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.”
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.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has launched a new initiative in partnership with wholesalers to donate the equivalent of up to 300,000 meals to FareShare, the UK’s leading food redistribution charity.
Running until 6 January 2025, CCEP will donate the equivalent of five meals to FareShare for every Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 6 x 2L pack purchased during the promotion across 108 Booker participating wholesale depots, up to a maximum donation of 100,000 meals.
In addition, throughout December CCEP will donate the equivalent of five meals to FareShare for every Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 12 x 500ml pack purchased during the promotion across 100 Unitas and Bestway participating wholesale depots, up to a maximum donation of 200,000 meals.
The promotion will be supported by depot standees, pallet shrouds and digital screens, alongside digital assets that wholesalers can share through their own communication channels.
This activity coincides with CCEP’s recent milestone of providing 7 million surplus soft drinks to FareShare since 2017.
The promotion also runs alongside Coca-Cola’s commitment to donate the equivalent of one meal per person that attends the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck tour. Coca-Cola aims to donate the equivalent of up to a total of 1 million meals via FareShare this festive season.
“We are so grateful to Coca-Cola Europacific Partners for their continued support for FareShare. The donations made to FareShare from this initiative will help us get good-to-eat food, which might otherwise go to waste, to people who need it,” Kirsty Ford, head of fundraising at FareShare, said.
“Every day, the food we redistribute to a network of over 8,000 charities in every region helps to strengthen communities. From homelessness shelters and afterschool clubs to refuges and older people’s lunch clubs, these groups are all working harder than ever to provide people with essential support services.
“By purchasing Coca-Cola Zero Sugar products this winter, wholesalers can help people affected by the cost-of-living crisis come together through food and access vital services. Coca-Cola’s generous support for FareShare makes a huge difference in helping us make the food go further.”
Ruth Fawcett, associate director for wholesale & convenience at CCEP, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with our wholesale customers to support FareShare in their mission to fight food insecurity and reduce food waste, especially during the festive season when no one should go without a meal.
“Through this promotion, we hope to make a meaningful difference to communities, and it’s fantastic to see so many of our wholesale customers already getting behind the initiative. Their support will have a real impact in tackling hunger across the UK this Christmas.”
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(Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Acknowledging the devastating impact of rising retail crime, Prime minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday (11) reiterated the action his government is taking to tackle the problem.
Responding to a question from Labour politician Kirith Entwistle in the House of Commons, Starmer said. "I have spoken to many who work in our shops who are very concerned about shoplifting. It went out of control because of the approach taken by the previous Government.
"We are bringing it under control. It is not low level; it has a huge impact on other customers and a particular impact on staff working in supermarkets.
"That is why we are dedicating funding to train police and retailers and to support specialist analyst teams to crack down on the gangs that are targeting retailers."
Welcoming the Starmer's show of empathy towards retailers, retail trade union Usdaw General secretary Paddy Lillis said, “Keir Starmer’s response shows that we have seen a complete change in the government response, under Labour, to a significant increase in theft from shops, which has doubled since the pandemic and risen by 29 per cent in the last twelve months.
"This contrasts with 14 years of the Conservatives refusing to support the calls from Usdaw and many major retailers for significant action.
“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 retail workers’ law; end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; along with introducing Respect Orders for repeat offenders.
"The Chancellor announced in the Budget funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting, as Keir Starmer highlighted.
"Last week, the Prime Minister announced funding for 13,000 more uniformed police officers, patrolling our communities and high street. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.”
East of England Co-op on Thursday announced the appointment of Andy Rigby as acting chief executive for a minimum of 12 months.
Rigby joined the East of England Co-op in early 2022 as chief operations officer and has over 40 years’ leadership experience in senior executive roles across a range of formats in the UK, EU and international markets.
“Andy has proven himself to be a force for good in many ways for our Society in the time he has been with us; we welcome his appointment as we continue on our journey together to make a bigger difference in our communities and return to sustainable profit,” Joy Burnford, president of the East of England Co-op, said.
Rigby commented: “It is an honour to lead the East of England Co-op on our exciting journey which will continue at pace. Our focus remains on our customers, our colleagues, our members and our communities who we take great pride in supporting and serving, now and in the future.
“I’d like to thank our 3,000 incredible colleagues who continue to work so hard for our co-op and our Board too for their continued support, I’m excited and proud to continue to work closely with them to deliver our strategy. We’ve come a long way in a short-time and we have lots to be excited about.”
East of England Co-op Food store in Woolpit
Meanwhile, the regional retailer has also re-opened its Woolpit store after being refurbished as part of a wider £5 million investment by the retailer, including upgrades to the sustainability and food-to-go offering of its stores.
The refurbishments, which form part of the East of England Co-op’s portfolio reshape, improve the stores’ member and customer experience alongside their environmental impact with new eco-friendly refrigeration units.
The Woolpit store, on The Street, reopens with a larger store footprint, the East of England Co-op's much-loved serve behind in-store bakery, a larger chilled range and brand-new self-service checkouts.
This is the final refurbishment of 2024 and forms part of the retailer’s wider refurbishment of a total of 12 stores across the East of England which began in August.
“This investment in Woolpit has allowed us to enhance our member and customer offering through upgrades to store sustainability and improved shopping experience. This is part of our commitment to continue supporting the local communities these stores serve by providing quality products and exceptional customer service,” Rigby said.
“We want to do everything we can to minimise our environmental impact, which is why we’re placing a large emphasis on the stores’ sustainability throughout these refurbishments. These are crucial upgrades as we continue to invest in and reshape our wider portfolio.”
The East of England Co-op is the largest independent retailer in East Anglia with food stores, travel branches and local funeral service branches across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
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Tabrez Hussain, co-owner of LA Foods being presented with a trophy, in recognition of Henderson Technology’s 1,000th installation of EDGEPoS at the Uxbridge Road store
Henderson Technology has announced the 1,000th installation of its innovative EPOS system, EDGEPoS, at LA Foods on Uxbridge Road, London.
This milestone highlights the growing popularity and success of EDGEPoS, which was first piloted in 2011 and has since evolved into one of the most powerful and user friendly EPOS systems globally.
LA Foods, co-owned by Tabrez Hussain and his family, has a long retail history dating back to 1990 when his father established the business. Since the late 2000s, Tabrez and his brothers have expanded the company, which now operates 13 stores. The Uxbridge Road location, home to the 1,000th EDGEPoS installation, serves a diverse customer base and is dedicated to staying ahead of consumer trends.
The decision to implement EDGEPoS across all 13 stores was an easy decision for the business to make.
Tabrez Hussain said, “We chose EDGEPoS because we wanted a system that could make our store operations more streamlined and automated. The self-checkouts, suggested ordering, and electronic shelf labels (ESELs) were particularly appealing, and while we haven’t yet rolled out ESELs, we are excited about their potential.”
Since adopting EDGEPoS, LA Foods has witnessed significant improvements in operational efficiency. Automated ordering has freed up staff time for essential tasks like stock taking, ensuring accurate stock values and operational activities. “Features like automated ordering save time we can now spend on other tasks, such as regular stock takes,” Tabrez explained. “The reduction printers and digital handsets have also been invaluable additions.”
With a focus on convenience, EDGEPoS has transformed the shopping experience at LA Foods. From seamless transactions at reliable tills to maintaining consistent stock levels, the system has made shopping quicker and more satisfying for customers.
Tabrez added: “It’s reassuring to know that Henderson Technology has a strong foundation and that we are part of a large network of users. It gives us confidence in their long term support and future advancements.”
Darren Nickels, Retail Operations Director at Henderson Technology, said: “Reaching the 1,000th installation is a tremendous achievement, and we are thrilled that LA Foods is the business to mark this milestone. We are excited for their future and proud they chose EDGEPoS to drive their operations forward. It’s retailers like LA Foods that inspire us to continue innovating and delivering solutions tailored to their needs.”
For LA Foods, EDGEPoS aligns seamlessly with their business goals. “EDGEPoS has been transformative for our business, enabling us to streamline operations and improve efficiency while keeping up with modern retail trends,” Tabrez concluded. “It’s a robust system that aligns perfectly with our growth goals and gives us confidence in the future.”
Henderson Technology has established itself as a leader in the EPOS market, known for continuous innovation and partnerships. The EDGEPoS system, developed ‘by retailers for retailers’, is now one of the most feature rich and powerful systems globally. The company’s dedicated research and development team prioritises retailer feedback, ensuring the system evolves to meet the changing demands of the retail industry.