The Retail Success Handbook: Sustainability by BetterRetailing

The Retail Success A MUST-READ FOR PROFIT-DRIVEN INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

February 2021

Handbook

STAINAB MAKING YOUR STORE MORE SU PROFITABLE WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

N PROVE OR IDEAS F TORE YOUR S

Reduce waste p1 Sustainability Cover.indd 2

Cut plastic

Boost efficiency 12/02/2021 16:15

82% of consumers are unable to name a retailer doing a good job of reducing plastic waste*

To find out more, please call Simon Joseph on 020 7689 3363

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*Kantar

Newtrade Media is passionate about helping independent retailers to become more sustainable.

12/02/2021 11:09

Leader

Make a difference “Sustainability is a constant learning curve,” says retailer Abdul Arain, on page 44 of this edition of the Retail Success Handbook. It’s a line that could be said about independent retail in general, especially with the trials and tribulations of the past 12 months. Last year brought burning forests in Australia and the US, deaths due to diesel pollution, and alarming stats on the amount of plastic in our oceans. You might ask, what can an independent store do? The answer is: quite a lot. We show retailers taking on big ideas, such as solar panels, and small solutions, such as paper bags.

Some involve technology, others getting customers and staff to follow new routines and practices. Retailers often tell us suppliers aren’t helping on their quest for sustainability, so we also highlight the work the big companies have been doing, so you can make informed decisions in your store. These changes don’t have to cost lots of time and money. In fact, we show that sustainability changes can end up saving you in the short and the long term. Protecting the planet, and your business’ future.

P4 Market overview P6 Glossary P7 Leading the way on the way to zero P8 Myth-busting P10 Building a sustainable brand P11 Five ways retailers are cutting plastic P12 Supplier support P14 Six ways to reduce waste and boost recycling P16 Sustainable packaging solutions P17 Making the switch away from plastic P18 Profile: How we get sustainable products and packaging P23 Measuring your sustainability P24 Good practice and building routines

Daryl Worthington, Editor

P26 Cut waste in your stockroom P27 Cut your energy use P28 Energy-efficient equipment for your store P30 Profile: How we run a sustainable store P33 Opinion: How retailers can drive change P35 Five ways to cut food waste in your store

Editor Daryl Worthington Editor in chief Tan Parsons Contributors Tamara Birch Priyanka Jethwa Joanna Tilley Charles Whitting Chris Dillon Director of sales & marketing Matthew Oliver 020 7689 3367 Account manager (new business) Jimli Barua 020 7689 3364

Senior account director Charlotte Jesson 020 7689 3389 Account Director Natalie Reeve 020 7689 3372 Account manager Adelice Tatham 020 7689 3366 Head of design Anne-Claire Pickard Designer Jody Cooke Production editor Ryan Cooper Sub editor Jim Findlay

P36 Checking a product’s sustainability P39 Labelling and promoting sustainable lines P40 Five apps to help you tackle food waste P41 A guide to recycling ingredients P42 Profile: How I ensure I’m stocking sustainable food P45 Opinion: How Nisa are helping stores become more sustainable P47 Getting the community involved in sustainability P48 Community initiatives to get involved with P49 In-store recycling P50 Deposit return scheme P53 How you can do deliveries sustainably P54 Profile: How I get my community involved in sustainability P58 Supplier directory

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12/02/2021 16:42

Market overview

The case for sustainability in 2021 While Covid-19, Brexit and the US election dominated the headlines in 2020, the climate crisis and plastic pollution didn’t disappear. This year will see shoppers continue to question the environmental impact of the products they buy and the shops they buy them from, especially with the government’s bold claims about a green recovery. According to research by Budweiser, 82% of Brits feel it’s important to reduce the UK’s plastic consumption and 27% feel guilty if they buy something that includes single-use plastic. A guilt-free shopper is a happy shopper, and a happy shopper is a loyal shopper. Working with suppliers to cut out these plastics while keeping prices low can benefit your store, especially if you’re not afraid to shout about your efforts. The stark reality for many stores, of course, is that good intentions don’t pay

bills. There’s no point being environmentally sustainable in a way that isn’t sustainable for your shop. However, research from Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I has shown that sustainability-focused changes could lead to savings of £16m for convenience stores each year. Get it right and sustainability makes sense for your bottom line – and the planet. And it’s not just through lowering bills that being friendlier to the environment can help your business; it proves you’re a store that really cares not just about your community’s present, but also its future. “Shoppers are not only becoming increasingly environmentally-conscious, but also community-minded, so anything you can do to volunteer or give back to the community will likely be appreciated by your customers,” says Ruth Forbes, head of responsible business projects at JTI UK.

£5bn

Amount of government funding to support a green recovery

1 in 5

Britons cut meat consumption during the pandemic

67%

said they did so to reduce their carbon footprint

£16m The potential annual savings that could be made in convenience stores through sustainabilityfocused changes

times more

greenhouse gas emissions come from wasted food than from the aviation industry

59%

The drop in plastic bag use in England between 2019 and 2020

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12/02/2021 16:35

82%

of Brits believe a reduction in plastic consumption is important

27%

of Brits feel guilty when they buy products made with single-use plastics 5

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12/02/2021 14:30

Glossary more. Described as unrenewable (we will run out of them eventually), burning them also emits pollution. Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, contribute to global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere. They are created by burning fossil fuels for energy production, heating and transportation, as well as from many other sources.

Bag for life A bag for life can mean different things. However, the priority should be that it is something that customers will buy once, keep and reuse – helping to cut wastage. It could be made from plastic or, even better, hemp or hessian. Biodegradable If something is biodegradable, it means it can be decomposed naturally – by bacteria or other organisms. This means it will avoid contributing to pollution. A number of suppliers now offer biodegradable carrier bags as an alternative to plastic. Carbon footprint The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a business, product, event or person. For a product, this would include all the emissions involved in its manufacture. Carbon neutral To be carbon neutral means striking a balance between the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the amount of carbon absorbed in ‘carbon sinks’. One example of a carbon sink could be a forest, and so when a company claims it is carbon neutral, this could mean it plants trees to offset the carbon emitted in its production process. The Carbon Trust A global climate change and sustainability consultancy with a mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. It works with governments, businesses and

organisations around the globe to reduce carbon emissions and achieve greater resource efficiency. Circular economy Rather than ‘make, use, dispose’, the circular economy means keeping things in use for as long as possible through avoiding waste where possible, reusing and recycling. Electric vehicle Rather than running on fossil fuels such as petrol or diesel, an electric vehicle has an electric motor, and is charged at a charging point. The government has a number of incentives encouraging more people to use EVs, including vans for businesses.

LED lighting LED stands for light-emitting diode. LED lights generally use less electricity than other lighting technologies (they are more energy efficient). What’s more, as the bulbs don’t usually need to be replaced as often, they also cut waste. Organic When used in relation to food, organic means something that was produced without the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Organic farming can also mean that it was produced with environmental concerns in mind. Ultimately, organic can mean different things to different suppliers, so check their messaging to make sure you understand what they’re promising.

Energy efficiency How much energy is used to perform a task. The more energy efficient something is, the less energy it uses. For instance, a more energy-efficient heater will deliver the same amount of heat while using less energy than a heater that isn’t as energy efficient.

Renewable energy Energy produced from sources that can be replenished in a human timescale (unlike fossil fuels). Often (but not always) carbon neutral, renewable energy sources include solar, wind and tidal.

Fossil fuels Fuels such as coal, oil and gas, which are commonly used in energy production, transportation and

Single use Any item or product that is designed to only be used once, such as a carrier bag or packaging.

Smart meter According to the government, smart Fair trade meters are the next generation of Products that have been produced gas and electricity meters, and offer while giving a fair deal to the a range of intelligent functions. For producers, especially if those instance, they can give you a much producers are from The Global South more accurate breakdown of your or developing countries. Put simply, energy consumption, as well as the fair trade movement works communicating bills directly with to share the benefits of business your supplier, making them more equitably. more accurate.

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12/02/2021 10:32

Opinion

In partnership with

Leading the way on the road to zero Coca-Cola European Partners is making strides to reduce emissions in its production and support retailers with its own sustainability goals As the director of the World Economic Forum said recently: “There is no vaccine for climate change.” The climate crisis remains one of the biggest challenges the UK faces, and as we begin to move towards a ‘green recovery’ from the coronavirus pandemic, brands, businesses and individuals will be under more pressure than ever to reduce their carbon footprint. As a leading FMCG business, Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has a responsibility to be part of this recovery, which is why we’ve pledged to become a carbon-neutral business by 2040 as part of our ambitious ‘This is forward’ sustainability action plan. In the plan, we’ve set out a series of key milestones and targets to help us move forward with purpose. The first major milestone will be to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions across our entire value chain by 30% by 2030. We’re already heading in the right direction, having reduced emissions in the UK by a third over the past decade. As well as launching a solar farm at our Wakefield site in 2017, we’re already using 100% renewable energy to power our operations in Britain. We’re also taking more steps to make our packaging more environmentally friendly – last year we introduced packaging made with 50% recycled plastic (rPET) across our core range, which follows the rollout of our 100% rPET Glacéau Smartwater bottles. All of Coca-Cola’s bottles have been 100% recyclable for many years, but this achievement means that Coca-Cola has doubled its rPET usage. Of course, there’s much more to do, and at CCEP we’re committed to playing our part in the nation’s sustainable future.

Independent retailers can also play an important role in the national effort to reduce carbon emissions. Exploring renewable energy tariffs and taking steps to improve energy efficiency are key to stores’ efforts to minimise their environmental impact – and can bring down their energy bills in the process. We’re helping retailers to be as energy efficient as possible by investing in our equipment. This includes our CCEP coolers, all of which use natural refrigerants, are fitted with LED lights and use advanced insulation technology. We’ve also introduced energy management systems on our equipment, which can reduce power consumption by an average of 30% by sending the equipment into standby mode after periods of inactivity. Retailers can enquire about our coolers by talking to their local CCEP rep during their visits. Making a difference is as much about education as it is about action. Independent stores so often sit at the heart of their communities and enjoy unique relationships with their shoppers, meaning they are perfectly placed to engage people in environmental issues such as reducing emissions and encouraging recycling. We all have a responsibility to do what we can – combined, the small changes made at a local level can make a huge difference as we journey towards a greener future.

Julian Hunt is the vice president, public affairs, communications and sustainability (GB) at Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP)

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In focus: Sustainable products & packaging

Myth-busting

To be sustainable means constantly checking your performance. Here, we look at some issues that aren’t as straightforward as they seem Sustainability is a complicated issue, which shouldn’t be a surprise as we’re talking about the future of the whole planet. This makes it important to think about how your actions fit into the bigger picture. It’s also vital to constantly review what you’re doing, as ideas about what counts as good practice evolve. Independent shops can make a difference, and are well placed to lead the way in their communities. The starting point is working with suppliers that are doing their bit. Danone, for instance, has made major steps in recent years as part of its

plans to become fully circular by 2025. Last September, the company announced that Evian bottles would be made available in 100% recycled plastic. “When plastic is recycled and turned into a new bottle, it reduces carbon emissions in production by up to 50% compared to bottles made from virgin plastic,” said a company statement at the time. Once you’ve found the best suppliers to work with, make sure you have a way of measuring your performance on sustainability, and to check you’re not falling victim of certain common myths.

Carrier bag charge

Mandatory among supermarkets, carrier bag charges are set to become compulsory in smaller shops as well. Many stores donate the fee to charity. Good for the community, but does it improve sustainability? The only way to check is by keeping track of your bag usage. If it’s not going down, you need to try something else.

THE STAT

26%

of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food

Recycling

Covid is no obstacle

What can be recycled will vary depending on where your store is based. What’s more, capabilities are changing all the time. For instance, it’s now possible to recycle Tetra Pak, with more than 90% of local authorities collecting them for recycling. Be careful, though, different authorities will ask you to sort Tetra Pak into different rubbish streams.

The pandemic has seen a surge in the need for PPE, and this often comes wrapped in or made from plastic. It seems impossible to reduce waste, but there are ways around it. Where possible, sell reusable masks compliant with government guidelines. And if shoppers are stocking up on sanitisers, look into offering a refillable option.

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Habits can change

Reusable containers

Local isn’t always better

Indies can lead the way, with Greenpeace pointing out “supermarkets play a huge role in shaping customer demand”, whether it’s with promotions or advertising. And there’s no reason why the same can’t be said of independent convenience stores. Research where you can get the best deals on more sustainable lines, and lure your customers in with value.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to many businesses moving away from reusable cups and containers and back to single-use items out of fear of spreading the virus. However, a letter published last summer and signed by 100 scientists said that reusable systems can be used safely as long as basic hygiene is employed.

The distance food travels to get to your store is only part of its carbon footprint. For instance, tomatoes grown in a UK greenhouse have a high footprint due to the energy used in heating. While going local cuts the carbon footprint of transport, some companies, such as Quorn, are putting a detailed carbon footprint breakdown on packaging.

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In focus: Sustainable products & packaging

Building a sustainable brand Find out how this retailer is taking his store and his shoppers on a journey to plastic-free Retailers have questioned just how realistic running a sustainable store is. There are two main concerns. First is the belief that the costs involved will result in increased overheads for their business. Second, that sustainability is more of a priority for businesses than it is for shoppers. There are a number of stats that show how sustainability concerns are increasingly driving consumer habits – but these are on a national level, and to put it frankly, retailers know the reality on the ground in their areas and in their tills. Some retailers have

found the solution is by building sustainability into their store’s brand, and using this as a way to attract new business. “Our strategy for developing sales is clear and reviewed regularly. Increasing fresh produce in our store and reducing our carbon footprint by removing plastic packaging is our overarching objective,” says Terry Mulkerns, from Mulkerns Eurospar in Newry. “We see this as a way of reaching out to the environmentally-conscious consumer and reinforcing our brand value of sustainability.”

THE STAT

1 million Bags removed annually from Mulkerns Eurospar

RETAILER VIEWPOINT Terry Mulkerns, Mulkerns Eurospar, Newry

“We started gradually removing plastic in 2019 aiming for 50:50 packaged versus ‘naked’ fruit and veg. We removed plastic bags completely for loose fruit and veg, and encouraged customers to take one of our recycled boxes instead. This was initially questioned by some customers – however, our staff were trained to explain the reasoning behind it. “We displayed appropriate messaging on our shelves and ran a strong PR campaign, which enabled us to educate our customers effectively on the environmental impact of removing plastic. We are removing one million bags annually from our store. “We are now moving towards 80% ‘naked’ fruit and veg, and we are seeking to source compostable packaging for the other 20%. We found that sales improved significantly with this measure, an increase of 20% like for like, and another advantageous impact was that quality improved as well. Our fruit and veg looked so much fresher and vibrant without the packaging, you can immediately see, feel and smell the difference.

“In non-Covid-19 times, in-store theatre was provided by sampling and creating fruit sculptures and displays. We also facilitated school visits where the children come for a guided tour with us to find out more about where their fruit and veg comes from. “In terms of cross-merchandising, this is done by placing fresh produce alongside complementary products e.g. berries with fresh cream cakes.”

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12/02/2021 15:05

In focus: Sustainable products & packaging

Cutting plastic

Five retailers share the methods that are working for them, and could work for your business, too Of the environmental issues currently facing the planet, few have captured the public’s attention as much as the build-up of plastic waste. The UK uses an estimated five million tonnes of the material a year, with packaging accounting for about half of that figure. Plastic waste does not decompose quickly, and can last for centuries in landfill, or end up as pollution in the oceans, rivers and soil, harming

wildlife and people. Convenience stores can do much to address this problem by increasing awareness of it and by encouraging good habits in their communities. Leading the way by offering customers alternatives to plastic, or easy ways to cut their plastic use, can be the gentle reminder they need, and it can also help build loyalty. Five retailers share what they’ve been doing to cut the amount of plastic used.

Christine Hope, Hopes of Longtown, Herefordshire “We operate a refill service on Thursday afternoons. Customers bring in containers and we refill them with food, detergent, whatever they need. “Doing a refill service is messy and labour-intensive, so if you don’t have a spare member of staff to help, then it might not be right for your store. However, over the past year we have reused the equivalent of 2,240 500ml bottles.”

Trudy Davies, Woosnam & Davies News, Powys “We cut down our use of plastic as much as possible, and encourage people to bring in their own containers and bags whenever they can. For instance, people who come to refill their bird seed and pet food bring their own containers. “Before lockdown, we were getting rid of lots of plastic, but this has regressed slightly, but when things get back to normal we will be back on our mission.”

Bart Dalla-Mura, Tysoe Village Stores, Warwickshire “We’ve introduced a promotion where customers get 5% off their fruit and vegetables if they bring a reusable bag to our shop. “Initially, there was some pushback from customers who preferred pre-packed, but they quickly came around to the idea when they saw the better quality and the fact they did not need to purchase seven carrots when they only needed two.”

Alan Mannings, Shop on the Green, Chartham, Kent “Last year, we started getting our plastic and cardboard picked up every week and recycled by Londis because we didn’t like the idea of it going to landfill. “If we don’t get our recycling picked up, I leave it with a friend who is also a Londis retailer as we don’t have much space. It makes us feel better to do our bit. We’ve also introduced a carrier-bag charge, with the proceeds going to charity.”

Atul Sodha, Londis Peverills, Greater London “We are making solid strides to reduce single-use plastic in our food to go. “We have recyclable burger boxes and paper bags. However, it is costing me 30p for the boxes, whereas it could have cost 7p, so we have to increase prices. To provide value, we have been adding garnishes such as relish and onion bits to the burgers. We also use Enviropack recyclable slush cups.”

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In focus: Sustainable products & packaging

Supplier support

Suppliers are working to make their products and supply chains more sustainable. Here’s how With sustainability being a global issue, retailers can’t be expected to tackle it alone – it requires action across the supply chain. Thankfully, major suppliers have been stepping up in recent years to improve their sustainability, both in the packaging they use and in their production. Soft drinks giants are moving to cut the amount of non-recyclable plastic in their bottles. Tobacco and confectionery companies are cutting the impact of their supply chains. Snacks companies are helping shoppers find recycling points for their snacks packets, such as through KP Snacks’ TerraCycle

recycling programme. Knowing what suppliers are doing has a number of benefits. Firstly, being able to promote a product’s sustainability credentials can help you sell it to more sustainability-minded customers. Secondly, it helps you make informed decisions about the suppliers you choose to work with. “Demand for transparent and sustainable business is ever-increasing, so it is important for retailers to stock up on brands that are doing their part to reduce waste and become more sustainable,” says Matt Collins, trade director at KP Snacks.

THE STAT

325

Tonnes of plastic saved by reducing plastic in Ribena Squash and Ribena 500ml bottles since 2007

CCEP

JTI

Weetabix

During 2020, CCEP (Coca-Cola European Partners) introduced a range of packaging made with 50% recycled plastic (rPET) across its core range, doubling the company’s use of recycled plastic in Great Britain. The company’s goal is for all packs to contain 100% recycled plastic, something CCEP has already achieved with its Glacéau Smartwater bottles.

Last year, JTI launched its 2030 UK environmental plan, a business-wide initiative “aiming to do loads more with tonnes less” as the company plans to reduce its impact on the planet. Commitments include a pledge to be net zero in UK operations by 2030, saving 22.8 tonnes of waste from being generated and recycling an extra 21.2 tonnes each year by 2030.

All wheat for Weetabix original is sourced from within a 50-mile radius of the company’s factory in Burton Latimer, while the supplier is also reducing its carbon footprint and impact of its packaging. Alpen bars now have smaller wrappers, saving 24 tonnes of plastic a year, while Weetabix On The Go drinks are in 100% recyclable bottles, so cap, bottle and sleeve can be recycled together.

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Birds Eye

Princes

Accolade Wines

Birds Eye is improving the sustainability of its frozen vegetable lines by moving to recyclable packaging on its Natural Vegetable products. The phased transition, which began in December 2020, will remove 379 tonnes of plastic and is part of a move to ensure that all of the brand’s vegetable products will be available in recyclable packaging.

As part of its sustainability goals, Princes is moving to cardboard sleeve packaging for all Princes Tuna four-packs, and transitioning all tuna multipacks to cardboard over the next 18-24 months. This is all part of its target to have 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025. Princes also invested £1.3m in a campaign to educate consumers on sustainability.

Last year, Accolade Wines partnered with Garçon Wines to create Banrock Station’s first flat wine bottle, made from 100% recycled plastic. The 75cl bottles are made from 100% recycled rPET plastic and require 75% less energy to produce. The bottles are also 100% recyclable and certified carbon neutral. Weighing just 63g, the Banrock Station bottles offer significant carbon savings.

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In focus: Sustainable products & packaging

Reduce and boost

We look at six tried-and-tested ways you and your customers can reduce waste and boost recycling Cutting waste and boosting recycling is at the heart of sustainability. It’s a never-ending battle, one that involves you, your staff and the community striving to make the small, practical steps that together make a big difference. It begins with doing what you can, understanding what packaging can be recycled and what can’t, and regularly reviewing activity to see how you can improve. Moving away from plastics is a good starting point, and one way to do this is by offering refill services on certain lines. There are a number of suppliers that offer such

services. Faith in Nature, for instance, provides refillable toiletries, while Borough Wines offers a refillable wine service. If you’re selling hot drinks to go, encouraging shoppers to bring their own cup with a discount or other incentive can again cut down on the amount of waste coming from your store and your community. Initiatives like this don’t have to cost your business money – you can save on the amount you spend on disposable cups, and by passing on some of that benefit to shoppers you demonstrate that you’re there to deliver value.

THE STAT

92%

of shoppers say sustainable business practices should now be standard

Milk refills

More than plastic

Get the basics right

A number of forecourts are now offering a milk refill service. Teaming up with local suppliers, the system sees shoppers bring in their own container and refill it at the dispenser machine. Retailers say offering organic milk attracts new footfall and it is a great way to team up with local businesses. Companies supplying the machines include The Milk Station Company.

Plastic is the issue of the hour, but it’s not the only waste you should be looking to cut in your store. Consider offering your shoppers the boxes your deliveries come in as a replacement for plastic carrier bags. Investing in a mini baler, meanwhile, could make it easier to store cardboard waste, reducing the amount of trips you make to the recycling centre.

Cutting waste isn’t always complicated. In fact, getting basic, everyday in-store activities right can play a part. “For food to go and fresh & chilled products in particular, even simple ‘first in, first out’ procedures can significantly reduce wastage by ensuring that products are stocked appropriately,” says Suntory Beverage & Food’s channel director for wholesale, Matt Gouldsmith.

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Give customers access

Thinking outside the box

Show the way

“Giving consumers access to better recycling facilities is just one solution to a complex and challenging issue,” says Matt Collins, trading director at KP Snacks. KP’s TerraCycle programme gives shoppers a way to recycle snack packaging. Meanwhile, some retailers have set up recycling points in their own stores. Turn to P49 to learn how they make it work.

Natalie Lightfoot, from Londis Solo Convenience in Glasgow, has found some imaginative solutions to the fact it is illegal to leave bins on the street in Glasgow. “We store all plastic waste in giant tote bags that our tobacco delivery comes in. Our symbol group, Booker, then helps us recycle all of this,” she explains. In addition, they keep a smaller bin in the alley behind the store.

“Highlighting the recyclability of products with in-store displays, PoS and social media can help retailers engage consumers on the importance of recycling and emphasise the contribution they’re making to the green future of their communities,” says Julian Hunt, vice president for sustainability (GB) at Coca-Cola European Partners. It also proves you value sustainability.

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12/02/2021 14:44

In focus: Sustainable products & packaging

Sustainable packaging

Five alternatives to plastic you can use to help cut the amount of nonbiodegradable waste in your store Balancing using sustainable materials to serve food and drink is tricky right now with so many concerns about hygiene and what is considered ‘Covid-secure’. Luckily, there are several solutions, and most are easy to implement yourself, or through working alongside your symbol group. Cath McIlwham, head of corporate social responsibility at Spar UK, says when looking at plastic usage, this is of

“high importance to all demographics”, and customers are increasingly shopping with retailers who share their own priorities and values, therefore being mindful about plastic waste can help attract more shoppers. Switching from plastic food-to-go containers to cardboard ones and offering bags for life, for example, could have a big impact on the carbon footprint of a business in the long-term at a low cost.

Switch to serving food and drink in paper containers Consider replacing hot food to go and drinks served in plastic containers and bags to recycled paper options. Note that waxed paper bags aren’t recyclable, but some can be composted – this depends on the type of wax used, so it’s best to double check. This is particularly important now as suppliers and retailers have reported a spike in sales of hot food in store.

Bringing back glass milk bottles For retailers who have access to a local dairy farm, consider teaming up with them to provide shoppers with fresh milk sold in glass bottles. Shoppers can then come and recycle the glass at the end of the week at your store, and at the same time pick up another order of milk. This also demonstrates good community engagement, and helps other businesses in the area.

Use bags made from cotton and hemp Switch from plastic bags to options made from materials such as cotton and hemp, which are renewable and biodegradable. With bags like this, you can put your personal touch on it by printing the name of your store, and then sell them for £1 as your own version of a bag for life. Shoppers will then remember to bring the bag each time they come shopping.

Refillable dispensers for food and household goods Start offering dried foods and liquids, such as nuts, grains and laundry detergent, from refillable dispensers. This way, people can come in with their own containers and fill up with the exact amount they need, which also reduces food waste. Dispensers available range from large units to small, countertop options, so there is a solution to fit you.

Balancing practicality with sustainability Health and hygiene come first when considering alternatives to plastic, and although it’s hard to eliminate it all, there are ways to reduce your usage. For example, retailers serving food to go need to offer cutlery – the fork or knife may need to be wrapped in plastic to protect it, but the actual item can be made out of wood. It’s about seeing what’s possible.

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In focus: Sustainable products & packaging

Ditching plastic

There are plenty of alternatives out there, but how can you make the transition away from plastic? There are two sides to getting away from plastic: one is having alternatives available, the other is getting your customers on board. Both have been complicated by the arrival of Covid-19. Suppliers are helping out with many categories. Take Weetabix – 92% of its packaging is now fully recyclable, with smaller wrappers for Alpen Bars and the removal of 28% of plastic in Weetabix wrappers making a significant contribution. Other categories are tougher, such as fresh fruit and veg, which many shoppers are increasingly reluctant to buy un-

wrapped. Having an alternative available is crucial. When it comes to moving your shoppers away from plastic carrier bags, what works in theory might not in practice. For instance, putting a charge on plastic carrier bags and donating the fee to charity – is that promise of a donation actually taking away your shoppers’ guilt about using plastic? The only way to tell is to keep a close eye on your carrier-bag use, and see what’s really making a difference. Similarly, a bag for life is only better if shoppers actually reuse them.

THE STAT

1,000 years How long a plastic bag can exist in landfill According to Earth Day

Retailer viewpoints Joe Williams, Village Shop, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire

“We have reusable drawstring bags for fruit and veg, which we sell in packs of three for £1.09. They are recyclable BPA-free polyester bags that we got through Spar. Our fresh produce sales are up dramatically since the first lockdown and people are using more plastic bags, so we wanted to introduce a more environmentally-friendly option. We’re also trying to reduce the number of bags for life customers buy, by raising the price from 10p to 15p.”

Jay Patel, Jay’s Budgens of Crofton Park, south-east London “We import recyclable cloth bags from India as manufacturers here do not seem to be that keen on sustainable items. We also use compostable plastic bags from Budgens, which are better for the environment, and we charge for any plastic bags. We also have an area where customers can leave plastic bags so other customers can use them free of charge, and we also offer cardboard boxes for our regular customers who spend a lot of money in store.”

Some photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

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12/02/2021 18:05

Store profile: Sustainable products & packaging

Go local and offer a choice Kate Mills has reduced plastic across her store, giving her customers the choice to be sustainable We try to put sustainability at the core of what we do, and in our refit we installed a biomass boiler that burns sawdust from our local joinery firm to heat the store, and we put doors on our chillers. At the time, there was a stigma that doors could create a barrier to browsing, but we didn’t experience this, and it’s helped us to save money. Last year, we installed a milk dispenser from Northiam Dairy, which cost approximately £500 to install. The machine stores 20 litres of milk in a pergal box and customers can bring in their own glass bottles or reuse plastic milk bottles. 01 LOCAL SUPPLIERS ARE NATURALLY MORE SUSTAINABLE Twenty-five per cent of our range is sourced locally, and we choose quality, but if they operate sustainably then we’re on to a big winner. For example, we stock a zero-carbon cheese by Winterdale Shaw in Sevenoaks. Many of our suppliers are nearby, so have to travel less, and we’ve found smaller

businesses tend to generate less waste. It’s also helped us to create a local economy. Our milk, for example, comes from a local dairy farm, but if they don’t have what we need, they’ll source it from other local farmers. 02 STRIKE A BALANCE WITH PLASTIC We have an in-store deli and removed all the plastic used, replacing it with paper – and recently sourced plastic-free cling film. Removing the plastic was an investment, but customers expect the deli to be more premium as it’s made in store, which justifies the cost to use paper over plastic. We’re not completely plastic-free, but that’s because some products won’t sell loose. We tried to sell fine beans loose, but customers weren’t interested, so we had to bag them up. It’s about finding a balance.

Name of retailer Kate Mills

Store name Heath Stores

Location

Tonbridge, Kent

Size

1,300sq ft

Average basket spend £7

03 ADAPT TO CHANGE A lot of our customers are elderly, and deliveries increased as they shielded from Covid-19. We were causing a lot of emissions by using our normal car, so we now lease an

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25%

of all of Kate’s stock comes from local suppliers

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electric van, which is charged every night using 100% renewable energy, and we’re saving on fuel costs, too. In store, we carried out risk assessments to determine if we should package food again. We wanted to avoid this, but also wanted to keep shoppers safe. We’ve kept fruit and veg loose as we felt it was low risk as most of our customers wash them when they get home. 04 HAVE A SPACE FOR ZERO WASTE Last year, we installed a zero-waste area for dried goods, like oats and coffee beans, and customers use paper bags or spare boxes. It’s a small area at the moment and, while we plan to expand, lockdown has had an impact on this. However, the zero-waste area has proved profitable for us, especially when availability was an issue. While supermarkets struggled to maintain availability, we were able to source 25kg bags of essentials, like flour – which proved to be a life-saver for our customers.

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12/02/2021 14:28

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08/02/2021 10:22

In focus: Running a sustainable shop

In partnership with

Assess your performance

There are so many different standards when it comes to sustainability, how can you measure if you are doing well? Many of the major suppliers for the convenience sector, from JTI to SBF GB&I, have set out sustainability plans outlining their environmental commitments and deadlines. There’s no reason why you can’t do the same for your business, however big it is. Setting targets and finding ways to measure your performance can help you focus your efforts, give you and your staff something to work towards, and deliver a sense of satisfaction when you hit those goals. “For energy efficiency, it’s important to first identify your major areas of energy consumption.

Check the condition and operation of your equipment and monitor power consumption over a week to create a baseline for reduction,” says Laura Timlin, business services director at The Carbon Trust, a global climate change and sustainability consultancy working with governments, businesses and organisations. She suggests a smart meter as a good starting point to understand your energy consumption. From there you can draw up a list of improvements you want to make – resources to help with this are available at carbontrust.com.

THE STAT

80%

of small businesses are already taking action on energy efficiency

According to a survey by The Carbon Trust

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

“The first thing you have to do when you measure anything is have a benchmark – a certain mission statement or an aspirational goal you want to achieve. It is important to set your own because there is no industry standard benchmark in place for the convenience sector. It’s not possible to see how green you are or how much your carbon footprint affects the environment. “Because sustainability is something I care strongly about, it is built into our culture. When we built the store, we wanted to get it as close to a zero-carbon business as possible. The power unit which runs heating and refrigeration on site cost a lot more money, purely because it uses less electricity. A lot of thought was put into keeping the store at the same ambient temperature throughout summer and in the depths of winter with no additional heating or cooling elements needed. “Waitrose comes to mind in regards to good practices. Sustainability is not built into the business models of Aldi or Lidl, but Waitrose wants to instil these practices as it aligns with its customer demographic.” Photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

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12/02/2021 15:34

In focus: Running a sustainable shop

Get in the routine

How you can get staff and customers involved in your mission to be more sustainable Making your store more sustainable doesn’t need to involve big investments. In fact, huge differences can be made by building good habits among your team, and your customers. Look at the routines that are in place in your store, think about who is doing what and why, and ask yourself how you can make it more efficient. Spending time on this can make your business more sustainable – financially and in terms of environmental impact.

Building good habits takes patience, but by talking to staff and customers, and using reminders such as signs, it’s possible to make change. Communication is key for establishing good routines and practice. “As a first step to reducing the amount of waste they produce, we advise retailers to include their staff in the journey,” says Matt Gouldsmith, wholesale channel director at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I.

Have the conversation Your team will know your regular customers well – it’s what independent retail is all about. If they notice shoppers who regularly take a single-use plastic bag but don’t really need it, encourage them to speak to the customers and ask if they definitely need it. Keep things lighthearted and always be ready to explain the alternatives you have. It could be the nudge that helps break the habit.

Have an alternative The reality is that not everyone can afford to pay for a reusable bag, especially in these economically challenging times. Adaba Akhtar, of Premier Smeaton Stores in Kirkcaldy, Fife, has found a way around this: “We keep cardboard boxes over from the deliveries and offer these to customers for their shopping instead of a plastic bag.”

Break the habit Remind your staff not to just offer your customers a carrier bag by default. Many shoppers will say yes without thinking. Instead, ask shoppers if they need a carrier bag. If they say yes, it’s the perfect time to remind them that they could save money and help the planet by switching single-use plastic for something more sustainable, such as a bag for life.

Plan in advance According to Jay Patel, from Jay’s Budgens of Crofton Park, you need to plan how you’ll stop shorter-life products going to waste. “If we sell yoghurt that goes off on the 12th, on the 9th we will reduce it, on the 10th and 11th it will be half-price and then on the last day we give it away. This is a win-win situation as nobody loses out,” he says.

Mix don’t match Using paper is more sustainable than plastic, and using as little paper as possible is even better. Premier Smeaton tries to do both. “With fruit and veg, we encourage people to use paper bags and mix up their produce in one bag,” says Adaba Akhtar. “We also encourage them to bring their own bags where possible. By doing this, retailers can cut down their plastic usage massively.”

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In partnership with

Take a walk

Get everyone involved The Carbon Trust recommends walking around your store at different times of the day and during different seasons to see how and when your equipment is working. “The more you know about your energy use, the better you can manage it,” says Laura Timlin, director of business services at The Carbon Trust. It’s a great way to spot when appliances are on when they don’t need to be.

Sign of the times

Your team will be more enthusiastic about your sustainability measures if they understand why they’re doing them. “I think the most important thing to do is to make sure the whole team understands that saving energy is not just about saving money, but also about the benefits to the environment,” says Gaurave Sood, of Neelam Convenience Store in Hillingdon, London.

Covid no excuse

As much as explaining to your team why being mindful is important, so is giving them a reminder. “I put a notice up next to the air-con reminding them it costs £1,200 per month for electricity bills,” says Gaurave Sood. “Many times I have walked in and the heating is on, and the automatic doors switched off so they’re open. It is about preventing silly things like that.”

Feel-good factor

Just because there’s a pandemic doesn’t mean you should let your strive to cut single-use plastics wane. Indeed, stocking sanitiser doesn’t have to mean your plastic usage rockets. “We do refills of sanitiser and multipurpose cleaner. If customers bring their own bottle, they pay £1 for a refill. We do this with a company called Delphis,” says Atul Sodha, of Londis Peverills in Greater London.

Plan ahead

Many suppliers have made commitments to improving the sustainability of their products, whether it’s in the supply chain or the packaging. These can range from cutting plastic in bottles to using green energy in the production process. Use PoS that highlights the more sustainable products and encourage your team to speak to customers about the lines that are better for the planet. Some photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

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In a busy retail environment it’s easy for standards and good practice to slip, so having it written down can help. “Make a plan and execute it. The main barrier we see is small businesses feeling like they lack the time and money to take action on energy efficiency, but we also know that cost reduction is the numberone benefit of doing so,” says The Carbon Trust’s Laura Timlin.

12/02/2021 12:25

In focus: Running a sustainable shop

In partnership with

Cut stockroom waste

Organisation is vital to cutting stockroom waste, whether it’s monitoring your deliveries or dividing responsibilities among staff Having good processes in place in your stockroom not only helps you keep track of your stock and only order what you need – it also cuts waste and helps the environment. Divide your stockrooms into zones and delegate responsibility of monitoring sell-by dates to ensure stock isn’t thrown away and you’re practising stock rotation. When it comes to waste, where possible divide it into types, such as plastic or cardboard, to help with recycling and planning collections or dropoffs to recycling plants. Ensuring you have robust processes in place that all

XXXX

staff are familiar with will ensure waste is reduced long term. Avtar Sidhu, of St John’s Budgens in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, trains his team as soon as they start. “We train staff about stockroom control procedures, our waste procedures and explain why we’re doing it. It’s an organic process, but it means the area is well maintained and waste is kept low.” Even simple changes, like labelling areas for products with a short shelf life, can have a profound effect on your waste levels, saving you money in the process, too.

Retailer viewpoint Jack Matthews, Bradleys Supermarket (Nisa), Quorn, Loughborough

“We take as much care of the stockroom as the store. Everything is labelled out the back and it all needs to be organised. We have to follow the right things to do and fortunately we have frequent deliveries, so stock doesn’t fluctuate too much throughout the week. There are also spare rooms that can be used to store seasonal products when we have higher volumes in the store. It makes life easier to keep those things separate. There is a checklist and one of the staff members signs off everything, such as checking if there is plastic on the floor or making sure any stock damage is dealt with properly and managed in the right manner. It is important to work clean to stay clean as things can get harder to control if you don’t stay on top of it – and your waste will increase as a result. “We have monthly reviews with staff where we take in any comments from members of the team or visitors. We’ll look at tick lists and review processes. For example, the stockroom was struggling a little with fresh produce as there was not enough room, so the chiller was moved

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around. It’s about finding new efficiencies like that. We have a staff group, too, where the whole team can point things out and get feedback. We never directly criticise someone, but we will say next time can you do something in a different way, and it seems to work well.”

Some photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

12/02/2021 10:37

In focus: Running a sustainable shop

In partnership with

Cut energy, cut costs

From big to small, there are a number of changes you can make to lower your electricity bills – and help the planet Cutting energy use helps the environment while also lowering your bills, and with financial efficiency crucial in these times of economic uncertainty, any saving is welcome. Check and compare the wattage on any new appliances you’re looking to buy – the higher the number, the more energy it will use. Also look at features the equipment offers to help save energy wastage, such as energy management systems (EMS) on fridges. Installing a smart meter can give you a good understanding of where energy is being wasted, while steps such

as installing motion sensors on your lights can bring quick benefits. When it comes to fridges, investing in doors or other coverings has the double benefit of keeping your fridge cold and your shop warm. But, of course, not every retailer is in a position to be buying new equipment, so it’s vital to use what you’ve got as efficiently as possible. Simple things such as putting signs on fridge doors reminding customers to close them, or a sign reminding you to switch off the light in the back office, will all start to add up.

Retailer viewpoint Sophie Towers Kibble Bank One Stop, Burnley, Lancashire “A few years ago we had an assessment with an energy firm who came out for free and told us about various ways we could reduce our energy usage. They wrote a report and advised that we cover all our fridges and bring in low-energy freezers. So, this included our wine, beer, fresh food and drinks. We implemented the changes during a refit and it brought down our energy bill by £200 per month. The customers are now used to it and shut the doors – and this means that we and the environment are benefitting.”

STAT

29,059 washing machine loads worth of CO2 can be saved annually by installing doors on one chiller

Supplier viewpoint Matt Gouldsmith, channel director, wholesale, SBF

“We have invested £13m in our Coleford factory, opening a new energy- and water-efficient production line. The high-speed bottling line fills 55,000 bottles an hour, enabling us to keep up with the demand for our drinks year-round. “Producing a bottle on the new line requires 40% less energy and water than the previous line. These efficiency improvements represent a 4.4% reduction of energy and water consumption for the Coleford site as a whole.”

SBF GB&I worked with retailer Amit Patel to make changes to his lighting, heating and chillers, saving him £264 a year

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12/02/2021 17:13

In focus: Running a sustainable shop

Energy-efficient equipment Upgrading your store’s infrastructure is an effective way to invest in your business, reduce your overheads and become more sustainable Last year, the average symbol retailer invested £12,000 in their business, according to the ACS, with many investing in store equipment and refits to help them on their journey to become more sustainable. The biggest area of investment is new refrigeration, followed by internal building maintenance, in-store lighting, air conditioning and freezer space. Its Local Shop Report last year revealed that retailers are making “significant progress in becoming more energy efficient”. Forty-three per cent of retailers have

installed chiller doors, 32% have installed a smart meter and nearly half now have LED lighting in store. “You have to make investing in sustainability part of one coherent strategy,” says Patrick Sewell, of Sewell On The Go in Hull. “We’ve taken steps to invest in different areas over the years because it’s the right thing to do, but we’re now creating a sustainable strategy that feeds into everything we do as a business.” And, of course, energy efficiency ultimately cuts overheads, making it a win-win situation for you, the environment and your customers.

THE STAT

43% of retailers have invested in chiller doors

Genova Overview

CCEP’s chillers

LED Lighting

Last June, Pastorfrigor launched its Genova Overview range of refrigeration. Its GD cabinets deliver an additional 25% saving over the older Genova model, while its BT frozen food cabinets use R455a, which is at 150 GWP (Global Warming Potential). Its OV 75 H205 unit costs £5,860 and just £1 per day to run.

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) recently introduced energy management systems in its chillers to reduce power consumption by an average of 30% (in comparison to older equipment from the company), which means that after periods of inactivity, the equipment goes into standby mode, meaning it it uses less energy.

Replacing halogen lighting with LED lights is a great way to shave off the cost of your electricity bill. Depending on your size of store, initial investment in LED lighting can cost upwards of £1,000, but can reduce your lighting bill by up to a half. Panel lighting gives an even cover while spotlights can be altered to refresh displays.

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In partnership with

Smart meters

EV chargers

Low-energy screens

Smart meters are designed to replace your gas and electricity meters, and send readings to mobile devices and to your bill provider. The meters ensure that your bills are always accurate, giving you better control and oversight of your store’s overheads, and will reduce the admin that comes with needing to submit manual meter readings.

EV chargers are a viable option for retailers that want to make their shops a place where customers are happy to stay for longer. Solutions by suppliers like BP Chargemaster can be either free-standing or wall-mounted, with rapid-charge solutions available that can charge most vehicles to 80% in just 30 minutes.

Digital screens are an effective way to communicate promotions throughout your store, but they can use a lot of energy if you don’t have them on the right settings. Avoid making them too bright and ensure you have timers on them so they can turn off automatically when you’re closed or at times when the shop is not as busy.

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12/02/2021 15:26

Store profile: Running a sustainable shop

Running a sustainable store How John Stevenson has gone above and beyond to ensure his forecourt is running in the most sustainable way When we set out to open the Nisa Northallerton store in 2018, making sustainability a big part of it was a no-brainer for us. Stevenson Forecourts owns several sites around the north-east, and we always try to be as sustainable as possible. Everyone has to do what is right for their business, and if they can do that and in a cleaner, greener way, then great. 01 WHAT WE’RE DOING TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE If nothing else, in the long term, running a sustainable business will not only be better for the environment, but better for our finances. There is an initial investment cost for most sustainable solutions, but the payback is normally within five years, and from then on the savings are straight on the bottom line. Examples of this in our business include solar panels, which have a payback of four and a half years. We filled the roof of our shop with a 30kW system, which contributes to around a fifth of our running electricity. The site also has an efficient refrigeration system that comes fitted with doors and, more impressively, a single-pack unit at the

back of the store that has two fans, which runs all the refrigeration, freezers and aircon for the store. Alongside all of that, we installed foilbacked blinds to the front windows of the store with sun sensors that keep the heat out on warmer days, meaning the aircon doesn’t have to work as hard and use more electricity. 02 SOME COSTS YOU HAVE TO ABSORB YOURSELF Of course, sustainability doesn’t always improve the bottom line. For example, we made the decision to supply biodegradable gloves on the forecourt. These are double the price of standard recyclable gloves, but the usage of gloves has probably increased tenfold since the start of the pandemic, and because of this we have noticed more of them are not making it into the bins after use. For us, we felt investing in an option that will be fully degraded within 24 months was the right thing to do, regardless of the extra cost.

Name of retailer John Stevenson

Store name

Nisa Northallerton (part of Stevenson Forecourts)

Location

Northallerton, North Yorkshire

03 GET SUPPORT FROM YOUR SYMBOL GROUP Like any convenience retailer, we produce a lot of cardboard and plastic waste from our

Photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

4.5 YEARS The time it took to recoup John’s investment in solar panels

deliveries. Luckily for us, this is collected by our symbol group, Nisa, and taken back to a central point to be recycled. I’d say 99% of the packaging waste goes back, which is a massive help to us. At the end of the day, every retailer has to do what is right for their business, taking into account what help is out there for them to be more environmentally friendly. I’d like to assume most are already doing things like recycling packaging where possible. 04 ADJUSTING TO THE NEW NORMAL Covid-19 has increased the use of single-use PPE exponentially in most industries. At the start of the pandemic, the use of latex gloves was the main safety choice chosen by our team and rightly so, as the spread of the virus via contact was a real worry. Although they are still available should the team choose to wear them, I think we are now at around 10% usage compared with how it was at the start of the pandemic, with my team mostly now comfortable with sanitising and handwashing.

Opinion

In partnership with

How retailers can help drive sustainability changes SBF GB&I is working with retailers to prove there are business and environmental benefits to making your store more sustainable As part of the Suntory Group vision of ‘Growing for good’, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) is using its position in the industry to lead positive change. ‘Growing for good’ means everything we do as a company always benefits its community, and by continuing to do good things for society and the environment, we will help make a better, brighter future post-Covid-19 and beyond. Becoming more sustainable is important for the future of the planet, but for individual stores it can be a great way to attract new customers and retain existing footfall, as well as save money. There are statistics showing why small retailers should focus on sustainability. One-third of shoppers are now choosing to buy from brands that they believe are doing social or environmental good, and 92% of consumers say sustainable business practices should now be standard. But it can be difficult for store owners to know where to start on the broad and varied topic of sustainability. To help, we have teamed up with Energy Saving Trust and Derbyshire retailer Amit Patel on a major project to show how small changes can make a big difference in making stores more environmentally and financially sustainable. We started by identifying three immediate simple improvements. We replaced Amit’s heater with a new halogen one; installed a new door-closing mechanism to ensure the front door keeps heat in; and replaced the TV screen he uses to monitor his CCTV. To give an example of the impact of just one of those changes: if the UK’s 46,388 convenience stores all

introduced more energy-efficient screens, it could result in astonishing total savings across all stores of up to £3.7m per year. From there, we worked with Amit to make further changes that have had impacts in a variety of ways. We replaced Amit’s old chillers with newer, energyefficient models, and introduced new shelving in Amit’s storeroom, helping him better organise his stock and reduce his trips to the cash and carry. This reduces Amit’s CO2 emissions, as well as saving him £42 per year. On top of this, we replaced the old tube lighting with two new passive infrared (PIR) sensors in the storeroom – meaning the lights in those rooms only come on when they sense movement, further helping reduce energy use. Finally, to help keep Amit’s staff focused on sustainability, we created temperature check sheets and daily checklists. We also installed simple PoS to let his customers know about his sustainability improvements, aiming to inspire them to make their own simple changes. The in-store sustainability project with Amit is just the start. Over this year, SBF GB&I will work with other retailers to inspire them to make their own small changes in store. To find out more information on Amit’s project, follow us on Twitter at @SuntoryBF_GBI Alpesh Mistry is the sales director at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I. He previously held senior roles at PepsiCo and Molson Coors.

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26/01/2021 21/01/2021 10:21 13:36

In focus: Sustainability in food

In partnership with

Reducing food waste

Food wastage is bad for the environment and costs your business money. Here are five ways to reduce it Throwing away food isn’t just wasteful and bad for the environment – it costs retailers money, too. What’s more, customers want to know you’re doing what you can to cut waste, and with 4.5 million tonnes of food wasted every year, it’s important to engage with them about your efforts. At the beginning of 2020, the government announced businesses and not-for-profits in England will benefit from £1.15m of funding as part of its drive

to reduce food waste in the UK by 20% by 2025. This is part of a wider £15m scheme to address surplus food from the retail and manufacturing sectors. Many solutions are quick to implement, such as donating surplus food waste or signing up to a food wastage app (see page 40). Similarly, discounting food throughout the day will help sales and save you money, too. Here are five simple ways to cut food waste in store.

Use your EPoS data

Donate leftover food Retailers are likely to be left with fresh products that can’t be sold in store the following day, resulting in higher costs and wastage levels. By donating to a food bank, the Salvation Army or even somewhere with pets, like a school or vets, you’re not only reducing your food waste, but giving back to the community, too. Reach out to a local school or nursery or find out if any waste can be used as compost.

Discount food

If you’re generating high wastage levels weekly, try reviewing your orders and find out if you’re over-ordering. Kirti, Bimal and Alpesh Patel, of Londis Ferme Park Road in Stroud Green, north London, work with Point Four, which supplies their EPoS data to determine how many lines have been discounted and wasted between orders, helping them to adjust their next order and reduce waste.

Train your teams

Reduce products that won’t be sold during the next day to help drive those extra sales and reduce waste, too. Start by reducing products by 10-20% and, as the day progresses, reduce them further to help them sell. Have a dedicated reductions area, so customers know where to shop for discounted stock. This enables them to shop more efficiently, helping to drive last-minute sales and reduce waste.

Reuse food elsewhere

As well as reducing waste by monitoring your ordering, train your teams to follow the same practices. By doing this, your food wastage levels are more likely to remain low consistently. Write down these processes for staff to refer to and train new members. Delegate the training to a senior member of staff so they become the go-to person for any questions and refresher lessons. Some photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

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Fresh & chilled and fruit & veg have relatively short shelf lives, so it’s important to determine whether they can be put to better use if not sold. If you operate a food-togo area, consider using these ingredients to make a new product. Dennis and Linda Williams, of Premier Broadway Convenience in Edinburgh, use veg from the store in homemade soups to ensure they reuse as many products as possible.

12/02/2021 10:58

In focus: Sustainability in food

In partnership with

Checking sustainability

Going beyond just how it’s packaged, sustainability in food covers the entire lifecycle and supply chain of a product from sustainably sourced palm oil, an issue that memorably entered the public imagination with Iceland’s Christmas ad in 2018. Meanwhile, the fair trade movement aims to guarantee a fairer deal across the supply chain for producers, such as farmers in poorer countries, helping sustain their families and their communities. Shoppers are getting more savvy on what they buy, and the ethical, environmental and sustainability implications of products. It affects buying habits, and that means it should also affect your ranging.

THE STATS

262% 93% 83% 70%

Year-on-year growth in vegan product sales at Nisa stores of UK shoppers recognise the Fairtrade mark* trust the Fairtrade mark when deciding if a product is ethical* Reduction in meat and dairy consumption needed in the UK to avoid climate breakdown, according to Greenpeace

Fair trade

Vegetarian and vegan

Sustainable seafood

According to the Fairtrade Foundation, fair trade “empowers farmers and workers to improve their living standards, the welfare of their community and our shared environment”. It’s all about encouraging fair trade to farmers and workers. The Fairtrade mark is only used on products certified in accordance with fair trade standards.

The Vegan Society predicts that by 2025, a quarter of Brits will be vegan or vegetarian. The reasons vary, but 18% say it’s because they want to protect the environment. Whatever the reason, clearly marking out your meat-free options to shoppers shows you’re there to support them, and means you can play a part in leading change.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a non-profit organisation that sets global standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. The MSC ecolabel and certification programme rewards sustainable fishing practices. The MSC ecolabel on a product means it is traceable to a wild-catch fishery certified to the MSC’s science-based standards.

*according to the Fairtrade Foundation

Shoppers are looking to make more sustainable choices, and this includes the products they spend their money on. Where does it come from, what is its ecological footprint, who grew it and are they being paid fairly? The rise in vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian (vegan or vegetarian only some of the time) can in part be put down to growing shopper concerns about the environment, with livestock farming viewed as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions by many. Other labels highlight that products are either low in palm oil or made

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09/02/2021 10:17

In focus: Sustainability in food

In partnership with

Promoting eco-friendly lines Ways you can shout about sustainably-sourced products in your store to help consumers make the right decisions Labelling and promoting sustainable lines will communicate to your customers that you care about offering produce that is better for the environment. Consumers are increasingly concerned with reducing their carbon footprint, and one way to do this is by shopping for items that are locally sourced, or buying food items served in glass jars rather than plastic. Retailers can also have

fun with displays of sustainable lines. For example, if you are promoting Fairtrade chocolate or bananas, why not have a map behind the range showing exactly where the items have come from? Presenting it in story form like this can help shoppers better understand where their food is coming from, thereby selling itself. Here, we’ve listed more ways to encourage sales.

PoS and displays Another great way to promote sustainable lines is by dedicating an area of your store to sustainablysourced products. This way, consumers can find all the items in one place, and you can be as decorative as possible to make it really stand out. Having banners and images of where the products are sourced from can also drive interest, especially if it’s a locallyknown brand.

Frozen and canned food Looking at it from a slightly different point of view, some consumers may consider buying canned or frozen food more sustainable than fresh because of less wastage. Research by Princes, based on OnePoll data, found 27% of the 2,000 people surveyed agreed with this statement. Conveying this message in store about frozen foods can promote sustainable lifestyles.

Offer lines with sustainable credentials Nowadays, when a product is sustainably sourced, it will more than likely have these credentials on pack. From water bottles to confectionery, there are a variety of food and drink items that stress they have been created with minimal disruption to the planet. Speak to your shoppers to learn the causes they care about, and look for the products that have the relevant labels on them.

Post on social media It’s tricky right now for retailers to converse with customers in store about the range of items on offer, but this doesn’t mean you can’t be vocal on social media. With 82% of Brits feeling it’s important to reduce the UK’s plastic consumption – with packaging remaining the top of the agenda – shouting about biodegradable products you offer will drive interest, sales and profits.

Making it work for your store Using fancy jargon and vague terms might not be enough to convince a customer to opt to buy sustainable foods and drinks – you have to be specific and know the causes your shoppers are concerned about. This can be done by labelling how buying this will help limit the user’s carbon emissions, what recycled materials it uses and if it avoids using toxic substances.

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In focus: Sustainability in food

In partnership with

Apps to tackle food waste

No one wants to waste food that is still good to eat but slightly past its best-by date. Here are some ways to prevent this happening “We’ve used Too Good To Go for two years now, and it is incredibly easy to use both in store and for customers,” says Jacqui Dales, of Spar London Road in Boston, Lincs. She, alongside several retailers, including Sue Nithyanandan, of Costcutter Epsom in Surrey, who has been using the service since November 2019, are benefitting from reduced food wastage by signing up to apps that collect good food that is ap-

proaching its best-by date, or slightly over, but still safe for consumption. Not only does it help keep food out of the bin, but it can also help feed your local community, especially those in need or who are struggling to make ends meet, and are therefore looking for reduced items. The apps are simple to sign up to and can also boost footfall in store by introducing more shoppers to your business.

Gander

Too Good To Go Consumers log in and search their local area for a food business where they can buy a ‘Magic bag’ – a mystery package made up of unknown items for less than a third of the original price. They are also given a time window for when they have to collect, which is set by the business. Customers pay via the app and show their receipt in store to get their bag.

Olio Retailers’ reductions are pushed to the app in real time. This means as items are sold, the number of items left is updated again. The company says retailers can get up to 100 times more views of reduced produce, leading to quicker sales. “Retailers who work with Gander can reduce their annual food waste by up to 50% with no additional activity,” it adds.

Karma

Olio has a retailer tool for stores that have food left over that is still fit for consumption. When joining the Olio Food Waste Heroes programme, the company will arrange a food-safetytrained individual to collect the surplus of food and prevent it from going to waste. The trained person will redistribute it to their local community using the Olio app for free.

FoodCloud The app says customers can usually cut their food waste by 50-80% by using the service, and can attract new customers to store, with 65% of customers buying additional goods. Last year, it introduced a service where it would help stores deliver food to customers self-isolating at home – it sells goods at full price with end-of-life items still at a discounted rate.

Retailers upload good food they can’t sell, and a local charity linked to the store through its platform receives a notification letting them know food is available for collection. The charity responds, accepting the food and then going to collect it. This is then distributed to partners such as breakfast clubs and homeless hostels. The app is only available in Ireland.

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In focus: Sustainability in food

In partnership with

How to reuse ingredients

Donating food and avoiding overordering are great solutions to reducing waste, but reusing ingredients can achieve this while increasing sales As fresh and food to go become a bigger part of convenience stores’ offerings, more retailers are finding the benefits of stocking products that can be put to more than one use. Using close-to-sell-bydate tomatoes to make a soup, for instance, or bread from the bakery as a basis for cheese toasties. Alongside helping reduce food waste, this also helps your bottom line at a time when any saving counts. The possibilities are endless, but it takes some planning. Bear this in mind when restocking your fresh products, whether it’s fruit & veg or bakery – how

else could you use the products you’re putting on your shelves? For instance, if you have fruit that’s unlikely to be sold, create a sauce for ice cream or desserts if you have a dessert bar in store. Got a deli? Focus on ingredients that can be crossed over – used in the deli one day, and then moved over to pizza toppings or sandwich fillings the next. Or, you can research recipes to create new products to add to your range. Get this set out in your store’s routine, and have a plan for when you’ll take items off the shelves to put into something else.

THREE WAYS TO RECYCLE INGREDIENTS Use in your food to go

Make a new product

More than one use

If you have a hot food counter or a dessert bar, consider reusing ingredients to make the products you already sell in store. Use vegetables to make soup or to add to burgers and other hot food products. Alternatively, you can use fruit to make sauces for desserts or enhance the desserts you offer. For example, you can add fruit to any ice creams you sell in the summer.

Having a point of difference is key to setting yourself apart from your competitors, so why not recycle ingredients to make a new product, exclusive to you? Websites, such as BBC Good Food, offer recipe ideas on what to do with leftover stock. Also, ask your team about things they make at home that could be sold in store, or ask your customers for their suggestions.

If you have a fresh bakery in store, think about how you can use different products through the week. For instance, croissants can be sold fresh on the first day, and then filled and made into sandwiches on the second. Fresh bread, meanwhile, can be used to make toasted sandwiches on the second day. It’s then possible to use vegetables near their sell-by date as sandwich fillers.

Photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

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Store profile: Sustainability in food

Sustainability in food

When it comes to sourcing sustainable products, Abdul Arain, owner of Al-Amin Stores, takes the matter seriously Covid-19 has been a challenge for many retailers who are trying to keep supply chains open. This has set back some sustainable practices, but it is also a blessing because it is easier to identify the reputable suppliers and growers as they are the ones fulfilling the guidelines. For me, sustainability means I supply and consume food without damaging the environment or hurting those that grow it. There are labels retailers can look for, such as Soil Association, Fairtrade and Sustainable Seafood, but as I often source food locally, I like to do my own investigation into how farmers operate and how they treat livestock.

02 PROMOTING GOOD PRACTICES It is important to link with other businesses and community associations to work together to support sustainable companies and practices. We have collaborated with media company Cambridge Independent to organise tours for people to come in and taste food. We also attend the Mill Road Winter Fare, which showcases local businesses. Companies are advised to show practical examples of sustainable practices so people can see these in action, rather than read generic statements. It is also about talking to customers and visiting schools to highlight the importance of sustainability.

01 SECURING SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIERS The meat we sell comes from local farms and the best way to learn about practices is by building a relationship with them. It is not a case of Googling them, but visiting farms and then arranging cooperative agreements. Where we can, we want to deal directly with people at the local level, but there are also suppliers, such as Zaytoun and Suma, who have built up a good reputation when it comes to their sustainability credentials.

03 BAD PRACTICES TO WATCH OUT FOR I look for whether companies are walking the walk when it comes to their messages. There has been a trend in recent years where fruit and vegetables have been made to look more appealing by adding substances. This is not just bad practice, but studies have found these can be carcinogenic. When we were in the EU, there were stringent rules about what was permitted, but now we have left I am a bit more cautious about what Defra

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Name of retailer Abdul Arain

Store name Al-Amin Stores Location Cambridge

Size

1,800sq ft

Average basket spend £18

Photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

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Number of local families the business supports with food supplies

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will do. You can spot food that has been tampered with after a while. 04 AVOIDING WASTE We don’t have food waste because we cook it before it gets old in our kitchen. We donate food to local charities, such as Winter Comfort or Jimmy’s Night Shelter. There are also 38 local families we support on and off. With Covid-19, this is particularly important as so many people are reliant on foodbanks, which we also contribute to. 05 NEVER STOP LEARNING Sustainability is a constant learning curve. Even when I go on holiday, I visit shops and see how people are doing things. Normally, retailers learn things from retail exhibitions, which are wonderful. But due to Covid-19, there haven’t been any of these, so we are more reliant on trade press and the learning days they organise. It is promising that over the past few years, retailers are changing equipment, such as introducing LED lights and putting doors on fridges. These things help to save money and benefit the environment, so it’s a win-win.

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Case study

In partnership with

New ideas to cut food waste Selling food and drink is the lifeblood of a convenience store, and Nisa is making it easier for its partners to do so sustainably

Growing plant-based

Make plant-based a success

Veganuary might be over, but the ongoing lockdowns mean demand for plant-based products continues to grow as customers look to move away from meat for ethical, health and environmental reasons. Year on year, vegan sales at Nisa have grown by 262%, and with meat-free dining continuing to flourish, the symbol group is presenting partners with more opportunities to grow that area of the market with the recent addition of nine new lines from Co-op’s Gro range.

Nisa is ensuring its retailers get the most out of the plant-based opportunity, even while rep visits are restricted due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. A wealth of information and insights are provided in a digital brochure offering an overview of the Gro range along with full planograms enabling retailers to display the products in the best way in stores. Specially designed Gro PoS assets have also been provided to Nisa partners to help them merchandise the range to shoppers.

Waste not, want not

Good for business, good for the planet

Since 2019, Nisa has been working with independent retailers to cut the amount of food going to landfill through a partnership with Too Good To Go, an app designed to combat the growing problem of wasted food. The scheme helps stores tackle food waste while also recovering some of the costs of unsold stock. Around 60 Nisa stores are now working with Too Good To Go to reduce food waste by offering ‘Magic bags’ to shoppers, which are filled with food nearing or past its best-before date and sold at a much-reduced price.

Nisa partner Dan Brown, of Pinkie Farm, Musselburgh, says Too Good To Go works well. “Our business is very focused on fresh, and with that comes a lot of waste. Since working with Too Good To Go, the amount of food we’ve been throwing away has dramatically decreased, we’ve been saving a lot of money and our customers are thrilled. It’s given us a great image within the community. It’s been fantastic and very easy to use, being set up overnight, and it’s been really simple ever since.”

For more information on how Nisa can help you become more sustainable, call 0800 542 7490 or visit nisalocally.co.uk/retailers/becoming-a-partner/

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11/02/2021 11/02/2021 12:11 10:37

In focus: Sustainability in the community

Making customers care

Getting shoppers to care about the environment is a challenge. We speak to retailers and suppliers about starting the sustainability conversation Retailers are perfectly placed to engage with their customers about the importance of protecting our planet for future generations, but how can stores make sure their customers buy in to the drive to be more sustainable? From reducing food waste to introducing bags for life and launching a community litter-pick, there are several ways to bring your community together to improve – or

start – their sustainability initiatives. Getting your customers involved in your sustainability processes is the key to making them care about the environment. Sasi Patel, of Go Local Extra in Rochdale, for example, hopes to install a recycling point and a DRS machine. “Customers want to recycle and they want to be involved, so we’re looking for ways to make it interactive,” he says.

Be creative Anita Nye, Premier Eldred Drive Stores, Orpington, Kent

Lead by example Sophie Towers, Kibble Bank One Stop, Burnley, Lancashire

“We have a mixture of customers and some aren’t as interested in sustainability as others. We’ve found leading by example helps them become more interested. My team organises litter-picks of the local area and customers regularly get involved and promote the event in store. We also worked with One Stop and asked customers to return their damaged bags for life for recycling. Some customers don’t have the facilities to recycle, so they can recycle through us instead.”

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

“It’s a challenge talking to our customers about sustainability, but we do what we can. We offer a bookexchange initiative, where shoppers come in, take a book and return it when they’re finished. This has enabled us to encourage recycling instead of them ending up in the bin. It’s now a popular feature of our store. We also refill hand sanitisers for customers and explain how this is helping to reduce plastic and how we’re trying to be more environmentally friendly.”

“Getting customers to care about the environment is largely driven through what we do in store. We try to be as sustainable as possible and get customers involved using word of mouth and social media. Having the facilities and offering services, such as a drop-off and pick-up point for recycling, shows you’re embracing sustainability and customers will follow suit. It’s important to remember that sustainability initiatives often involve trial and error.”

Get customers involved

Engage with customers

Sasi Patel, Go Local Extra, Rochdale

“Customers are becoming more aware about sustainability. As a result, we try to get them involved in all of our initiatives, whether in store or in the community. We’ve reduced plastic in store and told our customers what we’re recycling, and we’ve had positive feedback. We also invested in an electric car, which has given us a real point of difference. We’re hoping to renovate our old site to be more sustainable and customers are offering ideas for us to try.”

Julian Hunt, vice president of public affairs, communications and sustainability, CCEP

“Independent stores so often sit at the heart of their communities, so are perfectly placed to support local charities and engage people in environmental issues. Local retailers can play a leading role in supporting local sustainability efforts and cement their position as a force for good in their communities. By highlighting sustainability credentials and the green choices you make, retailers can increase the appeal of their stores to new and existing shoppers.”

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In focus: Sustainability in the community

Get the locals involved

Convenience stores are at the heart of the community, so it’s important to lead the way to a more sustainable future by hosting events that raise awareness A third of households have become ‘greener’ since lockdown, according to OnePoll data commissioned by Princes, showing just how important it is for independent retailers to connect with the community and raise awareness on sustainability. Although community events are restricted by Covid-19, there are still things you can do. Amrit and Harjit Singh, of Nisa Local High Heath in

Walsall, West Midlands, organised a socially distanced community litter-pick and say it’s a great way for retailers to improve their environmental impact. “My advice is to reach out to suppliers or even organise a small litter-pick yourself,” Amrit said at the Independent Achievers Academy’s (IAA) Retail Study Day last year. Below, we’ve highlighted five events to host to raise environmental issues.

Donate food waste

Many retailers usually host a community day to give back to their local communities, so why not have a sustainabilityfocused day? Build displays explaining how much you’re reducing energy by and have a quiz with prizes for younger shoppers. Work with suppliers about any PoS connected to sustainability that they can offer to support your event.

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Although millions have been stuck at home, there’s still a need to help clean up the local area when lockdown restrictions lift. It’s worth checking to see if suppliers are running any initiatives. Alternatively, you can launch your own or delegate responsibility to your team to organise the event. Use social media and word of mouth to promote the event.

Show children what you do

This doesn’t need to be a big event, but rather a long-term solution. Instead of throwing away food that’s near its sell-by date, try reaching out to a local farm or establishment that looks after pets, like a nursery, to donate to. Go further by putting a collection basket at the front of the store asking people to donate food that would otherwise be thrown away.

Host a community day

Community litter-pick

Children are becoming more passionate about the planet and increasingly want to be as sustainable as possible. In fact, 58% of parents admitted their children have driven them to be more sustainable. Reach out to the local school about teaching them about your sustainability efforts and what they can do to get involved. If in-person visits aren’t an option, what about using Skype, Zoom or another video platform?

Do a community walk Reducing your carbon footprint is an important element of sustainability. Organising a community walk not only brings your community together, but gives you the opportunity to highlight how walking or cycling more can have a positive impact on the environment. Talk to your customers in store or community group about how to launch one when restrictions lift. Some photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

12/02/2021 16:02

In focus: Sustainability in the community

In-store recycling

Launching an in-store recycling hub can drive sales and footfall and show you’re being proactive when it comes to sustainability Independent retailers are launching in-store recycling hubs to drive footfall and create longterm loyalty. Encourage customers to recycle by using social media channels and inform them about the recyclable products you stock. Also, engage with your customers on the importance of recycling and how their contribution helps. Sophie Towers, of Kibble Bank One Stop in Burnley, Lancashire, encourages her customers to bring their recycling with them. “In store, we recycle cardboard and plastic, and customers know we’ll recycle for them

too if it’s needed,” she says. Reach out to your symbol group or wholesaler about taking away recycling and use any additional cages to separate and manage recycling. Retailers can also direct their customers to TerraCycle. Matt Collins, trading director at KP Snacks, says many products are recyclable through the TerraCycle programme. “Retailers can help find their nearest recycling point by sharing relevant resources or by visiting kpsnacks.com/ packpromise to find the nearest drop-off point for nuts, popcorn, crisps and pretzels packets.”

THE STAT

83%

of Britons say more needs to be done to encourage recycling in the UK

Source: YouGov

Retailer viewpoint Adaba Akhtar, Premier Smeaton Stores, Kirkcaldy, Fife

“We launched an in-store recycling service after the local council reduced its collection days due to Covid-19. When the council reduced its days, the number of people fly-tipping increased and made the outside area of our store look untidy, which wasn’t a message we wanted to convey to our customers. We advertised the service in store and have dedicated an area of the store where customers can come in and drop off their cardboard, plastic, and clear and mixed glass. “The recycling plant is right next to our cash and carry site, which we travel to almost every day, so we’re not using any additional fuel and customers are grateful for our efforts. It reduces waste and customers are more likely to remember you. In fact, most of our customers who have come to deposit recycling end up spending in the store, which helps to increase our sales, too. “We also operate a battery collection in store, which is a jar by the till, and is popular around Christmas and seasonal periods throughout the year. Customers use batteries throughout the year and many are open to

Three tips for setting up a recycling service 1. Dedicate a specific area in store for recycling. 2. Advertise the service on social media and in store, clearly labelling what you can recycle. 3. Be organised by knowing when your collection days are or when you're able to take it away.

recycling them, but the challenge for them is remembering to recycle them and finding a store that operates such a service. It’s a simple service to implement and costs the retailer nothing. The simple things add up.”

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08/02/2021 12:25

In focus: Sustainability in the community

Deposit return scheme

The deposit return scheme (DRS) will mark a big shake-up in soft drinks. Now a year away in Scotland, here’s what all UK retailers need to know Bottle returns are one of the most successful ways of increasing recycling rates of plastic. Already in place in 10 European countries including Norway, Sweden, and Estonia, DRS has been proven to reach recycling rates of more than 90%. It does this by giving the plastic a monetary value. Shoppers are charged a small amount on top of their purchases, which they get back upon returning the bottle to a store. This

gives shoppers an incentive not to just throw it away and means they have money in their pocket when they are in your shop. Retailers can process bottle returns either manually, with a bag behind a till, or they can introduce a reverse vending machine in their store. Machine manufacturers have already been trialling these with independent retailers, such as in Mo Razzaq’s shop in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.

Retailers will receive a handling fee for each bottle

The names behind Scotland’s scheme have now been revealed AG Barr, C&C Group, CocaCola European Partners, Highland Spring Group, British Beer and Pub Association, British Soft Drinks Association and Natural Source Waters Association are some of the companies behind Scotland’s scheme administrator, which will be called Circularity Scotland. It will run the bottle return scheme and decide how much stores will get paid for handling returns.

Becoming known for bottle returns can increase footfall

In Scotland, shoppers will have to pay 20p more for a soft drink packaged in plastic, metal or glass, which they will get back after recycling. Retailers will also receive money per bottle. In March 2020, a government document suggested reducing payments from 1.5p to 1.1p for counter returns and from 3.1p to 2.8p via automated machines. Trade groups have criticised this as too low.

There are exemptions available

While the handling fee is likely to only be a few pence per bottle, trials by machine manufacturers have found there are other benefits to becoming a destination for the service. Steve Stothard, vice president for RVM Systems, says: “We’ve conducted trials in multiples, car parks, schools and independent retailers, and found that DRS can increase footfall by around 27%.”

Know who to work with

All retailers that sell soft drinks will be expected to take part in the scheme. However, retailers can opt out if they can prove doing so would potentially harm food, staff, health, fire or environmental safety. Stores also have a right to refuse bottles if they are dirty. Retailers that cannot handle alcohol for religious reasons can also decline taking part in the scheme. Some photos on this page were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic

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With the handling fee twice as much for bottles processed by machine, retailers who have the space are urged to consider it. Manufacturers such as RVM Systems, Tomra, Veolia and EcoVend are established in the UK and are eyeing up the opportunity. Retailers all across the UK should consider where they will put a machine in any store refit they are planning this year.

12/02/2021 13:08

Become an alcohol destination for your shoppers

The Retail Success A MUST-READ FOR PROFIT-DRIVEN INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

Only £4.99

Handbook

On sale 27 April

TION BECOME AN ALCOHOL DESTINA FOR YOUR SHOPPERS

Don’t miss our essential guide to the alcohol category With the huge increase in drinking at home, independent convenience retailers are investing heavily in their alcohol ranging on shelf, as well as cocktails to go and other features commonly found in pubs and bars, such as beer on tap. This issue will provide exclusive ranging data, advice and market insight from the beer, cider, wines, core spirits and gin categories.

PLUS • A look inside the shops of three retailers who are leading the way in the alcohol category. • Everything you need to know about changing convenience shopper expectations. • What to stock, ranging advice and how to drive sales of ready-to-drink and low- & no-alcohol products.

Order your copy from your magazine wholesaler today or contact us on 020 7689 3364

RSH Sus Alcohol forward Sell.indd 1

12/02/2021 12:27

In focus: Sustainability in the community

Delivering sustainably

The biggest challenge in running home delivery is making it profitable. Here, we explore whether an electric vehicle can help Whether it’s due to Covid-19 or part of a long-term business plan, delivering to shoppers’ doorsteps is becoming the norm for many retailers. There are a number of steps you can take, big and small, to do it in a more environmentally friendly way. Investing in an electric vehicle is one solution. The environmental benefits of ditching fossil fuels and going electric are well known, but recent controversies over diesel emissions have brought them once again into the limelight. The switch to electric can also bring business

benefits. The government offers grants to help pay for lower-carbon-emissions vehicles (see gov.uk/plug-in-carvan-grants for more information). As intimidating as the initial investment on an EV is, lower cost of fueling and maintenance can mean it eventually pays off. Avoiding using plastic bags in your deliveries can help get customers used to moving away from plastic. Alternatively, why not have a system where you collect bags or boxes from the last delivery to regular customers when making a new one?

THE CASE FOR ELECTRIC

£3,000

government grants available for buying an electric vehicle Charging an electric van costs

times less than fueling an electric or diesel van

20-30%

lower vehicle maintenance costs on an electric van

250 miles on a single charge – the range for some new electric vans

Stats from Electric Vehicle Association England (EVA)

Retailer viewpoint Arjan Singh Rhoud, Morley Convenience Store (Premier), Leeds “Since Covid-19, our delivery service has really taken off. We have more than 100 deliveries per day, so it’s important we reuse our cardboard boxes and plastic bags. We’ve made a carrier for cocktails, and this has space for 20 plastic cups. At the moment, we are trialling an electric delivery vehicle with Paxster, and if it goes well, we are going to have five electric delivery vehicles. We need to be as green as possible.”

Expert viewpoint Gill Nowell, director, EVA England

“The business case for switching to a fully electric van is really starting to stack up for independent retailers. Notwithstanding the benefits to local air quality by virtue of zero-tailpipe-emission driving, businesses can access a UK government grant of £3,000 towards the cost of an electric van, plus there’s zero road tax and benefit-in-kind tax advantages, as well as funding available towards purchase and installation of a charging point – at home or in the workplace.”

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Store profile: Sustainability in the community

A sustainable community Mo Razzaq, from Jack’s of Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, gets shoppers involved in his sustainability drive We started our sustainability journey seven years ago after our first refit. It was hard, but we were ahead of the curve and that gave us time to get things right. The decision to become more sustainable was based on three principles: it was our duty to operate sustainably, we wanted to show our customers we were taking sustainability seriously and the more sustainable a business is, the cheaper it is to run. 01 SUSTAINABILITY STARTS IN STORE We installed energy-efficient chillers that use LED lighting, installed solar panels and reduced plastic throughout the store. Since installing solar panels, we’ve saved £2,000 each year and we’re saving a further £1,600 since using LED lighting. Our dessert bar and Subway area also use recyclable plastic. We have invested more than £200,000 in two refits to ensure we become more sustainable and we regularly keep our customers updated when they visit and on social media, too. Sustainability is an investment, but it’s key to think long term. We calculated our return on investment, which outweighed the initial cost, but it’s different for every retailer, so talk to suppliers or your symbol group about how you can start.

02 OFFER A PRIVATE SPACE FOR RECYCLING We’ve processed bottle returns with a reverse vending machine in store for a few years and it’s been successful. The challenge for us is that shoppers can feel embarrassed about recycling alcohol. Our solution is to relocate the machine to where our ATM is and then build a dedicated area for recycling. This means customers can deposit glass bottles outside instead of coming in. Customers can still see inside the store from outside, so we aren’t worried about losing footfall. In fact, Norwegian retailers say 90% of shoppers using their machines also go inside the store.

Name of retailer Mo Razzaq

Store name Jack’s of Blantyre Location Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

Size

2,800sq ft

Average basket spend £10.70

03 CUSTOMERS APPRECIATE THE SMALL THINGS We encourage our customers to do their bit for the environment by talking to them about how we’re being as sustainable as possible. We introduced bags for life and have since cut down our single-use plastic by 70%. It’s been a slow process, but you build these habits over time. We also donate any vegetables that won’t be sold in store the next day to the local nursery, which has rabbits. By doing this, we’ve reduced our wastage and saved costs, too.

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70%

Mo’s reduction in single-use plastic

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04 GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY Covid-19 restrictions have affected our sustainability plans, but that hasn’t stopped us helping the community. Every year, we encourage them to get involved with CocaCola European Partners’ Great British Spring Clean and we hope to do it again this year. Recycling is important to our customers and we try to recycle as much as possible and encourage them to do the same – whether that’s at home or in store. 05 SHOW CUSTOMERS THE WAY Customers care about the environment, but they aren’t always sure how they can help. When we came to the area, we knew we wanted to be sustainable, but didn’t know how, so we reached out to suppliers and used trade press to find out more. We then relayed this information to our customers. It’s the little things that add up, so start stocking bags for life or use signs that highlight how you’re being sustainable.

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SUPPORTING GROCERY COLLEAGUES The GroceryAid Covid-19 Fund is designed to help colleagues who need support now and throughout the full impact of the pandemic. Grocery colleagues have access to:

“Amid the huge challenge of Covid-19 our trade has done a great job of keeping the nation fed. GroceryAid has raised a special Covid-19 fund to help our industry colleagues at this time of need. The 24/7 Helpline will deal with concerns and assist with financial stress caused by this terrible virus.” - Charles Wilson, GroceryAid President

Mental Health Support Offering ‘in the moment’ emotional and practical support for colleagues dealing with shock, anxiety and stress through BACP trained counsellors, our Health and Wellbeing portal and Woebot, our AI Robot App. Bereavement Financial Assistance Providing financial assistance for the loss of a loved one through Covid-19. Available to colleagues who lose a partner or the immediate family of a colleague who has passed away as a result of Covid-19 whilst working in our industry. Crisis Grants Non-repayable grants, designed to help with financial emergencies. This is available for colleagues experiencing unexpected financial difficulties due to Covid-19 with a year’s industry service.

GroceryAid Helpline: 08088 021 122 Visit: www.groceryaid.org.uk Follow us:

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Supplier directory

Food and drink BrewDog Web: brewdog.com Britvic Web: britvic.com Tel: 03457 581 781 Coca-Cola European Partners Web: cocacolaep.com Tel: 01895 231313 Danone Waters Web: danone.com Tel: 020 8799 5800 Diageo Web: diageo.com Tel: 020 8978 6000 Ferrero Web: ferrero.co.uk Tel: 0330 0538943 Heineken Web: theheinekencompany.com Tel: 01454 270592

Carrier bags and consumables – plastic-free Bio4pack Web: bio4pack.com Tel: +49(0)5921 818 3700

Grip Hero Web: griphero.com Tel: 01837 811035

Decent packaging Web: decentpackaging.co.uk Email: hello@decentpackaging.co.uk

Kite Packaging Web: kitepackaging.co.uk Tel: 02476 420065

Unilever Web: unilever.co.uk Tel: 01372 945000

Dempson Web: dempson.co.uk Tel: 01622 727027

Veggio (Carrinet) Web: 2tech.co.uk/collections/carrinet Tel: 01483 362966

Weetabix Web: weetabix.co.uk Tel: 01536 722181

Deli Wraps Web: deliwraps.co.uk Tel: 01476 566414

Vegware Web: vegware.com/uk Tel: 0330 223 0400

Nestlé Beverages Web: nestleprofessional.co.uk Tel: 0800 745845 PepsiCo Web: pepsico.co.uk Tel: 01189 160000

Nisa Retail Since 1977 Nisa has provided benefits to circa 1,400 partners, operating almost 4,000 stores providing every service an independent retailer needs to survive and grow in the grocery marketplace. Tel: 0800 542 7490 Web: nisalocally.co.uk/retailers/becoming-a-partner

Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain & Ireland SBF GB&I is one the leading soft drinks businesses in the UK and Ireland. SBF GB&I was formed in 2014 as Lucozade Ribena Suntory and is part of Suntory Beverage & Food Europe. Its much-loved soft drinks brands include Lucozade Energy, Lucozade Sport, Lucozade Revive, Ribena, Orangina and MayTea. Web: suntorybfe.com/gbi

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Shop equipment

LED Lights

BP Chargemaster Web: bpchargemaster.com Email: salesdesk@bp.com

Goodlight Web: goodlight.co.uk Tel: 01276 690231

Eurocold Web: eurocolduk.com Tel: 07747 0224148

LED Hut Web: ledhut.co.uk Tel: 0330 0537169

House of Fridges Web: hofltd.com Tel: 07961 793232

Refills

Husky Web: husky.co.uk Tel: 01455 533340 Koolmax Web: koolmaxgroup.com Tel: 01204 324432 Pastorfrigor Web: pastorfrigorgb.com Tel: 01279 876919 Solarsense Web: solarsense-uk.com Tel: 0333 772 1800 Thornbury Web: thornburyrefrigeration.co.uk Tel: 01376 512 974

Borough Wines Web: boroughwines.co.uk Tel: 020 8858 0818 Delphis Web: delphiseco.com Tel: 020 3397 0096 Faith in Nature Web: faithinnature.co.uk Tel: 0161 7244016

DRS RVM Web: rvmsystems.co.uk Tel: 01506 537302 Tomra Web: tomra.com Tel: 01162 181430

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#retailtogether

NEXT SESSION

Thursday 11 March, 4.30pm

We know that it’s been one of the most challenging years in independent retail with the way you need to run your stores having changed almost overnight. We also know that with the lack of physical events taking place, there’s less of a chance to connect with like-minded retailers. That’s why we started #retailtogether, an informal digital networking event to help independent retailers share experiences, discuss issues and ideas, and see a few friendly faces. Join us every other Thursday at 4.30pm

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