bank holiday - Neighbourhood Retailer

Retailers to close doors on day of Queen’s funeral

Linda Stewart — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 08:42:28 +0000

Many shops are due to close on Monday September 19 as a sign of respect to mark the Queen’s funeral.

A bank holiday across the UK was approved by King Charles III for the day of his mother’s funeral.

UK chains such as John Lewis, Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl have said they will close on the day as a sign of respect.

Homebase, WH Smith, B&Q, Primark, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Ikea and Blue Diamond Garden Centres have all also said that they will close stores on the day.

Sainsbury’s said online grocery deliveries as well as fast-track deliveries from its Argos subsidiary would also be halted. Sainsbury’s convenience stores and petrol filling stations will be open from 17:00 until 22:00 while select stores in central London will open to serve people attending the funeral.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said its decision was “in honour of Her Majesty and so our colleagues can pay their respects”.

Larger Tesco shops will also be closed on the day. The company’s smaller Express shops will open at 5pm.

A spokesperson for fashion retailer Primark said: “Our stores, depots and Head Office in the UK will be closed… to give our colleagues the opportunity to pay their respects and watch the funeral… We will reopen as normal on Tuesday 20 September.”

An Ikea UK spokesperson said: “Out of respect, and to enable our co-workers to participate in the funeral, Ikea UK will pause its business operations, including closing all of our UK stores on Monday 19 September.”

All WH Smith’s High Street stores will be closed for the whole day, while its travel stores will be closed at least for the duration of the funeral.

Homebase said: “We join the country in mourning the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II and will be closing our stores on the day of her funeral.”

It added that the decision had been made “so our team members can choose to mark her incredible life of service”.

B&Q said it would close all its UK stores “as a mark of respect” on the day. It said the decision would also offer its staff “the opportunity to pay their respects”.

Click and collect and home delivery services will also be temporarily suspended on the day, B&Q added.

Poundland have said they will shut their doors for the day out of respect and to allow staff to watch the event.

The Royal Mail has announced that its postal services will be suspended on the day.

The government advises on its website that the additional Bank Holiday “will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.”

Although it says that some businesses “may wish to consider closing or postponing events”, there is no statutory entitlement to time off for workers.

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Nisa catering to at home occasions with new pizza and beer Big Deal

Linda Stewart — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 10:29:35 +0000

Nisa has revealed its final Big Deal of the summer and it features two Big Night In favourites – pizza and beer.

The new deal, which saves shoppers up to £9.55 off the RRP, landed in Nisa stores earlier this week and will be available right up until the end of the month.

It comprises two pizzas, either Co-op Stonebaked Margherita 320g or Co-op Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 327g – or one of each – and either Budweiser, 4x300ml, Bud Light, 4x300ml, or Budweiser 0%, 4x330ml, all for just £5. As a non-licensed alternative, a selection of Coca-Cola variants are also available.

Laura Gomersal, Head of Marketing at Nisa said: “Big Night In and other at home occasions continue to grow in popularity, as highlighted by the record breaking viewing figures from the recent Euro Women’s final, with shoppers cutting back on out of home spending due to economic uncertainty.

“Pizza and beer is one of those classic combinations that feels like a real treat and with research revealing that 65% of adults in the UK are eating out less in an attempt to reduce costs, we are confident the promotion will be a key sales driver for our retailers during August.”

Nisa retailers can emphasise the fantastic £9.55 saving to their budgeting customers with help from a summer-themed consumer leaflet, digital support, and a point of sale mini kit.

“The products included as part of the Big Deal are perfect for catering to the summer bank holiday weekend. However, as plans are often spontaneous due to the weather, retailers should expect an influx of shoppers as the long weekend draws closer,” Gomersal said.

Promotion ends on 30^th August.

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Grocery prices rise at the fastest rate since 2009 – but Jubilee weekend could boost sales

Linda Stewart — Tue, 24 May 2022 09:32:35 +0000

UK grocery prices are rising at their fastest rate since 2009, leaving people increasingly worried about the cost of the weekly shop, research suggests.

Grocery prices were up 7% in the past four weeks compared with a year ago, market research firm Kantar said.

Food prices are now the second most important concern to families after spiralling energy bills, the company said.

However, Kantar says the UK is still set to splash out on food and drink over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

“Looking back at the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, we saw a 10% boost in supermarket sales during the week leading up to the festivities,” said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at the research firm.

“We should never underestimate the appetite for a party, especially a royal one.”

He said the four-day bank holiday weekend was likely to boost supermarket sales as people celebrated with friends and families and splashed out on alcohol, soft drinks, barbecue foods and desserts.

Food, fuel and energy costs have jumped recently in part due to the Ukraine war and it is squeezing households.

According to Kantar, 22% of households now describe themselves as “struggling” to make ends meet, with the rising price of the weekly shop a concern for over nine in ten of these people.

Prices are going up fastest for products such as dog food, savoury snacks and fresh beef, it said, although they are falling for alcoholic spirits.

Mr McKevitt said: “People are really feeling the squeeze at the supermarket tills and they’re having to stretch their budgets further to accommodate rising prices.

“To put the most recent numbers into context, if you were picking up supplies for a family fry up over the long weekend with toast, eggs, sausages, bacon, and beans it would cost you £6.83 – that’s a significant 40p increase on last year.”

Meanwhile, YouGov research showed that two in five Britons have been forced to reduce or stop spending on clothes, eating out, non-essential food items and takeaways over the last six months. One in five have cut or stopped spending on day trips, holidays and fuel.

According to Kantar, UK grocery sales fell by 4.4% in the 12 weeks to 15 May compared with the same period last year, when stay-at-home rules boosted sales.

Discounter Lidl was the fastest growing grocery chain, with its sales increasing by 6% in the period. That was just ahead of rival Aldi whose sales were up 5.8%.

Tesco remained the UK’s biggest supermarket, expanding its market share share for the 17th month in a row to 27.4%.

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Nisa retailers offering Big Deal for Bank Holiday

Linda Stewart — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 09:58:37 +0000

Nisa’s ‘Big Deal’ is back for the bank holiday and with shopper focus shifting increasingly towards value, it is expected to be a winner this weekend.

Featuring two British bank holiday favourites – burgers and beer – the latest deal saves Nisa shoppers more than 50% off the RRP. The offer is expected to be well received by customers looking for something special and cost-friendly over the long weekend.

Until Tuesday 10^th May, Nisa shoppers can pick up a Co-op Beef Quarter Pounder Burgers 4-pack and a Budweiser 4-pack for just £3.50, offering a £4.45 saving off the RRP. And as a non-licensed alternative, Budweiser 0%, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero 4-packs are available as part of the deal.

Darren Hamilton, Wholesale Category Controller at Nisa, said: “The early May bank holiday typically presents one of the first alfresco dining opportunities of the year and in true British fashion, we suspect many people will be wanting to bring out the barbeque regardless of the temperature.”

For those opting to celebrate, whether that be in indoors or out, the Big Deal is joined by more get-together friendly deals including 2 for £1.50 on Co-op Coleslaw and Co-op Potato Salad, Doritos 150g bags for £1.25, Beefeater Pink Strawberry 70cl for £15, Kopparberg Cherry 10x330ml for £10.50, and Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc 75cl for £6.75.

“A burger and a beer is a safe bet for any kind of gathering, whether that’s a games night in the living room or a garden get-together,” added Hamilton.

“We’re confident that our partners will see a boost in basket spend over the next couple of days thanks to the deal, which provides shoppers with a treat that won’t break the bank.”

Nisa’s consumer-facing digital channels are supporting partners by publishing animations for the Big Deal, and eye-catching in store point of sale has been provided to draw attention to the promotion.

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