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The dawn of a new era.
The Voice of Independent Retailers
Sports & Protein
Performing!
Wholesale
Diageo’s millions
Vape ban
llicit wins
EPOS
Good tech
9th February to 22nd February 2024
Volume 36 No. 937
Easter Treats
Yum!
Please leave
this space for
Asian Trader
Masthead
The Voice of Independent Retailers
Me and My Brand
Nido
Winter colds
Get ready
Sheetal Sisodiya
Impulse queen
1st November to 14th November 2024
Volume 36 No. 954
Adult soft drinks
Tasty
AT Awards
Incoming!
BOLD. INNOVATIVE. REVOLUTIONARY.
THE UK’S FIRST LEGAL 10K PUFF DEVICE
PINK RASPBERRY
NICOTINE CARTRIDGES
PREFILLED TANK
8x ADDITIONAL 2ML CARTRIDGES
USB-C RECHARGEABLE
54
Calls to bring minimum unit
pricing for alcohol in England
Winter Remedies
Adult Soft Drinks
Winter Remedies
46
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4 NEWS
Leader: Let the party begin
Calls to bring minimum unit pricing for alcohol
in England
Sainsbury’s to revamp Local c-stores
Retailers have finally ‘lost faith in police’, law and
order
‘Mafia-style’ Romanian gang behind £73,000
crime spree
Inflation hits three-year low, but food inflation
strengthens
InPost takes over Menzies’ Express, Newstrade
logistics
Post Office CEO claims ‘deep regret’ over
compensation delays
New employee rights will ‘cost small retailers’,
warns Fed
Guest column: Bounty’s at Booker – the must-
have bottle
Guest column: The Autumn Statement – what
independent retailers need
10 NEWS FEATURE: Creating
memorable experiences
With a little thought and lots of creativity,
convenience retailers can not only boost sales but
also build lasting loyalty
12 RETAIL CORNER: Defying
the odds to reimagine
convenience
From a small village store to modern retail hub,
this family-run convenience store has been
serving up fresh essentials and community spirit
with local magic
14 AWARD-WINNER
INTERVIEW: Finding the
right fit
Sheetal Sisodiya’s merchandising instincts were
given free rein at her new store and quickly saw
her crowned the Impulse queen
17 ASIAN TRADER AWARDS
2024
The Asian Trader Awards approach – we look at
what is on the menu of events for the big night
and hear from our sponsors
26 WORLD OF WHOLESALE
A regular round-up of news and views in the
wholesale sector
28 “NOT” TWITTER
The best observations and comments from
retailers (and friends) on the ground
30 FEATURE: PMPs
PMPs are price-busters that are increasingly being
revealed as the secret weapon of convenience.
Be sure to make the most of them as the
economy continues to struggle
40 MUST STOCK
The latest product news
45 ME AND MY BRAND:
NESTLÉ NIDO
A whole milk powder with a real taste of home,
says Bal Tung, who explains how the popularity of
World Food is further advancing Nido’s reach in
the c-channel
46 FEATURE: WINTER
REMEDIES
Don’t underestimate the power of OTC meds in
the c-channel – it’s a great winter health-boosting
category for your bottom line
54 FEATURE: ADULT SOFT
DRINKS
The new and developing category of adult soft
drinks can solve the shoppers’ dilemma of what
to drink when you’re not boozing but don’t feel like
zero alcohol either
62 CLASSIFIED
63 GUJARATI
1st November to 14th November 2024
THE VOICE OF INDEPENDENT RETAILERS
VOLUME 36 NUMBER 954
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Sainsbury’s has kicked of a
range improvement pro-
gramme across its convenience
store estate as part of its plan to
revamp the smaller stores.
According to recent
reports, the supermarket will
carry out a full range review,
where it will assess which
items are performing well in
its convenience arm Sains-
bury’s Local stores. This will
include whether particular
lines need to be removed or
added, including its selection
of “dine in” or “food-to-go”
products.
The supermarket will also be
looking at how it can better use
the space in its convenience.
Sainsbury’s has previously
announced plans to open
between 20 and 25 convenience
stores annually to increase its
presence on the high street.
As of June 2024, Sainsbury’s
has 834 convenience stores in
the UK.
It comes as Sainsbury’s and
Argos confi rmed plans to hire
18,000 people at Sainsbury’s
and 2,000 workers at Argos to
help cover the busy Christmas
period.
Sainsbury’s to revamp
Local c-stores
Let the party begin
he clocks have been turned back, Halloween has risen
and returned to the grave, and now Diwali has lit up its
lanterns to show us the path ahead. Winter is of cially
almost here, but instead of hunkering down it is time to put
on your glad-rags and head to the 35th Asian Trader Awards.
Last year’s event was a packed-out triumph, and we hope to
ensure this year’s celebration is at least as vibrant
This issue went to press before the Chancellor’s
Autumn Statement – predicted to be dark and chilly – and
it is published just two days after it, which puts us in the
position of having any predictions immediately exposed
as right or wrong in the harsh glare of immediate judge-
ment. Andrew Goodyear’s very interesting column in this
issue does not make predictions, but rather outlines
Bira’s position and what storeowners should be looking
for in the budget – and it will be very interesting to
discover how far Chancellor Rachel Reeves is aligned
with retailers’ interests.
With the festive season fast approaching, it will be
interesting to see whether shoppers decide to open their
purses to buy festive treats – biscuits and cakes, advent
calendars (should be in stock now!) and confectionery,
spirits and wines and beers aplenty. The self-treat season,
if merchandised smartly, can mean repeat purchases
from late September right up to New Year.
The fact that the latest figures show that inflation is
finally under control (a little less in grocery than other
categories, but we can’t import our food from China) has
prompted speculation about another drop in interest
rates later this month. The immediate effect another
quarter per cent off one’s mortgage might mean for
champagne sales is slightly overdone in the Press, but at a
mass level, it will lift consumer spirits and on average
raise expenditure a bit more.
There is some evidence that a dip in customers filling
up their baskets in September, despite the cost-of-living
crisis slowing or even reversing (some hope!) may be due
to strategic forbearance – that shoppers are delaying
deploying money saved until they see the whites of Santa
Claus’s eyes, when they will suddenly go wild with
seasonal spending.
All we can recommend, absent evidence that people
are more broke rather than less, is that retailers should
stock carefully, merchandise colourfully, and pay close
attention to our upcoming festive product features to see
what might be at the top of consumers’ wish-lists this
festive season.
Perhaps the best Christmas gift the government could
give to hard-pressed and sorely-tried shopkeepers would
be finally to take retail crime seriously. As we report, the
ongoing crime wave, compounded by the appalling
inaction of police, has worn out the patience of retailers,
who now, short of being physically injured, do not even
bother to report most crimes. This terrible situation will
only be made worse by the draconian edicts of the upcom-
ing vape and tobacco ban, which will be welcomed by the
various foreign mafias who are moving in to take over
illicit trade in the UK.
Ministers are facing “pres-
sure” to increase the price of
cheap alcohol in England by
introducing minimum unit
pricing for alcohol after a
recent report highlighted the
“alarming” death toll in
England caused by cheap
drinks.
Lord Darzi’s investigation
into the NHS report, published
earlier this month, said deaths
attributed to alcohol stabilised
when “tough action” was
taken. He was referring to the
duty escalator, which increased
alcohol duty by two per cent
above infl ation each year
between 2008 and 2014.
Darzi wrote, “Alcohol is
becoming more af ordable over
time, and deaths are rising at an
alarming rate. In the pandemic,
there was a 10.8% annual increase
between 2019 and 2022.”
A two-litre bottle of cider can
be bought in England for under
£2, which equates to 22p per
unit of alcohol.
Health of cials believe a
review is almost certain given
the fi ndings of the report and
the rising death toll, even
though the government
reportedly ruled out minimum
unit pricing shortly after
winning power.
“It raises the price of the
strongest, cheapest drinks – the
ones that cause most harm,”
said Richard Piper, CEO of
Alcohol Change UK.
Scotland introduced
minimum unit pricing in 2018,
with a minimum of 50p per
unit. The price rose on Monday
to 65p. This puts the minimum
price for a 700ml bottle of 40
per cent ABV whisky at £18.20;
a 700ml bottle of 13% wine
£6.34; and a litre bottle of 5%
alcohol cider £3.25. Wales
introduced minimum unit
pricing in March 2020.
‘Pressure’ on Govt to impose new rule despite
Scottish results
Calls to bring minimum unit
Calls to bring minimum unit
pricing for alcohol in England
pricing for alcohol in England
NEWS
1 NOVEMBER 2024 ASIAN TRADER 5
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A gang of shoplifters,
responsible for the theft
of at least £73,000 worth
goods, runs its profes-
sional “mafi a-style”
operation like a serious
business, stated a recent
report.
Dubbed the “cham-
pagne gang” by National
Business Crime Solution
(NBCS), an organisation
which works with 100
businesses to tackle retail
crime, the gang originates
from Romania and is said to
be responsible for 60
shoplifting incidents across
the UK, from Gateshead to
Bournemouth.
The reports detailed how
during the heists, the gang
members wear blue tooth
headsets to communicate
and warn each other if
security guards are watching
them. They operate on
similar models- one member
will casually walk down
alcohol aisle scanning bottles
while the other member
deliberately set of the
security alarm to distract
staf .
Other members make
the best of the confusion
and simply walk out of the
store with their stolen
goods.
They came onto the
NBCS’s radar in early 2023
and have since started
stealing other types of
alcohol and meat to serve
changing demand. The group
also changes tactics when
new technology arrives that
might impede their opera-
tion.
‘Mafi a-style’ Romanian gang
behind £73,000 crime spree
Bounty’s at Booker – the
Bounty’s at Booker – the
must-have bottle for your
must-have bottle for your
booze shelf
booze shelf
Nick Gillett is
Co-founder and
Managing
Director of
successful spirits
distributor Mangrove Global, as
well as an industry expert and
commentator. In his column for
this issue, Nick mixes it up with a
terrifi c recipe that uses one of
this season’s hot brands
I’m always harping on about mixing up
your range with a few new bottles each
season. And thanks to premiumisation
(the trend that sees customers buying
more expensive booze) there’s a
decent chance a pricier bottle is going
to sell.
For those of you who use Booker,
you’ll know how great it is for picking up
something fresh to try on your illustrious
spirits shelf. It’s quick, it’s convenient,
and now it stocks a spirit – Bounty –
which is making waves across the UK
rum scene.
Fresh of the back of a stunning
display at Notting Hill Carnival, Saint
Lucia’s most famous export is a
deliciously drinkable range – and its
Coconut and Gold varieties are now
available at selected Booker branches.
As a category, rum is going nowhere.
We’re long past the “rum boom” and it’s
still a thriving sector with heaps of
innovation and quality brands a-plenty.
But what we’re beginning to see is a
move back to basics. Customers want
provenance and quality in their liquids,
and I’d argue that Caribbean-produced
rums, such as Bounty, are the perfect
bottles to quench that thirst.
Once you’ve bought your bottles of
Bounty, make sure you have the right
mixers. The Saint Lucians enjoy it simply
poured over coke with ice, or you can
create a bundle with Ginger Ale and
upsell the “Saint Lucian Mule” a simple
and spicy cocktail for Autumn:
Ingredients:
60ml Bounty Gold
100ml Ginger Ale
1/4 lime
Method:
Mix all ingredients in an ice-fi lled glass,
squeeze the lime and stir softly with a
bar spoon. Enjoy!
Independent retailers across
the UK are facing stubborn
levels of retail crime and
alarmingly more retailers are
choosing not to report
incidents of theft, verbal and
physical abuse to police,
according to the latest survey
conducted by the British
Independent Retailers
Association (Bira).
The third bi-annual Retail
Crime Survey, completed in
September 2024, reveals a
concerning picture of escalat-
ing theft, persistent verbal
abuse, and a worrying uptick
in physical assaults on staf .
Bira, which works with
over 6,000 independent
businesses of all sizes across
the UK, found that 78.79% of
businesses that had experi-
enced theft in the past 12
months reported that the
frequency or severity of theft
incidents had increased.
However, the survey did
reveal that shop theft had
reduced slightly in the past
year, from 86.25% in Septem-
ber 2023 and 79.27per cent in
March 2024 to 72.83% this
autumn.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of
Bira, commented on the
fi ndings and said, “The results
of our third crime survey in 18
months are deeply troubling.
We’re seeing a sustained
increase in criminal activity,
coupled with reduced police
response. Our members are
caught in the crossfi re, and it’s
clear that current measures
are failing to protect them.”
The Police response
remains inadequate. While
52.8% of reported thefts were
attended by police in both
surveys, 25% of reported
thefts resulted in no police
attendance ever, a slight
decrease from 27% in the
previous survey, but still a
signifi cant concern. Moreover,
there was an increase in thefts
not being reported to police,
rising from 42.86% (March
2024) to 47.06% (as at
September 2024).
Recent spike in criminal activity has exhausted patience
Retailers have fi nally ‘lost
Retailers have fi nally ‘lost
faith in police’, law and order
faith in police’, law and order
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Infl ation fell by more than
expected last month, including
key measures watched by the
Bank of England, increasing
bets on an interest rate cut next
month.
The rate of annual consumer
price infl ation dropped to 1.7%
in September from 2.2% in
August, the lowest reading
since April 2021, the Of ce for
National Statistics said.
Sterling fell by half a cent
against the US dollar immedi-
ately after the fi gures were
published.
Core infl ation, which
excludes energy, food, alcohol
and tobacco, dropped to 3.2%
from 3.6% in August.
“Lower airfares and petrol
prices were the biggest driver
for this month’s fall. These
were partially of set by
increases for food and non-al-
coholic drinks, the fi rst time
that food price infl ation has
strengthened since early last
year,” ONS chief economist
Grant Fitzner said.
There were also signs of
weaker infl ation pressure ahead.
Prices charged by factories for
their goods fell by 0.7% in the
year to September, the biggest
fall since October 2020, during
the COVID pandemic.
The infl ation rate was lower
than the 1.9% rise that analysts
forecast and has cemented
expectations that the central
bank would likely cut interest
rates again in November.
“It is absolutely amazing to
see such a dramatic drop in the
UK’s CPI number, and the news
had brought nothing (but) good
things for the Bank of Eng-
land,” said Naeem Aslam, chief
investment of cer at Zaye
Capital Markets.
In August, the BoE reduced
its key rate for the fi rst time
since early 2020, from a 16-year
high of 5.25 per cent as
infl ation returned to normal
levels.
Unclear whether interest rate cuts are on the way
Infl ation hits three-year low,
Infl ation hits three-year low,
but food infl ation strengthens
but food infl ation strengthens
InPost Group has acquired
the remaining 70% stake in
Menzies Distribution
Limited in an all-cash
transaction valued at £60.4
million. The transaction
concerns Express and
Newstrade segments.
The third segment,
MDS, responsible mainly
for full load transport and
warehousing was demerged
from Menzies and is not part
of the transaction. It will
continue to be run by its
existing management team
and InPost will retain a 30%
shareholding.
The acquisition builds on
the strong commercial
growth that InPost has shown
in the UK – tripling its revenue
in the UK market over the last
year – and will allow the
business to fulfi l several
strategic objectives:
This transaction gives
InPost full control over its
UK logistics operations,
allowing the company to
accelerate its plans for
implementation of new
services in the UK
market, including its
next-day B2C parcel
locker service.
It secures InPost’s
position among the leading
parcel locker service
providers in the UK and allows
the combined entity to take
advantage of increasing
consumer preference for
lockers in the UK.
It allows InPost to further
upgrade logistics capabilities
and improve quality KPIs.
InPost takes over Menzies’
Express, Newstrade logistics
NewsTeam shows support
NewsTeam shows support
for NewsTraid
for NewsTraid
Newspaper and magazine delivery
company NewsTeam have raised
more than £1,000 for NewstrAid
during their recent conference in
Paphos, Cyprus.
Involving 60 staf members from
NewsTeam, the conference included
a presentation from NewstrAid CEO,
Neil Jagger and concluded with a
fundraising event and raf e in the
evening which raised more than
£1,000 for the charity’s work.
The event saw three members of
NewsTeam staf sign up as Welfare
Volunteers for NewstrAid.
Anyone interested in becoming a
Welfare Volunteer for NewstrAid
should visit their website for more
information. https://www.newstraid.
org.uk/welfare-volunteers/
Global wine stuck in
Global wine stuck in
a rut: trade body
a rut: trade body
Bad weather means global wine
production this year will remain near a
60-year low according to preliminary
estimates, said the International
Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
“Early indications suggest that
2024 will be another year of relatively
low production, most likely below
250m hectolitres a year,” director
general John Barker said at the
opening of the body’s 45th congress
in Dijon.
Last year some 237m hectolitres
of wine were produced globally, the
lowest amount since 1961, as the
various ef ects of drought, heatwaves
and fl ooding af ected grape harvests.
KP Nuts £100m
KP Nuts £100m
RSV milestone
RSV milestone
KP Nuts has achieved a major new
milestone, reaching £100m RSV.
At more than four times the size
of the nearest branded competitor,
KP continues to drive category
growth, delivering a versatile range
of tasty fl avours in a variety of
formats that cater to all occasions
and tastes.
The past year has been one of
KP’s most successful. The KP core
range, renowned for its quality and
delicious fl avours, continued to
perform strongly, with the iconic
Original Salted Peanuts variant
gaining a Great Taste Award.
NEWS
1 NOVEMBER 2024 ASIAN TRADER 7
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NEWS
The past year has been one of
signifi cant change for the UK.
With a new government at the
helm, there’s cautious optimism
about fresh approaches to
long-standing issues af ecting
our high streets. However, the
challenges facing independent
retailers remain formidable.
As we’ve seen in previous
years, the Autumn Statement
can have far-reaching implica-
tions for our sector. This year,
we’re calling on the Chancellor
to deliver certainty, clarity, and
stability for independent
traders – elements that have
been in short supply recently.
One of our primary
concerns is business rates. For
years, Bira has lobbied for a
comprehensive review of this
outdated system. We believe
that reducing business rates for
all high streets would inject
much-needed confi dence and
stability back into bricks-and-
mortar retail.
Energy costs continue to be a
signifi cant burden for many of
our members. While we
welcomed previous support
measures, we need a long-term
strategy that addresses the
unique needs of small business-
es. We’re hoping to see targeted
support for those most af ected,
coupled with incentives for
energy ef ciency improve-
ments.
The labour market presents
another challenge. Many
retailers are struggling with
recruitment and retention.
We’re looking for measures that
support skills development and
make it easier for small
businesses to invest in their
workforce.
Consumer confi dence is, of
course, crucial to our sector’s
success. We’re hoping for
policies that put more money in
people’s pockets, encouraging
spending on our high streets.
However, it’s not just about
direct fi nancial measures. We
need policies that recognise and
support the unique value of
independent retail. This could
include funding for high street
regeneration projects, support
for local business communities,
or initiatives to encourage ‘shop
local’ campaigns.
Digital transformation
remains a key issue and
sustainability is another area
where government support
could make a signifi cant
dif erence. Many of our
members are keen to adopt more
environmentally friendly
practices but fi nd the initial
costs prohibitive.
It’s clear that the decisions
made will have a profound
impact on the future of
independent retail. At Bira, we
remain committed to being a
strong voice for our members,
ensuring that the unique
challenges and opportunities of
our sector are understood and
addressed at the highest levels of
government.
Independent retailers are the
backbone of our high streets and
local communities. They bring
diversity, character, and
personal service that can’t be
replicated by large chains or
online giants. As such, support-
ing them is essential for
maintaining the vibrancy of our
towns and cities.
We look forward to analysing
the Autumn Statement in detail
and will continue to work
tirelessly to ensure that the
needs of independent retailers
are met, both in this fi scal event
and beyond. Our sector’s
resilience has been tested time
and again, but with the right
support, I’m confi dent that we
cannot just survive, but thrive in
the years to come.
The retail sector eagerly awaited yesterday’s Autumn Statement from
the new Labour government. Bira’s CEO, Andrew Goodacre, shares
his thoughts ahead of the announcements by Chancellor Rachel
Reeves on what independent retailers need and expect from this
crucial fi scal intervention.
The Autumn Statement – What
The Autumn Statement – What
independent retailers need
independent retailers need
Kliro and ICB launch
Kliro and ICB launch
Fortitude Spirits
Fortitude Spirits
Kliro Capital Partners, who acquired
ICB in June 2023, announced the
launch of Fortitude Spirits Group,
with the ambition to become one of
the leading independent UK spirits
companies.
It will comprise three divisions:
Fortitude Spirits, which will
create, nurture and scale distinctive
brands; Fortitude Drinks UK, will
leverage its 35-year history,
distributing Fortitude Spirits and
third-party brands across every UK
channel; and ICB Distillers will
expand its production capacity to
distil, blend and bottle the groups’
brands, as well as private label and
third-party products.
Alzheimer’s Society
Alzheimer’s Society
partners with PayPoint
partners with PayPoint
Alzheimer’s Society and PayPoint
have announced a partnership to
simplify and enhance cash dona-
tions and transactions. The collabo-
ration addresses the growing
challenges for charities when it
comes to handling cash, particularly
as high street banks and Post Of ce
branches become less accessible.
With nearly 30% of all charity
donations still made in cash, the
partnership provides a timely
solution to prevent any unnecessary
decline or delay in donations received
due to logistical challenges posed.
The service works with PayPoint
extensive network of 29,000
retailers across the UK.
Unilever sells Russian
Unilever sells Russian
subsidiary
subsidiary
British consumer goods giant
Unilever has completed the sale of its
Russian subsidiary to Arnest Group,
a Russian manufacturer of perfume,
cosmetics, and household products.
The sale includes all of Unilever’s
business in Russia and its four
factories in the country, along with
the business in Belarus.
“The completion of the sale ends
Unilever Russia’s presence,” said
CEO Hein Schumacher.
Last year, Unilever has come under
fi re from Kyiv, which placed the group
on Ukraine’s “International Sponsors
of War” list, claiming it continues to
profi t from operations in Russia.
By Andrew
Goodacre, CEO
of Bira (British
Independent
Retailers
Association)
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The Post Of ce’s outgoing CEO
Nick Read, expressing “deep
regret” that the Post Of ce had
not lived up to delivering
“speedy and fair redress”.
Read, who resigned last
month, was giving evidence at
the Post Of ce Horizon IT
Inquiry, focussing on fi nancial
delays to victims, when he
admitted that the government
is using the company as a
“shield” concerning compensa-
tion schemes.
Edward Henry KC, repre-
senting wronged sub-postmas-
ters caught up in the Horizon
scandal, asked Read if the
government “is using the Post
Of ce as a shield or a fi re curtain”.
He replied, “That could be a
description, yes.”
Henry continued, “The fact
you’re [the Post Of ce]
administering two out of the
three schemes gives the
government a degree of
protection… one step removed
gives it room for plausible
deniability?”
Read responded, “That’s
true.”
The outgoing Post Of ce
boss denied the company has
been instructed “to minimise or
suppress compensation claims
whilst avoiding public scruti-
ny”.
Read admitted the compen-
sation process had been “overly
bureaucratic” and expressed
regret that the Post Of ce had
not lived up to delivering
“speedy and fair redress”.
However, he insisted the
“approach” and way of “engag-
ing” with victims has changed
in the last few months, with
“lessons learned” since the start
of the year.
Read also addressed the
“terrible” fact that many
sub-postmasters died before
receiving compensation. A total
of 251 people have died without
getting full fi nancial redress,
according to data cited at the
inquiry.
Nick Read insisted “a lot of
time” has been spent “trying to
work out how we improve and
speed up the process”.
Read says process of redress has been overly bureaucratic
Post Of ce CEO claims ‘deep
Post Of ce CEO claims ‘deep
regret’ over compensation delays
regret’ over compensation delays
Deputy Prime Minister Angela
Rayner’s proposed “biggest
upgrade to workers’ rights in a
generation” will put yet
further fi nancial pressures on
already struggling independ-
ent retailers.
Unveiling its plans – includ-
ing better access to sick pay,
protection from unfair
dismissal and strengthened
rights for pregnant women
and new mothers – the
government said these would
“deliver economic security
and growth to businesses,
workers and communities
across the UK”.
Responding to the
proposals, Mo Razzaq, the
National President of the
Federation of Independent
Retailers (the Fed) said,
“Independent convenience
stores and newsagents are an
important part of the commu-
nities across the UK, providing
employment opportunities
and, in many cases, giving
young people their fi rst jobs.
“As responsible retailers,
we want to ensure that
employees are treated fairly,
but many of these proposed
changes will have cost
implications on small
retailers who are already
struggling fi nancially
because of rising bills and
sluggish sales.
Razzaq continued, “It is
important for the Fed to
engage with the government
as it consults on these
proposals to ensure that the
measures introduced are both
practical and workable for
independent retailers.”
New employee rights will ‘cost
small retailers’, warns Fed
Scottish Bee and Nuisance
Scottish Bee and Nuisance
Drinks join forces
Drinks join forces
The Scottish Bee Company has
embarked on the next phase of its
expansion by operating as part of a
wider Natural Larder Collective
operation.
It said the initiative will not only
extend the business’s appeal beyond
Scotland but provide a haven for
other all-natural brands to join.
The fi rst outsider brand to join
this “healthier living” movement is
the botanical brew specialist
Nuisance Drinks, an adult soft drinks
range which celebrates the foraging
of all-too-often overlooked shrubs,
herbs and weeds in a positive, at “one
with nature” light.
Bira launches new
Bira launches new
insurance service
insurance service
The British Independent Retailers
Association has announced its new
insurance service, Bira Insurance,
provided by Ascott Insurance.
The trade body said the service
partnership aims to of er tailored
insurance solutions to Bira
members across the retail sector,
adding that Ascott Insurance, an
independent insurer, aligns with
Bira’s core value that every business
is unique and requires bespoke
insurance cover.
The new service of ers a wide
range of commercial insurance solu-
tions, covering shops, vehicles, fl ats
above shops, and mixed-use
properties – also healthcare, travel,
exhibitions, and even livestock.
P&G profi ts dip on
P&G profi ts dip on
weakening demand
weakening demand
Procter & Gamble reported a decline
in profi ts on slightly lower sales as
the company said a recovery in China
was still a number of quarters away.
The producer of Tide detergent
and Crest toothpaste reported
mixed sales across its fi ve product
categories, with health care
growing the most and beauty
declining the most.
Profi ts were $4.0 billion
(£3.07bn), down 12% from the
year-ago level, partly due to some
$800 million in one-time restructur-
ing costs tied to the liquidation of
assets in Argentina. Revenues
slipped 1% to $21.7 billion.
NEWS FEATURE
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10 ASIAN TRADER 1 NOVEMBER 2024
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CREATIVE RETAILING
etailing isn’t just about ringing up
sales anymore – it’s about creating
happy shoppers! A great customer
experience is the secret sauce that
builds brand loyalty and keeps people coming
back for more.
Convenience retailers have an edge to
shape and create memorable experiences by
understanding customer behavior and subtly
infl uencing their decisions.
But it isn’t as simple as it sounds. Did you
know the average consumer spends just four
to 20 seconds in front of shelves before
deciding what to buy?
According to Vincenzo Russo, professor of
consumer psychology and neuro-marketing
at IULM University in Milan, these fl eeting
moments are driven largely by emotion,
rather than rational consideration.
Interestingly, it is this overlap between
“emotion and memory” that has crucial
implications for infl uencing our ability to
remember a product, a brand, and, therefore,
to choose it again in the future, he said.
If only there was a way or rather a sure-
shot formula to hack this overlap!
If you think that’s tricky, here’s another
fact to consider. According to SAP Emarsys’
annual Customer Loyalty Index (CLI), almost
half of UK Gen Z shoppers (46 per cent) and
29 per cent of other generations have
abandoned a brand they were once loyal to
With a little thought and lots of cr
With a little thought and lots of creativity,
convenience retailers can not only boost sales but
also build lasting loyalty, says Pooja Shrivastava
color theme but remember that sensory
overload can make it dif cult for customers to
concentrate on products and focus enough to
make a purchase.
In convenience stores, milk, bread, eggs,
and crisps are hero products – the things
people come for most frequently. So don’t
bury them, but also don’t make them too easy
to fi nd.
While stores shouldn’t force shoppers to
embark on a store-wide expedition for a pint
of milk, placing such products just a little
further inside the store creates a natural
journey that gives other products their
moment to shine.
Eye-level is buy-level – it’s an old trick, but
it works. Place impulse items, snacks, and
seasonal products in high-traf c areas like
near the checkouts or next to essential goods.
Use lower shelves for staple items that
customers are likely to search for, such as
porridge, pasta and so on. Also, cross-mer-
chandising can add a ton of magic to the sales.
Think bread next to spreads, pasta near
sauces, as well as crisps alongside beer.
Create clear zones with proper sign
posting. Quite contrary to supermarkets,
shoppers visit the neighborhood convenience
stores in a hurry so they would appreciate
fi nding things more easily instead of being
lost in a maze.
With the rising inclination towards health
and fi tness, it is a great idea to elevate the
health quotient of stores as well. Dedicating
and highlighting a section for organic,
gluten-free, and vegan items can do wonders
in bringing more footfall from shoppers
seeking healthier alternatives.
Installing a small refi ll station for basics
like cereals, pasta, or cleaning products is also
a great way of not only cutting down on
single-use packaging but also for holding a
place in shoppers’ minds.
Some independent stores, like Central
Co-op Dodworth Community Store and
Woosnam and Davies in Wales are already
pioneering refi ll retailing.
Asian Trader Award-winning retailer
Ehamparam Karunanithy, who runs Premier
With a little thought and lots of creativity,
With a little thought and lots of creativity,
Creating memorable
experiences
because they grew “bored” of them.
Take the case of Liquid Death bottled
water, which has been “radically entertain-
ing” its audience to cut through the noise. The
study states that 30 per cent of Gen Z,
compared to 23 per cent of all demographics,
have tried a new brand because of its “creative
marketing”.
Additionally, over a quarter of Gen Z (31
per cent) are enticed by brands that use “cool”
content or imagery, versus 21 per cent of other
age groups. Meanwhile, 28 per cent of Gen Z,
compared to 17 per cent of other demograph-
ics, seek out brands that deliver “memorable
experiences”.
Clearly, consumers today, not just Gen Z,
expect more than “business-as-usual”; they
want meaningful and memorable experi-
ences. That means it is imperative to fi ll your
stores with tactics to make them capable of
leaving a mark on shoppers’ minds.
Perk up
The store entrance should be warm and
welcoming. Placing fresh produce facing the
entrance is an ef ective way to set the mood as
the sight of bright fruits, or even fresh fl owers
signal quality and care to shoppers.
Well-organised shelves and clear signage
help customers fi nd what they need quickly.
Use vibrant colours and attractive displays to
catch the shopper’s eye. Consider having a
Common merch practices to avoid:
Cluttered aisles: Overloading shelves with too many products can overwhelm
shoppers
Poorly placed hero products: Essential items like milk or bread are either too hidden
or too easy to fi nd
Lack of seasonal displays: Not capitalizing on holidays or special events, resulting in
missed chances to create excitement and boost sales
Unclear store layout: Poor navigation or disorganized zones make the shopping
experience frustrating
Poor lighting: Dull, poorly-lit areas make products look unappealing.
Under-utilised fl oor space: Leaving dead zones or gaps that could be used for
seasonal or promotional displays.
Neglecting window displays: Missing out on attracting foot traf c with enticing
visuals or of ers.
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