Abduction and robbery: two men to appear in court

Police officers investigating a robbery at a shop in the Tollcross area have arrested and charged two men.

At around 10.45pm on Thursday, 6 January 2022, a 24-year-old man was walking on Spey Street when he was approached and taken back to the store where he worked on Leven Street. A four-figure sum of cash was then take from the store.

Two men, aged 26 and 28, have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

They are both due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Thursday, 3 February, 2022). A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait from Edinburgh Division CID, said: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance following our appeal.”

Police investigating robbery at Scotmid store in Tollcross

Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a shop in Tollcross.

At around 10.45pm on Thursday, 6 January 2022, a 24-year-old man was walking on Spey Street, having finished his shift at the Scotmid store in Leven Street at 10pm.

He was then approached by two men who forced him into a blue Volkswagen Tiguan car and drove him back to the store, where they threatened him and made him open the premises.

The suspects then stole a four-figure sum of cash from the store and drove off at around 11.25pm.

Officers investigating the incident found the Tiguan, which was bearing registration number SF08 WPU, alight within Lochend Park, next to the basketball court.

It has been established that the vehicle was stolen from a break-in at the Maybury Car Sales in Turnhouse Road on 12 December 2021.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait from Edinburgh Division CID, said: “We believe that this was a targeted attack and that those responsible had been following the victim prior to approaching him and forcing him to allow them entry to his place of work.

“While this was a very frightening experience for him, thankfully he was uninjured and we are now pursuing a number of lines of inquiry to trace the suspects.

“If you recognise their description, or believe you have seen the Volkswagen Tiguan, either in the hours surrounding this incident, or in the last few weeks, then please contact police immediately.

“Similarly, anyone with any other information is also asked to come forward.”

Those with information can contact Edinburgh CID via 101 and quote incident number 3131 of 6 January 2022. Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sweet smell of success: The Kilted Donut dishes out 10,000 doughnuts

Doughnut shop set to expand and recruit thanks to Scotmid partnership

A popular, independent doughnut shop has opened a second store in Edinburgh following the success of its partnership with a leading Scottish convenience retailer.  

Leith-based The Kilted Donut began supplying Scotmid in February. Since then, it has supplied over 10,000 delicious doughnuts to customers at Scotmid’s flagship store in Leven Street. Firm favourites have proved to be the Nutella Bomb and the Brown Butter Biscoff. 

As a result of the relationship with Scotmid, the business’s growth plans have been accelerated. Co-Founders, Mark Anderson and Lena Wollan, an ambitious husband and wife team, are now poised to extend their reach across the city with the opening of a second store in Stockbridge – and aim to expand their team by more than 50% through the recruitment of four more members of staff.    

The consistent wholesale order has also supported the business to increase their daily output through the purchase of key equipment and an upgrade to a larger kitchen. This has led to new partnerships including one at Easter Road Stadium, helping to feed hundreds of hungry football fans. 

Lena Wollan, Director and Co-Founder of The Kilted Donut (above), said : “The partnership with Scotmid means so much to us. It has been the springboard to reaching a broad customer base, which has supported our business in many ways, not least through the opportunity supercharge our expansion plans and open doors to new supplier relationships.   

“We genuinely value Scotmid’s commitment to supporting independent producers such as ourselves. We look forward to introducing new flavours into our growing repertoire over the coming months and working in our new premises.” 

Influenced by a doughnut shop visit in New Orleans, The Kilted Donut began as a small stall at Leith market before moving into its current site in Great Junction Street. 

Lena and Mark have been perfecting their own recipe over the last three years and are committed to creating the best doughnuts from natural ingredients, without the use of pre-made mixes or artificial flavours. 

Their existing menu comprises around 40 individual flavours, with six flavours chosen on rotation each week. 

Danny Scobie, Food-To-Go Operations Manager at Scotmid, said: “Kilted Donut is a fantastic example of a Scottish business that is committed to supplying the best quality local produce and we’re thrilled to be able to sell their incredible products in our Leven Street store.

“The doughnuts have been extremely popular with customers, who are excited to see the new flavours we have every week. 

“We’re delighted to see Lena and Mark’s business go from strength to strength and to have played a role in their journey of expansion and success in Edinburgh.” 

The Kilted Donut partnership forms part of Scotmid’s wider local sourcing strategy, which focuses on both provenance as well as supporting local, innovative suppliers. The retailer aims to grow the business through innovation and partnership which comes as a direct response to meeting shifting customer demands for greater choice and top quality, local products.   

Other Scotmid suppliers include well-known Scottish names such as Grahams, Tunnocks and Barrs, all the way through to emerging brands such as Confectious Fudge and Lost Orchards Cider. 

The retailer is always interested in discovering new and innovative products via Product Guru’s free specialist platform: www.productguru.co.uk/scotmid  

Scotmid’s Leven Street store is located at 5-19 Leven St, Edinburgh, EH3 9LH.