News

INBRIEF

DRS OPERATOR SECURES £9M

Circularity Scotland, the organisation that will administer the country’s deposit return scheme (DRS), has received £9m in funding from the Scottish National Investment Bank.

The cash will be used to fund the development of Circularity Scotland and also to help ensure a further £9m from Bank of Scotland. Together the investments will fund the startup costs of the DRS, which will go live in August 2023.

The news has been welcomed by the NFRN. National President, Narinder Randhawa, said: “This investment is a show of confidence and support for all the work being done to deliver the anticipated increase in recycling rates from August next year.

“As responsible retailers, the Fed’s members in Scotland will be on the frontline of the deposit return scheme. Unless exempted, they will form the backbone of the network of return points, where customers will bring their bottles and cans for the refund of the deposits.”

HFSS multibuy deals postponed

Rules banning multibuy deals on foods and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) and restrictions on free refills for soft drinks are being delayed for a year. The government said the delay will enable it to review and monitor the impact of the restrictions on the cost-of-living in light of an unprecedented global economic situation.

However, restrictions on the placement of less healthy products will still come into force in October 2022 as planned. These will mean that affected products can no longer be promoted in key locations, such as checkouts, store entrances, and aisle ends.

The restrictions banning HFSS adverts on TV before 9pm and paid-for adverts online will also be paused for a year, meaning they come into force in January 2024.

Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “The government’s insistence on pushing ahead with costly and confusing regulations at a time when consumers and retailers are facing significant financial pressure is nothing short of astonishing. While everyone else is trying to navigate the worst cost-of-living and cost-of-business crisis in memory, the government is regulating to send officials round to shops with tape measures to make sure yoghurt and pizza aren’t displayed too close to the door or on the end of an aisle.

“Going ahead with the location restrictions in October this year, costing thousands of pounds per store, will have a huge impact on thousands of small businesses that are already struggling to make ends meet.”

The ACS offers a comprehensive set of FAQs and updated Assured Advice on the upcoming HFSS regulations. Please visit www.acs.org.uk/ advice/hfss-regulations for more info.

Food-to-go a ‘huge opportunity’

Wholesale data and insight specialists TWC and food-togo and out-of-home tracking programme MealTrak have reported that the food-to-go market has grown by 9% yearon-year in value in independent convenience stores in the 12 weeks to 19 May.

The total market across all channels has grown by 31% over the same period with grocery outlets growing even faster at 51%. TWC said this represents a “huge opportunity” for the sector to drive footfall, sales and profits in a high margin category.

Tom Fender, Development Director at TWC, commented: “It was understandable that many retailers opted to scale back their food-to-go offer [during the pandemic] as consumers weren’t commuting or getting out and about very much, rather they were preparing most of their meals at home. But what we have seen in the last few months is the rapid return of consumers eating food-to-go again.

“This is the ideal time for independent retailers to review their food-to-go range in line with what’s happening in the market to maximise this opportunity. Now is the time to grab food-to-go sales.”

Premier retailers play their part in war on food waste

Premier retailers are playing a key role in the group’s efforts to clamp down on food waste via the Too Good To Go platform.

Premier retailers are making valiant attempts to slash food waste and support their low income shoppers with the help of anti-food waste organisation Too Good To Go.

Premier retailers alone have saved more than 20,000 meals from disposal in the course of the last 12 months - with the number of Premier retailers signing up to the scheme growing.

Premier retailer Peter Saleem, of Broadway Stores in Blyth, Northumberland is one of the retailers thrilled to be part of the scheme: “Too Good to Go is a great way of reducing food waste and supporting low-income shoppers. Food waste is such an important issue and one that I feel we have a responsibility to address, especially in the current climate when so many shoppers are struggling financially. Our shoppers love the scheme and it’s something that we are often praised for,” he said.

In total, Booker group customers as a whole saved over 135,000 kg of food going to waste; the equivalent of 323,293 meals. This is a CO2 saving of 337 tonnes, which equates to 503 return flights from London to New York.

The scheme is powered by a free-to-download l 135,000kg of food saved l 323,293 meals saved l 337 tonnes of CO2 saved l 503 return flights from London to

New York equivalent

app that allows shoppers to search for and purchase ‘Magic Bags’ containing delicious surplus food items.

The contents of each Too Good To Go Magic Bag differs from store-to-store and day-to-day, but guarantees to deliver three times’ worth of value.

Catherine Marston, Sustainability Manager at Booker, told Talking Shop: “I am proud of our symbol group retailers who have taken the opportunity to reduce their food waste through the sale of magic bags. In addition to being environmentally friendly, it helps families to reduce their outgoings – which has never been more important – and underpins our values to support communities and the planet.”

Jamie Crummie, co-founder of Too Good To Go, commented: “It’s been fantastic to see our partnership with Booker’s customers go from strength to strength as we hit this great milestone. Not only is reducing food waste one of the most important things we can do to fight climate change, but it also allows for people to try out delicious food in an affordable way - it’s a winwin-win.”

INBRIEF

GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT ACCESS TO CASH

The government has set out new powers to protect access to cash for millions of people. The UK’s largest banks and building societies will be subject to new Financial Conduct Authority powers to ensure the continued availability of withdrawal and deposit facilities in local communities across the UK. The measures will be legislated for in the upcoming Financial Services and Markets Bill.

Under the new rules, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will be granted new powers over the UK’s largest banks and building societies, to ensure that cash withdrawal and deposit facilities are available in communities across the country.

TALKING TACTICS

What are you doing in-store to stand out in your local market? Share it with us and your Premier retailer colleagues at talkingshop@booker.co.uk

ACS launches ‘welcome to all’ guide

The Association of Convenience Stores has launched a guide for retailers on how to provide excellent customer service for all customers, including the millions of customers with disabilities and different needs. The Everyone Welcome Guide has been developed in consultation with the Alzheimer’s Society, Business Disability Forum, Age UK, and National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise.

The guide offers easy, practical, and costeffective steps that all store owners can take to welcome disabled customers.

Diane Lightfoot, Chief Executive of the Business Disability Forum, said: “One in five people in the UK have a disability, but it’s important to remember that it’s not only disabled people who benefit from more accessible shops and spaces – it’s everyone.”

Visit acs.org.uk to download the guide.