Retail Express - 26 July 2022 by BetterRetailing

HEALTHIER SNACKS Top tips on getting the most from this growing category 20

P18-22 2022 26 JULY-8 AUGUST betterRetailing.com

ICE CATEGORY ADV G HEALTHIER SNACKIN

10 top Trends

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 STRICTLY FOR TRADE USERS ONLY

snacking from Ten top trends in healthier at KP Snacks director Matt Collins, trading

The health segment annually.

of snacking is growing

by 10%

st benefits are the second-bigge Products with nutritionalfor 13% of snacking choices, health need, accountingnatural/unprocessed snacks while consuming more7% of consumption decisions. accounts for a further Only 1% of consumers healthily.

FOR STRONGER MERCHANDISING G SALES HEALTHIER SNACKIN

the can get them into regulations, tailers of more customers and THE arrival of HFSS , eyeline who weren’t even if not fully implemented on encourage people for healthy looking will place further emphasis retailers actively healthy snacking, with layouts snacks to try them. PoS reviewing their store In either case, dedicated enormous and placement of snacking. displays can have an Some suppliers recommend impact on customer awareness ‘healthy’ creating a dedicated of plant- and help drive sales. of alfull zone in the store, “Stock a wide range options. based and gluten-free stocking ternative snacks in a variety such as multipacks, Others say that by to their of formats consumers working healthy options next cousins, re- giving more mainstream

fewer flexibly and making to buy store visits the optionstock up products in bulk and says Lucia on their favourites,” at Eat Gimson, brand manager Natural. still With healthy snacks shoppers something that many think might not immediately impulsively, purchase of or meal deals featuring them in shoppers’ can help to draw overcome and attention

“Capitalise pricing concerns. says on impulse purchasing,” Allison Saputo Dairy UK’s

Wallentin. of con“Seventy-five per cent on impulse. sumers buy snacks the end of Place snacks towards the front at the shopper’s trip or other foodof store, alongside to-go products. and “Make it easy to locate grab-andclearly labelled, with selection.” go options for faster

After trading standards admits to wrongly confiscating legitimate tobacco, retailer claims…

‘MY STORE’S REPUTATION IS AT RISK’ P3

DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME

FORECOURTS

IAA GALA DINNER 2022

Upcoming legislation complicated and limited for retailers, warn wholesalers

UK watchdog sides with petrol retailers following profiteering claims from gov’t

Category Stars from this year’s Independent Achievers Academy share top tips

P16-17

say they never try to

eat

limit or are taking steps to Sixty per cent of consumers their diet. reduce the sugar in with more trends are here to stay, Plant-based eating incorporate choosing diets that consumers actively foods. more veg and plant-based believe plant25-to-44-year-olds the Forty-six per cent of believe it’s better for 38% and based is healthier, environment. are currently avoiding Fifteen per cent of households gluten and wheat. products with of consumers avoid Twenty-six per cent sweeteners. artificial that nuts of consumers recognise Seventy-six per cent of energy. provide a positive source to inof shoppers are looking Twenty-four per cent diet. crease protein in their

our say

Alex Yau, acting editor

Lessons from Croatian convenience IN July, the UK experienced an unprecedented heatwave as temperatures in some regions exceeded a record 40°C. In the week before, I spent nine days in similar heat on the clear beaches of Croatia. During my time in the Mediterranean country, I couldn’t help but walk into some of the local convenience stores to see what made them stand out. The three main chains were Spar, Tommy Supermarket and Studenac Market. Each one varied in size, with Spar being the largest in terms of shop floor space. Studenac Market was more akin to the smaller independent symbol group stores we have in the UK. All three chains shared one common feature that I feel could be replicated into stores in the UK. In the shops I visited, one of the more noticeable areas was an extensive STORES IN selection of local meats, cheese CROATIA SHOW AN and seafood. These were paired with a OPPORTUNITY TO range of local wines to encourSTAND OUT age customers to trade up. The sections were also manned by an employee who provided their expertise on the local products and suggested suitable pairings. It was a standout feature and highlighted the care each of the different grocery brands put into their store. I’m not suggesting all shops in the UK can stock fresh deli and seafood products, but it shows an opportunity to stand out by shouting about the expertise in your local area. For more inspiration on how to do this, I suggest going through this issue, which is filled with similar examples from successful retailers. @retailexpress betterRetailing.com facebook.com/betterRetailing Acting editor Alex Yau @AlexYau_ 020 7689 3358

Editor – news Megan Humphrey @MeganHumphrey 020 7689 3357

Features writer Jasper Hart 020 7689 3384 @JasperAHHart

News reporter Noemi Distefano @NoemiDistefano_ 07597 588955 Deputy insight & advertorial editor Tamara Birch @TamaraBirchNT 020 7689 3361

Features editor Charles Whitting @CharlieWhittin1 020 7689 3350 Senior features writer Priyanka Jethwa @PriyankaJethwa_ 020 7689 3355

Editor in chief Louise Banham @LouiseBanham

Production editor Ryan Cooper 020 7689 3354

Production coordinator Chris Gardner 020 7689 3368

Account manager Marie Dickens 020 7689 3366

Sub editor Jim Findlay 020 7689 3373

Head of marketing Kate Daw 020 7689 3363

Sub editor Robin Jarossi

Senior account director Charlotte Jesson 020 7689 3389

Senior Account managers Barry Lavis 020 7689 3372 Lindsay Hudson 020 7689 3366

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

Head of commercial Natalie Reeve 020 7689 3372 Business delivery manager Ifzal Afzal 020 7689 3382

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

Management accountant Abigayle Sylvane 020 7689 3383 Managing director Parin Gohil 020 7689 3388 Head of digital Luthfa Begum 07909 254 949

42,281

The five biggest stories this fortnight 01

DRS slammed as ‘absolute shambles’ for retailers HELENA DRAKAKIS

WHOLESALERS and MPs have criticised the deposit return scheme (DRS), labelling it as un�it for retailers. Speaking at the Federation of Wholesale Distributors annual conference at the end of June, Bestway managing director Dawood Pervez called the upcoming legislation “ridiculous” due to a lack of an

agreed system between the ney described DRS as an “absolute shambles”. devolved nations. The scheme will enable cus“[We will] end up with a different scheme in Scotland tomers to return single-use than England and Wales,” he drinks containers to a store to said. “How is a national busi- redeem a 20p deposit. It is due ness going to manage two to be rolled out in Scotland different regulatory systems? next year, followed by England Instead we have a scheme that and Wales. The criticism comes as MPs will end up in car parks of big accused the government of supermarkets.” Similarly, Unitas Wholesale “lacking ambition” over DRS. managing director John Kin- In a letter to environment

IAA stars announced

THE best shops in the UK and Ireland were recognised at the Independent Achiever’s Academy (IAA) Gala Dinner on 13 July. The annual dinner took place in Birmingham and was the �irst time it was held in person since 2019, due to

the pandemic. Twelve category stars were announced on the evening of the dinner, recognised for excelling across retail. Vince and Fiona Malone, of Tenby Stores & Post Of�ice in Pembrokeshire, were recognised for Overall Best Shop.

PMP margin demand

A LEADING store owner has written to major suppliers, demanding that retailer margins on price-marked packs are restored to at least 19%. In his letter, Mo Razzaq, of Premier Mo’s in Blantyre, wrote: “A retailer needs to make 16% margin to break

even, but with the cost-ofliving crisis we now require a margin of at least between 19% to 20%.” Several store owners told Retail Express they wouldn’t be afraid to boycott products in the future if margins don’t improve.

For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘DRS’

Covid grant failure

COUNCILS across England failed to spend more than £175m in grants designed to help struggling business recover from the pandemic. The failure was uncovered in an investigation by Retail Express and chartered surveyor Bankier Sloan.

Under the Additional Restrictions Grants scheme, councils received four top-up grants between October 2020 and December 2021 to help struggling businesses. However, funds left unallocated by 31 March 2022 were recovered to central government.

For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘councils’

For top tips from the category stars, turn to p16

secretary George Eustice, 20 Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs said: “We urge the government to raise its ambitions and widen the scope of existing proposals for the DRS to include cartons. “A DRS with cartons is better for the environment, better for consumers and better for recycling.”

Tesco Heinz dispute

A PRICING dispute between Tesco and Heinz has been resolved and the supermarket’s shelves are to be re�illed with tins of beans and ketchup. The supermarket stopped stocking Heinz products after it refused to “pass on unjusti�iable price increases” to

customers. However, Tesco con�irmed it had reached an agreement with the supplier. It said: “Lorries full of Heinz products will hit the road, and Tesco colleagues will be working hard to ensure shelves are �illed again over the coming days.”

Audit Bureau of Circulations July 2020 to June 2021 average net circulation per issue

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

For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘PMP’

For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘Tesco’

@retailexpress facebook.com/betterRetailing

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

alex.yau@newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3358

Trading standards seizes compliant tobacco in mishap HELENA DRAKAKIS A RETAILER has claimed trading standards put his store’s reputation at risk after of�icers con�iscated legitimate cigarettes from his store. Shiv Gill runs several convenience stores including B&G Costcutter in Oldbury, West Midlands. He had left his parents in charge of the store when trading standards of�icers came into the shop and seized legitimate tobacco. The of�icers claimed the packaging was not compliant with tobacco legislation when they raided Gill’s store. Explaining the incident to Retail Express, Gill said: “When I came back to the shop they were taking stock from my Costcutter and had already removed stock from three other shops. Despite telling the trading standards of�icers that I was 100% sure the stock was compliant, they insisted it was not.” However, the of�icers returned the next day with the seized tobacco and admitted that they had made an error. Among the stock con�iscated were Sterling cigarillos, Clan pipe tobacco and St Bruno Ready Rubbed pipe tobacco. Following the incident, Gill called upon trading standards to improve training procedures. He said: “My family has run our store for 22 years with no problems. We operate in a

community, and to have of�icers removing compliant stock in this way puts my store’s reputation at risk.” “Trading standards has to do its job for the bene�it of all retailers, but I am urging them to train their staff properly.” Gill added that he understood there were increased spot checks in the area by trading standards in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, which begins in Birmingham on 28 July. When asked by Retail Express to explain the error, a Sandwell trading standards spokesperson said the stock had been seized as of�icers believed it was considered to be “included within the de�inition of being tobacco products under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 and failed to comply with the standardised packaging requirements speci�ied within the regulations”. The spokesperson added: “A debrief was conducted the following day and of�icers were advised that the products were exempt from the full standardised packaging requirements after consultation with a regional expert. This was undertaken to ensure that of�icers were aware of the exempted categories of products for future reference. The goods were returned to the business owner the following morning. Of�icers apologised for

GOOD WEEK BESTWAY: Twenty-five Costcutter and Bargain Booze hybrid stores are to launch by the end of next year. Bestway retail director Mike Hollis revealed the goal this month and added the wholesaler plans to target retailers from different symbol groups. Two stores under the concept are currently open in Kent and Liverpool. For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘Bestway’ TOBACCO: Track-and-trace operator Dentsu is dealing with “about half a million messages on a daily basis” since it took over the antiillicit tool on 1 July. Following its takeover, a Dentsu spokesperson said: “The system shows 100% availability and no technical issues have occurred.” For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘Dentsu’

BAD WEEK

Cigars, cigarillos and pipe tobacco are exempt from standardised packaging regulations

any inconvenience caused.” Commenting on how it helps trading standards identify non-compliant products, Imperial Tobacco anti-illicit trade manager James Hall told Retail Express: “Imperial Tobacco is in regular contact with trading standards of�icers across the UK and Ireland. “As a business, we have provided more than 600 witness statements this year and also are on hand to discuss latest trends, including sharing details

Squeeze More Out of Summer Sales VITAMIN B3 HELPS REDUCE TIREDNESS.

of key developments to watch out for, such as the Track & Trace legislation when it came into force in May 2020. “We provide updates via the Anti-Counterfeiting Group roadshows and have communication links with almost 300 trading standards of�icers nationwide who are able to contact us at any time to check any tobacco-related matters. We work very closely with trading standards of�icers to ensure all in-

formation we receive on the illicit tobacco trade is passed on swiftly.” According to a recent report released last month by KPMG and Philip Morris International, the Midlands was one of the worst offending areas for illicit tobacco consumption across the UK and Ireland in 2021. The West Midlands made up 23% of total illegal consumption in the year, while 21% during the period came from the East Midlands.

NISA: Figures released for the year ending 2 January 2022 have revealed annual revenue within Nisa fell from £1.6bn to £1.3bn. The wholesaler attributed the drop to a reversal in pandemic trends. Within specific categories, fresh and frozen revenue fell from £335m to £293m during the period, alongside licensed (falling from £298m to £243m). For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘Nisa’ EVRI: Retailers offering an Evri parcel service will no longer be able to accept labels from shipping partner InPost. In a letter to eBay, the company attributed the change to “improvements” being made by InPost to its parcel locker service. For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘Evri’

NEWS

CMA rules in favour of forecourts ALEX YAU

THE UK’s competition watchdog has sided with independent petrol retailers, following accusations from the government they were pro�iteering on fuel. Last month, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng urged the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to conduct an urgent review after claiming forecourts were not pass-

when wholesale prices were rising,” he said. Despite claims that petrol retailers were pro�iteering from the duty cut, some store owners actually lost out on fuel sales. Posting on social media, forecourt Dafarn Newyd Stores in Oswestry said: “Due to the economic situation, we have had to make the tough decision to temporarily close our fuel pumps.”

MAKE YOUR MARK

SHARE THE MOMENT

REDUCED SMOKE SMELL PAPER

MODERN STAR SHAPED BORE FILTER

LIMITS LINGERING SMOKE ODOUR ON HANDS AND CLOTHES AFTER SMOKING

CREATES A UNIQUE SMOKING EXPERIENCE

TEXTURED TIPPING PAPER

RESEALABLE FOIL

SO SMOKERS CAN FEEL THE QUALITY

TO PROTECT AND SECURE THE PACK

MAKE YOUR MARK

For Tobacco Traders Only.

MAKE YOUR MARK

FOR GREAT SUMMER SALES

MAKE YOUR MARK

For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘CMA’

MAKE YOUR MARK Nisa increases fuel levy again to battle costs

MAKE YOUR MARK

“The gap between retail and wholesale fuel prices is volatile, and the CMA is aware that in recent weeks it has grown larger. The CMA will be monitoring this closely as it takes forward the market study.” ACS chief executive James Lowman welcomed the �indings. “We are pleased the CMA has acknowledged that retailers did pass on the duty rate cuts to drivers even

MAKE YOUR MARK

ing on a 5p cut in fuel duty to their customers. In its �indings published on 8 July, the CMA said: “Although there are concerns from some about fuel retailers pro�iting from the current situation, our review �inds that over the course of a year, the gap between wholesale prices and retail prices has not been a signi�icant contributor to the overall rise in pump prices.

NISA has yet again ramped up its fuel levy, from £9.77 to £13.43 per delivery. The increase came into effect on 11 July and is the second rise since the charge, which retailers have

criticised, was introduced in February. Nisa chief operating of�icer John McNeill said it was necessary due to increases in the cost of fuel and did not rule out any further changes in the future.

For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘Nisa’

FURTHER MILK RISES WARNING DAIRY supplier Arla has warned of more milk price increases unless “urgent action” is taken to address a shortage of farm workers. The firm’s managing director, Ash Amirahmadi, said: “Addressing the labour shortage and the implications this could have for food security is vitally important. Now is the time for all of us, across government and industry, to work urgently and

collaboratively to shift outdated misconceptions about farming and bring new talent into the industry.”

Iqos Heets stock gaps THE Ukrainian con�lict has impacted the availability of Heets re�ills for Iqos devices. In a message sent to retailers this month, and seen by Retail Express, Nisa said: “As a result of the challenging external environment, driven primarily by

MAKE YOUR MARK

the situation in Ukraine, Philip Morris International are experiencing temporary supply challenges which are currently impacting their ability to provide a consistent supply of Heets in all markets, including the UK.” For the full story, go to betterRetailing.com and search ‘Iqos’

MAKE YOUR MARK

RETAIL

IN ACTION

PAID FEATURE BRAND SPOTLIGHT

In partnership with

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

Why stock Ribena Sparkling?

FOCUS ON:

RIBENA SPARKLING Ribena Sparkling has added over £11m1 to the flavoured carbonates segment since launching in 2020, and is also exempt from high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) restrictions. RETAIL EXPRESS explores the opportunity for convenience stores

THE Ribena Sparkling range delivers the unique taste and quality of Ribena, with the uplifting and refreshing taste of a carbonated soft drink in Ribena’s beloved Blackcurrant flavour. In 2020, Ribena Sparkling went from concept to execution in 12 weeks to offer customers something new in line with changing shopper trends during the pandemic. Designed to sit alongside retailers’ flavoured carbonates range in the chiller – separately from Ribena’s core juice drinks – Ribena Sparkling is aimed at shoppers looking for a great refreshing drink with the blackcurrant flavour they know and love. What’s more, Ribena Sparkling – just like Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I’s other favourite soft drinks brands – is exempt from the upcoming HFSS legislation and therefore can continue to be sited and sold anywhere in store, making it a must-stock for retailers.

Top products

In action

Price-marked packs (PMP) tend to be more popular in suburban areas than standard packs, so retailers in these areas should ensure to stock more PMPs to cater for this and drive sales.

It’s vital to make sure the key brands consumers are looking for most often are displayed at eye-level within the chiller for instant consumption, helping sales.

Range soft drinks by category to make it easier for consumers to find what they’re looking for. The faster shoppers can find something in store, the more they’re going to spend.

Ribena Sparkling Blackcurrant 500ml RRP: £1.50 or £1.09/two-for-£2 PMP

EXT IRI, MarketPlace GB, Value, latest 52 weeks to 21.12.21

Kuldip Dhariwal, Butts Convenience, Reading

“Ribena Sparkling is a great addition to our shelves. Shoppers are picking up not just the 500ml bottles, but also the larger 2l bottled formats. The Ribena range really stands out now, giving customers more choice.”

Ribena Sparkling Blackcurrant 2l RRP: £1.85 or £1.79 PMP

To find out more about SBF GB&I’s initiatives and products, follow @SuntoryBF_GBI on Twitter

PRODUCTS

Tropicana offers retailers £10k JASPER HART TROPICANA has relaunched its retailer cash-prize offer for the second summer in a row, with £10,000 as well as 10 prizes of £500 available. The campaign runs until 15 September, with the £10,000 prize double the amount that was available last year. To be in with a chance of winning, retailers need to buy any two cases of Tropicana Smooth Orange (250ml or 850ml), Tropicana Original Orange (250ml or 850ml), Naked Blue Machine (300ml), Naked Green Machine (300ml) or Copella Cloudy Apple (300ml), and

text JUICY, their name and postcode to 85100. If a retailer is notified of their win, they will need to upload an image of their receipt of purchase to claim their prize. Lucy Kent, head of impulse at Tropicana Brands Group, said: “We know that chilled fruit juice and smoothies remains an incredibly important category for retailers during the summer months when consumers are looking for more refreshing options to purchase. Our hero lines are perfect for on-the-go drinking, and with consumers back out there enjoying the sunshine with friends and family, they can stay refreshed all day.”

“This campaign, which was a huge success last year, will give retailers a chance to win even bigger and better

cash prizes and increase their sales by stocking up on bestsellers from our varied portfolio.”

Kate Moss marks Diet Coke’s anniversary AS part of Diet Coke’s 40th anniversary celebrations this year, supermodel Kate Moss has become the brand’s first creative director in more than a decade. Moss is responsible for helping bring to life Diet Coke’s ‘Love what you love’ campaign, which spotlights individuals who embrace a positive attitude to life. Diet Coke has previously collaborated with figures from the world of fashion including Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs. Michael Willeke, integrated experience director, Europe at The Coca-Cola Company, said: “We are hon-

oured to appoint Kate Moss as our new creative director, continuing Diet Coke’s rich history of collaborating with some of the biggest names in fashion and culture.”

ASTON Manor Cider has launched its first-ever TV advert to promote its Crumpton Oaks brand as part of its ‘Straight Outta Crumpton’ campaign. The animated advert is aimed at 25-to-35-year-olds and takes its name from the popular hip-hop song ‘Straight Outta Compton’ by N.W.A. Calli O’Brien, head of mar-

keting at Aston Manor Cider, said: “We decided to create a play on N.W.A’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’ because it is a song that resonates with both loyal and new cider drinkers. The former being those who remember the 1989 hit being released and paving the way for modern-day hip-hop, and the new consumers who had the hit playing in their homes while growing up.”

Straight Outta Crumpton TV ad

Madrí makes marketing debut

Teapigs launches RTD iced tea range

MOLSON Coors has launched the first ad campaign for Madrí Excepcional, ‘Door Roja’. The £3.5m campaign aims to build on the brand’s early momentum and further establish it in the UK off-trade. Running for the next three months, it includes TV, ondemand, out-of-home, social media and experiential interactions. Having launched in the on-trade in October 2020, Madrí is now available on draught in more than 7,500 venues, and is stocked nationwide in the off-trade since launching in March. Ryan McLaughlin, marketing controller for premium beers at Molson Coors,

said: “This bold campaign captures the soul of Madrid specifically, not just Spain, enabling the brand to continue to stand out against the sea of largely undifferentiated Mediterranean lagers in the growing world lager category.”

TEAPIGS has launched a range of ready-to-drink (RTD) iced tea cans in two varieties. Launching in Super Fruit and Black Tea with Peach flavours, the range is available now from Teapigs’ website as well as for general wholesale order at an RRP of £1.99 per 250ml can. Each variety is sweetened

Kumala brings back barbecue promotion

KP Snacks launches five depot events

Major Cathedral City marketing push

ACCOLADE Wines has brought back its ‘Bring on the braai’ promotion to its South African wine brand,

Kumala, in partnership with premium barbecue manufacturer Napoleon Grills. Now in its second year, the promotion runs until 9 August. Shoppers have the chance to win a Napoleon Freestyle grill worth more than £750, as well as five portable grills. Also up for grabs are 10 pairs of tickets to CarFest 2022 and 10 cases of wine. The promotion is highlighted across more than 285,000 bottles of Kumala, including Core and Reserve lines. Participating Kumala bottles feature a neck collar advertising the competition, which consumers can enter into at a dedicated microsite.

KP SNACKS has announced five event activations taking place across major wholesalers in the coming weeks as part of its partnership with cricket tournament The Hundred. Five depots have been provided with themed theatre displays, PoS materials and a virtual reality cricket game

SAPUTO Dairy has launched a £5m Cathedral City advertising campaign for 2022-23. The campaign centres around an advert airing across national television, on-demand, YouTube and social media, which signals the start of Cathedral City’s three-year ‘Our make it better Cheddar’ campaign. Cathedral City is currently worth £285m and is bought by almost 44% of all UK households. Neil Stewart, head of marketing for Cathedral City at Saputo Dairy UK, said: “Through our new ‘Our make it better Cheddar’ campaign and TV ad, we want to showcase the skill

with agave and has no artificial flavours or sweeteners. Currently, the UK RTD tea market is worth £115m and is expected to grow by 20% this year. Additionally, 5p per can is donated to the Teapigs ethical scheme, which supports vulnerable young people in Rwanda, where the supplier sources much of its tea.

from KP, alongside prize giveaways including stock vouchers and The Hundred merchandise. The event days are taking place at Bestway Park Royal on 27 July, Parfetts Stockport on 10 August, Parfetts Aintree on 11 August and United Scotland Queenslie on 16 August, with one already having taken place at East End Birmingham on 20 July.

and dedication involved in producing our much-loved Cheddar and explain to our target audience that this expertise, commitment and passion together make delectably creamy and consistently great-tasting cheese.”

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

Halewood expands key brands HALEWOOD Artisanal Spirits has unveiled a slew of launches across its leading brands for later this year. At a trade brie�ing on 6 July, the supplier announced it was launching JJ Whitley ready-to-drink (RTD) cans at the end of July, in Blue Raspberry Vodka & Lemonade, Vodka Lime & Soda, Pink Gin & Lemonade and London Dry Gin & Tonic varieties, each with a 5% ABV. Additionally, it is launching a Dead Man’s Fingers Tequila Coffee Liqueur variety (ABV 28%). Halewood is also expanding its Whitley Neill gin range with Black Cherry and Banana & Guava varieties,

a limited-edition Mince Pie �lavour at Christmas and the launch of an alcohol-free range in Dry, Blood Orange, Rhubarb & Ginger and Raspberry varieties.

PERNOD Ricard has launched a new limitededition Havana Club 7 Years bottle in collaboration with Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The bottle is available exclusively to the con-

venience channel throughout July at an RRP of £26.99 before a launch into wider grocery next month. Its design features several references to Nigeria, including the Rivers State region where Burna Boy was born, and palm leaves on the logo as a reference to the African Union Emblem. The launch marks Havana Club’s third limited-edition bottle launch in three years, following two collaborations with rapper Skepta. The supplier is increasing the number of bottles produced to 72,000, compared with 60,000 last year.

Au Vodka makes RTD can debut AU VODKA has made its �irst steps into the RTD category, with the launch of a Blue Raspberry variety (5% ABV). At the time of writing, the new variety had launched directly from the supplier and was also available on Parfetts’ website. An individual 330ml can has an RRP of £3.79 on Au’s website. One retailer who has started stocking the can told Retail Express they were offering it for £3.50 or three for £10. Au Vodka said the original run of cans had sold out in less than a week and are available to preorder ahead of a new run in early August.

Helping the convenience channel become more sustainable

Amit himself told his story to a group of convenience retailers at an event in London in August 2021 and revealed how he had already saved more than £600 a year thanks to the changes he made.

of the new ‘Shedloads’ campaign across major UK cities. The campaign features on large out-of-home displays, digital roadside screens and buses. It also includes six-second animated adverts on YouTube and social media advertising. Tom Smith, marketing director for Europe at Accolade Wines, said Jam Shed is now worth £77m and is the 11thlargest wine brand in the UK, with a value growth of 63.3%. He added that Jam Shed over-indexes with younger, more casual wine drinkers, a demographic where traditional wine usually struggles to sell.

Gressingham’s onpack BBQ promo

Country Choice’s toastie range

POULTRY supplier Gressingham Foods has launched an on-pack promotion across its key barbecue ranges. Running until September, the promotion gives one customer the chance to win a Weber charcoal kettle BBQ, with runner-up prizes of barbecue tools and equipment also available. Additionally, everyone who enters the competition is eligible to download a summertime recipe booklet with al fresco dining ideas for barbecue inspiration. The promotion features across 350,000 packs of lines including the Spatchcock Poussin range, duck and turkey burgers, and duck breast �illet.

COUNTRY Choice has launched a new range of bake-in-pack Savour It! Toasties. The range is available in Four Cheese & Onion, Ham & Cheese, Tuna Melt and BBQ Chicken varieties. They are available to retailers in packs of 20, with an RRP of £3.95 per toastie. Each variety comes frozen

“We’ve launched this promotion to help highlight the versatility of our fresh meat products and show just how easy it is to enjoy poultry throughout the barbecue season,” said Rebecca Alderton, marketing & communications manager for Gressingham.

NOT PERFECTION

Last year, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) worked with Derbyshire retailer Amit Patel to help him improve the sustainability of his store.

Havana Club launches Accolade launches Jam Shed campaign Burna Boy bottle ACCOLADE Wines is hoping to build on the growth of its Jam Shed wine brand with the launch

PROGRESSION

and ready-assembled in ovenable �ilm, and takes about 25 minutes to bake. It can then be displayed in a hot unit for up to four hours. The supplier says this makes them ideal for stores with limited cooking facilities. According to Country Choice, the British public eats more than four billion toasties each year.

With energy costs rising rapidly, the need to save money wherever possible has never been greater. Cutting energy bills is necessary for cashflow as well as the environment. We asked those retailers who heard Amit speak to make their own pledges. Most recently, we spoke with Leicestershire retailer Jack Matthews.

“We’ve made a number of larger steps across the business. Towards the end of last year, we purchased a fully electric van, so for all our home deliveries and trips to wholesalers we’re now using the fully electric vehicle, which has saved us costs throughout the business but has also helped to improve our environmental standpoint. We’re also currently trialling a craft paper sleeve for the breads we bake in-store rather than in the plastic bags we were using before, so hopefully making a bit of a positive impact with little steps at a time.”

However small, we want to hear about the steps you’re making on your sustainability journey. Share your ideas with us via @SuntoryBF_GBI on Twitter, and together we can help the channel grow for good.

NEW VUSE GO DISPOSABLES BOLD FLAVOUR DISPOSABLES SAME FLAVOURS ALSO AVAILABLE IN ePOD REFILLS Available at

vapermarket.co.uk

MORE FLAVOUR, LESS HASSLE WATERMELON ICE

MINT ICE

MANGO ICE

A cooling blend of ripe and juicy watermelon flavour with an icy cool finish.

Classic peppermint flavour with an icy cool finish.

Ripe juicy mango flavour with an icy cool finish.

CREAMY TOBACCO

BLUEBERRY ICE

STRAWBERRY ICE

A smooth blend of rich and creamy tobacco flavour with hints of caramel and vanilla.

Bright blueberry flavour with an icy cool finish.

Sweet ripe strawberry with an icy cool finish.

ALSO AVAILABLE IN ePOD

Available at Dispose of responsibly.

vapermarket.co.uk

18+ only. This product contains nicotine and is addictive. For adult nicotine consumers only. For trade use only.

Contact your local sales representative

PRODUCTS

Walkers’ community prize fund who choose to offer value for money through RRP PMPs can look to attract customers, help encourage repeat shopping trips and increase their savoury snacking sales.”

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

Brixton Brewery’s first major campaign

£1,000 to a community project of their choice. Mike Chapman, wholesale trading director at PepsiCo, said: “Convenience stores are such an integral part of local communities, and retailers have gone to great lengths over the past few years in supporting their customers through unprecedented times. With this competition, we want to give back and acknowledge the great support that retailers have provided, especially in recent times.” The competition comes as PMPs have seen value growth of 9% within the savoury snacks category and account for 41% of crisps and snacks sales, growing by

10.3% more than they did in 2021. “Shoppers are increasingly planning in advance more often when and where they shop,” added Chapman, “and therefore those retailers

Coca-Cola Creations’ latest launch

Birds Eye rebrands Green Cuisine

WINE distributor North South Wines has launched a new wine range from Argentinian vineyard Doña Paula. The Los Cardos Private Collection by Doña Paula comprises a cabernet sauvignon, a malbec, a sauvignon blanc and an unoaked chardonnay. The range has an RRP of around £10 and is 100% vegan. The launch comes with Argentinian wines growing in popularity in the UK. Last year, they saw a 23% value growth, with £9-plus wines outgrowing cheaper brands. Kim Wilson, managing director at North South Wines, said: “Being able to offer a

single vineyard Malbec to customers at this price is a great opportunity in today’s market. We anticipate a lot of interest around this brand.”

COCA-COLA has launched the next iteration of its limited-edition Creations series, a collaboration with music producer Marshmello. The brand’s �irst-ever drink co-created with an artist is a zero-sugar Watermelon Strawberry �lavour, and is available to Tesco Group retailers including One Stop and Booker stores in a slim 330ml can. Its black-and-white design pays homage to Marshmello’s aesthetic. As part of the launch, shoppers will be able to scan a QR code on the can from 29 July to be transported to the Coca-Cola Creations online hub where an AI will make a personalised piece of

art based on their emotions listening to Marshmello’s latest song.

BIRDS Eye is relaunching its meat-free Green Cuisine brand with a new advertising campaign aimed at challenging consumers’ perceptions about plant-based diets and encouraging them to reassess their current eating habits. The £4.4m ‘Welcome to the Plant Age’ campaign includes new TV adverts, packaging, in-store support, PR and out-of-home advertising.

FLORETTE has announced a partnership with gardening in�luencer and TV presenter Michael Perry, also known as Mr Plant Geek. The collaboration will see Perry produce exclusive content for the brand as well as its sponsorship of his Plant Based Podcast. Florette aims to highlight its farmer-owned credentials with the partnership, inspiring more shoppers to shop the brand. Martin Purdy, commercial and marketing director at Florette, said: “We know consumers don’t just buy a product, they buy into brands that share their values. While we communicate the freshness

and convenience of our products, credentials such as Florette’s farmer-owned status and environmentally conscious farming credentials have not been the focus until now.”

LUCOZADE Sport is partnering with The Football Association (FA) to give both shoppers and retailers the chance to win football-related prizes this summer. Retailers can win a full Lucozade Sport-branded football kit for their community by scanning the QR code on PoS material indepot when buying any case of Lucozade Sport, as well as push-up bars, resistance kits, skipping ropes, cones and more. Meanwhile, consumers can text ‘WIN’ to 62123 to be in with a chance to see an England team training session at St George’s Park as well as pitch-side access before an international

match with full hospitality and signed merchandise.

JASPER HART WALKERS has launched a competition offering 10 convenience retailers the chance to win £1,000 each to support their local neighbourhood. Until 12 August, retailers have the chance to enter the competition by buying two cases of any £1 pricemarked pack (PMP) of qualifying Walkers products. These include 45g-82g £1 PMP packs of Walkers, Wotsits, Quavers, Monster Munch, French Fries, Squares, Doritos, Cheetos, Kurkure, Frazzles, Chipsticks and Funyuns. Ten retailers will be randomly chosen to donate

New premium Argentinian wine

Florette partners with Plant Geek

Lucozade Sport teams up with FA

BRIXTON Brewery is launching its �irst major advertising campaign aimed at celebrating its southLondon roots by inviting consumers to ‘Get a taste of Brixton’. The campaign is the brewery’s biggest to date and includes digital, out-of-home, PR and video across London and south-east England.

It has also formed the Electric Collective, a group of local artists who have created tributes to Brixton which will be showcased as part of the campaign, including mixed media and spoken word poetry. There is also a mural in the heart of Brixton and a takeover of Brixton underground station.

Green Cuisine’s value sales have grown by 2.9% annually and it was bought by 6.6% of the UK population in the past year. Elle Barker, marketing director for Green Cuisine, said: “Our new brand platform plays off the insight that choosing plant-based foods can sometimes feel like a compromise, even though there are many bene�its to including more meat alternatives in our diets.”

Pernod Ricard’s new Malibu campaign PERNOD Ricard has launched a new campaign for Malibu, ‘Do whatever tastes good’. The campaign includes a video running across social media and on-demand, as well as digital out-of-home advertising. Malibu will also be at festivals including We Are FSTVL and South Facing with RTD samples and branded merchandise aimed

at Gen Z consumers. Malibu is the UK’s number-one coconut rum brand, with a 25% share of the specialities category. Marnie Corrigan, brand director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “This campaign invites consumers to ‘Do whatever tastes good’, to embrace their guilty pleasures and enjoy drinking their favourite Malibu cocktail or drink.”

RN 30 Under Thirty: Shining a light on the rising stars of independent retail

Entries for 2022 are now open! RN 30 Under Thirty recognises and celebrates the young retailers who are shaping the future of independent retail with their innovation and drive.

After a successful first year that saw retailers from across the UK and Ireland receive recognition for their achievements, we are delighted to announce that the 2022 campaign is now open! We are looking for retailers, owners and managers under the age of 30 who are driving their businesses forward through innovation, modernisation, leadership and dedication. Nominate yourself or put forward a fellow retailer who you admire, who inspires you or who really deserves recognition for their hard work and commitment.

“

You get recognition for what you are doing and if you’re doing something well. Why not apply? I’m so happy I applied and now I can shout about my success and bring new ideas back to my business.” Enya McAteer, Mulkerns Spar, Jonesborough, Co. Armagh

Scan our QR code to enter your submission or find out more by visiting betterRetailing. com/RN-30-under-thirty-2022 or email michael.sharp@newtrade.co.uk

Proudly supported by

NICOTINE IN A POUCH WEIRD. NO SMOKE* OR SMELL?

GOOD WEIRD

EMPTY CAN AND RECYCLE *This product is not-risk free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance. For adult nicotine consumers only. For trade use only.

NICOTINE POUCHES YOU’VE GOT VELO

Contact your local sales representative

Available at vapermarket.co.uk Winner Nicotine Pouch Category. Survey of 9,897 people by Kantar.

OPINION

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

COMING UP IN THE 29 JULY ISSUE OF RN

NATIONAL LOTTERY: How are scratchcard sales doing in your store? “THERE was definitely a spike in lottery sales during the pandemic as people didn’t have much to spend on. Now, I wouldn’t say there was any big decline in scratchcard sales, but if there’s a big jackpot one week, then you’ll find people temporarily switching.”

The benefits of working with local suppliers, and how to build those relationships

Andrew Taylor, Taylor’s Value & Convenience, Hull

“MY scratchcard sales have remained pretty healthy. I’m in an area where there has always been consistent buying from customers. Some of the older generation who bought scratchcards before the pandemic haven’t come back, but generally it’s not really changed.” Eugene Diamond, Diamonds Newsagents, Ballymena

+ Babycare: how to leverage and grow this profitable category for convenience stores

My lottery sales have remained healthy

Pricewatch: see what other retailers are charging for take-home ice cream and boost your own profits

HYGIENE: Are you seeing fewer food hygiene inspections?

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

3,451 retailers’ sales data analysed for every issue

69+ unique retailers spoken to every month

71% of RN’s news stories are exclusive

We’ve had a couple of phonecalls

betterRetailing.com/subscribe

Bal Singh, Nisa Local, Midlands

“BEFORE Covid-19 we were visited once a year, but no one has visited us since. We’ve had a couple of phone calls, but I get the impression that people are only being visited if they are blacklisted or have a poor record. There’s not enough staff.” Mike Lakhani, St Mary’s Supermarket, Southampton

INSURANCE: Has the cost of your business premiums risen? “NOT yet, but we don’t renew our policy until the end of the year. I’ve been too focused on fuel and energy to consider it. But we’ve been with the same company for 15 years and I am hoping our loyalty will count for something.” Aman Uppal, One Stop Mount Nod, Coventry

“ALL my support services like insurance are in the same position as us – their costs are rising and it has to be passed on. So, we are being hammered from all sides and it’s got to the point where you can’t offset all these costs.” Guarave Sood, Neelam Convenience, London

We’re being hammered from all sides OWN LABEL: Do you want to stock more value brands?

STAY INFORMED AND GET AHEAD WITH RN ORDER YOUR COPY from your magazine wholesaler today or contact Kate Daw on 020 7689 3363

“WE have had no visits from trading standards since the beginning of Covid-19 and no communication. The visits kept retailers on their toes. If there was a problem, we knew to rectify it. Now I guess there will be people not doing what they are supposed to in following regulations.”

I’ll only alter my stock as customers demand

“I’M seeing a lot more demand for value brands. For example, shoppers who bought McVities before are now buying Happy Shopper. I’ve always stocked value brands, but as more people are trading down and I’m seeing more sales there, that’s where I’m adjusting stock.” Sunita Kanji, Family Shopper, Little Hulton, Greater Manchester

“FOR every branded product, I stock an equivalent value alternative, especially on key lines such as toilet roll and pet food, where I have Happy Shopper or Euro Shopper. Some brands like Walkers crisps still sell well, so I’ll only alter my stock as customer behaviour demands.” Julie Kaur, Jules Convenience, Telford, Shropshire

LETTERS

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

Alan Mannings

Letters may be edited

Shop on the Green, Chartham, Canterbury

Trading standards needs to work with retailers The problem with illicit tobacco sales is getting worse. I’ve seen more and more people putting it out on there on social media. It’s quite blatant and brazen now. And it’s more localised now than I’ve seen before. There are shops I’ve been into and you look at the goods they’ve got and wonder how they’re making any money. There’s not enough One of two leading retailers there to turn you over, but then you shares advice on how to make find out they’re your store rise to the top selling two packs of cigarettes for £10 and that’s how they keep going. It’s organised crime. Something that people forget is that illicit tobacco isn’t just affecting local shopkeepers. It affects us all in lost tax revenue. That means services being reduced. Trading standards need to be doing more, they need to be naming and shaming these stores and then stopping them from being a director or any part of the business. If they shut a shop today, they shouldn’t be able to open up another one down the road under a different name tomorrow. You’ve got to hit them hard. That’s what needs to be done. I don’t think retailers are losing faith in the system, there simply aren’t enough officers out there to deal with the problem. If they have more officers, they can investigate things a lot quicker, they’re shut down quicker, and the more money we get back into the economy. Like any shop or business, if you invest, you get better results and your worth goes up. Trading standards needs to use the knowledge and insight of shopkeepers. They could go into a store without showing their card for an inspection, but they wouldn’t necessarily have a clue what the value of that store is. It’s hard for them to recognise a store that hasn’t got enough stock to be open. They need to work with working groups who know what they’re talking about and know what they’re doing. If you look at retail groups, there are so many people – like southwest England retailer Steve Bassett – who have so much knowledge and it’s just not being used wisely enough. They’ve built up that knowledge – imagine what tools they could provide if trading standards worked with them. That knowledge could be utilised. We can all learn from each other. Everyone’s got something in their armoury that could be used. Imagine getting a working group together to work with trading standards. We’d all gain a lot more knowledge.

RISING

STAR

‘Evri owes me commission for a whole year’ I NOTICED Evri has changed policy recently where packets and parcels come in as separate items on the invoice. However, we can’t differentiate between the two in the shop. Our handheld machine lists the number of parcels without a split. Since July last year, I’ve

noticed missing parcels every month and I’m losing between £50-£100 in commission for each monthly period. I raised this with Evri and they said they’ve been working on it. Despite that, nothing has been paid out to date. There is only one number and they said they’d contact the payments

team. However, nothing comes back. The person on the other line says it’s out of their hands. Nobody comes back to me, despite promises they would. Even the rep that comes to my store said there’s nothing they can do. Evri has had enough time to resolve this. I know I’m submitting

the right amount of parcels because I count them myself. It’s ridiculous. Rignesh Patel, New Romney Premier, Kent

An Evri spokesperson said: “One of our team visited this retailer to discuss his concerns and �ind a resolution.”

COMMUNITY RETAILER

OF THE WEEK

WIN £50-worth of Yazoo stock

Yazoo is giving five retailers the chance to win £50-worth of stock, including its recently relaunched limited-edition Choc Caramel flavour, as well as a family pass to a Merlin Group Park of their choice. Yazoo’s ongoing partnership with Merlin, with its twofor-one on-pack promotion for popular parks including Alton Towers, has played a role in driving brand success in the past year.

TO ENTER Fill in your details at:

betterRetailing.com/competitions This competition closes on 23 August. Editor’s decision is final.

Vince Malone, Premier Tenby Stores & Post Office – @TenbyStores

‘We did welfare visits in the heatwave’

Like most of the UK, we had a weather warning in Tenby last week due to the heat. We have a lot of elderly and vulnerable customers living near the store and asked anyone who wanted a welfare visit to give us a call. We fitted the visits into our home-delivery routes. One person living in Canada got in touch to ask if we could check on her mum, who lives locally. It was no issue whatsoever as it was only a three-minute visit. Her mum was fine and the visit helped put the daughter’s mind at ease.

Get in touch

@retailexpress betterRetailing.com facebook.com/betterRetailing alex.yau@newtrade.co.uk 020 7689 3358

IAA CATEGORY STARS

Overall Best Shop

Vince Malone,

Tenby Stores & Post Office, Pembrokeshire

Put value in your staff. If you can take them, develop them and be aware of their understanding, you’ll improve, too.

Innovation

Atul Sodha,

Londis Harefield, Uxbridge, west London

Don’t be afraid to earn margin. Overdeliver, get feedback and create relationships. No one can put a price on great service.

Rising Star

Asiyah & Jawad Javed, Day-Today Alloa Road, Stenhousemuir, Falkirk

Do something new to drive footfall. Work with and keep an eye on wholesalers, so you know who gets a new product in first.

In association with

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

Independent retailers and top suppliers celebrated the Independent Achievers Academy’s 2021-22 Category Stars at its gala dinner. Here are top tips to get ahead

Marketing to Customers

H, Jodie & The Singh family, H & Jodie’s Nisa, Walsall, West Midlands

Start utilising social media and create a Facebook page. Start small, make it make sense to you and ask what customers want.

Customer Service

Vince Malone,

Tenby Stores & Post Office, Pembrokeshire

Look at your shop through your customers’ eyes. Service is king, but how easy is it to shop? How relevant is your range?

In association with

Effective Ranging

Kirti Patel,

Londis Ferme Park Road, Stroud Green, London

Review each section to see what’s selling and what isn’t. If it’s been a slow seller for more than four weeks, delist it.

In association with In association with

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

Availability

Steve Bassett, Bassett’s

Londis Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth

Use your EPoS properly and automate things. You can tweak it to include seasonal lines, but 90% of your order will be there.

Shop Layout

Jeyaseelan Thambirjah, Budgens of Hinchingbrooke, Cambs

Use industry organisations to understand new legislation. Show your staff and give them practical advice to follow in store.

In association with

Londis Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth

Get a store plan drawn up and interrogate it. Think about the strategy, shopper missions and psychology behind it.

Merchandising & Display

Staff Development

Sunita Kanji,

Family Shopper – Little Hulton, Manchester

Ensure your team is happy. Wearing uniforms was making our staff feel uneasy. They now dress professionally, but comfortably.

Enya McAteer,

Mulkerns Spar Jonesborough, Newry

Implement a cleaning schedule for staff and sign it every day. Customers will notice, and your merchandising and display can follow.

In association with

Responsible Retailing

Steve Bassett, Bassett’s

Service to the Community

Trudy Davies,

Woosnam & Davies News, Llanidloes, Powys

Inspire your community. Be positive and try not to say no. Research suggestions and talk to other people, then decide if you can help.

In association with In association with

Environmental Sustainability

Bart Dalla-Mura,

Tysoe Village Stores, Warwickshire

You’ve got to look ahead. Start selling loose fruit and veg, but keep hand sanitiser nearby. It will help put customers at ease.

In association with

The Independent Achievers Academy 2021-22 Category Stars and supplier partners

18650 GMILLS slash Fibre One.pdf

27/06/2022

17:57

CMY

BAG A HEALTHY SHARE OF THE SNACKING CATEGORY While health has been a priority for both the government and shoppers for several years, CHARLES SMITH finds the upcoming HFSS legislation has led to more of a focus on healthy snacking

CATEGORY ADVIC HEALTHIER SNA

CE ACKING

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

IS THE DEMAND THERE FOR HEALTHY SNACKS? THE UK has a strong snacking culture, and snacks are major impulse sales generators and traffic builders for retailers, drawing in shoppers for temporary hunger solutions. The way these products are sold in convenience outlets has evolved, from crisps in punched cases and snacks in countertop trays to permanent fixtures and bays. The new HFSS regulations will speed this evolution even more and bring healthier products to greater prominence. Existing snack brands are becoming healthier, while new, entirely health-focused brands are also emerging. “‘Healthy’ means different

things to different people,” says Matt Collins, trading director at KP Snacks. “For some, it’s a focus on positive health – for example, increased protein or fibre. For others, it’s a focus on portion control or calorie reduction. Positive health within the snacking category is seen to be more about ‘managed health’, such as things we can take out of our diet. “This means offering products with lower calories, as well as less saturated fat, salt, sugar and additives, is increasingly more important for snack brands.” Shoppers want the evolution to happen. Allison Wal-

Fibre One 90 Calorie Doughnuts are the ultimate indulgent treat with high fibre content. A range that is set to redefine sweet snacking this summer, and fly off shelves! Fibre One is the #1 Diet management snack bar brand with 5.3% value share* and 53.0% repeat rate** * Nielsen | April – June 2022 | Category: BARS | Market: Total Coverage including Discounters ** Nielsen | Latest 52 Weeks l Category: SNACKS | Market: Total Coverage including Discounters

lentin, convenience category manager at Saputo Dairy UK, cites convenience channel data from Lumina Intelligence, with 46% of shoppers trying to make healthier snacking decisions. And Kantar says health considerations drove 29% of snacking choices in the year to 21 February 2021, second only to taste. Everyone wants to be healthier, but the more important question for retailers as business people is: how do healthier snack sales compare to mainstream snacks, and how can they make the most of the opportunity? Hitesh Modi, from Londis BWS in Chesham, Buckingham-

shire, says: “We don’t sell that much in the way of ‘healthier’ products, but everyone’s different. My wife likes granola bars. People with medical conditions buy healthier products. We offer snack bars when they’re on allocation, but they don’t sell that strongly. You really need to put sweets and snacks out as impulse buys, where they’re easily visible.” With Lumina Intelligence’s Food to Go Market Report 2021 predicting the food-to-go category will grow by almost a third this year to £15.3bn and reach £22.6bn in 2024, healthier snacks add up to an unmissable opportunity.

CATEGORY ADVICE HEALTHIER SNACKING

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

10 top Trends Ten top trends in healthier snacking from Matt Collins, trading director at KP Snacks

The health segment of snacking is growing by 10% annually. Products with nutritional benefits are the second-biggest health need, accounting for 13% of snacking choices, while consuming more natural/unprocessed snacks accounts for a further 7% of consumption decisions. Only 1% of consumers say they never try to eat healthily.

MERCHANDISING FOR STRONGER HEALTHIER SNACKING SALES THE arrival of HFSS regulations, even if not fully implemented, will place further emphasis on healthy snacking, with retailers reviewing their store layouts and placement of snacking. Some suppliers recommend creating a dedicated ‘healthy’ zone in the store, full of plantbased and gluten-free options. Others say that by stocking healthy options next to their more mainstream cousins, re-

tailers can get them into the eyeline of more customers and encourage people who weren’t actively looking for healthy snacks to try them. In either case, dedicated PoS displays can have an enormous impact on customer awareness and help drive sales. “Stock a wide range of alternative snacks in a variety of formats such as multipacks, giving consumers working

flexibly and making fewer store visits the option to buy products in bulk and stock up on their favourites,” says Lucia Gimson, brand manager at Eat Natural. With healthy snacks still something that many shoppers might not immediately think of or purchase impulsively, featuring them in meal deals can help to draw shoppers’ attention and overcome

pricing concerns. “Capitalise on impulse purchasing,” says Saputo Dairy UK’s Allison Wallentin. “Seventy-five per cent of consumers buy snacks on impulse. Place snacks towards the end of the shopper’s trip or at the front of store, alongside other foodto-go products. “Make it easy to locate and clearly labelled, with grab-andgo options for faster selection.”

Sixty per cent of consumers are taking steps to limit or reduce the sugar in their diet. Plant-based eating trends are here to stay, with more consumers actively choosing diets that incorporate more veg and plant-based foods. Forty-six per cent of 25-to-44-year-olds believe plantbased is healthier, and 38% believe it’s better for the environment. Fifteen per cent of households are currently avoiding gluten and wheat. Twenty-six per cent of consumers avoid products with artificial sweeteners. Seventy-six per cent of consumers recognise that nuts provide a positive source of energy. Twenty-four per cent of shoppers are looking to increase protein in their diet.

The Retail Success Handbook: Retailing Responsibly Everything you need to know to run a legally compliant, ethical store

Only £4.99

On sale 23 August

This unmissable edition of The Retail Success Handbook will give you the key information about the newest rules and regulations affecting the convenience channel, alongside practical, achievable and detailed advice on what you can do to make sure your store is compliant. This issue includes: A guide to complying with key legislation, with a focus on preparing for HFSS How your store can help in the ﬁght against illicit products Youth access prevention techniques, tools and strategies How to play your part in the circular economy Customer care and staff welfare advice

DON’T MISS OUT Order your copy from your magazine wholesaler today or contact us on 020 3871 6490

CATEGORY ADVICE HEALTHIER SNACKING

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

RETAILER

VIEW

Ushma Amin, Londis North Cheam, Sutton, Surrey

what to stock

The healthy snacking products you should stock

Cathedral City Each 20g Cathedral City Mini or Snackbar has fewer than 100 calories per portion, aligning with the 2018 PHE Change for Life 100-calorie snacking recommendation. Saputo Dairy UK’s Allison Wallentin says chilled snacks benefit from a health halo, with fresh or chilled snacks almost twice as likely to be considered ‘healthy’ than ambient ones. Eat Natural Eat Natural has two gluten-free products: Fibre Packed Apple, Ginger & Dark Chocolate bars and Fibre Packed Fruit & Nut bars. Their Protein Packed range includes Salted Caramel & Peanuts, Peanuts & Chocolate and Chocolate & Orange. Eat Natural is also launching a range of non-HFSS, gluten-free Eat Natural Raw bars. Grenade Grenade’s low-sugar, high-protein bars command 52% of the protein bar market. Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel bar is the number-one protein bar in cash rate of sale, with the highest return on shelf space. Grenade launched its latest protein bar flavour in May, Lemon Cheesecake, packing 21g protein and just 1.6g sugar. KP Snacks In March, KP Snacks announced its HFSS brand reformulation strategy, with non-HFSS products rolling out across Tyrrells, Popchips, Hula Hoops Puft and Penn State ahead of the introduction of HFSS legislation. By October, more than 100 lines and a quarter of KP Snacks portfolio will be non-HFSS. Quaker Oats Quaker’s new Oat So Simple Simply Strawberry and Oat So Simple Simply Apple sees Quaker leading development in cereal bars with a no added sugar product. Walkers PepsiCo’s ambition is for 50% of its UK snacks sales to come from products classified as non-HFSS or from products sold in portions of 100 calories or less, by 2025. The two new Max Strong flavours, Fiery Prawn Cocktail and Hot Sauce Blaze, follow the launch of Walkers’ non-HFSS, 45% Less Salt range. Also from Walkers, SnackaJacks can be eaten as one of a child’s two recommended snacks a day. Weetabix With 10% of the cereal bar category sales coming off fixture after HFSS, Alpen Light bars is a fully compliant HFSS range. Alpen Oat Blends are high in fibre and have no red traffic lights.

“WE currently stock Grenade bars, Tracker bars, Kind bars and sugar-free biscuits. We’re in a busy high street, and they’re bought by adults of all ages, from 18 to 60. They don’t sell as well as crisps, but I stock them to keep everyone happy. “Our customers include diabetics, who buy them because they’re less than 1% sugar. We keep Kind bars and the rest with the special offers in a wide aisle by the door, and put the others with the breakfast bars. “I don’t do social media to promote, I use PoS, but I don’t like things hanging or sitting on the floor, I want it easy for shoppers to walk round. “I usually give new products a few months to sell before deciding whether to keep them. I’m going to try selling rice crackers soon. “As far as I’m concerned, HFSS won’t affect shops like us as we’re too small. If the supermarkets take out all their impulse aisles, I’m hoping shoppers will come to us instead. That would be good.”

ASSESS. COMPARE. IMPROVE

#IAA22

LOOKING TO CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED RETAILERS? Join the IAA network today. Visit betterRetailing.com/IAA or contact Kate Daw on 020 7689 3363

CATEGORY ADVICE HOME DELIVERY

WHAT NEXT FOR HOME DELIVERY? CHARLES WHITTING explores the current state of home delivery in convenience and finds out what retailers can do to create the right offer

WHY OFFER HOME DELIVERY? HOME delivery was one of the major trends of the pandemic, as people locked down at home relied on stores bringing their groceries to them rather than heading out to the shops themselves. Now lockdowns are – it seems – a thing of the past, is there still an appetite among customers to get their shopping delivered to their doorstep? James Taylor, head of central operations at Nisa, thinks so, believing that the pandemic merely accelerated a trend that was already happening and that home delivery is now cemented into current customer expectations. “Many shoppers have now come to expect some

sort of delivery service from their local stores, particularly in light of Covid-19, so we’re working closely with the range of providers and continue to see some fantastic successes for our partners across the whole of the UK,” he says. In fact, this rapid growth in home delivery has brought benefits for retailers looking to get involved. Retailers now have more options to choose from and the support structures are also improving. The benefits of a home delivery service are considerable if it is done well. Retailers can increase basket spend without having to increase the footprint

of their store or endure crowded aisles. For many retailers, it also offers a chance to grow their customer base beyond the limits of their local demographic. “One key stat with Snappy Shopper is that 80% of the customers that purchase from these stores using the app would not otherwise have visited, says Dael Links, head of marketing (B2B) at Snappy Shopper. “Home delivery doesn’t cannibalise sales in that store, it allows retailers to expand beyond their original catchment.” Reuben Singh Mander, from The Three Singhs in Selby, North Yorkshire, is building a plan to get a delivery service in place at his store, working with his

wholesaler Parfetts to choose the right provider and finalise an offer. While he started offering deliveries to vulnerable and elderly customers during the pandemic, demand is continuing to rise. “Looking at other shops, it’s becoming a bigger part of the industry. We’re definitely getting more enquiries from customers about it,” he says. “It’s going to be a must. “By the end of the year, the majority of shops will be offering some kind of delivery service, and the quicker you get started on it, the better.”

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

WORKING OUT THE PRICE THE extra income that comes from delivery can be a considerable boon to retailers, particularly as we continue to wade into these challenging financial times. But it is important to remember there are costs involved as well when it comes to delivery, and retailers need to think seriously and work out their financial plans before embarking fully into the delivery adventure. “With rising costs and inflationary pressures, this could be prohibitive for both retailer and shopper,” says Greg Dea-

con, chief customer officer at Jisp. “Price and convenience will be key to growing this incrementally, with these pressures being felt by all, along with normalised routines returning from customers. “Every retailer, if starting from scratch, needs to consider these factors in deciding to drive delivery. If you have a delivery in place, it should be all about how you communicate, differentiating your offering and finding ways to optimise costs and baskets.” If you are pairing with an app

such as Deliveroo or Uber Eats, you could face a 30% commission charge from them, which will hit your margins. Apps such as Snappy Shopper don’t charge so much, but you, as the retailer, must provide the van and the driver to complete those deliveries, which will increase spending on fuel, wages and training. A delivery fee or increased prices on delivered goods could be considered to cover this cost, but retailers must be wary. “A retailer with a regular and

repeat customer base could receive negative feedback for listing products with a higher price online compared with in store, especially if a delivery charge and or service fee is also applied to the transaction,” says James Widdowson, group sales and marketing director at Appy Shop. “With regard to products being delivered, retailers should consider how they are going to deliver the items. For example, if the delivery is on a bike, large, bulky items would not be suitable.”

SUPPLIER

VIEW

Dael Links, head of marketing (B2B), Snappy Shopper “THE biggest concern for retailers is managing that delivery process. It can be scary for them, but it need not be. When an order comes in, logistically it’s quite simple to get it out of the store and it shouldn’t interfere with any footfall or items on the shelves. “It’s about getting the basics right. There aren’t many challenges except for consistency of packing and delivering the goods on time. “On top of that, there’s being polite and courteous to the customers. It’s taking what you’re doing in store and applying it to delivery. “For retailers that don’t have a fleet of drivers, they’ll be picking, packing and delivering those orders themselves, but it’s important that they understand the processes so they can pass on that best practice when they bring in their own drivers. “It’s crucially important that the menu is easy navigate and has lots of range. When the retailer starts to produce results financially, they can make the delivery arm of the business quite profitable. “With regard to click & collect, we recognise that it will set retailers apart. It’s an additional offer in store.”

CATEGORY ADVICE HOME DELIVERY

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

WORKING OUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE REGARDLESS of what delivery service you decide to go for, there will still be work for you and your team behind the scenes. If your team are making the deliveries, you need to ensure that there will still be adequate cover in the shop itself while the delivery person is away. Even if the delivery aspect has been taken care of, you still need to ensure what’s on the app is what’s available on your shelves and that you are keep-

ing up with any promotions and price changes quickly. Again, retailers should talk to delivery partners to find out how they can help with this as well. “To improve home delivery there are two elements to consider,” says Appy Shop’s James Widdowsdown. “First, the actual delivery. The most successful retailers are the ones that offer an on-time and reliable service, not necessarily the cheapest. So, retailers should consider how they can ensure these

SUPPLIER

VIEW Greg Deacon, CCO, Jisp

things are achieved long-term. “The other element is ‘what can you deliver?’ Many retailers only list a few hundred products due to the manual entry required to create and maintain the products. “On Appy Shop, through integration to the EPoS in store, retailers save time because the product creation is done for them and results in many more products being available and maintained in line with the EPoS in store.”

The top three ways retailers can improve their delivery service Ensure you communicate socially and in store, and advertise beyond the store. Communication locally is critical to enhance the offering. Find ways to excite the shoppers. Consider no-brainer deals, exclusives or promotions that encourage those already using it to increase basket size or encourage a new shopper. Reduce cost. If you have a service established, consider ways to optimise. Sometimes it could be as simple as switching provider or work with your delivery partner to flex on fees or offer greater ways to grow shoppers and save costs to you or the shopper.

RETAILER

VIEW

Faisal Naseem, Premier Arbroath Party Time, Angus “I URGE retailers to get into delivery. It’s slowed down from the pandemic, but it’s still growing and the opportunity is huge. Retailers need to look at all the applications and providers and find one that will help to grow their business. “With rising fuel costs, people are starting to pick this up more and more. The delivery fees might be less than the cost of going out and coming back. We’ve kept ours capped at £2.50 and we’ll figure out other ways to increase business and increase repeat customers. These things all add up. “Some stores and restaurant chains will have a minimum-order charge, so if you don’t order a certain amount, you’re hit with a charge. They’re trying to increase customer spend to increase their margin because fuel prices are going up. We’re looking at these things as well, but there’s a fine balance. “If you keep it ethical and reasonable, you’ll go further. After all, these customers are the ones driving our business, so if we don’t look after them, they won’t come back to us. If they can find somewhere cheaper, more convenient and offering better service, they’ll go with them. “I set up the Drop Shop scheme to help retailers do promotions with their delivery so they can offer lower prices to customers on delivery.”

GET THE WORD OUT IF YOUR store is offering delivery – particularly if it’s just starting to – getting the word out about it essential. Make sure you have PoS and signage in store and outside the store telling people about your delivery service. You can also do leaflet drops in your local area. As well as this, your delivery service also needs to be commu-

nicated to customers beyond your immediate location if you are to attract customers further afield than your local demographic. To this end, Facebook and other social media sites are essential for promoting your service and also any deals that you have on offer. Even the delivery van itself can be a useful marketing tool.

“We co-fund car wraps if the retailer decides to invest in them,” says Snappy Shopper’s Links. “Marketing is something we preach. If a retailer is delivering into an estate or a street, that van is a moving PoS. it’s not rocket science. We encourage them to find those promotions to drive that customer engagement.”

Deliver the goods £26 average basket spend

80% Snappy Shopper sales are f rom new customers

Sign up. Receive £1000* retailers.snappyshopper.co.uk contact@snappyshopper.co.uk *Hit £2000 worth of sales within your ﬁrst 12 weeks and we’ll pay you £1000.

£11 million incremental ncremental sales achieved by top stores

CATEGORY ADVICE SUSTAINABILITY

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

10 WAYS TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE Running a store with sustainable goals in mind is beneficial for the environment and can also be a cost-saving measure. JASPER HART looks at 10 ways to act more sustainably

01 ENERGY EFFICIENCY LED lights are now well recognised for their ability to cut costs over long-term periods. Stores can go further, however, and not keep various parts of their store on when they don’t need to be. Ruth Forbes, sustainability director at JTI UK, recommends a ‘switch-off’ policy for staff in areas not in constant use, such as a stockroom. Samantha Coldbeck, of Wharfedale Premier in Hull,

turns off everything at night except her fridges and freezers. “I think fridges use more electricity to get the temperature down enough than they do when they’re ticking over through the night,” she says. “If a fridge is battling to get down to temperature, it will be working harder.” Another efficiency route concerns fuel. Terry Caton, of Londis Chatsworth Road in Chesterfield, Derbyshire,

groups his orders to carry them out in as few trips as possible. “Customers put the orders in for the following day or in the morning of the delivery,” he says. “We group the orders together to minimise fuel costs, so we’re not going two miles in one direction to come back to go two miles in another direction. We also do news delivery rounds on a bike instead of a car.”

03 CUTTING FOOD WASTE CUTTING down food waste isn’t just important for the environment, it’s also a means of squeezing as much margin as possible out of stock as possible, which is currently of paramount importance. Kevin Polley, range implementation manager at Nisa, says retailers should try to avoid wasting more than 1.5% of fresh lines. “Anything above 1.5% on fresh lines needs to be challenged and looked at with a view to finding

a resolution.” Caton has a reductions policy in place that looks ahead. “We don’t just look at today’s products, but those with a few days left, so we understand exactly which products may potentially create a problem in a few days’ time,” he says. “We look at least four days in advance, and sometimes longer. It varies depending on what the product is, the rate of sale and the volume of stock we’ve got.”

Food waste apps such as Too Good to Go can also help shift these products. If a product is nearly at the end of its shelf life, see if you can find people or causes to give it away to. Coldbeck has accrued a base of customers who take products that would otherwise be thrown out. “They are in desperate need of having anything to eat, so they’re happy to have it, and with it still being in date we can legally give it to them,” she says.

02 WATER WATER is arguably one of convenience retail’s less scrutinised utilities, and understandably so given it often pales in comparison with electricity and gas consumption. Nevertheless, there are plenty of simple measures retailers can take to limit their usage. Trudy Davies, owner of of Woosnam & Davies News in Llanidloes, Powys, got in touch with her water provider and not only received advice, but also the means to cut down on water usage. “They give all sorts of tips about

how to save water, you only have to get hold of them and they will send you a package with hints and tips,” she says. “They even sent me a pack with descaler and things you can put into your system to reduce your water usage every time you flush your loo. “They also gave me a device that attaches to the tap and gives you a spray of water rather than a flow, because you don’t need to use that much.” Cleaning is another source of water usage, but it’s also

important, so Lynne Snoding, sector marketing manager for building service contractors UK&I at cleaning products provider Diversey, recommends alternative products. “Heating water uses energy, costs money and generates carbon dioxide emissions,” she says. “Replacing wet mopping with microfibre alternatives can reduce water consumption by up to 95%. Scrubber driers also clean floors with less water and chemicals than traditional techniques.”

04 LOCAL PRODUCTS/REFILLS A QUARTER of Davies’ store is devoted to refill stations with products such as dried beans, cereals, nuts and fruit. “People like to make sure they’re eating organic food, and people have the perception it’s a dearer shop, but it can be cheaper because people only pay for what they want,” she says.

Implementing refill stations is not to be taken lightly, however, and you should make sure your customers are eager for such a change in the store. “Our customers are generally more concerned about price rather than sustainability, which is probably a tad unfair, but refills and sustainable products tend to cost more and we’re in

a price-conscious area,” says Coldbeck. “It’s a learning curve and different people in different areas would eat different products,” adds Davies. “If you’ve got a store in a residential area, maybe they want cereals, whereas in a rural area people might be more prone to vegan, organic products.”

Subscribe to YouTube

Join us Facebook VIP

@the_fed_nfrn

@TheFedOnline

Instagram

YouTube

Like us Facebook

@TheFedVIP

@TheFedNFRN Twitter

@TheFedOnline

Facebook VIP

Facebook

@The Fed (NFRN) LinkedIn

Join our retailer community today #TheFed

Our social channels are the quickest way to keep up to date with all things The Fed. From the latest industry news to upcoming events, membership benefits, partner offers and commercial support.

Make money, save money, make business easier! Est. 1919

The

Fed

Federation of Independent Retailers

thefedonline.com T: 0 8 0 0 1 2 1 6 3 7 6 | E: c o n t a c t u s @ n f r n . o r g . u k

CATEGORY ADVICE SUSTAINABILITY

05 RECYCLABLE

06 CUSTOMER

PACKAGING

SUSTAINABLE processes aren’t just for the retailer’s sense of achievement, they are increasingly popular among customers. One-third of shoppers are now choosing to buy from brands they believe are doing a social or environmental good, while 92% of consumers say sustainable business practices should now be standard. Retailers’ hands can be tied to an extent by the certain brands they work with, but suppliers are increasingly taking sustainability concerns on board, especially

FEEDBACK

when it comes to packaging. For example, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) is aiming to make all of its packaging recyclable by 2025 or sooner, and is making all of its on-the-go 500ml bottles from 100% recycled PET plastic by the end of this year, excluding the cap and label. Similarly, Weetabix is aiming for 99% of its packaging to be recyclable by this summer, including a paper wrap across its biscuits, keeping individually wrapped products fresh while ensuring the packaging is recyclable at the kerbside.

CERTAIN lines in a retailer’s range can only be as sustainable as their suppliers allow, but in the meantime, stores can look to their customers for inspiration about any part of the running of the store that could be more environmentally friendly. “Promoting awareness around sustainability initiatives can be tough for retailers, but it’s important they do what they can to get customers on board and engaged with their efforts,” says JTI’s Ruth Forbes. “Find out what people are looking for when it comes to in-store sustainability. This is a great way to start a conversation around improvements

07 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NOT only can retailers canvas public opinion about how they can make their own stores more sustainable – they can also influence their communities to be more sustainable. This could be via community clean-up events such as litter

picking or hosting recycling points for products such as batteries or bottles. Davies also takes in various used items from her customers and passes them on to charities and organisations. “We’re a drop-off point for spectacles,

broken jewellery, old stamps, foreign coins and more,” she says. “They get recycled, resold or reused by local or national charities. It’s a way of reducing landfill. “People donate blankets and beds for the animal sanc-

tuary down the road. We send spectacles to a company that uses them for film sets and photoshoots because a lot of them are period. People also donate knitting wool, and I make clothes and distribute it to people.”

a retailer has already made and offers a chance for them to sound out other changes they are thinking of making to get shoppers interested.” Some of Trudy Davies’ sustainability initiatives have come from customer feedback and retailer networking. “I’ve got a suggestion box that customers can use to say what they’d like us to sell or what we could improve on,” she says. “I’ve also been in contact with a retailer whose son opened stores with refill stations and she convinced me to give it a go. “Small retailers all help each other and feed off each other, we’re not afraid to share our successes and failures.”

08 CUTTING

PLASTICS

ALTHOUGH suppliers are increasingly using recycled plastic across their ranges, there are still places where retailers can eradicate or heavily reduce their usage. Switching to loose fruit and veg has been a success in Terry Caton’s store, where he now finds customers can pick a selection of products they want rather than overstocking on multipacks. These products also go in

tandem with paper bags, although Caton continues to stock plastic bags for other categories, such as alcohol. He also believes it’s important to keep the bottom line in mind when pursuing sustainability goals, lest they become too unwieldy. “We’ve delisted beer lines because of handling the new cardboard packaging or the adhesive sticking cans together. It’s just not practical,” he adds.

YOUR 09 REVIEW SITUATION SUSTAINABILITY and cost savings are, of course, not new concepts, and some retailers are quite far along in their journeys (Davies, for example, first tried to get solar panels installed on her store’s roof 20 years ago). However, these retailers should not rest on their laurels, and continue to re-evaluate their efforts, especially amid the cost-of-living crisis. Caton is currently undertaking a store-wide review to examine where he can save costs further. “We’ve had LED lights for a number of years,” he says. “But are there better options? That’s something I’m looking at. Can we operate more efficiently with refrigeration and

timers? We are reviewing everything to look at how we can reduce costs.” Aman Uppal, of One Stop Mount Nod in Coventry, reexamined his alcohol chiller sales after attending a sustainability in retail event. “We worked out that less than 20% of our alcohol sales happen before 2pm; the majority of our sales are from 5pm onwards,” he says. “So, we’re not turning on the fridge until 2pm now for a temporary period to assess sales. There have been no complaints from customers, there hasn’t been a dip in sales, and it’s massively reducing the amount of energy we use. So, it’s good from a sustainability point of view and also our own costs.”

10 DON’T OVERSTRETCH IN the current climate, many retailers are simply worried about having enough stock on the shelves to keep the lights on, never mind making sure they’re being turned off sufficiently. Caton says it’s vital for a store’s sustainability initiatives to go hand in hand with cost-saving measures to avoid alienating customers. “It’s really important you get a

balance between sustainability and operating costs. Where we are in the economy with everything being chucked at us, it’s really important to make sure the cost-saving is part of the process,” he says. This means recognising that, ultimately, convenience retailers are a small cog in a big machine and can only do so much. “You wouldn’t delist Coca-Cola

because it’s not using enough recycled plastic, would you?” adds Caton. “We have to rely on the suppliers we’re working with to hopefully make the right decisions regarding sustainability and hopefully customers like that.” One such example is food refill stations, which have been successful for Davies, but which Caton has thus far

avoided, citing uncertainty. “We haven’t got the space in store to introduce them,” he says. “If customers asked for them on a more regular basis, then we might, but we are very tight on space in store at the moment, and I would have to take out a section to introduce them, and at this moment in time it’s not something we’re looking to do.”

CLASSIFIED Stocktaking

Licensing

Professional stocktaking services Stocktakers to independent:

Off licences Forecourts

Grocery stores DIY stores

H/O: 13 Green Moor Link, London N21 2NN

07899 002692 020 8360 2491

For competitive rates and professional service call now on...

TEL:

Mob: 07802723561 Fax: 020 8360 6348

nikharstocktaking.com

Osaka Finance available

is a long established licensing company Please telephone Robert Jordan BSc ACIB

Established 2005

Stocktaking

Remote Unit (Motor sited externally)

J K STOCKTAKING FOR ALL YOUR STOCKTAKING NEEDS

l We can apply for your alcohol licence or vary existing hours and layout of premises l We can also represent you at hearings and reviews of premises licences l Pavement licences l Late night refreshment licences

prretail.co.uk

ajit.nikhar@gmail.com

Refrigeration

Chillers and freezer (available in 3 doors)

PR Retail Consultants Ltd

01279 850 753 or 07774044585

ALCOHOL LICENSING PREMISES LICENCE APPLICATIONS TO SELL ALCOHOL PERSONAL LICENCE APPLICATIONS

FOR ALL YOUR STOCKTAKING NEEDS Specialists in CTN Retailers/wholesalers

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

Business transfer Annual stock takes Nationwide coverage Competitive fees All business types included

Over 30 years experience in the trade

TEL:

07899 002692

NewtrAid

Fresh Start Assist Fresh Start Assist is for newsagents who have decided to cease trading or who have been victims of crime and are dealing with emotional stress and anxiety. It is open to all newsagents and their staff, not just NFRN members.

Financial Help

Advice and Signposting

Emotional Support

NewstrAid can help to give you a fresh start

For more information contact us FREE on 0800 917 8616 Visit www.newstraid.org.uk for more information RN 1-2 page horizontal.indd 1

24/03/2022 12:47

ADVICE

26 JULY-8 AUGUST 2022 betterRetailing.com

CLEANLINESS With Covid-19 cases rising again, the RETAIL EXPRESS team finds out what routines retailers have in place to keep their stores clean

Keeping the store clean is one of my three core standards in the store. How are retailers maintaining cleanliness in store? – Sasi Patel Go Local Extra Oldham Road, Rochdale

Enya McAteer, Mulkerns Spar Jonesborough, County Armagh

“HAVING a clean store is our number-one priority, so I’ve instilled a cleaning routine. There’s one in the morning and one in the evening, and the people doing them have to sign them off and then I’ll check it. The sign off makes sure our standards aren’t slipping. People are still cautious, so it’s so important to have a clean store. “At 8pm we clean the �loors, the till and the coffee machine. The coffee machine has a cleaning schedule that’s signed off every hour because there’s milk in there. The front of the store and the deli are also important to keep clean. Customers won’t trust your food standards if the area is not clean. “Once a week, we’ll focus on a certain area or aisle so the whole shop gets a deep clean every six weeks. And with lots of farmers with dirty wellies coming into the store, keeping the �loors clean is also very important.”

Alpesh Shingadia, Budgens Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex

“WE’RE still maintaining those high standards that we built up during the pandemic. It’s been built into the customer journey that we have clean areas and clean places not only on the shop �loor, but also back of house in the back of�ice. We’ve needed to be very �lexible and fast on this at the moment with cases increasing again, so it’s still really important. “We had a chat with the staff to see if there were any cleaning systems or safety equipment they’d like us to put in. The situation is always changing. You need to have areas you’re cleaning daily, weekly and monthly. Things such as door handles, baskets, checkout areas – these are cleaned daily and there are checklists to make sure they are cleaned. Weekly cleans are things like back of house and the glass windows. “I would advise retailers to have weekly and monthly cleaning rotas and allocate people to certain sections of the store.”

Catherine Johnson, Premier St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire

“BEFORE Covid-19, we had a system that had a crib sheet for every level in the store. We tried to get through and clean everything within a month. We were even more diligent with that during the pandemic. We always want to maintain a high standard of cleanliness. Even without the pandemic, there are colds and everything else going around, so you want to stop people transmitting. We still have hand sanitiser in the shop and shields at the till. “The fridges need to be cleaned far more often, but that’s because there’s a higher turnaround on milk, fruit and veg, and high-risk products. And because they’re glass and well-lit, they show any dirt or marks faster. The areas near the door, which is kept open, need cleaning more often as well. Generally, hightraf�ic parts of the store need to be cleaned three times more often than low-traf�ic areas.”

In the next issue, the Retail Express team finds out how prepared retailers are for store emergencies. If you have any problems you’d like us to explore, please email charles.whitting@newtrade.co.uk