Barbara Gregory, of McColls Sandbach, says the till keeps ringing thanks to the food-to-go category and the staff’s active-sell efforts.

“We are up on sales every week and we are pushing food-to-go and McColls’ chosen active-sell products.

“We make sure the food-to-go offer is always topped up and looks attractive. The products are very high quality and I do sampling days so people can taste the quality for themselves. This will often lead to an increase in sales. The range includes ambients and hot savouries such as sausage rolls and cheese and onion rolls.

“We also do bakewells and doughnuts and all things like that. We get a lot of workmen coming in throughout the morning but we do continue selling these products right through till 7pm.”

Successful NPD:

Rubicon Sparkling Spring water

“The Rubicon Spring Water black cherry and raspberry sku goes immediately, the minute we get it in stock. We also stock the orange and mango flavour which is also popular.”

AG Barr revealed its new four-strong Rubicon Spring range in summer last year. The range also includes a strawberry kiwi sku and a lemon lime sku (rrp £1.19 per 500ml). The firm invested £5m in the range this year.