OnTrade Scotland Magazine December Edition 2023 by ontradescotland

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We don’t want a lot for Christmas

SAVE OUR SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY

Magazine December 2023

Official Partners

“ALEXA LAUNCH GO RADIO” LISTEN TO THE BREAKFAST SHOW LIVE WEEKDAYS 6AM -10AM WITH CROFTY & GRADO

Welcome to the December edition of OnTrade Scotland Magazine “I don’t want a lot for Christmas” is a very famous opening line from a Christmas song and in my opinion it couldn’t be more on point for the hospitality industry in Scotland. The autumn statement by the Uk chancellor provided business rates relief to the tune of 75% for another year to businesses to help them through this period of recovery to build a better future on some sort of solid foundation. Meanwhile back at Scrooge McDuck castle in Holyrood Scottish government seem to not be keen on providing the same support to businesses in Scotland, with one of their sitting MSPs John Mason of shettleston & Barlanark in Glasgow stating publicly that he believes “venues in hospitality are raking it in”. We however know this is far from the case as Michael Bergson stated on the recent AT THE BAR TRADE SHOW “most businesses can be £2k-£3k from oblivion at any given point.” We encourage every venue, business owner and individual in the industry to sign the petition for SAVE OUR SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY which can be found on our website or via Scottish Hospitality website or via SLTA website. We plead with Scottish Government to do the right thing and provide the equipment 75% support to businesses in Scotland there is NO excuse for this not to be provided. Frankly speaking it would be an utter disgrace and embarrassment for anything other than 75% min rates relief to be provided. I would like to personally thank all of our partners Go Radio, Anderson Strathern LLP and Myle Cars for their support of not only us but also the hospitality industry. To all of our commercial partners and those involved in the growth program I want to thank you for trusting us with your brand message and for choosing to work with us to engage the venues and provide solutions to help better the industry. I would also like to thank all of the venues, trade bodies, and people across the industry this year that have helped us deliver what we have and for you continued support it is genuinely humbling. We never take the engagement or support for granted and will always try to do what is best for the industry and the people in it with the respect, and transparency and honesty it deserves. I and all the team at OnTrade Scotland, AT THE BAR & TopGun Media wish every single one of you and your families the very merriest of Christmases and the most prosperous of New Years. Stay positive Stay together Save Our Scottish Hospitality Justin Wingate Director at TopGunMedia Hayley Ewing Head of Events - events@topgunmedia.co.uk Fiona Gauld Production - info@topgunmedia.co.uk For press enquires or advertising opportunists please call or email: Email: info@topgunmedia.co.uk Telephone: 0141 556 4111

New app for the Hospitality Industry

Scottish wholesale in the spotlight

Give a Kid a Christmas

Challenges facing the Hospitality Industry 3

Industry News NEW ‘OFF THE SHELF’ APP PLATFORM MAKES DIGITAL COMMERCE AFFORDABLE FOR WHOLESALERS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY As latest research shows that 83 percent of B2B decisionmakers prefer using self-service tools for reordering rather than talking to a sales representative, 1 and 73 percent of B2B buyers want a B2C like experience 2, the new platform gives businesses the opportunity to improve their customer experience, increase revenue and give themselves the competitive advantage. Henry Dewing, Founder and Director at DueTrade said: “Digital commerce is rapidly becoming the preferred way for buyers to complete B2B purchases and customers are increasingly expecting a ‘consumer-style’ sales experience when buying from wholesalers. That said, developing a totally bespoke app can cost anywhere between £35,000 - £100,000, which makes it an impossible investment for many in the industry. “We have launched our ‘Off The Shelf’ service to make sales apps accessible for businesses of all sizes. This white-label option costs a fraction of the price compared to a bespoke app, but still allows suppliers the opportunity to put themselves in their customers’ back pockets. Companies that invest in this technology will have a competitive advantage in the marketplace by being able to transact faster, increase revenue and manage their portfolios online.” Wholesalers and suppliers to restaurants, bars, cafés and hotels can now offer their customers an ‘Amazonstyle’ sales experience following the launch of a new affordable appbuilding service that is set to revolutionise the industry by making digital commerce accessible for businesses of all sizes. Designed to help suppliers better connect with their customers, the customisable ‘Off The Shelf’ platform has been launched by DueTrade, a technology company helping B2B wholesale businesses in the hospitality industry to embrace digitalisation. The platform supports those in the industry who want a more efficient way of trading with customers - without the hefty price tag associated with developing a bespoke app. The new cost-effective platform allows them to trade goods, share promotions, offer 24/7 ordering, and improve brand awareness through a simple, user-friendly ordering app that doesn’t cost the earth. 4

Rather than processing sales manually, either in person, over the phone or via email, customers can place orders at the click of a button via the app. Ordering can be done at any time or day, with quick and easy payment. Buyers use secure profiles to save delivery and payment details for easy reordering and can view their order history, pending orders, favourites and the status of deliveries, for a totally seamless sales experience. By fully integrating with existing sales, accounting and stock monitoring software, the platform saves valuable time and resources for both the end customer and supplier sales teams. For wholesalers in the hospitality industry, the app can help increase trade orders, enhance customer relationships and save time on inbound enquiries. Customers are updated in real-time with the latest offers and promotions, while the app can be customised with bespoke branding to strengthen brand awareness and ensure each app looks cutting edge. The DueTrade Off-The-Shelf app platform can be used by B2B wholesale businesses in all industries. Wholesalers, breweries, grain traders, millers, food suppliers, builders’ merchants, lumber merchants, butchers and fishmongers are among the wide range of businesses which can also benefit from offering an ordering app. For further information, please visit www.duetrade.co.uk ontradescotland.co.uk

Brand News MALIBU PARTNER TO STAMP OUT SPIKING Research conducted by Malibu identified that 73% people don’t know what to do in a spiking situation. Malibu want to change this by partnering with Stamp Out Spiking, a registered charity established to tackle the increasing incidents of spiking across the UK and worldwide, which includes a £20,000 donation and training for 2,000 staff from bars, clubs and convenience stores across the UK. Malibu, through Stamp Out Spiking, will be offering free online spiking awareness training to its customers and partners. The training only takes 25 minutes and has been designed for all those interested in the safety and wellbeing of people, who want to educate themselves on spiking.

COCA-COLA LIGHTS UP THE UK WITH THE RETURN OF THE ICONIC ADVERT Each year, the return of the Coca-Cola Christmas “Holidays Are Coming” advert is eagerly anticipated, marking the official start of the holiday season for 44% of Brits. The advert’s unmistakable jingle and the sight of the twinkling truck gliding through a winter wonderland have become synonymous with the start of the holiday season. This sparks a rush of nostalgia (29%), happiness (27%) and warmth (20%) that transcends generations.

The release of the Coca-Cola Christmas “Holidays Are Coming” advert has become an iconic holiday tradition, marking the start of the festive period. It has captivated audiences worldwide for over two decades. The heartwarming message of unity, happiness, and the spirit of giving throughout the advert is why, for the first time, Coca-Cola has conducted comprehensive research exploring the sentiment of the long-standing ad, and unveiled the nation’s emotional connection to the advert and its instantly recognisable jingle.

The jingle has even become so iconic that two in five (38%) Brits would add it to their playlists if they could, so they could listen to it all year long, and over two-thirds (67%) say it gets stuck in their head, most commonly for up to two hours (27%). As well as kicking off the most wonderful time of the year, the Coca-Cola Christmas “Holidays Are Coming” advert makes 24% of us think of warm, cosy nights during winter and takes 22% of us back to our childhood - no wonder that over a third (35%) of Brits find themselves singing the jingle 1-3 times a day. Its iconicity lies not only in its memorable imagery but also in its ability to evoke a collective sense of celebration and togetherness, as 16% of Brits reminisce about time spent with family and friends whenever they see the advert. As families and friends gather to watch this timeless advertisement, it serves as a reminder of the magic and wonder that this special time of year brings. 5

Viaplay Cup Final R

angers and Aberdeen will contest this season’s Viaplay Cup Final on Sunday December 17th, with both sides desperate to pick up the first piece of silverware on offer this season.

Rangers are the most successful team in the competition lifting the trophy a record 27 times, their last back in 2010/2011. The Gers have been beaten finalists in two of the last four seasons and will be hoping for better luck under new manager Philippe Clement.

Dons saw off Hibernian with 10-men in the semi-finals to book their final showdown and manager Barry Robson will hope his side show the same fighting spirit when they face a Rangers side that eliminated them at the semi-final stage last season.

Six-times winners Aberdeen were last victorious in this competition in 2014 but have lost their previous two visits to this stage of the tournament, falling to Celtic in both 2017 and 2019.

The Viaplay Cup Final will be broadcast live and exclusive on Viaplay from 2pm on Sunday 17th December with kick off in front of a packed Hampden Park from 3pm.

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SCOTTISH WHOLESALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT HOLYROOD PARLIAMENTARY RECEPTION

holesale has been in the spotlight at Holyrood at a Scottish Wholesale Association Parliamentary Reception – attended by MSPs across all parties. The event was staged to celebrate the importance and resilience of the Scottish wholesale sector and help politicians to gain greater understanding about all channels of Scotland’s food and drink sector. Sponsored by Daniel Johnson, the Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern and featuring a keynote speech by Richard Lochhead MSP, the Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade, the reception was attended by Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) members the length and breadth of the country, including Brian Johnston, general manager of JW Gray in the Shetland Islands. Attended by 120 SWA members and partner organisations along with over 35 MSPs, the Parliamentary Reception saw Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, tell his audience: “We represent an industry that is literally the wheels to Scotland’s food and drink supply chain, and yet until Covid hit we were a relatively unknown sector within the Scottish Government and across the Parliament – that’s despite wholesale being vital to food security and its supply into our local communities, our schools, hospitals, tourism, hospitality and leisure outlets.” He also stressed the wholesale sector’s importance to the Scottish economy and its transition to net zero, adding: “Scotland’s wholesale marketplace is now worth around £3.3 billion with Scotland representing approximately 10% of the total UK wholesale channel.”

To demonstrate the diversity of the Scottish wholesale sector, six SWA members – Brakes, CJ Lang & Son, Glencrest, Inverarity Morton, JW Gray, Lomond Fine Foods and Mark Murphy – showcased their businesses around the Garden Lobby with MSPs speaking to representatives to learn more. Edinburgh-based Mark Murphy, a foodservice supplier of fruit and vegetables and other produce, was there to discuss with MSPs the SWA’s Wholesale Local Food Champion project. Mark Murphy was one of the first wholesalers to get on board with the project which is an extension of the SWA’s successful Delivering Growth Through Wholesale (DGTW) producer initiative, launched in 2021 and a collaboration with SAOS and Scotland Food & Drink. Its aim is to encourage Scotland’s wholesalers to identify individuals who collectively take responsibility for shaping the local sourcing strategy within their business. Before introducing Richard Lochhead, Mr Smith paid tribute to the Scottish Government for its financial support during the pandemic when the economy closed down and with it 50% of the wholesale sector. ontradescotland.co.uk

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WE SAVED CHRISTMAS FOR 2035 KIDS LAST YEAR BUT HAD TO TURN 100 AWAY - DONATE £5 AND MAKE A CHILD’S DAY

adisson RED Glasgow have teamed up with an inspirational city charity to help make sure no child in the city wakes up to a tree with nothing under it this Christmas – and YOU can help by giving just a fiver now.

Glasgow’s No1 Baby and Family Support Service, run by Audrey Dempsey, runs the Give A Kid A Christmas campaign each year and arranged gifts for 2035 children last year – but horribly, had to turn away over 100 because they had no toys left. Audrey puts together carefully curated gift bags with themed presents designed to keep kids occupied for months into the new year, not just one day. Audrey said: “Over the last 6 years, the poverty rate, particularly in work poverty, has risen drastically and people struggle to get through the year so we aim to ensure that no child goes without on this very special day. “It’s a costly time for families and a heavy load for parents that are struggling so lightening that load will hopefully allow the whole family to relax, smile and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. “We research all retailers to find the best prices and the toys can be purchased for £25 with deals running at the

moment. As the age groups rise, it does get a bit more expensive but not by much if we shop savvy. “The jackets can come in at anything from £15+ again depending on age and size so overall a complete pack could come in at £40 – that’s five presents plus the essential warm jacket.” Graham Chalmers, Curator at Radisson RED, knew he had to help when he heard Audrey was forced to turn away desperate parents because after delivering over 10,000 toys and over 200 coats, she simply had nothing left when those last 100 parents came forward. Graham wants to help make sure Audrey doesn’t have to turn anyone away this time around – so is pushing the appeal across billboards and social media and asking people to support the charity in general. Graham said: “I’m a dad – I have two young girls – and seeing their faces on Christmas morning is one of the greatest moments of every year for my wife and I. ontradescotland.co.uk

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Challenges facing the Hospitality Industry Anderson Strathern is delighted to be OnTrade Scotland’s new legal partner. You may already have heard from Fiona McKinnon, a partner in the firm’s commercial real estate team, who shared hear insights at the new look ‘At The Bar’. Fiona says: “The hospitality sector and licensed trade have been challenged over the last few years on several fronts. They have dealt not only with Covid but also Brexit, both of which have affected staff availability. New short term let legislation has been introduced which is expected to significantly change the number of such properties available for let across the country. Other changes impact these sectors, including Low Emission Zones (LEZs), late night transport restrictions and changes to board policies in Scotland. Some of these are positive and some negative, but they all mean more information for licensed trade and hospitality operators to process and then apply to their business. Anderson Strathern embraces the opportunity to support operators in navigating these challenges and giving proactive, practical advice to allow businesses not only to weather these storms, but also to grow and flourish in years to come. As a full-service law firm, we support operators 16

in leases, licensing, employment and beyond.” There is always scope for staffing issues to crop up in licensed and hospitality premises, and while this isn’t ideal at any time, it is particularly undesirable now, with the festive season in full swing. It’s a busy time for the licensed trade, but staff may also want to enjoy the festivities with friends and family. Both unwell staff (and overindulgence!) can result in workplace absences. If not managed properly, this can cause issues, particularly if operators are left short staffed with little notice. Considerations for employers include: • how staff report an absence • whether they are entitled to be paid for it and how much • how issues are addressed This can all be achieved successfully, but only if your handbooks and absence policies are up ontradescotland.co.uk

FIONA MCKINNON - PARTNER to date. Employers should also make sure these have been intimated to employees (especially if they have been changed or updated, or if new employees or seasonal workers have joined the business). It is important to ensure staff holidays are agreed in good time and everyone has been well warned of any deadlines for holiday requests, particularly if premises are going to be open on Christmas Day or Hogmanay. It can be difficult to operate a strict rota, and some staff members may not mind working on Christmas Day. It is important everyone’s wellbeing and need for a break is considered regardless of factors such as religious beliefs or whether they have young children. Employers must be mindful of this and may appreciate advice from our employment team relating to reviewing policies and procedures and how best to approach holidays and leave with employees. Keeping licences current and in order is also crucial at this time of year. Operators should check some key things: • Are managers’ training and personal licences up to date?

• Is staff training current and properly recoded? While there’s no legal requirement to retrain staff at a certain time (unless they are personal licence holders who need to complete time sensitive refresher training), failing to keep staff training reviewed regularly can have consequences. It could be deemed a breach of the fit and proper test, a lack of proper due diligence or a failure to comply with the licensing objectives. If this isn’t remedied after warnings it may result in a review and impact the premises licence. It is always better to be proactive so speak to our licensing team for information on staff training or requirements for staff and personal licence holders. Anderson Strathern wishes all the OnTrade Scotland readers, partners and sponsors a prosperous festive season, a happy new year, and we look forward to 2024 when our January article will focus on what we believe the sector trends for the year will be. If there are topics you would like us to cover, or if you have questions on any of the above, please email Fiona at fiona.mckinnon@ andersonstrathern.co.uk. 17

ONTRADE SCOTLAND PARTNER TO SUPPORT TRANSPORT SOLUTION FOR VENUES

nTrade Scotland are proud to announce the partnership with Myle Cars to help provide better and much needed support to the hospitality industry and its customers.

With challenges of ULEZ , train issues and lack of drivers or safety issues being raised it is harder and harder for customers to find simple, safe cost effective transport when looking to have a night in hospitality and get home safely. Equally as problematic for the industry itself is hard working staff getting home safely after a long shift a lot of whom and younger part - time or shift staff. Head of OnTrade Scotland & TopGun Media Justin Wingate commented : “Transport for customers & staff alike has been a huge issue and with a seemingly endless number of reasons being put in front of customers by city councils and government to discourage going out it is vital that the public and venue staff have a safe reliable , cost effective solution.” He continued “ We have looked for some time to partner with a solution supplier that can fill a genuine gap and do it in the correct way, and I believe we have found that partner in Myle Cars. They are a new company with a real and genuine passion to offer a service that is second to none & in the discussions we have had around the challenges venue staff and customers alike face the owners displayed a real desire to work with the venues and operators to provide a transparent account based solution that the staff and companies can rely on as well

as helping drive footfall to the venues themselves.” Myle Cars Director Daniel Cook said: “Myle Cars is proud to embark on a strategic partnership with OnTrade, a company deeply rooted in the fabric of Glasgow’s vibrant hospitality scene. This alliance is borne out of a mutual commitment to enriching the city’s economy and a shared ethos of exceptional care for those, in the hospitality sector, who make it thrive.” “Our understanding of the unique dynamics of Glasgow’s eateries, pubs, and entertainment venues informs every facet of our service. Myle Cars brings more than just a private hire taxi service; we offer a promise of safety and a commitment to the well-being of every patron and every hardworking individual behind the scenes.” Daniel continued ,”with OnTrade Scotlands expertise and Myle Cars’ dedication to reliable and professional travel solutions, we aim to ensure that the joy and satisfaction of an evening out continue through to a secure journey home.” “As Glasgow’s nights sparkle with life, Myle Cars and OnTrade Scotland stand together in its shared mission to guarantee that the city’s pulse, the people, and their collective moments are carried forward with the utmost care, well into the future. This our commitment to the city we love, the people we serve, and the industry that brings us together” Myle Cars have provided special solutions for the industry simply reference “OnTradeFamily” and see how they can help.

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