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Scottish Wholesale Association

SWA joins taskforce

THE Scottish Wholesale Association has joined Transport Scotland’s Zero Emission Truck Taskforce.

Chilling savings

TECHNOLOGICAL advances can be exciting and fascinating but it can also take a fair bit of work to keep on top of all a...

Raising a glass to the Amazon

A Scottish firm has been using whisky to help save the Amazon river.
albert-bartlett-potatoes

Spuds going strong

SCOTTISH produce is having a great year according to Scottish spud specialist Albert Bartlett
nestle-go-free-cereal

Gluten free is going mainstream

Only 1% of gluten free shoppers do it for health

The growth of the craft

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...
Nudie Snacks uses 'wonky vegetables' in the process of making its snacks range.

Nudie Snacks cuts out veggie waste

Scottish business Nudie Snacks is using "wonky vegetables" in the making of its cauliflower crisps in a bid to be more eco-friendly.

Twin-track appeal sees sales grow

THERE are two key consumers for Polish meats, according to speciality supplier Smithfield Foods: Polish-born shoppers who want to buy familiar brands and products,...
Aberlour

Soaring malt brand adds expressions

• ABERLOUR, the malt whisky whose 10-year old stormed to the highest malt whisky position in last month’s Kantar WorldPanel top 25 Scottish drinks...
David Brown

Crabbie makes a whisky comeback

Ginger beer brand taps into its historic legacy

Take on waste with new tech

Gander looking to offer shoppers bargains while reducing food waste for retailers
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,...
Karin Hayhow

Mackie’s fires on all cylinders

IT’S been a busy time at Mackie’s, with the Scottish snack and ice cream maker rolling out rebrands and new SKUs across its portfolio.

Müller looking to the future

DAIRY giant Müller has smashed its carbon footprint target with years to spare.
Weetabix On the Go

A drink to your health

Weetabix Food Company has expanded its Weetabix On The Go range with the launch of Weetabix On The Go Plus Immune Support.
Paterson’s Gold Shortbread

Sweetening the celebrations

In time to join in the national celebration of local produce and products during the Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight, shortbread brand Paterson’s is launching its new premium range in September.
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Scottish Grocer and Convenience Retailer
Scottish Grocer, Scotland’s leading magazine for the convenience retailing sector, has kept Scotland’s local food and drink retailers up to date for nearly a century. Renowned within the industry as a quality title, its knowledgeable and consistent independent editorial ensures it is a magazine that retailers can trust and rely on regardless of market conditions.
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