Comment and Interview | Scottish Grocer & Convenience Retailer

Asif Ashraf, Smartways and MHouse Solutions

24 July 2015

Asif Ashraf founded the symbol store chain Smartways in 2013. It has since grown to include 11 stores. He also owns and runs EPoS...

SG interview: Boyd Tunnock, Tunnock’s

1 September 2018

Expanding teacakes – it’s all go at Tunnock’s

Growing… and in a good way

15 March 2013

Food scares and scandals may be big news but Dr Colette Backwell, director of the Scottish Food and Drink Federation, argues that Scotland’s food...

Collaborate and we’ll innovate

1 December 2014

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...

Play staff discipline issues by the book

8 April 2014

NO-ONE likes having to discipline a member of staff, but disciplinary and dismissal issues are some of the most frequent enquiries we receive at...

Bep Dhaliwal, trade communications manager, Mars Chocolate UK, left, and awards event host Craig Hill, right, present the Community Champion Award to Asif Akhtar and Abada Akhtar of Smeaton Stores, Kirkcaldy.

Family store gives heaps of support

1 August 2017

Community Champion – supported by Mars Chocolate Winner: Premier Smeaton Stores, Kirkcaldy, Fife Winner details Staff: 4 Symbol: Premier Smeaton Stores has been a family business for three...

Winner: Gerry Haughey, Spar, Main Street, Thornliebank Store Manager of the Year 2015 – sponsored by Tennent’s Interview with Gerry Haughey. Winner details Size: 3,000 sq ft Symbol: Spar Staff: 11 Hours: 6am...

Plastic strategy will affect retail

1 February 2020

LATE last year CMS teamed up with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) to host an event in Edinburgh, looking at the affect of plastic waste regulations on the nation’s food and drink sector.

Doing a fair trade

1 October 2014

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...

First class package

1 October 2016

Winner: Whitburn Post Office and Costcutter Post Office Retailer of the Year - sponsored by The Post Office Interview with Teresa Hill, owner. Winner details Store trading area: 1,700...

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

2 May 2018

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

Pain but no gain from plain packs

10 January 2014

Westminster surprised many when it said it would look again at plain packaging on tobacco. In Scotland the powers that be are ready to...

Uncharted territory

2 November 2016

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...