Tesco’s Kirkwall superstore on the remote Scottish island of Orkney has become the 600th store in the UK to have electric vehicle (EV) charging points installed.
The installation is the culmination of a programme which has seen more than 2,500 EV charging bays installed at 600 Tesco stores across the UK over the last three years – with all electricity used to charge cars generated from renewable sources.
The network, launched in 2019 by Tesco, Volkswagen and Pod Point, also includes 129 rapid chargers. The chargers have been used more than 6,000,000 times already saving more than 24,000 tonnes of CO2, Tesco said.
The partnership was announced to improve the charging infrastructure as the UK prepares for an electric future, as all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans are set to be banned from sale in 2030.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, at the end of February 2023 there were 693,307 battery-electric cars in the UK, an increase of 610 per cent on the number of BEVs in 2019.
“From Orkney all the way to Southampton, we’re helping customers to make sustainable choices by giving them somewhere easy and convenient to charge while they shop with us,” Jason Tarry, Tesco UK chief executive, said.
“Hitting our target of 600 stores with EV charging is a great milestone – and our work doesn’t stop there, as we’re now installing our first 75kW rapid chargers too.”
Erik Fairbairn, Pod Point founder and chief executive, added: “Meeting the 600-store target is an awesome achievement and makes the Tesco rollout by far the UK’s biggest retail EV charging network. Since 2019, we’ve been giving drivers the confidence to go electric with a secure, reliable and accessible way to top up while they shop. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Tesco and Volkswagen, and with the contribution we’re making to the UK’s charging infrastructure.”
Sarah Cox, head of marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “We’re really proud of this partnership with Tesco and Pod Point, which has always been about providing sustainable charging access and infrastructure to all BEV and PHEV vehicle owners in the UK. Hitting the 600-store milestone means that we are continuing to support as many people as possible to make the switch to electric mobility.”
Owners of electric cars made by any EV manufacturer can use the charging points. Drivers just need to download the Pod Point app, plug in the charger and confirm their charge.
The 600th store milestone also coincides with the next phase of the Tesco EV charging network with Pod Point installing the retailers’ first set of 75kW charging units, on a trial basis, to complement the existing 7kW, 22kW and 50kW units across the Tesco estate.
From this month customers shopping at the Tesco Cheshunt, Osterley, Shrewsbury, Ashby De La Zouch and York Extra stores, and at the Newark New Ollerton Superstore will be able to benefit from the new 75kW public rapid chargers. A further six stores will be installed with 75kW units as part of the trial later this year.
A prolific shoplifter has been banned from Blackburn town centre and One Stop Stores in Lancashire.
Benjamin Wareing, 29, of Lockside was handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) over shoplifting offences.
As informed by Lancashire Constabulary, Wareing was issued the CBO at Preston Magistrates Court on Saturday (1) with a number of conditions.
He is not to enter or attempt to enter Blackburn town centre unless to attend a pre-booked appointment. He is also not allowed to enter any One Stop convenience store in Blackburn.
Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s response to shoplifting across the county, backed by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.
The operation sees dedicated officers undertaking hotspot patrolling, increasing their visibility in targeted areas and creating strong partnerships with retailers across the county to better share intelligence, get a deeper understanding of retail crime and identify more offenders.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said, "As Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, I will continue to work alongside the Chief Constable to establish a more proactive approach to shoplifting, with better protection for shop workers and improved relationships between retailers and the police.
"The public need to know that in the event of a crime such as shoplifting, the police will come, and the crime will be punished accordingly.”
Sugro UK, the member-owned buying and marketing group, announced the expansion of its membership with the addition of Manchester-based wholesaler Eurotrade Limited as a new Member to the group.
Established in 1983, family-run business Eurotrade originated from modest roots, operating from a small shop in Manchester which sold novelty items to retailers, cash and carries, and smaller wholesalers.
In 2010, Eurotrade expanded their operations by relocating to a 30,000 sq. ft. warehouse and broadening their product offering to include a variety of food and beverage lines.
Today, Eurotrade offers wholesale delivery services across a diverse range of products including confectionery, soft drinks, household goods and toiletries, and select ambient grocery items.
Pritesh Mehta, Director of Eurotrade Ltd, said, “At Eurotrade, we are thrilled to become part of the Sugro Family. This partnership will allow us to expand our product portfolio and offer an even wider range to our customers.
"We look forward to building a strong relationship with the Sugro team and leveraging their resources to further grow our business and better serve our customers.”
Sugro’s Business Development Manager, Shruti Senapati, added, “We are excited to welcome Eurotrade to our expanding Sugro family.
"We look forward to helping drive their growth and creating new opportunities by leveraging the Group’s buying power, promotions, digital initiatives, and robust supplier network to deliver mutual benefits.”
Two local business owners and entrepreneurs have acquired the historic Jennings Brewery, located in Cockermouth, Cumbria, from Carlsberg Britvic for an undisclosed sum.
Kurt Canfield, CEO of specialist engineering business Delkia, and Rebecca Canfield, proprietor of wine and spirits company Wine and the Wood, took ownership of the brewery site with intention to resume brewing Jennings beer in Cockermouth, following the brewery’s closure in 2022.
The deal also involves the transfer of rights to the Jennings brand, including all trademarks, intellectual property and recipes. Bottled beer under the Jennings brand will continue to be sold by Carlsberg Britvic until March this year, following which beer production will transfer to the new company – Jennings Brewery Ltd.
“As lifelong residents of West Cumbria, we have cherished Jennings Brewery and its beer for many years. Preserving the heritage of the brewery and the Maltings building, which are integral to our community, is of utmost importance to us. We are delighted to bring Jennings back to the local area and to have it once again run by a family-owned business,” Rebecca Canfield said.
“The brewery has almost 200 years of brewing history and one element that really attracted us to the project was the fact that it has its very own well. This is what makes it so beautiful and unique – an authentic Jennings beer can only be brewed with local water!”
Kurt Canfield, who will continue as CEO of Delkia, added: “This project is a remarkable and ambitious endeavour, which we are taking on to benefit the entire community. The Maltings building is an historic landmark, and we have extensive plans to enhance the site while respecting its heritage. However, critical repairs are necessary and will take time before we can get back to brewing the great beer that Jennings in known for.”
David Bodily, head of properties and facilities at Carlsberg Britvic, said: “We're pleased to have completed the sale of Jennings Brewery to new, local owners who are looking to preserve the site's brewing heritage. The brewery is a unique location in Cockermouth, and we wish Kurt and Rebecca every success for the future."
The project is expected to create several new jobs in the area, including the appointment of a Head Brewer, a brewing team, and a local sales and marketing force. Some appointments have already been made for the new business, with Chris France, founder of speciality beer retailer Beer Hawk joining as managing director.
France, who also grew up in The Lake District said: “Jennings was hugely influential as I developed my love for this industry, and the idea of bringing a great beer back to the heart of this town is an exciting prospect. There’s a rich brewing history here and we’d love to hear from anyone in the community who wants to join the team or be part of bringing it back.”
The Labour government is getting rid of a "shoplifters’ charter" to take a grip on rising retail crime left behind by the Conservative party, prime minister Keir Starmer stated on Wednesday (5) in the Commons Chamber.
Starmer was answering a question raised by Labour MP Claire Hughes when he acknowledged that shoplifting is no more a "low level" crime.
Citing an example of seaside town Llandudno where businesses are struggling with a rise in shoplifting, Hughes raised the concern in the Commons Chamber, adding that thieves are now committing robbery in full view of staff because they have no fear of consequences.
She stated, "The recent funding boost for neighbourhood policing is very welcome, but will the Prime Minister please tell my constituents what more the Government are doing to tackle retail crime and deter repeat offenders?"
Starmer agreed, saying shoplifting is not a victimless crime.
He said, "For far too long, crimes such as shoplifting have been written off as 'low level'.
"That is wrong; such crimes are devastating. The Conservative party left us with rising crime and effectively told the police to ignore shoplifting of under £200-worth of goods.
"We have got rid of that shoplifters’ charter, and we are working hard to ensure that we take a grip where they lost control."
Nearly half a million shoplifting offences were recorded by police in England and Wales in a year, the highest 12-month total on record, according to the data released by Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week.
.A total of 492,914 offences were logged by forces in the year to September 2024, up 23 per cent from 402,220 in the previous 12 months. The figure is the highest since current records began in the year to March 2003.
Industry body the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) annual crime survey also shows similar trend.
BRC survey shows that theft and violence against retail workers in Britain soared to record levels last year and are "out of control", driven partly by criminal gangs.
The survey found more than 20 million incidents of theft were committed in the year to Aug 31 2024, which equates to 55,000 a day, costing retailers a total £2.2 billion. There were 16 million incidents in the previous year.
Incidents of violence and abuse in 2023/24 climbed to over 2,000 per day, up from 1,300 the year before. This is more than three times what it was in 2020, when there were just 455 incidents a day.
Incidents included racial or sexual abuse, physical assault or threats with weapons. There were 70 incidents per day which involved a weapon, more than double the previous year, shows BRC survey.
Customer habits of snacking and alcohol consumption are expected to see a major shift in the coming years with growing evidence that weight loss medication users show little interest in snacking, consuming alcohol, or even eating between meals, a recent report has stated.
This was one of the key messages from ‘The 2025 Show’, a virtual event hosted by MMR Research, where top industry voices unpacked what’s coming next for brands and product innovation.
According to event host Andrew Wardlaw, Chief Ideas Officer at MMR Research, GLP-1 medications appear to work in two ways- physically, by lowering blood sugar, delaying gastric emptying, and in some cases, creating feelings of nausea. And neurologically, by interfering with the brain’s reward systems.
“In effect, GLP-1 medications are shutting down desire,” Wardlaw said.
The event featured several real-world consumer experiences, where users shared stories of dramatic reductions in daily cravings.
With the food and beverage industry at risk from the rising incidence of GLP-1 households, Wardlaw highlighted the importance of maximising curiosity at the shelf to mitigate the effects of this unprecedented assault on impulsive behaviour.
Lori Herman, insights leader at Mondelez, North America, acknowledged the impact of GLP-1 medications on the food and beverage.
She said, “You need to eat a lot of protein apparently when you are utilising this medication, and I feel like that’s going to benefit brands that are inherently protein rich. I think we will see the emergence of even more protein-rich snacks come into the market as a result.”
Herman added, “So, I do think it will impact the types of products we are seeing as it potentially becomes a little bit more mainstream.”
The event further covered the importance of new and novel experiences among consumers.
Pointing to recent research by MMR Research across key economic regions, Wardlaw urged manufacturers to escalate innovation that champions new flavours, new pack formats, extreme and unexpected sensory profiles, and product experiences that have the potential to go viral.
“We know that conversations about new and novel experiences are rising dramatically – up 23% in posts involving food and drink in the last 12 months, for example”, Wardlaw claimed.
Interactions with over 3000 consumers showed that people are interested in discovering new products and experiences to break the monotony of everyday life, adding daily glimmers – often FOMO fueled by platforms such as TikTok.
Wardlaw concluded: “Beyond industry yardsticks such as ‘liking’ and ‘overall appeal’ lies a complex network of emotional needs.
"We know that people are often drawn to brands and products because they make them feel adventurous, socially connected, discerning, and so on.
"These motivations have little to do with ‘liking’ and everything to do with identity and aspiration. Increasing our efforts on building superior emotional outcomes will help manufacturers mitigate the risks that GLP-1.
“We think brands can still market irresistible products, but via a different kind of reward system.”