Keith Fernie

David Sands back in retail

CONVENIENCE retail entrepreneur David Sands is returning to the industry with a new store – trading under the Nisa Local fascia – in Glenrothes. Sands,...
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games mascot Clyde helps AG Barr look forward to the summer festival of sport.

Barr to spend ÂŁ12m on games push

THE opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games is less than six months away and excitement is building in Glasgow as the city prepares...
David Lonsdale, director, Scottish Retail Consortium.

Gales and promos see festive slowdown

WILD weather and price-cutting promotions may have contributed towards a disappointing Christmas month for Scotland’s shops, according to the latest Scottish Retail Consortium/KPMG Scottish...
Morrisons was the big loser among the giant grocers over the Christmas period. Kantar Worldpanel’s total till roll figures showed it down 1% on the previous year. Nielsen had it down 2%. Morrisons own figures showed its like-for-like sales down 5.6%.

Giants in bleak Christmas

Multiple and indie c-stores sales up as supermarkets falter CHRISTMAS brought a degree of trading joy for convenience stores and good results for discounters...
James Withers, chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink.

15m visitors looking local

2014 provides a huge opportunity for food and drink retailers and producers to raise the bar for Scottish products argues Scotland Food and Drink...
Colette Backwell

A new sheriff in town?

Giant retailers have been criticised over how they treat their suppliers. Now suppliers, trade associations and other retailers can raise issues with the Groceries...
Margiotta Ltd’s flagship store in Edinburgh’s Dundas Street. The company is adding a store in the city’s Polwarth district to the chain.

Margiotta adds city store

As Sainsbury’s takes Marchmont independent EDINBURGH-based retailer Margiotta Food and Wine is adding a store in the Polwarth area of the city to its chain. The...
United Wholesale Grocers

UWG chief named group vice-chairman

Nabeel Ramzan, managing director of Glasgow-based United Wholesale Grocers has been appointed vice-chairman of Landmark group.
Robert Sider: Clydebank Co-op/Keystore outlet striking a chord.

Clydebank shifts supply to Filshill

Clydebank Co-operative is to end its supply arrangements with Co-operative Retail Trading Group.
The rebuilt Co-operative Store in Troon, Ayrshire. The store, on the site of a Co-op store that burned down last year, was one of five Co-ops that opened in Scotland last month. The others are in Inverness and on Tayside.

Food store rises from the ashes

Things looked bleak after the Co-operative Food store in the Ayrshire seaside town of Troon burned down last year.
Europe bans small packs

Firms slam ban on small packs

Tobacco firms have hit out after European authorities agreed measures to further regulate tobacco sales.
Morrisons is testing a ban on sales of energy drinks to under-16s.

Grocer to test energy age restriction

SUPERMARKET chain Morrisons is to test a ban on sales of energy drinks to under-16s in six stores.
Jo Macsween, director and haggis ambassador for Macsween, with the firm’s haggis as well as the vegetarian, canapé and microwaveable versions.

Haggis champion hits the big 60

Macsween is celebrating its diamond anniversary. Company director Jo Macsween shared a few gems with Jen Bowden.
Family Shopper

Mo adds new store to the family

THE first Scottish store running under Booker’s new discount fascia Family Shopper has opened on Main Street in High Blantyre.
cigarettes_packaging_thumb

Plain packs bill in 18 months

THE Scottish Government plans to press ahead with its own legislation to introduce standardised packaging on tobacco products.
Martin Glenn

Grocers put Holyrood on the spot

SCOTLAND’S convenience sector representative group the Scottish Grocers’ Federation put Scottish Government policy on the spot at its conference held last month at Prestonfield...