Talking Shop
Welcome
A very warm welcome to your latest issue of Talking Shop as our thoughts finally turn to the spring and summer months ahead and all of the opportunities that await us.
Before we get there, however, we’ve had a really exciting start to the year thanks in no small part to our major nationwide activation throughout January and February to celebrate hitting that amazing 5,000 Premier stores milestone. From our ‘Chance To Win’ scratchcard promotion to our shopper giveaways and our Premier 5,000th Roadshow, there’s been plenty going on to drive footfall and sales and help get 2026 off to a flying start.
As you’ll discover inside, we’re set to build on that momentum throughout the year, starting with 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 Premier are working tirelessly to help you deliver sales and profits.
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 around 400 retailers using the platform and you can read all about Premier retailer Jaz Ali who has seen 100% growth in his home delivery business in Grangemouth since switching to Scoot.
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
COVER STORY
If
7 SCOOT HITS
Premier SR’s has revitalised an old and much-loved building in Jarrow.
THE THREE BIG STORIES
400
More than 400 stores are now offering the home delivery service.
40 IT’S SHOWTIME
The Booker Retail Trade Shows are back and better than ever!
45 SOCIAL MEDIA
Sharpen your social skills with Booker’s new training guide.
Share your shop news
Lend some spring to your sales this Easter
Booker wins key sustainability accolade at FWD Awards.
The latest round up of inspiring stories from Premier stores.
The latest news from the industry’s charity.
Former Procurement Manager Dave Brown has brought his family-run convenience business into the 21st century.
Premier SR’s Convenience Store has brought life back to an iconic old building in the heart of Jarrow.
Bag unrivalled choice, price and service at the Booker Retail Trade Shows.
Sharpen your social media skills with Booker’s new training guide. 53 Put a spring in your step
Treat yourself to sweet footfall sales and profits this Easter. 59
Our pick of the hottest new products to hit the shelves.
65 Scoot success
Premier retailer Jaz Ali has seen delivery sales soar by over 100%. 69 Meet The Team
Say hello to Nicola Cranwell, Booker’s Category Manager for Confectionery 77 New vape rules
The coming Vaping Product Duty Scheme explained. 78 Booker Networks
An inspiring update from Booker’s Race & Ethnicity Colleague Network.
Old store, new heart
The Booker Retail Trade Shows 2026
Dave Brown and his team are delivering success
PremierNews
NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS PREMIER
Premier retailers enjoy winning start to the year
Premier starts 2026 with a national scratchcard promotion, cash giveaways and exclusive Burger King rewards as it celebrates 5,000 stores.
Premier has kicked off 2026 with a major nationwide activation designed to drive footfall for independent retailers during the quieter trading period, as part of its 5,000‑store celebration.
The activity put shoppers at the heart of the 5,000‑store celebration, with thousands of instant‑win scratchcards, cash prizes and exclusive partner offers available.
Between January and February, shoppers in participating Premier stores received a ‘Chance to Win’ scratchcard with every qualifying purchase.
The promotion gave shoppers the opportunity to win a cash prize of up to £5,000, plus product giveaways and a range of exclusive rewards, including promotional offers in partnership with Burger King.
Alongside the scratchcard promotion, Premier also gave away thousands of pounds in cash prizes directly to shoppers – extending its mission to give back to the customers and communities that have contributed to reaching its 5,000‑store milestone.
Premier also took its celebrations on the road, with a dedicated ‘Premier 5,000 Roadshow’, featuring five regional events across the UK.
Held in Reading, Bristol, Hinckley, Leeds and Glasgow, the roadshow brought Premier retailers together at iconic venues including Hampden Park and Leeds United Football Club, giving them the chance to network, meet key members of the Premier team and sample the latest NPD from key suppliers.
Colm Johnson, Retail Managing Director at Booker, said: “January can be a challenging period for independent retailers, and our latest activation was designed to bring real energy and value into stores when it matters most – with some great benefits and opportunities to support local communities as part of our 5,000‑store celebrations.”
Martyn Parkinson, Director of Sales for Retail, added: “This next wave of celebrations was about keeping the momentum going – giving customers fun, value and reasons to visit their local stores in January.”
FOODVENIENCE AND YOUNGER INDIES DRIVE C-STORE SITE DEMAND
The trend towards ‘foodvenience’, along with the emergence of younger, entrepreneurial independent retailers influencing buyer demand, is fuelling the convenience property market.
The insights were revealed in retail property expert Christie & Co’s Business Outlook 2026, which reported a surge of acquisition demand for convenience sites in 2025, which is set to continue in 2026.
Around 80% of Christie & Co’s retail transactions last year were convenience store deals and, despite general economic trends in the UK, the firm reported that the average price of retail businesses it sold increased by 5.9%.
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 yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
Becäuse only perfection will do
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 – and the brilliant teams and partners driving it forward every day.
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.
PREMIER NAMED BEST SYMBOL GROUP IN SCOTLAND
Premier has been named Best Symbol Group in Scotland at the recent Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards 2026. The judges said that this was one of the most closely fought categories at the Achievers Awards with new judging criteria which meant that 50% of the total possible score came from interviews with retailers in each symbol group.
The judges remarked: “Premier delivers consistently impressive operations, and its approach is defined by unwavering support of its customers and a focus on
sustaining long-term success, resulting in high satisfaction levels.”
In addition, Booker lifted the Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year Award with the judges highlighting Booker’s “comprehensive sustainability plan, with strong clarity on what it is delivering and measurement of its results”. The judges also said that the two elements that stood out were Booker’s HVO sustainable fuel roll-out and its focus on sustainable packaging, including the effort and resource it puts into supplier collaborations”.
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NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS PREMIER
Communityfocused store wins sweet accolade CommunityNews
Bromwich Premier retailer Talha
Bhattay has been celebrated for his inspirational community support and named as a Grand Prize winner of Cadbury’s Community Game Changers retailer competition.
Talha, of Premier Mibsons Service Station in West Bromwich, is one of four independent retailers to win a Grand Prize of £1,000 as part of the competition, which recognises outstanding community commitment.
To enter, retailers had to describe how they have been true Community Game Changers via the snackdisplay. co.uk website.
The winning retailers impressed the judges with their “steadfast commitment to their communities”.
Talha’s store, which has been operating for more than 30 years, is a staunch supporter of its local community, especially its many elderly shoppers and disadvantaged young people.
Talha personally delivers essential groceries to a large number of elderly and vulnerable shoppers, and provided a lifeline during the heavy snow that the hit the region at the start of the year.
He even drove shoppers’ cars to the petrol station and filled up for them so that they wouldn’t need to venture out in the icy conditions.
Premier Mibsons Service Station also offers invaluable support to the area’s many disadvantaged young people, providing discounted meals and free snacks for local school kids and a community tutoring program.
Commenting on his win, Talha said: “I am so happy to receive this competition prize for our community work. It really is lovely to be recognised.
“Community is what we do, we consider ourselves part of the community and we really try to look after our locals, particularly the older community, we deliver to them, check on them and are happy to just have a chat.
“Supporting the community also means we are supported too, it’s really vital to be part of the community, it makes our business what it is.”
Susan Nash, Trade Communications Manager at Mondelez International, added: “We wanted to give retailers the chance to be celebrated for their game changing initiatives. Our Cadbury Community Game Changers competition honours independent retailers by recognising their incredible efforts to be leaders in their local communities. These community heroes have provided unwavering community support, and we are extremely proud to reward them for their efforts.”
A DIGEST OF NEWS FROM THE INDEPENDENT RETAILING INDUSTRY
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 ranges and business, including new security measures.
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.”
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.
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.”
TASTES GOOD, DOES GOODTHE UK’S BEST-SELLING VITAMIN DRINK
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.
ACS urges greater transparency on card scheme fees
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed proposals to improve transparency and strengthen governance around card scheme and processing fees.
The move came in response to the Payment Systems Regulator’s (PSR) consultation on the issue. However, ACS warned that these measures alone will not address what it describes as a “fundamental lack of competition in the market”.
ACS called on the Government and the PSR to fully implement the transparency and pricing governance remedies, ensuring that changes to fees are clearer, more predictable and subject to proper scrutiny. The trade association said transparency alone will not resolve the underlying lack of competition, and urged the Government to go further by keeping a cap on scheme and processing fees under active consideration to curb the constant upward pressure on costs.
RETAILERS ACHIEVE BEST-EVER AGEVERIFICATION RESULTS
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.”
£9m committed to tackling retail crime in Scotland
The Scottish Government has confirmed that it will provide £9m of funding over the next three years to Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce.
The Scottish independent retailing sector has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide £9m to extend funding to Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce until March 2029.
The Taskforce has already made strong progress since it was implemented last April, achieving 3,671 shoplifting charges and detections in its first year of operation.
A further 508 charges under the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act 2021 for offences against retail workers have been made along with a total of 807 arrests.
Returning
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Shop workers deserve to feel safe, and retailers deserve to trade without fear of shoplifting. In less than a year, Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has provided a visible and measurable impact on retail crime, working directly with retailers to prevent offending, pursue criminals, and protect shop workers.
“That is why the Scottish Government is providing a further £3 million in each of the next three years to continue this vital work – both preventing crime and ensuring offenders are held to account.”
items via lockers appeals to 64% of shoppers
Shoppers are rejecting time wasting returns in favour of simpler options, such as parcel lockers, with nearly two thirds actively choosing how to return parcels, purely to avoid queues, reports InPost.
A new survey from the parcel locker firm shows that 64% of shoppers think parcel lockers are a very appealing way to return items, with fewer than one in 10 finding them unappealing.
“With 24/7 access, no need to print labels and locations people already visit as part of everyday life, they turn returns into a quick, easy and seamless task. That gives people time back, and that matters to consumers,” Michael Rouse, CEO International at InPost, said.
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.
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 yourretailmag@booker.co.uk
The help you’ve earned
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.
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.
“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. 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 to raise awareness and reach even more people. This includes a trade and consumer PR and out‑of‑home campaign that highlights the positive impact of accessing help before reaching crisis point and challenging the stigma that can surround it.
Despite helping more than 22,000 grocery colleagues with financial, emotional and practical support, totalling more than £6.5m last year, GroceryAid hopes 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 free independent retailer pack and help spread the word.
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*Kantar: Penetration: 52wk 15/06/2025 vs 2023
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Top of the stocks
Former Procurement Manager Dave Brown has brought his family‑run convenience business into the 21st century with the addition of an innovation‑packed Premier store.
What do procurement managers and convenience store retailers have in common?
No, there’s no punchline coming, but as former NHS procurement manager turned convenience retailer Dave Brown explains: there’s a plentiful supply of similarities worth ‘taking stock’ of.
Established by Dave and his brother‑in‑law in the 1980s, the Brown and Vaughan family‑run store at number 92 Finchale Road
has been serving Hebburn’s community for more than 40 years.
However, despite Dave’s ownership of the business, his NHS day job saw him spend most of his time dealing in beds and bandages – while his family handled the booze and sandwiches.
The change came in 2020, when Dave finally closed the hospital door in favour of the shop floor.
“After almost 40 years as a procurement manager I left the NHS to work in the store full‑time and had grand plans to bring the
business into the 21st century,” Dave says.
But then Covid hit.
“Covid changed everything,” he recalls. “It was an incredibly tough time for all of us and for our local community, but one positive upshot for the store was the surge in footfall and sales. The challenge for us then was how to maintain those sales once life started to return to ‘normal’,” he says.
“As a result, I spent a huge amount of time talking to shoppers about what else they wanted from the store in terms of products and services.
“There were a huge number of transferable skills between my old role as an NHS procurement manager and my role as a retailer.”
Dave thinks that understanding what customers need is no different from understanding what a consultant needs in a hospital. “The principles of stock management are also the same,” he adds. “Whether you’re talking about chicken or syringes, it makes no difference. Good practice is good practice whether it’s in a store or in a hospital.
“Talking to my customers and understanding what they wanted from the store showed me the direction we needed to take the business – and that’s where the concept of joining Premier all began.”
With the help of Premier RDM John Carter, Dave and the family then embarked on an ambitious plan to develop the old store at number 92 when – out of the blue – a larger and more recently modernised retail unit just a few doors down became available.
“This other unit was really attractive to us,” Dave explains. “It was an existing convenience store and a lot of the work that we wanted to do in the old store had already been done there.”
And so, after many more months of planning, and £140,000 of investment, brand‑new Premier Brown & Vaughan was born at number 76 Finchale Road in May 2025 ‑ to much local excitement.
STORE PROFILE
Retailer: Dave Brown
Size: 950sq ft
Opening hours: 7.30am–9pm
Staff: 13 across the two stores.
Services:
Name: Premier Brown & Vaughan
PayPoint, National Lottery, Scoot
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Home delivery is a way of life for the younger generations – and we have the ability and the willingness to do it really well.
Dave Brown
“We kept the old store, so we’ve worked really hard to make the two businesses different so that they complement each other, rather than compete, and that’s an on going project,” Dave explains.
As such, the showstopping new Premier store features a state‑of‑the‑art beer cave, which Dave says has become a “key footfall and sales driver”.
“We were always known for having a good range of beers, wines and spirits in the old store – but none of it was chilled,” he explains.
“In the new Premier, everything is chilled and we’ve also increased our range of spirits over and above the Premier planogram so that shoppers now have a vast range of choice.”
The new store also features a five‑metre
chilled range, plus more than two metres of chilled food‑to‑go and five metres of chilled soft drinks.
There’s also a striking new Refresh@ Premier bar featuring a bean‑to‑cup coffee solution, Snowshock slush and Thick Fresh Shakes – with room to introduce additional machines in the future.
Up at the counter, shoppers can also indulge in a wide range of sweet treats to go, including locally made cheesecakes and other local bakery products.
“The beer cave has been an incredibly powerful new addition, there’s nothing else like it locally and we know from the sales and from the feedback that it’s prompting shoppers to change their habits,” Dave says.
“The offer that we have in the new Premier is helping us appeal to a new younger customer base that we weren’t tapping into before.”
Also appealing to that new customer base is Scoot, which is proving to be another potent string to the new Premier store’s bow.
Dave has taken a hands‑on approach to the new home delivery service since launching it in November 2025 – carrying out the majority of deliveries himself.
“The reason I’ve done that is because it’s been a fantastic opportunity to gather feedback, allowing me to talk to my customers on their doorsteps and find out if they’re happy with their order, what they think about the range, the service and any additional products they would like us to stock.
“Shoppers really appreciate that personal touch and I’ve learned so much.
“A lot of our Scoot orders are to new customers who haven’t visited the store before, and lots of them include alcohol, especially multipacks. When I’ve asked those shoppers where they used to buy from previously, most have said the supermarkets. The fact that our products arrive chilled and are delivered with a friendly smile and chat is helping us to win that spend from them.”
And with two new housing developments currently under construction, the months ahead look set to provide additional opportunities for the business to win even more spend.
“I think Scoot has immense potential for us, particularly given the new housing estates being built,” Dave says.
“Some of the new houses are already occupied and we’re already making regular deliveries to them.
“Home delivery is a way of life for the younger generations – and we have the ability and the willingness to do it really well.
“Continuing to understand what those customers want will be the key to our continued success – and I, for one, will keep on striving to unlock those learnings,” he concludes.
The offer that we have in the new Premier is helping us appeal to a new younger customer base that we weren’t tapping into before.
Dave Brown }
THE UK’S NO.1 WATER BRAND
History in the making
Premier SR’s
Convenience Store
has brought life back to an iconic old building in the heart of Jarrow.
Developing a new store always accrues a fair basket of challenges. Even the seemingly simplest of developments can throw unexpected items in the bagging area. But when a store development centres on an iconic building – or one of deep historic or local significance – those challenges can really start to stack up. Because then, you’re not just dealing with beams, bricks and bureaucracy – you’re also dealing with memories, meaning and mindsets.
Three individuals who have come to know that better than most are business partners and Premier retailers Rajkumar Mani, Ranjith Subramani and Shritharan Subramaniam, who in early 2025 decided to take on the sizeable challenge of granting a new lease of life to an iconic old building in the north‑east town of Jarrow.
Constructed in the early 1920s as one of Montague Burton’s purpose‑built tailor stores, the striking old building features a distinctive Art Deco style and was once
the jewel of the town’s former high street.
However, the construction of a new shopping centre in a different part of town in the 1960s saw footfall on the old high street begin to crumble – and many of its original retail buildings with it.
“Over the years almost all of the old high street’s original stores have been demolished or turned into housing,” Rajkumar Mani (Raj) explains, “and by late 2024 the old Burton building was the last one standing – although by then it was very run down.”
He’s not exaggerating. After having lain vacant for several years, the old building had fallen into a state of disrepair – not helped by a major roof leak which had caused considerable damage.
However, despite the scale of the challenge, Raj and his business partners could see only opportunity – a chance to help breathe fresh life back into the old building and provide a compelling convenience solution to the many homes that now surround it.
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Despite knowing that there was a “strong convenience need” on that stretch of street, the business partners also knew that in order to make a true success of their new Premier store, they would need to do something “dramatically different from what was available elsewhere locally”.
They also knew that maintaining as much of the original building’s charm as possible would be key to winning over local spend and sentiment.
With concrete conviction that Premier was the perfect partner for the store, the trio ploughed ahead with their development designs in March 2025.
“It was such a big job,” Raj recalls. “The ground floor is about 2,500sq ft so we split it into two and let the smaller part to a barber. We then created a new 1,800sq ft shop floor and a separate 500sq ft of back office and storage space.”
Just three months later, the beautiful old Burton building was once again able to welcome shoppers through its doors and into its radically reimagined interior.
Today, suits and jackets have been replaced with fruit and packets inside the show‑stopping new Premier SR’s Convenience Store, which offers USPs at every turn.
Innovative local products feature heavily on the store’s shelves – and especially in its fresh aisle, where shoppers can discover a luscious line‑up of Pitman Pies and premium Scotch eggs from The Yolker – the latter of which come in an array of amusing flavours such as ‘I see Bread People’ and ‘Bill and Ted’s Eggscellent Adventure’. As Talking Shop went to press the store had also just launched a new range of local meats and savoury flans from Cranstons.
Shoppers seeking a salty snack can also snap up an array of crispy, crunchy pork snacks from The Crackling Guy, while those with a sweeter tooth can enjoy crumbly cookies from local baker The Brookie Jar. And then there’s the cheesecakes – a mouth‑watering range of which are available in both convenient on the go tubs and slices, freshly made by local supplier The Cheesecake Man.
Shoppers love the range, the great value prices, the long opening hours – and the fact that our beers and soft drinks are always cold! Above all though, they are so happy that we helped to save this special old building which means so much to so many of them.
Rajkumar Mani
Store Profile
Name: Premier SR’s Convenience Store, Jarrow
Retailers: Rajkumar Mani, Ranjith Subramani and Shritharan Subramaniam
Size: 1,800sq ft
Staff: 5
Services: free ATM, PayPoint
Opening hours: 7am–12pm
“Local products lend us a great point of difference and already account for around 4% of weekly sales,” Raj adds.
“Knowing that impulse products would be big in this store, we also wanted to introduce a show‑stopping range of soft drinks and so we have a 7.5‑metre chiller for those, filled with all the biggest sellers, footfall‑driving new products and international brands.
“Soft drinks already account for almost 20% of weekly sales and are growing.”
Also growing is the store’s high‑impact Refresh@ Premier bar, which features Tango Ice Blast, Jolly Rancher Slush, Thick Fresh Shakes and Lavazza coffee.
But the jewel in the store’s crown, Raj says, is its custom‑fit beer cave – the like of which has never been seen before in Jarrow.
“From the start we knew that the beer cave would be special and so we wanted to give it a lot of space. It’s just over 240sq ft in size which allows us to stock a huge range – all of which is available chilled. The fact that all beers, wines, ciders and RTDs are chilled gives us a huge competitive advantage – it really matters to shoppers and they are changing their habits because of it.”
Looking to the months ahead, the store is hoping to
boost sales yet further with the launch of two new footfall drivers in the form of a new hot food‑to‑go offer and the arrival of the National Lottery.
“It’s still early days but the business is doing very well, with sales on track to hit their target – not bad at all for just six months,” Raj adds.
“We’re all incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here – especially when shoppers tell us how happy they are with the new store. They love the range, the great value prices, the long opening hours – and the fact that our beers and soft drinks are always cold!
“Above all though, they are so happy that we helped to save this special old building which means so much to so many of them,” he concludes.
Soft drinks already account for 20% of sales
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The greatest shows!
Booker’s
Retail Trade Shows 2026 are promising to be the best yet, so don’t delay, sign up today for a show you won’t forget!
The birds are singing, the grass is growing and exciting‑ innovation packed stands are springing up across Doncaster and Sandown Racecourses – 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 best yet!
Both 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.
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!
With cutting costs and driving profits remaining front of mind for 2026, visitors can also learn how to Make More and Save More, thanks to Booker’s 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
SHOWS 2026 RETAIL TRADE
Thursday 5th March Doncaster
deals
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 in the months ahead.
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 and catching up with friends and colleagues – as well as key members of the Booker team. 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!
RETAILER VIEW
SUVANTHA ANEESAN
Premier Fourteen Locks, Newport
“This is the first time I’ve been to one of the Booker Retail Trade Shows and I’m blown away. There’s so much to see and do and so many fantastic new products and services to learn about. There are also so many great promotions and Trade Show Only Deals to take advantage of – not to mention all the samples!”
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
NEW STOCK UP NOW!
Tools of the trade
Available now, Booker’s new Social Media Training Guide is here to help you use social media like a pro.
TOP TIP
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.
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.
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?
GET THE GUIDE
Download a copy of the Social Media Training Guide via booker.co.uk/ my-booker or ask your RDM.
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.
Booker’s social media savants have created a brand new 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 view or 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.
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 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‑by‑step 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!
TOP TIP
Be positive! Always keep your tone upbeat and friendly. Avoid posting anything negative or political – focus on your shop, your products, and your shoppers.
TOP TIP
Post at least three to four times a week to keep your business top of mind with shoppers.
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).
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.
TOP TIP
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.
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! I bought something yesterday and it wasn’t great.
“Yes, we’ve had some delivered this morning! Pop by anytime.”
Thank you so much! We really appreciate your support.
Sorry to hear that! Please send us a DM and we can assist.
Sweet
pickings!
With a four month lead up, the Easter season provides a plentiful basket of opportunities to drive footfall, sales and engagement.
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.
Remember, that regulations are now in place to restrict the location and promotion of products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS). Businesses with 50 or more employees are in scope. If you operate multiple stores under one company or franchise, total employee count applies. 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 visit https://www.acs.org.uk/advice/hfss-regulations
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 Premier 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 Premier retailers!
And that’s far from the only Group Exclusive to get eggcited about.
Premier shoppers can also snap up Group Exclusive five packs of indulgent Cadbury Caramel Eggs, which offer tasty PORs of 25%.
WHAT DO WE FINANCE
Recent Customer Feedback
● Lease or HP for ALL Equipment i.e. REFRIGERATION / EPOS / CCTV / AIR CON / FULL REFIT including Shelving, Counter, Lighting, and much more…
● Any Purpose Business Loans i.e. for Stock / Cashflow / Purchasing next store, and much more.....
● Plus Vehicles and Commercial Mortgages
ADVANTAGES OF ASSET FINANCE
● Access the latest equipment and vehicles immediately
● Boost cash flow by spreading costs of the assets over time
● Unlock capital for more profitable use
● Preserve existing credit lines
● Safeguard against inflation with fixed payments
BENEFITS OF USING SATELLITE
“I have dealt with Michelle at Satellite Finance for last 3 years on 7 different shop fit projects. I have received a fantastic service, competitive rates, regular updates on the progress of application and great communication with the Shop fitters on completion and payment release. I would highly recommend and will use again.”
Sudi, Premier
“This is first time, we have used financial services, and we feel got excellent service from Michelle at Satellite Finance. The rates were good, and the supplier dealings were spot on. We will definitely come back for any future requirements.”
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● Partnerships with 40+ Financial Institutions allow us to source the cheapest money for you
● Friendly, efficient and reliable
● Convenience Sector Experts
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!
Gifts Galore
DON’T FORGET
Glorious Group Exclusives
Product
Cadbury Biscoff Egg 5pk
Cadbury Caramel Egg 5pk
PERFECT PARTNERS
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 limitededition 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.
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. 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
DID YOU KNOW?
Easter remains a highparticipation 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
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 which retailers can sell for an RSP of £6.49 ‑ making them a POR of just over 25%.
GOLDEN GIFTS
With more than 40% of shoppers intending to gift this Easter, the season presents a sizable opportunity for retailers to secure sweet sales of gifting products.
And this year will prove no exception, with Premier retailers able to offer shoppers a vast range of quality gifting products for great value prices, including large cartons of Cadbury Roses and Heroes for RSPs of just £5.60, along with Lindor Milk and Assorted Cartons for just £5.99 – down from £8.99. The latter also offers retailers PORs of 25.2%.
Premier shoppers can also bag a box of Cadbury Milk Tray for just £7.49.
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 Snickers XL Egg. Shoppers can also bag a Maltesers White XL Egg for £7.49, which offers retailers a POR of 20%.
And, of course, Easter wouldn’t be Easter without the classics, including the iconic Lindt Gold Bunny, which is available for the round pound RSP of £5, and the Cadbury Creme Egg, which Premier retailers can sell in singles and in packs of five and eight for RSPs of £4 and £5, respectively.
As ever, Premier 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 vibrant “Happy Easter” message.
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 Premier POS.
New Products
BISTO READY MEALS CLASSIC BEEF HOTPOT & CLASSIC SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE
Case Size: 6x375g
WSP: £10.69
RSP: £2.49
POR: 28.5%
PLANET DELI PLAIN KEBAB BREADS
Case Size: 8x400g
WSP: £12.69
RSP: £2.49
POR: 36.3%
PLANET DELI FOLDED FLATBREADS
Case Size: 6x200g
WSP: £5.99
RSP: £1.75
POR: 43.0 %
BREWDOG COLD BEER
Case Size: 6x4x568ml
PROMO WSP: £15.89
RSP: £5.49
POR: 42.1%
BREWDOG LOST LAGER
Case Size: 6x4x568ml
WSP: £23.79
RSP: £7.25
POR: 34.4 %
NOW AVAILABLE
New Products
CHEWITS FRUIT CHEWS
Case Size: 13x4pk
WSP: £13.39
RSP: £1.99
POR: 37.9%
KELLOGG KRAVE CARAMELIZED BUSCUIT & WHITE CHOC
Case Size: 6x375g
£3.69
38.6%
BOOST+ WATER CITRUS, CHERRY, MANGO & PASSION FRUIT
Case Size: 12x500ml
PROMO WSP: £3.99
RSP: £1.00
PROMO POR: 60.1%
CANDY KITTENS SMITTENS STRAWBERRY, SOUR, BLUEBERRY
Case Size: 20x130g
WSP £15.65
RSP: £1.79
POR: 47.5%
OREO CRÈME EGG BISCUIT
Case Size: 16x157g
PROMO WSP: £12.29
RSP: £1.50
POR: 48.8%
JACK HAS MANY SIDES
STOCK UP ON THE NO1 AMERICAN WHISKEY BRAND IN THE WORLD*
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
Jack Daniel’s, Old No.7, Tennessee Apple, Tennessee Fire, and Tennessee Honey are registered trademarks. ©2026 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.
Products: M308222, M292887, M307809, M293755
BetterService
IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE
Scoot delivers 100% growth in Grangemouth
Since switching to Scoot in December, Grangemouth retailer Jaz Ali has seen delivery sales soar by over 100% in his Premier store.
As all Premier retailers know, there are very few quick and easy wins out there – but one solution that might just tick those boxes is Scoot.
From a standing start, Booker’s exclusive low cost delivery solution has taken wings. In the last issue of Talking Shop we reported on how 200 retailers had adopted Scoot. In just two months that figure has now doubled to almost 400 – and it’s not hard to see why.
A solution designed by retailers for retailers, Scoot can help you make more and save more. There’s an estimated £34,000 more profit available each year, 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.
WHY SCOOT?
FULLY FLEXIBLE MODEL
100% GROWTH
One retailer who has been quick to recognise and exploit the potential of Scoot is award‑ winning Premier retailer Jaz Ali who owns a spectacular store in Grangemouth.
Jaz moved over to Scoot in December and within five weeks had seen delivery sales growth of 50%. By the end of January that figure had risen to 100%!
“To be honest with you, it just took off,” says Jaz. “We gave customers two weeks’ notice and had flyers printed out with the QR code on it and every order we got through, we’d put in a flyer. We managed to get 90% of our customers to transfer over to Scoot. The message that I’ve really concentrated on telling customers is that there’s no service charge. If a customer can save £2 to £3 per
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
order, it’s a no‑brainer that they’re going to switch to Scoot.”
As well as successfully transferring existing home delivery customers over to Scoot, Jaz says that he has gained “50 or 60 new delivery customers” over the same period. Additionally, many of those customers are coming from much farther afield.
“Before I moved over to Scoot I was losing out to retailers who were on the same delivery platform,” he explains. “We’ve started delivering to Bo’ness, Linlithgow and Avonbridge, which has made a big difference.”
Equally as satisfying is the fact that the average order spend on home delivery has rocketed from £15 to between £25 and £30.
To help market and raise awareness of the service, Jaz changed the window shop vinyl to advertise Scoot, erected a large banner and put up POS on the gondola ends, as well as issuing flyers and getting a delivery van wrapped with the brand. The service is expanding so rapidly that Jaz is already planning a second van.
He also promoted Scoot on social media via specialist social media agency Orrest Digital.
So if you are thinking about moving your home delivery service over to Scoot, or starting home delivery for the first time, it’s maybe wise to act sooner rather than later. Contact your RDM for help and advice on leveraging the power of Scoot.
SMALL SIZE, BIG SALES. FASTER RETURNS.
INCREASE BASKET SIZE BY STOCKING A RANGE OF SIZES!
Fractionals generate a greater POR, address cost of living challenges, allow more products to be merchandised and sell through faster than 70cl bottles.
Glenfiddich 35cl is currently the no.1 by value sales in malt scotch fractionals format, growing by 21%* #1 of all blended whisky sales are The Famous Grouse, making it the no. 1 blended whisky brand in the off trade** 31%
Meet the team: Nicola Cranwell Category Manager, 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 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 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.
About Nicola 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.
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.
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.
£70.7M Sales
BetterService
IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE
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.
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.
Retailers will have a six‑month period to sell through any non‑duty 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.
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. HMRC will also be able to size any legitimate stock found with the unstamped goods.
l Retailers will have a six-month period to sell through any non-duty liable stock until 1st April 2027.
l Duty comes into effect on 1st October 2026
l On 1st April 2027 it becomes illegal to sell unstamped products.
BetterService
IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE EDGE
Engines change of
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
We take a look back at some of the Race & Ethnicity Network’s highlights from 2025 and find out what’s in store for 2026.
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.
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.
The highly engaging event was open to all and featured the headline theme ‘Standing Firm in Power & Pride’.
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 }
Confectionery
NO.1 NO.1BRAND BRAND THE SUGAR
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.
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.
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.
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
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, new ACS Chief Executive Ed Woodall says. is
Voicing the rate debate
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.
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. Transitional relief smooths the impact of rates rises, but it does not change the destination.
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. This is not a new phenomenon either, as successive Governments have grappled with the idea of real reform but none have managed to put any meaningful change in place.
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.
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 during what is an extremely difficult trading period, something is going to have to give.
Beyond the set pieces from the despatch box, the Treasury has also committed to another new cross‑government review of the high street. If this sounds familiar it’s because it is, we’ve been down this road before many times. However, we will make sure that we’re part of those discussions, and continue to push for meaningful support for the convenience store sector in the future.
