Category Advice
ACS, ACS Premier Club members and him! Research have teamed up to offer independent retailers a unique new service providing advice on how to maximise categories.
The category advice section gives ACS retailer members an excellent starting point for category management which will drive sales and increase revenue.
Allied Bakeries have introduced a new Rate Card that rewards brand loyalty on a week by week basis. To find out more information about the Rate Card, click here: Allied Bakeries Rate Card
AVAILABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL
click below to download a free tool to help you understand the key drivers of improved on-shelf availability within convenience stores.
Assessment Guidelines 
Assessment Tool
The Availability Assessment tool has been put together by IGD and ECR UK to help independent convenience store retailers tackle the root causes of poor on-shelf availability.
During 2007 the ECR UK Convenience Availability Workgroup focused on identifying and Working with representatives from many of the major national convenience store retailers, the workgroup put together an assessment tool and guidelines, bringing together many of the key elements of best practice with the aim of benefiting independent convenience store operators who often do not have access to this information.
The assessment tool enables users to assess the strengths and areas of possible improvement to maintain the availability of product on-shelf through focusing on those aspects of store operations directly relating to on-shelf availability.
The assessment tool and guidelines cover five key areas:
- Understanding Availability
- Replenishment / Ordering
- Inventory Management
- Merchandising
- Back of Store
For each area, the guidelines suggest the key points for consideration, and also provide further explanation against each point.
The supplier/ retailer led Convenience Availability Workgroup which developed the assessment tool and guidelines includes representatives from the Association of Convenience Stores, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Co-operative Group, InBev, Masterfoods, Nestle, Palmer & Harvey, Scottish & Newcastle and Sainsbury's.
Maximise Your Sales with Mars Food!
Mars Food, manufacturer of Dolmio Bolognese and Uncle Ben’s Express Rice, have developed category led information leaflets providing convenience retailers with easy to follow range and layout advice, planograms and more.
Make the most out of your ambient food fixture by following simple category principles like stocking best selling brands, blocking products by ethnicity and representing different ethnicities in your range.
In addition to these useful leaflets, log on to http://www.foodsoftheworld.co.uk for printable point of sale display materials and further merchandising advice. Use the leaflets and visit the website to maximize your sales.
Download the leaflets here: MARS Food of the World Category Advice Leaflets