A new convenience store has recently been opened in the village of Ffos-y-ffin close to Aberaeron in Wales on the site of a disused play centre.
The Nisa Local also marks the first store with the symbol group for the Jones family who currently operate several shops with other groups.
Emyr Jones and his wife Sarah have made a major investment for their new store which is in a busy location that sees tourists flock to during the spring and summer and a steady flow of local customers year-round.
“It is a great location and I have high hopes for the store,” Emyr said. “There’s no supermarket within about 18 miles of us so we are a pull for a large community and have had a very promising response from shoppers.”
The standalone 2,995 sq ft premises was stripped bare providing a blank canvas to develop into the contemporary space it is today. The building has exposed ceilings creating an airy and spacious feel to the store.
Nisa Local store in Ffos-y-ffin, Aberaeron in Wales
Situated on the coast in a busy holiday spot food to go, fresh produce and BWS are all key to the store. Emyr believes the large Co-op range will also be a draw to tourists.
The expansive food to go offer comprise Costa coffee, ice cream and milkshakes machine and a serve-over hatch offering a wide choice of freshly cooked goods.
The 14 metres of chillers offer a broad range of fresh produce from local suppliers and Co-op own brand with a local bakery and butchery supplying a wide choice of products to shoppers.
“Fresh produce was phenomenal in the first few weeks and dairy goods all sold really well,” Emyr said. “With the nearby caravan parks hopefully set for a great 2021 season, we are expecting trade to be strong and are very hopeful for the future.”
National Lottery operator Allwyn is calling on retailers to make the most of its special festive draws and Scratchcards over Christmas to boost their National Lottery sales.
Allwyn’s new range of Christmas Scratchcards, which is bespoke for 2024, features two firsts for The National Lottery – a foldable £2 Christmas card with top prizes of £50,000, and a £1 gift tag Scratchcard with top prizes of £10,000.
With National Lottery Scratchcards exclusively sold in retail, Allwyn’s huge new festive Scratchcard TV advertising campaign – which sees a family at Christmas playing ‘Musical Scratchcards’ around the dinner table – is solely aimed at driving players into stores. Retailers can also tap into the campaign by suggesting a Scratchcard to customers as the perfect fun addition to festive social games and gatherings, or as a last-minute Secret Santa or Christmas gift.
Two special event draws will spread even more National Lottery festive cheer in stores in December, starting with a £15 million Lotto ‘Must Be Won’ draw on Christmas Day (25 December) – which will be supported with UK-wide advertising from 19 December. This will be followed by the EuroMillions 10 UK Millionaires special event draw on New Year’s Eve (31 December). This will guarantee 2025 starts with a bang for the 10 guaranteed lucky UK millionaires and will be supported with advertising from 26 December.
National Lottery retailers will be receiving special POS for both draws and should site this kit in prime positions to drive talkability and sales.
Earlier this year, Allwyn became a more advanced member of National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) 2024 Gift Responsibly Campaign. Founded in the early 2000s, the Gift Responsibly Campaign works to raise public awareness about the risks of youth gambling. Through partnerships with lotteries and other organisations, it educates communities about the risks of buying lottery tickets for children.
This enhanced partnership follows on from the recent introduction by Allwyn of a pioneering 10-Scratchcard limit per purchase, to help minimise any likelihood of excessive play.
“With retail being the only place customers can buy Scratchcards, National Lottery retailers will already be directly benefiting from our huge new festive advertising campaign – which shows the fun that can be had with Scratchcards at Christmas time," said Allwyn’s Director of Commercial Partnerships and Retail Sales, Alison Acquaye-Acford. "
Our special EuroMillions and Lotto draws will help further drive sales for retailers, and we suggest retailers talk to their customers about the draws to get them excited and buying tickets. This festive extravaganza will ultimately help to boost retailers’ bottom lines while at the same time helping to raise around £30 million every week for National Lottery Good Causes.”
SPAR Scotland celebrated the return of its national brand campaign, BIG Deals of Christmas, with a Christmas party which took place at SPAR Greenock on Friday 6th December.
Launched in SPAR Scotland stores in October, the campaign is supported by a national media plan, bringing the deals to life, including TV advertising on STV, in-store POS displays, digital screen promotion, social media support, and an E-Blast collaboration with the Scottish FA. A SPAR lorry specially wrapped to promote the campaign is travelling all over Scotland.
To support the launch, a special Christmas party took place at SPAR Greenock on Friday 6 December for the local community to enjoy. The well-known convenience store on South Street, Greenock has returned to SPAR following a recent modernising makeover. With a fresh perspective and exciting updates, SPAR Greenock is set to continue its legacy of providing a great range of products and excellent customer service, while introducing new offerings to better serve the needs of its local customers.
SPAR Scotland recognises the importance of supporting local communities and a £500 presentation was made to the Ardgowan Hospice and animal charity Underheugh Ark, organisations close to the hearts of the team at SPAR Greenock.
"We are incredibly grateful to SPAR for hosting their Christmas Party and support of Ardgowan Hospice," said Leonna from the Ardgowan Hospice. "Events like these not only bring moments of joy to the community but also provide vital funds that enable us to continue delivering compassionate care to those who need it most. Thank you to SPAR and everyone involved for making a meaningful difference this festive season!"
Since converting back to SPAR, the store has introduced new signage, categories and ranges, while maintaining the same high standards that SPAR store shoppers in the region will be accustomed to.
With new layouts and an expanded range introducing many new lines and the addition of a SPAR own label range, the store has also committed to supporting local suppliers, reinforcing its commitment to the community as it has been a fixture for many years.
In addition, new retail technology has been added with electronic shelf edge labels and digital screens, adding to the modern look and feel.
Paula Middleton, SPAR Scotland Head of Marketing, said: “We are delighted to have Greenock back in SPAR and to celebrate its return by providing local shoppers with a Christmas party on Friday 6th December.
“It is also a great opportunity to celebrate our BIG Deals of Christmas campaign which is all about giving our shoppers great offers and delivering value in the run-up to Christmas. Working with some of the biggest market-leading brands, ensures our stores have engaging promotions and tailored offers."
In addition to promoting the exciting deals available in SPAR stores like Greenock, SPAR Scotland is undertaking a range of community and charity-based activities to support local organisations during the holiday season.
Middleton added: “We are proud to support local communities. Over recent months, we have been involved in Christmas carol concerts in Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness. We have continued supporting the Bank On Us foodbank campaign with the Glasgow Times, donating SPAR mince pies and providing SPAR vouchers to Marie Curie hospices across Scotland. We have also been running a social media competition where care homes in Scotland can win a Christmas party on us. Supporting local charities at this time of year not only spreads joy to those in need but it also strengthens the bonds we are making within our community.”
Independent retailers have condemned Reach for using the festive period to try to sneak through cover price rises on its national, daily and weekly newspapers accompanied by a widespread cut in terms.
“Such penny pinching at a time that is usually associated with giving is despicable. Where is the Christmas and New Year cheer?" asked Mo Razzaq, the National President of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed).
“Instead, Reach has decided to play Scrooge by taking money from the Tiny Tims of the industry who need pro rata terms to stand still.”
Mr Razzaq said: “Such actions are bang out of order. Reach and its shareholders need to understand that with their declining sales, their titles are no longer the cash cows they used to be. What’s more, news retailers are struggling. Many will be unable to survive in business, if publishers like Reach continue to accompany cover price rises with cuts to our terms.
“This must stop. Such actions are destroying the news industry.”
He added that the Fed would be seeking a meeting with Reach CEO Jim Mullen and would be writing to shareholders to express members’ fury.
Mr Razzaq said: “We need urgent talks because those at the top at Reach have to be aware that some members will be re-merchandising their shelves to put its titles at the bottom while others have already told me they will delist them completely.”
From January 4, cover prices will rise on all of Reach’s national titles – the Mirror, the Express, the Star, the Daily Record and Sunday World.
There will also be price rises for its stable of daily titles which include the Manchester Evening News, Hull Daily Mail, Newcastle Chronicle, South Wales Echo and the Birmingham Mail – as well as for its weekly titles.
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Hershey, Mondelez eye price hikes to cover cocoa crunch
Hershey, Mondelez eye price hikes to cover cocoa crunch
Hershey's main controlling owner has rejected Mondelez International's preliminary takeover offer, terming it as too low, reports stated on Wednesday (11), citing people familiar with the matter.
The deal, which could’ve created one of the world’s largest confectioners, wasn’t realistic for the Hershey Company as they declared it was “too low to entertain.”
Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Mondelez was exploring the acquisition of chocolate maker Hershey, in what could have created one of the world's largest confectioners. The Hershey Trust Company's approval is key in any takeover deal, given its voting control of the chocolate maker.
It is not the first that Mondelez has sought to acquire Hershey, with the brand rejecting a £18bn takeover bid in 2016, labelling the offer as too low. Hershey and Mondelez did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
Any deal would need the approval of the Hershey Trust Company, a charitable trust, that maintains voting control over the business.
Buzz is that the trust may be open to other offers even as the Mondelez deal loses steam, with PepsiCo and Nestle touted as possible suitors.
The surging cost of cocoa has hurt Hershey and forced it to raise prices, turning off some inflation-pinched shoppers. At the same time, consumers are moving toward healthier foods, a trend that is accelerating with the popularity of weight-loss shots.
Last month, Hershey trimmed its annual revenue and profit forecasts after its quarterly revenue dipped due to weak demand. In contrast, Mondelez reported a near 2 per cent rise in sales in the latest quarter.
Earlier in the day, the Chicago company said that given current market conditions, stock buybacks remain a key priority, and that it is committed to an acquisition strategy focused on "bolt-on deals" similar to its recent acquisitions of Chipita, Clif and Ricolino.
Retailers can capitalise on the rising demand for premium pet food by offering innovative, high-quality products like nutrient-rich supplements and superfood treats amid the evolving bond between pets and their owners, states a recent survey report's findings.
The UK has the largest dog population (13.02m) and one of the largest cat populations (11.71m) in Europe, with one in three UK households owning a dog, and one in four owning a cat.
According to Mars Petcare's research based on insights from over 20,000 pet parents in 20 countries, the bond between owners and pets driving trends in premium nutrition, personalised care, and sustainability - all of which are shaping the future of petcare.
An impressive 37 per cent of pet parents consider their pets the most important part of their lives — a sentiment even stronger among younger generations, with 45 per cent of Gen Z and 40 per cent of Millennials expressing this bond.
Globally, the number of pet parents is rising, with a large portion of first-time owners. Out of the 56 per cent of pet parents surveyed who own a dog or cat, nearly half (47 per cent) are first-time owners, reflecting a new generation of pet parents keen to embrace tailored and innovative solutions for their pets' needs.
The report also shows that sustainability is a key consideration for pet parents, with 45 per cent believing it is very important when purchasing pet food. This sentiment is particularly strong amongst the younger generations, indicating a shift towards a demand for more sustainable and ethically produced products.
In the UK, one in three owners don’t change the food they originally feed their pet throughout their lifetime. This demonstrates the importance for retailers and brands alike to target the growing number of first-time pet owners, many of whom prioritise sustainable products.
Brands like Sheba Kitten for example, are continuing to build lifelong value by targeting first-time pet parents early in their journey. With kittens comprising 14 per cent of the UK cat population, this premium, grain-free range of wet food made of natural ingredients, vitamins and minerals, is designed to secure long-term brand loyalty while meeting nutritional needs.
Adelina Bizoi, Category & Market Activation Director at Mars Petcare, comments: “The evolving bond between pets and their owners signifies a shift in behaviour that the industry must react to.
"We know the strong relationship between owners and their furry friends means that petcare continues to be one of the last categories that pet parents will look to decrease spending on, making sure they provide offerings that are beneficial to their pets’ health even during tough time economically.
“Retailers have a significant opportunity to tap into the growing demand for premium petcare by offering a diverse range of innovative products. High-quality, nutrient-rich options such as supplements and superfood treats appeal to wellness-focused owners prioritising their pets' digestion, immunity, and joint health.
“Retailers can also tap into the rise of first-time pet parents and demand for sustainable products by offering starter kits and sustainability-driven initiatives. Starter kits, especially those tailored for first-time pet parents, can simplify pet ownership and create loyalty from the outset.”
The findings from Mars Global Pet Parent Study highlights the substantial opportunity for retailers to diversify their product offerings and build stronger, more meaningful connections between pets and their owners in an increasingly competitive market.