Purity Soft Drinks, makers of leading fruit juice and juice drink brands Juice Burst and firefly, appoints Jonathan Duffin as CEO. Duffin joins the business with immediate effect.
With extensive experience in consumer goods, gained at United Biscuits and Jordans Cereals in the early part of his career and then at Ocean Spray and Bahlsen Group more recently, Duffin is a strong, commercial leader with a proven ability to grow and develop brand-based businesses. His track record will help him to build on the strong foundations in place at Purity and drive the business forward through the next phase of its exciting journey.
Rooney Anand, Chair of Purity comments: “I am delighted that Jonathan is joining Purity. His leadership experience, together with proven ability to build brands and businesses, make him an excellent appointment for Purity and I look forward to working with him to steer the business forward.”
“I am excited to be joining Purity Soft Drinks and am looking forward to working with the team and developing its brands to take Purity forward to the next level,” said Jonathan Duffin.
Unilever has agreed to sell its The Vegetarian Butcher range to JBS-owned Vivera as part of its strategy to offload non-core brands.
The consumer goods giant acquired the plant-based food brand in 2018 from founder Jaap Korteweg. It has since delivered double-digit growth and expanded to more than 55 markets worldwide, both in retail and foodservice.
As part of a drive to accelerate its growth, Unilever is optimising its portfolio and focusing on its top 30 ‘power brands’.
Earlier this month, the company’s new Chief Executive, Fernando Fernandez, stated that he would accelerate the pace of disposals of smaller regional food brands after his predecessor Hein Schumacher said last year that he was looking to prune products from its portfolio that made up around €1bn of group revenues.
The plant-based food category has experienced a significant slowdown in the last couple of years, with other major manufacturers pulling brands from the market.
In a statement yesterday, Unilever noted that The Vegetarian Butcher’s chilled and frozen products required “a distinct supply chain and sourcing model”, which made the brand “less scalable” within its broader foods portfolio, which includes the likes of Knorr, Hellmann’s, and Marmite.
It went on to say: “The unique set of technological and R&D capabilities that drive the remarkable innovations of The Vegetarian Butcher differs significantly from the requirements of the wider Unilever portfolio.
"This divergence makes a sale of the brand the best option for both Unilever and The Vegetarian Butcher.”
Financial terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory requirements and a consultation process, were not disclosed.
Heiko Schipper, President of Unilever Foods, commented: “Since the acquisition, The Vegetarian Butcher has delivered significant growth and launched many extraordinary products.
"The creative, impactful communication campaigns have fostered genuine love for the brand among consumers. These efforts have not only driven the success of the brand but also reinforced Unilever’s commitment to plant-based foods and breakthrough innovation.
“I believe that The Vegetarian Butcher is poised for even greater success in the next phase of its journey under new ownership that is dedicated to plant-based meat replacements. This focused expertise will support the brand in its ambitious goal to become the Biggest Butcher of the World.”
Vivera is a leading maker of vegan food and has been owned by meat processing giant JBS since 2021. Its CEO, Willem van Weede, said, “The impressive and relentless dedication of the people of The Vegetarian Butcher have brought the vision of Jaap Korteweg to life on an unprecedented scale and ‘sacrificing nothing’.
“Vivera is proud to unite with such like-minded believers in and experts of plant-based products, with the same big ambition towards a better and much more plant-based food chain.
"We are looking forward to together accelerating this important transition, leveraging the complementary competencies of both our companies.’
National Lottery operator Allwyn is urging retailers to make the most of two mammoth footfall and sales-driving opportunities today and tomorrow.
Tonight (21 March) EuroMillions players have the chance to win an extraordinary estimated £166m jackpot. This life-changing sum could propel one lucky winner straight onto the list of The National Lottery’s biggest wins.
The gigantic draw is being supported with 'Over £160m' posters that have been rushed out to tens of thousands of stores, with the huge jackpot also being supported on in-store media screens and in above-the-line advertising – including in newspapers and on radio.
It provides a fantastic talking point for retailers, especially as a lucky winner of this amount would immediately land themselves in the realm of the rich and famous. They would be almost 18 times richer than ‘Espresso’ singer, Sabrina Carpenter, who is worth an estimated £9.25m (Celebrity Net Worth) and would also be significantly richer than England captain, Harry Kane, worth an estimated £91m (TalkSport).
A single winner would also be the third UK EuroMillions jackpot winner this year and the sixth biggest National Lottery winner of all time – not too far behind the biggest-ever UK winner, which was a £195m win from July 2022.
And if that wasn’t enough, tomorrow night (22 March) will see an £11.6m “Must Be Won” Lotto jackpot up for grabs. In a Lotto ‘Must Be Won’ draw, if the jackpot isn’t won outright by someone matching all six main numbers, then the whole amount rolls down and is shared among all the other prize tiers. This is a particularly beneficial footfall driver for retailers, as players come back into store to collect their boosted prize amounts.
“If the recent bout of spring weather hasn’t given retailers enough to smile about, this weekend’s set of bumper draws will!” said Allwyn’s Head of Retail Channels, James Dunbar. “We know when EuroMillions reaches this level, it creates lots of chatter – so presents the perfect opportunity for retailers to ask their customers if they’d like a Lucky Dip for the mega jackpot draw and to get them talking about what they’d do if they were suddenly £166m richer!
“And with a Lotto ‘Must Be Won’ draw following hot on the heels, there are plenty of reasons for players to come back in store over the coming days. It’s also worth remembering that playing any National Lottery game is more than just a chance to win; it's a way to contribute to something much bigger. Each week, players – and retailers selling tickets – help generate around £30m for National Lottery-funded Good Causes, giving everyone yet another reason to smile.”
Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I is ramping up its charity drive initiative in 2025 and has partnered with leading independent convenience retailers, wholesalers and foodservice teams to support with stock donations of its popular Lucozade Energy Blue Burst.
Following the success of last year’s Blucozade launch, SBF GB&I is offering retailers and operators the opportunity to share one of the most popular new drinks of 2024 with causes close to their hearts.
This charity drive sees over 60 retailers and 10 OOH operators sharing 112 pallets – equivalent to 177,000 drinks – with those directly in touch with their local communities to support great causes. It also ensures stock reaches these community groups in time for any upcoming spring or summer events.
These charity partnerships form part of SBF GB&I’s key company value of Giving Back to Society which is deep-rooted within Suntory’s global purpose. Since this initiative began in 2020, SBF GB&I has donated more than 260,000 drinks to worthy causes across the UK.
“I regularly work with my local community to help support ongoing initiatives,” said Julie Kaur, who owns Jules Convenience Store in Telford. “Partnering with SBF GB&I for stock donations is a fantastic way for us to further assist our charity partners.”
Louisa Newlove, Head of Sales at SBF GB&I, adds:“We always strive to support our retailers in the best way we can, recognising the value they bring to the heart of their communities. We are proud to partner with them to provide stock donations for many worthy causes, which align with our company value of giving back to society. We hope this initiative will be beneficial and timely ahead of any spring or summer events they have planned!”
Participating retailers and operators will be donating to local charities in their communities over the next few weeks.
This spring, one of the UK’s premier retail industry events, the Retail Technology Show, returns - this time at ExCeL London. Volumatic is preparing to meet with retailers and industry professionals to showcase its market-leading cash handling solutions, demonstrating how its technology can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve security in cash operations.
The Retail Technology Show is a key event for the retail and hospitality sectors, taking place from 2nd-3rd April 2025. Visitors can find Volumatic at stand J28, where the team will demonstrate its intelligent cash handling solutions designed to streamline cash processes, eliminate errors, securely store cash, detect counterfeit banknotes, and enhance overall efficiency—freeing up valuable time for customer service.
Volumatic will offer visitors a hands-on experience with its cutting-edge solutions, with live demonstrations and expert guidance tailored to retailers' specific needs.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Retail Technology Show again in 2025, following our successful U.S. events earlier this year," said Mike Severs, Sales & Marketing Director. "This show is a highlight of our calendar, providing an excellent opportunity to connect with retailers and demonstrate how our award-winning cash handling solutions - like the CounterCache intelligent (CCi) and our latest software innovations - can transform cash management, making it more secure, cost-effective, and efficient.”
Cash handling solutions from Volumatic on display:
CounterCache intelligent (CCi) – An award-winning ‘closed-loop’ cash handling solution that ensures secure and accurate cash processing. Once cash is accepted by the cashier, it remains untouched until it reaches the bank.
CashView Enterprise – Demonstrating seamless communication between CCi devices and Volumatic’s latest cash management software. With intelligent dashboards and live notifications, retailers can track cash flow in real time across multiple locations.
CashView Balance App – An extension of CashView Enterprise, this app streamlines reconciliation for tills and integrates seamlessly with back-office software for automated reporting.
CountEasy & CountEasy TS Money Counting Scales – Speed up cash counting and end-of-day reconciliation in under 60 seconds. The CountEasy TS features advanced touchscreen technology for enhanced efficiency.
FC300 Friction Banknote Checker & Counter – A high-performance 1.5-pocket note counter capable of validating and counting up to 1,500 banknotes per minute, helping retailers detect forgeries and boost efficiency.
Retailers attending the Retail Technology Show are encouraged to visit stand J28 to explore Volumatic’s solutions and discover how intelligent cash handling technology can drive cost savings and operational improvements in their businesses.
Following the outstanding success of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s Go Local Programme, launched in December 2020, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon has approved the roll-out of the next phase of the project, extended until the end of May 2026.
A report on the benefits of the project was published earlier in the year, highlighting a remarkable increase in Scottish products being sold over the counter in participating stores. Taking part in the programme results in an average growth in sales of goods sourced from local producers of 44 per cent. The report also provides evidence of a significant multiplier impact and boost for the local economy, with expected increases of around £169k per store per annum.
Phase 6 will see a further allocation of £195k for the programme and the selection of at least forty geographically and demographically diverse stores, to secure increased display space for Scottish products. As well as using the available Scottish supplier databases to grow the number of suppliers and improve customer choice.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Since 2020, we have been working with the Scottish Grocers Federation to get more Scottish products on the shelves in local convenience stores. We know people want to buy and support local producers and that’s why I am absolutely delighted to announce that we are providing a further £195,000 funding for phase 6 of the "Go Local" programme.
“It’s great to see the impact the programme has made in the last five years, with over 130 stores supported by ‘Go Local’, 103 local producers participating in meet the buyer events and participating stores on average stocking 36 per cent more Scottish local produce. I look forward to seeing first-hand the work being done in the coming months.”
Jamie Buchanan, Go Local Programme Director, added: “Working together with both Scotland Food & Drink and the Scottish Government, the SGF Go Local Programme has truly brought about a sea change in how participating stores source their produce. Shifting the focus toward local suppliers and delivering a substantial benefit for both businesses and the community.
“Producers and retailers get direct access to their local market while also improving sustainability, cutting out long-distance transport costs. Meanwhile, customers ensure they are getting only the best quality local produce and provide a boost for their local economy at the same time.
“We are confident that we can do much more, however, and the tremendous success of the programme so far is evidence of that. Needless to say, we are delighted that the Cabinet Secretary and the Scottish Government are backing the next phase of the project, into 2026.”
Scotland Food & Drink UK Market Manager, Angus Bell commented: “The Go Local Programme has been a tremendous success in helping to promote and build sales of locally sourced Scottish products, and we are delighted with this support for the next phase of the programme. Scotland Food & Drink will continue to work together with the Scottish Grocers Federation, local producers, and convenience retailers to deliver a strong and relevant local offer through supplier upskilling, market insight and meet the buyer activities.”
Professor of Retail Studies, Leigh Sparks, from the University of Stirling, added: "The investment in the Go Local programme has seen shops and communities across Scotland benefit from a focus on local produce and suppliers, so the extension of the programme is really welcome news. Our research demonstrated the impressive benefits that can be obtained and the economic, social and environmental advantages released."
Research Fellow, Dr Maria Rybaczewska, from the University of Stirling, also commented: “Our analysis revealed that an average growth in sales of goods sourced from local producers significantly outperformed that of the overall stock. Key healthier local product categories driving this growth include dairy, food-to-go, bakery and bread rolls, chilled food, and soft drinks.”
Administered by the Scottish Grocer’s Federation, the Go Local Programme provides individual grants for retailers to invest in expanding dedicated space for local products, provides assets to improve consumer engagement and is supported by Scotland Food & Drink facilitating ‘meet-the-buyer’ events linking up local retailers with producers in their area.
The programme is contributing towards the local food strategy and also proving to be a pillar of strength for participating retailers by differentiating their offer from their competition. The average convenience store on the programme is delivering 31 per cent of their total sales from Scottish products (when tobacco and news are excluded).
Retailers who already have a Scottish proposition can benefit from the substantial point of sale kit without investing, by requesting a kit through the online application portal.
The Go Local Project Report 2024 can be downloaded here.
Grants will be awarded for the installation of new equipment dedicated to locally sourced Scottish products on a 50 per cent match-funding basis, capped at £5,500 (multi-site operators will be limited to one application per company). The grant application form can be found here.