A look at what’s going on across the convenience channel and associated businesses and organisations
HLP road trip a success
THE SGF Healthy Living Programme (HLP) team has had a successful and insightful trip to Fort William and Skye – engaging with 618 pupils at seven schools and signing up five new island retailers to the programme.
On Skye, where the team held a Welby Big Breakfast event hosted by Armadale stores, they were surprised to find many of the children had similar eating habits to mainland youngsters, where not enough fruit and veg was in their diets.
HLP director Kathryn Neil said: “School staff felt a lot of this was down to cost and that parents struggling with the economic crisis would not want to buy fresh produce at risk the children wouldn’t eat it.
“Teachers hoped that initiatives like the HLP event would give encouragement to both the pupils and the parents to eat more fresh produce in their daily lives.
“Overall, the five-day trip provided insights for the HLP team as to how remote, island trading can have an impact on range, availability and consumer shopping behaviour.”
Damp start to spring for convenience retailers, says SRC
THERE has been little to put a spring in the step of convenience retailers, according to the latest data from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC).
Covering the five weeks to 5 April, it shows that Scottish footfall decreased 6.6% year on year, down from minus 0.3% in February.
Meanwhile, total sales in Scotland only rose by 0.3% compared with March 2024, when they had increased by 2.8%. This was below the three-month average rise of 0.5% but above the 12-month average decline of 0.8%. When adjusted for inflation, there was a year-on-year rise of 0.7%.
And total food sales in Scotland decreased by 1.5% compared with the same period last year, when they had increased by 5.1%. This was below the three-month average rise of 0.6% and the 12-month average fall of 0.3%.
The SRC said the fact that Easter fell in March last year but was late in April this year had a significant impact on the figures, particularly footfall.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the SRC, said: “The footfall decline is not surprising but that will be of little comfort for businesses faced with rises in wage costs, national insurance contributions and business rates.
“If the uncertainty in the wider economy translates into nervous shoppers that will be worrying news for Scotland’s stores.”
CJ Lang launches Discover Spar Scotland campaign
SPAR Scotland wholesaler CJ Lang & Son has launched a six-month campaign to entice independent retailers to join the symbol.
The Discover Spar Scotland initiative aims to drive awareness of the unique benefits on offer and business growth opportunities, engaging with store owners who have yet to partner with the fascia group.
To kick-start the campaign, Spar Scotland has launched a new lorry livery featuring highly successful veteran symbol retailer Saleem Sadiq.
There are also a number of fully funded places available for the Spar Scotland Tradeshow in Aviemore on 25 September for independent retailers interested in signing up.
Saleem said: “We have always been supported by the team in Dundee, benefiting from an excellent delivery service, strong product availability and first-class marketing and promotional support.”
CJ Lang independent sales director Brian Straiton added: “We work closely with independent retailers on store developments, ensuring they retain their strong local identity while continuing to evolve.”
