For the well-known Scotland-based Cheema retailer family, the 31st Asian Trader Awards held earlier this year was truly special. Anand Cheema, who opened his store in August 2020, won the Impulse Retailer of the Year prize, following in his father’s footsteps. One and a half decades ago, in 2006, Pete Cheema, chief executive of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF), was Asian Trader of the Year.
Anand says the award – or what he considers a reward –was received well by their customers, adding that it pays “homage” to the community as well. “We wouldn't be where we are without them,” he says. The honour also got them good press in the local newspapers, taking the new store to more members of the community. “It gave us a bit of an uplift in terms of sales, in terms of recognition within the community, reaching members who didn't know that we existed,” he explains.
One should note that Anand’s Spar store on Maggie Wood’s Loan, Falkirk, which is on the site of one of Pete’s early Scottish enterprises, has never been short of media attention. While it is obvious that he will generate some curiosity on account of his father being the boss of SGF, it was soon clear that Anand has one or two tricks of his own up his sleeve, to sustain that interest and create new revenue streams.
Pete himself told us recently about his son’s innovations: “He’s come up with some really great ideas like selling cocktails. There’s not many stores doing that kind of stuff, you know, just basically figuring out that this is what people are missing out on, so can we do it?”
Anand has made this store a whisky hot-spot for connoisseurs, even selling several vintage bottles for £3,500. He made headlines when he was one of the first retailers to stock newly-released vintage Rosebank Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. And, he is really evolving the offer with cocktails and beer kegs.
Spar Falkirk
“There's a lot of emphasis on different categories in the store, but we are becoming known for alcohol sales,” he agrees. “So, we've got the whisky where we sold numerous bottles at £1600, also at £2500 and one bottle for £3500. So it's scaling up every time.”
“We like to keep it mixed up. We've brought in cocktails, from various suppliers, just to keep it fresh, especially with the hot weather coming into place. And also we've been doing really well with beer kegs, with the current pandemic, as a lot of people have been investing in man caves, you know, beer keg machines for their homes. We've done a lot of big business on all types and all sizes of kegs from two litres, right up to eight litres,” he explains, adding that he doesn’t see this trend falling off too soon.
Anand’s enterprising nature is also evident in his decision to make food to go the central attraction of his store, despite the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns suddenly making the booming category uncertain. He has, in fact, solid research to back him when he says food to go is the future of convenience.
“We knew prior to Covid there was a big emphasis on food to go in the convenience channel,” he says. “We conducted a geographical information survey before we opened the store. From our survey, we realised that we have two schools nearby within walking distance, a community hospital and 40 per cent of our population is office workers.”
“So we knew if we were able to build up the food to go throughout the first two years, until the office workers go back, and really implement in the consumers’ mind that we do provide a good food to go service, when they go back to office, they know they can come to us,” he adds.
Anand, aged just 24, is in it for the long haul. He studied accounting and finance at university, but he had always set his eyes on retailing. “It's important to get some education and degree behind me, you know, to have that bit of learning a business sense, to bring into the business if I was to come back into business,” he says.
Whilst at university, and from his internships and work experience, he realised that it really wasn't a field for him. So after qualifying, he went straight into retail, working for CJ Lang & Son, Scotland's Spar wholesaler, looking after 30 to 40 stores in the west of Scotland for them.
“From there I quickly gained a lot of experience and different ideas of what I can do in my own store and implement aspects of what I see on the market, coupled with what I've learned from the family business,” he says, adding that what he is trying nowis to combine all that in “a certain way to get a winning formula.”
And, it surely works for him, with his alcohol sales a case in point. The focus and innovation is a result of the research they have done and the wisdom from his father’s experience in running a store in the area.
“We did our research and we had experience in the area before as well. My dad previously ran the store and sold a lot of whiskey, not high end, but he sold a lot of whiskey in the area. In his previous stores as well. We always knew that there was scope for this,” he says, adding that it’s the price point and the capital outlays to begin with that mostly deter other retailers to cashing inon this opportunity.
Anand was able to get a hold of seven bottles – out of the just 4350 bottles, priced at £1600 per bottle,made available worldwide –when Rosebank Distillery, which is located 500 yards down the road from his store and owned by Ian Macleod Distillers, released the limited edition30-year-old Rosebank Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. He had secured the bottles even before he opened his store.
“We knew that would really create a good hype around the store before opening and would allow us to kick on with a reputation because you have a point of difference to another store or a supermarket,” he says.
Talking about competition, Anand says they don't have a lot of heavy competition immediate to them, they’ve got several small stores around them and a Tesco Express not so far away, but he believes that you've always got competition on your doorstep now as “everyone drives these days, and everyone delivers these days,” and he is determined to tackle the challenge of home delivery.
“Even though we might have missed the boat on the real spike at the start of Covid I still think that home delivery is the future, as well as fresh and food to go. So it is key that we implement this into our business ASAP,” he notes.
He says his store has a mix of demographics, with a lot of older customers as well, who were relying on people purchasing products for them on their behalf. In April, he secured permission from the local council to deliver alcohol along with groceries through the Snappy Shopper app.
“We [needed to] get a head start ahead of our competitors and instill that mindset into our customers that we provide that service and we provide it well, so that we're ready for anything that comes up in the future,” he adds.
He would be taking on new staff to help make the deliveries and he assured councillors that they would be fully trained, which in fact has been something he is very particular about right from the start. He believes that while staff is key, staff training is crucial to the store.
“Happy staff equals a happy shop, which equals a profitable one,” he says. “Staff are the first thing that the customers see, they're the face of the business. It's so important that you invest your time and money into them. Because ultimately, it's an investment, and you'll get a return out of that.”
And, what does he expect from them? “They've got to be professional; they've got to know theirstuff. It can't just be me that knows everything about the whiskey, the beer kegs, etc. It's got to be the staff who are up to speed. And then ultimately, standards need to be kept in terms of cleanliness, especially with the pandemic, and regarding regulatory training as well. Everything's got to be your standard. And that's how you build a reputation.”
It’s a pretty exhaustive check list, but he makes sure he does his part to a tee. All of his staff undertook Covid awareness, health and safety, food safety and mental health training online to ensure they are ready to meet customer needs and to instill confidence in the community.
Local is also very important for them. While there's a huge emphasis on going local across the UK, with the pandemic playing a big part for the turn, Anand says this is especially pronounced in Scotland. “We have a lot of local suppliers, from alcohol straight through to fresh. It gives a point of difference as well. I think it's a huge benefit. The customer knows what they're buying, essentially.”
Coming to the category which won him the prize, Anand says impulse is all about merchandising the store properly and effectively to drive sales, or in his words, “to capture the customers”.
“Ultimately, the store needs to be aesthetically pleasing to the consumer. It's about strategically placing products around the store where they're likely to pick up items, and impulse purchase.” So, the front of their store is more about on the go, quick and easy to pick up, eye catching and some good value for money products and the back half of the shop being more your traditional convenience offering of grocery, pet, 2ltrs and household.
The state of the art electronic video rails, displaying various advertising material, is an innovative idea that they came up with. “We thought if we were to implement this across the whole store, it would be overkill. So we strategically placed these where it would be attractive for the customer to come to that area of the store,” he says. “This also adds extra theatre to the store, increasing customer satisfaction. Customers came into store at first to have a look at them. We have seen sales especially increase in areas such as craft ales, beer, alcohol and hanging bags.”
They also look to display products in a more fresh and market-style way. For example, they display fruit and veg in wooden crates and SELs are written in a chalk-style format. They also moved fruit and veg to the front of the store, opposite the bakery goods, in order to really push fresh to the customers. Anand says this has increased sales in the category, in addition to complementing food-to-go sales.
Not only this,they display the rolls which they use for food to go behind the counter to show that they use fresh day-in, day-out and it also adds theatre to the area. “Everything we make in store is fresh. Even our sandwiches and baguettes are made in store and sold on the shop floor. These are made daily by our team of dedicated food-to-go staff,” Anand says. “This not only looks better than pre-packed but also tastes better. I'm glad to say, our customers agree and it’s also a lot healthier too.”
Anand often repeats how the research has helped him in making decisions, but the gist of his approach is to really find out what the area is like, what the demography is like and what is close to the store. Answers to these questions are what inform his focus areas of the store.
“We knew that three main focuses for our store would be alcohol because of the distillery; food to go because of the office workers and school; and also fresh because of the neighborhood community that we have,” he explains, and it definitely makes sense when he adds: “So if you stick to three things that you can really build a reputation on, I don't think you can go wrong. It's just about doing that well and doing it differently.”
He is well aware that, being the son of Pete Cheema, there's always going to be “prying eyes” on the store, but he takes it as an inspiration to not let the guard own. “Although my standards are high, it means I have to maintain those standards as well,” he says confidently. And, he has distilled three mantras from the vast experience of his parents to help him tackle the challenge: “Always work hard and always look to innovate; try and be the best that you can.”
And, if there’s one among these that he needs to choose to share with all retailers in the convenience channel, there’s no hesitation: “Never stand still. Always look to better your store and reinvest.”
Britvic, the soft drinks manufacturer set to be acquired by Carlsberg, has posted robust annual results after investment in marketing and product innovation helped it maintain demand for its brands.
Over the year to Sept 30, the company’s pre-tax profits climbed 10.5 per cent to £173.2 million despite a £21.3m hit related to the proposed Carlsberg deal. Britvic stated that its growth was driven by both volume and price-mix, with strong demand for brands such as Pepsi, Tango, Lipton, MiWadi and Ballygowan.
The group noted that scaling up new brands such as Plenish, Jimmy’s, Aqua Libra, and London Essence helped it build its presence in fast-growing categories. Meanwhile, it increased advertising and promotional (A&P) spend by 30.9 per cent to “support long-term brand growth”.
Volumes grew 3.1 per cent, driven by both organic growth and the acquisitions of the Extra Power and Jimmy’s brands.
Chief Executive Simon Litherland said, “We have delivered another excellent financial performance this year, with strong growth across our markets and portfolio of market-leading brands. We have also continued to ensure the business is fit for the future, adding more capacity, investing in our people, and significantly increasing investment in marketing and innovation.
“I am confident that the prospects for our brands and people are extremely positive, and I look forward to them going from strength to strength,” concluded Litherland.
Subject to approval by the regulatory authorities, the £3.3bn acquisition of Britvic by Carlsberg is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
The Metropolitan Police has identified two new suspects in its investigation into possible criminal offences as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal. This takes the total number of individuals to four as the force also revealed it believes more suspects will be identified as the inquiry progresses.
Scotland Yard said members of the investigation team met with Sir Alan Bates, the leading Post Office campaigner, and fellow victims to update them on the development.
A Met spokesman said: “On Sunday Nov 17, members of the investigating team met with Sir Alan Bates and a number of affected sub-postmasters to provide an update on our progress and next steps, following an invitation to do so.
“Our investigation team, comprising of officers from forces across the UK, is now in place and we will be sharing further details in due course. The team is preparing to contact other affected sub-postmasters soon. While four suspects have been formally identified at this stage, this number will grow as the investigation progresses.”
However, Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has warned it could be years before anyone faces charges because of the “tens of millions of documents” that must be worked through.
Speaking previously on the matter, he said, “I think at the core of this you’ve potentially got fraud, in terms of false documents, if it’s for financial purposes.
“Clearly, we have to prove beyond all reasonable doubt, so really it’s 99.9 per cent, that individuals knowingly corrupted something. So that’s going way beyond incompetence, you have to prove deliberate malice, and that has to be done very thoroughly with an exhaustive investigation.
“So it won’t be quick. But the police service across the country are alive to this and we will do everything we can do to bring people to justice if criminal offences can be proven.”
More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 as a result of the Horizon scandal, in which the faulty computer software incorrectly recorded shortfalls on their accounts. Of these, hundreds of people are still awaiting compensation despite the previous government announcing that those who had convictions quashed were eligible for payouts of £600,000.
Oral evidence at the Post Office inquiry concluded this month.
New research by American Express Shop Small reveals the nation’s top 10 hotspots for independent shops, showcasing the small businesses and the valuable role they plan in their local communities.
American Express partnered with retail experts GlobalData to identify the top high streets for independent shops through ranking factors such as the number of independent outlets, variety of business types, and vibrancy of the high street.
The list also took into consideration the number of Gen Z and Millennial independent business owners (those aged between 18-43) in each location, factoring in how these younger generations are investing in the future success of UK high streets. Across the top 10 hotspots, on average over a third (36 per cent) of all business owners are in these age cohorts.
The research identified bustling St Mary’s Street in Stamford, Lincolnshire, as Britain’s top hotspot for independent shops – scoring highly across all the factors and delivering a unique experience for shoppers.
Britain’s top high street hotspots for independent shops:
St Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire
Devonshire Street / Division Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire
Gloucester Road, Bristol
Market Street / Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire
Stoke Newington Church Street, Hackney, London
High Street, Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester
Bailgate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Byres Road, Glasgow
The Lanes, Norwich, Norfolk
Beyond their contribution to local communities, the research also revealed how living near a vibrant independent high street can benefit home valuations.
Dan Edelman, general manager, Merchant Services at American Express, said, “Small businesses play a crucial role in supporting local economies up and down the country, and it’s pleasing to now see their impact beyond the high street. Through our Shop Small campaign and support of Small Business Saturday we’re proud to be championing and shining a spotlight on the diverse and vibrant independent businesses who help our local communities thrive.”
The research is released ahead of this year’s Small Business Saturday (Dec 7), of which American Express is founder and principal supporter. Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign. Over the years it has been running, it has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on the day, with an impact that lasts all year round.
Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday, said, “The nation’s 5.5 million small businesses bring incredible value to the UK’s economy, society and communities, and this research underlines the material impact they have in boosting local areas. On Small Business Saturday, and beyond, we are asking the nation to throw their arms around their favourite local small businesses and show them how much they mean to us all and the wider community. Public support is so vital for small businesses, particularly for the next generation of owners.”
Matt Piner, research director at GlobalData, commented on the findings, “Independent shops bring something different to high streets, offering uniqueness and propositions that are finely tuned to the needs of their local communities. As younger generations of shoppers are attracted to their local high streets, so too are shop owners, with a new breed of Gen Z and Millennial entrepreneurs helping to keep them thriving.”
As part of this year’s Shop Small campaign, American Express has pledged £100,000 worth of grants to small businesses. The Champion Small initiative encourages Cardmembers to nominate their favourite independent small business, with 10 set to receive a £10,000 grant. Those who nominate a business will be entered into a prize draw too, with a chance to win one of 50 x £1,000 statement credits.
Shoppers who walk and wheel spend more than those arriving by car, states a recent report, demonstrating the significant economic and social benefits of investing in walkable town centres, challenging traditional views on urban accessibility.
The findings published in third edition of "The Pedestrian Pound Report", recently published by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, come at a critical juncture for British high streets, with a record number of retail failures in 2022 and a vacancy rate of nearly one in seven by the end of 2023.
The launch of the report is backed by Scotland’s national walking charity, Paths for All, underscoring the need to make walking a central feature of Scotland’s high streets.
“Making high streets and town centres more walkable increases time – and money – spent in those businesses,” says Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive of Living Streets. “It’s slowly being recognised – the majority (95 per cent) of London’s Business Improvement Districts identify a good walking environment as important to business performance.”
The report highlights encouraging data from Scottish towns, such as Nairn, where public space improvements and community events have significantly bolstered foot traffic. In 2022, a Christmas event in the town drew 7,800 attendees, including 600 new visitors, while a classic car show in 2023 attracted over 10,000, with 80 per cent saying they would return even outside of events.
Kevin Lafferty, Chief Executive of Paths for All, emphasised the broader benefits, “These findings show that when we put people first and make walking and wheeling the easiest, most natural choices, we don’t just get an economic boost – we build communities that are happier, healthier, and more sustainable for everyone.”
The report highlights that 85 per cent of Scottish adults walk or wheel regularly, contributing to both economic and health benefits.
In Scotland alone, the health benefits from walking to work are valued at over £600 million annually in prevented deaths. Community-focused initiatives, such as the Alloa Hub, are proving successful in encouraging residents to travel into town centres, with research showing that 56p of every £1 spent in community businesses stays in the local economy.
The report is timely, with investment in active and sustainable transport cut by £23.7 million by the Scottish Government this September. The Pedestrian Pound provides an excellent case for these vital funds to be restored.
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Home secretary Yvette Cooper speaking at the annual conference hosted by the NPCC and APCC on 19 November 2024
Home secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to rebuild neighbourhood policing and combat surging shop theft as part of an ambitious programme of reform to policing.
In her first major speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on Tuesday, Cooper highlighted four of the key areas for reform: neighbourhood policing, police performance, structures and capabilities, crime prevention.
The initiatives she announced include:
a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to get policing back to basics and rebuild trust between local forces and the communities they serve
a new Police Performance Unit to track national data on local performance and drive up standards
a new National Centre of Policing to harness new technology and forensics, making sure policing is better equipped to meet the changing nature of crime
The home secretary also announced more than half a billion pounds of additional central government funding for policing next year to support the government’s Safer Streets Mission, including an increase in the core grant for police forces, and extra resources for neighbourhood policing, the NCA and counter-terrorism.
In her speech, Cooper said that without a major overhaul to increase public confidence, the British tradition of policing by consent will be in peril.
“I am determined that neighbourhood policing must be rebuilt,” she said, pointing to its decline over the past decade. Cuts to community-based roles have left town centres vulnerable to rising crime and antisocial behaviour, she added.
“Shop theft is up at a record high, street theft is up 40 per cent in a year… Criminals – often organised gangs – are just getting away with it. We cannot stand for this,” she said.
Cooper reiterated the government’s commitment to deliver an additional 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood policing roles, adding that further steps will be announced in the coming weeks.
The reforms will restore community patrols with a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and an enhanced role for Police and Crime Commissioners to prevent crime. The changes will also ensure that policing has the national capabilities it needs to fight fast-changing, complex crimes which cut across police force boundaries.
“The challenge of rebuilding public confidence is a shared one for government and policing. This is an opportunity for a fundamental reset in that relationship, and together we will embark on this roadmap for reform to regain the trust and support of the people we all serve and to reinvigorate the best of policing,” Cooper said.