To help spread a little bit of love this February, Nisa retailers are providing their customers with various Valentine’s Day deals including a sumptuous steak dinner for two and a range of gifting lines.
With the annual celebration of love almost here, the cross-category promotion will be available in stores right up until the big day.
“With over three quarters of consumers celebrating Valentine’s Day in 2021, this year’s event provides retailers with a great opportunity to boost basket spend,” said Nisa’s Seasonal Manager, Hannah Goodwin.
Nisa’s luxurious Valentine’s meal solution – which exclusively features Co-op Irresistible lines - includes a choice of a starter, main, side and a dessert, all for just £10.
And shoppers can save over £6.50 off the RRP when they opt for the Soft Set Chorizo Scotch Egg 2pk, Rump Steak with Peppercorn Butter 380g, Chips 400g, and Chocolate Melting Pudding Twin Pots 2pk, but other meal variations including vegan and vegetarian options are also available.
“In the early run-up to Valentine’s Day shoppers are typically on the lookout for deals on licensed and confectionery gifting lines. And now, during the week before the event, attention will turn to last-minute buys such as bouquets and our special meal solution which we suspect will be a hit.
“With 67% of shoppers celebrating with a meal at home in 2021 and this year’s occasion falling on a Monday, this trend is set to stay for 2022,” said Goodwin.
A fantastic gifting offer is available to those looking to treat their loved ones to something special, comprising a bottle of Co-op Irresistible Prosecco, a bouquet of Co-op Fairtrade Roses and a box of Thornton’s Classic 150g chocolates for just £20.
And a range of chocolate gift boxes, Co-op Fairtrade flower bouquets, and a selection of top wines and spirits were also made available in the last week of January at competitive prices, to ensure Nisa retailers were prepared for the growing romantic shopper mission.
“Whether shoppers are preparing for a date night at home or gearing up for Galentine’s, their local Nisa store has everything they will need to celebrate the popular occasion without breaking the bank,” added Goodwin.
Nisa’s Valentine’s deals are supported by dedicated, eye-catching POS and will be available in stores until February 15.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today (27) declared that people who are members of a loyalty scheme can almost always make a genuine saving on the usual price by buying loyalty priced products.
Having analysed around 50,000 grocery products on a loyalty price promotion, the CMA found very little evidence of supermarkets inflating their "usual" prices to make loyalty promotions seem like a better deal.
George Lusty, Interim Executive Director of Consumer Protection, said: "We know many people don’t trust loyalty card prices, which is why we did a deep dive to get to the bottom of whether supermarkets were treating shoppers fairly. After analysing tens of thousands of products, we found that almost all the loyalty prices reviewed offered genuine savings against the usual price – a fact we hope reassures shoppers throughout the UK.
"While these discounts are legitimate, our review has shown that loyalty prices aren’t always the cheapest option, so shopping around is still key. By checking a few shops, you can continue to stretch your hard-earned cash.
As part of the CMA’s work to help people facing cost of living pressures, it conducted a rigorous investigation of loyalty pricing. This sought to get to the bottom of a number of potential concerns, including whether loyalty prices can be trusted, how they compare to prices at other supermarkets and how accessible they are.
The CMA conducted a consumer survey to understand what shoppers specifically think about loyalty pricing, for example: do they trust it, do they think it’s fair, and does it change where people choose to shop. The CMA also examined supermarkets’ behaviour – including, importantly, their use of customers’ data.
The evidence shows that almost all products scrutinised – 92 per cent of around 50,000 items – offered a genuine saving against the ‘usual’ price in the same store. While loyalty prices are generally some of the cheapest available, this wasn’t always the case meaning it’s worth shopping around.
The survey also found that people can make an average saving of 17-25 per cent buying loyalty priced products at the 5 supermarkets examined: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Co-op and Morrisons. 76 per cent of shoppers say loyalty pricing has not changed where they shop, but 24 per cent now compare prices more due to the introduction of loyalty pricing.
55 per cent of those surveyed think the price for non-members is inflated during loyalty price promotions while 43 per cent of those surveyed think it is unfair that loyalty scheme members pay lower prices for some products than those without a membership.
Another key finding of the survey was that people’s concerns about how their personal data is used is not stopping them from joining a loyalty scheme – only 7 per cent of those surveyed said they hadn’t signed up to a scheme due to personal data concerns. Some supermarkets could do more to make sure that certain shoppers – such as those without smart phones and the elderly – are able to join and make use of loyalty schemes
As part of its wide-ranging review, the CMA also looked at the way supermarkets collect and use people’s data when they sign up to a loyalty scheme. It did not see evidence of consumer law concerns in relation to this.
However, the CMA did find that there was room for improvement regarding people’s ability to access loyalty schemes.
Some supermarkets could do more to ensure people without smart phones or under 18s, for example, can access – and know how to access – loyalty prices. This could include introducing offline sign-up, in-store or via the telephone for example, and lowering the minimum age for joining a scheme.
British lawmakers on Tuesday (26) voted unanimously in favour of plans to introduce some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules, giving the green light to Tobacco and Vapes Bill to progress to the next parliamentary stage.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to make vapes less appealing and would ensure anyone aged 15 this year, or younger would be banned from ever buying cigarettes. After a lengthy debate in the parliament’s House of Commons, a total of 415 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill while 47 voted against it.
Among the expansive changes, the bill includes plans to ban vape advertising and sponsorship, as well as restrictions on packaging and flavors. Many of these flavors, including bubble gum and cotton candy, are said to be particularly appealing to young consumers, fueling the surge of e-cigarette use within this demographic.
“The number of children vaping is growing at an alarming rate and without urgent intervention, we’re going to have a generation of children with long-term addiction,” Labour health secretary Wes Streeting said.
The push for this stringent regulation follows previous attempts by the Conservative government to implement similar measures, which had languished due to political turmoil surrounding election cycles. Caroline Johnson, the Conservative shadow health minister, expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging, "Whatever our views on this bill, it is bold legislation with good intentions. It’s not clear whether it will work, but we all hope it does."
The bill also seeks to establish licensing requirements for retailers who sell tobacco or nicotine products, which would incur fines of £200 for those caught selling to underage buyers.
The government is also contemplating extending current indoor smoking bans to certain outdoor locations like children's playgrounds and hospital grounds, though plans to restrict smoking outside pubs and cafes were previously shelved after backlash from the hospitality sector.
Despite significant backing from various political factions, the legislation has not come without criticism.
Concerns have arisen around civil liberties, with individuals like Conservative MP Robert Jenrick expressing this sentiment on social media. He argued, "Educate more, ban less. Say no to the nanny state," reflecting skepticism about the impact of prohibitive measures.
The controversy surrounding potential civil liberties impacts was not isolated to Conservative ranks. Liberal Democrats also voiced reservations, stating the bill may encroach on personal freedoms.
They were granted the option to vote freely, resulting in mixed responses from party members—some fully supporting the blow to youthful smoking habits, but others raising flags about practicality and ethical concerns.
The legislation does raise complex questions surrounding public health priorities versus individual freedom, leading to heated discussions within parliamentary debates.
Critics of the bill suggest the potential for increased government overreach and skepticism about the efficacy of bans. Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell posed pointed questions during the debates, pushing back on the logic of restricting freedoms, asking, "Why should people not be allowed to make their own responsible choices?"
Streeting countered these claims with the notion indicating future healthcare burdens and societal impacts on non-smokers as significant factors justifying the bill.
Heading to the next steps, the legislation will find its way to committee discussions where MPs can propose amendments before facing another reading before the House of Lords.
If it clears these stages and eventually receives Royal Assent, it will mark a significant evolution of public health policy centered around tobacco consumption within the UK.
In a landmark move for the brand, today, BrewDog is delighted to announce its new partnership with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to be the Official Beer Partner at Lord’s Cricket Ground, in a four-year deal which starts early in the new year.
This significant partnership sees the ground become the first sports venue in the UK to hand over its taps to a craft beer brand, as well as being the only to pour 100 per cent British beer.
The deal incorporates a comprehensive range of BrewDog beers, all brewed in Britain, and will see over 450 draught taps pouring the likes of Punk IPA, Hazy Jane, Lost Lager, Wingman IPA, Black Heart Stout, Cold Beer Lager and Shore Leave Amber Ale, as well as Punk AF and Lost AF from its alcohol-free offering. With a capacity of 31,000 and nearly 60 days of cricket, Lord’s serves around 750,000 pints, across the year.
In true BrewDog style, the brewer will make its mark at the venue, displaying its bold and playful personality across every bar. With a full activation plan currently in progress, including a craft beer terrace takeover, which will be the biggest and best craft beer bar in UK sport.
“This is one of the most monumental achievements we could ever hope for our business," said James Arrow, CEO of, BrewDog plc. "With an ambition to make as many people as passionate about craft beer as we are, this partnership with Lord’s enables us to do just that, taking BrewDog to a premium mainstream audience with a full range of beer styles to suit everyone.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the team that pulled this together and I look forward to a long and successful relationship with this incredibly iconic venue.”
MCC Commercial Director, Andy Muggleton, said: “Partnering with BrewDog is a fantastic step forward for MCC. This collaboration not only brings a new level of quality to our bars at Lord's but also an enhanced matchday experience, with takeovers and pop-ups at the ground, as well as event benefits and discounts for Members. We look forward to introducing the new line-up of craft beers, providing a refreshing, modern twist to our offering, which we’re sure will be well-received by all who visit the Home of Cricket.”
Cereal-maker Weetabix has announced James Bruce as its new Commercial Director and a member of its Executive Leadership team this November.
Previously working with Tropicana Brands Group as UKI Commercial Director and Commercial Strategy Director for Europe, James played a key role in piloting its creation as a new business following its separation from PepsiCo.
This follows over 20 years’ experience in senior roles with international food and drink company, Danone where he drove the success of flagship brands such as Actimel and Activia in the UK and a number of markets in Europe.
“We’re delighted to welcome James to the Weetabix team," said Colm O’Dwyer, Managing Director of Weetabix. “With strong experience in driving business growth, creating dynamic commercial strategies, and raising vital engagement with customers in both the UK and Europe, he is a perfect addition to the Weetabix family.“
I look forward to working closely with James as he brings his wealth of experience, energy and enthusiasm to his new role.”James will be leading the Weetabix Commercial Team in the UK and internationally, a role previously held by O’Dwyer, who became Managing Director in October.
Over 60 businesses have joined Polytag, a technology business specialising in sustainability initiatives, to call upon environment minister Mary Creagh to review Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) legislation. The open letter calls for the removal of “return-to-retail" prescriptions, framing plans in an open way and offering modern, digital solutions that would mean consumers would be able to recycle their plastic bottles at home and still get their deposits back.
The UK is on the brink of implementing a Deposit Return Scheme, a positive step toward a circular economy. But current DRS proposals lean toward a strictly “return-to-retail” model, where consumers would need to store plastic bottles and cans at home and then collect their deposits by using reverse vending machines (RVMs), which are usually only available at large retail locations.
In their open letter to the environment minister, Polytag call upon the Government to set the UK’s DRS up for success by allowing and encouraging at home digital scanning within the regulations, alongside the physical return of containers to shops. Polytag and Ocado Retail's world-first trial back in 2023 proved successful with over 20,000 rewards redeemed in 56 days, highlighting customers are ready for a deposit return scheme that embraces digital technology. Without the flexibility for digital solutions, retailers face significant challenges that could impede the success of the scheme.
“At Polytag, we are backing a digital future for the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme," said Alice Rackley, Polytag CEO. “The introduction of a DRS is extremely welcome and will play a key part in the UK’s circular economy ambitions. However, without the flexibility for digital solutions, the scheme could make recycling harder, not easier, for consumers. A digital option would allow consumers to reclaim deposits conveniently from home, relieving pressure on retailers. Through innovation and digital integration, the Government can implement a blended DRS that works for both businesses and consumers.
“We hope to be able to work with the Government to improve environmental outcomes for all.”
Laura Fernandez, Senior Packaging and Sustainability Manager, Ocado Retail, said: “Ocado Retail and Polytag have already clearly demonstrated that shoppers have an appetite for a digital deposit return scheme; we fully support the need for a modern, flexible scheme that embraces digital innovation. A digital option is a convenient and a necessary step toward creating a recycling system that really works. This approach would empower consumers, reduce operational strain on retailers, and accelerate progress toward the UK’s circular economy goals.”