For the well-known Scotland-based Cheema retailer family, the 31st Asian Trader Awards held earlier this year was truly special. Anand Cheema, who opened his store in August 2020, won the Impulse Retailer of the Year prize, following in his father’s footsteps. One and a half decades ago, in 2006, Pete Cheema, chief executive of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF), was Asian Trader of the Year.
Anand says the award – or what he considers a reward –was received well by their customers, adding that it pays “homage” to the community as well. “We wouldn't be where we are without them,” he says. The honour also got them good press in the local newspapers, taking the new store to more members of the community. “It gave us a bit of an uplift in terms of sales, in terms of recognition within the community, reaching members who didn't know that we existed,” he explains.
One should note that Anand’s Spar store on Maggie Wood’s Loan, Falkirk, which is on the site of one of Pete’s early Scottish enterprises, has never been short of media attention. While it is obvious that he will generate some curiosity on account of his father being the boss of SGF, it was soon clear that Anand has one or two tricks of his own up his sleeve, to sustain that interest and create new revenue streams.
Pete himself told us recently about his son’s innovations: “He’s come up with some really great ideas like selling cocktails. There’s not many stores doing that kind of stuff, you know, just basically figuring out that this is what people are missing out on, so can we do it?”
Anand has made this store a whisky hot-spot for connoisseurs, even selling several vintage bottles for £3,500. He made headlines when he was one of the first retailers to stock newly-released vintage Rosebank Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. And, he is really evolving the offer with cocktails and beer kegs.
Spar Falkirk
“There's a lot of emphasis on different categories in the store, but we are becoming known for alcohol sales,” he agrees. “So, we've got the whisky where we sold numerous bottles at £1600, also at £2500 and one bottle for £3500. So it's scaling up every time.”
“We like to keep it mixed up. We've brought in cocktails, from various suppliers, just to keep it fresh, especially with the hot weather coming into place. And also we've been doing really well with beer kegs, with the current pandemic, as a lot of people have been investing in man caves, you know, beer keg machines for their homes. We've done a lot of big business on all types and all sizes of kegs from two litres, right up to eight litres,” he explains, adding that he doesn’t see this trend falling off too soon.
Anand’s enterprising nature is also evident in his decision to make food to go the central attraction of his store, despite the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns suddenly making the booming category uncertain. He has, in fact, solid research to back him when he says food to go is the future of convenience.
“We knew prior to Covid there was a big emphasis on food to go in the convenience channel,” he says. “We conducted a geographical information survey before we opened the store. From our survey, we realised that we have two schools nearby within walking distance, a community hospital and 40 per cent of our population is office workers.”
“So we knew if we were able to build up the food to go throughout the first two years, until the office workers go back, and really implement in the consumers’ mind that we do provide a good food to go service, when they go back to office, they know they can come to us,” he adds.
Anand, aged just 24, is in it for the long haul. He studied accounting and finance at university, but he had always set his eyes on retailing. “It's important to get some education and degree behind me, you know, to have that bit of learning a business sense, to bring into the business if I was to come back into business,” he says.
Whilst at university, and from his internships and work experience, he realised that it really wasn't a field for him. So after qualifying, he went straight into retail, working for CJ Lang & Son, Scotland's Spar wholesaler, looking after 30 to 40 stores in the west of Scotland for them.
“From there I quickly gained a lot of experience and different ideas of what I can do in my own store and implement aspects of what I see on the market, coupled with what I've learned from the family business,” he says, adding that what he is trying nowis to combine all that in “a certain way to get a winning formula.”
And, it surely works for him, with his alcohol sales a case in point. The focus and innovation is a result of the research they have done and the wisdom from his father’s experience in running a store in the area.
“We did our research and we had experience in the area before as well. My dad previously ran the store and sold a lot of whiskey, not high end, but he sold a lot of whiskey in the area. In his previous stores as well. We always knew that there was scope for this,” he says, adding that it’s the price point and the capital outlays to begin with that mostly deter other retailers to cashing inon this opportunity.
Anand was able to get a hold of seven bottles – out of the just 4350 bottles, priced at £1600 per bottle,made available worldwide –when Rosebank Distillery, which is located 500 yards down the road from his store and owned by Ian Macleod Distillers, released the limited edition30-year-old Rosebank Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. He had secured the bottles even before he opened his store.
“We knew that would really create a good hype around the store before opening and would allow us to kick on with a reputation because you have a point of difference to another store or a supermarket,” he says.
Talking about competition, Anand says they don't have a lot of heavy competition immediate to them, they’ve got several small stores around them and a Tesco Express not so far away, but he believes that you've always got competition on your doorstep now as “everyone drives these days, and everyone delivers these days,” and he is determined to tackle the challenge of home delivery.
“Even though we might have missed the boat on the real spike at the start of Covid I still think that home delivery is the future, as well as fresh and food to go. So it is key that we implement this into our business ASAP,” he notes.
He says his store has a mix of demographics, with a lot of older customers as well, who were relying on people purchasing products for them on their behalf. In April, he secured permission from the local council to deliver alcohol along with groceries through the Snappy Shopper app.
“We [needed to] get a head start ahead of our competitors and instill that mindset into our customers that we provide that service and we provide it well, so that we're ready for anything that comes up in the future,” he adds.
He would be taking on new staff to help make the deliveries and he assured councillors that they would be fully trained, which in fact has been something he is very particular about right from the start. He believes that while staff is key, staff training is crucial to the store.
“Happy staff equals a happy shop, which equals a profitable one,” he says. “Staff are the first thing that the customers see, they're the face of the business. It's so important that you invest your time and money into them. Because ultimately, it's an investment, and you'll get a return out of that.”
And, what does he expect from them? “They've got to be professional; they've got to know theirstuff. It can't just be me that knows everything about the whiskey, the beer kegs, etc. It's got to be the staff who are up to speed. And then ultimately, standards need to be kept in terms of cleanliness, especially with the pandemic, and regarding regulatory training as well. Everything's got to be your standard. And that's how you build a reputation.”
It’s a pretty exhaustive check list, but he makes sure he does his part to a tee. All of his staff undertook Covid awareness, health and safety, food safety and mental health training online to ensure they are ready to meet customer needs and to instill confidence in the community.
Local is also very important for them. While there's a huge emphasis on going local across the UK, with the pandemic playing a big part for the turn, Anand says this is especially pronounced in Scotland. “We have a lot of local suppliers, from alcohol straight through to fresh. It gives a point of difference as well. I think it's a huge benefit. The customer knows what they're buying, essentially.”
Coming to the category which won him the prize, Anand says impulse is all about merchandising the store properly and effectively to drive sales, or in his words, “to capture the customers”.
“Ultimately, the store needs to be aesthetically pleasing to the consumer. It's about strategically placing products around the store where they're likely to pick up items, and impulse purchase.” So, the front of their store is more about on the go, quick and easy to pick up, eye catching and some good value for money products and the back half of the shop being more your traditional convenience offering of grocery, pet, 2ltrs and household.
The state of the art electronic video rails, displaying various advertising material, is an innovative idea that they came up with. “We thought if we were to implement this across the whole store, it would be overkill. So we strategically placed these where it would be attractive for the customer to come to that area of the store,” he says. “This also adds extra theatre to the store, increasing customer satisfaction. Customers came into store at first to have a look at them. We have seen sales especially increase in areas such as craft ales, beer, alcohol and hanging bags.”
They also look to display products in a more fresh and market-style way. For example, they display fruit and veg in wooden crates and SELs are written in a chalk-style format. They also moved fruit and veg to the front of the store, opposite the bakery goods, in order to really push fresh to the customers. Anand says this has increased sales in the category, in addition to complementing food-to-go sales.
Not only this,they display the rolls which they use for food to go behind the counter to show that they use fresh day-in, day-out and it also adds theatre to the area. “Everything we make in store is fresh. Even our sandwiches and baguettes are made in store and sold on the shop floor. These are made daily by our team of dedicated food-to-go staff,” Anand says. “This not only looks better than pre-packed but also tastes better. I'm glad to say, our customers agree and it’s also a lot healthier too.”
Anand often repeats how the research has helped him in making decisions, but the gist of his approach is to really find out what the area is like, what the demography is like and what is close to the store. Answers to these questions are what inform his focus areas of the store.
“We knew that three main focuses for our store would be alcohol because of the distillery; food to go because of the office workers and school; and also fresh because of the neighborhood community that we have,” he explains, and it definitely makes sense when he adds: “So if you stick to three things that you can really build a reputation on, I don't think you can go wrong. It's just about doing that well and doing it differently.”
He is well aware that, being the son of Pete Cheema, there's always going to be “prying eyes” on the store, but he takes it as an inspiration to not let the guard own. “Although my standards are high, it means I have to maintain those standards as well,” he says confidently. And, he has distilled three mantras from the vast experience of his parents to help him tackle the challenge: “Always work hard and always look to innovate; try and be the best that you can.”
And, if there’s one among these that he needs to choose to share with all retailers in the convenience channel, there’s no hesitation: “Never stand still. Always look to better your store and reinvest.”
KASH Retail, operator of Nisa Local Fenby Avenue in Darlington, has generously donated £1,000 through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) Pride Pot to support this year’s Darlington Pride Festival.
The donation, inspired by store team member Gavin Morrison, who performs as drag queen Georgina Sparks, will provide a valuable boost to the event, helping organisers deliver an inclusive and vibrant celebration for the local community.
Darlington Pride Festival, taking place from Saturday 9 to Monday 11 August, is a key event in the town’s cultural calendar. The festival showcases performances, parades, and community activities, promoting diversity and inclusivity.
It is supported by numerous local businesses and organisations, including primary sponsor Cummins Inc. and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner.
Cllr James Coe, Darlington Borough Council’s LGBT+ Champion, welcomed the donation, saying, “We’re very grateful to Nisa Local for offering £1,000 to support plans for this year’s event.
"The funds will be added to the council’s budget for the event and help make Pride 2025 extra special. “
The events team deliver a varied programme of free public events and welcome the opportunity to work with sponsors to make fun, exciting things happen in the town centre.."
KASH Retail was able to make this generous donation thanks to funds from MADL’s Pride Pot. The fund, created in 2023, allows Nisa retailers to support LGBTQ+ community groups and charities with £1,000 donations.
Nisa retailers are able to utilise the funding pot all year round.
Kevin Polley, Operations Manager for Nisa Local, highlighted the importance of customer support in making these donations possible: “Every time a customer buys one of our own-brand products, a penny from that sale is added to our Make a Difference fund.
"This donation is out of the MADL Pride Pot - we’re delighted to be supporting such a popular and inclusive event, right on our doorstep!”
Kate Carroll, Nisa’s Head of Charity, praised the initiative, stating: “We are incredibly proud to see Nisa retailers using MADL funding to support causes that matter to their local communities.
"The Pride Pot was created to help make a difference to LGBTQ+ events, and it is fantastic to see KASH Retail supporting Darlington Pride Festival in such a meaningful way.”
With the help of contributions like this, Darlington Pride Festival continues to grow, offering a welcoming and inclusive space for all to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community.
Mevalco, the Bristol-based Spanish distributor which includes some of the UK’s most talented high-profile chefs and fine dining establishments amongst its customers, has announced a collaboration with The MAZI Project – the Bristol youth-led charity, which was founded in 2019 and nourishes vulnerable 16–25-year-olds through food.
The MAZI Project supports care leavers, and young asylum seekers, as well as young people recovering from homelessness or who may be fleeing domestic violence. Not only does The MAZI Project educate the next generation in food culture and health, but it empowers young people by helping them learn the trade and find job opportunities within the catering industry.
Mevalco is supporting the hard work of The MAZI Project volunteers by supplying some quality Spanish food ingredients to help spread the love of good food and good cooking.
Chef & Development Manager, Sam Sohn-Rethel is heading the collaboration for Mevalco and is a volunteer supporting The MAZI Project workshops and demonstrations. Sam emphasises the importance the work that The MAZI Project volunteers undertake and how food can support a fulfilling life – especially for young people:
“The MAZI Project is an incredibly worthwhile and inspirational charity, I am humbled by the work and commitment that this amazing team of volunteers gives to The Project. It truly does make a real difference to people’s lives.
“Food is very much our business – it’s something we feel passionately about. And we know that the love of food is a powerful ‘force for good’ when used to help guide young people who may be looking for new career opportunities. To learn new skills can be truly life changing.
“We are delighted to help through joining a fantastic team of volunteers and giving our time alongside some food ingredients to support The MAZI Project which we know is a lifeline to many young people in the city who have been struggling to find their way”.
Founder and CEO of The MAZI Project, Melanie Vaxevanakis, says:“The MAZI Project is all about nourishing vulnerable young people through food. Through our weekly recipe boxes, cooking classes, and talks with industry professionals, we are using food as a tool for social mobility, advocacy and a cure to the public health crisis.
“We use the dinner table and notion of ‘breaking bread’ to help reduce isolation, build confidence, and make those in need feel cared for and extraordinary.”
“We’re delighted to welcome Mevalco as a valued partner and look forward to the year ahead and the support we can collectively bring to those in need”.
Mevalco is one of the UK’s fastest growing wholesalers specialising in premium Spanish Foods which it sells into the Hospitality Industry as well as Retail markets. Voted the Best Small Wholesaler of the Year in 2019, it works closely with many of Bristol’s premier restaurants and hotel groups.
Deployment of an AI-enabled age identifying tool can prevent underage vaping to a great extent thus avoiding conflicting situations as well, a recent report has shown, highlighting the scale of minors vaping in the UK and the role of that such solutions can play to deter underage sales in a busy store.
According to new data from Privately SA, the deployments of AgeAI solution in UK vape stores prevent on average eight minor customers per store per day from purchasing vapes.
The six months’ field data was gathered from UK stores using AgeAI devices and showed that each device scanned an average of 92 customers per store daily, identifying up to eight as underage.
With fines exceeding £1,500 for underage sales, the findings underscore the need for more effective and automated solutions.
AgeAI removes subjectivity from age verification by providing instant and highly accurate facial age estimation. It is fully anonymous, with no images transmitted or stored, ensuring full GDPR (UK) compliance.
By automating checks, AgeAI helps stores prevent fines and reduces friction between staff and customers.
“Asking for age ID can be a major source of conflict and automation is a hugely effective way of addressing this,” said Ankush Panwar, AgeAI product manager, Privately SA.
"Age estimation removes the potential for friction and allows store owners and managers to make smart and AI-based decisions. They want to do their best to operate responsibly and not sell to minors, and AgeAI makes this seamless for all parties.”
AgeAI is the brainchild of SafetyTech company Privately SA, which has performed more than one million age checks in retail stores. Business owners with multiple stores can use the data from AgeAI to identify which are likely to have a higher incidence of minors trying to buy vapes and put more robust checks in place.
A unique feature of AgeAI is its automated "refusals register," which digitally records instances where purchases are denied due to age restrictions. This simplifies compliance for retailers, ensures accurate reporting, and enhances staff accountability.
“It’s a challenging environment for retailers and anything that can reduce conflict is hugely welcome,” continued Panwar.
“Using AI and automation for this purpose is a triple win – it’s frictionless for customers, store owners can mitigate the risk of sales to minors and the subsequent fines, and it shows the vape industry is serious about preventing underage sales.
“Furthermore, our automated refusals register is transformative. It can be challenging for stores to understand how refusals are being maintained, but automating the process means streamlined tracking for improved accuracy and efficiency, centralised metrics for compliance management and actionable feedback to enhance staff training and ensure accountability.
“As the UK tightens enforcement on underage vape sales, solutions such as AgeAI provide a scalable, accurate and privacy-conscious way to ensure compliance while reducing in-store tensions.”
Booker has launched a brand-new ordering platform exclusively for its symbol group retailers to help them deliver local groceries to their customers’ doors, in as little as 30 minutes.
The new ordering platform, Scoot, connects shoppers with their local participating independent retailer enabling them to order food, drinks and household essentials from a curated list of products chosen by the retailer.
Scoot facilitates the processes of ordering, payment, and picking processes, leaving the retailers solely responsible for organising the delivery, whether they handle it in-house or use third party.
Scoot is currently piloting in Budgens Abridge with the aim to pilot another three stores in February and March. The platform will be phased out more widely to Booker symbol group retailers – across Budgens, Premier, Londis and Family Shopper from April 2025.
The low-cost ordering platform builds on Booker’s commitment to support independent retailers in growing their business – offering the convenience of home delivery allows these retailers to reach new customers within their local community and help them increase sales opportunities.
Retailers also benefit from being able to set their own delivery, service and minimum order charges, which can vary dependent on location.
Retailers within Booker’s symbol groups that sign up to Scoot will receive a launch support package worth over £2800 – including point of sale, digital assets and thermal delivery bags.
All stores can take advantage of upweighted marketing support including targeted social media adverts, and a contribution towards a full promotional wrap for their delivery vehicle.
Colm Johnson, Managing Director for Booker Retail said: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help our customers grow their business, so we are incredibly proud to announce the launch of our new delivery platform, Scoot, to support them in doing just that.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our retailers to increase their basket spend, store sales and connect with new and existing shoppers in their local communities.
"The feedback from our pilot test has been really positive and we look forward to welcoming more retailers to the P over the next few months.”
Goran Raven, Director for Budgens Abridge said, "I am thrilled to be partnering with Booker who are enabling me to offer a new service to my customers.
"It is not only appealing to my existing customer base, but it will also help me recruit new customers. This is a fantastic opportunity and a big win for me.”
Industry charity NewstrAid has announced a major milestone, awarding over 100 grants to retailers in need since the launch of its Retailer Support Scheme in May 2024.
Designed to provide financial, emotional, and practical support, the scheme has already paid out around £50,000 to retailers facing ill health, family crises, bereavement, and retail crime, helping them navigate unexpected hardships.
"The overwhelming response to this scheme highlights just how many retailers are struggling right now," said Katie Babooram, Welfare Manager, emphasising the scheme’s impact. "While we can’t cover business-related costs, we’re making a real difference in people’s home lives – offering financial support for essential household bills, home repairs, and even giving benefits advice and providing access to counselling where appropriate.”
The Retailer Support Scheme also provides vital emotional assistance for those affected by shoplifting or retail crime, as well as financial aid for households experiencing a loss of income due to these incidents.
“It’s important to stress that this support isn’t just for business owners—anyone working in the sale of newspapers and magazines can ask for help, including shop staff," Katie added.
Each year, NewstrAid supports over 1,500 people from the newspaper and magazine industry. Crucially, all grants are non-repayable and do not affect other benefits.