The Voice of Independent Retailers
Scotland Supplement
Highland fling
4th April to 17th April 2025
Volume 37 No. 961
AT Winner
Setting sales alight
News feature
Cracking under crime
Me and My Brand
World food rules
32
Vapers start to quit
vaping for cigarettes
Business Services
and Technology
Babies, Toddlers and Kids
24
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4 NEWS
Leader: Up in smoke
Big trolley shop resurges as Brits return to office
Retailers concerned over disposable vape ban
disaster
Horizon victim to sue Post Office, Fujitsu
‘Majority of snacks fail health criteria’ – report
Employment Rights Bill passed by House of
Commons
Call raised to bring-in soft drink-like sugar tax
universally
Fruity beer emerges as biggest trend since
craft boom
Guest column: Make your spirits shelf work
harder
Guest column: Going Green Isn’t Just Good
for the Planet ...
10 NEWS FEATURE:
Convenience cracking
under crime
As criminals grow more aggressive,
convenience teeters on the edge, grasping at
grassroots solutions and legislative reforms
12 RETAIL CORNER:
Standing the test of time
Discover a 90-year-old convenience store that
has always landed on its feet, whatever the
challenges were
13 WORLD OF WHOLESALE
A regular round-up of news and views in the
wholesale sector
14 “NOT” TWITTER
The best observations and comments from
retailers (and friends) on the ground
15 MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Keeping up with the latest industry moves
and promotions
16 ME AND MY BRAND
Upuli Ambawatta, Brand Manager at Empire
Bespoke Foods, tells us about its Master Cook
range of world food meal kits and more
19 THE ASIAN TRADER
AWARDS 2025
The best and brightest of the independent
grocery sector will have their achievements
recognised at this November’s Awards
extravaganza
22 AWARD-WINNER
INTERVIEW
The 2024 Asian Trader Tobacco Retailer of the
Year, Suresh Arulanantham, is setting light to
sales at his Rye, Sussex, forecourt, and filling
up on profit
24 FEATURE: BUSINESS
SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY
There is so much help now available for
retailers in the business services area, and
so much of it cheap or even free, that a great
digital transformation is on the way
28 MUST STOCK
The latest product news
32 FEATURE: BABIES,
TODDLERS AND KIDS
It’s a vital category because, when babies are
calling the shots, your store needs to have all
the answers ready
36 FEATURE: SCOTLAND
SUPPLEMENT
Scottish retailers battle harsh conditions and
crime as a fresh slew of legislation is about to
hit – but it’s not all gloom
44 FEATURE: PETCARE
The human birthrate might be declining in
the UK, but pet ownership is on the up as the
nation redefines parenthood
49 CLASSIFIED
4th April to 17th April 2025
THE VOICE OF INDEPENDENT RETAILERS
VOLUME 37 NUMBER 961
NEWS
4 ASIAN TRADER 4 APRIL 2025
The old-fashioned big trolley
shop is popular again as Brits
return to the ofce, resuming
their pre-Covid lifestyles.
“People are back in the ofce
much more, so people are short
of time again … and that’s one of
the reasons why we’re seeing
this resurgence [in] the big
weekly trolley shop,” Simon
Roberts, Sainsbury CEO, told The
Times.
“If you can go to one store and
be certain you can get Monday
night’s tea for the family for
under £5 and something [nicer]
for the weekend … more and
more customers are making a
decision to do that.”
Under Roberts, who is closing
in on five years in the top job,
Sainsbury’s has refocused on
food and, he argues, is now
reaping the benefits. Since he
took over, Sainsbury’s has
increased its market share from
14.9% to 15.7%.
“Five years ago, we couldn’t
fill up our supermarkets, our
costs were high, volumes were
going backward and we were
losing market share.”
Big trolley shop resurges as
Brits return to ofce
Up in smoke
ith the Tobacco and Vapes Bill fast approaching,
the Institute for Economic Afairs (IEA) has
released some breathtaking numbers outlining
illicit tobacco sales in the UK.
They are figures that throw into stark relief the backward-
ness and bankruptcy of successive governments’ eforts to
curb smoking and raise revenue through taxes on tobacco.
They reveal just how dangerously close the legal market for
tobacco – and vapes – is to collapse, with the illicit sector fast
outpacing legitimate sales, and tax revenues vanishing even
as the number of smokers has barely fallen.
The IEA’s Dr Christopher Snowdon revealed that legal
tobacco sales have plummeted since 2021 despite the number
of smokers dropping by less than 1%. At the same time, the
exchequer’s tax take from tobacco has inevitably fallen, too.
To be exact, the number of duty-paid cigarettes sold fell
from 23.6 billion in 2021 to 13.2 billion in 2024, a decline of
44.4%, says Snowden: “In the same period, sales of duty-paid
hand-rolling tobacco (HRT) have dropped from 8.6 million
kilograms to 4.5 million kilograms, a decline of 47.6%.
Overall, the number of cigarettes bought on the legal market
fell by 45.5% between 2021 and 2024.”
This is catastrophic in more ways than one. Not only is the
illegal market, dominated by criminal gangs, fast taking over
an entire industry, but a massive amount of funding is being
lost because no duty is being paid. Most of all, however, the
livelihoods of producers and retailers are being placed at risk,
not to mention the safety of smokers, subjecting themselves
to goodness-knows what poisons and impurities that lurk in
their illicit purchases – from rat droppings to asbestos, afrms
PML’s new head of prevention of illicit sales, Catherine Goger.
The method UK governments have used to deal with
smoking and health has for decades been lazily and compla-
cently to impose punitive tax rises on tobacco products. They
know full well that as an addictive substance its demand is
inelastic, and smokers (disproportionately poorer people)
will simply have to ofer up more of their incomes to satisfy
their habit rather than quit. But there comes a time at which –
as Snowden points out – the welcome tax revenues will begin
to decline. It is plotted on a graph called the Lafer Curve,
where, when the level of tax becomes too high, people stop
paying it ...
If demand remains the same, it means that smuggled or
counterfeit produce is replacing legitimate goods people now
refuse to buy, which has been for quite some time now the
position with cigarettes. We reported in our last issue that
hand-rolling tobacco is now more expensive than silver. That
sends normally law-abiding people to the shady side of the
market.
This sort of greedy, narrow-minded legislation merely
cultivates criminality and destroys economic prosperity.
Encouraging the use of vapes was the perfect way to wean
smokers of tobacco, if the government was truly interested
in health rather than tax revenue. But now they have decided
to tax vapes punitively as well. Draw your own conclusions.
Smoking rates in parts of
England have increased for the
first time in nearly two decades
according to new research.
Industry experts suspect
misinformation around vapes
and impending regulation on
flavours are pushing vape users
back to smoking cigarettes.
While smoking rates have
decreased since 2006, the rate
of decline has flatlined from
2020, and in some areas of the
UK smoking rates are increas-
ing again.
Researchers Haypp, looked
into vapers’ perception of
harm across a range of nicotine
products, highlighting a
serious lack of awareness when
it comes to which products are
more harmful than others,
potentially contributing to
this rise in cigarette use.
The survey showed
consumers did not see a
significant diference in harm
levels between cigarettes,
vapes, and nicotine pouches.
In fact, respondents
believed that the three
products were similarly
harmful, rating all three as
being between 4.5 to 6 out of
10, on a scale from not harmful
to very harmful.
This is a shocking statistic
given that there is a substantial
body of evidence, including
NHS research, that proves that
cigarettes are much more
harmful than vapes and
nicotine pouches.
20% of current vape users
would return to smoking
cigarettes if vapes were no
longer available to them, 37%
would return to smoking
cigarettes if vape flavours were
banned, and 10% if the dispos-
able vape ban in June comes
into force
Markus Lindblad, Nicotine
Expert and Head of External
Afairs at Haypp, said, “Indus-
try experts have been con-
cerned about [these trends] for
some time now.”
Ex-smokers return to tobacco amid misinformation
Vapers start to quit
Vapers start to quit
vaping for cigarettes
vaping for cigarettes
NEWS
4 APRIL 2025 ASIAN TRADER 5
Former sub-postmaster Lee
Castleton has launched legal
action against the Post Ofce
and Fujitsu, becoming the
first individual Horizon IT
scandal victim to sue the two
organisations.
According to recent
reports, Castleton has
instructed his solicitors,
Simons Muirhead Burton, to
issue proceedings at the High
Court against the Post Ofce
and Fujitsu on his behalf.
Castleton is seeking
compensation, alleging the
civil judgement against him
was obtained by fraud.
“I want justice and to be
publicly vindicat-
ed,” Castleton told
the BBC.
Castleton is one
of the victims of
Post Ofce
Horizon scandal in
which hundreds of
sub-postmasters
were wrongfully convicted
after faulty software said
money was missing from
their branch accounts.
While other victims have
seen their convictions
overturned, Castleton’s
civil judgement against him
still stands. His legal action
is to set aside, or overturn,
the judgement.
In 2007, Castleton lost a
two-year legal battle against
the Post Ofce after it sued
him to recover £25,000 of
cash it alleged was missing.
Castleton had to repre-
sent himself in court and was
left bankrupt by a legal bill of
£321,000.
Horizon victim to sue
Post Ofce, Fujitsu
Make your spirits shelf
Make your spirits shelf
work harder: what to
work harder: what to
stock and how to sell it
stock and how to sell it
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 tells the secrets of
a successful spirits section
There’s an art to stocking spirits in a
convenience store. It’s not just about
what you put on the shelf – it’s about
making it sell.
First, range. Space is tight, so stock
smart. You don’t need every brand, but you
do need a good mix across categories –
whisky, gin, vodka, rum, plus a few
standouts like tequila or liqueurs. RTDs are
booming too, ofering a grab-and-go
solution for customers who want
something easy and fuss-free. Premium
choices matter – people are drinking less
but better, so trade-up options are key.
And don’t forget lower-alcohol or trending
products that reflect changing tastes.
If space is limited, prioritise what sells
– big names, key crowd-pleasers, and
anything with supplier support
(promotions, POS materials, seasonal
pushes). Be flexible – swap in new lines
when the opportunity arises.
Want to upsell spirits in a small shop?
Make it easy for customers. The “dinner
for tonight” buyer is an opportunity –
suggest pairings, highlight cocktail
ideas, and keep an eye on what’s popular
(big TV events are a prime time for
alcohol sales). RTDs also fit into this,
ofering quick, no-mix options that work
for impulse buyers.
The challenge? Licensing laws often
separate spirits from mixers, so
cross-merchandising isn’t always an
option. A workaround? Use signage –
Perfect with …” shelf-talkers near mixers,
QR codes linking to simple serves, or
stickers on spirit bottles suggesting a
great pairing elsewhere in the store. If
allowed, small cocktail kits with a mini
spirit and a matching mixer can be a
great grab-and-go option.
It’s not just about what’s on the shelf
– it’s about how you sell it. Get that right,
and your spirits range will work much
harder for you.
Heavily criticising the upcoming
disposable vape ban, traders in
Wes Streeting’s Ilford North
constituency are worried the
new law will hurt small business-
es and will backfire badly as the
product will be available illegally
even after the ban.
According to a recent survey
by We Vape, 95% of UK traders
believe the ban will hurt small
businesses.
Some 80% also believe
shopkeepers will continue to sell
illegal vapes after the disposables
ban is enforced on June 1 and
certain flavours are prohibited as
part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
currently working its way
through parliament.
The poll showed 98% did not
support a ban on e-liquid
flavours, while 57% knew of
shops already selling illegal
products.
Business owners were asked
“With the introduction of a vape
tax and proposed flavour
restrictions, do you think there
will be fewer people visiting your
shop to buy vapes?’, with 93%
saying yes’.
The poll also revealed 97%
thought restricting vapes would
lead to an increase in cigarette
use. When asked if ‘vapers will
try and source illegal vapes as a
result of the proposed restric-
tions?’, 96% answered positive-
ly.
Gurdeep Chahal, owner of
Somerville Convenience Store,
said the disposable vape ban
could force his shop to close:
“The bill is only going to make
the problem of illicit products
worse here and I can’t believe my
own MP is pushing something
that could put me out of
business.
“It’s handing the sale of
cigarettes to criminals and is
going to make it harder for my
customers to move to smoke-
free products.”
Signs point towards vapers deserting market after new law
Retailers concerned over
Retailers concerned over
disposable vape ban disaster
disposable vape ban disaster
NEWS/COMMENT
NEWS
6 ASIAN TRADER 4 APRIL 2025
Most of the 1,200 crisps,
nuts and popcorn snacks
sold in stores contain
such high levels of
“hidden salt” that they
fail to meet govern-
ment’s criteria for
healthier food, a new
report has warned,
raising alarm ahead of
October 2025 advertising
restrictions.
From October, there
will be a pre-9pm television
watershed on junk food
adverts, as well as a blanket
ban for online and social media
ads.
The Action on Salt and
Sugar research team, based at
Queen Mary University of
London, analysed sugar and
salt in nuts, crisps and
ready-to-eat popcorn on
supermarket shelves.
According to its report, one
in three bags of ready-to-eat
popcorn contain more salt
than a packet of cheese and
onion crisps.
Additionally, 77% of crisps,
56% of nuts and 88% of
popcorn would fall foul of
healthy eating criteria.
As well as often being too
salty, 42% of popcorn would
also receive a red warning label
for sugar content. The
worst ofender was
Morrisons Market Street
Tofee Flavour Popcorn
with 59.1g of sugar per
100g.
Crisps also continue to
include excessive levels of
salt, with one in three
products requiring a high
(red) salt warning label on
the front of the pack.
The report adds that
despite clear evidence that salt
reduction is both achievable
and necessary, only “eight
companies have fully met the
salt targets set for these
snacks, with a further four
achieving ≥95 per cent
compliance”. After four years,
9 companies still failed to
meet the targets in at least half
their portfolio, despite being
given four years to succeed.
Salty treats tempt government to think about regulations
‘Majority of snacks fail
‘Majority of snacks fail
health criteria’ – report
health criteria’ – report
The Employment Rights Bill
has passed all stages in the
House of Commons and will
now be considered in the
House of Lords.
The legislation seeks to
end unfair employment
practices.
The Bill will ban exploita-
tive zero-hours contract and
provide a right to a regular
hours contract, making
Statutory Sick Pay available
from day one of absence and
to all workers, regardless of
income.
Day-one access to
employment rights,
including challenging an
unfair dismissal, will be
granted while the bill
requires employers to
protect staf from customer
harassment.
The bill also gives trade
unions the right to access
workplaces, to recruit and
organise workers, simplify
the trade union recognition
process to give workers a
voice and introduce statuto-
ry rights for workplace
equalities representatives.
The bill will limit the use
of fire and rehire and create a
fair work agency to put
enforcement of employment
rights into a single body.
Commenting on the
progression of the bill, Paddy
Lillis – Usdaw general
secretary said, “Usdaw has
long campaigned for a new
deal for workers and the
Employment Rights Bill
delivers on that.
Employment Rights Bill passed
by House of Commons
InPost is new
InPost is new
Newstraid sponsor
Newstraid sponsor
The charity dedicated to supporting
individuals in the newspaper and
magazine industry during times of
financial and emotional hardship, has
welcomed InPost Newstrade as its
newest corporate sponsor.
The partnership follows InPost
Newstrade’s full acquisition of Menzies
Distribution, a company that had been
a steadfast supporter of NewstrAid for
over a century.
For over 185 years, NewstrAid has
provided essential help to those who
have worked in newspaper and
magazine sale and distribution,
ensuring they receive much needed
assistance during challenging times. In
2024it helped more than 1,500 people.
ShopMate partners with
ShopMate partners with
DNA Payments
DNA Payments
EPoS system ShopMate has inaugu-
rated a partnership with DNA
Payments, a provider of advanced
payment solutions.
Through this strategic partner-
ship, ShopMate enhances its
support for retailers by integrating
a seamless and efcient payment
solution into its EPOS system,
ShopMate Pay. ShopMate Pay will
be available to existing and new
ShopMate customers who will
benefit from a unified approach for
all their payment and EPOS needs.
“This allows us to deliver a
payment solution that’s efcient
and adaptable to the needs of
independent retailers.” said Brian
Eagle-Brown, ShopMate MD.
Persistent South Tyne-
Persistent South Tyne-
side shoplifter jailed
side shoplifter jailed
A persistent shoplifter targeting
stores in Northumbria is now behind
bars after stealing from a South
Tyneside store just weeks after being
handed a suspended sentence for the
same ofences. Northumbria Police
said Michael Wright, 35, had visited
the Co-op store on Mortimer Road in
South Shields and took laundry
products without paying. Less than a
month earlier, Wright was given a
14-week suspended sentence by
South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court for
stealing chicken from the same Co-op
store, and toiletries from the
Sainsbury’s on Prince Edward Road.
NEWS
4 APRIL 2025 ASIAN TRADER 7
NEWS
“Sustainability” often conjures
images of hemp shopping bags,
recycled packaging, and
perhaps a slight premium on
prices. But what if I told you
going green could save your
business money?
This isn’t wishful thinking;
it’s the reality uncovered in the
latest episode of Bira’s “High
Street Matters” podcast. What
struck me most while listening
to “Greening the High Street –
Smart Solutions for Sustainable
Retail” wasn’t the environmen-
tal benefits but the compelling
business case for sustainability.
An outdated refrigeration
unit can consume 30% more
energy than its modern
counterpart. That’s cold, hard
cash evaporating from your
business every month.
Victoria Robertshaw, founder
of Green Street, mentions a
business in Newcastle who
saved hundreds of pounds
annually just by replacing an
old fridge with an energy-ef-
cient model. These aren’t
insignificant sums for
independent retailers
operating on tight margins.
Victoria calls this phenome-
non “sustainability paralysis”
- businesses that want to
change but are stuck, over-
whelmed by conflicting advice
and do nothing at all.
What makes this podcast
episode particularly valuable is
its practical approach. It’s not
preaching environmental
virtue; it’s outlining a business
strategy that happens to benefit
the planet.
Take Keith Hunt’s ze-
ro-waste shop in Minehead,
“Our Precious Earth.” His
business isn’t thriving despite
being sustainable but because
of it. Last quarter’s takings
exceeded his entire previous
year’s revenue. Why? Because
he’s tapped into a growing
consumer demand while
running a more efcient
operation.
The timing couldn’t be more
critical. With recent budget
changes and ever-rising energy
costs, retailers need every
advantage they can get. LED
lighting, proper insulation, and
smarter heating strategies
aren’t just green initiatives -
they’re competitive advantages
in a challenging market.
Then there’s the incoming
legislation. From March,
businesses with ten or more
employees will legally need to
separate recycling and food
waste. Getting ahead of these
requirements isn’t just good
citizenship - it’s smart planning
that prevents costly last-min-
ute scrambles.
But perhaps the most
compelling insight from the
podcast is about customer
expectations. Victoria points
out that while customers may
not notice (or care) if you have
solar panels on your roof, they
absolutely notice single-use
plastics. It’s one of the top
consumer concerns in retail
experiences today.
What we’re witnessing isn’t
just a trend; it’s a fundamental
shift in how successful retail
operates. The businesses that
thrive will be those that
recognise sustainability not as a
cost centre but as a profit driver.
The question for independ-
ent retailers isn’t whether to
embrace sustainability but how
quickly they can implement
these measures before their
competitors do.
In his regular column, Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre surveys the
damage done to retail so far in 2025
Going Green Isn’t Just Good for the
Going Green Isn’t Just Good for the
Planet, It’s Good for Business Too
Planet, It’s Good for Business Too
Vimto maker Nichols
Vimto maker Nichols
sees profit rise
sees profit rise
Nichols posted higher sales and profit
figures for last years despite of
challenging market and evolving
regulatory requirements.
In 12 months to 31 December, it
reported a 1.2% increase in revenue to
£172.8m. Its core packaged business
performed well, with revenue
increasing by 4.4%.
This was largely driven by strong
performance within its UK division,
where revenues increased by 6.3% on
the back of product innovation,
marketing and distribution gains.
Focus on cost management saw
adjusted operating profit increasing
by 14.6% to £28.9m, with margin
improving to 16.7%.
Asda’s profits climb
Asda’s profits climb
despite sales decline
despite sales decline
Despite a decline in annual sales Asda
still saw profits rise.
The supermarket said its revenue
for the year to 31 December 2024
declined by 0.8% to £21.7bn, while
like-for-like sales (excluding fuel) were
lower by 3.4%. Asda grew adjusted
EBITDA after rent by 5.8% to £1.14bn,
driven by improved gross margins,
particularly in non-food reflecting the
strength and scale of its George
business, as well as a full year of profit
from the 356 Asda Express conveni-
ence stores and forecourt sites
acquired from EG Group.
Gander partnership for
Gander partnership for
inventory management
inventory management
Trust and Gander are unveiling a
strategic partnership set to transform
inventory management and mark-
down processes in grocery and
convenience retail.
It integrates Gander’s advanced
markdown solution with Trust’s
inventory management and ePOS
systems. The partnership aims to
empower retailers by reducing food
waste, optimising markdown
strategies, and increasing revenue
from previously under-utilised stock.
Price reductions logged in real
time will sync directly with the ePOS
system and markdown platform.
Once a reduced item is sold it will
be automatically removed from the
inventory list, ensuring accurate stock
visibility.
By Andrew
Goodacre, CEO
of Bira (British
Independent
Retailers
Association)
NEWS
8 ASIAN TRADER 4 APRIL 2025
The UK government should
extend its sugar tax beyond soft
drinks to cover all types of foods,
according to a major new report
published this week.
The Transforming UK Food
Systems Programme study
highlights how the existing soft
drinks levy has reduced sugar
content in beverages by 44%,
and suggests a similar approach
expanded across all food types
could help tackle the UK’s
obesity crisis.
Introducing a new salt levy,
similar to the sugar tax, is
another proposal put forward in
a comprehensive set of
recommended regulations,
which are suggested not only to
transform public health in the
UK but also to deliver nation-
wide environmental benefits.
Professor Chris Hilson, lead
author of the report at the
University of Reading, said,
“Extending the sugar tax to all
processed foods is vital.
“The current levy has
successfully cut sugar in soft
drinks, but we need to see the
same success with products like
milkshakes, biscuits, yogurts
and breakfast cereals to improve
public health.
“Mandatory measures on
the food sector, such as a salt tax,
should be considered by MPs.”
The report calls for more
stringent regulations for the
food sector and a move away
from the current approach,
which relies more on voluntary
measures.
The authors argue that
stronger policies would also
support economic goals rather
than hinder them, as a healthy
environment and workforce are
essential for long-term growth.
Other recommendations
include setting greenhouse gas
targets for agriculture, adding
dairy and beef farms to environ-
mental permit schemes and
requiring large food businesses
to report on their sales of
unhealthy products.
Sugar tax now seen as template to tax everything edible
Call raised to bring-in soft
Call raised to bring-in soft
drink-like sugar tax universally
drink-like sugar tax universally
European-style fruity beer is
increasingly popular in the
UK, emerging as the
Britain’s fastest growing
beer trend.
According to Tesco,
demand for these lighter
thirst-quenching beers,
which have a typical
strength of around 4% ABV,
has seen sales volume grow
by 250% in the last year.
These fruity beer styles
have long been popular in
western Europe and are
associated with “after
sport” refreshment, particu-
larly skiing and cycling.
Over the last 15 years,
various European beers with
fruity profiles have gradually
become more popular over
here such as Belgian straw-
berry brews Fruli and
Bacchus Kriek, and more
recently Radler, a shandy
style beer from Germany
and Damm Lemon from
Spain.
Tesco beer buyer Ben
Cole said, “The soaring
demand for fruit-led brews,
particularly lager, has taken
the UK drinks market by
storm and is the biggest
trend to hit the beer scene
since the craft boom started
more than 15 years ago.
“For many people the
craft movement changed
the perception of what a
beer could taste like and
opened many drinkers’
palates to a wider range of
styles.”
Fruity beer emerges as biggest
trend since craft boom
The Real Yorkshire
The Real Yorkshire
Pudding Co taken over
Pudding Co taken over
The Compleat Food Group has
acquired The Real Yorkshire Pudding
Co for an undisclosed figure.
A leading supplier of own-label
and branded chilled Yorkshire
puddings in the UK, The Real
Yorkshire Pudding Co has driven
consistent double-digit growth to
reach £33m turnover.
This is the latest strategic
acquisition by The Compleat Food
Group as it continues its journey to
become the UK’s leading chilled
prepared food company. It follows the
group’s acquisition of SK Foods and
Zorba Foods, and Harvey & Brockless,
a speciality producer and distributor,
in 2024.
Shoplifters jailed
Shoplifters jailed
for stealing nearly
for stealing nearly
£20k in goods
£20k in goods
Two prolific shoplifters who stole
almost £20,000 worth of goods have
been sentenced after being caught
with stolen items in their car.
Thomas McDonagh, 21, of
Headington, Oxford, was jailed for 16
months after admitting to eight
counts of theft across Essex. Martin
Stokes, 23, of Bletchley received a
16-week jail term, suspended for 18
months.
The duo was stopped by police
while driving on the A12. Ofcers had
linked them to multiple thefts from
Boots and Next in the Stane Park retail
area in Stanway, Colchester.
Highland Spring secures
Highland Spring secures
£50m new funding
£50m new funding
Highland Spring Group, producer of
natural source waters, has completed
a competitive process to refinance its
business.
The company announced that
Bank of Scotland and Barclays will
provide support as it progresses
towards its ambition of £200 million
sales by 2030.
In 2023, the business grew its sales
in the year by 15.5% to £130.6m and
the brand consolidated its position as
the UK’s number one plain water
brand for a seventh successive year.
The company said the financial
backing will further accelerate the
evolution of the brand.
NEWS FEATURE
10 ASIAN TRADER 4 APRIL 2025
s retail crime surges into more violent
territory, the UK’s convenience sector
is cracking. Yet amid the chaos, hope
flickers in grassroots action and in the
promise of new legislation, finds Asian Trader.
March saw a series of hard-hitting reports
released back-to-back, each painting a grim
picture of retail crime across the
UK. Whether looking at the
convenience sector or the broader
retail landscape, the message was
chillingly consistent – a disturbing
spike in theft, abuse, violence,
armed robbery, and hate crime.
Among the worst hit are
convenience stores – often small,
independently run businesses with
minimal security where usual retail
staf are told to keep an eye on the shop floor
for any suspicious activities.
But seemingly gone are the days of petty
theft and sneaky shoplifters. Today, brazen
gangs storm in, clear shelves without
hesitation, ready to abuse, hit, punch, or spit
when confronted.
Take retailer Amit Puntambekar, who runs
Ash’s Shop in Cambridgeshire. Earlier this
year, he was punched in face by a young
woman whom he saw on CCTV footage
stealing vapes, leaving him with bloodied
nose and lacerations below his eyes.
Operating for the last 40 years, Puntam-
bekar store is the lifeline of Fenstanton
village, yet it loses hundreds of pounds’ worth
of goods per week to theft.
Taking over from his parents in 2017,
As criminals get aggressive and violent, the
convenience sector teeters on the edge, grasping
at grassroots solutions and legislative reforms
for hope, says Pooja Shrivastava
These attacks don’t stop at the shop door;
they leave emotional scars on the entire
families.
“No one thinks of the knock-on conse-
quences. With the government piling on
costs, this could cause many small businesses
to close,” she adds.
Her store is the only bank in town. If it
closes, residents will have to face a “three-
hour round trip to access cash”.
“We employ 16 members of staf on
permanent contracts so again this would be
devastating for the town if we were to close,”
she says.
Organised Gangs
According to the latest ACS Crime Report,
more than half of convenience retailers have
seen a rise in anti-social behaviour near their
stores. And it’s not just rowdy teens or
opportunistic thieves but highly organized
gangs at play, too.
In Oxfordshire, SPAR
Minster Lovell, run by retailer
Ian Lewis, has been serving
shoppers since 1937. Yet that
does not make it immune to
crime.
The store was targeted in
September last year though the
men could not break in.
However, it did not have the
same luck on Boxing Day.
During the early hours of December 27, a gang
struck again. This time not only did they break
into, but they attached the store’s cash
machine (which was at the rear) with a Land
Rover and tore it apart, dragging it all the way
out, damaging the chiller on the way.
Apart from taking the cash machine that
had about £2,500 inside, the criminals left
behind a badly damaged store, £1,000 worth
of spoilt stock, a ruined front door and a badly
shaken family sleeping upstairs when the
ram-raid occurred.
These are simply some examples of crime
levels that retailers are dealing with. Clearly,
crime has not only increased but criminals are
now also more violent, fearless and organised.
Retailer Benedict Selvaratnam operates a
Convenience cracking under crime
Puntambekar had dreams of growing the
business further. Today, those dreams
hang by a thread.
Amid high levels of crime and
“complete apathy” from the authorities,
he has often expressed on social media his
inclination of “selling the business and
leaving retail altogether”.
Elsewhere, in Wales, the
situation is no better.
In a picturesque seaside town,
award-winning store Tenby Stores
& Post Ofce has some of the most
advanced crime prevention
measures. However, they still tend
to fall short when humanity decides
to stoop to its lowest.
Just last month, store owner and
veteran retailer Fiona Malone was spat at by a
teenager whom she caught stealing from her
shop. Last year in August, her husband Vince
Malone was punched by another ofender.
This is not an isolated incident, as this
seaside store has been bearing the brunt of the
surge in retail crime to record levels, amount-
ing to £20000 to £30000 each
year.
Fiona told Asian Trader,
“Overall, society needs to
acknowledge that shop crime
isn’t victimless and that it is
wrong.
“People think it’s ok, the
shops can aford it; which we
can’t, and ultimately it could put
us out of business.”
Fiona and Vince Malone
Amit Puntambekar
Crime in convenience
Highlights of Association of
Convenience Stores (ACS) Crime Report
492,914 incidents of shop theft recorded while 6.2 million incidents estimated
Over 59,000 incidents of violence
1.2 million incidents of verbal abuse;44 per cent of verbal abuse incidents are
hate-motivated,
Over 10,000 incidents of burglary reported, costing £3,591 per store per incident
87 per cent of store colleagues faced verbal abuse
34 per cent of crime involved a knife while 31 per cent involved another weapon.
Cost of crime was £316 million annually, costing £6,259 per store per year.