Is sugar next in line to be given public-enemy stauts by health activists and lobbyists? The white stuff has featured in a number of statements from a variety of organisations in recent weeks. But director of the Scottish Food and Drink Federation Colette Backwell reckons the media heat and light is unhelpful while food producers and others await the release in the summer of in-depth scientific analysis of the effects on diet of sugar and other carbohydrates.

Wait for the facts on sugar

THE launch of the new health non-governmental organisation Action on Sugar in January sparked a media furore around sugars which continues to dominate headlines...

A lot of bottle

Awards profile – beer retailer of the year Winner:  Best-one @ Brownlie’s, Biggar Beer Retailer of the Year 2016 - sponsored by Tennent’s Interview with Bruce and Donna Morgan,...
a selection of drinks from

Meet the Maker: AG Barr

Vicky Lawless-Mitchell customer marketing lead at AG Barr, tells of life working at the Scottish soft drinks manufacturer.

Drink to success – Day-Today Wallyford

Awards profile - Best Soft Drinks Outlet of the Year ‘COMMUNITY’ is a word you will hear often if you spend any time with Mohammed...
SGF public affairs adviser John Lee.

Pain but no gain from plain packs

Westminster surprised many when it said it would look again at plain packaging on tobacco. In Scotland the powers that be are ready to...
Rekz Afzal operates a community fridge and cabinet initiative at his store, RSA Your Local Shop in Paisley town centre. The initiative offers support for Paisley residents struggling with food poverty by providing access to produce, prepared meals and household essentials.

SG Profile: C-store support

Paisley retailer Rekz Afzal made waves on social media with his community fridge. Six months later the initiative is going strong

Collaborate and we’ll innovate

Food manufacturers and others need to work together to find solutions for a new era’s challenges says Colette Backwell, director of the Scottish Food...
Uig Community Shop

Retailing in the Isles

Following the publication of the ACS Rural Shop report, Scottish Grocer spoke to retailers in the Outer Hebrides to ask them what they consider...
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,...

Gala’s little wonder

Open since April, Tweed Road Stores in Galashiels is a new venture for forecourt retail company Adam Purves. Its refurbishment has packed a huge...
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...

A worrying ‘wish list’

By Audrey Ferrie LAST month, Alcohol Focus Scotland, in collaboration with the BMA Scotland and two alcohol related charities  published their report ‘Changing Scotland’s relationship...
John and Imran

Awards profile – Forecourt Retailer of the Year

Winner: Spar Euro Garages, Lomondgate Supported by: Costa Express
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A social benefit

SCOTLAND’S convenience stores are becoming more and more defined by the term ‘community’. They’re service hubs as well as shops, some include post offices,...
students at a party

Autumn brings a fresh chance

The middle of September signals the start of freshers week: when swathes of young people head off to university and get ready for four years of (allegedly) hard work.
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...