Harris Aslam runs four Nisa stores

Harris Aslam, Nisa

As company director of Eros Retail, Harris Aslam runs four Nisa stores (in Leven, Kirkcaldy, Alloway and Markinch) and hopes to have six before...
Dominic Watkins, head of the food group at business law firm DWF.

Marketing ban not a cure-all for obesity crisis

SCOTLAND has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world. As poor diet is a major contributing factor to the issue, it...
KeyStore More in Bridge Street, Wick, was the first of the new symbol group sites to open. Situated on a busy road in the town centre and incorporating a Post Office, it has had a very successful first few months.

Bringing more to the community

KeyStore More is the new symbol store brand developed by JW Filshill. Though there are only a handful of stores around the country, the...
Shopkeeper Asif Mohammad stands outside his convenience shop next to a hand written sign about energy prices.

Act on energy or shops will shut

As soaring energy costs threaten viable businesses, Scottish business owners have been sounding the alarm over electricity price hikes.

Whole new world

It’s a new year and for many retailers their resolution for 2017 will be to open a new shop or revitalise an existing one....
The main bakery fixture at Spar, Hillfoot Road in Ayr takes a prime position in Aisle 1 of the store. Wrapped bread and loose rolls take up the first section of the fixture. As consumers make their way down the aisle they pass morning goods in the second fixture section. The substantial local popularity of cake means those products take a large space in the third segment. To make way for the cakes, Spar-branded part-baked bread and world breads are merchandised in a free-standing display unit at the start of the fixture, and the products do well there. The main fixture ends with bake-off products.

Award profile – Bread and Bakery of the Year Award 2014

Winner: Spar, Hillfoot Road, Ayr Bread and Bakery of the Year Award 2014 – in association with Kingsmill. Interview with Kevin Rarity, store manager, above left,...
Andrew Helm, key account manager for British American Tobacco, left, and sports TV personality Georgie Thompson, right, present the Scottish Grocer 2014 Employee of the Year Award to Marc McCabe.

Award profile – Employee of the Year 2014

Winner : Marc McCabe Manager, Nisa Extra, Perth Road, Dundee. Employee of the Year Award winner 2014 – in association with British American Tobacco UK. Winner details Age:...
Damian Guha, Mars Petcare UK,

New chief moves in at Mars Petcare

DAMIAN Guha has returned to Mars as managing director for Mars Petcare UK. He had a three-year break at Marks & Spencer, where...

Barry Hanif, independent store, Day-Today and Nisa

Barry Hanif has been a full-time retailer for three years and is the owner of three stores: an independent in Falkirk; a Day-Today in...
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Doing a fair trade

Winner: Spar, Logans Road, Motherwell Collectables Retailer of the Year Award 2014 – in association with Topps. Interview with Kashain Arshad, manager, above left, and Asif...

Awards profile – Collectables Retailer of the Year 2015

Fleming Gifts, Whitecrook, Clydebank Collectables Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Topps Interview with Gulzar ‘Iky’ Ahmed, owner. Winner details: Size: 450 sq ft Staff: 3 Period...
Headshot of Amanda Brown and screenshot of the knowledge bank website

Banking on category data

SCOTTISH food and drink brands are performing well, but they could be doing even better according to Amanda Brown, project director at The Knowledge Bank.

Awards profile – Merchandising award 2014

Winner: Spar Thornliebank Merchandising Award winner 2014 – in association with P&G. Interview with Allan Coupar, assistant manager Store details Symbol: Spar Size: 2,500 sq ft Opening hours: 7am – 10pm...

Leading the way in quaff sales – Maxwell’s Clarkston

THE doors may only have opened in August of last year, but Maxwell’s Clarkston has already established itself as a veritable Aladdin’s cave of...

New to the village

Spar Woodilee is the first convenience store to open its doors in the development of Woodilee Village in Lenzie. For owner Zahid Farooq, it...

Uncharted territory

In its first Convenience Conversation, Scottish Grocer invited a select group of retailers and representatives from the UK’s leading tobacco and tobacco accessories firms...