TalkingShop Jan/Feb 2026

The magazine for Premier retailers

Welcome

A warm welcome to the first issue of Talking Shop in 2026 and, to help get us into the new year in style I am absolutely delighted to announce that Premier, the UK’s number one symbol group, has officially opened its 5,000th store.

This milestone is a remarkable achievement, and it is about more than just a number – it represents the strong relationships and shared successes that have brought us here. Premier has always been focused on supporting independent retailers, providing them with the tools and backing they need to succeed in a competitive market. Reaching this point is a testament to the dedication of our retailers, the strength of our partnerships, and our ongoing commitment to innovation and growth

To mark the occasion, we are launching a nationwide celebration this month with a strong focus on giving back to local communities. At the heart of the activity is an £8,000 community giveaway where eight Premier retailers, each from a different region, will receive £1,000 to donate to a local cause – whether that’s towards new equipment for a school, planting flowers in village centres or supporting a local community group.

In addition to the community giveaway, Booker is marking the milestone with a series of retailer-focused celebrations. These include donating 5,000 family meals to FareShare and local food banks, as well as offering Premier retailers the chance to win a Premier-branded delivery van. Premier retailers and customers can also look forward to exclusive offers, promotions and exciting giveaways in the months ahead, with more celebrations planned in early 2026.

And, to ensure we keep this fantastic momentum up, we have launched our strongest-ever January Premier promotion with a six-page consumer leaflet with 30 Mega Deals as well as a focus on Own Brand. This is in conjunction with our massive Scratch Card Promotion for you to run for your customers.

Reaching 5,000 Premier stores is a phenomenal achievement and a real reflection of the dedication, energy and entrepreneurial spirit of our retailers. This celebration is about saying thank you to our customers and communities, and recognising the role you have all played in getting us here.

Martyn Parkinson, Sales Director – Booker Wholesale

COVER STORY

Srijeekasikaran Kandiah’s Queensway Stores has been crowned as the 5,000th Premier to open its doors.

THE THREE BIG STORIES

16 Crowning glory Premier Queensway is crowned as Premier’s 5,000th store.

32 Milestone moves! Premier smashes the 5,000 stores milestone.

55 Net win

The inspiring work of LGBTQ+@Booker

Share your shop news

If you’ve got news, tips or feature ideas, please get in touch with Talking Shop:

Premier celebrates the milestone opening of its 5,000th store.

The latest round up of inspiring stories from Premier stores.

Premier retailers triumph at the Asian Trader Awards.

The latest news from the industry’s charity.

Introducing Premier Queensway Stores – recently crowned as Premier’s 5,000th

49 Scoot hits 200 stores!

More than a quarter of a century after it was established, the future of Neil’s Premier looks brighter than ever.

The UK’s biggest and best symbol group has passed another major milestone with the opening of the 5,000th Premier.

Help your store shine in 2026 with our handy hints and tips.

Our pick of the hottest new products to hit the shelves.

Scoot has now been adopted by over 200 stores – including Premier Meden Vale Convenience in Nottinghamshire. 52

The Team

Say hello to Lauren Burdett, Category Manager Designate for Retail Household, Health & Beauty, and Medicines at Booker.

Introducing the LGBTQ+ at Booker Colleague Network.

PremierNews

NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS PREMIER

Premier marks 5,000 stores with charity and community giveaway

Premier is celebrating hitting the 5,000 stores milestone by making 5,000 FareShare and food bank meal donations and offering £8,000 in community giveaways.

Premier, the UK’s number one symbol group has cemented its position as the UK’s biggest and best symbol group by officially opening its 5,000th store – a remarkable achievement that is testament to over three decades of working in close partnership with fantastic independent retailers.

To mark the milestone, Premier has launched a nationwide celebration with a focus on giving back to local communities. The activity will see an £8,000 community giveaway take place where eight Premier retailers from eight different regions will receive £1,000 to donate to a local good cause chosen by their customers.

In addition, Booker is also supporting a series of retailer-focused celebrations including donating 5,000 family meals to FareShare and local food banks. On top of all of this, Booker is offering Premier retailers the chance to win a brand-new Premier-branded delivery van.

Premier retailers and customers can also look forward to exclusive offers, promotions and exciting giveaways in the months ahead, with more celebrations planned in early 2026.

Martyn Parkinson, Sales Director for Premier, said: “Reaching this point is a testament to the dedication of our retailers, the strength of our partnerships, and our ongoing commitment to innovation and growth.”

Reaching 5,000 Premier stores is a phenomenal achievement and a real reflection of the dedication, energy and entrepreneurial spirit of our retailers. This celebration is about saying thank you to our customers, colleagues and communities, and recognising the role they’ve played in getting us here.

Colm Johnson, Retail Managing Director, Booker

#1 BEST TREK BISCOFF® FLAPJACK

CommunityNews

Coffee with a cop

Tenby Stores and Post Office in Pembrokeshire has held another of its well-attended ‘Coffee with a Cop’ in-store events.

Organised by community-minded retailers Vince and Fiona Malone, the in-store event provides the

perfect opportunity for local shoppers to come down and meet local police teams to discuss any issues and concerns – or just to say hello.

Further ‘Coffee with a Cop’ events are scheduled for later in the year.

The gift of giving

Mo’s Premier in Blantyre helped spread festive cheer over the Christmas period with its generous support of local community group Bonnie Blantyre.

Mo’s was one of several local businesses to donate products and funding to help pay for a Santa to visit every single nursery and primary school in the town. Every child in a Blantyre primary school and nursery also received a free selection box.

The community-focused store also helped to sponsor Calderside Academy’s Halloween disco earlier in the year.

The school’s Head Teacher, Mrs Calder, said: “A heartfelt thank you to our fantastic community who have once again wrapped their arms around our school. I am continuously amazed by the dedication and kindness.”

MEETING AND GREETING

Premier Jules Convenience Store in Telford has hosted an anti-bullying in-store event in support of AntiBullying Week 2025.

Local shoppers were invited to visit the store and take part in a meet and greet session with consultant Lucy Perez, of Constant Culture, who is an expert in promoting fairness, understanding and inclusion. The session was designed to encourage young people to speak up and raise awareness when they see bullying, face to face or online.

Store owner Julie was also awarded the Businesswoman of The Year accolade at the Asian Trader Awards 2025.

Premier retailers honoured at Asian Trader Awards IndustryNews

Premier retailers from across the UK were celebrated at the Asian Trader Awards which saw the top prize of Asian Trader of the Year presented to multi-site Premier retailer Jeyaseelan Thambirajah.

The passion and prowess of Premier retailers was on full display at the Asian Trader Awards 2025, with Premier stores from across the UK celebrated with prestigious accolades, including the top prize of Asian Trader of the Year.

The coveted title was awarded to multi-site Premier retailer Jeyaseelan Thambirajah, who owns the showstopping Premier Queen Street in Sheffield.

Judges described the store, which opened in February 2025, as “an absolute powerhouse,” praising its innovative Vape Vault, specialist

grocery ranges, 13-bay Beer Cave and outstanding customer service.

Other retailers to win big on the night were Girish Jeeva of Girish’s Premier in Glasgow, who was crowned Independent Retailer of the Year and Karan Patel of Premier KP’s in Leeds, who won the Next Gen Award.

Karan’s family-owned business has come on leaps and bounds since he took the reins, with sales having increased fourteen-fold in one of his stores.

The prestigious Editor’s Award, meanwhile, was presented to Booker Group CEO Andrew Yaxley.

The Asian Trader Awards 2025 were attended by Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant who delivered the keynote speech and hosted by TV presenter Nikki Bedi.

The event also raised funds for Lepra, a charity that supports people affected by leprosy.

Businesswoman of the Year was awarded to Julie Kaur of Premier Jules Convenience in Telford, while Best Smokeless Alternatives Retailer of the year went to Guna Sud, of Premier RaceTrack in Wishaw.

STOCK UP NOW ON HIGH PROTEIN

Business rate changes are not enough to support local stores

Changes to the business rates system are “a major disappointment” for local stores the Association of Convenience Stores says.

The new lower business rates multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure properties does “not go far enough to provide meaningful support for local shops,” the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) claims.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced “permanently lower” business rates for more than 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, in her second Autumn Budget.

However, the new business rates multiplier will be set at just 5p lower than the small business and regular multipliers - a fact which would fail to offset the removal of the remaining 40% relief on business rates that was first introduced during the Covid 19

pandemic, the ACS said.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Changes to the business rates system provide nowhere near enough support and are a major disappointment.

“Small shops will see their rates bills increase in April, and many will see further increases as a result of the revaluation.”

However, the ACS did welcome some announcements made in The Autumn Budget, including new powers to tackle the scourge of the illicit vape market – with fines of up to £10,000 and new digital duty stamps to make it easier to spot fakes.

New National Living Wage rate set

The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on the future rate of the National Living Wage increasing the headline rate by 50p to £12.71 per hour in April. The new headline rate is consistent with the central estimate predicted by the Commission. From 1 April 2026, the new rates will be:

The NLW will rise by 4.1% to £12.71 per hour for

eligible workers aged 21 and over (currently £12.21 per hour).

The NMW rate for 18–20-year-olds will also increase by 8.5% to £10.85 per hour (currently £10 per hour).

The NMW for 16–17-year-olds and those on apprenticeships will increase by 6% to £8 per hour (currently £7.55 per hour).

SOFT DRINKS SUGAR TAX TO BE EXTENDED

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) is to be extended by lowering the sugar threshold to cover more products, the UK Government has confirmed.

Soft drinks with 5-7.9g of sugar per 100ml are currently taxed 19.4p per litre, but the threshold will be lowered to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, from 1 January 2028.

Pre-packed milkbased drinks with added sugar, such as flavoured milks, sweetened yoghurt drinks, chocolate milk drinks, and ready-todrink coffees, will now also come under the scope of the SDIL but the Government will introduce a ‘lactose allowance’ to account for the naturally occurring sugars in milk.

Milk substitutes with added sugar, including flavoured varieties, will also be included.

Plain animal milks and milk substitute drinks without added sugar will not be included.

The changes are expected to raise £40-£45m a year in additional tax receipts.

Coping with the cost of living

Important costs like energy, food and rent have risen steeply so if anyone in your business is worried about being able to afford these increases, GroceryAid is here to help.

Everyone working in the independent retailing sector is fully aware of the rising cost of living and the impact that it is having on your customers –but industry charity GroceryAid is also aware that these same cost increases are affecting store staff in exactly the same way.

Costs like energy, food and rent have all risen steeply in recent years and there may be some members of your in-store team who are worried about being able to afford them.

This is why it’s so critical that everyone in your team is aware that GroceryAid is here to help – and in so many different ways, from offering support and advice and even to awarding one-off non-repayable financial grants.

GroceryAid can help your team members:

l Understand their financial situation with the helpful budget planner tool.

l Find out if they could boost their income with the benefits calculator

l Establish what cost of living support they could be eligible for with the “Help for Households”

l To take control of their debt and help them get free and confidential.

l Build an emergency fund with the right advice.

In addition, if anyone in the industry is struggling to manage their finances due to cost of living increases, GroceryAid will consider a one-off grant. Team members may apply if they are a current employee in receipt of income related benefits such as Universal Credit or Tax Credits.

TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT GROCERYAID. ORG.UK OR CALL 08088 021 122 OR MESSAGE GROCERYAID ON WHATSAPP ON +44 7418 360780.

If you or any of your team would like to get involved in supporting GroceryAid and helping the charity help those in need in our sector, why not consider taking part in an event or two this year. Here are just some of the events in the calendar for the next 12 months:

l 5th March –GroceryAid Ball, London

l 11th June – Booker Dragon Boat Race, Marlow

l 24th June –GroceryAid Golf Day, Milton Keynes

l 2nd July – Barcode Festival, Kenwood

l 15th July – UK Cycle Challenge

l 27th August –Checkout Scotland, Glasgow

To find out more, visit groceryaid.org.uk

TALKING TACTICS

What are you doing in-store to stand out in your local market? Share it with us and your Premier retailer colleagues at talkingshop@booker.co.uk

Dream come true

Independent retailer Srijeekasikaran Kandiah still can’t quite believe that he’s the owner of the showstopping new Premier Queensway Stores – which also boasts the proud accolade of being Premier’s 5,000th.

Basking in the glow of his meticulously merchandised twin Soft Drinks and Beer caves, Srijeekasikaran Kandiah (Kasi) gives himself a quick pinch – just to check he’s not dreaming.

Skin smarting and feet still firmly fixed to the stylish yet durable wood-effect floor confirm that he is, indeed, awake and standing in the innovation-laden interior of his pristine new Premier.

Having started out in retail back in 2008, Queensway Stores is Kasi’s third Premier to date – and the jewel in his crown.

And as it turns out, the 2,000sq ft store on the outskirts of Wellingborough is a veritable treasure for Premier too – having recently been crowned as its 5,000th store.

“One month ago, I would never have believed that we could achieve all this,” Kasi says.

“Everything has come together so well, and the end result is simply amazing – it really is a dream come true,” he adds.

Boasting a bright and bold Refresh@ Premier bar, Beer Cave, Soft Drinks Cave, energy-efficient equipment, eye-catching backlit category signage and so much more, Premier Queensway Stores showcases Premier’s flagship format – offering all who enter a standout retail experience that’s sure to keep them coming back for more.

“Partnership has been the key to it all,” Kasi says. “Premier were there for me through every stage of the process, from helping me to draw up the plans, find the shopfitter, merchandise it, and so much more – and the end result, as you can see, is absolutely fantastic.

“Finding out that I was the 5,000th Premier was a huge surprise – they kept it under wraps until our opening day which only added to the thrill.

“To be recognised as the 5,000th Premier store was a real privilege and a milestone we’re incredibly proud to be part of,” he adds.

That partnership approach has led to the creation of a store that has been expertly engineered to meet the needs of its location.

WARNING: This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.

Primely sited on the corner of a busy junction into and out of Wellingborough town centre and boasting a large free car park, Kasi and the Premier team knew that the new store would have a sizeable opportunity to harness passing trade –with categories such as food to go sure to shine.

“It’s also surrounded by residential housing with a lot of families and elderly shoppers. The old unaffiliated store that used to trade out of the site before had closed about 18 months before, so we knew that local shoppers would be very happy to have a quality convenience offering on their doorsteps,” Kasi says.

What shoppers now have is probably beyond their wildest dreams too.

“As shoppers enter the store, one of the first things they see is a fantastic

fresh produce fixture,” Premier Retail Development Controller Christine Belsham enthuses.

With more than 7.5 metres of the stuff, chilled is the star of the show at Premier Queensway Stores.

“The entire first aisle is devoted to chilled foods, including a fantastic chilled Food To Go offer that includes Premier’s £3.75 Meal Deal.

“There’s also an outstanding range of chilled Ready Meals, including pizzas and pasta dishes, allowing the store to cater for a huge range of missions,” Christine adds.

Further fresh fancies can be found on the other side of the aisle, which is home to a quality bread and bakery offer, including a footfall-driving range of local goods.

“Local bread is delivered fresh every single morning and is another great point of difference,” Kasi says. “It’s from a well-known town centre bakery and local shoppers love the fact they can now get it from here too.”

Shoppers on meal-for-later missions can also take their pick from a carefully crafted eight-metre frozen food zone towards the back of the store.

Just like its chilled offer, Premier Queensway’s frozen range is also supported by a marvellous mix of Meal Deals, special offers and everyday low-price points that drive the all-important value-for-money message home.

Sitting pretty at the back of the store are two footfalldriving cold rooms, one for BWS and one for Soft Drinks.

“We are the first store in the area to have both a Soft Drinks Cave and a Beer Cave, and they have already created a real stir locally,” Kasi laughs.

“We’ve had whole families coming in just because they had heard about the Soft Drinks Cave – the younger generations especially love it.

“Both caves look great and the fact that they allow us to keep everything cold and ready for shoppers to drink, even take-home products, is such an advantage. Other stores round here can’t do that.”

Another element shoppers love is the eye-catching Refresh@Premier bar – which in Premier Queensway Stores features Lavazza coffee and hot drinks, Drumstick Squashies Milkshakes, Millions Slush and indulgent Boston’s Doughnuts.

“The Refresh offer is already proving to be a big footfall driver and popular with passers-by and local shoppers alike,” Kasi says. “On our first day of trading we gave free milkshakes to all the children who came in, which went down very well!”

Next to the Refresh@Premier bar sits a whole bay of Protein products – perfectly meeting the growing demand for high-protein-packed goods.

Responding to another key trend - the store also features four bays for World Foods, including a whole bay

Partnership has been the key. Premier were there for me through every stage of the process and the end result, as you can see, is absolutely fantastic.

Srijeekasikaran Kandiah

Store profile

Name: Premier Queensway Stores

Retailer: Srijeekasikaran Kandiah (Kasi)

Size: 2,000sq ft

Opening hours: 7am–11pm

Services: Post Office, National Lottery, parcel collection

dedicated to the growing noodle category.

“It’s so wonderful greeting shoppers and seeing their faces as they walk around the store and take in everything that we have,” Kasi says.

“They are so impressed by the range and how smart it all looks. They are also amazed by how spacious the store feels despite how much choice we have.”

With wide, clutter-free aisles and not a pinch point in sight, Kasi says that shoppers can’t stop complimenting him on how easy and enjoyable the store is to shopespecially elderly shoppers and parents with prams.

“They are telling us that it’s a pleasure to walk around – people are really enjoying the experience of shopping here,” he says.

And with Post Office services shortly set to launch in the store, there will soon be even more for them to appreciate.

“This store is already packed with footfall drivers, so when you add the Post Office and National Lottery to the

mix, the opportunities are going to be endless,” Kasi adds.

He and the Premier team are also exploring the possibility of adding electronic vehicle charging points outside the store – another powerful new addition that could drive footfall and sales even further – as well as benefit the local community.

“When you put it all together: the chilled food, the beer and soft drinks caves, the food to go and all the services, this store really is the whole package and we have no doubt that it’s going to go from strength to strength,” Christine says.

“Whether you’re a local shopper or just passing by, there really is something for everyone at Premier Queensway Stores and we’re all immensely proud.”

“I’ve been in this business since 2008 now and to have this kind of store today is simply incredible. I still can’t quite believe it’s true!” Kasi concludes.

Sounds like it’s time for another pinch…

Golden oldie

More than a quarter of a century after it was established, the future of Neil’s Premier looks brighter than ever.

The previous pages of this issue of Talking Shop introduced you to Premier Queensway Stores, one of the newest to enter the Premier fold – and the 5,000th Premier to open its doors!

On the following pages, we shine a light on one of Premier’s golden oldies – Neil’s Premier in Peterborough, which has a long and illustrious history of trading at the very heart of its local community.

Established as a Premier in the year 2000 by his parents, the store is now run by independent retailer Neil Godhania, who, since taking the reins in 2020 has helped this local treasure gleam like never before.

The key to his success? Trailblazing new tech, shrewd data analysis, heartfelt community support, and above all an innate drive to build genuinely meaningful relationships with everyone he can: from shoppers to suppliers, fellow retailers, community groups and more besides.

“I’m a real people person. Getting to know people and what makes them tick, what they want, what they need, and understanding how I can help – it’s what it’s all about,” he says.

Little wonder then that one of the first

things Neil did when he took charge was to drill down into the store’s demographic – and uncover the characters behind the customers.

“I spent a huge amount of time talking to shoppers about their needs in order to understand who they were and what they wanted from us – and it all evolved from there,” he says.

“Our customer base is incredibly diverse. We’re based on a council estate, and there’s a lot of family housing, a lot of flats which are home to local hospital staff, and there’s also temporary accommodation directly above us.

“We’ve also got a school on one side and a care home on the other, so we need to cater to a really broad mix of ages – as well as different nationalities, including a large Eastern European demographic,” he explains.

Neil then put his insights to work, crafting a unique range that caters to specific local needs, including great-value meal solutions for large families, quick and tasty ready meals for hardworking nurses, protein-packed snacks for health-focused youngsters – and not forgetting quality cakes and biscuits for the OAPs next door.

“From the very start I set out to create a store that would cater to all those different

demographics and needs, with products and prices to suit everyone – but I wanted to go further than that,” Neil says. “My ultimate vision was to create a genuine community hub that could make a difference to people on a personal level too.”

Doing that also required Neil to re-train his team – leading by example on the shop floor where he could actively demonstrate his engaging approach to customer service.

“I trained staff to show more empathy and understanding. I wanted them to get to know our shoppers by their first names and to have real conversations with them – to

Store profile

Name: Neil’s Premier, Peterborough

Retailer: Neil Godhania

Size: 1,200sq ft

Services: PayPoint, Payzone, Royal Mail

lockers, parcel collection services, home delivery, National Lottery

Opening hours: 7.30am-9pm

have interactions rather than just transactions. I think that this really has been the key to setting us apart from our competitors,” he says.

Neil’s also worked incredibly hard to foster meaningful relationships with suppliers and their sales representatives.

“When I first took over, another mission of mine was to get to know every single supplier rep by sitting down and spending at least 10 minutes with each one. That exercise really helped me work out what we were doing well – and where we could improve,” he explains.

“These supplier reps are experts in their fields, and they have fantastic insights which we can use to drive our businesses forward if we only listen.”

And insight mining has been far from the only benefit of the store’s newfound rep rapport.

“I’ve also been added to a range of retailer forums and I am now regularly asked to participate in high-impact in-store activations which engage my shoppers and drive footfall and sales,” Neil adds.

One such activation, designed to celebrate the launch of Smirnoff Miami Peach over the summer of 2025, is still talked about by shoppers now.

“Smirnoff asked me if they could throw a beach party to mark the launch in our store – and I was all too happy to agree!” Neil laughs. “It was phenomenal. They sent drinks, a DJ, beach props, palm trees, and even a mobile pizza oven so shoppers could enjoy a bite to eat. The activation itself took place on a Friday night, and the shoppers absolutely loved it. It was such a hit with the whole community!”

The sales data was memorable too. “We sold 16 bottles of Smirnoff Miami Peach that night. We wouldn’t normally sell that number in a month so it shows what an impact events like that can have.”

Attention-grabbing activations aside, Neil also devotes a large amount of time and money supporting his community, and individual shoppers, in an array of meaningful ways.

“I do a lot for the local community, because I can and because I love it,” he says.

“A young lad came into the store a few months ago and we got chatting. He’s an aspiring boxer, and while we were talking about his hopes for the future, he mentioned that he needed a head-guard. I wanted to help him get there, so I told his dad that I would buy him the guard, and I did. You should have seen the look on his face when I gave it to him. That look is what it’s all about.”

Neil’s support also extends to school breakfast clubs, and he also makes regular product donations to the local care home.

A keen footballer and local football coach, Neil also sponsors an array of local teams, from men’s teams right down to kids.

He’s also a key member of the Retail Family online support group – an online safe space for retailers to vent and share experiences.

“A problem shared really is a problem halved,” Neil says. “Retail Family is such a fantastic source of support for retailers. When navigating challenging situations, it can be such a comfort to talk to others who have experienced similar things and can offer advice or encouragement. We run it every Monday night and we’re incredibly proud of it.”

Recent years have also seen Neil invest in the business, introducing a wide range of convenient services to make life that little bit easier for local shoppers, including parcel collection, Royal Mail lockers and a wide array of payment services.

“Local people can pay their rent in our store, they can even put money into their personal accounts – that wasn’t heard of preCovid and shoppers are so grateful to us for all

the services we offer,” he adds.

He’s also invested heavily in smart equipment and technology to help the store look its best and run efficiently.

From the EcoTrac kit which keeps his soft drinks chillers in line, to the Quail Digital headsets which help boost staff efficiency, and the Retail AI and Chirp Protect tags which help to deter the scourge of retail crime, Neil’s Premier is a true tech trailblazer.

“Technology has evolved massively in recent years, and we’ve moved with it,” Neil says.

“The Quail Digital headsets have been great; we’ve seen so many benefits. They help to make staff feel a bit safer and more confident on the shop floor, especially if they need assistance, but they have also helped to improve efficiency. Messages can be effortlessly relayed between team members, no matter where they are in the store, without them having to stop what they are doing and find each other. It’s also a great help with managing parcel collections, because we store all the parcels safely in the back.”

EPoS also plays a key role in the business’s success.

“The whole point of having EPoS is to use the data and we definitely put it to work. It’s phenomenal what you can achieve when you harness the data properly,” Neil says,

So, what does the data say is selling well in Neil’s store today?

“Soft drinks are huge, and we’ve invested a lot of time building a great range. Energy is the key sales driver; it’s boomed in recent years. Long gone are the days when bread, milk and sugar were the hero products on our shelves – they’re still important but as footfall drivers, rather than margin makers.

“The ‘At Home’ category has also grown massively – the pandemic was the trigger but now people are now choosing to stay in and have gatherings in the comfort of their own homes. We’re seeing the benefits of that shift in strong sales of snacking and sharing products, along with chilled foods, especially pizzas, and BWS.

“In our store, BWS performance is also being driven by RTDs, which are booming. If

I know there’s a festival on, or a local event happening, I’ll stick the RTDs on a promo, such as ‘2 for £5’ and that works really well.”

Another category that’s helping to boost footfall and sales now and, Neil hopes, in the future is food- and drinks-to-go.

“We already have a successful drinks-togo offer in our Refresh zone – and we’re just about to introduce hot food-to-go,” he says.

As Talking Shop went to press, Neil had just signed a new contract with Country Choice and Rollover to introduce a range of hot ready-to-eat products.

“We’ve done some building work which has created a new space for hot products, and we’re really excited to see how shoppers respond,” Neil says.

The new zone will also feature hot water, so that shoppers can make up their own soups, noodles, and protein pots.

Neil’s also exploring the possibility of selling hot freshly made porridge to go from a large “hotel style” tureen.

“Health is an increasingly big driver these days and we need to respond to that,” he explains. “Not every shopper wants an egg or bacon bap, so something like porridge could be winner – especially in the winter months!

“If that works, the next thing will be to re-do the store’s kitchen and possibly start making our own baguettes.

“As with everything though, we’ll take a really careful, data-driven approach.”

And as Neil explains, data analysis looks set to play an even more important role in 2026 as he zeros in on where else he can “save money and tighten up”.

“I’ll also be looking at what more I can add to bring in that extra income. Additional services are likely – anything that can help our shoppers save time and make life easier.

“Community work will of course continue to be key and we’re already working on some nice projects, so there’s certainly lots to come in the year ahead!”

We’re sure it’s going to be a bright one for this gem of a store.

Premier reaches 5,000 store landmark!

The UK’s biggest and best symbol group has passed another major milestone with the opening of the 5,000th Premier store.

Premier, the UK’s number one symbol group operated by wholesale giant Booker, has officially opened its 5,000th store – a landmark moment that celebrates over 30 years of growth, innovation, and support for independent retailers.

Who could have predicted back in 1994 when the very first Premier store opened that Premier would go on to become the biggest symbol group in the UK by 2012 and would reach 5,000 stores by 2025?

Premier has indeed come a long way since the very first store opened back in 1994, opening the floodgates as a further 100 stores joined Premier within 12 months. Within a decade, almost 2,000 stores had the famous fascia above the door and a further 1,000 joined in the following 10 years. By 2022, Premier had reached the 4,000 stores mark and just three years later a further 1,000 stores have joined. It’s phenomenal progress by any standard.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PREMIER…

1994 The very first Premier store opens and within a year the group is 100 stores strong.

Annual turnover is £16m.

2003/04 Yellow fascia introduced. 1,879 stores.

£302m turnover.

2009 Premier Express format launched.

2011/12 Forecourt format launched.

Mega Deals introduced.

Premier becomes the UK’s number one symbol group.

2013/14 2,991 stores

£884m turnover.

Full re-brand carried out.

Premier wins Grocer Gold Symbol Group of the Year.

25th anniversary celebrated.

Premier wins Grocer Gold Symbol Group of the Year.

4,000 stores milestone reached.

Premier wins Grocer Gold Symbol Group of the Year.

100 Stores

Premier hits 500 stores in

£16m

Premier retains Grocer Gold Symbol Group of the Year

30th anniversary celebrated.

Premier once again retains Grocer Gold Symbol Group of the Year award.

2025 Premier reaches 5,000 stores.

• Express launched 2011/12

• Forecourt format

• 100 Stores

• £16m

• Number 1 Symbol

• Express launched 2011/12

• Forecourt format

• Number 1 Symbol

• Mega Deals

• Mega Deals 2013/14

• 2,991 Stores

• £884m

• Re-brand

Reaching 5,000 Premier stores is a phenomenal achievement and a real reflection of the dedication, energy and entrepreneurial spirit of our retailers.

FLAGSHIP 5,000

The store that claimed the honour of being the 5,000th Premier store is Premier Queensway on Northampton Road in Wellingborough. The store is an appropriately outstanding example of Premier’s latest flagship format offering a modern retail experience with features like a strong food-to-go offer, energy-efficient chillers, customer loyalty rewards and tailored meal deals.

Designed in partnership with the retailer, the stunning store has been carefully crafted to help drive footfall, improve margins and deliver more to the local community. Srijeekasikaran Kandiah, Owner of Premier Queensway, said: “Being part of Premier has had a huge impact on my business. The support from Booker, combined with the strength of the Premier brand, has helped us grow year after year. It’s not just about supply, it’s about partnership. To be recognised as the 5,000th Premier store is a real privilege and a milestone we’re incredibly proud to be part of.”

You can read all about Premier Queensway in our full profile starting on p16.

COMMUNITY GIVEAWAY

{The support from Booker, combined with the strength of the Premier brand, has helped us grow year after year. To be recognised as the 5,000th Premier store is a real privilege and a milestone we’re incredibly proud to be part of.

Srijeekasikaran Kandiah,Premier Queensway

To mark the milestone, Premier has launched a nationwide celebration with a strong focus on giving back to local communities. At the heart of the activity is an £8,000 community giveaway where eight Premier retailers, each from a different region, will receive £1,000 to donate to a local good cause chosen by their customers – whether that’s towards new equipment for a school, planting flowers in village centres or supporting a local community group.

In addition to the community giveaway, Booker is also supporting a series of retailer-focused celebrations. These include donating 5,000 family meals to FareShare and local food banks as well as offering Premier retailers the chance to win a Premierbranded delivery van.

Premier retailers and customers can also look forward to exclusive offers, promotions and exciting giveaways in the months ahead.

Martyn Parkinson, Sales Director for Premier, said: “This milestone is about more than just a number – it represents the strong relationships and shared successes that have brought us here.

“Premier has always been focused on supporting independent retailers, providing them with the tools and backing they need to succeed in a competitive market. Reaching this point is a testament to the dedication of our retailers, the strength of our partnerships, and our ongoing commitment to innovation and growth.”

Time to shine

Premier stores are well known and regularly celebrated for their high standards - you don’t get to 5,000 stores without a huge amount of hard work and dedication - and there’s no better time than the start of a brand new year to give your operations a bit of extra polish and set your store up to shine.

Santa’s stabled Rudolf and, after the wild ride that was Christmas, shoppers are reining in their socialising and spending too.

With the start of a new year traditionally ushering in a quieter trading period for retailers, now is the perfect time to quite literally take stock of your operations and shape up for the year ahead.

The power of a well-presented, efficiently run store cannot be underestimated when it comes to driving footfall, sales and profits – especially in today’s ultra-competitive market.

And while we can’t help you shine the shelves, we can provide buckets of top tips and reels of advice to help you brush up for 2026.

OUTSIDE

First impressions count! The outside of your store is the first thing that every single shopper sees as they approach – so it’s vital that everything looks on point and inviting.

Ask yourself:

l Is the signage neat, tidy and clean?

l Do your exterior walls need a lick of fresh paint?

l Are the windows smudge- and clutter-free?

l Do you have a bin available for shoppers?

l Why not arrange a community litter pick around the local area?

It’s a great opportunity to engage your shoppers and clear up the local area. It also provides positive content for social media.

INSIDE

Offering a quality shopping experience is an absolute must these days. Shoppers expect sky-high standards, so make sure you’re delivering them! Walk your store and try to see it through your shoppers’ eyes by asking yourself:

l Are the floors clean and safe with no loose or uneven surfaces?

l Are aisles easy to navigate for shoppers with mobility issues or prams?

l Do all the lights work?

l Is your counter clean and free of scuffs and clutter?

l Is the ceiling free of marks and cobwebs?

l Is all in-store signage accurate and in good condition?

l If you have a community noticeboard, can any out-of-date messages or posters be taken down?

RANGE REVIEW

Now is also a great time to do a full review of your range to ensure that every inch of space is earning its keep.

l Implementing new planograms will help you to ensure that you are stocking the best-selling lines and highlight new products.

l Remember – choice is important, but not to the point of unnecessary duplication.

l Actioning new planograms also provides a great opportunity to deep clean fixtures – not forgetting the tops of shelving!

SHELF LIFE

Once you have identified the best range and given your shelves a deep clean, a high standard of merchandising will help to maximise sales.

l Giving team members responsibility for specific areas of the store can help to increase efficiency and can be really motivating for staff.

l To help them, use photographic evidence of ‘What Good Looks Like’ in back-room areas.

l Print out new shelf-edge labels to keep fixtures looking premium and make sure you have a shelf-edge label in place for all products.

l Aligning the shelf-edge label to the left of the first facing for each product will make replenishment easier and quicker.

l Remember! A full point of sale (POS) pack is provided to all stores, but if you require specific POS or wish to order additional items, you can do so on the Printshop website via Booker.co.uk.

l If you don’t already, facing up the store each evening will assist in quicker replenishment from the morning’s delivery.

SEASONAL SWING

The start of the year is packed with seasonal opportunities – from Valentine’s Day on 14 February, Shrove Tuesday on 17 February and Mothering Sunday on 15 March.

l If you don’t already, consider creating a dedicated seasonal bay within the store.

l Seasonal products can also create a great opportunity for off-shelf feature displays.

l Where applicable legislation allows you to do so, feature seasonal products at the front of the store or near checkouts.

l Always make sure any off-shelf displays are supported with pricing and point of sale.

l As seasonal stock is time sensitive, monitor sales and be prepared to reduce the stock to clear at an appropriate time.

l If stock for future events is not yet available, consider using the space for bulk promotions.

STOCKING SUCCESS

l A well-organised stockroom and warehousing facilities will ensure that stock is easily accessible and not wasted through unnecessary damage.

l It will also help your team replenish more quickly and efficiently – maintaining availability and increasing sales and profit.

l A good idea is to organise your warehouse in a way that matches your shop floor – this will allow products to be found quickly and easily.

l Designate a specific location for promotional products – these will sell quickly and will need to be replenished regularly.

l Consider where you store high-value lines – are they secure?

l Try to ensure that stock is not stored directly on the floor – this will help to prevent damage and maintain quality.

l It’s best practice to keep all floor areas free from trip hazards.

l Try locating Local and Central Billing products together – this can make it easier to check stock levels when placing top-up orders.

TEAM TACTICS

Shoppers will judge your team just as much as your store, so it’s vital that all store staff are well trained and know how to offer first-class customer service all day, every day.

The start of a new year is also a great time to review staff training and for team members to undergo refresher courses.

Premier retailers have access to free online training for their staff via CPL Learning. You and your team can access 11 essential compliance courses covering health and safety, food safety, and age verification – all of which can be completed on a variety of devices.

It’s also worth checking staff uniforms.

l Ask yourself: Are staff uniforms and fleeces in good condition or do they need replacing?

l Are your team that handle food wearing the appropriate aprons, bibs, gloves and hair nets?

New Products

AU VODKA STICKY TOFFEE

Case Size: 1x70cl

MAHAL SPICE 10 PIECE INDIAN SELCTION

Case Size: 14x200g

WSP: £14.59

£1.49

POR : 30.1

HERSHEY’S COOKIES N CRÈME

Case Size: 24x90g

PROMO WSP: £19.99

RSP: £1.75

PROMO POR: 42.9%

KINDER BUENO

Case Size: 9x108g WSP: £11.09 RSP: £1.99

MJ’S

DINER 25 MOZZARELLA STICKS

Case Size: 13x450g

WSP: £40.49

£4.49

POR: 30.6

KINDER BUENO WHITE

Case Size: 9x99g

£11.09

£1.99

25.7%

Delicious Crunchy Tender bites

Convenience Wholesale exclusive in Booker, order code M309007 now!

Don’t miss our launch promotion in NP13

New Products

EUROSHOPPER ENERGY ORIGINAL, BERRY AND SUGAR FREE

Case size: 24x250ml

WSP: £5.45

EUROSHOPPER JUICE CITRUS AND SUMMER FRUITS

Case size:12x500ml

RSP:50p

POR:45.5%

ORIGINAL ENERGY MULTIPACK

Case size: 6x4x250ml

WSP: £5.39

RSP: £1.95

POR: 44.7%

RSP:69p

WSP: £4.79

WSP: £4.79

POR: 30.6% NEW LOWER PRICE

EUROSHOPPER SPORT TROPICAL BERRY, ORANGE, BERRIES

Case size: 12x500ml

WSP: £4.49

RSP: 69p

POR: 34.9%

New Products

SHEBA FINE FLAKES

Case Size: 4x12x85g

WSP: £15.35

RSP: £5.75

POR: 19.9%

FELIX AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS MIXED SELECTION IN JELLY

Case Size: 12x85g

WSP: £13.05

RSP: £4.75

POR: 17.6%

WAGG ACTIVE GOODNESS VAT FREE COMPLETE

Case Size: 12kg

WSP: £10.99

RSP: £13.99

POR: 21.4%

HARRINGTONS ADULT DOG TURKEY AND LAMB WITH RICE

Case Size: 4x1.7kg

WSP: £13.89

RSP: £5.75

POR: 27.5%

WHISKAS POULTRY FEASTS

Case Size: 12x85g

WSP: £13.69

RSP: £5.25

POR: 21.8%

PEDIGREE

PUPPY MIXED SELECTION WITH RICE

Case Size: 4x12x100g

WSP: £11.99

RSP: £4.55

POR: 21.0%

For Trade Only. Not for Distribution to Consumers.*PMI reported global shipment volumes and in-market sales estimates of nicotine pouch units, from December 2023 to December 2024.** Offer valid whilst stocks last and subject to availability until 31st March 2026. † Profit on Return. Margin is calculated on the stated RRP. All pricing decisions rest with the retailer and therefore margin may be affected by the retailer’s chosen selling price.

BetterService

IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE

Scoot hits 200 stores!

Booker’s exclusive low-cost delivery solution Scoot has now been adopted by over 200 stores – including Premier Meden Vale Convenience in Nottinghamshire.

WHY SCOOT?

FULLY FLEXIBLE MODEL

l Make an estimated £34,000 additional profit per year (based on weekly app sales of £2,500 at 26% gross margin)

l ZERO commission once you reach £5,000 of weekly sales on the app

l ZERO consumer charges giving you the ability to offer the service for free

l 0.7% average card transaction fee

l Save up to £16,000 per year with Scoot vs other rapid delivery platforms based on weekly sales of £4,999

l Want to get to the next band of Spend and Save? – Scoot can help you

l Dedicated onboarding and setup support, including PoS package

More than 200 retailers have now signed up to take advantage of Booker’s exclusive and low-cost Scoot home delivery platform despite the service only becoming widely available in April last year. Even more impressive is the fact that Scoot is set to hit the 400-store mark by the end of February as more and more retailers come on board to start seeing the benefits of the unique Scoot proposition.

Designed by retailers for retailers, Scoot promises to help you make more and save more – an estimated £34,000 more profit each year to be precise, based on weekly sales of just £2,500 at 26% gross margin.

With only 1% commission charged up to £4,999 of weekly in-app sales – and zero commission once you hit £5,000 a week –Scoot delivers an outstanding low-cost app that facilitates home deliveries to shoppers in as little as 30 minutes.

There are also no shopper charges – giving you the flexibility to offer the service for free, should you wish – or set your own delivery, service or minimum order fees.

GAME-CHANGER

One store that has taken full advantage of Scoot is Premier Meden Vale Convenience in Nottinghamshire, run by Ben and John

Matthews. “This business has been in the family for over 20 years,” explains Ben.

“Home delivery had been in our plans for a long time but when we looked at the options available, we were just never convinced. The solutions available were too restrictive and complex and also too expensive – so when Scoot came along, it looked like the answer to our prayers.

“Scoot solved all of the major issues we had with the other solutions. Firstly, it’s much lower cost than anything else. Secondly, it let us maintain store pricing on delivered products. We’re in a small, close-knit village and I always thought it wouldn’t go down well to charge customers more for the same product if they had it delivered. Thirdly, we could do it for a minimal delivery fee. We only charge £1.99 a delivery and if customers spend more than £25, we deliver for free. That has really helped push up basket spend.”

Ben and his team do all the deliveries themselves which lets them control some very important elements like cost and the customer experience. Ben explains: “Doing it ourselves with our dedicated vehicle means delivery costs to us can be tracked and managed carefully. Just as importantly, it means that the interaction on the doorstep with the customer is also under our control. We want delivery customers to get the same friendly service they would get if they were shopping in the store.”

The store only started doing deliveries in May last year but has rapidly built up a loyal and regular customer base. “From a standing start, we’re now averaging about 150 deliveries a week,” says Ben. “We get lots of repeat business because we do it well. The prices are the same as they are in-store, we deliver in under 30 minutes, and we deliver with a smile.

“That tells us that the key challenge is simply to get customers to download the app and make that crucial first order. Experience tells us that when they do that, it’s more than likely that they’ll keep using the app moving forward and ordering from us.”

MARKETING MATTERS

With that in mind, Ben and his team at the store work hard on encouraging shoppers to give Scoot a try. “We do all the usual stuff,” says Ben. “We have in-store posters and window vinyls and QR codes and that helps. But I would say that social media has proven the most effective tool for driving trial. We do lots of posts and videos and things, and we always try to make them personal and specific to the store. So, I might appear in the videos or some of my team, and we find that these posts land much better with our customers because it’s that personal connection that’s so important in independent retailing.”

Interestingly, the typical home delivery basket isn’t always what you might expect. “Yes, alcohol is our biggest category for home delivery,” says Ben. “But our third-

biggest category of all is fresh and our fourthbiggest is frozen.”

ALWAYS IMPROVING

Another reason why Ben likes Scoot so much is that his feedback is listened to and acted upon. “Scoot is essentially made by retailers for retailers,” he comments. “Booker understands retail inside out, so the app was always good but what’s more encouraging is that it keeps getting better. If we make comments or requests on how to improve the app, more often than not they get implemented. Booker takes the feedback on board and that’s a huge plus.

“Scoot is already a very important part of our business and I can only see it growing in future. It’s low cost, it’s effective, it’s easy to use and it works for retailers and for customers.”

Meet the team: Lauren Burdett

In this issue we say hello to Lauren Burdett – Booker Category Manager Designate for the Retail Household, Health & Beauty, and Medicine categories.

She’s a busy lady all year round – and especially now as cold and flu season strikes!

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF…

Hi, I’m Lauren and I’ve worked at the Booker Group for 12 years now. I joined back in October 2013 as a Category Assistant within the Non-Food Grocery team – and in August 2024 I took the leap and became a Category Manager Designate – looking after the Retail Household, Health & Beauty, and Medicine categories.

HOW

HAS

YOUR ROLE CHANGED OVER TIME?

Over the last 12 years the role has changed a lot! Since joining the Booker Group, we have acquired Makro, Budgens and Londis, which has meant a change in the ways of working and it has been great to see all the new customers. I’ve always worked within the Non-Food category, which has also given me the opportunity to be involved in other innovative and exciting categories, such as Baby and Pet.

About Lauren

Lauren is the Booker Group’s Category Manager Designate for the Retail Household, Health & Beauty, and Medicine categories.

She joined Booker 12 years ago as Category Assistant within the Non-Food Grocery team before making the jump to Category Manager Designate in August 2024.

A self-proclaimed “people person,” Lauren loves the fact that her role allows her to interact with a wide variety of different people daily – including suppliers, retailers and her own team members.

She also thrives on the challenge of making sure that Booker has the right products, in the right format, at the right price point for the retail channel throughout the year. She’s currently working hard on plans for 2026 – with lots of promotions and cash & carry activity on the cards – so watch this space!

WHAT DOES A CATEGORY MANAGER DESIGNATE DO?

Essentially my role as Category Manager Designate is to ensure we have the right products, in the right format, at the right price point for the channel. I liaise with suppliers on a daily basis, as well as supply chain to ensure that we have the correct forecast and stock levels and avoid any overstocks or shortages. I also ensure that the pricing and promotions we offer will drive our customers’ businesses and they are in line with what today’s shoppers are looking for.

WHAT ARE YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES?

A key responsibility will always be to ensure all products are safe and legal. It’s also my job to ensure that we have the right products for our range, at the right time. I’m always thinking of key periods throughout the year – whether this be Spring Clean or Winter Season.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

My days always vary depending on what I am working on at the time. I deal with a variety of suppliers on a day-to-day basis, whether this is discussing new opportunities for the Booker Group or negotiating pricing. We have a very strong supplier base, with suppliers we have worked with for several years, or new suppliers to the group.

I typically speak to the bigger suppliers on a weekly basis to ensure we are all aligned with plans and anything coming up within the next couple of weeks.

Currently, I am involved with a couple of range reviews across my subcategories, so watch this space – we have some changes coming!

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR ROLE?

I am a people person, so I love to be able to talk to a variety of different people daily. We hold two retail trade shows each year, and I love attending these and being able to speak to retailers directly and get their feedback.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE MEDS CATEGORY TO CONVENIENCE RETAILERS?

Medicine is incredibly important for the convenience sector. Shoppers often need a quick remedy for everyday ailments while on the go. Medicine helps to drive footfall, and shoppers often pick up medicine items alongside everyday essentials. Stocking recognisable brands such as Lemsip, Strepsils, and Panadol elevates store credibility and positions retailers as a reliable destination.

TELL ME ABOUT THE ROLE THAT SEASONALITY PLAYS

This varies throughout the year. Spring will need to ensure stocking of allergy relief such as Piriteze. As we move to the end of August and beginning of September, we look at Back To School, when Calpol is the ‘must stock’ for this period. During the winter – for cold and flu season – ensuring that the correct brands are listed is key: Lemsip, Strepsils, Covonia or Beechams. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are needed all year round.

WHAT TRENDS SHOULD CONVENIENCE RETAILERS BE AWARE OF?

Trends are linked to the above question. We see certain trends depending on the time of year. The convenience channel is seeing growth in cold/flu remedies, children’s medicine and digestive health. Shoppers are now more inclined to manage minor ailments themselves – rather than going to visit a doctor, so stocking a core range of trusted brands is imperative.

ARE THERE ANY PRODUCTS, UPDATES OR PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITY THAT RETAILERS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEW YEAR?

We are currently in the throes of planning activity for the new year. Promotion 12 is being planned as we speak and there are lots of promotions and cash & carry activity coming your way!

WHAT MORE COULD CONVENIENCE RETAILERS DO TO BOOST SALES IN THE MEDICINE CATEGORY?

Make sure they are stocking the top-selling lines: Lemsip, Strepsils, Panadol, and Calpol. It also pays to ensure that the positioning in store is correct. Medicines are often a distress purchase, so shoppers want speed – it’s best to ensure that they are as visible as possible.

LAUREN’S TOP TIP

During the winter, for cold and flu season, ensuring that the correct brands are listed is key: Lemsip, Strepsils, Covonia and Beechams are ‘must stocks’. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are needed all year round.

BetterService

IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE

Safe and supported

Shining the spotlight on the great work of the LGBTQ+ at Booker Colleague Network.

Over the last few months, we’ve been taking a closer look at the inner workings of Booker’s fab four Colleague Networks – the valuable safe spaces which strive to create a supportive environment and drive meaningful change for Booker colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Recent issues of Talking Shop have introduced you to Women at Booker, Race and Ethnicity at Booker and Disability at Booker – and now it’s the turn of the LGBTQ+ at Booker Colleague Network.

Created in 2023, LGBTQ+ at Booker’s overriding aim is to make sure that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, feels welcome at Booker and that Booker is a place where all LGBTQ+ Colleagues can thrive.

An absolutely superb event! A huge thank you to the network. I have certainly come away with actions to implement for me and my team to take another step forward in allyship.

Booker Colleague

Run by members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies – the Network offers a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ Colleagues and allies to come together, share experiences and learn from each other.

The Network also offers a wide range of support, including helping to connect Trans+ Colleagues to a wider virtual Trans+ Colleague Space, which offers monthly meetings and support.

It’s also on hand to help with any issues faced by LGBTQ+ Colleagues and encourages them to reach out if there’s anything they’d like assistance with.

LGBTQ+ at Booker also runs sessions to help allies understand how they can best support our LGBTQ+ Colleagues and has created an inclusive language guide, available on the Our Booker website, which helps allies to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion locally and have meaningful conversations with Colleagues.

It’s all made possible thanks to the hard work of passionate Network Chairs and three dedicated teams: Events & Planning, Engagement, and Inclusion – who all pull together in a bid to achieve the Network’s goals, meeting every two weeks to discuss actions, plan events and tailor support.

For example, the summer of 2025 saw the Network explore how it could use an external benchmarking tool to assess LGBTQ+ inclusion at Booker.

By combining a tool from Stonewall with Colleague feedback from our Pride event, the

Network was able review what Colleagues wanted – and see where the biggest differences could be made.

Going forward, two key areas it plans to tackle are engaging Band 1 + 2 Colleagues and providing better training and support for Colleagues to understand the LGBTQ+ community. So stay tuned as we seek to drive change in these areas in 2026!

The Network also seeks to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with a range of events throughout the year, as well as supporting

key national events such as LGBTQ+ History Month in February – and Pride Month in June.

LGBTQ+ at Booker is currently hard at work planning a range of in-person events for LGBTQ+ History Month – as well as supporting colleagues who are hoping to run their own local events.

We’re also planning to re-launch Pride in a Box to help Colleagues create their own Pride displays after the brilliant work we saw last year – so watch this space!

I thought the day was fantastic, amazing conversation between colleagues that we would never get to spend time with outside of the events, helps us see things from all different perspectives to shape change required for the future. Drag acts were a fantastic end to celebrate with everyone. Well done on a memorable and amazing event!

Booker Colleague }

LGBTQ+ COMMON TERMINOLOGY

Language is inherently complex and continuously evolving – and terminology associated with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) community is no exception. Here are some common terms you may encounter when in conversation with people from within this community.

Cisgender: Describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender dysphoria: Marked and persistent incongruence between a person’s experienced gender and assigned sex at birth.

Intersex: Describes a person with one or more innate sex characteristics (such as genitals, internal reproductive organs, or chromosomes) that fall outside of traditional conceptions of male or female bodies.

Nonbinary: Describes a person who experiences their gender identity and/or gender expression as outside the binary genders of man and woman.

Transgender: Describes a person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Transition or gender affirming care: The process a person undertakes to bring their body and/or gender expression into alignment with their gender identity; may involve social, medical, or legal transitions. Note: A person is not required to transition socially, legally, or medically to be considered transgender. Transitioning is a unique experience for each individual and may involve all, none, or some of these processes.

Social: may include going by a different name, using different pronouns (e.g., she, he, or they), and dressing or otherwise presenting themselves differently.

Medical: may include procedures such as hormone replacement therapy and/or one or more gender confirmation surgeries.

Legal: may include changing one’s name or sex on legal documents such as a passport, driver’s license, or bank account

LANGUAGE TO AVOID

l Referring to a person as “biologically/genetically” a man, woman, boy, or girl.

l “Lifestyle” or “sexual preference” to refer to a person’s sexual orientation.

l Calling a person “homosexual” who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, or queer.

With more retailers reporting theft and police increasingly prioritising the investigation of crime, it’s time for the justice system to step up with effective interventions that stop re-offending, James Lowman says.

Time to break the cycle

With the Crime and Policing Bill coming into force in early 2026, the time to start working on real solutions that effectively break the cycle of repeat offending against our sector could finally be approaching, the ACS hopes.

In recent weeks, the BBC published new figures reporting that the amount of time it takes for shop theft offences to reach magistrates court has risen from 32 days in 2014, to 59 days in 2024. When we asked retailers about this, the new figures still seem to be pretty optimistic with many reporting that it takes several months to get a court date when incidents are reported, if anything happens at all.

So what’s going on here, and could this be an indication that the tide is actually starting to turn on retail crime?

We know that year on year, retailers are doing their part to deal with crime. In the last two years alone, the convenience sector has spent over half a billion pounds on crime prevention and detection, with many investment decisions in store now seeing the fastest payback when they are for loss prevention measures. Retailers are also doing

their part by reporting more. In some areas, this has been supported by more streamlined reporting systems, but overall, the constant breaking of ONS records of shop theft incidents recorded by the police can be seen as a positive, as it is starting to bridge the gap between what happens on the ground and what the police see.

The police themselves are also stepping up. Figures from our latest Voice of Local Shops survey, of over 1,000 independent retailers, show that more than half reported having a very good relationship with their neighbourhood police. This kind of response would have been a real anomaly just a few years ago, and it shows that there has been a tangible effort put in by local forces, Police and Crime Commissioners, and central Government to demonstrate a visible police presence.

So, what we have left is the rest of the

justice system. It goes without saying that if more retailers are reporting theft, and police are increasingly prioritising the investigation of crime, that there will be more pressure on the courts to see cases. This is where we need more resource because left unchecked, offenders will simply continue offending without any fear of reproach.

We’re not prescriptive about what the intervention should be, but we’re clear that whatever it is, it needs to be the most effective way of breaking the cycle of re-offending.

We continue to make these points to the Government, and will look closely at how we can keep up pressure locally with the upcoming abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners, but with the Crime and Policing Bill coming into force in early 2026, it looks like we’re finally getting beyond having to describe the problem and starting to work on real solutions to stop repeat offending against our sector.