Age needs one voice. Now it has:
Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern England and
Help the Aged in England.
This innovative event brought together a mix of more than 40 food retailers, food manufacturers, community groups, trade press and Age UKs to address how we can work together to make food products and services more accessible to older people. Thank you to everyone who came along and took part in the event, it was wonderful to hear your insights and experiences.
We were delighted to work with the ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) on the event. They and their members shared their vast experience with the group and talked about the issues from the retailers point of view.
The seminar explored the barriers older people face in getting easy access to food and the challenges retailers have in meeting these needs.
The seminar also marked the launch of the Age UK policy report on 'Food shopping in later life'.
Download a copy of 'food shopping in later life' (PDF 474KB)
To view a copy of the format that the event followed, please download the document below:
Download the event format (PDF 83 KB)
James Lowman, Chief Executive, ACSThe afternoon was opened with a welcome from the two Chairs, James Lowman, Chief Executive, ACS and Jane Vass, Head of Public Policy, Age UK, who emphasised the importance of older people having easy access to food and how working collaboratively can help to achieve this.
James Lowman then presented an insightful presentation, the presentation brought to light a number of facts which showed just how much impact the older shopper has on a retailer, with one-third of 65+ age group using their convenience store every day. Please click below to view the Power Point slideshow which accompanied the presentation.
Download a copy of James Lowman's Presentation
Gretel Jones, Policy Adviser (Consumer Markets), Age UKThe afternoon continued with Gretel Jones, Policy Adviser for Consumer Markets at Age UK talking the audience through the implications of an ageing population. Gretel Jones presented some of the facts and figures which will have a direct impact on retailers and the way they should market thier stores. It was explained that there are currently more people over 85 than there are under 16 and the number of over 75’s will double by 2030.
Gretel Jones quoted some of the relevant information which features in the report and the rationale behind working towards bringing together older people and retailers. To find out more about what was presented, please download the paraphrased presentation below.
Download Gretel Jones' paraphrased presentation
Yvonne Lee, Chief Executive, Age UK Oldham
Nicky Openshaw, Hospital Services Manager, Age UK York
Examples of two great, regional, Age UK shopping services were presented to the group to demonstrate real examples of how retailers and Age UKs currently work together and some of the barriers they have face.
Nicky Openshaw described how Age UK York set up a shopping service approximately 9 years ago. The service was set up in collaboration with the University of York and has a very good, mutual relationship with most supermarkets. Generally the service is very well received and really helps an increasing number of older people to have access to regular food.
There have been some barriers faced by Age UK York including problems with data protection as the Age UK card is so frequently used for small transactions. Also, they have found that the service and level of care varies greatly from store to store. Nicky Openshaw described one particular scenario where the retail deliverer actually, potentially, saved someone's life by alerting the authorities when an older person, who they knew should be in, did not answer the door and upon closer inspection was lying unconscious on the floor. Please download the report for more information on the shopping service Age UK York provides.
Yvonne Lee, from Age UK Oldham, explained about Age UK Oldham's shopping delivery and safe at home service which is very well received by those who use it. However, Yvonne Lee, did highlight that in order to continue to meet the demands of the service they will need more staff resources from supermarkets. To find out more about Age UK Oldham's shopping service, please watch the Power Point presentation below, the service also features in the shopping report.
Download a copy of Yvonne Lee's Power Point slides
Phil Ponsonby, Chief Operating Officer, The Southern Co-operative
Paul Cheema, Malcolm Stores, Coventry
The retailers then had their chance to give examples of how their stores offer services aimed at older people and described how well relationships can work on a local level and on a case by case basis.
Ponsonby, described how there were three main areas which The Southern Co-operative consider when it comes to older customers, these are Accessibility, Environment and Engagement.
Cheema, who's family owns a single store, talked about how his store works on a very local level with people and gets to the know the needs of the individual, regular customers and how to adapt the shop and the service according to the needs of those customers. Please see Power Point slides below which were shown alongside a verbal presentation at the event.
Download a copy of Paul Cheema, Malcolm Stores - Coventry presentation
Download a copy of Phil Ponsonby's (The Southern Co-operative) presentation
Lucy Hastings, Head of Home Services, Age UK
Ian Rutter, Senior Manager, Engage Business Network
The final session of the afternoon focused on a panel discussion which consisted of retailers and experts in older consumer accessibility. A number of discussions came out of the group which included audience participation. Ian Rutter gave a presentation on the Engage Business network and how it is working with organisations to make them more friendly to the older consumer. Please see the presentation below for further information.
Download Ian Rutter's presentation on the Engage Business Network
Read about the key issues raised at the panel discussion
For more information about this or any other event please e-mail the events department on eventsdept@ageuk.org.uk or call 0203 033 1501.
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