Scottish GrocerScottish Grocer and Convenience Retailer

- Advertisement -

Home Special Interest

Special Interest

Random

Appealing to the masses

2 June 2017

Riso’s grains of hope

Cans of Hive Mind Honeyade, The Scottish Bee Company Chocolate Spread with Honey jar and bars of GNAW Chocolate with Honeycomb and Caramel are all grouped together to mark World Bee Day.

Trio of bee-corp brands unite for World Bee Day

Return of the party

Deposit return scheme is set for shake up

THE institution of the Burns Supper, now an annual celebration of the works of Scotland’s – and one of the world’s – great poets, Robert Burns, began in the very early 19th century. In 1801 some chums who were great admirers of the recently departed Rabbie, and who were also pretty fond of a dram, met on the fifth anniversary of the great writer’s death to wine, dine, toast his memory and recite some of his works. The following year the celebration moved to the date of the bard’s birthday 25 January and the rest as they say is history. The Burns Supper habit spread across Scotland. Within a few years a Burns Supper was being held in Oxford University. Today they are held all over the world. These days formal suppers can be quite posh with a multi-course dinner, a piper, a toast to the immortal memory of our great literary hero, a cheeky toast to the lassies, an even cheekier reply from the lassies, an address to the haggis and a recitation of Burns’ great narrative poem Tam o’Shanter. Other celebrations in homes and elsewhere are often much simpler. But virtually all will include two items that retailers can highlight in Burns season each year ... haggis and whisky. It’s sad that, because of marketing restrictions on alcohol products in Scottish off-trade outlets, it’s effectively impossible to cross-promote the two Burns Supper essentials or even to place them together in a display. But that’s all the more reason to promote them individually. Try highlighting haggis in your meat chiller, carry a few different sizes to suit the variety of sizes of households, use point-of-sale material to remind shoppers of Burns Night and the part that haggis plays in the celebrations. And you could make January a special malts month or simply arrange to focus on whisky generally in your drinks area. If you have a whisky deal that’s giving you a good margin highlight it within your drinks section. And creating a Burns theme in store, with tartan and maybe even pictures of the man himself, will help get the message across.

Power of the Bard

2 January 2014

THE institution of the Burns Supper, now an annual celebration of the works of Scotland’s – and one of the world’s – great poets,...

Whisky brand for the birds

6 April 2021

BIODIVERSITY and the preservation of Scotland’s landscapes are behind a partnership between The Famous Grouse and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Retail run for Ayrshire bacon supplier

5 April 2017

SCOTTISH bacon and pork producer John Robertson & Sons (Hamcurers) has bolstered its infrastructure since entering the retail market thanks to a seven figure...

Plastic rings were removed from Budweiser, Bud Light and Stella Artois packs.

Budweiser bolsters eco-credentials

7 June 2021

Brewing good for the planet

McIntosh adds mac

2 August 2016

THE Italian influenced Scottish favourite of macaroni has been a big hit for Scottish food and ready meals producer, and McIntosh brand owner, Strathmore...

Liquid asset for scratch cooks

1 December 2020

Stock brand Knorr has created its first ever vegan liquid seasonings.

Free… and all in the best possible taste

1 June 2014

AS free-from foods join the mainstream, the demand for great-tasting and high-quality products is increasing. That’s the word from gluten-free product baker Kent &...

Growers Garden chief executive Pete Higgins

Veg crisps taking root in convenience

13 October 2021

Meet the maker: Growers Garden boss Pete Higgins

Having Faith in local gin

1 August 2019

Singer Paloma Faith has teamed up with Boë Gin for the Stirling-based brand’s latest marketing campaign.

Dairy-free diets here to stay according to Flora brand owner Upfield

1 October 2019

It’s more than a flash in the pan

Brands stress choice

23 March 2016

COMPANIES and brands throughout food and drink have been working to produce products that give options to consumers who want to choose items with,...

The great vegan bake off is here

1 May 2019

Bakers have a new free from alternative to choose from, following the launch of Vitalite’s new dairy free vegan baking block.

Top tips for a green life

6 September 2016

GREEN Tourism, the sustainable tourism certification programme, has produced a list of top tips for convenience retailers who want to make their businesses more...