Eid ul-Fitr is one of the two main, equally important, Eid celebrations of Muslims (the other being Eid ul-Adha, which begins following the annual Hajj pilgrimage). Commencing at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, Eid ul-Fitr is a festival that celebrates the breaking of the fast.
It is celebrated by family and other social gatherings, with traditional sweet dishes, feasting, wearing new clothes, shopping and gift-giving. In the UK, the festival is expected to start in the evening of Monday, May 2 after Ramadan and will conclude in the evening of Tuesday, May 3, subject to the official moon sighting. Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr traditionally over the first three days of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar.
This year, Eid ul-Fitr will be extra special for British Muslims, coming after two years in the shadows of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. In 2020, the festival came during the first national lockdown, and last year, it is celebrated during the phased exit from the third national lockdown.
“Eid ul-Fitr is one of the biggest festival celebrations of the Muslim calendar - built around sharing wonderful food together at large community events. Now such events are back on we expect to see a positive uplift in sales,” says Harry Dulai, managing director of Surya Foods.
In London, where the festival is celebrated in a big way, the ‘Eid in the Square’ celebrations at Trafalgar Square will be held on Saturday, May 7. This year will be the Mayor of London's 17th Eid in the Square and the Main Stage will be hosted by award winning actor, filmmaker and BBC Asian Network presenter Mistah Islah alongside former teacher and trailblazing broadcaster Mehreen Baig.
The festival will feature a mix of traditional and contemporary acts including Baha Yetin Sufi Ensemble, Qalandar Qawwali’s, Dur Dur Band, Star Children’s Choir and the Original Mummy’s Boy, spoken word poet Hussain Manawar, plus a special guest star. Also, comedy sketch favourites The Halalians will be live on stage for the first time here at Eid in the Square.
Eid, in fact, will be also marking the return of major festivals, with several lined up in London. These include hugely popular London Eid Festival at Westfield during the May 7-8 weekend, 1Eid festival, which is in its 16th year, at Ilford on 2-4 May and Chaand Raat event by Grand Sapphire Hotel and Banqueting in Croydon on Sunday, May 1. So, expect a week of festivities to entice shoppers.
Photo: iStock
Ramadan, culminating with Eid, is already being counted as Britain’s biggest economic occasion after Christmas and Easter – worth an estimated £200 million to the UK economy; £100m of which is spent in supermarkets and stores, according to a 2018 report by advertising firm Ogilvy. The report, titled ‘The Great British Ramadan’, also found that Muslim consumers are disappointed in current engagement by brands and retailers, with 62 per cent saying that they are not being served well.
A 2020 survey commissioned by creative agency Mud Orange has also confirmed this, with 63 per cent of British Muslims responding that supermarkets continue to deploy outdated activations across stock, content and design.
“Unlike Christmas and Easter, when supermarkets effectively build a distinct brand role during the cultural moment, Ramadan efforts across supermarket chains follow a homogenous design and product approach which often feels imported, ethnic specific and culturally disconnected from modern British Muslims,” the report states.
Discussing this issue in our Ramadan feature, Kenton Burchell, trading director at Bestway Wholesale, has noted that independent stores can make use of this gap and increase their engagement with the community.
“Independents have an opportunity to beat the multiples by offering better range, value and promotional activity,” he said, adding that the pandemic-driven trend of shopping locally will also help local stores attract more Muslim shoppers.
“A Barclaycard survey found that over 9 in 10 people who shopped locally said that they will continue to do so, meaning Independents -who are able to offer a much more personal touch to the shopping experience - can really capitalise on this trend,” Burchell said.
With the UK’s Muslim population growing - an estimated 3.37 million identify themselves as practitioners of Islam, making it the second largest religious population in Britain - there are obviously huge opportunities for retailers to capitalise on.
In fact, the term ‘Ramadan Rush’ has been in vogue for almost a decade now, denoting the spending by this demographic before, during and after Ramadan. While smaller stores could do well by tailoring their range based on the ethnic makeup of the area, bigger ones can display the full range to target this phenomenon.
Ranging into Eid
Dulai of Surya Foods reveals that maintaining a healthy supply chain of Ramadan staples into the UK has been “particularly challenging,” given the impact Covid-19 has had on shipping and ports around the globe.
“Despite supply challenges, we have been working hard, for some months, to ensure popular Ramadan and Eid staples are well stocked,” he said.
Surya Foods is behind several of the UK’s leading world food brands, including dry rice brand Laila and the rapidly expanding frozen food brands Humza and Shazans.
While foods that sustain and are quick and easy to prepare would be in focus during Ramadan, towards Eid ul-Fitr the mood shifts to more indulgent and celebratory fare.
“Eid ul-Fitr is one of the biggest festival celebrations of the Muslim calendar. It is affectionately called ‘Sweet Eid’ because of the delicious array of sweet dishes served up to celebrate the end of Ramadan,” Dulai says.
“During Eid there are a lot of community events all built around sharing wonderful food together. As such running promotions on popular Eid staples, like biscuits and rusks for instance, are great sales drivers.”
Surya Foods represents Indian biscuit giant Britannia, which is steadily picking up UK market share. Dulai said they have been working to bring the high profile brand to the forefront of consumer’s minds and shall be pushing incredible offers at independent retail to further improve visibility.
Kelly Wyld, senior brand manager for East End Foods, adds that their ingredients like ghee and speciality flour are key during Ramadan and Eid timings, highlighted by an estimated 15 per cent increase in sales last year.
“It’s our job to celebrate food and feasting that lives at the heart of British-Asian culture. Our ingredients make people feel connected to their heritage and want to celebrate it through cooking,” Wyld says. “Specialising in ghee, spices and seeds to name a few, East End Foods has all the special festive ingredients for Eid ul-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan.”
Other popular East End Foods’ products include cardamom and turmeric, two spices essential to many Iftar dishes.
“It’s essential for the independent trade, where stores will be flooded with all the key lines including some Price Marked Packs (PMP) on lines such as East End Foods’ Brown Lentils 2kg £2.99 and East End Foods’ Yellow Gram 2kg £2.69,” she explains.
“The versatility of the range ensures consumers can cook up their favourite Eid dishes; everything from savouries, curries to mouth water sweet dishes. Cardamom seeds, for example, can be used in making Phirni or Kheer before leaving for Eid Prayer.”
And, East End Foods Semolina is a must have, she adds, as this speciality flour can be used in a variety of ways including within a light South Asian breakfast such as Upma, Suji halwa or Rava dosas.
Events such as Eid offer a perfect opportunity to tap into the surging in popularity of ethnic food, partly driven by the growing multiculturalism of the UK.
Mainstream supermarkets are cashing in by selling some ethnic foods, while more and more ethnic stores and supermarkets are appearing. The marketing of specific ethnic ingredients and spices in new blends and multipacks, as well as suggesting recipe inspirations for new customers, can help convenience store open further paths to sales and profits.
It is through personal knowledge of their customers and access to cash and carries that supply the ingredients and delicacies Muslim communities are looking forward to, that puts indie store owners at a big potential advantage over the supermarkets, whose “ethnic aisles” might still rely on national purchasing and big standard skus for bulk sales, when the best margins are in the minutiae and detailed knowledge and of traditional and regional tastes and dishes.
Rice, all the way
Jonathan Calland, head of external affairs at Tilda, reminds us that rice remains at the heart of the vibrant dishes around which families and friends come together to celebrate the end of the Ramadan fast.
“Eid provides a great opportunity to highlight the convenience and versatility of the rice category as a base for many festive meals that are often enjoyed with family and friends,” he says.
“This year, we expect to see sales recover to pre-pandemic levels. As such, it’s important that retailers are prepared and are well stocked with popular rice brands such as Tilda, in a variety of key sizes – from 500g to 20kg – to cater for varying demand.”
Calland also notes that brands that resonate well with consumers during Eid can particularly help independent retailers to stand out, adding that Tilda enjoys 83 per cent brand awareness amongst consumers from an ethnic background [System1 Research, Jan 2022].
“[This] makes the brand a top choice for retailers in the lead up to and during the festival,” he says.
Touching on the theme, Surya Foods’ Dulay notes that their popular dry rice brand Laila is a “great heritage brand trusted by Muslim communities.”
Latest figures reveal Laila continues to deliver year on year growth holding its position in the UK Top 3 rice charts for a fifth year running [Nielsen 2021].
In 2019, the brand has expanded into lentils, beans and flours with the launch of 19 new skus, ranging from chickpeas and kidney beans to semolina, polenta and rice flour. This year, it added Laila spices to its ever evolving line up of products. The range spans classic store cupboard, spice staples including tumeric, coriander, chilli and cumin powders, together with crushed chilli flakes, providing a wholesome offer to prepare the Eid feast.
Calland suggests that stocking larger packs of dry rice is key to maximising sales, particularly for retailers with stores located in large Muslim communities.
“Used by the vast majority of communities, Basmati rice plays a particularly central role because of its natural versatility and ability to complement a variety of different flavours,” he says. “Sales of larger formats, such as Tilda Big Bags, traditionally peak during key celebrations throughout the year due to the excellent value-for-money they represent for those feeding their family and friends.”
During Ramadan and Eid, consumers prepare rice dishes like Biryani. Within its wide range of products, Tilda offers Tilda Grand Extra Long Basmati rice which has elegantly long and exquisitely fine grains.
“The grains look incredible on the plate and always stand out regardless of the ingredients you combine them with. It’s a grain that adapts well to any recipe but is particularly suitable for biryanis where rice is at the heart of the dish,” he explains.
The product is available in 5, 10 and 20 kg packs, and Calland’s advice is to consider stocking a range of formats, in order to cater for a range of varying demands.
“For Eid, shoppers usually trade-up to larger pack formats like the 5kg, 10kg and 20kg. However, it is also worth keeping Ready to Heat (RTH) options available to provide convenience, exciting flavours and versatility over the fasting period,” he says.
Tilda is currently running a 360-degree campaign on relevant Asian channels, covering TV, radio, print, shopper marketing, partnerships social media. Over the Ramadan period, Tilda has also a special offer, offering free saffron inside the bag for every 5 kg, 10 kg and 20 kg bag of Tilda Pure Basmati.
Showcasing brands
Dulay emphasises the importance of retail display fixtures during busy festive periods.
“During Ramadan we always showcase the Laila brand with merchandising to cement our relationship with our loyal customers and attract new customers to the brand,” he says. “Creating bespoke fixtures for Ramadan products is a fantastic sales driver as consumers can easily locate the products they need in one place, which saves them time and creates opportunities to encourage further spend on additional items.”
He added that Surya Foods will be working with independent retailers to deliver POS materials, electronic advertising and eye catching displays across the UK for Eid 2022.
Souheil Haddad, managing director of authentic Lebanese food specialist Dina Foods, which is a big supplier to Muslim communities, says they always see a spike in sales of its ranges of savouries, sweets and breads as families prepare for Ramadan and Eid.
“Ramadan is a great sales opportunity for independent retailers, particularly if attractive merchandising displays are used to showcase new or special offer items, to cash in on impulse sales,” he comments.
Haddad recommends a Ramadan/Eid area in store which serves as a destination point. “Shoppers need to be able to find this easily and need promotions to encourage them to stock up. A Ramadan sign above the fixture will help shoppers locate the products and stop to shop.”
The London-based company works with customers to devise Ramadan/Eid ranges and look at how to feature these in store.
“Our customers come to us to ask how we can help during Ramadan and we create seasonal packs of Medjoul dates and Baklawa as well as running promotions on chapati, naan and our trademarked Paninette range of Lebanese Khobez,” Haddad explains.
Their products are made to authentic recipes that have been handed down through the generations. All are highly popular during Ramadan and of course during Eid festivities at the end of the month, he adds.
There are some mainstay products in the Dina Foods range which Haddad advises independent retailers to stock up on at this time of year.
Their authentic flatbreads, which can be served to complement meals or used as a sandwich carrier, are always in huge demand at Ramadan. Dina Foods supplies wholemeal, white and seeded flatbreads, pitta breads and its Paninette flatbread.
They also have an array of sweet products, including Medjoul dates, either enrobed in chocolate or stuffed. Their Lebanese savouries such as Falafel, Vine Leaves, Kibbes, Sfiha, hummus and Baba Ganoush, all Vegan Society certified, also hit the mark during the month.
Dates are the number one product eaten during Ramadan as they are an excellent source of fibre and carbohydrates, are rich in protective antioxidants, as well as high in natural sugar to keep you going. Dina Foods has launched Chocolate Coated and Filled Dates for Ramadan as well as some more luxurious Baklawa variety packs that can be shared.
Haddad also recommends adapting the Ramadan offering to cater for Eid celebrations when the fast is over and people want to treat themselves. Baklawa, a layered pastry dessert, can be shared with family and friends during the Eid celebrations and also makes an excellent gifting box.
“With most of the coronavirus measures now in the past, shoppers will be more inclined to make the most of Eid celebrations this year with family and friends, in a way they couldn’t last year due to the restrictions in place,” Haddad says, adding that retailers should be prepared for a particularly busy period this year, with the independent sector likely to see a particular uplift in sales.
“Independents can operate with speed and offer greater variety than the multiples, providing a welcome platform for innovative suppliers over Ramadan and all year round,” he notes.
With Eid fast approaching, now is the time for retailers to capitalise on the feel-good factor by stocking up on all the festive favourites so enjoyed by families and friends celebrating the end of Ramadan with the traditional breaking of the fast.
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.