Alice Leader
Alice is the senior wholesale & convenience reporter. She covers major players in the sector including Booker, Bestway, and Co-op Wholesale, along with their associated symbol groups such as Premier, Costcutter, and Nisa.
Her remit also includes the Co-op Group and independent co-operative societies like Southern Co-op and Central Co-op, offering comprehensive coverage of the UK's diverse convenience landscape.
In addition, Alice tracks key services that shape the sector, including the Post Office, National Lottery, and home delivery, as well as the increasingly urgent issue of retail crime.
Contact info
- Tel:
- 01293 846503
- Email:
- alice.leader@thegrocer.co.uk
NewsBooker’s delivery platform Scoot signs up 300 symbol retailers
Booker launched Scoot in February 2025 for its symbol retailers, giving them the opportunity to deliver groceries in their local communities within 30 minutes
NewsCo-op ramps up investment in high streets with 18 store openings
Co-op said it was focusing on creating stores that ‘acted as a hub locally, offering great quality and value alongside added services’
NewsShop theft climbs 5% but stays under all-time high, says ONS
Police recorded 519,381 shop theft offences in the 12 months to September 2025, up from 492,660 the previous year, but lower than the 529,994 offences recorded in the year to June 2025
NewsCo-op appoints former Lidl UK CEO to its board
During his time at Lidl UK, he managed a workforce of more than 20,000 and oversaw a period of rapid growth
NewsUK co-ops unite to launch largest independent society OurCoop
The move creates the largest independent society, uniting more than 500 food stores and businesses
InterviewsUK MD Michael Fletcher on how Spar is creating a ‘functional family’
Spar UK has suffered falls in sales and profits, and the Appleby Westward sale is stalling. But MD Michael Fletcher is confident in its key selling point
Analysis & FeaturesHow symbol groups are investing to win retailer loyalty in 2025
Facing a cost of living crisis, the decline of tobacco sales and the rise of major mults in the convenience space, symbols are pulling out all the stops to attract retailers and protect margins
NewsDisposable vape ban hits convenience sales and footfall
Retailers are seeing fewer store visits alongside an 8% fall in the value of tobacco and smoking alternatives compared to last year, data shows
NewsAllwyn partners with Gopuff for scratchcard delivery
Customers will be able to order National Lottery scratchcards online and have them delivered in ‘as fast as 15 minutes’
NewsRetailers welcome boost in neighbourhood police patrols
The move comes after the government pledged in April last year to deploy 3,000 neighbourhood officers within 12 months to tackle antisocial behaviour and shop theft in town centres and residential areas
NewsACS appoints ‘exceptional’ new chief executive
The new hire will take up the post from 1 March 2026, succeeding James Lowman who announced his departure in September 2025 after 19 years in the role
NewsSelect & Save targets Co-op using price comparison PoS material
The shelf-edge material compares Select & Save’s promotional prices with the Co-op on branded products
NewsPremier drives footfall for retailers with scratchcard campaign
Customers can receive a ‘Chance to Win’ scratchcard with every qualifying purchase, which offers the opportunity to win cash prizes as well as product giveaways and promotional offers in partnership with Burger King
NewsAsda hits 500th Express store as convenience arm drives growth
The milestone follows last year’s rollout of 17 new stores, which marked Asda’s return to opening standalone Express sites
NewsNational Lottery retailers set new record in age verification checks
The latest results from the Operation Guardian programme showed that retailers correctly asked for ID in 93.5% of initial visits, setting a record for player protection
NewsParfetts and JW Filshill adopt AI to fast-track new product data
Using AI, suppliers upload their product specification documents directly to the platform, where the information is extracted, structured and stored automatically
NewsOrganised gangs driving surge in illegal disposable vapes, warn Scottish retailers
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation said the problem had escalated since the disposable vape ban came into force in June last year
NewsFilshill contingency planning pays off as snow fails to empty shelves
JW Filshill said heavy snowfall and icy roads forced closures across parts of Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, which cut off access to communities
NewsFacial recognition alerts to retailers more than double as shoplifting surges
New data from Facewatch showed 516,739 alerts were issued to stores in 2025, more than double the 252,943 recorded in 2024
NewsCo-op Wholesale extends own-brand range available to independent retailers
The move followed strong retailer demand for greater choice, improved margins, and access to a nationally trusted convenience brand, Co-op Wholesale said