Retail Express - 25 August 2020

LAW OF THE JUN GLE How Am azon’s n ew grocery free d will put eliveries pr conveni essure on ence sto res

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 STRICTLY FOR TRADE USERS ONLY

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CAFFEINE

BCAA AMINO ACIDS

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ZERO SUGAR

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CASH IS BACK

ALEX NORRIS MP

SPORTS & ENERGY DRINKS

Post Office banking services boss explains the return of demand for cash

Crime-fighting MP says new grants could change government’s position on retail crime

We explain how to energise your range and match the latest shopper trends

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FORECOURT FOCUS

From best tech to best practice – a complete guide to boosting security P17

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 STRICTLY FOR TRADE USERS ONLY

LAW OF THE JUNGLE How Amazo n’s new fre e grocery d will put pre eliveries ssure on co nvenience stores

P3 CASH IS BACK

ALEX NORRIS MP

SPORTS & ENERGY DRINKS

Post Office banking services boss explains the return of demand for cash

Crime-fighting MP says new grants could change government’s position on retail crime

We explain how to energise your range and match the latest shopper trends

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@retailexpress facebook.com/betterRetailing

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

megan.humphrey@newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3357

Stores fear Amazon’s new same-day free deliveries JOANNA TILLEY & HELENA DRAKAKIS Amazon’s free same-day delivery service will pile the pressure on to the UK’s independent shops, according to retailers and industry experts.

This month, the web giant opened same-day Amazon Fresh deliveries to all Amazon Prime customers and it is rolling out free deliveries on orders of at least £15, starting with Greater London and the south-east.

Yogi Tatler, owner of Londis Dee Park in Reading,

said Amazon’s free shortnotice deliveries were a “game-changer”.

“No doubt we will need to look at some sort of local delivery solution in order to compete,” said Tatler. He added that the pandemic had pushed even local shops’ core older audience online.

Store Excel founder and former Bestway boss David Gilroy warned going toe-totoe with Amazon via free deliveries would challenge many small shops. He explained: “If you only have two-to-three staff working at any time, having one pick

and ful�il deliveries is a lot of resources and something will have to give. It’s either longer hours or hiring staff and using a delivery model that will support that.”

Mehmet Guzel, owner of Simply Fresh, Bethnal Green, London, said he was worried, but added it was too early to judge the effects. “I know what my capabilities are, and we are not able to compete with the likes of Amazon in this area,” he explained.

Pratik Patel, of Jay’s Budgens in Crofton Park, London, started his own

free delivery service under lockdown and advised independents to focus on customer service and new, innovative lines that are not available through Amazon.

Describing the new service as “an additional pressure” for retailers, Derby retailer Vip Measuria agreed that there were gains convenience retailers could make. “Amazon is offering two-hour delivery slots if you order the day before, but I can get an order out in 20 minutes if a customer orders that morning,” said Measuria.

BAD WEEK

10.1%

9,480

Year-on-year decline in Post Office withdrawals as of July

Cash machines and bank branches shut from April to June 2020

Newly doubled cap on business deposits in the smallest Post Office branches

Year-on-year decline in Post Office deposits as of July

express yourself From my experience of the last recession, the convenience industry was one of the worst hit. The margins shrunk and you had to be prepared to take a bit of a salary hit. People are going to spend less. Yes, they’re going to continue buying staples, but products such as chocolate will take a hit.

However, customers are less likely to go to a supermarket as the tendency is to spend more there. That’s why they’ll shop more locally.

Ralph Patel, The Look In, Woodmansterne, Surrey

the column where you can make your voice heard

PAYPOINT: CollectPlus retailers are to receive free label printers and label roll from PayPoint.

The rollout from September is to help support the increased demand for in-store parcel services. The extra labels and till roll required come at an increased cost and retailers have welcomed the change in policy from PayPoint.

COVID-19 TESTING: Retailers have praised the speed of Covid-19 testing for themselves and staff. Adam Hogwood, of Budgens of Broadstairs in Kent, said: “My staff had the results of a home test kit delivered within 48 hours. I have also been for a test and received the results within 24 hours.”

How has demand for cash changed since lockdown began?

10.2%

GOOD WEEK

Read more by searching ‘PayPoint parcel costs’ at betterRetailing.com

ACCESS TO CASH

£4,000

£

FOOD TO GO: There is uncertainty around whether the Scottish government’s food-to-go grant will continue for another year.

A source close to the Scottish government said: “There are currently discussions about a new programme for 2022 and beyond.

It is difficult to say how this will go. Departmental budgets are extremely tight.” Grant funding for 2019/20 is unaffected and remains open for applications by Scottish retailers.

Search ‘Food-to-go grant’ on betterRetailing.com to find out more SCRATCHCARDS: McColl’s temporarily suspended the sale of scratchcards in its stores during lockdown. A spokesperson for the convenience chain said the decision to remove the “non-essential item” had been made as a precaution to “protect colleagues and customers, and to keep stores open and trading safely” during the pandemic.

What impact did the last financial crash have on your store’s performance?

I’ve been retailing for 30 years and I’m lucky that my two stores are in fairly affluent areas. During the last recession, the impact varied regionally. Despite a hit to newspaper sales, everything returned shortly after. People shop more locally because of the service corner shops give them.

High streets will be hit most this time. Online will be a major factor and we’re lucky to be able to offer parcel services through our post office.

Paul Patel, WHSmith Local Dibden Purlieu, Southampton

I was running a Londis store when the last financial recession hit in 2008 and 2009, and, looking back, I can remember that many of our customers became very pricesensitive. We were in a price war with the supermarkets located nearby.

I also noticed that the levels of retail crime, such as shoplifting, increased in the store compared with the number of incidents taking place before the recession took hold.

Dee Sedani, One Stop Matlock, Derbyshire

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

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Dee Sedani

NEWS

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EXCLUSIVE

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

Crime-fighting MP backs PCC funds JOANNA TILLEY THE £25m Safer Streets Fund is the biggest signal the government is taking retail crime seriously, according to a Labour MP fighting for new laws to protect shop workers from violent crime.

In an exclusive interview with Retail Express, Alex Norris MP, Nottingham North, said the fund, which

enables Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to apply for investments to help prevent theft offences, is “the most movement we have got out of the government in years”. He added that the government interest in retail crime came amid “epidemic levels of violence, and more than 400 incidents occurring every day”.

Describing the new pot of cash, Norris claimed: “If used

well, it can prove that retail crime is worth investing in.”

However, he also warned that successful use of the funding would only happen with dialogue between retailers and PCCs ahead of the commissioner elections next year. “I would like to see PCCs put greater focus on this area and make retail crime a priority,” he said.

At an event hosted by Retail Express this month,

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne also urged stores to pressure their local commissioner to include retail crime in their plans.

She explained: “If it is on the plan, that sets the strategy that will be delivered to police constables.”

Norris said he would continue efforts to pass his Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill, which is due

for its second reading in Parliament in late September.

The bill proposes violence against shop workers should lead to stronger sentences.

The Home Office said it “does not consider the case is yet made” for new offences for those who assault shop staff. Norris responded: “I believe the law needs changing, but the government do not. This is a fundamental difference in approach.”

Bojo pressured to add glass to UK DRS plans

MPS have urged Boris Johnson to support an ‘all-in’ deposit return scheme (DRS) that stores fear could lead to unsustainable costs. A motion calling on the government to include plastic, glass, aluminium, cartons, pouches and coffee cups in the scheme has been signed by 20 MPs from across the political spectrum.

Despite initial anger in Scotland over the inclusion of glass, Blantyre store owner and NFRN DRS chair Mo Razzaq said the Scottish government’s all-in system means

it is important for the UK government to follow suit.

“Any differences would not be beneficial for trade and could confuse customers,” he said.

FACE RECOGNITION SAFE FOR STORES

CCTV using automatic facial recognition (AFR) remains legal for shops to use, despite a successful appeal by privacy campaigners against South Wales Police’s slapdash use of AFR. Nick Fisher, chief executive of AFR firm Facewatch, said the company was “very positive about the outcome of the appeal”, and offered reassurance that the company’s systems already met all five points where

the police force fell flat in its use of AFR technology.

A statement by the company claimed: “The court ruled the use of AFR is not illegal and, in fact, the judge states that the benefits of the tech are ‘potentially great’.”

A survey by Retail Express found at least one in 10 stores planning to invest in CCTV would be adding facial recognition systems.

Nisa Expo a virtual reality for 2020 NISA will hold its first Virtual Expo in October, just over six months after its 2020 Stoneleigh event was postponed following the outbreak of Covid-19.

All the usual features will be on offer for retailers with some additional interactivity delivered through a virtual platform.

There will be opportunities for one-to-one supplier meetings, virtual store tours and special deals showcasing Nisa and Coop’s own-label products.

Registration for the Expo will open in the coming weeks.

TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED By selling National Lottery tickets throughout these difficult times, you have helped raise vital funds for projects impacted by coronavirus – supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities

70250 TNL Trade Press Thank You Aug Sept RETAIL EXPRESS AW6.indd 1

13/08/2020 09:24

PRODUCTS

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Cadbury brings back the spooks Thatchers returns to MONDELEZ International has announced its Cadbury 2020 Halloween line-up, which includes two new products.

New this year is Cadbury Family Treatsize and Freddo & Friends Treatsize, which will contain an assortment of Cadbury favourites, including Crunchie, Dairy Milk Buttons and Fudge.

Cadbury Goo Heads will also return to shelves, available individually wrapped (RRP 55p) or in a pack of �ive (RRP £2.85).

Cadbury Oreoooo will be available in an 82g bag, containing mini Oreo-�illed eggs (RRP £1), with new branding.

Elsewhere, the supplier is bringing back its Maynards Bassetts Dead Chewy range, with each 162g bag containing individually-wrapped fruit-�lavoured chews, designed for sharing at home.

A spokesperson for Mondelez said: “Halloween has become a valuable sales period for convenience retailers and research shows that more shoppers buy Halloween-themed confectionery than standard packs during this time.

“Confectionery sales over the period in 2019 reached £48m, with sugar confectionery being a key contributor. Meanwhile, chocolate made up 51% of incremental sales.”

PERNOD Ricard UK is teaming up with DJ and producer Dillon Francis for its new campaign for Malibu, #TheCoconutChallenge.

The campaign targets its core audience of younger shoppers, encouraging them to upload a video of themselves dancing to The Co-

conut Nut song, remixed by Francis, and tag their posts with @MaliburumUK and #TheCoconutChallenge.

By doing so, it will give shoppers a chance of being featured in Francis’ crowdsourced music video, scheduled to premiere later this summer.

TAMARA BIRCH

Shake your coconut with Malibu rum

screens in new ad Thatchers is back on screens with its new campaign, ‘Family’, which will run from 17 August on TV and videoon-demand.

The 40- and 30-second adverts will promote the Thatchers cider range, including its Gold, Haze and Rosé varieties. This

Wake up and win with Going Barefoot for Belvita promotion jammy wine ‘WAKE up and win’ is the latest promotion from Belvita, which offers consumers the chance to win up to £10,000 in cash.

Running from now until 5 November, there are 28 prizes in total, including three prizes of £10,000, �ive prizes of £5,000, 10 prizes of £100 and 10 prizes of £50.

It will run across more

than 50 products from the Belvita range, including Soft Bakes in multipacks and single formats.

Consumers need to buy any participating product, and text the word ‘Belvita’, along with the last four digits of the barcode, to 60777 to be entered into the prize draw for the corresponding week.

sponsored

Never miss a moment Peaky Blinder range with Nordic Spirit gets a makeover JTI has unveiled a new look and �lavour, as well as price-marked packs (PMPs), for Nordic Spirit, a 100% tobacco-free nicotine pouch brand with a 90.5% market share.

Nordic Spirit is a convenient and discreet nicotine product that can be used in situations where smoking or vaping might not be possible.

Already available in Mint and Bergamot Wildberry �lavours, the range has been extended to include Elder�lower in 6mg and 9mg strengths.

Nordic Spirit has also unveiled changes to the design, resulting in a fresh new look, which is now available in PMPs with an RRP of £6.50*.

*Retailers are free to sell JTI products at whatever price they choose

will be backed by a social media campaign.

Martin Thatcher, Thatchers managing director, said: “The sense of family runs strongly throughout all we do at Thatchers, from our heritage and traditions, through to our quality and expertise in cider-making.”

HALEWOOD Wines & Spirits has given its Peaky Blinder range a new look in a bid to emphasise the brand’s roots.

The range includes Blended Irish Whiskey, Black Spiced Rum and Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The labels now give greater prominence to the characters, while the bottles have been updated with an embossed logo.

Each bottle represents a different character from the late 19th and early 20th century Peaky Blinder gang, with genuine mug shots from police archives used on the labels.

The range is available from United Wholesale Scotland, United Wholesale Grocers, Soho Cash and Carry, and other national wholesalers.

BAREFOOT has added a new red blend to its range, Barefoot Jammy Red, available from all major wholesalers now (RRP £6.99).

Barefoot Jammy Red has been launched to capitalise on the growth of red blends in the UK, valued at £620m and growing at 6.4%. It aims to bring new consumers to the red wine category with the blend.

The launch will be supported by a social media campaign that will highlight the fruity taste pro�ile and versatility of the wine.

Echo Falls launches range of Rosé Seltzers ACCOLADE Wines is launching Rosé Seltzer under its Echo Falls brand, available in three �lavours.

With an ABV of 4.5%, varieties include Blueberry & Hibiscus; Strawberry & Pink Pepper; and Raspberry, Lychee & Rose.

It is available to convenience retailers now with an RRP of £2 per can.

The supplier said that the drinks are aimed at those cutting back on their alcohol intake, with the trend for hard seltzers booming as a lighter alternative to traditional drinks such as beer or wine.

It predicts that hard seltzers will likely witness the highest growth rate within the UK’s ready-to-drink category over the next �ive years.

RETAIL

IN ACTION

BRAND SPOTLIGHT

In partnership with

FOCUS ON:

JACOB’S CREEK

JACOB’S CREEK’s Classic range has grown by 41.5% in the impulse channel in the past 12 weeks, highlighting the opportunity for retailers. RETAIL EXPRESS finds out more

Three bestsellers Jacob’s Creek Classic Shiraz RRP £7.49

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Jacob’s Creek Classic Merlot RRP £7.49

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Jacob’s Creek Classic Chardonnay RRP £7.49

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25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

What is Jacob’s Creek?

JACOB’S Creek has been creating premium wines for 171 years, with its roots in Barossa Valley, South Australia.

Johann Gramp, a Bavarian immigrant, had a vision to create great-tasting wine that reflected the true character of the grapes and the land, planting the Barossa Valley’s first commercial vineyard on the banks of Jacob’s Creek in 1847. As a testament to Gramp’s vision, Jacob’s Creek has won more than 8,000 awards in the past 30 years and was named one of the ‘world’s most admired wine brands’ in 20111.

Today, there are approximately 1.7 million glasses of Jacob’s Creek enjoyed globally every day.

Jacob’s Creek is available in different varieties, including its bestselling Classics range. Jacob’s Creek is available to independent convenience retailers from all major wholesalers, including Booker, Bestway, Nisa and Spar.

Why stock Jacob’s Creek?

JACOB’S Creek has experienced a phenomenal resurgence in the past 12 weeks, with the brand’s Classic range growing by 41.5%2 in the impulse channel.

Jacob’s Creek Classic Chardonnay, Merlot and Shiraz are just a small selection of what’s available to independents, but Jacob’s Creek is a core line that shoppers expect to see in store. Retailers can set themselves apart by working with Pernod Ricard UK’s field sales team to review their wine displays, as well as stocking a wider variety of Jacob’s Creek’s range.

Pernod Ricard UK says that as the UK’s best-known Australian wine brand, Jacob’s Creek continues to be considered and recommended by consumers, particularly with those looking to catch up with family and friends or to relax in the evening.

“WINE is a big category for us, and we’ve invested a lot of time in building our range.

“What’s worked well for us is that we merchandise our white and rosé wine in the chiller. This is because shoppers want their wine cold, so they don’t have to worry about putting it in the fridge when they get home – instant consumption is a big mission in wine.

“Jacob’s Creek is a well-known core brand and one customers expect to see in store. It’s a key line we’ve stocked for years and it’s not one we’d delist if we reviewed our range. We stock seven varieties of Jacob’s Creek, including three whites, three reds and a sparkling, which we price at £6.99 or above. Our bestselling line is Jacob’s Creek Pinot Grigio 75cl.”

Harj Gill, Select & Save The Windmill, Birmingham

To hear more about how Pernod Ricard UK can help you grow wine sales, email flora.stobart@pernod-ricard.com

*1Drinks International Annual Brands Report 2 Nielsen latest 12 weeks in total Impulse to 13.06.20

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PRODUCTS

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Drive seasonal Xmas sales MONDELEZ has announced its Christmas 2020 range, with the addition of six new lines focusing on gifting, selftreat and sharing formats.

New to this year will include a Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar, Cadbury Dairy Milk Jingly Bells in Hazelnut Creme and Chocolate Noisette varieties, Freddo Giant Gold Treasures Tin, Cadbury Roses

by Emma Bridgewater Tin, Cadbury Dairy Milk Chunk

Secret Santa Gift and an Oreo Selection Box. Starting in September, the supplier said retailers should focus on big night in, which is even more important this year, as more shoppers are already staying indoors more. This includes stocking tins and larger sharing bags of confectionery.

Come October, impulse items, such as smaller sharing bags of chocolate (including individually-wrapped items) and block formats are important, alongside Halloween-

COCA-COLA European Partners’ latest on-pack promotion will mark the start of the new Premier League season.

It will give shoppers the chance to win club shirts across all 20 Premier League sides.

The promotion will roll out across 1.5l, 2l and multipack can formats of CocaCola Original Taste and Zero Sugar, including the Cherry and Vanilla flavours.

The giveaway will also be

available across standard and price-marked packs of Original Taste Cherry 1.5l and Zero Sugar 1.75l.

The supplier added that watching football at home presents a significant opportunity for retailers, and it expects this to grow in 2020/21 as more fans will be watching the game from home.

The campaign will be supported by radio, digital and outdoor advertising, including PoS.

PRIYANKA JETHWA

themed confectionery.

In November, retailers should reflect shoppers getting ready for the big day by stocking advent calendars and edible tree decorations.

By the time December approaches, shoppers are looking to trade up, so by stocking gift and selection packs, retailers can drive maximum sales.

Discover Mondelez’s Christmas range at betterRetailing.com and search ‘Cadbury Christmas 2020’

Taste the adventure with Mud House ‘TASTE the adventure’ is the new campaign from Accolade Wines for its Mud House brand as it aims to increase its share in the wine category.

Off the back of the New Zealand brand experiencing a 43% year-on-year growth, the campaign will roll out

across social media, showcasing winemakers at work on their vineyards.

The supplier said there is PoS material available to convenience retailers to help drive sales. Alongside this, the brand is also undergoing a packaging revamp.

Kicking off the new season with Coca-Cola

Planning your new working environment?

COVID-19 has undoubtedly affected us all, so getting your business up and running safely is the number one priority.

We’ve successfully operated throughout the pandemic and are on hand to help give you the best advice and support to ensure your working environment is safe and ready to trade.

Email: businessservices@bigdug.co.uk

WWW.BiGDUG.CO.UK 0800 141 3380

25 AUGUST-7 AUGUST 2020 betterRetailing.com

Ferrero premieres Xmas 2020 range and packaging updates FERRERO is launching an array of new products across its seasonal novelties, figures and boxed chocolates ranges for Christmas 2020, as part of a £3m investment.

Customer development director Levi Boorer said one of the main profit drivers this year will be core brands and larger pack formats.

To coincide with this, Ferrero will launch an updated

version of Thorntons Continental and Classic boxes.

Continental will include new recipes for its Hazelnut Milano and Viennese Deluxe chocolates, while Classic will have new recipes for its Nutty Caramel, Tempting Toffee and Creamy Fudge options, as well as the inclusion of a new Orange Blush option.

Meanwhile, the supplier is also updating its Kinder Ani-

FOLLOWING its redesign in March, drinkable yoghurt Yop is back with a new digital campaign this September.

The campaign will focus on its Strawberry and Raspberry 500g bottles, as well as the new Strawberry 180g format, which comes in a four-pack.

It will be supported by in-store PoS, alongside online activity.

Rosanne McDonnell, brand manager at Yop, said: “We’re excited about

our new campaign and believe that it taps into an untouched audience of teenagers within the yoghurt category.”

SHS Group has rebranded its canned WKD Mixed cocktails range as WKD Mixd.

WKD Mixd comes in three flavours: Raspberry, Rhubarb & Vodka; Apple, Elderflower & Gin; and Peach, Passionfruit & Rum. The 250ml slimline cans are available in standard and £1.69 price-marked packs, and multipacks of 12.

The relaunch will be supported by a social media campaign, ‘All Mixd up and

ready to go’, and the supplier is offering vouchers for 50p off single cans of WKD Mixd, which will be printed on 30,000 cases of its WKD 10-packs.

HEINEKEN has launched its first multimillion-pound campaign for Strongbow, ‘Refreshing the nation’, which focuses on British summertime.

The 30-second ad begins and ends in a pub, showcasing the rebrand of the

range, which includes Strongbow Original, Dark Fruit, Dark Fruit 0.5%, Cloudy Apple and Rosé.

Launched only five months ago, Strongbow Rosé is already the number-one rosé cider in the market.

Yop launches new digital campaign

A wickedly Mixd cocktail from WKD

Refresh the nation with Strongbow

mal Adventures licence with 21 new toys, eight stickers and eight cards, under an African wildlife theme, and updating the packaging of its Happy Hippo biscuits and medium bars of Kinder chocolate.

Read more about the supplier’s range at betterRetailing.com by searching ‘Ferrero Christmas’

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Mini Cheddars get a PMP makeover JACOB’S Mini Cheddars Smoky BBQ are now available in 105g price-marked packs (PMP).

The supplier said the Smoky BBQ variety is one of its most popular flavours in convenience stores, where it makes up 32% of sales for the brand.

Christopher Owen, marketing controller at Pladis UK and Ireland, said it recognises

that PMPs are a key format for independents, generating a third of sales in convenience.

PRODUCTS

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JPS Players Crushball Cigarillo PRIYANKA JETHWA IMPERIAL Tobacco has extended its JPS Players brand with a new Crushball Cigarillo to help retailers cater for consumers seeking new nicotine options in the wake of the menthol ban.

JPS Players Crushball Cigarillo comprises American Blend tobacco wrapped in a natural tobacco leaf and features a menthol crushball

within the filter.

This provides consumers with the choice of releasing the flavour contained within, or smoking it as a standard cigarillo. JPS Players Crushball Cigarillo is available in pricemarked packs of 10 with an RRP of £4.20.

As JPS Players Crushball Cigarillo is wrapped in a natural tobacco leaf, packs can legally be branded.

Chris Street, market

manager for the UK at Imperial Tobacco, said: “This new solution from one of our leading brands will help bridge the gap left by the ban with a product that benefits from crushball technology to deliver a menthol flavour that will appeal to these shoppers.

“Value for money remains a major trend within the tobacco category, with many smokers seeking out the lowest out-of-pocket spend

possible. However, brand loyalty is also extremely high, and shoppers don’t want to compromise on quality.”

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterretailing.com

CYT expands Trivento range with Shiraz CONCHA y Toro UK has launched a new variety under its Argentinian wine brand, Trivento: Trivento Reserve Shiraz, RRP £8.

It is designed to complement its existing range, which includes Reserve Malbec and Private Reserve Malbec.

The Shiraz grape, alongside Merlot, is the only red grape variety still outselling Malbec in the market. In value sales,

the brand has grown by 52% in the past year.

GLOBAL Brands is expanding its value canned cocktail brand, Flare, by launching two existing flavours and one new flavour in 70cl bottles, exclusive to independent retailers.

The three flavours are Passion Fruit Martini, Mojito and Strawberry Daiquiri,

the last of which is the new addition.

Flare is available from Bestway and Parfetts, as well as other regional and national wholesalers.

In fitting with the rest of the range, the 70cl bottles will be price-marked at £2.99.

New Flare cocktails exclusive to indies

GIVE YOUR

UNBORING DRIN K

ME!!

Bacardi taps into canned cocktails BACARDI has relaunched a range of ready-to-drink (RTD) cans, available now with an RRP of £1.80.

The cans come in Mojito, Rum & Coke, Spiced Cola and Raspberry Spritz varieties.

The supplier said RTD cocktails have grown by 43% in the past two years,

£5 million brand investment NEW Campaign including OUTDOOR ADVERTISING & SOCIAL Rubicon is growing at +11%* & attracted over 1 million new buyerS last year** no ADDED *IRI Marketplace,Value Sales, MAT to 25/08/19, Total Marketplace **: Kantar Home Panel, Penetration 08/1

spurred on by more consumers looking for convenient options.

The cans are available from Nisa, Appleby Westward, CJ Lang, Bestway, Batleys, United Wholesale Scotland, United Grocers, JW Filshill, Dhamecha and Parfetts.

OPINION

12

IAA RETAIL STUDY DAY

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 CRIME: Have you noticed an increase in incidents since the face mask rule?

“I’VE noticed the same person come and try to steal things.

There’s been a recent incident of one person going around stealing £200- to £300-worth of goods from shops. The danger is you don’t know how these people will react.

Keep a distance and contact the police.”

Ken Singh, Mill Hill Stores, Pontefract, West Yorkshire

“MASKS make it hard to recognise people, especially if they are wearing a baseball cap. We operate a policy where customers aren’t allowed to wear caps. If a staff member suspects someone, they show vigilance by asking if they need help. The shoplifter is then aware they are being watched.”

Steve Archer, Hightown Premier, Cheshire

The Independent Achievers Academy (IAA) joined Amrit Singh and his family at Nisa Local High Heath in Walsall to reveal what made the store last year’s Overall Best Shop. Here are three things you can learn

Keep a distance and contact the police

KEY TAKEAWAYS 1

2

3

To make sure his team felt safe working during the coronavirus pandemic, Amrit offered time off, extra holiday or the option to carry holiday days over to next year if they needed to self-isolate.

CHRISTMAS: How will the pandemic affect December sales?

No matter the size of your store, every product needs to earn its place. Amrit consistently reviews his range, delisting lines that aren’t selling and trying something new.

Community involvement is a huge part of Amrit’s business. His family opened a community hub to tackle loneliness, as well as host litter picks to bring the community together.

AMRIT SINGH’S TOP IDEA “Reach out to suppliers and organise a litter pick. This will help you engage with shoppers and become more environmentally friendly.”

Join the IAA on 2 September with retailer Dave Hiscutt, of Londis Westham Road in Weymouth, for an interactive session on how innovation and customer marketing are ensuring he’s coming out of the pandemic stronger than ever. Read the full coverage of Amrit’s store at betterRetailing.com/amritsingh-community-stars

We are hesitant to make orders

“I’M reluctant to make orders after being stuck with Easter cards that didn’t sell. I didn’t buy too many eggs, but Christmas is a worry. We don’t know how much stock to order. I might not even buy Christmasspecific chocolate.”

Meryl Williams, Pike Newsagents, Porthmadog

“WE are definitely hesitant to make orders; we do need to sit down and make a decision on what to do. If we go back into lockdown around Christmas, I think there is a chance it could work in our favour, as people will shop locally rather than venturing out.”

Anita Nye, Premier Eldred Drive, Orpington, Kent

NEWSTRADE: How have city-centre retailers been affected by Covid-19?

“ANYTHING that will help get people back to Canary Wharf will help retailers there. I am down 80% on last year. Suburban shops have done well, but retailers in city centres are struggling and many are still closed. Higher rateable value has meant I’m not eligible for a local authority grant.”

Peter Wagg, News on the Wharf, Canary Wharf, London

“ALL the offices near us are closed, which has a huge knock-on effect. The staff normally come in and spend, and the offices order newspapers and magazines. It’s affecting newspaper suppliers as well.

Anything the government can do to encourage people back to work will benefit us.”

Nainesh Shah, Mayhew Newsagents, Knightsbridge, London

Our business is down 80% on last year COST-CUTTING: What recent steps have you taken to shave your overheads?

I have put sensors on all the back-room lights

“MY BT bill during the first month of lockdown was £250 and they would not give me relief, so I switched lines, saving £230 per month. I have also put sensors on all the backroom lights so that they switch off automatically, which is helping my energy bills.”

Trudy Davies, Woosnam & Davies, Llanidloes

“WE have seen great savings from adding self-timers to our fridges. We’ve put these on our soft-drinks chillers and beer fridges. We have them on for about nine hours a day, and they shut down in the evening.

It was really straightforward to introduce them.”

Vip Measuria, One Stop Draycott & Post Office, Derby

LETTERS

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

13

jeet bansi

Letters may be edited

Meon Vale Londis, Stratfordupon-Avon

A week in the life of a convenience store

Alleged incidents of theft captured at Mital Morar’s Ancoats General Store

‘Simply reporting issues takes forever’ IS the call from the National Business Crime Centre on Twitter for retailers to contact them just a diversion to be ‘seen’ to be doing something that they simply can’t get on top of?

A vanity project to return to when the going gets tough?

They already have the info, facts and �igures. Just answer 101!

Stores are fed up, there’s been

no action in years and simply reporting issues takes forever.

Everyone’s lost patience and it’s going to take more than a couple of Twitter posts to reengage with retailers.

Mital Morar, Ancoats General Store, Manchester Retail Express editor Megan Humphrey responded: “I hear you, Mital, and

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understand the frustration.

However, in conversations we had with police and crime commissioners for last fortnight’s edition, they told me their data does not re�lect the number of incidents retailers are telling them are happening, so they are urging retailers to report more so they can take the information to their chief constable.”

“

I agree wholeheartedly with Mital. Reporting has to be done online, then someone will call and tell you there isn’t enough evidence – case closed, so no statistics. On occasion, an envelope is sent for us to make a statement, copy CCTV and so on. It just wastes more time.

Sue Nithyanandran, Costcutter Epsom, Surrey

COMMUNITY RETAILER

OF THE WEEK

Avtar Sidhu, Kenilworth Budgens @asidhu007

‘We didn’t want Covid-19 to stop us’

“WE wanted to install a defibrillator to support our community. It’s outside the shop, meaning it can be accessed 24/7. We pray it never has to be used, but the emergency services have the code and location so it’s available to them whenever they need it. This is part of a wider project working on how we position ourselves in the local community and the role we can play. We don’t want to break the links we have with our more vulnerable customers because of Covid-19. We have put a roadmap in place for the future to ensure those who need us have an avenue to reach us.”

A WEEK is a long time in a a convenience store, especially if the weather is changing. And let’s face it, that’s normal here in the UK. Like the rest of the country much of last week (beginning 10 August), we saw a dramatic heat wave in Warwickshire, with temperatures regularly up to 35°C. As a retailer, you need to be smart and savvy and take Each issue, one of seven top the opportunities. retailers shares advice to We made sure we make your store magnificent got in the central barbecue products, lighter fuel, coal and lots of ice cubes. We also got an order of bottled water and isotonic drinks in early, so we could put them on display in the chiller near the entrance as soon as possible.

Then, come Thursday evening, the weather switched dramatically. In the space of a few hours it had dropped from 30°C to about 19°C. The weather report, which I keep track of on my phone, showed we were in for a wet weekend.

We got in some pork and beef roasting joints, crossmerchandised them with associated products, such as sauces, and got them on display in the chiller we have near the entrance, ready to attract sales from customers looking for a roast dinner. These sold out really quickly, and a big part of that was us reacting quickly and making sure we had the products in line with the weather.

As a retailer, I always want to have a plan B, and a plan C, for everything from stock to staff rotas. For instance, we have two local butchers who keep us supplied with meat, so we can react quickly and not get caught out. It’s important that you always have a way to get the products you need at short notice.

Take our impulse chiller. Once the weather started to cool off, we got in a range of pasties, as this is what people want when it’s a bit colder.

Through all this, you can’t neglect the atmosphere you have in store, for the benefit of your customers and your staff. When the weather was at its hottest, I was coming in early to switch on the air conditioning and make sure it was cool in the shop, and we had some extra fans as well.

Customers were coming in and saying they wished they could stay in our shop all day, it was so nice. That’s when you know you’ve got it just right.

Get in touch

@retailexpress betterRetailing.com facebook.com/betterRetailing megan.humphrey@newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3357

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FORECOURT FOCUS

Building a stress-free store p16

Motorcycle sales soar as lockdown restrictions ease DARYL WORTHINGTON NEW motorcycle and scooter sales are surging in the wake of lockdown restrictions being eased, according to the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA).

The MCIA’s latest data, published earlier this month, shows that sales of all powered two-wheelers (PTWs) were up by 41.9% in July compared with the same month in 2019, equivalent to 14,070 new vehicles.

The association says this growth puts the motorcycle industry ahead of “other signi�icant transport sectors”.

It continues a trend seen in June, which had a 14.8% growth in registrations compared with the same month last year.

In comparison, data from the Society of Motor

Manufacturers and Traders showed an 11.3% growth in new car registrations in July 2020 compared with the same month in 2019. The per cent change in private cars speci�ically was 20.4%, equivalent to 79,929 new private cars being registered.

“As the PTW retail trade was restricted to online business during the lockdown, there was an inevitable amount of pent-up demand that was satis�ied in the �irst days following the resumption of ‘normal’ trading,” Nick Broomhall, policy marketing and PR manager at MCIA, told Forecourt Focus.

“This was most welcome, as much of the business in bigger motorcycles is seasonal and having lockdown at the beginning of the traditional season hurt many dealers.”

Break down the numbers Scooters and ‘commutertype’ motorcycles had some of the most signi�icant increases. Scooters saw 56.6% extra growth in July compared with the previous year, with 3,576 new registrations.

Commuter-type PTWs were up by 62.5%, meaning 5,371 new vehicles on the road.

“Although all segments of the market continue to perform well, the particular strength of commuter-type motorcycles and scooters suggest that more people are seeking an alternative to public transport and the expense and inconvenience of car commuting,” said Broomhall.

“The industry-backed ‘Unlock your freedom’ campaign has been successful in guiding would-be riders through the process of getting on to powered

two wheelers, which for many is a simple as a oneday CBT [compulsory basic training] course.”

According to MCIA, PTW training schools are also reporting record levels of �irst-time riders taking their CBT. With more motorcyclists taking to the roads, Broomhall urged forecourts to be more accommodating.

“A long-standing gripe of PTW riders is that they are often made to feel like second-class citizens on forecourts,” he revealed.

“There are many tales of riders being made to remove their helmet before a pump is activated, or being asked to pay upfront. As many new riders will come from a car-driving background, these types of requests are likely to be challenged more and more.”

2035 cut-off ‘economically Five times as many public BP payment integrated into self-checkout damaging’, says PRA EV chargers as in 2015 A GOVERNMENT proposal to end sales of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans by 2035 has brought criticism.

Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers’ Association, described the date as “not only unfeasible, but economically damaging”, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown.

He highlighted �ive barriers to the proposal, including its potential to be detrimental to the viability of the majority of petrol �illing stations.

“The current business

model of petrol �illing stations relies on a fast turnaround of customers using the on-site shop. Typical space on forecourts does not allow for EV charge points where a vehicle may occupy it for 30 minutes or more,” he said.

He also questioned power availability, saying “many forecourts have considered installing ultra-rapid charging points on their sites but have abandoned plans because of a lack of suitable local sub-stations that provide enough power”.

NEW Department for Transport data shows there were 18,625 public electricvehicle charging devices as of 1 July, 3,206 of which were rapid devices.

Since 2015, the number of public charging devices has quintupled, with an 11% increase in 2020.

Per 100,000 of the population, devices are most common in London and Scotland – at 57 and 35 per 100,000, respectively. The UK average is 27.

Meanwhile, in response to the government consul-

tation on ending the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the government to support forecourts in introducing EV charging points.

“Fuel retailers are understandably reluctant to commit to large investments when motorists’ future behaviour is still very hard to forecast and with vehicle and charging technology still developing so quickly,” said ACS chief executive James Lowman.

A COLLABORATION between BP and EPoS technology provider Henderson Technology has yielded a new self-checkout integrated with BP systems at a Henderson Retail Eurospar in Northern Ireland.

“We have worked with BP to interface with their new BP payment and loyalty terminals, and this is the next stage of our exciting partnership with BP United Kingdom,” said Darren Nickels, retail technology operations director at Henderson Technology.

Have you made any big changes in your forecourt that have grown your sales and profits?

Let us know on 020 7689 3390 or at editorial@newtrade.co.uk

“The launch of the selfcheckout with BP has been a great success; customers are really reacting to the newest addition to the store,” explained Mark McCammond, retail director at Henderson Retail.

“We have had lots of customers trying out the new service daily and are returning to use the express tills con�idently,“ McCammond continued.

“Eurospar Glenwell is proud to be the �irst store in the United Kingdom to launch this innovative product in-store.”

FORECOURT FOCUS PROFILE

16

Taking the stress out of shopping DARYL WORTHINGTON “I WANT our customers to have a stress-free shopping experience,” says Olly Andrews, of Maiden Newton Service Station in Dorset.

This approach has been the driving force behind a number of major refits and expansions at the site in the past few years. The business, which includes a petrol forecourt, garage and shop, has been in the family for decades. Andrews took it over in 2011, entering a business partnership with his mum. Big investments have focused on both the store and petrol forecourt.

“I get restless. I always say: ‘This project will be my last one’, but then there’s always something new you can improve, to help with future-proofing the business,” he explains.

These improvements are aimed at making the store competitive with the multiples by offering the same range but a better shopping experience.

“We used to have a car showroom here, but we’ve replaced it with extra parking,” he explains.

“It makes it much easier for customers to come here and do their shopping, rather than struggling to find a parking space at one of

01

the supermarkets in town.”

The most recent refit, completed just a week before the Covid-19 lockdown came into full force, saw a major overhaul of the shop. This included the creation of a fresh-meat counter, as well as expansion of the off-licence section, and fresh fruit and veg.

“We worked with Spar to help with the layout, and one of the big changes is that the shop now feels more spacious,” says Andrews. “It’s the opposite of the supermarkets, and when lockdown started, I think the fact that customers felt safe to walk around our shop made a real difference.”

02

03

Fuel is still key

Refit for success

Filling in the gaps

“THE petrol side is still really important to our business,” says Andrews, when discussing a major refit on the forecourt at Maiden Newton Service Station.

“We dug out the whole forecourt. We took out all the old tanks, pumps and pipework, and replaced them with new equipment, and added digital fuel gauges, too.”

As well as making deliveries to the site more efficient, it also makes customers’ lives easier. “The pumps are quicker, and look better, which helps to take a bit of stress out of their day,” he says.

This refit was done with one eye firmly set on the future of the business. “The new tanks and pipework will give us the option to sell higher-grade fuels,” Andrews explains.

“They offer us better margins. It took a bit of extra investment, but we didn’t want to regret not having it done going forwards.”

“WE had fresh fruit and vegetables before the refit,” says Andrews. “But it’s presented in a much more effective way now and we’re selling much more as a result. Having a bigger range gives it that supermarket feel.”

The new fresh meat counter has had a similar impact.

“Although we don’t have an in-house butcher like some stores, we use a local supplier,” he relates. “It’s highquality meat and we’ve found that people don’t mind paying a little more for that quality.”

There’s also an organic milk hut outside the store, where people can pay via contactless to fill up a bottle. It’s run on a profit-share agreement with a local supplier and brings different customers to the forecourt.

“It doesn’t take sales from the milk section in store,” Andrews explains. “It’s different people buying organic milk.

It’s brought in new footfall.”

ANDREWS strives to meet the community’s needs with Maiden Newton Service Station, whether that’s in charity donations or filling gaps in the market to give local villagers easy access to certain luxuries.

“There are no takeaways around here, so we sell fresh pizzas we make on site on Friday and Saturday nights,” he explains. “We also have an extensive range of Cook ready meals, which fill a similar need for people looking for something quick and easy.”

Giving something back to the community is also a big priority for Andrews.

“We sponsor and donate to a local preschool, the youth club and the school,” he says. “We also helped fund buying a defibrillator for the village, which is kept at the shop. It’s all about giving something back, and we know that people like and appreciate that.”

RETAILER ADVICE SECURITY

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

17

PROTECT AND DETER DARYL WORTHINGTON finds out how forecourt owners can protect their businesses and deter crime

A GROWING CHALLENGE SECURITY is a challenge for any retailer, but it’s particularly complex for forecourt owners balancing more diverse businesses. Effective crime deterrents is key, and this starts with knowing what to be on the lookout for.

“Drive-offs, shop theft and till robbery are the main problems forecourt retailers face

when asked about security,” says Tim Raynor, video surveillance product manager at ADT. There are a number of warning signs, and it pays to train your staff to be vigilant for these.

“Some of the most common indicators of crime are identifying drivers at the wheel while a passenger is filling up on fuel,

vehicles parked at an unusual angle to prevent registration plates being detected by CCTV, and vehicles intentionally being parked away from the store towards the exit. Face coverings or biker helmets are also a cause for concern when entering the shop side as it makes identification more difficult,” Raynor continues.

MASKING THE PROBLEM FACE masks becoming mandatory in shops is a sensitive issue. On the one hand, for the safety of staff and customers, store owners want to encourage masks to be worn. On the other, customers wearing masks presents a security challenge when it comes to identification.

Fortunately, suppliers such as Facewatch have moved quickly to take on these challenges.

“Facial recognition (FR) algorithms work by reading various parts of the face, including the

areas around the eyes,” says Nick Fisher, Facewatch CEO. “Facewatch has developed periocular facial recognition that particularly focuses on details around the eye region and is therefore able to accurately detect faces wearing a mask. Periocular FR will never be as accurate as full-face FR, however when combined with our Micro network video recorder that records all faces entering a business, it’s the best technology available to date in the world of facial recognition.”

SUPPLIER

VIEW Nick Fisher, CEO, Facewatch

“UNFORTUNATELY, the theft of fuel from forecourts and goods from stores is defined as a crime but not treated as one by the police. In fact, the majority of the 43 constabulary forces across the UK have publicly stated they will not attend to theft-related issues under £100.

“Consequently, retailers are becoming increasingly exposed to retail crime, including fuel and store theft, as thieves become more aware of the limited police resources. Retailers must adopt a self-help approach.

Facewatch is proven to deter crime from stores: which thief wants to be recognised? Our testimonials indicate that within 12 weeks of deploying Facewatch, retailers will see a significant reduction in crime in their stores, making the environment safer for staff and customers.”

RETAILER ADVICE SECURITY

18

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

NO MEANS OF PAYMENT WITH ‘no means of payment’ (NMoP) incidents accounting for nearly two-thirds of forecourt crime, it’s vital to have a system in place in your store to tackle the issue.

“Should a motorist say they don’t have the means to pay for fuel, try to remain calm and courteous,” says Bruce Nichol, operations director at the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS).

“In the majority of cases, this type of incident is a genuine mistake. Retailers should collect the customer’s name, address, postcode

top tips Help is at hand: where to go for more help

and car registration number.

As most people have a mobile phone, ask for their number and try it. Then follow industry standard procedure, such as BOSS Payment Watch, as a means to recover what’s owed.”

Getting certain basics right is also crucial, Nichol explains. “At all times, ensure that your CCTV system is working correctly and the image is clear. Also retain all CCTV images of drive-off or NMoP incidents as they may be needed as evidence at a later stage.”

Facewatch Facewatch.co.uk / 0207 930 3225 Forecourt Eye Forecourteye.com / 0113 887 4870 BOSS Bossuk.co.uk / info@bossuk.org ADT Adt.co.uk / 0808 296 3373

GET THE LAYOUT CORRECT AS forecourts diversify their business, taking on elements such as food-to-go concessions, it pays to think carefully about layout when it comes to reducing the risk of crime.

Look for potential blind spots that can’t be easily seen by staff or security cameras.

“To get the maximum performance from security systems,

EXPERT

VIEW

Bruce Nichol, operations director, British Oil Security Syndicate “THE Covid-19 crisis has accelerated a trend towards ‘no means of payment’ incidents and they now account for approximately two-thirds of all forecourt fuel crime incidents. Since June, the volume of drive-off incidents has returned to pre-Covid levels. Regionally, we didn’t see too much of a drop off in the south-east, but in northern and rural areas we recorded fewer incidents.

“BOSS analysis has also found that only 10% of drive-off incidents are the result of motorists deliberately filling up and then driving away from a pump and not entering a store to pay for fuel. Therefore, 90% of incidents are motorists failing to pay once they enter the store. We’d encourage all retailers to be extra vigilant, especially during busy periods, and when a motorist says ‘no fuel’, ask where they have parked.”

lighting is paramount,” advises ADT’s Tim Raynor.

“Investing in bright lighting will not only act as a deterrent for unwanted loiterers, it will also aid in providing a higherquality visual recording if you’re required to revisit footage in the future.”

He continues: “Cluttering windows with advertise-

ments, sales and retail displays is a common mistake made for those who are keen on promoting sales. Not only will this encourage opportunistic theft, but the line of sight is also obstructed, making it difficult for clerks inside to witness events unfolding on the forecourt while serving customers.”

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CATEGORY ADVICE ALCOHOL

20

25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

SPIRIT OF LOCKDOWN How has the pandemic, lockdown and subsequent reopening of pubs affected the alcohol category?

TOM GOCKELEN-KOZLOWSKI takes a closer look

THE SURGE IN DRINKING AT HOME IN normal times, most alcohol manufacturers focus both on off-trade retailers and on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants. With the latter affected so acutely by the lockdown, suppliers’ minds have concentrated on the additional opportunities created by at-home drinking.

“There were seven million more in-home alcohol occasions in March,” says Norbert Jozsa, head of category and insight at Accolade Wines.

“Hospitality is beginning to reopen, but this will be slow

progress. We are looking to continue to leverage strength in in-home occasions, while looking for ways to adapt to new socially distant outdoor occasions.”

So, how is the category responding to this once-in-ageneration challenge?

Some brands saw the upheaval of lockdown as an opportunity to run tailored promotions. As much-loved celebrities offered Brits ways to help stave off creeping loneliness and boredom, wine brand Blossom Hill

likewise gave consumers the opportunity to win a prize to surprise loved ones as part of its ‘Friendship Fridays’ Instagram campaign. This included flowers, a bottle of Blossom Hill Gin Fizz Rhubarb or the chance to take part in a flower-arranging workshop.

“Retailers should seek brands that are well connected with consumers online so that they provide an offering that already resonates,” says Ben Blake, head of marketing at Blossom Hill brand owner Treasury Wine Estates.

RETAILER

VIEW

Linda Sood, Premier Falcon Convenience Store, Portsmouth “DURING the lockdown, we saw a big uptick in alcohol sales, but the big issue for us was availability – and it still is. Stella single cans, Stella 10-packs and Heineken single cans were unavailable in my last order. Carlsberg came in last week after us not being able to source it throughout the lockdown. Customers like their usual drinks brand, but if it’s not available they normally choose something else – it’s not the kind of thing where they shop around to find it. Our spirit sales went up by less than beer, but we offered home delivery, and that accounted for a big part of our spirit sales.”

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CATEGORY ADVICE ALCOHOL

22

COCKTAILS AT HOME In recent years, there has been a growing trend for consumers to make cocktails at home and it is an area where Covid-19 may help boost sales further.

“The lockdown has directly impacted on our cocktail culture as the number of people making cocktails at home has really taken off,” says Charlotte Rann, director of impulse & routes to market at Bacardi. “Stuck at home, there was a big trend for con-

sumers to try out new things and improve their skills. Our research found that as many as 43% tried their hand at mixology during lockdown.”

This opportunity has not lessened since lockdown restrictions have begun to ease.

“Despite the reopening of the on-trade, many are still cautious about returning to normal – with nervousness about large social gatherings, the hygiene methods

in place and also the level of spending associated with drinking out,” says James Stocker, marketing director at Halewood Wines & Spirits. “Therefore, it’s unlikely that the trend for ‘cocktails at home’ will be going away any time soon.”

Even as summer comes to an end, at-home cocktails could remain a popular choice for autumn and winter big nights in.

what to Stock

Heineken 0.0 According to Heineken, this ‘low and no’ brand leader is experiencing growth of 76%, proving that demand for lowalcohol products has survived the lockdown.

Echo Falls Botanicals Accolade’s latest brand extension for Echo Falls is lower in alcohol (5.5% ABV) and available in Melon & Mint and Raspberry & Lavender flavours.

RETAILER

VIEW

Leanne McGowen, Icon Stores, Aberdeen “WE’VE just gone under a local lockdown and last week our sales were nearly £4,000, which represents 15% of our sales – before lockdown came back, we were at 10%. Since March, we’ve sold a lot more of the larger formats of beers and I think customers are coming to us rather than having to go to the supermarkets, which is helping. I also think people have realised that, without pubs, they’ve been saving a lot of money, so are continuing to drink at home. To maximise spend we have a display on our counter with Pringles and popcorn and other bits to go alongside their purchases.”

NO PLACE LIKE HOME OTHER trends have also survived the pressures of an international pandemic unscathed. Consumers are still looking for low- and no-alcohol drinks in record numbers, for example. In May, Accolade Wines launched Echo Falls Botanicals, which brings together gin-style botanical flavours and a lower ABV of 5.5%. Accolade says 73% of no- and low-alcohol drinkers buy wine. Bacardi, meanwhile, has created two non-alcoholic Martini aperitives, Vibrante and Floreale.

Toby Lancaster, category and shopper marketing director at Heineken, recommends going the extra mile to draw attention to your store’s noand low-alcohol range, to make sure customers for this category know your store is the place to go.

“Retailers looking to capitalise on the growing no and low trend should aim to draw attention to no and low options by implementing zero zones, and no and low zones,” he explains.

“Zero zones are permanent

chillers that increase visibility of the alcohol-free category in store and provide retailers with chilled space to showcase alcohol-free products together.”

Lancaster continues: “No and low zones are point-ofsale materials, such as shelf stripping and wobblers, that get merchandised in the chiller or fixture alongside the no- and low-alcohol range in store. The objective of both formats is to drive awareness, trial and penetration of this growing category.”

Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger gin Alongside Halewood’s Dead Man’s Fingers Mango rum, this is an option for those customers buying premium cocktail ingredients for home.

Martini Non-Alcoholic Vibrante One of two non-alcoholic aperitives created by Bacardi, Vibrante is flavoured with bergamot, while a Floreale offers shoppers a chamomile taste.

Strongbow Rosé Earlier in the year, Heineken launched a new cider that taps into the trend for pink and rosé drinks.

Blossom Hill Gin Fizz This mixture of crisp white wine, ‘botanical-infused water’ and gin is designed to help Blossom Hill tap into the still-growing gin trend.

Bombay Sapphire Bramble This berries-flavoured variety of Bombay Sapphire is new for 2020 and comes with an RRP of £25. A £10 fractional for its original gin is also new.

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Top tipS

Top tipS

How to attract cocktails-at-home shoppers to your store

Four lessons for your store

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Choose brands smartly Look for the brands doing lots of online promotion – these are the ones that will be in shoppers’ minds when they come into your store.

Create your own signs and PoS with popular cocktail recipes in your alcohol section.

Stock mixers, garnishes and other ingredients in or close to your alcohol section.

Try cocktails at home Merchandise ingredients for popular cocktails close together, to encourage customers looking for something different on a big night in.

Encourage shoppers to send you photos of cocktails they made. Share these on your Facebook or Twitter.

Keep no and low separate Make the customer journey easier by grouping no and low products together in their own area.

Cash in on flavoured spirits The success of flavoured vodka in recent weeks means now could be the time to trial it in your store.

KEEPING SPIRITS UP THROUGH THE PANDEMIC CERTAIN alcohol shopper trends that have been picking up momentum for the past few years have really accelerated during lockdown.

“During lockdown, we know that consumers have been increasingly willing to experiment with their drinks choices, whether that is with new flavour innovations, different spirits or trying new cocktails and serves,” reveals Halewood’s James Stocker.

“This has also been driven by

SPECIAL OCCASIONS IT’S impossible to tell how the coming months will pan out and how many of us will face further lockdowns. But whatever happens, calendar dates such as Halloween will provide an invaluable excuse to celebrate.

“In the lead up to Halloween, retailers should ensure they’re making the most of their offering by promoting the occasion in store, as well as online, to remind customers to purchase,” says Toby Lancaster, category and shopper marketing director at Heineken. He also advises stores to use creative PoS and clear signage directing customers to the beer and cider fixture.

And then there is the biggest event of all: Christ-

mas. The festive period will undoubtedly be a key time for the category, suppliers agree.

Lancaster says: “Christmas presents one of the year’s biggest purchasing occasions for shoppers, so it’s essential that retailers start to prepare for the season as soon as possible. More than half of beer and cider value sales are sold during key seasonal periods, highlighting the huge opportunity for retailers and the category as a whole.”

In this year of surprises, events such as Halloween and Christmas will bring some welcome predictability for retailers and alcohol suppliers alike. Now that’s worth raising a glass to.

a desire to recreate the pub experience at home, with one in 10 consumers stating that they had tried to do so.”

In particular, flavoured spirits are doing well. Stocker says that in the past four weeks, flavoured vodka has been the fastest-growing spirits sub-category.

“In addition, flavoured gin is still responsible for driving the majority of growth within gin,” says Stocker. “This is driven by Whitley Neill

Rhubarb & Ginger, the UK’s number-one premium gin brand, as well as Whitley Neill Raspberry and Blood Orange, which are also in the top 10 best-performing.”

So, if you haven’t tried flavoured vodkas and gins in your store before, now could be the time to pick up a bottle or two from your wholesaler to see how they perform.

Speak to your customers, and find out if there is a specific brand they’re looking for.

CATEGORY ADVICE SPORTS & ENERGY DRINKS

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A SPORTING CHANCE Sports and energy drinks are diversifying.

DARYL WORTHINGTON reports on the latest trends and how to implement them in your store

the stat

£1.4bn The value of the sports and energy drinks sector in the UK

FUELLING GROWTH IT’LL come as little surprise to the majority of retailers that sports and energy drinks are one of the top-performing categories in soft drinks. According to a Red Bull spokesperson, the category is currently worth £1.4bn, with growth totalling more than £22.6m versus 2019.

It seems even the Covid-19 situation hasn’t shaken that consistently strong performance, in some ways even leading to new situations where customers could be looking for

sports and energy drinks.

“Lockdown has led to the emergence of new consumer occasions and shopper trends, which are helping to maintain demand for energy drinks,” says Amy Burgess, senior trade communications manager at Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP).

“Consumers are looking for energy kicks while working from home, as well as seeking boosts for computer-gaming sessions or to support home workouts, which are growing

in popularity nationwide.”

What’s very clear is that the category is evolving all the time, and there’s a lot to keep on top of with sports and energy drinks to make sure they’re giving the best possible sales in your store.

Whether it’s learning what pack sizes work best, the new trends shaking up the category, or the latest ranging and merchandising advice to encourage customer spend.

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Amy Burgess, trade communications manager, CCEP “THE lockdown period has involved a growing emphasis on staying fit and healthy, with almost half of people making an effort to keep active at home, including taking part in online exercise classes and solo home workouts.

Getting back into the gym is a priority for Brits.

“Reign Total Body Fuel can help retailers tap into the performance drinks opportunity. The brand engages fans and fitness enthusiasts via its social and digital platforms, with content featuring brand ambassador Thor, and through the Reign Training Channel on YouTube.”

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CATEGORY ADVICE SPORTS & ENERGY DRINKS

PACK SIZES – WHAT’S PERFORMING WELL, AND WHAT’S NOT? TO describe shopper trends in the wake of Covid-19 as volatile is an understatement.

What’s clear, however, is that while every store is different, there are certain broad trends to keep in mind, which could help ensure you’re meeting your customers’ needs.

“As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, shopping missions underwent significant change, with shoppers attempting to buy more per visit and visit less frequently in order to minimise any risk to their health,” says David Butcher, managing director for Carabao UK and Ireland.

“As a result of this, sales of multipack products experienced strong growth, with ‘take home’ sales rising 116% in symbols and 105% in convenience multiples. However, despite strong growth, ‘take home’ sales are still a small proportion of total sales, making up only 8% of category sales in symbols and 2.6% in convenience multiples during lockdown, so retailers should be careful not to over-prioritise this format.”

Butcher also stresses the importance of keeping on top of how trends will shift as

lockdown eases. He points out that as people return to work and socialising, the trend towards bigger shopping baskets will likely reverse and impulse sales will recover.

It’s not just Carabao that is reporting this pattern. “In recent months we’ve seen an increase in drink-later formats, which are growing by 8%, with multipacks driving growth at 9.4%,” says Matt Gouldsmith, channel director, wholesale at Lucozade Ribena Suntory.

“Our portfolio replicates this, as we’ve seen strong growth of 18.3% in Lucozade

Energy’s drink-later portfolio, including 1L bottles and multipacks.”

Again, Gouldsmith stresses the importance of keeping on top of what shoppers in your store are looking for.

“We’d advise retailers to pay close attention to the needs of their shoppers and adapt their soft drinks range accordingly, as with lockdown restrictions softening at the time of writing, we can expect demand for impulse products to rise.”

Keep on top of sales figures so you can react to changes in your store.

CUSTOMERS ARE VALUING VALUE GETTING the right price points in your soft drinks is vital, and as the consequences of Covid-19 are likely to push many shoppers to be more careful about their outgoings, it could take on new importance.

“Although we have seen a rise in demand for take-home formats during lockdown, as restrictions ease and the UK economy opens up, we expect to see impulse sales grow again,” says Simon Gray, founder and managing director of Boost Drinks. “To ensure retailers are prepared for this, one of the things they can do to encourage impulse sales is stock price-marked packs (PMPs).

“Ninety per cent of independent impulse sales are for 250ml or 500ml lines, so by ensuring that independents offer PMP versions of these products, they can make the path to purchase even simpler for the customer and show the customer that they’re purchasing a product they know from a brand they trust.”

Meanwhile, if people in your area are starting to return to work, incorporating sports and energy

drinks into a meal deal could also help boost overall basket spends.

“We’d recommend positioning the soft drinks range in the fridge near to the door and linking this with meal deal PoS showing what crisps, snacks or sandwiches are on offer alongside the drink,” says Gray.

“By directing the customer to additional items while they are looking for their soft drink purchase, you help make the path to wider purchases simpler and easier. Positioning all the meal deal items close to one another is also vitally important.”

Alternatively, you can also use larger-format sports and energy drinks to help drive the big-night-in occasion in store.

“Cross promotion offers with take-home formats are also really important, ensuring customers have the products they need now that we are spending more time indoors. By cross promoting our 1l energy product with share bags of crisps or confectionary, you double your chances of creating further sales,” adds Gray.

what to stock New launches to reenergise your chillers Boost Silky Smooth Caffé Latte Lucozade Energy Watermelon & Strawberry Cooler Lucozade Energy Citrus Chill Reign Total Body Fuel Monster Espresso Salted Caramel Red Bull Summer Edition Watermelon

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Kumar Patel, Patson Local, Bradford, West Yorkshire “THE good weather has boosted trade across our store.

Our sales are up 20-30% on last year, and sports drinks always do well.

“We’re always looking out for new products in sports and energy drinks. Generally we don’t do too well in the low-sugar category – customers want the full-sugar ones in this area.

“We stick to the most popular brands and flavours.

We’re limited for space, so cant stock a wide range, instead we have to focus on the strongest sellers. The exception is Boost – we stock its full range as the brand is a really good seller for us. The price, at 59p and 69p per drink, is really important. The company is also really good in terms of sending out PoS to really help us sell their products.”

the stat

£22.6m The growth in sports and energy drinks since 2019

HEALTH AND FITNESS “AS health and wellness continues to be one of the main consumer purchase drivers, more people are making simple changes such as reducing their sugar intake,” says CCEP’s Amy Burgess.

“Our zero-sugar Monster Ultra range is number one in the zero-sugar energy segment, worth more than £70m and with 20% growth. The range offers six fruity flavours all with no calories or sugar, including a new variety for this year, Monster Ultra Paradise,” she adds.

Lucozade Ribena Suntory has also noticed a switch

towards lower-sugar sports and energy drinks options in recent years, making it vital that lower-sugar options are well represented in your range.

“Shoppers’ spending on no- and low-sugar drinks has increased by 33% and 29%, respectively. In fact, there is now a higher volume of zerosugar drinks bought than regular, showing just how important this segment of the market is for retailers,” explains LRS’s Gouldsmith.

“Having the right range will drive sales from those looking for healthier soft

drinks options. This means retailers should ensure their chillers are stocked up on lower-sugar soft drinks such as Lucozade Sport Low Cal and Lucozade Zero – now worth a combined £26.7m m – to capitalise on the ongoing trend towards lower-sugar choices.”

Take a look at your range, and make sure you’re offering low- or The year-on-year growth in no-sugar versions of your top-sellsugar-free energy drinks ers in a prominent location.

the stat

35%

CATEGORY ADVICE SPORTS & ENERGY DRINKS

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COOL COFFEE OPPORTUNITY CHILLED coffee drinks are a growing area of the market, according to suppliers, and this is a trend that many retailers are seeing as well.

“An important trend we expect to perform well is outof-home hot and cold coffee.

The market is already worth more than £20.2m and is growing at 51.9% in value year on year,” says Boost’s Simon Gray.

“To cater for the growing RTD coffee market, in March this year we launched two new, chilled ready-to-drink coffee lines – Silky Smooth Caffé Latte and Full Bodied Double Espresso with Milk, both available in £1 PMP cans,” he adds.

CCEP has also been quick to respond to this growing

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trend towards chilled coffeeflavoured drinks.

“Already worth £6m, Espresso Monster is a delicious combination of real brewed coffee and our famous Monster Energy blend, and is designed to appeal to both energy drinks fans and coffee lovers – bringing new shoppers into the segment,” says CCEP’s Amy Burgess.

“Late last year, we added to our Monster Espresso line-up with the launch of Espresso Salted Caramel, which joined the existing variants The growth in multipack – Espresso & Milk and Vanilla drinks formats Espresso.”

David Butcher, managing director, Carabao UK and Ireland “WHEN it comes to sales trends for energy drinks, data shows that retailers should be prioritising fruit flavours over original-flavoured options. In convenience stores, original-flavoured energy drinks are in decline, seeing a 2.3% drop in sales year on year, whereas fruit-flavoured energy drinks are up 1.1%. As a leading fruit-flavoured energy drinks brand, it’s therefore no surprise that Carabao Energy Drinks are showing 2.5% unit growth in the past 12 weeks.

“In March 2020, Carabao launched its Mixed Berry flavour. The new flavour was launched after Carabao noticed a significant lack of berry energy drinks on the market. According to the Euromonitor Soft Drinks report, only 1.3% of an approximate 521 million litres of berryflavoured drinks sold each year was accounted for by energy drinks.”

the stat

9.4%

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Avtar Sidhu, St. John’s Budgens, Kenilworth, Warwickshire “DURING the peak of lockdown, six to eight weeks ago, a lot of people who previously had no form of exercise took up doing some form of exercise every day. We saw a lot of functional drinks sell quite well. Cycling picked up, and cyclists would go out and use this store as one of their pit stops – so they’d be picking up bars and sports drinks. We were getting really strong impulse sales on those products.

“We see sports drinks as a growing category, so we recently gave them more room. We added a 1.25-metre impulse bay in addition to what we had before, so there’s now 3.75 metres in total. This allows us to put full cases out on display and replenish less frequently, reducing man hours and damages.”

MAXIMISE YOUR CHILLER SPACE “WE encourage retailers to review the amount of space they allocate to each sector within soft drinks. Energy is one of the best-performing and growing segments. This should be reflected on-shelf,” says CCEP’s Amy Burgess.

“The same applies to looking at how the energy fixture itself is structured; Monster is the driving force behind growth in the energy category, and space should be allocated accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Red Bull stresses the importance of vertical blocking in your chillers – that is, putting different brands on different shelves so customers can see your full range just by moving their eyes up and down.

“Shoppers only see products within a 1.3-metre breadth,” the spokesperson explains.

“Vertical blocking helps shoppers to easily find the product they are looking for, improving their ease of shop.”

Like CCEP, Red Bull also stresses the importance of a range that gives prime space to the top performers. This, of course, varies from store to store, but highlighting the fact that you have the big brands in stock is a great starting point to drawing people to your chiller. Think about what brands are carrying out major advertising campaigns, as these are the names that will resonate most with shoppers.

“Category space should be

aligned with share-of-value sales to maximise sales,” they explain.

Red Bull’s range could be great for signposting your sports and energy drinks section.

“Red Bull Energy Drink 250ml is not only our bestselling line, but it’s also the single most valuable soft drink in the UK. Red Bull Energy Drink 250ml is worth over £144m and continues to grow year on year,” says the spokesperson.

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CATEGORY ADVICE SUSTAINABILITY

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BECOMING MORE SUSTAINABLE Retailers have been taking strides to being more environmentally friendly. TAMARA BIRCH highlights 10 ways to improve your store and become more sustainable

WORK WITH SUSTAINABLE BRANDS FOUR out of five shoppers in the UK describe themselves as environmentally friendly, showing how increasingly important it is for retailers to become more sustainable.

A simple but effective way to start is by reaching out to suppliers about their latest sustainability initiatives.

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP), for instance, uses only renewable electricity to make its products.

“All of our Smartwater bottles are already made from 100% recyclable material, which helped to remove 2,800 tonnes of virgin plastic from circulation in 2019,” explains

Nick Brown, head of sustainability at CCEP. Britvic made a similar move, with all of its soft-drinks bottles now 100% recyclable.

“Research shows that consumers’ top priorities regarding sustainability are ethically sourced food and drink, and environmentally friendly packaging,” says Britvic’s outof-home commercial director, Phil Sanders.

Eighty-two percent of shoppers say they consider ‘environmentally friendly’ labelling when buying, so highlight soft-drinks bottles and other products made from recycled material to alert eco-conscious

shoppers and help them make informed decisions.

Meanwhile, Borough Wines has seen potential in refill stations and offers retailers the opportunity to install a refill wine-on-tap system. The system uses reusable kegs, with each keg saving 33.3 glass bottles, labels, corks and capsules from entering the waste cycle. A spokesperson for the supplier says the system not only helps the environment, but also drives repeat custom.

“The nature of refill means customers need to return, so it guarantees footfall and builds loyalty,” they say.

RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE RECYCLING is at the heart of sustainability and there are plenty of incentives to get started. As well as reducing waste, recycling can help lower emissions and can easily be done throughout your store. Recycling can be done by anyone, whatever the size of your shop and whoever your customers are.

Take your delivery, for instance. Do you separate the different types of plastic for recycling? Most retailers receive multiple deliveries each week and recycling the plastic is one step to becoming a more sustainable store.

Become a recycling port of

call for shoppers on the go, especially as more people transition away from home working. While shoppers have been recycling plastic, glass and paper at home for years, a recycling point near work or their kids’ school isn’t always easy to find. This gives retailers a unique opportunity to become that port of call for shoppers.

“Independent retailers are in a position to encourage on-the-go recycling,” says John Letford, head of category at Danone Waters UK & Ireland. “For example, with PoS reminders or recycling bins in store.”

Alternatively, KP Snacks launched a nationwide recycling scheme in partnership with TerraCycle for bagged nuts, popcorn, pretzels and crisps that is free for retailers to use. “The scheme is simple to use and has already collected over 4.8 million snack packets at the 500 public drop-off locations around the UK,” says Matt Collins, trading director at KP Snacks.

To encourage collection, KP Snacks offers charity points based on the number of packets collected, which can be redeemed for a variety of charitable gifts or direct payment to a non-profit of their choice.

CATEGORY ADVICE SUSTAINABILITY

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INVEST IN LED LIGHTING HAVING strong lighting in store is vital. The right lighting has the power to set the right atmosphere and show off the strongest products in your range, but is your lighting environmentally friendly?

There are a number of benefits to installing LED lighting, whether it’s making a bestselling category stand out or lighting up the store and making it easier to navigate. Done right, LED lighting will also have a positive impact on your environmental credentials – and reduce your energy bills.

Similar to installing doors on chillers, LED lighting is not

a cheap investment, but the long-term savings can make it worth it.

David Woodrow, of Woodrow’s Newsagent in Glasgow, worked with the Post Office to install his LED lighting. “Our energy bills have reduced by 15% and it means we’re doing our bit for the environment, too. LED lighting is also really easy to maintain,” Woodrow says.

Reach out to your symbol group or suppliers about costs as these will vary depending on how advanced the lighting is and the size of your store.

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BECOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT CHILLERS and freezers are found in most convenience stores, but some are more detrimental to the environment than others, while also having significantly different impacts on your energy bills.

Despite the uncertainty around Covid-19, Amrit Singh, from Nisa Local High Heath in Walsall, recently underwent a substantial refit. The biggest change? Installing doors on his chillers.

Installing doors on chillers and freezers isn’t cheap, but it can help you to reduce your overall energy bills, and keep your premises warmer.

What’s more, retailers report that chillers with doors result in stock being ‘colder for longer’ after it’s been purchased, something your customers are sure to appreciate in a heatwave, en route to a social event or simply shopping on the go.

Meanwhile, CCEP has been working with independent re-

tailers across the UK to install energy-efficient chillers. These chillers use natural refrigerants, are fitted with LED lights and use insulation technology to ensure maximum efficiency.

“We have also recently introduced energy management systems, which can reduce power consumption by an aver-

age of 30%,” explains Brown.

“We do this by sending equipment into standby mode after periods of inactivity.”

Making the switch can be equivalent to planting 117 trees – a great message to share with your customers. So, if you do switch, be sure to shout about it on social media and in store.

GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED WHILE there are plenty of initiatives you can apply in store to improve your sustainability efforts, there’s also lots to do within your local communities, such as a litter pick. Retailers, including Aman Uppal, from One Stop Mount Nod in Coventry, participate in annual litter picks as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s (KBT) annual ‘Great British Spring Clean’ campaign, supported by CCEP. “Each year, we invite retailers to join us in the fight against litter, using their position as community hubs to mobilise local people, while

also reinforcing their position as sustainable businesses and boosting community spirit,” says CCEP’s Nick Brown.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, however, litterpicking hasn’t been at the top of retailers’ agendas. As a result, KBT has rescheduled its its Great British Spring Clean to 11-27 September and renamed it the ‘Great British September Clean’.

“While we won’t be encouraging large community group clean-ups, we’ll have information available on our customer hub website in the coming

weeks for retailers to communicate in store. Their shoppers can remain safe if they decide to take part in small clean-ups, adhering to social distancing guidelines,” Brown adds.

In fact, Amrit Singh and his family recently organised a socially distanced litter-pick in the local community, which shoppers praised.

To get started, post on social media asking about dates and encourage engagement, explaining the benefits of cleaning up the area or how it can be a low-cost, educational day out for children.

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Nick Brown, head of sustainability, Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) “SUSTAINABILITY remains on the global agenda as we begin the post-Covid-19 recovery. We all have our part to play in this, and the small changes being made at a local level can collectively make a huge difference. And that’s where retailers come in.

“There is a real opportunity for retailers to play a leading role in the national effort to recover sustainably, tapping into the public’s increased awareness of sustainability to cement their position as a force for good in their communities. Independent stores so often sit at the heart of their communities and enjoy unique relationships with their shoppers, meaning they are perfectly placed to engage people in environmental issues and encourage positive behaviour, such as making sure packaging is properly recycled.”

REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT MOST independent retailers receive multiple deliveries a week, so reducing that where possible will help improve your environmental credentials. Start by taking a close look at what is delivered and when, and speak to suppliers or wholesalers about the possibility of consolidating that into fewer deliveries.

Alternatively, is it possible to work with other local convenience stores and double up on deliveries?

Paul Hargreaves, chief executive at Cotswold Fayre, says having fewer deliveries throughout the week will reduce the number of cars on the road, and so will reduce transport emissions. “Although it depends on where the retailer is on their journey towards sustainability, the largest impact on a retailer’s carbon emissions is how they receive their delivered goods,” he says. “Try to consolidate your supply, as this equals less

carbon, and use a wholesaler who is net zero for carbon.”

With as many as seven in 10 consumers now more aware of the human impact on nature, this is likely to affect their buying habits, so taking steps to reduce emissions in your supply chain is key. Don’t be afraid to start off small. Something as simple as reducing the number of trips you make to a cash and carry each week makes a difference.

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CATEGORY ADVICE SUSTAINABILITY

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John Petre, sustainability steering group supply chain and technical director, Weetabix “BRITISH people are increasingly aware that it’s time for radical environmental change and this can include their shopping habits, both where they shop and the products they buy. Sustainability will continue to be high on the agenda in the years ahead, alongside the demand for convenience and buying local, so independent retailers have the chance to be at the forefront of this.

“Sixty per cent of customers say they want to buy from a sustainable brand, although currently only 26% actually do so. Research has shown that almost half of the UK population is willing to pay more for socially conscious or environmentally friendly brands, so now is the time for retailers to grasp this opportunity by stocking a variety of eco-friendly goods where possible, ensuring they are clearly signposted to encourage purchase.”

EIGHTY-TWO per cent of Britons say that when it comes to single-use food packaging – not just plastics, but glass, metal and paper – UK supermarkets are not doing enough to tackle the problem, according to a 2019 YouGov report.

In fact, only 10% believe the efforts of supermarkets to find other, more sustainable ways of packaging are good enough.

This presents an opportunity for convenience stores, and while removing plastic from fruit and veg isn’t advised at the moment, it’s something to think about in future.

Meanwhile, consider introducing bags for life. Emily Spencer-Mawer and Brenda

Thomas, of Brenda’s of Norwell in Nottinghamshire, introduced branded bags for life a few years ago. To incentivise shoppers, the duo encouraged them to take photos of the bags on their travels.

Meanwhile, Alan Mannings, of Shop on the Green in Chartham, Canterbury, worked with other convenience stores in his village to introduce a carrier bag charge in a bid to become more environmentally friendly.

Suppliers have taken note of the war on non-recyclable plastic, too, which retailers can take advantage of. Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) is removing 325 tonnes of plas-

already reduced its plastic packaging by 12% since 2007.

“In addition to our efforts, we plan to reduce plastic packaging by a further 18% by 2025.

We’re on a journey with our sustainability efforts,” says John Petre, Weetabix sustainability steering group supply chain and technical director.

Communicate openly with your shoppers about your sustainability efforts and why you’re working with certain suppliers. Use signage throughout the store to remind shoppers about these recyclable brands and point them towards their local recycling point besides your store.

donating any food near its sell-by date that won’t be sold in store the following day to a local food bank. Contact your local food banks to find out what’s acceptable for donation, or if they’re in need of any specific stock.

For retailers with a food-togo area, use any fruit and veg approaching its shelf-life date as ingredients for larger meal ideas. Dennis and Linda Williams, of Broadway Premier in Edinburgh, do this and say their waste has significantly reduced as a result.

“We sell a lot of homemade soups made from our veg,” they say.

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KEEP IT SIMPLE “We are taking action on what we call ‘the four Rs’ – recycle, reuse, reduce and responsible – which aligns with language already used in the convenience market,” Pybus says.

“For example, one way we’re implementing this is reducing the amount of packaging on our Cushelle toilet rolls by 50 tonnes a year.”

Weetabix’s John Petre says customer communication is also vital when getting started and can help drive footfall.

“A simple way for retailers to make their stores more sustainable is to talk to their customers about what green products they want in store, as well as looking out for brands

tic from production every year since the supplier’s Ribena Squash 1l and 500ml formats started being made with recyclable materials. “Additionally, all Lucozade Sport bottles will be made with 100% sustainable plastic, with this being rolled out across all of our bottles by 2030,” Matt Gouldsmith, wholesale channel director at LRS, says. The supplier also invested £13m at its Coleford factory in Gloucestershire in a new, more efficient production line that requires 40% less energy and water.

Similarly, Weetabix has pledged a target of having 100% of its packaging widely recyclable by 2025. It has

REDUCE FOOD WASTE WASTING food is not only bad for the environment, it costs retailers a lot of money that could be used elsewhere.

Kirti and Bimal Patel, of Londis Ferme Park Road in Stroud Green, London, discount food near its sell-by date throughout the day.

“We check dates three times a day and reduce prices accordingly,” the duo explain.

“We also donate any garden waste to our local garden centre – we try to use our waste in an effective way that works for us.”

Overall, there is plenty that retailers can do to ensure they are not wasting food. Consider

BECOMING a more sustainable shop isn’t something you can achieve overnight, so making big, expensive changes isn’t advised straight away. Instead, focus on what changes you can make in store that aren’t going to cost huge amounts. Are you able to introduce bags for life? Are you ordering too much and wasting stock? Are you regularly seeing waste on slow sellers? If so, it might be time to review what you can do to save money and help the environment.

Jo Pybus, sustainability manager at Essity, a global health and hygiene company, advises keeping it simple.

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with sustainable credentials.

Small changes can make a big difference in terms of consumers’ perceptions,” he says.

LRS’s Matt Gouldsmith says getting your team involved can be the key to success.

“Educating staff on the impact

of packaging and waste on the environment, and the importance of following through recycling procedures to limit the store’s footprint, can go a long way in building awareness and commitment to sustainability.”

ALTHOUGH it’s key to maintain availability, getting the right balance between having the right amount of stock and having too much is just as important. Using your EPoS data can help manage stock levels and ensure you’re only ordering what your store will actually need.

London retailers Kirti and Bimal Patel use their EPoS system to avoid unnecessary waste. “Our EPoS data analyses our ordering levels and makes sure we don’t overload on stock, which has helped us manage everything in store, too,” they explain.

Vip Measuria, of One Stop @ The Prior Way in Derby, also uses his EPoS data to find the right balance. “Our EPoS

systems analyse our sales and automatically order new stock for us, but it’s set to make sure we don’t order too much of one product,” he explains. “We worked with our symbol group to make sure our EPoS system worked for us and helped us operate more efficiently and keep our waste low.”

By avoiding ordering too much stock, retailers can decrease their waste and reduce deliveries each week. This will help improve your carbon footprint, too.

Regularly reviewing your range will help you to gain an understanding of which lines are selling and identify any slow sellers that are regularly being wasted.

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25 AUGUST-7 SEPTEMBER 2020 betterRetailing.com

‘THE BAN ISN’T A THREAT, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY’ With the menthol ban now well established, DARYL WORTHINGTON finds out how retailers have responded and what former menthol smokers are buying in their stores

THE PROBLEM With the menthol ban now into its fourth month, three retailers explain how they’ve responded in their stores, how they’re helping their customers and the products former menthol smokers are choosing.

1

Mark Dudden, Albany Road Post Office, Cardiff

“BEFORE the menthol ban came in, we’d seen a gradual swing away from menthol products with our customers anyway.

Nevertheless, we’ve still had some people coming in looking for menthol cigarettes.

“When I have customers asking me about them, I let them know about the ban. I let them have their little moan, and then I’ll explain about some of the alternatives we have, such as Sterling Dual, or Rizla �lavour cards. I always ask them to let me know what they think of it next time they come in, because that feedback is really useful for me.

“The Sterling Dual cigarillos have been brilliant and sold really well. Customers seem to be really happy with the price for a pack of �ive. Because of Covid-19, a lot of people are shopping for others, and that makes it even more important that we can make suggestions and offer alternatives.”

2

Avtar Sidhu, St John’s Budgens, Kenilworth, Warwickshire

“I CHOOSE not to see the menthol ban as a threat, but an opportunity for us to embrace. Put simply, the government legislation isn’t going to change, so you have to look at how you can respond to the new situation. Menthol smokers are now looking for a new product, and we have the chance to offer them something that meets their needs – whether that’s another tobacco product, Iqos or vapes.

“My staff are fully trained and knowledgeable. That means they can give customers good facts to help them make a decision about what product they want to replace their menthol cigarettes with.

“For instance, two of my staff are vape specialists. They go to exhibitions to really learn about the sector. It’s about playing the medium- to long-term game so that when something like the menthol ban happens, you can explain the alternatives.”

3

Ferhan Ashiq, Day Today Ashiqs, Prestonpans, East Lothian

“SO far it’s hard for us to tell what effect the menthol ban has had. Because of Covid-19, more people are spending time in the local area and buying from us. Our tobacco sales have been doing really well.

“However, two menthol replacement products have stood out: JPS Superking Greens and the Sterling Dual cigarillos. The sales of these have been strong and I assume that a big part of that is former menthol smokers taking them up. It was really helpful that suppliers released these products ahead of the ban, as it meant customers had time to get used to them and try them out.

“Some customers still come in asking for menthol products, so we explain what is available. Our vaping category has stayed steady; we saw a few more people trying it when the ban came in, but who then went back to smoking tobacco.”

Facing a challenge? We’ve teamed up with the betterRetailing.com Support Hub and the IAA to provide a helpline for the answers you need. Call 020 7689 0500, email iaa@newtrade.co.uk or visit betterRetailing.com/coronavirus