ELFBAR and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) have announced today the free provision of 1,000 co-branded in-store vape bins to SGF members. The campaign to support the acceleration of recycling points for used vapes in Scotland builds on the significant progress that has already been made. Many retailers and outlets in Scotland provide free used vape take-back services and this campaign will significantly increase this offering in the convenience sector. The provision of 1,000 free co-branded bins to SGF members will begin in mid-October.
Single-use vapes are extremely popular amongst adult smokers and ex-smokers in Scotland. Whilst their effectiveness in supporting a smokefree Scotland is evident, it is vital that adults can dispose of their used vapes responsibly. Research conducted by Opinium of 1,000 adults in Scotland showed that the provision of in-store bins is the most effective way to increase recycling levels of used vapes.
Current recycling points for used ELFBAR products is available via the Recycle Your Electricals postcode locator.
SGF CEO Dr Pete Cheema OBE
(Photograph: Mike Wilkinson)
“SGF welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with ELFBAR to help retailers play their part tackling the environmental damage done by single-use, disposable vaping products," said SGF Chief Executive Dr Pete Cheema OBE. "They can be an important gateway to long-term vaping products for those quitting smoking, but they must stop appearing on our streets and in our parks.
"SGF promotes responsible community retailing and so the opportunity to provide, with ELFBAR, 1,000 free in-store vaping bins to retailers is an important step forward and will feed into the process of providing easy waste and recycling options for disposable vaping products.
We would encourage retailers sign up for a free vaping bin and they will have the perfect opportunity to do so at our SGF Annual Conference which takes place 12 and 13 October at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow.”
Eve Peters
Eve Peters, Director of Government Affairs and spokesperson for ELFBAR in the UK commented:
“ELFBAR is delighted to be working with SGF in the development and delivery of this vital campaign to increase recycling points for used vapes in the convenience sector across Scotland. Single-use vapes are a key entry point for adult smoker’s looking to quit smoking for good, however it is vital that they are disposed of responsibly. As our recently commissioned research shows, the provision of in-store vape bins is the most effective way to increase recycling rates.”
Kraft Heinz has launched an innovation challenge that invites start-ups from around the world to come up with more sustainable food packaging.
The FMCG giant has partnered with the Rethinking Material Summit for the challenge, which is looking for packaging solutions for food that are recyclable or compostable, long-lasting and user-friendly.
Kraft Heinz aims to bring the winning idea to life with the help of its packaging R&D teams, who hope to collaborate with the winner to identify viable solutions that will advance the company’s packaging portfolio.
Three finalists will be announced on 16 April and invited to pitch live on stage at the Rethinking Materials Summit at the Hilton London Bankside, 13-14 May, reaching a global audience of manufacturers, CPG brands and investors.
The winner will be announced at the Summit and will receive feedback and insights from members of Kraft Heinz’s Global Innovation team.
Linda Roman, Director of Packaging at Kraft Heinz, and North America R&D Fellow, commented, “At Kraft Heinz, we know collaboration is the key to unlocking solutions for the future of packaging, especially when we’re thinking about all the requirements that food packaging must address: safety of the product, consumer use preferences and options for disposal or reuse once the product has been enjoyed.
"We’re excited to see the innovative solutions start-ups will bring to the table and look forward to supporting them in creating a more sustainable future for food.”
The Moore family, who have been serving the local community in Cloughmills, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, for 45 years, have rebranded their store into an all new EUROSPAR community supermarket, providing the area with an extended range of services and products.
The family’s original store was first opened as a local convenience store in 1980. Since then, the family has invested in numerous refurbishments and extensions with the biggest transformation in 2012 when the store was extended to offer a food-to-go deli serving hot breakfast and lunch throughout the day, as well as a local butchery counter. In 2016 the family also added an off license to the store.
Now part of the Henderson Group’s EUROSPAR brand, the supermarket offers a new Barista Bar coffee to go machine, SPAR Enjoy local and The Kitchen range offering options for tonight’s tea, and an expanded range of fresh and local produce.
This new offering is in addition to the existing in-store ATM, four-pump fuel forecourt, 20 parking spaces and the Moore’s of Cloughmills own range of meals prepared in store.
“We’re thrilled to be joining the EUROSPAR family. We have always worked hard to develop and progress the store to meet the needs of our shoppers and converting to the EUROSPAR supermarket brand allows us to continue to do just that,” Richard Moore, store manager, commented.
“The new ranges, services and extended products this new store brings for our community is exciting to the Moore family and the whole team here at the store, enabling us to provide a one stop shop with everything our shoppers need under one roof. Shoppers can also enjoy better value on everyday essentials including prices of over 1,000 products in-store now matched to Tesco.”
Employing 30 people from the local area, Moore’s EUROSPAR Cloughmills will continue to be dedicated towards making a positive difference throughout the local community and have committed to fundraising for EUROSPAR’s charity partner, Cancer Fund for Children.
“For 45 years, the Moore family have had the privilege of serving this wonderful community, and now, we’re thrilled to be entering this exciting new chapter, we can’t wait to see what the future holds as EUROSPAR Cloughmills,” Richard added.
Paddy Doody, sales and marketing director at Henderson Group said the development is particularly exciting as the EUROSPAR brand celebrates its 25th anniversary in Northern Ireland.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Moore’s and their team to the EUROSPAR brand and the Henderson Group family, especially on this milestone year for the brand,” Doody added.
“The new supermarket will enhance shoppers’ experiences remarkably, providing everything they need under one roof and on their doorstep. The Moore family has had an incredible 45 years of serving their neighbours, with a significant presence in the local community and we look forward to many successful years of Moore’s EUROSPAR Cloughmills.”
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SPAR Whiterock Road in Belfast opened after £200,000 refurbishment
The Crawford family, owners of SPAR Whiterock Road in west Belfast, have invested £200,000 into a recent refit of their store to expand their services and offering for the local community.
The 18-week project has significantly increased the offering available for shoppers, with expanded dairy, fresh produce and bakery ranges from local suppliers offering continued value on their doorsteps. A new layout alongside modernisation of the store has also improved shopper experience and convenience.
The store, which is owned by Michael and Deirdre Crawford and managed by their son Damien Crawford, has been trading under the SPAR brand for over 50 years, providing employment for 35 local people. The store has undergone numerous refits and refurbishments in this time, making a significant investment of over £1 million to bring top quality services and products to the local community.
To celebrate the latest refit and extensive range of new products, the store held a community day with face painting, gave away goodie bags and sampled their hot food to go range and new bakery products. The store also launched their Spend & Save promotion which ran throughout November 2024.
“It was exciting to launch our refurbished store with our shoppers at the end of the year. We’re delighted to have made such a significant investment to develop our store further and bring an expansive range of products and services to our local community,” Damien Crawford commented.
“Being a community focussed store, it was so important to us to launch the new-look store alongside our shoppers and celebrate with them. They are our neighbours and we look forward to many more years serving the community from SPAR Whiterock Road.”
In addition to the extensive range of everyday essentials and locally sourced products in-store, a post office and a hot food-to-go counter serving breakfast and lunch enable shoppers to find everything they need under one roof.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is also installed outside the store, which is available for the community 24/7, providing essential access to potentially lifesaving equipment even when the store is not open.
Michael and Deirdre Crawford are well respected in the local community, owning two other stores in west Belfast, including SPAR Turf Lodge and ViVO Norglen Gardens, which they have owned since April 2024. In total, the family employs more than 75 people from the local community across their three stores.
The Crawford family has a significant impact on local community groups, sports teams, charities and schools, often fundraising and showing their support through numerous initiatives and in-store fundraisers. The family takes pride in supporting local fundraising efforts such as Arrow Travel’s 40th Birthday raffle for The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, Glenveagh Special School and local mental health and suicide awareness campaigns.
“I’m proud to continue my parents’ legacy in the community and manage a store that has such an impact in the community. We want to thank our store team and all our shoppers for their support over the years,” Damien said.
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A woman walks past a window display promoting an ongoing sale, on December 13, 2024 in London, England.
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), has called for urgent government intervention following disappointing December retail figures, which show sales volumes fell by 0.3 per cent following a modest 0.1 per cent rise in November 2024.
The figures, released today, reveal that while non-food stores such as clothing retailers saw some recovery, this was insufficient to offset falls in other sectors, particularly supermarkets.
Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, believes these figures highlight the urgent need for government support for the retail sector.
“The retail sales in December perfectly sum up the difficulties that retailers (especially non-food retailers) have faced in 2024,” Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said.
“Consumer confidence has been low all year despite wages rising more than inflation and a new government being elected. It also means that many retailers will look forward to 2025 with much trepidation, especially as we know that the costs of running a shop are set to increase significantly from April onwards – increases in employment costs and 140 per cent increase in business rates.
“We are urging the government to reconsider reversing the rates increase if they are serious about revitalising high streets."
This call for action comes as retailers face mounting pressures from upcoming cost increases, with the planned business rates rise posing a particular threat to independent high street retailers, Bira noted.
From gut health to brain food to "30 plants a week", health-focused mindful eating is expected to be the focus of some of the UK's largest grocers this year.
According to a recent report, UK's largest retailers will be expanding their own label food offering this year by including mushroom drinks, wellness food, healthy new condiments, brain food and functional drinks
UK’s largest retailer Tesco has been spotlighting whole foods for a while. After driving sales of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and plant-based products, the supermarket has introduced a meat-free Root & Soul ready meal range that put vegetables front and centre.
Tesco revealed in October that “veg-led meals” account for 40 per cent of its plant-based sales, prompting it to go big on whole foods – rather than meat alternatives – in its vegan range for Christmas.
Its latest survey shows that gut health is a top concern for 37 per cent of Brits this year, and 70 per cent of them are adding more fibre to their diet to maintain a healthy microbiome. Over one in five (22 per cent) also plan to consume more plant-based foods.
Playing into that trend, Tesco is reportedly launching its own gut-health-focused range this year, filing a trademark application for the name Gut Sense, covering kefir, cereal bars, nuts, vitamin-infused beverages, and supplements.
“There is no longer a ‘one size fits all’ approach to improving health and we’re seeing a new era of health that is more targeted and tailored to the individual,” Tesco nutritionist Natasha Maynard said after the latest poll.
“We believe in encouraging small changes which can have a big impact and help people to stick with much healthier and more sustainable diets long term. Considering things like increasing fruit, vegetables and fibre in diets is great for our health.”
Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer’s new products for 2025 is dominated by mushrooms, weight loss, cognitive health, and gut wellnes. The high-end grocer has unveiled 100 new and updated products targeting health-conscious consumers.
In a new Brain Food range, M&S is highlighting nutrients that benefit cognitive health, such as omega-3, iodine, zinc, iron, and vitamins B9 and B12, with products like Brain Food Ball (with almond butter and mixed berries), Oat of the Blue (an oat and coconut milk refresher with spirulina, and Super Seeded Nut butter (peanut butter mixed with chia, pumpkin, sunflower and golden linseeds).
Its new Yay! Mushrooms drinks, meanwhile, were developed with scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, featuring lion’s mane or reishi mushrooms.
There’s also a high-protein Balanced for You range – with options like Bang Bang Cauliflower and a Chocolate Hazelnut Spread – and new offerings from its Count on Us weight-loss lineup.
Sainsbury's too has recently launched a new ‘Healthy Choice’ range along with a line of raw-pressed juices and shots that use watermelon juice as a base. This will be followed by new kefir and yoghurt ranges to cater to gut wellness.
Supermarket Waitrose will be seen pushing "30 plants a week" concept through Plant Varieties range including fresh soups, snacks, cereals, and meals.
The report follows a recent survey by Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) which shows that in 2025, consumers are most likely to cut back on consumption of ultra-processed foods (28 per cent), reduce intake of sugar, fat and salt (25 per cent) and consume a more sustainable diet (18 per cent).
Social media and fitness apps are most likely to influence the 18-34’s to start a new diet or fitness regime in 2025. However the over 55’s are most likely to be motivated by weight loss and/or medical advice