England and Wales haveve recorded the hottest June since 1976 so sun tan products are a good area of focus for the multiples, where 20% of the skus were on promotion, a higher percentage than the average for other categories.

Our feature this month has changed to highlight the gaps in availability management that have opened up between the various retail groups.

We now include an average of each retailer’s availability performance to date, using the data from the six separate Stockwatch audits conducted during the first half of 2003.

This allows you to compare the results of a retailer this month with its more regular performance. So if, for example, we recorded 31% of Safeway’ s promotional lines in the sun tan category at risk of going out of stock, it would not be too surprising as this is Safeway’s typical score. However, 31% at risk in Morrisons, where the average is 18%, would be disappointing.

In sun tan products, then, the retailer whose customers will be having the least fun in the sun is Asda, with a massive 35% at risk on promoted lines - nearly double the sector average. Its non-promoted performance at 24% is also poor versus rivals.

Safeway has slightly better availability for promotional skus than normal but worse for non-promoted lines.

Morrisons recorded 0% at risk for non-promotional stock - which is a first for the Stockwatch audit in any category. However, there was a 20% at risk for promotional lines. Sainsbury has almost double the percentage of skus on promotion to those of its nearest rival but its at risk figures for both promotional and non-promotional stock are better than its average.

Tesco records 4% at risk for non-promoted lines and 12% at risk on promotional lines. Somerfield has only 4% of all skus at risk. It carries the smallest range and is not running any promotions, so may not be able to take full advantage of heightened consumer demand.

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