GroceryAid Scotland’s first ever Checkout Scotland music festival was a massive success last month with over 600 industry colleagues gathering for an event to be remembered.
By Antony Begley
It was two years in the planning but last month’s Checkout Scotland was a huge success on every count for the GroceryAid Scotland Committee whose unbelievable efforts were more than rewarded with an event that will surely goes down as a highlight of this year’s industry calendar.
It also perfectly set the scene for next year’s event and work has already begun on Checkout Scotland 2023, with the date set for 31 August for what is likely to be an even bigger and even more impressive return.
Over 600 industry colleagues gathered at Barras Art & Design to enjoy a day of live music, DJs and fun – a much-needed day to relax and kick back after another very challenging year for the trade.
Despite being held at the start of September, the weather was mercifully kind with the sun shining throughout the day, allowing attendees to make full use of the outdoor space as well as the main arena.
Headline acts included Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Feeling and Scouting for Girls while DJ sets from Rebecca Vasmant, Cassi and George Bowie – and our very own Jim Harper, co-chair of the GroceryAid Scotland committee – made sure that everyone had a banging day out.
Massive support
The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of a ‘who’s who’ list of industry suppliers including AG Barr, headline sponsor for the event.
Countless activations on the day allowed revellers to sample a wonderful and occasionally weird selection of products, tuck into some amazing food and generally have a cracking day out among friends and industry colleagues from both the convenience and grocery retailing sectors.
Company rivalries were put to one side for the day and the industry simply set out to have a fantastic time – and help keep putting GroceryAid on the map in Scotland.
Awareness opportunity
Jim Harper of One-O-One Convenience Stores and co-chair of the GroceryAid Scotland Committee commented: “I think everyone that attended will agree that Checkout Scotland was just a truly fantastic event. It was so much fun, and it was so good to be able to bring the convenience and grocery sectors together for a special day.
“First and foremost, the event was created to help raise awareness of GroceryAid and the fantastic work that the charity does for industry colleagues who have fallen on hard times – and we know there are many of those. The demand for GroceryAid’s services is, unfortunately, at an all-time high. Events like Checkout Scotland help make sure that more people know that there is somewhere they can turn if they ever need help of any kind, be that emotionally or financially. GroceryAid provides all of its services absolutely free of charge, so it’s vital that the industry comes together on days like this to help ensure that the charity is able to help everyone who contacts them.”
Joint co-chair of the GroceryAid Scotland Committee Peter Steel added: “Checkout Scotland was the result of a huge, huge effort by the Scottish Committee, and we would like to thank every single one of them. They have helped massively increase awareness of GroceryAid and how it can help our industry colleagues and that represents a step-change. The more people that know they can turn to GroceryAid if they need to the better.
“It was a brilliant day. We will definitely back next year and we hope to make it even bigger and even more memorable. I would encourage anyone who wants to get involved either by sponsoring Checkout Scotland 2023 in some way or just to buy tickets, to get in touch by emailing checkout@groceryaid.org.uk today.”
