Hayley Nixon

The UK's Most Loved Brands report is out today. Who do you think is the top-performing food brand? It's M&S Simply Food and the insight is excellent. It seems that Colin the Caterpillar has beat Cuthbert out of the top performing retailers, with Aldi slipping down the list. Does that surprise you? Delight you? Intrigue you? Depress you? I'm keen to know what you think. It's not a huge surprise to me. Tomorrow, I will be recording my latest food industry review. I'll share some more insight from the report, with a few thrown-in opinions. If you like this post or drop me a DM, I will make sure you get a DM to check out the video tomorrow too. FYI - the report is from Savanta. It's excellent. #foodindustry #foodmanufacturing #foodretail #marketing

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Which categories are driving UK symbol and independent convenience retail currently? Do you know how your category and brand is performing relative to the market? And my real question is, do you really know, or are you trusting aggregated market data that's based on a handful of stores and not telling you what's really going on? To the facts: - Tobacco still has the highest £ share of sales at 20%, but it's down 150 basis points on last year. - Picking up the pace are groceries, confectionery, chilled, alcohol, and soft drinks, all of which are growing their £ share of spend. - Groceries are the standout performer, growing share of spend by 70 basis points year on year. This just demonstrates the breadth of products that shoppers are looking for from their convenience stores. An opportunity for every brand in FMCG to sell more! Drop me a message if you'd like to base your convenience strategy and tactics on real EPOS from over 12,000 symbol and independent stores with Thumbprint #epos #sales #convenience

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Have you read our case study on Sainsbury’s digital transformation in employee relations? As one of the UK’s top retailers, Sainsbury’s has achieved impressive results. Using empower®, a digital guide that enhances managerial skills, Sainsbury’s has made it easier for line managers to handle low-risk conduct issues anytime. Self-service features have made managing employee relations simpler and faster, allowing HR to focus on complex cases and strategic tasks. This has reduced case durations, improved efficiency, and enhanced manager-employee relationships and overall employee experiences. Interested in how they did it? Read the full story here: https://hubs.la/Q02LGZvn0. #CaseStudy #SuccessStory #EmployeeRelations #HR #Transformation

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A couple of thoughts to ponder: i) with limited numbers boards need to consider the balance between narrow-but-critical expertise in an area (say AI, or e-comm) and experience of growing/transforming a business (e.g. ex-C-Suite); ii) what's the right balance of leaning on a board member's specialist knowledge (e.g. on Net Zero) vs needing that directly at exec level. An energising start to the day, including some great discussion on AI use cases and turning use case to full business value, thanks Directorbank

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Most brands are missing the real opportunities to sell more in symbol and independent convenience, because the data they use is only telling them part of the story. First things first, symbol and independent convenience is a complex sector. There's over 40,000 stores, lots of fascia groups and a plethora of independent retailers. With all that complexity, most brands still make the biggest strategic decisions on the basis of aggregated market data, built from a relatively small number of stores. In our experience, aggregate market data will tell you distribution and rate of sale is higher than it actually is, in addition to not picking up the reality of the number of SKUs selling across the category. This means brands make decisions based on a view of their own performance and competitor performance that doesn't match reality. I'll use an example to bring that to life using Cadbury Mini Rolls 5pk. Some key facts from real EPOS taken from over 15,000 stores. - 30.82% of stores sold the product at some point in the last year - The product never gets beyond 24% distribution in any single month, and it falls to as low as 9% in some months. - There's an over 50% difference in monthly units sold per stockist in the highest selling month Vs the lowest selling month. That's just a high level summary of the reality, granular EPOS can help target distribution, pricing, geographical, and store tactics that'll actually make a difference to real sales. Our work at Thumbprint in partnership with Gerry Hooper and Peter Marriott at I-TG and Retail Spotlight helps brands see what's really happening, act on it, and win in the channel. If you want to see the real picture of symbol and independent convenience get in touch with me for a chat. I guarantee we'll open your eyes to a new world of winning in convenience. #convenience #epos #retail #fmcg

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If you wander down the Chilled Pizza aisle in Sainsbury's you will see our fantastic Crosta & Mollica bay takeover with our 3D header to top it off! We will be live for 13 weeks, driving massive brand awareness. Having worked in the past with Insight Traction: An FMCG Strategy Consultancy, I always recall their views on 4 pillars that brands need to lean on when it comes to shopper marketing: 1. Be visible at point of purchase (and memorable) ✅ 2. Be easy to understand (we are Italian and we make delicious premium pizza, made in Italy 🍕) ✅ 3. Be easy to find ( I think you will agree you can't really miss us now 😉) ✅ 4. Ultimately, become the obvious choice. We want to become the destination brand and be front of mind when shoppers want to treat themselves with a restaurant quality pizza at home! 🔜 Big shout out to Three Floors Up, Rob Russell & Simon Morton for bringing my hand-drawn sketches to life and make it amazingly impactful at shelf! Thank you to Lottie Blincow and Nectar360 for working with me on this and getting this over the line! And of course, thanks to Mathan Thiagarajah for agreeing to do it with us! #Pizza #CrostaMollica #Sainsburys #shopper #shoppermarketing #instore #instoreactivations #retail #brand #awareness #retailmedia #retailstrategy #retailmarketing

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LinkedIn LinkedIn News Marketing Week Russell Parsons Mark Ritson Brand Pricing Caveat, I specifically reference the food & drink sector, as this is the industry I know best. Brand "challenges" are all around us: > Shrinkflation - smaller packs for same price. > Own-label products winning taste tests > Retailers controlling pricing & promotion strategies. In the end they are most interested in "category share" / rate-of-sale and profitability. Plus of course, the thrust of the enclosed Marketing Week article. My suggestions for "brands" - focus on what you are in charge of: > Value Chain: Look through everything AFTER "ingredients": Production efficiencies / logistics / head office costs / marketing effectiveness etc. Identifty savings. > Invest as much of the savings as possible back into product. Surely this is the heart of the brand's reason to exist? Taste / Flavour / Calibre of ingredients. Or if it is non-food, benchmarking with Own-Label will identify clues. In both instances, insights with consumers are key. > This could also be packaging too. Point(s) of difference, such as easy-opening / materials used. > Analyse what your brand stands for - and how this is viewed by your consumers and potential "conquests". Be honest about the perception your brand has. Adopt the "challenger" mindset. I think you get the gist - a "brand" makes-a-difference in the ways consumers gravitate towards. Years ago I suggested on Linkedin that the top 250 - 500 brands should have collaborated to purchase Ocado Group - I just wasn't influential at the time. #brand #consumers #insights #competitors #thinkdifferent

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If you missed my contribution to last night's episode of 'Waitrose: Trouble in the Aisles' on Channel 5 just hop onto this link ⬇. https://lnkd.in/ejUJYnuW #waitrose #premiumsupermarket #foodandbeverage #foodinsights #supermarketinsights #consumerhabits

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I have had the privilege of being part of the Marketing Leadership Masterclass over the course of the last 12 weeks, run brilliantly by Thomas Barta and Syl Saller CBE. For those that aren’t familiar, the virtual course covers a huge array of topics, spanning all aspects of marketing leadership from behaviours, skills, strategy with a number of hugely inspiring outside speakers from the world of FMCG and service marketing. I thought I would share my top insights below. I would love to hear your reflections on reading. 1.     Be sure of the value you are creating – either for the consumer, your customer or your company. Consider why you are working on something, what are value are you creating, how will you extract the value, is it worth your time, the investment you are making. Always be clear on the ‘value creation zone’. 2.     Zooming out, Zooming in – always be clear on the big picture problem you are trying to solve and present your case using the right level of detail / data to support. 3.     Know your audience – what type of a leader are they? Know what motivates them and adjust your style and the way you present your case accordingly. Are they more detail focused, or more emotional? What will they need to see to go with you on your journey and be convinced? 4.     Zero based Budgeting – this breeds creativity, do less with more. Prove what you need and why. 5.     Know your brand objective  - go back to the funnel – are you needing to raise awareness, considering, preference or conversion? Be focused on the objective. 6.     Bitesizing – consider your journey as smaller, bitesize steps. Consider your audience and reframe the challenge in palatable chunks that will work for them. This approach often helps mobilise energy and support internally. 7.     Start a movement internally – put yourself out there and gather support, build belief. Test and learn and prove the case enabling you to go further, unlocking the support you need. 8.     Don’t let the elephant in the room get in the way – be brave, recognise it, lean into it. 9.     A Team – be demanding on talent, hire for distinctiveness either internally and also with the partners you are working with. Face into where there is a weak link and address it. It’s only fair on them and the rest of the team too. 10.  Build trust – connect with your team, show vulnerability, and build confidence. There is no room for ego. 11.  Ruthlessly prioritise – invest your time and resources in what will build equity and deliver results. Keep doing this, reassessing. Keep focused on the value creation zone. 12.  Be clear on how you inspire others – know yourself and what your purpose is as a leader. 13.  Be Brave, aim high and be your authentic self It was hugely valuable and really thought provoking. Thankyou Thomas Barta and Syl Saller CBE, thoroughly recommend to others.

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In the current environment there's no wonder lots of brands have looked to throw discounts out to encourage spend. The long term impact and brand perception created though can be far more damaging. This is a good read on ASOS (who I have received 100's of discounts from in the last 12 months!) https://lnkd.in/ejuYqwg2

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Our annual Britvic plc Soft Drinks Review was released yesterday, and as a category it’s always so interesting to see the changing consumer behaviours that shape our brands. Our report found that: ·       Category sales in grocery and convenience stores have grown, demonstrating the dedication and ingenuity of manufacturers and retailers as well as the wide range of roles soft drinks are playing in people's lives. We have witnessed the soft drink category expand rapidly at forecourts, where sales have grown by 9.9% on volumes up 1.6%.  ·       There is a rise in people using forecourts for a wider range of purposes, like top-up shopping and on-the-go treats. All this presents significant opportunities for soft drinks, the channel’s bestselling food and drink category.  ·       Retailers increasingly recognise that the soft drinks they stock help determine people’s choice of store. As such, Britvic is a trusted manufacturer that aims to support retailers in meeting those needs, with launches of various flavours through our rotational Tango Editions series, offering various formats, and health-conscious options to help retailers offer their customers everything they need.  You can read more about how the category is continuing to accelerate on our website:  https://lnkd.in/eBaTNyPT

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Which Supermarket will take the lead? 🤔 Sainsbury's 💚 Asda 💙 Marks and Spencer 💚 Waitrose & Partners 💙 Tesco 💚 Morrisons 💙 Lidl GB 💚 Aldi UK 💙 Ocado Retail 💚 Really Good Culture ask this question in their recent Gut-Health report; granted, it is around technological-based health monitoring systems. I'd like to ask who is leading the way on the biggest macro trend in the last decade - spoiler, I am talking about Gut-Health! 🌱 In July 2021 ‘gut health’ surpassed the Google search volumes of 'vegan diet' and 'plant-based diet’. In July 2024 searches for ‘gut health’ even edged ahead of  ‘weight loss diet’.   The rise of gut health in mainstream consciousness isn't just a passing phase; it's a clear sign of how we're evolving in our understanding of what it means to live healthily. My vote? 💁‍♀️ I genuinely hope its a draw...because, the more we talk about Gut-Health and provide solutions that support it, the better! 💥 #guthealth

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As a critical part of our local economy, support is essential for business.

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Tesco Aiming For Extra £1bn In Sales From Premium Range The CEO of Tesco has revealed that the retailer is targeting an extra £1bn in sales for its Finest own-label range to meet growing demand for premium food & drink and challenge the likes of Waitrose and M&S. Finest currently has annual sales of £2bn. Speaking to the Financial Times, Ken Murphy said: “We haven’t yet set our stall out to say ‘what would it take to get to £3bn’, but we’re very conscious it is playing an increasingly important role.” He added: “We genuinely believe . . . that our intrinsic [food] qualities are every bit as good as anything you would get at Sainsbury’s and increasingly out of Waitrose … M&S, we probably still have a bit of work to do.” The report notes that in the face of higher living costs, shoppers are shunning restaurants and becoming more adventurous with their cooking at home. Data from Kantar shows that spending on premium own-label lines in the leading UK supermarkets rose 12% in the year to 9 June even as inflation eased. The figure was also nearly double the 6.9% growth in all brands owned by the grocers, including their budget ranges. The FT highlighted that Tesco’s Finest products account for only over 3% of the group’s £61.4bn sales, although this is equivalent to about a quarter of Waitrose’s total sales and M&S’s food sales, respectively. However, it has taken Tesco about a decade to reach the £2bn level from £1.4bn in sales in 2013. Murphy did not reveal whether there was a target date set for getting sales to £3bn, but Clive Black, a retail analyst at Shore Capital, told the FT that it would not be earlier than “the medium and long term before that number is reached” given that the industry’s annual growth is relatively modest. NamNews Implications: * ‘Shoppers are shunning restaurants and becoming more adventurous with their cooking at home…’ * …heightening consumer awareness of the difference made by quality ingredients… * …and the home-cost of ingredients vs the price paid in hospitality. * All potential threats to ‘eating out’ long term. * Apart from increased savviness re branded equivalents in store. One to watch… #OwnLabel #Hospitality

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The most interesting thing about #kantar today is that Aldi are within 2% of Asda's market share. Unthinkable even a year ago, but represents a real concern for any retail leaders around the discounters carrying on regardless. Whether sales for #aldi are +2% / -2% or otherwise on Kantar. There will no let up from the discounters on their approach....... #Asda at -5.6% will surprise no one and as stated on here; Christmas will be the nadir but one can only presume brighter times are here with Allan Leighton. The challenge is that it will take time to get the tanker moving. #Morrisons were just +2% which given the woes of #asda is nowhere near strong enough. The stories of the BWS cabinets being opened tells its own story on sales growth, alongside the non-food specials being removed and more space opened out to festive food lines.......... Paints quite a worrying picture. The growth is barely there so clearly #Asda shoppers are decamping elsewhere. #Tesco lead the market growth with +5.2% sales and share up to 28.1%, #Sainsbury's remain strong at +4.7% and share just shy of 16%. #Lidl's growth continues to impress with +6.6% growth and share of 7.7%, only +0.3% on the year, however. It's clear from the wider market view that customers are holding off on purchases, the calendar flow for Christmas (IE still some way off and two more weekends) is playing in to this. Clothing data from #Kantar yesterday showed full price sales abruptly in to reverse too...... Clearly the #budget announcement on NI has spooked employers and by definition, employees who are suddenly worried over job security. Confidence is a fragile thing and the interest rate rises were some time ago, indeed, the rates have fallen since. But a number of customers will be having their ultra low rates come to an end, which immediately puts even more pressure on discretionary spending. Alongside this; #inflation has slowed but we are still recovering from the days of +10% inflation. I would wager most customers haven't felt inflation fall at all, if anything, the opposite is true. Indeed the #Christmas lunch is +6.5% this year. But inflation is slowing?!?! #kantar calls out Wines/Champagne and Spirits having biggest buy on deal. Buy 6, Save 25% on Wines has been almost everywhere in the market for weeks. The new 10p off a litre of fuel! All eyes on the big weeks to come; but consumer (and employer) confidence is notably fragile at the minute and the government must take full responsibility for this......... PS buried in the wider release is the news that #MarksandSpencer have benefitted from one in three households, at 32%, buying food, drink and other groceries from M&S during the 12 weeks to 1 December. Big periods for events and M&S wider appeal is starting to play through with the all important Christmas period where M&S typically pick up extra sales too. Sales +10.4% (!) #foodretail #christmas #trade #kantar

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Tesco redefined loyalty programs in the retail sector when it brought out the Clubcard. Tesco's team focused on analysing behavioural patterns to create personalised customer experiences. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend Scoring Points: How Tesco Continues to Win Customer Loyalty by Clive Humby, Terry Hunt and Tim Phillips. It's just as relevant for B2B. Tesco's approach to identifying and engaging high-value customers through personalised offers can be applied to building relationships with key business clients. By using data to recognise top customers and creating incentives that resonate, B2B marketers can deepen client loyalty and drive sustainable growth. Scoring Points is both a case study and a toolkit. For me, the core takeaway is 'how to harness customer data to generate actionable insights.' It's also a reminder that loyalty is about consistently recognising and rewarding your best customers - a lesson every marketer, regardless of sector, can benefit from. Have you read it? #B2BMarketing

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