01 Front Page:Layout 1 - Grandflame Ltd

WholesaleManager 

THE PUBLICATION FOR THE UK WHOLESALE AND CASH & CARRY INDUSTRY 

SUMMER 2010 

INDUSTRY NEWS 

GROCERY - FOOD 

INDUSTRY NEWS 

INDUSTRY NEWS 

AIRLINER FROM 

COLDPACK 

WINS 

AWARD 

4 

BIGD 

LAUNCHES 

SEARCH FOR 

NEW BABE 

12 

CUMBRIAN 

SEAFOODS 

APPLAUDED 

FOR SAVINGS 

5 

CREATING A 

NEW ROUTE 

TO DAIRY 

WHOLESALE 

3 

AIMIA FOODS 

SHOWS “NO FEAR” 

WITH UK’S FIRST 

RE-SEALABLE CAN 

Aimia Foods, the leading supplier of hot and cold drinks, 

made history earlier this year with the with the launch of 

brand new energy drink “No Fear Extreme Energy” in the 

UK’s first ever resealable can. 

In a matter of months, “No Fear Extreme Energy” has cap 

tured the attention of the £550 million UK energy drinks 

market, including consumers and competitor brands. 

Extreme Energy is produced by Aimia for the USbased, multi 

million pound extreme sportswear brand, No Fear. This is a key 

selling point in itself; the brand has an existing global presence and 

edgy reputation which will appeal to image conscious core energy 

drinks target market, males aged 16 to 24. 

The new 485ml resealable can is differentiated from any rival com 

petitor with its unique ‘twist and shut’ feature. The resealable element will 

provide added appeal to its active, ‘on the go’ audience. 

Larger can formats are continuing to grow in popularity within the UK, with 

consumers opting for more ‘buzz for their Money’. However, research has shown 

that the large cans can lead to wastage by consumers who don’t want to drink 500ml of 

energy drinks in one go. No Fear Extreme Energy offers a solution to this, providing better 

value for money as once opened, it can stay carbonated for up to 24 hours with its resealable 

lid, and so can be consumed over a longer period of time and even prevents spills whilst on the go. 

The can will also create stand out on the shelf with its high impact matt black finish, atten 

tion grabbing design and iconic logo, combined with a competitive RSP of £1.19£1.39 

The new product is being supported by an extensive national marketing campaign, using both 

online and offline media throughout 2010. A £1 million investment is being made into the product 

over the next 12 months and will include TV sponsorship, national advertising, promotions, national 

events, PR stunts and an ongoing dedicated press office. 

Continues on page 2 

TEL: 01923 272960 • FAX: 01923 270760 • EMAIL: MAIL@WHOLESALEMANAGER.NET • WEB: WWW.WHOLESALEMANAGER.NET

2 


CONTENTS 

SUMMER 2010 

4 

NEWS 

Oakland International scoop 

Environmental Award at the 

Chamber of Commerce Awards. 

8 DRINKS 

Budweiser drives home responsible 

drinking message with new 

‘Designate a Driver’ campaign. 

12 GROCERY - FOOD 

Popular crispbread brand Finn Crisp 

has launched its new Plus 5 

Wholegrains. 

16 THE WAREHOUSE 

Factory saved from fire - Fireray 

5000 Beam Detector saves factory 

from Acetone blaze. 

20 NON-FOOD 

One of the UK’s bestselling dog food 

brands CESAR® launches a new 

Puppy line. 

SPAR ANNOUNCES £150M DEAL 

WITH BOURNE LEISURE GROUP 

SPAR (UK) Limited has 

announced a massive five year 

contract worth £150 million at 

retail level, with Bourne 

Leisure Group, the UK owner of 

Haven Holiday Parks, Butlins 

and Warner Hotels. 

The contract will see 42 SPAR 

branded stores at all 36 Haven 

Holiday Parks across England, 

Scotland and Wales and the three 

iconic Butlins Family 

Entertainment Resorts in Bognor 

Regis, Skegness and Minehead. 

Five SPAR RDCs will service the 

stores: CJ Lang & Son Ltd, James 

Hall & Co Ltd, AF Blakemore & Son 

Ltd, Capper & Co Ltd and Appleby 

Westward Group Ltd, providing the 

delivery of ambient/grocery, 

chilled, frozen, meat, fresh produce, 

alcohol and tobacco products. 

Each Bourne Leisure site will 

now benefit from being able to 

offer SPAR’s own label range, its 

national promotions scheme linked 

to the SPAR Real Deals promotional 

activity and consumer marketing 

activities including £5 million on 

media, radio and leaflets. 

The sites will now also have 

the advantage of displaying consistent 

branding, which includes 

new fascia, in store imagery support 

and elements of SPAR’s 

Food-to-Go products. They will 

also receive team training, store 

standards and planogramming, all 

led by a Local Account Manager. 

Mark Harper, Operations 

Director at Bourne Leisure said: 

“We are delighted to be entering 

into a partnership with SPAR, a 

retailer that shares our values of 

providing the highest standards of 

customer service and care. 

“SPAR has an established reputation 

for value and an extensive 

portfolio of convenience products, 

particularly their excellent own 

brand range, which means we can 

expand the range of products we 

provide our customers. 

“Furthermore, the SPAR 

branding in our stores will help 

reinforce the retail proposition we 

are offering,” he concluded. 

Richard Bennett, SPAR Retail 

Director, said the deal was excellent 

news for SPAR’s business 

development. 

“This five year contract with 

Bourne Leisure Group is allowing 

us to expand our portfolio of SPAR 

convenience stores across the 

country.” 

Richard Bennett (right), SPAR UK Retail Director with Mark Harper (left), Bourne 

Leisure Operations Director at Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Near Filey, North Yorkshire 

with Haven Park Characters Rory the Tiger and Naughty Ned! 

Continued 

from front page 

Neal Haworth, cate 

gory marketing manager 

at Aimia Foods, says: “No 

Fear Extreme Energy is a 

hugely exciting proposi 

tion. A wellestablished 

brand, already synonymous 

with extreme sports and attention 

grabbing campaigns, No Fear is 

edgy and holds massive appeal with 

energy drinks’ key audience. This, 

coupled with the innovative and 

quirky resealable can, gives it the 

potential to be a new ‘musthave’ 

drinks brand for a young male audi 

ence. 

“In the five months since our initial 

launch, No Fear Extreme Energy has 

already become an in demand 

product. Feedback from our sales 

teams have been very positive, 

demand is especially strong in the 

convenience sector, where retailers 

have reported sales outstripping other 

Energy drink brands. It’s important 

wholesale and cash & carry customers 

keep pace and if they have not already 

done so they list No Fear at an early 

opportunity to take advantage of the 

seasonal surge for soft drinks. 

“We are already looking to the 

future and are in the process of 

expanding the current offering of 

No Fear Extreme Energy. We believe 

the product has huge potential and 

it will be exciting to see the brand 

go from strength to strength.” 

Retailers will also be able to capitalise 

on the good profit margins to be made 

with No Fear Extreme Energy, which 

Aimia says ‘delivers the best POR in large 

format can’ No Fear 24 packs can be sold 

either as single cans or 4 x 6 multipacks 

so there is flexibility for the trade to sell 

in the case size that best suits their cus 

tomer base. Trade customers can then 

choose to sell the product in a six pack, 

individually or by the case of 24. 

No Fear ‘Extreme Energy’ is the 

latest big brand name to add to the 

Aimia Foods license portfolio within 

cold drinks. It joins Slazenger S1 

IBS LAUNCHES NEW PACKAGE 

NEWS 

AIMIA FOODS SHOWS “NO FEAR” 

WITH UK’S FIRST RE-SEALABLE CAN 

sports drinks, a hypotonic sports 

drink Aimia launched last year that 

became the official sports drink of 

choice at a number of high profile 

sporting events and Outspan Drinks 

which are available in pure juice, 

Juice drinks and smoothies all with 

no artificial colours, flavours or 

preservatives. 

For more information about No Fear 

Extreme Energy please phone 

01942 408600 or email 

customer.services@aimiafoods.com 

21 HARDWARE & I.T. 

Sheffield-based returnable packaging 

innovator Loadhog, puts a secure lid 

on the bulk transport market. 

23 AND FINALLY... 

The North East England Food and 

Drink Group has appointed Marion 

Schooler as project manager. 

COMING UP 

AUTUMN 2010 

BREAKFAST NEWS 

Healthy profits from healthy 

breakfasts – taste of hot news from 

the companies supplying food and 

drinks for the first meal of the day. 

TINNED FOOD 

A look at all things tinned. “Can” 

you beat it!! 

TABLE TALK 

A tempting look at the ‘hottest’ and 

‘coolest’ sauces, dressings and 

condiments for shoppers’ tables. 

International Business Systems (IBS AB) launches IBS Distribution 

Intelligence, a distribution-focused business intelligence suite. 

IBS Introduces the first in a wave 

of strategic product announcements 

for Scalable Distribution. 

International Business Systems 

(STO: IBS B), the leading application 

supplier for wholesale and distribution, 

announced today a new 

package of business intelligence 

(BI) software offerings, named IBS 

Distribution Intelligence, designed 

for the specific demands and needs 

of wholesale and distribution. The 

launch of IBS Distribution 

Intelligence is the first in a wave of 

strategic product announcements 

planned for the company during 

2010, focused on Scalable 

Distribution. 

IBS Distribution Intelligence, 

which is part of the IBS Enterprise 

Distribution Management application 

suite, is a set of integrated 

planning, real-time monitoring and 

performance improvement management-tools. 

Together they 

provide all the necessary capabilities 

to run, improve and plan for 

better distribution processes. 

Packaged as a scalable suite of 

products, IBS Distribution 

Intelligence provides a complete BI 

solution for distribution, no matter 

how small or large. Specifically the 

new packaged offerings consist of 

three key sets of products: 

1) For “Planning” 

IBS Planners - a set of graphical 

planning tools for sophisticated modelling, 

forecasting and planning at all 

levels of demand, supply, and sales 

and operations planning (S&OP). The 

tools are based on advanced statistical 

modelling algorithms as well as direct 

customer demand forecasts and marketing 

and sales forecasts insight, and 

include some of the most advanced 

planning methodologies of today. 

2) For “Operational 

Management” 

IBS Activity Monitor - a solution 

that provides fast, accurate and realtime 

visibility of operations and 

processes from the warehouse 

through to the boardroom. IBS Activity 

Monitor helps users have a ‘direct 

window’ into the very workings of a 

company’s operations, allowing the 

information to be extracted and combined 

with online information for 

viewing on-screen, on paper or integrated 

with other PC applications, 

such as spreadsheets, email or HTML. 

IBS Alert Manager - allows triggers 

and alerts to be defined within IBS 

Enterprise such that when a particular 

event occurs (for example a stock item 

reached a predefined limit) as set of 

particular notifications (e.g. email or 

SMS text message) and actions can be 

carried out automatically. 

3) For “Reporting & Analysis” 

IBS Performance Manager - collects 

and organises data from IBS 

Enterprise and other sources, to allow 

users to ‘slice-and-dice’ information, 

run reports and analyse historical 

information. IBS Performance 

Manager comes with over two hundred 

pre-defined reports, and key 

performance indicators (KPIs) based 

on industry-standard metrics such as 

the SCOR-model. 

“This launch of our new 

Distribution Intelligence offerings is 

the first of several such important 

announcements in the coming few 

months,” says Andy Bailey, Chief 

Marketing Officer at IBS. “As the leader 

in Distribution Resource Management 

software we know what makes distribution 

tick, and having the right 

information at the right time and at the 

fingertips of the right people is the key.” 

Although each implementation of 

IBS Distribution Intelligence can be 

fine-tuned to any specific requirements, 

its focus on ‘encapsulated 

expertise’ pre-configured reports and 

pre-built data models, means it can be 

up and running within a few days. 

Designing and developing such systems 

from scratch can take many 

months and sometimes years to build. 

Each of the three product areas 

of IBS Distribution Intelligence provides 

a powerful standalone 

solution, but together they offer the 

up-to-date, accurate information 

needed to make those critical business 

decisions that maximise the 

five key distribution value drivers: 

• Maximised revenues 

• Reduced expenses 

• Improved margins 

• Optimised inventory 

• Controlled cash 

“Better decisions means better 

planning and better planning means 

lower operational costs and improved 

customer service levels,” continued 

Bailey. “Likewise faster notification 

when things go wrong, which they 

inevitably do from time to time, means 

you can deal with it before it becomes 

a crisis. That again translates into happier 

customers, streamlined business 

processes and ultimately increased 

profitability. Our main objective is 

to make this a reality for customers.” 

For more information, please visit 

www.ibs.net 

www.WholesaleManager.co.uk Summer 2010

NEWS 


3 

Taking a fresh view of the Wholesale business 

Welcome to the Summer 2010 issue of Wholesale Manager 

JAMES SURRIDGE 

Publishing Editor 

Welcome to the Summer 

2010 issue of Wholesale 

Manager. Here we are again, 

bringing the UK cash ‘n’ 

carry and delivered wholesale 

industry your first 

independently published, 

sector-specific tabloid magazine, 

with the big format’s 

ability to make big statements 

and big impacts. 

At Wholesale Manager we 

pride ourselves on being innovative 

and independent in the way 

we do things. We’re here because 

we know the wholesale market 

wants a publication dedicated to 

you, with the latest information 

from the suppliers on whom you 

rely for the best selling products 

and big name brands. 

Our pledge is to present this 

news in a refreshing, accessible 

way. It might take a little time to 

get used to our style because it is 

different, but then again, the best 

new things always take a bit of 

getting used to. 

Before we launched, we 

researched what you, the readers 

were looking for, and we reckon 

we’re getting there. We’ve got a 

mix of news and features that fit 

the bill for today’s wholesalers. 

In this issue we’ve got features on 

Back To School, Christmas and 

Home Baking. 

As September approaches, 

‘Back To School’ is very big business. 

The Back To School opportunity 

for cash ‘n’ carries and 

delivered wholesalers takes in 

food and drink items for the 

lunch box on one hand and 

clothing, footwear and home stationery 

on the other. 

At first glance home baking 

might not seem a very sexy category, 

but it has a lot going for it in 

these tough times. Taking out the 

effects of inflation from rising 

commodity prices, it’s still pretty 

healthy, with plenty of profit 

opportunities for cash ‘n’ carries 

and delivered wholesalers 

serving neighbourhood stores. 

And finally there’s the ‘C’ word - 

Christmas! Despite the continuing 

recession and ongoing uncertainty 

about the economy, there’s one 

thing wholesale managers can be 

sure of. Christmas is coming round 

again in a few months’ time, and as 

always it’s going to be an extremely 

big business opportunity, as consumers 

do their best to forget 

about their troubles and enjoy 

themselves with friends and family. 

Have you started planning yet 

Our ambition is for Wholesale 

Manager to be the title of choice 

wholesale managers turn to 

when they want a good read – in 

print or digitally. Hence we’re 

publishing this in print, digital 

format and on our web site. 

Happy reading, wherever and 

however you’re reading this! 

James Surridge, Publishing 

Editor, Wholesale Manager 

mail@wholesalemanager.net 

DARWIN PRIVATE EQUITY 

ACQUIRES PLUM BABY LIMITED FOR £10 MILLION 

Darwin Private Equity 

(“Darwin”) has completed its 

third transaction, with the acquisition 

of the organic baby food 

business Plum Baby Limited 

(“Plum”) for £10 million. 

Plum is a leading premium 

organic baby food company which 

Susie Willis. 

has revolutionised the baby food 

market. Launched in 2006 by Susie 

Willis, former chef and mum of 

three, Plum has pioneered the premium 

baby food sector in the UK 

and has witnessed dramatic year on 

year growth - it is on track to 

achieve retail turnover of £15 million 

in 2010. Its award winning 

range of over 50 products, created 

with the ethos of ‘real food for 

babies, not just baby food’, is distributed 

in most major supermarkets 

and includes baby food puree pots, 

purees in pouches, baby cereals, fromage 

frais, baby biscuits and snacks. 

The acquisition by Darwin comes 

at an exciting time in the development 

of Plum as the business is transitioning 

from an early stage 

entrepreneurial operation into a professional 

consumer branded business. 

Darwin’s experience of growing UK 

consumer brands, working alongside 

talented entrepreneurs, will help the 

Company continue this transition and 

transform it into a major player in the 

UK baby food market whilst at the 

same time retaining its entrepreneurial 

roots and flair for innovation. 

Founder Susie Willis will remain 

in the business as Creative Director, 

while CEO Patrick Cairns has decided 

to leave the business on completion 

of the deal. He will be replaced as 

Chief Executive by Paul Kaye. Paul is 

an experienced manager in the food 

sector having worked at Dairy Crest, 

Northern Foods, HJ Heinz UK and 

Mars Inc. (Masterfoods). He brings a 

wealth of experience in the branded 

food sector and his knowledge, support 

and leadership will be 

invaluable in driving the business 

forward over its next phase of 

growth. The rest of the management 

team will remain in place. 

Susie Willis commenting on the 

sale said: “It was clear from the first 

meeting that Darwin shared our 

passion and vision for the business. 

We are looking forward to working 

with them to realise the full potential 

of the business building on the 

significant contribution that Patrick 

Cairns and the team have made over 

the past few years.” 

Jonathan Kaye, partner of Darwin 

Private Equity, commented: “Plum is 

a very strong brand. Susie and the 

team have done an excellent job to 

get the business to where it is today. 

We believe Plum has significant 

growth potential and we plan to 

invest heavily in the business to 

build upon its market position.” 

In 2007, Plum attracted investment 

from Venture Capital Trusts, 

now held by Beringea, Octopus and 

Foresight. All of these investors will 

exit on sale to Darwin. Advisers to 

Plum were Spayne Lindsay LLP. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers advised 

Darwin and were also the reporting 

accountants. 

SDI REVEALS RECORD EXPORTS 

Scottish Development drink industry, setting out plans Seafood exports led the way, with 

International SDI have to grow Scottish food and drink international sales in this sector 

announced a record increase in 

Scottish food and drink exports, 

with international sales reaching 

an alltime high of £4.06 billion 

during 2009. This news comes as 

a huge boost for industry leader 

ship group Scotland Food and 

Drink, which recently unveiled a 

new strategy for the food and 

exports to £5.1 billion by 2017. 

The figures, which have been 

extracted from official HMRC export 

statistics for 2009, show that interna 

tional sales of Scottish food products 

soared by 20% to £934 million, while 

combined total international sales for 

Scottish food and drink increased by 

6% to £4.06 billion. 

increasing by 20% to £555 million. 

This result has been assisted by the 

burgeoning overseas demand for 

Scottish salmon, which enjoyed 

total export sales valued at £285 

million fresh, frozen and smoked, 

thanks to an increasing global 

appreciation for the product’s PGI 

status and its premium taste, 

quality and character. 

Other notable figures are as 

follows: 

THE 14TH GASTRO ALFRESCO • The top three markets for 

Scottish food and drink were 

THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION 

the USA, France and Spain, with 

total sales to the USA up by 6%. David Smith, interim chief executive of 

OF ALFRESCO EATING, ENTERTAINING & BBQ! 

Scottish Development International. 

• In the drinks category, Scotch 

The credit crunch had a major impact on consumer attitudes and 

spending last year, and despite a change of government, the economic 

uncertainty looks pretty likely to continue this year with the majority 

once again opting for ‘Staying in, being the new Going Out!’ 

This year’s 14th Gastro Alfresco event will again encourage us all to 

follow the Mediterranean lifestyle and enjoy life alfresco ‘at home’! 

whisky exports grew by 3% in 

value to £3.13 billion. 

Continuing success was 

enjoyed in France +13% in 

value and the United States 

+13%, with Brazil +44% 

supported by strong seafood sales. 

The strong international demand 

for Scottish food and drink is partly 

thanks to a drive on provenance by 

Scottish manufacturers, which 

believe the rising demand for gen 

HIGHLIGHTS 

and South Africa +7% both uine, original Scottish produce 

representing significant 

presents a huge opportunity for the 

One of the highlights of this years event will again be the Alfresco 

emerging markets in 2009. food and drink industry. 

Experience Roadshow visiting 150 Tesco Extras and Sainsbury’s, 

ASDA & Morrisons Superstores across the country offering sampling 

• For Scottish food products, 

Europe was the main destination 

SDI is working with partner 

organisations such as Scotland Food 

of great gastro alfresco food & drink from our sponsors - so make sure 

with France, Ireland and Spain & Drink, to help companies access 

listed as the top three export new international markets and equip 

you visit a store near you soon! 

markets. Total export sales to them with the skills and expertise 

You can find out all about what’s going on in this summer of soccer 

France alone grew by a massive needed to compete at a global level. 

and sizzling temperatures. Check out the sponsors and supporting 

24% in 2009. 

Commenting, David Smith, 

retailers, plus, sizzlin’ recipes, tips, advice and more all at the official 

• Other exports markets which interim chief executive of Scottish 

website: www.gastro-alfresco.co.uk and turn to page 9 for more details. 

experienced a significant uplift Development International, said: 

in food sales include the 

Netherlands up 41% to £41 

million and Germany up by 

43% to £56 million supported 

by strong dairy exports and 

Russia, up by 24% to £54million, 

“The combination of sustained 

growth in existing markets and 

strong interest in Scottish produce 

from emerging markets means that 

our food and drink exports have 

continued to soar.” 

CREATING A NEW ROUTE 

TO THE DAIRY WHOLESALE MARKET 

Left to right: Dairy Trader Director, Rob Cross, Oakland's Wholesale Account 

Manager, Lisa Lloyd-Smith and Strategic Development Manager, Pete Vaughan, and 

Oakland's MD Dean Attwell. 

Oakland Distribution, a subsidiary of multi temperature 

supply chain specialist Oakland International, has developed a 

new scheme in conjunction with The Dairy Trader, unique within 

the UK, offering an independent route to market for fresh cream, 

milk and chilled and ambient dairy products to support wholesale 

catering, and food manufacturing outlets, across the country. 

A bespoke partnership, the initiative was specifically designed to 

satisfy the UK industry’s ever growing need for small quantity fresh 

catering dairy product. Oakland’s MD, Dean Attwell stated: “The 

scheme allows customers to buy at set inclusive delivered fixed case 

rates, meaning customers can buy a minimum of 1 case of each 

product as long as their total order for all products reaches a combined 

total of 100 cases. 

“The Dairy Trader has a high degree of industry knowledge and 

expertise, with an exact understanding of the requirements of independent 

wholesalers, cash and carrys and food manufacturing, 

which has allowed us to unlock new opportunities and opening 

doors in a highly receptive market place.” 

An additional benefit felt by the scheme has been the extension 

to Oakland’s geographical reach within mainland UK, including new 

delivery solutions being offering to existing Oakland customers. 

Relatively new, the scheme already delivers a number of supplemental 

benefits for existing Oakland customers. Said Dean: “The 

scheme’s delivery routes and destinations offer existing customers 

with a fresh opportunity to penetrate new markets for products 

suitable to the catering or convenience sectors.” 

Oakland’s reputation and expertise at offering innovative solutions, 

produced a distribution model set up to offer competitive 

prices at an extremely low distribution margin, enabling customers 

to order a fraction of the minimum order stipulations that they 

would normally be required to meet if dealing directly with multiple 

different niche suppliers. 

Commenting on the new scheme, The Dairy Trader’s Director, Rob 

Cross, stated: “The Dairy Trader is a unique, independent consolidation 

service set up to supply wholesale, cash and carry and food manufacturers 

with catering products across the dairy range. A bespoke service, 

it is the only dairy consolidation scheme to offer fresh cream and milk to 

the whole of mainland UK. With the key benefits of the scheme 

including easy ordering, day 1 for day 3 delivery, avoidance of supplier 

minimum order restrictions, competitive pricing, and the whole of 

mainland UK enjoying fair and equitable delivery priority. Our unique 

service offer is attracting much attention within the marketplace. 

“The service began on the 1st February 2010 and already feedback 

from The Dairy Trader customers has been excellent, 

particularly due to the scheme’s flexibility.” 

Oakland’s Dairy Trader scheme is targeting approximately 30 scheme 

customers by the end of the year, which they are well on track to achieve. 

Oakland International Limited 

UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 

Ireland: +353 (0) 1835 4855 

Email: sales@oakland-international.com 

www.oakland-international.com 

Summer 2010 

www.WholesaleManager.co.uk

4 


NEWS 

BRANSTON 

BRANSTON APPOINTS NEW R&D 

MANAGER 

BRANSTON Ltd has appointed a new 

research & development (R&D) 

manager to its team. Dr Apostolos 

Papadopoulos (known as Tolis for 

short), has joined the UK’s leading 

supplier of potatoes where he will 

support existing development 

projects and lead new programs of 

research. Amongst his 

responsibilities he will monitor 

external projects and manage field 

and laboratory trials, as well as 

develop and register innovative crop 

improvement products. 

APPOINTMENT 

NORBERT DENTRESSANGLE 

APPOINTS SALES PERSON 

Norbert Dentressangle has 

appointed Clare Snaith in the new 

role of General Manager - Sales, 

Consumer Electronics and Drinks. 

Clare (45) joins Norbert 

Dentressangle from a major parcel 

carrier where she was responsible 

for key accounts including Boots, 

Black & Decker, Camelot, DSGi, 

Estee Lauder, Hallmark Cards, 

Mothercare, O2 and Signet Group. 

R. H. AMAR 

R. H. AMAR APPOINTS TWO NEW 

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGERS 

R. H. Amar & Co Ltd, one of the UK’s 

leading importers and distributors of 

fine foods, has appointed two new 

National Account Managers. Richard 

Hickford, who has ten years 

experience in the foodservice sector, 

joins the company as National 

Account Manager for Foodservice, 

having spent four years with Premier 

Foods and also working in foodservice 

for McCain foods. Paul Routley joins 

as National Account Manager with 

responsibility for Waitrose, Ocado, 

Musgraves and Costco, he has over 

twenty years experience in the 

grocery trade and was most recently 

with Jenks where he was a Senior 

National Account Manager. 

REVOLUTIONARY AIRLINER 

FROM COLDPACK WINS AWARD 

Airliner from Coldpack, a pioneering 

insulating film material 

that enables cost-effective temperature-controlled 

transit 

packaging, has been named best 

Packaging Solution at the recent 

Food Processing Awards. 

Now in their 27th year, the 

Food Processing Awards are 

voted for by readers of the magazine, 

and therefore provide an 

excellent indication of what food 

companies consider the best 

latest developments for their 

industry. 

''We congratulate Coldpack 

on garnering the most readers' 

votes in the Packaging Solutions 

category,” comments David 

Strydom, editor of Food 

Processing. “Innovation is crucial 

in the food and beverage 

sector, and we believe Coldpack 

has been rewarded for producing 

a product that is 

particularly innovative''. 

Airliner offers considerably 

lower weight and waste than 

existing alternatives of temperature-controlled 

transit 

packaging. Its unique patented 

construction comprises two 

layers of a special film, which are 

Airliner from Coldpack is a pioneering 

insulating film material that enables costeffective 

temperature-controlled transit 

packaging. 

DELIGHT 

AS OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL 

SCOOP ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD 

separated by an aluminised honeycomb 

structure. This 

combination of material and 

design, when filled with air, creates 

multiple compartments - 

known as ‘baffles’ - which block 

calorie transfer to minimise 

all three types of heat transfer, 

radiation, convection and conduction. 

AIRLINER 

Airliner can maintain products 

in packs of up to 70 litres either 

at ambient temperatures, typical 

product temperatures or at -18 ºC 

temperatures for frozen products. 

Contents are protected depending 

on the thermal fluctuations anticipated 

during transit; this is 

usually a 48 hour shipment, but 

special extended cooling systems 

are also available to offer protection 

for up to 120 hours if 

required. 

Crucially, the volume of 

Airliner is primarily made up of 

the air or gas used to inflate it. 

This means that the pack can be 

supplied and stored flat, significantly 

reducing logistics and 

warehousing costs compared to 

rigid foam packaging. In addition, 

a Pira International life cycle 

assessment has found that the 

Airliner has 40% to 50% less 

impact on the environment than 

polystyrene. 

When ready for use, the user 

simply inflates the Airliner using 

a variety of inflation devices. 

Airliner also acts as a cushion to 

absorb physical impacts during 

handling; when placed inside a 

suitable cartonboard box, the 

overall solution therefore both 

Aymeric Du Rostu from Coldpack 

(right) receives the Food Processing award 

for Best Packaging Solution from Chris 

Buxton, Chief Executive of the PPMA. 

preserves and protects the contents 

throughout transport, a real 

benefit for food products such as 

cakes that rely on excellent presentation 

upon delivery. Its lighter 

weight also reduces transportation 

costs and carbon emissions. 

For certain applications, the 

Airliner can be re-used. After 

use, it is easy to deflate for disposal, 

and unlike many other 

insulating materials, does not 

require a specific waste treatment 

or disposal levies. 

“This award is a great achievement 

for Coldpack and we are 

proud of the recognition and success 

we have received since 

launching the Airliner in the UK,” 

comments Aymeric Du Rostu 

from Coldpack. 

Coldpack 

Laurianne Clement 

Tel: +33 (0) 1 43 12 99 95 

Email: l.clement@coldpack.com 

TIME TO ENTER 

“PRODUCT OF THE YEAR” AWARDS 

Product of the Year is the voice 

of the people in action; the 

Britain’s Got Talent for FMCG! 

If you’re looking to boost sales 

without just relying on selling on price, 

the Product of the Year Awards offer a 

unique brand endorsement opportunity 

with proven ROI results. The 

awards are now open for entries so 

enter now and watch your sales jump! 

Now in its 7th year, the distinctive 

red Product of the Year logo is influential 

in helping consumers identify 

the best new products on the 

market, becoming the largest and 

most representative consumer vote 

on product innovation in the UK. 

Research shows Product of the 

Year is now recognised by over half 

of UK consumers* and with 44% of 

consumers more likely to buy goods 

carrying the logo* it’s the perfect 

tool to ensure your FMCG product 

stands out from the crowd. 

With the tough economic climate 

continuing to impact consumers’ 

spending habits, there’s never been 

a better time to seek the endorsement 

of over 10,000 consumers and 

see your product carry the prestigious 

2011 Product of the Year logo. 

Previous winners report a typical 

increase of 10-15% in sales, with 

some well exceeding this, such as 

the 135% YOY increase in sales 

enjoyed by 2006 Hair Care category 

winner Herbal Essences**. 

The Product of the Year awards are 

free to enter for any product or 

product line launched within the past 

18 months, and if you enter before the 

11th June you will receive a 15% early 

bird discount if your product successfully 

passes the Jury Day evaluation 

and is submitted to the research stage 

to be voted Product of the Year 2011. 

The strong influence of the award 

can be seen across a number of marketing 

campaigns which feature the 

logo in above and below the line 

advertising. It is estimated that the 

logo has been utilised in marketing 

campaigns with a total spend of over 

£30million*** and this year Product 

of the Year will now be contested in 

25 countries including the USA, 

India, Lebanon, Brazil, South Africa, 

Argentina, Malaysia and Australia. 

CEO of Product of the Year 

Management, Mike Nolan, says “The 

Product of the Year Awards is the only 

consumer product award that rewards 

innovation in FMCG and is voted for by 

consumers. It’s not only a prestigious 

award, but a proven ROI tool as well. I 

believe that manufacturers should be 

rewarded for real product innovation 

and know that consumers want help 

to find the ‘genuine article’ - Product of 

the Year does just that.” 

Deadline for Early Bird discount 

entries: 11th June 2010 

Final entry deadline: 31st July 2010 

Winner announced: 27th January 

2011 

* TNS survey 2009 

** Source: Procter & Gamble 

salon brochure, 2008 

*** 2007 figure 

Enter your product direct at: 

www.productoftheyear.co.uk 

CHEP TEAMS UP 

WITH TOP EUROPEAN BOTTLERS TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT 

Left to right: Oakland International’s Strategic Development Manager Pete Vaughan, Mary 

Drinkwater, Chairman of Worcestershire County Council and Oakland’s Quality Assurance 

Manager, Louise Smith. 

Redditch-based multi 

temperature supply chain 

specialist in warehousing and 

logistics, Oakland International, 

is celebrating after winning the 

Environmental 

Awards, 

Worcestershire at this year’s 

prestigious Herefordshire & 

Worcestershire Chamber of 

Commerce Awards held at the 

West Midland Safari Park. 

Finalists in the Environmental 

Award and Excellence in People 

Development Award, the firm said 

they were delighted to have won 

against such strong competition. 

Oakland International’s MD, Dean 

Attwell, stated: “What fantastic news 

for the whole team. Winning the 

Environmental 

Awards, 

Worcestershire, is positive 

recognition of the hard work and 

commitment Oakland has made in 

reducing carbon emissions 

throughout our supply chain 

operations and our work in instilling 

a ‘green’ growth philosophy.” 

Oakland has introduced a number 

of recycling schemes placing 

continual focus on replacing energy 

rich systems with renewable 

alternatives, with the firm wholly 

committed to installing and utilising 

clean eco-friendly alternatives 

wherever possible. A major local 

employer, Oakland has also invested 

heavily in the company’s Management 

Development Programme, aimed at 

identifying managers and supervisors 

of the future to create a robust and 

emerging management team qualified 

to deliver the business well in to the 

next decade and beyond. 

A specialist in third party supply 

chain warehousing and logistics, the 

firm conducts chilled distribution 

schemes for Irish, UK and European 

mainline retailers, servicing many 

on a daily basis. 


UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 

Ireland: +353 (0) 1835 4855 

Email: sales@oakland-international.com 


Two leading European bottling 

firms - Danone Eaux 

France and Casbega - are 

working with global pallet 

leader CHEP to both increase 

efficiencies and reduce the 

carbon footprint associated 

with their respective distribution 

networks. 

More than 1,650 truck journeys 

will no longer be necessary 

- equivalent to a saving of more 

than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per 

year - following CHEP’s transportation 

agreement with 

Danone Eaux France. 

The world's second largest 

producer of bottled water, 

Danone Eaux France uses up to 

five trains a week to deliver its 

Evian and Volvic products from 

plants in Auvergne Province and 

the French Alps to the Daventry 

rail terminal in the UK. 

On the return journey the 

trains will now be filled with 

some 460,000 CHEP empty pallets 

annually which would 

previously have been transported 

by truck. A further 240,000 CHEP 

pallets are being returned under 

a similar arrangement from the 

Danone's Hockenheim and 

Duisbourg logistics centres to 

Evian in France using the return 

rail capacity following Danone 

deliveries to Germany. 

Pierre-Yves Corbiere, Country 

General Manager, CHEP France 

said: "Working with Danone Eaux 

France is an exciting opportunity. 

Both CHEP and Danone Eaux 

France are committed to minimising 

the impact of our operations 

on the environment and we 

estimate that CHEP will be able 

to transport almost 700,000 pallets 

per year using these rail 

services.” 

In Spain, Casbega, one of the 

country’s largest Coca-Cola bottling 

companies and a CHEP 

customer for a number of years, 

has a similar focus on reducing 

its impact on the environment. 

Casbega’s plant - located near 

Madrid - occupies a site of 

250,000m2 and serves over 

68,000 distributors and retailers. 

It bottles 275 different products 

and maintains enough stock for 8 

to 10 days. Customer orders can 

be received up to 5pm, with guaranteed 

next day delivery from 

6am. 

Casbega’s industrial and logistical 

director, José María Sánchez, 

said: “To achieve these results 

consistently we need reliable and 

committed suppliers like CHEP. 

The CHEP pallet is far superior to 

white wood pallet alternatives 

and allows us to optimise the 

efficiency of our production 

operations. Using sub-standard 

pallets only leads to problems in 

our highly-automated production 

facility. 

“We eliminate waste wherever 

possible throughout the bottling 

process. In the specific area of 

palletisation we minimise the 

amount of wood used by using 

CHEP pallets which are continually 

being recycled through the 

supply chain.” 

CHEP 

Tel: +44 1932 833115 

www.chep.com 


NEWS 


5 

THE BUSINESS BOOST OF BREAKFAST 

Kellogg’s unveils breakfast opportunity for 

c-store and new perfect cereal fixture 

Caravan, the charity for the UK 

grocery and FMCG marketplace is 

delighted to announce and 

welcome its new trustee Zameer 

Choudrey, Group Chief Executive 

for Bestway Group. 

This is not the first involvement 

with the Charity for Zameer, as he 

was previously Chairman of 

Caravan’s trading arm, NGBF 

Trading Ltd. In his new role as a 

member of the Board of Trustees, he 

will play an active part in the day-today 

running, welfare and long-term 

strategy of Caravan. He brings with 

him a wealth of experience, which 

will be invaluable to the charity as it 

moves forward with its fundraising 

and development activities within 

all sectors of the grocery industry. 

Zameer comments; “Caravan is a 

premier charity for the grocery 

industry. Bestway Group has been in 

Independent retailers are missing out 

on £11.7 million worth of sales each year 

because they are failing to see the business 

opportunity of breakfast. 

That’s the claim made today by Kellogg’s 

at its annual trade media briefing held in 

London. 

Speaking at the event, Chris McLaughlin, 

head of specialty accounts at Kellogg’s said: 

“The fact is convenience is a breakfast battle 

ground. 

“When you delve into this and look at 

cereal shoppers, you can see they present a 

lucrative opportunity. That’s because cereal 

shoppers are on a top up mission in convenience 

and they are crucial to driving up 

basket size in store as they spend 26 percent 

- or £3 more - per trip than the average 

shopper. 

“What’s more, 88% of convenience store 

shoppers are looking for cereals they normally 

buy as part of their main shop at the 

supermarket” 

“All this means, breakfast shoppers are 

an audience retailers can’t afford to ignore.” 

The convenience sector alone sells more 

than 150 different types of breakfast cereal 

in-store in a year, out of a possible choice of 

300. 

Chris says this inevitably leads to confusion 

amongst retailers about what products 

they should stock to drive maximum return. 

In response, Kellogg’s has unveiled its 

new perfect fixture: a category management 

KELLOGG’S’ FIVE GOLDEN RULES TO 

A PROFITABLE CEREAL SECTION: 

1. Layout cereals as two categories: adults and kids 

2. Lead the fixture with adult cereals - 72 percent of convenience shoppers are 

looking for an adult cereal 

3. Position best sellers at eye-level within the diamond zone hot-spot 

4. If you have four shelves or more, double space the three best sellers 

5. Use price-marked packs to demonstrate good value to shoppers 

CARAVAN WELCOMES 

HIGH PROFILE TRUSTEE 

the wholesale business for nearly 35 

years and it is very rewarding to be 

able to give something back to the 

sector, especially in the current 

economic environment. I am therefore 

very pleased to be associated with it 

and look forward to my role as a 

Trustee on Caravan’s Board.” 

Gillian Barker, Director General of 

Caravan says, “This is an exciting 

time for Caravan with Zameer joining 

the Board of Trustees. With fresh 

ideas, valuable knowledge, vast 

experience and a true dedication to 

the cause of Caravan and its trustees, 

2010 seems set to be a successful 

and positive year for us.” 

Further information is available from: 

Tel. 01252 875925 

Email: info@caravan-charity.org.uk 

www.caravan-charity.org.uk 

programme designed to help retailers at 

every step of the chain understand what 

cereal they need to put on shelf. 

“Put simply, it’s about giving our retail 

partners all the information they need to 

make a profitable decision”, said Chris. 

“It’s based on extensive research into 

what shoppers buy in store, the results of 

which we package to help inform the merchandising 

decisions of our partners.” 

According to Kellogg’s, 72 percent of convenience 

shoppers are looking for adult 

cereals so its perfect fixture solution recommends 

retailers allocate 70 percent of space 

on fixture to adult cereal to maximise sales. 

When it comes to the choice of what to 

stock in-store, many convenience and independent 

retailers are failing to keep 

up-to-date with the top selling lines. 

Recently, research organisation SalesOut 

claimed Special K Red Berries has the third 

highest average weekly sales in the independent 

sector, but it is only tenth in terms 

of total sales. 

To further help combat this, the concept 

behind Kellogg’s’ perfect fixture is being 

taken to cash and carry in the form of bay 

branding in the cereal section. Branding 

ensures all products on shelf are clearly 

ranked so independent retailers can easily 

purchase the best selling cereals. 

Multi temperature supply 

chain specialist in warehousing 

and logistics, Oakland 

International, celebrated the 

first anniversary of its Ireland 

operation on Thursday 27th May 

2010, with UK and Ireland staff 

joining in a celebration of a 

sumptuous Irish Day Breakfast 

Buffet and cake celebration, with 

all monies raised from the event 

donated to Our Lady’s Children's 

Hospital in Crumlin, Ireland. 

For the cost of a €1 and £1 staff, 

drivers and Oakland customers 

enjoyed a selection of breakfast 

treats including croissants and jam, 

a selection of fresh fruit and fruit 

juices as well as a large slice of 

celebration cake, with every 

breakfast token bought then 

entered into a raffle with the first 

prize of a bottle of well-known Irish 

cream liqueur won by Oakland 

Database Administrator Angela 

Garbett, second prize of four pints 

of the black stuff known as Irish 

‘plain’ won by Hygiene Operative 

Brian Hughes and the third prize of 

a box of Irish cream liqueurs won 

by Purchase Accounts Controller 

Tina Richards. 

Said breakfast winner Angela: 

“Oh wow did I win I thought it was 

fantastic and what a way of 

bringing both the UK and Ireland 

teams together.” 

Oakland International’s MD, 

Dean Attwell, commented: “It’s 

been a good first year for Oakland 

International Ireland, with an 

increase in staff as well as service 

offer. Taking the opportunity to 

celebrate and thank everyone for 

CUMBRIAN SEAFOODS 

APPLAUDED FOR ENERGY SAVINGS 

Cumbrian Seafoods has 

received further recognition for 

its low carbon strategy in the 

The progressive company was a 

finalist in the Energy Management 

category of the awards for measures 

annual Food Processing 

to reduce the carbon 

awards. 

footprint of its car fleet. 

Peter Vassallo, MD and Chairman of Cumbrian Seafoods. 

Foremost among these steps 

was switching the company car 

fleet, including the Chairman’s car, 

to Volkswagen Golf Blue motions, 

which have a CO22 rating of just 

107g/km and achieve an impressive 

65 miles to the gallon. This is 

estimated to save 25,000 kg CO2 

per annum. 

SAVINGS 

There have also been significant 

savings in travelling 

between company sites and to 

customers through better planning 

to avoid repeat journeys, car 

sharing, and avoiding travelling 

altogether through the equipping 

of the sites with video conferencing 

facilities. 

In total Cumbrian Seafoods has 

estimated it is saving over 85,000 

miles per year. 

The award is a direct result of 

the enthusiastic approach to 

energy saving adopted by Peter 

Vassallo, MD and Chairman of 

Cumbrian Seafoods. For over 25 

years, Peter has practiced a pioneering 

approach to responsible 

and ethical trading, sustainability 

and efficient low cost 

manufacturing. 

“Whether this relates to 

responsible fishing or carbon 

emissions, the well being of the 

environment has always been at 

the heart of the Cumbrian 

Seafoods business ethos”, said Mr 

Vassallo. 

Trade enquiries: 

Cumbrian Seafoods 

Peter Vassallo 

Tel: 0191 516 1250 

Kellogg’s is currently rolling out the perfect 

fixture in-store and bay branding in 

cash and carry. 

“We recognise cereal may not be high on 

the agenda of many independent retailers. 

But the facts speak for themselves. 

Breakfast and cereal shoppers make good 

business sense. That’s why we’ve invested in 

initiatives like the perfect fixture so retailers 

can make the most profitable choice about 

what to stock in their limited space.” 

Retailers wanting further information can contact 

their Kellogg’s field sales representative or call 

Kellogg’s on 0800 783 6676. 

all that they’ve done to help us 

achieve these results is a pleasure, 

as we couldn’t have done it without 

you. We have been working hard at 

building close working 

relationships with retailers across 

Ireland who have bought in to the 

opportunities of extending range, 

availability and reducing cost by 

having stock, order consolidation 

and picking managed through one 

location where they can also use 

their own trucks to collect, thus 

shortening the supply chain. We 

already have extremely close 

working relationships with most of 

the UK retail sector so any Irish 

producer can tap into these whilst 

still dealing with a local Irish 

company as their supply chain 

partner.” 

Oakland Ireland General 

Manager, Richard Hill commented: 

“Oakland International’s expanding 

business portfolio continues to 

deliver significant opportunities 

within both the UK and Irish retail 

market; service driven, lower cost, 

with an enhanced reactive and 

flexible supply chain solution that 

appeals to Irish and UK exporters 

who have previously been put off 

by the high entry cost and 

perceived difficulties in order 

management processes associated 

with the Irish retail marketplace. 

Today has been fantastic for 

celebrating an exciting first year as 

JEYES 

JEYES APPOINTS BERNARD 

DAYMON AS GROUP CHIEF EXEC 

Household cleaning group Jeyes 

Group Limited has appointed 

Bernard Daymon as its new Group 

Chief Executive Officer. The 

company behind household names 

including Bloo and Parozone has 

moved to strengthen its team to 

accelerate growth and enhance 

performance and market share. 

BT 

BT EXPEDITE APPOINTS COLES AS 

DIRECTOR OF CONSULTING FOR 

SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS 

BT Expedite, BT’s multichannel retail 

specialist division, announces the 

appointment of Robin Coles as its 

Director of Consulting for Supply 

Chain Solutions. He will report to 

Richard Dodd, chief operating officer 

at BT Expedite. This is an important 

new role in BT Expedite which will 

see Robin provide strategic direction 

for the company’s supply chain 

solutions as well as supporting the 

sales team during the pre-sale 

process. Robin will lead a team of 5. 

WYKE FARMS 

WYKE FARMS UK’S BEST-SELLING 

FARMHOUSE CHEDDAR BRAND 

Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest 

independent cheese producer and 

milk processor, has revealed the 

latest brand performance figures 

from Kantar World Panel KPI 

Reporting , the world's leading 

provider of continuous, consumer 

panels and market research solutions. 

The data confirms Wyke Farms as 

the best selling Farmhouse Cheddar 

brand within the category in the UK. 

UK AND IRISH TEAMS CELEBRATE 

OAKLAND IRELAND’S 1ST ANNIVERSARY 

Oakland’s Quality Assurance Manager Louise Smith celebrates with Andy Sharman, 

Logistics Operations for Kraft Foods UK Branch. 

we now turn our attention to an 

opportunity filled year ahead.” 

RESPECTED 

Core to the firm’s offer is 

assistance for Irish producers who 

want to deal with UK retailers and 

with whom Oakland International 

is already a respected supply chain 

partner. Following their successful 

launch in to Ireland, Oakland has 

continued to attract interest with 

producers and suppliers seeking to 

capitalise on the firm’s extensive 

retail distribution operations and 

extended supply chain services 

across Europe. The business 

continues to enjoy unrivalled lead 

times whilst delivering significant 

cost advantages for producers 

wishing to deal with both UK and 

Irish retailers direct. 

Dean Attwell added: “As we begin 

our second year on a commercial 

high, we are ready and eager to move 

ever forward, perpetually investing 

in new resources and systems to 

keep us ahead as we continue to 

expand our team to meet our 

growing demand. It’s going to be a 

very busy year ahead for all of us.” 


UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 

Ireland: +353 (0) 1835 4855 

e: sales@oakland-international.com 




6 


HOME BAKING 

HOME BAKING ON THE RISE 

Comment From The Wholesale Manager 

CHARLES SMITH 

The Editor 

At first glance home baking 

might not seem a very sexy 

market, but it has a lot going 

for it in these tough times. 

Taking out the effects of inflation 

from rising commodity 

prices, it’s still a pretty healthy 

sector, with plenty of profit 



serving neighbourhood stores. 

As anyone who’s ever followed 

a cake recipe will vouch, 

there’s always an ingredient 

you find you haven’t got in the 

kitchen cupboard when you 

need it: hence the distress 

purchase aspect adds another 

‘dosh dimension’ for local 

stores, all year round. 

Home baking comprises a 

broad spread of products - at 

one end are traditional ingredients 

like culinary nuts, dried 

fruit and cooking chocolate and 

perennial products for home 

baking fans such as cake decorations 

and flavourings and at 

the other, hyper-convenient 

lines like baking mixes and 

ready-made pastry. 

Putting the consumers 

under the microscope, ABC1s 

and pre- and post-kids couples 

are the biggest users of raw 

baking ingredients while 

baking mixes have a clear C2DE 

profile, but the demographics 

are shifting. 

Back in the affluent 90’s 

home baking was a neglected 

sector that marketers reckoned 

was of little interest to the 

‘alpha consumers,’ young adults 

with money to spend. Back 

then, it had an ageing consumer 

base and few brands were actually 

putting money into it. Now 

it’s a different picture entirely. 

First, the healthy eating 

trend has encouraged people to 

think twice about cooking from 

scratch and home baking. 

Then, the growing army of 

celebrity chefs and Delia 

Smith’s How To Cheat At 

Cooking have made it more 

socially acceptable to use 

ready-made ingredients in the 

process. Most recently, in the 

last couple of years, the recession 

has made consumers of all 

incomes take a whole new look 

at their food and what they 

spend on it, and if staying in 

really is the new going out, 

home baking is a big attraction. 

In response, large and small 

manufacturers alike have taken 

the initiative to come up with 

premium products that tick all 

the boxes - convenient; additive-free; 

products inspired by 

the ‘treats to go’ found in coffee 

shop culture; and crucially, 

products that are ethically 

sound with Fair Trade, organic 

and other propositions. 

This is a market where historically 

above the line spend 

and brand investment has been 

quite limited. However, in the 

short term, the existence of 

new media and specialist TV 

channels enables smart marketers 

to reach the hardcore 

consumers who are big home 

bakers while keeping their 

brands on a lean budget. 

Looking ahead, compulsory 

cooking lessons 

for all 11-14’s 

from 2011 

should boost 

the UK’s food 

skills and start a 

new generation 

home baking en 

masse. 

AMKO FOODS 

ACHIEVE EU APPROVAL 

A new manufacturer 

rivals Premier’s 

Atora brand. 

Bolton firm Amko Foods is producing Beef 

and Vegetable suet for independent food manufacturers, 

bakers and wholesalers for use in 

dumplings and suet puddings. 

Amko have become the 1st in the UK to achieve 

EU Approval required to produce Beef Suet before 

the industry giant Premier Foods. 

“Comfort foods are still in demand “ said Peter 

Martindale, “We have been producing dumpling mix 

for a number of years now, so it was a natural progression 

to produce our own suet sooner or later, to 

be included in our own Amko Dumpling Mix”. 

“Our newly launched retail pack of Beef Suet last year, has 

been a great success, offering an alternative to the industry 

giant Atora, at a competitive price.” said Mr Martindale. 

New blends include a gluten free non hydrogenated 

vegetable suet and a gluten free non 

hydrogenated beef suet variety, already proving popular 

with the food service sector. 

Amko Foods 

Tel : 01204 388801 

BETTY CROCKER 

BAKES UP BIG PLANS 

General Mills UK has injected a 

further boost into the already flourishing 

home baking category by 

unveiling a raft of activity for 2010 

including NPD, marketing and promotional 

activity for Betty Crocker, 

the UK’s No 1 baking mixes brand. 

2009 was a great year for Betty 

Crocker, with the brand having grown 

value sales by 46.1% y-o-y. The brand is 

all set to make 2010 even better with the 

roll out of some really exciting activity. 

Andy Foweather, Sales Director, 

General Mills UK: “We believe home 

baking will continue to grow in 2010 

with consumers treating more in the 

home. This is very much reflected in 

the positive sales growth of the baking 

mixes category (+5%). As market 

leader one of our objectives is to drive 

category development - and we’ll do 

that by adopting a fresh approach.” 

CHOCOLATE FUDGE 

CUPCAKES MIX 

Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge 

Cupcakes Mix includes all the elements 

consumers need to make 

delicious cupcakes: including cake 

mix, icing, sprinkles and 10 cupcake 

cases. 

Ed Culf, Marketing Director at 

General Mills UK, says: “Cupcakes 

are currently very in vogue and, as a 

product offering, last year experienced 

exceptional growth of 47%. 

There is a definite role in the category 

for a quality product that is 

appealing to adults and easy enough 

to prepare that the whole family can 

get involved.” 

VERY LAZY EXPANDS 

INTO POSH COOKING CONCENTRATES 

English Provender Company, 

manufacturers of premium 

condiments, chutneys, dressings 

and sauces, is taking its popular 

BLUE DRAGON DRIVES ORIENTAL CATEGORY 

Blue Dragon continues to drive the oriental 

stir fry category with new glass jar offering 

Pan Oriental food specialist 

Blue Dragon is continuing to 

drive the ambient Oriental 

food market with the extension 

of its market leading stir 

fry portfolio. 

Blue Dragon has taken its 

best selling stir fry sachet 

flavours - Black Bean, Sweet & 

Sour, Hoi Sin & Garlic, Chow 

Mein and Sweet Chilli & Garlic - 

and created 200g glass jar versions. 

With its 46% market 

share and 13% year-on-year 

growth rate, Blue Dragon is 

currently driving the total stir 

fry segment (worth £28m and 

growing at a rate of 4% YOY), 

and this new range is set to 

uphold the brand’s strong category 

positioning. 

Tracy Hughes, Blue Dragon 

Consumer and Trade 

Marketing Controller, comments: 

“At Blue Dragon we 

pride ourselves on providing 

UK consumers with products 

that are in line with their 

needs, while maintaining high 

standards of quality and 

authenticity. Following consumer 

research we know 

there’s a demand amongst 

larger households for a stir fry 

offering that provides up to 3-4 

servings, but which still presents 

a cost effective meal 

solution. Research also suggests 

that 63% of consumers 

prefer their stir fry to be presented 

in a recyclable glass 

format. 

“Our new 200g stir fry glass 

jar portfolio meets these exact 

criteria and we’re confident 

this innovative launch will 

drive penetration of stir fry 

glass jars and really cater to a 

clear gap in the market.” 

With an RRP of £1.19, Blue 

Dragon’s new stir fry glass jar 

portfolio is the only range in 

the market which is free from 

artificial additives and preservatives, 

and is in line with the 

2012 FSA guidelines on salt. 

“Very Lazy” branded product 

range into new territory with 

the launch of a range of high-end 

concentrated cooking sauces. 

The cooking concentrates, 

packed in premium glass jars in a 

cardboard sleeve and retailing at 

around £1.69, aim to reduce the 

skills, number of ingredients and 

preparation time needed to make 

nutritious, classic home cooked 

meals. 

Available in four flavours - Posh 

Sausage Casserole, Beef 

Bourguignon, Coq au Vin and 

Creamy Chicken - the sauces have 

been developed with the benefit of 

consumer research and feedback. 

Says Brand Manager Rachel 

Chang: “The expansion of the Very 

Lazy brand offer into these cooking 

concentrates takes us into new and 

exciting territory. We intend to 

develop the Very Lazy brand as a 

functional brand that clearly communicates 

time and skills 

solutions. This latest development 

also takes the brand beyond the 

categories where we currently 

have a strong foothold into product 

categories that are a firm part of 

the weekly shopping basket. 

“This also explains why we have 

deliberately concentrated on developing 

cooking sauces around 

classic favourites, as these are 

many of the dishes that people are 

really cooking during busy weekdays,” 

says Chang. 

She adds: “Each sauce is recipe 

specific and gives full cooking 

instructions, while the packaging 

directs consumers to our website 

and more ideas for simple, alternative 

dishes suited to family eating. 

But the crucial thing is all the 

sauces in the range offer the ability 

to prepare a delicious home-cooked 

family meal in the least possible 

time and with least possible effort.” 

English Provender’s groundbreaking 

Very Lazy range of 

ingredients and sauces, marketed 

with the message of how they help 

a home-made meal happen without 

compromise on quality, have revolutionised 

life in the kitchen for 

busy consumers. 

To give the products even 

greater consumer recognition, this 

year English Provender made Very 

Lazy a stand-alone brand, committing 

a record £500,000 spend on 

conveying the new proposition to 

its customers and consumers and 

introducing bold new labeling. An 

amusing and memorable creative 

built around “the world’s fastest 

human chopper, Lazlo Vaslavsky” 

has brought Very Lazy to TV, 

cinema screens and 48-sheet 

posters and kick-started an ambitious 

marketing support package 

for the brand. 

English Provender Company 

www.englishprovender.com 


8 


DRINKS NEWS 

AWARDS 

SHEPHERD NEAME IS TOP IN 

PROCESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 

More efficient ways of working at 

Shepherd Neame have been 

recognised with an award for ‘Best 

Improvement Project (under 90 

days)’ at this year’s Process 

Excellence Awards. The award was 

given for the brewery’s inventory 

reduction project in wines and spirits, 

which halved the inventory and also 

increased product availability. The 

project served as a trial in the roll-out 

of other improvement schemes 

across the business. 

CAMPAIGN 

THIS WATER LAUNCHES 

REFRESHING NEW AD CAMPAIGN 

This Water, is making a big splash 

into TV and outdoor advertising this 

summer with its biggest ever 

nationwide above-the-line campaign, 

including its first TV commercial. 

“This is an exciting time for our 

brand, three years after it first 

launched. We are significantly lifting 

our investment this summer with a 

heavyweight nationwide outdoor 

campaign and our first ever TV 

commercial,” says Sarah Smart, This 

Water marketing manager. 

PIG IN A POKE 

PIG IN A POKE GOES NATIONAL 

British designed wine brand, Pig in a 

Poke, has gained national 

distribution for its Old Spot range. 

The award-winning and on-trade 

exclusive Old Spot red and white 

wines are now available in Makro 

nationwide, supporting the ‘Love The 

Pub’ campaign. Pig in a Poke offers a 

unique guarantee - 100% 

satisfaction, or your money back. 

FOSTER’S 

COMEDY TO BE FOSTERED BY 

THE AMBER NECTAR 

Heineken UK’s determination to 

harness ‘the power of humour’ to 

build a major new marketing platform 

for Foster’s, its leading lager was 

underlined with the announcement 

that the brand is to become the title 

sponsor of the world-renowned 

Edinburgh Comedy Awards. 

FOSTER’S 

BRECON CARREG TO ADVERTISE 

ITS PURE WELSH MAGIC 

Brecon Carreg, the number one 

Welsh Natural Mineral Water, has 

launched a major advertising 

campaign in Wales from 10 May to 5 

July with over 180 poster sites and 

radio advertising. The campaign 

describes the water as ‘Pure Welsh 

Magic’ depicting the waterfalls and 

landscape of the picturesque rural 

Brecon Beacons from where the 

water it is drawn. 

MATEUS ANNOUNCES 

SUMMER CRM CAMPAIGN 

Neck Collar Promotion on 1 

Million Bottles Offers Trip to 

Portugal. 

Mateus Rosé, distributed in the 

UK by leading independent drinks 

company First Drinks, is launching 

a new Customer Relationship 

Marketing (CRM) programme, 

which will include a neck collar promotion 

across one million bottles of 

Mateus Rosé Original. The promotional 

bottles will be rolled out to 

stores nationwide from the end of 

June, offering the chance to 

win a holiday to Portugal. 

Alvin Saal, Brand Manager for Mateus, 

says: “We are making a significant investment 

in supporting Mateus Rosé this 

summer to engage with Mateus drinkers, 

increase our direct communication with 

them and offer rewards for their loyalty.” 

As part of the CRM campaign, 

Mateus drinkers will be invited to enter 

a competition to be in with a chance 

of winning a luxury mini break for two 

people to the Algarve, which will include 

return flights from London, two nights 

in a four star hotel and £500 spending 

money. Ten runners up will each win 

a complete Mateus Rosé picnic basket. 

Customers can enter by completing 

a short questionnaire on the back of the 

neck collar or online at a dedicated campaign 

website - www.mateusrose.net. 

The CRM activity will be supported 

by the Mateus website, which will feature 

information on the Mateus Rosé 

range and additional content 

including tips on the perfect picnic 

areas, summer cocktails and an outdoor 

events guide for the summer. 

Saal adds: “Rosé continues to be 

hugely popular with British wine 

drinkers and Mateus has experienced 

strong growth (12% value and 

7% volume). This promotion will 

increase shelf standout for Mateus 

and we’re confident it will really 

appeal to consumers, helping us capitalise 

on what is traditionally a very 

strong sales period for rosé wine.” 

For more information, please go to 

www.mateusrose.net 

This month, Isklar Norwegian 

Glacial Natural Mineral Water 

bursts onto our TV 

screens with a dynamic 

new advertising campaign 

for both its still 

and newly launched 

sparkling range. 

The new ads entitled 

“pure glacier” capture 

both the purity of Isklar’s 

Norwegian provenance 

as well as its glacial roots 

through the notion of 

coldness. Each execution 

uses ice and its effects as 

the central, dramatic element. 

The campaign will feature 

in a heavyweight TV 

plan in both the UK and 

Ireland and will be supported 

by digital media, 

4OD which is an online 

catch up service and digital 

escalator panels across the 

summer. 

The TV ads have been crafted in 

LA by well-seasoned Hollywood 

Director, Kyle Cooper and his 

renowned production house, 

Prologue. Kyle has worked on 

more than 150 film title 

sequences including 

Blades of Glory, The 

Incredible Hulk, Sherlock 

Holmes and Spiderman 

and is a master at 

bringing to life the 

essence of a film, and in 

this case, the glacial icon 

of Isklar Natural Mineral 

Water, from Norway. 

Marketing Director of 

Isklar, Aoife Burnell- 

Smith comments, “This 

new creative campaign 

really captures the 

essence of Isklar and the 

tongue-in-cheek 

humour which subtly 

underlines the ads gives 

us a unique point of difference 

within a 

crowded and traditionally 

conservative category.” 

For further information on Isklar 

please see www.isklar.no 

OLD SPECKLED HEN 

ON THE HUNT FOR “SOMETHING DIFFERENT” 

Footballing nuns and a bobsleighing 

fox featured in an 

exciting new advertising campaign 

for “Old Speckled Hen” on 

TV channel Dave since 10th 

May. This industry-leading 

investment in “Old Speckled 

Hen” supports retailers in 

attracting new drinkers to the 

dynamic premium ale category. 

The “Old Speckled Hen” iconic 

fox takes centre stage with the 

advertising tagline, ‘Seek out 

something different’. In his quest 

for satisfaction, the fox meets a 

number of extraordinary scenes 

including a woman eating locusts, 

giant rabbits and an alpine horn, 

but none as rewarding as his “Old 

Speckled Hen”. 

The advertisements feature 

the distinctive vocal talents of 

Griff Rhys Jones and comedy 

actor Mark Heap as the voice of 

the quizzical fox. 

Neil Jardine, Greene King’s 

take home and export director, 

said: “There is a good reason why 

we’re going for a second year 

with sponsoring Dave. It is the 

UK’s fastest growing channel and 

it has one of the highest proportions 

of beer drinkers of any 

non-sports TV channel. 

ISKLAR BURSTS ONTO OUR SCREENS 

BUDWEISER ‘DESIGNATE A DRIVER’ CAMPAIGN 

Budweiser Drives Home Responsible 

Drinking Message With New 

‘Designate a Driver’ Campaign 

AB InBev UK is demonstrating 

its commitment to 

promoting responsible drinking 

with the UK launch of a fun and 

engaging TV ad from Budweiser 

to coincide with and support the 

brand’s sponsorship of the 2010 

FIFA World Cup South Africa. 

The 30 second ad urging consumers 

to ‘Designate a Driver’ will 

run from June 15th until July 11th. 

The campaign will also include 

consumer and stakeholder outreach 

to highlight this important 

responsible drinking message. 

James Watson, Marketing 

Director, Budweiser Western 

Europe said: “AB InBev is committed 

to delivering on our dream 

of being the Best Beer Company in 

a Better World, and our efforts to 

promote responsible drinking are 

an important part of achieving our 

dream.” 

“As a brand that consumers 

know and love, Budweiser is well 

placed to communicate about 

responsible drinking in a fun, 

engaging and relevant way. Our 

new ‘Designate a Driver’ campaign 

is running alongside our sponsorship 

of the 2010 FIFA World Cup 

South Africa, and is intended to 

bring our responsible drinking 

message to life during this time of 

excitement and celebration. 

Backed by significant resources, 

we’ll take our message to millions 

of consumers over the coming 

weeks.” 

According to research conducted 

last month in the UK, 51% 

of respondents are aware of the 

concept of a designated driver. “We 

were pleased to learn that more 

than half of UK respondents were 

familiar with the concept of a designated 

driver, but it’s clear that 

there is an opportunity to educate 

consumers about the concept of a 

designated driver, and to 

encourage consumers to plan 

ahead in order to get home safe” 

Watson explained. 

Research also shows that 84% 

of respondents think that promoting 

the use of designated 

drivers is a good way to reduce 

drink driving. According to 

Watson, “the research reinforces 

the fact that there is a willingness 

among consumers to learn more - 

and a great opportunity to educate. 

As a leading brand, we have 

the opportunity - but also the 

responsibility - to engage consumers 

on responsible drinking. 

Our new ‘Designate a Driver’ campaign 

delivers a serious and 

important message in an engaging 

and relevant way.” 

Budweiser’s ‘Designate a Driver’ 

ad will feature on ITV, Channel 4, 

Five, Sky, IDS and will be available 

on video-on-demand channels 

throughout the 2010 FIFA World 

Cup South Africa tournament. 

For more information, please visit: 

www.ab-inbev.com 


DRINKS NEWS 


9 

AQUA PURA 

SET FOR MAJOR RELAUNCH 

Princes soft drinks is stepping 

up investment in Aqua Pura natural 

mineral water with a major 

relaunch focusing on the 

brand’s water source in 

the heart of the Cumbrian 

fells. 

The move will help meet 

growing consumer 

demand for British bottled 

waters - sales of 

which are showing 

double digit growth* 

- and follows 

research showing 

that shoppers feel 

uncomfortable 

about the food miles 

associated with 

some rival brands. 

The relaunched 

Aqua Pura range 

includes a new logo 

and brand livery as 

well as a refreshed 

pack design featuring 

striking 

photography of its 

heartland in the 

Cumbrian countryside. 

A new strapline - 

100% Pure 

Cumbrian - is also 

being introduced 

after research 

showed that Aqua 

Pura’s provenance provides 

a real resonance with 

shoppers who associate this outstanding 

area of natural beauty 

with purity and natural products. 

Timed to coincide with the key 

summer sales period, the relaunch 

will be supported by consumer 

press advertising, PR and promotions, 

along with a new-look website 

and online communications 

programme. 

It is hoped that the move 

will stimulate further brand 

loyalty for Aqua Pura, which 

is drawn from one of 

Europe’s largest sustainable 

groundwater aquifers 

in the unspoilt Eden 

Valley - a location protected 

by the EU as a 

Special Area of 

Conservation. 

Graham Breed, 

marketing director 

for Aqua Pura, said: 

“For many shoppers 

the idea that British 

is best seems to be 

here to stay, with 

sales growth 

amongst British 

brands outstripping 

rival European 

waters.* 

“At Aqua-Pura, 

we’re proud of our 

Cumbrian roots and 

the purity of our 

water source. By 

emphasising our 

British credentials 

on-pack, we can 

build on Aqua Pura’s 

position as one of 

the UK’s leading bottled 

water brands and 

give consumers a clear 

reason to buy.” 

*Source: Nielsen Scantrack, 52 

w/e 20/03/2010 

For more information visit 

www.aqua-pura.com 

HALEWOOD INTERNATIONAL 

LAUNCHES A NEW FRUIT CIDER BRAND 

Halewood International, the UK’s leading independent 

drinks manufacturer and distributor has 

further strengthened its cider and over ice 

offering with the launch of Brambles, a fruit cider 

targeted at 25-45 year old women. 

Brambles, which launched to the trade last month, 

aims to capitalise on interest from the Off-Trade, 

which is seeing growth of +11% and to offer innovation 

to the On-Trade which is dominated by a handful 

of brands which are predominately targeted at men in 

terms of marketing and serving suggestion. 

The launch will be supported by an extensive On 

and Off Trade sampling campaign as well as point of 

sale and online activity. 

The new product has an ABV of 5.5% and is packaged 

in a 75cl glass bottle. Brambles will be targeting 

24 - 45 C1C2 females, who are currently wine and 

RTD drinkers, in particular rosé drinkers. The new 

product will be available in two variants – rosé and 

white and both are pear cider based and will retail at 

around £2.99 a bottle in the Off Trade and from 

around £4.49 in the On Trade. 

Brambles can be served in a straight glass or a 

wine glass, with or without ice. 

Brambles will look to attract consumers from 

RTDs and current cider brands and offers women 

something new, innovative and feminine from the 

cider category. 

With 33% of UK cider sales now coming from 

fruit based ciders, Brambles aims to capitalise on 

this trend, broadening the cider category and further 

strengthening the category’s appeal to 

women. 

Richard Clark, Head of Innovation at Halewood 

International comments: “The Cider category is in 

need of innovation and particularly in the On- 

Trade where there is less choice especially for 

women. The launch of Brambles is the latest in a 

series of innovations from Halewood International 

which over the past twelve months has launched 

Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, Lambrini Rose, 

Lamb’s Spiced Rum and a range of soft drinks. 

“With only 62% of Cider drinkers choosing to 

order Cider in a pub or bar, we saw an opportunity 

to engage more cider drinkers as well as 

attract a new younger female audience. The current 

young adult generation is now moving away 

from RTDs and looking for something new, fruity 

and refreshing to move on to, Brambles provides the 

perfect alternative,” Richard Clark adds. 

Halewood International 

www.halewood-int.com 

BACARDI 

BACARDI LIMITED NAMES NEW 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately 

held spirits company in the world, 

and its wholly-owned affiliate, 

Bacardi International Limited, has 

announced Silvia Lagnado has been 

named Chief Marketing Officer 

(CMO) of Bacardi Limited and 

President of Bacardi Global Brands, 

responsible for global marketing 

initiatives for the Company’s 

internationally known portfolio of 

premium spirits. Ms. Lagnado joins 

Bacardi from Unilever, where she 

masterminded the “Campaign for 

Real Beauty” for Dove. 

DEL MONTE 

THE MAN FROM DEL MONTE 

SAYS ‘YES’ TO BEST EVER JUICES 

Del Monte is launching its new, best 

ever tasting range of fruit juices 

which is set to revitalise the juice 

category through a brand that 

consumers know and love. The 

refreshed ambient range, which 

includes Orange, Apple, Tomato, 

Grapefruit and the brand’s signature 

Del Monte Gold® Pineapple, is 

designed to meet the needs of 

modern consumers and the 

continued focus on healthy drinking 

and eating for the whole family. 

REPORT 

BOTTLED WATER MARKET 

FINALLY TAPPED 

A new YouGov SixthSense report into 

the drinks sector reveals 60% of UK 

adults view bottled water as a waste 

of money, with almost three quarters 

(71%) agreeing tap water is as clean 

as bottled water. The results echo 

the findings of a survey carried out by 

charity WaterAid in 2009, which found 

that around two thirds of consumers 

are now opting for tap water when 

they visit restaurants. Along with the 

recession, perceived negative 

ecological effects and health risks 

associated with mineral water are cited 

as having an influence on consumers. 

CRABBIE’S AND CARIBBEAN TWIST 

SPONSORS THE 14TH GASTRO ALFRESCO CAMPAIGN 

Halewood International has announced Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer and Caribbean Twist have signed 

up to become official sponsors of the 14th Gastro Alfresco and National BBQ Week campaign. 

Halewood International, the 

UK’s leading independent 

drinks manufacturer and distributor 

has announced 

Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer 

has signed up to become the 

official beer sponsor and its 

prepared cocktail brand, 

Caribbean Twist has signed up 

to become the official cocktail 

sponsor of the 14th Gastro 

Alfresco and National BBQ 

Week campaign. 

Following heavy investment 

into the brand through high profile 

consumer TV sponsorship 

deals such as The British 

Comedy Awards and The 

National Television Awards, 

Crabbie’s will continue to 

target mass consumers over 

the summer season through 

a sampling campaign associated 

with the Gastro 

Alfresco and National BBQ 

Week Campaign. 

Investing heavily into the brand 

this summer, Caribbean Twist will 

support the Gastro Alfresco campaign’s 

trade relations activity 

with a burst of Off-Trade advertising 

designed to encourage 

further distribution and listings 

in Off-Trade outlets over the 

summer. 

As part of the sponsorship, 

Crabbie’s and Caribbean Twist 

will benefit from sampling to 

150,000 consumers during the 

15 week National Roadshow 

between May and 

September. Through the 

affiliation, the brands 

will directly reach 

1.25million consumers through 

targeted leaflet distribution as 

well as benefiting from major 

media support which 

will reach around 

20million consumers. 

Al Cross, Brand 

Manager for Crabbie’s 

comments: “The 

Gastro Alfresco and 

National BBQ Week 

campaign will further 

strengthen the 

Crabbie’s profile with 

consumers as a 

refreshing 

alternative to 

other over ice 

products and 

the perfect 

BBQ accompaniment. 

“We’re 

delighted to 

be involved 

again with the 

BBQ tour - it 

adds value to 

our brand and 

our retail customers. 

It also 

gives us a 

chance to 

speak directly 

to our consumers. 

The 

BBQ tour plugs 

directly into a much larger 

summer campaign featuring 

some really fantastic trade and 

consumer media.” 

Hannah Blackburn, Brand 

Manager for Caribbean Twist 

comments: “The focus for 

Caribbean Twist is to grow distribution 

and awareness of the 

brand. The affiliation with the 

Gastro Alfresco campaign and 

National BBQ Week allows us to 

reach both the consumer and the 

Off-Trade successfully and capitalises 

on the prime summer 

BBQ season.” 

“The recent repositioning and 

redesign of Caribbean Twist has 

driven the brand to become the 

number one pre-mixed cocktail 

on the market, offering women 

in particular something different 

to RTDs and also providing 

a lighter alternative to 

wine. 


retails at £1.99 in the off trade. 

Caribbean Twist retails at £1.99 in 

the off trade. 


www.crabbiesgingerbeer.co.uk 



10 


CHRISTMAS PRODUCTS ROUND UP 

CHRISTMAS - STILL A CRACKING FESTIVE PROFIT OPPORTUNITY 


CHARLES SMITH 

The Editor 

Despite the continuing 

recession and the ongoing 

uncertainty about what’s 

going to happen to the UK 

economy under the coalition 

government, there’s one thing 

that wholesale managers can 

be sure of over the next few 

months. Christmas is coming 

round again in a few months’ 

time, and as always it’s going 

to be an extremely big business 

opportunity, as 

consumers do their best to 

forget about their troubles and 

enjoy themselves with friends 

and family. 

So, here’s a puzzle that’s 

worthy of a Christmas cracker! 

When should cash ‘n’ carries and 

delivered wholesalers start promoting 

and selling Christmas 

lines to their neighbourhood 

retail customers 

It’s a fair question. At one 

extreme the big department 

stores open early for Christmas 

and launch their festive lines in 

mid-August, after the summer 

sales. And at the other end, the 

nation’s independent retailers 

typically don't wake up to 

Christmas in stocking and merchandising 

terms until 

November. 

According to one major confectionery 

supplier, Christmas is 

ready to launch in neighbourhood 

stores as soon as the 

Halloween and Bonfire Night displays 

have finished. The point 

there is that in many cases these 

are stores that tend to have limited 

space for back-up stock, even 

if it has been ordered early at 

promotional prices: if they do 

have room, they certainly don’t 

want cash tied up in stock, and so 

rely on last minute supplies of 

key well-supported brands. 

Christmas is an all-important 

peak selling period for a number 

of grocery sectors for which 

gifting becomes a primary reason 

for consumers to purchase in 

neighbourhood stores at this 

time of year. That’s particularly 

so of confectionery, drinks, stationery 

and toiletries. With the 

help of their delivered wholesalers 

and cash ‘n’ carries in 

supplying gift packs and so on, 

neighbourhood retailers can turn 

themselves quite easily into onestop 

shops for a range of 

Christmas gifts in these categories 

that will satisfy their 

customers’ last-minute festive 

needs, from stocking fillers to 

main presents. 

Appealing packaging and 

added value products with gift 

boxes or wallets are instrumental 

in helping retailers make more 

margin at Christmas. 

Confectionery is a case in point. 

Christmas wouldn’t be the same 

without chocolate treats and 

gifts, and consumers increasingly 

look to the convenience sector to 

make impulse confectionery purchases 

for gifting. 

Sharing confectionery is a key 

product for convenience stores 

over Christmas - not 

only do customers 

pick them up as 

last-minute presents 

to put under 

the tree, they also 

choose them for 

sharing with family 

and friends. 

NEW FESTIVE FAVOURITES 

FROM FAMOUS NAMES 

ELIZABETH SHAW, one of the 

UK’s oldest and most famous confectionery 

companies, is getting 

into the Christmas spirit with the 

launch of some exciting new additions 

to its iconic Famous Names 

range of liqueur chocolates. 

In response to repeated consumer 

requests, a Harveys Bristol 

Cream variant is being added to the 

The Famous Names Café Liqueur 

Collection will also be available for 

Christmas 2010 in a 165g gift box - 

with an RRP of £5.99 - featuring 20 

finest dark chocolate coffee liqueurs 

in Irish Cream Latte, Coffee Liqueur 

Cappuccino, Orange Mocha and 

Amaretto Espresso. The collection is also 

available in a 75g presentation box with 

a recommended retail price of £2.99. 

and comprehensive range of fine 

quality chocolates in the company’s 

history, with a support programme 

to match. Elizabeth Shaw and Famous 

Names are iconic brand names synonymous 

with quality chocolates 

and are therefore the perfect choice 

for all gift-giving occasions.” 

Trade enquiries should be directed 

Famous Names range for Christmas 

to Elizabeth Shaw 

2010. The new 165g gift box will STYLISH 


have a recommended retail price of 

£5.99 and will perfectly complement 

the ever-popular Famous Names 

Signature Collection gift packs. 

The Famous Names Signature 

Collection features famous brands 

such as Cointreau®, Courvoisier VS® 

cognac, Harveys®, Irish Cream, 

Drambuie® and Grants® whisky 

liqueur chocolates. The Signature 

Collection comes in a range of gift 

boxes priced from £2.99-£11.99 to 

suit all trade and consumer needs, 

which feature a new, warm, stylish 

and contemporary design “Famous 

Names is the must-stock, marketleading 

liqueur chocolates brand in 

the UK with a 29% share in the four 

weeks leading up to Christmas 2009 

(source: Nielsen data), “ said Malachy 

McReynolds, Managing Director of 

Elizabeth Shaw. “The boxed chocolate 

market performed very strongly last 

year with a 9% increase in the 16 

weeks leading up to Christmas, so the 

very clear message to retailers is to 

stock a full range for 2010.” 

“The Famous Names Café Liqueur 

Collection offers a combination of 

after-dinner liqueurs, coffee and 

finest chocolate in an extremely stylish 

gift box,” said Malachy McReynolds. 

“We believe the collection will prove 

particularly popular with women 

and will therefore broaden the 

appeal of the Famous Names range.” 

Established in 1881, Elizabeth 

Shaw is famous for a range of premium-quality 

products spearheaded by 

its brand-leading Mint Crisp chocolates 

with crunchy honeycomb pieces. This 

year sees the Bristol-based company 

embarking on an exciting and innovative 

programme of new product and 

packaging development, strongly supported 

by its biggest-ever advertising, 

PR and promotional campaign. This will 

include national magazine advertising 

in leading publications plus promotions, 

competitions and consumer sampling 

at major lifestyle shows and events. 

Malachy McReynold said: “We are 

delighted to be offering retailers and 

consumers the most exciting, innovative 

Email: trade@elizabethshaw.co.uk 

www.elizabethshaw.co.uk 

OLYMPIC HERO 

HEADS BRITISH TURKEY CAMPAIGN 

An Olympic hero, a TV chef 

and a renowned nutritionist are 

heading up an ambitious campaign 

to encourage consumers to 

eat British Turkey all year round. 

The initiative, launched under 

the strap line I Love British Turkey, 

has the potential to convert more 

than 30m consumers to turkey 

over three years, says the British 

Turkey Federation. 

The campaign kicked off with a 

huge sampling campaign at 

Manchester’s Trafford Centre to 

The independent 

family company has 

recently launched a 

new 150g bag range 

and to further ‘promote’ 

this new 

design and theme; 

Walkers have 

designed a gift 

range to match. The 

range includes a 

new Selection & Duo 

Hammer Pack and a 

250g box of Assorted 

Toffees & Chocolate 

Éclairs. 

Walkers’ toffee, a 

favourite for over 100 

years, remains an 

independent family 

company. Made to a 

unique recipe that 

coincide with the late May Bank 

Holiday and backed by online 

support. 

Badminton Olympic silver 

medallist Gail Emms is planning 

personal appearances to promote 

the benefits of eating turkey, especially 

for those with young 

families, while celebrity chef Phil 

Vickery will emphasise how 

simple it is to cook. The third 

expert, nutritionist Fiona Hunter, 

will communicate the nutritional 

value of turkey meat. 

WALKERS NONSUCH 

FAMILY TOFFEE MAKERS FOR GENERATIONS 

Walkers Nonsuch launch new range 

has barely changed since the company 

began, the toffees contain no 

artificial colours, preservatives, or 

hydrogenated vegetable oils. 

More importantly, what is does 

contain is whole milk and real 

butter creating an indulgent treat. 

Selection Hammer Pack 

includes four 100g bars in 

Original, Nutty Brazil, Luxury 

Fruit and Nut and Traditional 

Treacle and comes with a cute 

toffee hammer not forgetting 

instructions on how to break this 

traditional treat. A plentiful 

family gift retailing from £4.50. 

Making up the Duo Hammer 

Pack, is Original Creamy Toffee 

and Nutty Brazil bars again with 

it’s own dinky toffee hammer and 

retails from just £2.99. 

To complete this new ‘gift 

range’ Assorted Toffee and 

Chocolate Éclairs 250g gift box 

contains 5 varieties of twist 

wrapped toffees and retails from 

£2.49. 

The design depicts a young 

boy flying his kite with his dog 

and the old authentic Walkers’ 

delivery van on it’s journey. The 

range is colour co-ordinated and 

will bring a point of difference to 

any confectionery display for all 

year round gifting. 

For further information on Walkers’ 

Nonsuch and its complete range of 

speciality toffee products, please call 

01782 321525 or visit their website at 

www.walkers-nonsuch.co.uk 



LEVI ROOTS 

EXPANDS ‘SQUEEZY’ SAUCES RANGE 

Caribbean food entrepreneur 

Levi Roots is expanding his range 

of ‘squeezy’ bottled sauces with 

the launch of two new relishes - 

Mango & Chilli and Reggae 

Reggae Relish, which are now on 

supermarket shelves. The new 

condiments mark the brand’s 

first venture into the relish category 

and will sit alongside 

Reggae Reggae Tomato Ketchup 

and the newly introduced 

‘squeezy’ Reggae Reggae Sauce to 

create the brand’s exciting new 

‘squeezy’ sauces portfolio. 

With the launch of the relishes 

and ‘squeezy’ Reggae Reggae Sauce, 

the Levi Roots brand is hoping to 

capitalise on the increasing popularity 

of sauces, which are available 

in this handy format. Nielsen data 

shows that table sauces are worth 

£680m in the last year and average 

spending levels higher on ‘squeezy’ 

than standard bottles. 

Furthermore, the new relishes are 

set to revitalise, and add value to 

the pickles, chutneys and relishes 

category, which is worth £141m 

with the relishes category growing 

at a rate of 14% year on year. 

Levi Roots’ New Relishes Range 

Mango Chilli 

Relish is a mangobased 

sauce with 

a combination of 

Caribbean 

Herbs and 

Scotch Bonnet 

Chillies. Reggae 

Reggae Relish 

incorporates the 

original Reggae 

Reggae Sauce 

flavour with a 

mixture of vegetables 

including 

onions and carrots. 

Risotto has long been a favourite of 

the Italians who create this delicious 

creamy oozy rice dish with plenty of 

passion and in all sorts of combinations 

of fresh and flavoursome 

ingredients. 

Now Sacla’, the Pesto Pioneers, are 

launching a range of scrumptious Risotto 

sauces in three delicious recipes including 

Wild Mushroom, Butternut Squash & 

Parmesan and Tomato & Mascarpone. 

This ravishing Risotto sauce range will 

make this popular dish so simple to create 

LUXURIOUS ADDITIONS 

TO ELIZABETH SHAW RANGE 

at home, making a meal that is bursting 

with flavour, filling and fun. It’s also 

incredibly good value with each jar, which 

serves 2-3 as a main course, costing only 

£2.49. 

These little jars deliver an authentic 

Risotto in taste and texture. Packed with 

lots of chunky ingredients and a heap of 

expertise they are irresistibly simple and 

quick to cook - Sacla’ Risotto sauces help 

you create a fantastic meal for two to three 

people in just 15-20 minutes. 

Until now Risotto, well established as a 

ELIZABETH SHAW, one of 

the UK’s oldest and most 

famous confectionery companies, 

is expanding its range of 

premium-quality chocolates 

with the launch of a luxurious 

new range of products. 

Elizabeth Shaw Flutes have 

been launched in stylish 105g 

packs with a recommended 

retail price of £2.49. The range 

features elegant, luxury dark 

chocolate flutes with mouthwatering 

flavoured fondant 

centres. 

The four flavours in the 

Elizabeth Shaw Flutes range are 

Mint, Orange, Amaretto and 

Latte Macchiato white chocolate 

with a coffee chocolate centre. 

Malachy McReynolds, 

Managing Director of Elizabeth 

Shaw, said: “The launch is part 

of a very strong, on-going programme 

of new product 

development and will be 

strongly supported by our 

biggest-ever advertising, PR and 

promotional campaign for both 

Elizabeth Shaw and our brandleading 

Famous Names liqueur 

chocolates.” 

Established in 1881, 

Elizabeth Shaw is famous for a 

range of premium-quality products 

spearheaded by its 

brand-leading Mint Crisp chocolates 

with crunchy honeycomb 

pieces. This year has already 

seen the introduction of a special 

Mint Crisp impulse pack and 

exciting additions to the Famous 

Names Christmas range. 

Elizabeth Shaw offers an 

extensive range of premium 

quality chocolates which are 

the perfect choice as gifts or 

treats. Special Christmas packaging 

for Elizabeth Shaw Mint 

Crisp has been launched for the 

first time featuring an attractive 

seasonal bow motif and this 

will enhance the brand’s appeal 

for the growing gifting category. 

In response to consumer 

requests, the Famous Names 

Fresh food specialist New Covent Garden 

is launching two new soups as part of its 

seasonal ‘summer range’ for 2010. 

The two new 600g variants, Sunshine 

Yellow Tomato and Spicy Sweetcorn, join three 

existing summer soups - Gazpacho and 

Summer Vegetable, both of which feature new 

and improved recipes, and Pea & Mint. 

Group Marketing Director Nigel Parrott 

describes the summer variants as ‘New Covent 

Garden’s strongest ever seasonal line-up’. 

“New Covent garden is now clearly established 

as a brand with all-year-round appeal. 

Part of the new summer range’s strength is its 

versatility as all varieties can be enjoyed hot or 

cold, indoors or outdoors, which will attract 

new consumers to the brand,” he says. 

IRRESISTIBLY SIMPLE 

NEW RISOTTO FROM SACLA’! 

The Pesto Pioneers launch range of risotto sauces. 

favourite in restaurants but much less 

widely eaten at home, has been seen by 

some as too time consuming or too complicated 

for home cooking - but thanks to 

Sacla’ everyone can have a go and serve up 

a perfect scrummy risotto in minutes. 

Shower with Parmesan and serve with a 

robust red wine, crisp salad and plenty of 

great conversation. 

Sacla 

www.sacla.co.uk 

Christmas range will feature a 

Harveys Bristol Cream in a new 

165g gift box retailing around 

£5.99. This complements the 

ever-popular Famous Names 

Signature Collection gift packs 

which include iconic brands such 

as Cointreau®, Courvoisier VS® 

cognac, Harveys®, Irish Cream, 

Drambuie® and Grants® 

whisky liqueur chocolates and 

are priced from £2.99 - £11.99. 

With an RRP of £5.99, the 

Famous Names Cafe Liqueur 

Collection will also be available 

for Christmas 2010 in a 165g 

gift box featuring 20 finest dark 

chocolate coffee liqueurs in Irish 

Cream Latte, Coffee Liqueur 

Cappuccino, Orange Mocha and 

Amaretto Espresso. The collection 

is also available in a 75g 

presentation box with a recommended 

retail price of £2.99. 

“Famous Names is the muststock, 

market-leading liqueur 

chocolates brand in the UK with 

a 29% share in the four weeks 

leading up to Christmas 2009 

(source: Nielsen data),” said 

Malachy McReynolds. “The 

boxed chocolate market performed 

very strongly last year 

with a 9% increase in the 16 

weeks leading up to Christmas, 

so the very clear message to 

retailers is to stock a full range 

for 2010.” 

“We are delighted to be 

offering retailers and consumers 

the most exciting, 

innovative and comprehensive 

range of fine quality chocolates 

in the company’s history,” said 

Malachy McReynolds. “Elizabeth 

Shaw and Famous Names are 

iconic brands synonymous with 

quality chocolates and are 

therefore the perfect choice for 

all gift-giving occasions.” 

Trade enquiries should be directed 

to Elizabeth Shaw 


Email: mail@elizabethshaw.co.uk 

NEW COVENT GARDEN 

UNVEILS NEW SUMMER SOUPS RANGE 

New Covent Garden is launching two 

new soups as part of its seasonal 

‘summer range’ for 2010. 

Each of the summer range (rrp £1.99; outers 

of 6) is packed with summer vegetables. New 

Sunshine Yellow Tomato features yellow plum 

tomatoes with carrots, butternut and red chilli 

flakes. Spicy sweetcorn combines the sweetness 

of corn with a lively kick of chilli. 

The originator of the fresh soup category, 

New Covent Garden continues to dominate the 

£139 million market with a 43% volume share, 

almost six times higher than all other branded 

fresh soups combined.* 

* Source: AC Nielsen data 52 w/e 17.04.10 

New Covent Garden Food Co. 

Tel: 0800 389 4415 

www.newcoventgardenfood.com 


11 

MCCAIN 

MCCAIN INTRODUCES MAXIMO 

PIZZA – BIG FLAVOUR SNACK 

McCain Foods, the number one in 

both the total and convenience Frozen 

Potato Markets (£270m and £47m 

respectively), has launched a new 

range of pizzas. The McCain Maximo 

Pizza range has been developed to 

bring incremental growth to the 

category and add differentiation by 

positioning the range as snack time 

products with adult male appeal. 

LAUGHING COW 

THE LAUGHING COW ORIGINAL, 

NOW WITH MORE CALCIUM 

The Laughing Cow Original, the 

number one selling cheese triangle 

from Bel UK, has been reformulated to 

increase the amount of calcium in the 

cheese. Available now, the pack 

design has also been updated to 

include ‘Good source of calcium’ 

messaging, highlighting the change. 

UNITED BISCUITS 

UBUK LAUNCHES NEW MCVITIE’S 

MEDLEY BISCUIT & CEREAL BARS 

United Biscuits UK, a leading 

manufacturer of biscuits, snacks and 

cakes, is launching McVitie’s Medley, 

an exciting new range of ‘on-the-go’ 

biscuit and cereal bars, to help 

retailers capitalise on the growth of 

out-of-home snacking. Available from 

June, the new range combines the 

great taste of McVitie’s Hobnobs and 

McVitie’s Digestives biscuits with the 

goodness of cereals and other 

delicious ingredients, such as raisins, 

nuts and milk chocolate. 

FOX’S 

GUESS WHO’S COMING OUT OF 

HIDING - VINNIE RETURNS TO TV 

Biscuit expert Fox’s has announced 

that the brand’s number one fan, 

Vinnie the Panda, will be back on TV 

screens nationwide from this month. 

Back by popular demand, Vinnie’s 

much-anticipated return will be at the 

forefront of the multi-million pound 

marketing investment that Fox’s is 

making across its broad portfolio of 

biscuits over the course of 2010. 

MAILLE 

MAILLE® TV CAMPAIGN REALLY 

CUTS THE MUSTARD 

Maille®, France’s leading condiment 

producer, launches its first UK 

television advertising campaign. The 

campaign will be aired during primetime 

food programmes, across 

terrestrial, satellite and digital, with a 

view of targeting 25-44 year-old 

women in the right environment by 

airing between food and cooking 

programmes. The aim of the advert is 

to bring Maille® into consumers every 

day repertoire, highlighting it as a 

versatile ingredient that ‘turns the 

ordinary into the extraordinary’. 

BALTI 

GREAT BRITISH BALTI PUDDING 

FROM GLENDALE 

Balti cuisine, famed for tickling the 

taste buds in Birmingham’s celebrated 

‘Balti triangle’ and a popular match 

day pie variety at soccer grounds 

across the country, has now been 

teamed with a great British favourite, 

baked suet pudding. New Chicken 

Balti Pudding is the latest addition to 

the best-selling Great British Pudding 

Company range and offers a tasty, 

authentic, curry filling, in a ribsticking, 

golden suet crust. 

PIE 

HOLLAND’S LAUNCH PEPPERED 

STEAK PIE PERFECTION! 

Holland’s Pies, the North-West’s best 

known producer of pies and puds, is 

about to launch its Peppered Steak Pie 

to retailers throughout the region – on 

the back of public demand. The pie, 

which features chunky pieces of tender 

steak slowly cooked in a dark rich 

creamy peppercorn sauce, has been 

produced at the request of Holland’s 

Pies customers, as Neil Court- 

Johnston, MD of Holland’s explains: 

“As always, we have been listening to 

our customers and they asked us to 

consider adding something new to the 

range. We’re pleased to have been 

able to respond positively with the 

Peppered Steak Pie. We’re convinced 

it will become a Holland’s classic.” 



12 WholesaleManager GROCERY - FOOD 

YOUNG’S 

YOUNG’S HAS IT ‘IN THE BAG’ 

WITH MICROWAVEABLE FISH 

Young’s, the nation’s favourite fish 

brand, is launching a new range of 

innovative, microwaveable fish meals. 

The ‘It’s in the Bag’ range includes two 

headline recipes; Salmon Pasta and 

Seafood Paella. The Salmon Pasta is 

made with Atlantic Salmon in a 

creamy cheese sauce with succulent 

garden peas and penne pasta. The 

Seafood Paella uses the classic 

combination of prawns, Alaskan 

Pollock, and chorizo sausage in a 

spicy sauce with red peppers, peas, 

rice and a touch of smoked paprika. 

WYKE FARMS 

WYKE FARMS VINTAGE CHEDDAR 

NAMED RESERVE CHAMPION 

Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest 

independent cheese producer and 

milk processor, was the recipient of 

numerous accolades at the Devon 

County Show Dairy Produce 

competition, including first prize 

awards in the Vintage Cheddar, 

Double Gloucester and Creamery 

Butter categories, as well as the high 

honour of Reserve Champion. 

OEA 

IT’S HERE AT LAST FROM OEA! – 

EXTRA SPECIAL VIRGIN OLIVE OIL 

Olives Et Al is launching its own Extra 

Virgin Olive Oil after requests to add 

an all-round, versatile and great value 

oil to the range. ”We could go on 

about the aromas of green tomatoes 

and lemons, or the balanced 

fruitiness and pepperiness along with 

notes of banana and nuts, but we 

think it’s more important to say we’ve 

worked with one of the finest olive oil 

producers we’ve ever come across to 

create this great all-round extra virgin 

olive oil,” explained Giles Henschel, 

founder of Olives Et Al. 

UNCLE BEN’S 

UNCLE BEN’S UNITES PORTFOLIO 

WITH NEW CAMPAIGN 

Family favourite food brand, Uncle 

Ben’s, has announced a new 

communications campaign that will, 

for the first time, unite its sauce and 

rice ranges with a complete mealsolution 

position. The “Make teatime, 

with Uncle Ben’s” platform kicked off 

on the 19th April and consists of a 

multi faceted communications 

agenda covering press, in-store 

experiential sampling, PR and digital. 

SOUPS 

SUMMER SOUPS TO KNOCK YOUR 

WINTER SOCKS OFF 

Uncompromising recipes of fresh, 

organic and seasonal vegetables and 

herbs gathered at just the right time 

to deliver the most intense flavours, 

Rod and Ben’s 100% organic summer 

soup range is ready to be savoured! 

Some of the soups are wheat and 

gluten free, some are dairy free, some 

have award-winning badges on them 

from the Great Taste Awards and 

Organic Food Awards, and all are low 

in salt and have zero tolerance for 

anything artificial. 

GUYLIAN 

SPRING LOOK FOR THE WORLD’S 

FAVOURITE BELGIAN CHOCS 

Guylian, the world’s favourite Belgian 

chocolates, is unveiling a new look for 

its 2010 Spring line up. Leveraging 

the brand’s premium positioning, the 

new design features Guylian’s 

distinctive branding, accented by 

gold and brown. The new look is 

designed to revitalise the brand, 

giving it stand out on shelf, whilst 

remaining instantly recognizable to 

Guylian’s loyal consumers. 

DEL MONTE 

DEL MONTE GETS NAKED WITH 

PREPARED FRUIT RANGE 

Del Monte®, is baring all as it applies 

its market expertise to growing the 

prepared fruit category, with the 

launch of its new Naked Fruit 

range. Providing consumers with a 

convenient way to enjoy premium 

quality fruit they have come to expect 

from Del Monte, the Naked Fruit range 

includes a variety of fresh fruit that is 

pre-peeled, sliced and ready-to-eat, 

ideal for healthier ‘on the go’ snacking. 

ELIZABETH SHAW 

ACTS ON IMPULSE WITH STYLISH NEW MINT CRISP INITIATIVE 

ELIZABETH SHAW, one of the 

UK’s oldest and most famous confectionery 

companies, is 

springing into action by creating 

stylish new seasonal designs for 

its brand-leading Mint Crisp 

chocolates and a new pack specifically 

for the impulse sector. 

Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisp chocolates 

are now available in a 43g 

impulse pack with an RRP of 99p. 

Launched in dark and milk chocolate 

varieties, the attractive 

Following the in the footsteps of Giant Cookies, 

respected foodservice brand Brontë is unveiling two 

new biscuits to its hugely popular range. 

Taking inspiration from two of the nation’s favourite 

biscuits, Brontë is launching Giant Custard Creams and 

Giant Bourbon Creams, taking a fresh approach to two 

classic British treats. 

Weighing 65g each, the Giant Custard Cream has a deliciously 

crumby biscuit base and top, 

filled with a creamy custard centre, 

while the Giant Bourbon Cream has the 

all the features of a traditional bourbon 

with a full-on chocolatey filling. 

Targeting the student and adult 

snack market, Giant Cookies are 

seven-piece pack is designed to tap 

into the growing self-treat category 

and will be important in driving 

sales in the independent sector. 

Malachy McReynolds, Managing 

Director of Elizabeth Shaw, commented: 

“The new pack satisfies the 

need of the impulse market, combining 

indulgent treats, innovation 

and all-round appeal for chocolate 

lovers.” 

The new impulse pack complements 

the 175g Dark Mint, Milk 

Mint and Orange Crisp packs, which 

retail around £3.29. 

Chocolates are seen as a perfect 

gift and Elizabeth Shaw has for the 

first time launched special packaging 

for the key Christmas season 

featuring attractive bow and gift tag 

motifs. The new packaging will 

enhance the brand’s appeal for the 

growing gifting category. 

Established in 1881, Elizabeth 

Shaw is famous for a range of premium-quality 

products 

spearheaded by its brand-leading 

Mint Crisp chocolates with crunchy 

honeycomb pieces. This year will 

see the Bristol-based company 

embarking on an exciting and innovative 

programme of new product 

and packaging development, 

strongly supported by its biggestever 

advertising, PR and 

promotional campaign for both 

Mint Crisp and the iconic Famous 

Names liqueur chocolates. 

“We are delighted to be offering 

retailers and consumers the most 

exciting, innovative and comprehensive 

range of fine quality chocolates 

in the company’s history, with a 

support programme to match,” said 

Malachy McReynolds. “Elizabeth 

Shaw and Famous Names are iconic 

brands synonymous with quality 

chocolates and are therefore the 

perfect choice for all gift-giving 

occasions.” 

Elizabeth Shaw chocolates will 

benefit this year from a major support, 

including national magazine 

advertising, promotions, competitions 

and consumer sampling at 

lifestyle events such as The Chelsea 

Flower Show and the BBC Good 

Food Shows at Birmingham NEC, 

Glasgow and London Olympia. 

Trade enquiries should be directed to 

Elizabeth Shaw. Tel: 0117 937 1200. 

Email: mail@elizabethshaw.co.uk 

BRONTË TAKE ON NATION’S FAVOURITE BISCUITS 

aimed at those looking for a filling or sharing taste sensation. 

On-shelf appeal is maximised with distinctive 

packaging instantly recognisable from the Brontë family, 

with a window for mouth-watering appeal. 

Commenting on the launch of the product, Debbie 

Ballach, marketing manager for Brontë, said: “This new 

format offers consumers something that little bit different. 

We are taking a unique approach to two of the 

nation’s favourite biscuits and 

our consumer tests revealed 

the potential popularity of 

these products. Made with all 

butter cream fillings, we’re 

taking the biscuits back to 

their original roots.” 

BigD, the UK’s pub snack 

favourite, is on the look-out for a 

new babe to front its campaigns for 

the next four years. The firm has 

launched a UK search fronted by 

current BigD starlet, Malene 

Espensen, as she prepares to hand 

over her crown and mentor the 

lucky winner on her way to stardom. 

Owned by Merseyside-based Trigon 

Snacks, BigD produces tasty treats to 

thousands of pubs across the UK 

including peanuts, cashews, chilli nuts, 

pork scratching. 

Brian Cardy, Big D Managing 

Director, said: “The BigD Babe is as 

popular as ever and we are responding 

to customer feedback asking for us to 

continue to develop the BigD brand 

and offer throughout the UK. 

“The brand is already the leading 

pub snack brand in many regions of the 

UK and our aim is to continue to grow 

our market share throughout the 

nation. 

“This exciting new nationwide 

search in partnership with one of 

FINN CRISP LAUNCHES 

NEW PLUS 5 WHOLEGRAINS 

Popular crispbread brand Finn providing carbohydrate and protein 

Crisp has launched a new wholegrain 

variety: Finn Crisp Plus 5 and antioxidants. So as well as being 

energy, and germ - full of vitamins 

Wholegrains which is baked using crunchily delicious, these new 5 

a blend of no fewer than 5 grains - Wholegrains offer a superior healthy 

rye, wheat, oat, barley and millet. eating option. 

Business Development Director With a toasted seeds topping for 

Harri Nykanen of Finnish manufacturers 

Vaasan Oy commented: “Finn Wholegrains come in 2 varieties: 

added value, Finn Crisp Plus 5 

Crisp Plus is a new range of premium 

crispbreads with higher value The new range will be supported by 

190gm thins and 200gm crispbread. 

per kg, giving consumers an even magazine advertising and national 

tastier and healthier crunch. All Finn sampling, with an exciting competition 

to win a Winter Wonderland 

Crisp Plus products are baked with 

100% wholegrain and are crammed Holiday in Finnish Lapland. 

full of fibre. Particularly appealing to 

our health-conscious female audience!” 

Kelly Torson 

SALES ENQUIRIES 

The flour used in the baking contains 

whole grain kernels, made up Email: KellyT@bakerbennett.co.uk 

Tel: 01706 650356 

of bran - providing vitamin B, minerals 

and fibre, endosperm 

www.finncrisp.com 

- 

THE SEARCH 

UK’s pub snack favourite l 

search for new BigD b 

the main weekly lads mags is perfectly 

aligned to our core customer 

profile and we can’t wait to crown 

our new girl.” 

The introduction of the current BigD 

girl Malene Espensen four years ago 

encouraged an innovative re-brand for 

BigD, including a new logo, packaging 

design and pub cards featuring the 

Malene. 

'Buy more, see more' BigD babes 

have been featured behind the bars of 

Britain since the 70s with three famous 

bods having fronted the much loved 

brand. This new search will be looking 

for girls across the UK who are seeking 

a boost into a highly competitive 

industry. 

Not only will the winner be taught 

about the industry by busty Malene, 

she will work alongside high-class photographers. 

She will also receive a four 

year contract with BigD, her own calendar 

shoot and invites to the hottest 

parties around. 

Top trump cards will be dished out 

to pubs across the UK with all the 

GAME ON FOR 

RUSTLERS 

Kepak Convenience 

Foods is targeting the 

UK’s gaming community 

as part of a wideranging 

package of 

support for Rustlers, the 

number one brand in 

the UK’s £108 million 

hot snacking category*1. 

Rustlers ‘GameSafe’ 

campaign is a humorous 

programme of activity 

aimed at encouraging UK 

gamers to take regular 

breaks during marathon 

gaming sessions. 

“Whilst we are taking 

a light-hearted 

approach, there is a 

serious underlying 

message about the 

need for gamers to 

refuel and relax. This 

follows international news 

stories reporting fatalities around 

the globe caused through excessive 

gaming, to the point of 

exhaustion,” says Kepak 

Convenience Foods’ Marketing 

Director John Armstrong. 

ON PACK PROMO 

Rustlers’ national campaign 

includes on pack promotions with 

Football Manager 2010, advertising 

in gaming publications, 

online promotions and blogging, 

national reader offers and exclusive 

editorial features looking into 

the lives of gamers. 

Rustlers can be prepared in just 

a couple of minutes making it the 

perfect snack to give games 

fanatics much needed fuel, 

without them having to spend too 

much time away from their computers! 

Kepak urge retailers to stock up 

on leading Rustlers lines to ensure 

your gamers aren’t left disappointed. 

Source *1 Nielsen Scantrack 52 

w/e 20.03.10 

Contact: 01772 688 300 

www.rustlersgamesafe.com 



IS ON 

aunches 

abe 

finalist girls’ information 

and voting 

details on so that 

pub-goers can get 

involved. 

BigD is stocked 

in all leading 

wholesalers, van 

sales operators and 

cash and carries at 

competitive prices. 

BigD pub cards come in 

Dry Roasted, Salted, 

Chilli, Mixed Nuts, 

Cashews and Pork 

Scratchings with the RSP 

starting from £5.44 per 

card. 

For more information on all 

BigD products and the UK 

search for the new BigD 

babe visit 

www.bigdnuts.co.uk. 

Premier Foods, the UK’s No. 1 

food manufacturer, is extending 

its Homepride range this June 

with the launch of a raft of new 

products, including Vegetable 

Bakes, Pasta Bakes, Bolognese 

and Lasagne sauces. 

HOMEPRIDE 

EXTENDS BAKES 

RANGE 

Homepride has identified an 

opportunity to maximise family 

eating occasions, offering inspiration 

to its target market of young 

families with two or more children 

who are looking for quick, easy 

solutions for favourite meals. In 

order to capitalise on this, the brand 

is launching a range of Vegetable 

Bakes to drive sales & increase the 

brand’s relevance and modernity. 

The tasty bakes, available in 

Creamy Cheese, Smoky Paprika 

and Herby Tomato flavours, are 

designed to be used with vegetables 

that mums already have in their 

kitchens to create nutritious meals 

for the whole family. 

Scott Perry, Senior Brand 

Manager for Homepride, says, “It’s 

ever more important for Mums to 

make sure the family get their 5-aday, 

but it can be difficult to cook 

vegetables the whole family will eat. 

Vegetable Bakes will give our customers 

a convenient way to make 

healthy, simple meals for the whole 

family. The range is a natural extension 

of our Pasta Bake offering, so 

it’s a great fit with the Homepride 

brand and gives the sauces credibility. 

Retailers should make sure 

they are stocking this new offering 

alongside Pasta Bakes in order to 

benefit from incremental sales in 

the category.” 

The 500g Vegetable Bakes have 

an RSP of £1.59 and are available in 

cases of 6. 

In addition, Homepride is also 

refreshing its best selling Pasta 

Bake range with two new variants: 

Tomato, Garlic & Chilli and Ham & 

Mushroom. The new SKUs have an 

RSP of £1.59 and are available in 

cases of 6. 

HOMEPRIDE 

EXTENDS ITALIAN 

OFFERING 

The Italian Sauces market is 

worth £367m and is growing 7% 

year-on-year. Combined, Bolognese 

and Lasagne account for 41% of 

those sales. Bolognese is the No. 1 


HOMEPRIDE DRIVES TASTY SAUCE PROFITS WITH 

NEW VEGETABLE BAKES AND ITALIAN SAUCES 

Premier Foods, is extending its Homepride 

range with the launch of a raft of new products. 

Italian sauces flavour, growing at 

+7% year-on-year. Lasagne is No. 2, 

with growth of +12%. 

Homepride Jars are growing 

ahead of the market at +10.5%. To 

build on this momentum, 

Homepride is launching 500g jars of 

Bolognese sauce, Red Lasagne sauce 

and White Lasagne sauce. The popular 

sauces are a perfect fit for 

Homepride’s target market, who 

look for classic sauces which offer 

value, taste and convenience. 

Scott Perry, Senior Brand 

Manager for Homepride, explains, 

“Shoppers in the sauces market 

remain largely loyal to their 

favourite brand, so it’s not surprising 

to hear that 6 in 10 

Homepride shoppers don’t buy 

Bolognese or Lasagne sauces at the 

moment. However, research shows 

that our customers would definitely 

buy these products if we offered 

them, so we’re confident that this 

launch will drive incremental sales 

in the Italian sauces market.” 

Homepride Bolognese sauce and 

Lasagne Red and White sauces 

should be sited with Pasta Bakes in 

store. The 500g jars have an RSP of 

£1.59 and are available in cases of 6. 

Homepride 

www.homepride.co.uk 

13 

CADBURY FLAKE 

DRESSED TO IMPRESS WITH NEW TV AD 

Cadbury Flake, the iconic 

British chocolate brand long 

famed for its Flake Girls enjoying 

a sensual, indulgent moment of 

pleasure, is launching a brand 

new TV campaign. Gone are the 

familiar dulcet tones of the, “Only 

the Crumbliest, Flakiest” jingle 

and the famous “Flake Girl” succumbing 

to the mouthwatering 

chocolate; instead the beauty and 

delicacy of the Cadbury product 

take centre stage in the mesmerising 

execution, represented 

simply by one girl and her yellow 

dress. 

Launched on our screens on 8th 

June on Channel 4, the new ad follows 

the successful on-pack 

promotion partnership with Benefit 

this spring, where Flake gave away 

one million lipsticks to consumers. 

The new Flake campaign runs for 

six weeks in June and July including 

TV, Cinema and PR backed by £3.5 

million investment. 

Taking three weeks to create 

with 200 metres of fabric, the 

yellow dress becomes an analogy 

for the beautiful folds of the Flake 

chocolate itself. As the model spins 

slowly, the ruffles of her yellow 

dress swirl around her and delicately 

envelop her. 

Kate Harding, Trade 

Communications Manager at 

Cadbury UK, says: “Cadbury Flake 

campaigns are truly iconic and this 

is no exception. By focusing on the 

uniquely beautiful Flake product 

itself we are confident this TV execution 

will drive desire for crumbly, 

flakey chocolate amongst our 

existing Flake consumers and 

attract new ones. With £3.5 million 

investment the new campaign 

should create a lot of buzz so independents 

should maximise the 

support for the campaign by 

stocking Cadbury Flake on fixture.” 

Flake at a total brand level is 

worth £37m . The Flake consumer 

promotion in partnership with 

Benefit which began in February 

has driven a +5% value sales 

increase YTD vs. last year on the 

core SKU Cadbury Flake Milk 

Chocolate Single Bar. 

Created by esteemed Director 

Baillie Walsh, most famous for his 

stunning cinematic imagery in films 

such as “Flashbacks of a Fool” with 

Daniel Craig and the critically 

acclaimed Oasis documentary, “Lord 

don’t slow me down”, the subject of 

his lens is undoubtedly the sensational 

dress produced by couture 

designer Anthony Price and donned 

SINGLE SERVE SACHETS SHAKE UP VERY LAZY PASTES 

An innovative way of delivering 

perfectly measured 

amounts of flavour to food has 

been launched by 

English Provender 

Company, makers 

of the renowned 

Very Lazy ingredients 

brand. 

Single-serve sachets of its popular 

Very Lazy Garlic, Ginger and Hot Chilli 

Paste are aimed at 

making life even life 

easier for consumers 

wanting to prepare 

home cooked food 

without fuss. The 

sachets are available in recyclable 

multi-packs of six x 10g single flavours. 

Says brand manager Rachel 

Chang: “Rather than wasting time 

measuring out spoonfuls, consumers 

simply add the pre-measured sachet 

to their dish and carry on cooking. It 

couldn’t be quicker or easier and 

takes away the guesswork and confusion 

when following recipes.” 

by ethereal Russian Model Yulia 

Lobova. 

Harding continues: “Yulia Lobova 

becomes the 18th Flake Girl, joining 

the ranks of some of the most 

famous advertising of all time.” 

Cadbury UK 

www.cadbury.co.uk 

Sacla’, the Pesto Pioneers, 

have created a delightfully distinctive 

new recipe to inspire 

and excite both you and your 

cooking - Wild Garlic Pesto. 

LUVLY JUBBLY 

CALYPSO ADDS NEW COLA FLAVOUR TO RANGE OF ICE LOLLIES 

With summer now just 

around the corner, Calypso has 

added Cola as a new flavour to 

its popular Jubbly range 

of triangular ice lollies. 

Jubbly Cola, which is on 

sale now in a number of UK 

retailers including Iceland, 

Morrisons, Sainsbury's and 

the Co-Op, follows the success 

of Calypso's Orange, 

Strawberry, Blackcurrant, 

and Tropical flavoured ices, which 

have made Calypso the outright 

Truly irresistible, gorgeous wild 

garlic is combined with fragrant 

Basil to tantalise your taste buds 

and fire your imagination. 

Just stir through your favourite 

cooked pasta and shower with 

Parmesan or spread a generous 

spoonful on to a 

sliced Ciabatta and 

bake. For the ultimate 

comfort creation 

swirl through 

creamy mashed 

potato and serve with 

love! 

Wild garlic is good 

for you too; It contains 

more magnesium, manganese, 

iron and 

sulphur than common 

garlic, helping to keep 

you healthy and prevent 

illnesses. 

Wild garlic grows in 

woodland amongst the 

bluebells and along the 

river banks. Its long 

lush leaves are similar to 

those of the Lily of the 

Valley and it bursts into 

bloom with white 

flowers and a unique 

garlic scent. 

Unlike domestic garlic, wild 

brand leader in the freeze drink 

market, with a 54% market share. 

Packaged in Tetra Classic Aseptic 

cartons, Jubbly Cola has an 

RRP of £1.79 for a box of 10. 

A growth market for 

Calypso, freezeable products 

overall grew by 2% last 

year despite recession and 

poor summer weather. The 

company manufactures 

over 150 million freezeable 

products each year, from its factory 

in Wrexham. 

SACLA’ GOES WILD! 

A delightfully distinctive new recipe to inspire 

and excite both you and your cooking 

garlic is championed for its leaves 

rather than its bulb. The bulbs, 

along with the flowers, are edible, 

but are much smaller in quantity. 

Wild garlic is milder than 

domestic garlic and the leaves are 

delicious both raw and cooked, 

and works well in salads and 

soups. 

If foraging amongst woodland 

sounds too arduous, Sacla’ have 

made it nice and easy for you capturing 

all the flavour and goodness 

in a handy jar of Wild Garlic Pesto! 

And if you really want to bring out 

your wild side, why not try these 

delicious recipes for Prawn and 

Wild Garlic Pesto Spaghetti, or 

Wild Garlic Pesto Mash - the most 

amazing accompaniment for any 

occasion. Buon appetito! 

And if this inspires you to find 

out more why not visit our website 

for heaps of lovely recipes at 

www.sacla.co.uk or become one of 

our very special fans on facebook 

www.facebook.com/ItalianFoodLovers 

Wild Garlic Pesto is available in 

Waitrose and independent 

retailers at £1.99. 

Sacla 

www.sacla.co.uk 



14 



BEST-IN 

CEREALS FOR KIDS 

The Bestway own label brand, 

Best-in has been increased to 

include a new range of cereals for 

kids. 

The new offering is available in a 

bright fun design pack of five individual 

variants Choco Rice Pops, 

Choco Shells, Golden Puffs, Honey 

Loops and Rice Pops. 

All are retail price marked at 

£1.49 for a 375g box. They come in 

packs of five 375g boxes. 

This new range compliments the 

current two top sellers in the breakfast 

range at Bestway and Batleys of 

the Best-in Cornflakes and Honey 

Nut Cornflakes. 

Nick Brown, the Best-in manager 

said at the launch, "We have worked 

hard to ensure this new range 

delivers on taste as well as delivering 

a competitive cost price. The 

packaging uses bright and simple 

designs to add some fun to the 

breakfast table.”. 

Nick Brown, at Bestway 020 8453 1234 

KETTLE® CHIPS LAUNCHES NEW SUMMER FLAVOUR 

KETTLE® Chips is 

introducing a new seasonal 

Sweet Red Pepper 

Salsa flavour to its range 

of delicious, hand 

cooked chips which is 

ideal for the barbecue 

and picnic season this 

summer. 

Packaged in a distinctive 

red and orange bag to create 

on-shelf stand out, Sweet Red 

Pepper Salsa is the latest seasonal 

edition from KETTLE® 

Chips. The unique taste of this 

summer seasoning conjures 

up the natural fresh flavour of 

tomatoes, onions, herbs and 

a hint of garlic, blended with 

the lovely sweet notes of 

bell peppers. 

KETTLE® Chips 

Marketing Director, 

Andrew Slamin, says: “The 

Seasonal Editions play a 

key role in delivering 

flavour innovation in the 

category and generating consumer excitement. 

Sweet Red Pepper Salsa will give a seasonal 

boost to our strong core range. KETTLE® Chips 

was the fastest growing Top 10 bagged snack 

brand in 2009*, and our sales are up over 7% 

year-on-year, ahead of the rest of the market**. 

Retailers can take part in this success - stocking 

KETTLE® Chips will deliver additional sales as 

the brand is a major driver of overall category 

growth.” 

As with all KETTLE® Chips, Sweet Red 

Pepper Salsa are hand-cooked in sunflower oil 

and seasoned with authentic ingredients. No 

artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or MSG 

are added to the process. 

The new flavour, available in 150g bags for 

sharing, will be phased into stores during April 

and available until September 2010. 

Source: *Nielsen Total Market Data measuring 

12 months to w/e 26th December 2010 ** 

The Grocer Bagged Snacks Review, 19th Dec 

2009, in association with Nielsen 

For more information or images please contact: 

Louisa Grant at Kettle Foods on 01603 744788 

grantl@kettlefoods.co.uk 

NEW LOOK 

A striking new look for 

the Fry’s Cream range 

Fry’s Cream range, the 

rich dark chocolate with a 

smooth fondant centre, 

has undergone a pack redesign 

which embraces 

the brand’s heritage in a 

fresh and contemporary 

way. The new look features 

the date 1761, the year 

Fry’s came about, and a 

traditional typeface for the 

wording, combined with 

bold colours signifying different 

variants in the 

range and an appealing 

product image. 

The re-design has been 

introduced to help improve 

standout on-shelf and to 

appeal to shoppers who 

already purchase the brand, 

whilst re-engaging those 

who may have lapsed from 

buying it. The range includes 

Fry’s Chocolate Cream, Fry’s 

Peppermint Cream and Fry’s 

Orange Cream. 

Kate Harding, Trade 

Communications Manager 

for Cadbury UK, comments: 

“This fresh new look gives 

the brand better stand out 

on shelf and has introduced 

‘Be Treatwise’ to the front of 

pack, which is in line with 

our chocolate singles range. 

Introducing the 1761 date to 

the logo was key to celebrating 

Fry’s longevity and 

in fact, Fry’s Chocolate 

Cream is one of the oldest 

chocolate bars in the world 

having been first introduced 

as Fry’s Cream Sticks in 

1853 and Fry’s Chocolate 

Cream in 1866.” 

The new look also 

applies to the Fry’s 

Chocolate Cream four bar 

multi-pack. 

Cadbury 

www.cadbury.co.uk 

BIRDS EYE 

BRINGS THE QUALITY OF THE 

CHIP SHOP TO YOUR FREEZER 

To capitalise on the on-going 

growth of convenience dining, 

this May, Birds Eye is launching a 

delicious new Fish, Chips and 

Peas Dinner. The dinner, which 

containing Birds Eye’s famous 

100% Fish Fillet and Field Fresh 

Garden Peas, combines terrific 

taste and simple convenience 

with no artificial flavours or 

ingredients. 

The Fish, Chips and Peas Dinner 

is being launched to provide an 

alternative meal solution for consumers 

within Traditional Dinners, 

currently the single biggest sector 

within frozen ready meals. The 

sector has a value of £134m in retail 

sales, building on Birds Eye‘s successful 

range of best selling frozen 

meal solutions and Dinner products. 

Daniel Wheeler, Senior Brand 

Manager at Birds Eye, commented: 

“This is an extremely exciting launch 

for us as we bring our famous Fish 

Fillets and delicious Field Fresh 

Peas together to create a tasty and 

convenient complete meal for consumers. 

By using proven best-selling 

Birds Eye products we believe this is 

a compelling addition to our 

Traditional Dinners range and 

meets a genuine consumer need for 

further better choice and increased 

variety in the sector. 

“We know that a massive 80% of 

our consumers already buy into the 

traditional sector and with Fish and 

Chips’ position square in the heartland 

of British take away meals, we 

are positive this launch will be 

extremely successful.” 

BIG BRAND SUPPORT 

FOR NURISHMENT 

2010 is turning out to be a 

bumper year for Nurishment, 

the nation’s number one nutritionally 

enriched milk drink. 

Major brand support, including 

national advertising, sampling, 

on-line activity and heavyweight 

trade promotional support are 

driving consumer demand this 

year. 

And a new website - www.nurishment.co.uk 

- is attracting 

record numbers of new consumers 

to the brand that delivers 

‘milk with more.’ 

Packed with calcium, vitamins 

and minerals, with high levels of 

distribution throughout the independent 

sector, the 

category-leading drink is now 

available in two formats, 

Nurishment Original in cans and, 

for people on the move, 

Nurishment Extra in PET bottles. 

Enco Products Marketing 

Manager Nyree Chambers says 

Nurishment provides a genuine 

‘gap filler’, delivering instant satisfaction 

to consumers who lead 

active lifestyles. 

“Nurishment meets the needs 

of people who need sustenance at 

various parts of the day. The one 

thing they share is the need for a 

quick, convenient energy and 

nutrition boost to enable them to 

maintain their busy lifestyle,” she 

says. 

Nurishment Original contains 

up to 100 per cent of many 

people’s recommended daily 

amount of key vitamins, minerals 

and calcium. It’s also a great 

source of protein and comprises 

six great-tasting flavours. 

Recently launched Nurishment 

Extra is available in four flavours - 

chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and 

banana - in 310ml PET bottles. 

It’s enriched with a 

range of vitamins 

and minerals specially 

developed to 

deliver a nutritional 

boost and a pick-meup 

for consumers 

who lead busy, on the 

move lifestyles - 

either at home or at 

work. 

Nurishment 

Original, meanwhile, 

has been updated 

with a new label 

design, to enhance its 

appeal to brand loyalists 

who need to 

re-energise quickly 

and conveniently. 

“The combination 

of Nurishment 

Original and the new, 

convenient PET 

format makes the 

brand even more 

accessible, enabling a 

growing trade audience to benefit 

from the profit potential offered 

by this market-leading range,” 

adds Nyree Chambers. 

Nurishment 


www.nurishment.co.uk 


BACK TO SCHOOL 


15 

BACK TO SCHOOL CHALKS UP THE SALES 


CHARLES SMITH 

The Editor 

As every parent knows 

painfully well, when you have 

school age kids you seem to be 

continually buying things for 

them to take to class. And as 

September approaches, ‘Back 

To School’ is very big business 

indeed. The Back To School 

opportunity for cash ‘n’ carries 


takes in food and drink items 

for the lunch box on one hand 

and clothing, footwear and 

home stationery on the other. 

Mums buy food and drink for 

the lunchbox week in, week out, 

making this the biggest part of 

the Back To School market 

overall. Food and drink products 

conceived for school age children 

have seen a total transformation 

in the last few years, with the sea 

change to fewer additives, lower 

fat, less salt and sugar, natural 

colours and so on, and in general 

represent a healthier choice than 

they did a generation ago, in the 

1990s. 

Meanwhile mums still do the 

bulk of the purchasing for the 

lunchbox as part of the weekly 

shop, and these items represent a 

major opportunity for neighbourhood 

retailers, and the cash ‘n’ 

carries and delivered wholesalers 

who supply them, to offer convenience 

and quality at 

affordable prices. As parents of 

today’s school kids will be aware, 

the recent limitations on advertising 

products to children mean 

the ‘pester power’ of today’s 

‘kiddie’ brands is somewhat different 

to their 1990’s equivalents. 

And then there’s the kids 

themselves, of course. One way or 

another, older primary school 

kids and secondary school kids 

have plenty of cash of their own 

to spend on impulse food, drink, 

confectionery and other items in 

local stores on the way to school, 

at lunchtime and on the way 

home. 

In the non-food area, taking 

clothing first, even though only 

7% of children technically attend 

fee-paying schools, you still have 

to buy them clothes for school 

and there is a substantial cost for 

all parents associated with 

sending children there. On 

average, parents end up 

spending well over £100 per 

child every year on ‘Back To 

School’ items. In context, 

spending on school wear represents 

around 20% of all 

spending on children’s clothes. 

Many cash ‘n’ carries make 

good business out of offering 

cheap school uniforms, clothing 

and footwear. Their increased 

focus on non-food continues to 

be extremely successful, in the 

case of stationery encroaching on 

the sales of traditional stationery 

retailers like WH Smith. At the 

same time, with the changing role 

of technology in the classroom 

and the need for school kids and 

families at home to be fully up to 

date, demand is growing for computer 

accessories such as bags, 

memory sticks, printers, ink cartridges 

and paper. Each of these 

product areas presents huge 


to make profitable inroads into 

the territory of the office product 

retailers and PC World, and the 

brand owners face increasing 

pressure to do business with 

them or miss out. 

Finally, the immediate 

prospect of declining pupil numbers 

is offset for the wholesalers 

and their retail customers by the 

fact that - current recession 

notwithstanding - 

parents have generally 

become more 

affluent and are 

willing to spend 

more on their 

children. So, today’s 

lesson, class - do 

your home work on 

the back to school 

opportunity, and you’ll get top 

marks and profits! 

HAPPY MONKEY SWINGS THROUGH THE £1M BARRIER 

Launched in March last year 

Happy Monkey Smoothies 

crashed through the £1 million 

sales barrier when sales hit £1.3 

million last December, only 9 

months since launch. 

When Happy Monkey first hit the 

shelves with their kids’ smoothies 

the market was in decline but the 

new range, supported by an aggressive 

sales and marketing strategy, 

has actually managed to grow the 

kids’ smoothies category during 

2009 by 9.5%. 

Commenting, Greg Boyle of 

Happy Monkey said: “We believed 

that with our pricing strategy we 

could bring more consumers in to 

the market and that is exactly what 

we have achieved. There is a real 

momentum now behind the brand 

with a loyal base of customers. This 

has been built on the back of some 

great promotions. It is our intention 

to build on this during 2010.” 

Happy Monkey 100% pure fruit 

smoothies are available in strawberry 

& banana and orange & 

mango flavours. The smoothies 

contain no added sugar, no sweeteners 

and no preservatives and 

each 180ml carton contains the 

equivalent of one portion of fruit. 

The bananas used in the 

smoothies are from Rainforest 

Alliance certified farms and the 

smoothies carry the Rainforest 

Alliance Certified seal. 

Commenting, Greg Boyle says: 

“As well as being healthy and nutritious, 

we wished to stay true to our 

ethical principles with Happy 

Monkey so have opted to use fruit 

sourced from Rainforest Alliance 

certified farms. Our ethical 

sourcing policy is just another 

reason for consumers to buy our 

great tasting and fun looking 

smoothies.” 

Happy Monkey has secured listings 

in Sainsbury’s, Tesco, 

Waitrose and Booths for the 

smoothies. JD Weatherspoon is 

now also selling Happy Monkey 

Smoothies on their kids’ menu at 

their 728 outlets. 

WHITWORTHS 

LOOKS TO CATEGORY GROWTH WITH FROOTZ 

AIMIA’S SPRING COOL 

RANGE IS BEST IN CLASS 

Aimia Foods has 

given its Spring 

Cool range a boost 

Leading fruit snacking company 

Whitworths is launching 

Frootz, an exciting new fruit 

snacking brand for children. 

Frootz ‘high fruit’ buttons are 

tasty little button-shaped snacks 

which have great play appeal for 

children, with up to 80% fruit content 

to keep mum happy. 

The range consists of four fruity 

flavours, strawberry, raspberry, 

orange and lemon in 18g snack 

packs retailing at 43p each. 

“Frootz has researched and trialled 

extremely well with 9 out of 

10 mums confirming that they are 

likely to buy the product for their 

children, which is a major boost for 

the category” says Whitworths’ 

Commercial Director Colin 

Stephens. 

“It shows our understanding that 

the way to maximize category 

growth is to provide products that 

children will buy into because they 

are tasty and fun, but parents are 

also reassured by the goodness of 

the high fruit content, enabling 

them to offer a healthier alternative 

to sweets or confectionery.” 

In addition to the high fruit content, 

the Frootz range is low in fat 

and free from artificial colours, 

sweeteners or flavours. On shelf 

standout is delivered by eyecatching 

packaging with healthy 

messages for parents and colourful 

characters designed to appeal to 

children. 

Listings have already been 

secured with Morrisons and Asda, 

with others expected to follow. 

The Frootz launch will be backed 

by a national PR and sampling 

programme. 

Whitworths 


www.whitworths.co.uk 

Leading school drinks 

provider Aimia Foods has given 

its popular Spring Cool range a 

boost with improved recipes, significant 

new additions and a 

branding overhaul. 

The Spring Cool range is now 

easier to understand, incorporating 

a cleaner, fresher, more contemporary 

standard brand identity across 

the range. The range now comprises 

Irish Spring Water; Spring Cool Fruit 

Flavoured Waters; Spring Cool 105 

(one of your five a day); Spring Cool 

X:ITE and the new Spring Cool Cola. 

The appeal of the new look was 

researched first hand in school environments. 

Martin Armitt, marketing 

controller at Aimia Foods, says: “We 

wanted the fruit content in our 

recipes to be reflected directly in the 

packaging in a fun and characterful 

way and therefore asked children, 

who are the ultimate discerning consumers, 

whether they would go for 

the new look. To our delight the new 

design got a 95 per cent approval 

rating.” 

The addition of the new cola 

product is one of the most significant 

developments within the Spring 

Cool range. Cola has been missing 

from school menus since 2007 when 

the school food nutrition standards 

were introduced, but it still 

holds a staggering 52 per cent 

share of the packaged soft drinks 

market. Aimia has therefore recreated 

an authentic cola, which has 

50 per cent juice, no artificial 

colours or flavours and complies 

fully with nutrition guidelines. 

Spring Cool lines up next to 

Aimia’s other school drinks, 

Juicebreak, Milkbreak and 

Outspan Smoothies, and provides 

a comprehensive range of ready to 

drink products which comply with 

nutritional guidelines in handy 

500ml and 330ml sizes. Spring 

Cool was acquired by Aimia in 

2009 and the company has subsequently 

carried out extensive 

research to improve and develop 

the products in-line with the 

requirements of schools. 

The school friendly cola is on 

sale now and the new Spring Cool 

brand packs will be available from 

June. 

For more information on the Spring 

Cool range of products phone 

01942 408600 or email 

customer.services@aimiafoods.com 



16 


FACTORY SAVED FROM FIRE 

Fireray 5000 Beam Detector saves factory from Acetone blaze 

Acetone in a production 

area of a factory in west Hull 

caught fire on 16th April, however 

no-one was injured and 

the building escaped intact. A 

recently-installed Fireray 

5000 optical beam smoke 

detector sounded the alarm at 

8.45am, when the area had 

been temporarily unmanned. 

When workers had left there 

had been nothing wrong, but 

the Fireray detector kept 

watch and quickly spotted the 

rising smoke. 

The alarm signal was picked 

up by the 24-hour manned security 

lodge, who called the fire 

brigade. Ten fire engines from 

the Humberside Fire and Rescue 

Service arrived within 5 minutes 

and quickly subdued the blaze; 

all staff were evacuated without 

incident. It is thought that the 

quick reaction to the fire starting 

is what saved the building, with 

the rapidity of the alarm and 

then the firefighters’ response 

SUCCESS FOR THERMO KING 

Thermo King’s SLX and Technical 

Transport Products a great success 

Since the successful launch of 

the SLX range by Thermo King, 

Technical Transport Products 

(TTP), Thermo King’s dealer in 

Northern Ireland, decided to put 

a demo trailer on the road in 

order to allow customers to trial 

the products for a period of time. 

The demo trailer was fitted out 

with an SLX 300 50 unit and has 

been spotted on the road, by 

eagle eyed customers, throughout 

Ireland, UK and Europe. 

The demo trailer also featured a 

variety of accessories including: 

• Thermo King Tracking 

• Remote Status Light 

• Electronic Door Switch 

• 230 Litre Polyethylene Fuel 

Tank 

• Fuel Sensor 

The trial of the demo trailer and 

unit is still ongoing and TTP 

believe that it has been an 

extremely successful venture. 

Once a customer takes possession 

of the trailer, the TTP team 

minimising the scale and 

severity of the blaze before it 

could get out of control. 

The fire protection system 

installer for the building, Tim 

Allerston of Global EFP Ltd., said 

that they had recently upgraded 

the beam detectors from 15 year 

old ones, which had become 

unreliable and prone to false 

alarms and fault conditions. The 

new detectors performed to perfection, 

quickly detecting the fire 

and triggering the alarm - 

resulting in the building, and 

potentially lives, being saved. 

The Fireray 5000, manufactured 

by Fire Fighting 

Enterprises Ltd., is an advanced 

optical beam smoke detector. 

Suitable for wide-area fire protection, 

it uses a beam of 

reflected infrared (IR) light to 

detect interference from smoke 

particles across a wide area (up 

to 100m in length). Recent technological 

developments by the 

company have made the product 

then schedules a visit to give the 

user an information pack and go 

through the various features of the 

unit and accessories. The customer 

is also allocated a temporary password 

to track his vehicle using the 

innovative TK TracKing system. 

The TTP team also outline the 

mapping capabilities, reporting, 

fuel monitoring and alarm notification 

available as part of the 

TracKing system. 

Once the trial period is over the 

customer is revisited and fills out a 

questionnaire. To date the results 

of the questionnaire have been 

extremely encouraging for the new 

product. 

Some of the comments received 

from the operators and drivers 

have included: 

• They liked the sleek 

appearance of the SLX 

• Good, easy to use, good pull 

down 

• Liked the noise level and the 

SR2 controller is easy to use 

more effective than ever: an 

automatic, motorised beam head 

compensation system keeps the 

beam working as efficiently as 

possible at all times, even when 

subject to minor building shift 

and dust buildup on the lens. 

Further information about beam 

detection, which is especially 

suitable for the broad spaces 

• Quiet and very easy on diesel 

• Good, quiet, frozen load pull 

down was very quick. Drivers 

liked it 

Tracy Martin, TTP’s Sales 

Manager comments, “The SLX demo 

unit has proved very successful with 

customers as it has backed up again 

and again what we as dealers and 

Thermo King as the manufacturer 

claim the unit can deliver. It is great 

to be able to offer the end-user the 

opportunity to experience the 

results first-hand. We are delighted 

with the feedback received.” 

Launched to build on the 

market-leading SL range, the SLX 

found in factories and warehouses 

can be found at 

www.ffeuk.com 

Fire Fighting Enterprises Ltd 

Tracy Kirk 


Email: sales@ffeuk.com 

www.ffeuk.com 

FRESHLINC DISTRIBUTION EXPANDS FLEET 

Freshlinc Distribution, the 

Spalding (Lincolnshire) based 

specialist refrigerated distribution 

company, has expanded its 

fleet of vehicles with an order 

for 17 SLX Spectrum units. 

Established in 1997, Freshlinc 

Distribution will fit the new units 

to Gray and Adams trailers, which 

have been leased through Grays 

Rentals, to be used on UK routes 

delivering a range of chilled produce 

to supermarkets. 

Andy Marchant, Fleet Manager for 

Freshlinc Distribution, commented: 

“Thermo King dealer support service 

levels are second to none. The 

Thermo King Dealer Network is very 

flexible and the team go the extra 

mile to deliver the perfect solution in 

order to meet the customer’s needs. 

“Drivers have been highly 

impressed by the silent running of 

the new unit, which is proving to 

be extremely fuel efficient. They 

have also been impressed by the 

latest combi-temperature and low 

fuel warning display, which is also 

helping to reduce breakdowns on 

fridges running out of fuel.” 

ECONOMY 

The SLX Spectrum was selected 

as it has been designed to deliver the 

same benefits as the SLX platform, 

but with even greater results. These 

include improved fuel economy with 

up to 30% less fuel used than the SL 

Spectrum and increased green credentials 

with 30% less CO2 emitted. 

With quiet operation the SLX 

Spectrum is up to 65% quieter than 

its predecessor thanks to the integration 

of low noise components 

running at lower speeds. The unit 

has been designed to increase driver 

comfort and also to permit use in 

noise-sensitive environments. 

With market-leading performance 

in quiet operation and low emissions, 

the SLX Spectrum is ideally suited to 

operating on distribution runs in 

urban environments and low emission 

zones ideal for Freshlinc’s 

deliveries of fresh produce to supermarkets 

around the UK. 

Mark Swatts, Thermo King 

Northern Sales Director commented: 

“Working with Grays Rentals and 

Freshlinc has proved to be extremely 

successful in order to deliver the best 

possible solution for the customer. We 

focused on the ease of operation and 

cost ownership of the SLX Spectrum 

in order to highlight benefits of the 

new units to the end-user, ultimately 

helping them to drive down operating 

costs and meet the increasing 

demands of environmental issues.” 

Steve Williams, Thermo King 

Sales Manager UK added: “This is a 

great testament and achievement 

for the business, which provides 

more evidence that Thermo King’s 

new range of trailer units are 

adding value in the key operational 

areas that our end-users need support 

within today’s marketplace.” 

Thermo King is the global 

leader in solutions for temperature-controlled 

transport, 

supplying the world market from 

11 production facilities and over 

800 distributors world-wide. The 

company offers a wide range of 

refrigeration and heating units 

for vehicles of all sizes, from 

small vans to large trailers, as 

well as airborne and ocean-going 

containers. 

For more information about the SLX 

range visit the website 

www.slx.thermoking.com. 

directly responds to customer 

needs for maximum performance, 

minimal environmental impact 

and low cost of ownership. 

The SLX design team optimised 

the refrigeration system for significant 

performance gains. This means 

that engine operating speeds have 

been reduced, but with no loss in 

cooling capacity or airflow. Slower 

engine speeds give a quieter engine 

which uses less fuel, and prolongs 

the life of moving parts. 

For more information about the SLX visit 

the website www.slx.thermoking.com 

THE WAREHOUSE 

NEW FROM EASILIFT 

An Easilift double deck scissor lift modular 

dock pod has significantly increased 

loading/unloading efficiency for the TIC 

Group, as well as providing additional cost 

saving and environmental benefits. 

New Concept Easilift Double 

Deck Scissor Lift Dock Pod provides 

a speedy loading/unloading solution 

for the TIC Group. 

A new double deck scissor lift modular 

dock pod designed, manufactured 

and installed by Easilift Loading Systems 

Ltd - the UK’s leading suppler of total 

loading bay solutions - has significantly 

increased loading/unloading efficiency 

for the TIC Retail Accessories Group. 

The TIC Group is a major international 

business providing retailers and 

vendors with a range of innovative and 

world class services to manage the 

movement of merchandise backwards 

through the supply chain. 

Often referred to as ‘reverse logistics’, 

the types of goods that are 

brought back include high-volume, reusable 

retail accessories such as coat 

hangers and security tags. 

TIC Retail Accessories pioneered 

the concept of hanger re-use, which is 

now becoming increasingly accepted 

internationally, particularly by more 

enlightened retailers, because of the 

financial and environmental considerations. 

In addition to the supply of new 

‘virgin’ hangers to the UK market, in 

early 2009 TIC Group Europe Ltd 

began to handle returns of used 

hangers that are then sorted, 

reprocessed and fed back into the 

supply chain - thus reducing the need 

for new hanger manufacturing. 

In order to solve the 

loading/unloading problem with a new 

used hanger processing contract, on 

behalf of a major retail customer whose 

vehicle fleet was moving over to double 

deck trailers, the TIC Group approached 

two loading bay equipment suppliers, 

including Easilift, to advise on the most 

suitable double deck solution. 

Now increasingly being used for 

goods transportation, double deck 

trailers provide significant cost saving 

and environmental benefits - optimising 

operational flexibility, increasing load 

volumes, cutting unnecessary journeys 

and mileage and reducing fleet sizes. 

It is claimed that, typically, a fixed 

double deck trailer operating in a retail 

environment can carry around 70 per 

cent more goods than a conventional 

single deck version, achieving up to 40 

per cent transport cost savings. 

The subsequent decision by TIC to 

choose Easilift Loading System’s purpose-designed 

double deck scissor lift 

modular dock solution was clear cut. 

POSITIVE 

TIC Group Operations Manager, 

Mark O’Sullivan, said: "Selecting Easilift 

for this project was made even easier 

for us by the very positive approach of 

their people - they were highly professional, 

demonstrating integrity, 

enthusiasm and a real interest in what 

we were trying to achieve; as well as 

portraying an in-depth industry knowledge, 

together with an extremely strong 

belief in their product. 

"During meetings with Easilift Sales 

Director, David Whyatt, and his team 

we felt that they made a real effort to 

determine exactly the right solution 

that would benefit us most. Cost for us 

was not the only factor to be taken into 

account," Mark O’Sullivan continued. 

"Like Easilift, we wanted to develop a 

long-term relationship built on trust and 

mutual respect. We quickly discovered 

that they have a similar up-front ethos to 

ourselves and knew that we could work 

together," added Mark O’Sullivan. 

The third party processor selected 

by TIC to undertake the refurbished 

coat hanger contract had to be in a 

position to make the earliest possible 

start at their premises in Sheffield and 

therefore needed a very quick project 

completion from Easilift. 

Due to its modular construction, 

the double deck scissor lift dock pod 

solution developed by Easilift took 

less than two days to install - far 

exceeding customer expectations and 

ensuring that the hanger contract was 

able to start on time. 

Quick and easy to erect, without 

disruption to the company’s on-going 

business operations, it did not require 

any major civil engineering work or 

building modifications (visit: 

www.easilift.co.uk to view the installation 

process). 

Easilift was one of the pioneers in 

the design and installation of dock pod 

systems and is therefore highly experienced 

with an established track record 

in this specialist area, having supplied 

dock pods in all shapes, sizes and finishes 

to many discerning “blue chip” 

customers over a number of years. 

A dock pod is a complete standalone 

loading bay enclosure which can 

be installed directly onto the external 

face of a building. Typically fitted with 

a dock seal, dock leveller or scissor lift 

and a sectional insulated overhead 

door, they are suitable for new buildings, 

extensions and refurbishments. 

They can also be quickly and easily 

repositioned, if required, and are a 

highly cost-effective retrofit option for 

an existing building. 

In today’s challenging economic climate 

dock pods are experiencing ever 

increasing popularity. They do not take 

up valuable internal warehousing space 

and maintain the loading/unloading 

function within a separate and distinctly 

confined area. With no cross 

traffic to worry about, this is a significant 

health and safety benefit. 

Their lightweight but exceptionally 

strong structure provides an insulated, 

weatherproof enclosure - with 

resulting energy-saving potential and 

enhanced working conditions for the 

internal environment, making them 

ideal for ambient and temperature controlled 

buildings such as cold stores. 

The TIC dock pod is equipped with 

an Easilift Double Deck PowerLift 12 

cage 6,000kg capacity scissor lift loading 

platform - suitable for use with double 

deck trailers, smaller vehicles with low 

body height or conventional single deck 

trailers. The solid steel scissor lift is 

manufactured to the highest quality and 

safety standards to achieve maximum 

rigidity and provide superior platform 

support and guidance. 

Also fitted with an Easilift 

PowerShelter 403016 collapsible curtain 

type dock shelter forming a seal 

between the loading bay and the 

docked trailer, the pod features LED 

low energy dock lights incorporating 

movement sensors. 

The new concept double deck scissor 

lift dock pod developed specifically for 

TIC was based on well-proven, tried and 

tested Easilift technology, with design, 

installation and subsequent on-site 

training carried out by the company’s 

highly experienced in-house team. 

Mark O’Sullivan said: "We would not 

have been able to meet the specialised 

loading/unloading requirements of this 

particular new contract without the 

double deck lift and it should now provide 

us with a very strong competitive 

advantage for any similar future business 

opportunities. 

"The Easilift team just got on with 

the job, whilst always keeping us fully 

in the picture at all stages - but, importantly, 

without demanding too much of 

our valuable time," added Mark 

O’Sullivan. "Our processing partner 

was also extremely pleased with the 

speed and efficiency of the short two 

day installation process, which did not 

impact in any way on their business 

operations and they were able to continue 

completely as normal whilst the 

work was being carried out. 

"The new double deck scissor lift 

dock pod is the perfect solution to our 

needs and the staff are now confident 

and very happy using it following an 

extensive day's on-site training from 

Easilift. It means we can now service 

any vehicles and trailers in our customer’s 

fleet. I would therefore have 

no hesitation in recommending 

Easilift and using them for any future 

projects," concluded Mark O’Sullivan. 

Easilift Loading Systems Ltd 

Tel: 08451 301920 

Email: sales@easilift.co.uk 

www.easilift.co.uk 


THE WAREHOUSE - J&M STORAGE SYSTEMS 

UNBEATABLE 


17 

As more and more businesses look to 

cut costs and find new ways of being 

more efficient, Phil Oxley believes 

second-hand pallet racking is now considered 

as a viable, and sometimes the 

smarter option. 

UNBEATABLE 

In today’s increasing competitive economic 

times, handling and distribution 

companies are putting more of an 

emphasis on the bottom-line when purchasing 

their pallet racking. With this in 

mind, many of them are starting to turn to 

second-hand pallet racking. One company 

that seems to be benefiting from this trend 

is J&M Storage Systems, a family-run business 

with over 25 years proven track 

record in the industry. 

most competitive prices around, J&M 

Storage Systems works to a 7-10 day 

delivery to anywhere in the UK and Ireland. 

And all products are guaranteed for a minimum 

of one year. 

J&M Storage Systems also buys redundant 

pallet racking from warehouse 

clearances, companies that are relocating or 

are closing down. All in all, J&M Storage 

Systems, with the best range of discounted 

storage equipment under one roof, is simply 

unbeatable. 

J&M Storage 

www.jmstorage.co.uk 

QUALITY ASSURED 

J&M Storage Systems is considered as 

the market leader in quality used pallet 

racking, drive in racking and steel 

shelving. The company prides itself in supplying 

only the highest quality used 

racking from leading manufacturers which 

includes Link 51 (the most widely used 

system in UK warehouses), Apex, Dexion 

and Redirack. When the used pallet 

racking arrives at J&M Storage System’s 

80,000sq ft warehouse in Yorkshire, they 

are put through strict quality control and 

ensure that they are re-sold in excellent 

condition. 

UNBEATABLE PRICES 

Being one of the UK’s largest distributors 

of storage equipment, J&M Storage 

Systems has a comprehensive range of 

accessories and spares to meet your pallet 

racking requirements. The wide range of 

frame and beam sizes available means that 

the products can be configured to meet 

precise load weights, accessibility, handling 

and space. 

J&M Storage Systems is also able to 

offer more competitive prices, sometimes 

less than half of the cost if bought new, 

which means buyers are able to manage 

their profit margins more efficiently. And 

over the years, this has helped save thousands 

of pounds for J&M Storage Systems’ 

trade customers, as well as winning 

orders. 

SMARTER CHOICE 

Though price is a strong factor in the 

buying decision process, J&M Storage 

Systems also considers added value as being 

important. As well as offering some of the 



18 


THE WAREHOUSE 

THORWORLD MODULAR LOADING PLATFORM SYSTEM 

INCREASES EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY FOR UNIVERSAL SILENCER 

The installation of a new modular 

loading platform system 

from Thorworld Industries has 

helped to increase the efficiency 

of loading and unloading and 

enhance safety for Universal 

Silencer. 

The system has been installed at 

the company’s UK base in Hinckley, 

Leicestershire, where there is no 

dedicated loading bay, to allow it to 

receive deliveries on-site. 

Universal Silencer specialises in 

the supply of engineered acoustic, 

emission and filtration solutions for 

power generation, oil, gas and 

industrial markets. And it is the size 

of this equipment that has necessitated 

the need for a platform system. 

Quite simply, many of the acoustic 

systems are simply too large to be 

removed from a lorry using a traditional 

yard ramp - as the forklift 

truck reverses down the ramp, the 

silencer would raise up, hitting and 

damaging the roof of the lorry. 

With this in mind, Thorworld’s 

engineers have designed a bespoke 

modular system. It consists of a 

Type 9 loading ramp, providing 

access to six Thorworld raised platforms, 

which have been connected 

together to form a single structure 

measuring 5.9m x 7.5m. 

SAFETY ENSURED 

Safety has been ensured with the 

installation of a wide variety of 

Thorworld ancillary equipment and 

safety aids on the platform and in 

Having set new standards of economy and 

performance in trailer temperature control 

with the introduction of the SLX range, the 

market leader has announced its intention to 

shake up the refrigerated truck business as 

well. 

While keeping the best and proven features of 

the current range, the all-new T-Series uses innovative 

technologies to deliver the kind of 

performance, reliability and ease of use that operators 

have wished for but not experienced from any 

brand. 

“Truck operators want bullet-proof, whisperquiet 

equipment that has the cooling capacity 

needed to cope with multiple drops,” explains 

Laurent Debias, Thermo King’s marketing director. 

“We’ve listened carefully to users both of our 

equipment and other brands, sharing our thoughts 

as the design developed. The result is a range of 

equipment which we believe will meet and even 

exceed expectations in these extremely tough 

applications.” 

Quiet operation: Low-noise equipment is so 

critical in distribution operations that some 

designs sacrifice refrigeration capacity to achieve 

it. Clearly this is not an acceptable solution given 

the extreme quality standards demanded of temperature 

controlled operators. 

The T-Series has achieved dramatic noise level 

reductions without any loss of cooling performance. 

Two versions are available, the standard 

models reducing noise by almost 30% and the 

Whisper version by over 50% when compared to 

previous models. This order of magnitude is not 

only a significant engineering achievement but is 

clearly audible and will be welcomed by drivers 

and all who live close to delivery routes. 

Fuel efficiency: Tests suggest operators will 

experience reductions of up to 15% in their fuel 

bills. With fuel contributing about 50% of equipment 

life cost, that saving alone equates to a 

significant reduction in total cost of ownership. 

Carbon emissions: 15% less fuel consumed 

means 15% less CO2 produced. A typical unit 

application can use 3000 litres of diesel in a year, 

emitting over 8 tonnes of CO2. A 15% 

saving would mean a reduction in CO2 of 

1.2 tonnes per refrigeration unit, per 

annum. 

Cooling capacity in high ambients: 

Every time a delivery is made, 

the truck doors are opened, cool air 

flows out of the load space and warm, 

moist air replaces it. The refrigeration unit 

must have the cooling capacity, no matter 

the surrounding area. These include 

a dockboard, dock bumpers, flared 

alignment curbs, fork and pallet 

truck raves, removable hand rails 

and a set of access steps. 

Universal Silencer currently 

receives around two deliveries per 

week and manager Mike Hough says 

that he is delighted with the new 

platform. 

Mike said: "The new modular 

platform is exactly what we were 

looking for. Thorworld’s design 

department were exceptional - they 

made multiple site visits to assess 

exactly what we needed and then 

went away and had it made. 

"Now loading and unloading is 

much quicker and easier than 

before and it has provided our 

workers with a far safer environment 

in which to work. 

"Everything from the standard of 

service provided by Thorworld to 

the build quality of the platform has 

been extremely good. I’d definitely 

use Thorworld again and I’ve already 

recommended them," added Mike. 

Thorworld is firmly established as 

one of the foremost designers, manufacturers 

and suppliers to the loading 

bay and materials handling sectors 

and is recognised as both a market 

leader and innovator in the supply of 

quality engineered equipment. 

The company provides a one-stop, 

single source for an extensive range 

of high quality loading bay equipment 

and materials handling 

products, safety aids and accessories, 

Mike Hough, manager of Universal 

Silencer is delighted with the new modular 

loading platform system from Thorworld 

Industries, which has helped to increase 

efficiency and enhance safety. 

including dock shelters and seals, 

dock levellers, modular loading 

docks, dock plates and boards, dock 

and vehicle bumpers, wheel chocks, 

vehicle restraints, traffic lights wheel 

guides, alignment curbs and mobile 

yardramps (available for purchase or 

rental), together with the Truckloada 

mobile yardlift and the Dockloada 

scissor lift platform. 

Thorworld Industries Ltd 


Email: info@thorworld.co.uk 

www.thorworld.co.uk 

NEW T-SERIES 

Thermo King’s new T-series Delivering What Matters 

what the outside temperature, to recover before 

the next drop. The T-Series employs extra-large 

evaporator and condenser coils, married to the 

proven range of reciprocating compressors, to keep 

on cooling right up to extreme desert conditions of 

55°C. It is these same improvements in refrigeration 

system design that also provide better 

operating efficiency or more cooling watts per litre 

of fuel consumed. 

Ease of use: Good design means simple to use. 

This was the guiding principle behind the all-new 

TSR-2 in-cab controller. Customers told us that 

their drivers spoke many different languages and 

were not refrigeration specialists. Current control 

systems were too complex and mistakes could 

easily be made which would jeopardise a load. 

Using intuitive ergonomics, Thermo King has 

developed a delightfully simple controller where 

for example, a red up-arrow means hotter, and a 

blue down-arrow means... colder. Real life testing 

shows that the design works, resulting in fewer 

errors and better use of the equipment. 

Service access: Not only have the designers 

come up with a look which reflects the innovative 

nature of this range, but they have included wideopening 

panels to permit easy access to major 

components for servicing. Impact and corrosion 

resistant Geloy® is chosen for the exterior panels 

to keep appearance up and repair costs down. This 

recyclable material has made it possible for 

designers to achieve a highly aerodynamic form for 

good looks and vehicle fuel economy. 

Thermo King’s confidence in the range is such 

that every model will come with a 24 month warranty 

as standard. 

The new range is planned for in full production 

by July with the first models being the T-600R, T- 

800R, T-1000R and T-1200R for single temperature 

applications. The T-800R, T-1000R and T-1200R 

will also be available as Spectrum versions for 

multi temperature applications. 

For more information on Thermo King’s products and 

services please visit www.thermoking.com 

AISLE-MASTER 

REACHES NEW HEIGHTS FOR PRIMELINE 

Ireland’s premier logistics 

and supply chain provider 

Primeline has taken delivery of 

three AC electric Aisle-Master 

articulated forklifts, enabling 

the company to increase available 

storage space at its 

distribution centre in Dublin by 

an extra 2,000 pallet spaces. 

After winning a new contract 

to manage a bonded facility for a 

wines and spirits business, 

Primeline was very quickly in 

need of additional warehouse 

capacity to accommodate the 

much higher volumes of stock. By 

capitalising on the Aisle-Masters’ 

ability to work in narrow aisles 

and its excellent manoeuvrability, 

Primeline was able to cut down 

the width of the aisles needed by 

its old reach trucks. This allowed 

the rows of racking to be 

increased from 20 to 26 in the 

existing storage area, improving 

pallet density to such an extent 

that any need for costly and disruptive 

relocation could be 

avoided. 

Primeline’s Warehouse 

Manager David Preston: “we were 

aware of the space saving benefits 

of the articulated system, and 

together with our materials handling 

consultant Amlac, we 

arranged to trial various brands. 

Our drivers were immediately 

unanimous in their choice of the 

Aisle-master as the preferred 

option. They appreciated the 

smooth and effortless operation 

and were particularly impressed 

with the steady mast controls 

when lifting and lowering loads 

from the highest pallet positions.” 

Lifting 1,000kg to a height of 

11.4m is a tall order for an articulated 

truck, but Aisle-Master 

engineers at the manufacturing 

facility in Monaghan modified the 

design of Primeline’s fleet to meet 

this requirement. As all Aisle- 

Masters are manufactured from 

start to finish at the factory, a high 

level of customisation can be 

offered to suit exact customer 

specifications. 

All Aisle-Master models are 

designed to work both inside and 

out - cushioned tyres enable operation 

on uneven surfaces and 

gradients, but Primeline’s trucks 

work predominantly inside, 

storing incoming pallets and 

picking them again when required 

for consignments. The new 

system has been up and running 

or a few months now and David 

Preston is delighted with the outcome: 

“We needed a very quick 

turnaround to cope with the new 

contract, and Aisle-Master was 

able to deliver on this count. The 

trucks have boosted our storage 

capacity from 6,000 to 8,000 

pallet spaces, and the operating 

environment is very comfortable 

and safe for our drivers.” 

Vitacress, one of the UK’s 

leading growers, packers and distributors 

of high quality salads, 

has chosen Castell’s driveaway 

prevention system Salvo to protect 

warehouse staff at its 

Amesbury facility. 

Following a couple of incidents in 

which drivers departed from 

loading bays with loaders still 

inside the trailer, management at 

Amesbury decided that it needed to 

find a system that would guarantee 

loader safety. Up to that point, 

drivers handed over their keys and 

were asked to obey traffic lights, but 

neither measure was foolproof. 

Salvo was the first system trialled 

and, after satisfying 

Vitacress’s expectations, it was 

installed on five loading bays. There 

have been no recorded driveaways 

since installation. 

“The loaders rate it,” explains Bill 

Cant, intake supervisor at 

Amesbury. “They know that drivers 

can’t drive off while the door 

remains open.” 

Once a driver has reversed up to 

the relevant loading bay, they collect 

a Salvo lock from the storage 

box in the office, fit it to the emergency 

airline coupling and remove 

the key. The trailer is now immobilised. 

The key is then inserted 

into a control box next to the bay 

door and turned. This causes 

amber beacons to flash inside the 

bay and allows the door to be 

opened and the dock leveller positioned. 

The key remains trapped in 

the control box while the door is 

The Aisle-Master range can 

work in aisles of just 1.75m, with 

capacities of up to 2.5 tonnes and 

lift heights of up to 12.5 metres, 

and LPG models are also available. 

The trucks are all designed and 

built at the company’s dedicated 

production facility in Monaghan, 

Ireland, ensuring a top quality 

product. Aisle-Master design engineers 

also offer a site visit and 

warehouse layout service and 

supply free layout proposals illustrating 

how to maximise the use 

of available storage space. 

Aisle-Master Ltd 

UK Tel: 07540 970 064 

Email: info@aisle-master.com 

www.aisle-master.com 

SALVO IMPROVES 

LOADING BAY SAFETY FOR VITACRESS 

open. Once loading or unloading is 

complete, the door is closed, the 

key released from the control box 

and the Salvo removed from the 

airline coupling. 

Castell Safety International Ltd 

Jason Reed 

Tel: 020 8200 1200 

Email: sales@castell.co.uk 

www.salvosafe.com 

‘DYNAMIC DUO’ CYCLE TO SAVE LIVES 

Having played a significant role 

in helping leading pallet specialist 

IPP Logipal double its business in 

2009, business development manager 

Gary Williams and operations 

manager David Bage will be taking 

time out later this year to cycle 

across Tanzania in aid of specialist 

transport charity Transaid. 

They will join 40 other intrepid 

cyclists who between them aim to 

raise over £100,000 by tackling a 

challenging 420km journey over 

mountainous terrain and along the 

Indian Ocean coast of Tanzania. The 

expedition takes place from 

November 6th-14th. 

The money raised by the ‘dynamic 

duo’ will go towards Transaid’s established 

driver training projects that 

are helping to reduce the number of 

accidents on Zambia’s roads - the 

third largest premature killer in 

Africa after HIV/AIDs and malaria. 

Gary, who is also a trustee of 

Transaid, is not new to African 

Challenges having raised over £3,000 

in a similar event three years ago when 

he cycled across Kenya. To help 

encourage as many transport and 

logistics professionals to Cycle 

Tanzania, he is leading a team from the 

900 strong Logistics Leaders Network 

to help get the message across that ‘a 

little help can make a real difference’. 

He says: “We take it for granted that 

cars, buses and trains take us to where 

we want to go quickly. Lorries ensure 

that we have food and medicines 

delivered daily. For people in Africa it 

is a different story completely.” 


THE WAREHOUSE 


19 

32 YEARS AND STILL WORKING 

SIRDAR REPLACES ATLET TRUCK WITH LATEST MODEL 

Yarn supplier Sirdar has recently 

replaced a 1978 Atlet very narrow 

aisle truck, one of two which have 

been in continuous use since that 

date. The latest model from the 

same company was delivered in 

2009. In celebration of the 

longevity of the two original VNA 

trucks, Atlet salesman from both 

deals met long-term Sirdar 

employees at their Wakefield warehouse 

to discuss the changes in 

both businesses over the years. 

“We’re very proud of the long term 

continuity we have in this business,” 

says Ian Stead, Sirdar’s financial 

director. “The original trucks provided 

an excellent solution to our requirement 

and have proved very reliable.” 

Originally a family business 

founded in 1880, Sirdar is one of the 

UK’s best known and most popular 

suppliers of knitting yarn to retailers 

including independents and the major 

multiples. The £14 million turnover 

business is owned by three of its 

directors following a management 

buyout in 2007. It retains the family 

values that have led many of its 120 

employees to remain with the company 

for decades. Traditional knitting 

yarns form the bulk of its products but 

Sirdar also produces technical yarns 

for specialist applications such as cutresistant 

gloves. 

BOLD 

Sirdar built its current warehouse 

in 1977 and took a bold decision to 

configure it for very narrow aisle 

operations. This was when VNA was a 

new concept and well before it was 

widely adopted. Sirdar saw the advantages 

in terms of storage density and 

load selectivity. The project took into 

account factors such as the layout and 

configuration of the racking and the 

introduction of special pallet-sized 

wooden boxes for storing the yarn and 

known throughout the business as 

palcons. Crucial to the success of the 

warehouse was the choice of VNA 

trucks. 

The Atlet salesman at the time was 

David Ruxton. He had joined the company 

two years previously and became 

sales manager in 1978, before moving 

to France to take up a series of senior 

positions for parent company Atlet AB. 

Like the trucks he sold to Sirdar, David 

is still working hard for Atlet. He is 

now Regional Export Manager for West 

Europe with additional responsibilities 

for some Eastern European markets. 

David was familiar with VNA and he 

suggested a solution based on what was 

at the time one of Atlet’s most advanced 

warehouse trucks. This featured a special 

carriage with extending forks that 

allowed a palcon to be positioned to 

either side of the aisle. The operator 

remained at ground level and the mast 

was at the opposite end of the chassis to 

the cab. This meant the load rose 

between the two, a completely different 

arrangement to most modern trucks. 

Guidance was provided by an unusual 

C-channel running down either side of 

the aisle to engage with guide rollers 

mounted on the truck chassis. 

“VNA was very innovative at the 

time,” says David Ruxton. “But this was 

a totally new concept which combined 

our trucks with the palcons.” 

The warehouse was configured 

with six aisles just 1500mm wide, 

narrow even by today’s standards, and 

six beams with the highest almost 

nine metres high. Palcons are double 

stacked at ground level only. The 

result is around 6000 storage locations 

with stock organised in groups, 

by colour and range, for simplicity. 

The assessment at the time suggested 

that two trucks would be needed. 

Both remained in operation for over 30 

years, one often acting as back up to the 

other, before Sirdar decided it was time 

for a replacement. Atlet had also supplied 

ride-on pallet stackers and 

powered pallet transporters as part of 

the original contract and these were 

replaced in 2003. The relationship 

between the two companies has 

remained strong. Although Sirdar 

approached other potential suppliers for 

the replacement VNA truck it was Atlet 

that once again provided the solution. 

For the new VNA truck Atlet’s 

National Accounts Manager Andrew 

Murray proposed the latest version of 

the company’s Omni DCT man-rising 

order picker. This is different in many 

ways to the 1970s trucks. Ergonomic 

design, push-button controls, ministeer 

wheel and computerised onboard 

management have replaced the 

mechanical controls and levers of the 

older trucks. More striking still is the 

design of the modern Omni DCT. The 

operator rises with the load which provides 

a much clearer view of the load 

and racking so that the palcon can be 

placed or retrieved on either side of 

the aisle. Atlet also fitted special rollers 

to the new truck so that it could be 

guided by the existing C-channel. 

“The ability to handle the palcons, 

which do not have a bottom bearer, 

was critical and we proposed a special 

carriage and fork combination,” says 

Andrew Murray. “Only one other Atlet 

truck in the UK has this configuration 

as we generally handle parameter 

based load carriers.” 

The trucks are used up to eight 

hours a day. Their performance and 

reliability is crucial because if Sirdar 

cannot access the palcons, the warehouse 

and the business will stop. The 

original Atlet trucks proved very reliable 

over the years and Atlet’s local 

service engineers provided call-out 

support whenever required. Even 

though the majority of palcon movements 

are now completed with the 

new truck, one of the two originals has 

been retained to act as a back up and 

provide auxiliary handling during the 

busiest periods. Maintenance manager 

Bob Taylor has been at Sirdar for over 

35 years and remembers the original 

trucks being delivered. 

“We’re very happy with the long 

term support we’ve had from Atlet,” 

says Bob Taylor. “Whenever there is a 

problem they are always here quickly 

to sort it out.” 

The switch from man-down to manrising 

trucks presented a major change 

for Sirdar’s warehouse team. The four 

operators are dedicated to the specific 

trucks they use which helps promote 

responsibility and ownership. As part of 

this, they were involved in the evaluation 

of the potential replacements. After 

the new truck arrived Atlet provided 

retraining and familiarisation to help 

them make the transition as smoothly 

as possible. One of the operators is the 

current warehouse manager whose 

father also fulfilled that role previously. 

Operations at Sirdar have changed 

dramatically over the past 30 years. The 

company has introduced many new 

ranges and colours to meet contemporary 

design tastes. With some celebrity 

support, knitting is undergoing a resurgence 

with younger people taking it up 

for the first time. The added variety of 

products means that warehousing and 

stock control have become more complex. 

Very little product is made on site 

as it was in the 1970s and warehouse 

operations have had to adapt. Instead of 

a steady flow of items from an adjacent 

spinning hall, product typically arrives 

bulk packed in containers. 

After stripping the containers the 

yarn is placed in a palcon and transferred 

to the VNA warehouse where it is 

put away using one of the trucks. 

Traditionally Sirdar has picked orders 

at ground level by pulling full palcons 

down to vacant positions when 

required. However, the introduction of 

man-rising trucks would allow picking 

from any location in the warehouse 

without the need to handle the palcon 

should Sirdar wish to do it. Each pack of 

yarn generally weighs one kilo or less 

which means a full palcon of around 

100kg might contain hundreds of items. 

Sirdar operates a first-in, first out 

stock rotation policy and aims to fulfil 

orders quickly. Picked orders are 

transferred on special hand trolleys to 

despatch areas in a simple and efficient 

process. 

“We rely on continual movement of 

stock,” says Ian Stead. “If we ever have 

problems there is always someone 

there to put it right.” 

Atlet Limited 

Paul Forster 

Tel: 01844 215501 

www.atlet.co.uk 

NEW PRODUCT 

Castell introduces new stainless steel 

trapped key switch 

- IP66 rating makes Salus20 

suitable for the food industry 

and harsh environments - 

Castell Safety International has 

developed the Salus20, a new 

trapped key isolator switch 

capable of switching 20 amps. 

The switch is designed for use 

in trapped key interlocking systems 

and is a new addition to the 

Salus family, which also includes 

the recently launched Salus access 

interlock. 

The Salus20 maintains the 

design theme of the Salus access 

interlock, combining an integrated 

flush-mounted lock with sliding 

lock cover in a stainless steel IP66 

sealed enclosure. The cable can 

enter the enclosure from any 

direction, depending on the orientation 

of the base when fitted. 

Using an entirely new stainless 

steel housing with an ergonomic 

design that has no areas for dirt to 

collect and trap, the Salus20 is 

suitable for wash-down environments 

such as those found in the 

food and beverage industry. The 

switch is also fitted with stainless 

steel cable glands that further 

enhance its suitability for food 

and harsh environments. 

The Salus20 is mounted 

using a clip-in fixed mounting. 

This makes it easy to install, 

since the 

switch does not 

need to be fixed 

in place to be 

wired. The 

switch is available 

with either 

two normally 

open and two 

normally closed 

contacts with 

an optional auxiliary 

set of contacts, or 

four normally open or normally 

closed contacts with optional 

auxiliaries. 

The Salus20 also benefits from 

Castell’s new end coding system 

that enables the switch to be 

stocked and rapidly delivered to 

customers regardless of the key 

code required. The flexibility 

offered by both end coding and 

the enclosure’s ability to be 

mounted in any orientation 

means that the Salus20 is particularly 

suitable for distribution. 

The switch is applicable to a 

wider range of applications than 

similar Castell products and 

reduces the requirement for 

stock holding. 

The Salus20 is fully compatible 

with previous FS lock types and 

can therefore be used in existing 

interlocking systems. 

David 

Hughes, Castell’s 

Sales Director, commented: 

“The new Salus20 is a 

very exciting development for 

Castell and builds on the success 

of the Salus access interlock, 

launched late last year. 

“The design team have done a 

great job of focusing on the needs 

of our market and have delivered 

an excellent product. Thanks to its 

stainless steel construction and 

IP66 rating, the Salus20 will be particularly 

attractive to our customers 

in both the food and beverage and 

heavy industrial sectors.” 

Castell Safety International Ltd 

David Hughes 

Tel: 020 8200 1200 

Email: sales@castell.co.uk 

www.castell.com 

BAKO NORTH WESTERN 

RAISES THE LEVELS IN FORK LIFT DRIVING INSTRUCTION 

As part of a leading UK buying 

co-operative with some of the 

most advanced regional warehouse 

and distribution centres, 

BAKO NORTH WESTERN is now 

able to offer fork lift training in 

accordance with the current 

Health and Safety guidelines as 

set out by its accreditation to the 

RTITB (Road Transport Industry 

Training Board), to meet individual 

company needs. 

From its base in Preston, 

Lancashire, BAKO NORTH 

WESTERN’s fully qualified instructors 

Tony O’Hara and John Smith 

can now apply their combined 30 

years of practical working experience 

with mechanical handling 

equipment to train individual company 

fork lift operatives to the 

very highest professional standards, 

enabling them to award 

RTITB certification to help companies 

comply with the Approved 

Code of Practice L117 (1999). The 

fact that these qualified instructors 

have hands on experience 

enables them to relate to customers 

and the needs of their on 

going operations, as opposed to 

just theory. 

BAKO NORTH WESTERN 

delivers a core range of theoretical 

and practical training courses for 

all levels, including novice and 

experienced fork lift drivers and 

can also tailor programmes to meet 

specific needs. 

BAKO instructor Tony O’Hara 

commented, “Although Bako is 

based in Preston, we can complete 

training at the company’s workplace 

or at our fully accredited 

training centre. 

Bako’s indepth knowledge and 

experience of running and managing 

a major distribution 

organisation and involving all types 

of materials handling equipment 

has necessitated that our own staff 

are trained to the highest industry 

standards. 

Our company culture has always 

been based upon a total commitment 

to understanding customer 

needs and offering cost effective 

solutions and now, we have taken 

this further to use our resources to 

provide professional fork lift truck 

training. 

PRIDE 

We take exceptional pride in 

our adaptability and professionalism, 

providing cost effective 

support for every type and size of 

business. From training of single 

numbers of operators, right 

through to meeting the volume of 

drivers and logistical pressure of 

major manufacturing, retailing and 

distribution companies - BAKO 

NORTH WESTERN can deliver the 

goods. Our courses include full 

management and documentation 

of company training information 

and records. We can organise 

refresher training and maintain 

operator databases to ensure compliance 

with the latest ‘best 

practice’ and legal requirements.” 

For further details contact Tony O’Hara 

at BAKO NORTH WESTERN on 

telephone 01772 664302 

Email: sales@bakonw.co.uk 

EPAL 

UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS 

OF PALLETISING 

European distribution costs can be 

reduced by as much as 37 per cent 

through palletisation of cargo loaded 

onto containers according to a new 

study conducted by Marwa Bouka, an 

MBA student at Warwick Business 

School commissioned by EPAL. The 

findings of the research project were 

presented at the Logistics 

International conference at the 

Cardiff Business School in September 

2009. EPAL wanted to understand 

what barriers exist to palletising 

loads in containers, and for which 

products palletising is more suitable. 

FEM 

FEM VP LEADS THE CALL FOR 

EFFECTIVE SURVEILLANCE 

A business leader has called for 

effective surveillance of the Materials 

Handling Industry to safeguard jobs 

and protect workers from injury and 

even death. John Meale, Vice 

President of Fédération Européenne de 

la Manutention (FEM), the European 

Materials Handling Federation, and 

MD of Thorworld Industries Ltd, has 

said that unless regular inspections 

are introduced EU Directives and 

Regulations will continue to be 

undermined as counterfeit and noncompliant 

machinery floods the 

market from both inside and, more 

particularly, outside the EU. 

FRESHLINC 

FRESHLINC SIGNS SIX-YEAR 

CONTRACT WITH ISOTRAK 

Freshlinc has signed a six-year 

tracking contract with Isotrak, 

replacing incumbent providers 

Navman and Masternaut, to boost 

the efficiency of its refrigerated 

delivery fleet and provide its 

customers with real-time visibility of 

the work being done for them. Isotrak 

is already installing tracking units on 

120 trailers as a direct replacement 

for existing Navman units, and on 

another 65 trailers that are new to 

the fleet and not currently tracked. 

BASE 

ULTRA-HYGIENIC STAINLESS 

STEEL TOTE BINS 

Base Handling Products Ltd are 

introducing their electro-polished 

range of stainless steel wheeled tote 

bins, designed specifically for use in 

demanding food and pharmaceutical 

environments. The key feature of this 

new 200 litre capacity tote bin is its 

ultra-hygienic electro-polished 

surface, which provides important 

operational and environmental 

related advantages. 

MASTERNAUT 

ROBERTS BAKERY TRACKS IN 

REAL TIME WITH MASTERNAUT 

Real-time and recorded data from 

Masternaut Three X’s web-based 

vehicle tracking service is giving 

Roberts Bakery increased control 

over daily deliveries. The 123-year 

old company is using the latest 

satellite tracking technology to 

monitor and manage its 70-strong 

fleet as it delivers bread and pastry 

products throughout the UK. 

CAT 

NEW CAT TOW TRUCK IMPROVES 

OPERATOR SAFETY 

The UK’s national Cat® Lift Truck 

distributor and service provider, 

Briggs Equipment has launched the 

new Cat NTR30N tow truck as part of 

its Warehouse equipment range. With 

increased productivity and improved 

safety, the NTR30N provides the 

operator with a dramatically 

enhanced working environment. 

JUNGHEINRICH 

JUNGHEINRICH ADDS FURTHER 

IMPROVEMENTS 

Jungheinrich has announced a 

number of changes to its Series 4 

and 5 electric counterbalanced 

trucks that are designed to further 

improve operator comfort and safety. 

The trucks are now supplied as 

standard with a choice of either 

Jungheinrich’s Solo-Pilot or Multi- 

Pilot control systems integrated into 

a vertically and horizontally 

adjustable armrest. 



20 


MARLBORO 

MARLBORO LAUNCHES BRIGHT 

LEAF PLATINUM 

Marlboro, the world’s number one 

cigarette brand has launched a new 

variant of its Marlboro Bright Leaf 

range especially designed to cater for 

the taste preferences of the British 

adult smoker. Marlboro Bright Leaf 

Platinum, a 7mg cigarette available in 

20s and 10s and optional Price Marked 

Packs is made using a particular type 

of Virginia blend tobacco, which gives 

it an even smoother taste than 

Marlboro Bright Leaf original. 

RADOX 

LET YOUR DAD TAKE TIME OUT 

THIS FATHER’S DAY WITH RADOX 

Father's Day is a rare opportunity to 

show your dad how great he is by 

helping him put his feet up and relax. 

We all know a long soak in the tub 

does wonders after a hard day. This 

Father’s Day let Radox, Britain’s 

favourite bathing brand help your dad 

enjoy some ‘him’ time with Radox 

Muscle Therapy bath soak. 

CRANSWICK 

CRANSWICK PET PRODUCTS FLY 

HIGH AT INTERZOO 2010 

Cranswick Pet Products, the UK’s 

leading manufacturer of food and 

accessories for the small animal and 

bird markets are ‘chirpy chappies’, 

following their recent success at 

Interzoo 2010. Having over 1450 

exhibitors from 50 countries, Interzoo, 

the biggest international market place 

for pet trade supplies, is attended by 

the world’s biggest names in the 

industry. With Interzoo attracting over 

35,000 trade visitors from over 100 

countries, Cranswick Pet Products 

were flying high as key industry 

players from around the world flocked 

to the innovative and interactive stand. 

NUROFEN 

NUROFEN PROVIDES FASTER AND 

LONGER RELIEF FROM HEADACHES 

Nurofen’s hugely successful £11 

million multimedia marketing 

campaign is launching its third phase 

with the brand new claim “Nurofen 

provides faster and longer relief from 

headaches than paracetamol”. Head 

to head comparisons have been made 

between ibuprofen and paracetamol. 

These demonstrated that Nurofen 

200mg tablets provide faster and 

longer pain relief from headaches 

than standard paracetamol tablets. 

VELVET 

SCA EXPANDS VELVET WITH A 

NEW TISSUE RANGE 

SCA is extending the Velvet brand with 

the launch of a new soft, soft, soft, 

facial tissue in a strategic move into the 

facial tissue category. The new Velvet 

Tissue has been specifically developed 

to deliver a depth of softness, superior 

strength and absorbency in order to 

meet consumer needs and to create the 

velvety soft, soft, soft feel the brand has 

become known for. Following extensive 

research, the team at Velvet were keen 

to create packaging that reflected the 

quality of the tissue contained within 

the box and generate stand out at 

fixture. 

GILLETTE 

GILLETTE VENUS ROLLS OUT NEW 

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN 

The number one selling female blades 

and razor brand, Gillette Venus, is 

launching its biggest ever advertising 

campaign this summer to support the 

recent launch of Venus SPA Breeze and 

Venus Embrace. The two adverts will 

air throughout the summer as part of a 

multi-million pound marketing 

investment which includes TV, outdoor 

advertising, PR and In-Store POS 

materials, all designed to maximise 

consumer awareness of the products 

over the peak female grooming season. 

ECOZONE 

THE SEVEN FRESH FRAGRANCES 

OF HEAD AND SHOULDERS 

Head and Shoulders put a retro focus 

on its range in May, highlighting the 

seven fresh fragrances with a unique 

advertising campaign. The new 

creative features six nurses, 

championing how enjoyable the Head 

and Shoulders range is to use and 

encouraging consumer trial. 

DETTOL PROTECTS 

AGAINST GERMS AND ALLERGENS 

Dettol Surface Cleanser 

Range now endorsed by 

Allergy UK. 

In a first for household 

cleaners, Dettol has announced 

that its Anti-bacterial Surface 

Cleanser Trigger Spray, Cleansing 

Surface Wipes and Cleansing 

Floor Wipes are now officially 

recommended by Allergy UK. 

Studies have shown that the 

Dettol Surface Cleanser range 

removes 90% of allergens from 

hard surfaces while simultaneously 

killing 99.9% of bacteria 

such as E.coli, Salmonella and 

MRSA. Trusted by doctors due to 

its low chemical content, non 

bleach, taint or odour and strong 

antibacterial properties, the 

Surface Cleanser range is now 

ideal for targeted allergen 

removal on hard surfaces, 

reducing the presence of common 

indoor allergens such as dust 

mites, pollen particles and pet 

Here’s a low-cost idea to save 

some money during the summer 

holiday season - rent the Rug 

Doctor. A new carpet can cost a 

fortune, so consumers are 

increasingly bringing their 

existing carpets back to life 

without having to use an expensive 

professional cleaner. 

Summer is the ideal time to clean 

carpets as drying times are kept 

to a minimum. So spending just a 

morning or afternoon of a 

summer break using a Rug 

Doctor will pay dividends for the 

dander which can settle on hard 

surfaces. 

UNIQUE 

Javeria Rehman, Marketing 

Manager for Dettol comments: 

“Dettol now offers consumers 

unique protection along with the 

reassurance of Allergy UK to help 

reduce allergens and germs within 

the home. With 40% of children 

suffering from an allergy in the UK, 

it is important to equip mums with 

the tools they need to protect their 

family. Dettol helps mums take 

positive steps in reducing germs 

and allergens on hard surfaces, 

providing tangible health benefits.” 

To support the news of the 

Allergy UK endorsement was a 

£2million campaign which conveyed 

the “90% allergen removal” 

addition to the on-pack messaging 

of the Dettol Surface 

Cleanser range. The campaign 

was aimed at ABC1 women and 

the ads ran from the 12 April to 

the 17 June 2010. This was further 

supported by a PR campaign 

provided by Biss Lancaster, that 

will targetted national and consumer 

press across the UK also 

encompassing trade and HCP. 

A recent Indoor Allergy Report 

conducted by Allergy UK showed 

that even though 87% of people 

know that allergens are airborne, 

44% are not aware that allergens 

can also settle on hard surfaces. 

Allergens from outside - pollen 

particles or pet dander - not only 

infiltrate the home through the 

air but also stick to clothes, skin 

and hair, transferring from surface 

to surface and eventually 

settling on hard surfaces 

throughout the home. 

Lindsey McManus from Allergy 

UK comments: “Simple measures 

to reduce allergens in the home 

can make a big difference and the 

Dettol Surface Cleanser range is 

ideal for those with allergies due 

wellbeing of the whole family. 

Carpets will be deep cleaned, 

rejuvenated, deodorised and 

protected against any future 

spills. 

Best of all, consumers can clean 

their whole house for less than 

£40.00 - and that includes four 

litres of the new Rug Doctor Carpet 

Detergent with Spot Blok ® stain 

repellent. By using the Rug Doctor 

with it’s unique vibrating brush 

action, homeowners can gently 

wash, scrub and extract the dirt 

from tired looking carpets for a 

really deep down clean. There’s also 

an upholstery attachment included 

for use on soft furnishings, carpet 

edges and stairs. 

"If you can fill a bucket and can 

vacuum a carpet then you can use a 

Rug Doctor; it’s that simple," says 

Paul Fildes, Marketing Manager of 

Rug Doctor. "If you’ve not tried Rug 

Doctor before, you won’t believe 

how easy it is to use and what fantastic 

results you’ll get - and for just 

a fraction of the cost of hiring in a 

so called professional cleaning 

company." 

Twenty-four hour rental costs 

on average £19.99 or £24.99 for 

the Rug Doctor Wide Track 

machine which, with its wider 

cleaning head and higher capacity 

detergent tank, can cut cleaning 

time in half. Rug Doctor Carpet 

Detergent costs about £9.99 a litre 

or £19.99 for 4 litres. 

Consumers can now find Rug 

Doctor machines in every B&Q, 

Homebase, Focus and Johnsons the 

Cleaners, as well as in selected 

Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury, 

Somerfield, the Co Op and other 

quality independent stores. In fact, 

to it removing 90% of allergens. 

Also its low chemical content 

gives a choice for those who 

prefer to reduce their chemical 

load within the home. We’re 

excited to be working with Dettol 

on a product that will help allergy 

sufferers to reduce the allergens 

on hard surfaces that can trigger 

allergic reactions.” 

Available on shelves now with 

the Allergy UK stamp of approval 

the range includes Dettol Anti-bacterial 

Surface Cleanser trigger 

spray, surface and floor wipes with 

prices starting at MRSP £1.92. For 

further information on Dettol 

please visit www.dettol.co.uk and 

www.dettolprotects.co.uk or for 

more information on Allergy UK or 

to view the Indoor Allergy Report 

visit www.allergyuk.org. 

Customer Enquiries 

UK: 0845 769 7079 

ROI: 01661 7318 

www.rb.com 

SUMMERTIME AND THE CLEANING IS EASY... 

Rug Doctor now has nationwide 

availability with almost 90% of all 

UK consumers being within just a 

10 minute drive of a rental location. 

Consumers are encouraged to 

use the store finder on the Rug 

Doctor website to find their 

nearest location. 

CESAR®, one of the UK’s bestselling dog food 

brands, is proud to announce the launch of a 

brand new addition to the range in the form of 

new CESAR® Puppy. 

Available to order now, new CESAR® Puppy 

Chicken & Rice with Carrot Topping, contains no artificial 

colours, flavours or preservatives, is 100% 

complete and easily digestible - perfect for new puppies. 

The new 100g tray will have an RRP of 72p and 

will feature new CESAR® Puppy packaging which 

clearly differentiates from the adult range. 

The CESAR® brand is a firm favourite for the UK’s 

canine population and continues to drive sales in the 

dog single serve segment, currently growing at 

20.1%, with the popular tray format growing at 

26.9% in the Grocery sector. 

Dave Minton, Mars Petcare National Account 

Director for the Grocery sector commented: “This 

new line offers great sales opportunities for retailers: 

owners who feed a particular brand to their dog at 

puppy stage are likely to continue to purchase that 

brand throughout their dog’s life. Stocking new 

CESAR® Puppy alongside the bestselling CESAR® 

adult range will therefore build customer loyalty and 

boost sales overall.” 

Puppy owners want the best for their new 

family members and this new addition to the 

CESAR® range means that Mars Petcare now 

Challs International, manufacturer 

of plughole care brand 

Buster, has launched National 

Plughole Week 2010 (10th-17th 

July) in aid of Oxfam with its 

Bottle for Change fundraising 

campaign. 

Participants will be given free 

bottles of specially branded mineral 

water and asked to fill the empty 

containers with 1p, 5p and 20p 

coins. A bottle filled with 1p coins 

(approx £4) is enough for Oxfam to 

provide life saving water filtration 

buckets for two families in the 

developing world where 5,000 children 

die each day because they 

don’t have clean, safe water to drink. 

The second element of the campaign 

includes striking neck collars 

which will be featured on Buster’s 

four plughole care products during 

June and July with the message 

‘Together we’ll help’, and 5p on 

every bottle sold will be donated to 

Oxfam. 

MAJOR PARTNER 

Last year Buster raised £10,500 

for Oxfam through National 

Plughole Week and hopes to 

quadruple this figure in 2010, with 

additional fundraising support from 

new corporate partner Dyno-Rod, 

the drain and plumbing specialists. 

Buster brand manager Louise 

Perry, says: “National Plughole Week 

is the main event in our marketing 

calendar and this year, 

with our partners help, it’s 

going to be even bigger and 

better than previous 

years. We are capturing 

the 

consumer’s 

interest with a 

creative and 

varied PR campaign 

and also 

underlining the 

socially responsible 

side of the 

brand by supporting 

such a 

worthwhile cause.” 

Oxfam’s Corporate 

Partnerships Manager Chris 

Ashworth, added: “The Bottle for 

Change appeal is a fantastic campaign 

and we are delighted to be 

supported by Buster and National 

Plughole Week. The money raised 

through the appeal will make a big 

difference to the lives of those who 

do not have access to clean, safe 

drinking water.” 

GROCERY NON-FOOD 

BUSTER AND OXFAM 

SAY ‘TURN YOUR SMALL 

CHANGE INTO BIG CHANGE’ 

PR for the campaign includes 

national consumer competitions in 

print and online media, a national 

schools competition, a consumer 

survey and the use of social media 

including blogs and Twitter 

(www.twitter.com/plugholeweek) 

GET INVOLVED 

If you would like to participate in 

the Bottle for Change appeal, simply 

request your FREE ‘Bottle for 

Change’ mineral water, from 

National Plughole Week co-ordinator 

Amy Bullard, 

on 01473 326403, email 

amy.bullard@projectpr.biz or visit 

www.nationalplugholeweek.com. 

You can also make a contribution to 

the 2010 campaign by clicking on 

www.justgiving.com/ 

plugholeweekwithoxfam. 

BUSTER SEGMENTS 

THE MARKET 

National Plughole Week is part 

of Buster’s overall PR and marketing 

campaign which has helped 

the four strong product range ride 

high in the plughole care sector. 

Buster’s plughole unblockers 

and sink treatments have each 

been specially formulated to tackle 

the individual needs of kitchen and 

bathroom plugholes. 

In tests the unique powerful 

granules of Buster Kitchen 

Plughole Unblocker beat all 

other leading brands on stubborn 

fat blockages, whilst 

Buster Bathroom Plughole 

Unblocker dissolves away 

hair and soap 

clogs in sinks, 

baths and 

showers. 

The two 

unblocking products 

are 

complimented by 

Buster Kitchen 

Plughole & Sink 

Treatment and 

Buster Bathroom Plughole 

& Sink Treatment, which 

with individual formulas 

and fragrances, kill germs and 

make light work of odours and 

stains to leave sinks clean and 

fresh. 

Priced at £3.29 (RRP) for 

300gm, Buster is stocked in 

Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, 

Wilkinson, Tesco, Morrisons and 

independent hardware stores. 

CESAR® LAUNCHES NEW ADDITION 

Bestselling CESAR® brand launches new Puppy line 

offers healthy and tasty options for dogs at every life 

stage. 

In order to capitalise on the sales opportunities 

this new line offers, retailers are advised to site new 

CESAR® Puppy with the puppy section in-store. 

A total of £2m will be spent in support of the 

CESAR® Puppy launch, which will include TV advertising 

from July 2010, in-store and direct sampling. 

Retailers are advised to pick up with their Mars 

Petcare Sales Representatives for more details. 

www.mars.co.uk 


HARDWARE AND I.T. 


21 

RAPAK LAUNCH MAJOR INITIATIVE 

Logo will boost Bag-in-box’s environmental profile 

Bag-in-box specialist Rapak is 

launching a major initiative to promote 

the environmental benefits of the format 

among end consumers. 

The company has developed a unique, 

eye-catching logo which can be printed on 

both the bag and the box to convey the message 

that ‘bag-in-box technology is green’. 

Rapak says the logo has been introduced to 

help companies who use bag-in-box provide 

valuable reassurance to their customers 

while at the same time contributing to an 

enhanced brand image for their products. 

The basis for the introduction of the logo 

is the independent Life Cycle Assessment of 

bag-in-box packaging, commissioned by 

Rapak from PIRA, which was completed last 

year. The PIRA report assessed and compared 

the potential life cycle environmental 

impacts of bag-in-box technology with alternative 

liquid packaging formats in key 

markets including wine, postmix syrup, 

dairy, edible oils, chemicals, industrial products, 

aseptic and bulk packaging. 

The overall findings, which are published 

at www.rapak.com/pages/environment.asp, 

confirmed that bag-in-box has excellent environmental 

credentials that are at least 

competitive with and in many cases superior 

to alternative packaging formats. 

“We have taken this important step to 

emphasise that while bag-in-box is already an 

established and popular packaging format, it 

remains wholly relevant to today’s markets 

and the current needs and concerns of the 

end consumer,” explains Rapak’s Sales and 

JAFFABOX 

LOOKS TO FUTURE WITH SONIXS 

Corrugated manufacturer 

Jaffabox has kept faith in longterm 

supplier Mosca by 

becoming the first UK company 

to buy Mosca’s new SoniXs strapping 

technology. 

Based in Birmingham, Jaffabox 

has been a leading supplier of 

cardboard boxes since the company 

was originally founded in 

the 1940s. Today it operates a 

state-of-the-art 100,000 sq ft factory 

on a five-acre green field site 

adjacent to Birmingham 

International Airport. Producing 

millions of boxes every year, the 

company requires fast, efficient 

end-of-line strapping to cope with 

its impressive throughputs. 

Mosca SoniXs represents the 

latest advance in strapping, which 

replaces the traditional friction seal 

with a sonic wave for the fastest and 

strongest seal yet achieved. The 

ultrasonic technology offers a consistent 

seal up to 85% of the tensile 

strength of the strap, while sealing 

times are significantly shortened. In 

addition, it is easy to change the complete 

SoniXs sealing head in under 

thirty seconds, representing further 

time savings during production. 

Jaffabox has regularly purchased 

Mosca machinery in the past, 

including its MCB corrugated 

bundler and UATRI automatic 

strapper. “I believe that Mosca’s 

equipment and support have both 

been extremely good, which is why 

we have continued to place orders 

with them over the years,” confirms 

John Amyes, Director of Jaffabox. 

In fact, by 2009 all of Jaffabox’s 

end-of-line strapping needs were 

met by Mosca bar one 20-year-old 

pallet press. It was for this reason 

that the latest machine - the Mosca 

SoniXs KCK-121 with rotary arm 

stretchwrapper - was purchased for 

the factory. 

While SoniXs is new to the UK, it 

is far from unproven: already 50 

SoniXs heads have been installed 

worldwide, successfully completing 

over 2 million cycles. Nonetheless, 

Jaffabox’s decision demonstrates 

notable forward thinking in 

bringing the technology into 

Britain. 

“We have always embraced new 

technology and we are confident 

that we will enjoy working with 

Mosca SoniXs,” concludes John 

Amyes. 

Mosca Direct Ltd 


Email: info@moscadirect.com 

MONEY CONTROLS 

YOUR PAYMENT SYSTEMS PARTNER 

Money handling expert Money 

Controls is bringing its expertise 

and knowledge to the retail and 

kiosk sector. Money Controls’ products 

are renowned across the globe 

for performing successfully in 

demanding environments. 

By taking this established 

technology, 

and using it as part 

of self service retail 

checkouts, Money 

Controls are able to 

deliver excellent security, 

reliability and performance 

- all vital for retail. 

Money Controls’ products for the 

retail sector include bill acceptors, 

coin acceptors, coin recyclers, coin 

hoppers and hoppers shelves. Money 

Controls’ Ardac Elite bill acceptor is 

widely recognised as one of the most 

technologically advanced products in 

its category. Unlike some acceptors 

which only scan part of the note, the 

Ardac Elite scans the whole note. It 

has very high acceptance rates, 

meaning that even notes in very poor 

condition are accepted, 

resulting in a 

decrease in costly, 

aborted transactions. 

Product integration 

shows Money 

Controls’ innovation 

at its very best. 

Money Controls uses its coin and 

bill acceptors in conjunction with 

its world-leading coin hoppers, and 

its unique PayLink hardware. 

PayLink connects to PC using a 

single USB point and allows credit 

handling, audit information, error 

checking and diagnostics. 

Marketing Director Jean-Paul Roosendaal. 

“Indeed, it is the attributes which make 

bag-in-box so versatile, such as large size 

convenience and extended product protection, 

that also contribute to its strong 

environmental profile. Highlighting these 

benefits will confirm to consumers the 

appropriateness of their purchasing decision, 

helping to boost sales and positioning 

the brand owner as a responsible company. 

We hope customers will be keen to take 

advantage of the logo to assist in their marketing 

and promotional activities.” 

Loadhog, the Sheffield-based 

returnable packaging innovator, 

has developed yet another 

unique transit solution with the 

HogBox, which balances volume 

and security in handling valuable, 

delicate or bulky products. 

The lightweight, 190 litre 

capacity, high impact polypropylene 

HogBox, which has built-in 

pallet feet; handles; attached lockable 

lids and a 100kg load capacity, 

was developed to meet the needs 

of a major UK home furnishings 

and improvements retailer. 

The revolutionary hand-moved 

product eliminates the wasteful 

use of cardboard boxes or plastic 

packaging. The HogBox is compatible 

with mechanical handling 

equipment, including forklifts, and 

provides tamper proof product 

protection in storage and transit. 

The HogBox, which is large 

enough to transport an extensive 

selection of product sizes and 

weights, can be branded on the 

exterior and is available in a range 

of colours. 

UNIFIX RELIES ON WAMAS® 

SSI Schaefer installs a warehouse management system 

with voice picking technology for UNIFIX SWG GmbH. 

SSI Schaefer has installed a 

new warehouse management 

system with voice picking technology 

for UNIFIX SWG GmbH that 

has dramatically reduced error 

rates, improved overall quality in 

work and increased productivity. 

UNIFIX SWG GmbH, an active 

wholesaler, specialise in products 

and systems for shops operating in 

the hardware, DIY, building, carpentry, 

electrical and hydraulic 

sectors. The main product lines 

include screws for wood and structural 

work, plugs and anchors, 

joining pieces for wood, chemical 

products, hand tools, fixing elements 

and hardware for furniture. 

SSI Schaefer were contracted in 

by UNIFIX SWG GmbH to gradually 

transfer its storage and distribution 

warehouse based in Terlano 

(BZ), Italy, from a manual facility 

into a new, partially automated 

system. The preferred warehouse 

management system WAMAS was 

installed and the warehouse slowly 

reorganised to match the new 

picking stations connected to the 

conveyor system. 

Products are now registered at 

the goods-in department in order to 

send the necessary information to 

the ERP system. Voice picking technology 

is used in various picking 

Rapak 

Stephanie Humez 


When loaded, the half UK pallet 

size Hogbox is securely double-stackable 

up to six boxes high, needing no 

pallets to move, and nestable when 

empty to save space. When stacked, 

the HogBox can form the HogBox 

system with the Loadhog Lid which 

secures the load immediately, 

requiring no dedicated equipment or 

one-trip materials and reducing 

trailer use by up to 50 per cent. 

To facilitate the separation and 

stations with dynamic staging, 

which are organised and driven by 

the system. The WAMAS system is 

also responsible for the routing of 

conveyor paths until the products in 

the goods-out department are 

stored in a buffer (automated smallparts 

warehouse). Then, the closed 

orders are transferred to the 

packing station and goods can be 

prepared for loading. 

The 5,700 m2 storage area which 

also includes interconnected production, 

now records dramatically 

reduced error rates, significantly 

increased productivity figures and 

noticeable improvements in the 

quality of work actioned. 

Bag-in-box specialist Rapak is launching a major 

initiative to promote the environmental benefits of the 

format among end consumers. 

LOADHOG NOW PUTS A SECURE LID 

ON THE BULK TRANSPORT MARKET 

movement of stacked empty boxes, 

Loadhog has produced a bespoke 

foot-operated lifter in association 

with M J Products. This is also capable 

of carrying up to two loaded boxes, 

providing excellent mobility for space 

restricted operations and maintaining 

the ideal height for filling or picking. 

For more information about the 

HogBox contact www.loadhoglids.com 

Extremely happy with the outcome 

of the project, a 

representative from UNIFIX SWG 

GmbH said: "The most important 

thing for us is to meet our customers' 

requirements, especially 

when it comes to a prompt delivery 

and high quality standards. In 

order to be able to do this now and 

in the future, it is essential to continually 

invest in logistics and 

efficient solutions." 

SSI Schaefer 


Email: Solutions@ssi-schaefer.co.uk 

www.ssi-schaefer.co.uk 

TOSHIBA 

ANGEL DE JUAN NAMED RETAIL 

SALES DIRECTOR TOSHIBA TEC 

TOSHIBA TEC has recently 

announced it has named Angel de 

Juan as sales director for the Retail 

Division in Europe. Reporting to 

Nobuhiko Takao, CEO of TOSHIBA 

TEC Europe, Angel de Juan will be 

responsible for sales leadership and 

strategic direction in the EMEA 

region. Angel de Juan, 45, has more 

than 20 years of experience in 

technology sales at TOSHIBA TEC, 

the last 10 as branch manager for 

Spain and Portugal. 

ZBD 

HUNGARIAN GROCERY RETAILER 

DEPLOYS ZBD’S SOLUTION 

ZBD, the epaper for retail specialists, 

has announced that CBA, one of 

Hungary’s largest retailers, has 

implemented ZBD’s electronic shelf 

labels within its Prima store (CBA’s 

brand of premium supermarkets), 

located within the 1st district of 

Budapest, Hungary. This is the third 

CBA store to have deployed ZBD’s 

electronic shelf labels and all projects 

have been implemented by ZBD's 

VISION partner in Hungary, Laurel. 

CCTV 

VIEW YOUR BUSINESS FROM 

ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD 

New from CCTV Alarm Shop is one 

of the most affordable quality CCTV 

packages available for keeping a 

watchful eye on business premises. 

The Watchguard professional 

surveillance pack has a four channel 

digital video recorder (DVR), four 

day and night weatherproof colour 

cameras and all the power supplies 

and connection cables required for 

just £499 plus VAT. 

SAGE 

SAGE AND TOSHIBA TEC OFFER 

ALL-IN-ONE TO SUPPORT SME 

Retail Specialists TOSHIBA TEC and 

UK based Business Software and 

Service Provider, Sage, have entered 

into a distribution agreement for 

Spain. TOSHIBA TEC and Sage offer 

an All-in-one integrated POS touch 

terminal and POS software bundle. 

This combined strength offers a 

professional POS system with the 

latest technology options available 

to help meet your POS hardware and 

software needs. TPVplus is Sage’s 

POS software suite designed 

specifically for small and mediumsized 

(SME) businesses operating 

within a local trade or retail 

environment. 

X2 

X2 COMPUTING APPOINTS NEW 

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER 

X2 Computing, one of the UK’s fastest 

growing suppliers of mobile 

computing solutions to the retail 

sector, has appointed Peter Skinner as 

Chief Operating Officer. Based at the 

company’s headquarters in Evesham, 

Worcestershire he will be responsible 

for managing all operational functions 

of the business including service and 

support, manufacturing and logistics. 

SSP 

SSP DEPLOYS NEW DIGITAL 

SIGNAGE FROM X2 COMPUTING 

SSP, the Food Travel Expert is working 

with X2 Computing to deliver new 

digital signage at outlets located in 

airports and railway stations across 

Norway. The new digital signage 

systems will comprise ruggedized LCD 

displays to replace the previous static 

menu board displays and present a 

more modern, professional and eye 

catching visual display at every outlet. 

ARCADIA 

ARCADIA RE-SIGNS WITH PREPAY 

SOLUTIONS 

Arcadia, the company behind some 

of the UK’s most recognisable retail 

brands, has just renewed its contract 

with PrePay Solutions for its corporate 

and consumer gift card programmes. 

PrePay Solutions, the UK’s leading 

prepaid services provider, started 

working with Arcadia in 2004 across 

all of the company’s brands - Burton, 

Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss 

Selfridge, Topman, Topshop, Wallis, 

Outfit and BHS. 



22 


MINTEL REPORTS 

HEALTHFOOD RETAILING 

Estimated to have reached £495 million 

in 2010, health food retailers posted 

growth of 17% between 2005 and 2010, 

and 3% against 2009. Further growth of 

17% is forecast for the next 5 years, taking 

the market to £577 million by 2015. This 

growth is forecast on the back of robust 

growth in key product categories, but under 

ongoing pressure from the non-specialists. 

Within the market, free-from foods have 

experienced the greatest growth in the past 5 

years (60%), sales set to increase a further 

57% in the next 5 years. Meanwhile sales of 

complementary medicines increased 34% over 

the same period, with sales set to increase by 

32% over the same 5 year period. Nuts, seeds 

and dried food sales increased by 26%, while 

meatfree foods, and VMS increased 18% and 

11% respectively. 

Despite the success of healthfood retailing, 

almost three in ten (28%) now feel that there 

is no need for specific health foods if you have 

a healthy diet. Meanwhile, just one in nine see 

health foods as an easy way to supplement 

their diet. Almost a quarter (23%) believe that 

health foods and supplements are expensive 

for what they are. 

Nuts, seeds and dried fruit and bran are the 

most popular health food by a strong margin, 

almost half of Brits having bought some. 

Vitamins and supplements rank in second 

place, around four in ten (39%) having bought 

some, despite seeing overall usage fall in 2007 

and 2008. Grocers' own-label ranges have 

heated up competition. Honey, sugar and 

sweeteners make up the top three most popular 

products (32%) 

One in four people have bought four or 

more health foods, with women, 25-34-yearolds, 

over-55s and ABs being the likeliest 

heavy users. 

Standing testimony to their discretionary 

nature, health foods have not been immune to 

the recession, with nearly one in three of those 

that buy them cutting back in the last 12 

months. 

Price perception remains an issue, as nearly 

one in four people say that health foods are 

expensive for what they are, while just one in 

twenty see them as an economic way to ensure 

a wholesome diet. 

In terms of distribution, the health food 

sector is polarised between Holland & Barrett, 

the only operator of size, and some 900 independent 

operators making up the rest of the 

sector. 

The leading grocers have become major 

operators in various health food categories, 

thanks to their expanding product offer, competitive 

prices and the convenience they offer. 

Chemists and drugstores capture a sizeable 

share of the vitamins, supplements and complementary 

medicines markets, helped by the 

strong store presence and trust in the leading 

operators. 

FOOD PROVENANCE 

New research from Mintel One in three (35%) see food 

finds animal welfare tops the origin labelling as sometimes misleading, 

Importance of food-related claims to consumers, December 2009 

nations food concerns, with as 

many as four in ten (40%) Brits 

ranking animal welfare as one of 

their key food concerns. 

Meanwhile, British (37%) and 

local (35%) origin and food purity 

(36%), ie being additive free, are all 

deemed important by more than 

one in three people. 

Interestingly, some issues that 

previously enjoyed a high profile, 

such as carbon footprint (18%) and 

organic (11%), have lost their mainstream 

appeal, now seen as key by 

fewer than one in six people. 

Although animal welfare tops 

Britain's food concerns, no single 

food issue currently chimes with 

the whole population, or even with 

the majority, views on what matters 

when it comes to food remaining 

fragmented. 

In terms of demographics, 

animal welfare is particularly close 

to the hearts of women (46%) as 

opposed to just (34%) of men. 

Meanwhile the over 55s are the 

most committed to the origin of 

food (47%) versus just (20%) of 

16-24 year olds. 

Looking at food origin, as many 

as half the population see food 

origin information as important, 

but just one in three pay attention 

to it. 

yet fewer than one in six 

(15%) look for the Red Tractor 

label, indicating a need for assurance 

schemes to build greater 

awareness and trust. 

For almost a quarter (27%) of 

Brits, price is more important than 

food origin, while around the same 

number (26%) don't pay much 

attention to food origin. 

BRITISH 

Two in five people buy British to 

support local business (40%), but 

less than one in five (19%) see it as 

worth paying more for, while four in 

ten (39%) expect British food to be 

cheaper. Consumers do not display 

total confidence in British food with 

just over a third (37%) saying they 

trust British food more than food 

from overseas. While only 17% 

believe British food tastes better, 

the same number (17%) feel it is 

expensive for what it is. 

More than one in four (28%) 

people say there isn't enough 

British food available in their local 

supermarket, underlining the need 

to highlight food origin in-store. 

Just two million 16-24-year-olds 

see British origin of food as important. 

It is vital for the future of the 

sector to find ways to build rapport 

among the other five million who do 

Base: 1,000 internet users aged 16+ 

SOURCE: Toluna/Mintel 

not. High animal welfare could provide 

such as platform, as it is 

deemed important by three million 

16-24-year-olds. 

Finally, the report finds products 

highlighting their British credentials 

have gained share in NPD in 

the recession, though at 5% of all 

new product launches the share is 

still modest. 

When it comes to our food, 

there is nothing closer to the 

hearts of the nation than the 

wellbeing of animals. Indeed, 

new research from Mintel finds 

animal welfare is Britain's 

number one food concern with as 

many as four in ten (40%) Brits 

worried about this issue. And it is 

women who are showing the 

greatest concern, with almost 

half (46%) of British women 

expressing concern about this 

issue, compared to just a third 

(34%) of men. 

Meanwhile, being of British 

origin (37%) and free from additives 

or preservatives (36%) make 

up the remaining top three food 

concerns, closely followed by the 

desire to have locally produced food 

(35%). By contrast, today organic is 

important to just one in ten (11%) 

of Britons. 

Kiti Soininen, Senior Food and 

Drink Analyst at Mintel, said: 

"Recent media coverage has helped 

drive awareness of animal welfare, 

with celebrity chefs such as Jamie 

Oliver and Hugh Fearnley- 

Whittingstall putting the spotlight 

on poultry and pork farming in 

recent years and it seems the appeal 

of free-range and domestic food has 

continued to grow even during the 

recession.” 

“Food provenance - the origin of 

what we eat - has also forged a permanent 

place on the consumer’s 

and media’s food agenda. Various 

food scares, the focus on ‘food miles’ 

as part of ethical consumption and a 

wider trend for authenticity and 

premiumisation are a driving 

interest in food provenance." Kiti 

continues. 

Mintel’s research also finds that 

age has an enormous impact on the 

importance of where produce has 

come from. Almost half (44%) of 

over 55s are committed to British 

food versus just one in four (26%) 

of 16-24 year olds. The tendency is 

even stronger when it comes to 

Products bought in the last 12 months, December 2009 

Base: 1,000 internet users aged 16+ 

SOURCE: Toluna/Mintel 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT 

ANIMAL WELFARE TOPS BRITAIN'S FOOD CONCERNS 

local food, which is important to 

20% of the youngest age group and 

47% of the oldest age group. 

Two in five people buy British 

to support local business (40%), 

but only one in five (19%) see it as 

worth paying more for, while a 

similar number (17%) say that 

British food tastes better. Indeed, 

it seems the future also looks 

promising for future growth, as 

more than one in four people say 

there isn’t enough British food 

available in their supermarket and 

nearly half would like more local 

foods there. Today, some 16 million 

adults buy British food to 

support local businesses. 

COMICS 

The market for children's magazines 

has succumbed to the consumer expectation of getting 

magazines, reflecting the growing 

economic downturn, despite things for free. 

having traditionally boasted a One in five consumers has 

greater degree of resilience to bought a children's magazine for 

economic turmoil than many of their own children, while a similar 

its more vulnerable counterparts proportion have purchased for 

in magazine publishing. 

other people's children. 

Last year proved to be something 

of a bloodbath for consumer publishing, 

with sales of children's The most common reason for 

DISTRACTION 

comics and magazines falling 8% to buying magazines is as a form of 

£125 million. 

distraction, with 42% of families 

Pre-teen titles have shown who buy them saying they do so to 

greater resilience than the early keep the kids occupied. This motivation 

is ahead of the promotion of 

years category, with sales of the 

former falling by 12% between literacy - only 25% feel comics and 

2007 and 2009, compared with a magazines are the best way to 

17% decline for the latter. 

encourage kids to read. 

Despite the anecdotal association 

of boys and comics, girls are zines markets have been badly hit 

The teenage and men's maga- 

emerging as a powerful base of by the impact of the internet, with 

readers, and targeting is subsequently 

based around this trend. last few years. Magazines and 

circulation plummeting over the 

To some extent this reflects advertisers are now trying to find 

trends in television programmes, ways of bringing magazine titles 

where the greater variety of choice into the digital age, but are faced 

in multichannel television and with the conundrum of how to 

indeed number of available screens make publishing online profitable, 

in any household has allowed programmes 

to move away from 'mass has become accustomed to being 

when dealing with a generation that 

catering'. 

entertained online for free. 

The subsequent breadth of characters 

dedicated to each gender has children's magazine user base is too 

Indeed, although much of the 

allowed several successful single young to migrate out of the category 

and onto the internet, access 

titles, and a host of compilation 

titles to flourish on the back of to the internet among 7-14s has 

these gender-specific properties. now reached 96%, and one in five 

Although 82% of children read children aged 7-12 admit that time 

comics or magazines, children spent on the internet is eating into 

themselves are much less likely to the time they would normally spend 

actually buy them. Among 7-10s, reading. 

magazines are being purchased primarily 

by parents for their children, children's magazine category has 

Consequently, innovation in the 

with only 18% of children buying been heavily focused on establishing 

an online presence for 

for themselves. 

Nearly six in ten kids are magazine brands that brings a convergence 

between the hard copy 

attracted by free covermount giveaways 

that come with comics and and online publishing formats. 

UK retail sales of children's comics/magazines, by gender, 2005-09 

Note: data may not equal totals due to rounding. 

8% THINK ELECTION GOOD 

FOR FINANCIAL SITUATION 

Following the UK election 

result, exclusive new research 

from Mintel reveals just 8% of 

consumers think that the election 

was good for their 

financial situation, with just a 

few more (15%) saying they 

thought it was good for the 

economy. 

Commenting on the research, 

Richard Perks, spokesman for 

Mintel said: "Most elections leave 

consumers feeling more optimistic. 

That’s not so this time. 

The election has led to even 

greater uncertainty. Conservative 

voters tend to be more positive, 

but Liberals and Labour attitudes 

are indistinguishable, in spite of 

the fact that the Liberals may well 

have a place in a government for 

the first time in over 80 years. 

The overall impression is one 

of cynicism and negativity. 

Almost half of the respondents 

think that the result is bad for 

the economy - as if the election 

will make things worse that they 

already are. This is a remarkable 

assessment - other evidence 

from Mintel research shows that 

people’s concern over their 

financial prospects has steadily 

grown. They clearly recognise 

that, whatever the parties may 

have said before the elections, 

the reality is that the deficit is 

going to have to be financed and 

that means pain all round. 

The findings reinforce our initial 

assessment after the election 

that the outcome would make 

people more cautious and more 

reluctant to spend unnecessarily. 

Consumers are likely to revert to 

saving. They will seek to pay off 

debt and will do so at the 

expense of saving. They will 

spend no more than they feel 

they have to. Initially they will 

cut back on spending on big 

ticket items, but as incomes are 

squeezed the cuts will extend to 

fashion and lead to more trading 

down in food. Indeed, our 

research findings make it clear 

that there are tough times ahead 

for consumer sectors." 

Mintel is an independent 

award-winning provider of 

world-leading market intelligence, 

delivering robust 

information, analysis and critical 

recommendations. 

Follow Mintel on Twitter: 

http://twitter.com/mintelnews 


NEWS 

INDUSTRY DATES 

22 June - IGD: Data Driven Insights. www.igd.com/datadriveninsights 

23 June - IGD: Managing The Bottom Line. www.igd.com/managingthebottomline 

24 June - IGD: Category Management: Introduction to Ranging and Merchandising. www.igd.com/ranging-merchandising-workshop 

31 July - Product of the Year final entry deadline for 2011. www.productoftheyear.co.uk 

3-7 August - Great British Beer Festival 2010, Earls Court, London. www.gbbf.camra.org.uk 

5-7 September - Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2010, Olympia, London. www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk 

27-28 October - The World Fruit & Vegetable Show London 2010, ExCeL, London. www.wfvexpo.com 

2-4 November - Ice Cream Exhibition 2010, Yorkshire Event Centre Harrogate. www.ice-cream.org 

6-7 November - Cake International, NEC Birmingham. www.ichf.co.uk 

11 November - True Taste Food & Drink Awards, Pembrokeshire. www.walesthetruetaste.co.uk 

12-14 November - The Wine Show London, Olympia, London. www.wineshow.co.uk 

24-26 January 2011 - Hospitality 2011, NEC Birmingham. www.hospitalityshow.co.uk 

27 January 2011 - Product of the Year 2011 winner announced. www.productoftheyear.co.uk 

13-16 March 2011 - Pro2Pac : Processing & Packaging Solutions for the Food & Drink Industry, ExCeL London. www.pro2pac.co.uk 

13-16 March 2011 - IFE 2011- The International Food and Drink Exhibition, ExCeL London. www.ife.co.uk 

15-16 March 2011 - Hotel & Catering Show, Bournemouth Int. Centre. www.hotel-expo.co.uk 

3-4 April 2011 - Natural & Organic Products Europe 2011, Olympia, London. www.naturalproducts.co.uk 

22-23 September 2011 - 360ºIT Show, Earls Court. www.360itevent.com 

27-29 September 2011 - PPMA, NEC Birmingham. www.ppmashow.co.uk 

17-19 October 2011 - RAC11 and H&V11 at the NEC. www.best-show.co.uk www.best-show.co.uk 

OTHER DATES 

Jun 21-Jul 4 TENNIS - Wimbledon 

Jun 22 CRICKET - England v Australia, First one-day international 

Jun 24 CRICKET - England v Australia, 2nd one-day international 

Jun 24-27 EQUESTRIAN - Hickstead Derby meeting 

Jun 25-27 ATHLETICS - European Trials & UK Championships 

Jun 26-29 FOOTBALL - World Cup round of 16 

Jun 26 MOTORCYCLING - MotoGP, Holland 

Jun 26 RUGBY UNION - Australia v Ireland, New Zealand v Wales 

Jun 27 CRICKET - England v Australia, Third one-day international 

Jun 27 RACING - Irish Derby, The Curragh 

Jun 27 FORMULA ONE - European GP, Valencia 

Jun 27 MOTORCYCLING - World Superbikes, San Marino 

Jun 27 MOTORCYCLING - British Superbikes, Mallory Park 

Jun 30 CRICKET - England v Australia, 4th one-day international 

Jul 2-3 FOOTBALL - World Cup quarter-finals 

Jul 2-3 RACING - Eclipse Meeting, Sandown 

Jul 3 CRICKET - England v Australia, Fifth one-day international 

Jul 3 ATHLETICS - Diamond League, Eugene 

Jul 3-25 CYCLING - Tour de France 

Jul 4 MOTORCYCLING - MotoGP, Catalunya 

Jul 4 MOTOR RACING - World Touring Car Championship, Portugal 

CROSSWORD 

Across 

1 Note the girl in charge is exemplary (7) 

5 This might be just the thing! (7) 

9 The joiner’s 25 work (7) 

10 Love in a music-maker for 

impressive headwear (7) 

11 An old scientist’s claims and the 

confusion caused (9) 

12 Out of work, that’s true (5) 

13 An irresolute poet (5) 

15 Alas it’s an excitable breed of dog (9) 

17 A cross on a church carpet (9) 

19 Go over and gather around the 

Conservative leader (5) 

22 Some dismal tavern in a foreign 

country (5) 

23 He acknowledges to study harder 

is essential (9) 

25 A time for 9 (7) 

26 General hospital accommodation 

on the sheltered side (7) 

27 Unremittingly secretive about a 

certain bird (7) 

28 A telling individual (7) 

Difficulty: 

SUDOKU 

4 

9 8 

3 

5 

Difficulty: 

2 

9 

4 

3 

4 

5 

8 

7 2 

3 

2 

5 

6 

Down 

1 Cover can include a top man (7) 

2 Leading in any lawlessness (7) 

3 Arrogance shown about the Left’s 

decline (5) 

4 Well aware caning’s to effect reform (9) 

5 Like a small house in Berkshire (5) 

6 Bully people in high places (9) 

7 Figure an adieu should be taken in 

song (7) 

8 Oriental lands willingly left (7) 

14 Felling making an onset is quite 

wrong (9) 

16 The money grabbed by a person 

not known to be a criminal (9) 

17 Having no end in view (7) 

18 A French writer’s story set in the 

ruins of Rome (7) 

20 Firm arrangement (7) 

21 He’ll display mean notice with 

little hesitation (7) 

23 Many time the young beginner, 

being cautious (5) 

24 One needs wood without flaws (5) 

 

 

5 

1 

3 

9 

4 

7 

5 

The Rules: To complete the Sudoku puzzles you simply need to fill in all the empty squares in 

the grid with the digits 1 to 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box should contain the digits 1 to 9. 

To solve the puzzles, go to www.sudokusolver.co.uk. 

6 

2 

9 

1 

Jul 4 MOTOR RACING - Indycar Series, Watkins Glen 

Jul 4-8 TAEKWONDO - World Championships, Cheongju 

Jul 5 CRICKET - Pakistan v Australia, First T20 international 

Jul 6-7 FOOTBALL - World Cup semi-finals 

Jul 6 CRICKET - Pakistan v Australia, Second T20 international 

Jul 7 RUGBY LEAGUE - State Of Origin III 

Jul 7-9 RACING - Newmarket July Meeting 

Jul 7-10 RALLYING - Rally of Bulgaria 

Jul 8 CRICKET - England v Bangladesh, First one-day international 

Jul 8 ATHLETICS - Diamond League, Lausanne 

Jul 9-11 TENNIS - Davis Cup quarter-finals/zonal second round 

Jul 10 FOOTBALL - World Cup third place play-off 

Jul 10 CRICKET - England v Bangladesh, 2nd one-day international 

Jul 10 ATHLETICS - Diamond League, Gateshead 

Jul 10 RUGBY UNION - New Zealand v South Africa, Tri-Nations 

Jul 10-18 HOCKEY - Women's Champions Trophy, Nottingham 

Jul 11 FOOTBALL - World Cup final 

Jul 11 FORMULA ONE - British GP, Silverstone 

Jul 11 MOTORCYCLING - World Superbikes, Czech Republic 

Jul 11 MOTORCYCLING - British Superbikes, Snetterton 

Jul 12 CRICKET - England v Bangladesh, 3rd one-day international 

1 2 

17 

27 

3 

1 

5 

4 

18 

7 

14 

6 

8 

1 

22 

5 

9 

2 

4 5 

9 10 

11 

13 14 15 

22 

25 

16 

3 

21 

4 8 

9 

6 

1 

1 

3 

3 

7 

1 

Difficulty: 

13 

26 

16 

26 

9 

11 

18 

22 

6 

12 

19 

23 24 

28 

7 

20 

23 24 

3 

8 

21 

7 

6 

9 

8 

Published by Grandflame Limited - www.grandflame.co.uk 


CONTACT DETAILS 

23 

AND FINALLY... 

A FUTURE BUSINESS WOMAN FOR HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE 

Legends of Grandtully was honoured with yet another award. This 

time it was for a team member, Jenni Michie of Ballechin, who won 

the Perthshire Business Women’s “Employee of the Year” at their 

award ceremony at McEwans department store in Perth. 

Amazingly, Jenni is only 17 years old and works at Legends of 

Grandtully, where she has worked since she was 14 years old as a 

waitress. 

Legends of Grandtully is a multi-faceted business incorporating a 

Coffee House, elegant gift showrooms, Iain Burnett The Highland 

Chocolatier who supplies top chefs with his award winning truffles, 

and the recently opened Scottish Chocolate Centre, an elegant exhibition all about gourmet 

chocolate. 

MARION SCHOOLER GOES TO THE TOP OF THE CLASS IN FOOD AND DRINK 

The North East England Food and Drink Group has 

appointed Marion Schooler as project manager, further to 

the recent establishment of its new strategic board. 

Marion will work with the board and key partners in the 

sector to help fulfil its potential to become a driving force 

in the region’s economy and a market leader in British food 

and drink. 

She will coordinate the organisation’s ongoing activities in 

delivering support to the region’s food and drink 

businesses and building the sector in key areas such as training and skills, business 

development, public sector procurement, hospitality and tourism, health and sustainability. 

Marion, who is a graduate of Law and a fluent French speaker, joins the food and drink 

group having previously established her own Northumberland based corporate 

responsibility and sustainable development firm MFS Consultancy. 

She has a wide range of management experience in the private, public and third sector, 

formerly holding the position of North East regional director at national charity Business in 

the Community, prior to which she spent several years in London working for Energis and 

the CBI. 

Marion Schooler said:”I am delighted to have been appointed project manager of the North 

East England Food and Drink Group and am relishing the task of helping to build 

sustainable growth in the region’s food and drink sector. 

HENDERSON GROUP ANNOUNCES TURNOVER OF £500 MILLION 

Henderson Group, owners of the SPAR, EUROSPAR, ViVO 

and ViVOXTRA retail brands, today, announced an 

exceptional performance for 2009 despite the tough 

economic trading conditions. 

Ron Whitten, Financial Director, Henderson Group, 

commented: “Turnover has increased by 11 per cent 

compared to 2008. We are particularly pleased with the 

continued like for like growth in all categories of sales 

across all of the subsidiaries during 2009. The improved profit performance also reflects 

the impact of the significant investment in independent retailers’ businesses, in new 

company sites and in new owned technologies, all of which will present very good longer 

term growth prospects. Due to the current challenging economic conditions, our key 

priorities of continuing to provide first class customer service, operational efficiency and 

managing our cost base will be of vital importance.” 

Over the course of the 12 months, Hendersons recruited 40 new stores into the Group. In 

2010, The Henderson Group will invest £33M in expansion and refurbishment plans to 

drive future growth. Of this £33M, independent retailers will be supported by a £3 million 

investment in local marketing, with an additonal £6 million spent by SPAR UK nationally, 

marketing SPAR. 

CARPARK CRICKET LAUNCH PUSHING BOUNDARIES WITH YORKSHIRE COUNTY 

CRICKET CLUB 

The Carpark Cricket sensation launched across Yorkshire 

on 3rd June at the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, 

Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds following a 

successful pilot run in the region throughout 2009. 

The Carpark Cricket craze saw wickets being pitched in car 

parks across Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and thanks to 

the support of the big four supermarkets; Tesco, Asda, 

Sainsbury’s and Co-op, it’s now being “bowled” out across Yorkshire. The supermarkets 

offered use of their carpark facilities when the stores were closed on Sunday afternoons as 

a safe environment for over 250 children to experience the wonderful game. 

Yorkshire County Cricket Club will be supporting the initiative as part of their extensive 

community programme after being introduced to Carpark Cricket through specialist sports 

agency Banana Kick and aims to bring communities together, improve health and wellbeing 

and provide new opportunities. The initiative has also benefitted from a great deal of 

support from the Calderdale Grassroots Community Fund and marketing and creative 

direction was supplied by Banana Kick. The sports-crazed team of ten were approached 

and immediately recognised the potential of the simple yet exciting project. 

Gary McCall, Director of Banana Kick comments, “Carpark Cricket is the result of Paddock 

Cricket Club’s excellent insight coupled with a great love of sport and determination to 

develop cricket at grass roots level. We’re hoping hundreds of young people leap off their 

sofa and swap their games console for a cricket bat and get involved with a fantastic sport. 

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