TalkingShop October-November 2022

Welcome to your latest edition of Talking Shop, as we look ahead to what promises to be a massive opportunity for us all over the next couple of months as the first ever winter World Cup adds even more excitement to the festive calendar. The World Cup runs for almost a full month from the end of November and should help drive footfall, sales and profits for Premier retailers.

With matches virtually every day there will be endless opportunities for retailers to help their shoppers stock up for parties and get-togethers as friends and families gather round TV screens to watch one of the biggest sporting events in the world. One highlight will surely be the Wales v England match at 7pm on the 29th of November. That is a sales opportunity not to be missed!

We are also delighted to highlight in this issue the fact that we have recently opened our 4,000th Premier store, a really significant achievement. We are the UK’s largest symbol group, and we continue to grow – a testament to the fantastic work that Premier retailers do every day of the week to give their shoppers exactly what they want.

We showcased the best of Premier and our new developments at a store in Poole, and I would urge you to read our profile and find out how we continue to develop and improve our offer.

The rollout of the Jack’s brand is another highlight and feedback continues to be exceptionally positive from both shoppers and retailers. With the current cost-ofliving crisis, the Jack’s range is the perfect solution for delivering outstanding value for shoppers while also guaranteeing exceptional profits for retailers.

I wish you all a fantastic trading period over the next couple of months.

Martyn Parkinson,

Director

Wholesale

ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS

ACROSS

Premier hits historic

store milestone

Premier Talbot stores

Hybrid self-scan

Electronic Shelf

GIVING

Paper-saving

Packaging-free

Premier has celebrated its milestone 4,000th store opening with the unveiling of a groundbreaking store, packed with technology and sustainability initiatives.

Owned by Premier retailer Karumanity “Arun” Ehamparam, Talbot Stores in Poole, Dorset underwent a £170,000 refit in September 2022, that has transformed it into one of the most innovative and progressive independent stores in the UK.

Located adjacent to Bournmouth Universitiy’s Talbot Campus, the store’s young demographic made it the “perfect place” to trial a number of new technology concepts, all of which are available to other Premier retailers now, according to Retail Sales Director Martyn Parkinson.

Among the store’s suite of technological innovations is a self-scan checkout – the first of its kind in a Premier. The hybrid till can be operated as a self-scan till or be turned around to function as an operated till as required.

In another first for Premier, the store also features Electronic Shelf Edge Labels (ESELs) throughout, a development which Arun estimates will save him around 14 manhours a week. The store has also reduced paper usage by scrapping

promotional leaflets in favour of QR codes which can be scanned by shoppers as they enter the store. Premier estimates that replacing paper leaflets with QR codes will save the equivalent of one tree per store a year.

Further sustainability innovations unveiled at Talbot Stores include a new Refill station. Provided by Premier Central Billing supplier Hunts, the waste-minimising concept allows retailers to offers a wide range of dry goods from pasta to nuts.

The store is also the first Premier to go plastic bag-free, with no more single use plastic bags offered to shoppers at the checkout.

New chiller and freezer cabinets have also been fitted throughout the 1,900sq ft store, with all cabinets now 35% more energy efficient than the store’s previous models. Energy efficiency will also be further enhanced in the coming weeks, when new solar panels are fitted on the store’s roof, in a move which Premier estimates will help Arun save £500 a month on his energy bills.

To celebrate the milestone, Premier will also plant 4,000 trees in celebration of its 4,000th store and intends to donate 4,000 meals to families in need via the FareShare initiative.

INBRIEF

CELEBRATING IN STYLE

To mark Premier reaching the 4,000 store milestone, Premier is launching a programme of activities including an upweighted leaflet, bespoke value deals and new high level POS kits.

A new national consumer campaign will also encourage shoppers to ‘scan to win’ using QR codes on bespoke POS and a heavyweight social media campaign will support the activity.

Additionally, Premier has committed to planting 4,000 trees across the UK with charity partner 9 Trees to replenish all the paper used for marketing collateral for all 4,00 stores for an entire year!

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

INBRIEF

UK FOOTFALL RECOVERY CONTINUES

Total UK footfall increased by 8% on a year-on-year basis in September, new data reveals.

On a year-on-year basis, the latest British Retail Consortium Footfall Monitor shows total footfall increased by 8% in high streets.

Challenges remain however as footfall fell by 9.8% in September compared to pre-pandemic levels, although this still represents 2.6% improvement from August.

Similarly, high street footfall was up 1.7% in September when compared with the previous month.

Premier named RIA Symbol Group of the Year

Premier added to its growing collection of awards recently after being named Symbol Group of the Year at the Retail Industry Awards in London.

TALKING TACTICS

Premier continues to cement its position as the UK’s leading symbol group after winning the highly prized Symbol Group of the Year Award at the recent Retail Industry Awards.

Held at The Brewery in London, the Awards celebrate the very best of the independent retailing sector.

The judges commented: “Premier is enjoying a 20th year of consecutive growth and has continued to perform

well in various categories, with its retailers benefiting from a wide range of support options that really help them grow their profits and their businesses. In addition, Premier has also encouraged and backed commendable community work across stores.”

The judges thought Premier stood out against some impressive competition with its “considerable and comprehensive offering to

stores resulting in admirable growth” and highlighted how Premier “understands what changes to make to really develop those retailer’s businesses.”

Martyn Parkinson, Sales Director – Booker Wholesale, said: “We are absolutely delighted to pick up this award on behalf of the 4,000 Premier stores we service and it’s an absolute privilege to work with so many great retailers.”

Independent stores ‘out-perform the market’ in food to go

Independent convenience stores continue to out-perform the total out-of-home eating market, according to the latest MealTrak results for the twelve weeks to 5th September.

The latest results showed that independent retailers saw 10% growth in food to go sales in the twelve week period with forecourts up 13%.

MealTrak is the UK’s leading continuous tracking programme for food-to-go and out-of-home consumption, surveying 36,500 consumers a year.

These results continue to demonstrate the significant opportunity for Premier stores with a

food-to-go offer. While the hospitality channel continues to see strong growth of 15% year on year following the relaxing of pandemic restrictions earlier this year, that growth is slowing down.

Independent retailers meanwhile are seeing sustained growth in food-to-go occasions as the total food-to-go market continues to grow year on year.

Meanwhile, the value of total food-to-go and out-of-home eating market is up 27% year on year and 14% over the twelve weeks to 5th September.

Premier retailers win big at The Convenience Awards 2022

Premier retailers claimed a number of highprofile wins at The Convenience Awards 2022, including the overall prize of Convenience Retailer of the Year. Held in London, the UKwide awards recognise and reward the very best of convenience retail.

The top accolade of Convenience Retailer of the Year 2022 was claimed by the Singh family’s Premier store on Teynham Road in Sheffield. The 1,750sq ft store, which underwent a revolutionary refit focusing on key shopper zones in 2021, also won the Independent Convenience Store of the Year category.

Judges praised Singh’s Premier for its “outstanding” drinks, vape and food-to-go offer and were also impressed by the strong connections that the Singh family has forged with local suppliers and shoppers.

Store owner Mandeep Singh said it was “amazing” to win Convenience Retailer of the Year and Independent Convenience Store of the Year, thanking his family, his staff and Premier for their hard work and support. “This win is testament to the brilliant teamwork and exceptionally hard work put in by everyone involved in the business,” he said.

“I’d also like to thank our shoppers for their continued support and loyalty, without them, none of this would be possible,” he added.

Other Premier winners on the night also included Premier Heyside Mini Market and Post

Office, which scooped the prize for Customer Delivery Store of the Year.

Commenting on the win, store owner Mos Patel told Talking Shop: “We were thrilled to have won this award that recognises all the hard work that is constantly put in by the whole team.

“At Premier Heyside we constantly strive to take things to the next level. We are now in the process of recruiting even more drivers and pickers to help us deliver an even better service and in the next few weeks we’ll also be focusing on ways in which our delivery offer can better support low-income shoppers by including even more meal deals, such as ‘feed your family for £10’.”

INBRIEF

CLICK AND COLLECT ‘WORTH £42BN’

A new report from Barclays Corporate Banking has revealed that click-and-collect shopping will be worth £42.4bn in the UK this year, 8.4% of the retail industry’s total annual income.

The study – ‘What’s in store for retail?’ – looks at the rise of ‘hybrid’ shopping, which involves both physical and digital interactions. Click-andcollect now accounts for 40% of sales for retailers who offer the service, up from 37% a year ago, says the report.

The popularity of the service grew during the pandemic but has continued to grow after the lifting of lockdown restrictions, indicating that click-and-collect is a consumer behaviour that is here to stay.

Over two fifths (41%) of physical stores in the UK are now used as click-and-collect locations.

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

Singh’s Premier in Sheffield was crowned Convenience Retailer of the Year at the annual industry awards.

Premier steals the show at SLR Awards 2022

INBRIEF

WORKER PROTECTION ACT ‘HAVING AN IMPACT’

The protection of Workers (Scotland) Act which came into force last August has already had an impact on shop crime reporting, according to a new report by Police Scotland.

A total of 844 crimes were recorded under the Act between April and June 2022. In spite of this, crime rates have increased steadily since the act came into force with an average of nine crimes a day now being recorded.

In addition, the report shows that shoplifting is on the rise. There were 7,400 incidents of shoplifting reported across Scotland Between April and June 2022, an increase of 35.8% on the same period last year.

It was a hugely successfully night in Glasgow for Premier recently as it was named Symbol Group of the Year and many Premier retailers claimed awards of their own, including the top Scottish Local Retailer of the Year Award.

Premier claimed the coveted Symbol Group of the Year crown for its “consistent and relentless commitment to proactively supporting and inspiring retailers and helping them achieve their aims under the very toughest of circumstances”, according to the judging panel. The judges also said that Premier “demonstrated a very clear and deep understanding of what mattered most to its customers”

and that the symbol group had also shown “huge commitment in delivering the range, pricing, offer, service, support and energy” that helped Premier retailers maximise their profits.

Martyn Parkinson, Retail Director – Booker Wholesale, commented: “We are delighted to be named Symbol Group of the Year in Scotland and we are equally delighted that the quality and strength of our offer to retailers in Scotland has been recognised.”

On the same evening, Shamly Sud and her family, who run the Premier Racetrack Pitstop business, claimed the Scottish Local Retailer of the Year Award as well as the Forecourt Retailer of the Year,

the New Store of the Year, the #ThinkSmart Innovation of the Year, the Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year and the Sustainability Retailer of the Year Awards in what was a hugely successful night for the business.

Additionally, Girish Jeeva of Premier Barmulloch was named Scottish Young Retailer of the Year and Graham Watson of Premier Watson’s Grocer in Moniave claimed the Community Retailer of the Year Award.

TALKING

YOUNG

Hayat’s comes to the rescue

A Premier store in Dundee has come to the rescue of the local community after a burst water main left those in the area without water.

Community engagement comes in many forms for Premier retailers but it always comes down to being there for the local community in its hour of need. So when thousands of local residents were left without access to water after a water main burst in Dundee, Hayat’s Premier Store quickly stepped in by providing free water to its shoppers and to nearby organisations.

Owner Akky Hayat offered free water to literally thousands of local residents – and even managed to source more water when original supplies ran out.

Akky said: “We are heavily involved with our local community and help out wherever we can. This was quite an unusual situation but we realised quickly that we could help our community when they really needed us. That’s what we’re here for, after all.”

Local mental health nurse, Ashley Bonini, said: “A massive thank you to the staff at Hayats who not only supplied six cases of water to us but even had them delivered to us! This was very much appreciated by the Dundee Community Mental Health Team East. Community care at its finest.”

Carrier care Mito Mission

Langwith Premier Store, Nottinghamshire, has donated £200 to the staff of Whaley Thorns School so that they can revamp the staff kitchen.

The funds were raised from the past three months of carrier bags sales.

The school said: “The staff are absolutely delighted with their new kettle, toaster, microwave, teaspoons and mugs – they deserve a proper break in the middle of the day.”

Dipaks Premier Food and Wine Store in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, has raised more than £100 for Emma’s Mito Mission, which helps people affected by mitochondrial disease.

The funds, which were raised by in-store collection tins, will be used to raise awareness and fund research into the condition.

The charity said: “We are

forever grateful to each and every one of you that has donated this way.”

INBRIEF

HEART HELP

Cwmbach Premier in Aderdare, South Wales, has agreed to house a defibrillator for the local community.

Store owner Danny Clair is allowing the life-saving equipment to be fitted on his premises and is also supplying the electricity.

The device was funded by local councillors who are looking to fit similar devices around the area.

Kinsley News and Booze, a Premier store in Kinsley, Pontefract, has also agreed to house a defibrillator at its store.

FANTASTIC FOOTY

Premier Cambuslang, in Glasgow, is sponsoring a player from local football team Glasgow Titans, which aims to help those who want to lose weight.

The store is sponsoring Titan goalkeeper Graham Wilson for the season.

The retailer commented: “We’re proud to sponsor Graham playing for The Glasgow Titans.

“Glasgow Titans are a unique non-profit football club set up to help men with weight loss and fitness-based football, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, motivation, and a little bit of fun along the way. Let’s cheer these guys on.”

INBRIEF

FOOD SALES UP IN SEPTEMBER

Food sales were in growth year-on-year in September, according to the latest BRCKPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

The data reveals food sales increased 4.6% on a total basis and 4.2% on a like-for-like basis over the three months to September, and were above the 12-month total average growth of 1.1%.

Susan Barratt, Chief Executive of IGD, said: “Food and drink sales in September fell behind August as the weather cooled and life returned to normal after the holidays. However, there was a small uptick in sales in the week following the death of Queen Elizabeth II as the nation came together to mourn her passing.”

Shoppers buying habits shifting under cost of living crisis

Around 30% are only buying some items on a need-to-buy basis to save money and avoid waste.

TALKING TACTICS

What are you doing in-store

Many UK shoppers are actively changing their spending behaviour in response to rising domestic bills, according to Barclaycard’s latest monthly Consumer Spending Index.

The changes are being driven principally by big increases in utility bills, up 48% in September alone, says the Index.

More than 90% of those

surveyed said they were “concerned about the impact of rising household bills” and many have already begun to change their buying behaviours.

A third of shoppers say they are assessing every individual purchase to decide whether or not it is absolutely necessary while more than two-thirds (67%) are looking to reduce the cost of their weekly shop.

Over a half of those surveyed said they plan to cut down on discretionary spending to be able to afford their energy bills this autumn and winter by spending more evenings at home, representing a clear opportunity for Premier retailers. Additionally, with the festive period approaching, 48% of respondents are already stocking up on food, creating more opportunities for retailers.

Three in ten workers (29%), however, are now taking a packed or home-made lunch into the office instead of buying food on-the-go, while a similar proportion (28%) are cutting back on treats at work, such as coffees and snacks. One in eight (13%) are even skipping meals at work altogether.

Forecourt retailers ‘investing in efficiency and services’

Independent forecourt retailers are making significant investments in their businesses, spending around £18,000 on average last year, according to the Association of Convenience Stores’ 2022 Forecourt Report.

The report shows that across the sector, the most common form of investment is refrigeration, with stores either looking to expand their range of fresh and chilled goods or upgrade their refrigeration to make it more energy efficient. Half of the forecourt stores in the sector have doors on their chillers, with 39% using LED lighting and 8% using solar

panels to reduce electricity costs.

Other key findings from the report include:

l The UK forecourt sector provides more than 84,000 jobs with 23% of staff being in the business for more than 10 years.

l 69% of forecourt retailers are active in their communities, raising money for local charities, getting involved with local projects, and donating to food banks.

l One in five shoppers at forecourt stores visit every day (21%), with 80% visiting at least once a week.

Shoppers are changing their spending behaviour in response to the cost of living crisis, shifting more focus onto value.

Price marks are ‘more important’ than price itself

New research has found that 62% of independent retailers believe shoppers would still buy price-marked products if suppliers increased pricing.

INBRIEF

VAPING HARM REDUCTION CLAIMS VERIFIED

New research from digital and data experts TWC has revealed that 62% of independent retailers feel that their shoppers would still buy price marked packs (PMPs) if suppliers increased the price of them a little.

The research was conducted in August and September this year and the findings indicate that retailers believe that it is the price flash on a PMP, rather than the specific price point itself, that triggers consumer purchase.

Eight in 10 retailers agree that shoppers like

PMPs and 78% agreed that PMPs demonstrate good value for money to shoppers.

Tom Fender, Development Director at TWC, commented: “There is no doubt that consumers like PMPs and their role in communicating value is critical at this time with the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Independent retailers have their own challenges in managing the rising business costs of running their stores – and product margins need to reflect retailers’ costs in 2022.”

Independent store numbers rise in Scotland

The total number of convenience stores in Scotland rose by 61 to 5,098 in the last year, according to the Scottish Local Shop Report 2022, published recently by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF).

The number of people employed in the sector also rose last year, up 16.7% on the previous year, bringing the total number of independent retailing jobs to 49,000.

Pete Cheema, CEO of the SGF, said: “The contribution of convenience stores and retail over the past few years cannot be overstated.

“Despite very difficult and challenging circumstances for many in convenience retail, staff and local shop owners across Scotland have continued to play an absolutely essential role in both the Scottish economy and for people in their communities.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has published its first vaping evidence review and has reconfirmed the finding that vaping is “at least 95% less harmful” than combustible tobacco.

The review is in line with previous findings by Public Health England and was welcomed by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).

John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA, said: “It’s good to see that the experts involved in this latest review stand by the estimates that vaping is ‘at least 95% less harmful’ than combustible tobacco and that it ‘poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking’.”

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

IndustryNews

INDUSTRY

DRS advice updated for retailers in Scotland

Circularity Scotland has issued new advice for retailers preparing for the new Deposit Return Scheme.

With Scotland’s new Deposit Return Scheme

(DRS) set to come into force on 16 August next year the DRS Scheme Administrator, Circularity Scotland, has issued fresh advice and information to retailers to help them prepare for the new regulations.

The DRS will cover all drinks sold in PET plastic, metal and glass which are between 50ml and 3l in size.

RETURN POINT OPERATORS

As businesses which serves drinks to shoppers to consume off the premises, Premier stores must charge a 20p deposit for each drink sold in an ‘in scope’ container and they must operate a Return Point for customers to return empty containers.

Retailers will then be paid a handling fee for every container returned.

This means Premier retailers in Scotland must:

l only sell drinks from registered producers

l only sell drinks to consumers in Scotland that a producer has made available for sale in Scotland

l charge the 20p deposit when selling a drink that is part of the scheme

l make it clear to the customer that the drink is part of the scheme and a deposit applies

l clearly display the price of the deposit (20p) in any place that a drink is displayed for sale

l clearly display information on how the customer can redeem the deposit

l operate a return point (unless exempt) or takeback service

l store returned empty containers in a safe way

RVM V MANUAL

There will be two main ways to return empty containers: over the counter, or by using a reverse vending machine (RVM).

For every eligible container returned, retailers will receive a handling fee to cover the costs associated with taking part in the scheme.

For retailers using an RVM, handling fees will be 3.55p per container for the first 8,000 containers returned each week and 1.35p for each additional container. Retailers who opt for manual handling will receive 2.69p per container.

EXEMPTIONS

Retailers can apply for an exemption consideration if they wish, subject to meeting certain criteria. Visit depositreturnscheme. zerowastescotland.org.uk/applications to apply for an exemption.

CASH HITS HIGH

New figures from the Post Office continue to suggest that shoppers are increasingly relying on cash to manage their budgets through the current cost-of-living crisis.

The Post Office handle record amounts of cash in August, up more than 20% year-on-year, despite the fact it is traditionally a quieter month for cash transactions at its branches. In August, £3.45bn in cash deposits and withdrawals were handled at Post Offices. This was the first time the amount had exceeded £3.4bn in a month and was up almost £140m month-on-month.

A record £805m in personal cash withdrawals took place in August, up 0.5% and breaking the previous record set in July. Cash withdrawals were up a huge 21% year-on-year.

It was announced recently that an additional 13 banking hubs would be created, bringing the total to 25. The hubs are shared spaces operated by Post Office and intended for communities whose access to cash has been restricted as a result of bank branch closures.

TALKING TACTICS

GroceryAid unveils 2023 calendar of events

2023 Events

GET INVOLVED

After the challenges of recent years, it’s an unfortunate fact that demand for the financial, emotional and legal services offered by industry charity GroceryAid are more in demand than ever.

Last year, the charity spent more than £5m supporting colleagues from across our industry while thanks to a rise of more than 150% in applications for financial support. In fact, GroceryAid received an average of 744 applications for financial support every month over the last year.

To provide that support, the charity requires support in turn from the industry. More than 80% of GroceryAid funding comes from its events calendar which is why it is asking Premier retailers to get involved where they can once more in 2023.

PLAN AHEAD

The 2023 events calendar offers everything from established annual events such as the Sporting Lunch and the GroceryAid Ball, to unique events such as Barcode, Checkout Scotland and D&I in Grocery LIVE! In other words, there is an event to suit every business.

Demand for the events continues to increase and your loyal support enables GroceryAid to provide help to those colleagues across the industry who need our help more than ever before.

So, if you can help by getting involved in some way, please do.

INBRIEF

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ADVICE SERVICE UNVEILED FOR INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

GroceryAid has partnered with Business Debtline to raise awareness of the free business money advice and support available for independent retailers and business owners.

Business Debtline is a charity providing free debt advice to self-employed people and small businesses in England, Wales and Scotland.

The move comes in response to GroceryAid experiencing an increase in demand from independent retailers seeking guidance on business-related issues such as rates, managing business finances, and facing unpaid invoices and debt.

Businesses can now get tips and guidance from GroceryAid, or to find out how to contact the Business Debtline for advice more tailored to their situation.

Visit groceryaid.org.uk to find out more information.

Mandi Leonard, GroceryAid Welfare Director, said: “We know dealing with debt can be incredibly

and with the current cost of living crisis having a knockon effect for both small businesses’ profits and their owners, we’re very pleased to announce our new partnership providing businesses with the support they need to thrive and maintain peace of mind.”

Industry charity GroceryAid has published its calendar of events for next year and is asking Premier retailers to get involved where they can.

Brave new dawn

Premier is celebrating reaching the 4,000 store milestone by unveiling a showstopping

in Poole in Dorset.

Premier has celebrated reaching its milestone 4,000th store with the unveiling of a groundbreaking new store packed to the rafters with technology and sustainability firsts. Owned by longstanding Premier retailer Karumanity “Arun” Ehamparam and his wife Tharsini, the store underwent a £170,000 refit in September 2022, transforming it into one of the most innovative and progressive independent stores in the UK.

The store, which joined Premier twelve years ago, is sited within the residential heartland of Bournemouth’s Talbot Village.

and

MILESTONE: Tharsini and Arun are rightly proud of their next generation store in Poole.

Arun explains: “The store’s location means that we have a very large youth demographic making it the perfect place to trial a number of new technology concepts.”

Among the store’s suite of technological innovations is a self-scan checkout – the first of its kind in a Premier store. Available now to other Premier retailers via the Retail Data Partnership, the hybrid till can be operated as a self-scan till or be turned around to function as an operated till as required.

“The till accepts Apple Pay and the reaction from shoppers has already been incredible,” Arun says. “In our second week of trading, more than 20% of all transactions went through the self-scan till and we expect that number to continue climbing over the coming weeks.”

In another first for Premier, the store also features Electronic Shelf Edge Labels (ESELs) throughout, a development which Arun estimates will save him around 14 man-hours a week. “We’re still tweaking the labels to find out which fonts and colours

have the most impact but the technology itself is fantastic; the time we will save by not having to manually update pricing information is huge,” Arun adds.

The technological innovations don’t end there. In yet another ground-breaking move, the store is also reducing its use of paper by scrapping the promotional leaflets in favour of QR codes which can be scanned by shoppers as they enter the store and as they navigate around its bold, bright interior.

The change, Arun says, also sits well with another key concern for his demographic: sustainability. “For us, sustainability is becoming an increasingly important concern for our shoppers and as a result this store also features a number of new initiatives designed to help it be more sustainable,” he adds.

According to Premier estimates, the act of removing paper leaflets alone will save the equivalent of one tree a year per store.

Also adding to the sustainability stack is a brand-new Refill zone which enables shoppers to conveniently dispense desired

quantities of a range of dried goods into paper bags – saving on food and packaging waste in the process.

The refill concept is available now to all Premier retailers through Central Billing supplier Hunts which offers a range of up to 60 different refill products. In the store’s second week of trading alone, Refill sales topped £200 a week.

In another move designed to help eliminate single-use plastic, Premier Talbot Convenience Store is also the first Premier to go completely plastic bag-free, with no more single use plastic bags offered to shoppers at the checkout. Shoppers who require a bag can purchase paper alternatives.

Sustainability was also front of mind for Arun and the Premier team when developing the store’s brand-new, much larger fresh, chilled and frozen offer. New chiller and freezer cabinets have been fitted throughout the 1,900sq ft store, with all cabinets now 35% more energy efficient than the store’s previous models.

“Our new fresh and chilled offer is being so well received by shoppers. They are so thrilled by the depth of the range, and the feedback on Jack’s has been phenomenal.” Arun Ehamparam, Talbot Stores, Poole

The energy efficiency win is certainly an important one when you consider that the store’s fresh and chilled range has more than trebled in size since the refit, from four metres before to 14 metres now. The vast new chilled range includes a large number of ready meals, fresh meat products, deli items and fruit and vegetables, with 85% of the range featuring a long shelf life of 20 days or more.

Arun receives three deliveries a week from Premier, but the entire range is also available from the cash and carry enabling him to top up if needs be. While the range’s long-life chill credentials are already helping to ensure that wastage is kept to a bare minimum, the store has also signed up to the Too Good To Go Magic Bags scheme, meaning that any food nearing the end of its shelf life makes it into mouths rather than bins.

“Our new fresh and chilled offer is being so well received by shoppers,” Arun says. “They are so thrilled by the depth of the range and also the brilliant promotions that they can take advantage of on brands like

Jack’s. The feedback on Jack’s generally has been phenomenal.”

In its third week of trading alone, the store’s fresh and chilled sales hit £4,000 –up from £400 a week prior to the refit.

Frozen food sales have also rocketed – up from £200 to £1,200 a week - following the installation of a new ten-door bank of freezers.

“We previously had just three metres of frozen, so it’s been a big increase and one which is in line with shopper demand,” Arun says. “Shoppers love the convenience and value-formoney price points that frozen food offers and the category is also far less wasteful, allowing them to use just what they need and no more.”

The frozen range also includes several new Chinese lines, specifically catering to the needs of the many Chinese students who attend the university.

More innovation comes in the form of the store’s new, show-stopping 300sq ft chilled Beer Cave, created

l The store’s new electronic shelf edge labels will help Arun’s team to save an estimated 14 hours a week.

l Fresh and chilled sales have soared to £4,000 a week – up from £400 a week prior to the refit.

l The store’s new chillers and freezers are 35% more energyefficient than its previous models.

l Long-life products with 20 days shelf life or more account for 85% of the store’s fresh and chilled range.

Yorkshire R HUBARB SLINGSBY

Inspired by its spa town heritage and enjoyed around the world, Slingsby premium gin is crafted with pure spring water and real fruits to create the finest, award-winning British gin. Slingsby Rhubarb Gin is infused with the finest Yorkshire Rhubarb from the famous Rhubarb Triangle.

the beautiful and restorative spirit of Harrogate for you to

in what was previously Arun’s office at the rear of the premises. Inspired by the renowned Beer Cave at Singhs Premier on Teynham Road in Sheffield, the Beer Cave at Premier Talbot Convenience Stores features a huge range of multipacks as well as a new range of Ready To Serve canned drinks – popular with its university student demographic.

The augmented alcohol offer also includes six new SKUs of multipacks and twelve new SKUs of bottled ales. Accessed via smart electronic doors and featuring “cool” blue sky lighting panels, the cave is already making waves with local shoppers, regularly appearing in TikTok and Instagram posts.

It’s hardly surprising then that alcohol sales have already jumped by 50% since the refit. “Shoppers love the Beer Cave, it’s been one of the biggest hits so far,” says Arun. “It’s also great for highlighting our value message as promotional packs have such strong standout in there.”

The store’s strong value message is also trumpeted throughout the store, with all rack ends either dedicated to Jacks, Euroshopper or Mega Deals.

Also proving to be a smash hit with local shoppers is the store’s new Refresh @ Premier zone, prominently located to the right of its bright and spacious entrance area. Featuring a Costa Express Machine, Tango Ice Blast, Coca Cola Freeze, Jolly Rancher slush, Hershey’s and Reese’s Freeze, the new Refresh Zone is fast becoming one of its most profitable new categories, closely followed by vaping.

In a totally new offer for the store, Arun’s shop-floor Vaping @ Premier zone took just over £2,500 in its second week of trading, with disposable vape bars leading the way. “We never offered vape before, so the category’s success has been a huge eye opener. Shoppers spend large amounts of time browsing the full range and checking out all the deals that we do. To go from zero to £2,500 is incredible, especially when you consider the margins,” Arun says.

Sales in the third week of trading hit £35,000 – up from £17,500 a week prior to the refit. Even more impressive is the fact that those glittering sales figures have been achieved prior to the return of the university’s full student body for the start of the new academic term.

Margin has also increased

from 22% to 28% in three weeks.

Arun’s bottom line also looks set to receive a further boost in the coming months when new solar panels, estimated to save around £500 a month off his energy bills, are fitted on the roof.

“I’m just beyond proud of what we’ve achieved here,” Arun says “I’m blown away by the success we are already seeing so early on and can’t wait to see where the next few weeks take us. It’s been a huge amount of hard work and so many new elements to take on board, but Premier have supported me every step of the way and I’m so grateful to the entire team. What a fantastic way to celebrate the milestone achievement of 4,000 stores.” currently expect to achieve payback for the entire refit in just under five months’ time.

Given the “phenomenal” reception that local shoppers are giving the store just three weeks in, Arun and the Premier team currently expect to achieve payback for the entire refit in just under five months’ time.

Destination

Premier

TOP TEAM: Ash Patel (centre) and his brother Haresh with their colleague Rayhana.

Premier retailer Ash Patel describes his new Premier store on St Martin’s Hill in Canterbury as “the gift that keeps on giving”. Stepping through its smart automatic doors and into the store’s slick, smart and sophisticated interior, it’s abundantly clear why.

Dark walls, exposed ceilings and contemporary track lighting work to create an instantly premium look that also acts as the perfect backdrop against which to showcase its compelling new offer.

“The whole aim was to create a true destination store the likes of which has never been seen before locally,” Ash explains.

“We wanted to offer shoppers totally new ranges and in a totally new way – giving them a unique and memorable experience that would keep them coming back for more and boost our footfall, sales and profits.

Work to create Ash’s vision began in March 2022 – five years after he purchased the site, which back then was an old “and quite run-down” 1,500sq ft convenience store.

“I bought the site in 2017 and for the first few years I ran it with a strong discount focus,” Ash explains. “The format worked very well initially, but over time things began to change.”

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the construction of two large new housing developments within the store’s catchment area have prompted a gradual shift in the store’s demographic over the years, bringing in many more young professionals and families.

Given the change, Ash knew he had a sizable opportunity to rethink and refresh the store’s offer, bringing it into line with new and evolving shopper needs.

l The Beer Cave has enabled the store to increase its alcohol range by 70%.

l The store sold around 150 cups of Tango Ice Blast and Jolly Rancher slush each day over the summer.

“I wanted to create a store that offered shoppers a much more premium supermarket-style feel but with the service culture of a local convenience store,” Ash says.

“Shoppers want so much more from their local stores these days. I knew that I needed to offer them far more fresh produce, a strong drinks-to-go offer, including coffee, and on-trend ranges, such as American confectionery, that would offer real USPs and drive shoppers in.

“However, to make those changes I also knew I’d need to carry out a total overhaul,” Ash explains.

“Fortunately, there was some back-office space to the side of the store which we were able to extend into which would allow us to increase the size of the shop floor to 2,000sq ft.

With planning permission granted in November 2021, work to transform the store began in March 2022 and following a 20-day closure it re-opened as a brand-new Premier in early April.

“Switching to Premier was the obvious

choice,” Ash explains. “The brand delivered in every area that I needed and particularly on fresh and chilled. Shoppers were increasingly asking us for more fresh and chilled foods, and with the new housing estate set to bring in more and more young families I knew we had a great chance to offer so much more here.

“We’ve trebled the size of our chilled foods offer and now have just over 12 metres of it, which has made a huge difference.

“The Jack’s range in particular is doing really well. From ready meals to vegetables, deli and dairy items, it’s all selling well. I’m constantly getting positive shopper feedback about the quality and the price, it really does deliver on both fronts.”

Ash has also signed up to the Too Good To Go food waste scheme in a bid to ensure that any products from his large new fresh and chilled range nearing the end of their shelf life make it into the mouths of shoppers who need it most.

“The new app-based scheme allows us to sell food that’s close to its Use By and or

“It’s a truly great concept and I can see it really gaining traction as more and more shoppers become aware of it.

“We try to keep food waste to a minimum in the first place, but you can never write it off totally so this is a wonderful and easy way to ensure that perfectly good food gets into the mouths of those who need it most, rather than ending up in the bin. I can’t bear the thought of binning food,” Ash adds.

The new store also dedicates three times more space to frozen – another category which Ash says has been “riding high” in recent times.

“Demand for frozen foods soared during the pandemic and is still very high so we needed to reflect that in the refit with a far larger mix of frozen products.

“We now have 10 brand new energy efficient freezer cabinets, and the range is prominently signposted with smart internal signage and POS,” Ash says.

However, perhaps one of the biggest changes to Ash’s all-singing all-dancing

Best Before dates for a fraction of the cost via so-called ‘Magic Bags’,” he says.

Premier store has been to its alcohol offer, which now accounts for just over 16% of sales and growing.

Inspired by a recent trip to the USA, Ash was keen to create a showstopping Beer Cave in which to house a vastly expanded range of beers, ciders, wines and RTDs.

“The Beer Cave has been a gamechanger,” Ash says.

Positioned towards the rear of the store, the Beer Cave is fronted by two 1.5m chillers with doors which house its large range of white wines, rosés and sparkling lines, all of which can also be accessed by shoppers on the inside of the cave.

Once inside, shoppers can browse eleven metres of refrigerated shelf space for wine, beer, ales and RTDs along with a large array of top-selling multipacks which are artfully stacked in the middle.

Shoppers are “wowed” from all around by the stellar range of big-name brands and attractive Premier promotions, while the show-stopping blue sky light panels shining down from up above complete the artistry.

“The Beer Cave has been an overwhelming success,” says Ash. “It’s allowed us to increase our range by 70%. It’s a total transformation.”

The Beer Cave also features a dedicated freezer for ice cubes, allowing shoppers to grab quickly and easily everything they need in one go.

“Ice is a really fast seller all year round and especially in the summer months,” Ash says. “We sell 1kg bags of premium ice cubes for £1.60 which fly out of the door. Shoppers love their large size and smart shape, especially those who are making cocktails. They also make us a very good POR of around 40% so it’s a win-win.”

“We wanted to create a destination store and the Beer Cave really has been central to achieving this,” Ash adds.

“Because it’s so unique in this area, we now get lots of shoppers driving here from miles around just to experience it and shop from there.”

And Ash’s attention-grabbing Beer Cave is far from the only new fixture helping it to achieve its “destination” status.

A show-stopping Refresh Zone enhances the offer yet further, with a winning combination of in-demand drinks-to-go choices, including Costa Coffee, Hershey’s Freeze, Tango Ice Blast and Jolly Rancher slush.

“Shoppers absolutely love the Refresh Zone, it’s amazing. The slush in particular is a huge draw for local teens and young adults. It did well as soon as we opened but really came into its own over the summer and we were selling upwards of 150 cups a day of both the Tango Ice Blast and the Jolly Rancher slush.

“Shoppers are just so impressed by the

whole package; they tell me they’ve never seen a store like this before. There are some major supermarkets around five miles away but even they can’t compete with the totally unique offer that we now have.”

And sales aren’t purely being driven by the store’s big, bold “destination” categories. With shoppers now using the store to meet a far broader range of needs than before, ambient grocery sales have also soared.

“Last month, 23% of store sales were accounted for by grocery items, clearly demonstrating the fact that shoppers are now choosing to do far more of their weekly shopping in our store, as opposed to driving to the big supermarkets.

“Petrol prices remain a big concern, but its more than that, shoppers are also more willing than ever before to shop and support local, especially when they can see local retailers who are striving to raise standards and offer them great experiences, service and deals.”

In total, store sales are now more than double what they were prior to the refit and average basket spend has shot up from £4 to just under £15.

“Shoppers are over the moon with their new store, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve done here,” Ash says.

“Our first summer of sales has been incredible and we are all so excited for the months ahead.”

Change for the better

Within just a few months of moving to Premier, Shak and Jen Arshad have seen their store add £15,000 a week in sales, with plenty more growth potential remaining.

BEST DECISION: Jen and Shak have seen sales rocket since joining Premier.

It takes courage and ambition to make major changes to both your business and your life, but courage and ambition are two things that serial entrepreneurs Shak and Jen Arshad seem to have in abundance. Their latest life-changing decision was to move their business to Premier after more than eleven years with another symbol group – but that decision has proven to be a massively successful and transformative one.

Shak explains: “We had been with another symbol group for well over a decade but after we bought this store in Sauchie in Central Scotland, we started to get the feeling that it was time to look for a new partner, one that understood our business, shared our values and were committed to working with us to develop our business.”

The husband and wife team bought the store in 2017 but have more than 21 years under their belts as retailers, so they knew what they wanted from their symbol group partner, and they knew that their business had the potential to grow if they got the support they needed.

“We had five stores in the north of Scotland but we always wanted to move back to the Central Belt because of family connections,” says Shak. “We finally decided to do that and in 2017 we sold the

final store and bought this one in Sauchie. It was a great store and we saw huge potential in it, but we needed to take a fresh look at how we were running the business so we looked around, as you do.”

Shak and Jen narrowed their symbol group search down to just a couple of options but quickly saw that Premier was exactly what they needed.

“What I liked most about Premier’s offer was the fact that they clearly believed in themselves, and they backed themselves to deliver for us,” explains Shak. “There were no long term tie-ins, no huge sets of terms of conditions. If they didn’t deliver for us, we were free to leave. That’s confidence, and we liked that. Everything was crystal clear from day one.

“The pricing was great, the range was brilliant and the spend and save scheme was clear and transparent. Everything was laid wide open on day one and as far we’re concerned, that’s how you develop trust. This is a people business and we have to have trust in one another. Premier earned our trust from the first time we spoke to them, and we’ve never looked back.”

Critical to that personal approach and mutually earned trust was the relationship Shak and Jen quickly built up with Premier RDM Garry Wright, as Jen explains: “Garry

Store

is the best RDM we’ve ever worked with. We see him more often than we’ve ever seen a RDM before and he always has ideas to throw at us, suggestions for us, feedback to give us. He’s fantastic.”

Garry and the Premier team were also instrumental in the huge refit that the store underwent back in June. Shak comments: “Garry and the team at Premier basically drove the refit. They gave us all the latest insight, told us what we should put where, how much space to give each category, what to add in, what to delist – the lot. They basically did it for us.”

The refit eventually ended up costing around £200k despite the fact that the original budget was £150k. “We have high standards,” laughs Jen. “We had already spent £300k on a major refit when we first bought this store in 2017 but we knew that to really bring Premier’s vision to life, we would need to invest heavily again. We set ourselves a budget of £150k but we gradually tweaked it and evolved it and upgraded parts of the refit, so we ended up spending £200k – but it was worth it!”

One of the reasons the refit was “worth it” was because, inside of three months, the store has seen turnover rise from £35k a week to £50k a week, and it hasn’t topped out yet.

The refit has created a store that’s unrecognisable from before with a very heavy dose of the ‘wow’ factor.

The stunning shopfront is dominated by enormous floor-to-ceiling windows allowing passers-by to easily see the treasures that lie inside while the new Refresh Zone adds theatre and sales in equal measure. Chilled and frozen space has been massively increased while a new vaping section sits proudly on the shopfloor, allowing shoppers to browse at their leisure.

The layout is purposefully airy and spacious and helps create an enjoyable, relaxed shopping experience, with the store split into dedicated shopping mission zones such as off-trade, drinks-to-go, fresh and chilled, and lunchtime grab-and-go.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the refit and how the business is going,” says Shak. “But we’re just as delighted with the way Premier continues to proactively support us and work with us. It’s a breath of fresh air.”

Equally satisfying for Shak and Jen is the fact that the refit and the move to Premier has had a positive effect on sales and profits across literally every category.

“What’s so pleasing is that, when I look at my Epos data, I’m seeing increases across every category without fail,” says a beaming Shak. “We expected increases in areas where we’ve spent a lot of money but we’re seeing increases across the whole store.”

A star of the show is the Refresh Zone which features Tango Ice Blast, Coke and Fanta Frozen, Jolly Rancher, Frappina Iced Coffee and Costa Coffee.

“The Refresh Zone has smashed it,” says Shak. “We used to have Tango Ice Blast before the refit and we did 50 to 60 cups a day in summer. Now we do 150 cups a day on a good day! In fact, during the recent heatwave we did 550 cups a day and there’s no school anywhere near us. It was mostly adults, and they were coming from more than 3 miles away, as far as Tillicoultry.”

This is a people business and we have to have trust in one another. Premier earned our trust from the first time we spoke to them, and we’ve never looked back. Shak Arshad, Premier Shak & Jen’s@Sauchie

Moving vaping products onto the shopfloor has been similarly successful. “We were early adopters with vaping and we’ve been doing it for years and years, so we had a good solid offer. But since we joined Premier and moved the fixture onto open display, sales have increased 600%. We’re doing £6k a week in vaping sales alone.”

As well as two metres of vaping lines on open display, the store also keeps its top 100 bestselling vape lines on a one-metre fixture behind the till to speed up service. A neat, time-saving idea.

Fresh and chilled space has been doubled, as has the range, and sales have risen from £2k a week to £5k a week while frozen space has also been doubled to 6.5m and sales have increased by 20%.

“On soft drinks we’ve expanded the space to 8.5m and we chill every single soft drink we sell,” says Jen. “That includes multipacks and 2l bottles. And in confectionery we’ve kept the same 5m space but the range has changed. We now have four bays with one bay for impulse, one for kids confectionery and two for large format and multipack – and sales are through the roof.”

The store runs all Premier promotions as well as the Frozen Meal Deal and the lunchtime Meal Deal and does an outstanding £800 a week in sandwiches from just a 1m chiller.

“The Jack’s range has been a huge hit too,” says Shak. “I was a little nervous around the Tesco branding at the start but the range is absolutely flying. Value is such an important factor at the moment so the Jack’s range, the promotional package, the price-marked pack range and the Every Day Low Pricing package is just perfect. It’s what our shoppers want and need these days.”

So, with the store transformed, Shak and Jen’s life has also been transformed, as Shak concludes: “From having five stores and working non-stop, we’re now able to focus a lot more on the store because it’s doing so well – and we’re able to get our lives back. We get to spend much more time with the kids these days and for the first time in my adult life I don’t work every weekend. That’s just as important to us these days, so life is good.”

Small but mighty

At just over 500sq ft, Hartley’s Premier in the quaint village of Rustington, near Littlehampton, may be one of the group’s smallest stores but as Talking Shop immediately observed upon entering, this is one small store that packs a mighty punch – delivering the very best of Premier in one small, but perfectly formed package.

Heading the store up is owner Praga Balasubramaniam, who has only recently entered the world of independent retailing. Praga, who has a master’s degree in food safety and quality management from the University of Greenwich, previously worked in the food manufacturing industry where he worked for several years in various food safety and technical management roles.

However, the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing challenges prompted Praga to try a different tack. He explains: “In 2020 I decided the time was right for me to become my own boss. Independent retailing had always held an interest and attraction for me. I’d worked in petrol stations when I was a student and my brother runs a Londis convenience store in Kent, so despite never having run my own store I was familiar with how the industry worked. I spent some time working at my brother’s store while I looked for a site of my own and eventually I bought this one in March 2022.”

Praga Balasubramaniam might be new to convenience but with Premier at his back he’s retailing like an old hand.

SMALL AND MIGHTY:

Premier Hartley’s proves that good things really do come in small packages

Back then the small store was being run as an independent wine shop under the former Hartley’s brand, which collapsed into liquidation back in 2019.

“The Hartley’s brand was very well known in the local area, but I knew that the site offered so much more potential beyond wine,” Praga says. “Shoppers wanted and needed more of a convenience offering –drinks-to-go, groceries and fresh baked goods – as there isn’t anything else like that on this parade of shops and I immediately thought about Premier.”

“The Premier brand is very well known locally. There are a number of excellent Premier stores already operating not too far away, so local shoppers already have a great deal of trust in and love for the brand.

“In terms of price, the Premier offer is so strong. In the last promotional period alone we were offering an array of Mega Deals that makes us stand apart from the

competition.”

With his heart and mind fixed on Premier, Praga continued to run the business as a wine shop for two months while plans for the store’s transformation were made. The store was closed in early June 2022 for a refit and just three weeks later, the doors of Hartley’s Premier opened for the first time.

“I thought it was important to maintain the Hartley’s name as it was so well known locally and I also kept on some of the former members of staff,” Praga explains. And if shoppers liked the old Hartley’s store, they love its fresh new incarnation.

Every last millimetre of the store’s 500sq ft shop floor has been put to the best possible use, zeroing in on key footfall drivers including a bite-sized version of the powerful Refresh@Premier drinks-to-go station and a compact but key range of fresh and chilled products.

“I have one three-metre, four-door fridge

for chilled foods including a number of long-life chill products plus a range of chilled wraps and sandwiches from the Snax on the Go brand. We also offer six lines of Jack’s ready meals. The best-sellers are the Chicken Tikka Masala, the Beef Lasagne and the Sausage & Mash. Shoppers love these three in particular.

“The chilled range follows the Premier planogram precisely. I have complete trust in Premier’s expertise when it comes to the planograms. The team’s knowledge and insight is second to none and I’m so grateful to be able to draw down on it.”

And, as Praga explains, Premier’s support has gone way beyond ranging and merchandising. “Premier’s support has been incredible from the very start,” he says. “My RDM Tom Bell-Woods has helped so much on every aspect of the store’s design, layout and range. The Refresh@Premier zone is, in my opinion, one of its best features. I

was able to choose which machines went in based on my knowledge of the local area and so opted to bring in a Costa Express machine plus Jolly Rancher slush and Hershey’s and Reese’s Freeze.

“The slush offer has been a great success and we tend to sell between 60 and 70 cups a day which is great considering our small village location.”

Further points of difference include a selection of local cakes prominently displayed in a smart refrigerated cabinet on the store’s counter. “The cakes are another

example of Premier’s support,” Praga says.

“My RDM Tom put me in touch with EF Bakers, an excellent local baker. The cakes are delivered fresh every other day and are selling very well, especially first thing in the morning and in the early afternoon, when shoppers pop in for a fresh slice of cake and a coffee to take away. The price is excellent too. Most of the cakes, which are all a generous size and very indulgent, cost no more than 99p.”

The store’s local cake range is also complemented by a small range of freshly

baked loaves, also from EF.

Praga’s small store concept also features a slim-line vaping range under the Vaping@ Premier brand. “Vape is another big success story and again my RDM Tom was so helpful when it came to building the range,” Praga says. “Our vape and tobacco sales combined currently total just under £1,000 a day, with vape growing week on week.”

“We offer around 50 lines of predominantly disposable products which we sell from a glass-fronted unit out on the shop floor, next to the counter. This allows

shoppers to browse the range at their leisure but we’re close enough to assist with any questions and serve them promptly. Sales are dominated by the Elf Bar brand with most shoppers taking advantage of the ‘2 for £10’ deal.

“We run as many Premier promotions as possible, and always support with the relevant POS.

Alcohol is a star performer – a legacy of its former wine shop heritage – with a threemetre double-door chiller for beer, wine and RTDs.

“Wine sales continue to be strong,” he says. “When it comes to red wine, Castillero Del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignion and Trivento Argentina Malbec are by far our biggest sellers, followed by the I Heart brand, which was recently on a fantastic Mega Deal at ‘2 for £11’ which really drove sales.

The entrance to the store plays host to a footfall-driving American confectionery offer.

“We have a whole bay of American Sweets that we get though Booker central billing, and they fly out,” he says.

Praga’s confectionery offer is further complemented by a small range of

individual sweets which he displays in attractive jars out on the shop floor: “It’s just a small range but it creates a point of difference and it’s popular because it reminds shoppers old-fashioned sweet shops!”

Pleasing shoppers by responding to their needs is central to the store’s success and Praga has worked tirelessly to build close bonds with the local Rustington community. “This is such a lovely village with a real community feel so I’m so happy to be a part of it and to have been accepted so warmly,” he says.

“Sales have been growing week on week since we opened, and we are currently trading well above expectations. The old wine store used to see maybe 50 shoppers a day and now we welcome well over 500

and that’s growing all the time. I’m still seeing new faces every day.

“Shoppers are so happy to have us on their doorstep, they no longer need to get in their cars for a great quality cup of coffee, convenient family meal solutions or freshly baked treats.

“Listening to our shoppers is of course key and we’ve also brought in new products when asked – RTD cans of AU vodka are a great example. We’ve just brought those in following shopper requests, and they are selling well.”

Praga is also just about to introduce home delivery via Uber Eats and Deliveroo in response to shopper demand.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved here,” concludes Praga. “After all those years of working for somebody else, I’m so happy to be my own boss and to be employing four wonderful local people. I would never have been in this position if it wasn’t for Premier though.

“Becoming a Premier retailer is without doubt one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Sweet sales

this Christmas

With Christmas and the World Cup happening at the same time for the first time ever, Premier retailers have a unique opportunity to light up their festive sales this year.

The festive period has always presented retailers with a sleighload of opportunities to unwrap better sales and profits and, fortunately for Premier retailers, 2022’s festive season looks set to shine even brighter than ever thanks to a certain global football festival. For the first time in history, the World Cup will take place in winter

and will run for a month from the end of November, adding some extra glitter to this year’s festive opportunity.

Last year, total seasonal sales grew by a tasty 6% according to Mondelez International and, with no restrictions in place for 2022 and shoppers hungry to enjoy special moments with friends and family, this year looks set to be even better.

TOP TIPS

Create a Christmasthemed display in a high footfall area at the start of November to take advantage of the Christmas countdown.

Offer shoppers the opportunity to trade up by stocking gifting items with low-priced impulse items.

Be sure to promote new products and Group Exclusive Deals on social media as well as in-store to drive further excitement and footfall.

Make use of Premier’s merry melange of festive POS to create eye-catching displays and spread welcome Christmas cheer.

Set to kick off in Qatar on 20 November, the World Cup will also pave a sweet pathway into the 2022 Christmas period, uniting friends and families and driving the key sharing occasion earlier than usual at this time of year.

With success at Christmas all about planning, it makes sense for retailers to stock up early and take advantage of every day of

the Christmas countdown.

As ever, Premier has a fantastic promotional plan to help retailers make the most of 2022’s very special footfall, sales and profit-driving opportunity.

BAGGED CHOCOLATES

Perfect for sharing with friends in the runup to the festive season, or for shoppers

Christmas remains the biggest occasion for retailers when it comes to chocolate sales, as people celebrate the festive season not only by buying for others, but also for themselves.

Cybi Capaldi, Senior Brand Manager, Seasons & Gifting, Mars Wrigley

want

includes a great range of

other

including a range of key American lines. Reese’s Peanut Butter Mini Pouches, for example, will be on offer to shoppers for just £4, gifting retailers a POR of 20%.

Shoppers keen to bag tasty alternatives to

treats will also be able to snap up a range of key bagged lines from leading sugar confectionery brands including Bassetts Frosted Merry Mix and Bassetts Snow Babies, which will both be available on a sales-spinning WIGIG

deal of ‘Any 2 for £2,’ delivering cheery PORs of 30%.

NOVELTY CHOCOLATES

a tasty range of lowpriced

items including joyful novelty products is of course another great way to rack up key sales in the run-up to the festive season.

New from the Maltesers brand this year and tapping into the shopper trend towards mint-flavoured chocolate are Mint Reindeers – sure to give sales some hoof.

Premier retailers will be able to offer these sweet treats on an eye-catching ‘2 for £1’ deal which offers them a scrummy POR of 30.6%.

New products such as these also give retailers a great opportunity to build excitement on social media, as well as instore.

Impulse-friendly advent calendars are yet other product that shoppers will be keen to

in 10 consumers buy confectionery for Christmas

Mars Wrigley

RETAILER VIEW

“Christmas is the biggest opportunity of the seasonal calendar and we always go big on it. This year will be no exception. Despite the challenging times I think shoppers will be keen to treat themselves and others in the run-up to the big day itself and, with more people shopping locally, I expect local stores such as ours to benefit. We’ll be creating lots of excitement in the run up to Christmas with lots of fun and buzz on social media which always helps to drive footfall.”

bag before the 1 December cut-off.

According to Mondelez International the advent category saw growth of 21% year-onyear last Christmas.

Premier retailers will be able to stock the Cadbury Advent Calendar, available on a WIGIG deal of ‘Any 2 for £5’ which will also offer them a POR of 30%.

BOXING CLEVER

Helping retailers to take advantage of the key gifting opportunity this festive season, Premier retailers will also be able to choose from a sleigh-load of big-branded boxed chocolates and treats.

These include the bestselling Cadbury Milk Tray brand which will be available for a promotional price of just £4, offering retailers a POR of 20.3%.

Shoppers after more premium boxed options will also be able to treat their nearest

and dearest with Thorntons Classic Boxes available to Premier retailers in case sizes of 6x263g for an WSP of £23.50 offering a POR of 21.7%.

GROUP EXCLUSIVES

Also guaranteed to attract shoppers’ attention this festive season is Premier’s line-up of new and Group Exclusive Deals – yet another benefit of being part of a bigger group.

Key Group Exclusive lines this year include Terry’s Chocolate Orange Ball Toffee Crunch, which is also available as part of a WIGIG deal offering shoppers the chance to buy ‘Any 2 for £3’.

Tapping into the shopper trend for indulgent flavoured coffees, Matchmakers Caramel Coffee sticks will also be available on a Group Exclusive deal offering shoppers the chance to snap up two 120g boxes for just £3.

PERFECT POS

Retailers will have an even better chance to help their festive ranges shine this Christmas with a sparkling suite of Premier Seasonal POS for NP9 and NP10 including Header Cards, Shelf Strips, Bunting and Shelf Cards.

Festive Value is highlighted via fun festive-themed illustrations on Header Cards and Bunting while the Shelf Cards will help Premier retailers remind shoppers of the need to stock up on key product categories such as Party Food, Ice and Stocking Fillers. ‘Last Minute Gift’ items, including chocolates and bottles of wine, are also signposted in-store with specific signage.

MOS PATEL

Premier Heyside, Oldham

Value matters more

than ever

Given the economic uncertainty facing shoppers these days, value is more important than ever – and Jack’s is the ideal range to deliver fantastic value every day.

TASTE TEST

The festive period which lies just around the corner is typically a time of year when shoppers tend to loosen the purse strings a little and treat themselves, their family and their friends to some affordable treats and luxuries to make the most of this unique time of year. That trend is likely to be in evidence once more over the next couple of months but there is little question that the challenges of the last few years will have an impact on shopper spend.

For many shoppers that will mean an even more keen focus on value and on ensuring that they make their money go as far as possible – and this is where the Jack’s own brand range is set to offer Premier retailers the perfect opportunity to deliver fantastic value and outstanding quality for their shoppers every time they visit your store.

With feedback making it clear that the quality of the Jack’s range is exceptional, the key challenge for retailers is simply to encourage shoppers to try the products for the first time. Experience shows that once shoppers have tried the lines, they will buy them again.

With that in mind, why not offer tasting and sampling sessions in store where your shoppers can try some of your Jack’s range free of charge? Remember that allergens must be clearly visible shen sampling products. It’s a simple but effective strategy that could help introduce more of your shoppers to Jack’s and start driving brand loyalty and trust.

And, if your shoppers enjoy the products you have offered as samples, there’s every chance they will be more inclined to try out other Jack’s products, thereby growing basket spend and potentially footfall.

are likely

FRONT AND CENTRE

To truly get the very best out of the Jack’s range it is important to make the range unmissable both in-store and on your social media pages. All Premier retailers have already received a full in-store POS kit that gives them everything they need really bring the Jack’s range to life in-store.

Additionally, Booker offers a full selection of social media assets that retailers can make use of to create high-end, engaging and attention-grabbing social media content that highlights the value and quality on offer from the Jack’s own brand range.

It’s also important to ensure good availability of both the standard Jack’s range and on the products featured in the rolling Jack’s promotional calendar. Siting Jack’s products prominently in-store will also help drive trial and repeat purchase and will offer your shoppers fantastic quality alternatives to higher priced branded options at a time of year when every penny really does count.

a

be that they then become more intent than ever on optimising their spend in other areas of their shop.

Optimising

many of

could mean buying

fantastic festive

it could also mean

out great value in the form of every

period when the new year rolls around and shoppers tighten their belts once more in January, Jack’s also offers an exclusive and powerful tool to deliver value and help shoppers manage their budgets.

Feedback from both retailers and shoppers has made it crystal clear that the Jack’s range meets a very specific need for great quality products at amazing value prices, while also delivering the strong PORs that Premier retailers need to run a profitable, thriving businesses.

this is where Jack’s offers

a huge competitive

other retailers in their area during the Christmas period.

Then, after the excesses of the festive

While most Jack’s lines deliver at least 30% POR, a massive number of the 380 or so Jack’s products already launched carry even higher PORs of 40% and 50%+.

FULL RANGE

As Talking Shop went to press, almost 380 Jack’s products had been launched, representing more than 96% of the entire range of over 400 products that that will be available to Premier retailers.

The range now extends across every important product category from fresh and chilled to pet food, from ambient grocery to confectionery, crisps and bakery – and everything else in between.

The majority of the products in the Jack’s range are price-marked giving shoppers the confidence they need to buy into the range – and the quality of the products themselves then delivers the repeat sales that are so vital to retailers.

Shak Arshad of Premier Shak & Jen’s@ Sauchie in the Central Belt of Scotland told Talking Shop: “The success of the Jack’s range has been phenomenal. We were initially a little concerned about the Tesco branding but it very quickly became clear that we had nothing to worry about: our shoppers love the fact that these are Tesco products because that reassures them that they are getting proper, high quality products.”

Shak also says that he has had nothing but positive feedback from shoppers on the quality of the Jack’s lines.

Jack’s range from a retailer’s point of view.

SHOUT ABOUT JACK’S!

come

buy the products again. So far,

seen really, really strong

tells us that the

is outstanding.

really

the fresh

even on things like

The

is

now absolutely a core part of our offer. It gives shoppers everything they need and all under one brand.”

there

Making shoppers happy is, obviously, great news – but Shak is equally happy with

“It’s all very well selling lots of product and generating shopper loyalty to a range, but it has to work for the retailer too,” he says. “But all you have to do is take a quick look at the PORs we’re making on the Jack’s range and that will put a smile on your face. So many branded lines give you 15% or 20% which just isn’t enough to run a modern store these days. The Jack’s range starts at 30% POR but I’d say that most of the range that we sell gives us much bigger PORs than that, upwards of 40% and 50%. That’s the sort of PORs we need so I’m not surprised that retailers like the range as much as shoppers do.”

have

don’t forget too,

Get vocal

about local

Shoppers are increasingly interested in locally and regionally sourced products, handing Premier retailers a basket of opportunities to embrace better footfall and sales.

CENTRAL BILLING BENEFITS

Premier retailers also have access to products and exclusive preferential deals from almost 200 suppliers, including a number of local, small and independents, across a vast range of categories via Central Billing. Categories covered include fresh and frozen, bakery and cakes, grocery, and beers wines and spirits.

DELICIOUS DISPLAY

By their very nature, local products lend themselves perfectly to the creation of welcome in-store theatre and unique selling points.

Wicker baskets or wooden boxes can be used to create attractive displays for products such as local fruit, vegetables or cakes. Stores with a bit more space can use haybales or barrels to create impactful fixtures for other categories such as local ales or wines.

Don’t forget to support local products with in-store signage. Eye catching shelf edge labelling can be created with the use of chalk boards.

Arun’s Premier Talbot Stores in Poole also signposts the category with in-store posters, shelf-edge labels and large attractive signs on store pillars as well as window graphics.

From freshly baked bread still hot from the oven, to beers brewed just around the bend, locally made products have long enjoyed a reputation for freshness and quality that has served many Premier retailers well over the years – and that trend is showing no signs of waning.

In fact, according to latest IGD ShopperVista figures for September 2022, just under 80% of shoppers currently say that buying local products is “important” to them, while 29% class it as “extremely” important.

And as we move through the autumn months, many Premier retailers in all parts of the country are reporting renewed support and enthusiasm for local products – driven by an increasingly wide number of

Prices are centrally negotiated with low minimum order quantities. Other benefits include less time-consuming administration because costs are charged to retailers weekly and set up as one direct debit going out of your account.

Speak to your Premier RDM for more information.

reasons.

Premier retailer Dennis Williams of Broadway Convenience in Oxgangs, Edinburgh explains: “It used to be the case that local products were just a really nice way of adding a bit of extra interest to your range but to today’s shoppers, local products are about so much more than that.

“Shoppers are without a doubt becoming more climate conscious, especially younger shoppers, and current TV shows such as David Attenborough’s new Frozen Planet Two series are only helping to increase that awareness.

“As a result, local products are also appealing to shoppers for a growing number of sustainability-focused reasons. By their very nature, local products haven’t travelled as far as many of the big brand products on

the shelves, so they benefit from lower food miles, and most have also been produced in more sustainable, small-batch ways,” Dennis says.

“Our local eggs for example are laid and packed just a few miles away. We also offer a very successful range of locally baked pies from our butcher McGill’s which are produced just down the road and delivered fresh three times a week. Shoppers really appreciate the fact that the pies are made so close to home; traceability and food miles matter much more now.

“They also appreciate the fact that the pies come in minimal packaging as packaging waste is another growing concern for shoppers and retailers alike. We also offer a wide range of homemade sandwiches and rolls freshly prepared each day in our Premier Deli and again all those products feature minimal packaging. The fact they are made by us each day also means their freshness is second to none,” he adds.

Down in Littlehampton, Sussex, Premier retailer Praga Balasubramaniam is reporting similar enthusiasm from shoppers. With Premier’s support, first-time retailer Praga recently introduced a new range of mouthwatering cakes from local bakery EF Bakers.

SOCIAL SELLING

Social media can act as a powerful engine to help drive sales of local products which often lend themselves to picture-perfect posts.

Premier retailers such as Dennis Williams report increased footfall and sales of local products when supported by posts on social sites such as Facebook and Instagram.

Social media can also act as brilliant tool to help connect local suppliers with retailers. Karumanity “Arun” Ehamparam, says that several local suppliers contacted him directly after seeing his store’s posts on social media.

GLORIOUS GIFTING

From ales to biscuits, chocolates and cheeses, local products can also function as perfect gifting items – especially in tourist areas.

And with the festive season fast approaching, retailers who embrace the category also have an opportunity to drive key sales and profits as shoppers seek to answer their gifting needs with local loveliness.

Central Billing Supplier Cotswold Fayre recently revealed a new selection of gifting products for the 2022 festive season including 65 lines from certified B Corps.

Alissia Festa, seasonal buyer at Cotswold Fayre says: “This year we have focused on providing retailers with some exciting alternatives to the traditional advent calendars and gift sets.

“Last year Cotswold Fayre saw an increase in festive alcoholic products, in particular its Christmas-themed gins. The novelty of eye-catching bottles and different flavours created a popular gift category.”

RETAILER VIEW

“We sell a range of indulgent cream cakes and baked goods from our local bakery and local shoppers can’t get enough of them.

Local items like this add important unique selling points that set us apart from other stores and shoppers love them.”

Sales of the sweet treats, which are prominently displayed in a smart refrigerated cabinet on the counter, have soared since Praga introduced them this summer. “My RDM Tom Bell-Woods put me in touch with EF Bakers, an excellent local baker of cakes and bread,” Praga explains.

“The cakes are delivered fresh every other day and are selling very well, especially first thing in the morning and in the early afternoon when shoppers pop in for a fresh slice of cake and a coffee to take away. The fact that they can be delivered so regularly means that we get very little wastage which is obviously very important, and the price is very appealing to shoppers too.

“Local products are often mistakenly throughout of as being very expensive but in our case, most of the cakes have an RSP of 99p. They are such fantastic quality and they are large too, so shoppers are constantly praising their value for money.”

AMRIK AIDAN Premier Aidan’s Farnham, Surrey

In Poole, Dorset, Premier retailer Karumanity “Arun” Ehamparam is hoping to meet the growing demand for local products by bringing on a swathe of new producers over the coming weeks.

His newly refitted Premier Talbot Stores currently stocks products from nine different local suppliers across a range of categories including meat, eggs, alcohol, bread and bakery, but will be on-boarding another 15 or so over the next few weeks.

Arun explains: “We’ve always stocked a small range of local products as well as some quality small producer products which we source through Booker Central Billing and it’s a category which we are hoping to grow over the coming weeks in line with demand from local shoppers.”

After posting news of his store’s recent £170,000 makeover and grand re-opening on social media, Arun and the team at Talbot Stores were directly approached by several new local producers keen to be seen on his shelves.

As Arun explains: “Social media can be a great way of connecting with local suppliers – in our case, many local suppliers saw our posts on Facebook and Instagram and reached out to us.”

Just three weeks after its grand reopening, sales of the store’s new range of locally produced cakes and baked goods were topping £200 a day.

Retailer Amrik Aidan of Premier Aidan’s in Farnham, Surrey, is also reporting a similar enthusiasm for his footfall-driving range of local cakes and ales.

The cakes, which are delivered fresh four times a week, are charmingly merchandised in a smart refrigerated display case and supported with attractive chalkboard-style signage.

By their very nature, local products lend themselves perfectly to attractive artisanstyle displays: wooden boxes, wicker

RETAILER VIEW

baskets, wine barrels, or even bales of hay, all of which can be used to create welcome in-store theatre.

And those are still far from the only benefits. Display, sustainability and waste wins aside, local products also offer independent retailers yet another meaningful way in which to support the communities in which they trade, by keeping sorely needed money within local economies where it can help to support local people and jobs.

The pandemic prompted a welldocumented surge in support for local stores and products and now, as the cost-of living crisis continues to bite, that sentiment only looks set to keep on cooking, giving Premier retailers even more reasons to lock in on local.

RETAILER

DENNIS WILLIAMS Broadway Convenience, Edinburgh

“Local products are also appealing to shoppers for a growing number of sustainabilityfocused reasons. By their very nature, local products haven’t travelled as far as many of the big brand products on the shelves, so they benefit from lower food miles, and most have also been produced in more sustainable, small-batch ways.”

“We’ve always stocked a small range of local products as well as some quality small producer products which we source through Booker Central Billing and it’s a category which we are hoping to grow over the coming weeks in line with demand from local shoppers.”

TOP TIPS

l If you sell local products, shout about them with regular posts on social media.

l In-store, use POS such as window graphics, shelf barkers and posters to help signpost the category.

l Merchandising local products with rustic display features such as baskets, barrels and hessian bags can add a welcome touch of in-store theatre that will set your offer apart.

l Premier retailers also have access to products and exclusive preferential deals from almost 200 suppliers, including a number of local, small and independents via Central Billing.

ARUN EHAMPARAM

Premier Talbot Stores, Poole

New Products

A selection of key products that will deliver for you in-store

Lost Mary - 6 variants

Case size: 10 x single WSP: £26.99

RSP: £5.99

POR: 45.9%

IVG Bar - 4 variants

Case size: 10 x single WSP: £26.99

RSP: £5.99 POR: 45.9%

ELF Bar - 6 variants

Case size: 5x 2pk WSP: £14.99

RSP: £5.99 POR: 39.9%

Vuse Go - 6 variants

Case size: 10 x single WSP: £31.99 RSP: £5.99

POR: 35.9%

NZO E-Liquid - 10 variants

Case size: 5 x single

WSP: £3.99

RSP: £2.50

POR: 61.7%

NZO Starter Kit

Case size: 5x kit WSP: £24.85 RSP: £9.59

POR: 40.0%

NZO Pod - 2 variants

Case size: 5x 3pk WSP: £24.95 RSP: £9.99

POR: 40.0%

Vuse ePod - 6 variants

Case size: 5x 2pk

WSP: £22.04

RSP: £6.99

POR: 24.3%

PricesDown

Premier has added new

Premier Tobacco Club extended with new lines

Premier has further increased the appeal of its already very popular Tobacco Club with the addition of five new lines, offering Premier retailers even more opportunities to add an extra 2% POR to their tobacco sales.

The new Chesterfield and Marlboro Gold Rolling Tobacco lines benefit from significantly reduced WSPs which help deliver POR increases of 2% on every pack sold.

To take advantage of the Premier Tobacco

benefit from reduced WSPs, all that

have to do is sign up and agree to sell the

The

lines at RSP or below.

are charged on invoice

there are no credits required. It couldn’t be simpler.

To

IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE

Social media has never been more important for Premier retailers and is an extremely powerful way of connecting with existing shoppers and attracting news ones to your door. Our beginners’ guide to social media helps you take those important first steps into the digital world.

Unleashing the power of social

Social and digital media have long been two of the most effective means of communicating with your existing shoppers, as well as grabbing the attention of new potential shoppers in your locality. If anything, the importance of these channels has grown over the last 18 months so it’s the perfect time to embrace the opportunities that social and digital offers to retailers.

Social media is easy to access, is widely used by the general public and, in its simplest forms, is completely free. Many Premier retailers have already enjoyed great success with their social and digital media presence, boosting footfall and basket spend and increasing awareness of their stores and their value to the communities they serve.

One multi-award winning business that very quickly understood the huge power of

social media is Premier Singh’s in Sheffield. With almost 29,000 followers on Facebook, the family business views social media as “mission critical” and devotes a lot of time and effort to it

Mandeep Singh comments: “We’ve been taking social media really seriously for years. We saw the potential it had a long, long time ago and we still see it as a mission-critical part of how we run the stores and the business.

“Social media is just so versatile and it can be entirely free. We post lots of times every day and one of the reasons why we’ve been so successful on social media and have so many followers is that we try to keep a sense of humour. We try to produce our content in a way that replicates how we communicate with our shoppers in real life. That means a little bit of fun, a little bit of a laugh, but always respectful and polite. That’s how we treat shoppers in-store so that’s how we treat them in social media too.”

Mandeep’s other top tip is: don’t be boring! He explains: “People use social media for all sorts of reasons but a lot of the time they’re going on there for a laugh and for entertainment. Even when we’re doing ‘like and share’ competitions or new product launches or home delivery posts or whatever, we try to keep it entertaining and personal and real. Whatever you do on

social media, don’t be boring.”

Tracking just how successful social media is in terms of driving footfall, sales and profits is, says Mandeep, quite difficult – but he and his family know that it definitely works.

“It’s hard to get precise and to put an ROI on the effort you put into social media but we know for absolute certainty that social media delivers big commercial benefits. It brings new shoppers to your door, it helps generate interest in exciting new products, it gets more people to use our home delivery services. It does all of those things and it keeps our awareness levels really high in our local area and beyond. It just works.”

If you are not already using social or digital media to drive business in your store, then now is the right time to start.

However, making that first foray into the digital world can be daunting for the inexperienced, so Talking Shop is here to give you some highlights from the guide, which you can request from your RDM.

Just follow these key pointers to start giving your store an effective digital and social media presence.

GET GOOGLING

An important first step is to make sure that your store shows up on Google searches and maps. Google is one of the most important channels your business should be appearing on – it has over two billion monthly users with 3.8 million searches take place every minute!

To ensure useful information about your business appears alongside any local area search, there are a couple of simple steps to take with Google.

If your business already shows up as a location on Google Maps, you simply need to “claim” it. In the panel containing the address/hours/ phone, click on the link saying ‘Own this Business?’ and continue from there. Remember to input information useful to a potential shopper: business name, opening hours, and phone number. If possible, add pictures too – potential shoppers will want to see photos of your business, so the better the pictures and the more of them, the more it will attract the shopper.

If your business is a new build, you will

RETAILER VIEW

“Social media plays such a massive role in the success of our business and it’s something we take exceptionally seriously. Premier Heyside alone now has just under 27,000 followers on Facebook which shows just how vast the reach can be.

“Professionalism is key, we have three regular posts which go out every day and we’ve invested in professional photography and videos to make sure the quality of our posts is top notch. In this business, looks and presentation really do matter, especially when promoting indulgent categories like desserts and food-to-go.”

and users are both hungry for new information and likely to make comments of their own on your page, so it is very important to keep posting new content and to monitor the activity on the page itself.

Retailers who wish to get involved with social media should consider the following: l You need to post regularly to keep the shopper engaged.

l Keeping a constant stream of interesting material like photos, videos, recipes etc. is difficult, and can be time consuming.

need to register it with Google. In this case, there is a step-by-step guide they will take you through.

MAKE NEW FRIENDS

Setting up a social media presence is easy to do, but it is important to remember that it is an ongoing commitment, not just a one-off. Platforms such as Facebook are interactive,

The

The worst thing you can do is set up a Facebook page that you don’t maintain.

Be patient, as you may not attract much attention to start with unless you are investing money in advertising.

By having a social media presence, you are potentially opening up a channel for customer complaints that should be monitored frequently and with care.

Everything you post, and almost every interaction you have with your shoppers, will be in the public eye.

MOS PATEL

Premier Heyside, Oldham

Top of the pods

F rom sweet and creamy Cappuccinos to short and punchy Espressos and dark and velvety Americanos, coffee is a serious business these days.

According to Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), more than 24 million households in the UK currently buy coffee – a huge number that highlights the benefits to retailers of stocking a diverse range of coffee products. However, with the global Covid-19 pandemic and series of nationwide lockdowns accelerating the “in-home barista” trend, what that range looks like has changed quite considerably in recent times.

With many UK shoppers continuing

to work from home, there has been a shift in how shoppers consume coffee which in turn has boosted demand for premium coffee products that shoppers can prepare and enjoy in the comfort of their own homes.

Mintel Food & Drink Associate Director Jonny Forsyth elaborates: “For years coffee shops have taken share from retail coffee but the pandemic forced drinkers to make more coffee in-home and replicate the quality of fresh on-premise brews.”

Helping shoppers to replicate the quality, freshness and indulgence of coffee shop drinks quickly and conveniently at home is the UK’s growing coffee pod category, which

for

With shoppers thirsty for more premium in-home coffee solutions, the growing coffee pod market can help retailers brew up even stronger sales and profits.

COFFEE PODS CHIP AWAY AT INSTANT COFFEE’S LEAD

Coffee pods grew their share of the UK Coffee market by 6% between 2020 and 2021 – to account for just under 20% of the total retail market according to Mintel.

The growth in Coffee pods was much faster than Ground coffee and Coffee beans, which grew by 2.4% in the year, while Instant Coffee, which still accounts for the lion’s share of the market, saw its share decline by 1% over the same period.

the total retail coffee market.

The popularity of these pocketsized profit-boosting pods has soared since 2019 according to JDE, with more shoppers buying into the category and those shoppers spending 8% more on coffee pods too. The frequency at which shoppers are buying into the category has also grown by 10%. It’s a simple sum which clearly adds up to a hot opportunity for Premier retailers who, according to JDE, still possess significant potential to grow their share of sales.

While coffee pods currently account for 19% of total coffee sales, only 3% of those sales are currently made in the impulse channel – signifying significant “headroom to grow,” JDE says.

Fortunately for Premier retailers, harnessing this growth is now easier than ever, with a strong range of big-name coffee pod brands from the Tassimo and Nescafé Dolce Gusto families.

One Premier retailer who is already brewing big benefits from his coffee pod offer is Peter Saleem, of Premier Broadway in Blyth, Northumberland.

“Coffee pods are definitely a growing area of the market for us as shoppers search out more premium experiences when drinking coffee at home,” he says. “We stock two SKU’s from the Tassimo Costa brand, a Latte and a Cappuccino. The Latte SKU is the strongest seller of the two - clearly shoppers around here like their coffees milky! It’s a trend which is mirrored by sales from our in-store Costa Coffee machine, “Shoppers are clearly becoming more demanding when it comes to their coffee choices and are we are selling slightly less instant coffee than in previous years,” Peter adds.

Retailers, like Peter, looking to grow their share of coffee pod sales would do well to stock at least one variety of each of the most popular coffee shop style drinks, including a Latte, a Cappuccino and a Black Coffee offer, JDE says.

JDE’s Tassimo Costa brand will be subject to strong consumer deals in Premier stores during NP07 and NP08. Offering retailers PORs of 25%, the retail promotions will also be supported by Q4 marketing and category activations.

Coffee pods are definitely a growing area of the market for us as shoppers search out more premium experiences when drinking coffee at home.

Peter Saleem, Premier Broadway Blyth, Northumberland.

(Source Mintel UK Coffee Report 2021)

POD-TASTIC STATS FROM JDE

l The coffee category is healthy with potential for strong growth which can be unlocked by driving coffee pod sales.

l The coffee pod market is growing as shoppers continue to look to recreate coffee shop experiences in the home.

l More shoppers are buying coffee pods, spend per shopper is increasing and so is frequency.

l There is still lots of headroom to grow coffee pods in impulse by including the top brands.

l The coffee pod market is expected to continue growing over the next five years and beyond versus less premium segments.

l JDE expects the value of the coffee pods market to have grown by a further 7.3% by 2026, while the instant coffee segment is expected to decline by 4.8%.

Another way for retailers to stir up stronger coffee pod sales is by introducing a small range of popular flavours, allowing shoppers to further personalise their drinks and up the in-home indulgence ante even more.

As Mintel’s Forsyth explains: “For many shoppers the key to coffee making has moved beyond the desire for it to simply be ‘good coffee’; it’s now about brewing creative coffee, adding the same style and aspiration you would see in a coffee shop.”

Flavours can play a big role here. According to recent Kantar WPO research, shoppers’ top three coffee flavours are caramel, vanilla and gingerbread.

Caramel is the leading flavour, with 43.9% of coffee drinkers choosing it as their favourite (Kantar, Feb 2022).

Premier retailers looking to sweeten their coffee pod sales with in-demand flavours can do so via the Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto brand and its Caramel Macchiato Coffee Pods x12.

The sweet-tasting pods are available in a case of three, with a WSP of £10.99 and an RSP of £4.49, giving them a POR of 18.4%.

The cold winter months and approaching festive season are also likely to help drive a further uplift in pod sales, with coffee machines fast-becoming popular gifting items.

Looking further ahead, JDE says that the coffee pod market is expected to continue growing over the next five years and beyond, versus less premium segments such as Instant coffee which, by comparison, is expected to continue its slow decline.

In-fact, JDE expects the value of the coffee pods market to have grown by a further 7.3% to £410m by 2026, comfortably ahead of the Roast & Ground and Specialties & Mixes segments.

Now with numbers like that, it’s clear to see why retailers should jump on board the hot and steamy coffee pod opportunity.

Coffee pods are expected to grow in value by a further 7.3% to £410m by 2026 according to JDE.

million households buy coffee

THE ‘IN-HOME BARISTA TREND’ CONTINUES TO GROW

“The pandemic has accelerated the in-home barista trend, prompting shoppers consumers to make more coffee at home and attempt to replicate the quality of the fresh, on-premise brews they were accustomed to drinking in coffee shops prepandemic.”

Mintel Food & Drink Associate Director Jonny Forsyth

“We’ve been using the ShopMate system for eight years now, and we’ve recently upgraded it to the latest version –it’s a great system. Because we have more than one store, the system saves us a lot of time because we can see all the information we need about stock, prices and deliveries for both stores from a single back office. You can view it all on a laptop, wherever you are. The fact that you can get a great system like this for free is one of the big advantages of being with Premier.”

Independent retailing can be a complex process at the best of times, and after the unprecedented challenges of recent years the benefits of a modern EPoS solution that can help you take your store to the next level have never been so important.

Fortunately for Premier retailers, Premier has a long-standing relationship with EPoS supplier RDP (the Retail Data Partnership). RDP has continued to develop its offer over the past year, adding a raft of new benefits to help retailers operate their businesses even more efficiently and profitably.

RDP’s ShopMate system has one of the most-advanced systems available today. Created specifically for independent retailers and developed over the years in response to

their direct feedback, ShopMate offers an array of excellent benefits that can have a positive impact on where it matters most –the bottom line.

BENEFIT NOW

Among the key benefits are automatic price and promotion updates, a comprehensive selection of intuitive reports and insights and the opportunity to extend the power of your ShopMate till with added-value services including full back office or head office functionality and a Local Loyalty scheme.

Not only does RDP supply the Booker price file, it also manages its own RDP Price File which compliments the Booker file for non-wholesale related products, so if you purchase local products, these are catalogued, VAT rated and updated to the RDP price file for all RDP customers.

Electronic Delivery Notes are provided for all products purchased with Booker. Regardless of whether the products are purchased in branch, via the web or from the till, so long as a Booker account number is used, the electronic invoices are uploaded to the till, providing immediate stock control for you.

Suggested and Electronic Ordering via the till also means that you can create an order without ever leaving the till.

SERVE YOURSELF

With speed of service a key concern for busy time-pressed shoppers, RDP has also launched a new Self-Serve queue busting solution for 2022. The new ShopMate self-serve has functionality built into the existing software and allows the till to either be assistant-managed or consumer-managed.

Retailer Karumanity “Arun” Ehamparam’s Talbot Stores in Poole, Dorset, was the first Premier to be fitted with the new “queue-butsing” technology, when it relaunched in September 2022.

Just two weeks after launch Arun said the new till was already proving to be a “hit” with his shopper demographic.

“Our store is located right next to Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus, so much of our trade comes from students and university staff, as well as local residents of Talbot Village,” he explains.

“The new self-serve till is already proving to be a real success, saving valuable staff time and speeding up service for shoppers.

“Many of our busy shoppers just want to grab and go and they are thrilled that they can do so now, without having to stand in line and wait to be served.”

Arun says that in the second week of trading alone, more than 20% of all transactions went through the self-scan till, and he expects that number to continue climbing over the coming weeks.

SIMON GREWAL

Premier Crabbs Cross Convenience, Redditch

CONNECTED

With

SERVICE FEES

One Till: £15.50

week.

Two Tills: £23.00 per week.

Three Tills: £25.00 per week.

KEY

l

WHAT’S

New for 2022 is the new Online Management Suite, providing all RDP customers with the ability to manage their reporting remotely via laptop, PC, tablet or phone. The suite also offers real-time sales analysis and the ability to compare year-onyear product performance at either product or category level.

Another new opportunity for 2022 is the RDP Self-Serve Queue busting solution.

There is no hefty price tag for ShopMate self-serve – the functionality is built into the existing software and so the till can either be assistant-managed or customer-managed.

The MediaMaster Advertising screens provided free of charge by RDP also allow retailers to advertise promotional offers at the point of sale. Not only are Premier promotions advertised but retailers can include local business, store-only promotions or sponsorship adverts within the media

feed as well as supporting local community projects through adverts created by the RDP Marketing Department.

Additionally, ShopMate benefits from an expert UK-based technical support team, ready to help you whenever you need them.

The automatic price and promotion updates functionality means you and your team will no longer lose huge amounts of time setting up promotions every period and updating pricing for the shop floor.

The reporting functionality offers quick, easy and intuitive access to all your store’s most important data, allowing you to understand your business at a much deeper level and make better-informed decisions on every level.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

The Premier ShopMate EPoS bundle includes everything you need to start leveraging the

power of a system that can you take your store to the next level.

A touchscreen full-colour till, a thermal receipt printer and a Datalogic/Honeywell Orbit scanner are all included, as are a laser printer, power and router connection cables and a standard or flip-top till.

Training and installation costs just £450 and, for just an extra £45, retailers can access a pre-install scanner that lets them set prices before the ShopMate system even arrives, meaning that they can hit the ground running on day one. The total cost of £495 can be spread across two monthly Direct Debit instalments if desired.

The system itself is absolutely free for Premier retailers, while weekly service fees are just £15.50 for one till, £23.00 for two tills and £25.00 for three tills.

At your service

Every year, we produce what we believe to be the definitive look at the UK convenience sector, the people running stores, the colleagues working in those stores, and the communities that they serve.

The 2022 Local Shop Report reveals some impressive numbers about the sector: 48,590 stores providing 405,000 flexible, local and secure jobs, contributing over £9bn in taxes, and investing over £605m in improvements in refrigeration, lighting, and full store refits. These figures are absolutely crucial in showing how important local shops are to the economy, especially at difficult times like this.

One of the aspects of the industry that the report highlights is the breadth and depth of services that convenience stores offer to their customers. Since starting the report in 2012, the overall level of service provision has grown steadily. However, this year we’ve noticed a concerning trend in the number of both free to use, and charged, cash machines that are provided by convenience retailers.

We’ve been campaigning for several years on the issues of interchange fees, the business rates levied on ATMs, and the importance of providing access to cash to local communities, with the warning that providing an ATM in store is becoming a difficult

proposition for many retailers who are in some cases losing money on the provision of that service. 44% of convenience stores now provide a free to use cash machine and 18% provide a charged one, compared to 49% and 23% last year. While this may not seem like too much of a significant shift, local shops are now often the only place that consumers can access cash locally, so every ATM lost has an impact.

Energy price hikes haven’t impacted what we offer much … yet, but if we don’t get long-term support on energy bills, the sector won’t maintain the levels of chilled and frozen space we currently offer.

Unsurprisingly, there is a dramatic uptick in the percentage of stores that have energy saving measures like solar panels (currently 5%).

These issues are symptomatic of a wider trend in convenience in 2022 – retailers are facing increased costs in all areas of their businesses, whether it be employment, utilities, fuel, service provision, delivery costs or product costs, and are already making difficult decisions about what they can keep offering and where they need to cut back. The Local Shop Report is an important tool for us in educating new Ministers and Government officials on the importance of the UK convenience sector and forms a key part of our campaigning activity to help stores keep trading successfully into the future.

The Local Shop report highlights the breadth and depth of services that convenience stores offer to their customers.