A person is putting an empty plastic bottle into a reverse vending machine.

New operator announced for UK DRS

The UK Government has appointed a new operator for the UK deposit return scheme and has tasked the firm to deliver this by October 2027.
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,...

Sauce adds more free choice

PESTO brand Sacla has added Free From Wild Mushroom Risotto sauce to its range. It is gluten, wheat and dairy-free and is the eighth free-from...

Growing the family

Famous Scottish biscuit giant Tunnock’s prepares for expansion to meet growing demand FEW brands are as recognisably a part of the Scottish culture as Tunnock’s. The...
Nature's Finest Peach in Juice 220g pots

Fruity NPD for 2019

FRUITY snack brand Nature’s Finest is looking to capitalise on demand for healthier options this year by expanding its range.
Annabel-and-Nc'nean-casks

Expansion on the horizon

Nc’nean fundraising reaches £1.7m

Free for breakfast

MOMA has launched its first product that is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan friendly. Coconut and Chia Porridge Pot is made from a blend of jumbo...

Quornfidence in new range

Quorn launches 12 new products

Game for a trade

EVERY banana, cup of tea or coffee and spoonful of sugar consumed by athletes, officials, workers and visitors to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games benefitted...

Free… and all in the best possible taste

AS free-from foods join the mainstream, the demand for great-tasting and high-quality products is increasing. That’s the word from gluten-free product baker Kent &...

Land of the free

There are more free-from products available than ever before. But, to make the most of a booming market, what should c-stores stock? And how...

Orkney range gets a full revamp

Orkney-based Sinclair Breweries has relaunched its Atlas Brewing Company range .
James Withers, above left, chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink.

A food and drink year in the making

WE are now at the halfway point in Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink which set out to promote the country’s natural larder. Scotland Food...

C-stores see waters rise

AS consumers become increasingly concerned about making  healthy choices they need to be educated on the benefits of hydrating with plain bottled water, according...
loose fruit and veg in aldi supermarket

Best before dates scrapped to slash waste at Aldi

Aldi is set to remove best before dates across a selection of fresh fruit and veg lines by the end of the year, as part of it's commitment to reduce food waste.
The Macallan and Bently Motors partnership

Luxurious partnership

Whisky brand The Macallan has struck a partnership with luxury car manufacturer Bentley to promote sustainability.
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