As the spring and summer months appear on the horizon, it’s time to maintain and build momentum to make sure that 2026 is a year to remember for all Londis retailers.
A very warm welcome to your latest issue of Londis News as our thoughts begin to turn to the spring and summer months ahead and all of the opportunities that await us.
One of the best ways of staying ahead of the competition and building momentum is to visit our Booker Retail Trade Shows at Sandown and Doncaster Racecourses early in March. We would urge you to get along to the shows to learn more about how Booker and Londis are working tirelessly to help you deliver sales and profits.
There’s so much to learn at the shows and, while time away from the business can be difficult to justify, we’re sure that a day or two at the Trade Shows will be a very good use of your time.
Then, of course, we’re into the important Easter seasonal period and we have a fantastic package of activity and promotions to assist you in leveraging that key opportunity.
With social media so important these days, we’ve recently updated our guidance and support for retailers to help them make sure they are making the most of
this exceptionally powerful tool to drive their businesses forward. You can read all about that in this issue.
You’ll also find the latest update on Scoot, as we continue to expand our low-cost home delivery service. From a standing start we now have approaching 400 retailers using Scoot with many seeing huge growth in their home delivery business since switching to the platform.
There’s plenty to get excited about in the months ahead and we certainly look forward to growing stronger together with you in 2026.
We wish you all superb trading.
Martyn Parkinson Director of Retail Sales Stewart Fenn Director of
Retail Customer
Proposition & Forecourt Sales
#1 BEST TREK BISCOFF® FLAPJACK
YOUR LONDIS Stories from around the Londis Family...
Booker claims coveted FWD Sustainable Wholesaler Award
Booker was recently named Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year at the FWD Gold Medal Awards recognising huge progress across fleet, energy, refrigeration and food waste.
Booker enjoyed a hugely successful night recently claiming two victories at the FWD Gold Medal Awards, including the highly coveted Sustainable Wholesaler Award.
This award celebrates a UK wholesaler that is “not just talking about sustainability but living it, every day”. The judges were looking for “businesses that have made real, measurable strides in reducing their environmental impact while inspiring a culture of sustainability across their entire operation”.
Claiming the award is testament to the incredible work happening across the business and the collective effort of teams
who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty.
The Sustainable Wholesaler Award is fantastic recognition of the progress Booker is making across its fleet, energy, refrigeration and food waste.
On top of that, Booker colleague Leanne Fay took home the Wholesale Manager Award for her “leadership, drive and unwavering commitment to customers and colleagues”. The shortlist for the award also featured two more Booker colleagues – Ed Lax and Richard Turvey – reflecting the depth of talent at the company.
Booker has received a Gold Award at this year’s GroceryAid Awards, the highest-possible award handed out by the leading industry charity.
To achieve a Gold Award, companies must have participated in seven separate activities across all three of GroceryAid’s critical pillars: awareness, fundraising and the new GroceryAid Raffle.
GroceryAid provides essential support to industry colleagues when they need it most, and Booker is honoured to play its part in backing such an important cause.
Vape duty: what you need to know
New legislation comes into force in October sees all vaping products falling under a new Vaping Product Duty and Stamp Scheme.
From 1st October 2026, all vaping liquids will be subject to a new Vaping Product Duty and Stamp Scheme which will see the retail price of vaping products rise significantly.
The new regulations apply to all vaping products including bottles, cartridges or pods containing vaping liquids. The rules also apply to nicotine-free liquids.
The Duty Rate has been set at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid. To put that into context, consider the sale of a 2ml + 10ml pod kit for £6.99. The new Vape Duty will add £2.64, taking the new retail price to £9.63.
All vaping products will feature Duty Stamps which will be small, highly secure labels attached to the box or bottle’s packaging showing that the vaping product is legal. The exact size of the stamp is still to be confirmed.
Vaping Duty Stamps will also have a digital feature, such as a QR code.
If you sell duty-liable stock that has not been paid or does not carry a Duty Stamp, you could receive a large fine and a possible prison sentence in the most serious cases.
Any bottle, cartridge or pod containing vaping liquids – including nicotine-free.
Scenario 1
1) Retailer sells a 2ml + 10ml pod kit for £6.99
2) New Vape Duty adds £2.64
3) From 1st October, new price becomes £9.63
Scenario 2
1) Retailer sells 10ml of e-liquid for £3.99
Similarly, a 10ml bottle of e-liquid sold for £3.99 would see Vape Duty add £2.20 which would take the retail price to £6.19.
HMRC will also be able to size any legitimate stock found with the unstamped goods.
HMRC will also be able to size any legitimate stock found with the
2) New Vape Duty adds £2.20
3) From 1st October, new price becomes £6.19
period to sell through any non-
from 1st October 2026 and
Retailers will have a six-month period to sell through any nonduty liable stock until 1st April 2027. The Duty will be in effect from 1st October 2026 and after the six-month sell through period, it will become illegal to sell unstamped products on 1st April 2027.
£2.20 PER 10ML DUTY RATE
Sell-Through Period
• Retailers will have a six-month period to sell through any non-duty liable stock until 1st April 2027.
• Duty comes into effect on 1st October 2026
• On 1st April 2027 it becomes illegal to sell unstamped products.
M317559
Cruzcampo Orange Can
(6)4x440ml
COMMUNITY
Key issues of interest to you Baillieston’s social butterfly
Community-centric Londis Solo Convenience in Baillieston, Glasgow has smashed through the 8,000 followers barrier on Facebook.
Commenting on the store’s huge online following, award-winning retailer Natalie Lightfoot said: “Don’t quite know how we managed to get here but man I am proud of the community we have built in the 11-plus years we have had social media!
“We’ve managed to grow this Facebook community organically and slowly.
“Socials have changed our wee shop’s life and journey, and it sure as heck changed ours! We have customers know about what we stock, sell and stand for! We have suppliers approach US to work exclusively with them. So, we must be doing something right.
“We launched our home delivery service
during Covid and NONE of that would’ve been possible without our socials. Especially Facebook.
“You guys got to learn about our events, initiatives and family ethos because after all we aren’t a supermarket; we are just a familyrun local store with a whole lot of heart.
“Long may we grow and service you all.”
Community dash in Bexley
Community-focused Londis Bexley Park in Kent has donated a refreshing haul of free soft drinks to The Swanley Community Cupboard – a charitable organisation which helps get essential food supplies and support into the hands of people facing hardship within the local community.
Store owner Nishi Patel (profiled on page 20) personally delivered just under 1,000kg worth of Dash Water to the local good cause.
He also gave away a free 4-pack of Dash Water with every Snappy Shopper order made from Londis Bexley Park that day.
Commenting on the generous donation, The Community Cupboard said: “After a very busy few days we had a lovely visit from the amazing Nishi at Bexley londis who brought us in a whopping 906kg-worth of donations of drinks.
Thank you for always supporting us, Nishi!”
Baked beauties
Goonhavern Bridge
Stores Londis in Cornwall has started stocking a new range of breads and baked goods from Da Bara Bakery – a local family business specialising in artisan breads, pastries and preserves. The store’s range includes sourdough loaves, brioche hot dog rolls, ciabatta, focaccia, baguettes and more. Shoppers are also able to pre-order their favourite bakes for next day collection.
Key issues of interest to you Scoot hits 400 store milestone as sign ups continue to soar
Scoot has continued to grow from strength to strength with 400 stores now signed up to the service.
Scoot has passed a major milestone having signed up 400 stores nationwide since it launched in February 2025.
Booker’s rapid delivery platform has expanded rapidly through its Premier, Londis, Budgens and Family Shopper symbol groups in the last year - supporting retailers in growing sales, reaching new shoppers and remaining competitive.
The platform manages ordering, payment and picking processes, while retailers remain fully in control of their product range, pricing and delivery model – whether fulfilled in-house or through third party courier partners, including Just Eat.
Booker’s Head of Home Delivery Damian Sanderson said: “Reaching 400 store launches is an incredible achievement and a real testament to the ambition of our retailers and the strength of the platform.
“Scoot was built to help independent stores thrive by connecting them with their local communities in a convenient, cost-effective way. We’re incredibly proud of the progress made and excited to continue supporting even more retailers as. the platform grows.”
With more retailers joining each week, Scoot continues to build momentum as a key part of Booker’s commitment to supporting independent convenience stores with practical, future-focused solutions.
NEW COMING SOON TO BOOKER
Independent retail ‘bucks spending fall trend’ in December
New data shows that the independent retailing saw transaction growth of 14.1% in December and value growth of 2.9%, far ahead of the major multiples.
The latest Barclays Consumer Spend Report shows that the independent retailing sector led the way in December, ‘bucking the trend’ of consumer spending cutbacks that was seen across the wider retail sector.
Barclays sees nearly 40% of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, providing a unique insight into UK consumer spending.
While total card spending across all sectors fell 1.7% in December, independent retail saw transactions grow by 14.1% year-on-year (YOY) and also saw spend increase by 2.9% YOY.
The compares with a 5.5% fall in transactions in supermarkets and a 2.9% drop in spend.
Concerns remain for shoppers in 2026 with two in three (64%) saying they plan to cut spending on groceries this year, and of this group, three in five (59%) saying they will make use of loyalty schemes, 52% will shop at budget supermarkets and 46% will buy own-brand products.
National Lottery operator Allwyn has praised National Lottery retailers for achieving their strongest-ever performance on ageverification checks since mystery shopper visits began more than 20 years ago.
The latest results from the Operation Guardian programme show that retailers correctly asked for ID in 93.5% of first visits, setting a record for player protection. Retailers also demonstrated record levels of understanding around minimising excessive play.
James Dunbar, Allwyn’s Retail Strategy & Operations Director, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our 43,500 National Lottery retailers for setting a new standard in responsible retailing. Their commitment has delivered the strongest results we’ve ever seen, and that’s a huge achievement.”
Rural stores invested ‘over £280m’ in last year
The ACS 2026 Rural Shop Report has revealed that rural retailers spent over a quarter of a billion pounds in the last year improving their range and business.
KEY FINDINGS:
l Rural shops provide secure, flexible jobs for over 165,000 people.
l Rural shops generated £17.7bn in sales last year.
l The average rural shop serves more than 2,000 people in rural communities surrounding the business.
Rural retailers invested more than £280m in the last year improving their range of products and services for customers, as well as investing in security measures to keep colleagues and customers safe.
That’s one of the key findings from the Association of Convenience Stores 2026 Rural Shop Report, highlighting the huge positive impact that rural stores play in communities across the country.
The report shines a light on the importance of rural retailers and the vital services they provide, as well as the unique challenges they face compared to their more urban counterparts.
Outgoing ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Rural shops are a lifeline for thousands of people in isolated communities. These businesses are taking on a lot of the services that are otherwise disappearing from communities and need support to be able to thrive.
“We need to level the playing field for rural shops, so they don’t have to worry about phone signal or broadband connections. It is vitally important that policymakers consider the unique challenges facing rural shops and find ways to help them grow and continue to invest in their long-term future.”
Exchange for Change
Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) operator, UK Deposit Management Organisation has revealed that its new trading name is Exchange For Change.
Alongside the new trading name, Exchange for Change has a new icon that will appear on every bottle, can and return point associated with the scheme. The icon shows bottles and cans turning into coins, designed to be instantly recognisable and to reflect the full range of eligible containers within the scheme.
Exchange For Change CEO Russell Davies said: “Our new name reflects what this scheme is all about, and that’s making a simple change that has the power to transform streets, communities and recycling habits across the UK.”
Shop theft rises once more
The number of shop thefts recorded by the police has increased by 5% on the previous year to 519,381 incidents, according to the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales published by the Office for National Statistics. This 5% increase marks the first time in a number of years that the overall shop theft record has not been broken every quarter – the 12-month period to June 2025 retains this record at 529,994 shop theft offences.
Figures from the 2025 ACS Crime Report show that there were over 6.2 million incidents of theft recorded by convenience retailers alone over the last year, so there remains a significant gap between what is happening on the ground and what is being recorded by forces.
The help you’ve earned
Industry charity GroceryAid has unveiled a brand-new identity that, for the first time, puts workers from across the entire independent retailing and grocery spectrum front and centre, and champions the people who make the industry what it is: vibrant, diverse and something to be proud of.
At the heart of the rebrand is a drive to communicate to workers in this sector that support from GroceryAid isn’t a handout, but a service earned by grocery workers through their hard work, dedication and contribution to the sector.
Industry charity GroceryAid has fully rebranded to put retail workers front and centre and to remove the stigma of accepting the support they’ve earned.
Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes and workers in this sector have more than earned that help.”
The refresh is being supported by a full marketing campaign, including a trade and consumer PR and out-ofhome campaign that highlights the importance of accessing help before reaching crisis point and challenging the stigma that can surround it.
“We fully appreciate that the term ‘charity’ can have some negative connotations and our research shows clearly that workers in the retail sector don’t consider themselves charity cases in any sense, and they’re absolutely correct,” explains GroceryAid CEO Kieran Hemsworth.
“They work long hours, they’re fabulously committed and they have earned the right to support through their contribution to an industry that serves millions every day. So what the new identity will help communicate is that this isn’t about charity in the traditional sense.
Despite supporting more than 22,000 grocery colleagues, totalling more than £6.5m last year, GroceryAid hopes that the refreshed brand will connect with even more grocery workers who need support, including reaching a new younger and more diverse demographic.
Scan the QR code opposite to order your independent retailer pack and help to spread the word.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
You can play your part by scanning the QR code here and ordering your FREE independent retailer pack.
The pack includes:
l 1 x A4 All Services Poster
l 1 x A4 Financial Services Poster
l 1 x A4 Emotional Services Poster
l 1 x A4 Practical Services Poster
l 10 x A4 Employee Introduction Leaflet
l 10 x A5 Double-sided All Services Leaflet
l 10 x Wallet Cards
FROM THE UK’S NO.1 WATER BRAND*
*Source: NIQ Total Market Coverage, Sales Volume (Ltrs) and Sales Value (£s), 52wks to 24/01/2026
Winner Drinks Category. Survey of 8,000 people by Kantar.
RETAILER PROFILE
Time to shine
Award‑winning Londis retailer Nishi Patel spills the beans on his most successful recent innovations – as he seeks to save time, boost efficiency and drive engagement, footfall and sales at Londis Bexley Park.
Nishi Patel is a busy man. As the owner of three innovation-packed Londis stores, the star of numerous retailer panels and an honoured guest at countless industry events, he’s a master of making every minute count – and we haven’t even touched on the many high-impact supplier activations that he engages with – or his inspirational community work!
And despite his stacked schedule –or, conversely, because of it – this revolutionary retailer is always on the lookout for new ways to innovate and improve.
Unsurprisingly, time-saving tech played a headline role in Nishi’s 2025 innovations and, as he told Londis News, 2026 is shaping up to be no less tech-tastic.
Last year saw him invest in fitting electronic shelf-edge labels (ESELs) right
across his award-winning Londis store in Bexley Park – with radical results.
In addition to saving his team “huge amounts of time” at promotional changeovers, the new ESELs lend promotions even greater impact and elevate the whole look of the store.
“I did the whole shop in one go and it’s probably the best thing we did last year,” Nishi says.
“Now, any changes are implemented instantly, the labels look great and the time saving is huge.
“The labels themselves have got better over time too – ours have different colours and a clever feature that allows you to make the light on a particular label flash if you’re trying to locate where a product is, or needs to go. If you’ve got 700-plus SKUs and you’re
just trying to find one, that feature takes a lot of the time and pain out of it. It’s all about becoming more efficient and helping to maintain your margin, which is another benefit – especially at times when there are lots of price changes to implement,” he adds.
As Londis News went to press, Nishi was also on the cusp of launching Kelsius – a “game changing” wireless temperature-monitoring system that will not only ensure HACCP compliance, but also save time, reduce operational costs, cut waste and rack up major sustainability benefits by slashing the store’s paper use.
“Kelsius is going to be truly game changing,” he enthuses. “All the paperwork that my team currently have to do in terms of temperature controls and checking the fridges will be done digitally.
“It currently takes staff at least a couple of hours a day to do and record all the checks manually, so it will be a huge time saving for them.
“Take the hot food checks for example: the system knows all the products which need to be checked, and staff do this with a digital thermometer which then makes an instant digital record.
“But it’s about more than just saving time, it’s also about compliance. It makes it easier than ever to ensure great compliance, and you also get training too.”
The sustainability benefits are also compelling.
Top
tips!
“We currently have to make written entries on sheets of paper – when you think about the fact that we do that every day, 365 days a year – that’s a lot of paperwork to hold.”
Londis Bexley Park is also reaping the benefits of Retail AI, which is already helping Nishi to turn the tide on the scourge of retail crime. “We had it fitted about eight months ago and it’s fantastic. The technology is able to hone in on the body movements of someone who is stealing a product, concealing a product, or eating and drinking a product from the shop floor and alert us to it,” he says.
Electronic shelf-edge labels can save you time, improve promotional standout and elevate the look of your store.
2 3
Work with your key suppliers. They can offer you fantastic insights and help you create exciting in-store activations.
Don’t underestimate the power of social media. It’s an incredible tool for engaging shoppers and expanding your reach.
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UPCOMING TRADE SHOWS WHERE YOU COULD POP BY AND SEE US…
● Booker Sandown 5th March and Booker Doncaster 12th March in the Added Value Services Section
● National Convenience Show at Birmingham NEC 13th - 15th April Stand DD79
We are also supporting Booker and Grocery Aid at the Dragon Boat Race in June. Hoping we can do well in the contest!
STORE INFO
Store name: Londis Bexley Park, Kent
Retailer: Nishi Patel
Size: 2,000sq ft
Services: Home delivery, National Lottery, parcels
Opening hours: 7am–9pm
“It’s a truly great bit of kit that I think will truly change our business in the future. Some of the upgrades they are working on now will eventually give us incredible new shopper insights and the store’s key heat areas – all of which will dictate future changes to our layout.”
Other recent innovations have centred around social media, which now plays a “hugely significant” role in the success of Nishi’s business. “You can’t overstate the importance of social media these days,” he says.
“Last year I started working with MPOS on our social media and the results have been astounding. We trialled them for a month and in that time my socials went from organic views of about 30,000 a month to more than 70,000.
“I’ve also really noticed a difference in store; shoppers now regularly say to me: ‘I saw your store pop up on my Instagram feed,’ which really proves that it’s working.
“Everything they use is my content: I take all the pictures and all the videos and send it on to them to post. They know all the tricks: the best time to post, how to maximise each post, what hashtags to use and so on – and it shows.”
“We’ve now got more than 1.5k followers on Facebook and 1,148 on TikTok, with both growing all the time.”
Innovative new products feature highly on the store’s social media channels. In addition to making the most of Londis’ winning line-up of Group Exclusives,
Nishi also goes out of his way to source unique products that he knows will create a stir and drive footfall.
“I spend a lot of time on TikTok looking for new products and I talk to my shoppers all the time to try and identify new trends and opportunities for growth.
“At Bexley Park we’ve noticed that demand for American confectionery is dying off a bit, so we’ve brought in new Canadian and Japanese lines that have created excitement.
“We’ve also gone big on the Dubai chocolate trend but with a twist. I’ve managed to find an amazing local producer who creates giant premium bars that we sell for between £25 and £30, and we’re selling about 70 a week!
WIIINGS FOR YOUR SPRING.
“One video that I posted of her making the chocolate bars got around 32,000 views! It’s about collaboration too.”
Food to go is another jewel in Londis Bexley Park’s crown – with Nishi’s unique ‘Shakes N Bakes’ concept providing even more opportunities for punchy posts and riveting reels.
“Food to go accounts for around 10% of our sales and we sell a vast range, including burgers and pizzas in addition to baked goods, toasties, pastries and more.”
Looking to the future, Nishi’s currently working on a store development plan which will allow him to increase refrigeration, both on the shop floor and out the back – allowing him to expand his food-to-go offer even further.
“Soft drinks are also a massive category at Bexley Park, and I know there’s an opportunity to grow it even more,” he adds.
“Last year I doubled the space we have for soft drinks and that has already increased turnover by £400 a day. The store is now doing almost £900 a day on soft drinks – and that’s in the winter!
“Going forward, I want to devote even more space to it, and I might look into getting new back-filled fridges, which would help facilitate replenishment.”
and I try to work as much as possible with them,” he says.
Kellanova is just one of a number of suppliers that Nishi’s planning to work closely with in 2026.
drive excitement and engagement
Nishi also plans to spend even more time working with key suppliers on impactful activations which help to drive excitement and engagement both online and offline.
“Suppliers can be a fantastic source of insight and inspiration,
“I’ve got a whole year of brand plans mapped out with them already –including potentially shaving off my beard for Movember. I’ve not shaved my beard in more than a decade so I might shave it off live in the store, followed by weekly updates on how my new moustache is growing,” he laughs.
“As you can
see, we’ve got a lot of plans and fun features highly in all of them.
“Yes, this business can be challenging, but it also provides so many opportunities to have fun – and this year will also see me spend a lot of time engaging with my shoppers in as many fun ways as possible.”
Sounds like time very well spent to us!
35% of households now buy plant-based drinks *
*Kantar: Penetration: 52wk 15/06/2025 vs 2023
COMING SOON TO Booker
*Circana all outlets, 52 w/e data to 4th Oct 2025.
RETAILER PROFILE
Tasting success
Theatre of creams
Food to go is centre stage at award‑winning Londis Armthorpe, which boasts a unique ‘Cream Hut’ concept.
With its alluring aromas, vibrant visuals and mouth-watering menu of choices, when done right, the food-to-go category can enact truly show-stopping in-store theatre that leaves shoppers hungry for an encore.
One retailer who knows that all too well is Kopinath Kalanathan (Kopi), whose exceptional performance on the food-to-go stage saw him celebrated as ‘Food To Go Retailer of the Year’ at the 2025 Asian Trader Awards.
The store in the spotlight was his 3,000sq ft Londis in Armthorpe, Doncaster – one of eight stores that Kopi operates with Londis and Budgens.
“Our food-to-go offer has been on a real journey. It’s a fascinating category that is constantly evolving, which makes it really exciting – but challenging at the same time,” he laughs.
He’s not kidding about the journey part. Over the years, Londis Armthorpe’s food-to-go offer has evolved to include Kopi’s own unique ‘Cream Hut’ concept, featuring a bountiful array of fresh, homemade brownies, cakes, cookies, shakes, sandwiches, wraps, baps and more.
There’s also a gelato bar with its painter’s palette of delicious, authentic gelatos – all made in-store using traditional techniques and fine ingredients.
The store also boasts a hot food bar offering a mighty menu of burgers, hot-filled rolls, nachos, hot dogs, kebabs, salads and more – all freshly cooked and prepared to order.
Shoppers can also treat themselves to a refreshing range of iced delights at the store’s ‘Slush Station’, and coffee from its self-serve coffee counter.
And Londis Armthorpe’s range is constantly evolving in line with local demands and national trends.
“Food to go is such a dynamic category; there are so many exciting new trends constantly bubbling up and you have to embrace them and keep innovating to maintain excitement,” Kopi says.
“We take a very proactive and data-driven approach to ensure the offer is always in line with what our shoppers want.
“As such, we regularly review and update our menu, incorporating
seasonal ingredients and shopper feedback to introduce new and trending dishes.
“This approach ensures that our customers always have something new to look forward to, setting us apart from stores with static menus.”
Recent on-trend innovations have included indulgent Brookies and Cookie Pies, topped and filled with flavours including pistachio, Biscoff and Kinder.
“We are currently trialling a brand-new
smash-burger concept at our Budgens store in Carcroft, which I’m planning to introduce in Londis Armthorpe later this year as part of an exciting store development,” Kopi says. “The smash-burger trend has been getting bigger and bigger, but it’s not as simple as just adding a smash burger to your menu. We want to do it properly and that means investing in new equipment and a larger grill.”
Demand for healthy, nutritious products also looks set to remain a key trend in food to go this year – and one which Kopi is certainly keeping his innovative eye on.
“We’ve already been working hard to bring in additional healthy choices such as more salads and wraps, and we’ve also introduced new matcha products at our tea and coffee station – and new matcha brownies,” he adds.
“You have to keep innovating – one of the things that shoppers say to me all the time is: ‘Wow, you’ve always got something new on your menu.’ They really love that and it’s so important, especially when you have as many regular customers as we do.”
A dedicated Food-to-Go Manager and exceptionally high standards help ensure that the store’s large and ever-changing offer remains consistently fantastic.
The in-store team adhere to rigorous quality-control processes and follow strict recipes and preparation methods, regularly reinforced with refresher training sessions.
“When it comes to food to go, quality and consistency are key,” Kopi adds.
“The category accounts for around 25% of weekly sales at Londis Armthorpe, so it’s vital that it’s maintained. There’s absolutely no compromise.”
Kopi’s quest for quality and consistency will also see him open a brand-new “dark kitchen” later this year.
STORE INFO
Store name: Londis Armthorpe, Doncaster
Retailer: Kopinath Kalanathan
Size: 3,000sq ft
Staff: 10
Services: Scoot, PayPoint, National Lottery, free ATM
Opening hours: 6am–11pm
Becäuse only perfection will do
Once up and running, the brand-new 1,000sq ft central kitchen will be able to produce an even larger range of fresh, top-quality homemade products, including sandwiches, salads, cakes and bakes – all of which will then be distributed to his stores, including Londis Armthorpe, each and every day.
Future plans are also likely to include the introduction of a new self-service kiosk in the food-to-go zone.
“Self-service kiosks have benefits for both sides,” Kopi explains. “For us, they can help to free up staff time and, for our shoppers, they can allow for more leisurely browsing – or to grab and go if they’re in a rush.”
It certainly wouldn’t be the first bit of innovative tech the store has introduced. Londis Armthorpe already has two self-service checkouts on the shop floor, an AI-powered security system to help detect and deter theft – and last year it introduced new digital staff headsets.
“We’re always on the lookout for new ways to utilise technology,” Kopi says.
“The staff headsets have been a huge benefit already. This is a large store, with many different zones, meaning that staff can be quite spread out. Before we had the headsets, the only way they could communicate was to ring a bell and no one ever knew who was ringing the bell for whom – which could be quite confusing! Now, they just press a button on the headset and talk to each other. It’s so much more efficient.”
The store also launched Scoot home delivery back in August, with the service already amassing a pleasing number of orders and sales each week.
Londis Armthorpe is also in the early stages of trialling AI order generation – which could yield even more efficiency-boosting benefits.
“I’m very optimistic about the outlook for 2026 and beyond,” Kopi says. “As you can see, I’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of me, much of it centring around food to go, but it’s all incredibly exciting!”
We can’t wait to see the next act.
High standards are a must with food to go. We follow rigorous quality-control processes and strict preparation methods, regularly reinforced with refresher training sessions.
Innovation is key in food to go. It’s a dynamic category and you have to update your offer regularly to keep it exciting.
Health will be an increasingly important trend in food to go this year. Talking to your shoppers about what they want to see is vital.
GIVE WEIRD A SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD A GIVESWIRLWEIRD A A GIVESWIRLWEIRD A SWIRL SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD GIVESWIRLWEIRD A A SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD GIVESWIRLWEIRD A A A A GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD A A SWIRL SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD GIVESWIRLWEIRD A A A A GIVESWIRLWEIRD GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL A SWIRL A GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD A A A A GIVESWIRLWEIRD GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL A SWIRL SWIRL A GIVESWIRLWEIRD GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD A A A A GIVESWIRLWEIRD GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL GIVESWIRLWEIRD SWIRL A SWIRL
TRADESHOWS Retail Trade Shows
The greatest shows!
Booker’s Retail Trade Shows 2026 are promising to be the best yet, so don’t delay, register today.
The birds are singing, the grass is growing and, over at Sandown and Doncaster Racecourses, exciting innovation-packed stands are being brought to life – it can mean only one thing! Spring is here – and so too is ‘Show Season’!
That’s right, Booker’s Retail Trade Shows are back for 2026 and bringing with them the promise of fresh new concepts and fruitful innovations to help your business flourish this spring and beyond.
Taking place at Sandown Racecourse on Thursday 5 March and Doncaster Racecourse on Thursday 12 March, the Booker Retail Trade Shows 2026 are set to be the very best yet!
Both trade shows will showcase Booker’s
exceptional choice, price and service offer, allowing retailers to get up close and personal with all its latest initiatives and brand updates.
With the opportunity to generate more than £130,000 of sales a year, both shows will provide retailers with the perfect platform to learn more about Scoot –Booker’s very own fully flexible home delivery solution which has just hit the 400 store sign up milestone.
Want to know how you could make an estimated £34,000 of additional profit a year? Then head on over to the Scoot stand, located right near the entrance of both shows. With its bold pink and yellow livery, you won’t be able to miss it – and nor should you!
HAVE YOUR SAY…
What a fantastic day! I came here looking for inspiration and I’ve certainly not been disappointed. There are so many fantastic new products to see and try and the promotions are excellent. We’ll certainly be taking advantage of the many Trade Show Only Deals. It’s also been a great opportunity to meet fellow retailers.
Sabesan Eesan, Londis Horton Heath Service Station, Southampton
OUR
BEST SHOWS YET,
OFFERING
YOU GREAT CHOICE, PRICE & SERVICE!
With cutting costs and driving profits remaining front of mind for 2026, visitors to both shows will also be able to learn some valuable lessons about how to Make More and Save More, thanks to Booker’s spectacular suite of money-saving solutions and Added Value Services.
And with shoppers increasingly looking to purchase own-label products in convenience stores, Booker’s Own Brand stand will be another must-see, as will the attention-grabbing New Product Development stand, located just next door!
Want to sharpen your social media skills in 2026, hone your staff training and truly deliver on digital? Booker’s 2026 Retail Trade Shows will provide you with a host of help to do just that too.
Visitors to both shows will also be able to bag a wealth of Exclusive Trade Show-only WOW deals.
And with well over 100 exhibitors from across the convenience spectrum, including Booker’s leading suppliers, retailers will also be treated to a showcase of cutting-edge NPD, along with fascinating insights into the trends set to shape their sales in 2026.
Forecourt retailers will also be able to enjoy a brand new Forecourt area, specifically designed to help them fuel growth.
And of course, everyone will also be able to soak up the smells of delicious live cookery demonstrations – with more than a few samples to enjoy on the side!
And with hundreds of store owners, managers and staff members flocking to them, the Booker Retail Trade Shows will also provide the perfect platform for networking.
Entry is free, as is parking, so what are you waiting for? Register on the link below or scan the QR code. You won’t regret it!
REGISTER FOR THE RETAIL TRADE SHOWS 2026 TO ENJOY ALL THIS!
l EXCLUSIVE TRADE SHOW‑ONLY DEALS.
l LATEST INITIATIVES & BRAND UPDATES.
l MEET TOP SUPPLIERS AND SEE THEIR LATEST RANGES AND NEW PRODUCTS.
l FUEL GROWTH IN OUR NEW FORECOURT ZONE.
l COOKING DEMOS, SAMPLING, FREE PRODUCTS AND COMPETITIONS.
l FREE ENTRY AND PARKING
NOW AVAILABLE
Sweet pickings!
With a four‑month lead up, the Easter season provides a plentiful basket of opportunities to drive footfall, sales and engagement.
We all love a gift – and Easter really is the gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving –offering retailers the chance to add a spring to their sales and some bounce to their business from the end of December all the way to Easter Monday – which this year falls on 6 April.
Chocolate is, of course, the season’s biggest hitter – and this year, retailers look set to unwrap an especially tasty sales opportunity, thanks to a host of cracking new products, promotions and Group Exclusives that will help them to drive sales in-store as well as engagement online.
Offering shoppers a delicious union of creamy Cadbury chocolate and Biscoff spread, the new Cadbury Biscoff Filled Egg is already proving to be one of the season’s hottest new lines and eggcellent social media fodder, with posts about the cracking new Easter offering helping Londis retailers to secure soaring likes, shares and shopper comments.
Following on from the successful launch of the Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff bar, the new filled egg features a creamy Cadbury chocolate shell, filled with Biscoff spread and crunchy
biscuit pieces, and is available in singles and in a Group Exclusive five-pack format for Londis retailers!
And that’s far from the only Group Exclusive to get eggcited about.
Londis shoppers can also snap up Group Exclusive five-packs of indulgent Cadbury Caramel Eggs, which offer tasty PORs of 25%.
Other Group Exclusives guaranteed to give your shelves the edge this Easter include the Milkybar Mini Egg Giant Shell Egg and the Reese’s XL Hollow Shell Egg.
GOLDEN GIFTS
With more than 40% of shoppers intending to gift this Easter, the season presents a sizeable opportunity for retailers to secure sweet sales of gifting products.
And this year will prove no exception, with Londis retailers able to offer shoppers a vast range of quality gifting products for great
Regulations are now in place to restrict the location and promotion of products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS). If your business is in the scope, you cannot run volume promotions on HFSS products in-store or online. You also cannot display HFSS products within certain distances of checkouts, queueing areas, aisle ends and entrances. For more information talk to your RDM or visit www.acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations
Glorious Group Exclusives
Cadbury Biscoff Egg 5pk
Cadbury Caramel Egg 5pk
Milkybar Mini Egg Giant Shell Egg
DID YOU KNOW?
Perfect partners
Easter remains a high-participation event: 58% of shoppers plan to celebrate, with 75% buying products they don’t usually purchase, and 40% intending to gift.
SOURCE: IGD APRIL 2025
Easter 2026 also looks set to be a memorable one for big brand tie-ups. New products to shout about include the limited-edition Oreo Crème Egg biscuit, which Mondelez hopes will maximise the Easter snacking occasion and carve out a niche space within biscuits.
The iconic Crème Egg has also made its way into the world of protein in the form of a limited-edition Crème Egg-flavoured Grenade bar.
Available while stocks last, the Grenade Soft Core Crème Egg Protein bar features a light and fluffy protein dough with a yolk-coloured, Crème Egg-flavoured filling.
Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles
Large Egg
Case size: 4x198g
WSP: £12.39
RSP: £5.00
POR: 25.66%
value prices, including 445g boxes of Cadbury Milk Tray for £9.99 – down from £15.99 – and Maltesers Truffles Gift Boxes for £6.99 –offering a POR of 38.23% on a case of six. Also perfect for sharing with friends and family are 500g Celebrations tubs for a promotional RSP of £7.50 and 185g packs of Celebrations Pop for just £4 – the latter of which offers a POR of 30.25% on a case of six.
SHELL-STOPPING!
Fans of the XL trend will also be able to ‘go large’ this Easter with a huge array of extra-large shell eggs, including the aforementioned Reese’s XL Hollow Shell Egg and the Maltesers White XL Egg for £7.49, which offers retailers a POR of 20.3% on a case of six!
As ever, Londis retailers also have access to a wide range of professional POS materials to help their displays dance and shelves sing.
This year’s promotional package includes bunting, header boards, shelf strips, cards and posters, all of which feature a cheerful “Happy Easter” message against a sky-blue backdrop.
#1 Premium Pizza Brand in Convenience
Top tips for a cracking Easter
l Prioritise value for cautious, price-sensitive shoppers.
l Leverage novelty and playful seasonal shapes.
l Maximise impulse with strong off-shelf execution and gifting adjacencies.
l Offer a range of different shell egg price points to meet a variety of shopper missions and drive sales in the run-up to the big day.
l Make full use of your Londis POS.
Don’t forget
Easter cakes and bakes are also ideal products to stock at Easter! Don’t forget to keep this range topped up throughout the season so as not to miss out. Londis retailers have access to a vast range of spring-themed sponge cakes from Mini Eggs Choc Cakes and Nest Cakes to Crème Egg Cakes and more. Shoppers with tarter tastes can also indulge in a range of Easter-themed Mr Kipling products including Lemon Fancies, Lemon Bakewells, Lemon Whirls and Lemon & Raspberry Mini Batts – the latter of which offers a juicy POR of 35.1%.
CATEGORY MANAGEMENT
BOOKER’S CATEGORY MANAGER FOR CONFECTIONERY NICOLA CRANWELL SHARES HER TOP TIPS ON HOW RETAILERS CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THE EASTER OPPORTUNITY.
Everyone loves a great deal – and when that deal involves chocolate it can become truly irresistible.
The Easter season provides a delicious opportunity to showcase Booker’s exceptionally tasty range of fantastic deals and special offers, which this year include Mega Deals as well as a selection of Group Exclusive NPD.
Visibility is crucial – and to make the most of the opportunity, Booker’s Category Manager for Confectionery Nicola Cranwell urges retailers to make sure that deals stand out on shelf by making full use of seasonal POS and keeping displays well stocked and presented.
Self-eat and sharing products look set to lead the sales charge during the early part of the season, with steady increases of shell eggs coming through as we move through March.
“In the three-week run up to the Easter weekend we see a spike in premium and gifting SKUs, so ensuring that you have the right offer out and displayed prominently is key,” she adds.
Regulations are now in place to restrict the location and promotion of products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS). If your business is in the scope, you cannot run volume promotions on HFSS products in-store or online. You also cannot display HFSS products within certain distances of checkouts, queueing areas, aisle ends and entrances. For more information talk to your RDM or visit https://www.acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations
SOCAIL MEDIA
Tools of the trade
Available now, Booker’s new Social Media Training Guide is here to help you use social media like a pro.
GET THE GUIDE
Download a copy of the Social Media Training Guide via www. booker.co.uk/Home/ Booker-Pages/socialmedia or ask your RDM.
From EPoS to AI, electronic shelf-edge labels, digital headsets and more, retailers have access to a powerful array of tools to help them run their stores more efficiently, more profitably – and ultimately more successfully.
And when it comes to growing a store’s reach, boosting footfall and driving sales – social media is now one of the best tools around.
GIVEAWAY GOLDEN RULES
Running a giveaway can be a great way of attracting new followers and rewarding loyal shoppers but there are some key golden rules to follow.
Giveaway Do’s
l Do follow Facebook’s guidelines. Read and follow Facebook’s promotion guidelines to ensure your giveaway is allowed.
l Do state the rules clearly: Include who can enter, how to enter, entry deadline, winner selection method, and any eligibility restrictions (e.g. age or location).
l Do disclose that Facebook is not involved. Include a disclaimer like: “This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook.”
l If you’re promoting or giving away alcohol, always include drinkaware.co.uk/18+.
Giveaway Don’ts
l Don’t ask people to share or tag friends to enter; Facebook doesn’t allow it. You can suggest it naturally (‘like our page to check out our upcoming deals!’) but don’t make it a rule for competition entry. This can result in the suspension of your account.
l Don’t be unclear about the prize. Say exactly what the winner will get.
l Don’t skip the rules. Always include how to enter, who can enter, when it ends, and what the prize is.
THE PINT CAN THAT’S MIGHTY REFRESHING
The #1 Value cider brand in the UK*
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TOP TIPS
Don’t overthink it. Simple, real posts – shared consistently build trust and keep you visible. Over time, that helps grow a loyal following and brings more people through your doors.
Be positive! Always keep your tone upbeat and friendly. Avoid posting anything negative or political – focus on your shop, your products, and your shoppers.
Post at least three to four times a week to keep your business top of mind with shoppers.
Don’t buy followers. Fake followers don’t engage with your posts, meaning they won’t like, comment, or shop with you. This lowers your engagement rate and makes your content less visible to real customers.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Booker’s Social Media Training Guide is also packed with great advice on how to reply to shopper comments or requests.
Always try to respond quickly and reply to any comments with a friendly tone – using emojis if it fits your style.
Small actions make a big impact online so always ‘like’ positive comments on your posts and share posts from shoppers and/or partners. Tagging any local events and community groups where relevant also shows that you are engaged and helps to build followers.
Here are some great sample replies that you could use:
Do you have any Jack’s crisps in stock?
Your team is always so friendly!
“Yes, we’ve had some delivered this morning! Pop by anytime.”
Thank you so much! We really appreciate your support.
I bought something yesterday and it wasn’t great.
However, having the right tool for the job is only half the battle – the other half is using that tool correctly – and that’s especially true for social media.
Got a Facebook and/or Instagram page for your store –great! But are they set up correctly? Do you know how to schedule posts, create reels, access your insights and boost content?
If the answer to any of these is ‘no’, then you might not be making the most of the sizeable opportunity that social media presents.
However, never fear, because help is literally just a few clicks away.
Sorry to hear that! Please send us a DM and we can assist.
Booker’s social media savants have created a brandnew Social Media Training Guide for their symbol group retailers – and it’s packed with handy hints and top tips to help retailers sharpen their skills and use social media like a pro.
Available to download now, the training guide has everything you need to support your social media activity; from simple step-by-step set-up instructions for newbies –to ready-to-use content and practical advice that’s sure to help ramp up engagement.
The Social Media Training Guide is split into three sections:
l How to set up Facebook and Instagram
l How to create and post content
l Insights, boosting and growing followers
In the ‘How to set up Facebook and Instagram’ section, retailers can learn how to create a compelling online presence, with clear and simple advice on how to correctly set up a business page, write a bio, and choose profile and cover photos.
Once set up, the How to create and post content’ section provides a wealth of information on how to craft compelling content and posts that pack a punch.
Retailers can also learn about the different posting styles and ways of sharing content, including Live Posts, Scheduled Posts and Reels – and how to create each of them.
There’s also bags of great advice on how often to post, along with examples from other stores.
Struggling to come up with content ideas? The Guide has you covered here too, with a number of ‘easy content ideas’ including staff showcasing their favourite products, shopper shoutouts, new products and special offers.
There’s also a great opportunity to create fun and engaging posts with ‘sneak peek’ or ‘behind the scenes’ content, such as a delivery being unloaded or an exciting new display in the making.
In the ‘Insights, boosting and growing followers’ section, retailers can find out how to harness the power of insights to glean a better understanding of how their posts are performing, what works, what doesn’t and how to improve – all of which will help
them to better connect with their shoppers.
Retailers can also learn how to boost their posts in both Facebook and Instagram – helping them to gain new followers and increase sales.
Worried about making a hash of hashtags? No problem. Booker’s Social Media Training Guide also irons out any confusion with straightforward advice on what hashtags are, how they work and how to deploy them correctly, helping retailers to better engage with their local communities.
It also includes a bank of useful hashtags for retailers to copy and paste into their posts.
The Guide itself is also supported by even more fantastic resources available to Booker retailers via booker.co.uk/my-booker, including three step-bystep training videos.
Retailers can also make use of free-to-use, seasonal and trending content, including pre-written captions, that they can use in their posts to drive engagement and maximise seasonal opportunities.
So there you have it, the tools and the knowhow – it’s time to get to work!
LEARN THE LINGO
BOOSTING CONTENT Paying a small amount to show your posts to more people – especially those likely to be interested.
DM (DIRECT MESSAGE) A private message between you and another user.
ENGAGEMENT How people interact with your post –including likes, comments, shares, and saves.
FOLLOWERS People who have chosen to follow your account.
LIKE A quick way to show you enjoyed a post (usually a heart or thumbs-up).
REACH This shows how many unique people have seen your post. The higher your reach, the more visible your shop is to potential customers.
TAG Mentioning another account in your post using the “@” symbol (e.g. @yourshopname).
Every issue we bring you the latest product launches from your favourite suppliers
JUICE BURST APPLE AND ORANGE
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Every issue we bring you the latest product launches from your favourite suppliers
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CELSIUS SPARKLING KIWI GUAVA
BOOST ENERGY RED BERRY
MEET THE BUYER Say ‘hello’ to...
Name: Nicola Cranwell
Title: Category Manager Category: Confectionery
In this issue we say hello to Booker Category Manager for Confectionery Nicola Cranwell.
PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
Hi, I’m Nicola and my career started at Tesco, where I held a number of buying roles across categories including fresh fruit and medicines. Over the last 10 years, I’ve worked on the supply side as a Senior National Account Manager, including working for Haribo and Ferrero as well as for an own-label paper manufacturer.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR BOOKER AND HOW HAS YOUR ROLE CHANGED OVER TIME?
I’m fairly new to Booker, having joined in September 2025. From my experience in the industry, I’ve seen the clear shift in the way customers are choosing to shop. The growing importance of omnichannel experiences, alongside health and environmental trends, means the buying role has had to continue to evolve and adapt.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE NOW –WHAT IS THE MAIN FUNCTION?
As a Category Manager for Confectionery, my primary focus is to develop and manage a
About Nicola
With Easter fast approaching, now is an exceptionally busy time of year for Nicola, as she and the team strive to ensure that they have all the right SKUs in place to secure a strong finish to the season –and help retailers make the most of the sweet opportunity.
strong, customer-focused range that delivers value for both the business and our customers.
WHAT ARE YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES?
My key responsibilities are making sure we have the right range, at the right time, in the right place and at the right price. That means balancing commercial decisions that work for Booker, while also meeting the needs of our customers and, ultimately, the consumer.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
I returned to buying because I missed the pace and energy of the role. No two days are ever the same, which keeps it exciting. I also really enjoy building strong, collaborative relationships with our suppliers and seeing great conversations turn into action.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
A typical day involves reviewing commercial performance, checking on supply service levels, and meetings with colleagues. I also spend time on seasonal planning, promotional activity and range reviews alongside the day-to-day admin that supports all of this. Every day involves dialogue with our suppliers, whether that’s face to face or virtually.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE IMPULSE CATEGORY TO CONVENIENCE RETAILERS?
The impulse category, in my view, is one of the key categories to drive trade and increase
Nicola is still fairly new to Booker, having joined the team in September 2025. As Category Manager for Confectionery, her primary focus is to develop and manage a strong range that delivers value for both the business and its customers.
£70.7M Sales
basket spend. When you have the offer right and it’s in the right place, it drives true incremental spend as it’s often an unplanned purchase.
HOW CLOSELY DO YOU WORK WITH SUPPLIERS?
I work in close partnership with our suppliers every day, whether it’s reviewing category insight, planning competitive deals or agreeing the most effective execution to support new product launches. With our larger suppliers we have longer-term, joined-up growth plans in place, which we review frequently and work on together.
HOW ABOUT RETAILERS?
I focus on understanding retailers’ needs and challenges, ensuring ranges and promotions are relevant. I get a lot of feedback through our operational and supply support teams, so this, combined with getting out into stores myself, helps support decision-making.
TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT SEASONALITY HAS ON YOUR ROLE AND ON THE CATEGORY GENERALLY?
Seasonal planning is a year-round process, with different stages always in progress – from reviewing and building the ranges, deciding volumes, planning promotions, and managing delivery to the sell-through. A lot of time is taken outside of the all-year-round range to plan the seasonal offer and to ensure we have the right SKUs in place to finish the season strongly, whilst equally avoiding excess stock.
WHAT SHOULD RETAILERS BE DOING NOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE EASTER OPPORTUNITY?
To make the most of the Easter opportunity, retailers should focus on showcasing our fantastic deals. We have some great Mega Deals this season as well as a selection of Group Exclusive NPD, so making sure these are available and visible will help maximise sales. In the early part of the season we see strong sales in the self-eat and sharing ranges, with steady increases of shell eggs coming through. As we move through the season, and in the three-week run-up to Easter weekend, we see a spike in premium and
gifting SKUs, so ensuring you have the right offer out and displayed prominently is key.
Remember, that regulations are now in place to restrict the location and promotion of HFSS products. If your business is in the scope, you cannot run volume promotions on HFSS products in-store or online. You also cannot display HFSS products within certain distances of checkouts, queueing areas, end of aisle units and entrances. For more information or to check if you are in the scope, visit https:// www.acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
Whilst we update our ranges with NPD frequently throughout the year, we will soon be starting to look at a larger range review from a broader confectionery perspective. I am already in the process of reviewing the Christmas 2025 performance and Christmas NPD for 2026 to make the decisions on how that range will look for later in the year.
WHAT INTERESTING IMPULSE TRENDS SHOULD CONVENIENCE RETAILERS BE AWARE OF IN 2026?
I would continue to expect to see a shift towards reduced sugar, sugar-free, as well as growing demand for vegan products. There is also increasing consideration around pack sizes, driven by health and lifestyle factors including changing appetites. At the same time, shoppers still want enjoyable treats, with a focus on snacking that feels more balanced and guilt-free.
WHAT MORE COULD CONVENIENCE RETAILERS DO TO BOOST SALES IN THE IMPULSE CATEGORY GENERALLY THIS YEAR?
Keep bestselling classics well stocked, whilst ensuring positioning is near high-footfall areas. Ensure your ranges accommodate both on-the-go purchases and take-home pack sizes. NPD and novelty have a big role in driving impulse purchases as they help to keep the category interesting, alongside being mindful of continuing health-led trends.
BOOKER NETWORKS
Colleague Networks
Engines of change
We take a look back at some of Booker’s Race & Ethnicity Network’s highlights from 2025 and find out what’s in store for the months ahead.
Treating people how they want to be treated is a core Booker value, and one which its four thriving colleague networks strive day in and day out to maintain as they seek to ensure that at Booker everyone is welcome.
Over the last 12 months we’ve been taking a closer look at these four powerhouse networks and the different ways in which they seek to help colleagues from all walks of life be seen, speak up, learn and feel supported.
After what can only be described as an exceptionally eventful year, it’s time to take a second look at the Race & Ethnicity at Booker Network, which continues to master its mission of shaping a more inclusive future at Booker.
The network has delivered and supported a calendar of meaningful events and celebrations since we last profiled it in the summer of 2025, including a powerful and thought-provoking event to mark Black History Month in October.
The highly engaging event was open to all and featured the headline theme ‘Standing Firm in Power & Pride’.
RACE & ETHNICITY AT BOOKER NETWORK –KEY AIMS:
l Celebrate diversity
l Ensure equity and inclusion for all
l Educate and raise cultural awareness
l Help shape an inclusive future at Booker
Held at the Legacy Centre of Excellence in Birmingham, it brought together more than 110 colleagues from across the business – providing an inspiring opportunity to learn about and celebrate Black culture and contributions.
The programme featured a dynamic agenda anchored by two thought-provoking panel discussions. The first, “Are businesses standing firm in the face of DEI backlash?”, explored how organisations can remain committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in increasingly challenging environments. Panellists shared honest perspectives on navigating resistance while continuing to champion inclusive values.
The second panel, “Embodying strength, pride, and resilience in every environment”, encouraged personal reflection, amplifying lived experiences and voices that shape how individuals show up with confidence, authenticity and pride within professional spaces.
Attendees were also privileged to hear from The Forgotten Generations, whose moving speeches highlighted the importance of preserving history and
recognising the invaluable contributions of African and Caribbean communities to the military. Their stories served as a powerful reminder of the legacies that continue to influence our present and shape our future.
A second event later in October also helped to raise awareness and understanding of the genetic blood disorder known as sickle cell disease.
The Race & Ethnicity at Booker Network also proudly partnered Region 7’s Diwali event in November in south-west London, as well as helping to support an array of others held across the business.
And there will certainly be no let-up in 2026, with yet another packed schedule of events and engagement opportunities to come – kicked off by a virtual panel discussion in celebration of Ramadan on 24 February.
Further virtual events are planned to celebrate Easter in April, along with an event to support South Asian Heritage Month, which runs annually from 18 July to 17 August and celebrates the rich cultures, histories and contributions of South Asian communities.
TERRIFIC TRIO
Three dedicated committees work together to achieve the Race & Ethnicity at Booker Network’s key aims.
l A Colleague Feedback & Insight Committee organises listening sessions which seek to identify new trends and any additional needs, along with common barriers.
l A Talent & Development Committee helps to promote internal and external opportunities for diverse talent and to celebrate success stories.
l A dedicated Events and Comms Committee plans, coordinates and promotes numerous events throughout the year – as well as providing updates to the wider network.
I had the pleasure of attending the Black History Month event organised by the Race & Ethnicity Colleague Network for the second time and the progress you’ve made is absolutely impressive. I’d like to congratulate the whole Network for your hard work – you made us feel welcomed, included and engaged! The guest speakers were brilliant, and it was truly inspiring to hear the stories they shared with us.
Ewelina Franc
A virtual call in celebration of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, will also take place on 9 September, followed by an in-person event and virtual call to mark Black History Month 2026 in October.
An in-person celebration for Diwali will round off events in November 2026.
The year ahead will also see the Race & Ethnicity at Booker Network strive to make good on a series of specific new goals designed to strengthen its influence and impact across the business.
Chief among these is an aim to better engage its Band 1 and 2 colleagues by expanding its reach to branches, support and distribution centres, with the launch of new listening sessions, joint festival and cultural awareness events, and testimonials to ensure that everyone is –and truly feels – ‘Welcome at Booker’.
The network also plans to relaunch its communication channels, including its Teams channel and network email, as well as assessing its colleague portal in a bid to help increase awareness and drive active engagement.
Growing membership and allyship will also remain front of mind as the network seeks to continue driving “meaningful change” within Booker’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space.
Supporting local charities and better serving the communities that the network represents will also remain key areas of focus for 2026.
Helping it to hit these goals is a strengthened network structure, which now includes a SteerCo Chair and a Co-Chair.
Together they support the network’s three dedicated committees and their passionate leads – all of whom remain steadfast in their mission to create safe spaces, meaningful dialogues and real progress for everyone at Booker.
FOUR COLLEAGUE NETWORKS
l Race & Ethnicity at Booker
l Women at Booker
l Disability at Booker
l LGBTQ+ at Booker
The event was so positive and made me reflect on many situations we encounter daily, both in work and in personal life. It was empowering to be yourself and to feel confident in your interactions with others, with the belief that you can do it – no matter your skin colour or race.
Mariana Diaconescu
JACK HAS MANY SIDES
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The debate on business rates has intensified since the new year, with the Government confirming additional business rates support to pubs and music venues over the next three years, in recognition that the package of measures that the Chancellor announced in the Budget did not go far enough.
We’ve been clear from the outset that any additional support should have been extended to all local shops and other retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
Although the November 2025 Budget introduced permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses alongside extended transitional relief, these measures fall short of addressing the impact of change in rates bills. As we have outlined in correspondence to Treasury Ministers and in recent debates in Parliament, the combination of the 2026 revaluation and the withdrawal of temporary
reliefs mean many independent shops will still see increases in their bills worth several thousand pounds even with transitional relief.
The complexity of the business rates system in England right now tells you all you need to know about how fundamentally unfit for purpose it has become. Working out what your rates bills are going to be in 2026 is a Herculean task, needing to account for so many variables, different multipliers, removals of discounts and transitional arrangements that anyone would be forgiven for being confused.
We believe there is still an opportunity for retailers to have their voice heard before rising rates bills bite in April, so will be calling on the Chancellor to put things right, potentially in the Spring Statement, and show that this Government values the local shops that employ almost half a million people and generate almost £50bn in revenue annually.
The ACS believes that there is still time for retailers to have their voices heard on business rates – and will be calling on the Chancellor to put things right, before rising rates bills bite in April.
If your bills are set to increase significantly this year, contact both the Chancellor and your local MP to let them know what the impact is going to be. Retailers tell us that rising rates bills have a direct impact on employment opportunities, investment potential, and the range of services that are available for customers.
Our sector has spent years providing services, often cost neutrally and sometimes at a loss, because it supports the local community, but if bills are going to keep going up, something is going to have to give.
Beyond the set pieces from the despatch box, the Treasury has committed to another new crossgovernment review of the high street. If this sounds familiar it’s because it is, we’ve been down this road before many times, but we will make sure we’re part of those discussions, pushing for meaningful support for convenience stores in the future.
