TalkingShop October 2020

Talking Shop ISSUE 108 – OCTOBER 2020

The magazine for Premier retailers

Locked down but not out

Plymouth retailing duo rise to the challenge of lockdown

PLUS

Get vocal about local Create a USP with locally sourced products

Safe not sorry

Drive footfall by ensuring your store is safe for shoppers

INCREASE YOUR SALES OF CHOCOLATE AT CHRISTMAS

46% of confectionery sales went through the tills within the last 4 weeks to Christmas *Source: HIM! CTP 2018, Fifting sample **Source: Nielsen Scantrack, data to 30.12.19

P10

M code 30th sept 27th oct Thorntons Classic 262g

£6.50

£5.00

Thorntons continental 142g

£6.50

£4.50

Ferrero rocher 200g

£5.99

£4.50

Ferrero rocher 300g

£9.40

£6.99

Ferrero collection 172g

£5.99

£4.50

kinder joy egg 20g

£1.15

£0.75

kinder santa 55g (new)

£1.50

£1.00

thorntons cheeky elf 200g

£5.38

£4.00

28th oct 24th nov

25th Nov 29th Dec

H

ferrero narrow fsdu H:1450mm w:336mm D:414mm thorntons narrow fsdu H:1295MM w:360MM D:295mm

D W

Talking Shop | October 2020

Welcome Talking Shop ISSUE 108 – OCTOB

ER 2020

Welcome to your latest issue of Talking Shop and we have another packed issue for you.

We kick off with some great news on our popular Spend & Save scheme which has been updated in direct response to feedback from Premier retailers.

The top banding has now been increased to 5%, offering retailers the chance to boost their profits

even further.

We take a detailed look at a couple of fantastic Premier stores and hear their inspiring tales of how they have embraced the challenges that have faced them over the last few months.

There are also a few advice-led feature pieces highlighting areas of your business that merit particular attention during the pandemic: local sourcing, fresh and footfall drivers. As lockdown slowly begins to ease, it’s important for retailers to focus on areas like these to grow footfall as quickly as possible by concentrating on the categories that bring shoppers to your store more often, and encourage them to spend more while they are there.

Another vital challenge for Premier retailers is to ensure that shoppers feel safe and comfortable when visiting you store. A special piece inside explains exactly what you need to do to help keep your staff and shoppers safe in-store.

Plus we have the usual regular mix of exclusive new products, the latest news and helpful advice, all geared to help you maximise footfall, sales and profits. Great trading and stay safe.

The magazine

for Premier retai

lers

Locked down but not out

PLUS

Get vocal about local Create a

Plymouth reta iling duo rise to the challenge of lockdown

USP with locally sourced products

Safe not sorry

TS September

- October.indd

Drive footfal l by ensuring you store is safe r for shoppers 1

28/09/2020

THE THREE BIG STORIES 07 Spend & Save

Scheme revamped with higher 5% band.

26 Vocal about local

Locally-sourced products create a USP.

53 Stay safe

Keeping your shoppers and staff safe.

Share your shop news

If you’ve got news, tips or feaure ideas, get in touch with Talking Shop. Just pick up the phone and call:

0141 22 22 100 Martyn Parkinson, Brand Director Premier *ALL PHOTOS IN THIS ISSUE WERE TAKEN BEFORE FACE MASKS BECAME COMPULSORY

4 TalkingShop

October 2020

15:03:37

COVER STORY South Wales retailers undertake second full refit in just a few years to keep ahead of the game.

or write to: Talking Shop c/o 55 North Ltd. Waterloo Chambers 19 Waterloo Street Glasgow, G2 6AY or email: talkingshop@55north.com DISCLAIMER: Prices are correct at time of going to press, but may be subject to change.

21

15

Facing up to the challenges in Plymouth.

Another refit, more growth.

57 Mini Bites hit the mark.

53

Keeping staff and shoppers safe is vital.

33 Footfall focus.

26

Local sourcing can add another USP.

7

Premier News

26 Vocal about local

57 Launch Review

Spend & Save revamped with

higher 5% band.

Stocking local produce and shouting about it pays dividends.

Discover the Choice Mini Bites hit the spot.

8

Protection petition

33 Get fresh

63 ACS View

Shopworkers petition hits 50,000

signatures in a week.

Fresh has never been more important.

11 Community News

37 Footfall focus

The latest community activity in Premier stores.

13 Younger shoppers driven growth

Growth in independent retailing driven by younger shoppers.

15 Aiming high

A second major refit in just a few years sees store flourish.

21 Meeting the challenges

A new store in Plymouth has done well under lockdown.

Some new and exclusive products from Booker.

45 Tobacco Club updated

The Premier Tobacco Club is more rewarding than ever.

49 Print Shop relaunched

Premier’s print shop has been improved.

53 Staying Safe

teeth’.

Great advice on growing footfall.

41 Ones To Watch

HFSS promo ban a ‘kick in the

What you need to know to keep shoppers and staff safe.

GROUP EXCLUSIVE!

43 More exclusive lines!

PremierNews NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS PREMIER

Spend & Save updated with new 5% band Premier has updated its popular Spend & Save scheme with the introduction of a new, higher 5% discount band helping retailers further improve their profitability.

INBRIEF EXCLUSIVE PRICING ON WARBURTONS HALF & HALF Booker has secured a fantastic exclusive pricing and promotions deal on the new Warburtons Half & Half that is already proving to be a huge hit in independent retailing.

The deal means that Premier retailers will be exclusively able to offer the new loaf to

Starts 5th October

shoppers for just 89p, a huge 30p saving over the standard RSP of £1.29.

The pricing is certain to drive fantastic footfall to stores and with a specially discounted WSP of just 69p per 88g loaf, Premier retailers will still enjoy PORs of 22.5%.

The loaf is made from 50% white flour and 50% wholemeal flour and contains added vitamin D and calcium.

Premier has announced that the hugely popular Spend & Save scheme has been revamped with the addition of a new, higher 5% discount band.

The new bandings will start from October 5th and, as usual, will be calculated based on your four-weekly Cash & Carry spend – and don’t forget that this includes tobacco spend.

The discount level achieved is then paid every four weeks on the non-tobacco element of your spend.

Martyn Parkinson, Premier Brand Director, commented: “Following feedback from retailers, we are delighted to announce that the Spend & Save scheme has been refreshed to offer you the opportunity to earn up to 5% discount on your spend with Booker.

“This is one way we’d like to say thank you for choosing Booker, help your profitability

EXCLUSIVE PRICING and forms part of our continued commitment to improve choice, price and service. It has been and remains a very challenging time, however it has been inspiring to see the hard work and dedication of Premier retailers serving their local communities.”

If you have any further questions about Spend & Save, or about growing your sales, please contact your local Area Manager or Retail Development Manager.

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@55north.com 0141 222 5380

October 2020 TalkingShop

7

News

INBRIEF Shopworkers protection PLASTIC petition passes 62,000 BAG signatures CHARGE EXTENDED

Independent retailers have welcomed the news that the plastic bag charge will be extended to all retailers in England from April 2021, and the fee will be doubled to 10p.

The existing scheme requires only retailers with 250 employees or more to charge 5p for plastic bags but the new regulations will mean that all retailers, regardless of size, will have to charge.

The change will remove far more plastic bags from circulation, help level the playing field between small and large retailers, and give independent retailers the chance to donate the proceeds of the charge to local charities.

Since the initial charge

A petition launched by shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw demanding more protection for retail staff has been signed by more than 62,000 people.

A parliamentary petition that seeks to protect retail staff from violence, threats and abuse has passed 50,000 signatures in a single week and had secured more than 62,000 signatures as Talking Shop went to press. Launched by shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw, it became the fastest growing petition on the parliamentary website when it passed 10,000 signatures in a single day, which means the Government now has to respond. Under parliamentary regulations, any petition securing 10,000 signatures must be responded to by the Government while any petition signed by more than 100,000 people must be considered for debate in Parliament.

The petition was launched in response to a doubling of violence, threats and abuse of shopworkers during lockdown. It is backed by the BRC and ACS. Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities – they deserve the protection of the law.”

To add your support, please visit: petition.parliament.uk/ petitions/328621

Sign the petition here: www.petition. parliament.uk/ petitions/ 328621/

was first introduced to larger retailers in 2015 there has been a 95% cut in plastic bag sales in major supermarkets.

The announcement of the extension, together with a doubling in the charge to 10p, will drive this success even further in an additional fight against single-use plastic.

8 TalkingShop

October 2020

GroceryAid £1.5m Covid Fund remains open Industry charity GroceryAid has reminded everyone working in the convenience and grocery sector that its £1.5m Covid-19 Fund remains open.

The Fund was established to provide enhanced support for those in the industry during this unprecedented period, ensuring that those who need help get it.

Anyone working in the industry can apply. This includes everyone in a retailer’s team.

GroceryAid can help in a number of important ways and provide support services that cover mental health, crisis grants and financial assistance around bereavements. l ‘In the moment’ emotional and practical support

for colleagues dealing with shock, anxiety, or stress, from day one of them working in the grocery industry. l Non-repayable one-off grants to help those struggling with financial hardship caused during Covid-19. l Financial assistance following the loss of a loved one through Covid-19.

To find out more, visit www.groceryaid.org.uk

News

Guide Dog advice INBRIEF under lockdown Lockdown has been a particularly challenging time for blind or partially sighted shoppers, so it’s important that retailers do all that they can to help.

RETAILER WARNED AGAINST ‘PRICE GOUGING’ Independent retailers have been reminded by industry watchdog the Competition

and Markets Authority (CMA) that it is continuing to clamp

with sight loss shopping instore. l Ensure any changes to the in-store experience are communicated accessibly to people with sight loss.

down on overcharging during the coronavirus pandemic.

The CMA send a strongly worded letter to retailers as it continues its investigations into possible overcharging, particularly for products like

The official Guide Dogs charity has issued updated advice for retailers to help them ensure that people with sight loss can continue to live actively, independently and well under lockdown.

As many stores have brought in queuing systems, in-store changes and stopped providing

assistance shopping, going to the shops has been a difficult experience for many.

Key recommendations l Include people with sight loss in any shopping hours exclusively for elderly and ‘vulnerable’ people. l Ensure staff are trained to provide support to people

The charity has asked retailers to explain to blind and partially sighted shoppers how they can navigate the store and, where possible, to use ‘tactile’ signage such as raised floor stickers. Additionally, retailers should let the shopper know about any distancing measures in place and whether there are perspex screens installed as well as talking the shopper through the payment process: where any card machines are located, and if the shopper is paying in cash, let them know where it needs to be placed and count out their change.

hand sanitiser.

A number of convenience stores are suspected of profiteering during the Covid-19 crisis and the CMA has intensified its investigations after receiving over 7,000 complaints from consumers alleging large price rises on food and personal hygiene products.

The largest price increases complained about related to hand sanitiser, with a reported average rise of 367%. The CMA wrote to trade bodies representing convenience stores as well as Amazon and eBay in its attempt to tackle

Shoppers actively seeking local products A new survey has found that that almost a third of UK consumers* admit the Covid-19 pandemic has made them realise how important locally sourced products are to the UK economy, and almost half (48%) say they are actively looking for locally sourced items in the supermarket.

Commissioned by Weetabix, the survey of 2,000 UK adults found that a third have been

more supportive of local British businesses during lockdown than ever before.

More than a third do so to be more ethical in their shopping habits, whilst over two thirds hope to support local farmers and almost half do so for healthier and fresher produce.

Some 51% believe that by ‘buying local’ they are helping the economy and 45% hope to reduce their ‘food miles’.

price rises.

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@55north.com 0141 222 5380

October 2020 TalkingShop

9

65% OF GB CHOSE THE TASTE OF PEPSI MAX

*Pepsi MAX Taste Challenge, Blind Sampling in GB 17.07.2019 to 08.09.2019 where 26,384 of 40,839 people surveyed preferred the taste of Pepsi MAX to the biggest selling cola in GB. Conducted by ID limited on behalf of Britvic Soft Drinks Limited. The Taste Challenge was against Coca Cola Regular, which is the UK’s biggest selling cola based on Nielsen value sales data WE 03.08.2019 MAT TY.

*

CommunityNews OPINION, NEWS AND ACHIEVEMENTS FROM PREMIER RETAILERS

Singh’s support hospital next door with £1,000 donation

INBRIEF RETAILERS SUPPORT CANCER CHARITY

The community-minded Singh family in Sheffield have made a generous donation of £1,000 to the hospital that sits next door to one of their four stores.

With the NHS enduring such a tough time over the last few months and NHS staff under enormous pressure, the community-minded Singh family who run four stores in Sheffield have made a generous £1,000 donation to the Northern General Hospital which sits literally next door to one of the family’s stores.

Mandeep Singh told Talking Shop: “The NHS has had a really, really difficult time during the coronavirus pandemic as we’re all aware. The Northern General Hospital is the main hospital in Sheffield so it’s been absolutely swamped for the last few months. As it sits right next door to one of our shops and many of the staff visit the store every day, we felt it was the right thing to do to give something back.

“So the family decided to make a small donation to show our appreciation for the amazing work they do.”

Edinburgh Premier retailers Linda and Dennis Williams recently supported an innovative project to raise funds for the Maggie’s Cancer Care charity. The project allowed shoppers to buy a pack containing everything they needed to create an amazing selection of gin cocktails, including a 70cl bottle of Hendricks gin, all for £50 – with all profit going to the charity.

Have you signed up for Too Good To Go? Premier retailers are being urged to support their community and their local environment by signing up for an innovative app that allows them to sell ‘magic bags’ of products that are near their sell-by date for discounted prices.

The Too Good To Go app helps reduce waste and drive shopper loyalty. There are already 2.5 million registered users of the app, all keen to snap up magic bags from their local store. All retailers have to do is sign up on the Too Good To Go website and they’re ready to start filling their magic bags and making them available for sale via the app. Shoppers then simply collect the bags at your store.

The service is particularly useful for reducing waste and increasing revenues on short-coded

Shoppers buying the pack were also then able to attend an online cocktail masterclass hosted by the Master Distiller at Hendricks.

As if that wasn’t enough, the store also ran a competition to hand out three packs free to some lucky shoppers.

TALKING TACTICS categories like fresh, chilled and food to go.

Each meal sold through Too Good to Go is subject to a £1.09 fee, with a yearly admin cost of £39. This is deducted from what the company pays participating retailers each quarter.

To sign up, visit www.toogoodtogo. co.uk

What are you doing in-store to stand out in your local market?

Share it with us and your Premier retailer colleagues at talkingshop@55north.com 0141 222 5380

October 2020 TalkingShop

11

NEVER MISS

A MOMENT

NO SMOKE, NO VAPOUR

THE NORDIC WAY TO NICOTINE

BERGAMOT WILDBERRY This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance.

IndustryNews A DIGEST OF NEWS FROM THE INDEPENDENT RETAILING INDUSTRY

Convenience growth ‘driven by younger shoppers’ Almost 70% of shoppers aged 18-24 visited their local convenience store for the first time during lockdown, says a new study.

INBRIEF ‘BIG SEPTEMBER’ LOTTO Camelot has revealed details

of a series of special draws for September where hundreds of

A staggering 68% of younger shoppers aged between 18 and 24 visited their local convenience store for the very first time during lockdown, according to a new study conducted among 2,000 UK adults by PayPoint. The figure for 25 to 24 year-olds was similarly high at 59% showing clearly that younger shoppers are playing a key role in helping to drive the significant growth that the independent retailing sector has seen over the past few months.

Surprisingly, the survey revealed that over half of all shoppers – 56% – paid a visit to their local convenience store for the first time during lockdown, a statistic that has important implications for Premier retailers.

Growing footfall is vital to the future success of all Premier stores and the findings of this study suggest that it would be wise for retailers to pay particular attention to younger shoppers.

The survey also found that 51% of shoppers plan to continue shopping at their local convenience

millions of pounds will be up for grabs, a move that will help generate footfall for Premier retailers.

The ‘Big September’ special draws kick off with a £20m Lotto ‘Must Be Won’ draw, followed by two mega EuroMillions draws – one guaranteeing 20 UK millionaires and one offering a boosted jackpot of over £100m.

In addition, there will be a special ‘Must Be Won’ draw

store to support local independent businesses after lockdown.

Almost two-thirds of respondents said that their local store has a positive impact on the local area and 71% think of their convenience store as an integral part of the community.

in November to launch a change to Lotto which will see around a million people win a fiver in certain ‘Must Be Won’ draws. From November, players who match two main numbers in a Lotto ‘Must Be

Shoppers ‘increasingly comfortable’ visiting stores

Won’ draw where no one matches all six main numbers to win the jackpot outright

Shoppers in the UK are growing increasingly comfortable with returning to stores, according to The latest EY Future Consumer Index.

The Index has revealed that shoppers are now twice as comfortable visiting stores as they were in May, rising from just 25% to 56%.

The survey of more than 1,000 UK shoppers also found that UK consumer behaviour is changing as the pandemic progresses and may change permanenetly. More than half of shoppers – 56% - say that, over the longer term, they intend to shop less frequently but spend more when they do shop.

A significant 69% say they remain more mindful of hygiene and sanitation when shopping in person. Additionally, more than twothirds of consumers (67%) say they now have an interest in own-brand packaged food.

will also scoop a share of the jackpot – winning £5 in addition to their free Lucky Dip.

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@55north.com 0141 222 5380

October 2020 TalkingShop

13

Tonyrefail, South Wales | STORE PROFILE

Staying

ahead of the game Despite completing a major refit just a few years ago, South Wales retailers Ajitpal and Sandeep Singh decided that it was time for another full scale refresh to help them stay ahead of the game.

Store CV:

Name: Premier Capel Hill Stores, Tonyrefail Retailers: Ajitpal and Sandeep Singh Time as retailers: 27 years Time with Premier: 15 years Size: 1,200sq ft Staff: 4 full time, 2 part time Services: Licensed, Lottery, Pay Point, hot food, bake-off bread, coffee, Fwip, F’Real, Tango Ice Blast, Cool Desserts Bar, Chicago Town Pizza, scooping ice cream, hardware.

Nearest competition: Spar ½ mile away Trading hours: 7am – 9.30pm Mon to Sat; 8am – 9.30pm Sun

FAMILY AFFAIR: The Singhs enjoying their refitted store.

October 2020 TalkingShop

15

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

Grocery colleagues have access to:

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

- Charles Wilson, GroceryAid President

Mental Health Support Offering ‘in the moment’ emotional and practical support for colleagues dealing with shock, anxiety and stress through BACP trained counsellors, our Health and Wellbeing portal and Woebot, our AI Robot App. Bereavement Financial Assistance Providing financial assistance for the loss of a loved one through Covid-19. Available to colleagues who lose a partner or the immediate family of a colleague who has passed away as a result of Covid-19 whilst working in our industry.

Crisis Grants Non-repayable grants, designed to help with financial emergencies. This is available for colleagues experiencing unexpected financial difficulties due to Covid-19 with a year’s industry service.

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

What are your views? Call 0141 222 5380 or email talkingshop@55north.com

LOCAL HEROES: A range of local products are stocked.

PAPER PROFITS: Cards and stationery sell well.

UP MARKET: Premium products drive margins up.

T

he pace of change in independent retailing is relentless and that’s never been truer than it is today – which is precisely why Premier retailers Ajitpal and Sandeep Singh recently decided to undertake a major refresh of their store, despite having only done a full-scale refit in 2016.

“We’ve had the store since 2009 and when we did the last refit it was meant to see us through the next decade,” explains Ajitpal.

“But the reality has been that so much has changed in the last few years that we felt that we had no choice but to completely refresh the store again to let us stay ahead of the game and allow us to give today’s shoppers more of what they are looking for.”

Indeed, the last few months alone have seen the world of independent retailing undergo a massive transformation and the husband and wife’s decision to commit another £60,000 investment to upgrading the store so soon is testament to how much they

CHILL OUT: The Cool Desserts bar has been a hit.

have seen the independent retailing sector change.

“We had so many new products and services that we wanted to add to the store that we finally accepted that the only way to really do everything we wanted – and do it well – was to commit to another huge refresh,” says Ajitpal.

Core to that refresh, which was completed at the end of March just as Lockdown began, was a desire to fully embrace the current megatrend towards hot food to go, coffee and premium dessert options.

“We’ve added a whole array of new offerings, but without making the store feel cluttered or too busy,” comments Ajitpal.

“We’ve added a whole new Cool Desserts Bar with waffles, scooping ice cream, pancakes, pastries and so on and we’ve also added a F’Real machine, a Fwip unit, Tango Ice Blast and a Barista coffee machine. The food to go side of the business has also been massively ramped up with a new dedicated

COUNTER ACTIVE: The new tillpoint is bright and welcoming.

area and we’ve added a Chicago Town Pizza unit and we’re now doing bake-off bread. It’s been a huge transformation and my shoppers love it!”

The store sits at the heart of a housing development in Tonyrefail in South Wales and has been a real lifeline for the local community during the coronavirus lockdown period.

“It’s been a difficult period for everyone but in times like this, the local community really relies on the store and we’ve been only too happy to be there for our shoppers,” he says.

One consequence of the pandemic has been a huge increase in demand for non-food products, so much so that during the refit, Ajitpal even added a new hardware section to the store offering a wide range of DIY and homeware products. “Lockdown has seen people spending more time working on their homes and gardens and we were getting asked for all sorts of products because there’s October 2020 TalkingShop

17

STOCK UP ON FULLER’S BOTTLED ALES TODAY. DOUBLE THE MARKET GROWTH FULLER’S LONDON PRIDE

+49%

VS TOTAL ALE CATEGORY +23%*

*Nielsen Distribution ROS - Key Ale Sub Brands Single Bottles Aug 2020

What are your views? Call 0141 222 5380 or email talkingshop@55north.com

TOUCH FREE: Contactless payment minimises risk.

GOOD TO GO: Food to go is core in the store.

DISTANCE MEASURES: Social distancing signage helps shoppers.

HARD SELL: A new hardware section has been popular.

PIZZA THE ACTION: A pizza unit helps grow food to go sales and basket spend.

nowhere nearby that they can get these types of products,” explains Ajitpal. “We had been seeing demand grow even before the pandemic so we decided to respond to that demand by creating a new hardware area at the back of the store. It’s been really, really popular.”

A fantastic example of listening to shoppers and responding to their specific needs.

The couple have also been extremely proactive in supporting the local community during lockdown, offering free food and deliveries to vulnerable locals, sponsoring the local junior football team and generally helping out wherever they could.

“The community has to pull together at times like this and it really has,” says Ajitpal.

“We were delighted to play our part.”

As a result, the store has seen sales increase by around 30% but, more importantly, it has seen margins increase dramatically from around 20% to over 25%.

“We have a limited catchment area so we weren’t expecting to see sales increase so dramatically after the refit,” concludes Ajitpal.

“So it’s been very pleasing to see 30% growth, but it’s been even more satisfying to see our profits increase by 5% which demonstrates clearly that the changes we have made have worked extremely well and our shoppers are loving their new store!”

“Deciding to refit the entire store again was a tough decision to take but now that we’ve done it and have seen sales and profits grow so well, we’re confident that we made the right decision. In today’s ever-changing world you’ve got to keep investing in your store if you want to keep growing.”

October 2020 TalkingShop

19

YOUR NEW MUST STOCK.

RED BULL ZERO 250ML. NEW TASTE. NEW OPPORTUNITY. Zero is the fastest growing sub-category in Soft Drinks. Add your new must stock from the No.1 Energy Drink brand and see sales fly.

Source: IRI Infoscan, Total Coverage, Value Sales & Fastest Growing Sub-Category 52 w/e 28.03.20.

Plymouth | STORE PROFILE

Rising

to the challenge Shortly after opening their new Premier store in Plymouth, Prasanna and Donna Weragama had to meet the challenges of lockdown but they have more than risen to the task.

O FORGING AHEAD: Donna Weragama at the new store.

pening a brand new store on the site of a business that hadn’t been trading for 10 months is hard enough, but doing so just as lockdown kicks in makes life just that little bit more interesting. That’s certainly the experience of Plymouth Premier retailers Prasanna and Donna Weragama who opened their third store in January this year with absolutely no inkling of what lay ahead.

“We got the keys to the store on the 6th of January and we were so excited about it,” explains Prasanna. “We had heard nothing about coronavirus at that point and we were simply looking forward to refitting the store and creating a fantastic new Premier store for the local community. The store had been a One-Stop beforehand but it had closed about 10 months previously so we knew we had a challenge on our hands to rebuild the customer-base and cement our position within the community, but we had no idea October 2020 TalkingShop

21

STORE PROFILE | Plymouth

ON THE GO: Food to go is key.

FRESH START: Everything in the store is new.

Store CV:

Name: Premier Woolwell Stores, Plymouth Retailer: Prasanna Weragama Time as a retailer: 16 years Time with Premier: 7 years Stores in group: 3 Size: 1,750sq ft Staff: 9 Services: Licensed, Lottery, Post Office, hot food, coffee, F’Real, Tango Ice Blast, Dessert Bar, local produce and ciders, vaping.

Nearest competition: Tesco and Aldi around a mile away.

Trading hours: 7am – 9pm

22 TalkingShop

October 2020

that we would also face all the additional challenges that lockdown would bring!”

The refit was a major task and involved replacing almost everything in the store.

“The only things in the shop that we didn’t replace were the floors and the ceiling,” says Prassana. “Literally everything else is new – so it was a major job but we were delighted with the results.”

The store sits in a popular precinct and is surrounded by various fast food outlets including a fish and chip shop, two pizza outlets and an Indian takeaway, as well as a hairdressers.

“It’s a busy precinct so we knew that generating footfall wouldn’t be a huge problem,” he says. “There was already a lot of traffic to the area so we knew we could tempt lots of shoppers in once we opened.”

Prassana’s predictions proved correct and the store got off to a good start. “We saw a lot of interest from day one and we were gradually building up our shopper base,” comments Prassana. “We knew it

HIGH STANDARDS: The store maintains high standards.

would take time because shoppers weren’t used to a store being there, but we worked hard on social media and we were starting to see the benefits when it became clear that coronavirus was going to have a huge impact on us. Like every Premier retailer, we had no idea if that was going to be a positive one or a catastrophic one so it was a nervous time.”

So what actually happened? “Oh my god!” gasps Prassana. “The store just became unbelievably busy overnight. When lockdown kicked in we were suddenly swamped with shoppers and they were just buying up everything.

We expected certain categories like grocery to become more popular than they have been for a while – and that did happen – and we obviously saw huge demand for flour and toilet roll and all the panic buying products, but the reality is that shoppers were just buying anything and everything. There wasn’t a category that didn’t see massive growth.”

The result of that was a 100% increase

What are your views? Call 0141 222 5380 or email talkingshop@55north.com

STAY SAFE: Signage keeps shoppers safe.

SCREENING: Screens keep staff and shoppers protected.

in weekly turnover that was pretty much instantaneous.

“Even though we were surrounded by food to go outlets, we still felt there was scope for us to focus on food to go in the store with a good hot food offer, coffee and a dessert bar,” he says. “Fortunately, that proved to be correct and we’ve been selling huge volumes of desserts, ice cream, pasties and coffee. It has certainly created challenges for us but they are great challenges to face.”

The one thing that is hard for Prassana to do is analyse what is working best in his new store. “Under normal circumstances, it’s quite easy to see which parts of the store are working well,” he explains. “You can tell if the food to go is really popular, or the promotions or the locally sourced produce and ciders, or whatever. The problem with lockdown is that everything is popular but, again, that’s a problem I’m happy to live with!”

Prassana and his team have also been working hard to engage with the local

community and build a rapport. “Independent retailing is all about serving the community, isn’t it?” he says. “So we’ve been doing all that we can during lockdown. We’ve been collecting groceries and provisions for the NHS, we’ve been helping vulnerable locals and generally just helping out where we can.

We wanted to be be there for our community when they needed us during this enormously difficult time.”

As lockdown has eased, Prassana has seen a slight slowdown in the store but sales and profits remain way ahead of projections.

“We’ve definitely seen things calm down a little in very recent weeks but we’re still trading way, way up on where we thought we would be,” concludes Prassana. “To be honest, I don’t think things are going to go back to ‘normal’ until at least next year and there’s a chance that it will be two or three years before everything settles down properly. We just have to keep meeting the challenges as they arise – but I’m confident we can do just that.”

TEAM LEADER: Store manager, Mark Jones.

October 2020 TalkingShop

23

FEATURE | Local Sourcing

Get vocal about local!

Offering a good range of locally sourced products – and shouting about it – can help set your store apart from the competition as well as driving footfall, sales and profits.

P

remier retailers are always on the look out for ways to set themselves apart from the competition and give shoppers extra reasons to visit their stores more often and spend more while they are there.

One fantastic way of quickly giving your store another strong USP is by ramping up your locally and regionally sourced product range. What not become ‘famous’ in your community for your range of locally sourced products?

Shopper interest in locally sourced products has continued to grow in recent years but the coronavirus pandemic appears to have accelerated that trend with more shoppers than ever keen to support local retailers and producers and, ultimately, local economies.

26 TalkingShop

October 2020

Both Kantar and Mintel highlight local sourcing as a key trend that will shape the future or food and drink retailing over the next three years.

WHY LOCAL? There are many reasons why shoppers are increasingly on the look out for locally and regionally produced products. Key drivers include sustainability – reduced ‘food miles’, a perception of higher quality from local producers and a desire to support smaller independent businesses after the experiences of coronavirus.

Whatever the reasons, there are more shoppers than ever keen to buy local where they can – and they are often prepared to pay a premium.

So where should retailers start when it comes to getting more vocal about local?

What are your views? Call 0141 222 5380 or email talkingshop@55north.com

AUDIT YOUR RANGE

The starting point when looking to make more of your locally sourced lines is to do a quick audit of what you already stock in store. You might surprise yourself by finding that you stock more locally and regionally sourced products than you had imagined.

Once you’ve established the scope of your local range, proactively examine how you could expand the range. Some quick and easy ways of doing this include: l Booker already lists hundreds of local producers that are available through Central Billing so it’s worth checking out which of the products listed are local to your store. l Spend some time finding local producers you could work with by talking to shoppers, checking out local business directories and simply Googling! l Talk to your RDM who may be able to advise on the experiences of other Premier retailers and who may be able to suggest a few local or regional companies and products that have been successful in other Premier stores.

You can of course find locally sourced products in virtually every category, but some categories are particularly important for many stores when it comes to local products. These include: l Bread & Bakery l Eggs l Fruit & Veg l Butchery Products l Craft Beers l Craft Spirits l Confectionery l Biscuits l Food to go

WHICH CATEGORIES TO TARGET?

* TAKEN BEFORE FACE MASKS WERE COMPULSORY October 2020 TalkingShop

27

FEATURE | Local Sourcing

HOW TO MERCHANDISE

There are a couple of key ways of highlighting your locally produced products in-store: 1 Dedicated fixture l One of the most effective ways of shining a light on local products is by dedicating a fixture, or part of a fixture, to local lines. That way you can make the fixture a feature of the store and it also has the benefit of allowing to you to merchandise products from different categories together. l Make use of existing high quality Premier POS such as shelf edge strips to bring the fixture to leave and consider using bus stops, hanging signs and other impactful POS to draw the shopper’s attention to the fixture.

2. Spot branding l If you don’t have the space to dedicate a fixture to local sourcing, or you simply don’t want to, then you can consider highlighting all locally sourced products in-store with a special identifier.

SHOUT ABOUT IT!

It’s vital that, having created a strong locally sourced offer, you make as much noise about it as you can. There are various ways of doing this but a few ideas might include: l Make local sourcing a key element of your social media strategy. Issue regular posts highlighting individual local producers or products and letting shoppers know they can find them at your store. l Run competitions to win locally sourced products on Facebook which will generate awareness and footfall. l Talk to your local press. Consumer interest in local sourcing is high at the moment so there’s a good chance they will be interested in running a piece on your locally sourced range – particularly if you are able to support this piece with a small ad! l Consider highlighting your local focus on your exterior signage, either with a simple poster or by amending your vinyls or permanent signage with a mention of locally sourced products. l Work with the local suppliers you buy from to encourage them to promote your store in their communications. That could be as simple as them highlight the fact that their products are now available in your store on their own social media pages or website.

28 TalkingShop

October 2020

What are your views? Call 0141 222 5380 or email talkingshop@55north.com

* TAKEN BEFORE FACE MASKS WERE COMPULSORY

GET CREATIVE

Once you have identified your local range and highlighted it in store, you can start to think more creatively about how to bring the range to life instore. Some ideas include: l Highlighting products sourced from within a specific distance from your store (3 miles, 10 miles etc). This helps reinforce the local messaging and demonstrates your commitment to supporting smaller local producers. Create special price tickets or markers to identify these products. l Choose a local product of the week / month. You could simply highlight the product by siting it at the tilllpoint, or you could run a competition instore or on Facebook offering some product as a prize. This is a great way of generating awareness as well as driving footfall, sales and profits. l Host sampling days where local producers visit your store to conduct samplings for your shoppers. This can generate theatre and excitement as well as driving sales.

October 2020 TalkingShop

29

Fresh | FEATURE

Focus on fresh Fresh is now one of the most vital categories in any Premier store with shoppers expecting to find a good range of high quality, great value products every time they visit.

F

resh has relentlessly grown in importance as a category in the last few years but the coronavirus pandemic has made a great quality, fantastic value fresh offering a must-have for today’s shoppers.

Most shoppers expect to find good quality fresh produce in your store every time they visit, so rechecking your range and spending some time ensuring it is presented attractively is the key to growing footfall, sales and profits in this category.

With so many workers furloughed and so many shoppers based permanently at home these days, local independent stores have never been so popular. Indeed, a recent Kantar study found that the convenience retailing channel has grown by 66% as more and more shoppers chose to buy locally.

Booker stocks a huge range of fresh products that allow Premier retailers to provide great quality products at fantastic value prices for shoppers.

To help retailers drive up footfall, sales

and profits, Booker is delivering exclusive POR-boosting reduced WSPs for Premier retailers on the top 10 selling fresh fruit and vegetable lines.

The exclusive pricing means, for example, that Premier retailers can offer their shoppers amazing deals on products that bring shoppers to their doors on a daily basis.

All Robert Wiseman Dairies 2l milks, for instance, are available to shoppers on a ‘2 for £2’ deal, driving up basket spend while also ensuring Premier retailers PORs of

EXCLUSIVE PRICING

MILK BASICS PRODUCT

CASE SIZE

WSP

CONSUMER DEAL

POR

RWD Fresh Semi Skimmed Milk

4x2ltr

£3.20

ANY 2 FOR £2

20.0%

RWD Fresh Whole Milk

4x2ltr

£3.20

ANY 2 FOR £2

20.0%

RWD Fresh Skimmed Milk

1x2ltr

£0.80

ANY 2 FOR £2

20.0%

Cravendale Whole Milk

6x1.3ltr

£4.19

£1.00

30.2%

Cravendale Semi Skimmed Milk

6x1.3ltr

£4.19

£1.00

30.2%

October 2020 TalkingShop

33

What are your views? Call 0141 222 5380 or email talkingshop@55north.com

THE DAIRY ESSENTIALS - NEW LINES ADDED PRODUCT

CASE SIZE

WSP

CONSUMER DEAL

RRP

POR

Utterly Butterly PM189

8x500g

£6.39

2 FOR £2

£1.89

20.1%

Elmlea Double

12x284ml

£7.99

£1.00

£1.19

33.4%

Elmlea Double Plant Based

12x270ml

£7.99

£1.00

£1.00

33.4%

Cathedral City Mature Cheddar PM289

6x200g

£8.99

£2.00

£2.89

25.1%

Cathedral City Light Mature Cheddar PM289

6x200g

£8.99

£2.00

£2.89

25.1%

Cathedral City Extra Mature Cheddar PM289

6x200g

£8.99

£2.00

£2.89

25.1%

Yazoo Strawberry Milk PM169

6x1ltr

£4.79

£1.00

£1.69

20.2%

Yazoo Chocolate PM169

6x1ltr

£4.79

£1.00

£1.69

20.2%

Yazoo Banana Flav Milk PM169

6x1ltr

£4.79

£1.00

£1.69

20.2%

Anchor Butter

20x250g

£27.49

£1.79

£2.39

23.2%

CONSUMER DEAL

RRP

POR

20%. Similarly, a whole range of Onken 450g lines are on offer to shoppers on a ‘2 for £2.50’ deal with standard RSPs normally £1.59 for some of the lines included, while the POR for retailers is a fantastic 30%.

In terms of maintaining the fixture, it’s always best to remove any produce that is past its best. If you wouldn’t buy it yourself, remove it. Bruised or bashed produce can also put shoppers off buying anything from the fixture, so make sure only great quality produce is on your shelves.

Shoppers increasingly expect to find a strong chilled offer in-store covering both the basics like milk and dairy but increasingly including categories like ready meals. The Discover the Choice range from Booker is

the perfect solution offering that great combination of fantastic value and brilliant quality.

Booker offers a superb range of meat products that deliver the usual blend of quality and value, particularly when it comes to the popular Discover the Choice range.

Whatever way you look at it, Premier has all your fresh essentials covered.

FANTASTIC FRUIT & VEG! PRODUCT

Pre Pack Potatoes FF Banana PM

CASE SIZE

WSP

10x2kg

£10.39

£1.49

£1.49

30.3%

20x5s

£13.79

£0.99

£0.99

30.4%

Closed Cup Mushrooms PMP

8x250g

£5.49

£0.99

£0.99

30.7%

Cherry Tomatoes PM

9x250g

£6.79

£1.09

£1.09

30.8% 30.4%

10x6s

£7.59

£1.09

£1.09

FF Broccoli

Tomatoes PM

10x350g

£6.59

£0.95

£0.95

30.6%

Mixed Peppers PM

10x3pk

£12.89

£1.85

£1.85

30.3%

PRICES ARE EFFECTIVE FROM 30TH SEPTEMBER TO 3RD NOVEMBER

*PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT.

October 2020 TalkingShop

35

NXCELW USIVE

& E O O KE R !

TO B E ASE SIZ

2 C ACK 1 R E L L SMA 3g MULTIP AY! UT L 5X1 L E SS O

CE | A P S S LES

M

S K C A P ULTI ING

OW R G T SE L S E U T P S M A -F HIN I T I W AT FO R M

% 3 2 +

M260434

E C I R P ONAL TOBER

I T O M P R O L E 2 S E PT - 2 7 B AVAILA

40 @

ND

R O P %

R R M 5 £1.2

P

TH

OC

R O P 5%

2 1 PROMOTION

@£

c o t S

! w o N p U k Source: CSN Impulse L12wks - AC Nielsen 11.07.2020

Footfall Drivers | FEATURE

Maximising

footfall

With lockdown slowly easing, it’s a great time for Premier retailers to make sure they have the right ranges and promotions in place to maximise footfall.

PRICES ARE EFFECTIVE FROM 30TH SEPTEMBER TO 3RD NOVEMBER

IMPROVED SANDWICH MEAL DEAL Premier has improved its hugely popular Sandwich Meal Deal with promotional WSPs on all the

W

ith coronavirus lockdown wrap, plus a bag of crisps and a drink for just £3. Examples of products in the deal include: slowly being eased across the PRODUCT CASE SIZE WSP UK, this is the ideal time for Premier retailers to take Snax on The Go Ch/Bcn Sandwich PM159 6x1pk £5.66 a fresh look at their stores to ensure Snax on The Go Chicken Caesar Wrap 6x1pk £6.59 that they have everything in place to Snax on The Go Ch/On Sndwich PM159 6x1pk £5.66 ensure maximum footfall, bringing Snax on The Go Ham & Cheese 33% Extra PM159 6x175g £5.66 more shoppers to your store more Snax on The Go Mexcian Mixed Bean Wrap 6x1pk £6.59 often.

Snax on The Go Tna/Mayo 33% Ext PM159 6x1pk £5.66 SANDWICH While lockdown typically Doritos Chilli Heatwave 32x40g £12.80 MEAL DEAL £3 (CONSISTING OF saw footfall drop as social Doritos Tangy Cheese 32x40g £12.80 1XSANDWICH, distancing measures were Doritos Cool Original 32x40g £12.80 1XDRINK & 1X CRISPS) introduced, many retailers Walkers Baked Cheese & Onion 32x37.5g £11.67 experienced greatly increased Walkers Ready Salted PM65 32x32.5g £10.75 basket spends over the last few Walkers Salt & Vinegar PM65 32x32.5g £10.75 months. With lockdown now Glaceau Smartwater S/Cap 12x850ml £4.19 20% easing off, we may start to see RobsRfrshd Org/PFruPM100/170 12x500ml £5.49 MINIMUM footfall numbers start to grow 12x500ml £5.49 RobsRfrshd Rsp/Apl PM100/170 naturally again – but there’s Pepsi Max PM109 2 For PM200 12x500ml £5.99 POR plenty you can do to help component products until 3rd November. Shoppers can now buy any Snax On The Go sandwich or

October 2020 TalkingShop

37

FEATURE | Footfall Drivers

BAKERY LOCK DOWN PRICING PRODUCT

CASE SIZE

WSP

CONSUMER DEAL

POR

Hovis Soft White Medium Loaf

1x800g

£0.79

£1.09

27.5%

Hovis Soft White Thick Loaf

1x800g

£0.79

£1.09

27.5%

Hovis Wholemeal Medium Loaf

1x800g

£0.79

£1.09

27.5%

Hovis Doorstep Loaf

1x800g

£0.79

£1.09

27.5%

Hovis Best of Both Medium

1x750g

£0.79

£1.09

27.5%

Warburtons Slice Toast Loaf

1x800g

£0.81

£1.09

25.7%

Warburtons Soft White Farmhouse

1x800g

£0.81

£1.09

25.7%

Warburtons Medium Sliced Bread

1x800g

£0.81

£1.09

25.7%

Warburtons Medium Wholemeal Bread

1x800g

£0.81

£1.09

25.7%

Warburtons Wonderloaf Medium

1x800g

£0.69

£0.89

22.5%

1x6s

£0.59

£1.00

41.0%

Warburtons Sandwich Thins

accelerate that growth.

DAILY ESSENTIALS One key way of bringing more shoppers to your door is by ensuring you stock the full range of daily essentials like bread, milk, eggs and sugar. It’s these sorts of categories that shoppers top up on most often, so having a good range, well presented and at great value prices is key to unlocking footfall growth.

38 TalkingShop

October 2020

Premier is helping retailers do precisely that with a range of fantastic promotions on daily essentials all the way through until the 3rd of November. A series of heavily discounted WSPs on the biggest bread brands like Warburtons, Hovis and Kingsmill mean that Premier retailers can offer their shoppers fantastic pricing at up to 10p below the standard RSP on an 800g loaf. Deals like that will drive shoppers to your door and while they are there, they are likely to do the rest

of their shopping, building big baskets and growing profits for you.

One outstanding promotion to look out for is the exclusive pricing and promotional deal that Premier has secured on Warburtons’ new Wonderloaf. Made from 50% white flour and 50% wholemeal flour with added vitamin D and calcium, the new loaf is already generating huge interest – and Premier retailers are in prime position to capitalise on that interest.

What are your views? Call 0141 222 5380 or email talkingshop@55north.com

AMAZING VALUE EVENINGS-IN DEALS This amazing deal runs until November 3rd and offers shoppers a 2l bottle of R Whites Lemonade PM £1.39 or a 1.5l bottle of Rubicon Spring absolutely free when they buy any two Discover The Choice pizzas or ready meals.

PRODUCT

CASE SIZE

WSP

DTC Beef Lasagne PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Chicken Jalfrezi PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Chicken Korma PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Chicken Tikka PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Chilli Con Carne PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Fish Pie PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Macaroni Cheese PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Sausage & Mash PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Spag Meatballs PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Tom & Mozz Pasta PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC Veg Lasagne PM2/500

6x450g

£9.00

DTC 3 Cheese Pizza PM2/500

5x331g

£8.00

DTC Meat Feast Pizza PM2/500

5x350g

£8.00

DTC Pepperoni Pizza PM2/500

5x330g

£8.00

The exclusive deal means that Premier retailers pay a WSP of just 69p for an 800g loaf, allowing them to sell the load to shoppers at just 89p – a whopping 30p below the RSP, while still making 22.5% POR. This market-leading deal is worth shouting about so it makes sense to feature the new Wonderloaf in your social media posts to help boost footfall.

Premier also has a range of specially discounted WSPs on a range of bakery lines, milk and sugar – all of which will draw shoppers to your store and ultimately provide a platform for building big basket spends.

MEAL DEALS Another key way of driving footfall is through Meal Deals which have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years.

Premier offers retailers two outstanding Meal Deals, including a newly refreshed and improved Sandwich Meal Deal.

The deal now offers shoppers any Snax On The Go sandwich or

BUY ANY 2X DTC READY MEAL/PIZZA FOR £5 AND GET A R WHITES PM139 2LTR/RUBICON 1.5LTR FREE

20% MINIMUM POR

wrap, plus a bag of crisps and a drink for just £3.

Special promotional pricing for Premier retailers on all lines included in the deal mean that retailers a guaranteed a minimum of 20% of every Sandwich Meal Deal they sell and a deal this strong is certain to drive footfall.

Make sure you use the POS provided to drive sales and awareness and, again, shout about the deal on social media.

Premier’s Amazing Value Night-In Meal Deal is another fantastic footfall driver, offering shoppers a 2l bottle of R Whites PM £1.39 or a 1.5l bottle of Rubicon absolutely free when they buy any two Discover the Choice ready meals or pizzas.

The Meal Deal provides a quick, fuss-free and great value option for shoppers looking for something for tonight’s dinner and guarantees retailers a minimum of 20% POR. This is another deal worth highlighting both in-store and on social media and is also a great building-block for generating big basket spends and repeat business.

AMAZING VALUE ESSENTIALS PRODUCT

CASE SIZE

WSP

CONSUMER DEAL

POR

Warburtons Crumpets

1x6s

£0.55

£0.69

20.3%

Warburtons Pancakes

1x6s

£0.59

£1.00

41.0%

Warburtons Potato Cakes

1x6s

£0.59

£1.00

41.0%

Warburtons Toasting Muffins

1x4s

£0.59

£1.00

41.0%

Euro Shopper Eggs PM200

6x15pk

£7.99

£2.00

33.4%

Euro Shopper Eggs PM200

1x15pk

£1.34

£2.00

33.0%

Euro Shopper Smk R/L Back Bacon PM300

10x500g

£21.00

£3.00

30.0%

Euro Shopper Smk R/L Back Bacon PM300

2x500g

£4.20

£3.00

30.0%

Euro Shopper U/S R/L Back Bacon PM300

10x500g

£21.00

£3.00

30.0%

Euro Shopper U/S R/L Back Bacon PM300

2x500g

£4.20

£3.00

30.0%

October 2020 TalkingShop

39

SAME BIG TISSUE M O R E

R O O M

O N

S H E L F

Extra large tissue now in an extra small pack

UK’s best selling tissue brand* Kleenex Extra Large Compact Twin PMP £1.99 *Based on Nielsen UK data for the Facial category for 12 month period ending March 2020

PricesDown

FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE ON COSTS AND BOOST YOUR PROFITS

Join the Tobacco Club for big WSP savings!

PRICES ARE EFFECTIVE FROM 30TH SEPTEMBER TO 3RD NOVEMBER

The Premier Tobacco Club offers lower WSPs to members, delivering increased PORs, competitive RSPs and increased footfall so it’s time to sign up if you haven’t already!

PREMIER TOBACCO CLUB PRODUCT

STANDARD WSP

CLUB WSP

RSP

STANDARD POR

CLUB POR

SAVING

Players SK Green Filter 10x20s

£72.62

£71.07

£9.30

6.30%

8.30%

£1.55

Players KS Real Red 10x20s

£71.84

£70.29

£9.30

7.30%

9.30%

£1.55

Players SK Real Red 10x20s

£71.84

£70.29

£9.30

7.30%

9.30%

£1.55

L&B KS Blue Real Blue 10x20s

£72.85

£71.30

£9.30

6.00%

8.00%

£1.55

Carlton SK Green Filter 10x20s

£72.85

£71.30

£9.30

6.00%

8.00%

£1.55

Carlton KS Red 10x20s

£72.85

£71.30

£9.30

6.00%

8.00%

£1.55

Carlton SK Red 10x20s

£72.85

£71.30

£9.30

6.00%

8.00%

£1.55

PREMIER TOBACCO CLUB - RYO PRODUCT

STANDARD WSP

CLUB WSP

RSP

STANDARD POR

CLUB POR

SAVING

Gold Leaf + Papers 5 x 50g

£75.00

£73.33

£20.00

10%

12%

£1.67

Gold Leaf + Papers 5 x 30g

£45.56

£44.55

£12.15

10%

12%

£1.01

Riverstone 5 x 30g

£46.67

£45.66

£12.15

7.81%

9.81%

£1.01

L&B Original 5 x 30g

£46.67

£45.66

£12.15

7.81%

9.81%

£1.01

L&B Original 5 x 50g

£76.56

£74.89

£20.00

8.13%

10.13%

£1.67

T

obacco remains a massively important category for Premier retailers and is one of the biggest footfall drivers of all. By joining the Premier Tobacco Club, retailers can really maximise the benefit they gain from the category by gaining access to lower WSPs on a range of 12 top-selling products which helps significantly boost PORs as well as allowing you to offer competitive pricing to your shoppers and help grow footfall even further.

To become a member of the Premier Tobacco Club, all you need to do is agree to set your RSPs to the levels highlighted on this page. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see the lower RSPs on your invoice, no credits required. It’s that simple!

The Club features 12 big-selling cigarette lines and 5 RYO lines from key brands like JPS Players, L&B, Carlton, Gold Leaf and Riverstone and offers WSP savings of up to £1.66 per outer, instantly adding 2% to your POR. This could add an extra £5,000 cash profit per year!

Speak to your RDM today about about joining the Premier Tobacco Club!

October 2020 TalkingShop

41

NESCAFÉ Original 12x95g £2.99 PMP

NESCAFÉ Gold Blend 6x95g PMP

NESCAFÉ Azera 6x100g PMP

NESCAFÉ Original Decaff 6x95g PMP

07613039445709

07613039475843

07613039844595

07613039622629

• Price Marked Packs attract younger, more affluent shoppers • 44% of shoppers are more likely to shop in a Convenience Store that stocks Price Marked Packs • 26% of Convenience Store shoppers say that price shown at shelf is an extremely important factor in deciding what to buy Source: HIM November 2019

GET A GOLD UPGRADE

WIN

A CUSTOMISED VAN +100s OF CASES OF NESCAFÉ GOLD BLEND

ENTRY CODE: SEE STICKER

BUY

a case of 6 x 95g Nescafé Gold Blend

+

Van shown for illustrative purposes only, see T&Cs for full prize details.

TEXT GOLD TO 81400 with your name, business name, postcode and 8 digit code TO ENTER

Text to enter for a chance to win a customised van for your business. PLUS, hundreds of Nescafé Gold Blend cases to be won. UK, 18+ Purchase necessary. Text entry via mobile. Entry costs a standard text message. NI: No purchase necessary. See website for ‘No purchase’ entry (NI only). Purchase 1 case 6 x 95g Nescafé Gold Blend between 00:01 on 01.09.2020 and 23:59 on 30.11.2020 from participating trade retailers only and retain proof of purchase. Text GOLD to 81400 with your name, business name, business postcode and 8-digit sticker code. Valid for purchases of stated product from participating retailers only. One winner of a custom van and 201 runner up prizes of one Nescafé Gold Blend 6x95g case. Maximum one prize per person/business. Maximum one entry throughout the promotion. Entrants will receive notification of entry plus merchandising advice. No further messages will be sent. You can opt out of further communication by texting NOCOMMS. This will not affect your entry. Winners notified via text or phone call within 28 days of the closing date with instructions of how to claim their prize. For further instructions, entry requirements, privacy policy and full terms and conditions visit nescafe.com/gb/our-campaigns/win-a-van-terms.

Promoter: Nestlé UK Ltd, 1 City Place, Gatwick RH6 0PA

To purchase these products now, visit www.booker.co.uk

Ones to

watch

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

Three new own brand ranges WHAT? NEW DISTANT VINES, SEVEN TENTHS BIN 201 AND QUIRKY BIRD OWN BRAND RANGES WHEN? MID-OCTOBER WHY? With sales of wine in strong growth under lockdown, Booker is helping Premier retailers capitalise on the demand for great quality products at great value prices with the launch of three ranges under the Booker exclusive MHV (Malt House Vintners)brand.

The new launches feature 12 new products including five mixed alcoholic drinks from Distant Vines, three blended wines from Seven Tenths Bin 201 and four varietal wines from Quirky Bird. The new range features new back labels that include the inspiration behind every brand, nutritional information, tasting notes and a new ‘goes with’ section.

Available from mid October, the ranges offer amazing EDLP consumer value at £4.99, £5.49 and £6.49 a bottle. Every bottle features a peelable price mark label giving retailers added flexibility, particularly around the seasonal gifting opportunity. Distant Vines has been specifically developed to feature a lower 8% ABV for customers who are looking for a lower alcohol option. There are also multibuy deals on the Seven Tenths (2-for-£10) and Quirky Bird (2 for £12) ranges* to add further value for shoppers.

Full POS suite will be available for launch.

WHERE TO STOCK? Site all white and rosé products prominently within the chiller where possible and stock the reds on the main red wine fixture or in high footfall areas like gondola ends or within promotional bays to maximise footfall sales and profits.

DISTANT VINES: BLUSH, FRUITY & ZESTY, JUICY & SPICY, LIGHT & REFRESHING, SOFT & MELLOW Case size: 6 X 75CL, WSP: £18.49, RSP: £4.99, POR: 25.9% SEVEN TENTHS BIN 201: FRUITY RED, JUICY ROSÉ, ZESTY WHITE Case size: 6 X 75CL, WSP: £18.75, RSP: £5.49 / 2-FOR-£10*, POR: 31.7% / 25% QUIRKY BIRD: SAUVIGNON BLANC, CHENIN BLANC, SHIRAZ, MERLOT Case size: 6 X 75CL, WSP: £22.49, RSP: £6.49 / 2-FOR-£12*, POR: 30.7% / 25% *MULTIBUY DEALS NOT AVAILABLE IN SCOTLAND DUE TO LICENSING LAW.

WHO? These products have been carefully chosen to deliver great value, excellent quality and great tasting drinks for shoppers, with PORs to retailers with a minimum of 25.9% on single bottles, all the way up to 31.7%.

October 2020 TalkingShop

43

To purchase these products now, visit www.booker.co.uk

Get in the spirit with Booker exclusives!

WHAT? KOPPARBERG DARK FRUIT RUM AND DEAD MAN’S FINGERS MANGO RUM WHEN? AVAILABLE NOW WHY? While gin may still be the star of the spirits category, many industry experts are predicting that rum is set to be the next huge trend with flavoured rum in particular highlighted as a massive sales opportunity. To help retailers get in on this trend early, Booker has negotiated agreements to bring two exciting new flavoured rums into the range as Booker exclusives.

Kopparberg Dark Fruit Rum and Dead Man’s Fingers Mango Rum offer exotic new options for shoppers looking for something a little different and both deliver PORs of 20% for retailers.

excitement and interest as well as footfall, sales and profits from day one. Why not feature them on social media and encourage your shoppers to try something new from two well-liked brands?

GROUP EXCLUSIVE!

WHERE TO STOCK? Site both lines prominently within on the main spirits fixture within the rum section. The eye-catching branding will help attract attention and impulse sales in a category that doesn’t often see much NPD. KOPPARBERG DARK FRUIT RUM - BOOKER EXCLUSIVE Case size: 6X70CL, WSP: £95.94, RSP: £23.99, POR: 20% DEAD MAN’S FINGERS MANGO RUM - BOOKER EXCLUSIVE

WHO? Both Kopparberg and Dead Man’s Fingers are well established within independent retailing so the new flavoured rums should generate

Bombay goes fruity WHAT? BOMBAY BRAMBLE GIN 70CL

Case size: 6X70CL, WSP: £89.94, RSP:: £22.49, POR: 20%

Going for gold WHAT? AU BLACK GRAPE VODKA AND AU FRUIT PUNCH VODKA

WHEN? AVAILABLE NOW WHEN? AVAILABLE NOW WHY? Flavoured gin continues to be a massive hit with shoppers, many of whom are often on the lookout for something new to try. Booker has just what they are looking for with new Bombay Bramble Gin, a new full strength 37.5% abv blackberryflavoured variant of from the hugely popular gin brand.

WHO? The new gin will be a hit with all gin drinkers looking for a new flavoured gin to try out and will also help attract existing Bombay Gin fans who may be intrigued to find out what the new variant tastes like.

The perfect serve is either with Tonic or Cloudy Lemonade.

WHERE TO STOCK? Stock the new line alongside other flavoured gins where the striking bottle and liquid colour will help boost sales and profits.

WHY? An instant smash hit in independent retailing, the Au vodka range is set to generate major excitement in Premier stores. The Au Black Grape variant has been in Booker for over nine weeks and has seen consistent sales growth with similar success expected of the Fruit Punch Vodka variant which has more recently been listed in Booker.

WHO? Au gets its name from the periodic table with ‘Au’ being the symbol for gold. The range is five times distilled and then filtered through gold creating a clean, smooth spirit. It’s perfect on the rocks or paired with lemonade.

WHERE TO STOCK? Site the line prominently on the spirits gantry where the vibrant, eye-catching bottle will generate interest and sales. And don’t forget to shout about the range on social media to drive footfall.

BOMBAY BRAMBLE GIN Case size: 6X70CL, WSP: £107.94, RSP: £26.99,

AU BLACK GRAPE VODKA / AU FRUIT

POR: 20%

PUNCH VODKA Case size: 6X70CL, WSP: £137.89 (6) / £22.99 (1), RSP: £34.49, POR: 20%

44 TalkingShop

October 2020

To purchase these products now, visit www.booker.co.uk

Chunky sales with Kit Kat WHAT? KIT KAT CHUNKY RANGE WHEN? AVAILABLE NOW WHY? The Kit Kat Chunky range has developed a huge following among shoppers since launch and Booker is helping Premier retailers cash in on that demand with some great new developments. Booker has secured exclusivity on the launch of the new Kit Kat Chunky White variant offering retailers a fantastic opportunity to let their shoppers try it first – and it is being sold on a strictly ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ basis. Kit Kat Cookie Dough is being brought back in direct response to retailer demand and, finally, Booker is also listing Kit Kat Chunky Mint, again on a ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ basis – so make sure you get your order in early!

WHO? The Chunky range has been popular with a huge range of shoppers and these new lines are expected to fly off the shelves. All three lines will be on promotion in Period 7 until 29th September, offering Premier retailers a discount of £2.69 on the standard WSP and allowing them to run a 2-for-£1 deal for shoppers.

WHERE TO STOCK? Site all three lines on the main fixture, but for maximum impact and sales, feature them on promotional ends and in high traffic areas like at the till point.

KIT KAT CHUNKY COOKIE DOUGH (42G); KIT KAT CHUNKY WHITE (40G); KIT KAT CHUNKY MINT (40G) Case size: 24 X 40G/42G, WSP: £10.69, Promo WSP: £8.00, RSP: £0.69, Promo Deal: 2-FOR-£1, POR: 22.5%, Promo POR: 20%

GROUP EXCLUSIVE WHITE EDITION ONLY

Orange Fingers and Buttons WHAT? CADBURY ORANGE FINGERS AND CADBURY ORANGE BUTTONS WHEN? AVAILABLE NOW WHY? Confectionery giant Cadbury is helping Premier retailers tap into what it sees as strong growth in demand for orange-flavoured chocolate treats with the launch of new Cadbury Orange Fingers and Cadbury Orange Buttons. Both lines offer retailers strong PORs of 27% for the Fingers and 20% for the Buttons.

WHO? While both new products may be predominantly aimed at younger shoppers, it’s certain that the products will be popular with shoppers of all ages, offering small permissible treats that are easily portion-controlled.

WHERE TO STOCK? Merchandise the lines in busy areas of your store such as promotional fixtures and at the till point to drive trial.

CADBURY ORANGE FINGERS Case size: 20 X 114G, WSP: £19.99, RSP: £1.65, POR: 27% CADBURY ORANGE BUTTONS

GROUP EXCLUSIVE!

Case size: 10 X 110G, WSP: £9.99, RSP: £1.50, POR: 20%

October 2020 TalkingShop

45

BetterService IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE

Printshop updated and improved The Premier printshop is an invaluable resource for retailers and it has been made even more useful thanks to a new upgrade this month in response to feedback from retailers.

T

he Premier printshop is a fantastic resource for all Premier retailers, offering instant online access to a range of high quality materials that can be downloaded and printed in your store as well as allowing retailers to order a range of POS, hardware and communications materials that are invaluable in ensuring your store looks

its very best.

High quality, professional in-store POS is a must in today’s highly competitive retail market and the printshop provides everything Premier retailers need to keep their store looking in top condition.

The great news is that the printshop was relaunched in a new, upgraded format at the start of this month, making it even more

Ă‚

LOG IN USING YOUR EXISTING DETAILS!

MORE

TO CHECK OUT THE UPDATED SITE, VISIT PRINTSHOP.PREMIER-STORES.CO.UK

October 2020 TalkingShop

49

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Some offers may not be available in all stores and are subject to availability. The higher price shown is the Premier RRP and may differ in some stores.

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£13.49 PM £1.19 or 2 for £2.20

useful for retailers.

The upgrades were all driven in direct response to feedback and requests from Premier retailers and include: l Improved self-print templates allowing you to view finished products on a bigger screen l The ability to create any of the five styles of shelf barker: l Multibuy l BOGOF l Strikethrough l Non strikethrough l Half price Keeping your POS professional, high quality and in great condition has never been more important as shoppers are more alert than ever to the environment they shop in.

Great quality POS is just another way to remind shoppers that their local Premier store has an eye for detail and takes its responsibilities under coronavirus seriously.

It’s also worth remembering that the printshop offers a range of resources that are extremely useful for retailers during the pandemic. Premier retailers can, for instance, order full social distancing kits or additional Premierbranded sainting units through the site, as well as being able to order everything from Premier-branded fleeces and t-shirts to new stationery and consumables.

Please note that you can still log into the refreshed printshop using your existing login details, although on your first visit you will be prompted to change your password.

And don’t forget to keep an eye out for even more improvements later in the year as Premier works to keep the site as useful as possible for you.

Varieties as stocked 380ml NP07 ENDS: 29/09/20 Some offers may not be available in all stores and are subject to availability. The higher price shown is the Premier RRP and may differ in some stores.

any 2 for only

£13.49 £2 PM £14.49

2L NP07 ENDS: 29/09/20 Some offers may not be available in all stores and are subject to availability. The higher price shown is the Premier RRP and may differ in some stores.

BUY A only RED BULL GET ICE VALLEY FREE

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Buy Red Bull PM £1.69 355ml or Red Bull Sugar Free PM £14.49 PM £1.59 355ml and get Ice Valley 500ml Free

FREE 355ml/500ml NP07 ENDS: 29/09/20

Some offers may not be available in all stores and are subject to availability. The higher price shown is the Premier RRP and may differ in some stores.

only only

£13.49 £10 PM each £14.49

10x275ml/10/12x330ml/10x440ml/8x500ml NP07 ENDS: 29/09/20 Some offers may not be available in all stores and are subject to availability. The higher price shown is the Premier RRP and may differ in some stores.

TO CHECK OUT THE UPDATED SITE, VISIT PRINTSHOP.PREMIER-STORES.CO.UK

October 2020 TalkingShop

51

BetterService IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE

Maintaining a safe environment

Guaranteeing a safe in-store environment is a vital footfall driver these days with many shoppers unwilling to use stores where proper social distancing measure and hygiene practises are not in place.

October 2020 TalkingShop

53

S

hoppers continue to flock to independent convenience stores, which is great news for Premier retailers, but one of the most important aspects of maximising footfall these days as restrictions are gradually loosened is ensuring that you maintain a safe environment for your shoppers.

Many shoppers are simply unwilling to use a store if they believe that proper social distancing and hygiene measures are not in place. That’s precisely why Premier has produced a new Retailer’s Guide To Social Distancing.

With regulations changing it can be hard to keep up with the latest guidelines and regulations. This guide helps you ensure that your store is safe for you and your staff and will also help you maximise footfall by making your shoppers feel safe when they visit your store.

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS

SOCIAL DISTANCING

l Contact: 0113 205 5189 / info@northernflags.com

Premier highlights that the advice from the Government is still to maintain a distance of at least 2 metres between people to minimise the chance of the virus spreading.

OUTSIDE THE STORE l Decide how many customers your store can safely accommodate and operate a one in, one out policy. l Communicate the measures you have in place once in store. Use the Print Shop Posters to do this. l Close the doors temporarily if necessary to keep everyone safe. l Discourage customers from shopping with children and bringing extra members of the family with them. l Use posters to communicate 2 metre rule. l Place markings on the floor where possible to enabling social distancing whilst queuing to enter. l Reduce opening hours to allow you to restock safely. Use poster and social media to communicate revised opening hours.

(See print shop for temporary opening hours poster).

THROUGHOUT THE STORE l If possible provide a cleaning station with sanitiser/wipes to enable customers to wipe trolley and basket handles should they wish. Decide how many customers your store can safely accommodate and

54 TalkingShop

October 2020

Find below contact details for companies that will be able to help with social distancing measures you wish to install in store.

COUNTER SCREENS Bartuf (Central Billing Available) l Lead Time: 5-7 Working Days l Contact: 0113 244 5524 / sales@bartuf.com Pivotal l Lead Time: 5-10 Working Days l Contact: 0845 652 0025 / sneezscreens@pivotalrm.co.uk Harrison Products l Lead Time: 3-4 Working Days l Contact: 0845 652 0025 / sales@harrisonproducts.net

FLOOR MARKERS Northern Flags

GLOVES & SANITISER UNITS Concept Data (Central Billing Available) l Contact: 0113 265 0093 / sales@concept-data.com Harrison Products l Contact: 0845 652 0025 / sales@harrisonproducts.net

operate a one in, one out policy. l Place your poster at the front of the store and barkers around the store to remind customers to observe the social distancing rules. l Depending on store size and layout, line the floor at 2m intervals in aisles and/ or place arrows around the shop floor to indicate the shopping route you would like customers to take. This can be done using yellow/black or red/white hazard tape. l Use floor stickers at 2m intervals. l Use contactless payment strut card at the counter. l Stores with in-store radio already have social distancing messages on their radio. l Review replenishment timing where possible to avoid customer peaks and display the out of stock barkers. Consider restricting access to aisles that are being restocked during trading. l Use black and yellow floor tape to segment the store into 2m sections. Speak to your RDM who will have a limited amount of floor tape.

AT THE COUNTER l Use social distancing shelf cards and contactless barkers. l Were space permits line mark the floor at 2m intervals for queuing, this will be dependent store layout and queuing systems used. l Use floor stickers. l Should you wish to provide a screening solution for your counter see the panel on the previous page for details of companies that provide this.

SOCIAL MEDIA

FACE COVERINGS

Use social media to communicate revised openings and to discourage customers from bringing extra members of the family and children with them. Here are some suggestions: l Our store has made some changes Opening times: Our hours are l currently ...... , but may change going forward.

Social distancing: please follow l government guidelines on social distancing & stay 2 metres apart. l Family Members: Where possible please do not bring children and extra members of your household with you when shopping. Please help us to keep everyone safe.

ACS offers the following advice for retailers: l There is no requirement for staff to wear face coverings (in England), but the Government recommend they are used unless staff are behind plastic or perspex screens. However, the use of face coverings by store colleagues sends a strong message to the public and clearly demonstrates your store policy on the use of face coverings. l Wearing of a face covering can be uncomfortable for long durations so consider providing opportunities for staff to temporarily remove face coverings in non-public areas. l You can ask customers to temporarily remove their face coverings for ID checks. If customers refuse to remove their face covering and you cannot confirm their age you should refuse the sale. l Exemptions to wearing face coverings include: children under 11 years old; people with health conditions who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of any physical or mental illness or impairment or disability or without severe distress, customers with a hearing impairment and those who lip-read.

October 2020 TalkingShop

55

FOR WHOLESALERS & RETAILERS USE ONLY. BREASTFEEDING IS BEST FOR BABIES.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: Breast milk is best for babies & breastfeeding should continue for as long as possible. Professional advice of a healthcare professional must be followed on the need for and proper method of use of infant formula and on all matters of infant feeding.

Follow-on Milk is for babies over 6 months, as part of a varied weaning diet. Not intended to replace breastfeeding. ZTT896 07/2020

LaunchReview FEEDBACK ON THE LATEST BOOKER PRODUCTS

Extended Discover the Choice range a hit

Discover the Choice Mini Flapjack Bites, Chocolate Cornflake Cluster Bites, Shortbread Bites and Brownie Bites.

Case size: 4 x Sgl WSP: £4.19 RSP: £1.79 / 2-for-£3 POR: 41.48%

41.48% POR

Mini Bites deliver bigger sales and profits The extension of the Discover the Choice range with the addition of new Mini Bites has helped generate additional sales and profits for Premier retailers.

The increasingly popular Discover the Choice range from Booker was extended recently with the addition of a new selection of products in the on-trend impulse and sharing snacking category. The Discover the Choice Mini Bites range offered Premier retailers an exciting new set of options in a growing category and offered shoppers four popular flavours: Mini Flapjack Bites, Chocolate Cornflake Cluster Bites, Shortbread Bites and Brownie Bites.

Delivering the outstanding value and superb quality that Premier shoppers have come to expect of the Discover the Choice range, the new lines are all included in a mix-and-match ‘2-for-£3’ deal that is

marked on-pack and has helped drive basket spend and sales. Just as importantly, the new lines offer huge PORs of 41.48% when sold individually, ensuring the new lines are as popular with retailers as they are with shoppers.

Premier retailers have seen great success with the Mini Bites range by siting them both in the snacking section but also prominently in high footfall areas of the store like at the till point or adjacent to the hot food counter. With big nights in more popular than ever under lockdown, it’s also a great idea to site the Mini Bites range within the big night in or party section of your store if you have one.

October 2020 TalkingShop

57

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Conor McAllister, Edinburgh You can’t beat a little treat when you’re in need of a pick-me-up and one of the reasons I love the new Discover the Choice Mini Bites range so much is that you can just just grab one or two out of the box and leave the rest for later! They’re perfect for sharing too when you are having a night in with the family or if you have a friend or two round to watch a film or have a few drinks. They’re a great way to end a meal with family or friends and they’re quite indulgent without you ending up feeling like you’ve had to much. I’ve now tried all four varieties and I love them all, although my current favourites are the Shortbread Bites. At 2-for-£3 they are amazing value and I will admit that I always buy two at a time. They’re really handy for just sticking in a cupboard and bringing out whenever the occasion calls for it.

IN SUMMARY

1

Fantastic new additions to the increasingly popular Discover the Choice range.

2

Excellent PORs of over 41% on all four products.

3

Hugely popular formats including Mini Flapjack Bites, Chocolate Cornflake Cluster Bites, Shortbread Bites and Brownie Bites.

4

Permanent ‘2-for-£3’ multibuy deal to drive footfall and basket spend.

RETAILER VIEW DENNIS WILLIAMS Premier Broadway Convenience Store, Edinburgh “Discover the Choice has developed into a brilliant range of products and these new Mini Bites will only help grow that reputation. Shoppers love little treats but they don’t want to be spending lots of money to get them. At just £1.79 and with four products in the range, it gives shoppers great choice and fantastic value for money. The 2-for-£3 deal is also a big draw and it’s rare to see shoppers at the till without two in their hands. Discover the Choice just gives shoppers what they want: value and quality.”

RETAILER VIEW MANDEEP SINGH Premier Singh’s, Sheffield “Sharing occasions are just massive at the moment because that’s how shoppers live at the moment.

The pubs may have re-opened but so many shoppers have gotten into the habit of having nights-in and treating themselves a little. Products like the new Discover the Choice Mini Bites range help Premier retailers tap into that opportunity adding more tempting products that shoppers can drop into their basket when they’ve got a nightin planned. It helps grow basket spend and drive loyalty and that’s what’s going to be vital over the next few months.”

RETAILER VIEW AJITPAL SINGH Premier Capel Hill Stores, Tonyrefail “The lockdown period has had a dramatic impact on the way shoppers use their local store and that presents a huge opportunity for retailers. The focus on value is probably more pronounced then ever and I’ve also noticed a big shift to larger format sharing packs like the new Discover the Choice Mini Bites range.

Ranges like this have helped generate much bigger basket spends as shoppers don’t want to travel miles away to a busy supermarket, they want the convenience of their local Premier store and they want to buy everything they need in once place.”

RETAILER VIEW MOS PATEL Premier Heyside Store & PO, Royton “The new Discover the Choice Mini Bites range is perfect for the latest shopper trends and helps Premier retailers offer more choice in an important category, but without asking shoppers to pay over the odds for some lovely sweet treats. With so much going on the moment and life being tough for a lot of shoppers, it’s nice for them to able to give themselves a little affordable treat and know that they’re getting great value and great quality. The format also means they’re easy to share and can add a bit of sparkle to a get together.

October 2020 TalkingShop

59

Staying Safe | GUEST COLUMN

Booker Group Health & Safety Manager Kevin Thackeray discusses the importance in ensuring customers feel safe and happy to visit your store.

The importance of creating a safe shopping environment It is critically important that Premier retailers instil confidence in their shoppers by maintaining a visibly safe and hygienic environment in-store.

C

oronavirus has turned the world upside down for shoppers with many shoppers fearful of an invisible enemy that can infect us all and can have fatal consequences.

It has changed shoppers’ way of life in every sense, and that certainly includes how they shop.

The last six months have seen shoppers become increasingly concerned about simply leaving their homes, particularly when it means visiting places where they are likely to encounter others. It can be a difficult experience for many to visit a store, especially the elderly and vulnerable, so the importance of creating an environment that feels safe and hygienic cannot be overstated.

Shoppers need to feel safe when they visit a Premier store and they need to be able to quickly see that social distancing measures and efficient hygiene and safety practices are in place.

All Premier retailers have an obligation to put the health of their shoppers – and their staff – at the top of their priority list.

So what does that mean in reality?

Firstly, it means following all prevailing Government guidelines around issues like social distancing, cleansing routines, handsanitising and wearing face coverings.

Following these guidelines will not only protect staff and shoppers, it will also help give shoppers the confidence they need to keep using your store on a regular basis.

Shoppers clearly expect retailers to comply

with these rules and the penalty for failing to meet these expectations is a potential loss of custom to competitors who do make them feel safe in-store.

Premier has already provided a huge amount of support to retailers to help them create safe shopping environments and I would urge you all to make good use of this support. You can also source a range of high quality materials from the Premier Print Shop (printshop.premier-stores.co.uk) including a social distancing kit and Premierbranded sanitising stands. You can also source a full range of high quality cleaning and sanitisation stands from Booker.

This is, at heart, a public safety issue but it is also fundamentally a business issue: safe stores mean bigger footfall.

October 2020 TalkingShop

61

ACS Viewpoint | HFSS Products

James Lowman Unworkable Government plans are not the way to solve the obesity crisis

The government’s new national strategy to outlaw promotions of HFSS products and restrict where they can be sited in-store would be a “kick in the teeth” for retailers after their heroic efforts during the pandemic.

R

ecently, the Government published its national strategy for tackling obesity which outlined a number of measures, some of which we have seen before and a range of new measures in light of the links between obesity and Covid-19 deaths.

Boris Johnson’s own experience of Covid-19 may have inspired plans to ban ‘buy one get one free’ promotions and restrict the siting of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products.

Restricting where HFSS can be sited would potentially mean completely restructuring your store layout. This would be time-consuming and costly for some, and simply not possible for many – notably the smallest stores in our sector.

Ploughing ahead with these these communities. Our sector has unworkable plans would actively engaged with a number of IF YOU represent one of the healthy eating initiatives such as WOULD LIKE TO biggest practical Peas Please, Healthy Start and GET INVOLVED IN THE and operational Change4Life in recent years.

POLITICAL WORK OF ACS challenges our sector Our research shows that 26% of ....................... CALL ...................... has faced. stores have increased their sales 01252 515 001 It would also be of fruit and veg in the last year, a kick in the teeth while 24% have increased the ............. OR LOG ON TO ........... for local shops after range of fruit and veg available www.acs.org.uk the phenomenal job we to customers – with both figures have done in maintaining far higher than the proportion who access to food in their have seen fruit and veg sales and range communities. This role transcends decline. this period of uncertainty; there are Government policy and resource thousands of customers who rely on needs to focus on expanding choice their local convenience store to feed and healthy food availability, not on their families year-round. hitting our sector with regulations that Opposing bad regulation on obesity would make life harder for shops that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t play our are working tirelessly to feed their part in providing healthy choices in communities.

October 2020 TalkingShop

63

Confectionary Confectionary category category

GREW ÂŁ5m Last Last ** Halloween Halloween

NEW sive

exclu

Over 1 million Swizzels tubs sold at Halloween 2019***

*IRI Total Market Data, Sugar Confectionary data 8 weeks to 03/11/2019 **Source: Opinium, 2,000 nationally representative UK adults - July 2020 ***Source: Value share grows faster than any other supplier IRI Total Market data, Sugar Confectionery data 8 weeks to 03/11/2019

YOURSHOUT GOT A QUESTION? Want to post a question or raise an issue with the Premier Team?

Get in touch by email at talking shop@55north.com or call 0141 222 5380.

YourShout WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? RETAILERS PUT THEIR QUESTIONS TO PREMIER

Is it time to think local?

I’ve noticed in recent months under lockdown that shoppers seem more interested than ever in finding products that have been sourced locally or regionally. Do you think that increasing our focus on locally produced products could help drive sales and community engagement?

PRASSANA WERAGAMA, PREMIER WOOLWELL STORES, PLYMOUTH

USP for your store. Many shoppers are keen to back their local economies and they also see environmental benefits in buying local products, including reduced food miles. You could try a dedicated local sourcing fixture in-store and make a point of highlighting locally sourced products on social media.

MARTYN PARKINSON, BRAND DIRECTOR – PREMIER SAID: There are plenty of research studies that suggest that shoppers are more interested in locally sourced products since lockdown began. It was a trend that was already in existence prior to March this year but coronavirus seems to have encouraged many to take a more proactive approach to supporting local communities, local producers and local retailers. This obviously presents a major opportunity for Premier retailers and stocking a good range of locally and regionally sourced products can help you provide another

Focusing on footfall Like most retailers, we saw a decrease in footfall under lockdown as social distancing measures were implemented, although we did enjoy a big uplift in basket spend. As lockdown begins to be loosened up, should we now be focusing on growing footfall again – and how should we do that?

JUSTIN WHITTAKER, M&J’S PREMIER, ROYTON MARTYN PARKINSON, BRAND DIRECTOR – PREMIER SAID: Lockdown inevitably hampered footfall with limits on the number of shoppers allowed into stores at one time, social distancing measures and some people reluctant to visit public places. But things are slowly starting to return to something a little more ‘normal’ – and a key focus for Premier retailers should indeed be on growing footfall again, hopefully while retaining bigger basket spends. A key way of doing this is by focusing your attentions on the products that bring shoppers to your door on a daily basis, products like bread, milk, sugar and fresh. The great choice, value and quality that Premier retailers can offer shoppers will help accelerate that growth and drive your sales and profits.

Exclusives drive sales It can’t have escaped any Premier retailer’s notice that the stream of exclusive products and prices that Booker has been able to secure for us has had a massively positive impact on sales and profits, particularly in categories like spirits and confectionery. Is this a strategy that you intend to continue pursuing?

FARAZ IQBAL, PREMIER LINKTOWN LOCAL, KIRKCALDY MARTYN PARKINSON, BRAND DIRECTOR – PREMIER SAID: By working as a group Premier is able to secure these fantastic exclusive deals on hugely exciting and attractive products and it’s great to hear that they are helping retailers grow their sales and profits. We know how important these exclusive deals are to Premier stores and that’s why we will be continuing to deliver more of these types of exclusive product and pricing deals moving forward.

*Source: IGD Shopper Vista 2019. ^Source: Impulse Convenience; Nielsen w/e 28th December 2019 vs w/e 29th December 2018

*Source: IGD Shopper Vista 2019. ^Source: Impulse Convenience; Nielsen w/e 28th December 2019 vs w/e 29th December 2018

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Of freshly harvested BLACKBERRIES and RASPBERRIES Bombay Bramble 6 x 70cl

M255652

Bombay Bramble 1 x 70cl

M255654

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