritional bene�its of plant-based

alternatives and on how Olympians are fuelling their bodies ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Epicurium adds Fhirst and Gunna See the Paris 2024 Olympics with Birds Eye Green Cuisine to functional drinks range

New

BIRDS Eye Green Cuisine has launched a new onpack promotion as part of its partnership with Team GB ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Until August, shoppers can enter a grand prize draw to win a trip for two to the Paris 2024 Olympics, including travel, accommodation and tickets to see a live event.

Own a New Vibe Perfectly-Mixed CÎROC Vodka Has Arrived

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

OPINION

COMING UP IN THE 16 FEBRUARY ISSUE OF RN

RETAILER OPINION ON THIS FORTNIGHT’S HOT TOPICS

What do you think? Call Retail Express on 020 7689 3357 for the chance to be featured VAPE BAN: What impact will this have on your business? “THIS represents around 15% of my store’s weekly sales, equating to £10,000£15,000 in turnover a week. With a generational smoking ban on the horizon, too, I don’t know what we are supposed to sell.”

Insight into tobacco trends and the category’s future

Vince Malone, Tenby Stores & Post Office, Pembrokeshire

“DISPOSABLES generate £3,500 per week in sales for us. We expected the ban. This is going to hit retailers hard, as there is a lot of profit in the category. We are going to have to take it on the chin and hope for the best.” Trudy Davies, Woosnam & Davies News, Llanidloes, Powys

+ Discover how Ramadan can be a key sales driver for your store

This is going to hit retailers hard

Pricewatch: see what other retailers are charging for cereal, and boost your own profits

DRS: Were you ready for the returns scheme in the Republic of Ireland?

At RN, our content is data-led and informed by those on the shop floor

3,451

retailers’ sales data analysed for every issue

69+

unique retailers spoken to every month

71%

of RN’s news stories are exclusive

Wholesalers are full of old stock “WE carry out welfare checks, and we ask the following questions of each member of staff: how are you? Is there anything we can do to make work easier? Are there any improvements you’d like to see? Would you like to take on more?” Dee Sedani, One Stop Etwall, Derbyshire

“STAFF meetings aren’t planned, but I hold them ad-hoc and talk about what they’re doing well and what they need to improve on. I also have two outings a year with staff where we go for lunch, and also Christmas dinner.” Shital Patel, Jimmy’s Store, Northampton

Enda Barry, Barry’s Shop, County Louth

We carry out welfare checks BREAKFAST: What changes are you making to improve your offering?

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Martin Mulligan, Mulligan’s Londis Athlone, County Westmeath

“WE opted out of participating in the scheme. Processing 1,000 cans for €20 just doesn’t add up. The process and costs of a formal deposit return scheme is just not viable. Obviously, the big shops are doing it, but I think even they will struggle to make it work.”

STAFF: How are you improving performance and developing skills?

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“I’M yet to receive the machine I ordered. Wholesalers are also full to the brim with old stock not equipped with the right barcodes. There’s no compliant stock we can sell for customers to return, meaning my €14,000 machine will be pointless for months.”

This has really helped us expand our reach

“WE find that it is cheaper and more efficient for us to purchase our pastry range from a local bakery. This works for us rather than creating an instore bakery of our own. We place our orders and pick up our fresh pastries and pasties early in the morning, six days a week.” Mandeep Singh, Singh’s Premier, Sheffield

“WE have created a fully operational bakery where we make bread and cakes from scratch. We posted a video showing the process of how we make our tarts on TikTok. This has really helped us to expand our reach and develop a much broader customer base.” Jacqui Dales, London Road Bakery, Boston, Lincolnshire

LETTERS

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

Meon Vale

jeet Londis, bansi Stratfordupon-Avon

Letters may be edited

Finding the right content for social media

‘Start educating customers now ahead of the ban’ WE’VE already started to speak to our regular disposable-vape customers about the bene�its of re�illable vapes and pods. There’s been a lot of confusion since the government announced it would be banning single-use disposables. I’ve tried to explain to them what they can buy instead, and explain the

prices. I urge retailers not to wait until the ban is actually approaching – instead start talking to them now – otherwise you’ll lose customers six months down the line. I don’t think the ban is a knee-jerk reaction from the government because it could have done this a while ago. The excuses the government used for the ban have

COMMUNITY RETAILER

OF THE WEEK

Harjit Singh, H & Jodie’s Nisa Local, High Heath, Walsall – @hjodies

no basis whatsoever, in my opinion. It needs to look at clamping down on the retailers selling vapes illegally. I think there needs to be a three-strike system, whereby after three strikes your licence is taken away from you. The rest of us are going to suffer because of these

changes. The category is a lifeline for retailers and helped them through a lot of dif�iculty. We don’t have anything to fall back on. There’s no bigger issue than this ban at the moment in the industry.

Maqsood Akhtar, Blackthorn Newsagents, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

COMMUNITY RETAILER

OF THE WEEK

Vidur Pandya, Kislingbury Mini Market, Kislingbury, Northamptonshire

‘Our community comes first’

‘We sponsor local coffee clubs’

“I’VE been getting the school connected with the local allotment, charities and nursing homes – it’s for children with mental health issues. The school offered the caretaker’s plot of land, and I’ve helped organise getting the kids to help with gardening. I enjoy connecting people. With the nursing home, it will be a great opportunity to connect different generations. I’m arranging the distribution of defibrillators, too. I’m trying to link all the foodbanks together as one big hub, so donations are made more directly and efficiently.”

“WE sponsor the over-50s coffee club every Thursday, contributing towards coffees, teas and biscuits. We also give stickers and biscuits to the messy club for the kids, hosted at the church, and do foodbank donations for the local village. Our community work is one of our ways of saying thank-you for shopping with us, and we’re there for you. The customers you see in the shop will be interacting with the groups we donate to, so it’s a great way to bind the community together. The more localised our donations, the more we can see a difference.”

UPDATING your social media is always very important. At Christmas, we extend our opening times because people rely a lot more on convenience stores at that time, so making sure people know about it is key for them and for us. As we come towards Easter, it’s the same scenario. Another thing that worked really well for us at Christmas Each issue, one of seven top was updating all retailers shares advice to our special offers, make your store magnificent which we’ll be doing again. We are now a lot braver with it. At the moment, we have 70cl bottles of Smirnoff, which we sell for £12.99. We’ve found that our local Morrisons has it on offer at £15 and Tesco is selling it for even more than that, so we’ve posted their prices alongside ours to show we’re beating the multiples on price, even when they’re on offer. We did this with Baileys at Christmas. Tesco had put it front and centre in the early part of December, selling it at £10. But when that ran out, closer to Christmas Day itself, we were posting on social media about our own promotions. You need to find things that are relevant and will land with your customer base. You have to be on top with the key messages. Competitions and giveaways work, but they have to be relevant. It should also be an opportunity for customers to see what else you’re doing. It doesn’t just always have to be about the money. People will get a feel for who you are as a local community store, and not just a place where they spend money. It’s hard to monitor how much impact social media is having, but you can put up a deal that requires someone to mention seeing it online – we did an offer where if they bought three bottles, we’d work out a deal for them – then you can see where that sale has come from. The one thing we want to do as a business is get stronger at social media. We’re on Facebook only at the moment, so we want to get onto Instagram and TikTok. There are so many great retailers doing amazing things on social media, so it’s important for us to look and learn from them as well.

Get in touch

@retailexpress betterretailing.com facebook.com/betterretailing megan.humphrey@newtrade.co.uk 07597 588972

CATEGORY ADVICE ST PATRICK’S DAY

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

CLAIM THE GREEN POUND THIS ST PATRICK’S DAY Make St Patrick’s Day a time for shoppers to celebrate and your tills to ring, writes CHARLES SMITH

THE ST PATRICK’S DAY OPPORTUNITY ST Patrick’s Day, which falls on 17 March, sees parades and other events in many towns and cities celebrating Irish people’s heritage and culture, and the party continues at home afterwards. With this St Patrick’s Day being on a Sunday, the celebrations are likely to go on across the whole weekend, with the

final round of the Six Nations taking place the previous day. Retailers should check what events are happening near them, and what promotions and merchandising material wholesalers are offering. It’s important to stock up and decorate the store in good time. Better still, go ‘live’ with your St Patrick’s Day activity

the weekend before, on Saturday 9 March, when England play Ireland in the Six Nations, and fans on both sides will be feeling celebratory. St Patrick’s Day isn’t just about stout or beer. Offer shoppers a full range of drinks, including low- or no-alcohol options and soft drinks, alongside snacks and food. The trend

to premiumisation and ‘less but better’ continues, with people looking for high-quality drinks despite the cost-of-living crisis, and relying on local convenience stores for their celebrations. Money may be tight, but shoppers will still want the essentials for their parties and impromptu gatherings.

STOCKING MORE THAN JUST BEER ST Patrick’s Day can be a big event for any sized store, but much will depend on your location. As retailers in Scotland can’t have secondary beer displays in drinks areas, Faraz Iqbal, of Premier Linktown Local in Kirkcaldy, stocks additional lines on

drinks fixtures and in fridges for St Patrick’s Day. “We keep the key drinks in stock all year round, but step up the activity around St Patrick’s Day. We have the key drinks, Guinness Draught and Original 440ml in the fridge, and Jameson 70cl in the spirits fixture,”

he says. “We also stock Proper No. Twelve Whiskey, which we launched with a social media campaign. We’ve become known for it locally, and people come to us specially. When it comes to St Patrick’s Day promotions, Premier puts an advert and deals on a leaflet, and we

leave it to them.” If space allows, you should display Guinness and other stouts in dump bins, and decorate your store with big Irish hats, and green, or green and white, scarves. Add a further splash of green by hiding four-leaf clovers

around the store, for shoppers to find to win money-off or free products. Themed hats, sunglasses, T-shirts, scarves and more can also all be useful sellers in their own right, offering strong margins from products that don’t have a sell-by date.

Hamper giveaways on Facebook, with branded glass merchandise from suppliers, can drive likes, shares and footfall. If your store is in a rugby-mad area, it’s worth combining rugby posts with St Patrick’s Day ones every day in the weeks before, with a push around the match.

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CATEGORY ADVICE ST PATRICK’S DAY

GET THE RANGE RIGHT LAST St Patrick’s Day saw stout sales increase 14.2% in impulse stores over the four weeks to the week ending 25 March compared to the periods before and after. Guinness is the number-one stout brand in Great Britain, and number-one stout in convenience. Offer a range of Guinness products and formats, including Guinness Draught Guinness, and Guinness 0.0, in 440ml cans, in four- and 12-packs. Andrew Cruden, from Market Square Newsagents in Northampton, sees strong beer sales around public events. “We sell a lot of Guinness 440ml four-packs over

St Patrick’s Day. We put out flags and other merchandising material from the supplier reps and Costcutter,” he says. For younger shoppers and craft beer fans, BrewDog Black Heart draught stout is available in single 440ml, 4 x 440ml and 10 x 440ml can multipacks. Black Heart also features an in-can widget. In addition, Nielsen and CGA data shows two-fifths of adults want to moderate their drinking. With this St Patrick’s Day on a Sunday, and people working the next day, the numbers could be higher, so it’s important to give high visibility to low- and no-alcohol beers and spirits.

Supplier TIPS Lauren Priestley, head of category development off-trade, Diageo Visibility is key. Use new, exciting and clear PoS to put the brands front and centre of customers’ minds. Offer stout in a range of pack formats. Give multipacks maximum space: four- and sixpacks deliver the largest share of beer sales in convenience. Where space allows, maximise impulse purchases by including stout options in a fridge for immediate consumption. Stores that do well with low- and no-alcohol drinks should give them prominence. Group spirits together for an inspirational fixture, and make the most of gifting options such as premium whiskeys and impulse items like shots. Cross-merchandise drinks with popular crisps and premium crisps, snacks and nuts on promotion, on the snack fixtures and in the beers, wines and spirits aisle.

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

TIMING, LINKED FOOD AND PLANOGRAMS WHATEVER you do in your store, put it in place early and give it time to bed in. Caitlin Brown, category executive at BrewDog, says: “Build anticipation and maximise the sales opportunity by starting activation in mid-February, so shoppers can prepare for gatherings, and increase it one or two weeks before for

those last-minute needs.” As well as drinks, food pairings will maximise basket spend for a big Irish night in. Brown suggests offering steak pies, blue cheese and chocolate cake. “Ask your suppliers to include tasting notes and serving suggestions on shelf barkers, and cross-merchandise

these foods to create a themed off-fixture display,” she says. Iqbal adds: “Retailers should look to their wholesalers for guidance. “Premier sends us the planograms in early February, and we start changing the fixtures. We get the products in and put them on social media, like when we launched

[Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor’s] Proper No. Twelve whiskey. “This time round, we’re going to look at the offers Premier come up with, and go for it.”

LAUNCHES

Launches for St Patrick’s Day Teeling Bacardi is launching Irish whiskey brand Teeling 70cl, for whiskey lovers wanting something different for the big day. Shanky’s Whip Spirits distributor Craftwork offers Shanky’s Whip Irish whiskey liqueur in 700ml bottles (RRP £25) and gift packs with shot glasses (RRP £29), ideal for gifts.

IT’S NOT SO BLACK AND WHITE ANYMORE.

H E A RT E K C A L B F O ‘21% ARE NEW TO TH SHOPPERCSATEGORY’ .12.23 RCH - 16 PER RESEA SOURCE: B

ESPOKE SH

WHAT IF IT’S BETTER?

CATEGORY ADVICE BREAKFAST

BREAK OUT YOUR BREAKFAST SALES PRIYA KHAIRA finds out what trends are taking place in the breakfast category and how to create a standout range that will boost sales

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

supplier tips Allison Wallentin, convenience category manager, Saputo Dairy UK Offer breadth over depth Include products from each sub-segment to satisfy a broad array of consumer needs.

CATEGORY TRENDS ACCORDING to YouGov, 62% of British adults are making time for breakfast five days or more each week. “Customers are looking for products that will help them kickstart the day, along with high-quality, nutritious options and baked goods” says Tony Holmes, chief operating officer at Glebe Farm. Further research, however, indicates that shoppers are opting for quick and efficient

breakfasts as busy lifestyles continue to pick up and commuters return to workplaces. Jimmy Patel, from Jimmy’s Store in Northampton, finds that on-the-go breakfast items sell the best. “On-the-go pots of yoghurt and granola, like the Nomadic pots, go down well with commuters and other customers looking for a quick on-the-go breakfast,” he says. “Similarly, we are notic-

ing an increase in demand for breakfast drinks, especially the Weetabix on-the-go range. “Cereals are always a steady staple for us – we make a 25% minimum margin on them.” Value for money is also becoming a priority. According to data gathered by Mintel Store in its UK Snack Bars & Breakfast Biscuits Market Report 2023, 61% of consumers agree that own-label breakfast biscuits and snack bars

are equally as appealing as branded ones. In addition, 57% of consumers indicated that they only purchase breakfast bars if they are on promotion or on offer, so retailers should ensure they have value and premium bases covered. “Seventy-seven per cent of consumers are looking for value-led propositions, as well as affordable treats,” says Julie Stevens, head of marketing UK & Ireland at Mission Foods.

Display value credentials Support customers with price-marked varieties of popular lines. Dedicate shelf space to healthier options Dedicating space to healthier or vegan and glutenfree options makes it easy for customers to identify healthy choices. Cross merchandise We 100% believe in the power of cross-merchandising, especially in convenience where decisionmaking by shoppers is rapid, and often impulsive. Stocking complementary products such as spreads and bakery items together works well to help the consumer instantly visualise a simple and easy breakfast.

Stock up now and get the whole nation to Debatethebix It’s the debate to end all debates! Cold or hot milk with your Weetabix? Our new £2M marketing campaign will be driving the big conversation nationwide and sales of the UK’s favourite cereal. Stock up now. It’s the hot (or cold) topic everyone will be talking about. Nielsen 2nd December 2023

WEE0186_Weetabix HotCold Ad_RE_AW2.indd 1

Have you had yours?

08/01/2024 11:37

CATEGORY ADVICE BREAKFAST

GET MORE OUT OF BREAKFAST SALES ACCORDING to the Mintel Store UK Breakfast Cereals Market Report 2023, 85% of UK consumers stated that they purchase cereals for breakfast. However, its findings show that while breakfast cereals remain popular, the category faces competition from other breakfast foods. It also reported high consumer interest in indulgent dessert-flavoured breakfasts.

Ready-to-eat pastries or hot food items can make a great addition to a store’s breakfast offer. If space allows, retailers can capitalise on the popularity of breakfast-to-go items by installing a hot food station. Those who do not have the capacity can consider stocking pre-wrapped pastries or a premium breakfast range. “[Convenience store] breakfast is no longer about stale

pastries and lukewarm porridge,” says Gary Thacker, sales director at Fri-Jado UK. “It is about fresh sandwiches, paninis and light pastries. Whether homemade or brought in, breakfast should be fresh for customers to consume on the go and use the best ingredients.” Ben McKechnie, managing director at Epicurium, says it is important that retailers also adapt to the weather. When it

is cold, retailers might consider adding hot porridge pots to meal deal offers, for example, and providing hot water on the breakfast counter. Hotter weather is the perfect time for lighter pastries or fresh fruit. In the summer, iced coffee is a good addition as it is growing very strongly as a breakfast option due to the quality and brand engagement of coffee drinkers.

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

Launches & promos

Glebe Farm Glebe Farm recently launched its new granola range, consisting of Choco Chip, Maple & Banana and Strawberry flavours. The recipes are both vegan and gluten-free. Pukka Pukka has added its All Day Breakfast Slice and The Chicken Pasty to its pastry range. Both have an RRP of £1.75. Shredded Wheat Shredded Wheat has launched a specialedition pack featuring the Union Jack flag. The new limited-edition pack also showcases Shredded Wheat’s nutritional attributes. Nomadic Nomadic has added its Nomadic Good To Go pouches to its breakfast range. The yoghurt pouches come in Mango & Passionfruit, Raspberry & Blueberry and Banana & Honey flavours, with an RRP of £1.99. Kellogg’s Kellogg’s has expanded its offering with the introduction of Chocolate Flavoured Corn Flakes. The cereal is available from Booker in a £3.29 price-marked pack. Quaker Oats Quaker Oats has introduced new packaging to its Quaker porridge pots range. The new recyclable pots are available in 45g to 76g pots and have an RRP of £1.29. Kestrel Foods Kestrel Foods has launched ‘Just Live a Little’, a new gluten-free granola brand. The range has launched into Spar. It consists of four flavours including Maple & Toasted Pecan, Raspberry, Coconut & Cashew, Cocoa & Hazelnut and Peanut Butter & Apple.

MERCHANDISING YOUR RANGE EFFECTIVE merchandising is key when it comes to pushing breakfast sales. Patel says it can be difficult to merchandise breakfast items, especially when sales of breakfast products often overlap into lunchtime or afternoon sales. Ensure items are grouped together and are made visible to shoppers through the use

of in-store signage. This means keeping breakfast bars, cereals, bakery items and breakfast sandwiches together. McKechnie says that it is important to create a clean and spacious breakfast counter that entices onthe-go shoppers. “A hot counter can really boost sales and send inviting smells toward shoppers as

they enter the shop. Creating a breakfast deal of complementary items works very well in this category as hungry commuters won’t want to shop around or have to think too hard,” says McKechnie. “Make it easy, inviting and delicious, and offer a good range of options to cater to differing tastes and health requirements.”

Grow your proﬁts responsibly

PRODUCTS • TRENDS • ADVICE IN THE LATEST ISSUE: • Closed-pod systems: everything you need to know about the vape segment set to take 2024 by storm • Must-stock brands: the top brands to invest in, and how to sell them in your store

PLUS

ALE ON S UARY BR 19 FE

Product spotlight: closed-pod devices Quick guide: heated tobacco Regional trends: open-pod vapes

Vape & Next-gen Retailer cuts through the noise, giving us veriﬁed insight into what’s happening in the market Atul Sodha, Londis Hareﬁeld

Order your copy from your magazine wholesaler today or contact Kate Daw on 07886 784465 @Vape_Retailer

CATEGORY ADVICE WINE

13-26 FEBRUARY 2024 betterretailing.com

GET YOUR WINE SALES POPPING CHARLES WHITTING finds out how retailers can adapt their wine ranges with the seasons to generate even more profit

SUPPLIER

VIEW

Jo Taylorson, head of marketing and product management, Kingsland Drinks

SPRING OPPORTUNITIES AS a category, it is possible to split wine up in a variety of ways – by grape, by region, by price and, most importantly, by colour. The four key wine subcategories are red, white, rosé and sparkling. Demand for each of these varieties will change with the season, as will people’s willingness to pay certain amounts for their wine.

In spring, for example, there are significant gift opportunities for wine in the form of Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, while Easter can also encourage sales of more premium options. While the cost-of-living crisis means that value should always be a consideration, retailers shouldn’t sacrifice highvalue options at reasonable

prices to recreate the restaurant experience at home. “While many Brits are reducing their consumption in hospitality venues, the opportunity for retailers is clear,” says Jo Taylorson, head of marketing and product management at Kingsland Drinks. “We know from previous economic downturns that some consumer groups will trade

down within their existing shop, looking for lower-priced items, yet others will shop around and buy their wines and spirits when they are on promotional offers or look online for discounts. Value and well-priced premium products are the order of the day here, and getting your mix right will keep consumers on the price ladder.”

“WINE faces the challenge that it is quite a traditional category, with glass bottles being the most widely accepted format. Bag-in-box wines are in good growth within the sector as consumers realise and embrace the benefits the format brings to drinking occasions. “Bag-in-box wines have become increasingly popular over the past couple of years, due to changes in lifestyles, budgets and circumstances. “Bag-in-box has seen a surge in demand as casual at-home drinkers have recognised the benefits in terms of convenience, freshness, quality and value for money. Bag-in-box is lightweight, helps prevent wastage and the wine can stay fresh for up to six weeks.”

Are you struggling to stay warm and cover your heating bills during the colder weather? Have you been affected by the recent Floods? NewstrAid is here to help and can provide FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL and PRACTICAL support to retailers and their staff this winter.

For more information visit www.newstraid.org.uk call us FREE on 0800 917 8616 or email mail@newstraid.org.uk

CATEGORY ADVICE WINE

SUMMER OF SALES SUMMER is the time when people’s big nights in become big afternoons out, at parks or at festivals. With the hot weather comes a spike in demand for white wine. Summer experiences a high for white wine, producing around a third of overall wine sales. Retailers should increase

their white wine offering at this time, bringing in special promotions, introducing more premium options for specific events and getting more in the fridge for easy consumption. In addition, rosé and sparkling varieties can add some variety for outdoor celebrations. “In summer we do very well with white wine,” says Milan

Vahanaka, from Heathcote Express & Post Office in East Grinstead, West Sussex. “We’ll reduce the amount of red and have double facings of white wines with some new releases as well. We’ll also do some promotions on our wines, which means we get less margin, but it rotates so quickly that it’s a benefit.

“Our most popular wines are the ones we put in the fridges so customers can come in when they finish work, grab a bottle and drink it straight away. That’s very important.” No- and low-alcohol wines are also worth promoting at this time as people look to moderate their alcohol intake in the sunshine.

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David Wyatt, Costcutter Gatwick, Surrey “WE moved across to Bargain Booze last year to become one of Costcutter’s first Bargain Booze forecourts. Since then, we’ve doubled our wine range and seen a massive uplift. Bargain Booze is more specialist and has a better range with more of a focus. Everything white and rosé is refrigerated now, whereas it wasn’t before. Wine sales are up about 40%. “We’ve changed the presentation as well and now offer tasting notes for all the wines. There’s a description for each bottle and they’re in a dedicated wine area. We sometimes offer a bottle of wine and a pizza or mix and match – two for £12 or three for £20. People are coming in and buying six bottles of wine. “If you’re going to do it, do it properly. Then you become a destination for it rather than people just popping in if they’re running short.”

AUTUMN AND WINTER OPPORTUNITIES AS the nights start closing in, white wine sales start to fall away and the red wines to start increasing in popularity instead, prompting another change to a store’s layout and offering. The potential food and wine

pairings will also change, so retailers who are allowed to cross-merchandise alcohol should consider altering their displays. With people looking to save up before Christmas, autumn might be the time for retail-

ers to introduce some valueled products and promotions, while it might also be worth introducing mulled wine for events like Bonfire Night. However, once autumn turns to winter, it’s important to stock up on more premium op-

tions as Christmas looms closer and people start looking to celebrate, give gifts and treat themselves. This means that sparkling wines – from proseccos and cavas to premium champagne options – will be in greater demand, alongside pre-

mium reds and whites. Then, in the aftermath of Christmas, the detox and money-saving habits of January could see growth in demand for low- and no-alcohol options. “A focus on alcohol-free at those moments in the year such

as Dry January or Dry July will help raise awareness for the retailers offering these products,” says Dan Harwood, wine expert at Eisberg. “Demand for lowand no-alcohol is growing and retailers need to ensure they provide options for customers.”

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MAKE EVERY INCH COUNT The RETAIL EXPRESS team finds out how retailers are ensuring every part of every shelf delivers profits

Few of us have the time to look at the spread of our store. What do retailers look out for to ensure every part is as profitable as possible? – Matthew Hunt, Filco Supermarkets, south Wales

Dipak Shah, H&R News, Camberley, Surrey

“OUR store is very small, so we have to keep looking at things and moving things around. That’s the only way to do it. You have to keep watching the space and keeping things fresh. We’re moving things around in our store almost every day. We don’t move so much that people get confused, but we’ll move a line here and there or increase and decrease some facings depending on the demand. “We’ve always got something like a new Prime �lavour that’s come to market and we want to sell. So, we always make space for that and it does pretty well, too. “Vapes have been selling well, so we increased that space by a few lines, while magazines aren’t doing so well, so we’ve reduced the space there. It’s little changes. The shelves aren’t that high, so everything’s reachable and we have nothing on the �loor, so everything looks neat.”

Jai Singh, MJ’s Go Local Extra, Coventry

“THERE are no magic products you can just put in your store and leave to drive pro�it. We’ve always made sure to look at our shelf space and to scrutinise all areas of the shop. “They say the hardest thing is getting people through the door, but it’s getting people to buy something and knowing what they want. “The most important thing is to keep refreshing your range and where things are. If the traf�ic of customers is always the same, it gets stale and new products don’t catch customers’ eyes because they are not disrupting their journey. “Move things around and suddenly people are aware that we sell Nando’s Spicy Sauce. Don’t be afraid to have products that don’t sell as fast as a can of Coca-Cola because they could still be essential to certain baskets. Not every product is going to �ly off the shelf at the same rate.”

Sid Ali, Morrisons Daily, Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire

“THINK about each product as a rental property. Would you let a tenant rent a �lat from you and never give you any money? If 80% of your stock is giving a good return, but there’s 20% of stock that’s sitting there and renting space on your shelf without giving you any money, you wouldn’t allow that. “Every item has a price it will sell at. If a product isn’t selling, you can’t let it sit on the shelf because it’s occupying valuable space. Reduce the price and someone will buy it. Bottles of Prime might have sold at £10, but they might now only sell at £1. Reduce the price, and if they’re still yielding a pro�it at that price, you decide whether you want to carry on with it. Be ruthless. You’ve got to balance the need for margin with the need for cash�low. If you’re selling £1,000 of vapes at 50% margin, that’s £500, but if you’re selling £20,000 of cigarettes at 10% margin, that’s £2,000. What would you rather have?”

In the next issue, the Retail Express team finds out where retailers are finding savings in their stores. If you have any problems you’d like us to explore, please email charles.whitting@newtrade.co.uk