Community News

CommunityNews

OPINION, NEWS AND ACHIEVEMENTS FROM PREMIER RETAILERS

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.”

IndustryNews

A DIGEST OF NEWS FROM THE INDEPENDENT RETAILING INDUSTRY

Shoppers buying habits shifting under cost of living crisis

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

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

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.

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.”

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

A DIGEST OF NEWS FROM THE INDEPENDENT RETAILING INDUSTRY

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.

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 fi ndings indicate that retailers believe that it is the price fl ash on a PMP, rather than the specifi c 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 refl ect 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 diffi cult 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.

INBRIEF

VAPING HARM REDUCTION CLAIMS VERIFIED

The Offi ce for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has published its fi rst vaping evidence review and has reconfi rmed the fi nding that vaping is “at least 95% less harmful” than combustible tobacco.

The review is in line with previous fi ndings 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