Parfetts has launched an exclusive Go Local cooking sauce range designed to provide retailers with excellent margins while delivering unbeatable value to consumers.
The four-flavour range includes Jalfrezi, Tikka Masala, Tomato & Basil, and Tomato & Chilli, all priced at £1.49 per 350g jar. The range is designed to offer consumers value for money, while retailers benefit from a 33% margin.
The Go Local cooking sauces are available in attractive and convenient price-marked packs (PMP), helping retailers build consumer trust and drive sales. Retailers can purchase the Go Local cooking sauce range at £5.99 for a case of six, helping to provide affordable meal solutions to their customers.
Parfetts’ new Go Local Own Label is expected to appeal to a wide range of consumers, from families looking for a quick meal solution to those seeking out high-quality and delicious cooking sauces at a reasonable price.
The launch marks a new addition to Parfetts’ growing Own Label range, which is focused on providing both strong margins and value. The range is expected to expand to over 200 lines by the end of 2024.
Gurms Athwal, trading director at Parfetts, said: “The Go Local cooking sauce range not only gives consumers excellent value with clear price-marked packs, but it also delivers outstanding margins for our retailers. We’re focused on supporting our retailers by offering products that help them compete effectively in the marketplace.”
The range of sauces is now available exclusively at Parfetts, in depots, and online.
Tabrez Hussain, co-owner of LA Foods being presented with a trophy, in recognition of Henderson Technology’s 1,000th installation of EDGEPoS at the Uxbridge Road store
Henderson Technology has announced the 1,000th installation of its innovative EPOS system, EDGEPoS, at LA Foods on Uxbridge Road, London.
This milestone highlights the growing popularity and success of EDGEPoS, which was first piloted in 2011 and has since evolved into one of the most powerful and user friendly EPOS systems globally.
LA Foods, co-owned by Tabrez Hussain and his family, has a long retail history dating back to 1990 when his father established the business. Since the late 2000s, Tabrez and his brothers have expanded the company, which now operates 13 stores. The Uxbridge Road location, home to the 1,000th EDGEPoS installation, serves a diverse customer base and is dedicated to staying ahead of consumer trends.
The decision to implement EDGEPoS across all 13 stores was an easy decision for the business to make.
Tabrez Hussain said, “We chose EDGEPoS because we wanted a system that could make our store operations more streamlined and automated. The self-checkouts, suggested ordering, and electronic shelf labels (ESELs) were particularly appealing, and while we haven’t yet rolled out ESELs, we are excited about their potential.”
Since adopting EDGEPoS, LA Foods has witnessed significant improvements in operational efficiency. Automated ordering has freed up staff time for essential tasks like stock taking, ensuring accurate stock values and operational activities. “Features like automated ordering save time we can now spend on other tasks, such as regular stock takes,” Tabrez explained. “The reduction printers and digital handsets have also been invaluable additions.”
With a focus on convenience, EDGEPoS has transformed the shopping experience at LA Foods. From seamless transactions at reliable tills to maintaining consistent stock levels, the system has made shopping quicker and more satisfying for customers.
Tabrez added: “It’s reassuring to know that Henderson Technology has a strong foundation and that we are part of a large network of users. It gives us confidence in their long term support and future advancements.”
Darren Nickels, Retail Operations Director at Henderson Technology, said: “Reaching the 1,000th installation is a tremendous achievement, and we are thrilled that LA Foods is the business to mark this milestone. We are excited for their future and proud they chose EDGEPoS to drive their operations forward. It’s retailers like LA Foods that inspire us to continue innovating and delivering solutions tailored to their needs.”
For LA Foods, EDGEPoS aligns seamlessly with their business goals. “EDGEPoS has been transformative for our business, enabling us to streamline operations and improve efficiency while keeping up with modern retail trends,” Tabrez concluded. “It’s a robust system that aligns perfectly with our growth goals and gives us confidence in the future.”
Henderson Technology has established itself as a leader in the EPOS market, known for continuous innovation and partnerships. The EDGEPoS system, developed ‘by retailers for retailers’, is now one of the most feature rich and powerful systems globally. The company’s dedicated research and development team prioritises retailer feedback, ensuring the system evolves to meet the changing demands of the retail industry.
On average, each of the 5.5 million small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) in the UK lost almost £11,000 this year through fraud, claims a new research.
Commissioned by Mollie, the study found that over half (54 per cent) of UK SMBs were the victims of online fraud in 2024.
Specifically, more than half (58 per cent) dealt with phishing scams in the past 12 months, where scammers pretended to be trusted companies to steal their personal information through email. Additionally, 42 per cent dealt with refund fraud, where customers manipulated refund policies to obtain reimbursements for products or services they were not entitled to.
Similarly, three in ten (30 per cent) said they experienced attempts at account takeovers, where unauthorized parties tried to gain access to their online business accounts. Additionally, a quarter (26 per cent) experienced chargebacks on completely legitimate transactions, and over two in ten (23 per cent) faced carding attacks, where stolen cards were tested at checkout, leading to spikes in failed transactions.
In addition to the financial toll, online fraud is impacting the productivity of small businesses. Mollie’s research found that they spend an average of 15 days—or 120 hours—each year managing and mitigating fraud-related issues. This time commitment diverts resources from core business operations, further straining already limited budgets.
Richard Wivell, Marketing Manager at Nemesis Now, said, "Experiencing gateway attacks was a costly and stressful ordeal for our business. We dealt with fake orders, refunded fraudulent payments, and worked overtime with developers to manage thousands of malicious requests.
"Unfortunately, the lack of urgency from our previous provider forced us to take matters into our own hands working with our trusted web development agency to identify vulnerabilities and blocking attacks.”
Dave Smallwood, UK Managing Director of Mollie, said, “As the backbone of the UK economy, it’s crucial that UK SMBs –especially e-commerce ones– are equipped with practical solutions to manage their money and fight fraud effectively. Many small businesses lack the resources to cover a single fraudulent incident, and without support and action, we risk stifling business innovation and growth.
"Fighting fraudulent activity is taking resources away from day-to-day business operations, and we need this to change. We need to provide businesses large and small with access to the support needed to safeguard against increasingly sophisticated threats so they can focus on the job at hand."
Britain's economy shrank for the second consecutive month in October, official data showed Friday, dealing a blow to the Labour government that has made economic growth a priority.
Gross domestic product fell 0.1 per cent in October compared with September, when output declined by the same amount, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
The decline was unexpected by analysts, who had estimated that the economy would grow slightly.
"The figures this month are disappointing," said chancellor Rachel Reeves, whose first budget in October featured big tax increases on businesses.
"We have put in place policies to deliver long-term economic growth," she added.
Analysts have attributed part of the decline to uncertainty after the Labour government warned of "tough" measures in its budget at the end of October.
ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said that "oil and gas extraction, pubs and restaurants and retail all had weak months".
Despite this, "the economy still grew a little over the last three months as a whole", she said.
Alongside tax increases in the budget, prime minister Keir Starmer's government announced plans for higher borrowing that it said would be invested in infrastructure projects to help drive economic growth.
Against the backdrop of weak growth, the Bank of England is set to decide next week whether it will cut interest rates again.
In November, the central bank trimmed borrowing costs by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent.
C&C Group has announced the appointment of Roger White as its new chief executive. He will take charge at the premium branded drinks group on 20 January 2025.
White led the multi-beverage business AG Barr as chief executive from 2002 until May 2024. Prior to this, he held several senior management positions at Rank Hovis McDougall Group (RHM) from 1987 to 2002.
“An acknowledged high calibre leader, he will bring an exceptional combination of extensive branded drinks sector expertise, understanding of our markets and a proven track record of delivery,” Ralph Findlay, chair and chief executive of C&C Group, commented.
Findlay will return to the position of non-executive chair following a short period of transition after White joins the business, which is behind brands including Bulmers, Tennent’s and Magners.
“We look forward to working with Roger. His knowledge and insight will be of great relevance and invaluable to C&C as we continue the recent positive momentum underway within the business and progress our plans to deliver enhanced shareholder value,” he added.
White commented: “It is an exciting time to be joining the business. C&C has a unique business model, great brands and a committed team, with the potential to create significant long-term value. I look forward to working with the board and the wider team to lead C&C through the next phase of its development.”
White is currently non-executive director of Warburtons Ltd, and chair of Beatson Cancer Charity. He was previously senior independent director of Troy Income and Growth Trust plc (2014-2024), and non-executive director of William Jackson Food Group (2019-2024).
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David Bennett (L), regional manager at Henderson Group with Aidan Boyle, owner of Boyle’s SPAR Ballycastle as the store celebrates 60 years
Boyle’s SPAR Ballycastle is celebrating 60 years of their community store after investing £100,000 into the business this year.
The recent expansion heavily focused on increasing the store’s fresh food range with their food-to-go and Deli offering both doubling in size, as well as the installation of additional refrigeration, which has allowed the store to increase their range of locally sourced and made in-store fresh products.
The store opened in 1964, trading as Mace until 2004 when they began trading with Henderson Group, under the SPAR brand. Upon opening, the store was owned by Brian Boyle and had just four employees and now employs 35 from the local area. The store remains a family-focused business to this day, as it is now owned and operated by Ronan and Aidan Boyle, who have managed the business since 1999.
Over the years, the Boyle family have made significant investments into the store, totaling over £1 million. Boyles SPAR Ballycastle’s current site was newly built in 2009 when the family made the move from their original site. They then completed a full refit of the store in 2019 totaling £300,000, followed by their latest refurbishment earlier this year.
The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) remains in place after the refurbishment. It’s installed outside the store and available for the community 24/7, providing essential access to potentially lifesaving equipment even when the store is not open to the residential area.
To further celebrate this incredible milestone, store staff embarked on an in-store charity cycle on 7 December, aiming to reach 60 miles for Marie Curie NI. 60p from the sale of every Barista Bar coffee also went towards the charity from 2–8 December as part of the celebration week.
Shoppers were also in with a chance to win a £60 store voucher every day of the week, while also picking up a number of 60p special deals the store were offering to mark the occasion.
“Our local community is central to everything we do and that is why we have made such significant investments over the years to expand our services and product offering for our shoppers,” Ronan Boyle commented. “Our team decided that we wanted our 60th year to be about our community and celebrating with them. We have enjoyed being able to thank our shoppers with competitions and special offers.”
The team has always been community focused, supporting a number of local sports teams including Ballycastle GAA, Carey GAA, Naomh Padraig GAA, Ballycastle Runners AC, Ballycastle Cycling Club and Ballycastle United Football Club, as well as local charities such as Marie Curie. The team at the store has raised £300,000 for these local sports teams, charities and community groups through numerous instore fundraisers and community events over the years.
Aidan Boyle added: “We are passionate about supporting local charities, community groups and sports teams. A number of our team members have strong connections with local sports teams and it is so important to us that we show our commitment to them. Being a hub in the community, we have supported many young people from the local area with employment during their education and it is always a pleasure to help them grow and develop their careers through our store.
“We wish to extend a huge thank you to our team for their loyalty, with a special thank you to Michael McLernon who has worked at the store for 41 years. We would also like to thank our shoppers for their support over the past 60 years and we look forward to many more successful years of the store.”
Paddy Doody, sales and marketing director at Henderson Group which owns the SPAR brand in Northern Ireland, commented: “We wish to congratulate Ronan, Aidan and the whole team at Boyle’s SPAR Ballycastle on their incredible milestone of 60 years. They are such an integral part of their local community, having a positive impact and giving back to local charities and community groups, all while providing value on the doorsteps of their shoppers, and this is what SPAR is all about. We wish them every success for years to come.”