Railway worker

Co-op launches City & Guilds apprenticeship scheme for ex-prisoners

THE Co-op is to support the first Prisoner Apprenticeship programme to address rail skill shortages and reduce reoffending, in a partnership with the City & Guilds.
a snappy shopper deliver person carries two shopping bags out of a store

Tech solutions tackling waste

Snappy Shopper has teamed up with reduced price goods app Gander in a bid to reduce food waste.
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

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

New teacake

AS the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony showed, there is nothing more Scottish than a teacake. Lees’ new Jaffa Teacakes might not be entirely traditonal...

Tayto’s valued choice

Crisps giant Tayto has kept its PMP range of Golden Wonder sharing packs set at £1 in the face of rising inflation to help support convenience retailers.

Five million for FareShare

AIRDRIE-based Albert Barlett has redistributed the equivalent of five million meals through its partnership with FareShare.
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More info please – Animal welfare concern

ANIMAL welfare is a growing consumer issue, with a new study showing that eight out of 10 UK shoppers want labels which clearly show...

Bread giant on the pulse

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...
Tomatin

More virtue in the malts

Tomatin releases the final two expressions in its limited edition series based on natural elements
BrewDog Make Earth Great Again signs

Sustainable investment

Spending millions to slash carbon
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Guidance updated

THE latest edition of the SGF Healthy Living Programme – Guidance for Promoting Produce is available online at the Scottish Grocers Federation website. The programme...
Strathmore

Ready, steady, go Glasgow

SOFT drinks brand AG Barr says it’s leading the charge for Scottish products in the run-up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Its bottled water...
Tennent's Apprentice Jay Fraser

Brewing up a positive future

A new brewing apprenticeship is set to encourage young people in Scotland to join the industry.

Rolling out a reusable barbecue

RECTELLA International has launched its first Reusable Instant barbecue under its Bar-Be-Quick brand.

Quornfidence in new range

Quorn launches 12 new products

Hip new Scotch

WHISKY has been made in St Andrews for the first time in 160 years and the distiller is introducing its limited edition range to the market