The Voice of Independent Retailers
Nathalie Kaur
Unstoppable hero
27th June to 24th July 2025
Volume 37 No. 966
Festival season
Chill outside
Chocs and candy
Sweet spot!
Big Interview
Imperial’s MD speaks
Navigating
Change,
Championing
Independents
– Patrick Ganguly on Imperial’s
Support Amidst Industry Shifts
35
Treasury pledges permanently
lower taxes for retail
Chocolate and Confectionery
BBQ and Summer Products
23
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4 NEWS
Leader: Keep it wholesome
Treasury pledges permanently lower taxes
for retail
‘Sweet treat economy’ booms
Family jailed for staging armed robbery at
own post office
Retail loses ‘350,000 jobs since 2015’
Mults selling super-strength cider at ‘pocket-
money prices’
Guest column: The bottle you’re missing from
your in-store booze shelf
Guest column: Rights, risks, and the reality
check independent retailers need
10 NEWS FEATURE: Going
viral, cashing In
Viral products are opening a powerful new
revenue stream for convenience retailers:
Pooja Shrivastava investigates...
12 WORLD OF WHOLESALE
A regular round-up of news and views in the
wholesale sector
13 MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Keeping up with the latest industry moves
and promotions
14 RETAIL CORNER: More
Than a Makeover
Once forgotten but now ready for the
future, this convenience store in Scotland is
rewriting the rules of local retail, discovers
Pooja Shrivastava
15 DATA CART
Your at-a-glance guide to the big issues in the sector
16 BIG INTERVIEW
Imperial Brands’ new UK MD, Patrick
Ganguly, is steering the ship through stormy
legislative waters by holding fast to tradition
and setting a steady course for the future
20 AWARD-WINNER INTERVIEW:
Nothing can stop her
Determination, resilience, talent and huge
social conscience propelled Nathalie Kaur
in her career and won here the 2024 Asian
Trader Local Hero Award
23 FEATURE: CHOCOLATE
AND CONFECTIONERY
A convenience stalwart, chocs and
confectionery stand up to the harshest
economic conditions because everybody –
adults and children alike – likes a sweet treat
35 FEATURE: BBQ AND
SUMMER PRODUCTS
The sun has come out, and so has the nation
– at least into their gardens, where a million
grills are sizzling – so make the most of these
summer sales
44 “NOT” TWITTER
The best observations and comments from
retailers (and friends) on the ground
45 MUST STOCK
The latest product news
51 FEATURE: CARNIVALS
AND FESTIVALS
From chilled cans to glitter fans, here’s how
convenience stores can turn festival footfall
into serious sales
57 FEATURE: FOOD
CUPBOARD
Ambient grocery items are the foundations
of any kitchen, providing the essential
adaptability and flavours that make impulse-
bought ingredients come alive
61 CLASSIFIED
64 GUJARATI
27th June to 24th July 2025
THE VOICE OF INDEPENDENT RETAILERS
VOLUME 37 NUMBER 966
NEWS
4 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
Advertising restrictions
which were previously set to
accompany the HFSS (high fat,
salt, sugar) regulations will be
delayed until January 5, 2026,
to account for changes to the
way that brands are classified
in adverts.
The Government con
firmed that the legal require
ment for brands to stop
advertising HFSS products
online at any time and on
television before 9pm will be
introduced in January, but
that there is a commitment
from the industry to start
complying from October this
year.
The delay is due to a change
in the rules which will allow
brands that are typically
associated with HFSS prod
ucts to advertise other
products and commitments
like healthy eating initiatives.
Government intends to make
and lay a Statutory Instru
ment (SI) to explicitly exempt
“brand advertising” from the
restrictions.
Examples of volume
promotions and multibuys are
“50 per cent extra free”, “buy
one get one free” and “three
for £10”. This follows the
location restrictions which
were introduced in 2022.
Government to delay HFSS
advertising restrictions
Keep it wholesome
he buzz in the national media lately has been that
“Whole milk, full-fat yoghurt and blocks of butter
are in demand as shoppers go back to basics to avoid
processed food”. Is it true? Or is a wave of sympathy
accompanying the recent return of Clarkson’s Farm? The
Netflix series highlighted how the farming sector is under
siege from a cash-strapped government with little
understanding of rural life and what it provides for the
country – to the extent that (also in the national media)
there are now warnings that “the threat to our food
supply is real”.
There was a fashion for low-fat, processed foods that
began decades ago, when heart disease was high among
middle-aged men. Dietary fats got the blame (although it
was ore probably cigarettes), and we were all told to eat
fewer and less fatty foods – a bit like we were told to buy
diesel-engine motor cars to help stop pollution. The era of
low-fat meant that foods had to be more highly processed
– to get rid of naturally-occurring fats, which were
replaced with starch – which spells sugar as far as the liver
is concerned. Instead of a heart attack the world put on a
lot of weight and developed Type 2 diabetes (but still
suffered heart attacks).
The low-fat fashion went hand in hand with pro-vege
tarian and, later, anti-meat messaging. Eventually a wave
of UPF vegan products such as bacon rashers and sausages
filled up the chillers. There was even lab-grown meat for
those who just couldn’t handle the vape-equivalent of
beef and chicken. It all seemed to peak around the time
lockdown began, if memory serves. Certainly, the tsuna
mi of press releases for new vegan products hit around
that time – but has since receded.
What is really sending us back to old-fashioned food is
partly economics, with the cost-of-living crisis starting to
look permanent. So, importantly, how should independ
ent retailers prepare for this to get the maximum benefit?
The good news is that processed foods, while carrying good
margins, are not necessarily more profitable than the kinds
of locally produced, simple, wholesome items the public
seems increasingly to crave. In fact, the “back to basics”
trend comes with a “let’s go premio!” tendency, too.
Furthermore, being less processed, these whole foods are
more versatile, because they can be combined together in
healthy recipes that are becoming more popular with the
rise (or return) of scratch-cooking – partly due to people
not being able to afford eating out so often.
This recent phenomenon might turn into a virtuous
circle – promoting local sales, premium quality, and better
health, while diverting entertainment spending into
home cooking, BNI and BBQ spend – speaking of which.
The sun is out, summer is here (...) and Asian Trader this
month turns its attention to the fun part of the year, as we
fire up the barbie and have friends and family round for a
bonzer cook-out. And don’t miss our Big Interview with
Imperial Brands’ UK MD, Patrick Ganguly.
High street businesses can
expect a major overhaul of the
business rates system from April
2026, with the government
pledging to introduce perma
nently lower tax rates for retail,
hospitality, and leisure (RHL)
properties under £500,000 in
rateable value.
Responding to a Westmin
ster Hall debate secured by Sir
Gavin Williamson MP on 4 June,
Exchequer Secretary to the
Treasury James Murray said the
Government is “protecting the
high street by transforming the
business rates system so that it
supports investment and is fit for
the 21st century.”
Under the new system,
businesses with rateable values
below £500,000 will benefit from
two new RHL multipliers,
mirroring the existing small
business and standard multipliers,
without a cash cap.
The new small business RHL
multiplier will apply to proper
ties with rateable values below
£51,000, and the new standard
RHL multiplier will apply to
properties with rateable values
of £51,000 and above, and
below £500,000.
Murray told MPs that the
government intend to introduce
permanently lower tax rates from
2026-27, as announced at last
year’s autumn Budget, adding,
“That will give much needed
certainty and support to the high
street, improving investment and
growth in places across England.”
The lower multipliers will be
paid for by introducing a higher
rate for properties with rateable
values of £500,000 and above,
many of which are large online
distribution centres. “Those
properties represent less than 1
per cent of all properties, but
include the majority of large
distribution warehouses,
including those used by the online
giants,” Murray noted.
Promise for high street businesses in rates overhaul
Treasury pledges permanently
lower taxes for retail
NEWS
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 5
Leading vape retailer
VPZ said it has written
to both the UK and
Scottish health
secretaries to request
urgent talks.
VPZ alleged that
retailers across the UK
continue to sell
banned single-use
disposable vapes,
despite the govern
ment legislation that came
into force on 1 June.
In the letter, the vaping
specialist expressed deep
concern that non-compliant,
and high-capacity disposable
vapes remain widely
available, noting that this is
undermining public health
efforts, fuelling youth
vaping, and the environmen
tal impact.
The legislation was
introduced to remove these
devices from the market
- particularly those that
appeal to youths through
colourful branding and high
nicotine levels.
However, VPZ
said it has
identified dozens
of retailers across
the UK still
selling the
banned products,
raising serious
questions about
enforcement and
regulatory
oversight.
“We are now past
the government’s own
deadline, and yet these
banned products are
still being sold openly
in shops across the
UK,” Jamie Strachan,
operations director at
VPZ, said.
VPZ claimed that
independent retailers
are taking advantage of £200
fines and reiterated their call
for the fines to start at
£10,000.
Disposable vape sales persist
post-ban, VPZ says
The bottle you’re missing
The bottle you’re missing
from your in-store booze
from your in-store booze
shelf
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 reminds us of
what a delicious and versatile
liquid Vermouth is – and
explains why it’s worth
stocking
It’s a real workhorse for at-home
cocktail making; a delicious choice for
many cool, cultured customers; and I
can guarantee many of you are missing
it from your in-store booze selection.
It’s Vermouth. Hundreds of years old,
and a key ingredient of Martinis,
Negronis, and Manhattans, this
fabulous, fortified wine is once again
having a moment in the on-trade, and
we’re now seeing consumers get in on
the action too.
You see, as well as being a key
cocktail ingredient, Vermouth is great
when paired with a simple mixer like
soda and has a flavour profile similar to
the liqueurs often used in spritzes.
That’s part of its new-found appeal, as
is the fact it’s a lower-ABV option and
caters to customers practicing
moderation.
So, how do you go about choosing
the right Vermouth for your shelf?
With hundreds of years of history
behind it, you want to look for a spirit
that’s imbued with provenance.
Brands like Dolin are distilled in the
region where it all began, right at the
foot of the Alpine hills, at the
French-Italian border. Look for one
from this region and choose a brand
that has protections in place that
guard the traditional ingredients and
processes of distillation – because
making Vermouth truly is an artform.
To master the sale, provide a bit of
education around the spirit, and
suggest a serve or two for customers
to enjoy. Yes – it’s Europe’s best kept
secret spirit, but one that wins the
hearts of drinkers as well as their
tastebuds. Give it a try!
Back-to-office culture is
fuelling a growing “sweet
treat economy”, with
office workers now
spending an estimated
£57 million a week on
chocolates, according to a
recent report, thus
driving footfall and sales
across local shops, cafés,
and high street stores.
New data shows that
despite 82% of people adjust
ing their spending habits at the
start of this year, largely due to
rising costs, office perks and
in-person work culture are
contributing to an uptick in
spending.
More than half (54%) of
workers are more likely to buy
sweet treats and snacks when
in the office compared to work
ing from home, with 52%
treating themselves as a
reward for going into the office
and 24 per cent buying more in
the past three months.
Many Brits treat them
selves to little indulgences
“most days” when working in
the office. The most common
treats for workers to consume
most days they work at their
desks are coffee (49%), soft
drinks (47%), sweets and
chocolates (40%) and break
fast items (40%).
The top chocolate
bars purchased when in
the office are Cadbury
Dairy Milk (21%), KitKat
(15%), Cadbury Twirl
(10%), Kinder Bueno
(10%), and Galaxy (9%).
For many workers,
treating themselves
during office hours is
about more than just
consumption; 38% say it helps
boost their energy, 37% use it
to improve their mood, and
34% see it as an opportunity to
take a break from work.
Recognising the impor
tance of treats in the office to
workers, up to a third of
businesses have increased
office perks and amenities,
including drinks, snacks and
even pizza.
Office workers spend £57m a week on chocolates
‘Sweet treat economy’ booms
‘Sweet treat economy’ booms
NEWS/COMMENT
NEWS
6 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
Five family members
involved in an elaborate
staged armed robbery at a
Post Office branch in
Hounslow have been
sentenced to a combined
total of more than 17 years in
prison.
The Met’s Flying Squad
uncovered the conspiracy
after the lead perpetrator,
Rajvinder Kahlon, cut
himself on a metal fence
whilst fleeing the scene,
leaving crucial DNA evidence
that unravelled the entire
plot.
Sukhvir Dhillon, 38, who
owned the Post Office branch
and the store it was attached to
on Brabazon Road, was
sentenced to five years’
imprisonment as the ringleader
of the scheme. His cousin
Rajvinder Kahlon, 43, who
carried out the fake robbery,
received four-and-a-half years.
Sunaver Dhillon, 68, the
sub-postmistress and mother of
Sukhvir Dhillon, was sentenced
to three years and one month,
whilst Ramandeep Dhillon, 40,
Sukhvir’s wife, received two
years and five months.
Another family member,
Mandeep Gill, 45, was sen
tenced to two years and four
months after being found guilty
of conspiracy to pervert the
course of justice and
conspiracy to money-laun
der.
The fraud came to light on
1 April 2024 when police
responded to reports of an
armed robbery at approxi
mately 6:30 pm. Two women
working at the branch, later
revealed to be family
members involved in the
conspiracy, told officers they
had been threatened by a
gunman who stole £50,000
along with the branch’s
CCTV system.
However, a subsequent Post
Office audit revealed the
amount missing was around
£136,000, significantly more
than initially reported.
Analysis of phone records
revealed regular contact
between Kahlon and Sukhvir
Dhillon in the lead-up to the
incident.
Plan busted by cops finding DNA left at scene, phone records
Family jailed for staging armed
Family jailed for staging armed
robbery at own post office
robbery at own post office
The government said
it will scrap border
checks on fruit and
veg imported from
the European Union
in an early move to
ease trade ahead of its
new SPS (sanitary and
phytosanitary) deal
with the EU.
This means that
checks on medi
um-risk fruit and vegeta
bles (including tomatoes,
grapes, plums, cherries,
peaches, peppers, and
more) imported from the
EU will not be required –
and will therefore not be
brought into force this
summer.
In the short term,
businesses can continue
importing medium-risk
fruit and vegetables from
the EU without the prod
ucts being subject to import
checks or associated fees.
“This government’s EU
deal will make food cheaper,
slash bureaucracy and
remove cumbersome border
controls for business
es,” biosecurity
minister Baroness
Hayman said. “A
strengthened,
forward-looking part
nership with the
European Union will
deliver for working
people as part of our
Plan for Change.”
The easement was
introduced during the
implementation of the new
BTOM import controls in
2024, as a temporary
measure to provide busi
nesses time to prepare for
their implementation and
ensure a smooth flow of
essential goods across the
UK border.
Border checks on EU fruit and
veg scrapped ahead of new deal
M&S to open 12 new
M&S to open 12 new
Food stores
Food stores
The chain announced investment in
12 brand new food stores, some with
over 20,000 sq ft of trading space,
on former Homebase sites across
England, creating over 550 new
jobs.
The retailer termed the
development as a “significant step
forward” in its store rotation and
renewal programme, and a “key
strand” in the business’s transfor
mation as it reshapes for growth.
M&S aims to create 420 bigger,
fresher Food stores and a more
productive group of 180 full line
stores, with half in the renewal
format by 2027/28.
Appleby Westward
Appleby Westward
Group to be sold
Group to be sold
South Africa’s SPAR Group is said to
be considering selling its UK
business, Appleby Westward Group
(AWG), to an unnamed, UK-based
buyer with strong regional
experience in the South-West.
AWG, which services SPAR
stores in South-West England,
contributes £250m to the group’s
turnover.
The potential buyer, which SPAR
did not name, was “well positioned
to develop and grow AWG in
South-West England,” it said.
The group, which owns several
country licences of the Dutch SPAR
group, has been trimming its
international operations to
“maximize return on capital
allocated”.
Co-op, Royal Mail roll
Co-op, Royal Mail roll
out parcel lockers
out parcel lockers
Co-op and Royal Mail have signed a
partnership to roll out parcel lockers
at the convenience retailer’s stores.
The first ones will launch in summer,
with plans for lockers at 100 stores.
The lockers will allow people to
drop off pre-labelled Royal Mail
parcels and returns 24/7. Collection
will also be available at the lockers
soon.
The lockers provide label
printing, meaning customers only
pay for postage online and print the
label by scanning a QR code at the
locker, or request a QR code for
returns.
NEWS
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 7
NEWS
Tilda launches
Tilda launches
new sales app
new sales app
Software business, Adventoris, has
successfully launched a B2B sales app
for household food brand, Tilda Rice
– the first UK rice company to be B
Corp certified – which one of its trade
partners called “revolutionary”.
The app, on the SwiftCloud
platform, allows Tilda’s wholesale and
independent trade partners to place
orders 24/7, browse products,
contact the company and access
technical information whenever it is
convenient for them on a fully
branded and customised platform.
This system replaces Tilda’s previous
manual order capturing process with
the aim to drive efficiencies.
Greencore agrees
Greencore agrees
‘£1.2bn takeover’
‘£1.2bn takeover’
of rival Bakkavor
of rival Bakkavor
Food-to-go giant Greencore
announced that it agreed the terms of
a recommended £1.2 billion takeover
deal for rival Bakkavor in a move that
will create a food-to-go giant with
around 30,500 staff. Greencore will
pay £2 a share for Bakkavor, which it
said is a 3% premium on Bakkavor’s
closing share price on March 13.
The tie-up – structured as a reverse
takeover – will form a combined food
group with annual sales of about £4 bil
lion which supplies many of the UK’s
biggest supermarkets and retailers.
Leverhulme Trust
Leverhulme Trust
bursaries for retail
bursaries for retail
workers
workers
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust
(LTCT), which provides financial aid for
the families of those working in
convenience, has announced
postgraduate bursary applications
open for 2025/2026 - running until 1
September.
The scheme is open to students on
postgraduate courses, whose parent,
carer, spouse is employed in an eligible
profession, such as convenience
retailer, supermarket store worker, or
pharmacy technician. Students can
apply to receive up to £5,000.
The opportunity is also open to
anyone already working in these
industries who wants to fund their own
study.
When employment lawyers
start using phrases like
“tectonic shift” and “genera
tional changes,” it’s time for
independent retailers to sit up
and take notice. We’re facing
the most significant transfor
mation of employment law in
decades.
John Jones, who runs Philip
Morris & Son in Hereford, put it
bluntly: “It ultimately comes
down to the viability of
businesses.”
When you’re already
grappling with increased
business rates, rising national
minimum wage, and the
everyday pressures of running
an independent shop, the last
thing you need is a maze of new
employment regulations to
trip you up.
Consider the practical
reality. Day one dismissal rights
mean that hiring mistake you
made – and we’ve all made
them – becomes exponentially
more difficult to rectify. The
probationary period that once
gave you breathing space to
assess whether someone fits
your team? That safety net is
being fundamentally altered.
Then there’s the sick pay
changes. From day one,
employees will be entitled to
statutory sick pay, with those
on lower earnings receiving
80% of their wages.
But here’s what concerns
me most – the sheer volume of
changes hitting simultaneous
ly. It’s not just dismissal rights
and sick pay but enhanced
harassment prevention duties,
parental leave modifications,
zero hours contract reforms,
and flexible working adjust
ments. For small businesses
without HR departments, this
represents hundreds of hours
of work just to ensure compli
ance.
The timing couldn’t be
worse. Independent retailers
are already stretched thin, and
now they’re being asked to
become employment law
experts overnight.
However, the government
has recognised the scale of
these changes and is imple
menting them in phases, with
most taking effect in 2026,
which gives us a window.
Bira has been actively
engaging with the Department
for Business throughout the
consultation process. We’re
not alone in raising concerns;
virtually every sector is
highlighting the potential
unintended consequences. But
we need your voices too.
This is where every
independent retailer can make
a difference. Contact your local
MP. Explain how these changes
will affect your business, your
ability to employ people, and
your contribution to the local
community. We’ve already
seen the government reconsid
er policies based on feedback
from constituents - the winter
fuel payment debate proved
that local pressure matters.
Start reviewing your
current employment practices
now. Strengthen your recruit
ment processes – choosing the
right person becomes crucial
when dismissal becomes more
complex. Document
everything carefully, especial
ly during probationary
periods. Consider how you’ll
handle the new sick pay
requirements.
If you’re a Bira member, our
legal helpline with Worknest
(0345 4500937) can provide
specific guidance tailored to
your situation.
In his regular column, Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre Looks at the
impact of ‘seismic’ changes upcoming in employment laws
Rights, risks, and the
Rights, risks, and the
reality check independent
reality check independent
retailers need
retailers need
By Andrew
Goodacre, CEO
of Bira (British
Independent
Retailers
Association)
NEWS
8 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
Over 350,000 retail jobs
have been lost over the last
nine years, reveals a recent
report, laying bare the
threats to retail employ
ment allegedly due to
soaring employment costs,
regulatory burden, and
lack of government
support compared to other
industries.
The British Retail
Consortium said that retail
employment since 2015 has
fallen nearly ten times more
than the total number of jobs in
the steel industry, where
Government has made
repeated interventions to
prevent closures and save jobs.
While the Government has
gone out of its way to support
fishing, steel and the automo
tive industry, retail has instead
been managing an ever-in
creasing tax, cost and regulato
ry burden.
The changes to employer NI
are costing the industry £2.4
billion, while increases to the
National Living Wage in April
added a further £2.7 billion.
Since April, the cost of employ
ing an entry level full-time
worker rose by 10.3%, while the
cost of employing someone
part-time rose by 13.5%.
Retail is a source of flexible
and local jobs. Flexible,
because it offers over 1.5
million part-time
positions.
They provide
essential entry-level
jobs for those taking on
their first role and
provide vital flexibility
for those returning to
the workforce. Local,
because retail is a major
employer in almost every
parliamentary constituency,
offering jobs not just in the
major cities, but in every town
and village across the country.
A recent survey of retail HR
directors showed that 61%
believed the Bill would reduce
flexibility in job offerings (vs
23% “unchanged” and 7%
“increased”), while over half
believed it would reduce staff
numbers.
Soaring costs, policy pressures add to industry woes
Retail loses ‘350,000
Retail loses ‘350,000
jobs since 2015’
jobs since 2015’
Supermarkets have been
accused of exploiting a tax
loophole to sell cheap cider
that harms health and causes
social problems.
According to research by
Alcohol Change UK, ciders –
sometimes containing up to
7.5% alcohol – have become
cheaper or barely risen in
price, despite the cost of beer,
wine and spirits soaring.
Supermarkets such as
Tesco, Aldi and Lidl are able to
sell high-strength ciders at
“pocket money prices” by
taking advantage of a subsidy
intended to boost apple
production.
The cheapest cider Tesco
sells – Compton Orchard,
which is 4% alcohol by
volume (ABV) – now costs the
same as the supermarket’s
own-brand apple juice, at just
£1 a litre. While the apple
juice has risen 70% 2020, the
cheapest cider costs 2.4% less
now than then.
Similarly, the cost of 2l of
own-brand cider in both Lidl
and Aldi is still £1.99, even
though Lidl’s own-brand
vodka has gone up 25% more.
Ash Singleton, Alcohol
Change UK’s director of
research and public affairs,
said, “Big producers knock up
a deadly product with just
enough concentrated apple
to legally call it cider.”
Mults selling super-strength
cider at ‘pocket-money prices’
Post Office and Western
Post Office and Western
Union expand services
Union expand services
Post Office and Western Union have
announced a long-term exclusive
deal for cross-border money transfer
services at Post Office branches.
This means WU will be the sole
provider of international money
transfer services at PO branches and
will expand beyond the current
4,000 Post Office locations which
offer its services.
Post Office said the deal will
strengthen the commercial offer for
postmasters, who will also benefit
from enhanced financial incentives
for every money transfer transaction
handled in branch, building on the
uplift introduced in October 2024.
Retailer jailed for illegal
Retailer jailed for illegal
vapes, underage sales
vapes, underage sales
A Lincolnshire retailer has been
sentenced to six months in prison and
ordered to pay £11,700 in costs after a
Trading Standards investigation.
Lincolnshire Police officers seized
thousands of illegal vapes and
cigarettes in raids at Karwan Dewari
Khatab’s store in Sleaford.
In total, some 5,405 illicit
cigarettes and vapes were seized,
along with 3.45kg of hand rolling
tobacco. Some of the items were even
stashed in jigsaw boxes.
On May 29, Khatab was sentenced
for the offences at his Sleaford and
Cheltenham shops at Lincoln Crown
Court.
FEATURE
PROMOTIONAL
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 9
s summer approaches, many
graduates will be contemplating
their next step – whether that’s
entering the workplace or returning to
university for further study. For those
considering a master’s degree or other
postgraduate qualification, the excitement
can be quickly overshadowed by financial
concerns: tuition fees, travel, equipment
and living costs all add up fast.
That’s where the Leverhulme Trade
Charities Trust (LTCT) can help.
Established a hundred years ago by Lord
Leverhulme, the charity offers bursaries to
support individuals connected to the
convenience, grocery and pharmacy trades
– whether as a child, spouse, or even as
someone working in the sector themselves.
LTCT has a long-standing commitment
to education. The charity believes that
enabling more people to access further
study not only benefits individuals but also
strengthens local communities and society
more broadly. Over the years, the Trust has
helped thousands of students pursue their
academic ambitions, and this year is no
different.
For the 2025/2026 academic year,
postgraduate students can apply for
bursaries of up to £5,000. The scheme is
open to those whose parent, carer or spouse
works in an eligible profession – this
includes supermarket employees, inde
pendent convenience store workers, those
in grocery sales roles, or pharmacy techni
cians. Importantly, the opportunity is also
available to individuals who are already
working in these industries and wish to
return to university themselves to gain a
postgraduate qualification.
The bursary can be put towards a range
of study-related costs – whether that’s
tuition fees, equipment, specialist course
materials or travel expenses. As postgradu
ate study becomes increasingly expensive,
LTCT’s support is intended to help families
who might otherwise find it difficult to
afford further education. By removing
some of the financial barriers, the Trust
hopes to open the door for more students to
continue their academic journeys.
Professor Anna Vignoles CBE FBA,
Director at The Leverhulme Trade
Charities Trust, says: “We are passionate
about generating opportunities for further
study. Our postgraduate bursaries are
designed to be a valuable support for
students keen to continue their studies. If
our bursaries help diversify the students
able to take a postgraduate degree, then we
see that as a very positive step.
The current climate makes it challeng
ing for some families to consider further
study, and these students should be able to
enjoy the same opportunities as their
counterparts from more advantaged
backgrounds. We look forward to receiving
applications and being able to support a
new cohort of students in the upcoming
academic year.”
The Trust is now accepting applications
for its postgraduate bursaries, with the
current round open until Monday 1
September 2025. The process is simple,
applicants must fill in an online form and
provide a short explanation of how the
funding would support their studies, for
example, by enabling them to study
full-time, invest in essential resources, or
reduce the need for part-time work
alongside their course.
So why not explore the possibility of a
little help on their education journey? Visit
the LTCT website for more information and
to apply today: www.leverhulme-trade.org.
uk.
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust is a charitable incorporated
organisation. Registered charity number: 1159171
Student Opportunities
NEWS FEATURE
10 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
ikTok and Instagram viral food trends
are unlocking a fresh revenue stream
for the convenience retail sector, giving
independents a clear edge over supermarkets
in the race to meet new demand.
There was a time when supermarkets
dictated food trends, often borrowing cues
from restaurants to recreate bestsellers for
the masses. But that dynamic has shifted
and this time, the power swing feels
permanent.
Today, social media calls the shots, and the
stores that respond fastest are the ones
cashing in.
From matcha lattes to spicy Korean
noodles to Viele Angel Hair Strawberry
Chocolate and Squid Games energy drinks,
shoppers’ cravings are now shaped online and
sometimes overnight. PRIME is a textbook
example, a brand born from social buzz that
grew into a retail phenomenon.
More recently, the “Dubai
chocolate” bar, a pistachio-and-
tahini treat inspired by Arab
dessert knafeh, followed a
similar trajectory. One TikTok
video racked up 120 million
views, sending demand surging
with Brits desperate to get their
hands on it.
While supermarkets
scrambled to react, it was
Viral products are opening a powerful new
revenue stream for convenience retailers:
Pooja Shrivastava investigates...
Orange and that too during Covid,” Mamode
told Asian Trader.
What began as an experiment in TikTok
stocking has grown into a consistent revenue
driver, with viral products now forming a core
part of Mamode’s business model.
Explaining the process, Mamode said, “I
usually wait out a bit to see how long the
product is trending as sometimes it is just a
passing fad and also because the prices are
high initially. After the initial hype settles
down, the prices also become more reason
able and so do the logistics.
“Only after my suppliers, whom I trust, are
able to offer me a consistent supply, do I then
get the stock and start displaying the product
in the store as well as on my social media.”
For Mamode, trust and affordability are
non-negotiable even amid the viral buzz.
“We never take advantage of the hype. I
am happy with my 20 to 30 per cent margin;
for me having a loyal customer base is more
important. I can’t lose their trust,” Mamode
told Asian Trader.
Across the UK, many savvy retailers are
turning TikTok trends into a repeatable
revenue stream, some even building entire
store identities around it.
In Dartford, retailer Nishi Patel too is
progressing brilliantly to make his store,
Londis Bexley Park a destination store, one
that speaks Gen Z’s language.
“I get the idea of what to stock next in this
range through TikTok,” Patel explained. “I
keep a close tab on what is trending and is
being talked about most and try to be among
the first few retailers to stock a viral product.”
Today, if it’s going viral on social media,
chances are it’s already on the shelves at
Londis Bexley, in return driving its footfall
and lifting the sales.
“The decision making depends majorly on
if many customers are asking for the product.
Now that people know that we stock such a
Going viral, cashing In
convenience stores that got
there first.
For many independents,
viral hits like these aren’t just
hype. They rather represent a
growing revenue model that
taps into impulse and popular
culture.
Hampshire-based retailer
Imtiyaz Mamode cracked the
code on viral products well before it became a
trend.
Thanks to his unique stock comprising
American confectionery, snacks and drinks,
Premier Wynch Lane Gosport has been
popular as “TikTok store” among the
youngsters.
The nickname wasn’t part of a marketing
plan; it began organically in 2020 when a
customer requested a viral American snack.
Mamode sourced it, stocked it,
and hasn’t looked back since.
While initially the store’s
rare American and Japanese
range became a hit with young
shoppers, soon enough,
Mamode soon started tapping
social media to find the popular
products.
“One of the initial social
media trending products that I
started stocking was Twix
Be wise, be safe
Amid the viral trend, the FSA has issued a warning that “some
imported Dubai-style chocolates may not meet UK food
safety standards”, posing potential risks, particularly for
allergy sufferers
Retailers should note that, by law, any product sold in the UK must carry English-
language labels clearly stating:
the name of the food (e.g. milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling);
a list of ingredients, with allergens emphasised;
the weight of the food in grams;
a best before or use by date;
the name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product
information. If the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer
must be included.
Imtiyaz Mamode
NEWS FEATURE
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 11
range, we often get DMs as well asking
whether we have a particular range.
“All this help me gauge whether to stock
the product or not.
“If there is a constant buzz and lots of
queries, I usually buy 10 cases to start off
with,” Patel said.
Not a smooth ride
Keeping the social media trending products
in convenience stores seems like a sure shot
and shorter route to success, though the
reality is that this road is much bumpier than
it appears.
Supply chain challenges, pricing, and trend
volatility make it a tricky balancing act.
Patel explained, “It’s a constant conversa
tion with suppliers on what products are
becoming trendy. One needs to constantly
engage with suppliers to get the right range at
the right time at the right price.
“The irony here is that when we try to get
in there before to be the early ones to stock, at
that point the products are more expensive.”
Zeroing on what to stock is one thing and
finding a supplier which can offer the exact
range consistently is a different ballgame
altogether.
“Apart from price, consistency
of stock supply is also important. I
always try to get the stock from
my regular suppliers.
“Else, I have to find a new
supplier, start a new account, and
have to have a minimum order. In
such cases, one tends to buy more
stock than required.
“It can be a real Catch-22
situation.”
Also, another key thing to be
cautious about here is the fickle
nature of the online world where trends
collapse just as fast as they rise.
Sometimes, a viral product tends to
remain popular for a long time while many
other times, the popularity dies down in a
week, leaving retailers with not-so-popular
unsold stock.
Patel revealed, “To be on the safe side, I
usually try not to be impulsive and wait to see
how the trend is moving and how the buzz is
behaving.
“Only after I am convinced that there are
enough legs in the idea and there are lots of
customers asking for the product
on our Instagram and TikTok
handles, only then I decide to
stock the same.
“So far, we’ve been very lucky.
There have not been many
products that we have struggled
with or taken any wrong
decisions.”
Having become a pro at this
genre of retail game, Mamode
knows the pitfalls too well.
He echoes Patel’s sentiments, saying
success with viral products takes control, not
chaos.
“It’s not easy to get hold of the right
suppliers easily. And then there are always
chances of getting an oversupply,” he agreed.
With products like these there is a lot of
ambiguity, so any retailer venturing into this
area should keep in mind the expiry dates and
UK regulations as well, warned Mamode.
“In the past, there was a product range
which was in great demand. It came from
Australia with just three months of expiry
date. I ordered a large stock unknowingly.
“When it came, I had to drastically slash
the prices to almost one-tenth to clear the
stock well in time,” recalled Mamode.
“It’s a tightrope, to be honest. If I order too
much, I might end up with unsold stock. If I
don’t order enough, there’s a clear sales
opportunity lost,” he said.
Not a passing craze
Despite a few bumps, both retailers agree that
when done right, this model of trend-led
retail delivers returns that justify the risk.
Mamode is determined to further cement
the store’s image in Hampshire and Leicester
area to continue to maintain his
store as a go-to destination store.
The key is to have control on the
pricing.
“I am very particular about not
losing my customer base and
make sure to provide them the
best possible prices,” he said.
Both Patel and Mamode
handle their store’s social media
accounts themselves. Both in fact
are also active content creators,
often featuring in many of the
store’s marketing videos.
Sensing the momentum, supermarkets
are now investing in AI tools to monitor social
chatter, recipe trends, and restaurant buzz.
What once took months in product
development can now hit their shelves in just
a few weeks.
But even as the mults speed up, its
convenience retailers who hold the real edge.
With leaner operations and fewer layers of
bureaucracy, independents can make
stocking decisions overnight, often being first
to meet the demand triggered by viral hits.
Take the Dubai chocolate bar again, for
instance. The TikTok phenomenon has
recently inspired a wave of pistachio-laced
spin-offs across the multiples.
Yet long before supermarket SKUs were
ready, many savvy convenience stores had
already jumped in, sourcing trending variants
through specialist wholesalers and cashing in
on the craze in real time.
Being independent retailers and thus
independent decision makers too, Patel and
Mamode feel that they have a “clear cut edge
over supermarkets” when it comes to
stocking viral product ranges.
“We don’t have to think and contemplate
like supermarkets corporate setup. They get
embroiled in approvals, change of plano
grams, supplier agreements, etc,” Mamode
said.
Patel agrees, noting, “Supermarkets near
me only started stocking Dubai Chocolate a
couple of months ago while I have been
selling it since September last year.
“We managed to get on this viral trend
very early through our suppliers. Earlier, it
wasn’t cheap because it was something new.
Eventually, I managed to get in touch with
someone who was making them in London,”
he said.
By the time Dubai Chocolates started
becoming full blown viral, Patel had already
established his store as the go-to destination
for the same – and that too at reasonable
prices.
Despite the challenges and unpredictable
nature of such ranges, retailers who have
tasted success, remain determined to stand
their ground.
Patel said, “Gen Z and Gen Alpha aren’t
much swayed by TV anymore. They have their
own language and resonate with things that
they see on social media. FOMO [fear of
missing out] is high.
“I envision my store as a
destination store, a place where
young shoppers know they will
find exactly what they’re looking
for.”
It seems like viral products
aren’t just a passing craze.
They are influencing conveni
ence retail to some extent, giving
birth to a dynamic new model
that rewards those who move fast
and think local.
Nishi Patel
WHOLESALE
12 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
ver the past few weeks the UK
wholesale sector has been buzzing
with renewed agility and
ambition, driven by vocal
independents, strategic expansions, and a
push for inclusivity.
In a trade environment where margins
are thin and tensions often simmer under the
surface, it’s rare to see collective defiance and
rarer still to see it make an impact.
But that’s exactly what unfolded when
Dhamecha Group’s attempt to impose busi
ness card fees triggered an organised and vocal
backlash from independent retailers.
Announced in late May, Dhamecha Group
introduced a handling fee on business credit
card transactions, 0.7 per
cent on Business Master
card debit cards, and 0.2 per
cent on Business Visa Cards
(capped at £2.50). No fees
were announced for pay
ments made using personal
debit or credit cards, cash, or
Mobile App Payment.
It was a bold and
somewhat fair move by the
wholesaler, considering it
could also have taken the route of raising its
prices or stopping card payments altogether,
like its peers.
The decision to charge fees on business
cards, however, landed poorly. The handling
fee, while arguably modest in quantum, was
seen as yet another burden for retailers grap
pling with spiralling overheads. Crucially, there
were no charges for personal cards, cash, or
Dhamecha’s app-based payment, a nuance that
did little to placate the anger among retailers.
A protest at Dhamecha’s Hayes depot on
13 June and a widely circulated #boycottD
hamechaGroup campaign made it clear that
retailers were not willing to absorb the change
quietly.
Dhamecha Group acknowledged the
protesting retailers, thanking them for their
feedback. In a letter to retailers seen by Asian
Trader, its directors confirmed the fee structure
was under review and a revised version would
follow soon.
At the time of going to press, reviewed rates
were yet to be announced.
Whether this signals a long-term rethink
or a short-term measure remains to be seen.
But what’s clear is that in today’s wholesale
landscape, unilateral decisions made without
A wave of retailer resistance and bold rebrands
signals that wholesale industry is no longer
willing to operate on autopilot
grassroots consultation will not go unchal
lenged.
Elsewhere, the sector is abuzz with ambi
tion and optimism.
Sandea Wholesale, until now a pure deliv
ered player, is stepping into the depot space
with its first-ever physical outlet – X’press’d
Cash & Carry – opening in Harrow this Sep
tember.
Speaking exclusively to Asian Trader,
COO Priya Virdi called the launch a “natural
progression” and cited Harrow’s diverse and
entrepreneurial demographic as the key driver.
The 3,500 sq. ft. site will offer convenience,
parking, and hybrid access for HORECA and
retail customers alike – signalling Sandea’s
intent to diversify while stay
ing nimble.
With this expansion, San
dea Wholesale is transition
ing from a purely delivered
model to a hybrid operation,
offering both in-person and
online access to retailers.
Spanning over 3,500 sq.
ft. and located at Waverley
Industrial Park, Hailsham
Drive, the new depot prom
ises ample parking and convenient access for
independent retailers and HORECA businesses
in the area.
Calling the launch of depot a “natural
progression” from its delivered model, Priya
Virdi, Sandea Wholesale COO, told Asian Trader
that Harrow was chosen strategically for the
depot due to “its diverse, thriving community
and high concentration of independent busi
nesses”.
Meanwhile, Sugro UK is basking in the glory
of its members’ achievements.
Both We Get Any Stock Ltd and Star Pacific
UK Ltd recently bagged a King’s Award for En
terprise in International Trade this year – with
the latter clinching the honour for a third time.
Founded in 2012 and based in Luton,
Bedfordshire, We Get Any Stock Ltd is a leading
British wholesale company that also exports
fast-moving consumer goods worldwide. Defi
nitely a new name to watch!
Zooming out a bit, the broader mood in
wholesale was seen one of cautious optimism
buoyed in part by the recently signed UK-India
Free Trade Agreement.
Among its most vocal advocates is Lioncroft
Wholesale’s Dr Jason Wouhra, who believes
the deal will cut import costs, expand product
variety, and ultimately benefit retailers and
consumers alike. In a market where pricing
edge and unique range are critical, such deals
could be game changers.
In a reflective post on LinkedIn, Dr Wouhra
wrote that the West Midlands, a region with
significant Indian investment, stands to gain
considerably from the FTA.
Revealing that at Lioncroft Wholesale, the
agreement has led to a reduction in the cost of
importing goods from India, Dr Wouhra hailed
the deal saying that it will benefit not only
the company but also its customers and end-
consumers through lower prices and increased
product variety.
“This FTA should lead to quality goods at a
cheaper price on the shelves of stores, giving
shoppers a wider, more competitive choice,” he
remarked.
At the institutional level, the Federation of
Wholesale Distributors has rebranded as Food
& Drink Wholesale UK – a move designed to
better reflect the scope and mission of the body.
Announced at the organisation’s FWD Live!
2025 conference, the change comes alongside
the launch of the FWD Academy – a new pro
gramme aimed at embedding diversity, equity,
and inclusion across the wholesale workforce.
With a pilot kicking off in July and a Parlia
mentary launch scheduled for the autumn, the
academy reflects the sector’s growing commit
ment to long-term cultural transformation.
In sum, the UK wholesale sector is shifting
gears and doing so with intent. From Dhame
cha Group being held to account by the very
retailers it serves, to Sandea Wholesale boldly
stepping into depot territory, the direction
of the wholesale sector is seen to be moving
towards agility, accountability, and ambition.
With landmark trade deals reshaping supply
chains, the sector is no longer just reacting to
change; rather, it’s starting to lead it. And at
the centre of it all remains the independent
retailer, more vocal, more organised, and more
indispensable than ever.
Wholesale at a crossroads
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 13
Gurms Athwal joins Unitas
as Trading Director
Keeping up with the latest industry
moves and promotions
Movers and Shakers
Tesco has announced that
Matthew Barnes has stepped
down as UK CEO to pursue other
opportunities, and will be
replaced by Ashwin Prasad, Tesco
Group’s current Chief
Commercial Officer,
effective from 30 June.
Prasad is currently
Tesco’s Chief Com
mercial Officer with
responsibility for the
Group’s product and
customer strategy. He has been a
member of Tesco’s Executive
team since 2020 and brings a
wealth of retail and commercial
experience to this role.
He recently led the business
through supply chain disrup
tions and drove Tesco’s trading
strategy and accelerating its
digital marketing transition.
Tesco Group CEO Ken
Murphy said, “Ashwin is an
exceptional leader with a strong
track record for delivering for
our customers. His experience
leading our product and
customer strategy
makes him the ideal
person to take over as
UK CEO.
Prasad said, “I pick
up the reins of a
business with strong
momentum, a winning strategy
and a talented team. I am
privileged to be appointed UK
CEO and my priority will be to
continue offering our customers
an unbeatable experience, every
time they shop with Tesco. I
would also like to thank
Matthew for his support and
wish him well for the future.”
Tesco appoints Ashwin
Prasad as next CEO
Wholesale veteran Gurms
Athwal has this month joined
Unitas Wholesale as Trading
Director.
With over 25 years’ experi
ence in the sector, Athwal is one
of the industry’s most respected
figures. His career spans several
Unitas member
businesses, including JK
Foods, Hyperama, and
most recently Parfetts,
where he served as
Trading Director for the
past four years.
His longstanding
association with Unitas
and in-depth understanding of
its strategy and operations place
him ideally for this latest role.
“We’re delighted to welcome
Gurms to the Unitas Central
team. His wealth of experience,
strategic thinking, and proven
ability to deliver commercial
value will be a tremendous asset
to our members,” said Unitas
Managing Director John
Kinney.
“Gurms has a strong track
record of negotiating commer
cial terms and promotional
programmes that deliver
tangible results for both
wholesalers and suppliers.
“Until recently he
was a Non-Executive
Director on the Unitas
Board and his transition
to Executive Director
ensures continuity and
strengthens our
commitment to driving
growth through deeper
supplier engagement.”
Athwal said, “Unitas’ scale
and reach across retail,
foodservice and the on-trade
offer a unique platform for
collaboration. I’m looking
forward to building on the
excellent work already
underway and driving further
value for our members.”
Nigel Railton confirmed as
permanent Chair of Post Office
The government has confirmed
the reappointment of Nigel Rail
ton as Chair of Post Office Limited
following a year in post as interim
chair.
In the official announcement,
Department for Business
and Trade stated that
since being appointed
in May 2024, Nigel
Railton has provided
stable and considered
leadership as the Post
Office seeks to right the
wrongs of the Horizon IT
scandal and works to transform
vital services for millions of cus
tomers.
This includes announcing
his vision to deliver a New Deal
for Postmasters, which aims to
increase overall annual postmaster
remuneration by £250 million,
give a greater role to postmasters
in the day-to-day operations of the
business and provide an enhanced
package of support from Post Of
fice such as training and systems
support.
To recognise the ongoing
transformation and the
importance of stable
leadership at the Post
Office, ministers have
appointed Railton on
a permanent basis with
his contract set to run
until May 2028.
On confirming the appoint
ment, Post Office Minister Gareth
Thomas said, “Nigel Railton has
been a steady hand guiding Post
Office over the last year, providing
a clear direction for the future of
the organisation and certainty to
postmasters.
Taranjit Singh Dhillon
named MADL trustee
Co-op Wholesale’s Head of
Retail, Taranjit Singh Dhillon,
has been appointed as a trustee of
the organisation’s charity initia
tive, Making a Difference Locally
(MADL).
Taranjit joined Co-op
Wholesale as Head of Retail in
September 2024, following his
tenure at One Stop. His dedica
tion to community engagement
has been evident throughout his
career, most recently through his
support in bringing Nisa symbol
store retailers and the local com
munity together to serve hot
meals to vulnerable individuals
in Warrington.
This initiative embodied
the Sikh tradition of Langar – a
practice centred around equality,
humility, and service to others.
MADL was established to help
independent retailers support
local causes.
By raising funds through
the sale of selected products in
partner stores, it enables retailers
to make donations to commu
nity organisations, charities, and
other lgood causes in their local
areas.
Since its inception, the charity
has donated millions of pounds to
thousands of deserving initia
tives across the UK.
“I am truly honoured to join
Making a Difference Locally as a
trustee,” said Taranjit.
RETAIL CORNER
14 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
ome stores simply inherit a legacy, but
others are reborn with a dash of
ambition, a pinch of innovation and a
generous pour of personal flair.
That’s the story of Fresh in Falkirk – Cost
cutter, a thriving retail destination under the
sharp vision and clear-cut direction of young
and passionate retailer, Anand Cheema.
Anand recently walked down memory lane
with Asian Trader, offering a glimpse into the
journey that shaped today’s Fresh in Falkirk –
Costcutter.
Previously operated by McColl’s for 13
years, after the Cheema family first owned it
briefly in 2005, the site seemed like yester
day’s news until early 2020.
“When I got an opportunity to buy the
store in 2020, it was owned by two separate
companies – one was McColl’s and the other
was a private partner.
“The whole deal felt a bit too good to be
true. I grabbed the opportunity with both
hands and never looked back,” he said.
The store, however, was in rough shape.
“We had to spend a considerable amount of
money in improving the site. With an
extensive refit and buying and merging the
next-door property, I increased the store size
considerably.
“I also worked a lot in improving the look
and feel of the storefront,” he revealed.
By August 2020, when the store reopened,
it was Fresh in Falkirk – under the SPAR
banner. But within two years, Anand made a
bold pivot to Costcutter, a move that unlocked
a wider range of skus and higher margins.
He explained, “It was my first store, and it
turned out I had lots to learn.
“I realised that with its multiple offerings,
Costcutter has the best of everything in one
place. It’s like getting the best of both the
worlds or rather all the worlds,” Anand said,
adding that being a Costcutter retailer also
helped him to increase his margins.
Launching the store during the height of
the pandemic came with its own set of
challenges.
“The other stores in the area already had
loyalty and it was a steep hill to attract
customers to our store.
“I needed to create an attraction in the
store, and the one that really stood out to me
was keg sales. That really propelled our store
and made us known in the area for alcohol,” he
said.
Momentum came fast and Anand didn’t
Once forgotten but now ready for the future, this
convenience store in Scotland is rewriting the
rules of local retail, discovers Pooja Shrivastava
waste it. From £800 to £5,000 (!) bottles and
local whisky releases priced at £1,600+, the
store also carved a niche in the ultra-premium
spirits segment almost overnight.
“All this got us a mark on the map very
quickly,” he said.
Anand also kept a close watch on the
emerging trends such ready-to-drink
cocktails, thus becoming among the first ones
to stock Buzz Balls and Shaken Serve.
Even the no- and low-alcohol wave hasn’t
been missed and has found a foothold at Fresh
in Falkirk.
“We attract a lot of young customers due to
our extensive no and low alcohol range.
“Today, our alcohol fixture is huge and
makes up a big proportion of our sales. The
store stocks a lot of variety at wide price
points, so I think that’s one of our main USPs,”
he said.
Anand’s ambitions, however, go well
beyond the alcohol aisle. The store already
serves up a generous range of on-the-go
staples like sandwiches and baguettes; but
he’s only just getting started.
“Hot food is something I am going to be
focussing on this year,” he said. “Within five
years, I am looking to do a huge refit where I’d
completely turn the shop around and change
the whole layout.
“My plan is to develop my
own kitchen and offer
in-store-made stir fries,
lasagnas and much more.
Having our own fresh food
made, I believe, will give
the store another USP.”
Apart from alcohol and food to go and all
the other regular fixtures of convenience
stores, Fresh in Falkirk also boasts 11 meters of
frozen and 10 meters of chilled space.
Further enhancing the on-the-go attrac
tions are Costa Coffee machine, slush
machine and a whipped ice cream station.
Not to forget a rich and wholesome range of
confectionery that won Anand Impulse
Retailer of the year at Asian Trader Awards in
2021.
However, beyond products and categories,
Anand considers his store’s customer service
its biggest strength, something that makes
the store unique and makes people want to
visit it.
Given the large number of elderly
customers in the area, the store (even after the
pandemic) offers free daily delivery of
newspapers and essential supplies.
Additionally, it supports Strathcarron
Hospice. Anand also works with local schools
in partnership with the Healthy Living
Program and provides them with milk weekly.
It has always been involved with fundraising
for local causes.
Often heralded as a “rising star” in retail,
Anand is excited about the opportunities that
the coming months are about to bring to
him in terms of his business.
He is looking ahead with a few
concrete plans in his head and is
aiming to further strengthen
the foothold of Fresh in
Falkirk.
While his surname is bound
to spark curiosity, being the son
of SGF’s chief Dr Pete Cheema
OBE, Anand clearly has long
outgrown the shadow of patrimony.
A finance graduate from the University
of Dundee, this 28-year-old retailer has earned
his stripes though working in several
occupations, including one at a leading
wholesaler.
“Having worked across sectors, I feel I have
a balanced overview of the business,” he said.
But he’s quick to add, “Nothing prepares
you to run a store until you’re that person
behind the till. Real learning starts on the shop
floor.”
With concrete plans on the horizon and
Anand’s calculated moves behind it, it seems
like Fresh in Falkirk is poised for much more to
come.
More Than a Makeover
DATACART
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 15
wo major trends are shaping the UK’s
tobacco and nicotine retail landscape –
and both present challenges for law
enforcement and retailers alike.
According to the latest KPMG report com
missioned by Philip Morris International, illicit
cigarette consumption in the UK remained stub
bornly high in 2024, with 5.94 billion cigarettes
consumed through illegal channels. While this
marks a marginal improvement on the 2023
figure of 6.71 billion, the proportion of total ciga
rette consumption that was illicit barely budged,
at 25.6 per cent. This means more than one in
four cigarettes smoked in the UK was illegal.
The figures show a notable 14 per cent drop in
counterfeit cigarettes, helping bring down total
counterfeit and contraband (C&C) volumes by
0.8 billion. But despite this, the sustained high
share of illicit consumption — up from 17.1 per
cent in 2020 — suggests ongoing systemic issues.
Counterfeit brands continue to dominate, with
3.41 billion fake sticks recorded in 2024, more
than five times the volume of any single branded
C&C variant.
Meanwhile, new data from retail analytics firm
Talysis highlights the immediate impact of the
UK’s disposable vape ban. In the first week alone
following the 1 June enforcement, vape sales
plummeted by over £5 million, falling from an
average of £23 million to £17.8 million.
The ban has hit some regions harder
than others. Scotland recorded the steep
est fall, down 36 per cent, followed by
Northern Ireland (-31 per cent) and the
North East (-27 per cent). Even the low
est drops – in Wales and Yorkshire – still
exceeded 20 per cent.
As retailers navigate these dual
disruptions, questions remain around
enforcement, compliance, and how the
market will rebalance in the coming
months.
Illicit cigarette consumption
holds steady
Vape sales tumble
post-disposables ban
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BIG INTERVIEW
PATRICK GANGULY
16 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
t strikes me on entering the bright,
sun-filled offices of Imperial Brands
– not the main one, which is in
Bristol, but the sleek new building
in Hammersmith from where the
company’s international businesses is
administered – that Patrick Ganguly is a
good match for the firm, which was created
from a medley of tobacconists way back in
1901, near the Bristol quayside.
One’s first impression is how Patrick’s
charming appearance is further embodied by
his voice – an accent combining crisp,
cultured Bay of Bengal consonants with a
light vinaigrette of Ozzie Strine that
occasionally slips through, pencilling in both
his origins and experience.
He was born in Kolkata and educated
there at a Christian school before the
traditional transit to St Xavier’s College,
although academic life, he says, was not in
his plans.
“Dad used to work for Pfizer, and he got
transferred somewhere but basically said,
No, I don’t want to go, I don’t want to leave
the family. So Mum and Dad ended up
buying a franchise. That was quite ahead of
their time, because it was all Indian tiffin
back then, rice and so on – and they intro
duced the concept of sandwiches, cakes,
occasions, in partnership with another
company, and we did fairly well there.”
It sounds like a solid middle-class
upbringing in what is arguably India’s most
“English” city, and like Bristol, a major port
on a big river ….
“Coming back to my story,” says Patrick,
“I saw an ad which asked, Do you want to
come and study in Australia? Now, I had zero
intention to study, but Australia seemed like
a really cool place because the cricket was
there. So, off I went in 1995 and I now call
Australia home. I’ve lived in Australia for
almost 32 years.”
He began his professional life at Voda
fone, before moving to W.D. & H.O. Wills,
then Imperial, which had entered the
Imperial Brands’ new UK MD, Patrick
Ganguly, is steering the ship through stormy
legislative waters by holding fast to tradition
and setting a steady course for the future...
‘I choose to be an optimist!’
By Andy Marino
Australian market in 1999.
So, it is maybe appropriate that
after a career of working and
travelling in many countries and
territories – not only Australia and
New Zealand, but also places like
Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam, Hong Kong and Korea
– that Patrick fetches up in the old
and traditional port of Bristol, as if
returning home from a long
voyage, to take the helm of
Imperial Brands UK as Managing
Director (or to put it more
precisely, MD & Cluster General
Manager United Kingdom, Ireland
and the Channel Islands).
We are here to talk about the
tobacco and vape industry,
Imperial’s place in it and plans for
the future; and the context is the looming
Tobacco and Vapes Bill, not to mention what
was, a month ago, the imminent disposable
vapes ban, now in place.
If you read Asian Trader you will know we
are tireless campaigners for the rights of
tobacco consumers, producers and above all
retailers, within a sensible and well-enforced
legal framework – a nice idea that the UK
Government should probably give a try one
day.
The obvious place to begin our discussion,
bearing in mind that Patrick formerly had
responsibility for the ANZ region, is New
Zealand. That was where Jacinda Adern, its
recently departed Prime Minister, had
attempted to impose a law that was so
short-sighted and impractical that it
contributed to the downfall of her adminis
tration.
We speak of course of her radical and
illiberal proposal to impose a generational
smoking ban, that would invent a new sort of
age-related apartheid – if you were born after
a particular date, you would be forbidden
ever to purchase tobacco products, although
an older sibling, for example, would suffer no
such restriction. Indonesia had the idea first,
but it was wisely struck down by that
country’s Supreme Court as inimical to basic
human rights.
So naturally, we are going to introduce it
in the UK instead. I ask Patrick how the
industry can deal with what we could call
“ideological” legislation, the sort that
barrels ahead with a political cause
regardless of consequences. The kind of
legislation that disregards the wellbeing of
the population, for example – like the
disposable vapes ban.
He points out that in the small print of
the Government’s own impact assessment
of the disposables ban, it admits a third of
users would go back to smoking. Great.
The problem seems to be that the
Government needs the tax revenue, but
wants to ban the practice at the same time,
which leads directly to a mismatch of
legislation, enforcement and ambition.
“If you think of ideological legislation,
the generational ban probably falls into that
area,” Patrick agrees.
“Yes, it’s great to bring legislation into
play that has a generation ban and ulti
BIG INTERVIEW
PATRICK GANGULY
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 17
for example, that smoking incidence is
reducing, but nicotine consumption has
remained absolutely steady in Australia
over the last five to 10 years, because
people are moving to vapes and vaping.
And vaping, except for pharmacy, is
illegal.”
Ban smoking and people will begin to
vape; ban vaping and turn law-abiding
citizens into criminals.
“But that’s where the consumer
evolution is,” replies Patrick, “which
gives rise to this illicit market, and I see a
lot of that being played out in the UK. And
it’s a bit like a movie. Once there is a plot
that comes into play, you have good actors
and bad actors; and there are good
retailers that are focusing on doing the
right thing, but we must understand that
the retailers are also trying to support
their livelihood, and if a retailer is in the
same area as a bad actor, then who’s
getting rewarded and who’s getting
punished?”
A thriving illicit market is an existential
mately means a different future. The big
question would be, how would you
actually implement it at store level?
“We must remember that this ‘Genera
tional Ban’ only applies to retail sales in UK
shops. It will not apply in the duty free
environment, it will not apply in other
countries where consumers may make
tobacco purchases and bring these
purchases back to the UK ... and, of course,
no rules apply to the black market where
illegal sellers will certainly not be seeking
age verification.
In other words, another great route for
illicit product and sales.
“And if we feed fuel into this fire, it will
continue to grow,” he adds. ““You have an
age limit of 21 in a number of European
countries. And let’s not forget, the first
country that planned a generational ban
did step back from it.”
So disposable
But before the generational ban, which is
in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill scheduled to
come into force on January 1, 2027, there is
the more immediate prospect of restric
tions on vapes, which took effect this
month, and which might well give the
country foresight of the social and legal
consequences lurking in the later legisla
tion.
I ask Patrick what he thinks about the
disposables ban, but also whether the new
laws are well thought through, and can be
upheld by the authorities with the
resources currently allocated to enforce
ment agencies – and of course what the
implications are for the burgeoning illicit
trade.
“Well, the Government has
put forward legislation that
bans disposable vapes and
has given a fair amount of
time for that to come into
play. From our point of
view, we have been
working with retailers to
educate them on what
that
actually means on the ground,” he says.
“What does that transition look like?
How much stock do you have of disposable
vapes? How to transition into the new
vapes and continue to educate and service
the consumer? One of the big feedbacks
that we get from the retail community is
that’s all good,” says Patrick, although I can
feel a “but” coming.
He continues: “There are certain
components in proposed regulation that
we support, for example retailer licensing,
which is quite important. We support
restricting flavours to proper adult
flavours, rather than names such as candy
floss and gummy bears, because we make
our products for adult consumers. But back
to your point, responsible regulations
must be backed with solid enforcement.
Because ultimately, if we don’t save our
stores, who will?
“And that’s where I see a failed strategy:
regulation is only as strong as its enforce
ment,” says Patrick. “Good regulations
need to have strong enforcement to back
them up, which protects the retailers,
rewards them for doing the right things.
And punishes people that are not doing
those things.”
He has put his finger on the problem
without needing (as I usually do) to bang
the table. It’s a question of enforce
ment, and also one of compliance on
the part of consumers. I ask Patrick
how it was in Australia, which early
on saw some of the severest, even
punitive, anti-tobacco legislation
in the world (leave the bar to
smoke, but you may not take your
drink with you; no smoking on the
beach, or pretty much anywhere,
outside as well as inside).
What has all that draconian
legislation done for
compliance with the law?
“I come from Australia,”
he stresses. “If you see the
sit
uation there,
you will see
that it’s out
of control.
The Govern
ment claims,
threat to many convenience retailers, who
rely on nicotine products not just for a big
proportion of their revenue, but also to
drive footfall for other categories in-store.
But it is not just retailers who lose out to
the black market.
“Ultimately, who’s suffering?” Patrick
asks. “The Government is [also] suffering
because we have proven, in many ways,
shapes and forms, that the Government is
not making the necessary revenues that it
once used to, from tobacco. I strongly feel
that the Government needs to enforce
these regulations so that we don’t lose
control.”
If it sells, tax it
If you pass a law you have a responsibility
to uphold it, or only “bad actors” will
benefit. I mention incentives, which
seem to lie at the root of almost all
human behaviour. Presently, punish
ments for illicit vapes and tobacco are
very lenient and the enforcement is very
sparse, such that the risk bears no
relation to the reward illicit activity
brings. With something like one Trading
Standards officer per 100,000 of the
population, it’s not even close, with
illicit and forged vapes and cigs being
sold out the back of every different kind
of shop and vehicle.
Regulations must be backed with
solid enforcement. Because
ultimately, if we don’t save our
stores, who will?
BIG INTERVIEW
PATRICK GANGULY
18 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
Primarily, illicit tobacco and vape
products thrive because they are cheap.
We have seen decades of taxes imposed on
the trivial pleasure of smoking, to the
point where – after years of an ongoing
cost-of-living crisis – illegality trumps
obedience to the law.
“Consumer choice and affordability
are quite linked together, and that’s the
tobacco compel the retailer to become the
enforcer.”
In other words, when you look at these
policies and try and put them into play, the
Government is now transferring that
ownership onto the retailer, onto the
manufacturer. But that is not the retailer’s
job. The retailer is not a pseudo policeman.
The retailer is there to serve the customers
in their community.
“We are there to support the retailers,
Smugglers’ Cove
The other aspect of tobacco and vaping
legislation is, of course, the relentless
increases in tobacco tax over the decades,
which hasn’t hit vapes yet, but could well do
so (“for health reasons”) as soon as October
2026. There’s so much tax on cigarettes now
that people are increasingly patronising the
illegal market.
We know from the Laffer Curve that tax
revenue drops off quickly beyond a certain
strand of where this thing starts,” Patrick
agrees.
“If you continue to tax something to a
point where it becomes unaffordable,
either you choose to quit it, or you choose
to find substitutes and alternatives. That’s
where illicit vaping products started
coming into Australia, obviously, at a small
level initially, but then – because it’s quite
lucrative even at the lower prices – mas
sively.
“It’s very simple, because taxation on
tobacco, for example, is almost 76 to 78 per
cent, so if you supply the product at a very
cheap price, because you’ve legally not
paid tax on it, it remains very profitable.
But it’s not profitable for the Government.
It’s not profitable for the manufacturer,
and it’s not profitable for the good actors,
for the retailers.”
There are other consequences for the
retailers in addition to the loss of rev
enues, however – more serious and
possibly physical consequences, because
unenforceable laws affecting vapes and
but the retailer today is a under physical
threat, with attacks in-store, with the
amount of stock that they carry. Is this a
community and an environment that is
sustainable in the longer term if this
continues to happen without any inter
vention?
“What tends to happen is there are
threats to the retailers – to their own lives
and livelihood – but ultimately you end up
in criminal warfare, gang wars,” adds
Patrick. “We’ve seen plenty of that. You
asked me the question about, where is that
in terms of UK, and is it different? So the
weather in Australia is certainly different
to the UK. But when it comes to this trend,
it’s actually quite similar.”
I ask Patrick how the industry can
respond to what looks like an impending
legislative fiasco. In a sense, companies
like Imperial Brands should be the
Government’s partner in regulating the
market, upholding standards, taking care
and making sure the distribution is tight –
Track and Trace, other forms of coopera
tion. Ultimately, by keeping illicit actors
out of the market, the producers increase
revenue for the Government.
“They should have you as allies, but
what actually is the relationship?” I ask.
“In terms of trying to work with the
Government and giving them information
on what’s working and what’s not work
ing, we have a very good team that is trying
to engage at every possible step of the
way,” he says.
“We work with associations to try and
bring that to life. Is the Government
listening? And is that making an impact? I
think there are facets of Government that
may be taking it into consideration, but as
a sum total, no, the Government is not
there yet.”
level. But at this point, it’s a Laffer Cliff, a
tipping point, where Government revenue
from taxing cigarettes and tobacco is
suddenly vanishing.
Having taxed tobacco so highly, back-
tracking far enough to discourage illegal
sales is almost impossible. Duties would
have to drop so low that cigarettes would
cost £5 or £6 a packet, because that’s what
illegal product is selling for.
“The first item is actually to recognize
and realize,” says Patrick. “We need to
recognize that it has become a cliff rather
than a curve, it has gone too far. Then in
terms of actions to take, again, we have sent
quite a few documents and we’ve had quite a
few discussions on this, but it could be a
static policy, rather than rolling back. Are we
pricing tobacco so much that it’s going out
of the market? Should we hold excise at a
level, and then focus on stronger reinforce
ments of those products that are coming in
without any excise whatsoever? 38 per cent
of the market today is non-duty paid.”
True, and some people think it’s already
much higher, especially when one reads
frequently in the national press about the
rash of cash-only “barbershops” springing
up, which are suspected of laundering illicit
funds.
How can you turn back this tide?
“I think there is enough information for
the Government to act,” Patrick says. “It
really comes down to, will the Government
act? The industry continues to provide
evidence on where it’s happening and how
it’s happening, and I look at it as two areas.
One is what I call ‘into market’, and then
‘in-market’, right now.
“We have to stem it at both places. How is
[illicit product] coming into market? Where is
our border security? What are we doing? And
how do we bring that together? And then,
The government is also suffering
because we have proven, in many
ways, that it is not making the
necessary revenues that it once used
to, from tobacco
The retailer is
not a pseudo
policeman. The
retailer is there to
serve the
customers in the
community.
BIG INTERVIEW
PATRICK GANGULY
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 19
how do we enforce it within the market?
Because if we cut the supply off at our borders
and then continue to enforce that in the
retail, that’s how it’s going to work.”
“We employ a full-time anti-illicit trade
manager who’s working with the trade and
industry,” Patrick says. ““He deals a lot with
enforcement agencies, helping them in
authenticating products and passing on
information around illegal selling.”.”
Apparently the post-COVID inflation
had a huge impact on consumer behaviour.
“The UK excise model is RPI plus two per
cent. When our inflation was nine per cent
and 11 per cent the tax prices were crazy.”
Again, it’s a case of Government policy
helping to grow the black market and foster
international criminal gangs.
“In summary,” says Patrick, “it’s an
evolving journey. We need to continue to
work with the Government, wherever the
Government chooses to listen to the
information that we continue to provide,
and in the meantime our role fundamen
tally remains to serve our consumers, and
we do that through the network of retailers
that we have in this country.”
Voyaging onward
With so much ill-thought-through and
under-consulted legislation rumbling and
flashing on the horizon, the ship of the
nicotine sector still appears to be well-
braced – “a third above the beams, Cap’n,
and prettily trimmed fore and aft”. Yet there
is nervousness about the onrushing storm
of new laws, and a feeling that it’s time to
man the yards and pull in the foresails
before the angry waves swell and break
against the hull.
If so, what sort of tack will Imperial
Brands be taking? Putting out or pulling in
the sheets? I ask the skipper. Steady as she
goes, is the answer.
“First of all, Imperial has been in the UK
for the last 124 years,” Patrick explains. “We
opened our doors in 1901, and we talk about
evolution. Imperial has been through a
constant and consistent evolution, even
though the industry has changed.
He draws an analogy, not with sailing but
the music industry – how we used to listen
to vinyl discs and now it’s all Spotify – but
still music: evolution, see?
“The way we listen to music is different,
and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing
with tobacco,” he says. “Sure, consumers
still want certain combustibles, and we will
serve that demand, but we are moving into
different, next generation products.”
It’s especially in next gen where the
hopes of the convenience channel reside.
Retailers know that’s where they have the
edge over the multiples because people
don’t just pick something off a shelf. They’re
coming for advice and education, and the
retailer will talk to them about changing
from tobacco to vapes or something else, so
that there is a crucial relationship only this
channel has established.
“You’ve got 40,000 independent
retailers in the UK,” Patrick begins, “and
they sell our products across the multi
category. They turn up, they open their
doors every day to serve their community
and their customers, and we turn up
supporting them, through our reps, through
our product offerings, through furnitures, if
and when required. But ultimately, we see
our relationship with them not as some
thing we need to do today. That’s always
been there, and it will always continue to be
there – because one of the biggest ways inde
pendent retailers add value to our business
is that they are able to engage with our core
consumer. The retailers tell us what’s
working and what’s not – and we need to be
able to listen to them and act on that.”
And what’s working certainly seems to
be Imperial Brands’ fabulously successful
– even category-defining – blu pod system.
The company, though, has so far steered
clear of other next gen innovations (at least
in the UK market) such as heated tobacco
devices and of course this year’s big trend,
nicotine pouches.
“We’ve recently done research on
nicotine pouches, or OND, ‘oral nicotine
delivery’, and we do see a trend in there. But
there are currently no regulations in this
sector. There’s many different people trying
to sell it, and some of our competitors are
into it. I think what we need to look at is
when is the right timing for us, with what
proposition and at what margins,” Patrick
explains.
“That’s the strategy I’m trying to bring
into the heart of Imperial Brands in the UK
– where it’s not just about running after
something but being very clear about what
we stand for. Because I believe, unless we
are clear for what we stand for, we will fall
forever.”
I remark that it seems Imperial has a good
anchor in heritage, just as other brands
(Jaguar, cough, cough) are trying to get rid of
theirs. Indeed, it seems there’s a big space
for someone to go in and say, Actually, we’ve
been here a long time. We’re evolving. We
have these products. We’re sticking with
them.
“It’s a tested and proven strategy. I think
it’s really important to recognize that we’ve
been doing this for 124 years. Of course, we
didn’t get it right all the time, but I think we
got it right more times than wrong. That’s
why we’re still here, and heritage is quite
important to me. It’s a part of my culture.
It’s part of my upbringing. Respect, heritage
and humility is what makes us who we are”
And the new legislation?
“I know it sounds quite boring,” Patrick
concludes,” but reasonable regulation that
can be backed by enforcement and can be
physically implemented is what is required,
and I choose to remain optimistic!”
Heritage is important to me. It’s a
part of my culture. It’s part of my
upbringing. Respect, heritage and
humility is what makes us who we are.
I come from
Australia. If you
see the situation
there, you will see
that it’s out of
control.
20 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
icture this: It’s 3am in Glasgow. While
most of the city sleeps, Nathalie Kaur is
fielding emergency calls for Police
Scotland, her voice a lifeline for those in crisis.
Come Easter Sunday, she’s behind the
counter of her One Stop Partick store, dressed
as the Easter Bunny, handing out chocolate
eggs to delighted children. It’s an extraordi
nary double life that would exhaust most
people, but for Nathalie, it’s simply another
day in her routine.
This remarkable juggling act has earned
her recognition as the Local Hero Award
winner at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards – an
accolade that celebrates retailers who go
above and beyond for their communities. But
the award barely scratches the surface of a
story that includes premature twins on
oxygen tanks, £1,000 cash giveaways, and a
determination that refused to bend even
when industry veterans dismissed her as a
“silly little girl.”
Against all odds
Nathalie’s entry into retail wasn’t born from
family tradition or business school theory.
“I’m a first generation retailer, and I don’t
come from a background of retail, but I saw
the opportunity to basically be my own boss
and work for myself,” she explains. What she
couldn’t have anticipated was just how much
that decision would test every ounce of her
resolve.
The challenges came thick and fast. While
establishing her business, Nathalie gave
birth to extremely premature twins at 26
weeks. For four months, she navigated
between the neonatal intensive care
unit, her shop floor, and her police night
shifts. When the twins finally came
home, they remained on permanent
oxygen. Most people would have thrown
in the towel. Nathalie strapped both
babies to her body – one on the front, one
on the back – along with two oxygen
tanks, and continued serving customers.
“Everyone told me I couldn’t do it, but
I did and I still am!” she says with
characteristic defiance. Eighteen
months later, she had her third child,
meaning three children under two years
old, a business, and a full-time night shift
job. It’s a feat that sounds impossible
until you meet Nathalie and realise that
for her, the impossible is simply another
challenge to overcome.
What drives a person to persist through
such overwhelming circumstances? For
Nathalie, the answer is refreshingly straight
forward: “The love for retail, basically,” she
laughs. “I genuinely love meeting people,
talking to people. Yes, of course, there are
trials and tribulations with working and the
store. And obviously I do have a very, very
young family, but I do always try and be
positive about every situation, whether it be
good or bad, and just keep going.”
It’s this combination of genuine passion
and determined optimism that has sustained
her through the darkest moments. “I do
genuinely love the community that we’re in,
and I love the people that are around us. And,
not every day is the same. There’s always
something different going on in store. And
that’s what I love about it.”
The £1,000 gamble
Last year, Nathalie made a decision that had
her customers rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
She announced a £1,000 cash giveaway –
probably the largest sum ever offered by an
independent convenience store. “A lot of
people didn’t believe it, to be honest, and a lot
of people thought it was too good to be true,”
she recalls.
But behind the bold gesture lay shrewd
thinking. “There are loads of stores out there
that do competitions – a pack of coke or a pack
of wine, booze, something like that. But
there’s not a lot of people that will do things
like a £1000 competition.” The gamble paid
off spectacularly, not just in customer
engagement but in industry recognition. “On
the back of that, we won the award with
yourselves. And we also won another award as
well.”
The initiative wasn’t just about standing
out from the competition; it was rooted in
genuine understanding of her community’s
struggles during the cost-of-living crisis. “We
do run periodic competitions for our
customers. There’s always some sort of
engagement every month,” she reveals.
“When we have new products coming out, we
always like to try and run free giveaways with
that, to include our community in everything
we do.”
Her ability to think seasonally and
empathetically was evident again this
January, when she gave away a mystery
holiday for two. The timing was deliberate:
“Everybody has less money in January
because it’s spent all on Christmas. Usually
January is the longest month of the year until
you get paid, because you get paid early in
December.”
It’s this kind of mindful planning that
PROFILES IN SUCCESS
ASIAN TRADER AWARDS WINNERS
Determination, resilience, talent and huge
social conscience propelled Nathalie Kaur
in her career and won here the 2024 Asian
Trader Local Hero Award
Nothing can stop her
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 21
PROFILES IN SUCCESS
ASIAN TRADER AWARDS WINNERS
turns marketing into genuine community
support – understanding not just what
people want, but when they need it most.
Beyond the till
Step into One Stop Partick, and you quickly
realise this isn’t your typical convenience
store. Nathalie has created something closer
to a community hub, where social
media content creation sits
alongside stock rotation on
the daily task list. Her
younger staff members
love being involved in the
store’s Facebook and
TikTok presence. “They
love it because they’re of
that generation anyway.
And they like being
involved and they like other
people recognising them when
they’re not at the shop, almost
that claim to fame type thing.”
This social media savvy has had an
unexpected side effect. Walking down the
busy Dumbarton Road, now an extension of
Glasgow’s trendy and modern West End,
Nathalie finds herself recognised more often
than not. “Nine times out of 10 people know
my name. I won’t know their name, but they
know my name because they’ve seen me on
Facebook or TikTok or Instagram, which is
quite humbling, because you kind of feel like
a bit of a celebrity!”
But celebrity status isn’t the goal – com
munity connection is. From organising litter
picks with local children to running period
poverty campaigns, Nathalie ensures there’s
always something happening that brings
people together. “We try and do some sort of
engagement with our community, whether
that be giving away something or whether it
be just doing something in store.”
One Stop transformation
Nathalie’s retail journey wasn’t always
smooth sailing. Her experience with her
previous symbol group was so negative it
nearly broke her resolve. “I was told that I was
a silly little girl, I should just sell my store, and
I don’t know what I’m doing. That wasn’t
helpful. That wasn’t warranted. It wasn’t
asked for.”
The contrast with her current partnership
with One Stop couldn’t be starker. “You
actually feel like you’re part of a bigger group
– obviously we’re part of Tesco. There’s a
much more structured business model, and
it’s a very easy business model to follow.” The
support system has been transformative,
providing everything from training modules
for staff to incredible promotional offers that
drive footfall.
“At Christmas, we were doing three boxes
of chocolate for five pounds. I’ve never seen
that anywhere else,” she enthuses. This
backing has translated
into significant sales
growth, proving that
when retailers have the
right support, their natural
entrepreneurial instincts
can flourish.
The learning curve
For someone without a retail background,
the learning curve was steep. “Just knowing
how to basically run a business was the
hardest part,” Nathalie admits. “Before you
become a retailer, you don’t realise all the
kind of the back office functions that are
required to be done, even things like how to
do VAT, how to do payroll, how to do tax
returns.”
But perhaps the biggest revelation was
understanding the modern retail landscape.
“Gone are the days where you could just open
a shop and stand behind the counter. It
doesn’t work that way now. You have to
promote yourself on social media. You have to
be in front of the camera.”
This realisation led to one of her key
differentiators in a crowded market. “In our
locality, we have about four or five conveni
ence stores in the very close vicinity. And if we
didn’t do what we do, we wouldn’t stand out
from those.”
Supporting next gen
Having faced dismissive attitudes early in her
career, Nathalie is passionate about support
ing other women entering retail. “There are
still a lot of barriers and with what the women
are faced in the industry, it can be very
daunting for women to go into a room,
especially at some of the conferences, and
then be the only woman that’s there.”
Her approach is refreshingly direct. “If I
am at an event and I see a woman just
standing there by herself, I will go over to her
and say, Hi, how you doing? I’m Natalie. How
are you? And start a conversation.”
She says it’s so important just to even start
that conversation, as it lets other women
know that they are not alone. “I think that’s
needed more than anything, just to let them
know that they’re not the only one out there,
and there are other women out there that are
there to support.”
She’s realistic about the challenges
women face. “Most women out there are
either mothers or wives or both, and
business women, and we’re all doing three
or four jobs simultaneously. It’s not easy, but
it’s very doable.”
Moment of validation
When asked about the moment she felt
vindicated after all the early criticism,
Nathalie doesn’t hesitate. “When I won the
award, if I’m honest. That was validation.”
While she acknowledges that daily work
matters most, she’s refreshingly honest
about the importance of recognition. “It is also
nice to have that recognition that somebody
else thinks you’ve done a good job.”
As summer approaches, Nathalie is already
planning new initiatives to keep children
engaged during the school holidays and
support families who might be struggling. Her
advice to other retailers is elegantly simple:
“Look after the community, because your
community looks after you. Because without
our community, we wouldn’t have a business.”
For someone who started with no retail
experience and faced dismissive attitudes
from industry insiders, Nathalie’s transfor
mation of One Stop Partick into a community
cornerstone is remarkable. But perhaps
what’s most impressive is how she’s main
tained her authenticity throughout the
journey. The same determination that saw her
navigate through NICU [neonatal intensive
care unit] with oxygen tanks while serving
customers now drives her to constantly
innovate and engage with her community.
In an industry facing unprecedented
challenges, she represents something vital: the
power of genuine community connection
combined with astute business sense. Her
story isn’t just about overcoming barriers – it’s
about transforming them into stepping stones
for others to follow. And if her track record is
anything to go by, the best is yet to come.
FEATURE
CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 23
he chocolate and
confectionery category
continues to demonstrate
remarkable resilience in today’s
challenging economic climate,
offering independent retailers a
dependable revenue stream when
consumers are tightening their
belts elsewhere. As shoppers seek
affordable treats to brighten their
day, this category has maintained
its value proposition, with
chocolate and candies serving as
accessible luxuries that provide
comfort without breaking the
bank.
This trend is particularly
evident in the burgeoning “sweet
treat economy” driven by Britain’s
return-to-office culture. New data
from Virgin Media O2 Business
reveals that office workers are
now spending an estimated £57
million a week on chocolates,
creating significant opportunities
for convenience retailers
positioned near business districts.
More than half (54 per cent) of
workers are more likely to
purchase sweet treats and snacks
when in the office compared to
working from home, with 52 per
cent treating themselves as a
reward for going into the office.
The workplace has become a
crucial driver of confectionery
sales, with 40 per cent of office
workers consuming sweets and
chocolates most days they work in
the office. Popular choices include
Cadbury Dairy Milk (21 per cent),
KitKat (15 per cent), Cadbury
Twirl (10 per cent), Kinder Bueno
(10 per cent), and Galaxy (nine per
cent). For many workers, these
purchases serve multiple
purposes: 38 per cent say treats
help boost their energy, 37 per
cent use them to improve their
mood, and 34 per cent see them as
an opportunity to take a break
from work.
Jessica O’Connor, Product
Director at Virgin Media O2
Business, explains the broader
economic impact: “Small treats
are becoming an essential part of
office culture, helping employees
take a quick break and to return
feeling energised. This trend isn’t
just good for morale, it’s making a
real impact on the wider econo
my, driving spending in local
shops, cafés, and physical retail
stores.”
Premium opportunity
The numbers tell a compelling
story beyond workplace con
sumption. In the last year the
chocolate category has grown in
revenue by 1.4 per cent, while
premium chocolate has grown by
22.4 per cent in the independent
channel [Nielsen], “proving that
during tough economic times
consumers are willing to pay that
bit extra for ‘little treats’,”
according to Lydia Stubbins,
Group Marketing Director at
Divine Chocolate Ltd.
This trend towards premiumi
sation has only intensified
recently, with premium chocolate
experiencing extraordinary
growth of 68.6 per cent in value
and 69.1 per cent in units in the
latest 12-week period compared to
the previous twelve weeks.
For independent retailers, this
shift towards premium offerings
presents a golden opportunity.
The key lies in stocking brands
that combine quality with ethical
credentials. “Divine Chocolate is a
must stock brand,” explains
Stubbins. “The brand is the
highest scoring food and drink
B-Corp in the country, uses only
Fairtrade ingredients and is the
only chocolate company to be
co-owned by cocoa farmers,
meaning the delicious taste of the
chocolate is backed up by strong
ethics.”
The sugar confectionery
segment is equally buoyant, with
particularly exciting develop
ments in specific niches. Susan
Nash, Trade Communications
Manager at Mondelēz Interna
tional, highlights that “the
market is in growth and currently
represents 24 per cent of the total
confectionery market.” Within
this expanding sector, sour candy
is emerging as a standout
performer, appealing to consum
ers seeking “little moments of fun
and escapism from day-to-day
life.” The success of products like
Sour Patch Kids, which is
“growing by 67 per cent,”
demonstrates how retailers can
tap into this demand for distinc
tive flavour experiences.
The broader market dynamics
are equally encouraging. Mark
Roberts, Marketing & Trade
Marketing Director at Perfetti
Van Melle, reports that his
company “is valued at £131.6m as
of January 2025, growing at 3.6
per cent vs January 2024, and well
ahead of the market which sees a
0.9 per cent value decline vs this
time last year.” This outper
formance in a challenging market
underscores the importance of
having the right portfolio mix,
with household brands like
Mentos, Fruit-tella, Chupa
Chups, and Smint collectively
worth over £100 million.
The resilience of the category
extends beyond mere survival
tactics. Roberts emphasises that
“sugar confectionery is a resilient
A convenience stalwart,
chocs and confectionery
stand up to the harshest
economic conditions
because everybody –
adults and children
alike – likes a sweet
treat
Candy demand is constant, like
Wonka’s everlasting gobstopper …
FEATURE
CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY
24 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
category as it delivers lifts and
treats for its consumers. As we
continue into a challenging
economic landscape, confection
ery remains an affordable treat
giving retailers a compelling sales
generator.” This affordability
factor is crucial, as it positions
confectionery as a guilt-free
indulgence even when household
budgets are stretched.
The treating trend shows no
signs of slowing down. Declan
Hassett, Licensing Manager at
Diageo, points to
research
revealing that ,
“despite the
uncertain econom
ic climate, consum
ers are continuing to
spend on affordable
luxuries, showing a
willingness to treat
themselves to small,
accessible items.” The
global treat category is
expected to reach $479
billion by 2027, with a compound
annual growth rate of 4.4 per
cent, indicating sustained
long-term growth potential.
Compliance risks
Meanwhile, the explosive
popularity of Dubai-style
chocolate across the UK retail has
brought unexpected
regulatory challenges
to the fore, with the
Food Standards
Agency (FSA) issuing
serious warnings
about imported
products that could
pose significant
risks to both
consumers and
retailers. As
convenience stores rush to
capitalise on viral confectionery
trends, the latest FSA alerts serve
as a stark reminder of the
importance of rigorous supply
chain compliance.
The Dubai chocolate phenom
enon has been nothing short of
remarkable. Since first taking
social media by storm, the
pistachio- and Knafeh-filled bars
have prompted major retailers to
develop their own versions.
However, this surge in demand
has created a troubling parallel
market of unauthorised imports.
On 12 June, the FSA issued a
comprehensive warning about
imported Dubai-style chocolate
products that “may not be
intended for sale in the UK and
could lack a full ingredients list or
allergen labelling.” The agency’s
investigation revealed products
containing additives and colours
prohibited in the UK market,
alongside inadequate allergen
information that could prove
dangerous for consumers with
food allergies.
“The vast majority of
food in the UK is safe, but
some imported Dubai-
style chocolate products
don’t meet our standards
and could be a food safety
risk, especially for
consumers with
allergies,” Professor
Robin May, Chief
Scientific Advisor to
the FSA said, advising
consumers looking
to buy Dubai-style
chocolate to “stick with
trusted retailers, like the ones
you’d use for your weekly shop, as
products are more likely to be
made for UK consumers and so
are safe to eat.”
The warnings extend beyond
Dubai chocolate. A day earlier, the
FSA instructed retailers across
England, Wales, and Northern
Ireland to immediately
halt sales of several
Jolly Rancher
products manufac
tured by The
Hershey Company.
These popular
American sweets were
found to contain
mineral oil aromatic
hydrocarbons and
mineral oil saturated
hydrocarbons
– substances not permitted in UK
food products. The FSA noted that
while “the immediate food safety
risk to consumers is considered
low, regular or high-level
consumption of these
substances may pose serious
health risks, including
potential DNA damage and
increased cancer risk.”
The Jolly Rancher recall
affects all pack sizes,
batches, and best-before
dates of Hard Candy,
“Misfits” Gummies, Hard
Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and
landscape, with new consump
tion patterns emerging that savvy
retailers can capitalise on to drive
both footfall and basket value.
One of the most significant
trends shaping the category is the
growing popularity of home
entertainment. Nash observes
that “shoppers are increasingly
looking to enjoy evenings at
home as a more cost-effective way
to spend time with family and
loved ones.” This shift towards
domestic socialising has bolstered
the Big Night In occasion,
presenting retailers with
substantial opportunities.
“This subsequent
increase in the Big Night In
occasion can be catered to
with our gifting and
sharing formats and the
evening occasion is the key
time of day for sharing,
with bags being the most
convenient and popular
format for the consumer,”
Nash explains. The trend
reflects consumers’ desire
Berry Gummies variants. Despite
The Hershey Company proac
tively stopping UK supply in
2024, unauthorised imports
through third-party distributors
have continued, highlighting the
challenges retailers face in
managing grey market products.
The rise of BNI
While these incidents underscore
the critical importance of
working with authorised
distributors and maintaining
robust supplier verification
processes, they also point to a
significant shift in confectionery
Ride the sweetest confectionery trends
Susan Nash, Trade Communications
Manager at Mondelez International,
shares her insights on the key
trends shaping the chocolate and
confectionery category.
Home entertainment drives sharing occasions: “We’ve seen
that shoppers are increasingly looking to enjoy evenings at
home as a more cost-effective way to spend time with family
and loved ones.”
Brand loyalty remains strong: “Recent data has also shown that
consumers are going back to brands, and families are driving the
way we share our snacks over seasonal occasions.”
Value messaging is crucial: “Price marked packs help deliver a
value message in store, tapping into consumers’ need for
‘affordable’ treats, so they’re an important part of a convenience
retailer’s range.”
Premium demand persists: “There is still a demand for premium
products, and we see consumers not wanting to hold back on
seasonal treats, in particular. It’s also important to note that
consumers are focused on value not price.”
Sour candy segment is booming: “We’ve seen a rise in demand
for the sour candy segment in particular, as sour candy appeals
to consumers who are looking for little moments of fun and
escapism from day-to-day life.”
**Mars Wrigley is donating £150,000 in 2025 to Young Women’s Trust (reg. charity 217868). Find out more at www.galaxychocolate.co.uk/our-purpose
Source: *Kantar Combined TH & OOH Panel 52we 7th Jul 24. ^As at August 2024.
© 2025 Mars or Affiliates.
towards Young Women’s Trust’s
ambition of building a
fairer future for women**
WE’RE
DONATING
A FURTHER
£150,000
#2
CHOCOLATE
BRAND IN THE UK
WORTH
£229M
RSV*
DONATED TO DATE^
OVER
200K
join us in empowering
women to
thrive
S TO C K U P N O W &
FEATURE
CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY
26 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
to maintain social connections
whilst managing household
budgets more carefully, with
staying in representing a
cost-effective alternative to
expensive nights out.
This behavioural change has
tangible implications for product
selection and merchandising.
Cost-of-living pressures have
driven consumers to “eat in”
more, creating opportunities for
convenience retailers to position
themselves as destinations for
“meal for tonight” and BNI offers.
The key lies in understanding that
sharing formats and bag products
are particularly well-suited to
these occasions, as they facilitate
group consumption and offer
better value perception.
Despite economic headwinds,
brand loyalty in confectionery
continues to outperform many
other categories. Nash notes that
“brands continue to stand out in
confectionery, relative to other
categories, with brand growth in
gifting and sharing stronger than
own label.” This trend is particu
larly pronounced in the gifting
and sharing segment, where
brands are outstripping the own
label competition with 11.2
percent total category growth
[Nielsen]
This brand strength reflects
consumers’ desire for trusted
quality when treating themselves
or others. “Despite economic
uncertainties putting pressure on
household budgets, consumers
are still looking for treats from
trusted brands so the confection
ery category is more important
than ever,” Nash emphasises.
Value without
compromise
The relationship between price
and value has become increas
ingly nuanced. While consumers
are price-conscious, they’re
not necessarily seeking the
cheapest options. Nash
clarifies that “consumers
are focused on value not
price,” highlighting the
importance of perceived
worth rather than simply
low prices.
Price-marked packs have
gained particular traction
in this environment. “Price
marked packs help deliver a
value message in-store,
tapping into consumers’
need for ‘affordable’ treats,
so they’re an important
part of a convenience
retailer’s range,” Nash
explains. However, she
notes that “there is still a
demand for premium
products, and we see
consumers not wanting to
hold back on seasonal treats, in
particular.”
The confectionery category is
adapting to health trends without
sacrificing indulgence. Roberts
notes that “health concerns still
remain a priority for all,” but
crucially, consumers are seeking
choice rather than elimination.
“Our sugar-free alternatives allow
people to make their own
choices,” he explains, with
Perfetti Van Melle remaining “the
leader within the Sugar Free
category, with sales continuing to
grow.”
The regulatory environment is
also shaping product develop
ment, with Roberts highlighting
that offering “a full range that
supports the governments HFSS
guidelines of under 150kcal per
pack – something most manufac
turers can’t, gives Perfetti the
opportunity to be closer to these
impulse purchases.”
Plant-based alternatives
represent another significant
growth area. Roberts announces
that “family favourite and top ten
candy brand, Fruit-tella’s
best-selling chews have transi
tioned to a fully vegan recipe,
meaning that the brand can now
deliver fruity joy to an even bigger
audience of consumers.”
The switch to vegan will be
implemented across the full range
of chews including the Fruit-tella
favourite Simply Strawberry
Chews, and the more recent
edition of Fruit-tella Berries &
Cherries. This transition main
tains quality whilst expanding
market reach, as “the delectable
chews will still contain real fruit
juice and be made with all-natural
colourings and flavours.”
Dark chocolate
revolution
A particularly noteworthy trend is
the growing consumer preference
for dark chocolate, driven by
health consciousness and
perceived wellness benefits.
Stubbins, from Divine Chocolate,
reveals that “consumer prefer
ence towards dark chocolate is
growing,” with value sales for
dark chocolate up
22 per cent year on
year [Nielsen].
This shift
appears to be driven
by health considera
tions, with Stubbins
suggesting that
“shoppers are
switching into dark
chocolate as they
recognise it is less
processed, and
contains less sugar, and
therefore, believe it to be better
for them.” For retailers, this
presents an opportunity to
expand dark chocolate ranges and
educate consumers about
premium options that combine
health benefits with exceptional
taste credentials.
“Divine Chocolate is a
specialist in dark chocolate with
options at both 70 per cent and 85
per cent, so the range is a
great place to start for
retailers looking to
capitalise on this trend,”
Stubbins adds. “For those
worrying that dark
chocolate doesn’t taste as
good, Divine has won a
coveted eight Great Taste
Awards, proving that dark
chocolate – when crafted
using the finest cocoa and
pure cocoa butter, with no
nasty fillers – really is the
cream of the crop.”
Perhaps one of the most
innovative trends is the
growth of licensed
confectionery products
that leverage established
brand equities from other
categories. Diageo’s
Hassett highlights that
“licensed products from
highly salient and well-loved
household brands help to have
influence outside of traditional
categories and when optimally
merchandised are best placed to
succeed.”
The success of Baileys-licensed
confectionery exemplifies this
trend. “Baileys licensed products
are hugely popular with adult
consumers, with more than four
million licensed products sold in
the UK last year, equating to one
product sold every eight seconds,”
Hassett reveals. Remarkably,
“over 20 per cent of Baileys
shoppers do not
purchase the spirit
itself, instead only
purchasing the brand’s
licensed products on
offer,” demonstrating
how licensing can
access entirely new
consumer segments.
This approach
addresses a crucial
retail challenge:
“we know that 80
per cent of consum
ers don’t regularly visit the BWS
aisle which can leave a huge gap in
potential sales.” Licensed
products allow retailers to capture
this missed opportunity by
bringing familiar brand experi
ences into high-traffic confec
tionery areas.
On-the-go solutions
The confectionery category’s
resilience is underpinned by
continuous innovation and strate
gic product development that
meets evolving consumer needs.
Leading manufacturers are
demonstrating how thoughtful
product design, combined with
compelling marketing cam
paigns, can drive incremental
sales and enhance the conveni
ence retail experience.
Understanding the conveni
ence shopper’s mindset is crucial
for product success. As Stubbins
FEATURE
CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY
28 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
observes, “products that can be
consumed on the go work well in
convenience as usually shoppers
will be on the move when
purchasing and consuming
them.” This insight has informed
Divine’s approach to packaging
and product sizing, with their 35g
bars arriving in “shelf-ready
packaging that also looks
premium, ensuring that the bars
are easy for independents to get
straight onto shelf with minimal
fuss, but also, they stand out,
attracting the eye of consumers.”
The Divine 35g range
exemplifies how premium
positioning can coexist with
convenience functionality. “The
Divine 35g bar range also comes
in a diverse range of flavours
which is a unique proposition for
bars of that size,” Stubbins
explains. This includes innovative
offerings like their cappuccino
bar, “which is a mix of milk and
white chocolate, with a delicious
coffee flavour coming from the
addition of a sprinkling of
Fairtrade coffee beans.”
Such distinctive flavour
profiles help retailers differenti
ate their offerings whilst
potentially increasing basket
spend, as Stubbins notes that
“stocking Divine’s range of 35g
bars can be helpful in growing
incremental basket spend.”
The power of impulse
With impulse purchasing
behaviour driving significant
sales opportunities, Kathryn
Hague, Head of Marketing at
confectionery distributor World
of Sweets, says understanding
which products work best and
how to merchandise them
effectively can make all the
difference to bottom-line
performance.
“Impulse buy confectionery
products work best in conveni
ence because customers often
make spontaneous
purchases when
they see appealing
displays in store,”
explains Hague.
“These products are
typically small,
affordable and
visually attractive,
making them easy
to grab and add to a
purchase.”
Novelty confectionery
emerges as a particularly strong
performer, especially during peak
trading periods. They are a “great
option for driving sales among
younger customers looking for
pocket money treats during
summer holidays,” Hague notes.
“Novelty sweets have attractive
prices, playful elements and bold
flavours which make them stand
out on the shelves, encouraging
impulse buys.”
Leading brands in
this space include
Crazy Candy Factory,
which offers “a wide
range of fun and
exciting treats from
food-shaped sweets
to sour gels and
toy-candy combos.”
Top performers
include Gummy
Noodles (RRP £1),
Funny Money edible wafer paper
(RRP £0.85), and the Big Dipper
lollipop, Jelly Bean Machine and
Paint Splash lollipops with
sherbet dip, all priced at £1.29.
Kidsmania represents another
strong novelty option, “offering
an eye-catching range of fun
sweets that appeals to younger
customers.” Retailers should
consider stocking customer
favourites like Sour Flush fruity
lollipop with sherbet dip, Ploplets
cola flavour poop-shaped hard
candies, and Flip Phones with a
lollipop inside, all retailing at
£1.29.
Beyond novelty lines, share
bags present another opportu
nity. “Customers often turn to
convenience shops for a top-up on
their normal food shop, and that
often includes snacking,” Hague
observes. Bonds of London and
Candy Realms both offer ranges
“which are ideal for shoppers
trying to find snacks for a summer
picnic or movie night.”
Flavour blend
Mentos continues to
push boundaries with
groundbreaking
product develop
ment. Roberts
highlights their latest
innovation: “Mentos
Discovery, which
offers a category first
14 different flavour
sweets in one roll.”
This represents a significant
departure from conventional
confectionery formats, with the
product featuring an exotic
flavour range.
The success metrics for
Mentos Discovery are impressive.
Despite launching only in May
2024, Roberts reveals that “it is
now a £1.1m sub-brand with the
single roll accounting for
£820,000 worth of sales.” More
significantly, the innovation
has driven
category growth,
with “singles now
worth £18.6m +22
per cent,” demon
strating how unique
products can create
incremental value
rather than simply
cannibalising existing
sales.
Building on this
success, Mentos has launched
Feeling Berry Good, which
“comprises of three fresh and
delightful berry flavours; tangy
cherry, juicy blueberry and
refreshing raspberry.” This launch
strategically targets the sharing
segment, which Roberts notes
“now dominate the confection
ery market, accounting for 71.4
per cent of sweet value sales.”
The product is specifically
designed for Big Night In
occasions and beyond, supported
by comprehensive marketing
including “tactical, eye-catching
POS materials in-store” and
benefiting from “the
halo effect” of
Mentos’ disruptive
summer ABTL
media campaign.
Seasonal
innovation
Cadbury continues to
lead in seasonal
innovation with their
Summer Edition
launch. Nash describes
how “Cadbury is turning up the
cool this summer” with the
launch of four limited-edition
Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer
Edition bars and brand-new
Cadbury Dairy Milk Iced Latte
flavour. The standout feature is
the packaging innovation, which
uses thermochromic technology,
so that “the wrapper visually
transforms to reveal a deep blue
colouring when each bar is
chilled.”
This technological integration
serves multiple purposes. The
packaging features “four
summer-themed designs, all
reflective of a traditional British
summer: deck chairs, umbrellas,
kites and inflatables,” creating
collectability whilst encouraging
interaction. Nash notes that “the
Chill To Reveal launch is to set
reignite the popular debate
around where to store chocolate
as we head into summer and
firmly positions chocolate as a
snacking option throughout the
summer months.”
Beyond product innovation,
leading brands are creating deeper
consumer connections through
experiential campaigns. Cad
bury’s Game Changing Wins
represents a comprehensive
approach to consumer engage
ment, offering “the opportunity
to win amazing prizes, including
one of four meet and greets with
some of the UK and Ireland’s most
well-known female footballers.”
The campaign’s accessibility is
designed for convenience retail
success, requiring consumers to
simply purchase a participating
pack from across the qualifying
range: Cadbury chocolate
including singles, bars, bags and
multipacks, Cadbury biscuits
range including Cadbury Fingers
and Cadbury Brunch, Maynards
Bassets bags and Trebor mints.
This broad product
inclusion helps drive
sales across multiple
categories whilst the
digital engagement
platform “ga
mechanging.cadbury.
co.uk” creates
ongoing brand
interaction.
Recognising the
vital role of
independent
retailers, the campaign includes
the Cadbury Community Game
Changers competition, which
“gives retailers the chance to be
celebrated as Game Changers and
the opportunity for five lucky
winners to win up to £1000.” This
dual approach of consumer and
retailer engagement demon
strates understanding of the
convenience channel’s communi
S TO C K U P
F O R S U M M E R
C H I L L T O R E V E A L
D E S I G N S
Subject to availability. Non-PMP also available. Retailers are free to set their own prices.
For category advice visit Snackdisplay.co.uk
FEATURE
CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY
30 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
ty-centric nature.
The power of limited edition
releases continues to drive
excitement and urgency. Cadbury
Twirl White Dipped exemplifies
this strategy, combining “Cad
bury Twirl’s beloved milk
chocolate curls and
swirls, covered in a
layer of creamy
white chocolate.”
Nash positions this
as bringing “fresh
excitement in-store
and set retailers’
ranges up for success,”
demonstrating how
limited editions can
rejuvenate established
product lines.
Sweet new arrivals
As the confectionery category
experiences a dynamic period of
growth, brands are balancing
innovation and nostalgia to
capture consumer attention
across multiple demographics.
The freeze-dried confection
ery trend shows no signs of
slowing, with Bebeto’s remark
able success story leading the
charge. Following sales of “almost
two million packs and generating
nearly £4 million in sales” within
just six months, the
brand has last month
expanded its Freeze
Crunchy range with
Bubble Gum Bottles and
Blue Raspberry Rings.
Phil Hulme, Commer
cial Director at Kervan
Gida UK, highlights the social
media impact: “The #freezedried
candy hashtag has now surpassed
4.7 billion views on TikTok,
proving just how strong the trend
and demand is.”
The freeze-drying process,
borrowed from space exploration
technology, creates “a bold flavour
experience and an ultra-crunchy
texture that consumers have
dubbed a total game-changer.”
With Bebeto being “the only
freeze dried confectionery brand
in the UK to own its end-to-end
production process,” retailers
benefit from competitive pricing
at just £2 per pack.
Mars Wrigley is capitalising on
consumer nostalgia with the
return of Maltesers White
Chocolate after more than a
decade. Clare Moulder, Maltesers
senior brand manager, confirms:
“Consumers absolutely love
Maltesers white chocolate and
have been clamouring for us to
bring it back.” The timing aligns
perfectly with market trends, as
“white chocolate is a
growing trend” with
the sub-category
seeing “a 12 per cent
uplift in 2024.”
The relaunch
strategy targets
younger demograph
ics, with Moulder
noting that “white
chocolate versions
of favourite brands
appeal to the under-35
demographic, so this launch is set
to bring existing as well as new
consumers to confectionery
aisles.”
World of Sweets is driving
innovation through the popular
Barratt brand with an exciting
range of candy flosses that
reimagine classic flavours.
Kathryn Hague, Head of Market
ing, explains the unique ap
proach: “All of the candy flosses
are available in the classic Barratt
flavourings, but have a unique
twist to them.” The WHAM!®
candy floss features “popping
candy scattered throughout an
iconic sour raspberry flavoured
floss,” whilst Flumps includes
“crunchy, dehydrated mallows
hidden within a vanilla floss.”
The innovation extends
beyond textures to pricing
strategy, with WHAM! and Fruit
Salad candy flosses available in
20g cups retailed at £1, and the
Dib Dab and Flumps flosses can be
bought in 50g tubs retailed at £2.
Nestlé’s Aero Coconut sharing
bar exemplifies how limited
editions can generate excitement.
Cat Mews, Brand Manager for
Aero at Nestlé UK & Ireland,
positions the launch strategically:
“The new Aero Coconut sharing
bar invites consumers to indulge
in a delightful experience that
celebrates the joy of sharing.” The
90g format targets the growing
demand for sharing
occasions, particularly
during summer months.
Similarly, Skittles
Citrus taps into seasonal
trends with its “mix of
five flavours: Orange,
Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, and
Blood Orange.” Florence
McGivern, Skittles senior brand
manager, emphasises the impulse
opportunity: “With its zingy taste
and vibrant mix of flavours,
Skittles Citrus is designed to tap
into the growing demand for
fruity confectionery while
driving impulse purchases,
especially in the summer months
when social snacking occasions
peak.”
Gnaw’s entry into the impulse
fixture represents a significant
trend towards premiumisation.
With their new 35g impulse bars
featuring “Popcorn & Peanut,
Honeycomb & Caramel, Sticky
Toffee Pudding and Seville
Orange,” the brand targets
retailers seeking differentiation.
Josh Patterson, Gnaw spokesper
son, notes: “We’re fortunate that
our long-standing commitment
to create new flavours in choco
late has tallied with many
retailers’ ambitions to trade up
and differentiate their impulse
treat fixtures.”
At £1.75 retail, Gnaw positions
itself as offering “small moments
of joy” propositions for consum
ers seeking premium experiences
within convenience retail.
Swizzels demonstrates how
brands can innovate whilst
addressing health trends. Their
new Squashies Tropical and
Squashies Sour Shooting Stars are
“HFSS-compliant, for shoppers
Top of the categories
Confectionery is one of the top
five purchases on impulse in
convenience stores, and Paul Robinson,
Controller – Convenience and Wholesale, at
Perfetti Van Melle, shares some tips to help
retailers make the most of the opportunity
Visibility is key for sales. Shoppers respond well to cross
merchandised fixtures and clearly signposted sections in store
that target specific occasions:
Counter-top units should ideally sit at arm’s reach from the
main till point to drive impulse sales
Front of store POS that sit at eye level can capture attention
and increase impulse purchases
Robinson advises retailers to focus on tapping into one of
three key shopper missions: refreshment, indulgence, such as
fruit flavours: and on the go:
Stock a variety of flavours, textures, and formats to offer
choice in the leading brands – they provide peace of mind and
always sell first
Add signage and POS for a standout fixture that builds
visibility in-store. Talk to your rep about compelling deals to
advertise at the till e.g., 2 for1
Include sugar free products in your offering, mints and gum
are not exempt from either the rise of the health-conscious
consumer or HFSS regulations
FEATURE
CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY
32 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
presentation.”
Hague advises retailers to
create dedicated novelty displays
in stores that are stocked with
exciting novelty lines and that
highlight the low price points.
“Novelty sweets carry a high
perceived value, making them
excellent sales drivers for pocket
money spenders. Place the
displays in high-traffic spots in the
store, such as near the tills or at
aisle ends to encourage impulse
buys,” she adds.
Recognition of retailers’ time
constraints has led to comprehen
sive support systems. Nash
highlights their retailer website,
www.SnackDisplay.
com, which has
category tutorials that
are “perfect for new
starters who would like
to get to grips with
their ranges, and
category display pages
for any staff who
have designated
areas of the store to
look after.” These resources
include practical tools such as a
quick reference best-seller list,
re-sharable social media content,
and a profit calculator.
For convenience retailers, the
strategy is clear: embrace the
premiumisation trend whilst
maintaining accessibility. Success
requires balancing traditional
impulse purchasing with new
consumption occasions, maintain
ing strong brand representation
whilst offering value, and
expanding categories to include
health-conscious, vegan, and
licensed alternatives. The key lies
in understanding that modern
consumers seek treating experi
ences that align with their values,
budgets, and lifestyles, creating
opportunities for retailers who can
curate ranges that deliver on these
multifaceted demands.
And, the category’s impulsive
nature remains one of its greatest
strengths, making strategic
placement and visual merchan
dising crucial for maximising
sales. With Christmas approach
ing and the school holidays
providing additional opportuni
ties, the chocolate and confec
tionery category offers
independent retailers a sweet
path to sustained profitability in
challenging times.
category extends beyond product
selection to strategic merchandis
ing and positioning that leverages
convenience stores’ unique
strengths against larger competi
tors. Independent retailers can
differentiate themselves by focus
ing on exclusivity, purposeful
merchandising, and creating
compelling in-store experiences.
The key to competing with
supermarkets lies in offering
products consumers cannot easily
find elsewhere. Stubbins
emphasises that “by giving shelf
space to brands that consumers
might not find in their local
supermarket, independents can
win in the category.” This
approach requires
“identifying
brands that meet
current consumer
demands and
ensuring these
receive prominent
shelf placement.”
Purpose-driven
brands offer particular
opportunities for
differentiation.
Divine Chocolate
exemplifies this with their
comprehensive ethical position
ing: “For the last 25 years, we’ve
been purchasing all the ingredi
ents that make Divine Chocolate
on Fairtrade terms, which
includes a Fairtrade Premium,
which farmers and co-operative
owners decide how to spend.” The
brand’s commitment extends to
profit-sharing, with “farmers
and co-owners also benefit from
20 per cent of Divine’s profits
too,” addressing the reality that
“the average cocoa farmer earns
only six per cent of the total
price of a chocolate bar.”
Stubbins advises that
“retailers can build a credible
range by looking to brands with
seeking a treat that is lower in
sugar but doesn’t compromise on
taste.” Clare Newton, Trade &
Shopper Marketing Manager,
explains: “Reflecting consumer
trends, including the rising
popularity of sour and tropical
flavours, Squashies Tropical and
Squashies Sour Shooting Stars
retain the unique soft and foamy
texture and beloved taste of
Squashies whilst appealing to
those seeking a HFSS-compliant
choice.”
Mars Wrigley’s Snickers “Off
Your Game” campaign demon
strates the power of sports
marketing in confectionery. Steve
Waters, Snickers Senior Brand
Manager, highlights the category
opportunity: “We know that the
confectionery category experi
ences a 20 per cent uplift during
major tournament with 75 per
cent of sports fans snacking
whilst watching game. This
presents a great opportunity for
retailers to drive profits.”
The campaign, backed by
£1.5m media investment, spans
across all Mars Wrigley bar brands
(including Snickers, Mars, Twix
and Bounty), offering
retailers “significant
opportunities to drive
impulse purchases and
category growth.”
Werther’s
Original’s compre
hensive rebrand,
unveiled last month,
represents the
largest update in
the brand’s
121-year history.
Andy Mutton, Managing Director
at Storck UK, positions the
refresh strategically: “The rebrand
comes at a time of strong growth
within the sugar category,
enabling retailers to capitalise on
consumer demand for variety,
convenience and sugar-free
alternatives.”
With 96 per cent brand
awareness and worth £36 million
in the UK, the refresh aims to
“inject new energy into the brand
while enhancing its shelf
standout” whilst maintaining the
brand’s heritage appeal.
Differentiation through
exclusivity
Success in the confectionery
purpose-led or sustainability
messaging, that go beyond just a
nod to sustainability,” ensuring
authenticity that resonates with
increasingly conscious
consumers
whilst maintain
ing product
excellence.
Effective
merchandising
goes beyond
traditional category
placement. Hassett
advocates for
“innovative
merchandising strategies that
disrupt shopper journeys and
encourage impulse purchases.”
The data supporting strategic
placement is compelling:
eye-level shelves generate 35 per
cent more sales compared to
lower or higher shelves [Nielsen
Shopper Behaviour Research],
whilst 16 per cent of unplanned
purchases are driven by in-store
advertising and display [POPAI
Research].
Cross-category merchandising
presents significant opportuni
ties, particularly with licensed
products that can create “cross-
category touchpoints that
reinforce brand awareness and
contribute to increased sales,”
Hassett notes. The impact of
presentation quality cannot be
understated, with “62 per cent of
shoppers making impulse buys
when attracted to an eye-catching
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CHANGING
SALES
UK&ROI, 18+. Ends 16:59 28/07/25. NPN for ROI. Prizes: 1 of 4 x player
experiences + 100s of other prizes incl. matchday tickets & vouchers.
Prizes vary & subject to Participating Player availability. Entry restrictions
apply. Wrap Up Draw: Ends 16:59 21/01/26. Visit gamechanging.cadbury.
co.uk (UK) or gamechanging.cadbury.ie (ROI) for full T&Cs, entry + prize
details. Promoter: UK: Mondelez Europe Services GmbH. ROI: Mondelez
Europe Services GmbH.
*18+ UK. Open between 13:30 BST 30th April to 31st August 2025 – 23:59 BST to owners and managers of Independently owned convenience stores and forecourts (unaffiliated or affiliated to a symbol group) only. Excludes centrally
managed and owned convenience stores and forecourts (‘Partcipants’). Go to Snackdisplay.co.uk and fill out the entry form, describing how you help and engage with your community and the benefits it brings to your community, in no
more than 300 words. Additional documentation by way of photograph of up to 5MB may also be uploaded (optional). It is the Participants responsibility to ensure details shared can be made public and shared publicly. All community
activities submitted may be made public and available for other Participants to use. Participants can enter more than one submission, only one prize per store. Activities will be judged based on the following criteria: Execution of activity,
Impact and transferability. A panel of judges will select the winning entries, awarding five tier one prizes of £1000 and awarding 10 tier two entries a cash prize of £500 for their store, a further 15 tier 3 winners will be awarded a Cadbury
Hamper. The judging panel will consist of an independent judge. The judge’s decision is final. No dialogue will be entered into. Where ideas are duplicated the first application received will be viewed by the judges. All 30 winners will receive
a Cadbury Game Changes certificate. Mondelez reserves the right to indefinitely use and publicise the activities submitted in the competition from the time of receiving the entry forms. Winners will be contacted for promotional and PR
purposes subject to agreement. Winners will be contacted by the Promoter by email within 14 days of the judging day and will have 14 days to formally accept the prize. Delivery of the prize will take place within 28 days of prize acceptance.
Promoter: Mondelez Europe Services GmBH- UK Branch, Uxbridge Business Park, Sanderson Road, Uxbridge, UB81DH. For full terms and conditions go to snackdisplay.co.uk
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FEATURE
BBQ AND SUMMER PRODUCTS
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 35
he kinds of product that
fit a BBQ and Summer
Products feature are
those associated with eating and
drinking – and enjoying yourself
socially – outdoors, in the garden,
on a warm and sunny day, even if
the reality is that you’re
sheltering in the garage or under
an awning, listening to rain
drumming on the roof and
watching water cascade off the
eaves and leaves.
The Brits have proven time
and again that mere weather
fails to dampen their enthusi
asm for a get-together and a bit
of a knees-up with friends and
family during the day and into
the evening – so stock accord
ingly.
“The premium BBQ market
has certainly benefited from
consumers opting to entertain
at home rather than dining out
over the last couple of years, and
we would expect this to
continue during 2025 as the
economic climate continues to
look uncertain for shoppers,”
says Lesley Parker, Senior Brand
Manager for Kühne at UK
distributor RH Amar, highlight
ing another good reason for the
rise of the BBQ – saving money
on eating out. “The resulting
cost-conscious behaviour – cou
pled with a continuing and
growing interest in home
cooking – means that the BBQ is
going to be a big opportunity for
retailers of all sizes as brands tap
into this occasion during the
year ahead.
All the trimmings
Heloise Le Norcy-Trott, Group
Marketing Director for Lactalis
UK & Ireland, who provide the
cheeses that make outdoor
dining more than just a
meatfest, says that he UK’s love
of barbecue season continues to
make summer a critical trading
period for food and drink
retailers. “2025 is shaping up to
be no different. The total cheese
market is now worth £3.3bn,
with value and volume growth
of two and three per cent
respectively . While private
label still holds the largest
market share at £1.9bn, it’s
branded cheese that’s driving
real momentum – growing four
per cent in value and six per cent
in volume.”
And it is the “peripheral”
products (cheese as well as
burgers, buns as well as dogs and
mustard as well as steaks), that
will add extra to sales.
With eight out of 10 consum
ers making a conscious decision
to improve their diet [IGD
Shopper] and an increased focus
on health and wellbeing in the
summer months, the days when
consumers can just serve
bangers and burgers at a BBQ are
a distant memory.
Martin Purdy, Commercial
and Marketing Director at
Florette UK says that the BBQ
occasion is an ideal opportunity
for consumers to get creative
with fresh salad.
“With one third of fresh
salad eaten as a component,
adding freshness and texture to
sandwiches and wraps, and
almost two thirds of salad
occasions featuring on the side
of plate, consumers can
personalise and improve their
favourite BBQ dishes with
prepared salads.”
According to Nielsen
[Discover Total Market Pre
pared Salad Value and Unit
Sales], the UK’s favourite
prepared salad brand is Florette
– the salad in a bag! Florette
outperformed the category,
with growth at +43 per cent.
“Florette,” he says, “is doing
more than any other brand to
attract more shoppers to the
category, creating a clear point
of difference by supporting its
market-leading products and
introducing new, inspirational
products which tap into key
usage occasions such as BBQ.
Florette has a wide range of
all-natural salad products to
enhance the BBQ occasion,
including Florette Crispy (90g
and 140g) which is the biggest
selling product in the impulse
channel and seeing strong
growth at +25 per cent [Nielsen
Discover Total Market] and
Florette Mixed salad (125g), the
Time to fire up the barbie
The sun has come out,
and so has the nation
– at least into their
gardens, where a million
grills are sizzling – so
make the most of these
summer sales
FEATURE
BBQ AND SUMMER PRODUCTS
36 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
second biggest product in the
impulse channel and growing
well alongside Crispy at +32 per
cent.
“In addition to taking more
interest in food nutrition, we
know consumers are now more
time conscious than ever before
and want to limit meal prepara
tion times. Ready-to-use fresh
salads are not just convenient,
the carefully selected blend of
leaves provide the perfect
eating experience,” adds Purdy.
With more opportunities to
include fresh salads in BBQ meal
deals, Florette is reminding
convenience retailers of
consumers’ primary focus on
the “top-up shop”, highlighting
how fresh salad is one of the
areas where consumers look.
RH Amar’s Lesley Parker
agrees there is also a growing
demand for other health-con
scious BBQ options, “with
low-carb, sugar-free, and
naturally fermented pickles
aligning with the rise of clean
eating trends. Social media is
playing a major role in shaping
these BBQ trends, with viral
videos driving demand for
pickles in marinades, sauces,
and even cocktails.”
She says the BBQ sector is
seeing a surge in demand for
premium, gourmet, and globally
inspired flavours. Pickled
products, especially gherkins
and other pickled vegetables,
have become a must-have
accompaniment, adding
crunch, acidity, and balance to a
range of grilled dishes.
It’s got to the stage where
sales of gherkins have grown to
now represent 20 per cent of the
pickled vegetable category,
matching the size of chutneys
and contributing significantly
to category growth, with a total
market value of £61m [Nielse
nIQ].
This is part of that growing
demand for health-conscious
BBQ options, with low-carb,
sugar-free, and naturally
fermented pickles aligning with
the rise of clean eating trends.
Social media is playing a major
role in shaping these BBQ
trends, with viral videos driving
demand for pickles in mari
nades, sauces, and even
cocktails.
Kühne Gourmet Selection
premium gherkins are packed
fresh to ensure the perfect
crunch. Available in three
variants infused with either
Herbs, Honey or Chilli, each
comes in a premium, standout
580ml jar (RRP: £3.55 each).
Gourmet Selection has been
particularly popular among
those looking to treat them
selves or their guests to
something really special.
Pre-launch tests showed that
86.3 per cent of consumers who
tried the product liked it a lot,
and way above the Pickles,
Chutneys and Olives category
average benchmark of 70.9 per
cent [Degusta Box market
research].
Parker adds that retailers
should keep their eye on trends
that favour sales of gherkins and
pickles, such as toppings for
burgers, for marinades and
brines, the vegetarian and vegan
trends in BBQ get-togethers,
and the rise in demand for world
foods, such as Korean, Middle
Eastern, and Latin-American,
where tangy, spicy, and pickled
flavours playing a major role.
And all this healthy, spicy
stuff goes well with cheese,
especially the continental and
premium varieties that Lactalis
summer meals.”
The BBQ is growing rapidly
more sophisticated – it’s not all
burgers and chops; or if it is,
there is also increasingly a wide
range of delicate and interna
tional accompaniments.
“Independents can win by
creating a shopping experience
that’s curated, convenient, and
inspiring,” she adds. “Offering
premium, well-merchandised
seasonal staples like Leerdam
mer and Galbani Burrata gives
consumers quick and easy
solutions for barbecue hosting.
Providing personal service,
community-focused cam
paigns, and thoughtful cross-
merchandising helps independ
ents build loyalty in ways larger
retailers can’t.”
Cheese is a key part of
seasonal meal planning and a
valuable category for conveni
ence retailers, explains Le
Norcy-Trott. It offers a strong
opportunity to drive incremen
tal sales by appealing to
shoppers who are looking for
great taste, nutritional value,
and ease: “Convenience
specialises in.
“Seasonal spikes in cheese
sales, especially premium
products like burrata, highlight
shifting consumer habits,” says
Le Norcy-Trott. “Galbani
Burrata saw a 12.8 per cent
year-on-year value growth and
now makes up 34 per cent of the
total burrata market. Consum
ers are increasingly looking for
restaurant-quality experiences
at home and gravitate towards
fresh, flavourful, and authentic
ingredients to elevate their
BBQ Facts and figures
Don’t underestimate the
sales opportunity that
summer sales for outdoor
revelry offers the indie
retailer – as these
astonishing statistics demonstrate
There were 64 million BBQs in the UK in 2023
90% of UK households own a BBQ
58% of UK consumers use their BBQs all year round, according
to a Weber survey.
The average BBQ in 2020, using beef and feeding 3 people,
produced 3,304,260 tonnes of CO2
42% of Brits host or attend 2-3 BBQs a year, with Gen Z
attending an average of 6-10, according to a study by Tropical
Sun Foods
Burgers are the top BBQ item; sausages and chicken are also
very popular
While once male-dominated, BBQs are now more equal, with
women accounting for 48.5% of grilling occasions, according
to nationalbbqweek.co.uk
36% of UK grill owners create their own rubs and marinades,
according to a Weber survey
LIMITED
EDITION
WIIINGS
FOR YOUR SUMMER.
FEATURE
BBQ AND SUMMER PRODUCTS
38 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
shoppers want quality and
simplicity.”
So think Camembert, think
Burrata, think Brie, and add
Leerdammer, Galbani and
President to your featured
brands for BBQ season.
Snacks sur l’herbe (“on
the grass”)
And don’t neglect the snack
bowls, which complement not
just the main meats but
the sides and cheese
board so well when
enjoying the
great (lawn)
outdoors. It’s
the influence –
again – of the
world foods taste
palate and the
adventurous,
premiumising
search for new and
exciting flavours that has
inspired the snack world to new
heights.
As Tash Jones, Commercial
Director at crisp specialists
Fairfields Farm, points out,
“With greater access to global
food influences, consum
ers are increasingly
seeking bold, adventurous
flavours like never before.
Social media platforms
like TikTok and YouTube
have played a significant
role in showcasing
exciting new flavours,
driving consumer interest.
The market for BBQ
sauces and rubs has
expanded as demand
grows for these unique
tastes. During the
summer, we see a spike in
these bold flavours in our
crisps as well, with our Roast
Rib of Beef flavour and Sweet
Chilli crisps performing particu
larly well, alongside our classics
like Lightly Sea Salted.”
Jones advises that stocking
exclusive local produce and
artisanal products can put you
in the lead of multiples when it
comes to BBQ and summer
ranges, offering customers a
unique experience that they
can’t find elsewhere.
“Whether it’s picking
up one of our
Fairfields Farm
150g sharing
packs to take to a
friend’s BBQ or
grabbing some
tasty options for a
family picnic,
convenience is
key,” she adds,
saying “our newest
limited edition Chorizo &
Red Wine flavour crisps are just
in time for summer, available in
150g sharing packs. Be sure to
pick one up for your BBQs and
gatherings this summer. We’ll
also be unveiling a new festive
flavour later on this year so keep
an eye out!”
Stuart Graham, Head of
Convenience and Impulse at KP
Snacks, is similarly enthusiastic
about BBQ snack opportunities,
and recommends that retailers
capitalise on seasonal sharing.
“BBQs and summer events,
like gathering to watch Wimble
don, the Women’s Euros or the
Club World Cup all represent
excellent opportunities for
retailers to drive sales and
footfall,” he says. “As
friends and family
get-together for summer
and sporting fun, they will
seek out their favourite
snacks to maximise
enjoyment.”
KP Snacks has, of
course an enormous range
to choose from, and
Graham’s top BBQ picks
include its exempt-from-
HFSS-legislation nuts
selection. Worth £102m
RSV and growing +2.9 per
cent [Nielsen IQ, Total
Coverage], the KP Nuts
portfolio offers flavours in
a range of sharing formats and
leads the category as the UK’s
number one branded nut.
“Bringing big, bold flavours
to evening sharing, the largest
occasion within both nuts and
sharing [Kantar], KP’s Flavour
Kravers range launched in
2022,” says Graham. “Available
in three delicious flavours:
Flame Grilled Steak, Smokin’
Paprika, and Sour Cream &
Chive, Flavour Kravers look to
ignite interest from younger
consumers to drive sales, with
this demographic over-indexing
in bold flavours.
For shoppers looking for
sweeter snacking moments, he
suggests Butterkist toffee
popcorn is the perfect product
to add fun and indulgence to any
summer occasion – and that
includes the premium lines,
which retailers should fore
ground in any BBQ merchandis
ing.
“We know there is a high
demand for premium lines as
consumers look to make
in-home occasions feel more
special with 46 per cent of
Kings of the grill
According to
pollsters YouGov, the
most popular BBQ
food items break
down this way, with
a strong preference
for meats and tasty accompaniments:
Britain’s BBQ god-tier – the items that every BBQ must have
to ensure happy guests, liked by more than 80% of Brits who
have tried them: chicken skewers and breast, pork sausages,
beef burgers (57%), garlic bread, baked potatoes and bread
rolls.
BBQ classics – a little lower, but still top-tier and enjoyed by
more than 70% of Brits: steak (74%), coleslaw, potato salad
and corn on the cob (71-72%).
Mid-tier – chicken thighs (69%), halloumi (63%), crudités
(67%), ribs (66%) and pasta salad (66%), lamb skewers (67%)
and lamb chops (63%).
Lower-tier, (but still enjoyed by over 50% of BBQ-ers) – dips
(hummus, guacamole and tzatziki), baked sweet potato,
prawn skewers and chicken wings
Vegetarian alternatives – veggie burgers (44%), vegetarian
sausages (40%) and aubergine steaks (31%)
FEATURE
BBQ AND SUMMER PRODUCTS
40 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
shoppers more inclined to trade
up to premium food and drink
options when dining at home,”
he reveals. “Tyrrells 150g
Sharing bags are key products to
capitalise on, offering classic
and tasty flavours. Full of
personality, the Tyrrells brand
has taste and quality at the heart
of its offering and delivers the
perfect accompaniment to a
glass of wine or cider.
And don’t forget chocolate,
which might seem odd in
summer temperatures, but
which actually sets very well as
a treat in a BBQ context when
chilled and fresh from the ice
locker, indoors or out.
As Susan Nash, Trade
Communications Manager at
Mondelēz International,
explains, “Cadbury is turning up
the cool this summer with the
launch of four limited-edition
Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer
Edition bars and brand-new
Cadbury Dairy Milk Iced Latte
flavour.”
Here’s the key detail: the
packaging innovation features
four summer-themed designs,
all reflective of a traditional
British summer: deck chairs,
umbrellas, kites and inflatables.
Using thermochromic technol
ogy, the wrapper visually
transforms to reveal a deep blue
colouring when each bar is
chilled.
Retailers can purchase a
mixed case containing all four
designs, and consumers are
encouraged to look for the
different pack designs, which
are all available across 110g
packs. Each pack has an image
encouraging consumers to Chill
to Reveal the unique design.
“The Chill To Reveal launch
is set reignite the popular
debate around where to store
chocolate as we head into
summer and firmly positions
chocolate as a snacking option
throughout the summer
were
worth £1.7bn and £380m,
respectively [Nielsen IQ]. In the
impulse channel, specifically,
beer sales reached £406m and
cider impulse sales reached
£112m.”
He notes that the summer
months see strong growth of
berry and exotic flavoured
ciders, with berry flavoured
cider SKUs accounting for 24.3
per cent of overall cider sales –
including mainstream and
premium options.
“Retailers can make the most
of this growth by stocking
shopper favourites such as
Strongbow. Bestsellers in the
range include Strongbow
Original and Strongbow Dark
How can retailers make the most of
summer wine sales?
Some outdoorsy tips for BBQ
tipples from Tom Smith,
Marketing & Category
Director at Vinarchy (recently
formed through the merger of Accolade Wines
and Pernod Ricard Winemakers)
Offer a broad range across all colours and formats from key
brands
Stock key origins; Australian wine remains an origin pillar for
accessible price points in convenience. France and South
Africa represent the fastest growing countries of origin
Make sure white wines are chilled for immediate consumption
Highlight appropriate gifting options and cater for seasonal
changes
SEL educational insight helps shoppers make better informed
purchases
Get yourself into a pickle!
Lesley Parker, Senior Brand
Manager for Kühne gherkins at
UK distributor RH Amar, explains
the growing popularity of the
crunchy, tasty accompaniments at the BBQ
table
Kühne Sweet & Sour Gherkins (330g): Contributing to
category growth with a +58.5% increase in value.
Kühne Burger Crinkle Cut Gherkins (330g): Popular among
BBQ enthusiasts and burger lovers, with sales up +38.5%.
Kühne’s premium 330g gherkins range has grown +20.1%% in
value, signalling the sales opportunity for the brand’s core
range within wholesale and retail.
Gourmet Selection sales are booming, with Honey cornichons
seeing a +144% uplift in sales and the brand’s Herb cornichons
posting a +135% rise.
Kühne products also over-index among higher-spending,
affluent consumers, who are willing to pay for better quality.
months,.” Says Susan.
Washing it all down
Obviously – obviously – there
might be a little bit of action
with the beer, wine and
cocktails at any self-respecting
BBQ, and although we cover
summer sipping quite exten
sively in the Carnivals and
Festivals feature in this issue, it
is worth looking here at a few
choice BBQ picks and current
trends.
Ciders for summer and
chilled, refreshing lagers are
obviously a big way to go for
BBQ stocking, as is white and
especially rosé wine, which is
doing phenomenally well as a
summer tipple.
“Beer and cider sales
both jump during the
summer months, as
people prepare to
organise days out or
celebrations at home
with their friends and
family,” says Alexander
Wilson, Category &
Commercial Strategy
Director at HEINEKEN
UK. “Looking at sales
throughout June, July
and August last year,
beer and cider sales
Crispy Strips
are growing at
+23% YoY
Pork Puffs
are growing at
+25% YoY
Sources: 1. Circana Market Advantage | Circana All Outlets GB | Pork Snacks | Value Share | Actual
| 52 w/e | 17-Aug-24. 2. Circana Market Advantage | Circana All Outlets GB | Crispy Strips | Value
Sales | % Change vs YA | 52 w/e | 17-Aug-24. 3. Circana Market Advantage | Circana All Outlets
GB | Pork Crunch/Puffs | Value & Unit Sales | Actual and % Change vs YA | 52 w/e | 17-Aug-24.
Mr. Porky
is the
No.1 brand
No.1
PORK
SKU 1
No.3
PORK
SKU 1
NEW
AVAILABLE IN A
CLIP-STRIP FORMAT
FEATURE
BBQ AND SUMMER PRODUCTS
42 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
Fruit, as well as the latest
flavour variant – Strong
bow Strawberry.”
Strongbow Strawberry
initially launched in the
off-trade in August 2024
and quickly became one of
the bestselling SKUs in the
brand’s line-up, and
attracting new, younger
shoppers to the category
[Dunnhumby Source of
Sale], so seriously consider
that as a lad in the summer
fruits flavour category.
“We would advise
retailers to encourage the
exploration of new
flavours by creating
dedicated summer store
environments or sampling
stations,” says Wilson – high
lighting the advantages ion
merchandising specifically for
the BBQ occasion.
He also adds that low-and-no
alcohol options sales grew by
20.4 per cent last summer, and
as the trend for moderation
continues to grow, “retailers can
make the most of this opportu
nity and maximise sales
through the summer by
stocking popular low and no
alcohol options such as Old
Mout Alcohol Free Fruit
Cider, which is available
in Pineapple & Raspberry
and Berries & Cherries
flavours, and lower-ABV
alternatives to premium
favourites such as Birra
Moretti Zero and
Heineken 0.0.”
Meanwhile, the Big
Question arises: after very many
decades, will the margarita be
knocked off its perch as the
summer cocktail par excel
lence?
Is it Paloma or Margarita?
This is in the context of
Pernod Ricard six-figure
summer tequila campaign –
worth locking into for an extra
BBQ sales buzz, perhaps.
Its Altos brand is continuing
to lead a tequila “revolution”
and shift perceptions of the
category with its bartender-
built brand that prioritises
authenticity, education and
craft over celebrity hype.
Following the success of the
first iteration, Altos is re-
launching its global “Alan” (the
ordinary bartender) campaign
into the UK this June and July,
to continue driving brand
awareness and association with
key tequila serves: the Marga
rita and Paloma. As part of the
campaign, Altos will be trialling
out-of-home in London, the
UK’s number one city for tequila
consumption, to drive even
further awareness through its
fun and playful creative.
The campaign will be live
across social, digital, BVOD and
out-of-home and launches at a
time Altos is seeing strong value
growth, growing ahead of the
category at +34.4 per cent, and
is riding high as the number one
100 per cent agave tequila in UK
grocery. This heightened profile,
of course, should benefit other
tequila brands as well, and
cocktail consciousness in
general.
The brand has been champi
oning making bar-quality
Margaritas at home through its
recently expanded ready-to-
serve range that now includes
both Altos Lime Margarita and
Altos Strawberry Margarita.
“We’ve identified Agave as
one of the areas within our
portfolio where we can drive
future scale and we’re putting
our money where our mouth is
this summer by launching our
most exciting media
campaign for Altos to
date, with bold and
witty creative along
side messaging that
cuts through and will
be hard to miss,” said
Josh McCarthy, Brand
Director for Pernod
Ricard UK.
“Following our first outing
with Alan and this campaign
last year, we’ve taken on board
everything that was a huge
success and scaled up with the
added element of out of home.
We have been laser focused on
our hero cocktail the Margarita
and it’s been working really well
for us, so we’re ready to build
the hype as much as possible
through the summer months
and strengthen our position as
the UK’s number one tequila for
Margaritas, one of the UK’s Top
10 cocktails.”
Make a splash with the right refreshments
for your grill-day gathering
Take inspiration for your
alcohol-stocking
options as we reveal the
most popular BBQ pours
Cocktails:
Paloma: Tequila, grapefruit soda,
lime
Margarita: Tequila, lime juice,
orange liqueur
Pimm’s: A fruity punch with Pimm’s liqueur, lemonade, and
various fruits and herbs
Strawberry Mojito: Rum, lime, mint, sugar, and strawberry
Kentucky Mule: Bourbon, ginger beer, lime
Classic Beverages:
Iced Tea: A refreshing non-alcoholic option
Lemonade: A classic summer drink
Beer: A widely popular choice, especially during BBQ
gatherings
Wine:
Red Wine: Fruity and bold red wines like Shiraz or Malbec pair
well with steak
Rosé Wine: Chilled rosé is a refreshing and versatile option
SOCIAL MEDIA
44 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
“We’ve always been an island of
strangers. Our national characteristic is
to be suspicious of anyone we don’t know. We
hung a monkey thinking it was a Frenchman.
I have absolutely no desire to get to know
everyone, or worse them know me.”
Burnside (@BurnsideWasTosh)
“Took a while. But everyone’s getting it
now. The nuclear renaissance is real.
Watch uranium.”
Merryn Somerset Webb (@MerrynSW)
“Spare a thought for hard-working
junior lawyers, who are having to cope
with their starting pay being frozen
at...£150,000.”
Harry Wallop (@hwallop)
“British welfare system encourages
idleness and bogus claims. A major
reason why taxes, govt debt and public
spending are so high, and productivity so low.
The left encourages people to become
dependent on the state. But this only leads to
misery.”
Luke Johnson (@LukeJohnsonRCP)
“It’s telling that the cities people love
the most tend to have been developed
before “Urban Planning” became formal
profession.”
Devon (@devonzuegel)
“A man on the train got really angry
because I was in his seat. I just wanted to
see what it was like to drive the train.”
Martin Pilgrim (@MartinPilgrim1)
“Strawberry jam pairs well with beef
burger. Marmalade with cheeseburger.”
Anon Opin. (@anon_opin)
“In Japan, the three major cell phone
networks have collaborated to create
an emergency use free WiFi open to
anyone to use even without a contract. If
an emergency happens and local or
national networks shut down or become
too congested to use, this WiFi will
automatically turn on for anyone”
Wrath Of Gnon (@wrathofgnon)
“The weirdest thing about much of
British infrastructure is that it is
“privatised” in the weirdest possible way
where the private company doesn’t actually
do anything, they just collect the profits.”
Tom Hatfield (@WordMercenary)
“Papers today. Do not slash cash ISA
allowance say banks that make money
from offering cash Isas at crap interest rates.
Do slash it say fund managers who make
money from asset gathering for equity
investments. File it all under well they would,
wouldn’t they. Incentives matter ...”
Merryn Somerset Web (@MerrynSW)
“I’ve telephoned the DVLA 11 times
today. My problem cannot be solved
online. They have been too busy each time to
answer. Are they all not working from home
in the sun? It’s quite irritating.”
Merryn Somerset Web (@MerrynSW)
“On their way through the Americas,
Asians lost a large part of their genetic
diversity: “Early Asians walked 20,000km
from North Asia to South America, reshaped
genetic landscape.”
Wrath Of Gnon (@wrathofgnon)
“Shoutout to the people on public
transport who unselfishly choose not to
use headphones so we can all enjoy the
music.”
VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish)
“The figures are hard to believe. A
quarter of Birmingham, UK’s second
city, now on out-of-work benefits? That’s
where unemployment peaked in 1933: and
we called that a Great Depression. And
Manchester: booming, employers desperate
for staff. Yet one in five on the dole.”
Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson)
Nerdy point ... Council tax is not
included in the headline CPI measure of
UK inflation, but it is in CPIH, which is one
reason why the latter was even higher in April
(4.1% vs 3.5%). FWIW, the ONS argues that
CPIH is the better measure...”
Julian Jessop (@julianHjessop)
“Booked a non-refundable train ticket,
sadly had to cancel the trip. Accepted I
would lose the train fare. As luck would have it
the train I was due to travel on got cancelled.
So applied for a refund even though I’d no
intention of travelling. It’s the small wins.”
Fesshole (@fesshole)
“Giving a puppy an ice cube is one of the
best ways ever to spend 15 mins.”
Tom Goodwin (@tomfgoodwin)
“An asteroid the size of 12 and a half fully
grown gorillas is set to pass the Earth on
Wednesday, May 21, in a very close flyby.”
The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post)
“In the Cotswolds today? Why not come
to the Farmer’s Dog. Grab a pint and a
burger and enjoy the view. Bring the family and
the dog. Or don’t. We don’t mind either way.”
Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson)
“Some of our country’s brightest minds
have been arguing about whether
Walkers’ Sensations Poppadoms are enough
like potato crisps to be subject to Value Added
Tax. That the design of our tax system makes
this an argument worth having is outrageous.”
Helen Miller (@HelenMiller_IFS)
“‘What’s that you’ve got there, mate?’
‘It’s a goldette and titanius statuette of
Luke Starman from off of Space Wars. I paid
five hundred quid for it because they’ve only
made—’ ‘We’re gonna need a bigger landfill.’
‘WWRRRRRRAAAAGGGGH IT’S NOT
LANDFILL HOW DARE YOU!’ ‘Ho ho!’”
Napoleon (@moanaparte)
“‘If you say so.’ Translation: You’re
wrong.”
VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish)
“‘Bumping’ the tube barriers is peak
anarcho-tyranny. Those with the least
regard for the law are allowed to break it,
while those who respect the law shoulder the
increasing costs of ever-worsening transport
services. Fare evasion should be policed with
heavy fines.”
Connor Tomlinson (@Con_Tomlinson)
Asian Trader has rounded up some comments from
our Twitter feed to give a vivid picture of retailers
and friends under inflationary conditions …
X: The World According
to “Not” Twitter
@NoContextBrits
MUST STOCK
MUST STOCK
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 45
Barr promo with Jurassic World
movie
AG BARR IS
LAUNCHING AN
EXCITING
on-pack offer for
its Barr Flavours
range of soft
drinks, in
partnership with
Universal Pictures
and Amblin
Entertainment’s
Jurassic World Rebirth,
giving shoppers a chance to win a holiday adventure in Lisbon with sea
kayaking, a high-ropes adventure park and dinosaur caves tour.
“Our last on-pack partnership saw a double-digit uplift in sales,
bringing new shoppers into the category and brand, so we know just
how profitable this opportunity could be for retailers,” said Annette
Yates, Brand Director, Barr Brand.
NO. OF JURASSIC PARK MOVIES MADE: 7 (8 including Battle at Big
Rock)
SHOPPERS SEEKING ON-PACK PROMOS: 33%
Riot Labs’ Connex gets new 0mg
flavours
E-LIQUID PRODUCER RIOT LABS
HAS LAUNCHED a four-strong
range of 0mg flavours for its
Connex device.
The launch comes at a crucial
moment for the vape sector, with
the recent disposables ban pushing
vapers towards alternative options.
Ben Johnson, chief executive
and founder of Riot Labs, said the
launch of 0mg for the device will
give adults an easy-to-use
alternative to disposables to quit
smoking. The Connex 0mg pods £2.99 per flavour capsule and can
be safely disposed of at local vape stores or recycling centres.
FEATURES: closed pod magnetic system and the ability to be recharged 500 times. Whilst
the 4-strong range of 0mg flavours aims to provide a seamless transition off nicotine.”
FLAVOURS: Blueberry Sour Raspberry, Pineapple Ice, Strawberry Blueberry Ice, Cherry
Cola.
Cadbury limited-edition Twirl White Dipped
CADBURY IS LIMITED-EDITION TWIRL WHITE DIPPED, Covered in a layer of creamy
white chocolate, available now.
Following the success of Twirl Orange, Twirl Caramel and Twirl Mint, White Dipped is
also likely to be very popular with consumers, drawing footfall to stores as shoppers
seek the hotly anticipated new product. More information to help drive sales can be
found at www.SnackDisplay.co.uk, Mondelēz International’s trade facing website.
“We’re delighted to be building on the love of Cadbury Twirl with this new
offering,” said Katya Savelieva, Brand Manager.
SUPPORTED BY: PR, social and in-store activations
STATS-4-U: RRP: £0.99, 43g, case size: 48
Republic Tech enters vaping market
REPUBLIC TECHNOLOGIES (UK) LTD, A leading player
in the smoking accessories
market, has announced its entry
into the UK vaping market with
its new “Smarter” product
range.
The range incorporates
new technology featuring with
a no-mesh coil pod system,
which Republic Technologies
says provides ideal solution for
retailers ahead of the forthcoming
disposable vapes ban.
Republic Technologies noted that both products conform to
changes in the UK legislation covering disposable vapes, with the
Smarter Mini incorporating a replaceable, longer-lasting ceramic
coil which sits outside the pod.
AVAILABLE AS: Smarter Mini (RRP £9.99, 120g) - up to 800 puffs
per pod,
ALSO AS: Smarter 6K (RRP £12.99, 103g) up to 6,000 puffs with 2ml
+ 10ml rechargeable tank
Quorn Puppets
return to screen in
‘Mission Snack Swap’
Quorn is kicking off a
summer snacking
extravaganza backed by
a multi-million-pound
investment. Quorn’s
“Mission Snack Swap”
campaign – coinciding
with the latest Mission
Impossible movie – was
activated across TV from
24 May, combining VOD,
online video, social
media, influencers, PR
and in-store across the
whole of the UK.
Lucy Grogut, Head of
Brands at Quorn Foods,
said: “We’ve had so much
fun with our puppets
over the last few years,
and they have become
stars of the small screen.”
Featuring Quorn’s
eye-catching puppet
pals, Perry Pig, Clarence
Cow and Chickson
Chicken, the advert sees
the gang on a “mission”,
sneakily swapping out
meat-based scotch eggs
and cocktail sausages
with tasty, high protein
and low saturated fat
Quorn Cocktail
Sausages and Picnic
Eggs, showing there
really is no need for the
alternative.
Washington Vapes Wholesale
Unveils New IVG SMART MAX
THE IVG SMART MAX KIT IS A MUST-STOCK
FOR retailers adapting to the UK’s new vape
regulations. Fully compliant and built
for convenience, the IVG Smart Max
USB-C is fast charging, and has mesh
coil technology for superior
flavour. Washington Vapes
Wholesale is proud to
be the exclusive UK
wholesaler to
release this
game-changing kit
– delivering
top-selling flavours
of watermelon and
strawberry, and
unbeatable
reliability for modern
retail demands.
OFFERS: up to
10,000 puffs, 20mg
nic salt
Contains: a powerful 1000mAh rechargeable battery
Why
Why
Mohammed
Razzaq (Zak)
SPAR Retailer
for over 7 years
Why SPAR Scotland? Truth is, SPAR has become a
major part of our lives. It's more than just running
a shop. It's a way of life. From the tradeshow to the
conferences, we have made friends for life.
www.sparscotland.co.uk
To find out more, call 01382 512000
or email [email protected]
Why settle for less?
Discover how SPAR Scotland can help
your business thrive.
MUST STOCK
46 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
STOCK UP WITH
FUMI.
This product
contains nicotine
which is a highly
addictive substance.
Contact your
Local Vape Local
Representative
Available only at:
vapelocal.co.uk
MUST STOCK
46 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
LU unveils 2025
pack design
BISCUIT BRAND LU, RENOWNED FOR ITS
rich French heritage and delicious quality,
has a new design and visual identity that
aims to redefine indulgence in the biscuit
category, establishing LU as a premium
brand platform.
Since its launch in 2021, LU’s heritage has resonated well in the UK. The range is presented using
distinctive, bold bright colours to differentiate each biscuit in the range and ensure strong standout on
shelf.
Each pack also carries real product photography and the LU angel, “Pheme” – the brand’s premium
quality mark.
LU GROWTH: fastest in Special Treat Biscuits segment, +28.7% value
RANGE PRICES: all RRP £2.25 except Le Petit Chocolat 100g PMP (£1.89)
Hay fever means Fisherman’s Friend
HAY FEVER SEASON IS HERE, AND levels of suffering
are shaping up to be more severe than ever, millions of
shoppers are already reaching for products to help
relieve their symptoms. We’ve also hit grass pollen
season – which runs from mid-May to July – when most
people suffer.
Demand for remedies – and Fisherman’s Friend
– continues to grow. Sales of the hay fever and allergy
relief category soared in value by 23% last summer
versus 2023, with units up 13%. Fisherman’s Friend
sales are up 22%, and units up 12%.
AVAILABLE IN: nine strong, minty and fruity flavours
RRP: 99p per 25g pack
Maltesers White chocolate returns
MARS WRIGLEY HAS ANNOUNCED the long-awaited return this
month of its Maltesers White Chocolate, after more than a decade.
The company said the relaunch comes in direct response to
significant consumer demand and not only caters to the rising
popularity of white chocolate (the sub-category saw a 12% uplift in
2024) but also taps into shoppers’ desire for nostalgic products.
“Consumers absolutely love Maltesers white chocolate and
have been clamouring for us to bring it back,” Clare Moulder,
Maltesers senior brand manager at Mars Wrigley, commented.
PARTICULARLY APPEALS TO: under-35 demographic
COMES IN: Single (30g), Treat PMP (54g), Core Pouch (74g) via
wholesale
MUST STOCK
MUST STOCK
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 47
With strong margins to boost your business, nine bold
fl avours and a range of nicotine strengths that caters
to every preference, Swedish-made FUMI is the perf ect
addition to your Nicotine Pouch category.
NEW ELEVATED
FLAVOURS
MUST STOCK
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 47
BrewDog c-channel exclusives
TAPPING INTO THE EVOLVING FRUIT BEER TREND, BrewDog
has collaborated with Co-op and Booker to introduce two new
fruity beers, exclusively to the convenience channel.
Fruit Burst IPA (4.4%ABV) is a session-able modern pale ale
bursting with tropical, passionfruit and berry. Crafted with bold
hops for a perfectly balanced and accessible brew, Fruit Burst is
available now exclusively to the Co-op Group.
Additionally, exclusively to Booker, Orange Crush (4.3%
ABV) is a freshly peeled IPA, with tangy citrus aromas tangoing
alongside zesty orange peel and sherbet.
4 X 330ML CAN: Fruit Burst (RSP: £6, £5.50 promo) Orange
Crush (RSP: £7.49, £5.99 promo)
SHOPPER DATA SHOWS: fruit beers over-index in summer
Swizzels HFSS-compliant Squashies
SWEET MAKER SWIZZELS HAS LAUNCHED two brand new
products – Squashies Tropical and Squashies Sour Shooting Stars.
Landing on shelves in time for summer, the new additions to the
Squashies line-up – the number-one sugar hanging bag in the UK
– reflect the rising popularity of sour and tropical flavours.
In response to the increasing consumer demand for healthier,
lower-sugar products, both the Sour Shooting Stars and Squashies
Tropical are HFSS-compliant, (Tropical also available in PMP) for
shoppers seeking a treat that is lower in sugar but doesn’t compro
mise on taste.
FEATURES: Tropical fun parrot, pineapple, watermelon; Sour pink
lemonade, starfruit, peach
MERCHANDISED AS: hanging bags with an RRP of £1.15
Bebeto expands freeze-dried candy
FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF ITS FREEZE-DRIED SWEETS – nearly
£4 million in RSV in six months – confectioners Bebeto announced two
new flavours in its Freeze Crunchy range: Bubble Gum Bottles and
Blue Raspberry Rings.
Each resealable pouch preserves the Halal-certified sweets’ signa
ture crunch by locking out moisture.
The freeze-drying process – commonly used in space exploration
and emergency rations – freezes the sweets before using a vacuum to
extract moisture. The result is a bold flavour experience and an
ultra-crunchy texture that consumers have dubbed a total game-
changer.
IN: shelf-ready packaging (SRP), 12 x 35g pouches, RRP £2.00
OUT: now from wholesalers including Parfetts, Dhamecha, and many more
MUST STOCK
48 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
Bacardi brings back Breezer
IN RESPONSE TO THE STRONG DEMAND FROM
a new generation of consumers for RTDs with a
fruit-forward taste, Bacardi is bringing Breezer
back to the UK.
Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages (FABs)
account for nearly half of the growing RTD
category and a name as recognised as Breezer
for quality and taste will help drive the category’s
growth even further. Breezer has an ABV of 3.4%
and will be available in 27.5cl glass bottles from
June in brand new Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime and
Crisp Watermelon flavours.
FLAVOURED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (FABS)
UK VALUE: over £300m in the UK
FIRST LAUNCHED IN UK: 1990, quickly becoming a nationwide
phenomenon
Nordic Spirit meets
demand for flavours
JTI UK HAS EXPANDED ITS SUCCESSFUL
Nordic Spirit range with the introduction of
three on-trend flavour variants designed to
elevate the consumer experience and cater to the
growing demand for berry and tropical flavours. The
flavours feature a quicker and stronger flavour release,
alongside increased moisture content. The packaging and pouch size
has also been changed to be more convenient for the user.
With the pouch market continuing to grow, Nordic Spirit’s latest
offering combines stronger and more instant flavours to provide
consumers with a superior pouch experience.
NEW FLAVOURS: “Raspberry”, “Tropical Mix”, “Forrest Berries”
NORDIC SPIRIT MONTHLY SALES: £4.5m
New Ploom Aura set for rollout
JTI HAS LAUNCHED PLOOM AURA, its next generation
heated tobacco device in the Reduced-Risk Products
(RRP) category, in Japan.
In parallel, JTI will roll out EVO, its exclusive and
premium heated tobacco sticks (HTS), to complement
Ploom Aura. A nationwide launch of Ploom Aura and EVO
will start on July 1 in convenience stores and tobacco retail
shops. Ploom Aura will then roll out globally in the near
future. The new Heat Select System offers four modes for
users to customise their experience in line with their
preferences.
JTI INVESTMENT IN RRP: £3.34bn 2025-2027
EVO STICKS MADE FROM: high-quality blended tobacco
leaves
Lando Norris Monster Zero lands
FORMULA 1 FRONT
RUNNER LANDO
NORRIS HAS teamed up
with Monster Energy and
Coca-Cola Europacific
Partners (CCEP) to
launch an all new zero
sugar energy drink –
Monster Lando Norris
Zero Sugar.
The new liquid combines the powerful Monster Energy blend
with a unique, refreshing Melon Yuzu flavour, which, according
to CCEP, is unlike anything else in the energy drink market. It
follows Monster’s tradition of successful hero-can launches. Its
Lewis Hamilton Zero Sugar delivered more than £21.7m in value
sales in its first year in the market.
ZERO SUGAR ULTRA GROWTH: 18% sales YOY to +£210m value
AVAILABLE: now, in plain and PMP 500ml cans, plain 4x500ml
multipacks
Coca-Cola returns
as Premier League
soda partner
The Coca-Cola Company
has announced a new
three-year partnership
with the Premier League,
signalling the brand’s
return to the world’s
most-watched football
league.
The soft drinks giant
said the partnership will
bring supporters closer
to the action through
exclusive fan activations,
centre circle experiences,
access to tickets, as well
as becoming a partner of
the upcoming Premier
League Summer Series.
Coca-Cola will
activate the sponsorship
across multiple brands
within its portfolio,
including Coca-Cola
Original Taste, Coca-Cola
Zero Sugar, Powerade
and Smartwater.
The partnership will
launch for the 2025/26
season with an exclusive
on-pack promotion in
stores across the UK and
Ireland. More details will
be announced in due
course.
The deal marks a
return to the Premier
League for Coca-Cola
after the company
initially partnered with
the competition from
Season 2018/19 onward.
BrewDog hits refresh on packaging
BREWDOG HAS UNVEILED A
SERIES OF updates to the
packaging designs for its
core range of beers. Punk IPA,
Hazy Jane, Lost Lager and
Elvis Juice have all been
refreshed with a new design
that evolves the branding. The new
designs will appear across all
packaged formats of the beers including bottles, cans and outer packs.
BrewDog last changed its packaging in 2020, and many of the key
components from those designs remain, such as the colour palette and
banding across the cans, and the BrewDog brandmark remains unchanged.
FIRST BEER IN NEW PACK: Hazy Jane
BREWDOG BESTSELLER: Punk IPA
Pilgrims Choice gets new packaging
PILGRIMS CHOICE, THE UK’S
NO.2 CHEDDAR BRAND, is
introducing vibrant new pack
designs and complementary
packaging formats. The striking
new look, phased in across the
entire Pilgrims Choice range, will deliver massive standout on shelf, elevating the brand,
the consumer experience and the overall cheese fixture.
The new Pilgrims Choice on-pack branding retains its signature black background
and logo while creating real drama and standout shelf appeal, complemented by a new
block format, featuring a more impactful and user-friendly 90 x 140mm cut face.
SUPPORTED: from September by 360 degrees above- and below-the-line campaign
42-MICRON FILM DELIVERS: 15% reduction in plastic compared to previous packaging
Why
Why
We’ve been working closely with SPAR Scotland across our five sites for several years; with recent
investments in Kessock and Watermill, and the full rebuild of our Banff site. The support, brand
strength, and reliable service SPAR provides has been a big part of our growth and we’re committed
to developing the business for the future.
To find out more, call 01382 512000 or email [email protected]
www.sparscotland.co.uk
Discover how SPAR Scotland can help your business thrive.
MUST STOCK
MUST STOCK
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 49
Robinsons Orange & Mango RTD
SQUASH BRAND ROBINSONS IS UNVEILING THE latest flavour
in its Ready-to-Drink range with Orange & Mango in a 500ml
format, with no added sugar.
Joining the existing Raspberry & Apple and Blackberry &
Blueberry variants, Orange & Mango will expand the Robinsons
Ready-to-Drink range with another popular flavour choice for
shoppers. The launch will be supported by the product’s
biggest ever above-the-line campaign, with over £1m invested
in advertising across the Robinsons Ready-to-Drink portfolio,
and product sampling that looks to make the campaign
unmissable this summer.
ORANGE FLAVOUR ACCOUNTS FOR: 37% of Robinsons’ sales
500ML MRSP: £1.79 plain packs, £1.15 PMP
Werther’s Original design refresh
TRADITIONAL SUGAR CONFECTIONERY
BRAND Werther’s Original is unveiling a new look
– an elegant redesign across its portfolio and the
most significant update in its history.
Werther’s Original is the world’s largest
caramel brand and currently worth £36 million in
the UK. With 96% brand awareness, the refresh
builds on this strength and will make it easier for
consumers to explore the growing range,
including Creamy Filling, Salted Caramel Cream,
Chocolate covered caramels and a range of
sugar-free options along with its much-loved Butter Candies and Creamy Toffees.
WERTHER’S ESTABLISHED IN: 1903
NEW PACKAGING ROLLING OUT: June 2025
Kellogg’s non-HFSS
High Protein Bites
KELLOGG’S HIGH PROTEIN BITES COME IN a
rich Choco Hazelnut flavour, high in fibre,
non-HFSS, with 21% plant-based protein, offering
a cereal for those looking to build more protein
into their day. With a growing trend for more
protein at breakfast time, more cereal products
are calling out Protein benefits on pack – up by
23% in the last year. Kellogg’s new High Protein
Bites will help to provide greater choice for those
looking to kick start their day by incorporating
more protein into their daily routines.
AVAILABLE TO CONVENIENCE FROM: July
SIZE AND PRICE: 400g, RRP £3.50
Fiona & Vince Malone from Tenby
Stores: “We’re delighted to be
able to expand our home delivery
service to include more vulnerable
members of our community.”
Sheraz Awan from Westerhope
Convenience Store: “We’re
planning to expand our community
shop and the free food offered for
those in need of our support.”
16 winning National Lottery
stores, voted for by the public
for their outstanding local
community support, each
won £5,000! Here are some
examples of how the winners
plan to spend their prize...
Meet Allwyn’s
Local Retail
Champions
Regional
Winners!
A competition from Allwyn, operator
of The National Lottery
Knorr relaunches Aromat seasoning
KNORR HAS RELAUNCHED AROMAT
all-purpose seasoning with two new
flavours, aiming to boost penetration
by appealing to younger shoppers and
unlocking new growth opportunities
for the brand.
Aromat is also getting a fresh new
look, in-store activations and a social
and digital media campaign. The new
Aromat will roll-out across grocery
retailers from this month. First
launched in 1952, Knorr Aromat has been a kitchen staple for generations, adding a
flavour boost to everything from everyday eggs and salads to special occasion
roasts and pasta dishes.
NEW FLAVOURS: Garlic Aromat and Chili Aromat
KNORR’S AROMAT GROWTH: ahead of category – 33% vs 18%
MUST STOCK
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 49
D&I in Grocery LIVE! unites the
industry to accelerate a truly
diverse and inclusive grocery industry.
2025 Panel
Announced
In this thought-provoking session, our panellists will explore the
question, ‘Is progress under threat?’, and make the compelling case
for D&I as a commercial and strategic priority. From innovation to
customer satisfaction and financial growth, discover how inclusive
leadership can position the grocery industry at the forefront of change.
We’re excited to reveal the powerful panel line-up for
D&I in Grocery LIVE! 2025, featuring senior leaders from across the industry:
Simon Roberts,
CEO at Sainsbury’s
Amit Chitnis,
CCO at
Ocado Retail
Heather Jackson,
CEO & Co-Founder
of GenM
Marisa Poster,
Co-Founder of
PerfectTed
diversityingrocery.co.uk
diversityingrocery.co.uk
BOOK NOW!
26th September 2025
InterContinental London - The O2
Headline Partners
FEATURE
CARNIVALS & FESTIVALS
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 51
ummer in the UK doesn’t
just bring sunshine – it
brings the sound of
drums, the scent of street food,
and the unmistakable buzz of
festival crowds. From city
carnivals to countryside music
fests, these vibrant gatherings
present an unmissable opportu
nity for convenience retailers to
supercharge footfall and basket
spend.
Carnivals, music festivals,
and arts events can deliver huge
boosts in sales for nearby
convenience stores. These
events draw tens or even
hundreds of thousands of
attendees, turning local
retailers into mini high-street
heroes for a weekend.
For instance, the Notting
Hill Carnival – Europe’s largest
street festival – reportedly
injects over £396 million
annually into London’s
economy, with spending
pouring into food, shopping,
and entertainment.
At Glastonbury 2023, over
140,000 attendees generated
an estimated £1.6m in spending
in the wider Somerset commu
nity with half of it in local shops
and supermarkets. Add to that
£900,000 from the crew and
another £500,000 from
volunteers, and it’s clear,
festivals don’t just bring music,
they also bring money.
The Reading Festival
reportedly brings millions to
Reading’s town-centre busi
nesses including retail outlets
and hospitality venues, clearly
reflecting how festival crowds
translate directly into higher
store revenues.
Even smaller events drive
momentum. Morecambe’s
2024 Baylight arts festival lit up
footfall for local businesses,
proving that when the lights go
up, so do the sales.
And with the UK festival
scene on track to surpass
pre-pandemic levels, it’s time
retailers tapped into the
rhythm. While not every store
sits right next to a venue, the
scale and spread of events
across the country means most
will feel the impact, whether
through passing footfall, last
minute pit-stops, or local
celebratory energy.
According to CGA, total
consumer spend at UK festivals
is nearly £200 million annually,
with attendees shelling out an
average of £32.27 per day on
alcohol and £23.71 on food. A
significant chunk of this
spending happens off-site, with
festival-goers frequently
stocking up before or between
performances.
Independent retailers in
festival zones often recount the
weekend rush with crowds
hunting for snacks, drinks, ice,
or sunscreen in frenzy. Even
major chains like Tesco get in
on the action, giving their
stores a Carnival-style makeo
ver with palm trees, upbeat
music, and themed deals.
This is a cue that independ
ent retailers can borrow and
adapt. Even small touches like
extra stock of cold drinks, street
food, and culturally relevant
items (flags, face paint) can
make a big difference.
At rural festivals, local stores
have an opportunity to become
a lifeline for campers. In 2022,
the on-site Co-op pop-up at
Glastonbury showed how even
temporary setups with
shelf-ready packaging and
pallet drops can meet high-
volume needs efficiently.
What festival-goers
buy
Festivals create a distinct
shopping pattern: high impulse,
high volume, high spirits.
Retailers should consider
positioning their range
accordingly.
Snacks fly off shelves –
crisps, popcorn, nuts, choco
late, ice cream – the works. Cold
drinks (especially bottled
water, energy drinks, and cider)
are essentials. Unsurprisingly,
drinks are the top-selling
category. On hot summer event
days, attendees often seek
bottled water, soft drinks,
energy drinks and beer/cider.
Convenience meets carnival
From chilled cans to
glitter fans, here’s how
convenience stores can
turn festival footfall into
serious sales
FEATURE
CARNIVALS & FESTIVALS
52 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
And because venue prices are
steep, many festival-goers are
likely to seek out local stores
for their alcohol needs.
Retailers should look to
build beer mountains, use
prominent water displays, and
create eye-catching promo
tions.
Many festival-goers buy
alcohol from local shops to
avoid high venue prices with
beer, cider, pre-mixed
cocktails and cheap
wine often seen in high
demand.
And stocking the
bestselling brands
always helps. Just like
HEINEKEN UK’s
bestselling formats
namely Cruzcampo
10x440ml, Birra
Moretti 12x330ml,
and Heineken
4x440ml multi
packs.
Reflecting on the
consumer trends,
Alexander Wilson,
Category and Commercial
Strategy Director at HEINEKEN
UK, says, “Single packs are ideal
for grab-and-go and summer
festival moments, and small-
sized multipacks are a popular,
accessible choice for those who
are looking to share with
friends and walking to their
local store.”
“For retailers who want to
build a strong range of world
beers which cater to those
occasions, our bestselling small
world lager packs include Birra
Moretti 4x440ml and Despera
dos 4 pack can.”
And it’s not just about what’s
sold, but how it’s stored,
implying products should be
chilled where possible.
For cider, Strongbow Dark
Fruit 10x440ml packs are the
bestselling flavoured cider
within the impulse channel,
followed by Strongbow Original
10x440mland Strongbow Dark
Fruit 4x568mlpacks.
Wilson tells Asian Trader,
“These are all year-round
favourites and bring the most
sales value though all channels.
“Retailers should
stock up well in
advance to ensure
they are fully
prepared ahead of
the summer trading
period.”
The summer
months see strong
growth of berry and
exotic flavoured
ciders, with berry-
flavoured cider SKUs
accounting for 24.3
per cent of overall
cider sales, including
mainstream and
premium options.
Therefore it is wise to
keep a good quantity of
Strongbow Original and
Strongbow Dark Fruit, as well
as the latest flavour variant
Strongbow Strawberry.
Premium world lager brands
perform incredibly well during
the summer, accounting for 25
per cent of category sales and
continuing to grow year-on-
year.
This growth shows consum
ers’ growing desire to discover
new tastes, especially when
coming together for summer
celebrations such as barbecues
or festivals.
Wilson says, “For retailers
looking to capitalise on this and
first of its kind, adopting the
same thirst-quenching flavour
as the original, with a fresh
apple aroma in the form of a
lightly sparkling cider
Inch’s Cloudy is a lightly
sparkling, naturally cloudy
cider, crafted with juicy
British apples to create a
crisp, highly refreshing
and light summer
staple. Available in
4x440ml and
10x440ml multi
packs, the off-trade
exclusive aims to
appeal to younger
cider drinkers.
Old Mout has
expanded its range of
premium ciders with the
introduction of Old Mout
Mango & Passionfruit. Available
across the grocery, wholesale
and convenience channels, the
new flavour is rolling out in
10x330ml cans and single
500ml bottle formats with an
ABV of four per cent.
venture into the premium
segment, we recommend
building on their core range of
classic lager brands with a range
of world beers, which will
facilitate trade-up and a
bigger basket spend
overall.
“Leveraging
well-known brands
that consumers
recognise and trust,
and which continue
to grow, such as Birra
Moretti and Cruzcam
po, is always a great
place to start.”
HEINEKEN UK
introduced two new vari
ants under its booming
Inch’s Cider brand. Inch’s
Cloudy (ABV four per cent) and
the first de-alcoholised cider in
the UK market, Inch’s 0.0, are
now available across the
grocery, wholesale and conveni
ence channels.
Available in 4x440ml
multipack cans, Inch’s 0.0 is a
Keep it chilled
Alexander Wilson, Category and
Commercial Strategy Director at
HEINEKEN UK, is here to guide
convenience retailers on how to have a
memorable summer
Having a fully stocked display with a good mix of core brands
and trending lines is the best way retailers can retain loyal
customers.
Effective ranging and merchandising also involving focused
in-store displays to drive incremental sales.
Single packs are ideal for grab-and-go and summer festival
moments while small-sized multipacks are a popular,
accessible choice for those who are looking to share with
friends
Retailers should stock bestselling small world lager packs
include Birra Moretti 4x440ml and Desperados 4 pack can
For cider specifically, during the summer months Strongbow
Dark Fruit 10x440ml packs are the bestselling flavoured cider
within the impulse channel, followed by Strongbow Original
10x440ml and Strongbow Dark Fruit 4x568ml packs.
The summer months see strong growth of berry and exotic
flavoured ciders, with berry flavoured cider SKUs accounting
for 24.3 per cent of overall cider sales – including mainstream
and premium options
Premium world lager brands perform incredibly well during
the summer – accounting for 25% of category sales and
continuing to grow year-on-year
NEW
LIMITED EDITION
FEATURE
CARNIVALS & FESTIVALS
54 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
It goes without saying that
beers and lager and especially
cider in the summer season are
the go-to refreshments for
all-day festivals. Wine and
cocktails are becoming more
practical as the RTD revolution
rolls on.
Stocking sponsor and related
brands also helps. Brother’s
Cider, for example, has been
associated with the
king of festivals,
Glastonbury, for
many years.
Shots also go
down extremely
well at these
high-spirited
gatherings, and
Jägermeister is taking
advantage of its
ice-cold credentials to
boost the festival
season with a series of
arctic activations.
Sales of energy
drinks, isotonic sports
drinks, bottled
smoothies, and vitamins
surge as tired festival-goers
look to rehydrate and re-ener
gize.
Apart from stocking
best-selling soft drinks like
Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and their
respective sugar-free variants
like Diet Coke and Pepsi Max
along with other popular
choices like Fanta, Sprite, Dr
Pepper and Irn-Bru, it is always
a good idea to keep the newly
launched products as well.
Consider new launches like
the new range of price-marked
packs of Radnor Splash,
Tropicana’s new Fresh & Light
range, Yazoo’s new look
Inspiration range, Mogu Mogu
zero sugar range and emerging
brands like Hive Mind.
Keep a full stock of energy
drinks as well. A good collection
of well-established brands
(along with their NPDs) like
Red Bull, Monster, Lucozade,
Boost, Rockstar, Relentless,
and newer entrants like Prime
help keep the store buzzing
with the young festival goers.
Not to forget the no and
low-alcohol ranges. Apart from
Heineken 0.0, retailers should
also give some shelf space to
Guinness 0.0, Lucky Saint,
Lyre’s Italian Spritz and
Gordon’s Alcohol Free as well.
Snacks and essentials
For retailers, festivals and
carnivals in the vicinity are
more about prepping up right so
that the stores have everything
festival goers ask for.
Local stores continue to be
their go-to destination when
looking for something to
munch on or a quick meal.
The snacking and food to
go range both need to be
well-thought of,
wholesome and should
be available in a wide
price points.
Healthier Snacking
is on the rise as
consumers remain
health-conscious and
the category adapts
to HFSS legislation.
KP Snacks’
popchips is rated as
the number one
“Better for You”
bagged snack brand
in the sharing pack
format. Coming in at under 100
calories per serving and with a
third less fat than the market
leader, popchips provides a
more permissible snack
without compromising on big
flavour.
Tyrrells 150g Sharing bags
are also a great option. Apart
from popular and bestselling
crisp brands, having a good
range of popcorn always helps.
For shoppers looking for
sweeter snacking moments,
Butterkist Crunchy Hazelnut
Chocolate flavour toffee
popcorn is the perfect product
to add fun and indulgence to
any festival.
The entire range of Fairfields
Farm is also a great option. So is
Jacob’s Mini Cheddars. Fridge
Raiders and Peperami dominate
meat snacks.
Make the snack section
exciting with a generous
sprinkle of NPDs. Windmill
Organics’ new high-protein
snack range from its Pro Fusion
brand, Bio & Me’s new Flapjack
Oat Bars, Seabrook’s Trebles
PMP range, Fridge Raiders’ new
Chicken Grills range, Pringles’
new Spicy Pickle and Blazin’
Fried Chicken and Mr. Porky’s
new protein-packed Porky Puffs
will keep your range interesting
and something to scan on.
Each morning during a
festival weekend, local stores
see crowds seeking coffee,
breakfast rolls, and recovery
aids. Hot food-to-go (if avail
able), pastries, and bacon
sandwiches tend to sell strongly
in festival areas.
Not to forget the reusable
and refillable vapes and
cigarettes. Many festival
attendees who run out of
supplies turn to the nearest
shop for refills.
The same is true with
personal hygiene products.
Multi-day festivals, especially
camping ones, create a need for
travel-size and emergency
toiletries. Top sellers include
baby wipes, tissues, hand
sanitizer, sunscreen, lip balm,
sanitary products, and dry
shampoo.
Block Your Dates
Keep the list handy
and stay updated on
what all is
happening in the UK
this summer:
St. Paul’s Carnival – Bristol – July 5, 2025
Manchester Caribbean Carnival – Manchester – August 9–10, 2025
Notting Hill Carnival – Notting Hill – August 24–25, 2025
Leeds West Indian Carnival – Leeds – August 25, 2025
Wireless Festival – London – July 11–13, 2025
Latitude Festival – Henham Park, Suffolk – July 24–27, 2025
Tramlines Festival – Sheffield – July 25–27, 2025
Brecon Choir Festival – Brecon – July 17–20, 2025
We Are Wirral – Birkenhead – July 19–20, 2025
Rebellion Festival – Blackpool – August 7–10, 2025
Edinburgh Fringe Festival – Edinburgh – August 1–25, 2025
Shambala Festival – Northamptonshire – August 21–24, 2025
Reading Festival – Reading – August 21–24, 2025
End Of The Road Festival – Dorset – August 28–31, 2025
Lindisfarne Festival – Northumberland – August 28–31, 2025
Moseley Folk & Arts Festival – Birmingham – August 29–31, 2025
Totally Thames – London – September 1–30, 2025
FEATURE
CARNIVALS & FESTIVALS
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 55
By day three, deodorant and
painkillers (for the inevitable
hangovers) tend to become hot
commodities. Convenience
stores also see upticks in
plasters/bandages, insect
repellent, and basic first aid
items as festival-goers deal
with blisters, bug bites or minor
injuries.
Overall, festival shoppers
exhibit a mix of indulgence and
practicality like
splurging on treats
and novelty items
(like quirky snacks or
souvenir items),
while also buying
practical supplies
they forgot or
suddenly need.
Pump up the
vibe
Retailers looking to ride
the summer wave
should start prepping
early. From themed
windows and playful
playlists to exclusive bundle
deals and loyalty rewards for
wristband holders everything
helps.
Analyse which products
festival attendees will seek and
build extra stock depth in those
categories. Focus on the
high-velocity items like drinks
(alcoholic and soft), snacks,
water, ice, toiletries, batteries,
etc.
It’s wise to create dedicated
displays for “Festival Essen
tials.” For example,
grouping ponchos,
sunscreen, wet wipes,
and earplugs together
makes it easy for
customers to grab
last-minute needs.
This is the time to
think out of the box.
Offer a “Festival
Survival Pack”, a little
ready-to-carry bag
containing a bottle of
water, sunscreen,
wet tissues, and
snacks.
Wilson advises
retailers to have a fully-stocked
display with a good mix of core
brands, merchandised chilled
where possible.
A mix such as HEINEKEN and
Birra Moretti, immersed with
newer, trending lines, including
Foster’s Proper Shandy and
Cruzcampo, is the best way
retailers can retain loyal
customers, alongside attracting
new shoppers to explore the
beer segment for the first time.
“Effective ranging and
merchandising also involves
focusing in-store displays to
drive incremental sales. This can
be achieved by keeping on top of
on-pack promotions and being
the first to stock limited-edition
lines, and utilising themed-PoS
when available,” Wilson says.
Festival schedules don’t
follow normal shopping hours
– attendees might be out and
about early and late. If possible
and permitted, extend the
store’s opening times during the
event.
Early morning openings
catch campers seeking breakfast
or ice at 7am, and late-night
hours cater to those returning
from shows craving snacks at
midnight. Even an extra hour or
two can significantly boost
revenue on a festival weekend.
Collaborate with event
FEATURE
CARNIVALS & FESTIVALS
56 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
organisers or ride the social
media wave using event
hashtags. And when possible,
extend opening hours to catch
the sunrise shoppers and
midnight snackers.
Embrace the event’s spirit
and the whole vibes to attract
customers. Decorating your
store or window in tune with
the festival can draw in attend
ees.
If a music festival is rock-
themed, create a rock music
playlist in-store or put up a fun
sign like “Festival Fans Wel
come – Grab Your Supplies
Here!” Themed point-of-sale
displays (e.g. a “Festival Survival
Kit” bin of assorted essentials)
both entertain and drive sales.
This ties into event ambiance:
aligning the store’s vibe with
the event puts festival-goers at
ease and encourages them to
stop by.
Consider multi-buy offers
(e.g. “Any 3 snacks for £5 for
festival-goers” or beer multi
packs deals), or targeted
discounts like 10 per cent off for
ticket-holders. Offering
exclusive discounts to wrist
band-holders (show your
wristband, get a deal) can drive
event-goers to you instead of
competitors.
Some retailers sponsor small
festival facilities like by
providing free water refill
stations or phone charging
in-store, which increases foot
traffic and goodwill.
Do not think twice about
adding some local flavour,
especially in food to go and hot
food range. Give your shoppers
something to hook on and come
back to the store again to
experience the local cuisines
and snacks.
Ride the rhythm
Most festivals not only boost
footfall but they also uplift the
overall mood of the region.
For instance, Notting Hill
Carnival (Aug 24–25, 2025) will
attract around one million
attendees to West London,
convenience stores in Notting
Hill, Ladbroke Grove and
surrounding areas should prepare
for a weekend of packed streets
and high demand for drinks,
snacks, and takeaway food.
The Reading and Leeds twin
festivals (late August) is expected
to draw more than 90,000 each
to their sites so shops in Reading
town and the Leeds/Bradford
area respectively can expect busy
trade especially as festival-goers
transit through.
Meanwhile, month-long
cultural fixtures like the
Edinburgh Fringe (August)
hugely increase the city’s
population and footfall in
convenience stores citywide
(performers and tourists nipping
in for quick meals, drinks,
umbrellas, etc.).
Retailers who meet the
moment with energy, colour,
clever ranging and festive flair
won’t just serve the crowds. They
will become part of the celebra
tion.
To add a little glitter to the
store sales, retailers should also
consider to go a little beyond
than their usual range. Sunglass
es, sun hats, cheap tents,
camping chairs, beach mats and
phone chargers or batteries are
some of the products that might
work as a great magnet for
footfall.
Retailers who lean in with
playful displays, clever bundles,
and fully stocked chillers won’t
just see a spike in sales, they will
embed themselves in the
memory of festival-goers.
Be the shop that saved the day
with ice when theirs melted, the
one with face glitter when the
vibe called for sparkle, or the
store that had the perfect
four-pack when the campsite
party kicked off.
This isn’t about business as
usual. This is your store’s chance
to sing backup to the main stage.
Make your space feel like part of
the celebration – whether it’s
with carnival-coloured bunting,
tongue-in-cheek signage, or
simply staying open that extra
hour when the rest of the high
street is dark.
So get your playlist ready, prep
your “Festival Essentials” bay,
and don’t be afraid to get a little
loud with your merchandising.
Festivals are fleeting but the
buzz (and those sales spikes) can
last long after the last act has left
the stage.
Display and slay
Asian Trader
presents out-of-
the-box
merchandising and
display ideas tailored to the festival theme for
convenience stores:
“Festival Survival Station” Display: Set up a vibrant, easy-to-
spot endcap or bin featuring essentials like water, energy drinks,
sun cream, wipes, face wipes, mini deodorants, plasters, and
snacks.
Tent-Side Snacks Bay: Create mini hampers with noodle pots,
cereal bars, bottled water, and instant coffee labeled.
“Morning After” Recovery Rack: A grab-and-go shelf near the
entrance with hangover aids energy drinks, hydrating drinks,
electrolyte sachets, bananas, greasy snacks, and coffee.
Beer Garden in a Basket: Create “beer bundles” in rustic
baskets—4-packs, crisps, disposable cups, ice vouchers.
Wristband Wins: Offer on-the-spot discounts or freebies to
customers wearing a festival wristband.
DIY Face Paint Station: Place mini kits near tills with a mirror
and signage like “Paint Your Festival Mood”.
Soundtrack Display: Use mini speakers to make the store
experience more lively.
Instagram Corner: Set up a selfie spot with a mini themed
backdrop.
FEATURE
FOOD CUPBOARD
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 57
he food cupboard has its
origins in antiquity – the
Romans made mosaics
depicting theirs, full of edibles,
alongside remarkably modern-
looking illustrations of kitchen
implements.
And that’s the thing about the
food cupboard: it has always been
a kitchen necessity, even when
we mostly ate fresh or preserved
food, and obviously long before
the refrigerator – which evolved
from the original cupboard in the
nineteenth century with the
addition of an ice-block compart
ment beneath.
You might know it as a cool,
dark room called a larder, which
every house used to have hidden
away somewhere, stocked with
cans and bags, dried pulses and
secret treats. It is also the home of
what we call ambient or “shelf-
stable”, according to Upuli
Ambawatta, brand manager at
leading speciality food importer
and distributor Empire Bespoke
Foods (EBF). Despite the vast
choice on offer in today’s grocery
channels, including fresh, frozen
and food-to-go, dependable food
cupboard items – which are often
value goods (partly because of
durability) and perfect in hard
economic times – are enjoying
renewed popularity, especially as
people “scratch” cook more for
themselves at home. According to
Mintel’s 2024 World Cuisines
report, over half (54 per cent) of
British consumers say they’re
cooking from scratch more than
they used to.
“Ambient (shelf-stable) meals
have been gaining share in
prepared meal launches over
several years, particularly up to
2023. While canned meals are
included, there has been a notable
increase in launches of pouch
meals from new entrants and
world food brands, especially in
2023-24,” says Ambawatta.
“These products are popular for
quick, convenient meals, with 52
per cent of workers who frequent
ly buy ready meals/ready-to-cook
foods often eating them for
workday lunches.”
The strict definition of
ambient grocery is food that can
be safely stored at room (or
ambient) temperature. That
means that you do not need to
store these items in the fridge,
and the products can range from
pasta, rice, tinned products and
tinned soups, to sauces, snacks,
and ingredients.
Ambient times
Many household brands of
longstanding fame and reputa
tion made their name starting
early in the twentieth century
with ambient products, as the
food market expanded alongside
improved roads and rail commu
nication to transcend local
markets and unite the UK in a
national distribution network.
This necessitated groceries that
would not “go off” in a few days
but could travel and last.
Today, there are many
different manufacturers within
this category, they range from
start-up businesses to huge,
limited companies. For example,
Rubies in the Rubble and Proper
Snacks through to huge busi
nesses like PepsiCo and AB World
Foods.
The value of ambient food
sales has increased, with some
reports indicating a rise of 12.2 per
cent or £444.3 million, although
with some lower volume and an
understandable switch to value,
private label items for staples and
essentials as the cost-of-living
continues to bite. However, this
goes together with consumer
enthusiasm for certain ambient
brands such as sauces where the
taste longevity – standard dried
beans or lentils might be matched
with a top-quality sauce or
condiment outweighs a slightly
higher price.
There’ have been reports of an
increase in the popularity of
Italian-inspired brands within the
canned and ambient food sector
– which might indicate the
Ambient grocery items
are the foundations
of any kitchen,
providing the essential
adaptability and
flavours that make
impulse-bought
ingredients come alive
Always ready: faithful food
cupboard ingredients
FEATURE
FOOD CUPBOARD
58 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
increase in interest and popularity
of World Food and Drink in
general.
“Consumers are increasingly
drawn to spicy and globally
influenced flavours, a trend driven
by increasing consumer interest
in world cuisines and chilli-based
products,” says Ambawatta, citing
Kantar World Foods.
“We’re also seeing strong
interest in world cuisines, with
Mexican among the top three
most popular. Importantly for
retailers, 50 per cent of
shoppers interested in
innovative flavours are willing
to pay more for world cuisine-
inspired condiments [Mintel
Condiments and Dressings].”
Food kits, tacos, jars of
chilli sauce and so on
almost define the
burgeoning Mexican
shelves in our stores, and
the vast majority of
ingredients would fit the
food cupboard label – and
this also goes for many
other world cuisines
heavy on spices and
exotic flavours, not to
mention beans and rice
(or of course the vast and
various pasta family).
“On trend flavours currently
include Gochujang (a savoury,
sweet and spicy fermented
condiment popular in Korean
cooking), Chipotle and Chilli-
Lime, as well as Umami and
earthy flavours,” says Ambawat
ta. The Cholula and Frank’s
RedHot sauces available from
Empire Bespoke Foods (EBF)
directly align with these
preferences for hot and spicy
flavours.
Upuli also reminds us that
Korean cuisine is increasingly
popular, and she says it’s interest
ing to note that, according to
Kantar again, while older families
prefer noodles, stir-fry kits and
seasonings, pre-families (mean
ing adults living alone or with a
partner) prefer condiments.
“In response to growing
consumer demand for Korean
flavours, and sales of Korean
food currently in growth, we are
continuing to explore new
opportunities within this
cuisine,” she explains. “Kimchi
remains one of the most
iconic and recognisable
Korean dishes – our Mrs
Elswood Kimchi (Classic,
Turmeric and Beetroot)
goes exceptionally well
with fried or BBQ-style food
like burgers and grilled fish.
Meanwhile, perhaps a
little less glamourous and
exotic (but tasty and
filling!): according to
Globaldata, the Ambient
Soup market in United
Kingdom registered a
positive compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of six
per cent from 2018 to 2023
with a sales value of
£463.55m in 2023, an
increase of 6.68 per cent
over 2022; and this might
suggest a longer-term trend
related to the rise of scratch-cook
ing.
Likewise, the UK Food
Cupboard eCommerce market is
predicted to reach £2.95b by 2025
and accounts for 27.6 per cent of
the Food eCommerce market in
the United Kingdom – which
could be an interesting metric for
convenience retailers as they
increasingly go online and find
delivery a bigger part of their
sales. The expected CAGR
2025-2029 is 10 per cent,
indicating that ambient grocery is
certainly going digital, alongside
food to go.
The updated branding and
organic certification come at a
time when maple syrup’s
popularity is increasing. The UK
market is expected to reach 124.7
million USD by 2028 and while
sugar maple is the segment’s
leading revenue generator, the
darker maple syrup category is set
for particular growth, with
consumers seeking out richer,
more robust flavours.
Pick of the pickles
(and others)
Of course, the panoply of ambient
jewels is dazzling, but a few new
announcements are noteworthy,
not least British-Canadian brand,
Pure Maple, which has an
nounced that its line of 100% pure
maple syrup products are newly
certified organic and have
undergone a rebrand ahead of
push to capitalise on the
growing consumer interest
in alternatives to refined
sugar.
The newly organic
products include Pure
Maple’s Golden Delicate,
Amber Rich, and Dark
Robust maple syrups, which
have relaunched at a
competitive price point and
have a RSP of £6.00 - £7.89
for a 236ml / 312g bottle size.
This translates to £ 1.92 – £
2.52 per 100g.
Know your larder!
Knowing which are
the most common and
well-used UK ambient
items and categories can help you to stock for
success
Canned Goods: Tinned fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish are
common examples.
Dry Goods: Pasta, rice, cereals, and flour are typically stored at
room temperature.
Snacks: Biscuits, crisps, and some types of crackers are ambient
foods.
Condiments and Sauces: Jams, preserves, some types of
sauces and pickles are often ambient.
Bakery Items: Certain bread products (not cream cakes),
biscuits, and breadcrumbs are considered ambient.
Drinks: Some beverages, like certain types of juices and soft
drinks, can be ambient.
Ready Meals: Some ready meals are processed to be shelf-
stable and are stored at ambient temperatures.
Key Characteristics of Ambient Food:
Shelf-stable: Designed to be stored at room temperature.
Processed: Often undergo processing (e.g., canning, drying) to
extend shelf life.
Convenient: Easy to store and transport, requiring no special
temperature control.
Variety: Encompasses a wide range of food categories, from
basic staples to more elaborate products.
FEATURE
FOOD CUPBOARD
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 59
Mrs Elswood from EBF sets the
standard in pickles and has just
launched its snacking Pickle Bites
– a new duo of snack pickles in
handy pouches, available in
convenient 50g packs in fiery Peri
Peri and the original Classic
flavours.
“Delivering all the much-loved
punch and crunch of a Mrs
Elswood Gherkin but now in a
handy pouch for extra conveni
ence, we’re confident that Mrs
Elswood Pickle Bites will be a hit
with consumers seeking a new
vegetable-based snacking
experience,” commented Mat
Moyes, Marketing Controller for
Mrs Elswood.
Mrs Elswood Pickle Bites are
the result of the
meeting of three key
trends – convenience
and portability, the
desire to snack more
healthily and the
growing consumer
desire to zing up the
everyday with
flavours developed
specifically to put a
punch into lunch.
The launch of Mrs
Elswood Pickle Bites
comes as gherkins
continue to show strong growth
in the UK (+10.6 per cent value
growth). Mrs Elswood is now the
UK’s #1 gherkin with a 17 per cent
value share.
In the realm of dried ingredi
ents, Knorr has announced the
relaunch of its iconic Aromat
all-purpose seasoning and the
addition of two new flavours
– Garlic Aromat and Chili Aromat
– to the range, aiming to boost
penetration by appealing to
younger shoppers and unlocking
new growth opportunities for the
ambient brand.
Ideal as a salt substitute and
available in an easy-to-use
sprinkler format, Knorr’s Aromat
is already growing ahead of the
seasoning category, (33 per cent
vs 18 per cent, according to
Nielsen, MAT) and is the third
placed seasoning SKU in the
market.
The relaunch is backed with a
brand campaign aiming to
showcase Aromat’s
versatility across a
variety of dishes, as
well as introducing
the new flavours. A
substantial sampling
campaign will also
put 200,000 sachets
into the hands of
shoppers to drive
trial. And are rolling
out across conveni
ence this month.
Nestlé’s internation
al culinary brand, Maggi, is
keeping up with advancing
consumer times by launching a
range of Air Fryer Crispy Coating
mixes available in three flavours:
Crispy Southern Style, Crispy
Katsu Style and Crispy Korean
BBQ Style. Each blend has been
meticulously made to deliver a
delicious crunch, making it easier
than ever to achieve quality
crispiness at home.
“We are so excited to be
introducing the new Maggi Air
Fryer Crispy Coating Mixes to
cooking enthusiasts in the UK,”
Danielle McAreavey, head of
marketing for Maggi UK and
Ireland, said.
“With so many homes in the
UK making use of air
fryers, we wanted to
ensure consumers are
inspired with tasty and
varied recipes to help
with anything from
entertaining guests to
those busy family
weeknights.
More traditionally,
Bisto has inked a new
partnership with Wallace and
Gromit, and the animated duo
will feature alongside their arch
nemesis, Feathers McGraw, in an
on-pack promotion across Bisto
Favourites Gravy products, with
a promo and then a
wrap-up draw
running until 16 July.
Kate Drew,
Marketing Controller
of Bisto and Paxo at
Premier Foods. “Bisto
is all about bringing
families together
around the table, and
this promotion offers
retailers an exciting
opportunity to drive
excitement down the aisle and
boost visibility of our family
favourite product.”
On the organic front, Biona
has unveiled a new Thai Red Curry
Paste, which is available to
retailers from now, with an RRP
of £3.39.
This new medium-hot paste
brings the authentic flavours of
Thailand to the UK kitchen,
featuring high-quality,
organic ingredients,
including chilli, garlic,
ginger and lemongrass.
Unlike many curry
pastes on the market
that contain shrimp,
Biona’s recipe is also
fully vegan, making it
a versatile choice for a
variety of diets. The
recipe also replaces
sugar with agave
syrup, which will suit
those consumers looking for
healthier options.
South-east Asian cooking
sauces in particular are in strong
growth, surging in both value (by
28.4 per cent) and volume (up 11.9
Grocery futures are looking good
Mintel’s latest research shows that current
trends in the ambient foods category are
looking firm for future longevity (courtesy of
EBF)
When shopping for groceries online, food cupboard items are
the most commonly purchased category, with 75.41% of
respondents including them in their online baskets.*
In convenience stores, food cupboard items are also highly
popular, with 66.45% of respondents in 2025 saying they
typically buy these items from such stores.**
The share of new product launches in the prepared meals
market that are shelf-stable (ambient) has fluctuated, peaking at
20% in 2023 before dropping to 12% in the first half of 2024.***
Sources:
*Ready meals and ready to cook foods UK 2024
** Products typically purchased when shopping online for groceries, May 2023
*** Food for home items typically purchased from convenience stores, April 2025
Info supplied by Mintel
Graphic: Mintel
FEATURE
FOOD CUPBOARD
60 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
per cent), to cement themselves
as the current fastest-growing
cooking sauce type.
Biona has also recently
launched an organic Ginger and
Turmeric paste (RRP £3.19) that
will instantly add dash to dishes
and will patiently await deploy
ment in the food cupboard before
it transfers to the fridge after
opening.
The paste is made using
organic ginger and turmeric,
giving consumers no need to peel
or chop, so simplifying their meal
prep for popular dishes, like
Indian or Malaysian-inspired
curries.
“With recent data from
Nielsen once again confirming
the positive growth trajectory for
organic food sales, which are now
outperforming non-organic,
we’re excited to bring another
sought-after and healthy organic
option to market,” said Carmen
Ferguson, Brand Manager at
Biona’s parent company,
Windmill Organics. “Scratch
cooking continues to
grow in popularity,
and particularly
South-East
Asian-inspired
scratch cooking, so
we expect this new
launch to be
well-received by
consumers.”
introduces
healthy new
cooking paste.
Remaining on
the subject of World
Foods, Sharwood’s has a new
Sizzler Street Food range
designed to bring the vibrant
flavours of modern Indian street
food to homes across the UK, the
latest range includes meal kits,
sizzle sauces, and roti wraps.
Indian food is one of the most
popular cuisines in the UK, yet 22
per cent of consumers only opt for
Indian meals during the weekend
[Kantar]. The Street Food Sizzler
range aims to shift consumer
perceptions of Indian meals.
Offering a fresh and versatile
approach to Indian cuisine, the
convenient, on-trend products
can also be enjoyed at lunch or as
snacks, broadening occasions
throughout the week and time of
day.
The new Street Food Sizzler
range includes meals kits, sauces,
and roti wraps, providing
everything consumers need to
easily create flavourful, modern
Indian dishes. The meal kits are
available in Masala Tikka Sizzler,
Shashlik Tikka Sizzler, Spicy
Tikka Sizzler, Tandoori Tikka
Sizzler flavours and include a
seasoning sachet, a sizzler sauce,
and a mango chutney drizzle
which can be added
to vegetables or a
protein of choice.
EBF, again (order
the catalogue – it’s
great – and they are
starting online
ordering) has released
a new range of “heat
and eat” taco fillings
based on the most
popular world food
flavours in response to
growing consumer
demand for exciting and
convenient meal solutions.
Pekis Taco Fillings are based on
traditional and authentic recipes
from around the world, cooked
with premium quality natural
ingredients and no preservatives.
Ready to heat and eat, the range
comprises Chicken Jalapeno,
Tikka Masala, Chicken Teriyaki
and Chilli Con Carne. Each 180g
pack will fill four average-sized
taco shells.
They require only ambient
storage and contain all the
ingredients necessary to create
each dish within minutes (RSP:
£3.99 per 180g pack).
Tilda has expanded its
ready-to-heat range with new
“all-in-one” meals catering to
growing consumer demand for
convenient, healthy, and
flavoursome meals which offer a
delicious, nutritious option in just
two minutes.
With four recipes – Sundried
Tomato & Beans, Vegetable
Paella, Chickpea Korma – these
meals offer a protein-packed
solution for time-poor shoppers.
And not to forget a real coup for
convenience, Mutti’s best-seller
Polpa 400g tinned tomatoes,
crafted from 100 per cent Italian
sun-ripened tomatoes – now
available as PMP exclusively in
c-channel through wholesalers
such as Unitas.
Mutti has built steadily from
challenger brand to the category’s
number two – growing volume
and value by more than 50 per
cent just in the last year and has
added £12m in category value over
12 months – supporting shopper
trade-up and category premiumi
sation.
Polpa goes to show just how
vibrant and competitive it is
getting in the food cupboard – so
make the most of it now.
Convenience is the
ultimate food cupboard
Upuli Ambawatta, brand
manager at speciality food
importer and distributor
Empire Bespoke Foods (EBF) explains that
impulse shoppers often grab and go, meaning
that having these usable, long-lasting
ingredients at home and essential ambient
items is key to sales success
Ingredients: Stocking a reliable range of essential ambient
ingredients (dried herbs, mushrooms, tinned fish, etc) helps
meet the needs of shoppers who are midway through cooking
and need just one or two items to complete their dish.
Condiments: Sauces, spices, dressings, oils, and seasonings
fall under this category. Condiments are often forgotten during
larger grocery shopping but are critical to enhancing flavour.
Their compact size and long shelf life make them ideal for
small-format stores.
Ready-Made Meals: With increasingly busy lifestyles, many
consumers seek convenient meal solutions that require little to
no preparation. Longer-dated “Food Cupboard” meals are a
great way to serve shoppers in a hurry.
And be sure to perfect your ambient merchandising
skills:
Block merchandising makes it easier for customers to locate
and buy all the items they need to replicate an at-home
restaurant experience.
Achieving on-shelf stand out is a must so enhance visibility of
the best-sellers by using suppliers’ planograms as well as point
of sale material, off shelf displays and rack end promotions.
Highlight special deals to encourage additional spend and
position key lines near the till point for spontaneous purchasing
Remote Multidecks
Integral Multidecks
Glass Door Freezers
Glass Door Chillers
Chest Freezers
Retro Fitted Doors
Air Conditioning
Coldrooms
Shopfitting & much much more
LOW HEIGHT
Remote Island
Koolmax provides a variety of refrigeration products,
such as single door chillers and compact counter units,
ideal for restaurants and cafés. Our equipment ensures
optimal temperature maintenance and energy efficiency,
supported by an expert service team
62 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
STOCKTAKING
RETAIL CONSULTING
REFRIGERATION
To advertise in
Asian Trader
Classified
Section contact:
Shefali Solanki on
email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 7654 7761
28th February to 12th March 2020
The Voice of Independent Retailers
Crisps and snacks
Household favourite
Special report
Business rates
Big Interview
Duncan Cunningham, blu
Volume 33 No. 860
13th March to 26th March 2020
The Voice of Independent Retailers
Pioneer publisher
Grocery industry salutes
The editor’s editor
Son Shailesh pays tribute
Ramniklal Solanki
Asian Trader founder dies
Volume 33 No. 861
17th January to 30th January 2020
The Voice of Independent Retailers
PMPs
Assurance of value
Breakfast feature
Baking a profi t
New Year’s Honours
CBE for Colin Graves
Volume 33 No. 857
HEALTHIER SNACKING PREMIUM TASTE
BURSTING WITH FLAVOUR
RSTING WITH FLAVO
FROM MILD TO WILD
NG PR
cornitos.co.uk
cornitos.co.uk
14th February to 27th February 2020
The Voice of Independent Retailers
Shop staff assaults
Racially motivated
Big Night In
How to win
Symbol supplement
Fascia special
Volume 33 No. 859
For adult smokers and vapers only. Vype e-cigarettes contain nicotine. 18+ only. Read leaflet in pack.
All Vype products comply with UK and EU law and all our ingredients have been tested for their suitability for vaping.
*Winner e-Cigarette Category. Survey of 10,601 People by Kantar
STOCK UP THE NEW VYPE ePOD
WINNER OF PRODUCT
OF THE YEAR 2020
With the new Vype ePod colour range
For more information call 0808 169 5000
New Vype ePod
3rd January to 16th January 2020
The Voice of Independent Retailers
Me & My Brand
The Sun
Big Interview
Britvic’s Florence Brain
Post Offi ce scandal
Pregnant worker jailed
Volume 33 No. 856
Authorised and Regulated by the FCA
Fixed Interest
Finance Available
Thornbury uses the J &
E Hall condenser unit
which, in our opinion,
is the most efficient for
its application on the
market.
J PATTERSON F.T.V.I.
Annuals, Periodicals & Transfers Shops, Post Offices,
Garages, Retail Specialists in Transfers of Business
Members Of The Trade Valuers Institute Nationwide at
Competitive Rates
Tel: 01522 683195
Mobile: 07774 861014
STOCKTAKING
ALCOHOL LICENSING
PREMISES LICENCE APPLICATIONS TO SELL ALCOHOL
PERSONAL LICENCE APPLICATIONS
PR Retail Consultants Ltd
is a long established licensing company
Please telephone Robert Jordan Bsc
07774044585
Established 2005
• We can apply for your alcohol licence or
vary existing hours and layout of premises
• We can also represent you at hearings and
reviews of premises licences
• Late night refreshment licences
To advertise in
Asian Trader
Classified
Section contact:
Shefali Solanki on
email:
Tel: 020 7654 7761
30 MAY 2025 ASIAN TRADER 63
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