On 4th June the local retailing industry in Scotland gathered in Glasgow for the SLR Rewards. Giacopazzi’s in Milnathort was named Scottish Local Retailer of the Year, while 17 other awards were handed out. In this special feature we look at what made the winners stand out.
In the 13 years that the SLR Rewards have been on the go, the convenience industry has gone through monumental changes and these only seem to have accelerated in the last two or three years. To be an award winner in 2015 means reaching new heights in convenience retailing; stores must have adapted to this new world, in which sophisticated category management, technology and analysis of EPoS data are critical to success.
The judging panel at this year’s Rewards faced some incredibly difficult decisions, such was the overall standard of entries. The on-the-road judging was an enlightening and inspirational process and selecting winners was not an easy task.
The 18 category winners are a snap shot of everything that is excellent about local retailing in Scotland in 2015, and our winners thoroughly deserve the Rewards they took home as part of our innovative awards system that sees each winner collect a tangible Reward that recognises the hard work they’ve put in over the last 12 months.
This year’s Rewards saw Joanna and Franck Casonato’s Nisa store Giacopazzi’s win Scottish Local Retailer of the Year. As part of their prize, Joanna will be heading for a five-day trip to Las Vegas, courtesy of SLR and category sponsor JTI.
So, what made the store a winner?
Firstly, it looks amazing. A recent refit that was carried out at huge personal expense to the owners last summer has created a bright, clean shopping environment that is easy to navigate, but with plenty of disruption points – from a theatrical wooden cart near the front of the store that displays fresh rolls and cakes from a local baker, to the huge array of wines in stock as a result of Franck’s passionate commitment to the category.
The store encapsulates everything a modern convenience store should be, with a strong chilled range and a keen focus on food-to-go. The store also delivers a number of unique propositions to draw customers from near and far. Creating a USP is a much-lauded method for driving footfall and with the home-made ice cream that has been a staple of Giacopazzi’s since its inception in 1910 as an ice-cream parlour, the shop has a USP like no other.
The store and its team also play an active role in the local Milnathort community, and Joanna and Franck have also embraced the future by making use of cutting-edge technology such as solar panels to reduce their costs and their carbon footprint.
JTI Head of Communications, Jeremy Blackburn says: “JTI was absolutely delighted to be headline sponsor of this year’s SLR Rewards and we are thrilled to be sending Joanna of Giacopazzi & Co to Las Vegas in October. It’s a fantastic Reward for a fantastic store that’s over 100 years old and I’m sure Joanna and Franck will pick up lots of great ideas and inspiration at the NACS Conference to bring back and implement in Milnathort.
“The store has been transformed in the last year and it’s so encouraging to see retailers investing in their business and preparing themselves for the future.”
Despite strong competition, the judges were unanimous in naming the store Scottish Local Retailer of Year, impressed not only with the strength of its best points, but the depth of quality throughout the store, from the layout to the queue management system and a strong range of on-trend ranges such as craft beer.
The passion and commitment shown by Joanna and Franck is clear to see in the store, and there won’t be many retailers who would leave Giacopazzi’s without an idea or two up their sleeve for their own store.
Beer Retailer of the Year
Winner: Day Today Beith
Shortlist: Spar Glamis Centre, Glenrothes; Spar Renfrew
Zac and Sak Gosal’s new build store in Beith is first rate and their beer offering is second to none, complete with a walk in refrigerated ‘beer cave’. It’s bright, it’s well stocked and shows how innovation can really make a difference in-store. Zac and Sak know their customers and the range reflects this well, with standard and premium multi-packs dominating. On top of this, there’s a decent range of craft beer and plenty of cider to keep customers happy. Impressively, there’s even a stack of water and an ice freezer within the beer fixture to encourage responsible drinking.
Biscuit Retailer of the Year
Winner: Spar Abronhill, Cumbernauld
Shortlist: Best-One at Brownlies, Biggar; Spar St Andrews
The biscuit category at Spar Abronhill is immaculately managed, with a perfect main fixture supported by multi-siting around the store, including a lot of promotional activity on NPD. Merchandised to the company-owned store Spar planogram, the main fixture ticks all of the important boxes, bringing together an extensive but targeted range with effective use of POS and signage. The promotional programme invariably features biscuits and helps drive interest around the store while siting the main fixture adjacent to other relevant categories like teas and coffees helps boost basket spend.
Bread & Bakery Retailer of the Year
Winner: Giacopazzi & Co (Nisa), Milnathort
Shortlist: Pinkie Farm Convenience Store (Nisa), Musselburgh; Scotfresh Denny
Following a refit, the bread fixture at Giacopazzi’s was moved to a more prominent space opposite milk as part of a ‘morning mission’ section. The store also complements its branded range with local breads while loose rolls are available in six varieties on an attractive dual-sited fixture. A wooden cart right at the front of Giacopazzi’s offers fresh pastries and cakes, acting a great disruptive piece of theatre. And lastly, chilled and ambient cakes are also held behind the counter for those last-minute impulse buys.
Confectionery Retailer of the Year
Winner: Premier Broadway Convenience Store, Edinburgh
Shortlist: Day Today Beith; Spar Thornliebank, Glasgow
No stranger to winning SLR Rewards, Dennis and Linda Williams have rebuilt their entire fixture from scratch with a much simpler, more uniform shelf structure. What has been key is that the multi-award winning couple Dennis & Linda Williams have paid close attention to advice from suppliers and have worked with them to create the confectionery fixture. The couple took the bold step to delist a huge number of lines as part of a hugely revamped range, all based on accurate up to date data. The result is a significant increase in sales and profits, and another award for the mantelpiece.
Crisps & Snacks Retailer of the Year
Winner: Premier Broadway Convenience Store, Edinburgh
Shortlist: Scotfresh Denny; Spar Thornliebank, Glasgow
After identifying a need to drive value into the crisps category, Dennis & Linda Williams worked with suppliers to entirely overhaul their range, and how it was merchandised. Since the changes were made, value has been driven into the category, illustrated by the number of branded products overtaking sales of own-label, without any reduction in sales of own-label. The fixture is well-merchandised, with sharing bags in an opposite aisle to the main fixture to make the most of a Big Night In fixture. The store also goes big on in-store theatre, making the most of any occasion.
Making the Most of Milk
Winner: Spar Boswell Park, Ayr
Shortlist: Scotfresh Denny; Spar Charlotte Dundas, Grangemouth
In the winning store, a five shelf, 1.5 metre milk fixture is clearly visible from the door. Well merchandised and stocked, it maintains the high standards seen throughout the store. The range perfectly suits the store – covering three-litre jugs to 250ml cartons. Staff are well-versed in procedures for facing up (on the hour), cleaning (twice a day) and handling deliveries (milk first). The planogram sits almost symmetrically, with big sellers at eye level. Point of sale is strong and chillers look great, with closed doors helping on this front.
Newstrade Retailer of the Year
Winner: Spar Leven Street, Motherwell
Shortlist: The Candy Store, Coatbridge; Spar Barrhead Road, Glasgow
One of the most enthusiastic retailers in the business, Omar Nasir and his team have routinely refreshed their newstrade offering. As well as growing its already large home news delivery network, the store has invested heavily in the last 12 months. A new magazine rack has been added that presents the range much more attractively, while an updated news rack sits right next to it, by the front door, ensuring that everyone arriving looking for a newspaper doesn’t have to work hard to find it. The signage is neat and tidy and the fixtures themselves are clearly checked regularly.
Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year
Winner: L&A Stores, Aberdeen
Shortlist: Kilbowie Road Keystore, Clydebank; Spar Boswell Park, Ayr; Spar Thornliebank, Glasgow
This small Aberdeen store has a deceptively impressive soft drinks offering. Housed in neat, closed door chillers immediately in front of the entrance, the fixture is well managed and has to be when dealing with a relatively small range, which is impeccably merchandised. Full use of the BevTrac system – along with closed door chillers – make the entire fixture hugely attractive as well as energy efficient. Frequent range reviews and EPoS analysis allow Leslie Kilminster to ensure he keeps on top of the category.
Spirits Retailer of the Year
Winner: The Good Spirits Company, Glasgow
Shortlist: Balmacara Stores; Nisa Extra Western Road, Glasgow
A dedicated off-licence, the Good Spirits Company is a joy to visit for fans of all manner of spirits, which perhaps explains why its clientele is so fiercely loyal. Boasting one of the most expansive and interesting range of spirits anywhere in the UK, from whisky to rum and everything in between GSC is simply beautiful and highlights how a strong USP can make a business. Oak shelving, vinyl LP background music, staff who love their jobs; The Good Spirits Company is an inspirational store that values quality over quantity and premium over promo.
Community Involvement Retailer of the Year
Winner: Hardthorn Stores (Premier), Dumfries
Shortlist: Londis Crianlarich; Pinkie Farm Convenience Store (Nisa), Musselburgh
This Premier store has been serving its local community for over 40 years and is the hub of the community. The store raises money for local charities and organises a local events to support the local people who need it. Retailer Euan Fraser has long been known as the ‘go-to guy’ for anyone on the area looking to get a community project off the ground or step in when personal disaster strikes, as it did in the last year for a member of Euan’s team.
Food To Go Retailer of the Year
Winner: Nisa Local David’s Kitchen, Glenrothes
Shortlist: Pinkie Farm Convenience Store (Nisa), Musselburgh; Scotmid Ratho
The scale of ambition in this store is inspiring. Having established the David’s Kitchen brand in David Sands stores, before selling, Sands has teamed up with former manager Keith Fernie to establish a c-store with food to go at its heart. The array of foods coming from the kitchen team includes a range of meals for home-heating. There’s a hot food counter, fresh sandwiches and home-made soups sold in tubs. The service area is well-designed, with chalkboard signs giving an authentic feel.
Fresh & Chilled Retailer of the Year
Winner: Pinkie Farm Convenience Store (Nisa), Musselburgh
Shortlist: Cot House Services (Premier), Dunoon; Nisa Local David’s Kitchen, Glenrothes
Placing the fresh category at the entrance creates a positive, inviting feeling at Pinkie Farm, which is exactly in line with Colin Smith’s retail ethos. The fruit and veg looks fantastic, with vibrant colours held in wooden crates. Open sacks of potatoes continue the ‘farm’ feel of the shop, while within attractive chillers there is an enormous range of chilled produce, including local butcher meat and pies, among others. This fantastic area is clearly key to the store’s success.
Best New Store / Best Refit of the Year
Winner (New Store): Pinkie Farm Convenience Store (Nisa), Musselburgh
Winner (Refit): Giacopazzi & Co (Nisa)
Shortlist: Mitchells of Newburgh (Costcutter); Scotmid Moredun
Such was the strength of this category that judges decided to split it in two. At Pinkies, this hugely impressive new build in Musselburgh is a glimpse into the future of local retailiing. Built from the ground up, the store has been designed specifically to the specifications of manager Colin Smith and his knowledge of retailing is evident in every detail. A Nisa store, Pinkie Farm covers every base from a great hot food offering to a massive fresh and chilled range. There’s a coffee station, some non-food, a massive grocery range and everything else in between.
At Giacopazzi’s, progress never stops. The store is something of an institution in the area but Joanna and Franck Casonato’s philosophy is that if you’re not moving forward you’re falling behind. A full scale refit last year saw them plough a significant sum into the store. Famous for ice cream and wines, the store now boasts the best chilled, hot food, craft beer and spirits ranges in the area.
Responsible Retailer of the Year
Winner: Family Shopper Lochside, Ayr
Shortlist: Day Today Maryhill, Glasgow; Premier Broadway Convenience Store, Edinburgh
The first Family Shopper store in Scotland, Sukhi and Jarnail Sangha’s store is found in one of the most difficult areas in Ayrshire with high unemployment, drug and alcohol problems and social issues. With that in mind the team at Family Shopper go to extraordinary lengths to work with the local community and educate them on an array of vital areas. Communication lies at the heart of the approach: helping customers make better choices has been more successful than refusals.
Best Use of Technology
Winner: Kincraig Stores
Shortlist: Spar Renfrew
Calum Duncan has a real passion for using technology to help improve his business. It’s certainly not something you would expect from what is a small village shop. However beneath the bonnet there are a number of moving parts. Aside from making the most of his EPoS, Calum has shown innovation by becoming the first Scottish retailer to sign up to We Deliver Local, and beyond this he very actively uses social media – both through his own website and a Facebook page which encourages community engagement. All of this activity comes from Calum himself, and has helped drive awareness of the store.
Employee of the Year
Winner: Susan Dunn, Spar Carnoustie
Shortlist: Malcolm McIntosh, Spar Balmullo; Shona Cockburn, Spar Thornton
Susan is a hugely impressive member of staff, with an ambition to match her workrate and dedication that will no doubt see her become a manager of the future. Having started working as a part-time early morning member of staff, Susan is currently a senior supervisor and is very professional and focused. She’s also a community councillor and plays an active role in her community, which has helped her relationship with shoppers. Susan is a fine example of the importance of having diligent, friendly staff who know how important it is to drive sales, as well as establish relationships with customers.
Special Recognition
Winner: John Drummond
Until earlier this year John Drummond served as Chief Executive of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation. His retirement for personal reasons may have come as a surprise to industry colleagues, however his contribution to the local retailing industry in Scotland makes him a worthwhile winner of this year’s Special Recognition Award. During his tenure at the SGF Drummond saw the organisation through major changes such as the Licensing Act (Scotland) 2005, the tobacco display ban and the Scottish independence referendum. He played a major role in making the Association more of a political force and also helped develop the SGF Healthy Living Programme, which he continues to work with in a part-time capacity.
