DCS Group, the UK’s leading distributor of household, health, beauty, baby, and healthier snacking brands, has launched a new and free to use online website called www.corerange.com to specifically help convenience retailers navigate their way through the personal care, babycare, healthcare and medicines, laundry and household, healthier snacking and pet care categories.
The new website lists all the latest category and product insights and is easily accessible for convenience retailers. The information on the website is free to all users.
All product range recommendations are impartial and are based on the latest market data and shopper insights. Convenience retailers should be able to find all the relevant products stocked at their supplying wholesaler.
Wholesalers can also use the recommendations to make sure they have all the best-selling products listed in depot and online.
Matt Stanton, Head of Insight at DCS Group, said: “As a convenience retailer, stocking the right products is crucial to help grow sales. But with so many choices, picking the right SKUs isn’t always easy.
"We have always supplied this insight to our customers and as the experts in the sector,we wanted to help all convenience retailers navigate their way by giving them all the insights they need to select a best-selling, efficient core range that is right for their store, which helps build a loyal customer base and drive profitability in their business.
“We want to make insight and data more accessible than ever before to those who need it. The categories are important and contain essential, high-value products that convenience stores should stock. They drive shoppers into stores, both for planned top-up shops and distress missions.
“Brands are particularly important in convenience stores, as shoppers trust branded products. Some stores have limited shelf space, and our insight will help retailers make the right decisions about which products to stock for their customer base whether that’s price-marked packs or not.”
Included on the website is all the information a retailer needs to select a best-selling, efficient and profitable household, health and beauty product range:
Category insights covering household, health and beauty, baby care, healthier snacking and pet care
Shopper behaviour insights relevant to all categories across the whole of the convenience channel
Household, health and beauty and baby care planograms for large, medium and small stores
Lists of best-selling and must-stocks SKUs
The new www.corerange.com website is optimised for use on mobile devices and tablets, which retailers can carry around and use easily whilst they are in their store. It also looks great on full-size desktop and laptop screens.
There is also a news and features section, which will be updated regularly with the latest news and insights.
Bestway Retail has announced the launch of a pilot scheme across a select number retailers in a collaboration with Socio Local – the leading digital marketing platform for multi-location brands.
Socio Local is an innovative platform that simplifies the process of managing multiple social media pages, helping retailers to create and schedule content across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) from a single dashboard. With access to branded content, promotional assets and suggested posts, retailers can maintain a consistent and engaging presence.
Following a trial period of three months, Bestway is expected to roll out the collaboration across its estate of retailers.
“Retailers are increasingly leaning into the digital side of marketing, recognising that a strong local social media presence is crucial for driving engagement within communities,” Mindy Mondair, Bestway Retail’s head of marketing, said.
“And we’ve listened to our retail partners who have called for better support and tools to help them manage their social media, and in response we’re delighted to introduce Socio Local, which is the number one management platform specifically tailored to achieve better reach, engagement and instore performance by leveraging both branded and local store social content, to make social media management effortless. It’s built specially FOR retailers and has been inspired by their requests and needs.
“The platform is designed to support retailers’ stores with high quality, localised content that enhances brand visibility and increases engagement. It’s more than just about social media - it’s about maximising success and driving sales at every opportunity.
“We also understand that not all retailers are experienced with social media and their focus also needs to be on running their business, which is why Socio Local provides easy-to-use tools that simplify the process. Whether using supplied branded content or creating customised posts, stores can maintain a continuous online presence with minimal effort”.
Bestway has cited a number of key benefits that it believes retailers will be able to enjoy through their use of Socio Local including increased local awareness, a boosting of product visibility (ensuring latest offers and promotion get attention from the store’s online community), as well as driving engagement to encourage customer interaction and loyalty through varied and engaging social media posts.
“Retailers can save time by storing, creating and scheduling all their content in one place – its straightforward and easy to manage through this centralised approach,” Mondair noted.
“Furthermore, retailers will be able to manage their communities effectively, through monitoring and responding to customer reviews, comments and direct messages.
“We are looking forward to the results of this trial and believe it is a market leading approach to support retailers and help them boost engagement and sales within their communities”.
Michael Nolan, chief executive and co-founder of Socio Local said: “We are enormously excited to be working with Bestway Retail and its progressive estate of retailers.
“At SocioLocal, we know all too well the importance of optimising local social media for today's physical retailers. We fully believe that this will be the start of a new era in how grocery and convenience leverages the power of social media and its connection with local communities. Bestway Retail now has the opportunity to drive awareness of products and promotions into their retailers' communities and support sales through hundreds of social media pages. We’re looking forward to a fruitful relationship with Mindy and the team in Bestway throughout the trial and into the future.”
A farmer has been suspended from supplying milk to Arla, the UK’s largest dairy company, after undercover footage seemingly revealed cows being kicked, beaten, and struck with what appeared to be electric goads.
The video, captured by an undercover investigator working for the animal welfare group Animal Justice Project, was filmed at Lowfields Farm in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
The footage also appeared to show dead calves left in the open and cows struggling to walk being forced onto transport trucks.
Arla confirmed that the farmer had been suspended pending further investigation.
In a statement, the dairy major said: “The individuals in the video are no longer employed at the farm.”
An Arla spokesperson termed the actions shown in the footage as “completely unacceptable and do not meet the high standards that we expect from our farmers.”
The undercover worker, who spoke to the BBC, claimed that cows were mistreated from “the very first shift,” adding: “The group of cows are milked three times a day on rotational shifts, and every single shift cows get hit and beaten.”
Animal Justice Project said the footage revealed “routine cruelty to cows and calves, unsanitary conditions, and a lack of enforcement.”
The group also alleged that overcrowding was uncovered, with sheds designed for 125 cows housing up to 214 animals, forcing them to stand in their own waste.
Animal welfare charity RSPCA described the footage as “incredibly distressing,” with a spokesperson stating: “This is incredibly distressing and completely unacceptable behaviour. All farmed animals must be treated with respect.”
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Love2shop Perks platform dashboard showcasing employee discounts and retailer offers
With the new financial year weeks away, leading gifting and reward experts Love2shop have urged businesses and organisations to shake up their employee benefits packages.
The PayPoint-owned business noted that this will meet not only rising business costs including the upcoming National Insurance hike, but the cost of living demands faced by the staff too, as employees want to save money on essential, everyday living costs more than ever.
The newly launched Love2shop Perks platform hosts over 150 retailer discounts in one handy place, offering staff discounts of up to 38 per cent which they can take advantage of in seconds.
It comes as businesses across the UK face unprecedented financial challenges and look to offer more cost effective ways than ever to support and retain workers.
Rising employment and National Insurance costs, inflation, operational costs and energy bill hikes have forced a rethink among British businesses on the best possible options that benefit employees most effectively.
Employee discounts are consistently rated the number one most desirable employee benefit and Love2shop Perks platform offers a simple solution - providing unparalleled access to discounted e-Gift Cards as a staff benefit.
The tech behind the Love2shop Perks platform is simple, low cost and fast to set up, allowing employees to take advantage of their new cost-saving ‘perks’ immediately.
“This is a crucial time in the financial calendar to really re-evaluate your company or organisation's rewards and benefits strategy,” Frank Creighton, Director of Business Development for Love2shop, said.
“Love2shop Perks is a very exciting proposition for any UK business looking to reward and retain staff cost effectively. Crucially, it supports staff by saving them money. Why offer a fancy gym membership or office yoga classes when staff would much prefer a fantastic discount with day-to-day spending at the supermarket or at a restaurant, or for special purchases at a top retailer.
“We strongly urge all employers to rethink their benefits packages and bring staff what they want - savings with retailers that make a real difference to their life.”
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Thomas McDonagh, left, and Stokes, appearing on shop CCTV
Two prolific shoplifters who stole almost £20,000 worth of goods have been sentenced after being caught with stolen items in their car.
Thomas McDonagh, 21, of Warren Crescent, Headington, Oxford, was jailed for 16 months after admitting to eight counts of theft across Essex in December 2024 and January 2025. His accomplice, Martin Stokes, 23, of Aylesbury Street, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, received a 16-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
The duo were stopped by police on 19 January while driving on the A12. Officers had linked them to multiple thefts from Boots and Next in the Stane Park retail area in Stanway, Colchester.
Upon stopping their Ford Focus, police found the boot packed with stolen goods, swiftly connecting them to 11 separate shoplifting incidents across the county, including in Chelmer Village, Chelmsford.
One of the men had been using a jacket with a specially adapted lining to conceal stolen items while exiting stores.
As part of his sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on 27 February, he was also handed a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO), banning him from any Next store in England and Wales and all Boots shops in Essex. The order also prohibits him from carrying any coat or overgarment designed to aid shoplifting or from possessing tools like de-tagging implements.
“The value of goods taken by these two men is significant and this investigation shows that we will always look to bring all offending together as we build the strongest possible cases to put people before the courts,” Sgt Dominic Potts, of Colchester local policing team, said.
“In McDonagh’s case, we’ve also secured a five-year criminal order, which means that when he is released from prison, if he continues to go to these shops, he’ll be breaching that order and could be sent back to prison.
“No business should have to put up with persistent offenders targeting them and we work determinedly across the county to identify the people causing the most harm to businesses, to catch them and ultimately put them before the courts.”
The sentencing comes amid increasing concerns from retailers over organised shoplifting operations, which have been on the rise in recent months.
The 2025 Crime Report of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), published on Monday revealed record level of theft committed against convenience store retailers, with an estimated 6.2 million incidents of shop theft over the past year, compared to 5.6 million in the previous year.
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Independent retailers rely on parcel services like Evri, but bonus cuts threaten their earnings
Independent retailers are furious with parcel carrier Evri after hearing that the weekly volume bonus that they receive is to be cut from April 6. The move is being revealed in a letter sent out to Evri’s network of retailers.
Mo Razzaq, the National President of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed), said that he will lose several hundreds of pounds in bonus payments over a year, as a result.
“In a letter advising of the change, Evri celebrates the continual growth of shopping online in the UK, adding that more and more customers are choosing to use ParcelShops to send, collect and return parcels," he said.
“It goes on to add that parcel volumes have grown by tens of millions across its ParcelShop network, driving additional footfall and revenue benefits to retailers. And it expects this trend to continue.
“Evri then describes ParcelShops as 'the heart of its business' and 'important to our customers' and states that it wants to share that growth with us. Yet in the very next sentence, it advises of a 'small change to the weekly volume bonus, which will take effect from next month'.”
Mr Razzaq said on average he receives £23 a week in bonus payments but because of this change, this will fall to £17.
In its full year of accounts to February 29, 2024, Evri recorded a revenue of £1.7 billion and a record-breaking profit of £117million, which was more than double of the previous year.
Mr Razzaq added: “With Evri announcing record profits and acknowledging the key role that retailers play in this, cutting our bonus payments and denying us hundreds of pounds as a result is a sharp blow indeed.”