Welcome to the February issue of Wholesale Manager. This month our hearts were warmed by the news that residents in a flood hit area of Warrington were kept supplied with essential groceries thanks to an independent retailer whose store remained the only one open amid extreme weather conditions. Nisa Local Dallam became an island when flood waters largely cut the shop off from the surrounding area and much of the locality was submerged under water. Well done to owner Mike Sohal who trudged through water-logged fields and woods to open the store ensuring those stranded in Dallam were able to access food and drink.
Congratulations to Nestlé Cereals, which has announced it is taking steps towards a more sustainable future by reducing the amount of packaging used across its core brands in the UK. Nestlé Cereals UK’s new on-shelf packs will save an estimated 618 tonnes of plastic and cardboard packaging every year, with the new packs using between 13% and 15% less packaging than before.
Category management is the science of helping cash & carry depots get the best sales performance in each category. Wholesale Manager spoke to some of the top suppliers from the beer, confectionery, hot beverages, cereal bars and tobacco accessories sectors to find out more about category growth and the major consumer trends driving sales. See our 16 page guide for wholesalers to maximise category sales in their depots and independent retailers to capture category sales in their stores.
Good news for vaping wholesalers, as more customers than before are looking for smoke-free products as part of any New Year’s resolution to move away from cigarettes, an independent survey by KAM Media on behalf of Philip Morris Limited (PML), can reveal. The majority (59%) of retailers believed in the last few years, more customers have been looking for less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Over a third (38%) expected a further increase in their customers seeking better alternatives to cigarettes in 2021, versus half that number (18%) who were expecting those numbers to fall.
With a portfolio including Boost Sport, Boost Protein, Boost Iced Coffee and Boost Energy, Boost Drinks seeks to offer great quality, functional drinks at value price points. In an interview on our Partners for Profit page, Al Gunn, Sales Director at Boost Drinks, explains how wholesalers can best merchandise energy drinks in depot.
Diageo supplies some of the most recognisable brands in the spirits category, including Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch whisky; Smirnoff, the biggest contributor to value growth of UK total vodka; and Gordon’s, which occupies the top eight gin category spots in the impulse channel. Nathalie Piranian, Senior Category Strategy Manager GB, tells our Supplier Spotlight page about the launch of Gordon’s 0.0% and how low and no alcohol will be a key category in the future.
Enjoy reading the issue.
Comments are closed.