Dear Reader,

Earlier this year we reported on Nielsen research, which claimed innovation could succeed in recession. This latest issue shows convenience retailers have grasped the nettle in this respect.

In Ireland, ADM Londis is putting the local community at the heart of its marketing strategy and developing stores and products to meet new shopping habits. On the forecourt, Topaz is looking to the future and building its brand based on shopper insights and needs. Exxon Mobil is looking at shopper behaviour too and leveraging its global expertise to deliver at a local level.

In Poland, Zabka is seizing the opportunity to launch a new premium, convenience format – FreshMarket; while Petrogas is expanding its innovative Applegreen format in the UK. Take a look around its latest store in our exclusive C-TV footage.

Value chains Poundland and Iceland are scooping up ex-Woolworths stores, the latter benefiting from a trend to frozen foods - a category that Mintel tips as recession-proof in the U.S. too.

But while retail innovation is largely focused on key themes such as local, environment and food-to-go, people can be a differentiator too. Read how the innovative company culture at the Sewell Group makes it a top UK employer.

Borrowing ideas for improvement has never been so convenient.

Fiona Briggs, Editor

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Future of International Convenience Retailing 2009 London

Convenience Knowledge Bank