Global spirits major Diageo said it has on Thursday completed the sale of Cacique to Bardinet S.A., one of the leading Spanish spirits players.
Cacique is an authentic rum brand from Venezuela with a 65-year hertitage, popular amongst consumers in Spain and Venezuela.
āThe sale of Cacique reflects Diageoās strategy of maintaining a sharp focus on effective portfolio management,ā John Kennedy, Diageoās president, Europe, said.
āWe are confident that Bardinet is the right owner for Cacique, maintaining the brandās authenticity and prominent position in Spain and Venezuela, as well as building its position in Continental Europe.ā
Jean-Paul Bouyat, chief executive of Bardinet S.A., added: āThis is a strategic addition to our portfolio which will help us to increase our rum market share in Spain and beyond. We are looking forward to integrating this brand into our family, continuing to strengthen our offering, whilst always ensuring exceptional taste and quality.ā
Bardinet has a wide portfolio of spirits but also of Cava and Rioja wines, and non-alcoholic beverages. Rum is at the heart of the companyās history, with NEGRITA ranking No.3 rum brand in Spain and a renowned expertise for aging rums.
Bardinet has grown significantly over the years, taking over the distribution of Marie Brizard Liqueurs and Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky.
Since 1993, Bardinet has been part of the group La Martiniquaise-Bardinet, an independent French wines and spirits group founded in 1934. La Martiniquaise-Bardinet is a leading spirits group in France and features in the worldās top 10. The group has a turnover of ā¬1.5 billion, operating in 180 countries with a large portfolio of international brands.
Snappy Shopper, the UKās leading quick-commerce platform, closed out 2024 with a record-breaking December, achieving rapid growth and outperforming the market, which saw an 8 per cent increase in Q4 2024.
Unprecedented weekly trading, record revenues, and soaring customer adoption have cemented Snappy Shopper as the go-to partner for independent retailers, retail groups, and brands.
Snappy Shopper saw weekly trading volumes surge by 42 per cent year-over-year, marking the platformās most significant growth since the surge in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Facilitating over Ā£14m in monthly transactions, Snappy Shopper reported an average order value of Ā£29 - nearly four times the typical in-store transaction value (ACS Local Shop Report, 2024).
These figures highlight the platformās unmatched ability to empower retailers in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. Snappyās technology enables independent and group retailers alike to operate quick commerce profitably, with retailers throughout the UK leveraging Snappyās enablement technology to deliver remarkable trading results.
During December, Hayatās Premier Store, based in Dundee, hit the milestone of more than Ā£200,000 worth of grocery deliveries in a single month from a convenience store, at times doing more deliveries per hour than a nearby supermarket.
The store owner told the press, āSnappy Shopper has revolutionised how we serve our community.
"Achieving more than Ā£200,000 in deliveries in one month exceeded our expectations and highlighted the incredible potential of quick commerce.
"The platformās efficiency allows us to deliver faster and more effectively than even larger supermarkets at peak times. Itās proof that independent stores can compete and succeed in the digital age.ā
With nearly half of independent retailers now offering home delivery (ACS Local Shop Report, 2024), more shoppers are turning to Snappy Shopperās technology-driven solutions for convenient and reliable retail experiences from trusted local stores.
āOur technology is empowering retailers to connect with their communities like never before,ā said Mike Callachan, CEO of Snappy Shopper.
āThis growth reflects a global shift in consumer behaviour, with q-commerce becoming an essential part of everyday life. Snappy Shopper is proud to be the trusted partner guiding retailers digital transformation.ā
With the retail sector braced for increasing cost pressures in 2025, Mike continued, āIt has never been more important to tap into the growth and profitability opportunity available online.
"We are ready to play our part, enabling retailers to take the best of what they do in store to digital consumers, and we expect to more than double the number of stores using our technology again in the next 12 months.ā
The past year has been transformative for Snappy Shopper, solidifying its position as a leader in the UKās q-commerce market.
With unprecedented growth in new customers and a surge in retailer adoption, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) 2024, Local Shop Report 2024, Association of Convenience Stores company has established itself as a vital ally for businesses navigating the fast-changing retail landscape.
Unlike some larger retailers who have faced well-documented challenges with technology failures and delivery disruptions during peak times, Snappy Shopperās reliable technology and innovative approach have consistently empowered independent retailers and store groups to thrive amid growing demand for delivery services.
āQuick commerce is where the future of retail is headed,ā Mike added. āBrands and retailers not yet on board risk missing out on a significant growth opportunity. By leveraging Snappy Shopperās proven platform, they gain a safe pair of hands in navigating this exciting new frontier.ā
With the number of users in the grocery delivery market expected to reach 32.4 million by 2029 (Statista, 2024), Snappy Shopper remains committed to innovation, ensuring its partners stay ahead of evolving consumer expectations.
Retailers will be able to accept digital proof of age to sell alcohol later this year, a chief of convenience store body has said, after the UK government announced this week that it will introduce digital driving licenses.
According to ACS chief executive James Lowman, convenience retailers can accept digital proof of age and from later this year they will be able to do this for alcohol as well.
Lowman represents ACS on the board of PASS, and has chaired working groups developing digital proof of age standards and acceptance systems over the past five years.
PASS is not-for-profit body formed in 2001 to set standards for proof of age, the security features of that proof of age and the process for accepting it.
Writing in his blog, Lowman informs retailers, "With a physical proof of age card, all the security features are there to inspect, notably the PASS hologram and thermally-integrated picture (no edges or bumps).
"Itās more complex with digital proof of age because what you could be shown on the screen could have been doctored in any number of ways; there needs to be a digital āhandshakeā between the retailer and the customer to verify its validity.
"Thankfully PASS now has a system ready to go to do exactly this job.
"Two quick scans and the proof of age can be verified with minimal data transfer ā you only need to know if that person is old enough to buy the product they want, you donāt need to see their address much less get into the ramifications of holding customer information."
Lowman also pointed out how getting the use of digital proof of age right and combining it with effective use of age estimation technology would bring huge savings to retailers using self-service checkouts.
"Customers over 25 could breeze through without age checks, those under could prove their age to the till, with colleagues playing an oversight role," he wrote.
"Technology playing a greater role in determining customersā age will reduce the number of times a colleague challenges a customer, something we know causes friction, conflict and even violence on a daily basis.
Digital proof of age, including a digital driving licence, offers real benefits for local shops.
"We need to stay at the centre of discussions on how this is used in stores so that we can fully realise these", stated Lowman.
Around Ā£24,000 worth of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and disposable vapes have been seized from traders across Walsall as part of a crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade.
As informed by Walsall Council on Thursday (23), illegal goods including approximately 22,000 cigarettes, 3kg of illegal hand rolling tobacco, and 400 illegal disposable vapes were found in four of the six shops visited during the operation.
The activity took place on last week and was part of Operation CeCe, a National Trading Standards initiative aimed at tackling illegal tobacco.
Highly trained sniffer dogs were on hand to assist with the operation. Specialising in detecting tobacco and vape products, one of the dogs helped unearth bags of vapes and cigarettes hidden amongst rubbish at the rear of the shop.
In one store, a purpose-built wall concealment was found high up in the storeroom. Illegal goods were also found behind shop counters, on storeroom floors and in bins.
Councillor Garry Perry, Leader of Walsall Council, said, "We carry operations like this out frequently, and traders need to realise we are not going to allow them to sell illegal goods in our borough.
"I want to thank the Trading Standards team, West Midlands Police and of course Billy and Ziggy for their hard work to get these products off our streets.
"Many of these dodgy traders are prepared to sell to children, which is unacceptable and dangerous.
"We have adopted a strong approach to these matters and will use every enforcement technique at our disposal to disrupt this type of activity and keep our residents safe.
āThis work is also vital in delivering our Tobacco Control Plan, a key aspect of which focuses on tackling the trade of illicit tobacco and vaping products. ā
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, stated, ā The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.
"Having removed 27 million illegal cigarettes, 7,500kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade."
Lidl GB has become the first UK supermarket to announce a fibre strategy that spans its entire product offering, setting out two key targets.
By 2026, it plans to increase the tonnage of total fibre sold by 20 per cent, and by 2030, boost the volume of wholegrains it sells to 25 per cent of total grains.
With nearly a quarter (23%) of shoppers actively seeking high-fibre products for their weekly groceries [Kantar, March 2023], the discounter said the new initiative is set to make it easier and more affordable for customers to improve their diets. Currently, only 9 per cent of UK adults meet the recommended daily intake of 30g of fibre, with lower-income households consuming even less, highlighting the need for this initiative.
As part of its new targets, Lidl is working with suppliers to enhance existing recipes by incorporating more plant-based, fibre-rich ingredients like lentils, beans, and grains, whilst reducing fats and sugars. It will also seek to introduce new high-fibre products.
Lidl also became the first retailer to sign up to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Action on Fibre initiative to help make higher-fibre diets more appealing for households. It has also turned to its rewards app, Lidl Plus, to offer monthly promotions on these products.
Building on its new fibre focus, Lidl has also become the first retailer to implement WWFās āPlanet-Based Dietsā methodology internationally across all 31 countries in which it operates. The WWF methodology will be used to measure and report on its product assortments and sales as it seeks to identify clear routes towards offering customers healthier and more environmentally conscious products, including vegetables, wholegrains, and plant-based protein foods such as beans and pulses.
With its ambition to align with the Planetary Health Diet by 2050, Lidlās new overarching commitment is first-to-market and sets out to increase the proportion of plant-based foods sold, including plant-based protein sources, wholegrains, fruits, and vegetables, by 20 per cent by 2030.
āAs the first UK retailer to align its strategy with the science of the Planetary Health Diet, Lidl is committed to supporting healthy and sustainable diets and setting ambitious targets to ensure our food is good for both people and the planet,ā Richard Bourns, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, said.
āWe stand firmly behind the need for sustainable consumption as part of the net-zero transition and are committed to offering our customers an ever-expanding range of healthy, sustainable products at affordable prices.ā
There is a strong positive correlation between how frequently employees attend their workplace and their overall wellbeing, a new study has revealed.
An independent, nationally representative survey of 1,210 UK employees, commissioned by infinitSpace, quizzed remote, hybrid and fully in-office workers about their wellbeing.
In the same week that Lord Rose, the former boss of Marks and Spencer and Asda, said that working from home is producing a generation who are "not doing proper work", infinitSpace's research found that hybrid workers who attend the office one or two days per week were least likely to self-report āgreatā or āgoodā wellbeing, with 50 per cent saying they had a positive physical wellbeing and the same number (50 per cent) a positive mental wellbeing.
By contrast, those who go to their workplace on average three or four days per week report the highest levels of wellbeing, with 60 per cent experiencing great or good physical wellbeing and 61 per cent saying the same about their mental wellbeing.
Those attending the office every day report slightly lower but comparable wellbeing levels to those attending three or four days a week, with 59 per cent indicating good physical wellbeing and 57 per cent experiencing good mental wellbeing.
The type of workspace also plays a role in wellbeing outcomes. Employees working in flexible workspaces report higher levels of wellbeing, with 60 per cent experiencing good physical and mental wellbeing. In comparison, employees in traditional private or serviced offices report slightly lower levels, with 56 per cent indicating good physical wellbeing and 55 per cent reporting good mental wellbeing.
āWhile attendance policies should remain flexible to meet diverse business and employee needs, itās important that we donāt overlook the relationship between going to a workplace and oneās wellbeing," said Wybo Wijnbergen, CEO of infinitSpace. "The research shows that opportunities for social interaction, a sense of community, and regular access to thoughtfully designed spaces can profoundly impact our overall wellbeing.
āMore than just somewhere to collaborate or be productive, by having the workplaces, organisations can play a meaningful role in boosting the overall health and happiness of their employees. And if smart leaders want engaged, productive teams, fostering wellbeing and providing a workspace their staff want to visit must remain a key focus.ā