Vibrant Foods, the ethnic foods platform launched by Exponent Private Equity last year, has announced the acquisition premium nuts and spices brand Fudco, its second in a month.
The latest takeover, completed on 31 March, follows the acquisition of paneer maker Everest Dairies earlier in the month. London-based Fudco is the fifth business to join the Vibrant Foods portfolio, alongside the other leading Asian food brands of TRS, East End and Cofresh.
“Fudco’s story is one we have been following for a long time,” Rohit Samani, executive chairman of Vibrant Foods, said. “They have sourced fantastic, premier ingredients, and grown the business from a single, family owned shop in London to the country’s fastest-growing premium Asian foods brand.”
Beginning as a single retail store on Ealing Road, Wembley in 1979, Fudco now supplies supermarkets and independents with nuts, spices, dried fruits, pulses, speciality flours and other Asian foods. The business also has a separate range in health and beauty, which is not included in the acquisition.
While founding brothers Sheilesh and Akhil Shah will work with Vibrant Foods to support the transition, Sheilesh will be in charge of the health and beauty brands independently.
“For 35 years, we have built a business that cared not only for the quality of our products, but for the community we serve. We are a true family company, and our strong team deserve huge credit in helping us achieve our vision,” Sheilesh Shah said.
“Vibrant Foods has shown how they protect and support ambitious family businesses. I know we’ve found the right partner for our next chapter and I’m very confident Fudco will go on to achieve even greater things. I wish Vibrant and the whole Fudco team the very best.”
The food brands joining Vibrant Foods include Fudco (nuts, spices and other Asian foods), Chai Xpress (ayurvedic, spiced, and herbal teas) and Golden Tree (Mediterranean-inspired nuts and seeds).
Samani added that the partnership with Fudco will cement Vibrant Foods’ position as one of Europe’s leading Asian foods businesses.
“We see this new partnership as a powerful new platform for the brand to take its growth to the next level, as we seek to continue its impressive performance across major retailers and local community stores where Fudco is so known and loved.
“It’s another family run business which we will give new resources and opportunity to, while protecting their legacy.”
Fudco employs 68 people across its headquarters and factory in Willesden and retail store on Ealing Road and distributes a range of 2,500 SKUs.
Fudco’s retail space in London supports its loyal customer base of over 200 independents and cash & carry’s, supplementing its national distribution in supermarkets. Its pioneering ‘store-in-store’ concept, developed in partnership with Sainsbury’s, has also been a hit, rolling out to across 400 of their stores. The brand is found in over 1,000 stores nationwide.
A convenience store owner in Glasgow has retired and handed over the keys after serving the community for 44 years.
The retiring shopkeeper couple, Abdul Haq and his wife Hameedah, have run Disqu Blu convenience store in Glasgow since 1980.
Speaking to a local media, Haq explained how for past 44 years, he have been working from 6am each morning, seven days a week, - equating to nearly 200,000 hours in the shop.
He said his favourite part of the job has always been the interactions with customers who he will miss chatting to.
“I always speak to all my customers,” he said. “I’m that kind of person. I love people, and I enjoy speaking to everyone that comes in. I’ve got customers who have moved away, but when they come back to Glasgow they always pop in to see me. I love that kind of thing. It’s very personal.
“The people around here are lovely. I’ll miss them very much.”
“It was always going to be time to retire at some stage,” he said. “I probably should have retired years ago! But I just love being here. I’ve met so many nice people. I’ve got a lot of good memories from this place.”
The couple has run Disqu Blu since 1980. Though Haq will no longer be working in the shop - which was originally a tobacconist stocking Disque Bleu cigarettes, hence the distinctive name - he won’t be settling down into a dressing gown and slippers anytime soon.
“I’m not going to sit in the house all day,” he said. “I think I’ll do some charity work. I want to learn Arabic as well. I can read it but I can’t really speak it. So I’ll learn that, then I can travel around the Middle East. And I’d like to see more of Scotland. I’ve never been around the country much, working in here all the time, but I’d love to explore more of it.”
Haq's daughter Farah was only a year old when her parents took the shop.
“It’s more than just a business,” she said. “They’ve been here so long that customers have grown old with them, and become family and friends. We’ll miss it, because it’s been such a big part of all our lives. We’ve all grown up in here and done our bit in the shop, so it’s been very much a family business.
“It’s an emotional time. But I think it's the right moment for them to retire now. It’s a whole new chapter.
"I’ve really lucked out with my parents. They’re amazing role models. They’re so hardworking, and they’ve really given back to the local community. I look up to them a lot. Everyone knows them around here, they all call my dad Chiefy and my mum Mrs Chiefy. It’s a real community feel, which you don’t really get these days with supermarkets.”
innocent drinks, Europe’s leading healthy drinks company, is announcing a new partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity as it advances its mission to help people live well through the delicious goodness of fruits and vegetables.
Government statistics reveal that just one third of adults, and 12 per cent of 11–18-year-olds, are managing to get the recommended “Five a Day”. This is even starker for lower-income families, with the most deprived fifth of adults consuming 37 per cent less fruit and veg than the least deprived, and their children 29 per cent.
innocent is launching its partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity by teaming up with Co-op, to help donate a portion of fruit & veg for every smoothie bought in stores. The charity helps families in need to buy and eat more fresh fruit & veg. Until 19th November 2024, innocent will donate the cost of a portion of fruit and veg (£0.24) to the Alexandra Rose Charity for every “Mango & Passionfruit” and “Strawberry & Banana” smoothie sold in UK Co-op stores.
innocent’s partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity will see a total of 520,000 portions of fruit & veg donated by the end of the year through the charity’s Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project. Rose Vouchers are given out to families every week, helping them to afford fresh fruit and veg from local markets for them and their children.
John Taylor, General Manager for UK & Ireland, innocent Drinks commented,“At innocent, we’re on a mission to help make sure everyone can access the delicious goodness of fruit and veg - its why our drinks are crammed full of the stuff. Eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables is key to a healthy and nutritious diet, but we know that lots of us aren’t getting enough of it. Lower-income families face significant barriers to ensuring they can give their children the nutrition they need.
"Our partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity, and campaign with Co-op marks an ongoing commitment to helping improve access for everyone so they can unlock the health benefits of a balanced diet.”
Jonathan Pauling, Chief Executive at Alexandra Rose Charity, commented, “We are thrilled to be working with innocent Drinks and the Co-op to raise awareness of the challenges that families up and down the country are facing in affording to put healthy food on the table for them and their children. Food related ill-health costs the UK 98 billion a year, to the NHS, the economy and society.
"The long-term consequences of a lack of access to healthy food has a detrimental effect on health, wellbeing, and life chances. Through the funds raised from this promotion, we will be able to help families in need to make sure they can give their children the best possible start with a diet rich in fresh fruit & veg.”
Sinead Bell, Co-op’s Commercial Director, commented,“Supporting campaigns that address the issue of food poverty and access to food is important to us and the millions of Co-op member owners, and we are proud to be partnering with innocent on this fantastic initiative across our stores.”innocent drinks and Co-op team up to donate portions of fruit and veg
As the final key retail season of the year approaches, Nisa retailer NP Group is gearing up for Christmas with a renewed focus on store activation and point-of-sale (POS) strategy to drive sales following a successful Halloween.
With seasonal shopping trends in full swing, effective in-store activation and visibility are crucial for smaller retailers to capture customer attention and keep up with larger competitors. Data from Retail Economics shows that UK shoppers spent approximately £10 billion on seasonal products in 2023, with Halloween contributing £650 million alone, marking a steady increase in seasonal shopping over recent years.
POS and store activation remain pivotal in capturing these sales opportunities, as shoppers are more likely to make purchases when displays are both visually engaging and convenient to access.
Anthony Furnell, Head of Retail Operations at NP Group, which operates six stores, has significant experience in retailing. From his background with major retailers and suppliers, he understands that capitalising on seasonal periods is critical for convenience stores.
“Seasonal activation is really important. It’s a very competitive sector, and we’re not just competing with large supermarkets; we’re competing for convenience and ease for our customers. If a customer doesn’t see it, they don’t potentially buy it, so activation is key.”
NP Group’s Halloween strategy this year exemplifies how store activation can capture attention and improve sales. The Darwen store has allocated a dedicated Halloween space, complete with a hanging spider from the ceiling, vinyl window displays, and strategic POS items like floor stickers and overhead signs. This dynamic approach engages customers, driving incremental purchases and creating a one-stop shop for seasonal needs.
However, it’s not one-size-fits-all; each store location is tailored based on size, layout, and customer demographics.
“Our Menston store, for example, is our smallest, so we have to be selective about our seasonal range. Space is key—making sure the displays are in the right place is essential,” Anthony notes. “We’ve also have a group store WhatsApp to share best practices and ideas across locations, ensuring a cohesive yet unique seasonal activation for each store.”
Planning and evaluation are equally important in maximising seasonal sales. To meet the varying demands of each store, NP Group conducts pre-sales planning and end-of-season evaluations, which allows them to better anticipate the stock and POS materials required for future seasonal events.
“By evaluating what sold well and what didn’t, we can refine our approach and ensure we’re offering the right products in the right places for customers,” explains Anthony. “Seasonal displays and POS act as magnets that draw the eye and engage customers on a whole new level. In today’s fast-paced retail environment, it’s vital to have a captivating, well-organised space for seasonal items that entices shoppers, encourages browsing, and, ultimately, drives incremental sales.”
In addition to Halloween, Christmas activation is also underway, with stores gradually introducing festive products.
According to Anthony, “Christmas is another significant period where creative, well-placed POS and choice can create a festive in-store experience, encouraging customers to shop locally and find what they need without visiting larger stores.”
Both Halloween and Christmas offer strong opportunities for convenience retailers to increase footfall and improve basket spend. The rise in seasonal spending in convenience settings, combined with strategic activation, ensures that stores remain competitive and relevant for shoppers seeking both impulse buys and essential items.
For retailers, these activation strategies not only boost sales but also enhance customer satisfaction by creating an engaging shopping experience that keeps them coming back throughout the winter season.
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Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Around two thirds (65 per cent) of people affected by the Horizon scandal have said it impacted their family and relationships, while many respondents report estrangement from family members because of the scandal, according to a paper published today (1) by the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry’s listening project.
The paper title In Your Own Words illustrates the various challenges the Horizon scandal has inflicted on people’s relationships, with respondents reporting the breakdown of relationships, estrangement from family members, and acute loneliness. Some adult children of former sub-postmasters shared how they experienced bullying, financial issues and mental health struggles because of the scandal. Others reported how their parents have died before knowing the truth about the Horizon scandal, which magnified their grief.
For many the post office was a family business legacy, making subsequent issues more impactful. Many reference their parents dying before knowing the truth about Horizon, magnifying the grief of these bereavements.
240 people — including current and former sub-postmasters, family and friends — have anonymously submitted their stories to In Your Own Words so far. This paper covers responses from March 2024 to August 2024.
Some of the anonymous responses mentioned in the paper are as follows:
"“I’m 66. I’ve lost 18 years of a good relationship with my daughter. I’ve lost me.”
“My children had their childhoods abruptly taken from them when the gravity of the situation became too serious for me to shield them any longer.”
“My mother was worried for us and put a lot of her savings into the account. These savings were meant to be left to her grandchildren a regret I will live with until I die.”
“Seeing the effect on my children was extremely difficult and remains a sore subject for me to this day.”
“We would like to clear Dad’s name, so that this isn’t a part of our families inherited trauma and that his memory left is true.”
“What amount of compensation would be adequate for the stress and pain endured over two decades? What would be considered sufficient?”
“The scandal put an enormous strain on our young family. Instead of enjoying the early years of our marriage and our daughter's childhood, we were consumed by the issues at the Post Office. The stress affected our relationship, leading to frequent arguments and a pervasive sense of frustration and helplessness. Our daughter, though too young to understand, was indirectly impacted by the tension and reduced quality time with her parents.”
“My wife has replaced thousands of pounds of money that she thought she had lost due to her illness and died feeling a failure.”
The wholesalers have welcomed several measures announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's first budget but have raised concern the increase in National Living Wage and Employers National Insurance contributions will add an estimated £110 million in direct wage costs to the wholesale sector.
The wholesalers also pointed out that the lack of clarity on business rates reform means that wholesalers operating large physical premises remain disproportionately impacted by high rates. Without meaningful reform and a set timeline, these businesses will continue to shoulder a heavier burden than those in sectors with minimal property overhead.
Responding to the budget statement, Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) Chief Executive James Bielby stated, “We are pleased to see a number of positive steps in today’s budget that will bolster the wholesale sector. The freeze on fuel duty for another year is a welcome relief for wholesalers facing rising costs, allowing for greater stability in our operations.
“We also commend the government’s commitment to increasing support to combat retail crime, which is essential for protecting wholesalers, but we must ensure that wholesalers are included within this to ensure a safe environment for all businesses in the supply chain.
“Over the coming weeks, we look forward to working closely with the government to ensure that our members, who are central to driving economic growth, are given the support they need within an uncertain economic climate.”
Increase in Employer National Insurance contributions
Wholesale body pointed out that the planned increase in employer National Insurance contributions will significantly impact food and drink wholesalers who are already facing mounting operational costs.
With the Employer National Insurance contribution rate rising from 13.8% to 15.8%, this change represents an additional £30.9 million in yearly NI costs for the sector.
Bielby said, "This increase adds financial pressure on businesses striving to support their workforce while maintaining competitive pricing in a challenging market. We urge the government to set out what support will be provided to wholesalers, particularly the many small businesses that are the lifeblood of the country, to ensure they can continue to invest in their people and operations without compromising their viability.”
Fuel duty freeze and Alcohol duty increase
FWD has also welcomed the decision to freeze fuel duty for another year, which provides much-needed relief for wholesalers who rely on transportation to deliver goods.
Bielby pointed out that this freeze will help mitigate some of the financial pressures facing the sector, allowing businesses to manage costs more effectively.
Delaying the alcohol duty increase until February 2025 provides wholesalers some time to prepare, FWD stated. However, the rise will still present substantial challenges in terms of adjusting prices, managing stock, and maintaining supply chain stability.
Biekby said, "We encourage the government to collaborate with wholesalers to ensure the transition is smooth and that unintended consequences, such as increased costs and disruptions, are minimised.”
FWD has also welcome the government’s increased support to combat retail crime and the commitment to clamp down on organised crime. While these measures are crucial in protecting the retail sector, it is essential that the same level of attention and resources is extended to wholesalers, Bielby said, adding that the wholesale sector plays a vital role in the supply chain, and any rise in retail crime not only impacts its members directly but also has broader implications for the economy and society.
Raising caution in terms of tobacco tax, Bielby stated that the implementation of such measures must be carefully considered to ensure it works for wholesalers as well.
"A tax increase should not drive consumers towards illicit markets, which could undermine the goals of the health agenda and create further challenges for legitimate businesses," he said.