Grocer back issues from February 2008:
Opinion.(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Dawn Primarolo was decided. Traffic lights were better, the public health minister told MPs, food industry execs, and pressure groups at a CASH event in the House of Commons this week. Dr Ian Reynolds, deputy chair at the Food Standards Agency, agreed. And if Dame Deirdre Hutton ...
Big talk at Davos is little comfort for shoppers faced with (much) pricier household staples.(THIS WEEK'S HOT TOPIC)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... The sky-high cost of groin and its effect on food prices is old news but further events around the world have conspired to threaten further misery for British shoppers this week. Global rice stocks have plummeted to their lowest levels for 25 years as a result of soaring demand, ...
Oliver turns GDA champ.(news)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Jamie Oliver has come out in favour of Guideline Daily Amounts The Grocer can reveal--a decision that once again puts him at odds with his employer Sainsbury's. The advertising face of the supermarket has opted to put front-of-pack GDAs on the labelling for his new food product ...
Is P&H up for sale? 'Possible' MBO 'may flush out bidders'.(news)(Palmer and Harvey McLane)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... News of a potential management buyout at Palmer & Harvey McLane has led to rumours that the wholesaler could be up for sale. P&H said this week it was in talks that could lead to a "possible" MBO. However, according to an industry source, they had been ongoing for some time and ...
Five bidders for Grampian Food Group.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Five bids in excess of 400m [pounds sterling] have been tabled for Grampian Country Food Group, The Grocer understands. The Scotland-based meat supplier was put up for sale in October, with investment bankers JPMorgan Cazenove appointed to find a buyer. According to a ...
Any retro payment ban 'meaningless'.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Retailers would demand tougher "prospective" terms if the Competition Commission's groceries inquiry banned retrospective payments, according to Asda. In its latest response to the commission's provisional finding that retrospective payments affected competition, the retailer ...
Waitrose/Co-op in Somerfield bid.(news)
Feb 02, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Waitrose and The Co-operative Group have teamed up to launch a joint bid for the Somerfield grocery chain, The Grocer has learnt. The two retailers will go head-to-head with Asda--currently the favourite to buy the retailer--and four or five ...
Price of food rockets 8% as rising commodity costs bite.(news)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Food prices have leapt 8% in two years as a result of soaring commodity costs, according to The Grocer's exclusive research. Latest data from The Grocer Price Index shows the average cost of our secret loo-item trolley of staple products on which the index is based has risen ...
Crops feel the heat as water is diverted to urban centres.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... A global shortage of water is set to put greater upward pressure on food prices, it was claimed this week. Consultancy Bidwells said rapid urbanisation in developing countries meant water was being diverted to urban populations rather than crops, leading to higher grain imports ...
Global rice stocks fall to 25-year low.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... World stocks of rice have dropped to their lowest levels for a quarter of a century prompting a sharp rise in prices. Increased demand from China and India, and record-high freight costs, have resulted in the lowest global stocks since 1983, with world consumption at 423 million ...
Wholesalers set to join price wars.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wholesalers will be forced into a price war this year as pressure from rivals and the major supermarkets becomes greater. Today's Group MD Rodney Hunt said wholesalers were gearing up for a tough year in the face of rising food prices, ...
Nisa-Today's crosses border to build business in Republic.(news)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Buying group Nisa-Today's has made its first foray into the Republic of Ireland. Nisa has been supplying one major account in the Republic, the identity of which remains secret, for four months now as part of a trial. The contract represents about 6,000 cases of goods a week. ...
Blakemore ranges boosted with opening of new depot.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Midlands Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore has boosted its capacity by opening a 65,000 sq ft warehouse. Axcess10 is located close to junction 10 on the M6 and less than two miles from the company's 246,000 sq ft Willenhall depot. The newly opened warehouse has enabled ...
Festive sales flatlined for wholesale.(news)(Survey)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... The latest CBI Distributive Trades survey shows food and drink retail sales held up over Christmas despite the squeeze on spending, but the picture was not so rosy for wholesalers. The survey of 153 retailers and wholesalers, accounting for 40% of employment in retail as a ...
Poor sales lead to axe for Gu frozen desserts.(news)(Gu (United Kingdom))(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Premium pudding supplier Gu has axed its frozen desserts range as predicted by The Grocer ('Future of Gu's frozen puds range hanging in the balance', p53, 8 December 2007). It is the first major setback for a company that in a little under five years has become one of the UK's ...
Coke Zone 'is not for kids'.(news)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Coca-Cola has insisted its latest campaign does not break a promise not to promote its products to kids. It is ploughing 5m [pounds sterling] into Coke Zone, a long-term on-pack giveaway that encourages teens to repeat-buy in order to ...
Tesco boards the Shanghai Express.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Tesco is to launch a chain of Express-branded convenience stores in China, with the first set to open in Shanghai next month. The new store will trade as Tesco Legou Express "Legou" meaning Happy Shopper. More stores will be opened in the format, which will range in size from ...
Refurbs boost co-op's sales.(news)(refurbishment programme )(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A 1.3m [pounds sterling] refurbishment programme helped the Heart of England Co-operative Society achieve like-for-like food sales growth of 5.5% in the five weeks leading up to Christmas. Sales in the society's ...
Organix seeks cash to drive expansion.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Organic infant food manufacturer Organix is hunting for fresh investment to expand its share of the baby category--and test its brand in the adult market. In the wake of speculation that the 16-year-old business was up for sale, founder Lizzie Vann told The Grocer the company ...
Lacors wants clampdown on premium own-label names.(news)(United Kingdom. Food Standards Agency)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Local authority body Lacors has told the Food Standards Agency to clamp down on the use of 'top of the range' style terms on food packaging because they could mislead consumers. In its submission to an FSA consultation on guidance on food marketing terms, Lacors said the use of ...
Scots ready to get tough over waste.(news)(Scottish government)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... The Scottish government has warned retailers they face legislation on plastic bag waste if voluntary action proves unsuccessful. Rural affairs and environment secretary Richard Lochhead told the Scottish Parliament he was eager to find out what impact a UK-wide voluntary ...
Stores attack bid to outlaw free carriers.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Retailers have condemned a bill proposing a total ban on free carrier bags in London. The Private Members' Bill, brought by London councils, received its second reading on Tuesday. On Wednesday representatives of the British Retail Consortium and the Association of ...
Focus switches to trade investment.(news)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Learn about the opportunities that exist between retailers and suppliers at The Grocer's Maximising Return on Trade Investment conference on 26 March. High-profile speakers at the one-day event at the Landmark Hotel in London will present real-life case studies, examples of ...
Home Bargains set for own-label food range.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Independent discount retailer TJ Morris plans to launch an own-label food range. The Merseyside-based chain, which currently operates 138 stores across northern England and the Midlands under the Home Bargains fascia, is in the early stages of developing an ambient range. ...
Swedish offer lottery with better odds.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... A Swedish lottery game promising better odds than the national lottery launches in the UK this month. BingoLotto gamecards be sold for 2 [pounds sterling] through PayPoint terminals, with commission for retailers starting at 5% compared with the 6% offered by Camelot for the ...
Tesco blackmailer jailed for six years.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... The man behind a plot to blackmail Tesco has been sent to prison for six years. Philip McHugh, a former tax inspector, made a series of bomb threats against Tesco in July last year, forcing it to evacuate 14 stores, costing the chain 1.4m [pounds sterling] in lost business. ...
Plans for UK's biggest store taking shape.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Tesco has begun work on its application for what could be the biggest supermarket in the UK. The retailer indicated its intent at the end of 2006 to extend the Purley Extra in south London from 82,000 sq ft to 139,000 sq ft and began a series of public consultations last spring ....
Worrall Thompson fronts Makro book.(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson has teamed up with Makro to promote the cash & carry chain's 2008 professional catering catalogue. The catalogue, which is published every six months, was launched last year to promote the company's offer after customer research indicated ...
Jack Fulton to spread outside its heartland.(news)(Frozen Value Ltd.)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Frozen food discounter Frozen Value is to open stores outside its traditional heartland of central and northern England for the first time. The company operates 78 stores across Yorkshire, Lancashire, Humberside and Nottinghamshire under the Jack Fulton brand, but is set to ...
Give shoppers a cup of tea, stores are told.(news)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Independent retailers will be encouraged to invite shoppers in for a 'cuppa and a chat' as part of a new event planned for National Independents' Week in June. The My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign has designated 3 June National Cuppa Day to celebrate the role independent ...
McColl to upgrade in-store IT systems.(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Martin McColl is to undertake a 19m [pounds sterling] revamp of its in-store IT and PoS systems. Under the deal with Torex Retail, shops will be equipped with TV screens to highlight promotions, digital CCTV to enhance security, and back-office stock control systems to improve ...
Carrefour plans assault on India.(WORLD NEWS)
Feb 02, 2008 ... NEW DELHI: Carrefour has revealed plans to enter the Indian retail market via the wholesale sector. "Carrefour confirms its decision to enter the Indian market with cash & carry stores and is in the final round of negotiation to select an Indian franchisee partner for ...
Wal-Mart to favour ethical suppliers.(WORLD NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS: Wal-Mart plans to favour suppliers that are ethically and environmentally responsible. Speaking at an annual meeting for Wal-Mart managers, president and CEO Lee Scott said the retailer would ask its ...
Retailer promotes its green scheme.(WORLD NEWS)
Feb 02, 2008 ... MISSISSAUGA, CANADA: WaI-Mart Canada has launched an advertising campaign to highlight its environmental scheme 'For the Greener Good'. The campaign will tell customers that the company is tackling its environmental impact through energy efficiency, waste reduction and recycling ...
Fund created to help cocoa farmers.(WORLD NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... ACCRA, GHANA: Cadbury Schweppes has set up a fund to help more than one million cocoa farmers in Ghana, India, Indonesia and the Caribbean. The Cadbury Cocoa Partnership will teach farmers how to increase their yields, introduce new sources of rural income and invest in community ...
Supervalu axes its organic chain.(WORLD NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA: US supermarket chain Supervalu is closing its organic food chain Sunflower Market. The five-strong chain, designed as a cheaper ...
Memmott is new Irn-Bru ops director.(movers & shakers)(appointment of Andrew Memmott)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Irn-Bm maker AG Barr has appointed Andrew Memmott as its new operations director to replace Alan Bibby, who is retiring later this year. Memmott will be promoted to the position after 18 years with the company in various operational roles. ...
Woolworths rounds off team 'made in heaven'.(movers & shakers)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Woolworths now has a management team 'made in heaven' after poaching Tesco's former international chief operating officer Simon Turner, according to chief executive Trevor Bish-Jones. Turner will become retail and distribution operations director and work alongside former Asda ...
Dunlop moves from Gallaher to light up Moy Park poultry.(movers & shakers)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Nigel Dunlop has become MD of poultry and food processing specialist Moy Park. Dunlop, who joined from tobacco company the Gallaher Group, has replaced Trefor Campbell, who has been at the helm of the company since 1983 and has now become non-executive chairman. ...
Asda's legal chief departs.(movers & shakers)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Asda's director of corporate and legal affairs John Longworth has left the company in a worldwide shake up of Wal-Mart's legal structure. Longworth's main board role disappeared after the legal and corporate affairs function separated. "I did ...
Greencore doubles up on commercial power.(movers & shakers)(Matthew Jenkins and Renny Hemingway appointed at Greencore Grocery )(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... The commercial director role at Greencore Grocery has been split in two, with recent acquisitions and increased business leading to the creation of separate sales and marketing roles. Former Asda head of advertising Matthew Jenkins has been appointed to the newly created ...
InBev UK gets new marketer.(movers & shakers)(Devin Kelly appointed at InBev S.A.)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brewer InBev has appointed Andreas Hilger as its new marketing director. He replaces Devin Kelly who left the company at the end of last year to return to his native US. Hilger moves from InBev in Germany, where as marketing director ...
Fresh look for PRUK wine & spirits team.(movers & shakers)(Simon Thomas and Vlastimil Speida promoted at Pernod Ricard UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Pernod Ricard UK CEO Jean Manuel-Spriet has made three senior internal promotions in the company's wine and spirits teams. Simon Thomas has been promoted from commercial director of wholesale C&C to the new role of deputy MD of sales and marketing for spirits. He will be ...
Holberry is new MD of Magners GB.(movers & shakers)(John Holberry appointed at C&C Group)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... C&C Group, the Irish company behind Magners cider, has appointed John Holberry as managing director of its Magners GB business. Holberry joins C&C Group from Coors Brewers, where he has been managing director of Coors' sales operations since 2001. He will take up his new role on ...
Fresh Easy's Ford heads Peter Rabbit.(movers & shakers)(Ben Ford appointed at Peter Rabbit Organics )(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Children's food brand Peter Rabbit Organics has appointed former Tesco Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market operations manager Ben Ford as its new chief executive. Ford has spent the past two years in Tesco's international division, working on the launch of the retailer's Fresh & ...
The constructive approach: despite the disruption caused by major construction work, staff at the Sainsbury's store in Winchester, Hampshire, impressed our shopper by helping her find the items she was after.(the grocer 33)(Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd.)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Deciding the winner of the Top Store award has been a tough call this week with all the retailers except Somerfield providing full baskets--but staff at Sainsbury's branch in Winchester, Hampshire, clinched it with an excellent display of customer care in demanding circumstances. ...
Q&A with Richard Morris Store manager of the week.(the grocer 33)(Interview)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Why is the store being reconfigured? The store layout is currently too bitty, with too many corners blocking aisles. But the conversion will make the store a rectangle in shape with logically arranged fixtures. We will offer a full complement ...
* This week a year ago the winner was...(the grocer 33)
Feb 02, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was a Sainsbury's at the other end of the country that picked up our Top Store award this time last year. Sainsbury's Kirkintilloch store in Glasgow offered a full basket and exceptional customer care to impress our Glaswegian shopper. ...
Price survey.(the grocer 33)(Statistical table)(Survey)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Morrisons has toppled Asda from its perch to claim the title of UK's cheapest retailer for the first time since 29 September. The only serious challenger for the crown over recent months, Morrisons finally produced the cheapest basket at 43.82 [pounds sterling]--beating its ...
Top-up shop.(the grocer 33)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Every week The Grocer's mystery shoppers also visit convenience stores to check out the price of 10 commonly bought fast-moving food items across all grocery categories <Pre> PRODUCTSBONJOURBUDGENSCO-OP Heinz Baked Beanz 415g ...
Availability.(TOP-UP-SHOP)
Feb 02, 2008 ... * ASDA Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne 0 OUT OF STOCK There was a cheerful atmosphere at this Asda and our Geordie shopper was impressed to see the store manager helping restock the shelves. The shop entrance was welcoming and the store boasted an attractive mix of ...
Competition hots up in the frozen food aisles: Birds Eye leads the way in promotions, but rival Young's is close behind and others are stepping up their activity too.(promotrack)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Birds Eye maintained its first place in the top five frozen category chart with 30% of promotional activity last weekend. But it was only two percentage points ahead of Young's, signalling that competition for space in the frozen category is beginning to hot up. Birds Eye ...
Share of space: weekend 27 January 2008.(promotrack)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... <Pre> Share of space Weekend 27 January 2008 * W/E--TOP FIVE FROZEN Birds Eye 30% Young's28% McCain 16% Findus 14% Wall's 12% * ...
Only idiots need food labels--and they don't want them: food labels alone will do nothing to stop the obesity crisis--people just need to stop making excuses for not eating a balanced diet.(SATURDAY ESSAY)(Viewpoint essay)
Feb 02, 2008; ... I have disliked John Humphrys for years--ever since he hosted an event for the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders and said he wouldn't read the script I had written because he was "from the BBC" and "had to be impartial" ... and then read it out anyway. And especially since he ...
The Daily Telegraph.(WHAT THE PAPERS SAID)(Tesco not to release comprehensive sales figures for its Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market business in the US )(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Tesco has decided not to release comprehensive sales figures for its Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market business in the US until 2009 amid growing scepticism that it can mount a serious challenge to Wal-Mart, ...
Daily Mail.(WHAT THE PAPERS SAID)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Scottish & Newcastle is set to be carved up by Carlsberg and Heineken putting jobs at its HQ under threat, said the Daily Mail. S&N employs 100 people at its head office in St ...
FT.(WHAT THE PAPERS SAID)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Asda is exploring selling electricity to its customers through its power services company Power4AII. In an interview with the FT, Asda CEO Andy Bond said ...
The Independent.(WHAT THE PAPERS SAID)
Feb 02, 2008 ... The Independent devoted two pages outlining the "truth" about children's food following research published by campaign group Consensus Action on Salt and Health that found some products ...
The Sun.(WHAT THE PAPERS SAID)
Feb 02, 2008 ... Milk and eggs could soon be listed as ingredients on wine bottles to warn consumers who may be allergic to certain ingredients following a labelling overhaul by ...
The reasons why Morrisons works: Morrisons' like-for-like sales growth has been more than twice that of its rivals and it's quickly gaining market share. So what is it doing right?(SECOND OPINION)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Feb 02, 2008; ... The undisputed heavyweight food retail champion of the United Kingdom, by unanimous verdict, is ... Morrisons. Bradford may have lost the 2008 City of Culture arm wrestle with Liverpool, but its proudest retail export carried all before it in trading terms. This week I'd like to ask if ...
Industry must put forward its views.(LETTER OF THE WEEK)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Paul McLaughlin Chief executive, Scotland Food & Drink As the leadership organisation for the food and drink industry in Scotland, we welcome the opportunity to be involved in shaping the Scottish government's food policy ('Scottish plan more local food in stores', ...
Sales of organic are much closer to 2bn [pounds sterling].(letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Clio Turton Senior press officer, Soil Association SIR; The Soil Association believes the Mintel figure of 1.5bn [pounds sterling] for organic food sales is conservative ('Demand outstrips UK organic supply', The Grocer, 26 January, p11). The latest Soil ...
Our decision to part ways is a mutual one.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Henry Amar Chairman, RH Amar SIR, I refer to your article in which you erroneously reported that Filippo Berio had 'dropped' RH Amar (Filippo Berio goes it alone to expand', The Grocer, 26 January, p63). To clarify the matter, the decision announced last ...
Our 25 years together has been successful.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Walter Zanre Country manager, Filippo Berio UK SIR; It is not correct to say that Filippo Berio is 'dropping' RH Amar ('Filippo Berio goes it alone to expand', The Grocer, 26 January, p63). We have had ...
First Quality was first to use pomegranate.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 02, 2008; ... Jackie Weide Business development manager, First Quality Foods SIR; Lyme Regis Fine Foods claims 'to be the first to use the superfruit pomegranate as an ingredient in a snacking product' (Lyme opts for superfruit bar', The Grocer, 26 January, p64). First ...