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New campaign for Highland Spring

6 October 2020

Old favourite going strong

Dundee’s The Yard awarded £10,000 from SPAR Scotland as part of its national Community Cashback campaign

Dundee’s The Yard wins £10k from Spar’s Community Cashback campaign

Flower Farm is spreading the word

More virtue in the malts

Aberdeenshire-based brewery makes big climate commitment

6 October 2020

While many businesses continue to pursue carbon neutrality, BrewDog has committed to operating as a ‘carbon negative’ business

From farm to fork prevails

5 April 2017

Organic is in the ascendancy LOCAL brands chime with customers for a number of reasons and the idyllic vision of wholesome produce is certainly one...

Have your lentil cake and eat it

1 January 2018

WESSANEN UK has launched a new lentil-based rice and corn cake under its Kallo natural food brand.

Lees of Scotland chief executive Clive Miquel

It’s a big year for Lees of Scotland

6 April 2021

Confectionery firm marking major milestone

Healthy outlook for cereals sales

1 February 2016

CEREAL is involved in 62% of British breakfasts according to Kellogg’s and, it says, c-stores have played an influential part in putting porridge and...

Clean energy pledge

12 October 2021

TREASURY Wine Estates – the firm behind Wolf Blass, Lindeman’s and 19 Crimes – has committed to using 100% renewable electricity by 2024 across its global operations.

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,...

Spuds shed plastic

1 February 2021

Packaging changes at Scotty Brand have resulted in a reduction of almost 27 tonnes of plastic in the last year

Putting up cash for the planet

3 March 2020

Britvic is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to sustainability targets.

Spar trials H&B

30 May 2016

HEALTH foods, vitamins and protein powders could be heading into the convenience channel if a new trial by Spar leads to a wider roll-out. The...

From the family – Quality Meat Scotland campaign

1 August 2013

TWO Perthshire farming families dedicated to producing top quality cattle – the McGowans of Incheoch Farms in Glenisla and the Flemings of Aberbothrie farms...

Five million for FareShare

1 March 2022

AIRDRIE-based Albert Barlett has redistributed the equivalent of five million meals through its partnership with FareShare.

Putting shops centre stage

2 February 2016

WITH Scottish general and local elections just months away, Scotland’s convenience industry representative group the Scottish Grocers Federation has taken its message about the...