JTI announces regional winners of Nordic Spirit ‘Perfect Store’ competition  

JTI UK has unveiled the 40 winners, ten from each of its four regions, as part of the Nordic Spirit ‘Perfect Store’ competition amongst its independent retail trade partners.

The winners will get a prize bundle worth up to £2,000 per store, including one year’s supply of Nordic Spirit, a Fitbit Versa 3 Smartwatch, £125 restaurant vouchers and limited-edition Nordic Spirit merchandise.

Earlier this year, retailers were encouraged to follow the five pillars of Nordic Spirit’s Perfect Store Model to generate product awareness in-store and boost sales. To be awarded as a regional winner the retailers excelled on each pillar, that were worth a certain number of points, which their local JTI Business Adviser scored them on during their scheduled store visits.

“The nicotine pouch category in the UK is now worth over 31.7 million per year and this is only expected to increase in the months ahead. Nearly half (44.5%) of nicotine pouch sales also comes through the convenience and independents channel, so it’s hugely important that we support and reward our highly valued trade partners,” Bruce Terry, portfolio brand manager at JTI UK, commented.

“Our biggest congratulations go out to all the successful retailers who went the extra mile to action the advice in our Perfect Store Model, helping to boost their sales in the process. Stay tuned for the announcement of our national winners later this year and in the meantime, our local JTI Business Advisers, as well as the resources available on JTI Advance are here to help retailers maximise the nicotine pouch opportunity.”

Soheil Haji, owner of Londis Retail Canterbury, an Eastern Regional winner, said: “We’re very pleased to have been chosen as a regional winner. We’re always looking at new opportunities to promote products and see what difference it can make to the store. Working with a JTI Business Adviser as part of the Perfect Store competition, we increased our merchandising in-store, with eye-catching POS highlighting Nordic Spirit behind the counter. We also provided training to staff so that they could speak about the range and up-sell to customers. We’ve seen really encouraging sales following the changes and increased visibility of Nordic Spirit. After all, if you don’t tell a customer or advertise a product, they won’t give it a go!”

In the spring, one national champion per JTI region will be crowned a winner and receive a package worth up to £20,000 per store. The prize bundle includes: Expenses paid trip to the Nordic region, including some fantastic excursions, £2,000 wholesaler credit, Apple iPad Air, tickets to some great events, a Nordic Spirit Perfect Store Makeover, a trophy and a certificate.

See below for the full list of successful stores. 

Northern winners:  

• Bught Stores, Inverness
• Filshill Keystone, Dingwall
• Day Today Express, Alexandria
• Aboyne Filling Station (Shell), Aboyne
• Your Shop, Dundee
• Focus Off License, Burnley
• M&H Newsagents, Burnley
• Applegreen Griffin Head, Accrington
• Ribble Valley Forecourt, Burnley
• Wolviston News, Billingham

Central Winners 

• Parker & Son, Wakefield
• ABI Express, Birkenhead
• News & Booze, Ellesmere Port
• Premier Discount Food & Wine, Wallasey
• Texaco Higherland, Newcastle
• Newhouse Stores, Stoke-on-Trent
• Clayton Convenience Store, Newcastle
• Hiccups Off License, Stoke-on-Trent
• Anchor Convenience, Walsall
• Premier Main Street Convenience, Walsall

Western Winners 

• Smokers and Vapers, Cwmbran
• Richmond Wines, Cwmbran
• Roberts Avenue Newsagents, Merthyr Tydfil
• Best One, Bristol
• Baneswell Stores, Newport
• Sanjay News Shops, Sutton Coldfield
• Bains Newsagents, Coventry
• Little Convenience Store, Tring
• Clifton Convenience, Bristol
• Premier Downend, Bristol

Eastern Winners

• Hari News Ltd, Romford
• Woodberry General Stores, Sittingbourne
• Hawkinge Convenience Store, Folkestone
• Shanuska, Ashford
• Bon Bon, Canterbury
• Bridge Newsagent, Dover
• Saltwood General Stores, Hythe
• Wye News, Ashford
• Londis Retail, Canterbury
• Dover Express, Dover