News UK, owner of news brands The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun, has announced that Tracey Hart, Newsprinters Commercial Director of Operations, is expanding her role to take responsibility for all aspects of its Retail function.
In her new remit, Tracey will integrate the crucial Retail function seamlessly into an end-to-end supply chain operation. This will also include Wholesale, Allocation and Performance. The move also brings News UK’s Retail team closer to Newsprinters’ Printing and Distribution teams, ensuring the best service levels across the whole supply chain.
This change comes alongside the news that Neil Spencer is stepping down from his role as Retail Director, with immediate effect. Neil has made a significant contribution to the Retail strategy over the years and he leaves News UK with the company's thanks and best wishes.
Tracey joined News UK eight years ago and since then has been focused on building new revenues across print and distribution services, with a laser focus on innovation and effective outcomes. Prior to joining News UK she was Head of Sales & Marketing for the Daily Mail.
“News UK has always seen its retail colleagues as crucial partners in our supply chain," said Tracey. "I look forward to working with our valued retailers, understanding their challenges and opportunities, and working together to drive our casual and home delivered services to ensure newspapers remain in the hands of our millions of readers.”
A string of robberies have hit more than half a dozen convenience stores in Derbyshire in the past weeks in which a significant amounts of cash was stolen from stores including a Best One and several Co-ops.
According to latest reports, seven stores in Derbyshire were struck by armed robbers in the last six weeks. Police have shared footage of one of such robbery in which a shopkeeper can be seen fighting off a knife-wielding robber.
The force said the suspect had not physically harmed anyone during any of the robberies - which police are treating as being linked - but said significant amounts of cash had been stolen. Independent charity Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to £1,000 for information.
The force said the first three robberies happened in Derby between 18:00 and 21:32 on Oct 5 with the suspect described as wearing a bright orange top. Another shop was targeted in Derby the next day followed by a fifth on Oct 14 in Ilkeston. Two more shops were robbed in Chaddesden and Oakwood. The suspect in the later incidents was described as wearing dark or black joggers or tracksuit bottoms, a navy hoodie and a face covering.
Chief Inspector Chris Thornhill said: “These offences have understandably caused concern and a team of detectives are following a number of lines of enquiry in an effort to bring the man responsible to justice.
“I know there are people in the community who know who this man is – and they know that the right thing to do is to come forward. We have thankfully seen nobody physically hurt in the incidents so far, but any person who is willing to arm themselves with a knife is putting our community at serious risk.
“We are increasing both our uniformed and plain clothes patrols in the city – as well as armed response officers including potential targets as part of their patrol strategies. I would urge anyone who has any information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward as soon as possible.”
A good majority (69 per cent) of those working in retail have experienced verbal abuse while most of these incidents were triggered by shoplifting, shows a recent report by retail trade union Usdaw.
According to the interim results based on over 4,000 retail staff responses show that in the last twelve months, 69 per cent have experienced verbal abuse while 45 per cent were threatened by a customer. 17 per cent were assaulted while 70 per cent of these incidents were triggered by shoplifting and two-thirds of those were linked to addiction.
The report comes as Usdaw launched its annual Respect for Shop workers Week that runs from Nov 11-17, with its members raising awareness of the union’s year-round Freedom From Fear Campaign and talking to the public to promote a message of "respect for shop workers".
Commenting on the report findings, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary stated that it has become increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order amid a retail crime epidemic.
“Our survey demonstrates that theft from shops is not a victimless crime, with incidents regularly being a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent theft and even looting can cause issues beyond the incident itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. Our members are reporting that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in their stores and much of the abuse they suffer is from those who are stealing to sell goods on, often to fund an addiction.
“After 14 years of successive Tory governments not delivering the change we need on retail crime, we are pleased that the new Labour Government announced a Crime and Policing Bill in the King’s Speech. This new legislation will deliver a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
"The Chancellor announced in the Budget funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting and the Government has promised more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.
“This week, Usdaw activists will be campaigning in their workplaces and communities calling on the shopping public to ‘respect shop workers’ and ‘keep your cool’, particularly in the run-up to Christmas when the number of incidents increases as shops get busy and customers become frustrated. This is a hugely important issue for our members and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough.”
Higher prices for staples such as vegetable oils, wheat, cheese and sugar have pushed global costs to their highest level in 18 months, signalling more pain ahead for shoppers.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index rose to 127.4 in October — the highest level since April 2023. The figure, published on Friday (8), was up 5.5 per cent from October last year. Prices for food commodities have risen steadily since the start of the year.
Although food costs remain well below levels reached in March 2022, consumers are already having to pay more for groceries as increases are passed on from food manufacturers to shoppers. Food price pressures across the G7 major advanced economies ticked up for the first time in two years in September, complicating rate-setters’ attempts to cut rates to support growth and jobs.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index spiked by 7.3 percent in October, hitting a two-year high as a result of rising quotations for palm, soy, sunflower and rapeseed oil, driven mainly by concerns about production.
The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 0.9 percent in October, led by rising wheat and maize export prices. Global wheat prices were affected by unfavorable weather conditions in major northern hemisphere exporters as well as the re-introduction of an unofficial price floor in the Russian Federation and rising tensions in the Black Sea region.
The FAO Sugar Price Index increased by 2.6 percent amid persisting concerns over the 2024/25 production outlook in Brazil following extended dry weather conditions. Rising international crude oil prices also contributed to the increase in sugar quotations by shifting more sugarcane toward ethanol production, while the weakening of the Brazilian real against the United States dollar limited the increase.
The FAO Dairy Price Index rose by 1.9 percent in October, averaging 21.4 percent above its level the same time last year. The increase was primarily driven by higher international cheese and butter prices, while quotations for milk powders declined.
Bucking the general upward trend, the FAO Meat Price Index dropped by 0.3 percent from September, mainly due to lower pig meat prices resulting from increased slaughter rates in Western Europe amid weak domestic and international demand. World poultry prices fell slightly in October, while those of ovine meat remained stable. By contrast, bovine meat prices increased moderately, underpinned by stronger international purchases.
To support and champion independent wholesalers, a brand new buying group title The Wholesale Group has been created and will officially launch on Jan 1 2025.
Described as "the buying group for the future" and "home of the independent wholesalers" The Wholesale Group will be led by joint managing directors Tom Gittins and Jess Douglas with Martin Williams and Coral Rose as co-chairs. The Wholesale Group will bring together the members of Confex and Fairway Foodservice to create the new group.
The Wholesale Group represents more than 12 per cent of UK wholesale and has £4.47bn annual turnover. The group will boast of 253 depots across the UK, serving more than 349,000 customers.
“Put simply, this is the buying group that the sector needs,” said Gittins.
“The Wholesale Group will be the only UK buying group to offer an extensive retail and foodservice range and expertise, alongside logistics efficiency via central distribution. It has an award-winning foodservice own brand supported by bespoke, coordinated member marketing and retail member support. And there are no membership fees and every member receives a share of the profits. We are delighted to launch The Wholesale Group as we know it is the solution for the independent wholesaler.”
Douglas adds, “The sector has changed dramatically and it is crucial that we do things differently to accommodate these changes for both our members and suppliers, and The Wholesale Group will lead the way. Driven by data and technology and with a crystal-clear focus on service, it will be the largest delivered buying group, the largest foodservice buying group and the second largest retail buying group in the UK.”
Rose states, "For our supplier partners, The Wholesale Group provides an efficient and powerful route to market through enhanced scale and capability.
“For our members, it is clear that Confex and Fairway have long held similar cultures and ethos, focused on celebrating and championing family businesses with members at the heart of everything we do. By coming together, we retain this member-centric approach but are even stronger, while building for the future.”
“While the foundations of The Wholesale Group are built upon years of expertise and specialist knowledge of the sector, this is a buying group created for the future,” said Williams.
“This is the solution for the independent wholesaler. It will provide something no other group can, and this will enable us to become the genuine home of independent wholesalers. We look forward to an incredibly exciting future.”
Things have had a shake-up at SPAR Milnthorpe with the launch of an Ann Forshaw’s Milk Shed, the new vending machine offering up fresh whole milk and flavoured milkshakes.
The machine has been placed adjacent to the SPAR store and Shell forecourt on the A6. It is dispensing gently pasteurised and non-homogenised milk fresh from the dairy in 500ml or one litre servings, competitively priced at £1 and £1.60 respectively.
Milkshakes are available too at £1.80 for a 500ml size or £2.80 for a one litre serving, and are in five mouthwatering classic flavours of Chocolate, Strawberry, Banana, Vanilla, and Salted Caramel. A sixth Limited Edition milkshake flavour will always be on rotation to complement the core range. At launch this week it is Mint, and this will be replaced by White Chocolate flavour on Friday 15th November.
All the milkshakes use natural flavourings and colourings where possible and do not contain the ‘Southampton Six’ food colours which have been found to have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Customers will also have the option to purchase Milk Shed branded reusable glass bottles at £1.80 for a 500ml or £2.20 for a one litre size, enabling repeat, plastic free purchases.
Recyclable cardboard cups and paper straws offer a free and an environmentally friendly alternative. SPAR Milnthorpe’s Milk Shed will be operational 24-hours a day, and it becomes the third Ann Forshaw’s Milk Shed to launch.
The original Milk Shed concept was launched at Ann Forshaw’s Alston Dairy at Longridge, near Preston, in February of this year. After an incredibly successful launch, SPAR Padiham Road in Burnley became the first SPAR North of England store to receive one in September.
Fiona Drummond, Company Stores Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, owner of SPAR Milnthorpe, said: “This is the first Milk Shed to launch at one of our forecourt sites, and we are thrilled to bring our Milk Shed offer to Milnthorpe which we believe will be a real asset for the community.
“It is such a simple but effective concept. Our high-quality fresh milk is very competitively priced, and the milkshakes are delicious treat and suitable for all ages with the conscious decision to utilise natural flavourings.”
Ann Forshaw’s and its associated Alston Dairy was acquired by the James Hall Group of Companies in December 2022. James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.