The Convenience Guide 2023/24

YOU ARE DUE AN UPGRADE IF YOUR TILL SYSTEM’S MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD

scottish grocer 2021 awards industry achievement award

CONVENIENCE GUIDE

Welcome to a retailer’s resource.

SUSTAINABILITY

Many brands recognise the importance of eco credentials to consumers – and shopkeepers can do their bit, too.

FORECOURTS

Technology can be a powerful tool for independent forecourt operators to take on the big players.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Industry leader Danfoss explains how its new Smart Store showcases the best in energy efficiency for retailers.

DRS

Scotland's c-store retailers will have a major role to play in DRS and should take the time to research their options.

INSURANCE

Forum Insurance talks about the benefits for retail businesses of having bespoke insurance coverage.

LICENSING

MSHB partner Audrey Junner explains the intricacies of transfers and variations for off-trade premises licences.

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

Breakfast, confectionery, soft drinks, household paper, nicotine, food to go, alcohol and more are covered.

FASCIA & FRANCHISE

Scottish wholesalers have been busy ensuring their symbol groups will appeal to the nation's convenience retailers.

PGMA

Commercial manager Martin Devlin explains the benefits the buying group offers to independent shopkeepers.

Insights that can boost business

Scottish Grocer editor Giles Blair invites c-store retailers to make the most of the expert advice that’s on offer in this year’s Convenience Guide

RUNNING a successful convenience store is both a complex and challenging business.

After all, how many businesses require their owners or managers to have a working knowledge of so many categories and so much legislation, all while working in a seriously competitive marketplace where the profit margins are tight?

And the last year has been especially difficult for Scotland’s c-store retailers because of a number of political situations and decisions that have arisen over which they have little control.

Among the contentious issues retailers have had to contend with are the fallout over DRS, uncertainties over the future of vaping, alcohol marketing and HFSS regulations, stubbornly high food and drink inflation, as well as a change of political leadership at Holyrood.

But Scotland’s captains of convenience have consistently

shown their resilience and brilliance in the face of adversity and the constantly evolving and fascinating sector in which they work.

Scottish Grocer’s annual Convenience Guide is back and aims to help independent retailers stay at the top of their game, bringing insights and advice from some of the leading brands whose products

fill store shelves across the nation.

Sustainability is a key topic for many consumers these days and the first of this guide’s editorial features looks at brands with good eco credentials as well as ways that retailers can demonstrate their own efforts to be green.

Fluctuating fuel prices make being a forecourt retailer especially challenging at present but we’ve got insights into the ways technology can help you have the competitive edge over your rivals.

Energy efficiency has never been higher on the agenda, as retailers face soaring bills. Thankfully, Danfoss is on hand to explain how its technology can support retailers seeking solutions for their stores.

And while the deposit return scheme go-live date has been extended yet again, this gives shopkeepers more time to consider what reverse vending machines might be best for them to install.

Having the right insurance

cover is crucial to keep your stores properly safeguarded and the experts from Forum are offering some sage advice.

Alcohol licensing in Scotland is a hugely complex issue but legal firm Miller Samuel Hill Brown is providing clarity.

The second section of the guide is all about category management, as major brands weigh in with advice, insights and highlight key products that can boost retailers’ profits.

Categories covered include breakfast, confectionery, soft drinks, household paper, nicotine, food to go, snacks, ready meals and alcohol.

The final section – fascia and franchise – sees some of the top symbol groups and franchise brands make the case for their proposition.

The right fascia or franchise partner can make a huge difference, so it’s worth doing some thorough research.

PGMA buying group, meanwhile, explains the benefits it offers independent retailers across the country.

Scottish Grocer editor Giles Blair hopes this guide is useful.

The Scottish Grocer Convenience Guide aims to provide convenience retailers with insights and advice that can be used throughout the store.

The importance of going green

Brands and retailers need to meet expectations

CONSUMER concerns about the environment and climate change means shouting out about eco credentials has never been more important for both brands and retailers.

And the Scottish convenience channel is well-placed to prove that it can play a big part in the sustainability drive.

Firstly, retailers can highlight the products they stock that have been made in a way that is kind to the planet or that have a reduced carbon footprint because they are locally sourced.

Secondly, of course, community c-stores are ideal for those customers looking to cut their CO2 emissions and fuel bills by walking to get their shopping rather than driving to the nearest supermarket.

And, thirdly, there are numerous green measures that store owners can adopt to improve energy efficiency.

Brands big and small, international and local, have recognised the importance consumers place on being environmentally friendly.

As Tom Fiennes, commercial sustainability director at Britvic, said: “Consumers are expecting brands to demonstrate their environmental efforts through

the products they manufacture and sell.”

Mars Wrigley, for example, is running a UK trial selling its Mars bars in paper packaging –reducing a significant amount of plastic the firm uses.

Adam Grant, the firm’s UK general manager, said: “From the test, we will derive insights for our sustainable packaging strategy.”

Mondelez International is another food giant on a mission to reduce its carbon footprint across the board.

Susan Nash, the firm’s trade communications manager, said: “We know that waste and the impact of our packaging on the environment is most visible for our consumers. We are committed to creating zero net waste packaging and working towards a circular economy.”

Diageo, meanwhile, has switched on one of the largest private solar panel arrays in the Scotland to power its packaging plant in Leven, Fife.

Stuart Galbraith, operations director at the site, said: “It’s fantastic to know that as we work to make some of the world’s greatest quality products, we are doing it with renewable energy.”

Tennent’s has carried

out a number of initiatives and campaigns to ensure drinkers get the message that sustainability is at its core.

George Kyle, head of environmental, social and governance for the brand, said: “It is integral across everything we do from sourcing, brewing and waste management to packaging and transport.”

Porridge oats firm Hamlyns of Scotland has introduced paper packaging for its products.

Managing director Alan Meikle said: “As consumers increasingly look for sustainable brands, convenience retailers can help them to seek out such goods by flagging sustainable products across their stores, and by bringing together items that are both good for consumers and good for the environment.”

Scottish-based Nudie Snacks has highlighted how it is helping to reduce food waste by making use of “wonky vegetables” that would otherwise be discarded for its Cauliflower Crisps range.

Founder Tracey Hogarth said: “Our aim is to offer consumers healthy and delicious snacks packed with high protein and high fibre made from plant-

based ingredients that actively support our effort to help the environment.”

Macsween of Edinburgh also prevented waste by sending a whopping 4.7 tonnes of surplus haggis and black pudding to the food distribution charity FareShare after Burns Night.

Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment but also for retailers’ businesses, says equipment and engineering firm Danfoss.

Investing in modern kit and smart solutions such as remote monitoring can save energy, cut costs and boost retailers’ reputation, said Danfoss marketing boss Gareth Ash.

A great example is the Premier Racetrack Pitstop at Bearsden, north of Glasgow, which was the Sustainability Champion at the 2022 Scottish Grocer Awards.

It has solar panels on the roof to power the store’s lighting, a heat recovery system for the slush machines to provide warmth in the winter and a rainwater tank that supplies the Jet Wash car wash.

The store also takes part in the Too Good To Go scheme, which sees bags of food close to its use-by date promoted on the app for a discounted price.

Tennent’s features recycling messages across all of its lager cans.

Premier Racetrack Pitstop Bearsden has many sustainability features.

Fuelling growth at the forecourts

Gulf Retail makes the most of technology to help its dealers be competitive and profitable

GULF Retail is the fuel supplier of choice for more than 450 independent forecourts and it’s easy to see why as the company continues to introduce new initiatives designed to boost revenues and drive up profits.

Alongside Gulf’s awardwinning Oomph loyalty portal is PricePro, a complementary fuel price tool for Gulf dealers.

PricePro provides tools that are normally only associated with large organisations.

It couldn’t be more vital with fuel prices in the headlines, costs fluctuating dramatically and customers caring more than ever.

Gulf Retail teamed up with forecourt analyst experts Experian and the digital team at My Automate to provide the service.

Each morning, Gulf dealers receive high-quality pricing information, including the local and national picture, to enable them to take a broader view and react within minutes to market changes.

The information is presented in a clean and simple format, accessed by phone or PC, and

covers longer term positions, as well as that day’s.

Improving pricing by just 1p per litre, over a year and with volume stability, a store selling two million litres annually could achieve additional margins of £16,500 per annum.

Jenny Lockwood, head of retail dealer at Certas Energy, the company behind Gulf, said: “Fuel pricing is fundamental for dealers of all sizes and the current situation was not acceptable.

“We’re committed to making our dealers’ lives easier and their forecourts more profitable.

“We undertake pricing for 82 Certas sites and have a huge respect for our independent operators.

“The stakes are higher and they’re doing it with less time, resources and information.

PricePro is our way of helping level the playing field.

“It gives Gulf dealers access to the same type of information we receive and can make a real difference to the money a forecourt can make, while also making pricing decisions quicker and easier.”

Lockwood continued: “From partnering our dealers through the energy transition to developing cost-saving initiatives and new revenue opportunities, we strive to be smarter and more innovative, pooling our unique set of resources, knowledge and experiences for the benefit of every Gulf Dealer.

“Our latest initiative, Foresite, is another industry first and, again complementary. It’s a purpose-built telemetry

system that enables forecourt operators to understand and optimise fuel, shop and car wash sales.

“It’s very easy to use and highly graphic. From full basket analysis, embedded loyalty, to minute-by-minute sales of each product, it provides full visibility of the things that make a difference to a forecourt’s business and customers.”

The Oomph loyalty portal is another key part of Gulf Retail’s offering for independent forecourt operators.

This sophisticated, highly flexible tool analyses consumers’ shopping baskets to create bespoke offers and promotions and increase instore profits.

Importantly, it also strengthens community ties by supporting local worthwhile charities, projects and good causes with funding.

Gulf also assists retailers with advice on the most appropriate symbol brands for the locality and the likes of the latest shelving, flooring and lighting, as well as self-service checkouts and electronic shelf labels.

Scottish forecourt operators are offered plenty of support from Gulf.

Gulf dealers can enjoy the benefits of both the Foresite telemetry system and the Oomph loyalty portal.

Sustainable from the ground up

Danfoss reckons its new store solutions show a responsibility for the planet and consumers

ONGOING concerns about the planet have pushed Scotland’s retailers to examine every aspect of their business.

From the products on shelf to the foundations of the store, sustainability is a key consideration for plenty and the bosses at Danfoss believe they have the solution with a new, energy efficient store.

As the world’s population continues its course to reach 10billion people by 2050, investments in sustainable food retail and storage are urgently needed to ensure we can feed the growing number of people on the planet.

The pressure is growing, both on energy demand and costs, and on the need to cut down on food loss. If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest emitter behind the US and China, contributing to up to 10% of the world’s greenhouse gases.

To address these problems directly, Danfoss said it is proud to be part of the opening of a new flagship supermarket which is expected to be approximately 50% more energy efficient compared to a

typical supermarket with a firstgeneration CO2 refrigeration system and numerous energyefficiency solutions.

It is also expected to be approximately 20-30% more efficient than an equivalent local store already fitted with multiple energy-efficiency solutions.

Climate-friendly, superefficient and loaded with automation solutions, the new ‘Smart Store’ is providing inspiration for food retailers in a world of rising energy costs, emissions, and worsening food losses, according to the firm.

Jürgen Fischer, president at Danfoss Climate Solutions, said: “We have developed this new Smart Store supermarket with partners and customers to demonstrate that it is possible to build a climate-friendly and super-efficient facility, using world-class heating and cooling technology.

“Our new ‘Smart Store’ proves that the future is now. This supermarket is purpose-built for the world ahead of us; a world of more urbanization, larger populations, greater energy demands, a growing

need for cooling, and efficient food storage.”

The range of new solutions in the ‘Smart Store’ demonstrate the significant savings that can be achieved in supermarkets, with a typical payback time of three to four years.

By using world-class heating and cooling technology, the new supermarket will waste less energy and reduce food waste. Solar power is the supermarket’s primary energy source, with 100 kW solar panels on the building’s roof providing green energy to support the supermarket operations.

Heat capture and reuse is also key to the energy efficiency of the supermarket, with up to 90% reduction in supermarket heating costs expected. Excess heat is the world’s largest untapped source of energy, say bosses at Danfoss.

The ‘Smart Store’ is fitted with state-of-the-art heat recovery units, designed to recover the waste heat from all the refrigeration systems. The recovered heat is reused to heat up the store and produce domestic hot water, with any

additional heat shared with residents of the surrounding town through a district energy network.

Other initiatives such as installing doors on refrigerator and freezer cases will save around a third on energy use, while the choice of LED lighting uses up to 85% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Automation and monitoring of the ‘Smart Store’ adds another layer of energy saving.

Fischer added: “Danfoss has reimagined what food retail stores could look like in the 21st century. For the first time, all of Danfoss’ most cutting-edge technology and energy efficient food retail solutions are being brought together into one retail site.

“But the new Smart Store supermarket is only the beginning, because it will also serve as an Application Development Center, a ‘live’ testing site for new technologies which we hope will inspire food retailers around the world to move towards zero emissions supermarkets – while making economic sense.”

Danfoss believes its new store shows sustainability from the ground up.

Danfoss said its store is 50% more efficient than typical supermarkets.

Take the time to do your research

Scotland’s c-store retailers will have a vital role to play and should check out DRS options now

SCOTLAND’S c-store retailers have plenty of time to properly research their deposit return scheme (DRS) options – now that the UK-wide go-live date has been pushed back to at least late 2025.

And when DRS does kick in, the convenience channel will have a big part to play.

The stores have higher average shopper visits per week than supermarkets and most customers agree that local shops are better for the environment – as more are visited on foot or are travelled to within a short distance.

Indeed, there are predictions that bottle returns will become part of the shopper mission to convenience stores, ranking among other valued services such as cash machines, parcel collections and bill payments. And one study has found that consumers would often return their containers to the location where they bought them.

Moreover, an impressive 87% of the recyclers would go on to spend their deposit refund in the store where they returned the containers.

The chance to drive up footfall

and sales, arguably, make becoming a return point an attractive proposition for many convenience retailers.

Of course, some store owners may feel their premises is too small or be concerned about other health and safety issues.

But, if they do decide to take part in DRS, one of the first questions retailers may well ask themselves is whether they want to operate as a manual return point or opt for a reverse vending machine (RVM).

If shopkeepers are unsure whether an RVM is the right option for them or what volumes they can expect to see returned, a wise piece of advice would be to start with manual returns and make an informed decision later, after the scheme goes live.

There are numerous manufacturers and the machines they make vary in footprint size and container storage capacity.

But all the major providers offer a smaller RVM that has been designed with convenience stores in mind. While retailers can learn a lot from various manufacturer

websites, some companies also have showrooms in Scotland –because it was originally meant to be leading the way in the UK on implementing DRS – and they welcome visits by store owners and managers.

The experts will help retailers select the best RVM for their specific circumstances and also talk through the machine purchase or leasing solutions that are offered.

Operating an RVM will bring a number of real advantages. For starters, it provides a better customer experience as it’s easier and more convenient to use an RVM rather than queueing at the shop counter to make manual returns.

The RVM also reduces the storage space needed as the containers returned are compacted and held inside the machine.

Further to that, the RVM can also be sited in a back room with an ATM-style return point.

The RVM also acts as the “gatekeeper” for which items are part of the scheme and takes away that burden from the store owner or staff.

It’s also more efficient as

staff spend less time handling returns and the RVM is capable of carrying out automated communication with the scheme administrator.

The machine reports the returns data back to the scheme administrator, which then credits the retailer for all the deposits returned and pays the shopkeeper a handling fee as compensation for being a return point.

Having identified the containers inserted, the machine issues a voucher that customers can use to pay for shopping or get a cash refund at the till.

The major providers will also have dedicated technicians to service the RVMs or provide support in the event of any problems.

The Scottish, UK and Welsh Governments are currently taking a “four nations” approach to developing aligned schemes across the UK, with regular meetings between key officials.

Aligned schemes will have the benefits of single points of registration and standardised approaches on barcodes.

Providers say RVMs offer advantages for consumers and retailers.

Some firms have showrooms in Scotland that retailers can visit.

Retailers help the world recycle

Deposit return systems (DRS) for beverage container recycling help keep valuable resources in a continuous loop of use and reuse. At TOMRA, we call this process Clean Loop Recycling.

As a retailer, you’re at the heart of Clean Loop Recycling. You play a critical role at the point where consumers buy and return their containers.

Let’s put recycling to work for you

Choosing to partner with TOMRA means creating a great recycling experience for your customers, making a smart investment for your store, and choosing a solution that brings peace of mind and excellent support for your operations.

Solutions for small stores

M1

Accepts up to three types of non-refillable containers: plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles

360° instant recognition: shape, barcode, weight, full container, and metal detection

Process up to 17 containers per minute

Size (mm): 960 x 638 x 1670

Footprint of 0.62 sqm

Solutions for medium stores

T70 Dual

Accepts up to three types of non-refillable containers: plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles

360° instant recognition: shape, barcode, weight, full container, and metal detection

Process up to 45 containers per minute

Size (mm): 1293 x 1040 x 1800

Footprint of 1.4 sqm

S can now to get a free consultatio n with an expert

Covering all the eventualities...

Bespoke insurance policy ‘is best for business’

GETTING the right insurance policy is a key business decision for c-store retailers. Here, Niraj Mamtora, head of partnerships at Forum Insurance, provides some valuable insights.

How important is bespoke business insurance to a successful convenience or forecourt retail store business?

We provide bespoke insurance packages to over 1,000 independent retail outlets across the United Kingdom.

Standard convenience and forecourt packages are exactly that – standard. They don’t cater to you and your businesses needs accordingly.

A bespoke insurance package will protect you and your business exactly how you need it to. More often than not, bespoke cover saves you money.

In our experience, we’ve found that retailers don’t appreciate the benefits of a bespoke insurance package until they need to make a claim.

The last thing you want to hear when you’ve suffered an incident is that your insurance isn’t fit for purpose and you’re left recovering costs yourself. What sort of questions should retailers be asking when

considering new insurance coverage?

A strong consideration should be on whether you’ve taken cyber insurance out for your business.

Many retailers don’t think they need cyber insurance but, if you’re using an EPOS, storing customer data, taking electronic payments or have a collection/delivery partner, you’ll find cyber insurance to be perfect for you and your business.

A cyber criminal is far more likely to target 10 small businesses for £10,000 each, rather than go after a single large enterprise for £100,000. Don’t be one of the businesses forking our money to cyber criminals.

What are the most important areas of coverage for a retailer?

When reviewing your insurance, it is important to be aware of the policy wording, policy cover limits and the circumstances for which you’re covered.

If you’re one of the lucky few that has the time to go through the policy wording of different insurers and their products, you’ll quickly see the complexities involved.

Otherwise, I would recommend leaving it to an insurance broker who will understand you and your businesses insurance requirements and protect your livelihood in the best way. What support/services can you offer businesses in addition to insurance coverage?

Being experienced and available to our clients around the clock is what sets us apart from other insurance providers.

We’ve been looking after the convenience and forecourt industry for as long as we have been around, since 1990. With over 96% satisfaction rate with our clients, you can

trust that your business is well looked after with us.

We are partnered with a number of companies across the UK to ensure that, when you have a claim, we are the one-stop solution to stop further losses occurring. We manage everything for you until your business is running correctly again. We have a strong motto – ‘Look after our clients and our clients will look after us’ – which aligns clients at the forefront of our goals.

Do you have any examples of claims retailers have suffered?

As part of our unique offerings, we are one of the few insurance providers around that offer in-house claims handling. We won’t throw you to an external claims adjuster and will be with you every step of the way.

The most common claims we see from this industry are:

1. Property damage claims –when a customer comes into your premises and, in their attempts to shoplift, they damage the store on their escape.

2. Product liability claims – this is when you provide products that are defective unintentionally and a customer

suffers a loss and there are product recall and legal costs involved.

3. Motor vehicle claims –if your business is making deliveries to customers or another business, your driver could be injured or injure a third party. In these scenarios, it is often the business that suffers a loss.

In all of these scenarios, we have seen that having bespoke coverage and having the correct policy wording on your side have been vital in getting a claim paid by the insurer. Do you have any new product developments or campaigns you would like to highlight?

At Forum Insurance, we are continually keeping up to date with the industry trends and news so that we can best protect our clients.

We are the only proactive insurance broker attending and engaging with a wide variety of industry events for the forecourt and retail sector. We’re hoping to see you all the Scottish Grocer Awards in November!

We have recently won ‘Best Business Insurance Solutions Provider – London’ from the Global Insurance & Risk Management Awards 2022.

Forum Insurance representatives regularly attend industry events.

Forum is an award-winning firm.

Ensuring changes will go smoothly

TAKING on a new venture can seem daunting but if selling alcohol is a priority, securing the status of your premises licence should be a priority.

Transfers

Whether you are purchasing or leasing a property, if the unit you are acquiring already benefits from a premises licence in terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, it is possible, in most circumstances, to transfer this to you as the new operator. The rules surrounding transfers are, however, complicated and do not always neatly fit in with commercial realities. It is not uncommon for a landlord to insist on retaining the premises licence in their name and permitting the new operator to nominate a premises manager.

This approach can give a landlord comfort that the licence is secure and cannot be surrendered by a disgruntled tenant further down the line. But it means the landlord has responsibilities as a licence holder

and accepts a level of accountability. So it is sensible for a landlord to carry out and record regular due diligence checks to use as evidence in the event of an incident or enforcement action.

Transferring the licence either from a seller or a landlord can be done in two ways. The first option is to transfer it before you complete the lease or purchase. This requires the authorisation and consent of the current licence holder. They may insist on a payment for the privilege under threat of surrender.

With Licensing Boards often taking months to process new applications and off-sales licences being increasingly challenging to obtain, paying their demand may be the lesser of two evils.

The alternative is to wait until the transaction has settled and then lodge a transfer application without consent but with evidence of the business sale. This can mean a long wait following acquisition,

Licensing...

Specialists in all areas of Liquor and Civic Licensing, from Premises Licences to Late Hours Catering, our dedicated licensing team prides itself on taking time to really understand your business and your needs, and in o ering personalised and tailored advice and support across all areas of licensing practice.

Call 0141 673 8384 to find out why our solicitors o er more than just great law.

although the previous licence holder may allow trading in their name until the transfer has been determined.

Variations

If the new operator wants to make changes, they may trigger the need for either a minor or major variation application. Ordinarily, changes to the layout of a premises will be minor variations only. These are straightforward and must be granted.

If you are seeking to increase your alcohol display capacity, it would mean a major variation, which could take months to be considered and requires a hearing.

Timescales for transfers and variations can be built into any contract to acquire a licensed business, so it’s vital discussions regarding licensing are held very early on. Failure to do so can result in long delays or, even worse, the loss of a licence.

• Email info@mshblicensing.com or call 0141 333 0636 to contact MSHB.

Hill Brown

the firm you trust to have your back.

Quality drives sweet success

Mrs Tilly’s explains the popularity of its confectionery

significantly in recent years in order to continue to ensure that every product leaving our site is worthy of carrying the Mrs Tilly’s brand.

How important are your products to consumers?

What’s your offer?

We are famous for producing some of Scotland’s best loved confectionery, particularly Tablet, Fudge and Macaroon in formats ranging from impulse bars to all year round 150g boxes as well as larger gift box formats for seasonal and festive events. In 2018, we also launched the worlds first Tablet Popcorn, which has been very

successful and takes our brand to a wider and younger audience.

What sets your brand apart?

Quality has always been at the heart of everything we do at Mrs Tilly’s and while ingredient sourcing plays a key part in that, the quality and consistency of our processing methods is of equal importance. Operationally, we have also invested

Being Scotland’s favourite confectionery brand is something we are very proud of, and we know from category insight data and consumer research that people love traditional confectionery products and use them for many different occasions, whether treating themselves or sharing with friends and family. It’s also notable that when consumers find the cost of living challenging, they do still like to treat themselves with known and trusted brands and will often opt for sharing favourite treats at home rather than incur the rising cost of eating out.

How important is the Scottish convenience channel to you?

We have long-established relationships with the channel. Our

impulse bar range is a “must have” local alternative to mainstream confectionery brands and we always work hard with our partners to ensure we promote strong consumer offers throughout the year and we will always support local sourcing initiatives that really focus on showcasing the best of Scotland’s larder.

Honest oats with an honest price

Hamlyns of Scotland brings its offering to the table

We’ve been around for a long time so everyone knows our history, but they also know our quality, value and provenance. We do a lot of work with stores, both individual stores and groups of stores to get that message across. We want our products to be readily available and readily seen at the point of sale, and are delighted to work with stores to make that happen.

What does Hamlyns offer to retailers and customers?

What’s in your range?

We are over 110 years old, and we’ve been producing the same range of products and many more since those early days. Oats are one of the healthiest breakfast cereals around, but in this climate they’re also one of the best because they are very good value for money. Health wise there are no added sugars and no added salt. What you see in the field is what you get in your packet.

Can I ask what sets Hamlyns apart from your competitors? And what do you think gives you that extra edge?

We’ve been around for over 110 years and we’ve honed our skills over that period. We’ve got tradition, we’ve got quality, and we’ve got value for money. I always say that we are a good honest Scottish product, at a good Scottish honest price.

How important is the Scottish convenience channel to your brand in particular?

Vital. We’re Scottish, the Hamlyns brand is made in Scotland and most of it is sold

in Scotland, across all the retail channels. Convenience is key to serving local communities, and the further you move away from the main cities the more these communities rely on convenience stores. Every time I go up to Thurso or Ullapool I’m delighted to see our products across the convenience store shelves. It’s exactly what we want to see.

Do you think that provenance of your brand as well really plays into what consumers are looking for at the moment?

As well as looking at price, I think consumers are thinking about where their food is coming from. We’ve had energy shortages from the war in Ukraine and we began to think about the problems of bringing things in from abroad. I think the next big thing will be a greater consumer awareness of where their food is coming from. Just like energy, food is a necessity, and local home grown food is both locally available with less transport miles, and of a high quality.

What support can you offer to retailers with the Hamlyns range?

How have you ensured you’ve got strong availability in Scotland for the Hamlyns range? We recognise that availability across the supply chain is one of the biggest issues in Scottish convenience at the moment. We’re Scottish through and through. We buy Scottish oats because they are the best. We mill in Scotland. We work with Scottish retailers to ensure that the consumers get the best product, locally produced at a great quality and value – bar none!

What sustainability credentials does your brand have to talk about?

We have always been sustainable, and are improving with age. We buy locally. We don’t import produce from around the world. We are powered by a wind turbine on site, a bit like the old “windy miller” but a lot bigger. We

are based in the North East of Scotland and it tends to be a windy part of the world – just right for producing energy from wind. In the last couple of years especially this has served us exceedingly well. As part of the oat milling process we remove the outer husk around the oats before we mill the inner part for human consumption. This outer husk is made in to a pellet which can either go to feed animals or to be burned for making into electricity. That’s not presently done on our site but hopefully soon we will be able to make both our own steam and electricity from the husk. We’ve also recently looked at our packaging. We have invested in new equipment and are planning to move it all away from polythene in to paper bags. We are presently in laminated bags that uses oil to make and can’t be recycled. In the very near future they will all be paper bags. Another step on the sustainability journey.

How can retailers get in touch with Hamlyns if they’re interested to get it in store?

There are a number of ways to get in touch. You can go through our sales agency, JFK, or you can go through the wholesalers. We deal with all the Scottish wholesalers.

Alan Meikle, managing director at Hamlyns of Scotland

Dairy daring to be dynamic

Mills Milk goes above and beyond to ensure the best customer service

Mills Milk is run by directors Adam Mills and Alastair Mills with a dedicated workforce. Since 2020, our small family business has tripled in size and, with the help of our team and fleet of over 70 vehicles, we supply fresh milk and dairy produce to homes across Ayrshire, Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh and businesses across Scotland. Milk has been in the family for over 100 years!

Why should you change your dairy to Mills Milk?

We can supply you with superior-

quality milk, deliver more frequently and at a time that best suits you and can guarantee our prices are more competitive. We also give you the option to place or change your order right up until 10pm the evening prior to delivery, ensuring you don’t have to worry about overstock.

What if you need to speak to a member of staff?

Our helpful offce team are available 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday and will endeavour to resolve any issue quickly and without fuss. Your Mills Milk sales representative

will always be available should you need assistance or have any questions. We pride ourselves on our superior service.

What makes the milk industry such a challenging area to compete in?

Dairy suppliers face a much greater task than the majority of other product suppliers do. We have to deliver to our customer almost every day of the year and ensure every delivery is smooth and correct. The goodwill we build up over the years of impeccable service can be undone by one bad experience: be it with a milkman, office staff member or sales person. We must always be aware that the latest, most recent experience our customer has had with us is the one they remember.

What is the key to keeping your customers satisfied?

We must always keep in mind

that our customers have a choice, and it’s our duty to ensure that they are satisfied with all aspects of our service and do not feel the need to look at an alternative supplier.

What is the key to the success of Mills Milk?

We are a small, efficient, familyrun business who care about our customers. We have a great team, who ensure that every experience a customer has with someone from Mills Milk- be it a phone call to the office, a meeting with a delivery driver or visit from one of the sales team, it's always a pleasant one. An important thing to remember in the milk business is that if a customer has a problem today, it needs to be resolved today.

We pride ourselves on our superior service

Mills Milk is the largest bottled milk buyer in Scotland with depots based in Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Inverness.

We deliver to shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels, and many more businesses across Scotland, 6 days a week, using our fleet of refrigerated vehicles.

As a long standing family business we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and competitive pricing.

ENERGY SPACE

1 in 3 on-the-go so drinks sold are energy drinks* so give them the room they deserve! Hero the fastest growing brands like Monster to maximise sales.

MERCHANDISING

Help shoppers navigate the fixture by grouping energy brands and create clear segments for Traditional, Zero Sugar and Flavoured energy sectors.

MULTIPACKS

Single cans are great for on-the-go but don’t forget to keep your multipacks chilled for shoppers who want energy now and for later.

For planogram advice and to hear from Amrit and other retailers just visit: salessupercharged.co.uk

RIGHT RANGE

Kick out the slow sellers. Double face the SKUs that really deliver. Include zero sugar energy too, like Monster Ultra, the No.1 zero energy brand.** And don’t forget flavoured favourites like Monster Juiced.

INNOVATION

Innovation drives sales, so create fixture excitement with the latest launches. Remember, 67% of energy innovation sales are from Monster.**

GETTING THE TEA MIX RIGHT FOR SALES

As a nation, we’re passionate about our tea; we lean on it in tough times; it’s a great social glue and is the perfect beverage for me-time and refreshment.

Tea is undoubtedly a rich and varied category, but how can retailers make the most of it, and how should cost of living be accounted for?

Delivering Value

As the cost-of-living crisis bites, the a ordability of tea is a strong attraction. With the average cost of a branded cuppa still under 4p, it is the most a ordable hot beverage available.

Tea lovers like their brands, so o ering assurance of taste by stocking the big sellers of the well-known brands, selecting the right price marked packs, and making sure promotional prices are passed to customers can benefit loyalty and repeat visits.

Tetley is the dominant brand in Scotland, with over 43% volume share (Total Scotland 22.4.23).

Having known brand o erings across tea can give shoppers confidence to try more indulgent and higher value teas, too.

Careful curation of choice

Everyday black tea, together with decaf, remain the backbone of the category, so should be prominent in your o ering. Tetley has the top two selling SKUs in both the everyday

and decaf sectors in Scotland, in both PMP and non-PMP, so it is sensible to have them in the mix. Making the tea selection easy to find with blocking everyday black teas first, then a decent decaf makes sense. Decaf is often overlooked by retailers, but decaf drinkers drink it for a reason, and won’t buy an alternative if one is not available; so no decaf, no sale. It is also the biggest area of disappointment in terms of taste, so don’t compromise on your o ering.

Enhancing the Sale Shoppers may initially manage household

income by temporarily dropping out of added value segments like green, speciality and fruit & herbal teas, and flat growth earlier in the year suggests this is the case.

However, perhaps due to a seasonal change, or realisation that the cost-of-living crisis is here for the foreseeable future, last quarter and four weeks sales in impulse shows growth in green, fruit and herbals and speciality teas.

Green teas are a good first step into this area, and Tetley is the top-selling green SKU in total Scotland. Both Tetley Green Pure 20s and Tetley Green Lemon 20s are available in both PMP and non-PMP.

Although we have had a reprieve from the risk of pandemic

illness, interest in healthy living continues to drive sales in certain categories. For Tetley, the big sellers in impulse are Tetley Super Boost –Blueberry & Raspberry, and Tetley Super Immune – Lemon & Ginger.

Benefiting from a top staple As a staple buy, tea sales will remain steady, but outside the everyday essential purchase, showcasing teas from the comforting to the indulgent can only support sales and the future of the category.

STOCK UP ON THE UK’s NO.1 SUGAR FREE MINT

UPTO 700 PUFFS *

Vuse e-cigarettes contain nicotine which is addictive. Dispose of responsibly.

18+ only. This product contains nicotine and is addictive. For adult nicotine consumers only. For trade use only. This product should not be discarded in household waste but in the nearest WEEE collection bin. *Based on laboratory testing of newly manufactured product and may vary depending on individuals usage behaviour. For further information on how we calculate number of pu s, please visit http://www.vuse.com/gb/en/pu count

a tasty

WALL'S No.1 CSP in Convenience*

To find out more contact us at

Drive sales by meeting shopper needs with quality, value and choice

As the economic climate continues to impact on consumer confidence and shopping habits, Scotland’s tobacco accessories category is maintaining its strong performance.

The category’s robust performance has resulted in year-on-year growth of 6.1%*1, with annual sales of tobacco accessories now valued at a massive £32.7m*1 in Scotland.

The category’s fastest growing sector is rolling papers, which is showing double digit growth and is also the highest value sector in Scotland, worth £10.6m*1.

The Slim & Tips subcategory is also recording impressive growth, as more consumers opt for premium formats. This growth reinforces the role that brands such as OCB can play, not only in retaining existing consumers but also in attracting new shoppers to the fixture.

Gavin Anderson, Sales & Marketing Director at Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd, states: “As demand for factorymade cigarettes continues to decrease, tobacco accessories are very well placed to offer consumers a quality, value for money alternative.

“Our brands have a proven track record of delivering quality, affordability and, in relation to new products, all-important innovation, and

shopper loyalty is high. The added bonus for stockists of the most popular brands is that tobacco accessories consumers are creatures of habit, with strong levels of repeat purchase. By offering tobacco accessories brands which consumers know and trust, including filters, papers and lighters, retailers can make the most of a category which is performing well in the face of a challenging economic headwind.”

MUST STOCK PRODUCTS

Republic Technologies acts as a one-stop shop for retailers serving the needs of RYO smokers across filters, papers, lighters, matches and rolling accessories. The company has developed an unrivalled broad consumer offer which includes innovation in flavour and format, such as: Swan Fresh Burst Crushball, which continues to be the best performing menthol capsule filter in the market, giving retailers great sales and margin. The crush capsule delivers a strong peppermint flavour and comes in a 2-part sliding pack containing 54 filters. RRP: £1.43.

Sustainable products remain high on the agenda for shoppers across all categories, including more natural ingredients, and reduced single-use packaging, these include Swan Eco Loose: The most environmentally

friendly filter in the UK market is 100% biodegradable and made from unbleached paper. RRP: £1.45 (200 per box).

There are also OCB Virgin Slim: RRP £1.10 and OCB Virgin Slim & Tips: RRP £1.73. These unbleached papers are manufactured using OCB natural gum, which is sustainably sourced, vegan and GM free.

TOP TIPS

Shoppers are more demanding than ever, looking for quality and value in every purchase. Rollyour-own products have long been synonymous with value, and look set to appeal to even more consumers who want to cut down on spending, without having to make major lifestyle changes or compromise on quality.

Top-quality products and innovation are important, complemented by broad availability and distribution, but the importance of a competitive price point should not be underestimated.

Tobacco accessories from Republic Technologies continue to offer retailers a solution that ticks all the boxes, while providing unbeatable margins.

Ensure plenty of space is available for new products and bestsellers and keep an eye on

product availability throughout the day.

Products such as lighters benefit from dual-siting, creating an opportunity to upsell with cross category purchases, such as candles or BBQ items.

Speaking to your customers is crucial to build awareness and create a range that caters to demand. Finding out what products people like, informing them on popular brands and new product developments will boost loyalty, so shoppers come back time and time again.

Republic Technologies has a team of category experts who can help with information and frequently asked questions, contact enquiries@ republictechnologies.co.uk to arrange a visit.

Familiar brands, such as Swan, can drive sales

OCB products are eco-friendly

Bag your share of growth with our category wide range recommendation to Thrive

25 TO THRIVE is an optimised, relevant & easy to action core range recommendation for the Independent sector delivering today’s shopper needs.

Bagged Snacks are the No.1Fastest Growing Impulse Category*

Worth over £ 4 billion RSV **

But there are over 500 Bagged Snack SKUs to choose from†

1

NOW YOU’RE TALKING

Cheers to the UK’s most loved fruit cider brand1

Kopparberg’s 3 bestselling single bottles account for 44% of cider sales in Scotland2

Keep your customers favourite choice in stock

Tailoring the fit for every store

Choosing the right fascia group can mean the difference between a success story or a failure

FASCIA groups are always on the lookout for the very best independent retailers that Scotland has, meaning that store owners have the chance to do some shopping around for their options.

Switching to a symbol or taking one on for the first time ever can be a daunting task, given the number readily available to convenience store retailers. So, knowing just what is on the table will help to make this transition all the simpler, with a deal that sounds like the right fit for the store.

The following section lays out the options at your store front and gives wholesalers the chance to set up their stalls and give you plenty to consider.

Aiming to bring in some security for the times ahead, it pays to look at the wholesalers that themselves have it all planned out for the time to come.

JW Filshill certainly hasn’t been shy in this area and its ambitions for its KeyStore symbol keeps the next decade in mind as it looks to build up its portfolio of quality retailers. The firm aims to deliver on

a 10-year strategy that looks to improve the efficiency of the business as well as productivity.

This has kicked off with the opening of its new depot in Westway Park near Glasgow Airport. The new 120,400 square foot depot brings the future to today with its hi-tech features including 211 solar panels on its roof, 12 lorry loading docks and an innovative four-floor pick tower that can hold 1,520 pallets and standard storage racking for 8,650 pallets.

Filshill has said that this new depot opening will allow the firm to grow on its suite of KeyStore shops across Scotland, with the aim to increase its number of stores to 245 before the end of 2023 and plans to double this number by 2031. And this translates over to the financial side of things as well, as the firm reported this 10-year strategy aims to see it achieve £350million in turnover by 2031.

When thinking of the future, there is also the consideration of looking after not only ourselves but our planet, too.

Sustainability has been a buzz word for some time now but never has it been more important for consumers and retailers alike.

But doing your bit for the Earth comes with a cost for stores, so knowing that you’ve chosen a symbol that looks after the world for you will provide some peace of mind as well as provide an important difference for consumers when they come to choose which store to shop at.

Day-Today symbol owner United Wholesale Scotland (UWS) hasn’t been shy on its work to help the planet as of late and has been cutting emissions and becoming more sustainable throughout its business.

This has been led by a push for the entire business to go electric across its suite of vehicles, which includes not only the trucks on the road but the forklifts in its depots.

UWS introduced a brand new fleet of electric forklift trucks in a bid to take a massive leap towards a greener future for everyone, with the new depot trucks reducing the

wholesaler’s carbon output by 55 tonnes every year.

On top of this, the firm has also replaced its old fossil fuel trucks with new state-ofthe-art electric trucks further cutting back on the firm’s carbon emissions as well as on noise pollution for stores that are in more residential areas.

It’s these local and residential communities that are of the utmost importance for convenience retailers, with countless examples of how Scotland’s very best go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that their neighbours are looked after.

During these tough times, consumers struggling the most will look for support wherever they can find it and their local corner store will be able to bring this in spades.

And that has been the focus for symbol group Nisa for some time now, with its Making a Difference Locally charity helping to support the local area as well as increase store loyalty with the retailer.

Nisa is on a roll-out across Scotland in particular as well, with Victoria Lockie, head of

Sustainability is at the top of the bill for United Wholesale Scotland.

JW Filshill has set up for the next decade to support KeyStore retailers.

retail at Nisa, noting: “We’re in Scotland to stay and we’re proud of our retailers here. Our relationships and mutual respect are the most important things.”

On top of a community outlook, the Nisa fascia also offers Co-op branded products for retailers to stock in store, bringing in more well-known and trusted options.

And an own-label brand can go a long way for a store and it’s just one of the many things that CJ Lang & Son’s Spar Scotland symbol has on its table.

The firm is keen to recruit 25 quality retailers to its fascia this year as its remains on a journey to ‘Raise the Bar’ for Spar Scotland.

Aiming to drive retailers to be the very best that Scotland has to offer, Spar aims to recruit these 25 under its symbol and ensure they have the right support to create a success story. The wholesaler has committed to supporting these 25 stores, working with them to ensure they have the right offer for their store and improve across all areas of the business. Further to this, the wholesaler

has been working hard to ensure every store gets what they need and when they need it through its Supply Chain Development Programme, which has been embedded as part of the firm’s business strategy for the next five years.

CJ Lang plans to focus on being more collaborative with its relationships with suppliers by transforming the way it operates in stock management across its supply chain internally and externally, with support from partner Relex. Ensuring Spar is set for the future remains of the utmost importance as well, as CJ Lang is set on keeping the symbol modern through a multitude of projects including its advertisement programme on STV, which is set to run until next February.

And modernisation has been on the mind for Booker, too, with its recent slew of store refits for the Premier brand.

Celebrating the opening of its 500th store in Tranent this year, Booker remains ambitious for the future of the symbol through its updates such as improved sustainable lighting

across the store, its modern Refresh @ Premier stations providing a choice of hot or frozen drinks as well as its Beer Cave cool rooms which keep chilled at a set 10°C.

Further to this, Booker has been aiming to bring in entirely new audiences through social media and looks to help c-store retailers to do just this through its new social media Social Content set-up.

Booker said the new social media platform allows retailers to set up content to go live across a host of social media websites including Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

And the firm is always learning, too, through its stores, as it looks to different Premier outlets across Scotland to learn about what’s popular with consumers and how they can use this to bring in further customers to the symbol group.

Of course, not every store operates the same and so a bespoke fit for the retailer counts – something that United Wholesale Grocers reckons it can offer for those retailers looking to find a fit

that is perfect for their store. Including the Lifestyle Express, Shopsmart and Shop Local fascias, UWG has laid out its benefits for retailers under its groups.

This includes regular promotions on essential products high on the consumer’s shopping list, POS support, category and merchandising advice and support from a dedicated development manager to satisfy every retailer’s unique needs for their store.

Along with this, UWG believes retailers have more choice with its selection of symbols, allowing shopkeepers to further tailor things to their needs and find what they’re looking for.

Further to this, UWG is also affiliated with the Unitas buying group, which helps to ensure further security for retailers, according to the wholesaler. It gives access to a range that suits the store, a complete set of planograms that represent best sellers as well as core, extended and regional ranges that are all easily available through Unitas’ Plan for Profit website and app.

Premier’s latest store refits keep the future of convenience in mind.

Spar looks to recruit a further 25 quality retailers to its suite of stores.

United Wholesale Grocers looks to bring an offer that fits the c-store.

Nisa keeps the retailer in mind as well as the community around them.

FREETOJOIN

ACCESSTOTHEBESTDEALSANDPRICES

DedicatedDEVELOPMENTMANAGERS

DIFFERENTFASCIAFORMATSFOREVERYSTORETYPE

TO JOIN OUR GROUP, TOJOINOURGROUP, SCAN THE QR CODE AND SCANTHEQRCODEAND FILL IN THE FORM FILLINTHEFORM

Nisa aiming to build on Scottish success stories

Symbol group outlines benefits it provides to retailers that will help it grow its presence

to offer value to shoppers as well as good margins for independent retailers.

Nisa brings fresh thinking to the forefront to help retailers grow their businesses. Understanding the ambitious entrepreneurial spirit of Nisa customers and the need to stand out to compete sets the Nisa proposition apart. Nisa provides fresh thinking to ensure retailers can create the best customer offer in their local area.

and the new GRO vegan range.

In 2022, Nisa developed a full Nisa EPoS solution, which is available along with access to its online platform. The solution offers a multitude of services including ordering, deals, presells, planograms, in store POS generation plus full order, delivery and invoice tracking.

Nisa is aiming to build on the success of some of its retailers in Scotland over the next year with progressive recruitment targets in place.

Nisa retailers such as Greens Retail, PGNJ, The Trinity Partnership and many others lead the way on the Scottish independent retail scene with plans to further expand store numbers heading into 2024.

With Nisa, retailers have the choice to operate under various symbol fascias: Nisa Local, Nisa Express, Nisa Extra or Dual-Branded, whereby a Nisa partner can maintain their own local identity while also benefiting from the strength of the Nisa brand. Retailers also have the choice to trade under their own independent fascia.

Nisa understands what matters to its retailers and its format propositions are tailored to meet a variety of needs.

Demand for value has never been higher and consumers are comparing prices at the shelf, dining out less and brand loyalty is in decline. In order to help retailers mitigate the impact, Nisa recently announced price adjustments into numerous categories. This followed a multi-million investment into the wholesale price (WSP) of more than a thousand branded products.

The two investments came after Nisa made a multi-million price investment announced in 2022 which saw more than 1,000 price reductions for Nisa retailers, including 330 ‘core essentials’ Co-op lines, designed

With 2,400 Co-op products across all categories, Nisa customers have access to a UK brand that shoppers recognise

With a target of opening 400 new outlets across the UK – more than 30 of them in Scotland – in 2023, Nisa’s Head of Retail Victoria Lockie said Nisa was ahead of its expectations.

The expansion involves

and trust that drives footfall into our partners stores.

The Co-op range includes great quality core convenience essentials including 100% British meat and free-range eggs along with a premium brand ‘Co-op Irresistible’ that includes award-winning pizzas and wines, a free from range

recruiting single and multisite retailers to the symbol, as well as helping them to open new sites.

She said: “We’re in Scotland to stay and we’re proud of our retailers here. Our relationships and mutual respect are the most important things.”

"We’re in Scotland to stay and we’re proud of our retailers here. Our relationships and mutual respect are the most important things."

Nisa’s Head of Retail Victoria Lockie

BOOST YOUR SALES & MARGIN

have been a retailer for 20 years and during that time have been a loyal customer of United Wholesale rocers. eing a Shopsmart member, have had access to a wide range of products which delivers excellent margins for my business. t is one of the many advantages of being a Shopsmart fascia.

My sales have now increased by a further 20 since oining Shopsmart. f any retailers are looking to have a refresh with a reputable wholesaler, would have no hesitation on recommending United and their Shopsmart fascia.

Drive

Atiq ur Rehman Owner of A.R. Mini Market, Helensburgh

Shafiq Ahmad, Trevelyan

Post Office, Newcastle

The support from the whole Premier Team has been outstanding. Premier cater to our Scottish customers, and we can order Scottish products that our shoppers will want. It’s a great brand to have as it delivers both excellent value and great quality.

Billy Gatt, Premier Whitehills, Banffshire

Helping hand for independents

PGMA gives retailers tools to succeed

BUYING group PGMA aims to help retailers keep the passion for their truly independent stores through its proposition.

The business, owned by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation, is on an expansion drive at present.

It has recently launched a new website – www.pgma.co.uk – making it clearer and easier for independent retailers to join and understand the benefits PGMA membership brings.

Commercial manager Martin Devlin said: “Bringing the very best in convenience to independent retail stores is what PGMA has always strived to deliver since being established in Scotland in 1970.

“And this key pillar of success has been brought front and centre with the brand’s refresh and launch of its new recruitment website.”

Devlin explained that PGMA can help independent retailers navigate the

challenges brought about by the cost-ofliving crisis by giving them all the benefits of being in a symbol group without requiring inhibitive layers of compliance.

Trading via Costcutter, PGMA gives shopkeepers access to what Devlin claims is “one of the biggest ranges in convenience”.

With 14,000 lines available and tapping into the Co-op own-label ranges – including an extensive fresh offering, as well as ambient, household, alcohol and frozen –PGMA provides everything independents need in one place.

Devlin added: “There’s a massive choice across all categories – it’s a supermarket range, not a convenience one.”

He said PGMA operated Costcutter’s ordering system, including an easily accessible mobile app, with flexibility over the frequency of delivery direct to store, with manageable order quantities. And retailers also enjoy the added

convenience of one consolidated weekly invoice.

PGMA members can also access Mace branding should they wish to have an instantly recognisable kerbside identity. Other benefits include promotional and seasonal planning and activities that retailers can choose to take up, as well as SGF membership.

Devlin explained: “What we offer helps cut costs and saves time for retailers, so they can concentrate on engaging with their customers and developing their stores.

“With PGMA, you can be your own retailer and operate in a way that suits your community – and that works especially well in rural areas.”

PGMA, which currently charges a small weekly admin fee, is actively seeking to attract independent retailers who are involved in their communities, want to develop their ranges but want help to get some time back.

THE SCOTTISH BUYING GROUP FOR INDEPENDENT CONVENIENCE RETAILERS

Access to Mace Branding

Access to Co-op Own Label

PGMA offers access to the highly soughtafter Co-op own label brand in Fresh, Frozen, BWS, and ambient ranges, along with a diverse range of branded products tailored for the convenience sector.

Give your store the recognition it deserves with access to Mace branding through PGMA. With an instantly recognisable kerbside identity, customers will know that your store offers quality products and services.

A Simplified Ordering System

PGMA offers a user-friendly app and simplified ordering system that makes it easy to place orders and receive direct-to-store delivery.

Sliding scale of rebates

At PGMA, we believe in rewarding our members for their loyalty and commitment to our services. That’s why we offer a sliding scale of rebates based on your average weekly purchases, giving you the opportunity to save even more money on your orders.

If you want to remain independent and have the support of PGMA behind you, drop us an email at pgma@pgma.co.uk or call Martin Devlin, Commercial Manager on 0131 343 7607

www.pgma.co.uk

PGMA members can access Mace branding.

SCAN HERE TO SEE ALL THE BENEFITS OF JOINING PGMA!