Peter Juty, who runs the Costcutter store in Culverstone, Kent, has won the Impulse Retailer of the Year Award 2022 at the 34th Asian Trader Awards, held at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel in London on Wednesday.
Kevin Hollinrake, minister in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, was the chief guest at the event, which celebrated the most innovative and successful retailers from the UK’s independent grocery sector.
Retailing is a bug, and when you’ve been bitten it’s hard to give it up. Peter only meant briefly to help out his parents but has been in the trade ever since.
Peter is a consummate retailer who puts the customer first and foremost in his thinking. After undertaking a shopper insights programme with Costcutter, he embarked on a comprehensive refit and completely remerchandised the store to optimise the shopper experience.
The store now offers zones of irresistible displays that talk directly to customers, driving impulse sales. His zoning approach puts products together that excites and drives engagement with customers.
Last year he invested £300,000 on a massive remodelling to make the store totally impulsive! Visitors first see a wall of beautiful scaffolding boards featuring fresh flowers and plants, followed by no less than six Cooks freezers. Peter’s fresh and chilled sections are outstanding, and they come from miles around just to smell his baguettes.
Winners of the Asian Trader Awards 2022
In all, 13 retailers were honoured in different categories at the event, with the top award going to Glasgow retailer Shamly Sud, who was crowned the Asian Trader of the Year 2022.
Four new product launches from the last year, voted for by the retailers, were also feted, and Parfetts Cash & Carry at Shepcote, Sheffield won the Wholesale Depot of the Year award, recognising wholesalers and suppliers who play an incredible role in the supply chain.
Ram Solanki Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in the memory of Ramniklal Solanki CBE, founder of Asian Media Group, went to Steve Keil, Director of Tactical Trading at Booker Wholesale.
Hollinrake, who was appointed minister last month, said he looks forward to developing a closer association with the sector.
“Small businesses are the very foundation of a dynamic, productive economy that creates employment, and brings huge benefits for the consumer. I'm determined to make it easier to start and grow business in this country by improving access to business finance, providing better advice and support and offering incentives to invest and grow.
“I am relishing working with independent retailers, promoting your needs across the government. I promise you, now we are on your side.”
Asian Trader Awards 2022 held at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel in London
Winners List:
Asian Trader Ram Solanki Lifetime Achievement Award: Steve Keil, Director of Tactical Trading at Booker Wholesale
Asian Trader Awards
Asian Trader of the Year: Shamly Sud, Racetrack Pitstop Premier, Strathclyde
Responsible Retailer of the Year Award supported by JTI: Mayaur (Dee) Sedani, One Stop, Stoke on Trent
Wholesale depot of the Year Award supported by JTI: Parfetts Cash & Carry, Stockport
Convenience Chain of the Year Award supported by Dr Beckmann: Jayaseelan Thambirajah, MSP Noble Group, Cambridgeshire
Vape Convenience Retailer of the Year supported by BAT: Girish Jeeva Premier Barmulloch Glasgow
Bakery Retailer of the Year Award supported by Warburtons: Michael Atherden & Paula Lafferty, Nisa, Bury
Next Gen Award: Rushi Patel, Londis Rushi Stores, Berkshire
Independent Retailer of the Year supported by Booker: Kris Naveretam, Londis Burbage, Wiltshire
Food to Go Retailer of the Year Award: Faz Latif One Stop Premier, Methil Fife
Spirit of the Community Award supported by Mondelez: Amrit Singh, Nisa Local, Walsall
Symbol Convenience Retailer of the Year Award supported by Bestway: Nithy & Sue Nityanandan, Costcutter, Epsom, Surrey
Off Licence of the Year Awards supported by Molson Coors (Cobra): Neha Phoughat, Shera’s Premier, Birmingham
Impulse Retailer of the Year Award: Peter Juty, Costcutter Culverstone, Kent
Local Hero Award supported by Kurkure: Jenny Donaghy, Spar, Llandrinio, Powys
Product and Manufacturer Awards
Convenience Snacks Brand of the Year supported by Sunmark Ltd: Kurkure, PepsiCo
Convenience Soft Drinks Bottled Water and Juices Brand of the Year supported by Sunmark Ltd: Relentless Zero Sugar, CCEP
Convenience Confectionery Brand of the Year supported by Sunmark Ltd: Cadbury Caramilk Buttons, Mondelez
Convenience Vape and Next Generation Product Brand of the Year: Nordic Spirit Spearmint, JTI
VApril, the largest and most successful vape awareness campaign in the world, is returning for its eighth year amid record-high misperceptions around vaping and stop smoking tool.
Created by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the initiative comes at a critical time for the UK vaping sector, with half of smokers wrongly believing vaping is as harmful - or worse - than smoking.
Launching next week, VApril will focus on dispelling myths, helping smokers make the switch and, critically, emphasising the need for greater public education about vaping as the most effective quitting tool available.
The campaign follows the release of Freedom of Information data exposing a shocking lack of government investment in stop-smoking campaigns and comes ahead of a potential advertising ban under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
As part of the campaign, the UKVIA is releasing an expert interview with health psychologist and stop smoking specialist Sairah Salim-Sartoni, who shares the latest evidence on vaping and addresses the dangerous misperceptions which are blocking smokers from making the switch.
It will also be sharing a series of written and video testimonials from real vapers whose lives have been changed by the reduced risk alternative; launching an educational social media campaign to arm smokers with the facts about vaping; and rolling out a library of informative guides and infographics, including:
A five-step Start Vaping, Stop Smoking plan to help smokers make the switch
A Stay Smokefree Guide to help disposable users transition to reusables ahead of the June 2025 ban
A Responsible Vaping Guide to help vapers ensure they are being considerate of those around them
A 10 Vaping Truths factsheet which breaks down key evidence about vaping
The campaign will also include a parliamentary session to communicate the importance of vaping and public education in securing a smokefree future.
The UKVIA is also hosting its ‘Clearing the Air’ webinar - where an expert panel, including a stop-smoking specialist and a senior research nurse, will discuss how healthcare professionals can confidently talk to patients about vaping.
Said UKVIA Director General John Dunne, “Vaping has played a crucial role in driving UK smoking rates to an all-time low, helping millions finally quit for good. Yet, growing misinformation is stopping it from reaching its full potential in securing a smokefree future.
“VApril was created as our answer to the need for greater awareness about vaping and it has successfully supported smokers in making the switch for eight years.”
He continued: “To have the best possible chance of helping the remaining six million smokers transition away from cigarettes, the government must invest in public education to correct the narrative surrounding vaping. Smokers deserve to know the facts.”
In addition to the core focus of helping smokers make the switch, and correcting the myths about the proven quitting tool, this year’s VApril campaign will also deliver guidance on the key areas of "Identifying Illegal Vapes and Recycling Awareness".
This is to ensure consumers can ‘better protect themselves and the planet as they make the lifechanging decision to quit through vaping’.
VApril – as the largest vaping education campaign in the world – has supported smokers looking to quit by providing evidence-based guidance on making the switch and addressing the biggest myths and misperceptions about the most effective stop smoking tool available today.
All downloadables and resources will be accessible through the VApril.org website from the launch of the campaign.
Almost all convenience stores in Wales engaged in some form of community activity last year, shows a latest report, shedding light on the value that Wales’ 3,000+ convenience stores provide as community hubs, local employers of over 26,000 people, and significant contributors to the Welsh economy.
Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has officially launched its 2025 Welsh Local Shop Report, celebrating the key contributions that Welsh convenience stores make to their communities.
The report acts as its own standalone branch of the ACS Local Shop Report, focusing on the positive impacts that Welsh convenience stores have on their local communities, often providing key services that have declined or disappeared from those areas.
The 2025 Welsh Local Shop report was launched today (26) at Tŷ Hywel, Cardiff, where members gathered together to discuss and celebrate the significant role that local shops play in Welsh communities, as well as the unique challenges faced by Welsh businesses.
Key figures from this year’s report include:
Welsh shops contributed to £656bn in GVA over the last year
Welsh shops provide over 26,000 secure, local jobs to their communities
38 per cent of these stores are isolated with no other retail or service business close by
93 per cent of independent retailers in Wales engaged in some form of community activity over the past year
Welsh convenience stores were voted the second most important business in supporting their local economy by Welsh shoppers
Over the last year, convenience stores in Wales have invested over £43m in their businesses. 65 per cent fund investments from own reserves while refigeration turned out to be the most common area of investment, states the report.
87 per cent of Welsh independent retailers own one store, while 14 per cent of retailers never take holidays.
33 per cent of Welsh convenience stores offer delivery service while 29 per cent has a Post Office.
Talking about food to go, 38 per cent of Welsh convenience stores has customer operated coffee machine, 27 per cent has food preparation area, 25 per cent has in-store bakery while 21 per cent has hot food counter.
About 77 per cent of stores has EPOSW and 52 per cent has store website, adds the report. 96 per cent of stores has CCTV.
The average basket size is 2.7 items and average spend is £8.29.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “The Welsh convenience sector has once again proved its resilience in providing secure, flexible jobs and acting as an important service hub for customers to access the products and services they need daily.
“We hope that the Welsh government will support retailers in Wales such as the rising operational costs of trading, so that they can continue to act as community anchors for their residents.”
British inflation slowed more than expected in February, bringing some relief to consumers ahead of a likely new pick-up in price growth and to finance minister Rachel Reeves before her budget update speech today (26). However, analysts have warned that it inflation will be pushed again soon due to costs arising from the Budget.
Consumer prices rose by 2.8 per cent in annual terms in February after a 3.0 per cent increase in January, the Office for National Statistics said, as clothing and footwear prices fell for the first time in more than three years.
Economists polled by Reuters had pointed to a reading of 2.9 per cent in February while the Bank of England had expected 2.8 per cent in a set of forecasts published in early February.
Economists warned that rising energy prices will push inflation up again soon.
"February's slowdown is a false dawn as notable near-term price rises are already baked in, with next month's jump in energy bills and national insurance likely to push inflation perilously close to 4% sooner rather than later," Suren Thiru, Economics Director at accountancy body ICAEW, said.
He said the BoE would remain wary about price pressures.
"While a May policy loosening remains on the table, rate setters will want to gauge the effect of April’s major jump in business costs and any measures announced in the Spring Statement before proceeding with another rate cut," Thiru said.
Responding to the latest CPI inflation figures, Kris Hamer, Director of Insight of the British Retail Consortium, said, “Headline inflation fell marginally in February, driven by marginal drops in housing and household services and clothing and footwear entering deflation.
"Despite continued cost pressures, namely energy price volatility, food inflation remained unchanged. There was good news as some dairy products such as milk, cheese and eggs all saw price drops on the month.
"Heavy clothing and footwear discounting continued into February, as fashion sales continue to suffer due to unseasonal weather throughout the month.
“Retail operates on tight margins and it would be impossible to absorb all £5bn of new costs which hit the industry in April.
"Food inflation has jumped significantly in recent months and is forecast to hit 5 per cent by the end of 2025 as a result of the costs arising from the Budget.
"On top of this, retailers are still burdened by an outdated business rates system. It is vital that the government’s reform of business rates doesn’t impose additional costs onto retailers. Reform must leave no shop paying more.”
Premium mixer brand Fever-Tree saw its revenue growth accelerate to 7 per cent in the second half of its financial year to 31 December, helping it recover from a wet start to the summer season in 2024.
The firm’s total revenue was up 4 per cent to £364 million over the 12-month period, despite a 3 per cent drop to £111.1m in the UK, where low consumer sentiment and a declining gin category hit demand for its products.
Performance was driven by its operation in the US, where revenues jumped 9 per cent to £128.0m after growing its presence in the off-trade.
Meanwhile, a significant gross margin improvement resulted in a 66 per cent increase in adjusted EBITDA to £50.7m, which was in line with analysts’ expectations. Fever-Tree stated that this was helped by operational improvements such as the localisation of production.
In January, Fever-Tree entered into a deal with Molson Coors that saw the brewer become the exclusive sales, distribution and production partner for the mixer brand in the US.
The tie-up was underpinned by Molson Coors acquiring an 8.5% shareholding in Fever-Tree for a cash consideration of £71.0m.
Fever-Tree entered the US market in 2008 and has since become the number one tonic and ginger beer brand in the country. The British firm noted at the time that the combination with Molson Coors’ expertise and scale would allow it to “drive the brand to the next level in its largest and most dynamic market”.
Fever-Tree said today that while only a few weeks have passed since the announcement of the deal, sales momentum has remained strong and good initial progress has been made.
The company stated that it was expecting 2025 to be a “transition year” for the US business and, therefore, was “comfortable” with consensus expectations of low single-digit group revenue growth and around 12 per cent adjusted EBITDA margin for the year.
Tim Warrillow, Co-Founder and CEO, commented: “The Fever-Tree brand performed well in 2024, despite the subdued consumer environment.
"Across every key region, we are gaining market share, with more consumers discovering, enjoying, and becoming loyal to Fever-Tree each year across a growing variety of drinking occasions.
"This was particularly noticeable in our largest region, the US, where once again the brand grew strongly and well ahead of the market.
“Our growing market share continues to be driven by our deep understanding of global drinking trends allowing us to make the most of evolving consumer preferences. As a result, non-Tonic products now make up c.45% of our global revenues, driven by the success of our Ginger Beer and our expanding position in cocktail mixers and adult soft drinks.
“Looking to the future, our focus remains on unlocking Fever-Tree’s long-term potential across the world and capitalising on the unique position the brand has established sitting across alcohol and non-alcohol occasions.”
Co-op is stepping up the price war in the convenience sector by rolling out its version of the Aldi price match pledge, which has been adopted by several of the supermarket multiples in recent years.
From Wednesday (26), the Co-op will start matching the discounter’s prices on over 100 everyday essentials, including fresh fruit, milk, eggs and bread.
However, the savings will only be available to Co-op members, of which there are currently six million. And all of the items covered by the offer will be Co-op own brand lines.
As well as being available across all of Co-op’s 2,400 shops, the price commitment will extend to its quick-commerce delivery platforms, including Shop.coop, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, which it claims is an industry first.
Some of the Aldi price matched lines include Co-op 1 Pint British Milk (85p), Co-op Carrots 500g (38p), Co-op Chopped Tomatoes 400g (47p), Six Co-op British medium free-range eggs (£1.45), and Co-op Tiger Bloomer 800g (£1.45).
The launch of the price match commitment will be supported by a major marketing campaign.
The retailer stated that the move takes its investment into lowering prices to almost £170m over the last two years. This has included the launch of its Member Prices scheme in April 2023, with Co-op aiming to build its membership to eight million people.
“I am very clear that, in this current economic climate, price is most often the deciding food shopping factor for our members and customers,” said Matt Hood, Managing Director for Co-op.
“Which is why we are taking this big step to price match, in our stores and online, as we know discounter prices are often the benchmark of value for consumers, and we are facing directly into that … Price has often been perceived as the Achilles heel of convenience shopping, but this new initiative will change that and show there is no compromise in value, quality, or range to shopping conveniently.”
Sainsbury’s extended its Aldi price match scheme to its convenience chain in November last year, covering 200 items in its 800 Local format stores.