When Pete Patel was announced as winner in the Convenience Chain of the Year category at the 2021 Asian Trader Awards, it was the third consecutive win for the soft-spoken retailer, who won the Shop Safety Best Practice Award in the previous year and the Bakery Retailer award in 2019.
The Asian Trader Convenience Chain Award, supported by Dr. Beckmann, celebrates the maturing of the convenience sector, as more and more impulse entrepreneurs expand into multiple sites and establish themselves as true convenience chains. With five convenience stores, all under the Bestway’s Costcutter fascia, in addition to a Bargain Booze outlet, Pete represents one of the pioneers in this expansion, coming back to retail a decade ago with a steely determination to be a multi-site operator.
“We always had single sites. It was probably about 15 years ago, when we sold our last site, I took a break from retail. And then I decided that when we come back into retail, we will be a multiple store operator, not a single site player. That was a real turning point,” he says.
Pete’s parents bought their first shop in 1980, in Orpington, Kent, when he was just five. He has been brought up around shops all his life, joining the trade filling shelves by colour. They still own their second shop in Brentwood, Essex where he also has the Bargain Booze store. His other stores are located at Brockley, Lewisham; Southborough, Tunbridge Wells; Heanor, Derbyshire and Meopham, Gravesham, his latest and the first dual-branded Costcutter-Bargain Booze store.
Multiplying
Running six stores, he is very much aware of the importance of delegation, and ensures that staff are taken care of. He recruits the store manager and the assistant manager and then it’s the responsibility of the store manager to recruit all the staff within the store. All his staff enjoy a 10 per cent discount
“We have staff training within the store and each store manager has the same staff training manual. So they're all trained to the same standard,” he adds. “And I keep the store managers up to date with any decisions I’m making in the background which affect the store.”
It also helped that his first store was in Derby, 180 miles from the family home in Kent, playing a big part in letting go of the reins and learning to delegate. “When we opened that store (in 2011), I stayed in Derby for one year. And then, after six months of being there, I decided who would be the store manager. And, in fact, I have had the same store manager since I left Derby,” he says.
Refill station at Costcutter Southborough store
“The turning point came when I realised that by having faith in your store team and giving them the responsibility to run your business, it encourages them to work better and it gave me the opportunity to grow from a single store operator.”
He has also perfected an operational model that is consistent across stores. “Once we got to the second store, we were sort of trying different ways to operate the stores, and we made some mistakes along the way, but then we now believe we have a formula that works, and we use the same format. So operationally every store works the same,” he says.
One advantage of this is that he can easily redeploy staff, when necessary. “We have got stores near to each other, and if I need to cover another store with another member of staff, someone can go from one store to another store. And operationally it will be exactly the same. One doesn’t have to learn anything new,” he notes. “So it was very important that we made sure that every store operated the same way.”
Technically speaking
Technology has also made it quite a lot easier. A fully integrated IT system allows him access to all stores any time. “And there is stuff like electronic shelf labels, which means I can change the prices from wherever I am and it will change in all of the shops,” he adds.
They also use a labour management company called S4labour. “They just use their mobile apps for clocking in and clocking out and for their wages. So that makes it easier for us, to keep the rotas up to date and stuff,” says Pete.
All of his stores have unique points of difference, catering to their location and customer profile, but he notes they all have the same DNA – and that is of a business grown on the best customer service possible.
“I spend as much time as possible when we take on or open a new store. The majority of my time is focused on the new store so that it starts off how I want it to grow. The team learns the DNA and adapts to it. I make sure the team is always fully engaged with the decisions within the store to make them feel it is there store as much as it mine,” he says.
Symbol support
As an independent multi-site operator, Pete feels that the support from a symbol group is crucial in running the stores.
“One of the main advantages (of joining a symbol group) is having all the stock delivered,” he says. “Having multiple stores, I can't be in every store. So it was important to be with a symbol group partner that can deliver the order to the shop. Plus a brand that people recognises is important as well.”
He adds that having a group like Costcutter has worked very well for him. “They have got the knowledge of what product ranges to put in, they have got knowledge of how the store layout should work. They help with advertising the store when you are opening a new store,” he goes on.
He particularly values the help from his business development manager at Costcutter. “He's always coming around giving you ideas, and especially with multiple stores, he'll go and look at the stores and if there's an issue, he come back to me,” he says. “For example, he goes to Derby more than I go to my Derby shop and feeds back, so he's got my eyes on the road.”
Costcutter Southborough
The integration of Costcutter into Bestway Wholesale’s retail proposition is also working well for him. Pete’s Meopham store, opened in January this year after a complete refurbishment, was the first dual-branded Costcutter-Bargain Booze store under Bestway’s dual-store strategy.
The innovative concept allows retailers with Bestway symbol groups like Costcutter, Select Convenience and best-one to take their beers, wines and spirits offer to the next level through the Bargain Booze store element, while the focus remains on a strong fresh food offering and a strong presence of local and regionally sourced products.
Pete says the concept has definitely helped the store to stand out, as the 1800 sq ft site trades less than 100 yards from a multiple convenience store (Tesco Express) that has been there for many years.
“Sales have gone up about 125 per cent overall and alcohol sales have more than doubled,” he says. “The key point of difference is Bargain Booze, because there's no other convenience store in the area that offers the same range of alcohol and that pricing that we can offer. Also, in that particular store, we have a lot of local suppliers for food products.”
Pete believes that the Costcutter takeover by Bestway Wholesale gives retailers more opportunities to buy stock from, in addition to the benefits expected from greater buying power, but he feels that an offer like Co-op own brand range is essential for the success of the stores.
“I think a major, a multiple own brand is vital. Whether it's Co-op or another supermarket own brand, it's important. I don't think having an independent own brand will work. It needs to be a multiple own brand,” he says.
Investing in stores
Pete is one retailer who continuously invests in his stores. He did a major refit of his Brockley store in 2018 and opened the Southborough store in September 2020. Now, the latest one, at Meopham, has seen the site double in size with a big extension.
He is known for his meticulous, data-driven approach to store openings and refurbishments, backed by thorough research of the area and demographic. He also makes use of the data on their customer persona from Costcutter’s Shopper First programme and tailors his range accordingly.
At present, Pete’s priority is to make sure that the refrigeration is up to date. “Because obviously, we are having this [energy bills] issue, so making sure you have got new refrigeration which is more energy efficient. At the moment, we are focusing more on energy consumption. The store has got an older lighting system. We are upgrading it to LED lighting. The next sort of 18 months will be [about] energy efficiency,” he explains.
Costcutter Brockley in Lewisham
While the cost-of-living crisis and inflationary pressures affect the business, Pete hopes that the customers would not abandon their local stores, just as in the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I think people are not going to supermarkets to do a larger weekly shop. They are going to stay more local and do daily shopping,” he says, adding that people would also prefer to have a good meal at home instead of eating out in restaurants. “So they come in and get a good quality meal and a nice bottle of wine, which is going to save them a lot more money than going to a nice posh restaurant.”
He has seen a decline in shoppers since the pandemic restrictions ended, but the sales have now “levelled up”, he reveals. “It's back to what it was. For the last year, if you look month on month, we are now actually up. We are still in a good place.”
Pete agrees that margins are going to be an issue if the current situation persists. “We are seeing price increases on a daily basis at the moment. So I do think margins will become an issue,” he says.
“The advantage I had, well, I've got access to Costcutter, I've got access to Bestway cash and carry, obviously, we have got the margins and so I can shop around and find cheaper goods. Possibly my cost of goods can be reduced by having access to all the different wholesalers,” he adds.
Pete Patel
However, Pete wants retailers to bear in mind that everyone is in this cost-of-living crisis, and this is not the time to make high margins.
“It is important to be reasonable so the customer does feel that they're getting a good value. Running good promotions, making sure they have got good value perception when they come into the store is important,” he suggests.
And it's also important to stock a wide range for your local area, he adds. “I think there's always going to be a requirement for good independent retailers. So someone new is coming in, just do the research of their local area and see what their requirements are.”
The UK retail sector is bracing for a challenging but opportunity-filled 2025, according to Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM UK. While the industry grapples with rising costs and heightened crime, advancements in artificial intelligence and a revival of the high street offer potential pathways to growth, she said.
The latest Budget delivered a tough blow to the retail sector, exacerbating existing financial pressures. Retailers, who already shoulder a significant portion of business rates and rely heavily on a large workforce, face increased costs from rising employers’ National Insurance Contributions.
“Higher costs will also eat into available funds for future pay rises, benefits or pension contributions – hitting retailers’ cashflow in the short term and employees’ remuneration in the longer term,” Baker said.
“Retailers must get creative to manage their margins and attract footfall and spend, plus think outside the box to incentivise employees if they’re to hold onto talented staff.”
On the brighter side, falling inflation and lower interest rates could ease operational costs and restore consumer confidence, potentially driving retail spending upward.
High street resurgence
Consumers’ shopping habits are evolving, with a hybrid approach blending online and in-store purchases. According to RSM UK’s Consumer Outlook, 46 per cent of consumers prefer in-store shopping for weekly purchases, compared to 29 per cent for online, but the preference shifts to 47 per cent for online shopping for monthly buys and to 29 per cent for in-store. The most important in-store aspect for consumers was ease of finding products (59%), versus convenience (37%) for online.
“Tactile shopping experiences remain an integral part of the purchase journey for shoppers, so retailers need to prioritise convenience and the opportunity for discovery to bring consumers back to the high street,” Baker noted.
The government’s initiative to auction empty shops is expected to make brick-and-mortar stores more accessible to smaller, independent retailers, further boosting high street revival, she added.
A security guard stands in the doorway of a store in the Oxford Street retail area on December 13, 2024 in London, EnglandPhoto by Leon Neal/Getty Images
Meanwhile, retail crime, exacerbated by cost-of-living pressures, remains a significant concern, with shoplifting incidents reaching record highs. From organised social media-driven thefts to fraudulent delivery claims, the methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
“Crime has a knock-on effect on both margins and staff morale, so while the government is cracking down on retail crime, retailers also have a part to play by investing in data to prevent and detect theft,” Baker said.
“Data is extremely powerful in minimising losses and improving the overall operational efficiency of the business.”
AI as a game-changer
Artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative force for the retail sector. From personalised product recommendations and inventory optimisation to immersive augmented reality experiences, AI is reshaping the shopping landscape.
“AI will undoubtedly become even more sophisticated over time, creating immersive and interactive experiences that bridge the gap between online and in-store. Emerging trends include hyper-personalisation throughout the entire shopping journey, autonomous stores and checkouts, and enhanced augmented reality experiences to “try” products before buying,” she said, adding that AI will be a “transformative investment” that determines the long-term viability of retail businesses.
The Amazon Fresh store in Ealing, LondonPhoto: Amazon
As financial pressures ease, sustainability is climbing up the consumer agenda. RSM’s Consumer Outlook found 46 per cent would pay more for products that are sustainably sourced, up from 28 per cent last year; while 44 per cent would pay more for products with environmentally friendly packaging, compared to 36 per cent last year.
“However, ESG concerns vary depending on age and income, holding greater importance among high earners and millennials. With financial pressures expected to continue easing next year, we anticipate a renewal of sustainability and environmentally conscious spending habits,” Baker noted.
“Retailers ought to tap into this by understanding the preferences of different demographics and most importantly, their target market.”
Southend-on-Sea City Council officials have secured food condemnation orders from Chelmsford Magistrates Court, resulting in the seizure and destruction of 1,100 unauthorised soft drinks.
The condemned drinks, including Mountain Dew, 7-UP, Mirinda, and G Fuel energy drinks, were found during routine inspections of food businesses across Southend by the council’s environmental health officers.
Council said these products contained either banned additives like Calcium Disodium EDTA or unauthorised novel ingredients such as Potassium Beta-hydroxybutyrate.
Calcium Disodium EDTA has been linked to potential reproductive and developmental effects and may contribute to colon cancer, according to some studies. Potassium Beta-hydroxybutyrate has not undergone safety assessments, making its inclusion in food products unlawful.
Independent analysis certified that the drinks failed to meet UK food safety standards. Magistrates ordered their destruction and ruled that the council's costs, expected to total close to £2,000, be recovered from the businesses involved.
“These products, clearly marketed towards children, contain banned or unauthorised ingredients. Southend-on-Sea City Council will always take action to protect the public, using enforcement powers to ensure unsafe products are removed from sale,” Cllr Kevin Robinson, cabinet member for regeneration, major projects, and regulatory services, said.
“As Christmas approaches, we hope this sends a strong message to businesses importing or selling such products: they risk significant costs and possible prosecution.”
The council urged residents to check labels when purchasing imported sweets and drinks, ensuring they include English-language details and a UK importer's address.
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A customer browses clothes inside Charity Super.Mkt at Brent Cross Shopping centre in north London on, December 17, 2024
Bursting with customers one afternoon the week before Christmas, a second-hand charity shop in London's Marylebone High Street looked even busier than the upscale retailers surrounding it.
One man grabbed two puzzle sets and a giant plush toy as a present for friends, another picked out a notebook for his wife.
“Since the end of September, we've seen a huge uplift in people coming to our shops and shopping pre-loved,” said Ollie Mead, who oversees the shop displays - currently glittering with Christmas decorations - for Oxfam charity stores around London.
At the chain of second-hand stores run by the British charity, shoppers can find used, or "pre-loved", toys, books, bric-a-brac and clothes for a fraction of the price of new items.
Popular for personal shopping, charity stores and online second-hand retailers are seeing an unlikely surge in interest for Christmas gifts, a time of year often criticised for promoting consumerism and generating waste.
A report last month by second-hand retail platform Vinted and consultants RetailEconomics found UK customers were set to spend £2 billion on second-hand Christmas gifts this year, around 10 per cent of the £20 billion Christmas gift market.
A woman browses some of the Christmas gift ideas in a store on December 13, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images
In an Oxfam survey last year, 33 per cent were going to buy second-hand gifts for Christmas, up from 25 percent in 2021.
“This shift is evident on Vinted,” Adam Jay, Vinted's marketplace CEO, told AFP.
“We've observed an increase in UK members searching for 'gift' between October and December compared to the same period last year.”
According to Mead, who has gifted second-hand items for the last three Christmas seasons, sustainability concerns and cost-of-living pressures are “huge factors”.
Skimming the racks at the central London store, doctor Ed Burdett found a keychain and notebook for his wife.
“We're saving up at the moment, and she likes to give things another life. So it'll be the perfect thing for her,” Burdett, 50, told AFP.
“It's nice to spend less, and to know that it goes to a good place rather than to a high street shop.”
'Quirky, weird
Wayne Hemingway, designer and co-founder of Charity Super.Mkt, a brand which aims to put charity shops in empty shopping centres and high street spaces, has himself given second-hand Christmas gifts for “many, many years”.
“When I first started doing it, it was classed as quirky and weird,” he said, adding it was now going more “mainstream”.
Similarly, when he first started selling second-hand clothes over 40 years ago, “at Christmas your sales always nosedive(d) because everybody wanted new”.
Now, however, “we are seeing an increase at Christmas sales just like a new shop would”, Hemingway told AFP.
“Last weekend sales were crazy, the shop was mobbed,” he said, adding all his stores had seen a 20-percent higher than expected rise in sales in the weeks before Christmas.
“Things are changing for the better... It's gone from second-hand not being what you do at Christmas, to part of what you do.”
Young people are driving the trend by making more conscious fashion choices, and with a commitment to a “circular economy” and to “the idea of giving back (in) a society that is being more generous and fair,” he said.
At the store till, 56-year-old Jennifer Odibo was unconvinced.
Buying herself a striking orange jacket, she said she “loves vintage”.
But for most people, she confessed she would not get a used gift. “Christmas is special, it needs to be something they would cherish, something new,” said Odibo.
“For Christmas, I'll go and buy something nice, either at Selfridges or Fenwick,” she added, listing two iconic British department stores.
Hemingway conceded some shoppers “feel that people expect something new” at Christmas.
“We're on a journey. The world is on a journey, but it's got a long way to go,” he added.
According to Tetyana Solovey, a sociology researcher at the University of Manchester, “for some people, it could be a bit weird to celebrate it (Christmas) with reusing.”
“But it could be a shift in consciousness if we might be able to celebrate the new year by giving a second life to something,” Solovey told AFP.
“That could be a very sustainable approach to Christmas, which I think is quite wonderful.”
Lancashire Mind’s 11th Mental Elf fun run was its biggest and best yet – a sell-out event with more than 400 people running and walking in aid of the mental charity, plus dozens more volunteering to make the day a huge success.
The winter sun shone on Worden Park in Leyland as families gathered for either a 5K course, a 2K run, or a Challenge Yours’Elf distance which saw many people running 10K with the usual running gear replaced with jazzy elf leggings, tinsel and Christmas hats.
And now the pennies have been counted, Lancashire Mind has announced that the event raised a fantastic £17,000.
This amount of money allows Lancashire Mind to deliver, for example, its 10-week Bounce Forward resilience programme in eight schools, reaching more than 240 children with skills and strategies that they can carry with them throughout their lives, making them more likely to ‘bounce forward’ through tough times.
The event was headline sponsored by SPAR for a third year through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR UK’s primary retailer, wholesaler, and distributor for the North of England.
“On behalf of the entire team at Lancashire Mind, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 400+ incredible participants who joined us for Mental Elf 2024!” said Organiser Nicola Tomkins, Community and Events Fundraiser at Lancashire Mind.
“Your support, energy and commitment to raising awareness for mental health makes all the difference. Together, we've taken another important step towards breaking the stigma around mental health and promoting wellbeing for all in our community. We couldn't have done it without you!”
Worden Hall became the hub of the event where people could enjoy music from the Worldwise Samba Drummers and BBC stars Jasmine and Gabriella T, plus lots of family friendly activities and a chance to meet Father Christmas. Pets also got in on the act in the best dressed dog competition.
Lancashire Mind CEO David Dunwell said: “It was heart-warming day, full of community spirit and festive cheer, but with a serious aim to raise funds for mental health.
“We are so grateful to everyone who bought a ticket and fundraised or donated to help us smash our target. The money raised goes directly to supporting Lancashire Mind’s life-changing mental health services. These funds help provide wellbeing coaching, support groups, and educational programmes to individuals and families in need of mental health support in our community.”
The concept of Mental Elf was created by Lancashire Mind and news of the event has spread right across the country in recent years, with around 40 other local Mind charities hosting a similar event in 2024.
Lancashire schools were also encouraged to host their own Mental Elf-themed event this year, whether that was a run, bake sale or dress up day, and raised more than £1,000 in total.
Philippa Harrington, Marketing Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “There was a lovely festive feel in the air at Mental Elf and we were delighted to see even more individuals, families, and canine companions taking part in its new home of Worden Park.
“We are also very pleased to see the uptake that Mental Elf has had in schools, and congratulations go to the Lancashire Mind team for taking it to new participants and for raising a fantastic amount of money for an important cause.”
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A woman walks past a window display promoting an ongoing sale, on December 13, 2024 in London, England.
UK retail sales rose less than expected in the runup to Christmas, according to official data Friday that deals a fresh blow to government hopes of growing the economy.
Separate figures revealed a temporary reprieve for prime minister Keir Starmer, however, as public borrowing fell sharply in November.
The updates follow news this week of higher inflation in Britain - an outcome that caused the Bank of England on Thursday to leave interest rates unchanged.
Retail sales by volume grew 0.2 per cent in November after a drop of 0.7 per cent in October, the Office for National Statistics said Friday.
That was less than analysts' consensus for a 0.5-percent gain.
"It is critical delayed spending materialises this Christmas to mitigate the poor start to retail's all-important festive season," noted Nicholas Found, senior consultant at Retail Economics.
"However, cautiousness lingers, slowing momentum in the economy. Households continue to adjust to higher prices (and) elevated interest rates."
He added that consumers were focused on buying "carefully timed promotions and essentials, while deferring bigger purchases".
The ONS reported that supermarkets benefited from higher food sales.
"Clothing stores sales dipped sharply once again, as retailers reported tough trading conditions," said Hannah Finselbach, senior statistician at the ONS.
Retail sales rose 0.2% in November 2024, following a fall of 0.7% in October 2024.
Growth in supermarkets and other non-food stores was partly offset by a fall in clothing retailers.
The Labour government's net borrowing meanwhile dropped to £11.2 billion last month, the lowest November figure in three years on higher tax receipts and lower debt-interest, the ONS added.
The figure had been £18.2 billion in October.
"Borrowing remains subject to upside risks... due to sticky interest rates, driven by markets repricing for fewer cuts in 2025," forecast Elliott Jordan-Doak, senior UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM UK and chair of ICAEW’s Retail Group, commented that the later than usual Black Friday weekend meant November’s retail sales figures saw only a slight uptick as cost-conscious consumers held off to bag a bargain.
“Despite many retailers launching Black Friday offers early, November trade got off to a slow start which dragged on for most of the month. This was driven by clothing which fell to its lowest level since January 2022. The only saving grace was half-term and Halloween spending helped to slightly offset disappointing sales throughout November,” Baker said.
“As consumer confidence continues to build and shoppers return to the high street, this should translate into more retail spending next year. However, there are big challenges coming down the track for the sector, so retailers will be banking on a consumer-led recovery to come to fruition so they can combat a surge in costs.”
Thomas Pugh, economist at RSM UK, added: “The tick up in retail sales volumes in November suggests that the stagnation which has gripped the UK economy since the summer continued into the final months of the year.
“While the recent strong pay growth numbers may make the Bank of England uncomfortable, it means that real incomes are growing at just under 3 per cent, which suggests consumer spending should gradually rise next year. However, consumers remain extremely cautious. The very sharp drop in clothing sales in particular could suggest that consumers are cutting back on non-essential purchases.
“We still expect a rise in consumer spending next year, due to strong wage growth and a gradual decline in the saving rate, to help drive an acceleration in GDP growth. But the risks are clearly building that cautious consumers choose to save rather than spend increases in income, raising the risk of weaker growth continuing through the first half of next year.”