A passionate journalist with about a decade of experience, Pooja has developed a strong hold on the UK grocery retail sector. From exploring legislative changes, supply chain shifts, consumer buying habits, trends to retail crime, her work is driven by a deep belief in investigating, finding the truth and telling authentic unbiased stories.
Be it convenience pathbreakers, wholesale trendsetters or Post Office Horizon scandal victims, Pooja has an equal flair for deciphering industries as well as human complexities. At Asian Trader, she aims to bridge the gap between policy, trade, and the shop floor, always keeping a finger on the pulse of what matters most to retailers.
The fortunes of struggling High Streets can not be turned around by local authorities on their own as the job is too big – but building wide-ranging partnerships can revive local retail in 2024, a new report has stated, urging councils and government to encourage a new approach to turning around struggling high streets.
A recent report, published by the Institute of Place Management (IPM) at Manchester Metropolitan University, which runs the Government’s High Streets Task Force, has identified some of the key challenges uncovered from visits to over 140 towns over the past four years.
The report also found that 60 per cent of towns visited by High Streets Task Force experts did not have an activation plan and were not running sufficient activities, events and festivals to attract people in to use their town centre. Further analysis also found that only 35 per cent of place visions behind funding bids were deemed to be transformational and that over 30 per cent of local authorities requested delays to support services by the Task Force due to a lack of staff.
With recent news reports suggesting that a lack of resource was a major contributory factor behind levelling up funds being unspent, the IPM points out that an average local authority can have between three and seven retail centres within its boundary, which results in a struggle for resources to support them all.
Professor Cathy Parker, Co-Chair of the IPM at Manchester Metropolitan and Research Lead for the High Streets Task Force, said, “over the last four years, our team of experts has seen lots of good practice but there are many worrying examples of silo thinking holding towns back.
“Over 40 per cent of towns we visited had no real partnerships or place governance to deliver the transformative change that their high streets need. This means they weren’t working with the business community, community organisations or other partners such as police and housing organisations to develop plans or a compelling place vision.
“On top of which they had chronic staff shortages, which often resulted in only a few people from broad roles such as economic development being nominally responsible for place development across many town centres.
“As a result, projects don’t command the full confidence of communities, were delivered in a disjointed manner and are not getting the expected returns on investment. There is a huge amount of latent resource, passion for communities and local expertise that they are just not tapping into.”
Matt Colledge, Project Director for the High Streets Task Force, added, “For some time now, the end of the year seems to trigger virtually the same reports. Black Friday begins earlier, Christmas sales are weak and more casualties are predicted in the New Year.
“If we are going to escape this Groundhog day then we need a mindset change. It’s not sustainable to bank everything on one or two long-term capital projects, high streets need to see immediate changes and you only get these quick wins with robust partnerships.
“High streets have been over simplified for too long and we need to see the same mindset shift that we saw in health, which has put partnership working at the centre of dealing with myriad issues in a complex environment. Unless we change our approach to high street regeneration, we simply won’t deliver the change that our towns are crying out for.”
Around 2 million UK vapers (35%) say they would either buy illicit single-use vapes, return to smoking, or increase tobacco use if the government places restrictions on vape flavours, display and packaging – on top of the already confirmed single-use vape ban, set to take effect from 1 June, according to new research from leading vape brand Elfbar.
Among single-use vape users, this figure rises to 50 per cent.
The study, conducted by Opinium in December 2024, surveyed over 6,000 UK adult vapers and smokers. It found that 68 per cent of adult vapers believe a range of flavours helps to stop them from going back to smoking tobacco, with nearly half (48%) using fruit or sweet flavours most often.
The study also shows that 21per cent of adults quit smoking over the past five years, of which 45 per cent used vapes as part of their successful quit journey.
According to national statistics, there are still around six million UK adult smokers. Alarmingly, the research reveals that 42 per cent of adults who smoke mistakenly believe that vapes are equally or more harmful than smoking.
The findings align with the government’s own impact assessment on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which found that 33 per cent of smokers stated that they would not quit and/or smoke more if flavours were not available.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which has passed the House of Commons on Wednesday, includes powers to further regulate the vape sector beyond the single-use vape ban.
Elfbar said the research underscores the importance of balanced regulation that understands the critical role that vapes and particularly flavours play in smoking cessation.
“Vaping products are an effective and proven smoking cessation tool. As such, it is vital that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and subsequent secondary legislation recognises the importance of vape flavours to smokers and ex-smokers,” Eve Peters, director of government affairs for Elfbar in the UK, said.
“We support a range of measures to strengthen the regulatory regime in the UK, including the introduction of a vape tax, retail licensing system and a ban on vending machines, but there is a clear risk of overregulation as confirmed by these findings.
“The single-use ban will disrupt more than 60 per cent of the market and potentially increase smoking rates, therefore, a full public health impact assessment following the ban is needed before the UK government rushes to introduce additional measures, including potentially restricting flavours, that could undermine its smokefree ambition.”
The House of Commons passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Wednesday after MPs voted 366 to 41 to approve it at third reading.
The Bill, which will now proceed to the House of Lords, proposes to increase the legal age for tobacco sales by one year every year, starting in 2027, ensuring that individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, will never legally be able to buy tobacco.
It will also give the government powers to stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches) from being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children.
“When this government took office, we promised to create a smokefree generation. Today we are delivering on that promise,” public health and prevention minister Ashley Dalton said, concluding the debate.
“The Bill will tackle the concerning rise in youth vaping and reduce the immense burden that tobacco-related illnesses place on our society and our NHS.”
Commenting on the development, leading vape brand Elfbar has warned that two million UK vapers may turn to illegal vapes or return to tobacco if the government over-regulates the sector.
“Following [the] report stage sitting of the Bill, the government must carefully evaluate the evidence before implementing further restrictions on vaping,” Eve Peters, director of government affairs for Elfbar in the UK, said.
“We support measures like a vape tax, retail licensing system and vending machine ban. However, proportionate regulation, particularly on flavours, is essential for the government to avoid undermining its smokefree ambition.
“New research shows two million UK vapers (35%) would resort to illegal single-use vapes, return to smoking, or smoke more if overly restrictive regulations are imposed on flavours, display and packaging alongside the upcoming single-use ban in June.
“With the single-use ban set to disrupt over 60% of the market and potentially increase smoking rates, a full public health impact assessment following the ban is needed before considering additional measures.”
New research by Elfbar has revealed that over a third of UK vapers would resort to illegal single-use vapes, return to smoking, or smoke more if the government imposes overly restrictive regulations on vape flavours, display and packaging. This rises to 50 per cent among single-use vape users.
It also found 68 per cent of adult vapers believe a range of flavours helps to stop them smoking tobacco and that 21per cent of adults quit smoking over the past five years, of which 45 per cent used vapes as part of their successful quit journey.
Confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has a new manager at its Manchester store.
Nick Edwards has taken over at the helm of the store in Gorton, overseeingten staff and working closely with existing and new customers.
Under his leadership, Nick and his team of confectionery experts will be building and working closely with the customer base.
They’ll be showcasing new products which arrive in store every week and will be running trade events with amazing offers for customers and samples of new confectionery to try.
Nick, who’s from Wigan, joined the business from Tesco where he worked as store manager across Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
Since joining the team at Hancocks he’s already seeing the influence social media, in particular, TikTok is having on what retailers are purchasing.
Popular choices to stay up to date with social media trends include sour sweets like Zed Candy Souracha Super Sour Candy Sauce, pick n mix for making candy salads, also Warheads popping candy and teen-focused Sweet Vibes for the unique flavour mash-ups.
Sweet toothed Nick is enjoying tasting all the new samples coming into the store. His favourite sweet is a Tongue Painter, both for the taste and texture of the popular novelty confectionery.
Manchester store manager, Nick Edwards, said: “Working at Hancocks is a dream come true - who wouldn’t want to work in a giant sweetshop?
“The role is very hands-on which I enjoy. Every day I’m getting the opportunity to meet customers from all different industries. We work closely with sweets shops, convenience stores, market traders, seasonal events and ecom sellers.
“All businesses are facing challenges at the moment with rising costs. We’re very conscious that retailers don’t have as much money to spend and their customers are on tighter budgets.
“We’re working hard to offer our customers great value in the North West, as are the rest of the Hancocks depots across the UK, by running and sharing strong offers across popular confectionery lines to help their money go further.
“We have offers on big brand confectionery, snacks and drinks. We also have excellent deals for customers on novelty confectionery items with our Knockout Novelty Deal and our Kingsway Pick n Mix Multi-buy offer. These deals mean lots of savings for customers.”
Hancocks CEO Jonathan Summerley said: “We’re delighted to welcome Nick to the biggest confectionery wholesaler in the North at our Hancocks depot in Manchester. The North West is a great region to do business in and Nick has lots of good managerial experience working in Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the store continue to grow and serve existing and new customers from across the region.”
Costs are set to continue rising amid a difficult economic outlook following the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, which brought no significant change to major tax plans announced in the October budget despite urgent calls for support.
The Spring Statement released today (26) made no specific provisions for the independent retail sector, which is facing unprecedented challenges including rising business rates, an increase in employer national insurance contributions to 15 per cent above £5,000 per annum and an above-inflation increase in the minimum wage to £12.21.
With inflation set to rise faster than expected this year, the independent retailers associations continue to call on the Chancellor to reduce costs and for further action to tackle retail crime.
The Fed’s National President Mo Razzaq said, “The Fed is greatly concerned about impending higher costs from increases in employer national insurance contributions and above-inflation increases in the National Living Wage due in the coming days when the new financial year starts in April.
“Higher government costs come at a time when the overall economic outlook looks challenging, with growth under-performing, inflation ticking up and government spending being taken away from the economy.
“Our members are key to the government’s growth agenda, which is the right goal, but this can only be achieved if we are able to afford to employ staff and help them learn and develop.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said, "While we welcome the Chancellor's focus on economic growth, we are deeply concerned that the Spring Statement has overlooked the immediate crisis facing independent retailers.
"Our members are confronting a perfect storm of rising costs – from the 140 per cent increase in business rates to the National Living Wage rise and National Insurance changes – all while consumer spending remains subdued.
"The Chancellor's forecasts of improved household income may offer some long-term optimism, but they do nothing to address the immediate cash flow challenges our members face. Many independent retailers are making difficult decisions right now about whether they can continue trading under these conditions."
Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent retailers across the country, had previously outlined three key priorities for the Chancellor to address: continued investment for town centres and high streets; fully funded policing to address retail crime; and making economic development a statutory requirement for local authorities.
Goodacre added, "We specifically called for continued investment in our high streets, proper funding to tackle retail crime, and a statutory requirement for local authorities to prioritise economic development. It's disappointing that Rachel Reeves has not responded to any of these crucial areas in her statement today.
"The Chancellor spoke about being 'impatient for change' and the British people being 'impatient for change' – our members are certainly impatient for meaningful support that recognises their vital contribution to local economies and communities."
While the Spring Statement predicts economic growth and improved household disposable income, with the OBR forecasting people will be "over £500 a year better off," Bira questions whether this will materialise quickly enough to help struggling retailers.
Goodacre further added, "Independent retailers are naturally resilient and optimistic, but even the most positive business owners are finding it difficult to maintain that outlook in the current climate.
"If the government truly wants to 'deliver prosperity for working people,' as the Chancellor stated, they must not forget the thousands of independent retailers who provide jobs and services in communities across Britain."
"We urge the Chancellor to reconsider her approach before the full Budget in the autumn and engage meaningfully with the independent retail sector to prevent further closures and job losses on our high streets."
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Dubai style chocolate bar featuring a blend of pistachio and knafeh
Dubai style chocolate has taken the UK by storm with many shops stocking dupes of the popular flavour while some supermarkets are forced to impose limits on how much a shopper can buy at once.
Shoppers have been clearing the shelves of the chocolate bar which is filled with pistachio and the Arab dessert Knafeh - a shredded crispy pastry.
First created in 2021, the flavour has proven popular with UK shoppers, with stores such as M&S, Lidl, and Morrisons soon jumping on the bandwagon.
Most recently, supermarket Waitrose has joined the frenzy, adding Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate to select stores on March 23.
Soon after the launch, the supermarket has imposed a limit of two chocolates per person on the £10 bars, saying it want everyone to have the "chance to enjoy the delicious chocolate".
The Lindt bars, which contain 45 per cent pistachio and Kadayif pastry, were first launched in the UK in December.
They are one of many options, with some stores now offering own-brand versions, after the TikTok craze went viral, which was first sparked by Dubai chocolatier Fix Dessert’s Can’t Get Knafeh of It tablet.
Food influencers have taken to TikTok to post their thoughts on the ultra-indulgent bars.
Meanwhile, Lidl has announced it will be releasing its own version of the viral Dubai chocolate bar in its stores from Saturday (29).
Lidl released a £3.99 version of this with the J.D. Gross Dubai-Style Chocolate bar on their TikTok shop on March 20.
A limited stock of 6,000 bars was sold out within an hour, with around 72 bars being purchased per minute, according to the supermarket. Due to its popularity, Lidl said it will be making its own version available soon in selected stores.
Lidl also will be restricting the limit of purchase, keeping it to two bars per person.
While similar options can be found in other supermarkets, Lidl has proudly claimed their deals to be the most cost-effective upon the popular chocolate bar.