Mohsin and Zuber Issa, the brothers who recently acquired supermarket chain Asda, have been awarded with CBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Richard Pennycook, former chief executive of the Co-operative Group, has also been awarded with a CBE.
The Indian-origin Issa brothers, working with private equity firm TDR Capital, have brought back Asda to UK ownership earlier this month, agreeing to buy the No.3 supermarket from Walmart for an enterprise value of £6.8 billion.
Commenting on the recognition they said: “We are truly honoured to have received a CBE and would like to thank the many people that have helped us along the way, including colleagues, partners, the people of Lancashire and our family.
“When we bought our first petrol forecourt in Bury almost 20 years ago, we could never have dreamed that we would be collecting such a prestigious award today.”
The brothers are known for the fast-expanding forecourt operator EG Group, which now runs almost 6,000 sites across 10 countries.
Initially called Euro Garages, the Issa brothers founded the Blackburn-based group in 2001, acquiring a single petrol filling station in Bury, Greater Manchester.
The recent acquisitions of the group include forecourt groups in the US and Australia, Little Chef roadside cafes and a major Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in the UK.
The group has expanded to the US in April 2018 acquiring the convenience store business of Kroger and branched out to Australia in November that year with the purchase of petrol business of Woolworths Group.
The brothers each own a quarter of £10 billion EG Group. TDR Capital now owns half of the group.
Their parents came to the UK from Gujarat, India, in the 1960s. They attended their local comprehensive school in Blackburn and began their careers working in their father’s local petrol station.
“We plan to step up our contribution to good causes through our charitable foundations and this award will inspire us to do even more to support people in the communities that we operate, particularly the North of England,” they added.
In 2019, EG Group reported revenues of more than €20bn (£17.9bn). The Issa brothers were placed in the ninth position in the Eastern Eye Asian Rich List 2019 with an estimated worth of £1.5 billion.
Richard Pennycook, who currently serves as the chairman of Boparan Holdings, the holding company of 2 Sisters Food Group, is credited for saving the Co-op from collapse after the financial problems of the Co-operative Bank. He joined the consumer co-operative in 2013 as chief financial officer and served as the chief executive from March 2014 and February 2017.
He later served British Retail Consortium as chair till May 2020. His previous executive roles include Board positions at Morrisons, the RAC, Bulmers and J D Wetherspoon.
The Honours List has several names from the grocery industry, recognising the frontline role of shop workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asda has won big in the list with eight colleagues receiving recognition. Imran Rashid Dawji, human resource administrator at Asda head office, received an MBE in recognition of his work in creating a recruitment process that allowed the retailer to bring on board an extra 25,000 temporary colleagues.
“It was a pivotal time to ensure everything was close to perfect as we had a duty to ensure support was provided to everyone around the country,” Davji said.
“Myself and the team bought into the idea that this work would be accomplished by knowing conscientiousness would be imperative whilst working outside of process. Hard work and tenacity were the key ingredients of this success and gave impetus to this journey over the past few months.
“I would like to thank my manager and all my colleagues. Our success would not have been possible without your unwavering support and encouragement. Thank you.”
Seven other Asda colleagues received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for going above and beyond for their local communities. They include: Geoff Norris, home shopping driver at Asda Wisbech; Julie Cook, community champion at Asda Aberdare; Karen Clark, e-commerce customer trading manager at Asda Ellesmere Port; Lucy Mansell-Render, nights department manager at Asda North East Clothing Depot, Washington; Samantha D’Souza, community champion at Asda Hayes; Simon Lea, general store manager at Asda Altrincham (previously Marple); and Faisal Tuddy, Asda house superintendent pharmacist.
Two colleagues from Tesco, Jayne Griffiths, community champion in Llandrindod Wells, Powys and Philip Richards, lead people partner are bestowed with an MBE and another, Theresa Fisher, community champion in Gloucester is awarded a BEM.
Four colleagues from Sainsbury's received BEM, and they are: Andrew Dunsmore, food services assistant in Bromley, Kent; Margaret Gurney, services assistant in Amersham, Buckinghamshire; Rani Kaur, food services assisant in Bedford and Eugenia Lyle, customer experience colleague at Derry.
Jean Hughes, who works as a trade Improvement and response manager at the Co-op, has won an MBE and Liz McClean, a store manager at the Co-op’s Brodick store on the Isle of Arran, has been awarded a BEM.
McClean has made her store the centre of the Isle of Arran’s community response to the coronavirus crisis, including working round the clock to ensure deliveries were made to hundreds of elderly and vulnerable members.
“It was a feeling of disbelief when I received the letter, I thought it was a joke at first! I love our customers to bits, they are brilliant. And, the way the community has responded has been incredible,” she commented.
“Local businesses, volunteers, community groups, the local authorities and especially the Port Manager of Calmac, all helping the community to get through this together. In addition, the whole Co-op team has been fantastic - so it feels like this is as much in recognition of all their hard work too. I really am delighted.”
Hughes was recognised for working closely with frontline retail workers and the Co-op’s central support centre. Her work ensured feedback and insight from Co-op’s 2,600 food stores was gathered, prioritised and acted upon – initiating and implementing a range of key measures in communities to ensure colleagues, customers and the most vulnerable in society were supported throughout.
Hughes commented: “I never expected anything like this. It really hasn’t sunk in as yet – it is an incredible feeling to be recognised and honoured in this way.”
Adam Smith, food delivery driver at Iceland store in Rustington, West Sussex won a BEM.
He worked more than 220 additional hours to visit customers, collect their shopping lists, do their shopping for them in store, and then drop off their supplies later on. Identifying that some customers had nowhere else to turn, he would leave his personal mobile and home phone numbers alongside the delivery of shopping.
Smith, whose father is a recipient of the medal, said he was “absolutely amazed” to receive the award.
“My family are very proud with what I have achieved, and when I told my father he was beaming with pride, even more so because he received a similar award over 25 years ago which I had the pleasure of attending with him at the Palace. I am so pleased that I was able to serve my community and give help to people when they had no one else to turn to for help,” he said.
Sharon McKendrick, store manager at Morrisons in Coldstream, Berwickshire has also received a BEM.
From Waitrose, Alex Bonsu has been named for BEM. Started working at John Lewis in High Wycombe, he began at Waitrose Beaconsfield as a delivery driver five years ago.
Commenting on the medal, he said: "It's really amazing and something that I never thought would happen. Through being a delivery driver during the pandemic I feel that I have been able to support my local community more than ever before.
“Both myself and my family are so happy that I have been awarded a place on the List and I can't wait to share the news with the other Partners in the shop."
Pontrilas postmistress Sonya Cary received a BEM for services to rural communities in Herefordshire, recognising her work to help combat loneliness and malnutrition in the elderly.
Cary, who has not taken a day off in two years, runs the Post Office, shop, café, gym and weekly lunch club for the local community and those who don’t have family or other pastoral support. She runs her branch with a team of volunteers alongside a social enterprise as part of the national charity ‘C.A.R.E. CIC’.
“It feels surreal to receive this honour. The community will be bowled over by the news,” she said.
“The lockdown was stressful. We had to adapt what we could offer as the need was even greater to stop isolation and malnutrition. Many elderly men are not good at looking after themselves. We serve 23 villages in Herefordshire and during the pandemic we were also getting requests from over the border in Wales for lunch and prescription deliveries.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic Pontrilas Post Office has operated services seven days a week, and provided a wide variety of services to community residents including arranging deliveries of groceries to the vulnerable and Sunday lunches to isolated people
“The Post Office is at the centre of what we do. Without the Post Office we couldn’t have been able to provide the lunch club and gym. People don’t think of what we offer as care, they think about it as a Post Office with social centre and gym attached,” she added.
innocent drinks, Europe’s leading healthy drinks company, is announcing a new partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity as it advances its mission to help people live well through the delicious goodness of fruits and vegetables.
Government statistics reveal that just one third of adults, and 12 per cent of 11–18-year-olds, are managing to get the recommended “Five a Day”. This is even starker for lower-income families, with the most deprived fifth of adults consuming 37 per cent less fruit and veg than the least deprived, and their children 29 per cent.
innocent is launching its partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity by teaming up with Co-op, to help donate a portion of fruit & veg for every smoothie bought in stores. The charity helps families in need to buy and eat more fresh fruit & veg. Until 19th November 2024, innocent will donate the cost of a portion of fruit and veg (£0.24) to the Alexandra Rose Charity for every “Mango & Passionfruit” and “Strawberry & Banana” smoothie sold in UK Co-op stores.
innocent’s partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity will see a total of 520,000 portions of fruit & veg donated by the end of the year through the charity’s Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project. Rose Vouchers are given out to families every week, helping them to afford fresh fruit and veg from local markets for them and their children.
John Taylor, General Manager for UK & Ireland, innocent Drinks commented,“At innocent, we’re on a mission to help make sure everyone can access the delicious goodness of fruit and veg - its why our drinks are crammed full of the stuff. Eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables is key to a healthy and nutritious diet, but we know that lots of us aren’t getting enough of it. Lower-income families face significant barriers to ensuring they can give their children the nutrition they need.
"Our partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity, and campaign with Co-op marks an ongoing commitment to helping improve access for everyone so they can unlock the health benefits of a balanced diet.”
Jonathan Pauling, Chief Executive at Alexandra Rose Charity, commented, “We are thrilled to be working with innocent Drinks and the Co-op to raise awareness of the challenges that families up and down the country are facing in affording to put healthy food on the table for them and their children. Food related ill-health costs the UK 98 billion a year, to the NHS, the economy and society.
"The long-term consequences of a lack of access to healthy food has a detrimental effect on health, wellbeing, and life chances. Through the funds raised from this promotion, we will be able to help families in need to make sure they can give their children the best possible start with a diet rich in fresh fruit & veg.”
Sinead Bell, Co-op’s Commercial Director, commented,“Supporting campaigns that address the issue of food poverty and access to food is important to us and the millions of Co-op member owners, and we are proud to be partnering with innocent on this fantastic initiative across our stores.”innocent drinks and Co-op team up to donate portions of fruit and veg
As the final key retail season of the year approaches, Nisa retailer NP Group is gearing up for Christmas with a renewed focus on store activation and point-of-sale (POS) strategy to drive sales following a successful Halloween.
With seasonal shopping trends in full swing, effective in-store activation and visibility are crucial for smaller retailers to capture customer attention and keep up with larger competitors. Data from Retail Economics shows that UK shoppers spent approximately £10 billion on seasonal products in 2023, with Halloween contributing £650 million alone, marking a steady increase in seasonal shopping over recent years.
POS and store activation remain pivotal in capturing these sales opportunities, as shoppers are more likely to make purchases when displays are both visually engaging and convenient to access.
Anthony Furnell, Head of Retail Operations at NP Group, which operates six stores, has significant experience in retailing. From his background with major retailers and suppliers, he understands that capitalising on seasonal periods is critical for convenience stores.
“Seasonal activation is really important. It’s a very competitive sector, and we’re not just competing with large supermarkets; we’re competing for convenience and ease for our customers. If a customer doesn’t see it, they don’t potentially buy it, so activation is key.”
NP Group’s Halloween strategy this year exemplifies how store activation can capture attention and improve sales. The Darwen store has allocated a dedicated Halloween space, complete with a hanging spider from the ceiling, vinyl window displays, and strategic POS items like floor stickers and overhead signs. This dynamic approach engages customers, driving incremental purchases and creating a one-stop shop for seasonal needs.
However, it’s not one-size-fits-all; each store location is tailored based on size, layout, and customer demographics.
“Our Menston store, for example, is our smallest, so we have to be selective about our seasonal range. Space is key—making sure the displays are in the right place is essential,” Anthony notes. “We’ve also have a group store WhatsApp to share best practices and ideas across locations, ensuring a cohesive yet unique seasonal activation for each store.”
Planning and evaluation are equally important in maximising seasonal sales. To meet the varying demands of each store, NP Group conducts pre-sales planning and end-of-season evaluations, which allows them to better anticipate the stock and POS materials required for future seasonal events.
“By evaluating what sold well and what didn’t, we can refine our approach and ensure we’re offering the right products in the right places for customers,” explains Anthony. “Seasonal displays and POS act as magnets that draw the eye and engage customers on a whole new level. In today’s fast-paced retail environment, it’s vital to have a captivating, well-organised space for seasonal items that entices shoppers, encourages browsing, and, ultimately, drives incremental sales.”
In addition to Halloween, Christmas activation is also underway, with stores gradually introducing festive products.
According to Anthony, “Christmas is another significant period where creative, well-placed POS and choice can create a festive in-store experience, encouraging customers to shop locally and find what they need without visiting larger stores.”
Both Halloween and Christmas offer strong opportunities for convenience retailers to increase footfall and improve basket spend. The rise in seasonal spending in convenience settings, combined with strategic activation, ensures that stores remain competitive and relevant for shoppers seeking both impulse buys and essential items.
For retailers, these activation strategies not only boost sales but also enhance customer satisfaction by creating an engaging shopping experience that keeps them coming back throughout the winter season.
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Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Around two thirds (65 per cent) of people affected by the Horizon scandal have said it impacted their family and relationships, while many respondents report estrangement from family members because of the scandal, according to a paper published today (1) by the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry’s listening project.
The paper title In Your Own Words illustrates the various challenges the Horizon scandal has inflicted on people’s relationships, with respondents reporting the breakdown of relationships, estrangement from family members, and acute loneliness. Some adult children of former sub-postmasters shared how they experienced bullying, financial issues and mental health struggles because of the scandal. Others reported how their parents have died before knowing the truth about the Horizon scandal, which magnified their grief.
For many the post office was a family business legacy, making subsequent issues more impactful. Many reference their parents dying before knowing the truth about Horizon, magnifying the grief of these bereavements.
240 people — including current and former sub-postmasters, family and friends — have anonymously submitted their stories to In Your Own Words so far. This paper covers responses from March 2024 to August 2024.
Some of the anonymous responses mentioned in the paper are as follows:
"“I’m 66. I’ve lost 18 years of a good relationship with my daughter. I’ve lost me.”
“My children had their childhoods abruptly taken from them when the gravity of the situation became too serious for me to shield them any longer.”
“My mother was worried for us and put a lot of her savings into the account. These savings were meant to be left to her grandchildren a regret I will live with until I die.”
“Seeing the effect on my children was extremely difficult and remains a sore subject for me to this day.”
“We would like to clear Dad’s name, so that this isn’t a part of our families inherited trauma and that his memory left is true.”
“What amount of compensation would be adequate for the stress and pain endured over two decades? What would be considered sufficient?”
“The scandal put an enormous strain on our young family. Instead of enjoying the early years of our marriage and our daughter's childhood, we were consumed by the issues at the Post Office. The stress affected our relationship, leading to frequent arguments and a pervasive sense of frustration and helplessness. Our daughter, though too young to understand, was indirectly impacted by the tension and reduced quality time with her parents.”
“My wife has replaced thousands of pounds of money that she thought she had lost due to her illness and died feeling a failure.”
The wholesalers have welcomed several measures announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's first budget but have raised concern the increase in National Living Wage and Employers National Insurance contributions will add an estimated £110 million in direct wage costs to the wholesale sector.
The wholesalers also pointed out that the lack of clarity on business rates reform means that wholesalers operating large physical premises remain disproportionately impacted by high rates. Without meaningful reform and a set timeline, these businesses will continue to shoulder a heavier burden than those in sectors with minimal property overhead.
Responding to the budget statement, Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) Chief Executive James Bielby stated, “We are pleased to see a number of positive steps in today’s budget that will bolster the wholesale sector. The freeze on fuel duty for another year is a welcome relief for wholesalers facing rising costs, allowing for greater stability in our operations.
“We also commend the government’s commitment to increasing support to combat retail crime, which is essential for protecting wholesalers, but we must ensure that wholesalers are included within this to ensure a safe environment for all businesses in the supply chain.
“Over the coming weeks, we look forward to working closely with the government to ensure that our members, who are central to driving economic growth, are given the support they need within an uncertain economic climate.”
Increase in Employer National Insurance contributions
Wholesale body pointed out that the planned increase in employer National Insurance contributions will significantly impact food and drink wholesalers who are already facing mounting operational costs.
With the Employer National Insurance contribution rate rising from 13.8% to 15.8%, this change represents an additional £30.9 million in yearly NI costs for the sector.
Bielby said, "This increase adds financial pressure on businesses striving to support their workforce while maintaining competitive pricing in a challenging market. We urge the government to set out what support will be provided to wholesalers, particularly the many small businesses that are the lifeblood of the country, to ensure they can continue to invest in their people and operations without compromising their viability.”
Fuel duty freeze and Alcohol duty increase
FWD has also welcomed the decision to freeze fuel duty for another year, which provides much-needed relief for wholesalers who rely on transportation to deliver goods.
Bielby pointed out that this freeze will help mitigate some of the financial pressures facing the sector, allowing businesses to manage costs more effectively.
Delaying the alcohol duty increase until February 2025 provides wholesalers some time to prepare, FWD stated. However, the rise will still present substantial challenges in terms of adjusting prices, managing stock, and maintaining supply chain stability.
Biekby said, "We encourage the government to collaborate with wholesalers to ensure the transition is smooth and that unintended consequences, such as increased costs and disruptions, are minimised.”
FWD has also welcome the government’s increased support to combat retail crime and the commitment to clamp down on organised crime. While these measures are crucial in protecting the retail sector, it is essential that the same level of attention and resources is extended to wholesalers, Bielby said, adding that the wholesale sector plays a vital role in the supply chain, and any rise in retail crime not only impacts its members directly but also has broader implications for the economy and society.
Raising caution in terms of tobacco tax, Bielby stated that the implementation of such measures must be carefully considered to ensure it works for wholesalers as well.
"A tax increase should not drive consumers towards illicit markets, which could undermine the goals of the health agenda and create further challenges for legitimate businesses," he said.
The Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has launched an exclusive benefits scheme for Fed members.
Called FedPlus, the scheme offers a range of discounts on a host of goods and activities, from everyday purchases to luxury products.
Through FedPlus, Fed members will have access to a range of fantastic money-saving benefits covering a wide variety of areas – from health and well-being to home and car essentials, and from food and drink to fashion and tech, entertainment, travel and experiences.
There is a Savings Calculator to show how much has been saved, based on monthly or annual spending, on a range of everyday categories. The Savings Calculator will generate a personal savings total and provide links to the individual deals.
Launching FedPlus, National President Mo Razzaq said: “In my inaugural speech at the Fed’s Annual Conference in June, I spoke about the importance of providing more benefits to help members make money, save money and make business easier.
“Just four months on, we are delighted to bring you FedPlus. This is an exciting new addition to our ever-growing list of member benefits which brings you quick, at your fingertips access to several offers across a wide range of categories so the money in your wallets and purses goes even further in these financially strained times.”
Members can access the scheme through thefedonline.com website. It went live yesterday (October 31).
FedPlus is managed and run for the Fed by Parliament Hill Limited, which has been providing benefit management solutions for membership organisations for the past 20 years. Top name companies offering discounts include Virgin Experience Days, Nuffield Health, Hotpoint, Halfords, Boots, Curry’s and EE.
Tom Sparke, joint managing director and client services director at Parliament Hill, said: “We are looking forward to working with the Fed to assist them in the fantastic support that it provides for its members.
“The Fed has a strong commitment to supporting its members, which aligns with the Parliament Hill ethos of placing the needs of our clients’ members at the heart of what we do.”