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Page 2 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com INDUSTRY NEWSTel: 01923 272960TIME TO PROFIT FROM THE APRIL “DOUBLE BUBBLE”Welcome to the April Grocery Trader.The days are getting warmer, themornings lighter, the evenings longer -in short spring’s here again, a tonic to the nation andhopefully the nation’s retailers too.After the last few months we could do with a goodsecond quarter. When spring comes, consumersbecome more relaxed, and more inclined to grab theopportunity to have a Big Night In - cue our feature inthis issue - and every other chance to relax with friendsand family. That’s the same every year. But the bigbonus this April is the ‘double bubble’ Easter weekendand the Royal Wedding, creating a second festive fortnight,hopefully with a good dollop of sunshine to addto the feel good factor and push the purchasing.Also in this issue we’ve got interviews with two forwardthinking companies making a world of differenceTHE COMMENT FROM THE GROCERY TRADERin their respective sectors, Alexir Packaging andWestern Union.Money Transfer is a major traffic building opportunityfor multiple grocers, and research shows manyconsumers make secondary purchases during theirvisit to stores offering these services. Western Unionis one of the world’s leading money transfer companies,offering an easy and convenient way to sendmoney to families and friends almost anywhere onearth. With around 445,000 Agent locations in morethan 200 countries and territories around the globe, agreat deal of the company’s success is based on thetrading relationships it has established over manyyears.Western Union takes pride in being close to itsconsumers and in its alliances with Agents. Throughits agents, Western Union speaks its consumers' languages,lives in their neighbourhoods and shares theircultures, playing a significant part in their lives. In theUK Western Union offers its services in cooperationwith a growing network of retailers and is looking togrow its network still further. We talk to Rajiv Garodia,Regional Vice President for Western Europe.Alexir Packaging is a leading innovator in the developmentand manufacture of biodegradable printedfolded cartons, using a wide range of naturally compostable,natural fibre carton boards and a range ofcompostable barrier boards specifically developed forthe food industry. Alexir also leads with its continuingadvances in biodegradable and compostable coatingsfor food packaging, and has developed a range of‘totally’ compostable packaging, including a series ofprinted cartons and trays with windows. As AP’sChairman Robert Davison explains, Alexir Packagingis one of four companies,along with Alexir Design, AlexirContract Packing and AlexirInternational, trading as the AlexirPartnership since January 2010. Atthe turn of the year Robert and colleaguesturned disaster intotriumph: they had to close theirCrawley factory after a fire, butwere in temporary offices within 12 hours and manufacturingagain with a partner within 24 hours. Alexirexhibited recently at Pro2Pac, confirming they arefully up and running again and have overcome theirdifficulties, a remarkable achievement and all-roundinspiration.Happy reading, and have a successful month.Charles Smith, The Grocery TraderTHE PEOPLE’S SUPERMARKET INSTALLS TOSHIBA EPOSIN LONDON’S NEW CONCEPT COMMUNITY RUN STOREToshiba Tec’s touch-screen EPOSterminals have been installed intorecently launched The People’sSupermarket. Featured on a Channel4 programme of the same name, ThePeople’s Supermarket is a sustainablefood cooperative offeringhealthy, local food at affordableprices and aims to connect London’surban community with its localfarming community.“However rough and ready the storelooks, it is essential that at the point ofexchange of money and product, thecustomer experience is slick and professional,”said Arthur Potts Dawson, theCo-founder, Executive Chef of ThePeople’s Supermarket. “We knew weneeded a specialist till solution that wasrobust, reliable and easy for our 500+members to use, allowing them toserve customers in the quickest possibletime. Toshiba’s EPOS solution hascertainly fulfilled that requirement,”added Potts Dawson.Since its opening 6 months ago, inthe recent Channel 4 programme, ThePeople’s Supermarket has seen amarked increase in footfall and shoppersto the store along with interestfrom the Government as part of ‘TheBig Society Project’. The functionalityand flexibility of the Toshiba tills hashelped to minimise supermarketqueues and provided the store with areliable and stable solution that meetstrading demands.“Our business becomes your business,is the message from The People’sSupermarket,” continued Potts Dawson.“We offer real control, real informationand real power; the Toshiba EPOS solutiontotally fits this philosophy and Iwould recommend it for other convenienceretailers looking for a state-of theart, future-proofed, low-cost solution.”TOSHIBA TEC Europe RetailInformation SystemsBecky ViccarsTel: 0870 890 7200marketing@toshibatec-eu.co.ukwww.toshibatec-eu.co.ukCALIFORNIA RAISINS LAUNCHES NEW AD CAMPAIGN IN THE UKCalifornia Raisins have launched anew consumer advertising campaignthroughout the UK to help consumersunderstand that despiterecent retail price increases,California Raisins still representincredible value when comparedwith some other dried and fresh fruit.Recent retail price increases, someas much as 30%, have caused concernamong UK buyers as to how demandmay be affected by the increases.“While the California Raisin industrykept us fully up to date as to why theincreases took place, it doesn’t meanthat consumer demand will remain atthe level it was prior to these priceincreases,” said a spokesperson fromone of the major national UK retailers.“Following the announcement of theprice increases late last year, we’veworked very hard to try and helpretailers and their customers to appreciatewhat excellent value raisins stillprovide when compared with otherfruit,” said European Marketing Director,Peter Meadows. “Where else can youbuy 1,200 pieces of fruit for less than £4?Plus let’s not forget the nutritional benefitsCalifornia Raisins offer.”Following the removal of thegrower funded Export ReplacementOffer (ERO) in October 2010, theraisin export ‘subsidy’ so long enjoyedby UK buyers was removed, causingprices to rise to unprecedented levelsand caused concern among keyBritish retailers over the increase’spossible affect on consumers. “It’s stilltoo early to say whether the increaseshave actually made a difference,” saidone retailer, “but we are grateful toCalifornia Raisins for helping educateconsumers regarding the value thatraisins provide.”The new advertising campaign isaimed at over 5 million core consumersacross 12 publications, and 6 onlineadvertising banners. The target audiencewill be women aged 25-50, parents withpre-and primary school children andhealth conscious adults. In addition to thegeneral facts about California Raisins, wewill also offer a FREE 12 page booklet toencourage consumers to use and experimentwith California Raisins, and showhow they can use the product withinstarters, main meals, desserts and snacks.This will also form part of theresearch data to enable the RAC tomonitor the uptake of this campaign.The campaign launched in March.The California RaisinsAdministrative CommitteeTel: 01753 827650Email: info@ukraisins.comMORE SMALL SCALE FARMERSTO BENEFIT FROM FAIRTRADE WITH TATE & LYLEFiji and Guyana join Belize asFairtrade sugar suppliers to Tate &Lyle as the company progressestowards 100% Fairtrade sugar switch.Following the February 2008announcement to switch its entireretail cane sugars range to Fairtrade,Tate & Lyle is delighted to congratulatefarmers’ groups in Fiji andGuyana on their certification whichmeans they can join the company’slaunch partners in Belize in supplyingFairtrade sugar to the company. Tate& Lyle has already increased theamount of Fairtrade sugar sold in theUK tenfold compared to 2007, andthis announcement increases thenumber of farmers globally who canbenefit from Fairtrade premiumswhen they work with Tate & Lylefrom 6,000 to more than 10,000.The deal is potentially worth $2.2million annually in Fairtrade premiumson top of the contract sugarprice for the 4,000 Fijian farmers of theLabasa Cane Producers Association(LCPA) and $240,000 for their 400counterparts in Guyana.Based on previous experience inBelize, Tate & Lyle believes that itscombined investment of $2.4 millionin Fairtrade premiums marks a significantopportunity for the two newgroups to make steps forwards. Sinceannouncing its first Fairtrade partnershipwith the 6,000 small-scalegrowers in the Belize Sugar CaneFarmers’ Association, the switch hascreated a return of £2 million inFairtrade premiums each year. Thefarmers there have used the premiumsto increase production levels, introducemore environmentally friendlyfarming techniques and improve theBarclaycard recently celebratedthe 25th anniversary of its ProcessesData Quickly - PDQ - terminals, theelectronic equipment that has helpedrevolutionise the UK paymentsindustry.chances of raising the funds they earneach year even further.President, Tate & Lyle Sugars, IanBacon believes that it makes goodbusiness sense for Tate & Lyle toinvest in the sustainability of itssupply chains: “We are delighted thatthe Labasa cane farmers in Fiji haveachieved Fairtrade certification. It is achallenging system, but has broughtmany benefits to cane farmers inBelize, and we look forward to thecane farmers in Fiji and Guyana alsoreaping the rewards of Fairtrade.”Harriet Lamb, Executive Directorof the Fairtrade Foundation, adds:“Tate and Lyle have done a fantasticjob in bringing onboard new Fairtradefarmers. They have worked reallyhard in supporting these farmers tobecome organised and to get Fairtradecertification. I congratulate Tate &Lyle on their continued commitmentto take Fairtrade to the next level.”Labasa Cane ProducersAssociation’s project coordinator,Mohammed Habib, says: “Now thatwe have Fairtrade certification, caneproducers and the wider communitycan benefit from additional Fairtradepremiums in improving their livelihoods.”Guyana spokesman Walter Persaudagrees: “We are proud to announcethat we have achieved Fairtrade certificationand will ensure that thefarmers, their dependents and thecommunities in which we live takethis opportunity to improve the livesof as many of us as possible.”Tate & Lylewww.tateandlyle.comBARCLAYCARD WISHES PDQ A HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAYIntroduced on 25 March 1986, at BrentCross shopping centre, PDQ was the firstpayments service to act as a single electronicplastic card terminal at point-of-sale.It enabled retailers to manage large volumesof credit card sales for the first time.WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK/NEWS

April 2011 Page 3Tel: 01923 272960INDUSTRY NEWSEmail: grocery@flame1.comPORK FARMS RENEWS CONTRACTWITH 3PL SPECIALIST OAKLAND INTERNATIONALLeft to Right: Claire McNeill of Pork Farms and Lynsey McIntosh, Customer Service Manager, OaklandInternational Ltd.The pork pie and scotch eggbrand leader, Pork Farms, haverenewed their contract with multitemperature supply chain specialist,Oakland International, increasingproduct volume in excess of 30,000case per week.Working closely with Pork Farms,Oakland's Midlands's depot is gearedto working to short order lead timeson inbound product to help maximiseshelf-life for end retailers, as well asproviding a dedicated in-houseresource to ensure the smooth executionof all orders and stockmovement.Oakland International's CustomerServices Manager, Lynsey McIntosh,stated: "Pork Farms produce highquality chilled savoury pastry products,and we are delighted they haveagain chosen Oakland Internationalas their preferred impulse supplychain partner."Supporting delivery of chilledsavoury pastry product throughoutmainland UK, Oakland will continueto support volume growth as PorkFarms continues to build on existingbusiness with wholesalers and independentsto maintain easy retaileraccess, with Oakland's efficient triedand tested business model helpingPork Farms to reduce their supplychain carbon footprint, utilising singlevehicle usage to replace multipledaily deliveries, which previouslycame direct from a number of PorkFarm depots.Pork Farm's Head of Marketingcommented: "We have a clear strategyto build a substantial impulse businessbuilding on the quality andpositioning of our branded products.We needed a supply chain partnerwho could manage this complex routeto market, thereby allowing our ownteams to focus on building the brandand ultimately, therefore, sales;Oakland is an ideal partner to help usachieve our strategic aims."Pork Farms products are stockedby all multiples, as well as Londis,Spar, Palmer & Harvey, Nisa and alsoa number of independent cash andcarry and wholesalers.Oakland International LimitedUK: 01527 596 222sales@oakland-international.comwww.oakland-international.comBM TRADA IDENTIFIES UPSURGEIN DEMAND FOR RSPO SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL CERTIFICATIONBM TRADA Certification Ltd hasidentified a dramatic surge indemand from clients seeking certificationunder the Roundtable onSustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)Supply Chain Certification Systems.This trend, said Sales Manager AndyGreen, reflects “increasing internationalconcern” about the environmentaleffects of palm oil production. “We areworking with many more clients whohave identified how important it is totheir business to be able to provideassurance about the sustainability ofthe palm oil that they use. We anticipatethat the trend towards certificationwill continue to gather momentumworldwide.” Palm oil representsaround 30% of all vegetable oil productionaround the world and can befound in one in 10 supermarket products,including both food and toiletries.One client who has already achievedcertification with BM TRADA is AAKUK, in Hull, specialists in edible oils andfats for the food manufacturing andbaking industries. Marketing ControllerJudith Murdoch said: “We have beenworking with BM TRADA for only 18months, since we started on our journeyto gain certification. This is a complexcommodity and supply chain but BMTRADA has, in a short time, gained aclear understanding of the issuesaffecting our product sector. It is crucialto have a robust audit system in place toensure the success of the RSPO systemand we were delighted to be amongstthe first to achieve certification.”BM TRADA became the first independentbody to gain approval tocarry out third-party certificationunder the RSPO schemes in Marchlast year, and is still the only UK bodywith RSPO approval. With a worldwidenetwork of joint venturepartners and representatives, BMTRADA has in depth experience ofsupply chain certification, workingwith the Forest Stewardship Council(FSC), Programme for theEndorsement of Forest Certification(PEFC) and other national schemes.BM TRADA CertificationTel: 01494 569700www.bmtrada.comSPRING IS IN THE AIR FOR NEW COVENT GARDENFresh food specialist New CoventGarden is introducing a dash ofItalian seasonality and ‘wooing’ consumerswith its latest soup of themonth, Ciao Bella, which will be onsale throughout April.Ciao Bella, which translates as‘Hello Beautiful’, comprises chicken,ditalini pasta and green pesto. It alsofeatures an on pack promotion for amini-break to this year’s RHSHampton Court Palace Flower Showin July.New Covent Garden’s soups of themonth are now established as one ofthe best-selling soups in the UK’s £159million fresh soup category,accounting for 3 per cent of the UK’stotal fresh soup sales and ranking asthe sixth fastest-selling line in theentire market.*“There is now a sense of anticipationamong our loyalists as to whatCardpoint Technical Services, theengineering arm of leading independentATM operator Cashzone,has successfully completed the moveof its ATM parts, ATM refurbishmentand warehousing operations into anindustry leading technical centre inthe North East.The decision to manage these essentialservices in-house means thatinstallation faults have been reducedby over 50%, compared with the previousbest external service. The movealso means ATMs are installed, operationaland generating income at theearliest opportunity, ensuring thatCashzone customers can maximise theearning potential from each ATM.Cashzone’s unrivalled customerservice has been further enhanced bythe move, with the 5,000 square footcentre now dedicated to storing andrefurbishing ATM parts. Workingclosely with selected delivery partnersCashzone dispatches parts to its engineerswithin 24 hours of ordering,providing an even faster response toclients. Cashzone’s focus is on quality;employing highly skilled bench engineersto carry out repairs increases thereliability of Cashzone ATMs.Shaun Harris, Head of CardpointTechnical Services, said of the newthe next soup of the month will beand the soups have been instrumentalin attracting new consumers to thecategory,” says New Covent GardenCo. Group Marketing Director NigelParrott.“They also allow us plenty of creativefreedom, with vibrant packdesigns which help to generatestandout on shelf.”New Covent Garden continues todominate the UK’s £159 million freshsoup market. Currently, the brandaccounts for 40 per cent of the market,more than five times the combinedshare of all other branded soups.** Source: A C Nielsen, 52 w/eFebruary 19 2011New Covent Garden Food Co.Tel: 0800 389 4415www.newcoventgardenfood.comQUALITY ASSURANCE STARTS AT HOMECASHZONE MOVES TO FULL IN-HOUSE OPERATION FOR ATM TECHNICAL SERVICESLeading contract cleaner adds wastemanagement and baling to service.Three years after winning a competitivetender to clean grade II listedshopping centre, Dockside in Kent’sChatham Docks, the UK’s leadingindependent contract cleaning specialist,TC, has been awarded thecontract for a further three years.The contract entails general dailycleaning of the shopping malls, toilets,eating areas and service yards, plusperiodic cleaning of the escalators andscenic lifts.In addition, TC has also incorporateda waste management and balingservice into its offering at Dockside,compacting and bundling waste productsto further ease disposal.Contracts Manager at the DocksideOutlet Centre, Ray Curran, comments:“We awarded the contract to TC in2007, based on its proven track recordwithin the retail and leisure marketsand its obvious understanding of ourhigh expectations. Three years downthe line the company has not onlylived up to but exceeded those expectations,and we are more than happyfor TC to continue working with us.”Kevin Meighan, CommercialDirector at TC, says: “We aim toTim Halford, Business Development Director.operation, “We are delighted to be ableto further improve the service that ourcustomers receive. Since the centreopened, we have seen an immediateimprovement in all of the already highquality KPI’s that we track.”Rikki Dinsmore, ManagingDirector of Cashzone, added, “Afteran extensive tender process we wereconvinced that our own technicalcentre would offer the most cost andoperational benefits to our customers.The opening month has shown this toTC WINS DOCKSIDE CONTRACTFOR ANOTHER THREE YEARSdeliver a consistent, high quality andcost-effective service to our clients andwe are delighted that this has been thecase at the Dockside Outlet Centre.We look forward to working withthem for many more years to come.”TC ContractorsPaul Faulkner,Sales & Marketing DirectorTel: 01737 814016paul.faulkner@tc-contractors.co.ukbe true. We’re proud to have some ofthe best technical specialists in the UKworking at the centre, committed toimproving and raising standards. Thecentre is process driven with a strongquality culture; we look forward towelcoming our customers to thecentre to see the improvements inservice first hand.”Cashzonewww.payzone.co.ukFRUITTELLAIS A ‘BADMAN’S SWEET’!Fruittella, the fastest growingchew sweet brand in the UK overthe last three years, is the confectionerystar in the new British urbancomedy, Anuvahood.The human star of the movie, acharacter called Kenneth, cannot getenough Fruittella, and when his localindependent store hasn’t got any lefthe asks the shopkeeper why he isn’tstocking the ‘badman’s sweet’.With a soundtrack featuring hottunes from Tinie Tempah, Boy BetterKnow, Wiley and Dizzee Rascal and acast including Femi Oyeniran andJaime Winstone, the film is set to be ahit.Fruittella’s appearance in the filmis just part of its continuing consumersupport for the growing brand, whichwill include national TV, samplingand consumer pr activity.David Leal, Product Manager forFruittella said, “The makers ofAnuvahood asked if Fruittella couldsupply samples for the premiere of themovie and we were happy to oblige. Iencourage all retailers to make surethey stock up on the ‘badman’s sweet’to make sure they can meet demandcreated by this new film!”Anuvahood was released in theUK in March.WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK/NEWS

Page 6 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com BIG NIGHT INTel: 01923 272960APRIL DOUBLE BUBBLE SPELLS ‘BIG NIGHTS IN’ BONANZATHE COMMENT FROM THE GROCERY TRADERhen spring comes, the weather gets celebrate at this point. The timing couldn’t be better. The tionary spending like the World Cup did last year. has benefited from a second year ofwarmer and the days get longer. latest Office for National Statistics figures show UK Meanwhile, looking at the products we enjoy on a Big general improvement in UK soft drinkWConsumers become more relaxed, and workers’ take-home pay down for the first time since 1981, Night In, the numbers show we still enjoy a Big Night In sales as consumers look for low-costmore inclined to grab the opportunity to relax withfriends and family, including having ‘Big Nights In’ outside.It’s much the same every year. But the big bonusthis April is the ‘double bubble’ of the Easter weekendand the Royal Wedding. With millions taking the periodoff as holiday, it effectively creates a second festivefortnight, hopefully with a good dollop of sunshine toadd to the feel good factor and push the purchasing. Andyou can be sure those who can’t get the whole time offwill be enjoying a Big Night In or three as well.Royalists or republicans, we should all be grateful Willand Kate are tying the knot and giving Brits an excuse toafter last year saw prices rise faster than incomes.The economy’s still in the sick bay: property isn’tshifting, although mortgage providers expect to makemore loans in the next three months, according to a newBank of England survey, offering an olive branch to thefloundering housing market. Meanwhile real householddisposable income fell 0.8%, with the news announced onthe heels of George Osborne revising 2011 UK growthforecasts downwards in his budget.The figures forecast the decline speeding up 2.0% thisyear, putting even more pressure on the celebrationsaround the Olympics to jumpstart consumer discre-with family and friends, even if it’s shandy rather thanchampagne these days.According to Mintel the growth of the crisps and saltysnacks market only slowed slightly in 2010 versus 2008and 2009, with slightly slower rates in 2010. Like other‘Big Night In’ product categories, underlying growth hasbenefited from consumers cutting back on going out infavour of evenings in during the recession. The role ofcrisps and snacks as an affordable luxury has helped tosustain demand, together with more relaxed attitudestowards less healthy treats.In Soft Drinks, another ‘Big Night In’ bastion, AG Barrcheap treats in the ongoing uncertainty.Irn Bru sales grew 4 per cent overall, and10 per cent in northern England. Barrbrandedtraditional carbonated drinksgrew 22 per cent.So the message this spring is clear:consumers might be choosing more carefully, but they’restill treating themselves and their friends and family. Staystocked up through April into May with treats for sharing,at attractive prices, and the consumers will keep comingback for more.The Grocery TraderTO READ MORE COMMENTS FROM THE GROCERY TRADER GO TO WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UKBIG NIGHT IN CONSUMERSTURN TO HOT SNACKING PRODUCTSThe rising cost of dining out is providing another significantboost for the UK’s fast-growing hot snacking market.As young adults spend more time at home in the evenings, manyof them are eating hot snacking products while they’re watchingmovies, playing on games consoles or simply spending time on-line.“People enjoying a night in, whether it’s a few drinks withfriends, watching a film or playing the latest computer games,want tasty, filling snacks that don’t interrupt what they’redoing,” says Stuart Meikle, Grocery Business Unit Controllerfor Kepak Convenience Foods (KCF), market leader in theUK’s hot snacking market.by providing existing Rustlers consumers with an alternative“That’s where hot snacking products really come into their to our market-leading burger, Panini and sub-style productsown. One of the advantages of all Kepak products is that they we will increase the category spend per buyer.”can be cooked in less time than it takes to boil a kettle.”The Rustlers Hot Wraps range comprises two variants,Kepak is capitalising on growing demand for its products Chicken Salsa with Cheese and BBQ Chicken with Cheese.with major levels of brand investment including television Both products are made with authentic wraps filled withadvertising and NPD.flame grilled chicken breast and melted cheese.Rustlers Hot Subs has recently made its national TV debut “The launch of Rustlers Hot Wraps marks the start of anand will be followed soon by Zugo’s Deli Café, the UK’s innovative NPD programme for KCF which will include severalleading panini-based hot snacking range.firsts for the hot snacking category and builds on the success ofThe company is also continuing its proven track record of Rustlers, Rustlers Hot Subs and Zugo’s Deli Café which accountintroducing successful foodservice concepts to the retail for 64% of the hot snacking category*,” concludes Meikle.market with the launch of Rustlers Hot Wraps. The products Kepak is urging retailers to ensure their market-leading productsare readily available to meet the growing consumer demand.have been launched as part of an on-going commitment todouble the size of its business in the next five years.* Nielsen Impulse Market 52 w/e 27/11/10Meikle says the range will introduce new consumers to hotsnacking and strengthen the Rustlers brand as the consumers’Kepak Convenience Foodsnumber one hot snacking choice.Tel: 01772 688300“Rustlers Hot Wraps will add incremental value to hotwww.kepak.comsnacking by introducing new consumers to the category. Plus,TREATS FOR SHARINGPerfect for family sharing for anight in or on a journey, WalkersWalkers Nonsuch150g Sharing Bags have a favouriteTel: 01782 321525for everyone!www.walkers-nonsuch.co.ukIdeal variety for the summermonths, Walkers Nonsuch,England’s finest toffee makerhas launched new ChocolateToffees to add to their 150gbag range. Suitable forwarmer days, plain chocolate(minimum cocoa solids70%) is combined with originalcreamy toffee, creatingan indulgent treat withoutany melting or mess.The complete range alsoincludes favourites likeEnglish Creamy Toffees andLiquorice Toffees, not forgettingMilk Chocolate Éclairs,Nutty Brazil, Assorted Toffeesand Chocolate Éclairs andTreacle Toffees (perfect for theBonfire night!)Walkers use only qualityingredients like whole milkand butter and there are noartificial colours, preservativesor hydrogenated vegetable oilsin this unique recipe.Bags come in a ‘shelfready’ box of 12’s. RRP from99p / bag.NEW MOUTHY CHOCOLATE SET TO PACK A CRUNCHJaxx Mouthy Chocolate, anexciting new confectionery brandhas launched a delicious cheekyrange of chocolate sweets called JaxxCrunches, which is set to pack apunch with the ‘tween-teen’ market.The product is the brainchild of confectioneryspecialist Yehudi Lipmanwho held senior EMEA positions withBestfoods, Unilever and Nestle for overtwo decades. He said: “There was a gapin the market for something new thatreally connected with the 10-18 year old‘early teen’ target audience. So we’vedeveloped Jaxx from the ground up.”Available in 50g packs at 69p, thethree-strong range - milk chocolate,double-chocolate coco and orangecrunches is listed in more than 3,000stores throughout the UK and Irelandincluding Londis, Budgens andMartin McColl and distribution isgrowing fast.A groundswell of support hasalready been generated, withFacebook being the location of choicefor discussion and debate. Alongsidethis a website, www.jaxx-world.com,has been custom-built and is workingwell to engage and interact via competitions,games and ‘webisodes’ (funand relevant videos and mini documentariesuploaded by the audience).To date, the Facebook page hasreceived 10,500 Likes - a remarkablefeat in just three months.To reflect the target audience, JaxxMouthy Chocolate offers vibrant,young packaging, as well as strikingPOS; including floor stands, clipstrips, display cases and t-shirts forpromotional and give-away opportunitiesfor retailers. All packagingfeatures the Jaxx ‘mouthy’ charactervoicing a daring slogan, fully emulatingthe spirit of the brand.Bonds Confectionery’s PhilipCourtenay-Luck, Chief Distributor ofJaxx Crunches says: “Jaxx is differentto almost any other product out therein the confectionery market. Apartfrom being incredibly refreshing thatit is produced independently to thethree big manufacturers, it really doestaste great. With a tasty crunchycentre and made more real cocoa thantypical chocolate confectionery, therange is of an exceptional quality andthey are incredibly moreish, unlike alot of chocolate sweets which can be alittle too heavy.”Jaxx Mouthy Chocolate is continuouslydeveloping and expanding itsmarketing operation. The latest innovationis a sampling campaign acrosssix major cities to raise awareness ofthe brand and its dynamic flavourwith target consumers in environmentsclose to point of sale. Inaddition, influential bloggers andambassadors will be targeted via asocial media campaign.Bonds ConfectionaryTel: 01623 446001CAPTAIN TIPTOESRECEIVES OUTSTANDING WELCOMEContinued from front pageFull of fun maybe, but CaptainTiptoes has a serious pedigree.“When everyone else seems to begoing down the health and nutritionroute in a bid to attract consumersthe tone can sometimes be a littlepreachy and pious. We felt thatsomething a tad leftfield and thoroughlybuffoonish to make peoplesmile and relax is just what’s neededin this current climate. The packagingand offering is thoroughlylight-hearted but we’re exceedinglyserious about what we do.Everything we source and roastinside the packs is selected withextreme care,” said Giles Henschel,founder of Captain Tiptoes andaward-winning Dorset food companyOlives Et Al who have been at theleading edge of speciality food forover 17 years.The range of five initial recipes are• Cajun Spiced Nuts• Fire Cracker Rice puffs• Chilli Harissa Nuts• Salt & Pepper Nuts• Wasabi Flaming RiceAll come with their own, twoword, tag line from the “irresistiblytaut” to the “courageously pert”highlighting the assertion that theworld of Captain Tiptoes really is aplace where seriously splendidsnackage meets complete and utterbuffoonery.Captain TiptoesTel: 01258 474300Email ahoy@captaintiptoes.comWWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK

April 2011 Page 7Tel: 01923 272960BIG NIGHT INEmail: grocery@flame1.comBLUE DRAGONDRIVES ORIENTAL CATEGORY GROWTH WITH £6M RE-LAUNCHChinese New Year ’11 will seeOriental food brand Blue Dragonembark on a £6m re-launch. Buildingupon the brand’s leading market position,the multi-million pound campaignwill not only encompass a new brandidentity, but also innovative new productsand heavyweight consumer andshopper support, including a nationalTV advertising campaign and an integratedcommunications programme.The Blue Dragon re-launch isdesigned to drive interest amongstnew and existing consumers in theOriental food category whilstenhancing Blue Dragon’s credentialsas the authentic Oriental food brand.This will be achieved through greaterrange cohesion and improved brandawareness - on-pack and on-shelf.The brand’s packaging will berefreshed with a new vibrant andauthentic Oriental tapestry design,which will be rolled out across theentire range. The use of a new logo,with strong Oriental cues, is intended toimprove brand awareness, connectionand recognition amongst consumerswhilst increasing purchase intent andensuring strong impact on shelf.A key component of the re-launch willsee Blue Dragon enter the Cooking Saucecategory with the launch of six popularand authentic Cooking Sauce flavours -Chow Mein, Sweet Chilli, Sweet & Sour,Chinese Curry, Thai Green and Thai Red- including the market’s first ever ChowMein & Chinese Curry Cooking Saucevariants. These classic flavours, housed inbespoke pagoda glass jars, will generateexcitement and enhance authenticitywithin a key sector currently dominatedby mainstream brands. Consumerresearch found that 61% of existingCooking Sauce consumers would try therange and positive taste tests saw theclassic variants rival key competitors.Next year will also see Blue Dragonenter into the Oriental Oven Cook sectorwith a range of Blue Dragon StickySauces, available in four restaurantclassicvariants - Chinese BBQ, Char Sui,Peking and Teriyaki. The range will provideconsumers with a convenientshort-cut to replicating a range ofOriental appetisers at home by basting ormarinating, something which theambient Oriental category doesn’t currentlyoffer. Blue Dragon’s versatile StickySauce range is perfect for creating familyfriendly meals in a matter of minutes,whether it is in the oven or on the BBQ.Building on the success of its existingStir Fry portfolio, new Blue Dragon StirFry Shots will also be introduced to therange in ‘11. Despite being the secondlargest segment in the Oriental foodmarket, with an abundance of growthopportunities, until now, little has beenintroduced to the category to drivegrowth. Comprising six unique flavours- Spicy Satay, Sweet Sour, ChilliCoconut, Sweet Chilli, Wasabi Plum &Szechuan Pepper - Blue Dragon’s StirFry Shots are perfect for consumersseeking a more intense flavour experience.As well as bringing innovation tothe sector, the range will encourage consumersto reassess the brand, encouragesales uplift and generate excitement instore.Their stand-up pouch will alsoensure on-shelf prominence and the tearopening will guarantee ease of use.Four new Paste variants will completeBlue Dragon’s range of innovativeNPD. Unlike the Indian Pastes market,no other brand currently offers consumersan easy-to-use Oriental pastewhich doesn’t require any additional,specialist ingredients to be added. Withits strong Oriental heritage and roots inspecialist ingredients, Blue Dragon hastransformed this by introducing anauthentic and credible range - Chinese,Thai Laksa, Thai Red and Thai Green,containing all the essential ingredientsrequired to create an authentic andflavoursome dish. The range’s varyingflavour profiles and heat levels makeBlue Dragon Pastes perfect for timidand adventurous cooks alike, and theirbespoke, larger jar size also deliversstand-out on shelf.The re-launch will be spearheaded bya heavyweight national TV advertisingcampaign. On air for three months fromChinese New Year ’11, the TV campaignis designed to reinforce Blue Dragon’sauthentic credentials, driving consumerawareness of the brand and its key productsas well as inspiring the nation tocreate restaurant quality Oriental mealsat home. Complementing the TV ad,through the line marketing activity willinclude: in-store activation and promotions,PR, regional sampling and onlineCRM activity.Tracy Hughes, Blue DragonConsumer and Trade MarketingController says; "This is a truly excitingtime for the Blue Dragon brand. We’veplaced considerable investment behindthe re-launch, which can only bedescribed as one of the biggest in thecategory for a long time, and arelooking forward to introducing ournew range to consumers next year.“As a brand, we consistentlyintroduce innovative and excitingNPD to consumers. In 2010 alonewe've extended our Stir Fry,Dipping Sauce and Condimentsofferings and entered the SaladDressings arena. But for us it doesn'tstop there. We're confident that ourfour new & exciting Paste, Stir Fry,Sticky and Cooking Sauce ranges,combined with our great new brandidentity, will add significant valueto the category.”Blue DragonTel: 01942 267 090www.bluedragon.com

Page 8 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com BIBBY CONSULTING & SUPPORTTel: 01923 272960BIBBY CONSULTING & SUPPORTWHY CUTTING EMPLOYEE POWER CAN HELP THE FOOD RETAIL SECTOR TO GROWIf we are to believe what we are told,there are still austere times aheadand virtually no industry is going tocome out the other side unscathed,including the food retail sector.It's no exaggeration to say that businessesof all sizes and types are going tohave to keep their belts tight and operateat maximum efficiency. However, accordingto a major new survey by Bibby Consulting& Support - www.bibbycas.com - , expertsin Employment Law and Health & Safetylegislation, most businesses feel they areworking with one hand tied behind theirback because of all the 'red tape' they haveto deal with.In particular, the Bibby EmployerSurvey* found that senior managers hadreal concerns about recent "ridiculous"laws giving employees an increasingamount of power and they felt their businessescould perform better if employeepower was curtailed.Respondent after respondent echoedthis sentiment and said that so muchemployee-friendly legislation had underminedtheir ability to manage staff. A veryclear picture emerged of company ownersand managers who felt the contract foremployment was so one-sided that itseemed as if employees had the rightswhile employers had the obligations.To illustrate the point, one senior managerasked incredulously: “Who is theboss?” Others complained that they sawthe “balance of power moving awayfrom the employer to the employee”,that employees were "able to get awaywith anything”, and that there were“more and more rights for theemployees and none for the businessowner”. More managers talked aboutlaws being "geared up to favour theemployee, taking rights and protectionaway from the owner”. Some complainedabout “increasinglyburdensome rules & regulations inemployment law” with the “balanceswung too far in the employee'sfavour”. And one reckoned the'playing field' "sloped very much in favourof the worker”.Such strongly held opinions tingedwith anger and frustration cannot bodewell for employer-employee relations. Inthis way, extending the rights ofemployees by too much could be seen tohave the potential for damaging theirfuture prospects rather than improvingthem.Every company operating in the retailand food sector knows that it is absolutelyvital to comply with the latest legislationrelating to the treatment of employees. Butmany know only too well that this is easiersaid than done and the Bibby EmployerSurvey showed that businesses of all kindswere desperate for help to unburden themselvesof 'red tape'.The Institute of Directors (IoD) recentlycalculated that last year company directorsspent around 17 hours a month - or £7,674per director - filling in forms, reading complianceguidance and requesting legaladvice. This is equivalent to more than£110bn in 12 months and something whichthe IoD identified as a major barrier to businessgrowth.The Bibby survey supported these estimateswith feedback from companieswho said that they were devoting fartoo much valuable time and money tofire-fighting legislation. Senior managerssaid they would rather spendthese precious resources on trainingemployees, developing their skills andmotivating and supporting them toimprove the business.An extremely powerful messagecoming out of the Bibby EmployerSurvey was that excessive bureaucracywas bad for businesses and the mostrecent changes had been anything butemployer-friendlySpecifically, the survey revealed considerableconcern and frustration - in somecases real anger - about the difficultiesinherent in employing staff in the UK. Manymanagers felt that disciplining or getting ridof staff was extremely difficult.Respondents complained about disciplinaryaction being a “laborious process” and handlingunder-performing employees wasincreasingly difficult. One commented thatdisciplining staff required "too many proceduresto follow”.Moving away from assessing the generalemployee relationship to specific legislation,a large proportion of the respondentswere still struggling to grasp the basics ofthe 2010 Equality Act, which they perceivedto be too complex. Indeed, many managersadmitted that they were genuinely fearful ofthis new legislation and were very concernedabout how much they might have tochange the way they operate in order tocomply with it.A particularly noteworthy theme ofresponses to the survey was that threequarters of companies felt they neededexternal assistance when dealing withemployee issues. In particular, they saidthey needed help with the employmentcontract, with disciplinary/misconductissues, dismissal/unfair dismissal and managingtribunal processes.On the issue of employment tribunals,the survey asked: “What is your feelingabout your organisation’s preparedness tohandle a claim?” Unsurprisingly just 8.5%of respondents said they could copewithout external assistance and a massive69% felt that they would have to bring helpin from outside.Employment tribunal claims are on theincrease but most companies who took partin the Bibby survey said they felt vulnerableto vexatious claims and that the employeewas, in effect, in the driving seat when itcame to making allegations that coulddamage a company. Respondents thoughtthat employees' rights had been strengthenedto the point that companies werevirtually powerless against staff makingunfounded claims.Irrespective of the size or nature of abusiness, or how well staff are managed,having to defend a case at an employmenttribunal can be an extremely intimidatingand stressful situation. With this in mind,Bibby Consulting & Support is holding practical,hands-on ‘mock tribunal’ training sessionsfor businesses. These courses preparedelegates for a tribunal, enabling them tolearn exactly how and in what way they canfulfil the vital role as a witness for the businessin a tribunal hearing.The course helps delegates to understandthe tribunal structure and the typesof claims it handles. Delegates learn,through a ‘case example’ what is needed toprepare for a hearing, what can be done toimprove the chances of success, and themost effective way to give evidence. Theywere also given strategies - and practice -on how to cope as a witness at a tribunal.In a similar vain, the Institute of Directorsrecently said that it wanted to see workersbeing charged at least £500 to taketheir employer to a tribunal, considerationfor the removal of employees’rights to ask for flexible working andthe abolishment of the right torequest paid time off for training.However, Bibby Consulting &Support wouldn't recommend goingthat far. For example, while it was agood idea to introduce a fee thatemployees would pay when taking acompany through the tribunalprocess, £500 was perhaps toomuch and therefore unlikely tobe accepted by the presentgovernment.Said Michael Slade, ManagingDirector of Bibby Consulting &Support: “We would suggest introducinga more reasonable fee - say inthe region of £100 - for employeeswanting to take an issue to tribunal.This would deter vexatious claims andserial litigants, and those with a genuinegrievance needn't worry with thefee being recoverable if the claim issuccessful. However, there should alsobe an element of flexibility for no fee tobe required in cases involving low paidworkers." With regard to flexibleworking, we wouldn’t support the ideaof completely scrapping it, optinginstead for simplifying an unnecessarilycomplex processHe added: “All reputable businessesunderstand that there will be times whencomplainants have a legitimate case andwill want to support employees throughstandard grievance procedures. But mostcompanies would welcome the ability tofilter out the weaker claims and certainlythose that have no substance at all.”On the other issues, Slade said: “Whilewe feel that flexible working is beneficialto employers and employees alike,there should be no reason why thiscannot be agreed on an informal basis.It is important that requests for flexibleworking are considered andaccommodated where possible but itis difficult to see what benefit isachieved by the current onerous proceduralrequirements. And there issimply no point to the current trainingrequest scheme.”As well as offering advice and supportfor a company if something goeswrong, Bibby specialises in providingthe kind of services that help businessesto support and protect theiremployees to keep problems to a minimum.As every company knows, a happy memberof staff is less likely to take legal actionagainst their employer than an employeewho feels they are being mistreated, disrespectedand not valued.Tailoring its human resources (HR) supportto individual companies, BibbyConsulting & Support partners retail businessesin managing their most importantassets – people. All businesses can benefitfrom lower staff turnover, easier recruitment,less absenteeism and moreproductivity. To this end, Bibby recognisesthat sophisticated selection andrecruitment methods, flexibility ofterms, a high level of employment securityand staff wellbeing all offerconsiderable business benefits.Bibby Consulting &Support is one of theUK’s leading providersof compliance managementservices. Thecompany enablesemployers and seniormanagers to becomeand remain compliantinemployment law,health and safety andenvironmental legislation.Based inNewcastle-under-Lyme,Bibby Consulting &Support is part of the Bibby Line Group, afamily run business with a 200-year historyof specialising in retailing, financial services,logistics, shipping, marine andoffshore services.Bibby Consulting & Support’s raisond'être is to safeguard businesses and businessowners through the expertmanagement of human resources andensure essential compliance with key legislationin the complex fields of safetyenvironmental and employment legislation.Being part of an international organisation,Bibby Consulting & Support has thecapacity to provide scalable solutions. Sohowever complex or sensitive an issue, orhowever large an organisation is, the companyis able to add real value to anybusiness.The employment law services Bibbyoffers cover a range of issues, includingcomprehensive HR systems and procedures,clear and concise terms &Michael Slade, MD of Bibby Consulting& Support.conditions and handbooks.Companies also have access 24hours a day seven days a week to asupport line managed by qualifiedemployment law specialists.Michael Slade said: “Businesses inthe food retail sector facemany challenges nowadays.Competition isever fiercer and deadlinesever tighter. Aspressure on the bottomline continues toincrease, it is vital thatmodern businessesmaintain a firm grip ontheir two most importantand valuable assets - peopleand reputation.“We make sure that clientsoperate within the legalframework and are kept upto-datewith changes in thinking andlegislation. Our aim is to ensure that notonly will the basics be right but also thatclients are fully protected from frivolousand potentially damaging claims. We provideorganisations with the guidance theyneed to take their business to the nextlevel in best practice while delivering a realcompetitive edge.”Slade concluded: "This survey shows alltoo clearly that companies are very worriedabout the effect that years of legislationhave had on shifting more and more powerinto the hands of employees. Obviouslynobody wants to go back to the days ofemployees only having half of the rightsthey do at the moment – that is not whatthis survey said – but there is a clear desireto make the playing field a little more levelfor employers."Having businesses in the food retailsector feeling that they are being heldback by current legislation - indeed someof them literally frightened by what theycould be liable for - does not create agood environment for them to be facingthese extremely challenging times.Something needs to be done to helpthese companies and it needs to be donesoon."* In February 2011, Bibby Consulting& Support carried out a large-scalepiece of business research. The BibbyEmployer Survey investigated thoughts,feelings and concerns in relation tohuman resource issues facing managersand owners of organisationsacross the UK. In all, 2,410 employersand 1,000 employees were invited totake part and a remarkable total of 424clients participated in the full survey. Thisprovided a robust sample size, with allindustry sectors and size of organisationsrepresented.BIBBY CONSULTING & SUPPORT TEL: 08453 100 600 WWW.BIBBYCAS.COM

Page 10 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com THE WAREHOUSE - CROWNTel: 01923 272960CROWN GOING THE EXTRA MILETHROUGH SNOW AND ICE!Treacherous weather in therun-up to Christmas saw largeparts of the UK grind to a halt.With temperatures droppingbelow minus 25°C - on par with atypical cold store application -the snow began to fall, cuttingmany businesses off. But itappears that heavy snowfall andfreezing conditions are no matchfor two Crown engineers operatingin Scotland - the worstaffected area.Gerry Gregory, Crown LiftTrucks Service Engineer, wassnowed-in during the last fewweeks in December. Whenlocalcash and carry business, UnitedWholesale Grocers Ltd, calledGerry with news that their oneand-onlycounterbalance forkliftGerry Gregory, Crown Lift Trucks Service Engineer, at United Wholesale Grocers Ltd.was cutting out, Gerry diagnosed Similarly, John Cullen, Crown With his service van snowed-in,the problem over the phone, Lift Trucks Service Engineer, was John walked there instead. Afterpacked the required tools and asked to tend to an oil leak on a finding a burst hose, John thenparts in a backpack and set off on lift truck at newspaper publishers,Herald & Times Group. nearby industrial estate forwalked to a local supplier on afoot.replacement parts beforerepairing the truck and walkinghome.Nabeel Ramzan, ManagingDirector of United WholesaleGrocers, said: “We are extremelygrateful for the work carried outby Crown over a very difficultperiod weather-wise. Without thededicated support of our serviceengineer it would have been difficultfor us to look after ourcustomers. While this was anextreme solution in exceptionalconditions, it is a great example ofthe truly high service provided bythe Crown team as a whole.”NEW CROWN ESR 5000 REACH TRUCKEVEN FASTER, EVEN HIGHERSETTING A NEW PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKCrown’s multiple awardwinningESR 5000 Seriesreach truck is now availablewith a new productivityboosting range of standardand optional features. Mostnotably, the new truck featuresCrown’s OptimisedCornering Speed system(OCS) as standard, anincreased top speed and a liftheight extended to 13 metres.The new OCS systemensures the truck runssmoothly and safely withoutunnecessarily reducingspeed. The system does morethan just identify steeringangle - it can tell whether thetruck is going into (or comingout of) a turn and adjusts thetruck’s speed accordingly. Aswell as greater stability, thissystem offers enhanced operatorproductivity.Further productivity gainshave been met via the maximumtravel speed of 14kph.However, this speed can easilybe reduced using Crown’sunique Access123® controlsystem.But Crown has done more toenhance the performance of theESR 5000 than just raise thespeed; with the Super Dutymast, the reach truck now hasan impressive residual capacityof 800kg at a lift height of 13metres.As if winning the iF GoldAward and the IDEA GoldAward wasn’t enough, Crownhas further enhanced lift truckperformance and operator productivitywith these latest ESR5000 updates.CROWN LAUNCH NEW TRUCKSNEW LP 3500 SERIES OF MID-LEVEL ORDER PICKERSCrown’s new LP 3500 Seriesincludes four models of mid-levelorder picker designed to make orderpicking faster and more flexible.Capable of lifting up to 1,000 kg andtravelling at speeds of up to 10.5 kph,the LP 3500 is an efficient solutionfor warehouse operators who need topick goods from two- and three-tierracking.A day in intralogistics is a day filledwith challenges. One such challenge isefficient warehouse management, ofwhich order picking forms a major part.Picking levels are usually positionedat ground level for optimum efficiency.But many companies needaccess to such a wide variety ofgoods that this approach just isn’t practical.Increasingly, warehouse managersare obliged to create picking locationson multiple tiers of shelving or racking.This creates a new challenge of findinga fast and flexible way to pickorders from second- and thirdtierracks. Fortunately, Crownhas developed a highly efficientsolution - the LP 3500 Series.TOP LEVEL PICKINGPERFORMANCEThe newCrown LP3500 Seriesincludes models with either fixed forksor auxiliary lifting forks. All models arecapable of exceptional performance intheir specific areas of application,which are determined by the types ofgoods to be picked and theheights at which they are stored.The models with auxiliary liftingcapability are ideally suited to applicationsthat may, for example, have ahigh degree of small-sized or evenfragile goods, because the forks can bepositioned at a convenient height forplacing these goods onto the pallet.All models in the new Series arecapable of lifting the operator platformto a height of 1,800 mm,handling heavy loads and travellingat elevation - which is why they representsuch an efficient, flexible solutionfor various order picking scenarios.INCREASED OPERATOREFFICIENCYSpeed and efficiency are the key tosmoothly functioning pickingoperations. Analysing the completeorder-picking cycle, theleast productive elements (representingjust under 50%) consistof time spent travelling betweenindividual picking stations andtime spent raising or loweringthe platform. To reduce this timefactor and optimise the workingprocess, operators can raise orlower the platforms on CrownLP 3500 Seriestrucks whilethey are driving along. Foradded safety, the truck’s speedadjusts automatically in proportionto platform height, in asmooth and stepless fashion.In applicationswhere trucks areconstantly travellingjust a shortdistance betweenorder-picking stations,warehousemanagers can optto fit the truck controls on thefork side of the platform. This savesoperators even more time, as they nolonger have to twist or turn to reachcontrols behind them, or change positionbetween travelling and picking.To improve picking performanceeven further, the entire LP 3500 Seriesis fitted with a powerful AC drivesystem. The high-torque AC motorenables the trucks to accelerate rapidlywhile using very little energy, andrequires minimal maintenance.Regenerative braking is safe and reliable,saving energy by re-using it.SAFE ORDER PICKING AT ANYLEVELCrown’s LP 3500 Series is characterisedby an attention to detail thatmakes each operator’s daily work easierand more efficient. The ergonomiclayout of the controls and thick rubbermat fitted to the floor of the operator’scompartment help to minimise operatorfatigue. Electronic steering means thatthe trucks are highly manoeuvrableduring order-picking operations. Aneasy-read display provides the driverwith concise information on key vehiclestatus indicators.When operators are picking orders atheights above 1,200 mm, three-bar safetygates on either side of the platform helpkeep them safe. These gates are quickand easy to open and close due to builtinshock absorbers. Operator safety isfurther enhanced by an overhead guard.The new LP 3500 Series expandsCrown’s prize-winning range of lifttrucks by adding four robust, durable,mid-level order pickers to an alreadyimpressive range of warehouseequipment.Easy pickings – latest Crown truck provides fast and flexible order picking at second and third tierracking.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CROWN.COM

April 2011 Page 11Tel: 01923 272960THE WAREHOUSEEmail: grocery@flame1.comCARTON VERSI FLOWCONVERTS PALLET RACKING INTO DYNAMIC CARTON FLOW STOREInterroll Carton Versi Flow -offers an ideal solution to create aquick, easy and economical installationin order to optimise on storagespace and order processing. Thisversatile modular wheel system,supplied in pre-assembled beds, isdesigned to simply and quickly convertmost pallet rack structures intodynamic, versatile carton flowstorage.The range of ‘Versi Flow’ strongmulti-wheel roller track sections areavailable with a variety of wheel centres,module widths and lengths, tobe simply fitted onto pallet rack crossbeams using the universal end hooksto create a complete dynamic shelflevel. It takes only minutes to retrofitexisting pallet racking and requiresno special tools to mount shelf bedsinto racks. Using larger and widerdiameter polycarbonate wheels thannormal carton track, this provides foreasy flow ability and the wide rollingsurface gives good support for variouscarton types and plastic totes.The densely packed, complete bedof wheels provides for ultimate flexibilityas changing carton sizes can beaccommodated without the need fortrack and guide re-configuration.NEWS IN BRIEFWAREHOUSE NEWS‘HOME’ DEBUT FOR ISUZU AT HIWAY EXPRESSMaking their debut in the homedelivery operation of Hi Way Expressare the first Isuzu trucks to join thecompany’s 68-strong UK fleet. Threenew Isuzu N75.190 7.5tonne rigidshave recently entered service for HiWay Express, distributing a range ofhome delivery products on behalf ofvarious electrical manufacturers ande-commerce businesses.BETTER PAYLOAD AS ABEL & COLESWITCH TO PANELTEXFollowing the decision to change bodyspecification for its 3.5t homedelivery vehicles, from refrigeratedvan conversions to box bodies,leading organic food deliveryspecialist Abel & Cole has ordered 45additional new vehicles for its fleet,with each one specified with aPaneltex 3.8m refrigerated box body.DACHSER COOPERATES WITHBRUMMER IN AUSTRIAFrom 1 May, the internationallyoperating logistics provider, Dachser,will enter exclusive partnership in itsFood Logistics business segment withBrummer Logistik GmbH to providetemperature-controlled transportservices to and from Austria. Dachsertransports ambient foodstuffs via itsown organization.THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FORBUDWEISERSSI Schaefer has designed, built andinstalled a brand new automatedstorage facility for well-knownbrewery Budweiser Budvar at thecompany’s existing production siteČeské Budějovice in the CzechRepublic. The new high-bay rackingfacility, complete with Schaefer’spallet conveyor technology, is 26mhigh, three aisles wide and houses3000 pallet storage locations, forpallets with a weight of up to 900kgs,connected to Budvar’s existing blockwarehouse production site.A MODEL EMPLOYEEWarehouse supervisor GrahamHewitt is the new face of Palmer andHarvey’s latest advertising campaign,released this week. The 43-year-oldfrom St Helens was chosen from thewholesaler’s 3,800 staff to feature inthe trade press advertising campaignfor Palmer and Harvey (P&H)’s tradeshow, Pro-retail.Interroll Versi Flow allows you toachieve 90% space utilisation andefficient storage on a first-in firstoutprinciple (FIFO).Strong polycarbonate wheelsresist impact damage and providelong wear characteristics and areseparated by movable spacers forversatile wheel spacing. Durableand virtually maintenance-free,Interroll Versi Flow can be usedfor storage of many FMCGincluding food and grocerygoods, wines and spirits, freezerstores operating at temperature -35°C to 40°C, stationery, booksand other fast moving items thatmay also be date sensitive.A comprehensive range ofaccessories enable projects to becustom-built to suit individualstorage handling requirements,including tilted presentationshelves, lane indexers, etc.Interroll Versi Flow flexibilityproves to be a key feature formany order picking operations, asseasonal changes in pick volumescan be catered for as the cartonlive system can be quicklyremoved to revert the supportingstructure back to pallet racking tomeet changes in throughputrequirements.Interroll LtdMr Chris Middleton,Managing DirectorTel: 01536 200 322Email: gb.sales@interroll.comwww.interroll.com

Page 12 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com CASE STUDIES - WESTERN UNIONTel: 01923 272960WESTERN UNION HELPS CO-OP TRAVELWIN OVER A WIDER AUDIENCEThe Co-operative Group ownsand operates 400 high streettravel agents under the Co-opTravel identity, employing some 2,200staff. Co-op Travel offers a very widerange of UK and overseas holidays,worldwide flights and cruises, coachbreaks and city breaks. As part of itsservice it also sells travel insurance,airport parking, travel money/foreignexchange and Western Union moneytransfers.Trevor Davis is the organisation’sDirector of Retail Distribution: “For aslong as I can remember, we have beenoffering Western Union to our customers.We offer a full service ofWestern Union products, and this hashelped us to build a strong repeat customerbase for the product.”Co-op Travel’s customers are loyal,primarily 50 plus. A growing number areCo-operative members, says Trevor, “sowhenever they use their MembershipCard in any of our stores for purchasinggoods and services, they are rewardedtwice a year with a share of the Group’sdividend. The Western Union partnershipallows us to extend the range oftravel-related services that we offer,which, in many cases, is broader andbetter than many of our high street competitors.“Customers from a wide backgroundof age, race and diversity now use theCo-operative Travel because we offerWestern Union,” Trevor continues. “Hadwe not offered this service, our customerbase would not have been as wide and asvaried as it is.”Trevor Davis, Co-op Travel, Director of RetailDistribution.“CASH GENERATOR LTD“We sell quality pre-owned products through a secure, instant,convenient and personal service as well as offering a range offinancial services. Our customers want no-nonsense products thatare easy to understand and give them the cash they need quickly.Offering Western Union requires minimal investment which is abig plus for a franchise business and they are a global brand with astrong reputation which customers trust and rely on. They alsoprovide a range of marketing and support services which helps topromote the service, so that helps generate interest and awareness,bringing customers into our shops who may well be tempted to pickup a bargain while they’re there.”Julian Urry, Managing Director, Cash Generator.NATIONAL CASH ADVANCE““Our objective is to offer a quick, hassle-free solution to thethousands of people who don’t have access to traditional bankingservices and are looking for loans that offer a sensible alternative tocredit card late payment penalty charges and bank overdraft charges.Through our branches we provide one-on-one assistance to customersto give them a simple cash advance. Being able to offer Western Unionmoney transfer gives customers an alternative way to either receivecash from friends and family or to send money. It’s a good service thatcomplements our other business activities well and is popular withvisitors from overseas who are working in the UK.”Blair Biggerstaff, Managing Director, National Cash Advance.NEWSAGENTI became a western union® agent about 10 years ago. I realised at the timethat the only way forward for my type of business was to offer extra servicesas the traditional confectionery, tobacco and newspaper business wasn’t goingto bring enough footflow and revenue into the shop.There have been a lot of new competitors coming into the market recentlytrying to tempt me, but they just don’t have the agency network that westernunion® do and the reliability.What I like about it is a lot of the money people send from my shop helpsthe community back home.... for farming... to buy crops... to get medicines fortheir relatives.Mr Patel, Yogi News.““Western Union is a well-known service with a strong brand identityand we’re happy to be associated with them. When customers see thesign they know that if they get stuck on holiday and need some extramoney in an emergency they can easily get someone to send it over asthey have a very good network with agents in most towns and citiesaround the world.The money transfer service also brings in new customers who justwant to send money. Many are from overseas who are working in Walesand we’re able to introduce them to our services from Chepstow toHaverfordwest and that can only be good for business in the long run.”TRAVEL HOUSELouise Williams, Foreign Exchange Manager, Travel House.“KANOO FOREIGN EXCHANGE“Kanoo is the largest travel company in the Middle East operating out of 180 offices throughout the region.More recently we’ve expanded into the UK with the purchase of the American Express retail travel and foreignexchange network, comprising of 26 outlets across the UK, continuing with Western Union was a logical decisionas our customers appreciate the service and value.Our customers travel either into the UK or across the globe out of the UK, being able to send money backhome or have it sent to the UK remains very important to many of them. Banking arrangements can often becomplex and take too much time, but the Western Union service is simple and the network of agents is extensiveRob Dacey, UK Foreign Exchange Services Manager, Kanoo.ICE PLC“Our customers are looking for service andconvenience more than anything else and its testamentto our ability to deliver that we have been growing sorapidly over the past few years. Foreign Exchange isour core business and we now have over 310 branchesworldwide including a presence at 65 airports.Western Union money transfer plugs into our bureaude change network offering and gives the customeranother reason for using ICE. It’s simple and quickwhich is ideal for travellers who are often pushed fortime and need to get money to someone quickly or needto pick up cash so they can continue with their travels.Western Union’s global network and speed of servicemakes them a valuable business partner.”PHARMACY“My brother-in-law put me on to the idea of becoming awestern union® agent, so I have him to thank! I was a bitdubious about it at first, but when it was explained to me Irealised there could be a lot of potential business in our areawith such a large Afro-Caribbean community. What surprisedus was we got more new business to start with from theirfriends and relatives abroad telling them to come to us.Business grew very quickly and after about three years weset up a separate counter so people didn’t have to queue upbehind customers collecting their prescriptions. Having awestern union® service also boosts our other business aspeople pick up their prescriptions at the same time, buy afew items or drop of their holiday photos for processing.”““EUROCHANGEMaria Birch, General Manager, ICE Plc.“Piyush Patel,Dobber Pharmacy.MIDLANDS CO-OP“Like Western Union, the Midlands Co-op has a long history and weare proud of our heritage and our reputation for good service. We’reone of the UK’s largest independent travel agents and we have 103travel shops throughout the Midlands all offering money transfer.We took on the Western Union money transfer service because wewere looking to expand our range of travel related services. Itrequired little investment and it helps to bring in customers,particularly amongst the migrant population who may never have visitedone of our shops before. While they’re here it gives our people theopportunity to cross-sell other services like flights, holidays and travelinsurance.”David Haywood, Foreign Exchange Manager, Midlands Co-Op.BUREAUX DE CHANGE“We’ve been with western union® people in 10 minutes which is reallyever since they started theirimportant.service in the UK in 1996. As aWe have regular customers whobureau de change, money transfer come in every month to send moneywas the perfect complement to our back home or to pick-up money. Webusiness as we deal in lots ofalso get a lot of tourists anddifferent currencies and bank to students as well as our fair sharebank transfers.of business from the large numberIt’s the best way of receivingof migrants who are working heremoney and the best service. Other in Britain.”companies just do not have thelarge network or the quality ofIlyas Azam, AMB Bureau deservice - we can provide money to Change.WESTERN UNION TEL: 0208 563 6614 EMAIL: WURSLONDONSALESSUPPORTUK@WESTERNUNION.COM WWW.WESTERNUNION.CO.UK“The ease of travel withlow cost flights and theopening up of the EU andmany other countriesaround the world hasbrought massive growth inthe number of peopletravelling for eitherbusiness or pleasure. Ourretail business has grownon the back of demand forforeign currency and otherancillary products likeWestern Union moneytransfer.For a customer to beable to stop at one of ourshops and send money tosomeone else anywhere inthe world in a matter of afew minutes is a powerfulproposition. The WesternUnion service is easy touse and because of itsglobal reach and strongreputation many visitorswill already know the name,so they know they cantrust us to send theirmoney quickly and safely.”“Roy McConnell, NationalRetail Manager,Eurochange.

April 2011 Page 13Tel: 01923 272960THE INTERVIEW - WESTERN UNIONEmail: grocery@flame1.comWESTERN UNIONA LEADER IN INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER ROUND THE CORNERWestern Union is one of theleading money transfercompanies in the world,offering an easy and convenient way tosend money to families and friendsalmost anywhere on earth. With around445,000 Agent locations in more than200 countries and territories aroundthe globe, a great deal of the company’ssuccess is based on the trading relationshipsit has established over manyyears.Western Union takes pride in beingclose to its consumers and in itsalliances with Agents. Through itsAgents, Western Union speaks its consumers'languages, lives in theirneighbourhoods and shares their cultures,playing a significant part in theirlives. In the UK Western Unionoffers its services in cooperationwith a growing network ofretailers and is looking to grow itsnetwork still further.The Grocery Trader talks toRajiv Garodia, Regional VicePresident for Western Europe.Rajiv and his team are based inLondon.The Grocery Trader – Rajiv, canyou sum up for our readers whatWestern Union does?Western Union does the“classic” money transfer servicethrough Agent locations, but alsovia mobile payments, onlinethrough westernunion.com orthrough bank accounts. To give youan idea about our network, WesternUnion processes over 1 milliontransactions every day. And each ofthese interactions also means thatan opportunity is created forsomeone somewhere in the world.According to our consumer research,currently 85% of Western Union’s consumersare working migrants seekingopportunity abroad.GT - How is the money transferred?How quickly does it reach the person atthe other end?The money is available for collectionwithin minutes from completing thetransfer, depending on time zones andopening hours on the receiver’s side.Consumers fill out a simple ‘To SendMoney’ form specifying the country andbeneficiary, and after handing over theprincipal and fee to an Agent, the MoneyTransfer Control Number is producedand money is ready for collection on theother side of the world!GT - Why would a customer go to aWestern Union location rather thansend money via a bank?A bank can only send money toanother bank. We can do cash to cash,account to account or account to cash.Many of Western Union’s consumerseither do not have bank accounts or aresending money to people, relatives orfriends who do not have bank accounts.And we also offer additional convenience;many of our locations –particularly those in the retail sector –are open well beyond traditional workinghours. Some are even open 24 hours aday, including Saturdays and Sundays.GT - What is the make up of yourconsumer base?The majority are people who moveoverseas to work and send money home.However our consumers include anyonewho has a need to send money quickly,for example in an emergency or forgifting.We have a number of marketing initiativesto show how our services canmeet the needs of a wider range of consumers,for instance encouraging peopleto send money as gifts via WesternUnion at times like Christmas and Easter.We have a diverse range of new channelsand products, such as online moneytransfer, cash-to-account and accountto-cash,and now mobile money transfer.Some of these, especially Internet basedsolutions, are best placed to meet theneeds of, say, a parent who wants tosend money to a child backpackingaround Asia on their gap year, orsomeone wanting to send a gift abroad.GT - You seem to be very proud ofyour Agents’ network. What is so specialabout it?Our agents typically have a deepunderstanding of the communities theyserve. This comes from the long tenureand experience within our category, andvery often the fact that they live in thesecommunities themselves.GT - How do you integrate newAgents in your network? Will you putyour own employees in stores or do youhave to train up the existing store staff?The good news is, there is very littletechnical integration required, once thestore or network is set up with theWestern Union® money transfer technologyand the existing store staff – werefer to them as Front Line Associates -have received the appropriate training.The training is web-based and takes acouple of hours, as the software is veryintuitive and based on zero-training principles.The compliance aspect is a vitalpart of the training, and Western Unionis renowned for best-in-class AML complianceprograms. We also providebranding, in store POS and marketingsupport, looking constantly at how toimprove the customer experience, inorder to make transactions faster andmore efficient, for example by introducingthe Western Union® Gold Card toreward loyalty and minimise paperwork.GT - What characterises the UK as amarket for Western Union’s services?The UK is central to our business injust the same way it is central to theglobal economy. It is a matured economyand still attractive to migrants, who arekey in our customer base. The environmentis challenging but business friendly,and the necessary infrastructure andquality human resources are available.GT - How many agents do you workwith in the UK?We currently work with eightmaster agents and we have nearly12,000 Agent locations in the UK, ofwhich 60% are independent retailers.GT - What kinds of outlets provideWestern Union services in the UK?Legislation in the UK allows us topartner with businesses outside thetraditional financial institutions.There is a wide variety of retail channelsand businesses that offer theservice in the UK. We have signedsome big retail chains, including Co-opTravel and pharmacy groups, as well asa large variety of well established andtrusted local retailers. These could benewsagents, pharmacies, ethnic foodstores, travel agents or bureaux dechange – essentially, anywhere that ourconsumers may visit frequently. We haverecently signed with Martin McColl, theUK’s largest independent retailer of newspapersand convenience stores.Consumers have different requirementsand expectations based on their needs, andwe therefore try to match that with a diversenetwork. Some may prefer to use a wellknownnational brand name, whereas somewill prefer the individual service they areoffered by their local independent retailer.GT - Are you looking for more UKretailers to become agents? What kindsof retailers are you looking to recruit?What POS equipment etc does a retailerneed to have in place?The market still shows huge opportunitiesand we therefore need Agents toRajiv Garodia, Regional Vice President forWestern Europe.facilitate this potential growth. Agentsneed to have a retail location, and ideally- but not essentially - a PC.GT - What benefits are there for theretailer from being a Western UnionAgent?First of all, the retailer gets commissionfrom each transaction, but thebenefits for the retailer go beyond that.Increased footfall is by far the singlebiggest reason why retailers sign up asWestern Union Agents, especially in thecorporate arena. Our research showsthat money transfer is the primaryreason for visiting the store for 4 out of 5customers, and over three quarters ofWestern Union customers purchaseadditional items while there.GT - How do you work with majormultiple retailer clients to maximise thesales opportunity?We make it our business to ensure agood business product fit with theclient’s existing product portfolio.GT - What equipment and signage doretailers get as part of the WesternUnion® package?We provide a standard starter packfor every new Agent. This contains allthe necessary sales collateral, basicpoint-of-sale (POS) materials and merchandisingitems to get them started.We can then have additional POS,based on space availability and theneed of the particular Agent. POS is akey driver and an area in which we aresensitive to our client’s in-storebranding policy. We also offer a webbased transactional software(WUPOS), which could be either astandalone solution or fully integratedwith the agent’s existing platform.GT - What are the steps to becominga Western Union agent?Anyone who is already in business caneither email wurslondonsalessupportuk@westernunion.com or call the businessdevelopment team on 0208 563 6614,who will be happy to help. We pride ourselveson our thorough enrolmentprocess and registration.WESTERN UNION TEL: 0208 563 6614 EMAIL: WURSLONDONSALESSUPPORTUK@WESTERNUNION.COM WWW.WESTERNUNION.CO.UK

Page 14 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com PACKAGING AND DISPLAYTel: 01923 272960NEWS IN BRIEFPACKAGING NEWSOMNIVEX DIGITAL SIGNAGE CHOSENFOR USE AT SELECT BELL STORESOmnivex Corporation, the premierprovider of enterprise-class digitalsignage software, has announced thatBell is using Omnivex software at selectretail stores across Canada for point ofpurchase displays. The system willinclude both passive and interactivedigital signage, which will be used toprovide an exceptional retail experiencefor its customers. Bell is the nation'slargest communications company andhas been providing a comprehensive lineof communication services for residentialand business customers across Canadafor more than 125 years. Bell storessupport the company's consumerproduct lines such as Bell Internet, BellTV, Bell Home Phone, and Bell Mobility.CHEESE SNACKS GO GREENER WITHREDUCED PACKAGINGDairylea Dunkers and Philadelphia Snackare going greener this year, with 20 percent reduced packaging for both brands.Both products saw strong growth lastyear, with Dunkers leaping almost 9 percent to almost £41.5 million andPhiladelphia Snack more than 12 per centto £3.7 million. Now, the brands’environmental credentials are set toimprove by reducing the amount ofpackaging they use, highlighting the KraftFoods commitment to sustainability.CASSOULET BENEFITS FROM OXYGENSCAVENGING TRAYBarrier trays incorporating oxygenscavengers, supplied by RPC BarrierContainers, have provided French foodmanufacturer La Belle Chaurienne withan innovative packaging format for itsrange of premium ready meals. La BelleChaurienne is named after theinhabitants of the Southern French regionrenowned for its traditional French stews,or ‘cassoulets’. The company has over 40years experience replicating this heritagefor supermarkets, and its dishes, duckconfit cassoulet, and in particular duckconfit, have regularly been awarded“Flavour of the Year” by the French.TENNENT’S BOLD NEW LOOK IS INTHE CANOne of Scotland’s most iconic brands hasbeen given a very modern makeover, asTennent’s Lager unveiled a striking newlook for its historic cans and packagingthat will hit shelves in early April. Over70 years after introducing the firstcanned lager to the UK, the new designcombines vibrant Tennent’s yellow,backed by smooth silver and the vibrantred T – which, when combined, capturethe distinctive personality and refreshingnature of the brew for today’s drinkers.GLASS PRODUCER SPECIFIESLOADHOG SYSTEM AS STANDARDAfter pilot-testing Smartstak, developedby Loadhog, the Sheffield-based supplychain innovator, one of Australia's largestglass manufacturers has specified therevolutionary and patented glass bottletransporting system as the standardmethod of conveying containers betweenits Australian and New Zealandoperations. Loadhog opened up theAustralian market in 2009 by securingalmost £2m in sales to Amcor, afterinvesting almost £1/2m in moulding toolsto produce bespoke Smartstakcomponents for the leading global glasspackaging manufacturer.MPF BENEFITS FROM LINX 7300 EASEAND VERSATILITYLinx Printing Technologies has suppliedits versatile Linx 7300 Continuous Ink Jet(CIJ) printer to leading contract packerMPF Group for the coding and marking ofa wide variety of consumer items rangingfrom foods to wet wipes. MPF offersintegrated contract packing, distributionand recruitment services, with a highprofilecustomer base that embracesseveral of the UK’s leading retailers andFMCG brands. Understandably, thecompany requires enormous flexibilitywith its coding solutions depending onthe products being packed.FRENCH FOOD COMPANYSAYS ‘OUI, OUI’ TO FÆRCH PLAST CONTAINERSPlastics packaging expert helpslaunch ready meal ‘Straight FromThe Box’Færch Plast has been chosen byStoeffler, one of the leading food processingcompanies in France, toproduce packaging for a new readymeal designed to be eaten straightfrom the box.In order to meet ever-changing consumerpatterns, and a modern lifestylethat requires flexibility and ease-of-usefor many people, Stoeffler wanted tointroduce a meal that could be preparedand consumed without anyinconvenience.The French company turned toleading packaging manufacturerFærch Plast, who duly produced a anAPET plastic tray and lid made frompolypropylene and polyethylene forchoucroute or sauerkraut, one ofStoeffler’s best selling dishes, togetherwith an outer cardboard container.The emergence in France of thisnew trend for boxed ready meals seesan increasing number of people optingfor food that is simple to prepare anddoesn’t even need a plate for serving.Product Manager at Stoeffler,Isabelle Angot, comments: "Mostready meals contain pasta, and consumershave been waiting for a widerselection of everyday dishes in theseareas. We decided to launch our bestsellerin a box to create diversitywithin the area and to satisfy theneeds of our customers for practicalsolutions.”The choucroute recipe of cabbage,sausage, bacon and potatoes is cut into small pieces to allow customers toeat it from the plastic tray using just afork, which is also provided in thecarton.Joe Iannidinardo, ManagingDirector, Faerch Plast Ltd says: “Themeal takes just two minutes to heat upin a microwave, and when it’s readyalthough the plastic tray is hot, thesurrounding paperboard packagingstays cool, so it’s safe to handle andready to eat.”Joe continues: “Also, there’s a largeprint area on the carton, so plenty ofspace to make the packaging lookattractive and to communicate theproduct’s messages.”Stoeffler hopes to develop otherproducts in the same type of packagingin the future.Færch Plast LtdJoe IannidinardoTel: 020 8254 2300Email: uk@faerchplast.co.ukwww.faerchplast.co.ukMERCURY’S BAGSFOR WORLD EXCLUSIVE ISSUE OF BBC’S TOP GEAR MAGAZINE ARE BELLISSIMO!Flexible packaging specialist manufactures,prints and delivers specialpromotional packs in just four days.BBC Magazines recently choseMercury Packaging to supply speciallydesigned bags for a world exclusiveissue of Top Gear magazine. An on-shelfembargo meant the leading UK flexiblepackaging specialist manufactured,printed and delivered the eye-catchingpromotional packs within just four daysof receiving the original design.Top Gear’s February 2011 issue wasthe first reveal of two Italian supercars- the Pagani and a new Ferrari 4WDmodel. Produced from silver 65 microncast polypropylene with a gold metallisedeffect, the header-style bagswere superbly printed in eight colours.As well as the normal content listing,each of the 183,000 bags supplied byMercury Packaging featured stunningimages of the new cars and promotedFREE ‘Cool-Wall’ fridge magnets.Koli Pickersgill, Group ProductionManager at BBC Magazines, comments:“Mercury Packaging has beensupplying us with magazine bags formany years and clearly understandour quality remits, so we knew thatthey would interpret and reproduceour design accurately, as well asachieve the tight turnaround requiredwithout compromise.”Mercury Packaging has been supplyingmagazine bags to thepublishing industry for many yearsincluding packs for promotional issuesof retail magazines and protectivepackaging for subscription copies. Awide range of substrates from highclarity high gloss films to metallisedfinishes combine with state-of-the-artprint technology to ensure maximumon shelf impact and brand awareness.Bags are available with permanentor resealable closures and packingoptions include film on the reel andreinforced header bags, wallets andbands.Rob Batkin, Sales Manager atMercury Packaging, says: “We arealways delighted to work with theBBC’s publishing department and theability to meet such tight time scalesfurther demonstrates our flexibilityand unrivalled experience of the magazinepublishing market.”Mercury Packaging supplies wickettedbags in a range of styles andoptions: with or without gusset; tear-offperforations; punched handles; ventilationperforations; re-sealable tapes;captive flap and blockheaded. Thecompany also specialises in high clarityPP films for display purposes as well asa variety of PE film specially designedto provide the strength and impactqualities required for protection.Mercury PackagingTel: 01623 759600www.mercurypackaging.com“ENJOY ! SAUCES”Enjoy! required a new look for itsentire range of delicious and appetizingIndian, Chinese andTraditional sauces and turned topackaging film specialists NationalFlexible for help and advice.With a range of six delicioussauces, each requiring its own individualpackaging to stand out to thecustomer on the shelf, Enjoy! werefacing a potentially hefty investmentin order to set up the printing platesfor the new style packaging.However, thanks to the help of someclever work from National Flexible’sexperienced in-house print team, theywere able to reproduce Enjoy! artworkwhilst keeping set up costs to a minimum- saving thousands in originationcharges. The end result is a great rangeof single serve sauces that are printed invisual eye-catching colours.Highland Farms, one of the UK’sleading processors of Scottish andNorwegian farm raised Atlanticsalmon, has chosen Smurfit Kappaas its main supplier of sustainableand ethical packaging.Cumbria based Highland Farms isan award winning producer, whichpromotes itself as a responsibleprocessor - ‘sourcing its fish exclusivelyfrom sustainable farms’ andchose Smurfit Kappa as its sole supplierof packaging for its competitiveedge and its unique approach to sustainabilityand the environment. UsingSmurfit Kappa packaging means thatHighland Farms can further assure itscustomers of the provenance of itsproducts by featuring Smurfit Kappa’sFSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificationon all of its packaging.Smurfit Kappa UK, a leading manufacturerof paper based packagingsolutions, is the first UK manufacturerto achieve Chain of Custody (CoC)certification from the world's top,internationally recognised certificationagencies, for its entire UK corrugatedand paper manufacturing capacity.As producers of paper for use in itsown manufacturing of corrugated sheet,Chain of Custody certification is highlyimportant for Smurfit Kappa’s customersin tracking certified materialthrough the paper, board and packagingproduction process - from the forest tothe consumer, including all successivestages of processing, transformation,manufacturing and distribution.Smurfit Kappa’s approach is todeliver a credible guarantee to its customersand in turn to their customers(consumers) by confirming that allpackaging supplied by Smurfit KappaUK uses materials originating fromwell managed forests, controlledsources, reclaimed materials, or a mixtureof these.Highland Farms will be usingSmurfit Kappa FSC certified packagingfor its new MacKnight’s SmokedSalmon Bacon product, which won topfood service Seafood Prix d'Elite awardat the 2010 European SeafoodThe film was quickly printed, slitand made ready for the packing linesin only a matter of days - in plenty oftime for Enjoy! to satisfy the needs ofits hungry customers.“National Flexible really helped meto bring the Enjoy! range of sauces tothe market in a very efficientmanner,” said Howard Morrish,Business Development Director ofEnjoy!. “Their technical help and printtimelines were a great help in givingus a head-start.”The range of fabulous tastingsauces and gravy are now availableacross the UK.National FlexibleTel: 01274 685566Email: sales@nationalflexible.netwww.nxldesign.co.ukSMURFIT KAPPASUPPLIES SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING FOR AWARD WINNING SALMON PROCESSORSExposition in Brussels. The product ismade from Scottish Atlantic salmoncured with a special blend of rock salt,spices and maple syrup, then carefullyair dried and smoked to create a rich,flavourful smoked salmon bacon.For Highland Farms’ biggest customers,sustainability is a key part oftheir relationship and covers allaspects of Aquaculture (the cultivationof marine and freshwater finfish andshellfish) processing and packaging.Ray Black, Sales Director of SmurfitKappa Tannochside says “Since gainingFSC certification in 2010, we have seena great deal of interest in our products,showing that our investment in environmentaland sustainability awarenessacross our whole organisation deliversmore than just a ‘feel-good’ factor. Itdelivers tangible sales benefits for ourselvesand our customers as well.”For more information on FSC certifiedsustainable packaging please call0870 850 3877.Smurfit Kappa TannochsideOld Edinburgh RoadUddingstonTannochsideGlasgowPhone: 01698 812901Fax: 01698 810241WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK/PACKAGING

Page 16 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com THE INTERVIEW - ALEXIR PACKAGINGTel: 01923 272960ALEXIR PACKAGINGINNOVATORS IN BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGINGAlexir Packaging is a leadinginnovator in the developmentand manufacture of biodegradableprinted folded cartons, using a widerange of natural fibre carton boardswhich are naturally compostable, and arange of compostable barrier boardsspecifically developed for the foodindustry. Alexir Packaging also leads thefield with its continuing advances inbiodegradable and compostable coatingsfor food packaging, in line with the foodindustry’s growing awareness of theenvironmental impact of the differenttypes of carton board and plastic packaging.To this end, Alexir has developed arange of ‘totally’ compostable packaging,including a series of printed cartons andtrays with windows that conform toEN13432, the code for products made ofcompostable materials, independentlyaccredited through the Din Certco testlaboratory.Alexir’s pioneering range of biodegradablepackaging was first introduced intothe UK retail market in 2008, when itlaunched the FooGo salad tray and suppliedthe packaging for M&S’s OrganicPasta range. Since then it has consistentlysupported the grocery industry’s requirementsfor totally compostable packagingand stressed the importance of theindustry setting environmental strategiesfor its packaging use. Robert Davison,Chairman of Alexir Partnership, spoke toThe Grocery TraderThe Grocery Trader - Robert, what doesyour day to day role involve?I’m involved hands-on throughout thebusiness. Besides being Chairman and MDof Alexir Packaging, I look after some of oursales. I’m also Chairman of the Alexir Groupof companies, trading as The AlexirPartnership.GT - Do you get personally involvedin developing new compostable packagingproducts and tailored solutions forcustomers?Yes, I do. I’m involved in a wide rangeof our activities, and get to work withmany of our customers. My biggest passionis NPD, looking at new ideas andways of expanding the role of cartonboard. People forget trees are farmed, justlike corn.GT - When was Alexir founded? Whoowns it now?I founded Alexir Packaging in July 1989with three colleagues. The present ownersare me and my family, and 14 past/presentemployees.GT - What are the different companiesin the group?We have four companies, trading as apartnership since January 2010. The fourarms work together to provide a design todelivery solution. Alexir Design is adesign and branding agency, specialisingin construction and packaging engineering.Alexir Packaging is a cartonmanufacturer, based in Edenbridge: AlexirContract Packing is in Uckfield,and contract-manufacturesfinished goods for retailand wholesale clients: andthe fourth arm is AlexirInternational, also based inEdenbridge, which works for bothAlexir customers and independentclients, and specialises in the design andsupply of packaging solutions in materialsubstrates including plastic, pulp, metaland board. The four arms are expert companiesin their own fields, so our widerange of businesses means we can crossfertiliseour thinking.GT - How big is Alexir in turnover,employee numbers and output?Alexir Packaging has a turnover of £10mand 89 staff. The Alexir Partnership’s totalturnover is £25m.GT - Do you operate in any othercountries?We export to Ireland, France, Belgium,Germany and the US. The export side isgrowing but currently contributes 5% of ourturnover. Our AlexiPack® product is gettingserious interest from as far afield asAustralia and New Zealand.GT - What proportion of your UK packagingoutput is compostable?Virtually all our packaging is based oncarton board, which has always been industriallycompostable. That said, some of ourpacks have thin lightweight polymer liningsto provide certain barrier properties, so thetrue figure is probably more like 85%. Allour carton board comes from renewableresources, with more trees planted everyyear to offset it.GT - Can you explain the internationalstandard for home composting?EN 13432 is the industry standard forcompostable materials. The home compostablelogo has been developed withWRAP and AFOR, who are looking tolaunch the home compostable logo as soonas possible.GT - How does UK adoption of compostablepackaging compare with the restof the world?The UK leads the way, but the greatestinternational interest is coming fromEurope. Alexir is the leading innovator incompostable packaging, specifically indirect food contact packaging.GT - How are you organised to meetcustomers’ biodegradable packagingneeds?We prioritise and promote renewableresources and compostable packaging as amatter of course, and are passionate aboutit. We are keen to operate differently anddo new things withcardboard.We’ve recentlydeveloped a new rangeof packaging for theunwashed bagged salad market. The Fresh& Naked unwashed salad range is now soldfor the first time in a cardboard box that canbe completely recycled. We’ve beenpushing this form of packaging for years,and now we’re seeing a high level of success.With the support of our mill, we’vealso developed Bioptima, a specialcoating which is fully biodegradable, allowsdirect food contact and is sealable.GT - What is the difference betweencompostable and ordinary carton board, inhow long it takes to biodegrade? What isthe cost difference?There is no difference between compostableand ordinary carton board, as allcarton boards are produced from naturalfibres so they both biodegrade.GT - What is the level of understandingin the UK food industry of the environmentalimpact of the different types ofboard and packaging that are available?There’s a high level of understandinghere and in Western Europe, but peoplearen’t generally willing to pay the higherprice - generally 12% more - for biodegradablepackaging, so the uptake hasn’t yetbeen realised.GT - How long does it take standardplastic window film and plastic pots tobiodegrade? How long do ‘bio’ versionstake?Normal plastic pots can last for thousandsof years. Our ‘bio’ packs can have awindow of poly lactic acid (PLA), a clearfilm made from corn. We’re also looking atpackaging made with potato starch, whichsatisfies the EN standard and biodegradesin 12 weeks in industrial processing.GT - Can you talk us through the compostablepackaging items in your standardproducts range?We offer carton board, cereal packagingand other packs with the product in aninner bag. Our range of packaging wherethe pack is in direct contact with the foodcovers sandwich packs, salad trays, tortillapacks, open food trays and pots for noodlesand rice. We’ve also patented theAlexiPack® for ready meals: a premiumproduct, the board is offers blister free dualovenable trays, allowing trays to hold strongeven while heated. We reckon it’s the bestpre-formed tray in the world but it’s currentlyseen as a premium product in a priceconscious market...GT - You have developed variousbiodegradable and compostable coatingsfor food packaging. Can you tell us aboutthese?Bioptima is a coating for carton boardthat was developed to enable the continuationof compostability for the carton whileproviding a moisture and grease barrier aswell as heat-sealing to maintain productfreshness.GT - Do you offer this technology toother companies, or is it exclusive to AlexirPackaging for your products?At the moment they’re exclusive to us,but we’ll share them with customers asappropriate. Alexir has 1% of the UK cartonmarket and we can be active, flexible andresponsive, faster than larger corporates.GT - Do you publish customer casestudies?Yes we do, but they’re the tip of theiceberg. We have many that wecan’t publish for reasons of customerconfidentiality. On theopposite page you can see case studiesfor Fresh & Naked, Higgidy Pies and PaxoStuffing.GT - If a carton is compostable, is thereany risk of it starting to biodegrade beforethe end user has finished using it, forinstance if it gets wet?The risk is no worse than withbiodegradable carrier bags. If a carton is inthe fridge or freezer it won’t decompose,the right conditions are required.GT - What is the ‘spec’ for a compostableproduct to qualify for the HomeComposting logo? How do companiesapply to feature it? Do you have to pay afee? When was it launched?The official spec for Home compostingis currently being developed. With theright conditions, home composting of cartonscan take from six months or more inthe UK, as the climate is cooler over here.We processed our application toEN13432, which is for industrial composting,with the UK CompostingAssociation. There is a not negligiblefront fee based on the amount of productstested per year.GT - Where do you develop and manufactureyour biodegradable printed foldedcartons?It now all happens in our new factory inEdenbridge or with our partners in the UKand Europe.GT - Do retailers prefer products with‘Home Composting’-approved packs?The natural reaction from retailers andconsumers is yes. There are approximately6 million households in the UKhome composting, and this offers anopportunity to increase the volumes ofcompostable materials in the market andbegin public education with the help ofthe new logo. In my role asChairman of the industry bodyBPIF Carton, I’m actively pursuinga route to try andget home compostingtrials off the groundand get certification,trying togetting Britain to beeven greener intime for theOlympics.GT - I’d like toask you brieflyabout the fire atCrawley on 4November 2010. Whichparts of your business wereaffected, and what was the level ofdamage?The fire affected the whole of our manufacturingsite: we lost all ourmanufacturing area and part of our warehouse,and there was smoke damage tothe office.GT - Did you have to close operationsat Crawley altogether during therecovery? How did you satisfy customerorders?We had to close Crawley completelybecause it was unusable, but we were in atemporary office within 12 hours of thefire and manufacturing with a partnerwithin 24 hours. We had a disasterstrategy in place with two partnersstanding by, and this was implementedimmediately.GT - When did Edenbridge becomeoperational?The first machine was operational onJanuary 5: if you eliminate the Christmasbreak, we did it in six weeks. My complimentsgo to our employees andsuppliers. We are virtually back tonormal now.Robert Davison, Chairman of AlexirPartnership.GT - What has changed in the way youoperate as a company since the Crawleyfire?I wouldn’t want to go through the lastthree months again, but opening the newfactory made us review the operation andwe’ve taken the opportunity of only transferringthe best elements from Crawley.We have had to act quickly to find theright site with enough electrical poweravailable. We now have a better environment,one of the most technically advancedmanufacturing plants in Europe.GT - How do you liaise with externaldesign companies?Alexir Design designs both independentlyand for Alexir customers. We havegood relations with a lot of professionaldesign companies, on the graphics and thetechnical side.GT – How quickly can you arrive at aprototype for a customised packagingsolution?Depending on the complexity, we canrespond in anything from 24 hours to severalweeks, if it involves tooling and trials.Our work on food trays has meant trials inthe supply chain. We have a substantiallevel of knowledge in the business, whichcan help customers refine their productsbased on tweaking the packaging. If youhave a genuine working partnership, it canmake a huge difference.GT - Have you won any awards forinnovation or for environmental excellence?We’ve won various Starpack awardsfor innovation, but we’ve notentered any environmentalones yet.GT - What new standardcompostable products areyou launching in 2011?Our NPD’s stalled becauseof the fire. We plan to roll outsome new NPD in May orJune.GT - You recently exhibitedat Pro2Pac, alongside IFE.What were you doing there?The aim at Pro2Pac was toshow the industry that Alexir isvery much up and running again.We showed all our packaging and innovationover the years. We were alsopromoting the Alexir Partnership, and gotsome good leads from people moving fromplastic to carton, and had interest in ourAlexiBake® and AlexiPack® products, inparticular.GT – Where do you see demand forcompostable packaging, and AlexirPackaging’s involvement with it, goingfrom here?Our involvement will stay strong - wewill develop, and prioritise developing,more products for new markets. One suchproduct is AlexiPack®: an original conceptfor chilled meal packs, it is designed toreplace the PET tray, and offers a 67%reduction in plastic content. Its designallows full direct branding, removing thecost of labels, u-cards, printed film andprinted sleeves.The recent recession has made everyonestop and think about packaging – mostpeople won’t pay the premium necessary tomet biodegradability standards, but we’veseen a lot more interest in the last fewmonths.ALEXIR PACKAGING TEL: 01732 866681 WWW.ALEXIR-PARTNERSHIP.CO.UK

April 2011 Page 17Tel: 01923 272960CASE STUDIES - ALEXIR PACKAGINGEmail: grocery@flame1.comALEXIR PARTNERSHIP - FROM DESIGN TO DELIVERYA NEW OUTFITFOR SALAD LEAVEWith the estimated barrier properties allowing for directmarket of the food contact preventing the saladunwashed bagged salad from drying out while enabling theto be worth around £10m, G’s marketingneeded to bring kudos to thecategory; they turned to AlexirPackaging, the carton manufacturerarm of the Alexir Partnership knownfor their packaging innovations.Board packaging for natural products,such as unwashed baby leaf,normally presents many obstacles butthe new salad box has overcomethese. The tray is “unique” havingbeen made with PE coated Kraft boardrequired shelf-life. The natural lookand source of the packaging complimentsthe product and is one of thefirst board based product into amarket sector dominated by plastic.The advantage with board packagingis that you can print on it thereforeincreasing brand presence on shelf.Anthony Gardiner, MarketingManager at G’s added: “we have beenreally pleased with the initial and ongoingsales success of Fresh & Naked,and Bioptima, which is fully as well as a fantastic product andbiodegradable. Certified to EN13432,the Bioptima coating, developed bythe Alexir Partnership, is compostable.The addition has advancedbrand collateral, the box has beeninstrumental in ensuring consumerpick-up and differentiation from otherfresh salads packaging”.ALEXIR PARTNERSHIP COOKS UP FOR PAXOWhen Premier Foods needed toboost seasonalsales of Paxostuffing they appointedtheir trusted Co-packingpartner Alexir, part of theAlexir Partnership, to workon an innovative solution.Alexir Partnership andPremier Foods workedclosely together to launchPaxo Bake-in-box, an ovenready tray, which allows thestuffing to be prepared and bakedin its own box.PERFECTThis is a perfect example of the overallAlexir Partnership’s offering. This particularproject involves all of the four arms of theAlexir Partnership. Alexir Design ensured that thelook and feel of the tray was on brand with theoverall Paxo stuffing range to ensure consistency on shelf,Alexir Packaging manufactures the ovenable stuffing tray,Alexir International sources the shelf-ready packaging outerand finally Alexir Co-Packers blend the ingredients, insertthem in the tray and send the finished products to PremierFoods.Alexir Partnership provides a true design to deliverypackaging solutions for its clients whether you choose touse all arms or one.ALEXIPACK® IS FLYING HIGHWith the demanding conditions of airline catering requirements,the focus on sustainability and weight savings, the Alexipack® isregarded as one of the most innovative packaging solutionfor the airline catering industry and the direct foodcontact market and is currently being flown by a major airlinethroughout Europe and Canada.Alexipack® was firstly developed in 2008 for a major retailerfor their Healthy Living range. The board allows the trays to bedual ovenable, allowing them to hold strong even while heated. It isa proven product with no quality issues (over 11 million units sold)and is approved by most of the major retailers and airline cateringcompanies.PATENTEDThe Alexipack ® is a patented tray,of which over 75% is made from a sustainableresource and when compared toexisting packaging formats offers a 35%weight reduction. It is the perfect partner forchilled or frozen foods. Its design allows fulldirect branding, removing the cost of labels, u-cards, printed film and printed sleeves.When it comes to preservingtheirdelicious handmadepies, quiches and other delicacies,Higgidy have trusted Alexir fortheir retail packaging needs forover 4 years.The relationship began with apie box, laminated on the inside torespond to Higgidy double sidedprinting requirements. As leadersin the direct food contact packaging,Alexir prides itself on thepackaging advice it gives to itsclients as well as helping thoseachieving brand presence on shelf.Alexir is always at the forefront ofsustainability and recyclability inpackaging so when the low migrationinks arrived, Alexir advised Higgidyto modify their initial packaging inorder to eliminate the laminating partof their packaging process and thereforereducing costs, lead time whilstalso making it 100% recyclable. Theboxes are simple to open and thepies sit in a plastic tray, also sourcedby Alexir, which is easy to slide out,staying rigid as they are removed.The polyester window film allowsclear visibility of the productsenhancing their premium positioningand pricing.Scott Wilkins, National AccountManager for Alexir says: “We haveworked extremely closely withHiggidy to enable us to deliver apackaging concept that works wellwithin the supply chain complimentedby some excellent brandingopportunities, resulting in maximumimpact on shelf’.A STORY OF PARTNERSHIP…Camilla and James Foottit,founders of Higgidy say: “Alexirhave played a key role in developingour current and newpackaging formats in making thembetter designed, more environmentaland more efficient toproduce”ALEXIR PACKAGING TEL: 01732 866681 WWW.ALEXIR-PARTNERSHIP.CO.UK

Page 18 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com PACKAGING AND DISPLAYTel: 01923 272960NEWS IN BRIEFPACKAGING NEWSLABEL APEEL SIGNS GERMANBEVERAGE DEALSLabel Apeel, the fast-growing Leicesterbasedself-adhesive label manufacturerto the retail, food, and manufacturingindustries, has broken into the Germanbeverage labelling market with twoprestigious contract wins. The company,which is driving to expand in the lucrativebeverage market, has signed exclusivedeals with Weingut Herbert Becker - avineyard in the Kraichgau wine region;and Mall-Brau – a brewery inMeckesheim, to supply bottle labels.NEW REPORT SAYS PLASTIC BAGSNOT SO BAD FOR ENVIRONMENTDegradable polythene pioneers CFNPackaging have welcomed new researchwhich shows that plastic bags are not theenvironmental scourge they have longbeen thought to be. A draft report by theEnvironmental Agency has revealed thatplastic bags are generally less damagingto the climate than cotton ‘bags for life’and paper bags that are used as a lowimpact alternative. Single-use HDPE(high-density polyethylene) bags are, foreach use, almost 200 times lessdamaging to the climate than cottonhold-alls favoured by environmentalists,and have less than one third of the Co2emissions than paper bags which aregiven out by some retailers."RETAIL READY" PACKAGINGRetail ready packaging (RRP) potentiallyallows product to be transported safelyfrom manufacturer to retailer and then,with minimal modification, be used toadvertise and display the product to theconsumer. A typical example is thepackaging used to transport and displaychocolate confectionery bars. However,as with any packaging, its performance iskey to its effectiveness. To addresscurrent issues in the food industry,Campden BRI is organising an interactiveRetail ready packaging seminar on 29June 2011. For further information on theevent contact Daphne Llewellyn Davies,d.davies@campden.co.uk.LASER CODING IS CLEAR THANKS TOLINX VISICODE TECHNOLOGYLinx Printing Technologies says that itsinnovative Visicode technology,developed to deliver a much clearer codeonto cold glass, will keep bottlers’running costs low without compromisingon line speed. The technology – recentlyshowcased to industry acclaim atEmballage 2010 – is a central componentof Linx’s SL301 Scribing Laser coder,which the company believes is thefastest, most cost-effective and versatilecoder available to the bottling industry.NICHOLL LOOKS TO THE FUTUREThe Nicholl Group has completed thefinal phase of its debt restructuringstrategy with the reduction of its bankdebt of over £20m to £1.2m, which isscheduled to be repaid over the nextthree years. This achievement marks theconclusion of the major corporatedevelopment programme put in place byNicholl in autumn 2009 following theappointment of a new seniormanagement team led by Group ChiefExecutive John Griffiths and GroupFinance Director Simon Paul.LINPAC DEVELOPS PROTECTIVETRANSPORT PACKAGINGA constant cause for concern for bothindustrial bakers and supermarkets is thedamage to delicate food items duringtransit. The problem costs bakers andretailers both in cash terms and theirimpact on the environment. In response,Europe’s leading multi-materialmanufacturer, LINPAC Packaging, hasdeveloped an innovative new range ofrecyclable PET transport trays tosignificantly reduce the problem. Thenew transport tray from LINPACPackaging, with its cavitised design andspecial rib architecture, keeps individualproducts protected and separate. Byturning the trays through 180 degrees, upto three times as many products can bepacked in an individual box than before.HEARTY EGGS…NOW MORE TEMPTING THAN EVERDenny Bros has recently helpedFridays - one of the three largest eggproducers and packers in the country- to present an on-pack, money-offpromotion to tempt new customersto trial the brand.Formerly ‘The Hearty Egg’, thenewly renamed Hearty brand contains40% of the recommended dailyintake of omega-3 which helps tomaintain good health (and especiallya healthy heart).The ‘Save 30p’ and ‘Save 50p’ promotionis flashed across a bright redFix-a-Form multi-page label whichexplains the concept of the ethicalhearty brand by using a small but perfectlyformed set of ‘chicken and egg’illustrations. The 4-page, resealableFix-a-Form has an extended semithermalbase label to allow for theoverprinting of variable dataincluding essential date coding andpacking details. 180,000 machineappliedFix-a-Forms were producedfor the campaign.Chadwicks has helped an innovativedrinks company cause a stir onthe party scene with a brand newconcept in cocktails that will revolutionisedrinking at home.Tails are a sophisticated new rangeof bar-style alcoholic cocktails, presentedin a real professional shakerand in three flavours, includingCosmopolitan, Mai Tai and EspressoMartini. Consumers simply peel, addice, shake and pour.Chadwicks Lids has created a black77.2mm 12/48 PET/AluminiumOmniseal foil lid for Tails, printed UVFlexo using Chadwicks’ state of theart in-house technology.The lids provide a protective barrierfor the contents of Tails Cocktailsin order to keep the ready mixed barqualitycocktail drinks fresh prior toserving.Vicki Slater, sales administrator atChadwicks, said: “Cocktail makinghas never been so easy thanks to TailsOriginal, which is a fantastic new conceptin home cocktail making.Chadwicks’ high quality, pre-cut lidshave proved essential for ensuring thepreservation of the superior taste andingredients of these unique, high-enddrinks.“Chadwicks is renowned in theindustry for its unrivalled customerservice and we have years of experienceserving the beverage industry, aswell as food, cosmetics and other nonfoodmarkets.”Nick Wall, managing director ofTails, said: “We were well aware ofChadwicks’ expertise in developingand providing quality lids for the beverageindustry and it has certainlydelivered beyond expectations for us.“Chadwicks has supported us fromday one to ensure that the lidding forthis unique drink was of a fine qualityConvinced of the suitability of Fix-a-Form to highlight the thrifty price offer,the Marketing Manager of Fridays said:“The Fix-a-Form was exactly the rightmedium for this promotion as it allowedus to add a striking advert for the lowerpricedHearty eggs to the pack which isclearly seen right at the point of sale.”“The main purpose of this campaign isto engage customers to buy as a trial,encourage them to visit our newlyupdated website and give them all theinformation they need about our growingrange of healthier and tastier products.”“We have used a Fix-a-Form beforeto add recipe information to one of ourbrands but this is the first time we haverolled out a price offer in this way. Wewill be able to track the growth in salesafter the promotion to see how effectivethe campaign has been.”Denny Bros LtdTel: 01284 701381www.dennybros.comCHADWICKS LIDSCAUSES A STIR FOR BAR-STYLE COCKTAILSthat complemented the rest of itspackaging and to ensure the successfullaunch of the product intohigh-end retail outlets. Tails Originalcocktails are proving hugely popularwith consumers and we look forwardto working with Chadwicks again inthe near future.”Tails are all 18% ABV and are currentlyavailable in 500ml recyclableshakers to provide four 125ml servingsand can be purchased at HarveyNichols, Selfridges &Co, as well as ontheir website www.tailscocktails.comthrough The Online Off Licence,priced from £12.50 for a single shaker.Part of the Clondalkin Group,Chadwicks works with its sister companyNyco, a shrink sleeve and lidmanufacturer based in Switzerland, toprovide a joint service to multi-siteEuropean buyers, meaning Chadwickstogether with Nyco can provide a widerrange of print processes including UVflexo, gravure and offset litho.ChadwicksTel: 0161 763 2100Email: sales@chadwicks-lids.comwww.chadwicks-lids.comHOMECARE ADOPTSOPTIMUM DISPENSING FROM ZELLER PLASTIKZeller Plastik has adapted aflat oval dispensing closure totake its ZelValve sub-assemblyto provide Homecare Productswith an ideal dispensingsystem for its Hob Brite andShiny Sinks cream cleaners.Homecare Products is Zeller’sfirst Household customer forthis extension to the standardrange. The snap hinge push-onmatt valve closure preventsspillages and provides consumerswith the convenience ofclean, accurate dispensing.With a generous footprint alsosuitable for headstand presentationsthe new valve closure has awide range of market applications.Zeller Plastik UKTel: +44 1603 894800Email:anne.temple@gcs.comwww.gcs.comMERCURY REPORTS15% INCREASE IN SALESTony Stanger, Managing Director at Mercury Packaging.Increasing demand from security,food, retail, fulfilment & publishingmarkets for high quality flexiblepackaging leads to £1million newbusiness pipelineFollowing a significant restructureof its commercial and productionoperations and acquisition of food bagmanufacturer Certiforms, MercuryPackaging is reporting a 15% increasein sales over the past 12 months. Inaddition, the leading European flexiblepackaging specialist looks set torepeat this success with a £1millionnew business pipeline for 2011.As part of the recent changes,Mercury Packaging has promoted RayFranks to Sales Director responsiblefor driving growth across all the company’skey target markets includingfood, fulfilment, security, publishingand retail. Food packaging expertMark Binks heads up the formerCertiforms business whilst ChrisStanger has been promoted toProduction Director.Tony Stanger, Managing Director atMercury Packaging comments:“Despite rising material prices andever tightening margins, we havemanaged healthy growth over the past12 months. Renewed focus and vigourfrom a strengthened senior managementteam has also helped ensure apleasing sales pipeline for 2011. Thesecurity packaging sector in particularis looking promising for this year.“The sales increase can in part beattributed to the Certiforms acquisitionwhich has added a new market to ourportfolio, but we have also continuedto invest in best of breed equipmentfor added capacity, and the press hasstarted to earn its keep,” he continues.Tony concludes: “Streamlined productionprocesses and leanmanagement techniques have alsoplayed a role, as well as the company’scommitment to workingclosely with customers to ensure innovation,quality and value.Established in 1999, MercuryPackaging employs over 50 people atits state-of-the-art production facilitylocated in Nottinghamshire. The companyis one of Europe’s leadingsuppliers of plain, printed and convertedflexible packaging products toa wide range of markets includingretail, magazine publishing, security,fulfilment and food.Investment in high performanceconversion and printing technologytogether with an in-house designdepartment enables MercuryPackaging to deliver lightweight yetrobust plastics bags and film-on-thereelwhich have been speciallydeveloped to achieve maximumbrand awareness and protection.Widely recognised as an innovatorin the flexible packaging industrywith an unrivalled commitment toservice, the company’s high claritypolypropylene packaging films areideal for display purposes whilst itspolyethylene films provide thestrength and impact qualities requiredfor protection.Mercury PackagingTel: 01623 759600www.mercurypackaging.comWWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK/PACKAGING

Norsk Økonomisk Tidsskrift nr. 1 - 06Appendiks 4Prosentvis vekst i total timeverk og nyinvesteringer for perioden 1981–2003.2.50.0−2.5Fastlands−NorgeVekst i totale timverkNyinvesteringer50Fastlands−Norge uten jordbruk og off. sektorVekst i totale timverk Nyinvesteringer−2.51980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005Privat tjenesteytende næringer5.02.50.0Vekst i totale timverkNyinvesteringer1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005Bygg og anlegg100−10Vekst i totale timverkNyinvesteringer1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 20051980 1985 1990 1995 2000 200550−5IndustriVekst i totale timverkNyinvesteringer1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 200543

April 2011 Page 21Tel: 01923 272960GROCERY - NON-FOODEmail: grocery@flame1.comRB LAUNCHES£10M DETTOL’S MISSION FOR HEALTH CAMPAIGNMarch 2011 saw the launch ofDettol’s Mission for Health campaignwhich is set to promote a healthierenvironment in the home, in the communityand beyond. The campaignwill be backed by the biggest everlaunch programme to drive consumerand shopper engagement.The campaign kicked off on 1stMarch behind initiatives such asDettol’s new mums programme,healthy habits lessons in schools or apartnership with Save the Children.This campaign is supported with targetednational and regional activityon TV, in print, Social Marketing,online, at key events across thecountry and importantly in store.Dettol’s Mission for Health campaignrolls out a set of initiatives thatsee Dettol going above and beyondstandard hygiene education byreaching out to mums, teachers andthe wider community to raise awarenesson the simple ways we can allpromote a healthier environmentaround us.Healthcare experts Dr DawnHarper, a GP from Channel 4’s‘Embarrassing Bodies and ITV’s ‘ThisMorning’, BBC’s hygiene expert DrLisa Ackerley and Prima Baby residentexpert midwife Nikki Khan aresupporting the campaign“Since its launch in 1933 Dettol hasgrown to be a global brand that isrecognised in more than 60 countriesaround the world. Trust in the brandhas allowed Dettol to grow from itsinitial first aid position to a brandwith more than 40 products. Today,Dettol is not just about effectivecleaning, we want to do more for anhealthy environment. In 2011 OurMission for Health campaign will seeus taking additional steps to partnerwith mums, teachers and Save TheChildren to bring this commitment tolife, through a series of exciting andinnovative initiatives,” said StefanGaa, Marketing Director, RB UK.Reckitt Benckiser (RB)www.RB.COMSCA CELEBRATESYEAR ONE SUCCESS FOR CUSHELLE® TOILET TISSUEIt’s official; Cushellehas cemented its place asthe nation’s fastestgrowing premium brandtoilet tissue. Following asuccessful brand migrationfrom Charmin toCushelle®, the impressiveresults achieved during thefirst phase of its migrationare planned to be echoedas the brand enters thefinal phase of the migrationthis month with anew-look Cushelle pack.The new-look packsretain Cushelle’s familiar‘white out of purple’ colourscheme and feature arevised logo which reinforces thebrand’s “irresistibly cushiony softness”USP and up-weights itspremium credentials. The packs areavailable now across all stores.The loveable Cushelle® koala hasalso been developed into a more distinctivebrand icon, which researchhas shown connects well with consumers,creating further standout andcharacter for the brand.The success experienced as a resultof the integrated marketing campaign,put in place during phase oneof the migration, saw value grow by17.6% to a share of 5.1% and volumeincrease by 21.6% to a share of 4.6%(IRI data 52 w/e 22 January 2011). A£6.5 million multi media campaigndeveloped for the final phase willinclude a new national TV advertisingcampaign and will besupported by both PR and promotionalmarketing.“Since the migration activity beganalmost 12 months ago, we have seenexceptional growth for Cushelle,”comments Richard Nall, MarketingDirector at SCA. “At the beginning of2010, Charmin was in decline.Following the multi-media marketingsupport behind phase one of themigration, this activity has beenhugely successful in driving householdpenetration, enabling us to meetall of our initial objectives. As weenter the final phase of the brandmigration, we’re planning to build onthis success and drive further growth.“The new packaging features cleardifferentiation of brand variants andgives us a significantly stronger shelfpresence in store which will enable usto appeal to a wider audience. Ourresearch has shown that the newpackaging resonates strongly withtarget consumers who state that thenew look makes the brand moreappealing and highlights its cushionysoftness credentials.”In March 2010, SCA announced amajor re-invigoration of the Charminbrand, which took place as part of theagreement with P&G, forged duringSCA’s acquisition of the brand in2007.Cushelle comes in Standard White(4, 9, 12, 16, 18, 24 or 32 roll),Supersize roll (4, 6, 9 rolls), StandardHoney (4 or 24 rolls) and Fresh Linen(4 rolls).The toilet tissue category is worthover £1bn (Source: IRI to 22 January2011)Cushelle®www.cushelle.comSCAwww.sca.comA NATURAL FIT FOR HUGGIES®Kimberly-Clark has re-launched its Huggies® Natural Fit superb dryness and a super comfy 'no-nappy' feeling.nappies, the first nappy brand to offer organic cotton and Supporting the launch of Huggies® Natural Fit nappies,Vitamin E.Kimberly-Clark has launched an integrated marketing campaignincluding the Cuddle Up tour, which will be visitingNew and improved Huggies® Natural Fit nappies providegreat comfort and care for your baby’s delicate skin while the supermarkets nationwide over the next few months.integrated waistband and stretchy ears give a great fit for Brand manager Jennifer Beral said: “To let mums and littleones experience the cuddle soft comfort and care ofHuggies® Natural Fit nappies we’re currently touringthe country with our Cuddle Up campaign.“Alongside a dedicated website (www.cuddleup.co.uk)and sampling activities we will be staging aseries of augmented reality experiences from ourCuddle Up booth, which is a first for Huggies®. Thebooth transports mum and baby into a virtualHuggies® Cuddle Up world and there are some greatprizes up for grabs.“Our aim is to provide a unique experience to helpus engage with consumers, and we’re delighted thatthe first event was a huge success. Cuddle Up eventswill take place nationwide throughout spring.”Spring is finally on its way, andthis traditional cleaning period is theperfect opportunity to freshen uphomes and prepare for the warmermonths ahead.For Spring 2011 Bentley has teamedup with popular disinfectant brandZoflora to offer customers the chanceto win a set of stylish antibacterialHourGlass products together with thebeautiful odour eliminating Zolforadisinfectants that are ideal to use allaround the home.Bentley and Zoflora are offeringcustomers the chance to win 1 of the‘Spring clean’ kits worth £60 (RRP)online (www.bentleybrushware.co.ukor www.zoflora.co.uk) these kitsshould certainly help make cleaningas easy and pleasurable as possible!This brand partnership crosspromotes two essential productranges during a key promotionalperiod.Zoflorawww.zoflora.co.ukwww.bentleybrushware.co.ukOral-B®, the leading brandwithin the UK toothbrush market,has launched ‘Britain’s Brush’, afully integrated campaign, with anon-pack promotion, TV advertising,a media partnership with theSunday Mirror, title sponsorship ofNational Smile Month, as well asonline, print, radio, in-store andstrong consumer and trade PRactivity.Until May 2011, the Oral-B®Professional Care 500 will be brandedwith the Union Jack along with a compellingnew claim that ‘9 out of 10people Oral-B power brush userswouldn’t go back to their ordinarytoothbrush’. The patriotic campaignhas been created to communicate theimportance of a good oral care regimeto get the nation smiling, and in turnsupport sales of Oral-B® rechargeabletoothbrushes.Helen Johnson, Oral Care BusinessLeader at Procter & Gamble, says “Weconducted research amongst Oral-B®rechargeable toothbrush users andfound that nine out of ten peoplewouldn’t go back to their ordinarytoothbrush, which prompted a greatidea for a commercial initiative! We’vefocused the campaign on the Oral-B®Professional Care 500 as sales havedoubled since 2008. With this in mind,we challenge retailers to join the campaignand stock up now to takeadvantage of any additional sales thatwill occur as a result of our ‘Britain’sBrush’ activity.”• 3D cleaning action whichoscillates, pulsates and cupseach tooth removing up to twiceas much plaque as a regularmanual toothbrush• Includes one charging stand, onePrecision Clean brush head andone Floss Action brush head• Professional 4x 30” timer: for aprecise and thorough cleaning• Removed twice as much plaquevs. an ordinary manual toothbrush• Available for £22.50 on half priceuntil May 2011Oral-Bwww.oralb.com/ukHuggies®www.huggiesclub.co.ukKimberley-ClarkTel: 01732 594000SPRING CLEAN WITH BENTLEY AND ZOFLORAORAL-B URGESRETAILERS TO SUPPORT BRITAIN’S BRUSH!WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK/NONFOOD

Page 22 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com RETAIL I.T.Tel: 01923 272960TINYTAG DATA LOGGERSPROVIDE PEACE OF MIND FOR WHIRLPOOL TECHNICIANSIt goes without saying that for firstclass catering health and hygiene areat the top of the agenda and excellentfood and service comes from anexcellent food safety record. HACCPregulations indicate that dishwashersshould remain at no less than 82˚C inorder to suitably sterilise plates, cutleryand cooking utensils.Caterers need to know that theequipment they use and the crockerythey serve from are 100% clean - notonly to add to the presentation of thefood served, but perhaps more importantlyfor health and safety reasons.Correctly monitoring this in anaquatic environment can often provecomplicated, and the hostile environmentof a dishwasher mean thatloggers must be robust and durable.Gemini Data Loggers provide thesolution to this problem by reliablymonitoring temperatures in appliancessuch as dishwashers and ‘potwashes’ through their new andimproved Tinytag data loggers.One company more than familiarwith monitoring temperature isWhirlpool France, who manufacturesdomestic washing and cleaning appliancesand also offers a repair andmaintenance service to customers.Spokesperson Gautier Arnauld DesLions was eager to praise the innovativeTinytag devices and commented:“Not only do our technicians use theloggers in their general work butwe’re also pleased to recommendtheir usage to customers. Our workshoptechnicians also rely on the dataloggers in testing products.”Whirlpool technicians are also benefitingfrom the simplicity the Geminiproducts have to offer, Gautier added:“The loggers are transportable andbattery-operated so technicianshaven't got to visit their customerswith a laptop, they just have to putthe logger in the product for the testand analyse the results back at theoffice. In essence, repairing hasbecome child’s play thanks to theTinytag loggers.”Tinytag data loggers are compact,rugged and robust, meaning they arewell suited to the movements thatoccur in dishwashers. Housed in awaterproof case, the loggers can storereliable data that can be downloadedvia USB or serial cable to the TinytagExplorer software which can creategraphs, tables and reports for inspectionpurposes. This reduces labourtime, and creates minimal disruption,allowing catering companies to get onwith more important jobs with peaceof mind.Gemini Data LoggersEmail: marketing@tinytag.infowww.tinytag.infowww.geminidataloggers.comVERIFONE PAYWARE MOBILE ENTERPRISEREVOLUTIONISES THE POINT OF SALE FOR LARGE RETAILERSSmart devices can be used forsecure card payments and integratedinto PCI compliant retail paymentsplatforms.With PAYware Mobile Enterprise,VeriFone has answered UK merchants’call for a cost-effective way to integratemobile smart devices into the retail environment;allowing them to providesecure payment facilities anywhere in thestore, without large-scale infrastructureinvestment. The solution featuresVeriFone’s secure card encryption reader,which slots onto a smart device.Incorporating the smart card reader,EMV PIN pad and a 2D bar code scanner,this enables the smart device to quicklyand efficiently perform card transactionsas well as inventory control tasks.Key attributes of PAYware MobileEnterprise:• PAYware Mobile Enterpriseintegrates with existing in-storePOS systems to enable newin-store mobile applications, tooptimise sales opportunities andensure effective positioning ofPOS resources• Retailers can also use VeriFone’sPAYware Merchant ManagedService as part of the PAYwareMobile Enterprise solution forquick and efficient cardauthorisation and settlement.• In addition, it features built-incontactless payment capability totake advantage of anticipatedrollouts of contactless and NFCpayments within the UK.• PAYware Mobile Enterpriseincorporates VeriFone’s end-toendencryption software tocompletely protect cardholderdata right at the instant of cardacceptance and keep it protectedthroughout the entire transaction.No sensitive card data is everstored on the smart device.Tony Saunders, Marketing Directorof VeriFone comments: “PAYwareMobile Enterprise allows retailers tocapitalise on the availability of lowcost Wi-Fi smart devices transformingthem into secure mobile POS systemscomplete with secure PIN pad and 2Dbarcode scanner. Able to integratewith the shop’s own payment system,transactions can take place whereverthey are needed with ease.”“In the past, the high cost of traditionalPOS systems has restrictedretailers to the till-point. WithPAYware Mobile Enterprise, VeriFonehas slashed hardware costs; makingmobile checkouts accessible to agreater cross section of merchants. Byexploiting stylish consumer smartdevices, the solution will appeal toretailers who want to enhance theirbrand image and provide a ‘wow’factor at checkout. It also opens upopportunities for retailers to developcomplimentary value-added apps,such as loyalty, inventory andcouponing programmes that can beloaded onto smart devices.”VeriFone believes that the ability tooffer payments anywhere in the store,using an innovative mobile POS, willoffer retailers a new competitive toolto engage with the consumer andbring a significant sales advantage.www.verifone.com/payware-mobileenterpriseVeriFone Systems, Inc.www.verifone.comDELIVERY TEMPERATURE RECORDERTH2 LABEL PRINTER FROM SATOOFFERS REVOLUTIONARY FUNCTIONALITY FOR THE RETAIL SECTORThe DTR (Delivery TemperatureRecorder) printing thermometer hasbeen designed specifically with thefood industry in mind. The DTRprovides users with hard copy evidenceof temperature and associateddata of produce at the time ofdelivery or during storage.The DTR printing thermometermeasures temperatures over the rangeof -39.9 to 149.9°C with a 0.1°C resolutionand a 0.5°C system accuracy. TheDTR is housed in a robust ABS case thatincorporates a Lumberg screw-lockingtype connector, allowing a wide range ofinterchangeable thermistor probes to beused. The unit is fully portable as eachDTR is powered by a efficient, rechargeable,Ni-MH battery, allowing the userto print up to 500 tickets per charge.Utilising the DTR’s computer software,each printout/ticket can bepersonalised by management, with acompany name, address and logo. Thesoftware is programmable to sethigh/low alarms for up to four differentfood types, i.e. chilled, frozen, hot orambient, and “accept” or “reject” messagescan be printed, if required. At theend of each day or week an audit trail,in the form of a comma separated orExcel file, can be downloaded from theDTR relating to all the tickets printed inthe given period and for future analysis.The DTR is supplied with software,a battery charger, two rolls of paperand a wall-mounting boot housed in arobust ABS carrying case. Priced at£325 plus carriage and VAT, the DTRis a competitive solution for recordingthe temperature of deliveries.ETITel: 01903 202151www.etiltd.comSATO, an international leader in the AutomaticIdentification and Data Collection (AIDC) industry and aleader in barcode printing, labelling, and EPC/RFID solutionshas launched the revolutionary new TH2 label printerwhich has been pre-programmed specifically for the retailsector to offer portable, intelligent printing.Lightweight and portable the TH2 is particularly suited tothe retail environment as no training is needed due to its intuitivefunctions, which allow users to immediately producelabels for 10 popular label formats including: Price, VATChange, Reduced, Sale, ‘Was/Now’ and barcodes.Many retail outlets currently handle price markdownsusing pre-printed labels. This inflexible approach resultsin, at best, non-uniform price reduction informationbeing communicated to customers and, at worst,loss of profits as staff struggle to make percentagecalculations or implement markdowns accurately.The TH2 already comes equipped tohandle powerful price markdown functionality.Using an optional handheld scanner the TH2can print ‘Was’ and ‘Now’ prices with percentagediscount information set automatically onto a tagor label. On VAT labels, the calculations are completelyautomatic.Designed with versatility in mind, desk spacerequired to accommodate the TH2 is only 5” x 8” or12.7cm x 20.32 cm and the printer can be fullyportable using the battery option, which is a rechargeablelithium-ion battery allowing between 4000 and5000 labels to be printed from a single charge. The TH2 featuresa large in-built keypad, so there’s no need for a PC inclose proximity. It also has an anti-microbial casing to preventbacterial cross contamination and has a wide, adjustable LCDscreen display which offers mobile phone type, intuitiveoperation.With SATO always aware of price sensitivity, users will beimpressed that despite its market-leading technical specificationthe TH2 stands alone and there are no other products inits price bracket which offer such innovative features andbenefits.Speaking about the launch of the TH2 solution, SATOInternational Europe’s Managing Director, Brian Lang said,“For those working in the ultra-competitive retail sector theTH2 represents a real problem solving solution and can saveretailers time and money with its pre-programmed functionality.Not only is the price very attractive but the ease of useand ability to begin creating label formats straight away cangive retailers a real flexibility of response while maintainingtotalcontrolof theirpricing”.The TH2has a carryinghandle as standardand a range of accessoriesis available such asa keypad cover, a hangingwall mount and a label cutter. Rolls of labels areincluded with the printer so you can get to workstraight away.In addition, SATO’s technical help-team can assist withlabel designs carrying your own logo or message and canadvise on further extending the functions of the TH2 printerto suit your business’s needs; for example, a product databasefacility could be included with this solution.SATOTel: 0125 524 0000Email: enquiries @satouk.comwww.satouk.comWWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK/IT

April 2011 Page 23Tel: 01923 272960INDUSTRY DATES3 - 4 April - Natural & Organic Products Europe 2011, Olympia, London. www.naturalproducts.co.ukINDUSTRY NEWS6 April - FreeFrom Food Awards 2011, London. www.foodsmatter.com10 - 12 May - Vitafoods Europe 2011 at GENEVA PALEXPO, Switzerland. www.vitafoods.eu.com17 - 19 May - The London International Wine Fair, ExCeL London. www.londonwinefair.com/23-29 May - National Vegetarian Week. www.vegsoc.org15 - 19 June - The Good Food Show Summer, NEC Birmingham. www.bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com28 - 30 June - London Seafood Expo, Earls Court. www.londonseafoodexpo.com2 - 6 August - Great British Beer Festival - 2011, Earls Court, London. gbbf.camra.org.uk4 - 6 September 2011 - Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2011, Olympia, London. www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk22-23 September - 360ºIT Show, Earls Court. www.360itevent.com27-29 September - PPMA, NEC Birmingham. www.ppmashow.co.uk17-19 October - RAC11 and H&V11 at the NEC. www.best-show.co.uk www.best-show.co.uk16-17 November - World Fruit & Vegetable Show, ExCeL, London. www.wfvexpo.com16-17 November - Seventh UK Onion & Carrot Conference and Exhibition. www.onionandcarrotconference.co.uk23-24 November - Own Label Show, Hotel Ibis, Earls Court. www.ownlabelshow.co.uk25 February - 28 March 2012 - Food & Drink Expo, NEC Birmingham. www.foodanddrinkexpo.com14-15 March 2012 - RAC Exhibition, Ricoh Arena. Tel: 01293 851115 or Email: anna.forster@wildwoodpr.co.uk25 - 28 March 2012 - Foodex Meatex 2012, NEC Birmingham. www.william-reed.co.uk/default.aspx?page=products&ID=45OTHER DATESApr 2 RACING - William Hill Lincoln, DoncasterApr 2 CRICKET - ICC World Cup final, MumbaiApr 2-3 MOTOR SPORT - Touring Car Championship, Brands HatchApr 2-3 ICE HOCKEY - Elite League play-off finals, NottinghamApr 3 FOOTBALL – Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, WembleyApr 3 MOTOR SPORT - Touring Car Championship, ArgentinaApr 5-6 FOOTBALL – Champions League quarter-finals first legsApr 5-10 GYMNASTICS - Artistic European Championships, BerlinApr 7 FOOTBALL – Europa League quarter-finals first legsApr 7-10 GOLF - The Masters, Augusta National, GeorgiaApr 8-11 CRICKET - LV= County Championship opening matchesApr 8-10 RUGBY UNION - Heineken and Amlin Cup quarter-finalsApr 9 RACING - John Smith's Grand National, AintreeApr 10 FORMULA ONE – Malaysian GP, SepangApr 10 MOTOR SPORT - Indycar Series, Birmingham, AlabamaApr 10 BASKETBALL - BBL regular season endsCROSSWORDAcross1 Leave West Country banker without arecord (6)4 Unimportant if the verb isintransitive (2,6)9 Stop legal detention (6)10 Lawbreaker sees purpose inproposal (8)12 Either way, its a mistake (4)13 Maureen is offered tea or coffee (5)14 In the bazaar I acquired items for asong (4)17 EEC standard currency in Germanyand in France (6,6)20 Sue has to fetch youngsters in care (5,7)23 Appeal to prohibit port in Scotland (4)24 Road and rail transport (5)25 Way old architect initiallyconstructed a colonnade (4)28 Mould a bird in mental? No way! (6,2)29 Hardy partner is evergreen (6)30 Heather chases Loma’s John. That’spuzzling (8)31 Excelled as an international player (6)Difficulty Level:Down1 Retreat is clearly no advantage (8)2 Sorry! What did you say? (6,2)3 Charge and overcharge (4)5 Confidentially, it’s not on the disc (3,3,6)6 Complaint offensive to a vegetarian (4)7 Trees planted by Mormon officials (6)8 Mongolian sailors (6)11 Aim to condemn? Quite otherwise! (12)15 Alluring lady appears sixty minutesafter midnight (5)16 Dunderhead upset wise Frenchartist (5)18 Communist disinformation offers afool support (8)19 Jack was sick after being attacked (8)21 Speaker makes court umpire rise (6)22 Loathing headgear of scarlet hue (6)26 Some cad made a lady pine (4)27 A little upset when given the facts (4)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 boxshould contain the digits 1 to 9. - To solve the puzzles, go to www.sudokusolver.co.uk.Apr 10 ICE HOCKEY - NHL regular season endsApr 11-17 TENNIS - ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, Monte CarloApr 12-13 FOOTBALL – Champions League quarter-finals 2nd legsApr 13 BASKETBALL - NBA regular season endsApr 14 FOOTBALL – Europa League quarter-finals second legsApr 14-17 RALLYING - Jordanian RallyApr 16 RACING - Coral Scottish Grand National, AyrApr 16 BASKETBALL - NBA play-offs beginApr 16-17 FOOTBALL – FA Cup semi-finals, WembleyApr 16-17 FOOTBALL – Scottish FA Cup semi-finalsApr 16-17 TENNIS - Fed Cup semi-finals & play-offsApr 16-17 MOTOR RACING - British Touring Car ChampionshipApr 16-May 2 SNOOKER – World Championship, SheffieldApr 17 FORMULA ONE – Chinese GP, ShanghaiApr 17 MOTORCYCLING - World Superbikes, Assen, HollandApr 17 MOTOR SPORT - Indycar Series, Long Beach, CaliforniaMARCH SOLUTIONS - ACROSS: 1 Chancier 5 Shrewd 9 Enmeshed 10 Arrant 12 Resume 13 Negation 15 Dreamer 16 Left 20 Anti 21 Straits 25 Toreador 26 Advent 28 Origin29 Advocate 30 Signet 31 Persists DOWN: 1 Cherry 2 Almost 3 Cashmere 4 Ever 6 Herbal 7 Examiner 8 Detonate 11 General 14 Caution 17 Factions 18 Starting 19 Studious22 Facile 23 Debars 24 Stress 27 EdgeSUDOKU54611627273Difficulty Level:32189342245SPONSORED BY CELLARVINO - www.cellarvino.comPost your completed entries to: The Grocery Trader Crossword,12 Kings Park, Primrose Hill, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8STSPONSORED BY CELLARVINO - www.cellarvino.comPost your completed entries to: The Grocery Trader Sudoku,12 Kings Park, Primrose Hill, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8ST4 175 99161 23 4 4 5 6 78912172021 22232830479862031152671Difficulty Level:13118741024 2525461129311954252381627914182318 1926751Email: grocery@flame1.comMINTEL REPORTSFOR FURTHER REPORTS GO TO WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK/MINTELORAL HEALTHCAREWhile the economy may provide little to smile about, new research from Mintel finds UKshoppers are brushing up on their oral hygiene routines as sales of oral hygiene productshave grown by as much as 12% over the past five years. And it seems the nations mouthshave never been cleaner, as the research finds sales of mouthwash have increased aspectacular 44% in the last five years alone, making mouthwash the fastest growing sectorin the oral hygiene market.Over the past 10 years, sales of mouthwash, rinses and breath fresheners have surged.Back in 2000, around a third (32%) of Brits swilled back the stuff. Today, this has risen tomore than half the nation (55%) with sales more than doubling in the past decade, from£75 million in 2000 to £158 million in 2010. The bulk of these sales (84%) are made up ofnon-medicated washes (£132 million) while the remainder is made up of the medicatedvariety (£26 million).The market for mouthwash benefits from being easy and quick-to-use with instant results.Often, mouthwash is the first step adults take when extending their oral hygiene routinebeyond basic cleaning with a toothbrush and toothpaste. The increase in use of mouthwashsuggests that consumers are becoming more open to ramping up their oral hygieneroutines.Valued at £833 million in 2010, total sales of oral hygiene have grown by as much as 12%over the past 5 years from £729 million in 2005. The market is made up of toothpaste(£353 million), toothbrushes (£237 million), mouthwash (£158 million), denture products(£42 million) and ancillaries( £43 million).Overall, less than a quarter of the population (23%) visit a hygienist once a year. Bycontrast, 72% visit a dentist at least once annually. Worryingly, today as many as 17%(almost 9 million) consumers do not brush their teeth at least once a day.Another key area of growth for the industry has been electric toothbrushes* (includestoothbrush heads and electric toothbrushes), which now accounts for almost 40% (38%)of toothbrushes sold. Valued at £90 million in 2010, sales of electric brushes have zoomedtheir way in to the nation’s bathroom with sales increasing 25% between 2005 (£72million) and 2010. Meanwhile, sales of manual toothbrushes fell 4% over the same fiveyear period from £153 million in 2005 to £147 million in 2010. Overall, total toothbrushsales increased 5% over the past five years to reach £237 million in 2010.Electric brushes are gradually stealing share from the manual variety. While use oftoothpaste is nearing 100% in the UK, growth opportunities remain for tooth brushes asconsumers continue to hold on to brushes longer than they should. Encouraging people tochange their manual toothbrushes or power toothbrush heads more often could help tocreate significant growth in the coming years.Finally the research shows how the nation is not only using dental regimens as a firewallagainst cavities, plaque and bad breath, but as a necessary step to achieving a Hollywoodstylesmile.TEATea is quintessentially British, an answer to the nation's problems and a ritualistic traditionupheld for generations. New research from Mintel finds all this could be about to change asthe next generation of drinkers turn their back on the traditional cuppa. While 88% of Britsaged over 65 drink tea, penetration drops to 73% for younger (15-34 year-old) adults. Withever increasing competition in the soft drink sector and more consumers dropping out ofthe category than are actually entering it, the next generation of traditional tea drinkersmay be in jeopardy.Today's younger consumers are less enamoured with “traditional English tea” than theirolder counterparts - just over half of 16-24 year olds (53%) drink tea regularly (i.e. at leastonce a week), compared to 68% of over 55s. As a result, despite tea having a largepenetration in the UK market with eight in ten UK adults drinking it, tea has beenexperiencing a long-term decline in usage. Indeed, the proportion of UK adults who drinktea has dropped from 87% in 2006 to 81% in 2010 - at a time when overall soft drinksrevenue is on the increase.With the market value of tea currently standing at £647 million, the standard (or“traditional English breakfast”) tea segment which accounts for by far the majority (89%)of the value sales in the tea market, has seen declining volume sales as a result of failing toresonate as strongly with the younger generation as it does with the old. Instead, thisgeneration are much more likely to be among the 23% of the population who drinkstandard “English breakfast” tea alongside newer varieties such as herbal/fruit tea (e.g.green tea/rooibos) and speciality (e.g. Assam, Earl Grey) teas.And it seems the decline is not attributable to economic uncertainty either. Ironically, therecent economic downturn has been a short term help to sales. While value sales continueto rise due to rising commodity prices, volume sales from 2005-08 declined 5% (from82.5m kgs to 78.5m), but 2008/10 saw an 8% increase to 84.6m as consumers spent moretime at home and took solace in cheap indulgences - especially ones as psychologicallyreassuring as standard tea.Meanwhile, herbal tea hit the £80m mark for the first time in 2010 (up from £73m in 2009)and has grown its share of the market to stand at 11%. However, Mintel’s research revealsthat almost a third (31%) of standard tea drinkers do not believe in the health benefits ofherbal/fruit teas, which is a problem for a niche sector trying to broaden its user base. 71%cited inferior taste compared to standard tea as the main reason, with over half claiming tohave tried them but not liked them, 51% saying that they simply do not taste good and 31%claiming they do not taste of anything. However, among consumers who drink herbal teas,there is a belief of numerous advantages: some 57% saydrinking them helps them to relax, 75% like their range offlavours and 64% believe in their health benefits.FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.MINTEL.COMCONTACT DETAILSPublished by Grandflame Limited - www.grandflame.co.uk:12 Kings Park, Primrose Hill, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD4 8ST.Tel: 01923 272960 Fax: 01923 270760 Email: grocery@flame1.com www.grocerytrader.co.ukEditor: Charles Smith Tel: 01923 272962 Email: grocery@flame1.comPublisher: James Surridge Tel: 01923 272965 Email: grocery@flame1.comEditorial Sales: Charles Smith Tel: 01923 272960 Email: grocery@flame1.comAdvertising Sales: Graeme Walker Tel: 0208 441 7148 Email: walker@flame1.comDesign - Magazine: Andy Page Tel: 01923 272932 Email: andy@flame1.comDesign - Web: James Plough Tel: 01923 272965 Email: grocery@flame1.comAccounts: Nancy Newberry Tel: 01923 272998 Email: grocery@flame1.comSubscriptions: Brian McAdam Tel: 01923 272998 Email: brian@flame1.comPress Release Email: grocery@flame1.comISSN Number - 1356-5419The Grocery Trader is published 12 times a year by Grandflame Ltd. Although every effort is made to ensure theaccuracy and reliability of material published in The Grocery Trader, Grandflame Ltd and their Agents can acceptno responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright for allmaterial published in this journal remains with Grandflame Ltd and their Agents. © Grandflame Ltd. 2009WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK