One Stop stores across the UK have undergone a refresh, completely updating fresh point of sale (POS) and, for the first time ever, products will be based on each store’s own demographics with a number of new products now being stocked.
One Stop is set to implement a new tailored approach using advanced data analysis that will be better suited to the customer and will also reduce unnecessary waste with chilled or fresh products not selling and going out of date. The move also helps with costs, the less wastage there is in stores, the more profit will be made.
A number of new lines have been added including Alpro almond milk, Cravendale filtered milks, fresh avocados, raspberries and GU lemon cheesecake. One Stop has responded to customers who want products that include dairy alternatives, fresher food for healthier living, whilst still enjoying some premium treats at the same time. And to offer a wider range of snacking options for kids such, they have introduced products, such as Attack a Snack, Muller Corn Crunch and cheese strings.
The stores have showcased the new products and strategy with a completely updated POS, featuring modern grey shelf stripping throughout chilled and produce, an exciting new design for the food to go meal deal proposition and new navigation, across its 900 convenience stores.
Sam Watkins, Head of Product at One Stop explains the rationale behind the changes: “We work incredibly hard to make sure that we’re responding to all of our customer’s needs, which regularly change and has been particularly felt in the past 18 months.
“Creating a tailored approach for each allows us to maximise fresh sales and minimise waste in store, whilst offering customers exactly what they want across our portfolio of stores.
“This evolution – particularly in our fresh and chilled range - follows extensive research into what our customers want, which signals a growth in these areas and a demand for products which are healthier and readily available. Growing these sections and targeting stores in the way we have become a key part in our long-term business plan and the launch of the new product range and POS modernisation is our first step on that journey.”
Lucy Broome, Head of Retail comments: “Getting the fresh offer right, every day in every store takes a lot of work. The chilled section is possibly the hardest area of the store to get right. However, this is an exciting time for us at One Stop as we take another decisive move to get the right products in the hands of our customers.”
On the ground, Dan Amin franchisee from One Stop in Bromwich explains: “The changes have been really well received in store and we’re getting lots of positive feedback. Customers can see the new range of products easily and the new POS gives the store a sophisticated look, that gives it a brighter feel inside. It gives a better-quality look to the products, whilst offering the same great prices which One Stop is known for.
“In these current times I think customers want quality of products, alongside a strong look and feel of where they shop. As a franchisee I’m really pleased with the new changes and my customers are telling me things are clearer, there is more for them to buy, and I can already see it’s helping grow my business under the One Stop franchise.”
Two-thirds of retail leaders respondents say they will raise prices in response to increased NI costs while food inflation could hit 4.2 per cent by the end of 2025, a leading retailers' body has said citing a recent survey.
British Retail Consortium (BRC) today (15) released the findings of a survey of CFOs (Chief Financial Officers) at 52 leading retailers, revealing significant concern about trading conditions over the next 12 months.
Sentiment languished at a concerning -57 with 70 per cent of respondents “pessimistic” or “very pessimistic” about trading conditions over the coming 12 months, while just 13 per cent said they were “optimistic” or very “optimistic” (17 per cent were neither optimistic nor pessimistic).
The biggest concerns, all appearing in over 60 per cent of CFO’s “top 3 concerns for their business” were falling demand for goods and services, inflation for goods and services, and the increasing tax and regulatory burden.
When asked how they would be responding to the increases in employers’ National Insurance Contributions(NICs) (from April 2025), two-thirds stated they would raise prices (67 per cent), while around half said they would be reducing ‘number of hours/overtime’ (56 per cent), ‘head office headcount’ (52 per cent), and ‘stores headcount’ (46 per cent). Almost one third said the increased costs would lead to further automation (31 per cent).
The impact of the Budget on wider business investment was also clear, with 46 per cent of CFOs saying they would ‘reduce capital expenditure’ and 25 per cent saying they would ‘delay new store openings.’ 44 per cent of respondents expected reduced profits, which will further limit the capacity for investment.
This survey comes only a few weeks after 81 retail CEOs wrote to the Chancellor with their concerns about the economic consequences of the Budget. The letter noted that the retail industry’s costs could rise by over £7 billion in 2025 as a result of changes to employers’ NICs (£2.33 bn), National Living Wage increases (£2.73bn) and the reformed packaging levy (£2 billion).
The Budget is not the only challenge retailers are facing, with weak consumer confidence and low consumer demand also an issue. As part of the survey, CFOs offered their forecasts for the year ahead. These suggest that shop price inflation, currently at 0.5 per cent, will rise to an average of 2.2 per cent in the second half of 2025. This would be most pronounced for food, where inflation is expected to hit an average of 4.2 per cent in the second half of the year.
The forecast for sales was more muted. While sales growth is expected to improve on the 2024 level of just 0.7 per cent , at just 1.2 per cent this would still be below inflation. This means the industry could be facing a year of falling sales volumes at the same time as huge new costs resulting from the Budget.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the BRC, said, “With the Budget adding over £7bn to their bills in 2025, retailers are now facing into the difficult decisions about future investment, employment and pricing.
"As the largest private sector employer, employing many part-time and seasonal workers, the changes to the NI threshold have a disproportionate effect on both retailers and their supply chains, who together employ 5.7m people across the country.
“Retailers have worked hard to shield their customers from higher costs, but with slow market growth and margins already stretched thin, it is inevitable that consumers will bear some of the burden.
"The majority of retailers have little choice but to raise prices in response to these increased costs, and food inflation is expected to rise steadily over the year. Local communities may find themselves with sparser high streets and fewer retail jobs available. Government can still take steps to shore up retail investment and confidence.
"Business rates remain the biggest roadblock to new shops and jobs, with retailers paying over a fifth of the total rates bill. The Government must confirm the planned reforms will make a meaningful difference to retailers’ bills and that no shop will end up paying more.”
Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman Corporation has announced a series of measures including the restructuring the executive leadership team and an approximately 12 per cent reduction in its global workforce.
The company will also close its Louisville, US-based barrel-making operation, Brown-Forman Cooperage.
“In 2025, Brown-Forman celebrates 155 years of delivering Nothing Better in the Market. We have achieved this impressive milestone in part because of our relentless focus on evolving our strategy, our portfolio, and our organisation to grow and thrive,” said Lawson Whiting, president & chief executive officer.
“Today’s announcement will ensure we have the structure and teams in place to continue on this path, while also making investments that we believe will facilitate growth for generations to come.”
Brown-Forman has restructured its executive leadership team, consolidating and streamlining its commercial structure to leverage greater synergies and effectiveness in its markets.
Under the changes, Jeremy Shepherd has been named chief marketing officer. Shepherd previously led the company’s USA & Canada commercial division.
Michael Masick has been named president, Americas. Masick will continue commercial leadership for Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. In his expanded role, he will add USA & Canada to his remit.
Yiannis Pafilis has been named president, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific. Pafilis currently leads teams across Europe. In this expanded role, he will add Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and global travel retail.
Chris Graven has joined the executive leadership team as chief strategy officer. Graven has held roles in Brown-Forman’s HR, finance, marketing, and commercial organisations in her 20 years with the company.
Brown-Forman said it has made the “difficult decision” to reduce its global workforce by approximately 12 per cent of its 5,400 employees worldwide. The company added that it is “deeply committed” to supporting departing employees with comprehensive transition agreements.
The closure of Brown-Forman Cooperage, set to take effect by 25 April, is expected to impact approximately 210 hourly and salaried employees, part of the overall 12 per cent workforce reduction. The company added that it will source barrels from an external supplier in future.
Collectively, these actions are projected to deliver approximately $70 to $80 million (£65m) in annualised cost savings, a portion of which is expected to be reinvested to accelerate growth. In addition, the company will receive more than $30 million in proceeds in connection with the sale of the cooperage assets. The company expects to incur approximately $60 to $70 million in aggregate charges for severance and related costs associated with the workforce reduction and cooperage closing.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to our employees, particularly those impacted by these changes, for their dedication and contributions to Brown-Forman,” said Whiting. “We are committed to supporting them through this transition and are confident that these strategic initiatives will ensure the company endures for generations to come.”
Asda has announced a revamp of its leadership team as the beleaguered retailer refocusses on its mission to “satisfy the daily and weekly shopping needs of ordinary working people and their families who demand value”.
The retailer said Liz Evans will take up the position of chief commercial officer, non-food and retail, leading its large store operations on a permanent basis, alongside her continued leadership of the George clothing brand.
Asda has also created a new position on its executive team – chief supply chain officer – to oversee all its food and general merchandise operations. The position is yet to be filled.
To bolster the food team under Kris Comerford, chief commercial officer – food, Ade McKeon rejoins Asda as vice president – ambient, with beer wines and spirits, core grocery, impulse grocery, non-edible and healthcare teams reporting to him.
McKeon previously spent four years with Asda in commercial and brand leadership roles, before joining Accolade Wines as UK and Ireland general manager in 2017. He left Accolade in 2020.
Gemma Lightbody will also be rejoining Asda from Marks and Spencer as business unit director for impulse grocery reporting to McKeon.
Matt Shields will join from Aldi in due course as business unit director for core grocery and current Asda colleague Matt Wood will take on the role of SD commercial operations reporting directly to Comerford with immediate effect.
Commenting on the revamp, Allan Leighton, Asda's executive chairman, said: “Asda's mission is to deliver the value ordinary working people, and their families demand from us. To do this, we need to be and are rediscovering our 'Asda-ness'. I'm delighted to be announcing these leadership changes as we start this journey.”
Asda continues to face significant challenges, with sales declining by 5.8 per cent in the 12 weeks to December 29, 2024 - the steepest fall among the major multiples. This marked nearly a year of consistent sales decline for the supermarket, which has struggled to maintain momentum since early 2024.
As UK and European retailers gear up for 2025, the grocery sector is poised for transformation, driven by renewed focus on fundamental retail practices, new revenue opportunities, and the growing demand for health and sustainability initiatives., highlights a new report.
A new report from IGD outlines six key trends that are set to shape the future of the grocery sector across the UK and Europe.
1. Optimising Retail Fundamentals for Success
While new technologies capture attention, UK and European retailers are reinforcing core retail fundamentals like stock availability, pricing, and promotions. Innovations like shelf-edge cameras and AI-driven stock management are improving these essential areas, ensuring a seamless shopping experience.
2. Exploring New Revenue Streams
As operating costs rise, UK retailers are diversifying their revenue sources by leveraging e-commerce technology, data monetisation, and B2B services. Tesco’s launch of Transcend, enabling other grocers to use its fulfilment tools, exemplifies the growing interest in non-traditional retail income streams.
3. Evolving Store Formats for Greater Flexibility
Retailers are adopting adaptable store designs that cater to evolving consumer needs and seasonal trends. The rise of modular store formats that feature event spaces, like FairPrice Finest in Singapore, is gaining traction in Europe, offering dynamic, customer-focused shopping experiences.
4. Seamless Connected Commerce
UK and European retailers are enhancing the integration of physical and digital retail, focusing on omnichannel experiences, loyalty programmes, and smart checkout solutions. AI-powered tools, like Target’s Store Companion, are simplifying store operations while enhancing customer engagement.
5. Health and Wellness Products Lead the Charge
Driven by growing health-conscious consumer demand, retailers in the UK and Europe are introducing more functional foods and health-focused products. The rise of initiatives like Cycle.me demonstrates a shift towards combining wellness with convenience, offering consumers greater choice in healthy, sustainable products.
6. Accelerating Sustainability Commitments
Retailers are intensifying their sustainability efforts, with a focus on reducing food waste, plastic packaging, and energy usage. Germany’s EDEKA Dorfmann sustainability store sets a new benchmark for eco-conscious retail, inspiring UK and European retailers to meet ambitious sustainability goals through innovative practices.
Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD, commented, “As we move towards 2025, retailers must build on the foundation of global trends while ensuring they stay agile to rapidly evolving consumer demands.
"Focusing on the basics – stock availability, pricing, and promotions – remains critical to success. But at the same time, leveraging new revenue streams, embracing technological innovation, and championing health and sustainability are no longer optional; they are essential to staying competitive.
“Retailers who can successfully integrate these areas will not only future-proof their businesses but also build stronger relationships with increasingly conscious and demanding consumers.”
E-commerce has become a central channel for wholesalers, with a significant portion of foodservice and retail operators now shopping exclusively online, shows a recent report.
According to Lumina Intelligence’s new UK Wholesale Online Report 2024, wholesalers should prioritise eB2B strategies that deliver seamless digital experiences and ensure product visibility.
Economic pressures continue to challenge spending growth in the sector. However, targeted offers, loyalty programmes, and operational efficiencies are being used to drive more frequent purchasing and boost customer retention.
The report showcases how wholesalers such as Hancocks and Parfetts have modernised their platforms to enhance user experiences, while initiatives like Mason Foodservice’s adoption of advanced logistics software have reduced costs and improved customer satisfaction.
Lumina Intelligence further emphasises the importance of digital engagement, noting that online order frequency is increasing.
Suppliers can take advantage of this trend by implementing clear and targeted promotions on digital platforms, including personalised ads and push notifications, to capture operator attention.
Branded searches dominate the retail segment, while foodservice operators face higher search failure rates, underscoring the need for suppliers to provide comprehensive product data and align their marketing with trending search terms, such as sustainability-focused keywords.
Retailers are also more likely than foodservice operators to make impulsive purchases, presenting opportunities for suppliers to maximise conversions through compelling promotional offers, digital banners, and strategic new product placements.
The report identifies several key opportunities for the future, including the expansion of digital loyalty initiatives, such as Sugro UK’s e-loyalty scheme collaboration with b2bStore, which rewards digital purchasing behaviours to drive customer traffic and sales.
Mobile commerce continues to see strong growth, making app optimisation and mobile-specific strategies critical for wholesalers and suppliers alike.
Additionally, there is increasing demand for sustainable products, including compostable packaging, presenting suppliers with opportunities to lead in the eco-conscious market.