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Brewing up a positive future

1 August 2019

Blogging into the stores

Kantar Worldpanel business unit director Mark Thomson

What do we know about Scotland?

Rising fortunes

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

Let them eat cake

26 May 2016

Last year, 224 Coeliac UK members responded to a survey confirming that many people with a gluten intolerance felt they missed out on some...

Haggis Bites from McKechnie Jess, which also produces Haggis Lasagne, Haggis Pakora and Spicy Haggis Dippers

Shock of the new – Haggis for all seasons

2 January 2014

Stags and spice give haggis producers food for thought HAGGIS is closely linked to the annual Burns Night shindigs, but manufacturers are looking to promote...

Rolling out a reusable barbecue

1 March 2022

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

Scots seeking Scottish

1 January 2018

CONSUMERS want brands that reflect their Scottish heritage for Burns Night

Taking stock of trends

1 December 2020

Organic stocks and rice cake brand Kallo has expanded its range of organic plant-based stock cubes with two new flavours, Umami and Sriracha.

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.

Pairing with the gardens

1 April 2016

TAYLORS of Harrogate is expanding its green tea line-up with the arrival of a new blend. The firm says its new Green Tea & Delicate...

Crabbie makes a whisky comeback

1 April 2018

Ginger beer brand taps into its historic legacy

Free from meat but full of profit

1 February 2019

Quorn widening appeal with PMPs

Health drive shifts gear

1 May 2018

SGF programme eyes more categories

Taking beer all the way to the top

29 November 2017

Scotland’s favourite lager brand, Tennent’s, takes the top spot for the first time

Fake steak and ale pie from Delice de France

Fake steak pie

7 January 2020

Delice de France has started off 2020 with the launch of the vegan ‘Fake & Ale’ and Saag Mangalore Square Pies

Paper packs for Ritter

15 October 2021

RITTER Sport has launched its first ever paper bag packs in the UK.

Free-from crisps on the rise

29 November 2017

Launched in 2014, Ten Acre’s range of free-from crisps is now available in 10 flavours

Making moves

1 June 2017

Turkish firm expanding with Halal confectionery TURKISH confectionery producer Kervan Gida is aiming to expand its footprint in the UK market with the roll-out of...

Experimental dram is a hit

5 April 2017

THE firm behind Glenfiddich has tasted early success for its recently launched The Experimental Series of whiskies, securing listings throughout the UK, it says. Launched...

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