JW Filshill has appointed Snappy Shopper as a partner to fulfil its e-commerce solutions its Scotland and north-east England store estate via Snappy Marketplace – Snappy Group’s white-label grocery delivery app and website.
KeyStore, Filshill’s award-winning symbol group, delivered £4 million in sales during 2023 with the support of Snappy Shopper. The partnership with the group will help further fuel delivery and q-commerce (quick commerce) growth in the convenience and impulse trade.
As part of this broader partnership between Filshill and Snappy Shopper, greater marketing of Filshill promotions will be available, plus exclusive new customer coupon codes and 1p store bundles. The 1p bundles in particular have resulted in significant increases in online orders for participating stores, by allowing shoppers to stock up on essentials such as cleaning products for a significantly low price.
The Filshill partnership will also see integration with its approved EPOS solution, making it even easier to do business for partner stores with quicker deliveries and better control over stock.
“At Snappy Group our vision is to foster long-term partnerships with our customers," said Snappy Shopper’s CEO Mike Callachan. "It’s important we support each other to make business simpler, increase sales and grow our customer base.
“We’re proud to be working with Filshill to support its network of convenience stores with our technology, empowering local communities by bringing wholesale and retail together.”
Filshill’s chief sales and marketing officer, Craig Brown, commented: “As part of our ambitious growth plans for KeyStore, it is important for us to have the required technology in place as we aim to recruit tech-savvy entrepreneurial retailers who have the community at the heart of their values.
“This agreement allows a seamless use of the Snappy Shopper platform through our ReScan till system and also improves sales data analysis to maximise the consumer offer for KeyStore. I am excited with this new growth opportunity and how we progress this across our KeyStore estate.”
The new Filshill-Snappy Shopper partnership is now live.
Retailers are being urged to display British Lion Mark on all pre-packed foods where Lion eggs are used as to build trust among them.
According to a new research, two thirds of shoppers would trust retailers more if they displayed the British Lion mark on pre-packed food containing eggs.
With very little information required on pack, 84 per cent of consumers expect British-made food to be made with British ingredients, while 50 per cent of shoppers do not trust the ingredients in popular supermarket foods such as quiches, sandwiches and scotch eggs, if there is no country of origin for major ingredients such as egg communicated on the packaging.
The research comes at a time when the volume of imported eggs is growing, despite significant increases in the size of the UK flock.
More than 70 per cent of shoppers agree that if produce can be sourced in the UK, then it should not be imported from other countries while seven out of ten consumers do not feel retailers are doing enough to support British farmers.
Most (86 per cent) of shoppers expect eggs to be British when purchasing or eating them, and 69 per cent of shoppers feel it is misleading to not highlight the origin of major ingredients such as egg in foods where it is a major ingredient, such as egg sandwiches, salad or quiche.
With regular food safety issues associated with egg ingredients produced in Europe, 86 per cent of shoppers trust British Lion egg producers to protect them against the food safety risk represented by imported eggs.
A quarter of consumers said eating products containing imported eggs made them feel less safe.
British Egg Industry Council chairman, Mark Williams, said, “Consumers put their trust in supermarkets to ensure that the food they sell is produced to the highest food safety standards and that they are being transparent when it comes to the origin of the ingredients.
"However, a significant number of imported eggs continue to be used in pre-prepared foods, such as quiche or egg sandwiches, that don’t meet the same food safety standards as British Lion eggs.
"While it’s great that many products already contain British Lion Mark on all pre-packed foods , shoppers may be unaware as there is little to no information on pack.
"This lack of information means retailers are missing out on the opportunity to reassure shoppers and build trust among them. We strongly urge retailers to help consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and start displaying the British Lion Mark on all pre-packed foods where Lion eggs are used.”
A towering 70-metre lifting crane, nearly as tall as York Minster, has become a striking feature on York’s skyline as Nestlé embarks on a £5.2 million upgrade of its Haxby Road distribution centre.
The major investment aims to improve efficiency and modernise the facilities as the company celebrates the 40th anniversary of its York distribution centre site this year.
The project involves replacing six high-bay stacker cranes and their control systems in the automated warehouse. The upgrade is designed to improve reliability, extend the facility’s lifespan, and enhance overall efficiency. Additionally, the modernisation will create a safer work environment by reducing the need for employees to operate at heights.
To ensure uninterrupted operations in the 32,500-pallet capacity warehouse, the project will be carried out in three phases from January to July 2025.
The work will be carried out with Nestlé’s logistics partner, Alstef Group, and will involve the temporary assembly of telescopic cranes on site, with a total of seven lifting crane visits. The lifting crane will reach a height of 70 metres to replace six 25-metre cranes through the warehouse roof, all whilst keeping the operation running.
The company is also upgrading the electrical and control systems in the warehouse to ensure seamless operation. These improvements will make it easier for its team to monitor operations and respond quickly to any issues that may arise.
“Nestlé York is a cornerstone of our operations in the UK, playing a vital role in our supply chain and our commitment to delivering high-quality products to consumers,” Richard Hastings, head of logistics at Nestlé UK and Ireland, said.
“This investment in our York distribution centre reflects our dedication to continued improvement and innovation and we look forward to sharing more updates as we progress with this exciting project.”
Nestlé UK and Ireland has invested more than £800 million in its UK factories over the past decade, including recent upgrades in Wisbech, York, Halifax and Buxton.
The investment in the York distribution centre builds on more than £85 million investment in the Nestlé York campus in the past decade, including refurbished office space and factory machinery upgrades.
The York distribution centre was opened in 1985 and supplies retailers in the North of England with a wide range of Nestlé products, including confectionery, coffee and cereals.
Leading pure-play coffee and tea company JDE Peet’s said its chief financial officer (CFO) Scott Gray has decided to step down to be reunited with his family in the US.
JDE Peet’s added that it has appointed a new CFO, but will announce further details regarding the incoming CFO on 26 February 26, when the company publishes its FY 2024 results, in agreement with the incoming CFO’s current employer.
The new CFO is set to assume the position in the second quarter of this year.
Gray played a pivotal role in JDE Peet’s’ successful transition from a private to a public company in 2020, leading critical initiatives in risk management, financial reporting, and capital structure optimisation. He also guided the organisation through unprecedented coffee inflation and macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges in recent years.
In addition to leading the company’s finance and IT functions, Gray assumed the role of interim chief executive prior to the appointment of Rafa Oliveira as chief executive in November 2024.
“On behalf of the board and the executive committee, I thank Scott for his leadership and commitment to JDE Peet’s,” Rafa Oliveira said.
“His focus on excellence has shaped a lasting legacy, leaving behind a company with a robust financial foundation, strong performance and a talented team. As interim CEO, Scott provided critical leadership continuity. We are grateful for his leadership, partnership and collaboration and his commitment to a solid handover. We wish Scott all the very best for the future.”
Gray said: “Resigning was a very difficult decision for me. I am deeply committed to JDE Peet’s and have truly enjoyed leading such a talented team. My wife and I have decided to relocate to the US where our children will soon be starting their higher education. JDE Peet’s is a unique company operating with fantastic people in a great sector. The company is set up for future success and I thank my team and colleagues for the unforgettable journey.”
Ricard Barri Valentines appointed as chief marketing officer
Ricard Barri ValentinesLinkedIn
JDE Peet’s also announces the appointment of Ricard Barri Valentines as chief marketing officer (CMO) and member of the executive committee, reporting to Rafa Oliveira.
Valentines, currently global category director, Instant & Liquid Coffee, has an impressive record of transforming brands, driving sustainable growth, and fostering high-performing teams. He succeeds Fiona Hughes, who has accepted to take on the role of general manager, Australia.
“I welcome Ricard to the executive committee and thank Fiona for her outstanding leadership in introducing a marketing philosophy to the company and bringing life to our portfolio of brands,” Oliveira added.
MPs have voted to approve plans to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England and Northern Ireland in October 2027.
The materials that will be included in the scheme will be single use plastic (PET) and metal drinks containers. Glass will not be part of the scheme.
While the regulations apply only to England and Northern Ireland, it is expected that Scotland will introduce a scheme that will be interoperable across the different UK nations.
Despite concerns raised by retailers, suppliers and other stakeholders, the Welsh Government still intends to introduce its own scheme that will include glass and focus on reuse.
In correspondence with the Welsh, Scottish and UK Governments, ACS has outlined what it believes to be the guiding principles of a successful, well-designed and effective DRS. These are:
The scheme should be consistent across the UK
The scheme must be at worst cost neutral for retailers
Glass should not be included in the scheme
Return points should be strategically mapped and not mandated on the basis of business type/size
The scheme should prioritise colleague and customer safety
ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “We welcome the progress of the scheme in Parliament, but there is still much to do to ensure that the UK is ready by October 2027.
"Return points need to be strategically mapped, retailers need to prepare their stores, and a whole new level of recycling infrastructure needs to be set up.”
During the debate Members of Parliament highlighted the need to work closely with convenience retailers to deliver an effective DRS across the country. You can see clips from the debate here.
Speaking in Parliament, Environment Minister Mary Creagh emphasised the urgency of addressing waste.
"Keep Britain Tidy estimates that two waste streams, plastic bottles and drinks cans, make up 55 per cent of all litter across the UK. When it comes to addressing waste, this Government will not waste time," Creagh stated.
Creagh outlined how the scheme would impact communities and the environment, saying it will "end the epidemic of litter on our streets and restore pride in our communities. It will improve the countryside, preserve our wildlife and protect our beaches and marine environment."
The scheme is aiming to collect 70 per cent of containers by 2028, increasing to 90 per cent by 2030. By the third year, this must include at least 85 per cent of containers made from PET plastic and 85 per cent from other in-scope materials, such as aluminium and steel.
This comes a few days after supermarket chiefs urged the government to postpone the launch of the DRS as it claimed the proposed October 2027 roll out was “not feasible”.
In a letter to environment secretary Steve Reed, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) detailed challenges that the scheme would inflict on retailers, such as significant costs.
It is understood that the BRC also warned the DRS risks being ineffective following the news that Wales is to move forward with its own deposit return scheme in a bid to encourage recycling, as it remains committed to including glass bottles.
The UK government has appointed a former top executive at online titan Amazon to be the interim chair of the country's competition regulator, hoping the appointment will help drive economic growth.
While competition watchdogs around the world are heavily focused on probing technology giants, Britain's Labour government believes too much regulation is hampering growth.
The appointment late Tuesday of Doug Gurr, former country manager of Amazon UK and president of Amazon China, to steer the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) comes after his predecessor, Marcus Bokkerink, was reportedly ousted for insufficient focus on growth.
"In a bid to boost growth and support the economy, Doug Gurr has... been appointed as interim chair" of the CMA, a statement said.
Secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds, added that the government wanted "to see regulators including the CMA supercharging the economy with pro-business decisions that will drive prosperity and growth".
The statement noted that at a recent meeting with Reynolds and chancellor Rachel Reeves, UK regulators "were asked to tear down the barriers hindering business and refocus their efforts on promoting growth".
Gurr is currently director of the Natural History Museum in London.
Lighter touch
Bokkerink's removal came a day after Donald Trump returned to the White House, vowing to cut regulation on sectors including tech as it races to develop Artificial Intelligence.
Some criticised the move as a shift to a lighter touch in Britain, where regulators have traditionally been unafraid to take on big companies to protect the interests of smaller firms and consumers.
"Now is the time to file your mergers with the CMA," said Tom Smith, competition lawyer at Geradin Partners and a former legal director at the regulator.
"The government is sending a clear signal that it wants the CMA to go easy on dealmakers."
Labour government, under pressure to reignite the economy after years of sluggish output, has said it wants regulators to "tear down the barriers hindering businesses" and focus on growth. But some have questioned whether an easing of competition rules would promote growth.
After he was ousted, Bokkerink said on LinkedIn that markets should not be held back "by a few powerful incumbents setting the rules for everyone else".
The CMA's last clash with a US tech giant was over Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard in 2023, and the regulator came off worse.
It blocked the deal but then tore up its own rule book to approve the case following a furious reaction from Microsoft bosses who lobbied the government at the highest level.
It did not block a single deal in 2024, and allowed two of Britain's four mobile networks to merge.
Supercharging growth
After being singled out by prime minister Keir Starmer for holding back growth, the CMA said in November that it would focus on "truly problematic mergers" and rethink its approach to allow more deals to go ahead.
An executive at a major British tech and media company said Bokkerink had been leading the growth charge.
The person, who asked not to be named, said there was real surprise over the choice of his replacement, raising the question of how much big tech had lobbied the government.
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said Bokkerink had "tirelessly championed consumers, competition and a level playing field for business".
Competition lawyer Ian Giles at Norton Rose Fulbright said the CMA's mantra, echoed by government previously, had been that competition was good for growth and for business – and rules need to be enforced to support this objective.
The move "suggests that there may be a desire to rein in the CMA's more interventionist approach," he said, even at the cost of reduced rule enforcement.
The change comes as the CMA steps up its scrutiny of Big Tech through its Digital Markets Unit.
The unit, which gained new powers this month, is tasked with ensuring that tech companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Apple and Microsoft, do not abuse their dominant market positions.
Amazon, under Gurr's leadership, was investigated by the CMA over its stake in food delivery company Deliveroo. The regulator cleared the investment in 2020.
The CMA will imminently give its verdict on the cloud computing market, dominated by Amazon, Microsoft and to a lesser extent Google.