A look at what’s going on across the convenience channel and associated businesses
Spar Scotland’s healthier celebrations
SPAR Scotland is celebrating a record-breaking year of work with the SGF Healthy Living Programme (HLP).
The firm has delivered 19 events and engaged with more than 2,000 primary school pupils with the HLP in Spar stores around the country in 2023.
Events have included HLP Big Breakfasts in schools, with produce provided by Spar Scotland.
Shops have also hosted HLP visits, with free fruit given out to children when local schools have visited Spar stores for tours and talks on the best and worst foods to eat.
And the Cooking at Home campaign continues to go from strength to strength, with an in-store promotion that allows Spar to give away a free, reusable shopping bag and recipe cards.
Spar Scotland chief exec Colin McLean said: “It is important for convenience retailers to play an active role in supporting the promotion of health and wellbeing.”
HLP director Kathryn Neil added: “The partnership we have developed with Spar Scotland goes from strength to strength – the results from events in 2023 proves this. HLP is looking forward to teaming up with Spar Scotland again in 2024 and taking Spar’s healthy living journey to a new level.”
SGF mourn stalwart Tom Wilson
THE Scottish Grocers’ Federation has been mourning the passing of Tom Wilson – one of its longest-serving elected members and twice president of the SGF.
As well as his SGF work, Mr Wilson was the Scottish representative on the Committee of Commerce & Distribution in Brussels, served on the Thistle Guild of Spar and became joint chairman of the Nisa Scotland committee.
SGF chief Pete Cheema said of the late 83-year-old: “Tom was resolutely committed to supporting our sector and gave endlessly to both his community and all the many groups he worked with.”
Asda’s £2billion c-store bid
MILLIONS of consumers will benefit from Asda’s £2.07billion buyout of the EG Group’s 356 UK sites, claim the firm’s bosses.
Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose said: “As families continue to face cost-of-living challenges, bringing Asda’s long-standing value in groceries and fuel to even more communities is a win for UK consumers.”
Buying the EG UK business is key to Asda’s strategic plan to create a value-led convenience offer by rolling out Asda Express across EG’s mainly freehold sites. These include c-stores at petrol stations that benefit from high footfall and traffic flow.
