All articles by Alice Leader
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NewsCo-op demands tougher action as 44% smokers buy illegal cigarettes in corner shops
Co-op’s Legitimate High Street Framework white paper highlights the importance of government and local authorities focusing their attention on disrupting organised crime networks
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NewsCo-op Wholesale cuts vape prices and simplifies rebates for retailers as new tax looms
The wholesaler and symbol group operator will be reducing wholesale pricing across its vape range by up to 15% from next month
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NewsConvenience sector hits the brakes on investment amid rising costs
Inflation is outpacing sales across the sector, according to the ACS
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NewsCo-op grows university franchise estate by 50% with four new deals
The new partnerships are with Queen Mary University of London, the University of Leicester, the University of Sheffield and Durham University
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NewsCo-op starting online delivery from 7am for back-to-school rush
Deliveries will be available two hours earlier than usual from 1,200 participating stores
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NewsScottish government price cap could endanger convenience stores, says SGF
The SGF warned the proposed criteria could target small independent convenience stores operating under a common fascia with a symbol group or franchise model
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NewsAsda completes rollout of 1.2 million ESLs across Express estate
The technology has replaced the manual task of swapping out over 120,000 paper price tickets per week
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NewsHeart of England Co-op to install EV chargers at nine stores
Nine of its 40 convenience stores have been selected for the initial rollout, with each location having between two and four charging points
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NewsCo-op Group scraps low-value missing stock claims for Southern Co-op franchisees
Franchisees can no longer be compensated for cases of missing stock worth a retail value under £90
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NewsSouthern Co-op franchise boss to step down
Matt Turner has led the Welcome business, which consists of 77 stores run by independent retailers, since Mike Fitton retired in February
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NewsHeart of England Co-op switches to foodservice-led convenience strategy with Warwick launch
The convenience store centres on food to go, with hot counters and made-to-order products under its own-label DeliCo brand, alongside a 1,200 sq ft Bewiched Coffee shop
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NewsScotmid till donations deliver £22,000 boost for Venezuela appeal
A partnership with Pennies, which kicked off in 2025, has allowed Scotmid shoppers to add a 10p donation on top of their purchases when paying by card or their digital wallet
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NewsAllwyn and Co-op celebrate £3bn raised for National Lottery good causes with new campaign
The campaign aims to highlight the impact that National Lottery funding can have on strengthening communities and improving wellbeing
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NewsParfetts revamps birthplace of Go Local symbol group with first Extra
The wholesaler and symbol group operator said it marked a significant milestone as it continued invest in its retail network
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Comment & OpinionWhat’s the deal with Asda’s indie convenience push?
Last week, Asda announced a new wholesale supply model for independent retailers, after striking a partnership with Scottish retailer One O One to trial its new Asda Convenience fascia in three Glasgow stores
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NewsAllwyn UK CEO Andria Vidler to step down
Allwyn UK said Vidler had led ‘the biggest transformation’ of the National Lottery since its launch in 1994
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NewsFuel retailers cleared of price gouging but margins remain high
The CMA says some retailers did not immediately pass reductions in wholesale diesel prices on to drivers in its latest analysis
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Analysis & FeaturesInside Centra’s biggest-ever Northern Ireland store
Centra The Barbican’s 7,900 sq ft store prioritises the customer journey and features a wide range of meals including Musgrave NI’s first bespoke sub-brand dedicated to a specific store
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NewsParfetts deploys agentic AI to sharpen supplier insights
Parfetts has partnered with intelligence platform Cerve on the venture
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NewsAllwyn doubles top scratchcard jackpot with new £4m game
The £10 ‘When it’s Gold Outside’ scratchcard, which lands in selected stores next month, offers 37 chances to win on each card