Delice de France, a leading supplier of bread, bakery and food to go, has unveiled its Christmas range for 2024 – alongside a raft of new innovation for retailers.
Available now from the company’s website, Delice de France is launching a range of festive sweet products to drive seasonal sales. Treats include a Double Chocolate Santa Muffin, Gingerbread Muffin, Apple Pie Doughnut, Merry Cherry Doughnut and Shortcrust Mince crown, alongside Puff Lattice Mince Pies and Mini Mince Pies. Foodservice outlets can also stock a Rich Fruit Cake, Spiced Stollen Muffin and Mince Pie Slice.
In savoury, Delice is launching a Pigs in Blanket Slice, aimed at coffee shops, delis and farm shops.
Meanwhile, Delice’s wider autumn/winter range is now available via a new digital catalogue. Products include the new Breakfast Sausage Patty and Sausage & Cheesy Bean Slice, which are available for convenience outlets in units of 40.
Delice is also tapping into world foods with three Turkish Pides varieties: Margherita, Cheesy Garlic and Spinach & Mozzarella. There are also two extra-large premium focaccia sheets, made with olive oil and rosemary – Olive Oil & Rosemary and Olive Oil & Tomato. They offer approximately 15 portions that have a multitude of uses including sandwiches, for bread baskets and bruschetta.
Premium bread products are a major focus in this raft of wider innovation. Capturing the essence of Mediterranean cuisine, two ciabatta rolls in Mediterranean Style Vegetable and Tomato & Basil are also now available.
Delice is similarly demonstrating its true bakery-leading credentials with an XL Rustic Malt Loaf with Sourdough, made with malted wheat, rye and roasted malted barley flour, in units of eight.
Rounding off the range, three on-trend and high-impact Midi Brioche-Style Burger Buns are now available, perfect for outlets that love to offer a splash of colour.
Topped with Nigella Seeds, the Midi Beetroot Burger Bun is a striking red bun made with a touch of beetroot. A Black Burger Bun is available in a deep charcoal colour, topped with golden linseeds. Finally, a more classic-looking golden Brioche-style burger bun is also available.
“Our carefully curated range of seasonal products are the result of months of innovation and years of paying close attention to the trends and the needs of consumers," said Thierry Cacaly, Delice de France CEO.
“With a focus on vibrancy, interesting tastes and innovative twists on classic, bestselling tastes, we’re confident this range will spread Christmas magic to our customers this winter.”
Following its management buyout from Aryzta Group in 2019, Delice de France has continued to grow, with turnover up by 21 per cent year on year (+£13.9m).
Full list of new products:
Christmas Pigs in Blankets Slice Spiced Stollen Muffin Mince Pie Slice - pre sliced Double Chocolate Santa Muffin Gingerbread Muffin Apple Pie Doughnut Merry Cherry Doughnut Shortcrust Mince Crown Puff Lattice Mince Pie Mini Mince Pie Rich Fruit Cake Winter range Bakewell Tart Individual Vanilla Cheesecake Individual Chocolate Truffle Individual Strawberry & Prosecco cheesecake Raspberry & Vanilla Plait Breakfast Sausage Patty Sausage & Cheesy Bean Slice Margherita Pide Cheesy Garlic Pide Spinach & Mozzarella Pide XL Olive Oil & Rosemary Focaccia XL Olive Oil & Tomato Focaccia Mediterranean Style Vegetable Ciabatta Tomato & Basic Ciabatta XL Rustic Malt Loaf With Sourdough Midi Brioche Style Burger Midi Beetroot Burger Bun Topped With Nigella Seeds Midi Black Burger Bun (Un-Sliced)
Convenience stores have come far. Today, some of the UK’s top convenience stores are at par with larger supermarkets and with extra leverage on convenience and unique, tailored experiences, some are even better.
A perfect face of such store which is bringing fun to convenience is RaceTrack.
While RaceTrack operates a dozen stores across Scotland, RaceTrack Pitstop Premier store in Strathclyde stands out due to its rapid growth and unique offerings, a testament to the vision of the next-generation star of Sud family Guna Sud, who discovered the site while living in the building as a student.
His insight into retail business as well as foresightedness of serving a vibrant student community laid the groundwork for what has become a thriving destination store within a mere three years.
Speaking with Asian Trader, retail veteran Shamly Sud dived in detail about the store’s origin, the idea and the future plans.
"My eldest son stayed in the building for a year when he went to Uni," Shamly Sud explains. "He saw the demand, especially with the large student population and limited convenience options."
The store finally opened in October 2021, after a massive refit lasting nine months and £1million investment.
Though a recent addition to the RaceTrack portfolio, the Strathclyde location carries all the signature elements that define the brand.
From its unique in-house brands—Tubbees for dessert, VAPED4U, Hoagies, and, of course, RaceTrack itself—the store sets itself apart through an inviting, destination-style experience.
Asian Trader of the Year 2022
Winner Shamly Sud (Racetrack Pitstop Premier, Strathclyde)
at The Asian Trader Awards 2022 held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London. (Edward Lloyd/Alpha Press)
Shamly explained, “We aim to make convenience more fun and inviting, creating more of a destination store, separating us from competition and giving customers a unique shopping experience.
“We are also very competitively priced across the store, running deep discounts on our new power bays, with an offering that competes with likes of Tesco, Aldi and so forth, again, providing something unique for our customers. We basically pass on any savings we find.”
The store's interior is designed with flair, and each brand occupies its own distinct section, from Tubbees’ colorful dessert corner to VAPED4U’s vast vape section, which boasts over 3,000 SKUs.
This dynamic model is mirrored across the RaceTrack chain, where innovation is constant. RaceTrack stores distinguish themselves through exclusive partnerships and custom features that go beyond standard retail.
In a first for an independent chain, Strathclyde’s RaceTrack hosts bespoke POS and displays from brands like Elf Bar and Gold Bar.
She said, “We are constantly making changes, analysing each bay, changing layouts, working with suppliers to create new bespoke displays, like our recent agreement with Elf Bar and Gold Bar. We are currently the only independent retail chain with such an agreement.
"Both brands have provided bespoke pos and displays for this store, and their own media agreements.”
RaceTrack currently has 11 stores within the group and a 12th one is about to be opened soon.
Yet, not all challenges are within the business's control.
Like most of their peer, the Sud family is also facing the ongoing retail crime epidemic. The lack of consistent support from local authorities exacerbates the problem, with incidents of theft and violence affecting daily operations.
"Every day brings new security challenges," Shamly said. "The violence escalates, and the support from authorities just isn’t there."
Despite the challenges, the Strathclyde Pitstop Premier is deeply committed to community engagement.
"Each month, we donate to a local charity, and we provide free fruit for schoolchildren through the Healthy Living Scotland initiative," Shamly shared.
The store’s proximity to several universities has spurred partnerships that benefit the student community, from event sponsorships to recruitment opportunities.
"We’re the only business offering this level of involvement with the local student population," she added.
For Shamly, retail is more than a profession; it’s a legacy. Her journey into the industry began in childhood, assisting her parents in their family business.
Even as her family life expanded, Shamly never shied from challenges. After having two children and the youngest just a few months old, she embarked on a new path, completing a postgraduate degree to become a mathematics teacher.
But it was the 2008 financial crisis that truly cemented her return to retail. Working alongside her husband, initially in property renovation, they found that retail offered a stability that property could not.
As she put it, "I couldn’t purchase goods with bricks. Cash was essential to survive day to day."
Together, they made a bold move and opened their first forecourt, Braeside Services, in 2011. This decision marked the beginning of a new chapter, fueled by a unique partnership.
"My husband and I have a fantastic relationship," she shares. I am often the face, negotiating with suppliers, while he ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes."
This synergy is what drives their success. In Shamly’s words, "We work as a team," a formula that’s become central to their business philosophy. But beyond teamwork, Shamly brings her own unique strengths to the table.
And her motto? A straightforward yet powerful one: "Just get on with it."
Looking ahead, plans are underway to give the store a chilled alcohol room.
“Even though the store is new it doesn't stop us from further reinvesting. We are currently looking at introducing ordering hot food on a tablet and having a serve over for it at the till.
"The sales on the food to go are increasing all the time and we want to raise it to it's full potential,” she said.
Under the Sud family’s leadership, it exemplifies how a well-thought-out, community-centric modern and innovative approach can transform a convenience store into a beloved local destination and a model to look upon.
Footfall took a "disappointing tumble" in November, shows recent industry data, as retailers remain hopeful that the Black Friday and Christmas sales will help to turn things around for good.
According to BRC-Sensormatic data, total UK footfall decreased by 4.5 per cent in November (YoY), down from -1.1per cent in October. High Street footfall decreased by 3.7 per cent in November (YoY), down from -3.6 per cent in October.
Retail Park footfall decreased by 1.1 per cent in November (YoY), down from +4.8 per cent in October. Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 6.1 per cent in November (YoY), down from -1.6 per cent in October.
Footfall decreased year-on-year for all four nations, with Northern Ireland falling by 2.8 per cent, England by 4.2 per cent, Scotland by 6.8 per cent, while Wales experienced the biggest decline at 7.1 per cent.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said, "Footfall took a disappointing tumble in November, as a later-than-usual Black Friday and low consumer confidence meant customers were hesitant to hit the shops. Some northern cities also suffered particularly badly due to Storm Bert, which caused travel disruption towards the end of the month.
"Retailers remain hopeful that the Black Friday and Christmas sales will help to turn around the declining footfall seen through most of 2024, crucial as we enter the “golden quarter”.
"Retail not only contributes to the economy of local areas but is essential to everyday life in communities across the country. New costs bearing down on retailers in 2025, including from rises in Employer National Insurance, National Living Wage, and packaging taxes, means investment in jobs, stores, and high streets will likely be curtailed.
"If the Government wishes to bolster footfall and the growth and investment that would come with it, it must help retailers mitigate the impact of the £7 billion additional costs they face from next year.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, commented, "Retail store visits dipped in November as consumer confidence remains volatile, perhaps not helped by post-Budget spending jitters and shoppers withholding festive purchases, opting instead to shop around for the best prices or hold out for further discounting.
"This lacklustre footfall performance will have come as a blow for many retailers, who would have been counting on getting early Christmas trading results under their belts before the start of advent.
"However, it’s worth noting that these figures do not include Black Friday and the Saturday of the Black Friday weekend - tipped as one of the top busiest days for store shopping during peak trading - which will hopefully jump start seasonal shopping. Now, all eyes turn to December, where retailers hope to make up for lost ground and turn around their festive fortunes.
"This will rely not only on effective merchandising and shored up inventory availability, but on building the compelling and immersive experiences that bring the seasonal magic to life in-store.”
More than nine in 10 independent retailers have said that the government’s proposed generational smoking ban and a ban on disposable vapes will fuel demand for illicit products even further, a survey of members of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has shown.
Seventy-eight per cent of respondents said more of their customers than ever were buying illicit tobacco and vapes from other sources and just over half (55 per cent) were aware of specific places near their shops where illegal products were on sale.
However, only 33 per cent said they had reported people peddling illicit tobacco to the authorities, with two thirds (67 per cent) said they had not. Nearly eight in 10 (77 per cent) said Trading Standards were not doing enough to tackle the problem in their area.
Nearly 400 retailers participated in the survey, which ran over 10 days during November, to help the Fed to better understand the impact that sales of illicit tobacco have on members’ stores and how the introduction of the generational smoking ban, which bans the sale of tobacco products across the UK to anyone aged 15 or younger, will fuel this black market.
Commenting on the results, the Fed’s National President Mo Razzaq said, “The government’s plan to stop young people smoking and vaping may look good on paper and in headlines but as our survey shows it will have serious impacts on legitimate traders.
“Just like shoplifting, selling counterfeit and non-duty tobacco is not a victimless crime. It damages legitimate retail businesses and communities. The people who peddle illegal tobacco couldn’t care less whether the customer is 18 or over. They just want the profit.”
Fed National President Mo Razzaq
Fed National President Mo Razzaq
Razzaq continued, “To make matters worse, the illicit tobacco market is often linked to organised crime, with the profits used to fund the smuggling of weapons, drugs – and even people.
“Making it an offence for anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, to be sold tobacco and banning the sale of single use vapes in legitimate retail outlets will mean the governments of the four nations are simply handing a blank cheque to rogue dealers on social media, street corners and by school gates.
"The legislation will impact on visible traders rather than the less visible ones who trade on a larger scale.”
The Fed released the findings of its survey in the week that the Tobacco and Vaping Bill returned to parliament for its second reading.
Snappy Shopper, the UK’s leading quick-commerce platform, has recreated one of the most iconic scenes from the beloved holiday film Love Actually as a heartfelt thank-you to its loyal customers.
Released to coincide with the film’s 21st anniversary, the campaign celebrates community spirit and underscores the importance of supporting local businesses during the festive season. The video reimagines the film’s famous doorstep scene, where Mark (Andrew Lincoln) silently professes his love to Juliet (Keira Knightley) through a series of placards.
In Snappy Shopper’s version, the grand romantic gesture is replaced with a message of gratitude.
A Snappy delivery driver expresses gratitude to a loyal customer with charming, handwritten messages: “To us, you are perfect,” “We’ll deliver to you, even when it’s snowing,” and “Thank you for shopping local.”
Since its debut on Snappy Shopper’s social media channels, the short film has quickly resonated with audiences, capturing both the humor and warmth of the original scene while reinforcing the value of local shopping.
“We wanted to create something fun, memorable, and nostalgic—especially for those who cherish this time of year,” said Caitlin Johnston, Media Marketing Manager at Snappy Shopper. “The scene from Love Actually is iconic and embodies the togetherness that shopping locally fosters. We’re thrilled with the response so far and hope it reminds our customers of the joy of supporting their local community.”
Beyond its heartfelt tribute to Love Actually, the ‘Local Actually’ campaign carries a timely message about the power of local commerce. As delivery services play an increasingly vital role in communities, Snappy Shopper’s video serves as a reminder of the positive impact that supporting local businesses can have on retailers and communities alike.
The campaign is already gaining traction, with early engagement metrics showing a significant increase in shares and positive customer feedback across social platforms.
Snappy Group, founded in 2017, is a technology business serving over 1,800 businesses globally across retail and hospitality through a combination of its own marketplace and white label solutions.
Snappy Shopper is the market leader in the growing Q-commerce convenience grocery sector. In addition to our independent retailers, we serve most of the major convenience store players, including Spar, Nisa, Premier and Booker. Snappy Shopper exists to enable local high street businesses to supply to their customers online so that local communities thrive, and revenue stays local.
Lord Karan Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra Beer, has announced his decision to step down as chairman, marking the end of an era for the iconic brand.
The move comes after Bilimoria has reportedly repaid nearly all of the creditors impacted by the company's financial collapse over a decade ago.
Cobra, established by Bilimoria in 1989, faced a dramatic downturn in 2009, entering administration with debts of over £70 million owed to 340 creditors. In a bid to rescue the business, Bilimoria partnered with American brewing giant Molson Coors—producer of brands such as Carling, Doom Bar, and Blue Moon—in a controversial pre-pack administration.
This strategy allowed the formation of a joint venture where Bilimoria retained a 49.9 per cent stake and assumed the role of chairman.
Initially set up for ten years, the joint venture was extended in May 2019. Throughout this period, Bilimoria remained committed to his pledge of repaying creditors through his share of dividend payments. While in 2019 he reiterated his determination to fulfill this promise, it did not include some investors who had insurance coverage against Cobra's insolvency.
The businessman has now paid back 99 per cent of the £72 million the business owed to creditors, according to CityAM. Billimoria said that Cobra’s robust profits over the past 15 years had allowed him to “settle the creditors and eventually, now at the exit, also be able to look after special people, including my former shareholders”.
He added that the payback to creditors “leaves Cobra Beer with a superb legacy” as well as a “future as one of the most successful beer brands in the world”.
Molson Coors, said: “We’re excited to take full ownership of the brand and look forward to continuing to work with Lord Bilimoria, founder of the Cobra brand, to champion the brand and the wider beer and hospitality industry.”
Bilimoria, who moved to Britain from India when he was 19, came up with the idea for Cobra while studying law at Cambridge. He wanted to design a brand that would be easier to drink with food. After contracting a brewery in India to develop his beer, the first crates of Cobra were shipped out to Britain in June 1990.