Easter retail strategy: Driving sales with premium & alternative products

Making the most of the premium opportunity

Easter retail strategy: Driving sales with premium & alternative products - Intro Image 1

Preparing for a premium Easter

More than four in five UK adults (84%) plan to celebrate Easter.

And while the need to offer value is as prominent for retailers as ever, Easter will see shoppers treat themselves a little bit more. In fact, retailers have reported they’ve already experienced high sales of impulse lines, such as Cadbury Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs.

Easter purchasing will only increase as we approach mid-April, so there’s a clear opportunity to encourage trade up and boost premium sales.

To maximise Easter sales, timing is everything. It’s critical to understand when to stock different types of Easter products and when you’re likely to see high demand.

Both Jeet Bansi, owner of Meon Vale Londis in Stratford-upon-Avon and Avtar (Sid) Sidhu, of St John’s Budgens in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, believe shoppers will buy Easter eggs at the last minute, and are more likely to trade up as a result.

Sidhu says: “The vast majority of our sales this year will be the week before Easter Sunday, as customers will be waiting for payday. It’s also so they don’t eat them before Easter Sunday – or break them and have to buy more.”

In-store activations are at the core of Sidhu’s Easter strategy, which he says encourages customers to trade up.

“Make sure promotions are activated to help capture the moment and imagination of the consumer. These then become your marketing tool for Facebook,” he says.

“Seasonal displays need to be changed throughout the season, otherwise customers will get bored of seeing the same products. Keep it fresh and current.”

Sidhu runs four-week promotional cycles and in the leadup to Easter he’ll update his promotional gondola ends in accordance with different events. Having just finished Valentine’s Day, he’ll switch to Mother’s Day next before changing the display back to Easter.

Strike a balance between value and premium

The goal for retailers is to offer something for everyone and provide the choice to buy premium options, as evidenced by Bansi.

“Chocolate as a whole is going up in price, giving a slightly premium angle in this sense,” he explains. “But we’ve always done Easter lines by having an entry level, such as Cadbury or KitKat, and then expanding towards premium options, like Lindt and Ferrero.”

Bansi says what you stock will be determined by your demographic but adds the majority of stores will need to stock a wide selection of eggs. He recommends checking the market through trade media and wholesalers or by visiting nearby retailers.

“We took advantage of the pre-sale from Londis and introduced Easter lines mid-December. We’re now introducing value lines and by the end of February, we’ll have our premium lines on the shelf, too,” he says.

Use the right wholesaler to find niche products

Most stores will likely stock Cadbury, Nestlé and Mars Easter lines, but there’s a whole host of customer needs to cater for, including those who have dietary requirements, such as gluten-free or dairy-free.

As a result, retailers have an opportunity to expand their seasonal range offering with alternative lines that offer a point of difference.

Here’s our recommendation of premium and alternative speciality Easter lines that can deliver for you this spring:

Easter retail strategy: Driving sales with premium & alternative products - Mid Blog Break Image

Expand your Easter offering to more than chocolate

Easter is a time for gathering with loved ones and the main meal on the Sunday remains an important tradition to many shoppers. A roast is the top pick among consumers, with 51% opting for this choice, but everyone has their own traditions and tapping into these can help increase basket spend and drive sales and profits.

“Our shoppers know they can come to us for all their roast dinner items, such as potatoes, vegetables and meat,” Sidhu says. “Lamb is the most-sold meat during the Easter period.”

To highlight the range, Bansi recommends having themed displays in prominent positions. “Our fresh and chilled bays are merchandised according to the season,” he continues.

“For Easter, this will be meat, dairy and complementary products. We ensure these are in position early in the season, so even if customers aren’t buying them straight away, it puts the occasion in their minds.”

Easter-themed bakery options are another sure-fire way to encourage trade up. “Seasonal Cadbury cakes are very popular, but so are local companies who sell muffins or loaf cakes. These companies will often put an Easter twist on them,” Bansi concludes. 

Are you interested building a successful easter range?

Get in touch to find out how we can help you

The Flexitarian Trend: Retail Tips for Growing Sales

The Flexitarian Trend: Retail Tips for Growing Sales - Intro Image

Focus on: Flexitarian diets ­– are they back?

Twenty-three per cent of consumers claim they are ‘flexitarians’ – a diet that is primarily vegetarian, with the occasional meat or fish dish thrown in. The diet has soared in popularity in recent years due to two main drivers; the rising cost of red meat and the desire to simply reduce meat consumption without giving it up entirely.

While there is an opportunity for retailers to cater for these customers and gain repeat custom, the challenge is identifying these consumers among your shopper base. Retailers won’t know unless it’s something their customers declare, so how do you meet their needs?

“Like anything, you need to talk to your customers about what to stock,” says Faraz Iqbal, owner of Premier Linktown Local in Kirkcaldy, Fife. “Some will say they’re cutting down on meat, alcohol, or increasing protein. You can then adapt from here.”

When are people more likely to try flexitarian?

January is the most common month where people choose to try or follow a new diet. This is because many treat the New Year as a new slate, setting goals to be healthier, for example.

“January is definitely the biggest month for new diets, including flexitarian, because everyone wants to get in shape, make themselves feel better and get past the winter blues,” says Nishi Patel, owner of Londis Bexley Park in Dartford, Kent.

Iqbal adds: “Beyond January, we just have to make sure the range is there for people who continue their new healthier commitments.”

But there are opportunities outside the start of the year. Patel says April and May are popular months for shoppers to follow a healthier or flexitarian diet as they get ready for summer.

The Flexitarian Trend: Retail Tips for Growing Sales - Flexitarian Banner

How to navigate the rise in flexitarian diets

Both Iqbal and Patel cater for flexitarian shoppers by focusing on protein products. They advise offering alternatives to cater for as many diets as possible.

Iqbal says: “We offer products that cater for those cutting down on meat or trying to increase their protein in other ways. We have fresh meals made locally, which include vegetarian options, as well as a range of protein bars.”

Meanwhile, Patel has introduced protein yoghurts, as well as other options including sandwiches and drinks. A fast seller of Patel’s is Mockingbird, a drink that offers added benefits.

“Products with added nutrients or vitamins are great for people who are flexitarian, vegetarian or looking at their health,” he explains. “Take Huel ­­– it’s a big staple for a lot of people.”

While Huel’s premium price point can be a barrier for some shoppers, it’s worth noting that if they are spending a high amount on meat products, they might be more open to spending £3.50 on Huel or alternative meal replacement products.

Patel offers value on this brand specifically by keeping it on promotion. “We stock five varieties on promotion at £2.99 each so it always sells,” he says.

What should you stock?

Retailers can cater for flexitarian diets with a core range of grocery, snacking and chilled products, flanked by vegetarian and vegan alternatives. But to maintain or increase profits, offering products that provide a point of difference can help stand out.

At Epicurium, we task our buyers to follow food and drink trends and diets and identify the products that work for convenience stores. 

We stock a range of products that can help you cater for flexitarian diets, including:

As the rising costs of food bills is driving the growth in flexitarian diets, it’s also likely these shoppers are cooking their meals from scratch more often. Retailers can make it easier for their customers by focusing on ready meals and fresh ingredients.

Top tips to catering for flexitarian diets

Are you interested in catering to the growing flexitarian demand?

Get in touch to find out how we can help you

The Epicurium Watchlist: Top Brands to Drive Profits in 2025

The Epicurium Watchlist: Top Brands to Drive Profits in 2025 - Intro Image

At Epicurium, we pride ourselves on keeping on top of trends and securing must-have products for retailers looking to offer a point of difference. We do the hard work in market analysis, so our customers do not have to.

This time of year, we see many of our retail customers stocking new products and evolving their ranges by reflecting key trends. While cash tends to be tighter for consumers in January, February sees customers with a bit more disposable income to give something new a try.

“We use January and February as an opportunity to play around with our store, try new products and get new PoS in too,” says Vidur Pandya, owner of Kislingbury Mini Market in Northamptonshire.

Here, we review our exclusive data and identify the key brands and trends that could provide valuable profit drivers for your store this year.

The Epicurium Watchlist: Top Brands to Drive Profits in 2025 - Emerging Health Brands 2025

2025’s Emerging Health Brands

One of the biggest opportunities retailers need to watch in 2025 is consumers’ increased understanding of fibre and gut health. The Gut Stuff is a high-fibre range of snack bars that are lower in calories. Currently, it is recommended that people consume 30g of fibre a day – The Gut Stuff’s bars contain a third of this – and with nine in 10 people in the UK not getting enough, this could be a future bestselling product for your store.

At Epicurium, we’ve seen The Gut Stuff’s sales grow by +226% year-on-year (YoY). We stock it in five delicious flavours – Peanut Butter, Raspberry & Coconut, Cocoa & Hazelnut, Apple & Cinnamon and Sea Salt & Caramel.

Family Secret is also going from strength to strength by focusing on quality and health. Its Proppadoms brand – a range of vegan and low-calorie poppadoms – had a +134% YoY sales increase in the past year. 

The flavours we stock include Original, Garlic & Red Chilli, Sriracha, Turmeric, Chilli & Ginger and Duck & Plum.

Away from fibre, protein demand isn’t going anywhere, but what were bestsellers in previous years might not be right for you now. The Curators could be the next must-stock product. In the past year, the brand’s sales have gone up +145% here at Epicurium. Among its range is the Original Beef Biltong, which is gluten-free and contains 15g of protein. If you’re looking to expand your protein snack range, consider the brand’s Pork Puffs Original Salted, which contains 16g of protein.

If that doesn’t meet your shopper demographic, the high-protein Veggie Puffs might. We stock two flavours – Cheese and Barbecue.

The Epicurium Watchlist: Top Brands to Drive Profits in 2025 - Challenger Drinks 2025 1

What are the Challenger Drinks of 2025?

In the drinks category, Shaken Udder saw a dramatic sales growth of +524% between October and December 2024.

More specifically, its Strawberry flavour was responsible for around a third of this growth, with its Chocolush variety also a strong performer.

Energy drinks are another area of innovation and while the likes of Monster and Red Bull will continue to own the category for the most part in independent stores, there are challenger brands that will appeal to shoppers who would not typically buy from the category.

C4 Energy, for example, is increasing growth and presence in retail, proven by the YoY sales increase we’ve seen at Epicurium – up by +196%. With more than six flavours to choose from, retailers have access to a broad range to meet their shoppers’ tastes. Available in cases of 12 at an RRP of £1.99, retailers can get a profit on return of more than 40% with each sale.  

The Epicurium Watchlist: Top Brands to Drive Profits in 2025 - Must stock treat lines 2025

What are the Must-Stock Treat Lines from Epicurium?

There are plenty of lines growing in demand at Epicurium that could bolster the premium end of your treat range. Probably the most recognisable brand is Tony’s Chocolonely.

The range generated a +109% YoY sales increase between 2023 and 2024. We stock a wide range to cater for your customers, which includes Chocolate Cookie Chip, Pecan Caramel Crunch and Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Almond, Pretzel & Sea Salt bars.

You can also purchase the brand’s Littl’ Bits bag range from us in three flavours: Dark Chocolate Orange Choco Cookie, Milk Caramel Sea Salt Biscuit Mix and Milk Marshmallow Biscuit Mix. This range can help you trade up big-night-in shoppers. They are available in cases of eight and have an RRP of £3.10 and a POR of 32.5%.

The Epicurium Watchlist: Top Brands to Drive Profits in 2025 - Retailer backing 2025

What are Retailers Backing?

“Huel and gluten-free products will be big this year,” Pandya says. “We’re also going to be introducing the GetPro range from Danone.”

Pandya has created a ‘health-themed’ chiller to see if it helps sales. The Kislingbury Mini Market team will monitor any new products introduced, analyse sales, and delist ones that haven’t performed as expected.

“We also plan to focus on evening meal deals. We already have a freezer meal, but we will expand on what we’re already offering to help meet the value shopper need,” Pandya adds.

Meanwhile, Priyesh Vekaria, owner of One Stop Carlton Convenience in Salford, says his focus will be on brands from the core manufacturers, but that doesn’t mean upcoming names don’t have a place.

“The likes of Danone and Biotiful will be our key brands this year. The theme in food this year is health, and it’s about more than just offering protein, but alternative snack options that will meet a broader range of health requirements,” he says.

Are you interested in stocking fast-growing upcoming brands this year?

Get in touch to find out how we can help you

How to Keep Dry January Sales Going

How to Keep Dry January Sales Going - Retailers Surviving Dry January

January is an opportunity for a fresh start. It’s a time for setting goals, whether financial, professional or personal – to simply take better care of ourselves than the year before.

Abstaining from alcohol in January is not a new phenomenon – its roots can be traced back to the 1940s – but it certainly has come into more focus in recent years. Alcohol Change launched Dry January in 2013 with 4,000 people taking part, rising to 215,000 people last year – a huge opportunity for retailers.

This growth mirrors a broader trend of consumers generally drinking less throughout the year – particularly younger age groups. For retailers, the question is how do you keep up the momentum of alcohol-free drinks beyond January and ensure your store is a destination for interesting, non-alcoholic drinks all year round.

How to Keep Dry January Sales Going - Retailers Surviving Dry January Alcohol Free

Get the right alcohol-free products in

Alcohol-free products have grown in the past few years, as they have become more accessible in pubs, bars and shops.  

“Not even two years ago, I would have said alcohol-free was not a strong category, but sales have definitely increased,” says Faraz Iqbal, owner of Premier Linktown Local in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

“I now notice customers actively coming in and asking for 0%. In January, we notice sales go up the most, as our home keg sales tend to drop.”

For Iqbal, the alcohol-free trend goes beyond Dry January and he says the key to capitalising on this is to have the right range of products.

“I find that alcohol-free spirits aren’t great in my area, but low-and-no beers do well,” he says.

Sasi Patel, owner of multiple Go Local stores in and around Greater Manchester, has had more success with non-alcoholic wine and Guinness 0.0.

“We sell more in January because of New Year goals, but non-alcoholic wine and Guinness 0.0 sell well enough to be stocked year-round,” he says.

The role of soft drinks

With the money saved from not buying alcohol, customers may be willing to trade up towards premium adult soft drinks.

If you’re looking to increase your range of premium adult soft drinks, here are some of the brands we stock that can meet this requirement:

How to Keep Dry January Sales Going - Retailers Surviving Dry January Marketing Soft Drinks

Marketing effectively

If you’re not that active on social media, posting about Dry January, alcohol-free products and premium soft drinks is a great chance to change that.

“We’ve spoken as a team to put something out for January and the following months,” Iqbal adds. “It’s all about visibility so customers know we stock them.”

Reels are popular on all platforms, so use this to showcase your products. This will be ideal for Dry January, but you can continue this after with captions, such as “Keep your January goals going with our non-alcoholic and premium soft drinks range…”

In-store, having a dedicated section and the right PoS can help drive alcohol-free sales beyond January. “We have a section that’s alcohol-free and we have our soft drinks area, too,” Patel says.

“It’s a section that isn’t bought on impulse and is a planned purchase, so if you have the right PoS and have it merchandised correctly, you’ll continue to drive sales.”

Top tips to increase premium adult soft drinks sales

  1. Do market research: Try new lines based on your own research. Talk to retailers or speak with wholesalers, like us, for industry insight on the top-selling lines.
  2. Market effectively: Utilise social media and PoS in-store to help market your premium soft drinks. If done correctly, you’ll be surprised at what people buy.
  3. Have options: Make sure to have a wider range of products to suit a wider pool of customers. Trial for six to eight weeks and monitor sales using your EPoS data.

The Convenience Store of the Future

The Convenience Store of the Future - Convenience Store of the Future

2030 is just five years away and while convenience stores’ core range will likely look similar to how it does today, the trends and technology around them may be very different.

“The need to offer value will still be prevalent in five years, but it always has been,” explains Bobby Singh, owner of BB Nevison Superstore & Post Office in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.  

“But it will be interesting to see how other trends will be in 2030, such as veganism and the zero-alcohol category. I would love to have a crystal ball to see, but I can see them both growing as people become more health conscious.”

While trends come and go, the technology that will be driving convenience stores will have a more lasting impact. These include artificial intelligence (AI), digital displays, and vaping dispenser gantries among others.

Here, we explore how some of these developments could play out.

The Convenience Store of the Future - Convenience Store of the Future Security

AI will dominate tech advancements

AI usage is growing at a rapid rate. 15% of small businesses have already adopted at least one form of AI technology, according to a report for the UK Government.

Joshua James, owner of Fresh & Proper, Fordham in Essex, is one of these retailers.

“We have body language recognition software in store that uses AI to highlight if someone is putting something in their coats, or acting suspicious,” he says. “It’s been a no-brainer for us.”

The software sends a notification to staff headsets, store announcements, and phone alerts to help battle crime.

Although it’s tech that already exists, James says the future will only offer bigger opportunities to improve the system.

Facial recognition doesn’t yet have a wide adoption rate in convenience stores, but Singh believes that by 2030 it will be common practice.

 “I think everyone will have a form of facial recognition in store,” he says. “We can already see it slowly coming through.”

AI will also lend itself well to ordering. “By 2030, there will be a lot more AI integration, ordering for us based on trend analysis. This will be a big one for wholesalers too as it will help them suggest popular products,” James says.

The Convenience Store of the Future - Convenience Store of the Self Checkout

Digital displays will be the norm

As the cost of digital displays comes down, they will likely come to dominate convenience stores in 2030, bringing in-store marketing to a whole new level.

“The power of owning digital displays as a retailer will be huge. It will make advertising products and driving sales so much easier,” continues Singh.

“From a marketing perspective, it will help boost our overall engagement and that’s something every brand wants.”   

But the big innovation by 2030 will be interactive digital displays. “The data you collect from displays where customers can interact with them will be invaluable,” says James.

“And it’s endless. They can be advanced as far as reading body language around attempted purchases, voting on potential new product launches you’re planning to stock, or simply getting feedback on the product or price.”

Singh also predicts the widespread introduction of electronic shelf-edge labels in stores. “They are so effective. We saw them recently at a trade show and saw the impact they can have on upgrading the look of your store,” Singh says.

James adds: “We save a lot of cost and time in staffing hours already and we can change pricing instantly, anywhere.”

The Convenience Store of the Future - Convenience Store of the Vending

Challenge 25 and vending machines

Challenge 25 is an important store practice, but it can be difficult for retailers and their staff to always get right. With the Tobacco and Vapes Bill making its way through Westminster, the generational smoking ban could one day see retailers having to refuse sales to adults on the basis that they are a couple of years younger than the ban permits.

But James believes store owners will likely look for a tech solution to reduce human error. Technology will have advanced by 2030 to offer automatic recognition software. While this might seem an obvious step up, what if it was required to dispense the vape or tobacco product in the first place?   

“There’s already some tech around dispensing cigarettes and vapes, but it could be used to help us with age verification,” James says. “This could be staff pressing a button or the machine identifying the person’s ID and processing the sale that way.”

James also says it will be possible to have some convenience stores operating 24/7 by using shop-front vending machines.

“Again, this is something already in circulation in some areas, but it has the potential to go so much further,” James continues.

“I see 2030 having vending machines for vapes, tobacco and all sorts of products, so we can generate sales every minute of every day.”

It’s worth adding, though, that there will always be a need for customer service and adding that personal touch for whoever wants it.

Singh says: “My store in 2030 will always have that personal touch, meaning manned tills and staff on the shop floor for all those customers who want that personal interaction and service.”

The Convenience Store of the Future - Convenience Store of the Self Checkout

Self-checkouts for busy customers and cashless options

Self-checkouts in convenience stores are still relatively new, but by 2030, they could be in every store.

“While we’ll always offer a personal and interactive service, we think most stores will have self-checkouts for customers who want to be in or out, are in a rush, or simply don't want that kind of service,” continues Singh.

James echoes this but adds that the technology has a long way to go. “Customers will always want a friendly face, but self-checkouts are the future, especially as they become easier to use. More stores may also go cashless by 2030,” he says.

Cashless stores are slowly becoming the norm, with more shoppers relying on their phones and cards to make purchases. “We’re already around 85% cashless anyway, but this will become bigger as new generations become more financially savvy,” James concludes.

However technology develops in the next five years, we believe that with our range of cutting-edge premium products, Epicurium can be a reliable partner for your growth.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your business.

A Focus On: Making the Best of 2025

A Focus On: Making the Best of 2025 - Making the best of 2025 Retailers

The new year always brings optimism, but 2025 presents many changes for the convenience channel, such as the vaping disposable ban and the April increase in the National Minimum Wage.

“Retailers will need to watch their sales and waste levels, and react accordingly in 2025,” says Paresh Vyas, owner of Jack Lane Convenience in Greater Manchester.

“There will also be higher constraints on budgets, and with our costs continuing to increase, there will be lots of changes next year.”

However, retailers that can navigate the trends well, and work out where they can drive extra sales, will thrive in 2025. Here’s what you need to know. 

Value will continue to drive convenience store buying decisions

The rising cost of living continues to tighten shoppers' purse strings, meaning retailers are having to offer more value to drive sales.

“Costs are going up and financial aid from the government is going down, so customers are more price-conscious than ever,” Vyas says.

“As a result, we’ll be running more promotions to help sales and communicate that we offer value.”

Many retailers are shopping around more when purchasing stock and are being more ruthless with their listings. Many independents are delisting slow sellers going into 2025 in a bid to offer a core range that consistently sells.

But while costs continue to tighten, retailers should remember that the convenience channel already offers great value. Shoppers are still looking for something special and, providing you offer a good experience in store, with quality products on offer, you can still drive profits with premium lines.

Alan Mannings, owner of Shop on the Green in Chartham, Kent, adds that convenience store pricing is on par with supermarkets in some cases and that some categories will be immune to value trends.

“We’ve got crisps in store that sell consistently that are priced at £4.99. Sometimes shoppers want to treat themselves,” he says.

A Focus On: Making the Best of 2025 - Retailers Make most of 2025 Food to Go

Focus on food to go

Food to go – and even takeaway-style food to go – will be the convenience store trend to focus on next year, according to Vyas and Mannings.

“Food to go will be a massive area for us to focus on next year,” Mannings says.

Mannings plans to create a premium meal deal and will be working closely with Country Choice. “We’re doing a small refit in store, overhauling our range to make room for the right products, such as salads and sandwiches,” he says.

Vyas has also seen the food-to-go opportunity and says that, after lying relatively dormant for the past few years, the category is starting to grow again.

He says: “We’re looking at fresh options, like fruit salads, to cater for our increasingly health-conscious customer base.”  

A Focus On: Making the Best of 2025 - Retailers Make most of 2025 Healthy Missions

Health missions will be in demand

January marks the start of the ‘New Year, new me’ ethos. In January 2024, 59% of consumers said they were trying to eat healthier, making this a prime opportunity for your store in the coming weeks.

“We’re anticipating that the number of people buying vegan products will grow, and we’ve noticed more shoppers in our area aren’t eating meat,” Vyas adds. “We also regularly hear them say they’re eating less meat after reading about the supposed health benefits from doing so.”

January means ‘Veganuary’ for some, with 1.8 million consumers participating in 2024. We can also help fill your shelves with vegan, vegetarian and healthier alternatives. This includes low-calorie or high-protein options, such as:

A Focus On: Making the Best of 2025 - Retailers Make most of 2025 Energy Drinks

Energy will dominate soft drinks

The energy drinks market has grown substantially in the past few years, and retailers predict this will continue in 2025.

“Red Bull is the core energy drink, but we now have a broad range, which we continue to update with new flavours and varieties,” says Vyas.

Vyas believes the larger formats will be the biggest opportunity for retailers. “We stock the bigger format of Red Bull, and it flies off the shelves in comparison to the 250ml format,” he continues. “They just offer better value.”

Here are some of our alternative bestselling soft drinks:

What else will help profits in 2025?

Growing margins is a huge focus for retailers in 2025, which can be accomplished by buying strategically and reviewing your overhead costs.

Vyas is aiming to reduce overheads next year by focusing on sustainability and introducing energy-efficient measures.

“We’re getting quotes together to install doors on our chillers, but we’re also looking at cheaper alternatives, too, like sensors,” he concludes.

From a buying perspective, take some time to conduct a range review and shop around. If you stock healthier products, for example, or are looking to do from the New Year, we can help.

Get in touch to find out how we can help you have a successful 2025 and beyond.

Refresh Your Store with a Range Review

A man stacking shop shelves with text saying reviewing your range

A range review can help refresh your store, removing lines that aren’t working as hard as they could be. Reviewing your range also helps you declutter lines that are meeting similar customer needs.

How often you do it, according to retailers, is entirely case-dependent. However, the key when doing a range review is using your EPoS data to identify trends and opportunities.

“All our range reviews are data-driven,” explains Nishi Patel, owner of Londis Bexley Park in Dartford, Kent. “Use your EPoS and combine this with your intuition about your target market and local area. You can then decide whether to increase or decrease a line’s prominence in your store or delist.”

Patel recommends doubling the number of facings you give a line before making the final decision to delist, just to be sure. “We’re a convenience store and shoppers come to us because they want convenience. Having fewer lines achieves this.”

Getting started with your range review

Consider what kind of range review you’re carrying out. Is it a small one for a singular category? Or are you due for a store-wide range review?

“How often we do range reviews depends on the category,” Patel says. “With vaping products, it’s weekly, but other categories are less frequent. For example, we recently carried out a range review on our crisps and now only stock the £1.25 price-marked pack formats.”

The retailer’s reasoning is based on the long-term trend of shoppers looking for better value. “Most customers bypass the smaller bags, so it made little sense keeping them in,” Patel adds.

Vidyur Pandya, owner of Kislingbury Mini Market & Post Office in Northamptonshire, carries out a range review every quarter. “We monitor how often we’ve had to reduce each product since the previous quarter. If it’s more than twice and hasn’t sold through a single case, we’ll delist it,” he says.

A core focus for both retailers has been streamlining their ranges to avoid overwhelming their customers and offer more value than before.

Of course, value means different things to different shoppers, and this is where you need to consider the functions of each product you stock and the specific needs it caters for.

Less is sometimes more with range reviews

Think about whether you need three or more varieties of the same product. For example, if you have more than one type of bleach, do you need them? In some cases, having more than one type of product can be confusing.

“We’re doing a massive range review as part of our refit, and we’ve taken a long look at each category,” says Pandya. “With bleach, we had two brands and one own-label product, which was too much. We removed our branded options, as most are similar anyway.

“We look at our EPoS, see what’s been sold and how easy it is to source that product, and whether we’re likely to overwhelm our customers with the amount of choice available.”

The same is true for categories such as bars and savoury snacks. Do you need to stock multiple products offering similar flavours and price points? Could you curtail some of these products and make room for innovative brands and tastes?

Patel says this ethos can be applied to every category, adding that most stores don’t need “six kinds of strawberry jams”, and if you do, to focus on a budget, middle and high-end option.

Text saying what to consider with a range review over the top of a lady stacking shop shelves

What to consider when doing a range review

When analysing your data, consider how often you sell through cases. If it’s a product you’ve had for six months or more, and you’ve only sold one or two cases in that time, it might be time for a shakeup.

But if it’s a new product you’ve had for a month or less, and you’ve only sold a case or close to it, it might be worth keeping it in your range and promoting it more.  

Of course, the good thing about a range review is it allows you to make room for new products to meet the latest trends, which is where we can help.

Some of our latest products include:

Retailers’ advice to maximise your next range review

“Being with Londis, we get data from other retailers, but we also look at trade media for the latest trends and ranging advice from suppliers,” Patel says.

Pandya says retailers should observe their customers, paying attention to what they’re buying in-store, where they’re standing and what they’re looking at. “You’ll soon notice brands that aren’t cutting it,” he says.

“Look at buying history, too. Sometimes price is a factor more than quality, especially in household and core food categories.”

To conclude, Patel advises: “Remember, you know your shop and your customers, and as a retailer, you know what sells. Also, refrain from seeing an empty space and immediately wanting to fill it with a new product. Double facing is not the enemy.”

The start of the year is a great time to refresh your store. If you’re planning a range review, get in touch to find out how we can help you tap into profit-driving trends.

The Rise of Premium Snacking at Christmas

The Rise of Premium Snacking at Christmas - Premium Snacking at Christmas

Christmas is just a month away, which typically means a rise in sales of premium snacks, festive flavours and indulgent treats.

“In the lead up to Christmas, we increase the number of flavours we offer in our snacks range, which has a positive effect on sales,” explains Vidur Pandya, owner of Kislingbury Village Store & Post Office in Northamptonshire.

“We normally have three facings of each premium snack SKU we stock, but we’ll reduce these four-to-six weeks before to make room for these extra flavours.”

Ken Singh, co-owner of BB Nevison Stores & Post Office in Pontefract, West Yorkshire also adds: “Christmas is a time for being with loved ones and socialising, and a big part of that is food. There isn’t much else to do otherwise, and we want to ensure we’re prepared for anything.”

Premium snacks range from popcorn and crisps to nuts and confectionery and typically are things most shoppers don’t buy regularly.

However, shopper behaviour has changed in recent years, according to Pandya.

Changing customer demographics and how to attract them

Years ago, Pandya says, premium snacks were only bought by specific customer demographics in affluent areas. However, now the ‘everyday’ customer buys into them.

“Premium snacks have become an add-on impulse buy in the evening. We’ve noticed an uplift from most of our customers, who buy them as they prepare for nights in, the weekend or just a relaxing evening after work,” he continues.

Although the high cost of living continues to dictate many people’s spending, they are also willing to occasionally work treats into the budget.

“We see it later in the week or closer to payday when shoppers are a bit more flexible with their remaining budgets once their bills are paid,” Pandya explains.

The rise in premium snacks is also likely to be coming from shoppers trading down from restaurant meals and takeaways to shop-bought premium snacks – even though it’s a trade-up on what they would be spending in stores otherwise.

The best way to attract shoppers to your range is to merchandise premium snacks together, alongside complementary products such as drinks and meal solutions.

Singh, for example, merchandises his snacks near his counter, in a prime area. “We run a Christmas promotion, but offer our products price-marked, as value is quite a big thing for us. We shop around, always look for deals and buy in bulk.”

The Rise of Premium Snacking at Christmas - Retailer Guide Premium Xmas Snacks

Right flavour, right time

The number one reason shoppers buy snacks is the taste, which is why it’s so important to stock a broad range of tempting premium flavours. Gone are the days when prawn cocktail and cheese & onion were enough, today’s premium snack shopper is more likely to be found buying the likes of truffle, Iberian ham and chipotle.

Pandya stocks Co-op’s Irresistible snacks range. “We introduced it because it’s similarly priced to some of our bestselling ranges,” he continues. “It also means we can be more experimental with flavours.”

Its Sea Salt & Chardonnay Wine and Aberdeen Angus Steak flavours perform best in his store, especially as Christmas edges closer. “It’s surprising if I’m honest because I thought the traditional flavours would have been more popular,” he says.

Pandya’s experience shows that your next top-selling snack might not be what you’d expect. When you stock a new premium line, try engaging your staff by encouraging them to try it. You could even record your staff and customers’ reviews for social media and use their quotes on PoS to give your range the personal touch.

What brands are performing well?

While own label has its place, retailers report the most popular premium snacks are branded.

“Outside of the Co-op label, most of our premium range consists of Proper Chips, Kettle and Tyrells, all of which are similar in price,” Pandya continues.

While shoppers naturally lean towards their old favourites, retailers can encourage additional sales with speciality brands and flavours – especially at this time of year. At Epicurium, we offer a broad range of premium snacks that offer the quality and taste that your shoppers expect. Here are some of our bestsellers:

Get in touch to find out how we can help you drive premium snack sales in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.

Revealing our High-Performing Challenger Brands of 2024

Exclusive data: Epicurium’s high-performing challenger brands revealed

Revealing our High-Performing Challenger Brands of 2024 - Top Performing Challenger Brands 2024

Are you already planning what your store will look like in 2025? What are the products that are no longer earning their shelf space? Which brands have you got your eye on to try after Christmas?

“There are so many factors that go into deciding what to stock,” comments retailer Jack Matthews, owner of Bradley’s Supermarket, in Quorn, Leicestershire.

“We’ll bring a product in if we see it performing well elsewhere or think it’s right for the area. We’ll also look at market trends.”

“We look at data,” adds Priyesh Vekaria, owner of One Stop Carlton Convenience in Greater Manchester.

“We’ll communicate to our franchise, One Stop, when a product isn’t performing, and it will go into a review period. We also use an AI system called Relex, which supports us with ordering and delisting.”

The biggest snack challenger brands in the market

At Epicurium, we too have been reviewing our star performers to spotlight the movers and shakers that we believe should be considerations for your store next year.

One of the biggest brands within our crisps, snacks and nuts category is Love Corn. The brand is going from strength to strength with our sales up by +25.7% year on year. Available from us in single and sharing formats, Love Corn was founded in 2017 and is gluten-free and suitable for vegans. It also contains 50% less fat than chips and is non-GMO and kosher.

Seeing an even bigger sales jump year on year is I Love Snacks. Its premium olives, nuts, dehydrated fruit and chocolate provide a delicious point of difference for food-to-go fixtures and demand is soaring – up by +121% year on year.

The protein boom continues

In the UK we consume more protein than the recommended amount on average. Understanding of the importance of this complex nutrient has been growing for years – with hundreds of brands aiming for a slice of the market. We’ve seen continued growth this year and have identified the key brands that will be the most relevant to consumers in 2025.

For example, Warrior, according to our latest figures, had a +1,801% increase year on year. Warrior Protein Bars contain 20g of protein, and we stock its full range, from bars to drinks. This also includes protein water to help consumers stay hydrated on the go.

“We have a huge protein selection now,” Vekaria says. “Shoppers are now more aware of their health and what products can support them in their health goals. In the past year, we’ve introduced protein yoghurts and shakes, which has helped us compete with grocery stores.”

The Protein Ball Co. has had an +80% uplift year-on-year at Epicurium. Its protein snacks are free from added sugar, gluten and GMOs. They also offer retailers a 40% margin at an RRP of £1.99, making them great impulse profit drivers.

We have seen sales of on-the-go breakfast products continue to grow this year, with sales of Tribe Protein soaring along with it. In the past year, our sales of its muesli, flapjacks and bars have grown by +161%.

Added functional products

Younger shoppers are looking for health benefits at every opportunity and we are seeing growth in products that offer these added benefits.

Bio & Me, a high-fibre portfolio of bars and porridge that contains 17 types of plant ingredients has grown sales by +550% year on year.

Arguably, the biggest challenger to the functional market is Vitamin Well. With a +538% sales increase in 12 months, it’s one to watch. Its Vitamin Waters have an RRP of £2.29, offers 32% profit on return, and is packed with a range of vitamins and minerals to help with hydration, combat fatigue and boost vitality.

Within our offering, we have Elevate Pineapple and Wild Strawberry, Enhance Orange, Hydrate Rhubarb and Strawberry, Recover Elderflower and Peach, and Reload Lemon and Lime.

While money remains tight for most customers, many – particularly at the younger end – are looking for delicious and interesting brands that complement their healthier lifestyles. Ensuring you have a selection of movers and shakers throughout your store will help you stand out and make sure sales are flying into 2025 and beyond.

Revealing our High-Performing Challenger Brands of 2024 - 10 Fast Growing Challenger Brands

10 fast-growing brands at Epicurium

  1. Shore Seaweed - Shore Seaweed is packed with minerals, fibre, calcium, potassium, antioxidants and iodine. It is harvested sustainably and offers an umami taste. The brand was founded in 2017, and our range includes Barbecue, Lightly Salted, Peking Duck and Sweet Siracha flavours.
  2. Savoursmiths - This range of crisps has grown more than +2,000%, so is swiftly becoming a must-stock. The flavours we stock include Desert Salt, Desert Salt & Vinegar, Somerset Cheddar & Shallot, Truffle & Rosemary, and Wagyu Beef with Honey Mustard. 
  3. Warrior - We stock more than 15 flavours of the Warrior range. Its flapjacks are low in carbs and sugar and have 20g of protein. Some of the products we stock are Warrior Crunch Protein Bar, Warrior Crunch Mini Protein Bar and Warrior Rage Energy Shot.
  4. Bio & Me - Founded in 2019, the range we carry includes Gut Loving Porridge in Sticky Toffee, Apple & Cinnamon and Super Seedy & Nutty flavours. We also carry Gut-Loving Oat Bars in Cocoa & Hazelnut, Super Berry and Toffee Apple flavours.
  5. Vitamin Well - Growing +538% in 12 months, Vitamin Well is a true challenger in the soft drinks category. Its 100% recycled plastic packaging aligns with eco-conscious consumers, and you can find five different varieties here at Epicurium.
  6. C4 Energy - Retailers can fuel their fitness-oriented customer base with a product that has grown at Epicurium by +528% in 12 months. The company was founded in 2011, has zero sugar and carbs and is low in calories. Retailers can find Cosmic Rainbow, Frozen Bombsicle, Orange Slice, Pineapple Head, Twisted Limeade, Bubblegum and Strawberry on our site.
  7. Shaken Udder - The dairy drinks range is free from artificial ingredients and is gluten-free. Retailers can stock its core flavours, Chocolush, Strawberry Dream and Vanillalicious, as well as a protein offering in Chocolate and Strawberry flavours.
  8. WOW Hydrate - WOW Hydrate is a range of protein and added benefit drinks, offering up to 20g of protein in each product. Within our range, retailers can find Summer Fruits, Tropical, Blue Raspberry, Lemon, Orange and Red Cherry.
  9. Howdah - Howdah grain chips have grown sales by +240% year on year. Inspired by British-Indian dishes, Howdah is a range of vegan snacks that are rich in fibre and protein. We stock five flavours, from Bombay Mix to Onion Bhaji and Tandoor Chilli.
  10. Simply Roasted – Claiming to be the first and only sliced potato crisp to bridge the gap between health & indulgence, Simply Roasted is a head-turning product that is created using a patented crisp roasting method – the culmination of 10 years of development and £20m of investment. Available in five delicious flavours, they contain 50% less fat and 25% less salt than the average bag of crisps.

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Unwrapping Christmas: Retailer Insights to Get Your Ranging Right in the Festive Season

Christmas Convenience Retail

For many consumers, Christmas celebrations span the entire month of December – not just the day itself. But for retailers, it's a sales opportunity that kicks off in September.

Most retailers order Christmas confectionery in July, Christmas greeting cards in February, and other items a few weeks before September.

“We order our range at the end of July on the Londis pre-order, which includes confectionery, snacking, alcohol and gifting products,” explains Vrajesh Patel, owner of Londis Dagenham in London.

Some retailers order earlier, however. Scottish retailer, Chris Cobb, from Cults Stores in Aberdeen, completed his Christmas order in June.

How will this Christmas differ from previous years?

It’s hard to predict what customers will buy and how much - and this is something some retailers are struggling with. And it’s no wonder why.

The past four Christmases (2020-2023) have been vastly different. In 2020, shoppers treated themselves and spent more than they typically would have due to ongoing lockdowns – but curtails on socialising limited what was possible in December.

It was a similar story in 2021 with customers spending more for at-home socialising, but pubs and bars remaining open for business spread disposable income more thinly. The subsequent years saw shoppers spending less as they navigated the cost-of-living crisis.

The good news, however, is retailers think this year will be the same or slightly higher compared to 2023. The key is being prepared.

“Shoppers don’t have the disposable income they once had, which is one of the main reasons we stock our Christmas range so early. Customers can buy early and stock away if needed,” Patel says.

Cobb, however, has been more conservative with his stock this year. “We’re finding our customers are watching their money and the weather currently hasn’t helped, so it's hard to gauge how big Christmas will be,” he says.

“We are being optimistic but cautious with our range this year, but the key is focusing on products supermarkets aren’t offering.”

The right formats and categories

“We’re only 150 sqft, so we have to be precise in our ordering,” Cobb explains. “We also have a lot of competition nearby, mostly supermarkets.”

So how does Cobb ensure his Christmas range is a success? He goes premium.

“We focus on selection boxes, boxed chocolates and stock more high-end, premium brands, like Bendicks, Lindt and Ferrero Rocher,” Cobb adds.

Selection boxes are often a tradition among friends and family to kickstart the festive celebrations or work as a small gift for a work Secret Santa or teachers and school friends.

Wondering how else you can help your festive range stand out?

Here at Epicurium, we stock speciality lines that aren’t stocked just anywhere. These include:

Boosting your margins

Margin is a hot conversation among convenience store owners, with many ranking ‘raising overall store margin’ as a key focus for their business in the coming months.

Christmas stock offers a wide spectrum of high and low margin, as noted by Patel. “While the Christmas tubs, like Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Roses, offer around 10-12%, our impulse Christmas confectionery offers up to 25-30%,” he says.

You can raise overall store margin by focusing on speciality seasonal products. This is because they need to work harder on the shelves to sell. The good news for stores is that some customers will be willing to pay more for these products, especially as it gets closer to Christmas.

These can be bought last-minute, once shoppers have purchased all their gifts, and they’re more aware of their leftover budget.

Promotions, promotions, promotions will drive volume sales, having a positive impact on your Christmas margin, too.

“We run promotions on pre-sale stocks, like impulse and gifting,” explains Patel. “We’ll do a couple of posts on social media, but it’s one that most notice as they come into the store.”

Cobb offers similar promotions, but focuses on alcohol, as it’s one area he can compete with supermarkets. “With the Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) in Scotland, we can price similar to supermarkets, which helps drive footfall, especially at Christmas,” says Cobb.

“With it increasing to 65p from 1 September, people will be shopping around, and supermarkets can’t undercut us by dropping alcohol to low prices, which will help us during Christmas.”

Merchandising and in-store theatre

It’s no secret the impact in-store theatre has on sales, but Christmas is a time when it’s really important – and it’s easy to implement.

Suppliers and wholesalers will likely have their festive displays, but you can also invest in ceiling decorations for the whole store, window decorations and tinsel for any displays. It doesn’t need to be much, and a little bit goes a long way.

“We don’t do a Christmas tree because we’re limited on space, but we do decorations on the window and ceiling, just to help things feel festive and stand out,” Cobb adds.

Looking for tailored advice for your Christmas range? Get in touch for bespoke, on-trend product recommendations