All articles by Beth Brooks – Page 72
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News
Makro begins talks to cut up to 135 jobs
Makro has become the second wholesaler in as many weeks to announce redundancy plans. The cash & carry wholesaler told staff last week that up to 135 jobs could be affected in HR, admin and four in-store coffee shops.
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Profiles
Management shuffle for Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco has restructured its management team to create three new channel head positions. Cameron Miles has been appointed head of grocery, Mike Laney has been made head of convenience, while Patrick Toms has been named head of...
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News
Alworths next into administration as woes mount on high street
Alworths has collapsed into administration. Speculation had mounted over the past few weeks over the future of the 17-store variety chain, which was formed following the demise of Woolworths.
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News
Sainsbury’s gets all-clear on animal testing
Sainsbury’s own-label toiletries are to carry the logo of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection. Up to 200 products will display the ‘leaping bunny’ logo, the international certification that helps consumers identify cosmetics and toiletries that do not use ingredients tested on animals.
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News
Own-label awards shortlist biggest ever with 50 categories
After attracting a record 556 entries, The Grocer Own Label Food & Drink Awards 2011 on 11 May will be the biggest ever, with 220 products shortlisted in 50 categories.
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News
Costcutter will make Nisa decision by 2012
Costcutter will decide by the end of the year whether it is to extend its decade-long distribution deal with Nisa-Today's. The contract ends in 2014 and the pair have been in talks over an extension since the summer.
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News
Imperial fights illicit traders with Make Your Own range
Imperial Tobacco is fighting back against the illicit trade in tobacco by launching a novel cigarette-making kit that cuts the price of a pack of 20 JPS Silver cigarettes by over 20%.
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News
Evison is new Mars Food MD as Hughes opts for retirement
Mars Food UK has promoted UK food sales director Emma Evison to managing director. Evison takes over the role from Rob Hughes, who has retired. She joined Mars in 1994 and has since held a number of roles across the company's pet care,...
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News
Capper buyout makes Blakemore a Spar giant
AF Blakemore & Son has confirmed the purchase of fellow Spar wholesaler Capper & Co.The deal, for an undisclosed sum, puts an end to more than a month of speculation and transforms Blakemore into the runaway dominant force within...
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Analysis & Features
The death of the paperboy
The paper round has been a source of pocket money for generations of youngsters, reports Beth Phillips. But with newsagents’ profits being squeezed, are we about to witness the death of the paperboy?
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Profiles
Randle replaces Harding as BP’s real estate chief
Catherine Randle is to take over from BP veteran Richard Harding as manager of the oil giant's company and franchise retail estate in the UK, running around 350 BP branded stores, including BP Connect, Wild Bean Cafe and its joint venture with...
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News
Menzies ups profits despite latest newspaper decline
Menzies Distribution has reported increases in full-year sales and profits despite being hit by last winter’s poor weather conditions. Operating profits in 2010 rose 3.2% to £28.8m, on sales up 4% to £1.3bn, buoyed by contract wins following the demise of Dawson News.
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News
Lowman: jobs claims are supermarket spin
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman has urged the government to ignore "supermarket propaganda" on job creation to save the nation's failing high streets. Speaking at the association's annual summit, held in...
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News
‘Only difference at People’s chain is its staff not being paid’
The People's Supermarket was forced to defend its business at the ACS Summit this week after delegates branded it no different from any other retailer. The member-owned co-operative opened in June last year, claiming it could compete on...
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Analysis & Features
Fairtrade: A fairer share for all
Bananas, Dairy Milk and even condoms (in Waitrose from this week). It’s official – Fairtrade’s gone mainstream. But how much are farmers benefiting? Ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight, Beth Phillips visited a cocoa co-operative in Ghana and Sarah Butler met coffee farmers in Uganda to find out
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Analysis & Features
How tasty are the top 50 independents?
The Top 50 posted a whacking 35% hike in profits last year. But that doesn’t mean they’re all in rude health.
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Rankings
Top 50 Independent Retailers 2011
The Top 50 posted a whacking 35% hike in profits last year. But that doesn’t mean they’re all in rude health – or that the recent flurry of deals signals a new wave of M&A activity, writes Beth Phillips Deal or no deal? After three years of virtually no mergers ...
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News
Ex-NFRN man debuts deliveries direct debit
Stefan Wojciechowski, the former head of newspapers and magazines at the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, has returned to the industry with a new service aimed at taking the strain off newsagents struggling to finance their paper rounds.
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News
Ugo store takes fight to Stoke Sainsbury’s
Haldanes has opened its first Ugo discount supermarket, in Stoke-on-Trent. The opening follows Haldanes' purchase of 20 Netto stores from Asda last month. The store previously operated under the Haldanes fascia and is being trialled ahead...
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News
The Co-op unveils UK's 'most radical sustainability plan ever'
The Co-operative Group has pledged to keep the price of its healthy eating range in line with its standard offer in the "most radical sustainability programme in UK corporate history", it claims. Unveiling its Ethical Operating Plan this...