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Committed to making change

1 March 2022

Tilda Lime Coriander and Pure Basmati rice

Rice is in a nice position

The world on your plate

Supporting change

Vegan confectionery helps growth

RVM firm teams up with SGF

1 June 2022

REVERSE vending machine firm RVM Systems Ltd has joined the Scottish Grocers’ Federation – as Scotland’s c-store retailers prepare for the rollout of DRS in Scotland next year.

Scooping a sustainable prize

1 June 2022

MACKIE’s of Scotland has launched an on-pack promotion that shines a spotlight on its sustainability activities.

Journey of the highlands and islands

1 April 2018

ISLAND malt whisky brand Jura has announced a launch that it is calling the biggest in its history.

Martin-Doogan,-Group-Engineering-Manager-at-C&C-Group-plc-at-site

Clean living at Tennent’s

3 August 2020

Tennent Caledonian has installed a new carbon capture facility at its Glasgow brewery

Goodbye to plastic on packs

1 September 2019

Molson Coors plans to remove plastic from Carling and Coors Light packaging by 2021. The brewer made the commitment as part of its overall global packaging strategy.

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,...

Bread giant on the pulse

2 October 2016

BAKERY firm Warburtons has added a new protein range to its portfolio. Baked using pulses and grains, the new range includes high-protein bread, rolls, wraps...

All waste is a waste of cash

3 March 2020

Value can be found in food leftovers

SWA chief executive Colin Smith wants the Scottish Government to provide support for members to achieve their net-zero emissions targets.

SWA has bold net-zero goal

7 August 2023

The Scottish Wholesale Association has set out ambitious plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 – and is calling on ScotGov to provide financial help for its members.

Opening up the world

2 August 2016

GRAHAM’S the Family Dairy has set its eye on the world. Export sales are forecast to be in the region of £2m for 2016,...

No added sugar arrives

6 January 2020

Yogurt brand Yoplait has launched a new no added sugar product: Yoplait Zero.

The growth of the craft

1 April 2016

MAINSTREAM lagers might still provide the biggest beer sales in the off-trade but other parts of the business especially craft beers are very exciting. In...