There is a sea of technological solutions that can make a local store run much more efficiently and smoothly. However, any technical innovations should not disrupt the most important assets of an independent convenience store - the close relationship with the community, flexibility and most importantly, personal touch.
Technology, when in-line with the exact needs of retail, can go a long way in making businesses’ operations much easier and hassle free. It isn't just an accessory; it's the secret sauce that can transform a mundane corner store into a powerhouse of convenience whose owner and staff have the data on fingertips as well as time and knowledge to serve shoppers personally.
Some recent tech solutions have made daily operations easier and smooth, thus freeing a lot of time and manpower.
For instance, Volumatic’s all-in-one cash handling solution not only validates banknotes and immediately identifying counterfeits but also counts and stores notes securely at point-of-sale (POS), reducing the risk of till snatches and shrinkage. It is already long-established at the POS in Tesco, Morrisons, the Co-op Food Group and Nisa stores.
Mike Severs, Sales & Marketing Director at Volumatic, says, “As the retail landscape continues to evolve, it is necessary for business owners to collaborate in identifying and implementing solutions that can uphold efficiency, accessibility, and customer satisfaction at the till-point."
There are many other new-age tech solutions that have already cemented their place in convenience channel. Snappy Shopper and Jisp are both prime examples.
Retailer Girish Jeeva, owner of Girish’s Premier store at Barmulloch in Glasgow, vouches for Snappy Shopper, saying that the service has helped the store’s home delivery orders to increase multiple times.
Jeeva says, “When we first started on the Snappy Shopper platform we were only doing £500 in sales per week but this has increased majorly reaching £10,000- £13,000 and is still growing to this day.
Image from Snappy Shopper
“Our 1p deals run in tandem with Snappy Shopper help our community grow and allow us to help our customer base during times when a lot may struggle such as the holidays. We have reached 500+ deliveries weekly and this is increasing week in and week out thanks to the service and experience we provide.”
While Snappy Shopper puts local stores on the map of quick delivery, Jisp’s Scan & Save helps them compete with nearby retail giants by arming them with supermarket-like loyalty reward schemes.
Once in store, shoppers simply scan, tap and redeem the vouchers at the till point. Scan & Save solution offers exclusive discounts funded by leading brands to shoppers while customer incentives and voucher redemption rewards increase the number of repeat shoppers for the store.
In the words of Jav Iqbal, owner of Nisa Local Feltham Road in Ashford, joining Jisp was “one of the best decisions” he ever made.
Another form of innovation is electronic shelf edge labels (ESELs). Like their bigger rivals, independent stores are also moving towards electronic labels to eliminate the need for manual updates and reduce the risk of errors. Such solutions not only ensure accuracy and efficiency but also enable store staff to focus on other more value-adding tasks.
Most recently, East of England Co-operative Society, one of the largest regional co-operatives in the UK, has signed an agreement with Pricer for a full-chain installation of digital labels across all 120+ of its food stores. The solution will enable the chains to centrally manage and control pricing, product information, and promotions across all electronic shelf labels in all connected stores.
While most stores are using one or more such apps, new-age retailers like Jeeva are stepping ahead to give their customers a complete supermarket-like experience. Apart from other innovations, his store also offers a complete immersive yet customised experience. The store’s FM Radio, powered by RETaiL AI Limited, plays tailored and personalised in-store promotions and advertisements alongside regular music and news bulletin.
Advanced sensors and digital devices are also being integrated in stores to provide real-time data and analytics about product inventory, pricing and customer behaviour. Such smart shelves can automatically detect when products are running low, send restocking alerts to store employees and update prices in real time.
Crime and beyond
While embracing new technology might be the need of the hour, some technological solutions are proving to be more than just a necessity and almost a survival tactic. Crime is one such realm where convenience retailers are increasingly taking refuge in technology and AI to save their businesses.
Veesion is one such AI solution for store owners that aims to eliminate shoplifting by recognizing suspicious behavior in customers. The software, once installed and integrated with the store’s CCTV, continuously analyses to spot distinct gestures and swift body movements associated with shoplifting. In case of any incident, store owners receive an alarm along with a short video clip of suspicious activity on their app, which allows them to act and deal with the suspected shoplifter.
Another interesting innovation here is Chirp Protect, which not only serves as a strong deterrent but also claims to provide real time visibility and alerts when theft occurs. This system basically has a range of tags designed to protect a variety of high-theft products such as alcohol, baby formula, detergents and meat and cheese.
It comes with a small cubed “Hub” which is attached above or close to the exit. If a tagged product is taken too close to the Hub, the alarm goes off and the staff is alerted.
Retailer Neil Godhania, owner of Neil's Premier in Peterborough, mentions in a recent social media post how Chirp Protect installed in his store is showing “outstanding” results.
Godhania writes, “Since implementing the system, it has not only served as a strong deterrent but also provided real time visibility and alerts when theft occurs. While we understand that eliminating shoplifting entirely is improbable, Chirp Protect has undeniably reduced its impact on staff, time, and profit loss.”
On the other hand, face screening apps can alert the store owner even before the crime has happened.
Facewatch is one such system wherein store owners can log images of shoplifters and abusers so that when the same person visits again, the system sends an alert. Using Facewatch, the staff can avoid conflict much before the shoplifters (who are mainly repeat offenders) have even picked the products.
In the words of multi-estate retailer Dave Hiscutt, after Facewatch being installed in his stores, the offenders are now repeatedly being turned away at the point of entry, as a result of which they have reduced targeting his stores altogether.
Apart from Facewatch, Hiscutt’s stores are also equipped with StaffSafe, a communicative intervention security solution through which trained operators keep eyes on store through CCTV and speak through speakers. If needed, operators take control of threatening and potentially dangerous situations in real time, thereby reassuring the staff and alerting the emergency services too where required.
Soon joining in this league is AURA’s Retail Response, an app that promises to enable rapid provision of vetted SIA security officers to specific locations. The app is scheduled to be launched by the end of April or early May.
Alex Booth, Managing Director at AURA, told Asian Trader, “We have established a network of SIA licensed security officers who work for security companies the length and breadth of the UK.
A retailer or shop manager can download the AURA Retail Response App and request ad-hoc and rapid security guard attendance at the press of a button in times of need.”
Emphasising that the app does not intend to replace the police, Booth stated that having a registered security guard, turning up in a security vehicle with a security vest, can hugely help in certain situations.
Word of Caution
No matter how much technical upgrade is required or how urgently, retailers simply can’t afford to let innovations distract them from their main business goals.
A clear example of tech not able to catch the pulse of retail is self-checkout tills. Leading retail giants, who several years ago had enthusiastically taken the leap of faith in technology, are now ripping out self-checkout booths, saying they are more of a source of frustration rather than an aid to shoppers.
When cashier-less technology made its debut, it was hailed as the future of retail. For shoppers, self-checkout was supposed to provide convenience and speed. Retailers hoped it would usher in a new age of cost savings.
However, the tide is now turning as many retail giants are pulling a screeching U-turn. Supermarket chain Booths has axed almost all of the self-service tills in its stores, saying the decision was in response to feedback from customers who were finding the self- checkouts slow and frustrating to use.
Self-checkout in some cases has caused more trouble than it's worth. Archie Norman, chairman of Marks & Spencer, last November said shoplifting was becoming more common among middle class customers because of faulty checkouts as some shoppers started duping retailers by logging in cheap product and walking out with a much more expensive item.
Clearly, the UK seems neither content nor ready for self-checkout tills to take over. Let's not forget that many older people live on their own and for some, a chat at the checkout may be their only social interaction.
Similarly, going completely cashless also does not seem to be a very great idea, particularly in the light of outages in recent weeks, when some stores were even forced to remain shut as they were unable to take contactless or card payments.
In the mid of March over a span of three days, McDonald’s, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Greggs’ have all had to close stores or found themselves unable to deliver orders because of problems with payment systems. The coincidence led to speculations that the companies were victims of a cyber-attack, but each of them later stated that the outage was due to a software update.
Apart from its vulnerability, the outage also once again showed the importance of accepting cash as payment. Additionally, both card and mobile payments will undoubtedly continue to rise over the next decade and beyond, but it is evident from recent industry reports that consumers still want the choice of how to pay for things, and that very much includes cash.
Severs from Volumatic says, “As cash handling experts, we regularly encourage retailers to offer their customers the choice to use cash as well as other payment methods, and the element of choice for customers extends to this too – while some shoppers are happy to use self-checkouts, others prefer to be served by a person.”
Clearly, there is absolute necessity for convenience retailers to strike a balance between embracing technology and maintaining personal interactions and community activities alike.
Moving forward, successful integration of technology should complement business operations, ensuring that convenience stores continue to thrive in an evolving retail landscape while nurturing their uniqueness. The future of retail might be tech and AI, but good old-fashioned human touch and common sense are here to stay for a long time to come.
The government on Friday announced that they will introduce new Respect Orders as part of the Crime and Policing Bill.
The measure, a modernised version of the anti-social behaviour orders that were introduced by the last Labour Government, is aimed at the most serious offenders who plague town centres and neighbourhoods with anti-social behaviour.
The Respect Orders will give the police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres or from drinking in public spots such as high streets and local parks. These will be piloted prior to national rollout to make sure they are as effective as possible.
Perpetrators can also be required to address the root cause of their behaviour by being mandated to undertake positive rehabilitation, such as attending drug or alcohol treatment services, or an anger management course to address the underlying causes of their behaviour.
Failure to comply with Respect Orders will be a criminal offence. Police will have the ability to immediately arrest anybody who is breaching their Respect Order.
“Antisocial behaviour chips away at communities’ sense of confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims,” Yvette Cooper, home secretary, said.
“This cannot be allowed to continue. Respect Orders will give police and councils the powers they need to crack down on repeated anti-social behaviour, keeping our communities safe and ensuring repeat offenders face the consequences of their actions.”
As well as prison sentences of up to two years, criminal courts will also be able to issue unlimited fines and community orders, such as unpaid work, and curfews as punishment for breaching a Respect Order.
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the announcement, terming it as key step to tackling the epidemic of retail crime.
“After years of the Conservatives effectively decriminalising retail crime, leading to a more than doubling in shoplifting since the pandemic, we now have a government that is delivering on its promise to bring town centre crime under control,” Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said.
“We very much welcome the announcement of new Respect Orders to tackle repeat offenders who terrorise shops and high streets, striking fear into the hearts of retail workers whenever they enter the store.”
Ecco+, another pre-Horizon IT system that was introduced to post masters between 1992 and 1999, was also likely to be faulty due to which hundreds of sub post masters were prosecuted by the Post Office, a leading sub postmaster representative has said.
Speaking to Asian Trader today (22), Calum Greenhow - Chief Executive Officer at National Federation of Sub Postmasters (NFSP) stated that Ecco+ system that was introduced between 1992 and 1999 also created problems for sub post masters.
Greenhow said, "Apart from Capture that came in pre-Horizon time, there was another one called Ecco+ that was in operation between 1992 to 1999. Within that period, (I have learned just in the last few days) post office brought about 334 prosecutions over eight year period."
He added, "We have heard so much about Post Office carrying out prosecutions during the Horizon. Fact is, they carried out prosecutions prior to Horizon as well, to near enough the same number to the same degree. So we're talking about a prosecution regime over a 32 year period, not a 25 year period. Their attitude against postmasters and their own staff has been prevalent for well over 30 years," he said.
The NFSP last month wrote to the minister in charge of the Post Office requesting a review of problems experienced by users of Ecco+. With Ecco+, there were fewer prosecutions based on the systems reporting shortfalls, but instead, some users “were either dismissed or forced to resign, leading to severe financial consequences”.
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said, “The possible issues relating to Ecco+ have been brought to our attention following the independent investigation into Capture. The Department is looking into the issue.”
Last month, on being asked by Computer Weekly for details on the Ecco+ systems, Post Office said, “We don’t have the information you’ve asked for about Ecco+ to hand, and so if you would like to pursue this, we would recommend you submit a freedom of information request given that the subject matter dates back some 30 years and that is the most appropriate route to conduct searches.”
Ecco+ is the second pre-Horizon system that has come under scanner. Earlier this year, an independent forensic analysis, commissioned by the government in May, reported that IT system Capture had bugs and glitches and there was a reasonable likelihood it had caused cash shortfalls too.
According to latest reports, at least eight convictions predating the Horizon Post Office scandal are being looked at by Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) investigating potential miscarriages of justice after being affected by Capture software.
Lord Beamish, the former Labour MP Kevan Jones, has been supporting victims and is calling for the government to extend current legislation to automatically quash convictions.
"The government are going to have to take this seriously," he said. "We can't have a situation where we have a two-tier system where people get exonerated from Horizon and the Capture cases are either forgotten or have to go through a very lengthy legal process to get their names cleared."
Lord Zameer Choudrey CBE SI Pk, Chief Executive of Bestway Group, and Dawood Pervez, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, presented a cheque for £100,000 to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) at Bestway Group’s Head Office in Park Royal, London last week.
This significant contribution reflects Bestway's ongoing commitment to supporting impactful charitable initiatives that make a difference to the lives of young people across the UK. The presentation was attended by Ruth Marvel OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Laura Puddefoot-Knaggs, Head of Philanthropy and Clare Harris, Senior Relationships Manager from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and Bestway Board of Directors, including Sir Anwar Pervez OBE H Pk, Chairman Bestway Group.
The £100,000 being donated to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was raised through Bestway’s annual Ascot Charity Race Day held in June this year (2024), which was attended by over 750 of Bestway’s key business contacts, supplier partners, colleagues, press and the charity. Each year the company hosts a charity race day at Ascot to raise funds for charity, an event that celebrated 31 years this year.
The Charity Race Day is one of Bestway Wholesale’s largest corporate events in the calendar, supported by supplier partners for over 30 years. Over 27 charities have benefited from funds raised through the event since it began in 1994, including The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, widely recognised as the world’s leading youth achievement award.
Lord Choudrey explained why the business has chosen The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as its charity partner this year:
“Charity is at the core of what we do at Bestway, and our annual Charity Race Day cements the ongoing work to such great organisations such as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award by our family.
“We have worked with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for over 30 years and take great pride in the Gold Partner status we hold. During this time we have experienced first-hand the incredible work the charity does in preparing our young people for the future in whatever role they undertake.
“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award inspires and empowers young people, supporting them as they learn new skills, overcome obstacles, whilst helping them build confidence and resilience. This charity ties in with our other efforts to recognise the importance of supporting initiatives that invest in the future of our youth.”
Bestway Foundation was established by Sir Anwar Pervez in 1987, as the charitable arm of the Bestway Group, with a philosophy to support less fortunate people through the advancement of education and healthcare. Since inception Bestway Foundation has donated more than £35m to charitable causes, including donations to charities, hospitals and schools as well as the funding of university scholarships. Bestway Group has donated more than £15 million to the Bestway Foundation in the UK.
Dawood Pervez, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, said: “We are delighted to support the work of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which has seen participation in the Award grow every year since inception. Millions of young people from across the UK in schools, community groups, young offender institutions and workplaces have had the opportunity to build resilience and gain lifelong belief in themselves through the DofE.
“Understanding that our donation will help young people to challenge themselves to attain standards of achievement and endeavour in a wide variety of active interests – to serve their communities, experience adventure and to develop and learn outside the classroom, really aligns with the values of The Bestway Foundation.”
“The Annual Ascot Charity Race Day is just one of the ways that Bestway Foundation gives back, and we are incredibly grateful to our supplier partners and colleagues for supporting this annual event and donating generously to ticket purchases, the Charity Auction and other fundraising activities.”
Alex McDowell, DofE Fundraising Director, commented on the donation:
“We are delighted to receive this incredibly generous donation to support the DofE’s vital work. The money raised will support the charity’s Resilience Fund which offers free DofE places, bursaries or additional support for marginalised young people facing barriers to participation including financial constraints, additional needs or caring responsibilities.
“The DofE equips young people with the skills, confidence, and self-belief to help them take on today’s toughest challenges. We want to ensure every young person has the chance to take part, no matter who they are or where they live. This generous donation will enable us to continue reaching more young people with a life-changing DofE.”
The Lord Choudrey concluded:
“Charity is at the core of what we do here at Bestway – we are extremely dedicated to our social responsibility and incredibly committed to giving back to the communities within which we operate.”
As we head into the busiest time of the year for the grocery industry, GroceryAid is urging people to reach out to them if they find themselves struggling.
The charity helps grocery workers and their families through difficult times and offers a range of financial, emotional and practical support. This includes support for people facing stress, anxiety, low mood or loneliness, as well as debt advice and impartial financial support through GroceryAid’s online financial hub.
“The festive period is a golden time for the sector but of course, along with an increase in trade comes an increase in pressure," said GroceryAid CEO Kieran Hemsworth. "Across the industry, workers are stepping up the pace to keep shelves stocked and customers happy. We know this can sometimes lead to feeling overwhelmed, especially when everything else, from social engagements to family responsibilities are also at full throttle.
“This is a reminder that if you’re struggling this year, we are here for you.”
GroceryAid’s free confidential Helpline is available 24/7, 365 a year and is answered by trained counsellors – even on Christmas Day. Call 08088 021 122 or visit groceryaid.org.uk/get-help
Leading wholesale buying and marketing group Sugro UK has collaborated with Britvic Soft Drinks, a global organisation with 39 much-loved brands sold in over 100 countries, to launch a groundbreaking Fast Food Sample Box.
The sample box is specifically designed for ICS UK LTD customers, giving them a unique opportunity to sample and experience new Fast Food soft drinks offerings firsthand.
The new Fast Food Sample Box offers ICS customers an exclusive opportunity to explore a curated selection of Britvic's best-selling and new product offerings that drives incremental sales. This trial initiative is designed to provide Fast Food retailers with a hands-on experience of market-leading products, helping them identify key opportunities for growth in the Fast-Food soft drinks categories.
Sugro UK's Fast Food Sample Box represents a pioneering approach to boosting customer engagement, providing tailored solutions that meet the evolving demands of today’s consumers. This initiative is the first of its kind in the sector, giving ICS customers exclusive access to products that are proven to drive sales and offering them a competitive edge in their local markets.
Alice Graham, GB Head of Dining Route to Market Wholesale, "We are delighted to collaborate with both Sugro and ICS with this initiative. The fast-food market has seen double digit growth over the last few years and the growth is set to continue. This initiative with ICS, a leader in fast food wholesale, underscores our commitment to supporting the growth of Britvic brands and advancing our partnerships with fast food establishments.”
Sid Musa, Manager at ICS (UK) added, “At ICS UK LTD, we are thrilled to partner with Sugro UK and Britvic on this industry-first initiative. The Fast-Food Sample Box gives our fast-food customers a unique opportunity to experience top-tier products firsthand, empowering them to make informed decisions that can truly elevate their offerings. We’re confident this exclusive initiative will help our customers stay competitive and drive growth in an ever-evolving market.”
Yulia Petitt, Head of Commercial and Marketing at Sugro UK commented: “We are incredibly excited about the partnership with Britvic delivered with excellence by our member – ICS Ltd. Fast Food sector is a big part of the group commercial strategy, so we see it as a huge opportunity for the group.”
Sugro UK is proudly owned by its 90 plus independent wholesale members, with a combined turnover of over £2.5 billion. The group was recently voted number one across all buying groups in the recent Advantage Group Survey.