A Skipton woman has won a £10,000 voucher to spend on the holiday of a lifetime through SPAR’s £10K To Getaway promotion.
Emma, a 32-year-old learning designer, played the web-based app promotion daily throughout May and June by opening digital suitcases.
As one of a total of 37,500 unique players, she had the chance to win a range of prizes including free products, money off vouchers, a £200 daily cash prize, and grand prize entries.
She was chosen at random as the grand prize winner from those who played the game and redeemed £10K To Getaway prizes at participating SPAR stores in the North of England.
Emma, who redeemed her prize at the SPAR St Mary’s Gate in Manchester city centre, is over the moon with the win and she has exciting plans for the £10,000 holiday voucher.
“It’s incredible! I was at home when I took the phone call to say I had won the grand prize, and I couldn’t believe it. It's a dream come true,” she said.
“I enjoyed playing the online game, but I never thought I would be the grand prize winner. A few weeks ago, I went into the SPAR store to buy a wrap for my lunch and now here I am stood outside with a £10,000 holiday voucher!
“I really want to take my parents away on a holiday as a thank you for everything they have done to support me. It would be amazing to take them on a luxury city break to Vienna, a place we've all wanted to visit, and there may even be some money left for something else.”
The campaign has been run by James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR’s primary wholesaler and distributor in Northern England, with this latest outstanding promotion hot on the heels of the award-winning Win With Every Goal campaign in December 2022.
SPAR customers signed up to £10K To Getaway every 100 seconds on average through the 42-day promotion period, drawn in by the prospect of a dream holiday winning prizes from a total prize pool in excess of £100,000.
The campaign realised 275,000 game plays and more than 25 per cent of prizes were redeemed by customers – a phenomenal rate when compared to industry promotion averages.
The 10K To Getaway SPAR campaign was well-supported by a range of big-name brands including Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Britvic, Nestle, Walkers, Red Bull, Nescafe, Nando’s, Batchelors, Barr, Popchips, Weetabix, Vimto, and Volvic.
Tom Murphy, marketing manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “Huge congratulations go to Emma as our £10K To Getaway grand prize winner, and what a wonderful way to spend the holiday voucher. We hope Emma and her family enjoy an amazing time!
“We were confident we had another popular campaign planned with £10K To Getaway as everyone loves a holiday. The flexibility of the voucher also offered something for everyone, whether a sunkissed beach chillout, a stylish city break, a luxury countryside retreat, or something more adventurous and exotic.
“Thank you to our loyal suppliers for their contribution to another superb promotion, to Abraxas Marketing for the gamification support, and our SPAR retailers who enjoyed another incredibly successful campaign with strong customer buy-in.”
This Christmas is going to be biggest ever for low and no-alcohol drinks, states a recent report citing figures and trends from supermarket Tesco.
Data from Tesco shared exclusively with The Mirror found the supermarket is expecting to see more demand than ever for the likes of Lucky Strike, Kylie Minogue's 0% wine and Captain Morgan Alcohol Free Rum with sales soaring by as much as 70 per cent.
The supermarket stated that no and low beer has been the biggest winner this year with shoppers now buying in multi-pack sizes rather than single bottles or cans - the equivalent in litres of a 20 per cent rise on 2023. Now, it is predicting demand in the four-week run up to Christmas to grow by 15 per cent on the same period last year with Lucky Saint, Heineken, Peroni, and Athletic among the most popular brands.
No and Low Spirits also saw demand at Tesco leaping by 20 per cent year-on-year. Predicted best sellers for Christmas, based on early demand, are Captain Morgan Alcohol Free Rum 70cl; Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger 0% gin; and its own label Pink Gin and Lemonade 0.5% 4-pack.
No and Low Wine also saw strong growth of more than 10 per cent, with demand for Kylie Minogue’s Sparkling 0% Rose already nearly 70 per cent on 2023 sales.
Overall, Brits created a record demand for no and low alcohol drinks this year with sales rising through the year and not just for the traditional Christmas and Dry January occasions - the summer's Euro 2024 tournament in particular saw a peak. During the month-long competition Tesco saw demand for no and low beer soar even higher than for Dry January.
Karen Tyrell, CEO of the charity Drinkaware said, "The growth in the sale of no and low-alcohol drinks in this past year is really positive. Our research shows UK drinkers are choosing them more and more, with around a third of people now using them to moderate their drinking."
Tesco no and low drinks buyer David Albon said, "It’s taken a while but we’re seeing a new consumer confidence for no and low drinks in general whereby shoppers are now more trusting in the quality of the drinks they can buy and the brands available to them.”
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Christmas shoppers are seen in Covent Garden on December 6, 2024 in London, England. UK retail sales figures during the Christmas period are forecast to reach a peak at £88.3 billion this year.
They come with big budgets, are wrapped in sentimentality and boost company revenues - Britain's latest instalment of eagerly awaited Christmas television advertisements has a nation tuned in.
Known for talking about the weather 12 months a year, Britons will begin sharing thoughts on the latest festive commercials as soon as they hit screens, usually once the Halloween pumpkins are discarded.
"It's the time of year when media budgets swell, and creative teams pull out all the stops to deliver memorable messaging that resonates," noted James McDonald, director of data, intelligence & forecasting at marketing strategists WARC.
Companies are to spend a record £10.5 billion on mostly online UK promotion of products during the present Christmas season, according to data from WARC and the Advertising Association, a British trade body.
"Brands know that a well-crafted Christmas campaign can boost salience, anchor loyalty and drive impressive sales results," McDonald added.
Gingerbread and carrots
The latest Christmas TV ad from supermarket giant Tesco transforms people, animals and buildings into gingerbread as Britain's biggest retailer conveys messages of nostalgia, family grief and festive joy.
Tesco, which this year is donating a proportion of its sales from gingerbread items to food charities, posted record sales for its key Christmas trading period last year.
Data showed that this was owing also to high inflation keeping prices elevated for consumers.
In the 19 weeks to early January 2024, comprising Tesco's third quarter and Christmas trading period, UK sales jumped 8.1 per cent to £16.8 billion compared with one year earlier.
"Ascertaining the return on investment of a particular campaign is a really complicated and complex task," Richard Lim, chief executive at Retail Economics research group, told AFP.
What is clear is how companies can increasingly "leverage the value of that advert across multiple different platforms, not just TV.
"It's fair to say that they do spend millions of pounds on these types of flagship advertising campaigns," Lim added.
Aldi's latest festive television commercial once more features an animated carrot named Kevin - a character that has helped to grow profits at the German discounter's British stores.
At the same time, the German supermarket and rival Lidl have benefitted from a recent cost-of-living crisis.
According to data insights group Kantar, more than half of 1,250 UK adults it surveyed in October said they looked forward to seeing this year's ads by some of the biggest retailers in Britain, including the likes of Amazon and Marks & Spencer.
Awaiting the latest offerings, 59 per cent of respondents said they "love" the festive promotions, up from 51 per cent in 2023.
One-third said the ads made them laugh.
"We saw record numbers of people this year saying they wish advertising throughout the year was as good as at Christmas," said Lynne Deason, head of creative excellence at Kantar.
One of the most eagerly awaited UK Christmas ads is from department store chain John Lewis, with consumers buying into its "emotive storytelling", according to Deason.
"TV is still king of the Christmas ad channels... across all age groups," she added.
Artificial intelligence
Media reports suggest that John Lewis' budget to produce and display its latest celebratory production - featuring a last-minute gift purchase for a sibling - is as much as £7 million, a similar amount compared with recent years.
"We carefully consider any marketing spend to get the very best return on our investment," a John Lewis spokesman told AFP, without being drawn on precise costs which this time around include using the song "Sonnet" by British artist Richard Ashcroft.
Not everyone is enamoured by the Christmas ad season, or at least the timing of its launch.
According to Kantar, two-thirds of people it surveyed agreed they "appear too early".
Coca-Cola has meanwhile faced widespread backlash from customers and artists after its latest globally broadcast "Holidays are Coming" ad features its iconic trucks and Santa created by artificial intelligence.
Parfetts has launched a Go Local pasta range, further extending its Italian-inspired food offering following the launch of its own label pasta sauces last month.
The new range is designed to provide retailers with excellent margins while delivering unbeatable value to consumers.
The three-strong range includes Spaghetti, Fusilli and Penne pasta varieties, price marked at £1.19 per 500g pack. The pasta range gives consumers a value-for-money brand choice, while retailers benefit from a healthy margin.
The pasta varieties also complement Parfetts own label Tomato & Basil and Tomato & Chilli pasta sauces launched recently, both priced at £1.49 per 350g jar.
Go Local pasta is available in convenient price-marked packs (PMP) of 12 x 500g for Spaghetti and 6 x 500g for Fusilli and Penne varieties, helping retailers build consumer loyalty and drive sales.
According to a 2020 YouGov survey, fusilli is the most popular pasta shape in the UK, with 19% of pasta eaters naming it their favourite. Spaghetti is the world’s most popular pasta shape.
Parfetts’ new Go Local Own Label pasta is expected to appeal to families looking for a quick, easy, value-for-money meal solution.
The launch marks the latest 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: “Retail data shows that in 2021/2022, an average of 86g of pasta was consumed per person per week in UK households, making it a mealtime winner. The Go Local dried pasta range provides consumers with the most popular pasta shape varieties and exceptional value through clearly marked pricing while offering retailers significant profit margins. Our commitment lies in empowering retailers by supplying products that enable them to compete effectively in the marketplace.”
Go Local pasta is now available exclusively at Parfetts, in depots, and online.
The Brookfield Group, through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally Heart of the Community Awards, has donated £5,000 to the Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) Charity.
The donation will support the ‘We Care into the Future’ event, an initiative designed to inspire Doncaster’s young people to consider careers in health and care sector.
The Brookfield Group, which operates locally through Brookfield Filling Station on Hampole Balk Lane in Doncaster, provides BP fuel and a convenience store that offers over 2,000 Co-op product lines.
Brookfield’s support highlights its commitment to the local community by aiding programmes that foster career ambitions for young people.
Launched as a joint initiative between DBTH NHS Foundation Trust and Hall Cross Academy, the ‘We Care into the Future’ event has grown significantly since its inception in 2019.The programme, initially attended by 600 students, welcomed over 2,000 Year 8 students from Doncaster in 2024.
This year’s event showcased 50 interactive stalls and presented students with hands-on exposure to over 350 different career pathways in healthcare.
The experience allows students to follow a simulated patient journey, introducing them to diverse roles, from clinical to technical and administrative fields. The impact of ‘We Care into the Future’ is profound in Doncaster, a region marked as an “educational cold spot” due to low levels of educational opportunity.
In 2022, 32.4 per cent of children in Doncaster lived in relative poverty, and financial barriers often limit access to experiences that expand career aspirations. This event seeks to bridge that gap by offering free, accessible opportunities for young people to envision a future in health and social care.
Ismail Patel, Director at The Brookfield Group, commented: “Supporting community projects is at the heart of what we do. We don’t just want to be a retailer; we want to inspire future generations in the communities we serve. The Doncaster & Bassetlaw initiative aligns perfectly with our ethos, and we are proud to support it through the Heart of the Community award.”
Kelly Turkhud, Head of Widening Participation at DBTH, added: “We’re over the moon to receive £5,000 in support our 'We Care into the Future' event. The event is a fantastic opportunity for local young people to explore a wide range of opportunities within the health and care sector, helping to spark conversations about their career aspirations.“
"By showcasing a variety of roles, we hope to inspire the young people in our communities to become the talented future workforce of the NHS.”
Through its contribution, The Brookfield Group ensures that Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity can continue providing free access to this critical career-building event, keeping it inclusive for students across Doncaster.
Through its partnership with MADL, The Brookfield Group has now donated over £30,000 to the local communities it serves.
Wholesale giant Booker has launch its fourth colleague network Disability at Booker.
The network joins the Women@Booker, Race & Ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ networks already in operation at the cash and carry and wholesale business.
“Our networks are here to help us celebrate our differences, amplify the voices of our diverse colleagues and where allies can show their support. A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing our new network to life,” said a Booker spokesperson.
Booker has also been accredited as a Disability Confident Committed employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme that encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
The Booker spokesperson said that the accreditation is part of its work “to positively shift attitudes towards disability within the industry and our commitment to create a great place to work for everyone”.
Booker Group stated on social media, "Today, we’re marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the launch of our fourth colleague network – Disability at Booker.
"Our networks are here to help us celebrate our differences, amplify the voices of our diverse colleagues and where allies can show their support. A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing our new network to life.
"We’re also delighted to announce that Booker is now a Disability Confident Committed employer, through the Disability Confident scheme – part of our work to positively shift attitudes towards disability within the industry and our commitment to create a great place to work for everyone."