Pear
drop
Rhubarb
& custard
Pineapple
cube
Cola cube
to
ou
fue
Flavour
The No.1 sweets maker*
Source: IRI | Symbols & Independents | Time: 52 w/e 5th October, 2024
The Voice of Independent Retailers
Freshly baked
Breakfast-time!
Singh Sandhar
Wholesale pioneer
Atul Sodha
A store like mine
24th January to 6th February 2025
Volume 37 No. 957
Big interview
Gum stories
Vaping in ’25
The Knowledge
36
Businesses to raise prices
as confidence dips
Breakfast & Bakery
Vape & Next Gen Products
28
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4 NEWS
Leader: Leaning hard into crime
Businesses to raise prices as confidence dips
‘Grocery tax’ to add £56 to food bills
Tesco reports ‘biggest ever Christmas’
Government unveils £15m grant to tackle food
waste
New age of sale regulations could present
major challenges
Co-op to open 75 new stores in 2025
Madders promises ‘pragmatic approach’ on
Employment Rights
Calls raised to remove honours of 14 Horizon
grandees
Guest column: Are you catering to the sober-
curious this year?
Guest column: Looking ahead to retail’s next
chapter in 2025
9 WORLD OF WHOLESALE
A regular round-up of news and views in the
wholesale sector
10 NEWS FEATURE: From
hurdles to hustle
Despite market changes, legislative
obstructions and economic headwinds, the
c-channel is ready to face 2025, says Pooja
Shrivastava
12 RETAIL CORNER:
Punching above its weight
It’s not just its offerings that make Atul
Sodha’s store special. It’s the story of the man
behind it that sets it apart
14 STORY FEATURE: Karnail
Singh Sandhar: wholesale
pioneer
An exclusive look at the life of a visionary
entrepreneur who played a key role in
wholesale, bringing Asian food to the UK and
Canada
16 BIG INTERVIEW:
ROSS RIPAMONTI
Wrigley gum’s Brand Director is certain that
chewing is the way forward for the UK, as
the company aims to get the other half of the
country chewing
17 “NOT” TWITTER
The best observations and comments from
retailers (and friends) on the ground
21 FEATURE: CHINESE NEW
YEAR
Welcome to the Year of the Snake – which in
the Chinese zodiac is not as threatening as it
sounds
25 MUST STOCK
The latest product news
28 FEATURE: BREAKFAST
AND BAKERY
Breakfast is no longer just the first meal of the
day – it’s a goldmine for convenience stores, so
be sure to make the most of it
35 MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Keeping up with the latest industry moves
and promotions
36 FEATURE: VAPE AND
NEXT GEN
Off with the disposable and on with the
sustainable – all you need to know about 2025’s
vape trends and legislation, in preparation for
the upcoming ban
41 CLASSIFIED
42 GUJARATI
In-store Sevices
24th January to 6th February 2025
THE VOICE OF INDEPENDENT RETAILERS
VOLUME 37 NUMBER 957
NEWS
4 ASIAN TRADER 24 JANUARY 2025
An upcoming “grocery tax”
could hit hard-pressed Britons
in the pocket, adding £56
annually to household shopping
bills and costing families a total
of £1.4 billion.
Extended Producer Respon-
sibility (EPR), will impose a levy
on retailers and manufacturers
for the cost of collecting and
disposing of packaging waste,
currently funded via council
tax.
The Department for
Environment, Food and Rural
Afairs (Defra) has published a
series of “base fees” to indicate
how much food manufacturers
and retailers will be charged
under the scheme when it starts
next autumn.
The highest fee of £485/
tonne will be charged for plastic
packaging followed by “fi-
bre-based composite” at £455/
tonne. The levy for paper or
board packaging is £215 while
materials such as bamboo or
hemp will be charged at £280.
The government estimates
the policy will drive up prices by
between £28 and £56 a year for
the average household, adding
0.07% to inflation as retailers
pass on most of the costs to
shoppers.
‘Grocery tax’ to add
£56 to food bills
Leaning hard into crime
oodness knows, if we wanted to (we don’t), this
entire magazine could be filled with news stories
about crime in the retail sector – which dispropor-
tionately appears to afict the convenience channel, for
obvious reasons: smaller stores with less security, often staf
alone at the till, perhaps isolated and quiet locations, and val-
uable goods to hand – basically free to any shoplifter if less
than £200 in total value, because mostly the police won’t get
out of bed for less than that.
Of course, the temptation isn’t all about bottles of wine
and beefsteaks. Shop staf at a Willenhall c-store were
recently held up by desperate knife-wielding robbers who
were out to steal ... cheese and butter. That really gives a fresh
definition to the phrases “impulse purchase” and “distress
mission (“Quick, we need butter before the toast goes cold –
get a move on!”). It might seem a pathetic example of
criminal losers, but it was certainly no joke for the terrified
staf. It is not teenage runaways, either – the culprits were a
man of 36 and a woman five years older.
Not long afterwards, storeowner Ian Lewis of Witney in
Oxfordshire was ram-raided and deprived of an ATM by five
burglars who dragged it the length of his shop behind a
truck, wrecking the premises in the process – and this was
the second time in just three months that such outsize cash
withdrawals from Ian’s SPAR had been attempted. Inciden-
tally, the police quickly “closed the case” on the previous
(unsuccessful) attempt, which perhaps emboldened the
thieves the next time around.
The point is that crime is now out of control. Criminals
clearly have no fear because they know that punishment for
their crimes is vanishingly unlikely, and this makes robbery
a profitable living. The butter burglars might not be in the
same class as the cash-machine villains, but a confluence of
economic hardship and fearless arrogance has emboldened
the criminal population to the extent that every store is now
a permanent target, and it is high time something was done.
Last year Asian Trader campaigned against the Tobacco
and Vapes Bill, which we thought ill-drafted, ideological and
unworkable in many respects – and also likely to cause
trouble for storeowners. The Bill went through as predicted,
but at least we and a number of other groups and voices
brought attention to the issue. We also tried to make a noise
about the Horizon scandal, highlighting the terrible injus-
tice the victims had sufered and supporting them and their
champions, such as journalist Nick Wallis, as best we could.
The 2024 Editor’s Award at the Asian Trader Awards went to
the subpostmasters, and several were recognised subse-
quently in the New Year’s Honours list, including Seema
Misra, a great friend of the magazine.
This year we are going to be shouting about crime and
sticking up for the hard-pressed storeowners and staf who
are consistently and outrageously ill-served by the law:
lawbreakers need to re-learn the consequences of their
actions. And we’ll also be speaking up for good old-fash-
ioned cash.
More businesses are expecting
to raise prices while fewer firms
have increased investment
plans, shows a recent survey
reflecting the sentiment among
businesses regarding upcoming
changes this year.
In the largest poll of business
sentiment since October’s
Budget, the BCC’s Quarterly
Economic Survey, shows
concern about tax, including
national insurance, has spiked.
Following the Chancellor’s
autumn statement, 63% of firms
cited it as a worry (compared
with 48% in Q3), the highest
level on record. Concern about
inflation and interest rates
remains at similar levels to Q3.
Business confidence has
declined significantly with just
49% of responding companies
expecting their turnover to
increase over the next twelve
months (compared with 56 % in
Q3). Confidence levels are lowest
in the retail and hospitality sectors
(39% and 42% respectively).
The data from over 4,800
businesses across the UK (91% of
whom are SMEs – fewer than
250 employees) also shows that
the majority of firms are
expecting to raise prices.
Following the Budget,
concern about taxation is now
cited by 63% of responding firms,
up from 48% in Q3. This is the
highest level of tax concern since
2017. The levels in certain
sectors are higher, with 72% of
production and manufacturing
firms, and 68% of construction
and engineering businesses
raising tax as a concern.
“Firms are telling us the
national insurance hike is
particularly damaging. Busi-
nesses are already cutting back
on investment and say they will
have to put up prices,” said
Shevaun Haviland, Director
General of the British Chambers
of Commerce.
Post-budget low-growth blues extend into 2025
Businesses to raise prices
Businesses to raise prices
as confidence dips
as confidence dips
NEWS
24 JANUARY 2025 ASIAN TRADER 5
The government has
unveiled a new £15 million
grant to help thousands of
tonnes of food – and fresh
produce in particular – be
passed to redistribution
charities rather than going
to waste.
Every year an estimated
330,000 tonnes of edible
food is either wasted or
“repurposed” as animal feed
before it even leaves the
farm gates, the government
noted, with transport from
farms to charities cited as a
major barrier to redistribu-
tion.
To strengthen the
links between farms and
charities, the new
scheme will see grants
starting from £20,000
made available to the
not-for-profit food
redistribution sector in
England. The cash will help
organisations like homeless
shelters, food banks and
charities fight hunger, the
government said.
In a joint statement,
Charlotte Hill, CEO of The
Felix Project, and Kris
Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of
FareShare, said, “After years
of campaigning by food
redistribution charities, we
are thrilled to see this fund
come to fruition. We are
pleased that the govern-
ment has recognised that
too much food goes to waste
on our farms, and that it
should be redistributed to
feed people who need it.
Government unveils £15m grant
to tackle food waste
Are you catering to the
Are you catering to the
sober-curious this year?
sober-curious this year?
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 asks
retails to take Dry January and
beyond seriously in terms of
extra sales
Dry January – the time of year when
over-indulgence and the appeal of
clean living tempt many of us into
sober life (even if it is just for a month).
It’s also a time when consumer
spending is notoriously low, as the
excesses of Christmas take their toll on
the old purse strings; a time where
your on-shelf spirits range has to work
extra hard to tempt your customers.
But beyond Dry January, behaviour
change is a big driver of low-alcohol
living – and it’s forecasted to expand
exponentially over decades to come.
Many Gen Z and Millennials are
sober-curious, but the fact is, soft
drinks just don’t satisfy them. They still
want the sense of occasion that comes
with having an alcoholic drink.
A “low and no” alcohol range is
what you need to satisfy these
customers – and this category extends
way beyond 0.0% beers. There’s a
mixed bag of quality out there – espe-
cially products that claim to be an
alcohol-free variant of an existing
brand. In my mind these types of
products rarely live up to their
counterparts. If you’re looking to build
a low and no range, instead look at
brands who are simply trying to create
something delicious. Lewis Hamilton’s
agave-based Almave is a great
example; if RTD cans sell well in-store,
look to the likes of Caleño; or why not
try one of Gifard’s alcohol-free
liqueurs, which are perfect on their
own or as the basis to a mocktail. All of
the above give the experience of
spirits, just without the alcohol.
Start with a few well-chosen
products, give them their own collective
space, and signpost them accordingly,
and you may just find appeal with a new
group of customers.
Tesco has recorded its “biggest
ever Christmas”, with the UK’s
largest supermarket chain
landing its biggest share of the
festive shopping trolley since
2016.
Sales at established UK stores
rose 4% in the six weeks to 4
January, with fresh food
performing particularly strongly
and clothing and homeware
sales also up.
Tesco now controls 28.5% of
the grocery market and gained
share from premium and
discounter rivals over the 12
weeks to 29 December,
according to Kantar.
Tesco added that Booker saw a
core retail growth of +1.3% as its
symbol brands continue to
perform well despite a subdued
market backdrop. Overall,
Booker performance reflects
continued decline in the tobacco
market.
Ken Murphy, Tesco’s Chief
Executive, expressed pride in the
team’s eforts during the
Christmas period, highlighting
the retailer’s focus on delivering
value, quality, and service to all
customers, regardless of how
they chose to shop.
Murphy noted that Tesco has
maintained its position as the
UK’s cheapest full-line grocer for
over two years while improving
product quality across its ranges.
“UK food sales rose 4.7%
driven by volume growth, with
sales being particularly strong in
fresh food and its Finest range
seeing impressive growth of
15.5% as shoppers treated
themselves over the festive
period,” said Sofie Willmott,
Associate Retail Director at
GlobalData.
“Despite Aldi opening stores
throughout 2024, including 11
new stores in November and
December, which will have
driven total growth of 3.4% (for
the four weeks to 24 December),
Tesco achieved better like-for-
like growth (for the six weeks to
4 January 2025) of 4.1%, against
strong comparatives.”
Good news for Tesco could be good news for grocery sector
Tesco reports ‘biggest
Tesco reports ‘biggest
ever Christmas’
ever Christmas’
NEWS/COMMENT
NEWS
6 ASIAN TRADER 24 JANUARY 2025
The new age-of-sale
regulations in the Tobacco
and Vapes Bill could present
significant hurdles for
retailers, according to Inga
Becker-Hansen, policy
adviser at the British Retail
Consortium (BRC).
Speaking before a House
of Commons committee,
Becker-Hansen outlined
the complexities of
enforcing a rolling age limit
for tobacco and vape
products, as well as
concerns about staf
training, licensing
schemes, and advertising
restrictions.
She noted that while
current rules are straightfor-
ward - with a fixed age of sale
for tobacco and alcohol
products - the rolling age limit
could introduce operational
difculties.
“At this point, it is quite
identifiable, with those under
the regulation being 15,” she
explained. “But in 30 years’
time, if you have someone who
is 45 versus 44 from the date of
January 2009, it may lead to ID
for each sale of a given
product. This will eventually
lead to potential issues.”
Becker-Hansen highlight-
ed that points of sale are
often flashpoints for
violence and abuse against
retail workers, raising
concerns about the
practical implementation
of the regulations. “It is a
real concern for retailers
that that could be an issue
in the future,” she said.
To mitigate these
challenges, the BRC is
advocating for the use of
digital ID systems, which
are already being promoted
by the Department for
Business and Trade for
alcohol sales. “A digital ID
could possibly make things
easier,” she suggested,
adding that it could streamline
age verification processes for
both retailers and consumers.
The licensing scheme for
tobacco and vape products also
drew concern, particularly
regarding its impact on
smaller retailers.
Retailers in firing line of angry customers BRC warns MPs
New age of sale regulations
New age of sale regulations
could present major challenges
could present major challenges
The Co-op has revealed a
planned 75 new Co-op estate
and franchise stores for this
year across the UK.
Co-op’s plans for new
stores in 2025 include up to 25
new Co-op operated stores
– with the first new Co-op
stores to open in early 2025 in
Salford Quays – The Anchor-
age and East Benton – Newcas-
tle Upon Tyne.
Furthermore, up to 50
stores are expected to open
and operate as a franchise this
year, enabling Co-op to bring
its products and the benefits
of membership to more
communities, and operate in
locations where it may not
otherwise be able
to access.
The move
builds on franchise
growth in 2024
which included
innovative new
locations where
Co-op shares its
convenience
expertise with
quality partners.
Last year saw
Co-op franchise stores open
on more university campus; a
first for Co-op with a store
opening in a hospital, on
petrol forecourts (in partner-
ship with EG On The Move),
plus a Co-op store at HMS
Collingwood (in partnership
with ESS) to enhance the lived
experience of service
personnel.
An additional 80 stores
will also undergo major
refurbishments.
Co-op to open 75 new
stores in 2025
Million still to file tax
Million still to file tax
return, as deadline looms
return, as deadline looms
With just days to go, the pressure is
on for 5m customers who still need
to complete and pay their Self-As-
sessment to avoid penalties, HMRC
has warned.
HMRC has revealed that more
than 24,800 people filed on 1
January. A further 38,000 had even
squeezed theirs in before the bells
on 31 December, with 310 filing
between 23:00 and 23:59.
Some 97% now file online and
one benefit is that they don’t have
to complete it all in one go – they
can save and continue later.
Village shop admits
Village shop admits
using illegal worker
using illegal worker
A shop has had its premises licence
revoked after police discovered an
illegal worker being paid below
minimum wage.
Lincolnshire Police ofcers urged
North Kesteven District Council’s
alcohol and entertainment licensing
sub-committee to revoke the licence
for Vino Convenience Store on
Metheringham High Street during a
review. The committee heard
management had been “operating in
a manner that amounts to criminal
activity”.
Ofcers first carried out a
compliance check last March, where
they found no evidence of a written
policy to prevent alcohol sales to
under-18s or staf training.
Hershey’s rejects
Hershey’s rejects
Mondelēz’s sweet ofer
Mondelēz’s sweet ofer
Hershey’s main controlling owner
has rejected Mondelez Internation-
al’s preliminary takeover offer,
terming it as too low.
The deal, which could’ve
created one of the world’s largest
confectioners, wasn’t realistic for
the Hershey Company as they
declared it was “too low to
entertain.”
The Hershey Trust Company’s
approval remained key in any
takeover deal, given its voting
control of the chocolate maker.
It is not the first that Mondelēz
has sought to acquire Hershey, with
the brand rejecting a £18bn
takeover bid in 2016, then also
calling the offer too low.
NEWS
24 JANUARY 2025 ASIAN TRADER 7
NEWS
Independent retailers have
weathered one of their most
testing years in recent
memory.
Throughout 2024, our
members have faced multiple
headwinds, from changing
consumer behaviour to
persistent economic uncer-
tainties that have fundamen-
tally impacted trading
conditions.
The challenges have been
significant. Consumer
spending on non-food items
has declined markedly, while
footfall problems and fragile
consumer confidence have
afected high streets nation-
wide.
Despite inflation coming
under control, the slow
decline in interest rates has
continued to impact both
business and consumer
spending.
Competition has intensi-
fied, with large chains
implementing deeper and
longer discount periods. The
emergence of ultra-fast
fashion retailers like Shein and
Temu has created additional
pressure on margins, while
deflation on non-food items
has further squeezed profits.
Perhaps most concerning
has been the rise in retail
crime. Our latest survey
reveals that 78.79% of
businesses report increased
frequency or severity of theft
incidents. This isn’t just about
lost stock – it represents a
genuine threat to the wellbe-
ing of our retailers and their
staf.
The scale of the challenge is
stark. Research from PwC
shows 6,945 outlets closed in
2024 – equating to 38 store
closures per day, up from 36
per day in 2023. While new
store openings rose modestly
to 4,661, averaging 25
openings daily, the net loss of
high street presence remains
concerning.
Looking ahead to 2025,
new challenges emerge.
Medium-sized retailers face
significant increases in
employment costs, while
thousands of smaller retailers
will be hit with higher
business rates as relief drops
from 75% to 40%. These aren’t
just statistics - they represent
real pressures on real business-
es.
However, I see genuine
reasons for optimism. Wages
are set to rise faster than
inflation, which should boost
consumer spending power.
Both inflation and interest
rates should continue to fall,
helping to rebuild the consum-
er confidence that’s so vital for
our sector.
The circular economy
presents growing opportuni-
ties for independent retailers.
As consumers become
increasingly conscious of
sustainability, our members’
ability to ofer personal service
and expert knowledge
positions them perfectly to
capitalise on this trend.
Independent retailers have
always succeeded through
adaptability and resilience.
These qualities will be more
important than ever in 2025.
Those who can maintain their
agility while staying true to
their core values of personal
service and community
connection will find opportu-
nities even in challenging
conditions.
In his regular column, Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre reflects on a
challenging 2024 and examines what lies ahead for independent
retailers in 2025
Looking ahead to retail’s
Looking ahead to retail’s
next chapter in 2025
next chapter in 2025
Costcutter retailers
Costcutter retailers
benefit from Bestway
benefit from Bestway
move
move
Bestway Retail has announced the
removal of the fuel levy charge
(previously at £3.66 per delivery) for all
mainland Costcutter stores for
deliveries in 2025. In addition to lifting
the fuel levy charge, Bestway has also
led the market in announcing an
impressive investment of more than
£2.5m to reduce the cost price of more
than 11,000 best-selling branded
products across all categories. The
company identified two objectives –
to enable its retailers to make more
margin and to help them maintain
competitiveness in the market.
FrieslandCampina merges
FrieslandCampina merges
with rival Milcobel
with rival Milcobel
Dutch dairy collective, Friesland-
Campina, has agreed to merge with
smaller Belgian rival Milcobel, creating
a leading dairy cooperative.
FrieslandCampina, whose brands
include Yazoo and Chocomel, said the
merger will provide the foundation for
a future-oriented organisation that
has dairy front and centre for member
dairy farmers, employees, consumers,
and customers. The proposed merger
is subject to approval by Friesland-
Campina’s members’ council,
Milcobel’s extraordinary meeting of
shareholders, and antitrust authori-
ties. The companies said member
dairy farmers, employees, works
councils and trade unions have been
informed about the merger proposal.
Willenhall shop staf
Willenhall shop staf
threatened with knife
threatened with knife
Shop staf were left shaken after being
threatened with a knife during a
robbery on Stroud Avenue.
The incident occurred shortly after
12:30 pm when a man and a woman
entered the store and threatened
employees with a blade before
making of with items including
cheese and butter. Police ofcers
responded swiftly, arresting a
36-year-old man and a 41-year-old
woman nearby.“They were taken into
custody on suspicion of robbery. The
woman is also being questioned on
suspicion of five shoplifting ofences,”
a spokesperson for West Midlands Po-
lice said.
By Andrew
Goodacre, CEO
of Bira (British
Independent
Retailers
Association)
NEWS
8 ASIAN TRADER 24 JANUARY 2025
Justin Madders, the minister
for employment rights,
competition and markets, has
written to the Association of
Convenience Stores (ACS)
recognising the challenges
faced by the convenience
sector and pledging to
collaborate with its members
when implementing upcom-
ing legislation introduced by
the Employment Rights Bill.
The government in
October set out its plans for a
sweeping package of new
workers’ rights including
plans to end fire-and-rehire
practices and strengthening
of sick pay in the biggest
change to employment law in
a generation.
Key reforms include
making flexible working the
default, introducing a new
right to bereavement leave,
enabling day-one access to
paternity and unpaid
parental leave, and strength-
ening protections for
pregnant women and new
mothers. The bill also
addresses zero-hours
contracts, granting workers
on such arrangements the
right to request more
predictable hours and receive
reasonable shift notices.
In his letter, the minister
recognised convenience
colleagues as essential
workers who provide local,
secure, and flexible work, and
praised the good record of ACS
members providing secure
permanent contracts and
giving good notice for shifts.
As highlighted by the ACS
Local Shop Report 2024, the
convenience sector provides
local, flexible and secure
employment for around
445,000 people and this year
generated £9bn in tax income
for the Treasury.
“We are determined to
ensure that our legislation is
introduced pragmatically,
working with businesses like
yours, so that the implemen-
tation of these changes can be
managed constructively,”
Madders wrote.
He invited ACS to work in
partnership to help ensure
the reforms “get the right
balance and put the principles
we all share into practice”.
Minister says he will be fair and sensible drafting new Bill
Madders promises ‘pragmatic
Madders promises ‘pragmatic
approach’ on Employment Rights
approach’ on Employment Rights
An anonymous group
consisting of current and
former employees of the Post
Ofce and Royal Mail have
called on the Forfeiture
Committee to remove
honours awarded to 14
individuals connected to the
Post Ofce Horizon scandal.
The 14 names mentioned
by the group includes former
ministers, civil servants, and
Post Ofce and Royal Mail
bosses such as Vince Cable
KCB, Ed Davey KCB, Jo
Swinson CBE, Donald Brydon
CBE, Moya Green DBE, Alan
Cook CBE and Alwen Lyons
OBE.
The group has written to
the committee listing the
names of individuals who it
said “owned, oversaw,
governed and ran the Post
Ofce” during the scandal,
Computer Weekly reported.
The letter stated, “We are
deeply concerned by the
testimony given under or to
the inquiry ... has revealed
beyond any doubt the
incompetence, negligence,
restlessness, ethical corrup-
tion and wilful blindness (‘not
me guv’ attitude) of certain
individuals at the heart of
Whitehall, all of whom have
been bestowed with honours.
“There can be no better an
example of rewards for failure
than those who owned,
oversaw, governed and ran the
Post Ofce.”
Calls raised to remove honours
of 14 Horizon grandees
JTI ‘cutting edge’ centre
JTI ‘cutting edge’ centre
opens in Crewe
opens in Crewe
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has
completed a significant refurbishment
of its National Distribution Centre in
Crewe following an investment of £7.8
million into the facility to enhance
employee wellbeing and drive
operational excellence.
Originally opened in 1994, the site
is crucial to JTI’s UK operations and
handles the distribution of all UK
products including tobacco, Nordic
Spirit, and Ploom products. It
despatches an impressive 12,000
customer orders annually, equivalent
to 18 billion sticks across JTI’s diverse
portfolio which includes heritage
brands Benson & Hedges, and Mayfair.
Surya Foods takes major
Surya Foods takes major
stake in Karma Bites
stake in Karma Bites
World foods outfit Surya Foods has
acquired a major stake in health snack
brand Karma Bites, as part of a
strategy to boost its presence in
snacking.
Karma Bites produces a range of
naturally flavoured, popped lotus
seeds, a popular snack with a rich
history in Chinese and Ayurvedic
medicine.
Surya Foods achieved an
impressive 30% increase in revenue
last year and now supplies almost half
of the UK’s branded dry rice supply
across its leading UK Top 10 rice
brands: Laila, Salaam and Mai Thai.
Wales unveils £10m
Wales unveils £10m
commerce rejuvenation
commerce rejuvenation
fund
fund
The Welsh government has an-
nounced £10m in Financial Transac-
tion Capital to fund regeneration
projects in town and city centres
across the country
Transforming Towns Loans
supports local authorities with urban
regeneration projects and has
allocated more than £62m since its
launch in 2014. The aim of the scheme
is to reduce the number of vacant and
underutilised sites and buildings to
diversify our town centre ofers and
increase footfall.
The funding also encourages more
sustainable uses for empty premises,
to prevent activity from relocating to
edge-of-town development.
WHOLESALE
24 JANUARY 2025 ASIAN TRADER 9
mid rising cost pressures, labor
shortages, and shifting consumer
demands, wholesalers are
doubling down on creative
solutions to ensure their retail partners
remain competitive.
At Booker, innovation seems to be the buz-
zword. From beer caves to refresh zones, the
wholesaler is redefining in-store convenience.
“The beer cave proposition is a fantastic
way for retailers to ensure drinks are stored
properly, preserving freshness and taste for
consumers,” a Booker spokesperson told
Asian Trader. “We also have our refresh zones
– designated areas of a store where various
drinks machines are situated, improving the
overall shopping experience.”
Parfetts, meanwhile, is committed to fur-
ther expanding its symbol footprint this year,
with the addition of new forecourt format
Shop & Go. The employee-owned wholesaler
is also aiming to increase the reach of its free
delivery service.
“We have increased the frequency and
scale of our promotional programme to help
retailers maximize margin,” said joint manag-
ing director Guy Swindell.
“There has also been significant invest-
ment in our own-label range, which now has
over 200 lines, and is designed to provide
customers with great value and retailers with
industry-leading margins,” he added.
Meanwhile, both Bestway and Nisa have
already kick-started 2025 by removing fuel
levies on deliveries. Bestway has also pledged
over £2.5 million to cut prices on more than
11,000 branded products.
Bestway’s move is designed to help the
retailers drive footfall and customer loyalty
by focusing on best-selling products, ensuring
that the prices are competitive compared to
large multiple operators, and will continue to
encourage shoppers to buy locally.
Nisa is also doubling down on its “Mega
Deals” campaign, ensuring its retailers re-
main competitive.
Emerging as a trailblazer in 2025,
Sandea Wholesale has renewed focus on
As challenges mount, wholesalers are gearing up
to empower retailers for a successful 2025.
sustainability and innovation.
As pointed out by spokesperson Priya
Virdi, convenience stores will increasingly
embrace omnichannel strategies this year,
blending online ordering, delivery, and in-
store shopping for tech-savvy UK consumers.
Health trends are also reshaping the con-
venience sector, with rising demand for fresh,
plant-based, and locally sourced products,
along with ready-to-eat meals and functional
foods, Virdi told Asian Trader, adding that San-
dea Wholesale is at the forefront of supplying
these lines of products.
It is also committed to exploring under-
served regional markets and securing exclu-
sive supplier partnerships this year.
For JW Filshill, Scotland’s oldest whole-
saler, currently celebrating its 150th anniver-
sary, 2025 will be marked with initiatives that
go beyond business. It aims to raise £150,000
for charities and train 150 KeyStore retailers
as mental health ambassadors.
Filshill is also ramping up investments
in corporate technology, leveraging AI to
enhance operational efciency and adopting
innovative solutions to boost overall produc-
tivity.
Overcoming Challenges
Cost pressures, supply chain uncertainties,
and labor shortages remain significant hur-
dles for the sector as the year begins.
Parfetts’ Swindell emphasises the need
for proactive measures: “That’s why Parfetts
has redoubled its eforts to protect retailer
margins with a busy promotional schedule
and a growing own-label range.
“An aggressive marketplace in 2025 will
require greater proactivity from convenience
stores to compete, and Parfetts has increased
resources into the retail development team to
further help retailers,” Swindell said.
Acknowledging the
legislative impacts of the
latest budget, Booker is
providing multifaceted sup-
port through merchandise
assistance, planograms, and
sustainability guidance.
Understanding that there
is increasing pressure for
businesses to become more
sustainable, Booker is rec-
ommending retailers to start
using paper bags rather and
is asking local suppliers to
decrease food miles, adds the
spokesperson, stating that
Booker itself is also aiming to make its brands
sustainable as well as competitive.
Sandea Wholesale identifies “supply chain
uncertainties” and “labour shortages” as play-
ing additional hurdles in the wider grocery
and FMCG sector this year.
The wholesaler plans to combat the former
by diversifying suppliers and utilising predic-
tive analytics, thus ensuring reliability even in
uncertain times.
The wholesaler this year will focus more
on launching thousands of new SKUs, invest-
ing in advanced technologies to enhance
operational efciency and supporting local
UK initiatives through sponsorships and
partnerships.
Looking at 2025
The last quarter of 2024 saw reports of
supermarkets taking a greater share due to
increased discounting, posing a greater chal-
lenge for convenience. It’s clear that 2025 will
continue to be tough for everyone.
Parfetts is calling on the government to
listen to business, stating that loading com-
panies with additional costs will only make
things harder and collaboration is required
between policymakers, retailers, and whole-
salers to support the success of the sector.
Despite the pressures, disciplined stores
with proactive retailers are being able to
maintain growth, and it is vital that the
wholesale works proactively with those
customers to ensure this carries on, Swindell
added.
Booker meanwhile is confident of its own
brands, Jack’s and Euro Shopper, for provid-
ing independent retailers with value-driven
options.
“We are proud to serve retailers right
across the UK and will
continue to listen and
learn from them to further
improve Choice, Price and
Service across Booker,” said
Booker. “We remain fully
committed to ensuring our
retailers can build success-
ful businesses within the
sector.”
The sector’s forward-
thinking approach and
renewed commitment to
support must be encourag-
ing and reassuring for their
retail partners.
Wholesalers: looking at 2025
NEWS FEATURE
10 ASIAN TRADER 24 JANUARY 2025
s we leap into 2025, the conveni-
ence retail sector is bracing for a
year filled with both challenges and
opportunities.
Rising operating costs, the end of a
high-margin product line, and a wave of new
legislative restrictions paint a
demanding picture for this year.
Yet, in true entrepreneurial
spirit, convenience retailers not
only stand firm but are also
ready to innovate, expand and
thrive.
Asian Trader got in touch
with some of the leading
convenience retailers and
despite the impending changes
directly afecting the business,
the mood in the sector is found
to be upbeat and positive.
Plans for product line
expansions, store refits, and strategic
innovations are already set in motion,
showcasing the resilience and creativity that
define this industry.
For Londis Solo Convenience store owner
Natalie Lightfoot, the mantra for 2025 is
“work smarter, not harder”. Her 620-square-
foot store thrives on its one-hour home
delivery service, a unique ofering amidst
neighbouring supermarket competition.
“Over the last five years, I have been
building up the delivery side of my business,
and I want to further increase my delivery
sales share, which is at 40 per cent at the
moment.
“However, it’s quite labour intensive.
Considering the upcoming rise in wages, I will
be streamlining this side more. That’s going to
be my top thing this year,” she
says.
“I need to work smarter,
not harder. I will also be
focusing on improving tech in
my store like getting headsets
for my staf.”
The Glasgow-based retailer
is also planning to alter the
layout of the store to adjust
more freezers so as to increase
the frozen food lines.
In Dartford, retailer Nishi
Despite market changes, legislative
obstructions and economic headwinds, the
convenience channel is all set and ready to
face 2025, says Pooja Shrivastava
amazing new innovations planned like
anti-theft system and some more technology-
based improvements.”
In south London, retailer Benedict
Selvaratnam is aiming to expand the market
presence of Freshfields Market, both locally
in Croydon and through its brand-new
e-commerce website.
The retailer is also planning to enhance
customer experience by ofering a “luxurious
yet afordable” shopping atmosphere this
year while introducing innovative packaging
and operational processes for
e-commerce.
Selvaratnam is also set to
target Asian grocery
segments this year to further
diversify the store’s range,
considering the growing
consumer demand for ethnic
and niche food products.
He is also seeing a greater
emphasis on sustainability,
including eco-friendly
packaging and carbon
footprint reduction as a rising
trend in the convenience
sector.
Meanwhile, retailer
Priyesh Vekaria in Manchester, who has
worked closely with the likes of Nestle,
Phillip Morris, and Walkers in the past year,
aims to focus on further strengthening
relationships with suppliers to bring new
product developments (NPDs) directly to the
convenience sector.
“What I am hoping for this year is suppliers
working more closely with us for the launch
of NPDs directly to the convenience stores,”
he says, adding that some of the big names are
willing to work right alongside convenience
retailers.
“Such events and activations work greatly
From hurdles to hustle
Patel is also planning to boost the delivery
side of his business this year apart from
building on his success in tracking trends
through social media.
“We try to stay ahead of the curve when it
comes to trends by keeping a keen eye on
TikTok and Instagram. We will
be adding more of Japanese
sweets and drinks and Ameri-
can candies. We are also
collaborating with a chocolate
company in London to get
some exclusive stock for
Valentine’s Day,” he tells Asian
Trader.
Innovation isn’t limited to
products. In Hampshire,
retailer Imtiyaz Mamode plans
to upgrade his Wych Lane
Premier Store with layout
changes to accommodate new
product lines, all while eyeing
even a potential symbol
group switch.
He said, “We have decided
to change a bit of the layout of
the shop so that we can stock
more lines of products. We
will discontinue some
non-performing ones and add
some more potential ones.”
Popularly known as
“TikTok retailer” for his
knack for identifying viral
trends, Mamode aims to
introduce a cotton candy
machine this year in his store,
potentially a UK-first for
convenience.
Elsewhere, in Glasgow, for
retailer Girish Jeeva 2025 will
be all about investing in his
human resources and
technology.
“Our top priority for 2025 is
to focus more on our team and
benefits for them,” he says.
“We want to focus on
developing their skills further
and create a core team so we
can remotely run our stores.
“We also have some
Benedict Selvaratnam
Girish Jeeva
Nishi Patel
Natalie Lightfoot