Dear Reader,

Seasonal weather, for once, benefited convenience stores at Christmas as shoppers stayed local and visited stores close to home.

In the UK, convenience is tipped to outperform mainstream grocery at the start of the new decade too. However, as one leading brand consultant maintains in this issue, stores must continue to renew, reinvent and represent themselves in order to succeed.

In the first edition of the New Year, we take a whistle stop tour of markets around the world and uncover the latest in convenience format development.

We are delighted to include exclusive video footage of Spar China, the winner of our International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award. We also take a look at the emerging convenience store market in Brazil and the new partnership between premium UK retailer, Waitrose, and the petroleum giant, Shell, on the forecourt.

We lift the lid on Spar’s plans for its larger, Eurospar format in Denmark and take a look at retail developments in Ireland.

Jed Brewer delivers an economic outlook for 2010 while Mintel tips the top consumer and product trends for the coming year. With shopper themes encompassing resilience, escapism and ethical responsibility and product trends focusing on private labels, colour coding, cleaner and clearer packaging and an expanded notion of ‘local’, the prognosis for convenience looks good.

Happy New Year.

Fiona Briggs, Editor, Global Convenience Store Focus

C-TV

Spar China video exclusive
View exclusive video footage of the winner of the Insight NACS International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award, sponsored by Imperial Tobacco and Airplay.

Retail News

Launch of 2010 Insight NACS International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award
Waitrose trials convenience food in Shell forecourts
Waitrose is selling its products in three Shell forecourt shops in a trial, further extending the premium UK retailer’s footprint in convenience.
Spar launches Eurospar format in Denmark
Spar is launching its Eurospar supermarket format in Denmark.
Brazil’s convenience market: ready to fly
Like its overall economy, the convenience store industry in Brazil appears poised for a break-out, according to Don Longo, editor-in-chief, Convenience Store News.
Eight out of 10 global grocery manufacturers step up investment in sustainability
New research from food and grocery expert IGD reveals 85% of manufacturers have either stepped up their investment in sustainability or kept it the same during the recession despite just over two-fifths (42%) believing it is not yet high enough on the shopper agenda.
UK retailers enjoy a buoyant Christmas
Figures released by TNS Worldpanel and the CBI paint a healthy picture for British retailers but research by Mintel in the US finds American shoppers are spending less.
Safety and speed are top draws for c-stores in US
Cleanliness, lighting, and trustworthy customer services are largely the deciding factors for convenience store selection in the US, according to the latest Checkout report, a nationally representative survey of 1,200 adults conducted monthly by M/A/R/C Research.
Spar UK reports 5% growth in like-for-like sales
Spar UK has recorded like-for-like sales growth of 4.8% for the three months to 31 October 2009, underscoring the popularity of the convenience store channel.

Research

Convenience set to outperform the UK grocery market
The convenience sector is set to continue to outperform the total UK grocery market over the next five years, according to new research from the IGD.
Mintel predicts global consumer trends for 2010
Consumers are ready to reset and start fresh for 2010 following last year’s global economic recession, according to Mintel.
New products will play on the familiar in 2010, says Mintel
Mintel claims new product launches in 2010 will be a play on the familar - something recognisable with a twist.
Mintel predicts global trends for 2010
Mintel has predicted new flavour and scent and beauty trends in consumer packaged goods for 2010.
Wine sales buck recession in US
The US wine market has grown 20% from 2004 to 2009 despite the recession, according to new research from Mintel.
Chocolate sales worldwide defy recession
Chocolate sales around the world have increased despite the recession, according to new research from Mintel.

Comment and opinion

Jed Brewer’s quarterly economic forecast
Leading economist considers the global trading environments for convenience retailers.
Sharon’s convenience store report
Sharon Kane, area manager at Henderson Retail in Northern Ireland, reveals how the convenience stores she manages fared in the run up to Christmas.
What will Ireland’s c-store sector look like in 2010?
Andrew Bradley, partner at the Dublin-based brand and retail design consultants, Bradley McGurk, considers what the future holds for Ireland’s trend-setting convenience store retailers.

Products

Merrychef launches eikon range
A leading supplier of microwaves and microwave accelerated cooking technology to c-stores and forecourts unveils a new line.

Products & events

Global Food Safety event aims to connect
The Global Food Safety Conference, the global event for food safety professionals, takes place in Washington, DC 3-5 February 2010.
Insight and NACS unveil packed convenience calendar for 2010
Insight and NACS have unveiled an action-packed calendar of must-attend events for 2010.