**Scotland:** CJ Lang & Son Ltd hosted virtual briefings for over 200 UK suppliers, highlighting growth driven by store acquisitions, tech innovations like Relex demand planning, and successful marketing. The company aims to deepen supplier partnerships before the SPAR Scotland tradeshow in September.
CJ Lang & Son Ltd recently conducted two virtual business briefing sessions, which engaged over 200 suppliers from across the UK. These sessions took place on 29 April and served as a follow-up to the company’s earlier gathering at the SPAR Scotland conference and tradeshow in Aviemore. The briefings aimed to outline the firm’s achievements and set objectives for the upcoming months, notably the next major event scheduled for 25 September.
During the discussions, CJ Lang reported continued momentum with a year-on-year increase in overall sales and depot volumes. This performance is attributed to substantial investments in various facets of the business, including customer offerings, their owned estate, operational efficiencies, and supply chain enhancements. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy aimed at modernising the business to stay competitive in the future.
Over the past 18 months, CJ Lang has expanded its footprint by acquiring 12 new convenience stores and rolled out their exclusive “Barista Bar” coffee offering to more than 100 SPAR locations throughout Scotland. Additionally, Electronic Shelf Edge Labels have now been introduced in 114 of its company-owned SPAR stores, demonstrating a push towards enhanced customer experience.
The company’s technology initiatives have also progressed, with the “Relex” demand planning and forecasting platform now operational across its supplier network, and plans for it to be fully active in all 115 company-owned stores by the end of June. The company intends to engage suppliers for a collaborative rollout of supplier forecasting, which is expected to increase product availability across their network.
Recent marketing campaigns have proved successful, with the ‘Win With Every Goal’ initiative, conducted in partnership with SPAR RDC James Hall & Co Ltd, distributing over 1.1 million instant rewards, while generating more than 880,000 scratchcard interactions—surpassing industry expectations. Additionally, the “Frozen Fortune” campaign engaged customers through over 1.5 million interactions and provided daily £200 holiday voucher prizes, boasting a 28% average redemption rate.
CJ Lang is intensifying its focus on digital marketing strategies, which include targeted email campaigns, localised engagement via SPAR Scotland store Facebook pages, collaborations with influencers, and enhanced social media activity. The firm is also committed to promoting Scottish sourcing, with half of the products on SPAR Scotland shelves coming from local producers, aligning with consumers’ preferences for quality and local support.
Looking forward, CJ Lang is actively promoting supplier collaboration across numerous initiatives. This includes a more robust promotional calendar, an extended advertising campaign through STV that will continue until April 2026, and unique market entry opportunities via its dedicated Media Hub. The ongoing ‘Discover SPAR Scotland’ campaign is designed to attract new independent SPAR retailers nationally.
Culminating these efforts is the upcoming SPAR Scotland tradeshow and conference, which will return to Aviemore on 25 September under the theme “Inspiring Success”. This event will serve as a platform for independent retailers, store managers, and fast-moving consumer goods suppliers to network and share insights aimed at fostering growth within the Scottish market.
Colin McLean, CEO of CJ Lang & Son Ltd, emphasised the importance of supplier collaboration, stating, “We value the importance of working in close partnership with our suppliers to drive mutual growth and success across the Scottish marketplace. These business briefings are all about transparency, collaboration and driving collective growth.” He expressed optimism about the prospects for CJ Lang and SPAR Scotland moving forward, noting the significant investments made across various business operations.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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