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.
One in fours Brits have seen shop theft in stores while the same ratio has also witnessed abuse of a store staff, shows latest BRC-Opinium survey data released today (13), highlighting the scale of epidemic of retail crime and how massively it affects the larger population in the UK.
Stating that criminals are becoming bolder and more aggressive, retail leaders are calling on the government to cover delivery drivers too in the Crime and Policing Bill.
According to statistics, nearly a quarter of the UK population (24 per cent) have witnessed shoplifting taking place while at a shop in the last 12 months. That is equivalent to over 16 million people witnessing these events.
The data also shows 23 per cent of customers have witnessed the physical or verbal abuse of shop staff. This can include racial or sexual abuse, physical assault or threats with weapons.
The research comes as the UK experiences record levels of retail crime with 20 million incidents of theft last year, and incidents of violence and abuse climbing to over 2,000 per day.
Separately, Usdaw – the shopworkers’ union – have produced their own survey showing 77 per cent of retail staff experiencing abuse, 53 per cent threats, and 10 per cent assault.
These incidents are not restricted to those working in stores: delivery drivers are often subjected to abuse, physical violence, and threats with weapons.
As a result, many are being equipped with protective measures, such as personal safety devices to alert the police of their whereabouts, and DNA spit testing kits.
Crime cost retailers an eye-watering £4.2bn last year. This includes £2.2bn from shoplifting, and another £1.8bn spent on crime prevention measures such as CCTV, more security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras.
These costs add to the wider cost pressures retailers already face, further limiting investment and pushing up prices for customers everywhere.
There are stark differences between cities in the UK. Customers in Nottingham saw the most shoplifting, with just under a third (32 per cent) of people witnessing an incident. London followed close behind at 29 per cent, followed by Southampton (28 per cent) and Leeds (26 per cent).
Meanwhile, Plymouth and Belfast saw the least at 12 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
A similar pattern also existed for abuse of colleagues. Customers in London witnessed the most incidents of physical or verbal abuse at 30 per cent. Nottingham and Liverpool were close second at 29 per cent, with Manchester at 27 per cent of customers.
The government is taking action to address retail crime through the new Crime and Policing Bill. Retailers hope this will play a vital role in protecting retail workers from harm and tackling the surge in theft.
The Bill includes a standalone offence which will improve the visibility of violence so that police can allocate appropriate resources to the challenge.
It also seeks to remove the £200 threshold of ‘low level’ theft, which will send a clear signal that all shoplifting is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. But, this Bill needs to go further and protect all retail staff working in customer facing roles, including delivery drivers, just as the Workers Protection Act does in Scotland.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said, "Seeing incidents of theft or abuse has become an all-too-common part of the shopping experience for many people.
"While an incident can be over in a matter of seconds, it can have life-long consequences on those who experience it, making them think twice about visiting their local high streets.
"Criminals are becoming bolder and more aggressive, and decisive action is needed to put an end to it. The Crime and Policing Bill is a crucial step in providing additional protections to retail workers.
"However, in its current proposed form, it does not afford all retail workers the same protections as those working in Scotland, where delivery drivers are also protected. The Bill must protect everyone in customer facing roles in the industry.”
Percentage of people who have witnessed shoplifting in past 12 months:
RANKING
CITY
% witness to shoplifting
1
Nottingham
32%
2
London
29%
3
Southampton
28%
4
Leeds
26%
5
Manchester
25%
6
Birmingham
23%
7
Newcastle
23%
8
Sheffield
22%
9
Brighton
21%
10
Liverpool
20%
Percentage of people who have witnessed physical or verbal abuse of shop staff in past 12 months:
VApril, the largest and most successful vape awareness campaign in the world, is returning for its eighth year amid record-high misperceptions around vaping and stop smoking tool.
Created by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the initiative comes at a critical time for the UK vaping sector, with half of smokers wrongly believing vaping is as harmful - or worse - than smoking.
Launching next week, VApril will focus on dispelling myths, helping smokers make the switch and, critically, emphasising the need for greater public education about vaping as the most effective quitting tool available.
The campaign follows the release of Freedom of Information data exposing a shocking lack of government investment in stop-smoking campaigns and comes ahead of a potential advertising ban under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
As part of the campaign, the UKVIA is releasing an expert interview with health psychologist and stop smoking specialist Sairah Salim-Sartoni, who shares the latest evidence on vaping and addresses the dangerous misperceptions which are blocking smokers from making the switch.
It will also be sharing a series of written and video testimonials from real vapers whose lives have been changed by the reduced risk alternative; launching an educational social media campaign to arm smokers with the facts about vaping; and rolling out a library of informative guides and infographics, including:
A five-step Start Vaping, Stop Smoking plan to help smokers make the switch
A Stay Smokefree Guide to help disposable users transition to reusables ahead of the June 2025 ban
A Responsible Vaping Guide to help vapers ensure they are being considerate of those around them
A 10 Vaping Truths factsheet which breaks down key evidence about vaping
The campaign will also include a parliamentary session to communicate the importance of vaping and public education in securing a smokefree future.
The UKVIA is also hosting its ‘Clearing the Air’ webinar - where an expert panel, including a stop-smoking specialist and a senior research nurse, will discuss how healthcare professionals can confidently talk to patients about vaping.
Said UKVIA Director General John Dunne, “Vaping has played a crucial role in driving UK smoking rates to an all-time low, helping millions finally quit for good. Yet, growing misinformation is stopping it from reaching its full potential in securing a smokefree future.
“VApril was created as our answer to the need for greater awareness about vaping and it has successfully supported smokers in making the switch for eight years.”
He continued: “To have the best possible chance of helping the remaining six million smokers transition away from cigarettes, the government must invest in public education to correct the narrative surrounding vaping. Smokers deserve to know the facts.”
In addition to the core focus of helping smokers make the switch, and correcting the myths about the proven quitting tool, this year’s VApril campaign will also deliver guidance on the key areas of "Identifying Illegal Vapes and Recycling Awareness".
This is to ensure consumers can ‘better protect themselves and the planet as they make the lifechanging decision to quit through vaping’.
VApril – as the largest vaping education campaign in the world – has supported smokers looking to quit by providing evidence-based guidance on making the switch and addressing the biggest myths and misperceptions about the most effective stop smoking tool available today.
All downloadables and resources will be accessible through the VApril.org website from the launch of the campaign.
Almost all convenience stores in Wales engaged in some form of community activity last year, shows a latest report, shedding light on the value that Wales’ 3,000+ convenience stores provide as community hubs, local employers of over 26,000 people, and significant contributors to the Welsh economy.
Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has officially launched its 2025 Welsh Local Shop Report, celebrating the key contributions that Welsh convenience stores make to their communities.
The report acts as its own standalone branch of the ACS Local Shop Report, focusing on the positive impacts that Welsh convenience stores have on their local communities, often providing key services that have declined or disappeared from those areas.
The 2025 Welsh Local Shop report was launched today (26) at Tŷ Hywel, Cardiff, where members gathered together to discuss and celebrate the significant role that local shops play in Welsh communities, as well as the unique challenges faced by Welsh businesses.
Key figures from this year’s report include:
Welsh shops contributed to £656bn in GVA over the last year
Welsh shops provide over 26,000 secure, local jobs to their communities
38 per cent of these stores are isolated with no other retail or service business close by
93 per cent of independent retailers in Wales engaged in some form of community activity over the past year
Welsh convenience stores were voted the second most important business in supporting their local economy by Welsh shoppers
Over the last year, convenience stores in Wales have invested over £43m in their businesses. 65 per cent fund investments from own reserves while refigeration turned out to be the most common area of investment, states the report.
87 per cent of Welsh independent retailers own one store, while 14 per cent of retailers never take holidays.
33 per cent of Welsh convenience stores offer delivery service while 29 per cent has a Post Office.
Talking about food to go, 38 per cent of Welsh convenience stores has customer operated coffee machine, 27 per cent has food preparation area, 25 per cent has in-store bakery while 21 per cent has hot food counter.
About 77 per cent of stores has EPOSW and 52 per cent has store website, adds the report. 96 per cent of stores has CCTV.
The average basket size is 2.7 items and average spend is £8.29.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “The Welsh convenience sector has once again proved its resilience in providing secure, flexible jobs and acting as an important service hub for customers to access the products and services they need daily.
“We hope that the Welsh government will support retailers in Wales such as the rising operational costs of trading, so that they can continue to act as community anchors for their residents.”
British inflation slowed more than expected in February, bringing some relief to consumers ahead of a likely new pick-up in price growth and to finance minister Rachel Reeves before her budget update speech today (26). However, analysts have warned that it inflation will be pushed again soon due to costs arising from the Budget.
Consumer prices rose by 2.8 per cent in annual terms in February after a 3.0 per cent increase in January, the Office for National Statistics said, as clothing and footwear prices fell for the first time in more than three years.
Economists polled by Reuters had pointed to a reading of 2.9 per cent in February while the Bank of England had expected 2.8 per cent in a set of forecasts published in early February.
Economists warned that rising energy prices will push inflation up again soon.
"February's slowdown is a false dawn as notable near-term price rises are already baked in, with next month's jump in energy bills and national insurance likely to push inflation perilously close to 4% sooner rather than later," Suren Thiru, Economics Director at accountancy body ICAEW, said.
He said the BoE would remain wary about price pressures.
"While a May policy loosening remains on the table, rate setters will want to gauge the effect of April’s major jump in business costs and any measures announced in the Spring Statement before proceeding with another rate cut," Thiru said.
Responding to the latest CPI inflation figures, Kris Hamer, Director of Insight of the British Retail Consortium, said, “Headline inflation fell marginally in February, driven by marginal drops in housing and household services and clothing and footwear entering deflation.
"Despite continued cost pressures, namely energy price volatility, food inflation remained unchanged. There was good news as some dairy products such as milk, cheese and eggs all saw price drops on the month.
"Heavy clothing and footwear discounting continued into February, as fashion sales continue to suffer due to unseasonal weather throughout the month.
“Retail operates on tight margins and it would be impossible to absorb all £5bn of new costs which hit the industry in April.
"Food inflation has jumped significantly in recent months and is forecast to hit 5 per cent by the end of 2025 as a result of the costs arising from the Budget.
"On top of this, retailers are still burdened by an outdated business rates system. It is vital that the government’s reform of business rates doesn’t impose additional costs onto retailers. Reform must leave no shop paying more.”
Premium mixer brand Fever-Tree saw its revenue growth accelerate to 7 per cent in the second half of its financial year to 31 December, helping it recover from a wet start to the summer season in 2024.
The firm’s total revenue was up 4 per cent to £364 million over the 12-month period, despite a 3 per cent drop to £111.1m in the UK, where low consumer sentiment and a declining gin category hit demand for its products.
Performance was driven by its operation in the US, where revenues jumped 9 per cent to £128.0m after growing its presence in the off-trade.
Meanwhile, a significant gross margin improvement resulted in a 66 per cent increase in adjusted EBITDA to £50.7m, which was in line with analysts’ expectations. Fever-Tree stated that this was helped by operational improvements such as the localisation of production.
In January, Fever-Tree entered into a deal with Molson Coors that saw the brewer become the exclusive sales, distribution and production partner for the mixer brand in the US.
The tie-up was underpinned by Molson Coors acquiring an 8.5% shareholding in Fever-Tree for a cash consideration of £71.0m.
Fever-Tree entered the US market in 2008 and has since become the number one tonic and ginger beer brand in the country. The British firm noted at the time that the combination with Molson Coors’ expertise and scale would allow it to “drive the brand to the next level in its largest and most dynamic market”.
Fever-Tree said today that while only a few weeks have passed since the announcement of the deal, sales momentum has remained strong and good initial progress has been made.
The company stated that it was expecting 2025 to be a “transition year” for the US business and, therefore, was “comfortable” with consensus expectations of low single-digit group revenue growth and around 12 per cent adjusted EBITDA margin for the year.
Tim Warrillow, Co-Founder and CEO, commented: “The Fever-Tree brand performed well in 2024, despite the subdued consumer environment.
"Across every key region, we are gaining market share, with more consumers discovering, enjoying, and becoming loyal to Fever-Tree each year across a growing variety of drinking occasions.
"This was particularly noticeable in our largest region, the US, where once again the brand grew strongly and well ahead of the market.
“Our growing market share continues to be driven by our deep understanding of global drinking trends allowing us to make the most of evolving consumer preferences. As a result, non-Tonic products now make up c.45% of our global revenues, driven by the success of our Ginger Beer and our expanding position in cocktail mixers and adult soft drinks.
“Looking to the future, our focus remains on unlocking Fever-Tree’s long-term potential across the world and capitalising on the unique position the brand has established sitting across alcohol and non-alcohol occasions.”
Co-op is stepping up the price war in the convenience sector by rolling out its version of the Aldi price match pledge, which has been adopted by several of the supermarket multiples in recent years.
From Wednesday (26), the Co-op will start matching the discounter’s prices on over 100 everyday essentials, including fresh fruit, milk, eggs and bread.
However, the savings will only be available to Co-op members, of which there are currently six million. And all of the items covered by the offer will be Co-op own brand lines.
As well as being available across all of Co-op’s 2,400 shops, the price commitment will extend to its quick-commerce delivery platforms, including Shop.coop, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, which it claims is an industry first.
Some of the Aldi price matched lines include Co-op 1 Pint British Milk (85p), Co-op Carrots 500g (38p), Co-op Chopped Tomatoes 400g (47p), Six Co-op British medium free-range eggs (£1.45), and Co-op Tiger Bloomer 800g (£1.45).
The launch of the price match commitment will be supported by a major marketing campaign.
The retailer stated that the move takes its investment into lowering prices to almost £170m over the last two years. This has included the launch of its Member Prices scheme in April 2023, with Co-op aiming to build its membership to eight million people.
“I am very clear that, in this current economic climate, price is most often the deciding food shopping factor for our members and customers,” said Matt Hood, Managing Director for Co-op.
“Which is why we are taking this big step to price match, in our stores and online, as we know discounter prices are often the benchmark of value for consumers, and we are facing directly into that … Price has often been perceived as the Achilles heel of convenience shopping, but this new initiative will change that and show there is no compromise in value, quality, or range to shopping conveniently.”
Sainsbury’s extended its Aldi price match scheme to its convenience chain in November last year, covering 200 items in its 800 Local format stores.