As part of its ongoing commitment to support retailers and the wholesale sector, Walkers is once again partnering with Bestway to bring back its ‘Win a Van’ competition for the seventh year running. New for this year, the winning retailer will be able to customise their prize – a Nissan Townstar EV L1 90kW Acenta Electric Van – by wrapping the van with their existing business name and logo, helping them promote their business in the local area.
Retailers can enter by buying a qualifying case* of Walkers, Doritos, Cheetos, Kurkure, Popworks or Smiths 48-91g £1.25 RRP sharing price-marked packs from Bestway in store or online and texting VAN, their full name, business name and postcode to 85100 to enter the prize draw for a chance to win.
As Walkers and Bestway gear up for another successful campaign, retailers have an incredible opportunity to significantly expand their visibility and impact within their local communities. By offering the chance to win a customisable electric van, Walkers is providing retailers with a unique promotional tool that goes beyond the traditional competition prize – enabling them to brand the vehicle with their existing business name and logo. This offers an invaluable mobile advertising platform that will allow the winning retailer to enhance their presence in the community, driving greater awareness and attracting new customers as they go about their daily deliveries and operations.
“Now in its seventh year, our Win a Van competition underpins our ongoing commitment to independent retailers, the wholesale sector, and Bestway," said Nic Storey, Senior Sales Director, Impulse & Field Sales at PepsiCo. "Given the huge number of entries from last year's competition, we view this event as a key fixture in our calendar of support for the trade and we know the van is a popular prize. From cash & carry runs to daily deliveries or supplying local events, the van is a gateway for a multitude of possibilities for a business and we’re proud to support retailers in this way each year.”
Kenton Burchell, Group Trading Director at Bestway, said: “The Win a Van promotion has been a tremendous success since its launch in 2017, consistently delivering strong results for our depots, whilst offering a tempting incentive for retailers to stock up on key savoury snacking products. We are delighted to once again partner with Walkers and expect this year’s competition to be another significant milestone in our collective support of the trade.”
The competition is live now and will run until 10th October 2024. For full T&Cs and details on how to enter, please visit: Prizeology.com/van.
*Promotion Terms and Conditions
*Retail businesses that are members of Bestway Wholesale only. GB 18+. Opens 00:00 on 13.09.24, closes 23:59 10.10.24. Purchase necessary. Purchase any case of Walkers, Doritos, Cheetos, Kurkure, Popworks, or Smiths 48g-91g £1.25 RRP PMP during the Promotional Period from Bestway instore or online. 1x winner randomly drawn receives a Nissan Townstar EV L1 90kW Acenta Electric Van automatic transmission 45kWh with Solid paint (Mineral White), plus a digitally printed vinyl wrap of the winner’s businesses existing logo and/or existing branding (winner’s choice of panel wrap, half wrap or full wrap). Retain invoice. Proof of purchase required to claim prize. Max 1 entry per invoice. Maximum 8 entries per retail business. Prize does not include Motor Vehicle insurance and winner will need to arrange and provide proof of insurance prior to delivery. Prize will only be provided to the retail business named on invoice. Winner must hold a full UK driving licence. Promoter: Walkers Snacks Limited. Price marked packs are recommended retail price only. Prizeology.com/van for T&Cs.
Consumer promotion Terms and Conditions
Retail businesses that are Bestway Wholesale members only. GB 18+. Opens 00:00 13.09.24, closes 23:59 10.10.24. Purchase any case of Walkers, Doritos, Cheetos, Kurkure, Popworks, or Smiths 48g-91g £1.25 RRP PMP. 1x winner randomly drawn receives a Nissan Townstar EV L1 90kW Acenta Electric Van automatic transmission 45kWh with Solid paint (Mineral White) plus a digitally printed vinyl wrap of the winner’s businesses existing logo and/or existing branding (choice of panel wrap, half wrap or full wrap). Retain invoice. Max 1 entry per invoice. Max 8 entries per retail business. Prize excludes Motor Vehicle insurance. Prize provided to the retail business named on invoice. Proof of purchase required to claim prize. Winner must hold a full UK driving licence. Promoter: Walkers Snacks Limited. Price marked packs are RRP only. T&Cs at Prizeology.com/van.
SPAR UK has announced the appointment of Michael Fletcher as its new managing director.
Fletcher spent 22 years at Tesco plc, where he held numerous senior commercial roles in the UK, Ireland and Asia. He joined Co-op Retail in 2013 where he held the position of chief commercial officer before moving on to become CEO of Nisa Wholesale, a role he held until 2022.
Since leaving Nisa, Fletcher has taken on several non-executive director and board advisory roles. He is also the founder and chief executive of Sleet Brush Limited, where he focuses on designing and implementing innovative solutions to complex retail and wholesale challenges.
“Michael has outstanding credentials in commercial, retail and FMCG sectors, with experience across various trading environments,” Nick Bunker, non-executive chair, SPAR Food Distributors Ltd, said.
“His professional capabilities and high standards consistently drive excellent business performance and operational resilience. We are delighted with his appointment and look forward his lasting and positive contribution to the SPAR business.”
Fletcher added: “SPAR is a globally recognised and respected brand, and I am thrilled to join the team. I look forward to supporting the ongoing strengthening and development of the SPAR proposition in the UK.”
October saw shop prices fall marginally further into deflation for the third consecutive month with food inflation eased, particularly for meat, fish and tea along with chocolate and sweets as retailers treated customers to spooky season deals, shows industry data released today (29).
According to British Retail Consortium (BRC), shop price deflation was at 0.8 per cent in October, down from deflation of 0.6 per cent in the previous month. This is below the 3-month average rate of -0.6 per cent. Shop price annual growth was at its lowest rate since August 2021.
Food inflation slowed to 1.9 per cent in October, down from 2.3% in September. This is above the 3-month average rate of 2.1 per cent . The annual rate continues to ease in this category and inflation remained at its lowest rate since November 2021.
Fresh Food inflation decelerated in October, to 1.0 per cent , down from 1.5 per cent in September. This is below the 3-month average rate of 1.2 per cent . Inflation was its lowest since October 2021.
Ambient Food inflation decelerated to 3.1 per cent in October, down from 3.3 per cent in September. This is below the 3-month average rate of 3.3 per cent and remained at its lowest since March 2022.
Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the BRC, said, “October saw shop prices fall marginally further into deflation for the third consecutive month. Food inflation eased, particularly for meat, fish and tea as well as chocolate and sweets as retailers treated customers to spooky season deals. In non-food, discounting meant prices fell for electricals such as mobile phones, and DIY as retailers capitalised on the recent pick-up in the housing market.
“With fashion sales finally turning a corner this Autumn, prices edged up slightly for the first time since January as retailers started to unwind the heavy discounting seen over the past year.”
“Households will welcome the continued easing of price inflation, but this downward trajectory is vulnerable to ongoing geopolitical tensions, the impact of climate change on food supplies, and costs from planned and trailed Government regulation. Retail is already paying more than its fair share of taxes compared to other industries.
“The Chancellor using tomorrow’s Budget to introduce a Retail Rates Corrector, a 20 per cent downwards adjustment, to the business rates bills of all retail properties will allow retailers to continue to offer the best possible prices to customers while also opening shops, protecting jobs and unlocking investment.”
Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight, NielsenIQ, said, “Inflation in the food supply chain continues to ease and this helped slow the upward pressure of shop price inflation in October, however other cost pressures remain.
“Consumers remain uncertain about when and where to spend and with Christmas promotions now kicking in, competition for discretionary spend will intensify in both food and non-food retailing.”
PayPoint has announced a new partnership with Leeds Credit Union (‘LCU’), a financial cooperative with 37,000 members, enabling them access to its CashOut service, effective immediately.
The partnership will mean that LCU customers can access their cash and savings across any of PayPoint’s UK network of 29,000 retailer partners. This represents an unprecedented growth in accessibility and the first partnership of its kind for LCU. Historically customers have needed to visit one of LCU’s four branches to withdraw money.
Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward, affordable financial services. As a mutual there are no shareholders, so it is owned by its members and always has the interests of the members at the heart of everything it does. The credit union prides itself on providing members with the most appropriate services based on their circumstances.
“Our partnership with Leeds Credit Union will enable its customers to access their funds more easily than ever before," said Jo Toolan, Managing Director of Payments at PayPoint. "We’re committed to pursuing these kinds of partnerships, which enable credit unions to offer a more competitive and technologically advanced service, while simultaneously making the lives of customers that little bit easier through enhanced access.”
Greg Potter, Head of Marketing & Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, said: “Increasingly, we’re looking at ways that we can apply technological solutions and partnerships to add value to the experience of our members using Leeds Credit Union. This partnership is demonstrative of our determination to grow in their best interests and will make access to funds something that can be done at any of a number of PayPoint locations in the UK.”
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A Philip Morris logo is pictured on a factory in Serrieres near Neuchatel, Switzerland December 8, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Marlboro-maker Philip Morris said Tuesday it planned to close down its two production sites in Germany, citing falling demand for cigarettes among Europeans.
"In recent years, demand for cigarettes in Europe has fallen significantly," the company said in a statement, adding that it saw the same trend for roll-your-own tobacco.
"This trend is expected to continue in the coming years," the company said.
Many smokers have been shifting to e-cigarettes, or vapes, and heated-tobacco devices.
Philip Morris employs 372 workers at its factories in Berlin and Dresden. Both sites are scheduled for closure next year.
The tobacco giant said it would begin discussions with labour representatives to find "fair and socially responsible solutions" for staff.
Nisa retailer Prem Uthayakumaran has made significant donations totalling £3,500 to two local community organisations through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.
The funds will provide essential support to groups within the communities that his stores serve, helping them continue their invaluable work.
The first of these generous donations was a £1,000 contribution from Broxbourne Service Station in Hertfordshire, directed to the Lea Valley Karate Academy. The funds will enable the academy to purchase much-needed equipment, ensuring that young people and adults in the local area have access to high-quality resources as they develop their skills in martial arts.
Additionally, a £2,500 donation was made by Eastfield and Cross Road Service Stations to the Mansfield Town Ability Counts Football Club. The club, which provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in football, will use the funds to support their programs, enhancing the experience for current players and making it possible for even more participants to join.
In July 2024, Prem donated £1,000 to Voice of the Vale – a group of young performers at Nottingham Trent University. This followed further self-donations from Prem to Broxbourne Organisation for Disabled and to Mansfield Under 12s Football Club in 2023.
Prem Uthayakumaran said: “Supporting the communities around my stores has always been important to me, and through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity, we’re able to make a real, tangible difference. The Lea Valley Karate Academy and Mansfield Town Ability Counts Football Club both play vital roles in their respective communities, and I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to their success.”
Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity enables retailers to donate to local good causes through the sale of Co-op own brand products in their stores. A percentage of sales from these products goes into a MADL fund, which retailers can then use to make donations to charities, schools, sports clubs, and other community groups.Kate Carroll, Head of Charity at Nisa, said, “We are delighted to see retailers like Prem using their MADL funds to support such worthwhile local causes. Both the Lea Valley Karate Academy and Mansfield Town Ability Counts Football Club provide vital services to their communities, and donations like these enable them to continue their important work. At Nisa, we are incredibly proud of our retailers’ commitment to making a difference locally.”
Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity has been helping retailers like Prem Uthayakumaran give back to their communities for over 15 years, and with each donation, they help foster stronger, more Connected local areas.