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Jack Courtez
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editor
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Editor Jack Courtez
Isaw a novel idea from a shop owner this week. Their electronic shelf-edge labels contain a simple coloured dot in the corner to indicate that a line had not sold at all in the past few weeks. It’s a great way to identify slow sellers, but it requires a hefty level of investment. For shops that don’t have EPoS, there are other means of tracking each line’s performance, but what you save in money, you’ll spend in time.
Next time you stock-take a category, put a coloured dot sticker on the pack 10 from the front for every line, all on the same day. Then keep a version of your stock-take at the counter. Every time a customer brings a pack with the dot on it to the till, you write that day’s date next to that line on your stock-take.
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After a couple of weeks, you divide 10 by the days between the dot going on the packaging and the dotted pack being sold to get your daily rate of sale, times this by seven to get a more practical weekly rate of sale. For any lines without dates next to them, check if they are still on shelf, and if so, divide the volume sold by the time gap to get the same results.
The caveats? Stock must be rotated as replenished and it likely won’t work for the chilled categories where shoppers can’t resist ‘date diving’ to the back of the chiller.
As a smaller trial, try limiting it to a new product. By measuring all launches, you can quickly get a picture of what a good launch or a duff launch looks like and take quick action to put the space to better use.
Many shop owners I speak to say they judge the success of each line by intuition. Frankly, this is a flawed approach. With around 2,000 lines in the average shop, it is impossible to keep track of everything this way. It also lends itself to confirmation bias and makes it impossible to track losses due to theft.
Not only does knowing rate of sale allow you to remove, re-price or relocate slow sellers, it is also crucial in working out how much stock you should be holding of each line. One of the best ways to unlock funds in your business is to get this level right. For instance, a store with £18,000 of stock on shelves might be able to cut that figure to £14,000 without harming availability. As the £4,000 difference sells through, you’ll unlock that liquidity for your next store upgrade.
Your path to a better store could be a pack of stickers away.
3 INDUSTRY NEWS
Shell to axe newspapers from hundreds of sites, putting pressure on wholesalers’ carriage-charge model
Post Office promises major pay increase for branches partfunded by widespread job cuts
5 SYMBOLS & WHOLESALE
Booker launches live stock availability tool to give retailers greater ‘confidence’
6 N EWS & MAGS
First signs of HND Month success appear in sales results
7 FED NEWS
Anger over Amazon’s minimum unit price loophole undercutting shops
8 YOUR VIEWS
‘We’re a good match for Elonex’s free digital media screens’
Hancocks mixes it up with pick ’n’ mix bags
Bestselling prices for the top red wines
16 STORE ADVICE
Retailers reveal their tips for ensuring responsible selling
20 30 IMPORTED LINES TO STOCK
The confectionery, drinks and grocery lines putting extra cash in tills
24 BATTERIES & ELECTRONICS
Master this high-margin category with the right range of accessories
26 YOUR GUIDE TO VAPES
How to prepare your store for changing shopper needs
31 THIS WEEK IN MAGAZINES
Discover the new title based on this bestselling
by Dia Stronach dia.stronach@newtrade.co.uk
Shell is planning to axe newspapers from at least 200 forecourts in a major blow to wholesalers, RN can reveal.
A senior source at a UK publisher confirmed they had been notified of Shell’s intention to remove the newspapers from a number of its sites, which comes just six months after magazines were removed from all 350 Shell sites still stocking the category.
At the time, a spokesperson for the company told RN there were “no material plans” to also remove newspapers, and that national and regional ranges would continue to be offered at all stores.
Now, however, RN understands newspapers are to be pulled from a large number of Shell’s operator-managed Shell Select stores. Standard industry contracts would suggest the ranges being removed in late January or early February.
The move puts pressure on wholesalers,
with carriage charges said to be making newspaper and magazine categories unprofitable in large numbers of forecourts, which typically have lower sales.
The loss of newspapers means most of these sites will cease supply from Smiths News and Menzies.
RN estimates the move will cost both wholesalers a combined £600,000 per year in lost carriage charges alone.
At least one other large forecourt group is considering axing newspapers and magazines, according to a senior industry figure.
Another said wholesalers’ models are “built on
carriage charges”, making them “much more vulnerable to retailer exits of the category than anyone else”.
They added: “Publishers seem to think people will buy a copy elsewhere, so they view this as more of a wholesaler problem, especially as many of these are relatively low-volume sites.”
Retailers near Shell stores could potentially benefit from an increase in trade if customers do go looking elsewhere for their regular purchases.
Referencing the number of forecourts exiting or considering exiting the category, a publisher source predicted it could provide “stronger sales
to those remaining in the category”, and that while the fall in carriage charges will be significant for wholesalers, it “could cut unsolds” for publishers.
They also told RN that “a contraction in the number of stockists has been predicted for a long time”.
News UK’s ‘Re-engaging with Retail’ report, leaked to RN in July, said that petrol stations would probably be the first to remove newspapers and magazines, and described it as an “existential crisis” for the industry.
Shell refused to comment when approached by RN.
Greater investment from suppliers and fascia groups in mystery shopping and auditing stores on underage sales would help address “poor” compliance in independent stores, according to Serve Legal chief executive Ed Heaver.
Speaking to RN, Heaver said big retailers and specialist vape shops had made great progress on preventing underage vaping sales.
Others, including independents, are lacking the checks and processes needed to improve.
He commented: “I encourage those fascia operators to seek out having a programme of audits that identifies the risks in their estate and then concentrates on the higher-risk stores
“For me, if the fascia operators are responsible retailers, which they always say they are, then
audits should be a central office cost for them.”
Within 2025, new restrictions on vapes will be matched by greater focus on stores from trading standards, according to Heaver.
He said while some vape suppliers were “doing a good job” of making sure their brands are sold responsibly, he was “surprised there’s not more suppliers taking part in supporting mys-
The government has announced new powers to auction empty units to independent retailers.
Once the law comes into force on 2 December, if a shop is empty for 365 days in a 24-month period, a council can seize control and rent out the unit at High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs), often at lower than market price.
Leases will be offered for up to five years before auctioning empty shops.
Local authorities must approach the landlord to fill the space.
Local growth minister Alex Norris stated: “High streets are the beating heart of our communities, but for too long, too many have been neglected, with more and more empty lots and boarded-up shopfronts.”
According to the government, one in seven high street units are currently empty.
A bleed kit was activated at Lincoln Stores in Corby, Northamptonshire, for emergency use earlier this month.
tery shopping”. Heaver described Serve Legal’s mystery shopping, training and advice tools as “a very good-value insurance policy” that helps protect stores in the event of trading standards visits.
He said making eye contact with shoppers earlier, displaying posters and having clear policies are key to stopping underage sales in local shops.
Scott Fitzsimmons, planning manager at charity Off The Streets, said the bag was activated by the ambulance service, with details of the emergency unknown.
“The public called 999 and were directed to the bleed kit in Lincoln Stores,” he said. “An individual can die from severe blood loss in as little as five minutes, so having the kits available increases the chances of survival.”
More than one in four convenience store (c-store) workers has considered quitting due to safety concerns, according to a YouGov survey by Motorola Solutions.
The 1,000-strong survey included 167 c-store staff and found they were more likely to consider quitting due to retail crime than supermarket staff.
Despite the trend, workers in c-stores were less likely to have experienced retail crime.
At the Usdaw Crime Summit last week, Midcounties Co-op head of store support Chris Chandler told attendees: “We’re seeing colleagues leave because of crime and the risks they face, including spitting, verbal abuse and violence.”
More than half of staff surveyed thought their employer could do more on safety, with panic buttons, CCTV and body cameras the top tools requested.
Local shops face increased competition following Allwyn adding National Lottery services in more than 300 Motor Fuel Group (MFG) stores in the past six months.
The project spanned MFG’s 337 Morrisons Daily forecourts, making it the fastest rollout of new lottery sites in the past halfdecade.
Allwyn’s interim retail director, James Dunbar, said the expansion with MFG would help Allwyn to increase the funds raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
by Jack Courtez jack.courtez@newtrade.co.uk
The Post Office (PO) has pledged to boost branch pay by £22,000 per year by 2030 for the average branch, but the promise relies on securing more government funding.
In a call with branch owners last week, PO interim chairman Nigel Railton described “difficult times ahead” as it plans a severe costcutting exercise, thought to include the closure of centrally owned ‘crown’ PO branches and the loss of around 1,000 jobs.
“We need to have an honest conversation about the loss-making parts of our network and our directly managed branches while still meeting the current requirement of 11,500 branches,” he said.
Describing the fiveyear plan as “a new deal for postmasters”, Railton said new products, marketing and technology would be used to support branches, alongside better in-branch banking services, an enhanced online offering and increasing the number of banking hubs to 500.
He promised an extra £250m of remuneration for branches per year by 2030.
Railton added that branches should benefit from £120m extra next year, part funded by the cost-saving exercises.
The £120m equates more than £10,500 extra for the average branch, and 30% more of the business’s revenue being paid out as branch pay.
Under the plan, new panels of postmasters will advise PO on the changes to “strengthen postmaster’s voices” within all parts of the business.
The impact on stores
The potential crown PO closures caused customer confusion, with branch owners reporting shoppers asking if their branch was closing.
Some took to social media to make it clear their branch is not affected.
Tenby Stores & Post Office owner Vince Malone described the announcement as “another layer of anxiety”.
Groups including the CWU and NFSP have also suggested PO could push for the government to
reduce its requirement for a network of at least 11,500 branches, as part of Railton’s strategic review, which is yet to be released.
The CWU, NFSP and Voice of the Postmaster groups were all cynical of whether the planned remuneration increase would be achieved, with all noting that the same promises had been made many times before, without significant progress.
CWU branch representative Sean Hudson said crown branch closures funding pay increases to other branches was “bidding postmaster against postmaster”.
He told RN: “At the moment, all we have is words, and I’m noting
that the plan sees the extra remuneration to subpostmasters some years down the line.
“We’ve had these kind of announcements before. We don’t know if any strings will be attached to the remuneration.”
A statement from Voice of the Postmaster said branch owners were “wary” of the pledges as previous “visions of a better future” were “yet to materialise”, but said there was “cautious optimism”.
NFSP chief executive Callum Greenhow highlighted previous promises to improve branch pay were “not achieved”, but said the latest remuneration pledge was an “encouraging” sign.
Phoenix 2 Retail (P2R) is entering a “transitional education phase” to guide retailers through vape legislation, chief executive Chris Kelly told RN.
P2R will stop supplying disposable vapes by spring 2025, with retailers expected to sell through remaining stock if ordered no later than April.
“We are aiming between February and April to try
and exit disposables, so compliant products will be activated at retail level before the ban,” Kelly said.
As part of this, P2R plans to deploy reps in Booker depots to educate retailers on navigating these changes.
Kelly noted the company would not be offering stock take-backs, however.
He added: “Everybody’s had enough notice, re-
gardless of the date being moved. We’ll probably see aggressive promotional activity from the new year until April.”
The company is collaborating with the ACS to introduce a support line where retailers can verify vape compliance using a product’s ECID number.
“Any retailer can phone up and ask, ‘could you just check a product for me?’,”
Kelly said. P2R will also refuse to stock any products from brands involved in importing illicit vapes, even if specific stocked lines are compliant.
Kelly said distributors and wholesalers are key to combating the illicit trade by “taking a dim view of any brand found to be allowing importation of single-use vapes”.
by Jack Courtez jack.courtez@newtrade.co.uk
Shop owners can now order from their Booker branch with a smaller risk of out-of-stocks thanks to a new ‘real-time stock updates’ feature.
Confirming the new feature to RN, a Booker spokesperson explained: “Following a successful trial, we’re delighted to offer our customers realtime stock updates for all Booker branches via our website. Customers can see if a product is available, low in stock or out of stock following high demand, making it even easier for them to shop with us.”
RN understands the stock levels are updated every 15 minutes to give customers the best possible knowledge of the latest availability in each branch. The presence of coloured labels for each line confirm if they are either ‘in stock’ or ‘low stock’.
The labels also appear on Booker’s ‘Shopping List’ tool, cutting the amount of time it takes retailers to check and place orders for delivery, click and collect or to shop
in branch. The wholesaler added it would allow retailers and caterers to “shop with confidence”.
Nilesh Patel, of Nils Convenience Store in Ilford, east London, uses Booker’s Dagenham branch. He told RN: “It’s really good to hear. There’s lots of choice of wholesalers here, so knowing you can check what you need first will save a lot of time.
“Our depot has gone much more over to catering ranges, so it is important we can keep up to date with
what they have.”
Similarly, John Parkinson, of John’s Broadway News in Penrhyn Bay, Conwy, told RN: “We go to our closest Booker four or five times per week, plus all the way to Chester once per week for their promotions. Knowing what’s in stock before we go will be really helpful.”
Click-and-collect services incur a £10 charge from Booker, and are offered to retailers at a minority of its depots.
Deliveries incur a £34.95 charge for non-Booker
symbol stores and the service is much more widely available to retailers.
Analysis by RN of the 650 soft drinks lines listed online at one Booker branch using the new tool showed 59% were marked as ‘in stock’.
Nearly all of the remainder carried no indication of availability.
Other wholesalers have introduced similar tools in recent years. Bestway’s indicates whether a line is in stock and shows how many cases have been sold in the past week.
Retailers will feel the benefits of the creation of a new wholesale buying group, representing 12% of all retail and foodservice wholesalers, those behind the new company have claimed.
The Wholesale Group was created last week through a merger of Confex and Fairway Foodservice. Wholesaler members of the new group include
Millennium, Epicurium, Holland Bazaar and Woods Foodservice. The Wholesale Group joint managing director Jess Douglas said the group will improve ranges, pricing and communication with retailers and caterers.
The Wholesale Group’s members run 253 depots in the UK serving nearly 350,000 shops and catering businesses, using its
distribution network and buying power to keep prices down.
Douglas said: “The Wholesale Group will lead the way.
“Driven by data and technology and with a clear focus on service, it will be the largest delivered buying group, the largest foodservice buying group and the second largest retail buying
group in the UK.”
The move follows Confex announcing a focus on driving greater foodto-go support for shop owners through promotions and rep visits. A retail club, launched by Confex in 2020, also allows shop owners to gain exclusive promotions and rebates “based on their loyalty” to Confex-member cash and carries.
A Booker driver dismissed for repeated abusive behaviour towards a female colleague won an employment tribunal earlier this month because of the depot’s ‘lawless’ environment.
The hearing, published at the beginning of November, described how the colleague was repeatedly sworn at by the driver, had derogatory messages left on her desk and had stock poured over her head by a manager, actions described as “banter” by colleagues.
The judge said this conduct was widespread in the depot and it was unfair the driver had been singled out and dismissed.
The judge said: “I am satisfied there was a ‘toxic culture’ in the office; it was ‘lawless’ with no real enforcement of expected workplace norms by managers.”
Ten shop owners were recognised for their exceptional stores by Bestway at the wholesaler’s Bestway Retail Awards last week.
Sports presenter Gabby Logan presented the honours including independent retailer of the year and community retailer of the year.
Suppliers and Bestway teams also got awards. Bestway managing director Dawood Pervez said: “It’s a privilege to recognise those individuals who truly make a real difference, setting new standards and strengthening our industry partnerships.”
by Dia Stronach
Several titles saw increases in their voucher subscription copy sales during Home News Delivery (HND) Month.
The Daily Star, Financial Times (FT) and i daily newspaper all increased their overall subscribers in October, as did the Daily Star Sunday and Sunday People.
The largest increase in subscribers was the FT, boosting its subscription count between September and October by 7.7% on weekends and 8.7% on weekdays. While an impressive result, this is less than HND Month 2023, which saw it increase subscribers by 9.4% on weekdays and 9.3% on weekends.
A boost in subscriber numbers at the end of this summer may have
contributed to the losses on other titles. The Daily Express, for example, has retained 20 of the 501 subscribers it gained in September compared to a loss of 103 in August.
Retailer Judith Mercer told RN that these figures may not fully reflect the impact of HND Month, as last year her store saw “not very many” new customers during October, but instead gained a larger-than-usual trickle of new HND subscribers throughout the year.
Mercer’s experience is backed up by ABC figures, with a total of 10,558 subscribers lost in September 2024 compared to 12,634 in September 2023. Likewise, while HND Month 2024 did not match the 8,358 total subscribers gained in the 2023 event, an overall loss of just 1,298 represents a significant improvement on the typical decline.
Panini has announced the release of a new sticker collection in January that will fill a gap in the collectables market.
Set for release on 9 January, the collection highlights Deadpool, one of Marvel’s most-popular franchises, still celebrating the success of the release of Deadpool & Wolverine earlier this year. It includes 128 stickers, 32 specials, 32 die-cut, and 50 cards as well as an album containing a comic and brand-new mini-comics. While the character is beloved by teenaged and younger audiences, very few of the existing com-
ics and collectables from Marvel are accessible to that demographic. The stickers include a parental advisory for younger fans, but retailer James Cobley, of Newsstand Comics in Dartford, told RN he expected the stickers to be seen as more suited to younger fans than the existing comics. He said: “We get a lot of younger teenage boys coming in asking for Deadpool comics and merchandise, and we just don’t have anything that’s age-appropriate for them. Parents come in looking for Deadpool stuff for their kids all the time and are surprised that it’s often 15+.”
by Helena Drakakis editorial@newtrade.co.uk
Fed members in Scotland have called on Amazon to stop exploiting a legal loophole that enables it to sell alcohol to shoppers for less than its minimum unit price (MUP).
Since Scotland’s MUP increased to 65p per unit of alcohol in September, stores reported a surge in shoppers buying spirits from the online retailer for below this level.
Alcohol purchased on Amazon in Scotland can be sold at below MUP because the orders are dispatched from England.
MUP is designed to tackle the spiralling number of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, which is among the highest in Western Europe.
Mo Razzaq, Fed national president and owner of Premier Mo's in Blantyre, said: “We have contacted Amazon and are awaiting a reply. I am very concerned about this.
“In the spirit of the law, this is wrong, and it’s deeply inappropri-
ate for Amazon to use this loophole. If Amazon wants to show its ethical credentials, then this needs to stop.”
Hussan Lal, owner of Park Licence Grocer in Paisley and Scottish district president, said the practice was having a “real impact” on convenience sales. He added: “A customer told me last week he is buying vodka from Amazon because it’s cheaper than my store.”
Razzaq also called on the Scottish government to clamp down on the practice. “If the government doesn’t do something, not only will we have this issue, but we’ll also have people selling from the backs of vans because of the high cost of alcohol.
“Honest retailers are struggling because they are fully compliant with the legislation,” he said.
Ferhan Ashiq, of Levenhall Village Store in Musselburgh, East Lothian, said cheaper prices were not just a feature of online retail, with multiples also ex-
ploiting the loophole.
He added: “It’s not just Amazon – every supermarket can sell cheaper alcohol than convenience stores. The Scottish government has decided to prioritise big business over smaller stores.”
Concerns about online shopping were raised when MUP was introduced in 2018, but digital loopholes were not considered a serious problem at the time.
Retailers believe online shopping has since become a more popular option for shoppers after the Covid-19 pandemic and during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. “The law was drawn up at a
time when online sales were less,” said Ashiq. “Now that’s not the case, and it’s [retailers] who bear the cost.”
Challenged on whether the Scottish government would take steps to close the loophole, a spokesperson told RN: “Minimum unit pricing applies to the location where a product is despatched for delivery to the customer.
“Enforcement and investigation of potential non-compliance with minimum unit pricing is the responsibility of local authority licensing teams.”
Amazon failed to respond when approached by RN.
Fed member Suresh Patel has urged the government to consider raising the minimum-age restriction on tobacco to as much as 25 years old as an alternative to its planned generational smoking ban.
The plea was made at the Asian Trader-hosted SME4Labour event at London’s Park Plaza hotel this month.
During the day, MPs listened to retailers discuss the impact of retail crime and hear their concerns about the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Under the proposed legislation, it would be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
Patel, who heads the Fed’s political engage-
ment committee, said:
“Again, the onus falls to retailers to police this ban. We are being asked to monitor age that’s going to get harder when customers get older.
“If people want to smoke when they are 30 or 40, and they can’t, they’ll turn to the street trade. For that reason, we believe the bill will
The government will narrow the minimum wage gap between 18-to20 year-olds and all other employees, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told the Fed.
The comment followed a letter to the MP from Fed national president Mo Razzaq outlining concerns about the change. Razzaq stated: “Giving a lower wage for younger workers reflects the additional investment in training they need and allows shops to be able to employ vital younger workers.”
Reynolds replied: “The government has asked the Low Pay Commission to continue to narrow the gap between the 18-20 minimum wage rate and the National Living Wage.
“However, the remit to the LPC is also clear that this ambition should be pursued while also taking into account the effects on employment of younger workers.”
The Fed is on track to return £250,000 to retailers from news wholesalers this year.
increase retail crime and the illicit trade.”
Patel suggested retailers were more likely to support an increase in minimum-age restrictions. “We know legislation is coming, but rather than a generational ban, it would be far better, and easier to monitor, an increase in the minimum age to 21 or 25,” he said.
Around £187,000 has been recovered in missing credits, vouchers and recharges, as well as money saved through waived deposits with news wholesalers.
A further £40,000 was recovered for late or missing supply to home news deliverers, taking the total to date to £227,468.
The Fed said: “This is further proof that it really does pay to be a member of the federation.”
We are all keen to sign up to Elonex
I saw RN’s article regarding Elonex’s digital advertising screens for convenience stores (RN 8 November edition).
I own a 1,500sq ft store and would like a media screen installed.
The store has been recently extended and refitted and I think an internal media screen could be mutually beneficial.
Raj Suchak
Coldean Convenience 02, Brighton
Melton Mobilezz is a family-run business with 20 years of experience, located in a prime spot in the city.
As an established retailer in a vibrant area, we believe our location could be an ideal fit for Elonex’s digital advertising screens.
If Elonex opens up the offer for a free digital signage programme, we’d love to take part.
Usamah Khan Melton Mobilezz, Leceister
I read the Elonex article and would like to have a screen in our shop, which
DRS MUST WORK FOR EVERYONE IF IT IS TO SUCCEED
Mo Razzaq, national president, the Fed
The thorny issue of deposit return schemes (DRS) continues to rumble on, unfortunately with no sign of any immediate and satisfactory solution.
While we at the Fed are supportive of DRS in principle, it is imperative that any scheme must be workable and beneficial to all concerned, especially the retailers who will have to implement it. With this in mind, I have taken the bull by
the horns and started a trial scheme in my store, working in partnership with Coca-Cola, Biffa and Reloop.
The trial started on 11 November and will run until mid-January 2025.
I have also written to first minister John Swinney to outline our concerns regarding DRS and to invite him and other Scottish parliamentarians to witness the trial first-hand, operate the technology and understand how it can
is located in a prime location on an A-road.
Thiso Thavaseelan Broadwaters Convenience Store, Stourbridge Road, Kidderminster
RN editor Jack Courtez responded: “Thanks for getting in touch following our interview with Elonex earlier this month, where they discussed paying stores a forecasted £1,000 per year for hosting digital media screens. I’ve sent your details and messages over to the team at Elonex who will be in touch shortly to provide more information. Any reader who missed the interview can find it at betterretailing.com/exclusiveelonex-offers-new-free-digital-adscreens-for-independent-convenience-stores.”
We haven’t yet experienced any backlash from customers about rising tobacco prices. If people are going to smoke, they’ll smoke.
It’s surprising there hasn’t been any conflict there. Imperial has come up with a new tobacco brand called Paramount, which costs £11.50 for a 20-pack. That’s a great deal, as the average cost is £13-£17. We’re now stocking them, because we’ve got a good rep, and they’re selling extremely well. Also, Iqos heated tobacco is selling really well. It says a lot about the market and trends at the moment.
In terms of other products doing well, Monster is still strong as a brand, especially compared with Red Bull. However, Oreo Coca-Cola didn’t sell well for us. It sold well for some, but sometimes the more out-there collaborations are just fleeting trends, which I guess is why it was a limited edition.
With Christmas coming up, people are getting tight on money. To counter this, we’ve got loads of price-marked stuff, and that’s how we adapt. It definitely works, and we’re respected for it by our customers. We try to stay focused on ourselves, too. There are always wars between supermarkets, but they are not something we get involved in.
work in practice from 2027. An efficient, wellplanned DRS scheme will be simple to run, but could be complex to roll out. Given its vast potential environmental benefits, we believe it is important to work with the Scottish government and commercial stakeholders to test the technology involved, ensuring alignment on key components like the barcodes and reverse-vending machines (RVMs).
We are also keen to
ensure that a common DRS system governed by a single deposit-management organisation is in place to ensure items sold in different parts of the UK can be recycled using any RVM in the scheme.
We want and need our members’ voices to be heard and to make sure the government doesn’t underestimate the impact it could have on independent retailers, which is likely to be considerable.
We need their support.
Do you back a licence for stores to sell vapes? NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION
Will the Post Office fulfill its £250m extra branch pay promise?
Visit the website betterretailing.com/products to find out more about product launches
Recommended by: Lewis Woodward, Nisa Local Colley Gate, Halesowen
Who buys it: Younger adults
RRP: £4.99
Why it’s important: BuzzBallz has gained renewed popularity on TikTok, sparking interest among younger adult consumers eager to try the full range of flavours
How to range it: With RTD alcohol lines
Where to buy it: Hammonds of Knutsford, Bestway, Spar, among others
Priya Khaira
Features writer @priyakaurkhaira 020 7689 3379 priya.khaira@newtrade.co.uk
by Priya Khaira priya.khaira@newtrade.co.uk
Hancocks has launched Pick ’N’ Mix Station, a new brand that features tailored pick ’n’ mix options.
The range has an RRP of £9.99 for a 1kg bulk bag filled with pick ’n’ mix based on different themes, including a selection of fizzy, gummy, jelly, chocolate and foam sweets.
The Space Bag is a mix of white chocolate stars, peach rings, stars and space-shaped gummy sweets, while the Choco Mix Mag includes milk, white and strawberry chocolate flavour candies with candy topping.
The Blue Mix Bag contains a variety of blue-
coloured tongue painters, raspberry liquorice slices, blue raspberry slices and bubblegum mushrooms, while the Red Mix Bag contains fizzy watermelon slices, giant strawberries, gummy teeth and strawberry kisses.
The Scary Mix features sour fruit-flavour jelly sweets, including skulls, worms, teeth and fangs.
Other mixes include the Fizzy Mix filled with
fruit and cola-flavour sour sweets. The Bottle Mix includes bottle-shaped sweets and the Jelly Mix packed with fruity jelly and foam sweets.
Kathryn Hague, head of marketing at Hancocks, said: “We’re very excited to reveal our Pick ’N’ Mix Station brand.
“It was created to fulfil a value proposition that celebrates our range of bulk confectionery.”
Vodka-based RTD brand
Four Loko has introduced a limited-edition Black variety, featuring kiwi notes and an 8.4% ABV.
Available in 440ml cans with an RRP of £3.49, this release is aimed at capturing attention during the festive season.
To support the launch, Four Loko’s ‘Party in a Can’ campaign features in-store point-of-sale materials, including shelf barkers, wobblers and digital aisle fins.
The campaign extends online, encouraging consumers to share their #FourLokoMoments – fun celebrations where Four Loko plays a part. Some of the shoppers who engage with the brand online will
receive exclusive festive merchandise.
The brand said its campaign aims to attract young adults, with a strong focus on social media.
Additionally, Four Loko has partnered with Snappy Shopper in Scotland for
Red Star Brands, said: “We know new products drive consumer interest in the RTD category, so we’re excited to add some more vibrant colour in the runup to Christmas.
“The fact that premium-priced RTDs have grown faster than any
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Nestlé has partnered with Formula 1, making KitKat the official chocolate bar of the racing series. Launching in 2025, this multi-year collaboration marks KitKat’s 90th and F1’s 75th anniversaries. With F1’s global reach and a fanbase of 700 million, the partnership aims to reach younger and diverse audiences through promotional prizes, fan zones and trackside branding. It has announced plans to expand in 2026. Campaign spans out-of-home, consumer and digital activations
Accolade Wines has expanded its mini-boxed-wine range with the launch of Jam Shed Shiraz. Following the introduction of Mud House Sauvignon Blanc in the same format, this addition provides up to six weeks of freshness after opening. The redesigned packaging, which has been reduced in size by 26%, uses 13.6% less cardboard with Accolade’s previous 1.5l boxed format.
On sale now
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has launched an initiative called Local Moments of Joy, where independent retailers can win a share of £48,000 ahead of the festive season. Retailers need to register on my.ccep.com to enter the daily free prize draw and 12 randomly selected daily winners will receive £1,000, with a further 12 able to claim up to £10,000 to donate to a registered local charity or cause of their choice. Competition runs until 29 November
KitKat and Jolly Rancher are partnering with Nintendo of America this Christmas. New limited-edition KitKat bars and Jolly Rancher gummies will feature characters from Super Mario Bros Wonder and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, respectively, including Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Daisy, Princess Peach, Bowser, Elephant Mario and Donkey Kong. Pricing is at the discretion of the retailer.
Available now
Booker has announced the addition of Simply Doughnuts into its range of products. The doughnuts are individually wrapped for freshness and have a shelf life of 150 days. They come in Banana Glaze with Cocoa Sprinkles, Cocoa Cream filling, Cocoa Glaze, Strawberry Glaze and Strawberry Jam filling flavours, and are available to retailers in shelf-ready trays containing 12 individual packets.
RRP £3.50
Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold and Pepsi Max have combined to create a new ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage. It is available in 330ml cans, 250ml slimline cans and multipacks of 6x250ml. The launch includes a convenience-first support plan introduced for the impulse channel, comprising bespoke PoS, gifted stock and in-store activations to help retailers drive interest in store and on social media.
RRP £2.59 for the 330ml format
Despite a slight reduction in independent-retail wine volumes, red wine sells well in winter, so retailers should keep an eye on the lines they can widen margins on.
I Heart Malbec 75cl is one of this week’s standouts: 58% of stores are selling it for more than its £5.99 price, with £8.99 its highest
David Wyatt
price. Fifty-six per cent are doing the same with I Heart Merlot 75cl.
At the more premium end, 50% are exceeding 19 Crimes Blend Red’s £7.99 most-common price, with some charging as much as £11.99. This is the joint-highest price this week, alongside Campo Viejo Tempranillo Rioja’s, although
We joined Bargain Booze as one of Costcutter’s first forecourts last year, and since then, we’ve doubled our wine range, focusing heavily on quality and presentation. Wine sales are up 40%, with white and rosé now refrigerated, and red-wine sales showing significant growth, especially around Christmas. We offer tasting notes, a dedicated wine area, and deals like mix-and-match bundles – two bottles for £12 or three for £20. We’ve transformed the store into a destination for wine rather than just a quick stop for people running low.
just 25% are charging above that line’s £9.49 most-common price.
Last year, 62% of retailers charged above Trivento Reserve Malbec’s £6.99 most-common price. This has jumped to £9.49 (the highest most-common price this week), which just 20% are exceeding.
STORE Heathcote Post Office
LOCATION East
Grinstead, West Sussex
SIZE 1,000sq ft
TYPE Residential
Tail
Red-wine sales tend to pick up during the winter months, so we adjust our stock accordingly. In summer, we reduce our red-wine selection and increase facings of white wines. Whenever possible, we also run promotions on our red wines, which may reduce our margins slightly, but helps drive sales. By rotating these promotions regularly, we keep our offering fresh and appealing, catering to customers’ seasonal preferences and encouraging them to explore a variety of wines throughout the year.
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The RN team finds out what steps retailers take to ensure they are running their stores responsibly
Responsible retailing is such an important part of the independent convenience sector that the Better Retailing Awards has a category dedicated to it.
At its core, responsible retailing covers two key facets – don’t serve alcohol to intoxicated customers and don’t sell age-restricted products to underage customers.
Upholding these two tenets can potentially cause tension and confrontation, but when they are properly enforced, they can help to make a shop a place in which customers feel safe and comfortable shopping
“We keep our super-strength beers behind the counter, and
have done for 20 years,” says Judith Smitham, of The Old Dairy – Pydar Stores in Truro, Cornwall. “It’s then about managing drunk people, and not serving them.”
Smitham has also helped her staff when it comes to ID -ing customers and working out by the till whether or not someone is eligible to buy alcohol or not. She has achieved this by writing an updated acceptable birth date. “ That way, they don’t have to worry about doing any maths around someone’s birth date – they know they can’t sell to anyone who was born after that specific date,” she explains.
Retailers offering food to go or anything that’s produced in the store – or indeed any products that
are perishable – need to m ake sure they are on top of their foodhygiene standards as well.
“All our staff are trained to level two,” says Vidur Pandya, from Kislingbury Village Store & Post Office in Northamptonshire.
“It adds that extra protection in the food-to -go area, making sure things are cooked to the correct temperature.
“We also make sure we’re checking the basic temperature logs for our fridges, especially in summer, when the meats can get warmer as the chillers run more.”
To see what other stores are doing, go to betterretailing.com/advice
JUDITH SMITHAM
At Hitesh Modi’s Londis Chesham in Buckinghamshire, when any age-restricted product comes up on the till, staff are flagged to check the customer’s ID, and it’s then logged onto the EPoS for future analysis.
Modi highlights the problem of underage customers asking adults to purchase certain products for them, with vapes highlighted as a particular problem area that has arisen in recent years.
“We do as much as we can to enforce it and so if we see kids asking someone else, we won’t sell to them, either,” he says. “We have PoS throughout the shop saying underage sales aren’t allowed, along with CCTV and other deterrents.
“The CCTV enables staff to point them out and talk to customers, explaining they’re being watched, which is why they have to ID people. We train them to do that because it can de-escalate situations.”
If you’re to enforce rules around responsible retailing consistently and effectively, you need your staff to be on board and fully trained.
“From day one of someone starting, they’ll have an induction with a manager about what’s expected of them,” says Judith Smitham, from the Old Dairy – Pydar Stores in Truro, Cornwall.
“People need to know what are acceptable IDs, so all the standards are communicated quickly, and we talk to staff about dealing with drunk customers. I don’t ask new members of staff to deal with them – they’re trained to call me or my husband.”
Smitham also makes sure to check outside the shop to ensure people aren’t buying restricted products and then handing them over to underage customers outside.
For six years, she has also banned selling energy drinks to under-15s, after hearing about the impact they had on children at school.
Responsible retailing can be made easier by ensuring not only that you are enforcing the law of the land at every till interaction, but also that customers are made well aware of this.
Vidur Pandya, from Kislingbury Village Store & Post Office in Northamptonshire, has posters and shelf-talkers around his store reminding customers about his Challenge 25 policy.
“We’re very strict on it, but it can be hard, and we’ve had to ask the same person for ID twice in the past,” he says.
“But we’re a village store and word spreads around that we’re a responsible retailer.
“We use our EPoS to log all refusals and we go through it every month to check all the staff are compliant.”
Pandya also demonstrates his responsibility as a retailer by not advertising any agerestricted products on his Facebook page. “It’s about making sure we’re there for our community,” he says.
Technology can help Retailers looking to diffuse situations at the till can now defer to technology, as Mo Razzaq, from Mo’s Premier in Blantyre, has been doing since he installed MyCheckr a month ago.
MyCheckr uses AI to scan customers’ faces and tell staff whether or not they ought to ask for ID.
“It cuts that conflict at the checkout, which is great because historically that’s where the biggest flashpoint is,” he says.
“If staff ask for ID and someone doesn’t want to provide any, staff can point to the MyCheckr and say it’s down to the computer.
“Installing it was very easy – it’s all pre-programmed, you just need the stand and the tablet. It’s just one cost, so we don’t need to worry about monthly charges, which is really helpful.”
Razzaq is also looking at adding software that tracks people acting suspiciously in his shop. l
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As demand for imported snacks, beverages and confectionery is on the rise, Priya Khaira identifies 30 lines that can help retailers improve retailers’ bottom line
Imported products have become a lucrative opportunity for retailers as social media fads and widening tastes drive customer demand for international brands and unique flavours. To succeed in this category, retailers need to be strategic, agile and wellinformed about the latest trends.
STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE
For independent retailers, imported products provide a competitive advantage. From US candy to Japanese snacks, consumers are eager to try items they see trending online. According to Lewis Woodward, of Nisa
Local Colley Gate in Halesowen, West Midlands, international confectionery can yield more than a 30% margin.
“The category is very trendoriented,” Woodward explains. “Once it’s in, customers want to snap it up.”
He keeps an entire shelf fixture dedicated to international snacks and makes sure to stay up to date on the latest trends to keep his offering fresh and appealing. Over the past year, Woodward has consistently promoted his imported range on Jisp, recognising that trends can quickly fade.
1. DIRECT IMPORT CONTACTS
Network at trade shows or online to find reliable international contacts. Contacts can keep you updated on the latest viral products and trends.
2. WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS
Stock popular imports through wholesale suppliers such as Americatessen, The Kandy King and Hancocks. Wholesale suppliers simplify sourcing without the need to manage imports directly.
3. REGIONAL DISTRIBUTORS
Look for regional distributors, such as SoSweet Direct in the south-west, that specialise in imported products. Regional distributors often provide added support, such as merchandising and delivery to your area.
4.WHATSAPP GROUPS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
The category is very trendorientated
Join WhatsApp groups with fellow retailers to share insights and stay updated on new product sources. Follow social media channels dedicated to snacks and international products to spot the next big trend early.
“Highlighting value bundles to customers helps recreate a sense of urgency and boosts sales,” he explains.
By strategically promoting his international lines on Jisp, Woodward has increased sales by 20%. He’s also established a contact in America who keeps him informed on the latest trends, allowing him to stay ahead of the curve and bring in sought-after products before they hit the UK.
Social media has become a major driver of imported snack demand. TikTok, in particular, has sparked interest in items such as Dubai Chocolate bars. Fuzail Patel, head of operations at the Redbeck Group,
leveraged this trend by launching his own take on the Dubai pistachio chocolate bars. Retailing at £6.50, his bars have become a hit across four of his petrol stations across northern England.
Patel notes that staying on top of “viral” products from social media is crucial for driving sales and attracting a younger, trend-focused customer base because a single viral post can spark a surge in demand almost overnight.
For retailers looking to make a mark with imported lines, sweet treats are a particularly profitable category. From international chocolates to novelty candies, imported confectionery offers high margins, strong demand and an element of excitement that keeps customers coming back.
Sunita Aggarwal, of Spar Hackenthorpe in Sheffield, recently started experimenting with imported lines by bringing in a new product each month, quickly realising how eager her customers were to try unique, limited-edition items from around the world.
She recently stocked a selection of Australian chocolates, includ-
1. PREMIUM PRICING: Take advantage of the novelty factor by setting premium prices on popular imported items. Customers are often willing to pay a little extra for something unique they can’t easily find elsewhere.
2. IMPULSE APPEAL: Place high-demand imports near the checkout or create a dedicated international snacks section. This encourages customers to explore and try something new as they shop.
3. HIGHLIGHT THE NOVELTY: Showcase your most unique items on social media and consider offering in-store samples to help customers get familiar with products they may not know yet. This builds excitement and boosts your store’s reputation as a place to get the latest lines.
4. SECURE SUPPLY: Partner with import-focused wholesalers to ensure your top sellers stay in stock. Reliable sourcing is key to meeting demand for trending items.
5. DRIVE VOLUME WITH DEALS: Use mix-and-match offers or bundles – such as an American treats bundle – to increase basket size and encourage customers to try more products.
6. KEEP IT FRESH: Rotate new imports regularly and add limitededition products to keep customers intrigued. A fresh selection of imported lines gives them a reason to visit your store often.
Lazzaroni Amaretti di Saronno biscuits Italy Crunchy almond cookies; known for authentic Italian quality
AriZona Iced Tea USA Variety of flavours; large cans popular for value
Dubai Chocolate UAE Premium chocolates; appeal to those seeking exotic confectionery and on top of social media trends
4D Fruit Gummy China Realistic fruit-shaped gummies; popular among novelty candy enthusiasts £1.50-£5.99
Amos Peelerz USA Peelable fruit-flavoured gummy rings; popular for novelty appeal £1.50
Damak Chocolate Turkey Rich pistachio-filled chocolate; appeals to gourmet confectionery fans £1.80-£2.49 Hidden Valley Ranch USA Popular salad dressing; appeals to fans of American condiments £6
Samyang Cream Carbonara Ramen South Korea Creamy and spicy instant ramen; popular among adventurous noodle fans. Searches for this flavour on social media have grown over the past year
£1.75-£2.25
Caffe Bene Blue Lemonade Pouch South Korea Refreshing drink pouch first popularised in Korea £1.99
Lotte Milkis South Korea Carbonated milk drink with a sweet, tangy taste
£1.50
Hana Korean Grocery, Bestway
Korea Foods, Zing Asia, Dimark Cash and Carry, JGM 30-40%
Japan Centre, Candy Mail UK, JGM 20-25%
Starry Mart 25%
American Grocer, The Kandy King, JGM, Wholesale SweetsUK 20%
Korea Foods, Starry Mart, Japan Centre 30%
Japan Centre, Sing Kee, Starry Mart
Japan Centre, Yutaka, Amazon, Korea Foods
American Candy N Drinks, Hollywood Candy Wholesale, Candy Mail UK
American Food Mart, Hollywood Candy Wholesale, JGM, Americatessen 30%
Americatessen, World Candies, International Foods UK, American Fizz Wholesale, Amazon
Americatessen, Sun Exotic, The Kandy King, American Fizz Wholesale
Americatessen, The Kandy King, Sweets and Treats, Costco
Bestway Wholesale, Hancocks 15%
Bestway Wholesale, American Sweets, Happy Candy 15%
Mexgrocer, HS Wholesale, Hancocks
Dutch Expat Shop, Costco 15%
Lupa Foods, Bestway, Holleys Fine Foods
Bestway Wholesale, British Food Wholesalers
International Snacks UK
Hollywood Candy Wholesale, The Kandy King, Wholesale Sweets, Appleton Sweets, Americatessen
Americatessen, Hancocks, Holley Fine Foods
Candy Mail UK, Snack Plug UK, American Candy Stores
Candy Mail UK, American Candy UK, SoSweet 10-15%
American Candy Stores 15-20% Glencrest, E-Natural limited 20%
American Fizz, American Food Store, Amazon
Oriental Mart, Korea Foods Company
Korea Foods Company
H Mart, Tradewinds Oriental Shop
ing Twirl Honeycomb Sundae, Dairy Milk Golden Crisp, Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp, Twirl Iced Latte and Dream White Chocolate, all priced at £1.99. After selling out within the first couple of weeks and generating a 40% margin, Aggarwal reordered the items the next month for a limited time only, creating a buzz among her customers on social media.
“I generally advise taking time to keep up with social media and with other retailers to stay updated with the latest trends,” she says.
Recent limited-edition imports of hers also include Japanese sour candies and Takis in Fuego, Volcano and Dragon Sweet Chili flavours.
According to data from RN’s sister title, What to Stock, imported lines are emerging particularly in the snacks and biscuits category. Data shows that Cheetos Twisted Flamin’ Hot (65g) performs well despite a recent decrease in its overall ranking.
Currently sold in around 90% of stores, Cheetos demonstrates robust distribution and enduring consumer demand across the UK. With an average weekly sales value of £6.92 and a profit margin of £1.57 per unit, the product offers retailers a reliable source of sales within the imported snack category. The popularity of the Flamin’ Hot line can, again, be
attributed to the influence of social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where snack reviews and spicy food challenges capture attention.
In the sweet biscuits category, What to Stock data highlights Lu Mikado Milk Chocolate (39g) as a standout product. Priced at 79p, it yields a weekly profit of approximately 38-57p per unit, and is available in 72.8% of stores.
Its strong distribution and consistent sales signal a rising interest in culturally diverse treats – particularly those with East Asian influences, which have gained popularity through social media and pop culture.
Retailer insights reveal that American lines, such as Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Twinkies, perform particularly well, appealing to customers craving bold flavors and offering healthy margins of 25-35%.
Asian noodles and snacks, such as Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen and Pokémon Noodles, are also popular among younger consumers, with some products yielding margins as high as 40%.
Novelty beverages such as Lotte Milkis, Skittles Drink and Dr Pepper Cream Soda, along with premium European treats, are also proving successful as impulse buys near the checkout, capturing customers’ attention with a sense of novelty. l WHERE
Batteries and electronic accessories are an integral part of modern-day living.
From household goods to kids’ toys, this category finds multiple uses across all age groups. However, these products result in varied approaches among retailers.
Goran Raven, of Raven’s Budgens in Abridge, Essex, for example, has downsized his range, citing the competitive pricing available through online retailers such as Amazon as the main challenge.
“We hold a small amount of AA and AAA batteries plus a few phone cables,” Raven says. “We found customers would refuse to pay our prices when they could pay significantly less and have it delivered to their houses within 24 hours.
“ Their purchase and delivery price was significantly less than our cost price. For the sales made, it’s not worth hunting around for new suppliers to still not be competitive.”
In contrast, John Vine, of Vine & Co in Church Stretton, Shropshire, sells hundreds of pounds-worth of batteries every week, with around £3,000 sold during Christmas alone. His selection goes beyond the standard AA batteries to cater for specific customer needs, offering batter ies for weighing scales, car remote controls, digital cameras, watches and thermometers.
Despite Raven and Vine’s dif fering experiences, most retailers believe this small-space, “slow-sell” category can bring in high margins of up to 50%, particularly given the emergency nature of many battery purchases.
Trudy Davies & Davies News in Llanidloes, Powys, and Bobby Singh Nevison Superstore in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, say batteries and electronics are not a luxury a necessity, thereby making the
category resilient to even economic downturns.
Jonathan Cobb, from Miserden Stores & Post Office in Gloucestershire, credits his success to his location. “You might find them cheaper if you go to a larger town. But, for most people, it’s like an emergency item. If you need a battery, you need a battery. You don’t need that drive specifically to get the battery. So, we can charge a little bit more.”
BRAND
While Singh and Vine believe there should be a balance between brand and value, Abdul Arain, owner of Al-Amin Supermarket in Cambridge, says branded electronics are always the bestsellers.
Duracell is the preferred choice for a premium option, while Panasonic provides more budget-friendly alternatives. Vine also offers options including Energizer, Lloytron and JCB.
Amish Shingadia, of Londis Caterways in Horsham, West Sussex, offers both branded and value
For most people, it’s like an emergency item
options, but sells more branded because customers expect them to last longer and are willing to pay extra.
For electronic accessories, Singh stocks affordable options that meet customers’ needs and offer value for money. However, Vas Vekaria, of Kegs N Blades in Bolton, Greater Manchester, finds that selling cheap accessories, such as charging cables, is not profitable.
“They’ll always come back if it’s faulty. So, buy a better quality one and they won’t,” he says.
Vekaria also offers a “no quibble return” policy. “We have a rule – if you bought the charger from us, as long as your dog hasn’t chewed it up, we will replace it,” he says.
Vekaria sources his supplies from Vibe, a Manchester-based mobile accessories company. In addition to batteries and chargers, he offers headphones and wall plugs, catering to clients of all ages. He provides the five main battery sizes: AA, AAA, C, D and 9V, along with button batteries, which are commonly used for alarm fobs and similar devices.
Vekaria also stocks Type C and micro USB chargers, stating the category practically “sells itself ” Brand selection in this category often depends on a store’s demographic and type. With limited space, Cobb chooses to stock only one battery brand, while charging
cables and headphones are available as emergency items, each priced at £5.99 across the range.
Davies and Vine believe it’s essential to offer a premium, middle and budget range for batteries. However, if space, cash flow or customer demand is limited, it’s best to focus on stocking budget options and a few premium brands, as these allow opportunities to upsell. Davies says it’s best to stick to a single brand, as a consistent colour scheme and branding create a more cohesive in-store display.
Stores selling £100,000 or more per year in electronic devices, including vapes and batteries, must offer a recycling scheme in store, usually a bin combined with an authorised electronic waste contractor. Stores under this threshold can instead pay to join a ‘distributor take-back scheme’.
Vine gets a Birmingham-based firm to collect used batteries, while Davies offers in-store battery recycling, and also takes in old mobile phones to prevent them from going to landfill. While she doesn’t profit from battery recycling, it provides her customers with a sense of satisfaction, knowing they’re doing their part to help. Additionally, any money earned from other recycling efforts goes to charity.
Since batteries are considered high-value items and prone to theft, retailers often display them behind the counters. Cobb places his range close to the counter, near the stationery section and adjacent to his post office. By keeping it within customers’ line of sight, he’s able to get impulse purchases while customers wait for their parcels to be processed.
Displaying his entire range behind the counter allows Vine to present his customers with a variety of options at a single glance. According to Singh, while this category might not necessarily lead to impulse purchases, its placement encourages customer engagement.
They’ll always come back if it’s faulty. So, buy a better quality one
When customers see it near the entrance or counter, it registers with them, so when they eventually need it, they know where to find it.
Davies and Singh suggest displaying stock in prominent locations, as well as dual siting for added impact
Singh also uses seasons such as Christmas and summer to promote the category. By bundling batteries with toys that don’t come with them, he ensures customers have everything they need in one purchase.
This approach has been effective, as both toys and batteries are highmargin items, and the convenience of bundled options appeals to his clients. l
In the face of the disposable-vape ban, Charles Whitting finds out what retailers can do with their vaping displays and spaces
Retailers have known for some time that disposables would eventually become illegal, but in recent weeks, a final date of 1 June 2025 has been set by the government, with further restrictions being put forward.
One of the proposals is the requirement for any retailer selling vaping products to have a licence to do so.
With concerns already high around the growth of illicit vapes, having a vape licence could help to solidify the reputations of those retailers who have them among their customer base.
A recent report by nicotine pouch supplier Haypp found that only 54% of vape users were buying products legally, with 36% saying they had bought vapes for minors and 11% saying they did so regularly.
“What we need to see now are appropriate penalties and enforcement mechanisms,” says Markus Lindblad, nicotine retail
expert from Haypp. “The licensing system will only be effective if there are tough financial penalties for rule breakers and the enforcement authorities are resourced sufficiently to do their job.”
Regardless of what retailers decide to do with the space once dedicated to disposable vapes, it’s imperative they find products from reputable sources, as the fear is growing that the disposable-vape ban will give strength to the illicit market.
Retailers are already cutting back their disposable-vape ranges, with slow sellers not being replaced on the shelves and alternatives being introduced.
Randip Kaur, from M&R Stores in Longlevens, Gloucestershire, has started replacing them with refillable alternatives, highlighting the environmental and financial benefits to her customers at the till, while also putting her store forward as a place that has what they want.
“It will be cheaper for shoppers in the long run, which will help,” she says. “People are already going over to refillables now. If you start now, people will remember and know to get them from you later. They will adjust.”
The range of alternatives to disposables is considerable, with brands big and small moving to introduce new lines and flavours.
For example, Elfbar has launched its first four-in-one pod kit, which offers four flavours in a single rechargeable device.
Available in 16 mixed flavours and eight single flavour editions, it comes with a 1500mAh battery. There are two operating modes, delivering up to 3,200 puffs.
Simply replacing disposables wholesale with a selection from each of the alternatives isn’t going to replace the lost sales, however. Retailers must ensure they are doing the research, talking to suppliers, customers and other retailers to find out what’s going to work out best for their shop.
“Consumers were already looking for alternative nicotine products long before the ban was first proposed, which is why it is imperative retailers regularly review their product range and prioritise stocking brands that cater to their customers’ needs and to fast-moving trends,” says Andrew Malm, UK market manager at Imperial Brands.
For some, it might also be worth focusing on heated tobacco and
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This material is restricted to those who are involved in the business of the sale or distribution of tobacco who are aged 18 years and over. This material should not be made available to the public or sent to anyone else.
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Blackthorn News and Food, Bramley, South Yorkshire
We’ve already started delisting some disposable vapes. There’s no point keeping a lot of them. We’re looking at the reusables market at the moment.
I’m not planning on moving or changing my display at all for the moment. You have to put things in people’s faces if you’re going to make a sale. If vapes are highly visible then people will buy them, but if they’re stuck behind the counter, you won’t get that same uptick.
The countertop is where I make most of my sales. I sell more from the counter than any of the display stands we have with vape products on them. At the counter, people can physically touch them, have a look at them and talk to our staff about them.
become something of a destination specialist in it, with a few other options available, too.
Retailers will need to work harder on their staff training, displays and range reviews to keep that income.
“Our latest data shows nicotine pouches are now worth just over £110m in annual retail sales,” says Prianka Jhingan, head of marketing at Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK. “This reflects year-on-year growth of 88% in volume terms. Nicotine pouches tend to be consumed by a mix of customers.
“The largest group will be tran sitioning smokers who are moving away from tobacco and into the next-gen nicotine category.
“There are also other groups who are enjoying nicotine pouches, whether they be young urban professionals, trend setters or more socially conscious young adults.”
Many retailers will have installed specific display cabinets and gantries for their vaping products, whether on countertops, on shop floors or even in dedicated areas.
With so many disposable brands and flavours entering the market in recent years, many retailers have seen their ranges – and the space dedicated to them – grow to ensure they are meeting demand and keeping up to date with trends.
When disposable vape lines are taken off these displays, the question is whether the pods, pouches and liquids will be able to justify the same amount of space in an industry where every square inch is critical to the bottom line.
Narayan Siddhu, from Wagon Convenience Store & Post Office in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, had previously reduced the space dedicated to spirits in his store to make room for vapes, giving them prime location and lots of shelving.
But without disposables, and even by introducing refillables and other alternatives, he is now consid-
“It might be time to start reintroducing some of my spirits along with some other things,” he says.
Jai Singh, from MJ’s Go Local Extra in Sheffield, has always had his vapes displayed behind
l Disposable vapes will be banned in England, Wales and Scotland from 1 June 2025, with Northern Ireland expected to follow suit.
l The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is undergoing amendments in Parliament. Should it pass, it is expected that the new laws will come into effect in the second half of 2025. It proposes introducing the following:
- Shops will need a licence to sell vaping products
- Restrictions on vape displays, packaging and flavours
- From October 2026, a vape liquid duty has been proposed, which would add 44p to a typical 2ml pod, adding £2.20 per 10ml of liquid overall.
l The age restriction law put forward by the Conservative government – where anyone who turns 15 this year or younger will be forever banned from being tobacco products – has been carried forward by Labour as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
his counter instead of out on the shopfloor because he anticipated there would be some kind of change to the laws around displays eventually.
He also had the display built by an official vape supplier called Real Trading. “I didn’t know what was going to happen, but we wanted to be sure,” he says.
“Our supplier is always one step ahead in terms of what’s happening with legislation. If anything would need to change, I could talk to them and they would make the required alterations for me.”
While a display ban might come
into effect in the second half of 2025, retailers might want to avoid getting ahead of this too early. At a time when customers are looking for inspiration and alternatives, having your own range hidden away – even if your staff are trained and poised to make recommendations – customers may not be prompted to ask.
“We’d recommend having a strong visual display of next-gen products, positioned away from the main gantry where possible, with clear information on pricing to enable customers to browse at their leisure without the need to
handle and inspect products,” says Imperial’s Andrew Malm.
“If you have limited space, a small countertop unit can help achieve this, especially if it is organised and fully stocked. Positioning the unit in a welllit part of the counter will help increase the visibility of products.”
If a display ban is enforced later next year, then the importance of staff training increases significantly. Retailers will need to ensure their team is prepped and ready to make recommendations to customers, answer their questions and even provide demonstrations if required.
“We recommend that accredited retailers have demonstration devices available to enable their staff to handle the products and be comfortable explaining how they work,” says Mark McGuiness, marketing director at JTI UK.
“These demonstration devices also enable consumers to observe the simplicity of the device and feel fully informed before buying the product. It’s important that retailers and their staff are aware of what sets heated tobacco products apart from vapes.”
Bruce Terry, portfolio brand manager at JTI UK, adds: “Ensure your staff are category experts by working with JTI’s local business advisers to make the most of all opportunities inside and outside the store, thus assisting customers in their decision-making process and ensuring your stock is aligned with current trends.” l
Matt Crann, e-liquid sales director, Riot
1. STAY INFORMED ON LEGISLATION
Frequently monitor any regulatory updates regarding the sale of vaping products. You can check government vaping bulletins, trade press, industry association resources, such as the UKVIA and MHRA, or consult legal professionals to ensure you fully understand the new laws. RN will also feature regular updates as the law changes approach. You must make sure every member of your company adheres to regulations to avoid any penalties.
2.
Ensure you implement a strict age-verification process both instore and online to prevent sale to underage customers. Stricter checks could involve digital age-verification tools or third-party services to help avoid legal violations. You must train employees on any new age-verification protocols and ensure they understand the repercussions should they fail to comply.
3. ADAPT YOUR PRODUCTS
When the law changes, all prohibited products must be removed from your store to ensure no further sales are made. Create a plan for removing unsold products or starting the disposal process so you can be proactive before the ban comes into force.
4. ENSURE PRODUCT QUALITY
Communicate with suppliers to ensure they are upholding any new quality and safety guidelines for vaping products. Verify nicotine levels, ensure appropriate labelling and comply with ingredient regulations. Many new products coming onto the market are still disposable. It’s important for retailers to be aware of what is a disposable vape and what isn’t when welcoming new stock.
5. PREPARE FOR INSPECTIONS
Tighter restrictions may result in more inspections so companies should keep up-to-date records of their inventory, sales and ageverification processes so they can confidently display their compliance should the authorities investigate.
Read the full interview at betterretailing.com
Immediate’s latest children’s launch aims to cash in on the success of the Minecraft game brand. Assistant publisher Igrain Roberts tells RN about the title
What made you decide to launch a new Minecraft magazine now?
Minecraft is a global hit, with more than 300 million worldwide sales of the game since launch, and its success shows no signs of slowing down.
With A Minecraft Movie coming out in 2025 and a Netflix show in the works, we wanted our readers to be able to experience the brand in the physical world.
What is included in the launch issue to get young readers excited about Minecraft magazine?
Every issue will be packed with insights, tips, posters, games and crafts, and the launch issue is no different.
In the first issue of Minecraft magazine, readers can escape creepers, design a skin and learn all about sheep.
The excitement doesn’t stop there, as issue one comes with a diamond pickaxe covermount – a gift fantastic enough to bring the digital game firmly into the physical world.
How important are independent retailers to this launch?
Incredibly. Independent retailers often sit at the heart of communities and are a natural and trusted destination for young readers wanting to enjoy their favourite brands in magazine form.
Wide-ranging listings are crucial to the success of any magazine, and the scope, reach and recommendations of independent retailers are part of making that success a reality.
What are you doing to support independent retailers in making the most out of this title?
We’ve worked with our distributors and national account managers to communicate the details of the launch to independent retailers, including financial
and market statistics in the Newspro newsletter. Recognising the importance of promotions, we’ve also booked space in independent retailers who are part of the Fed’s NewsPro and Superleague groups, to increase visibility of this launch across retailers and customers.
What should retailers do to maximise their sales of Minecraft magazine?
Minecraft players love to explore the world in formats other than the game, such as YouTube and books, so let customers know there’s a new offering in the Minecraft universe
Retailers should also let the covermount shine. We’ve worked to make the gift stand out on the shelf, so stores should use that to their advantage.
Iain McKenzie, head of circulation (magazines), DC Thomson
Here at DC Thomson, our aim every Christmas is to give the readers something really special, and this year is no different. The Christmas issue is on the shelf for three weeks, so we make sure it’s packed with extra goodies to ensure the readers get maximum fun on top of their usual Beano laughter and mischief.
What screen-free goodies will our readers find when then open their red and black wrapped package?
To start with, there’s a heartwarming Christmas story in the comic, in which the Grumpus has stolen all the kids’ presents on Christmas Eve. Did I say Christmas Eve? I meant Halloween.
Then there’s six other cracking Christmas gifts: a Catapult Chaos card game, glow-inthe-dark stickers, jigsaw, colouring pencils, poster and a Christmas Activity Comic.
The activity mag is Santa’s Drawing Workshop, a mix of drawing tips, tricks and challenges, and is intended to go alongside the regular comic.
Taken together, there’s something to play, make and do. In fact, it’s something to bring the whole family together, making it our biggest and best Christmas package.
As ever, our commitment to sustainability means that we remain plastic-free and 100% recyclable.
Beano plus Christmas always equals something special.
l With the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, this new sticker collection is designed to highlight all the game’s most-beloved elements.
l Each pack includes 54 cards of weapons, monsters, magical items and famous characters.
l This deluxe anthology bookazine will be a hit with regular readers and also makes a great stocking filler or gift for music fans.
l The magazine includes content from both of Mojo’s two sold-out Oasis specials from 2021.
l This design magazine aimed at advertising professionals makes a great addition to the higher-priced ends of arts ranges.
l The anniversary issue out this month features a selection of the greatest ad campaigns from around the world.
l This album includes Impact Players and Power Pairs from all 12 Barclays WSL teams.
l The collection features 397 stickers including 96 special stickers.
l This issue features Wicked movie stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on the cover as well as behind-the-scenes features inside.
l The magazine also includes full-year retrospectives, such as a list of the top-20 musicals of 2024 and an exclusive from performer Elaine Paige.
l This 2025 preview issue is all set to get readers excited for the new year, with plenty of exclusive content about the year’s biggest predicted hits.
l Features include specials on smash-hit Star Wars: Andor on Disney+ as well as the longanticipated return of the Bridget Jones series.
Distributor Panini Display with Dungeons & Dragons Adventurer
Distributor Marketforce Display with Mojo
Distributor Panini
with Premier League Adrenalyn XL
What is special about the title?
I’m surprised by how well the Titan Simpsons comic continues to perform. As well as regular buyers, I have people asking me for back issues.
Who buys it?
It’s popular with a real range – kids discovering the com ics as well as adults who have been fans of the franchise for decades.
