Wholesalers have come together to call on the Government to ensure the sector is included in the forthcoming Crime Bill.
In a letter to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman MP, James Bielby, Chief Executive of the FWD wrote, “The food and drink wholesale sector in the UK is integral to the operation of 72,000 retailers and 350,000 caterers, the majority of which are small businesses.
"With approximately £10 billion-worth of trade passing through Cash-and-Carry depots, it has become commonplace for personal belongings and purchases, including bags of tobacco worth up to £5,000 to be stolen from customers in cash and carry car parks and then sold on the unrestricted black market.” There has also been an increase in thefts of tobacco from wholesale vehicles in transit, with limited police response.
FWD says that the loss of these high-value items is costing legitimate wholesale business and the Exchequer and that more support is needed from the police. Wholesalers have played their part by investing in crime prevention measures and in some cases, criminals have been caught on CCTV, yet cases are often unpursued by the police.
“Many thefts potentially endanger our members, their employees, and customers,” Mr Bielby says. Incorporating wholesale in the Crime Bill will help support both individuals and businesses.
As part of its ongoing commitment to support its wholesale members, FWD’s crime reporting system collates incidents to better monitor the rate and severity of these crimes. This follows a recent crime survey by FWD where 100 per cent of wholesalers surveyed, representing 80 per cent of the wholesale industry, identified crime as one of their foremost concerns, primarily attributed to inadequate police responsiveness.
FWD also convenes a Crime Forum for members to discuss the impact of rising cases of wholesale crime.
FWD says that improved police prioritisation of thefts at cash and carry premises is vital, as is continued funding for law enforcement measures in this area. Proposed age restrictions on the purchase of tobacco could lead to increased crimes against wholesalers, driving black market sales to supply customers who are too young to buy tobacco legally.
“FWD welcomes the launch of the Retail Crime Action Plan and the Government’s plans to introduce a Crime Bill in the King’s speech,” Bielby says. “However, it is vital for the wholesale industry to be considered and represented in these plans to tackle crime.
‘Routes to Regen’, an innovative farm Lighthouse Project, has today been launched by members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) to demonstrate how regenerative farming can be made into a more attractive business proposition for UK farmers when supported by cross-sector collaboration.
The project, which will take place in the East of England throughout 2025, aims to address the environmental challenges posed by the global food system, which is responsible for approximately 30 per cent of human-produced greenhouse gas emissions and remains the biggest driver of nature loss.
While the benefits of regenerative farming are well established, research by the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Agribusiness Hub has found that economic risk and a fragmented support system often deter farmers from making the transition.
This project will see leading food and finance businesses including McCain Foods, McDonald's, Lloyds Banking Group, Waitrose & Partners, NatWest, Barclays, Aon, Tokio Marine Kiln and Lloyd’s, turn insights from this research into action.
It aims to demonstrate a united approach in tackling barriers to transition by consolidating and simplifying support mechanisms into a clear and accessible framework for farmers alongside expert support to help farmers select the best solutions for their unique business.
The project will be programme-managed by The Royal Countryside Fund, with on-farm advice from Ceres Rural and will provide participating farmers with a ‘menu’ of support such as:
Financial support: Awareness of the discounted capital available, business planning advice, opportunities to supply rotational crops, discounted seeds for cover crops and pollinators, weather insurance, advice to make best use of public funding schemes.
Technical support: Research and trial insights, connections to local livestock farmers, assistance with measurement/data collection such as discounted soil sampling.
Peer-to-Peer support: Opportunities to attend demonstration days and knowledge sharing events.
By taking a whole farm approach, the programme aims to reduce risk for the farmer, increase adoption rates, and make regenerative agriculture a more viable and attractive choice for farmers.
The support options have been provided by the SMI members leading the work alongside other companies and initiatives operating in the region including ADM, British Sugar, Burgess Farms, Cranswick plc, Farm Carbon Toolkit, Frontier, Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs), Muntons, North Farm Livestock, Soil Association Exchange, Sustainable Food Trust and Wildfarmed.
The project will also test SAI Platform’s recently developed Regenerating Together Framework, which offers a globally aligned definition and farmer-centric approach for regenerative agriculture, as the basis for its measurement and evaluation.
The group intends to showcase learning from the project to other organisations aiming to accelerate regenerative farming around the world, with ambitions for it to be replicated in other regions, with more support for farmers added.
A key area of opportunity will be leveraging the Sustainable Markets Initiative's network of over 250 CEOs globally, to unite the food, finance, and insurance sectors, facilitating the essential collaboration needed.
Charlie Angelakos, Vice President, Global External Affairs and Sustainability, McCain Foods, said, “We are proud to be spearheading this pioneering pilot project. McCain and other SMI members are already leading the charge in driving initiatives that incentivise and encourage the regenerative transition for farmers.
"But potatoes represent just one crop in the rotation and we know we can’t do this alone. Achieving scale requires a whole farm approach and collaboration across industry is essential to achieving that.
"This project will build on and unite existing initiatives, simplifying and making the transition a more viable and accessible choice for the farmer.”
Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, said: “The Routes to Regen project builds on the significant work undertaken by the Sustainable Markets Initiative's Agribusiness Hub that identified that financial risk and a fragmented support system were key barriers to the adoption of regenerative farming practices.
"It exemplifies the power of cross-sector collaboration that the SMI is uniquely positioned to facilitate and aims to demonstrate a new model for how industries can unite to drive sustainable change on a global scale.”
Keith Halstead, Executive Director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said, “At The Royal Countryside Fund, we know that farming in a sustainable way can often feel overwhelming for busy farmers who are facing relentless social, environmental and economic challenges.
"This new programme, Routes to Regen, was created with them in mind, making regenerative farming practices feel more achievable by bringing together resources and rewards from industry-leading businesses into one, easy-to-access package, which will be discussed on farm. We look forward to managing its implementation”.
Beth Hart, Chief Sustainability & Social Impact Officer, McDonald’s, said: “Regenerative agriculture presents us with a critical opportunity to secure a long-term, sustainable future for farming.
"We're continuing to test and learn but we already know that implementing regenerative practices requires real and lasting partnership across the supply chain to support and incentivise farmers to adopt these practices.
"We are delighted to be a part in developing and testing the SMI’s blueprint, helping to create a comprehensive menu of support for farmers that puts them in control. This initiative aligns with McDonald’s broader sustainability goals and our commitment to driving positive change in the food industry.
"We are excited about the potential to set a new model for industry collaboration through this pilot so we can inspire global adoption of regenerative farming practices.”
Andrew Walton, Chief Sustainability Officer & Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Lloyds Banking Group, said, “Engaging the food supply chain is critical to accelerating support for the agricultural sector as it transitions. As the largest finance provider to UK farms, we have a clear role to play in supporting farmers as they move to more sustainable practices.
"This new pilot is an important step in providing farmers with the tools they need to increase their resilience and profitability as they transition, in line with our purpose of helping Britain prosper”.
Ian Burrow, Head of Agriculture, NatWest, said: “We have a strong track record in supporting farmers, having financed and supported UK Agriculture for over 200 years. Our experience in collaborating right across the supply chain has helped create the right outcomes for farmers and the environment.
"This means we know that contributing to Routes to Regen, combining our expertise and support with that of others, will make the pilot a success and show farmers that regenerative methods can be attractive as a business proposition.
"We know this is a challenging time for farmers, so we are committed to fully supporting the sector”.
Dana Clouston, Head of Sustainable Finance, Business Bank Barclays, said, “Barclays has supported UK farmers for over 280 years - working with them through many periods of change, and now is no different.
"The Routes to Regen project is an example of the systems-wide action needed across the whole value chain to support farmers innovate and adapt, and we look forward to working with partners through the SMI to help the UK’s farmers take meaningful steps to embed and scale regenerative practices”.
Donald Lunan, CEO, Landscape Enterprise Networks, said: “Landscape Enterprise Networks is built on facilitating collaborative partnerships to deliver positive outcomes for farmers, businesses and communities- helping to create vibrant, resilient and productive landscapes.
"We are very excited to be part of the 'Routes to Regen'; initiative with SMI and their partners. We look forward to sharing our experience of working across the East of England and supporting more farmers and businesses on their regen journey”.
Andy Cato, Co-Founder, Wildfarmed, said, “Being part of Routes to Regen is a fantastic way to speed the transition to nature based regenerative agriculture. Much has been learnt in building our Wildfarmed community of growers and in the fields from their collective experiences.
"Much also from finding ways to give as many high street consumers as possible access to food grown by these farmers. So we’re delighted to support Routes to Regen members who might benefit from these experiences, and to learn from theirs.
"We know just how hard it is to challenge the inertia of a complex and entrenched food system and to redefine what the current system values. The only way to do so is through collaboration and this project is doing a brilliant job in enabling that.”
Joseph Gridley, CEO, Soil Association Exchange, said: "Farmers need clear, practical support to transition to regenerative practices, and this pilot is a significant step toward making that happen.
"At Soil Association Exchange, we’re excited to contribute our data-driven approach, coupled with independent advice and access to new funding opportunities, to help farmers make informed, confident decisions that enhance both their profitability and the environment”.
The Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Agribusiness Hub was launched in 2020 with the aim of accelerating the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices within the industry, while ensuring positive partnerships with the world's farmers.
In 2022, its ‘Scaling Regenerative Farming: An Action Plan’ identified five key barriers to adoption—costs, policy, sourcing, metrics, and income—while its 2023 report ‘Levers for Implementation’ outlined a blueprint for businesses to drive change.
More recently, in January 2025, the Agribusiness Transition Hub launched a practical guide using UK insights, led by Lloyds Banking Group, to increase cross-industry collaboration and public and private sector alignment to support efforts to scale regenerative agriculture.
With this innovative project, members of the Hub are now putting those insights into action, aiming to demonstrate how a united approach can accelerate adoption and unlock long-term sustainability for farmers worldwide.
A leading retail association representing thousands of independent businesses across the UK has outlined its key priorities ahead of the Chancellor's Spring budget statement.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to address three crucial areas to support independent retailers and revitalise high streets across the UK.
Goodacre said, "While we understand this Spring statement may not introduce major tax changes, we believe there are vital areas where the Government must demonstrate its commitment to the future of British high streets."
For the upcoming Spring budget on March 26, Goodacre has outlined three key priorities.
He said: "We need to see continued investment for town centres and high streets across the country to maintain momentum in regeneration efforts.
"The Government must also ensure that policing is fully funded to properly address retail crime, which has become increasingly concerning for our members.
"Additionally, we're calling for economic development to become a statutory requirement for local authorities, creating consistency in how high streets are supported nationwide."
Goodacre added, "Independent retailers form the backbone of our high streets and local economies.
"With the challenges facing the retail sector, including the aftermath of the pandemic and current economic pressures, it's essential that the Government prioritises support for our members."
Bira, which works with 6,000 independent retailers across Britain. It also includes members of Retra, the specialist trade association for independent electrical retailers and servicing organisations, and the ACT (Association of Cycle Traders).
Goodacre's appeal comes days after it emerged in a report that retailers across the nation’s flagship high streets are facing rising costs while many are considering reviewing their investment strategies while some are potentially facing permanent closure.
According to fresh analysis from pro-growth group High Streets UK, rising operational costs is the most pressing issue businesses are facing.
The survey revealed that the majority of businesses set to be impacted by the new higher multiplier (69 per cent) will seek to manage costs by reviewing staffing requirements – threatening up to 5,500 jobs in these locations.
64 per cent of those impacted businesses will consider passing on the additional costs to consumers, with analysis suggesting that prices would need to rise by around 3 per cent to offset the increased tax burden.
A third of affected businesses are considering reviewing their investment strategies in the UK (34 per cent) or closing certain locations (31 per cent) as a result.
This could put up to 600 trading units at risk, with over 200 potentially facing permanent closure.
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Pricer Electronic Shelf Labels at a Company Shop store
Surplus supermarket Company Shop has partnered with Pricer, the leading in-store automation and communication solutions provider, to roll out Pricer’s in-store solution based on Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) to its entire UK store estate of supermarkets.
The partnership will enable Company Shop to optimise in-store operations and improve labour productivity, while leveraging dynamic pricing to help customers access good food at the best prices and reduce food waste.
Company Shop ‘surplus supermarkets’ sell discounted surplus from over 800 brands, retailers and manufacturers to its members who meet specific criteria. Each year, it redistributes over 100 million items across multiple categories and prevents 122,000 Tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
As a surplus supermarket, Company Shop’s assortment of shorter shelf-life goods changes rapidly, often multiple times daily, requiring frequent updates to product information at the shelf-edge. Additionally, its commitment to offering its members the best value meant store colleagues were conducting several manual pricing changes throughout the day. This manual shelf-edge tasking required significant labour hours, and the installation of Pricer’s in-store solution for communication and digitalisation will create operational efficiencies, enabling store colleagues’ time to be used elsewhere within the stores.
Partnering with Pricer, Company Shop has digitally transformed the shelf edge with dynamic pricing and markdown capabilities. The centrally controlled ESLs deliver automated real-time pricing updates direct to the shelf-edge throughout the day, boosting labour productivity. Already the ESLs have contributed to a 5 per cent improvement in productivity whilst also allowing store colleagues to focus on customer service-oriented rather than manual tasks, such as checking or updating prices.
The ESLs have contributed to a 5 per cent improvement in productivity
As well as a significant operational cost saving, the dynamic pricing capabilities have also improved pricing accuracy. This ensures Company Shop’s members always receive the best value prices, while also encouraging sell-through on short shelf-life surplus goods to further reduce wastage.
“Introducing Pricer’s ESLs has been a game-changer – not just for our store colleagues, who have seen labour productivity boosted and their time freed to focus on delivering customer service, but especially for our members,” Gemma Edlin, Head of Retail at Company Shop, commented.
“Our vision is to create a world where no surplus products go to waste, so with real-time and to-the-second accurate pricing via the ESLs, our members know they’ll always be getting the very best price on offer, meaning more sell-through and less waste.”
Peter Ward, UK Country Manager at Pricer, added: “Company Shop has found a smart way to reduce food waste, which supports the FMCG sector and key workers by providing access to good food that would have otherwise been wasted, while also helping to reduce the impact of waste on the environment. And this means it really is delivering a win-win for both people and planet. With dynamic pricing capabilities, our ESLs mean more Company Shop members can access the best prices available, while store colleagues can control pricing efficiently while also focusing on those service delivery tasks that drive up customer experience and satisfaction.”
Already live in Company Shop’s St Helens and Long Eaton stores, Pricer will complete the rollout of its ESLs across all 13 Company Shop stores by the end of March partnering with Renovote on the in-store installations.
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Butlin’s Invests in Nisa Stores to Enhance Guest Experience
Holiday resort operator Butlin’s has revealed a significant investment in its on-site Nisa supermarkets, with a focus on improving customer experience and meeting the evolving needs of its guests.
This enhancement includes upgrades to two stores at its Skegness resort and improvements at Minehead and Bognor Regis.
The investments highlight Butlin’s’ commitment to providing exceptional retail services alongside its renowned holiday offerings.
As part of the upgrade, the larger Skegness store will adopt the Nisa Local fascia, while the smaller store will be rebranded under the Nisa Express fascia.
Nisa, which supplies five convenience stores across the Butlin’s estate, is a trusted partner in delivering high-quality products and exceptional service to guests.
The convenience retail sector in holiday resorts like Butlin’s continues to grow, with recent market data highlighting the increasing importance of on-site retail options for enhancing guest satisfaction.
Guests on both family holidays or adult only Big Weekender breaks now expect more from their holiday experience, and Butlin’s’ investment reflects this trend, offering a more comprehensive and accessible range of products at a competitive price.
Hannah Higgs, Retail Ops Support Partner at Butlin’s, said, “At Butlin’s, we’re always looking for ways to enhance our guests’ experience for both our family holidays and adult only Big Weekenders, and our convenience stores play a vital role in that.
"This investment allows us to offer a better selection of products, whether for a quick snack, a family meal, or holiday essentials. Working with Nisa has been instrumental in helping us meet the high expectations of our guests.”
Darren Bacon, Key Account Manager at Nisa, commented on the collaboration, “We are delighted to support Butlin’s in this significant investment in their convenience stores.
"Through our partnership, we’re helping to ensure that guests have access to Co-op’s trusted own-brand products, a wide-ranging assortment of essentials and treats, and reliable product availability. These upgrades will undoubtedly elevate the retail experience for Butlin’s guests.”
In addition to improving its retail offering, Butlin’s continues to give back to the community through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) initiative.
The company recently processed a £6,500 donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital through MADL.The money raised for Butlin’s’ charity partner Great Ormond Street Hospital will go directly towards a new world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre.
This is a unique facility which aims to improve the outcome for children with cancer.This latest investment reinforces Butlin’s’ position as a leader in the UK holiday market, combining best in class entertainment, accommodation, and now an enhanced retail experience.
As the company continues to develop its offerings, guests can look forward to an even better Butlin’s experience for years to come.
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Autumn Budget impacts small convenience store owners.
Convenience retailers are being advised by industry body ACS to make sure their business is ready for changes coming into force in April as a result of the Autumn Budget, which will increase costs for many, but for some of the smallest retailers may result in some savings.
The National Insurance Rate paid by employers currently stands at 13.8 per cent.
This will increase to 15 per cent from April, with the point at which employers beginning to pay NICs reducing from £9,100 a year to £5,000 a year.
For example, in a typical store (nine colleagues, 196 total paid hours per week), the change in NICs will result in an increase to the business’ annual Employer NICs bill from £8,170 per year to around £12,606 per year before claiming Employment Allowance.
Business rates bills are also set to increase due to the reduction in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief, which will fall from 75 per cent to 40 per cent.
For example, a store with a rate-able value of £25,000 which applies the small business rate multiplier (x0.499) and the RHL reduction (40 per cent) will now face a payable rate of £7,485, more than double what it was in 2024.
Businesses in Wales will continue to receive 40 per cent RHL relief, and Scotland currently has no relief for retail businesses.
Retailers should also be prepared for increases to the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates.
For employees who are over the age of 21, NLW rates will rise from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour
For employees aged 18-20, the NMW will rise from £8.60 to £10.00 an hour
For under 18s and apprentices, the NMW will rise from £6.40 to £7.55 an hour.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “The convenience sector has shown its resilience over the past year, continuing to grow despite the challenges faced from operational costs and retail crime.
"However, the increases introduced by the Budget will only ramp up the pressure on local shops, making it difficult for retailers to make a profit so they can grow and invest in their businesses.”
ACS is calling on retailer to claim their annual employment allowance, which is rising from £5,000 to £10,500.
"This is a vital way to reduce your overall Employer National Insurance bill. If you haven’t already, you can also claim the Employment Allowance for the past four years," states ACS.