Channels news – Page 1187

  • News

    Sainsbury sells Shaw’s in the US

    2004-03-26T00:00:00Z

    Sainsbury has sold its US business, Shaw's Supermarkets, to rival grocer Albertson's for $2.5bn.Following completion of the sale, Sainsbury said it intended to return 35p per share toshareholders – about £680m.Sainsbury group...

  • News

    Thresher appoints new CEO

    2004-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Independent drinks retailer, Thresher, has appointed Roger Whiteside as its new chief executive.Whiteside helped set up and lead Ocado, the online grocery service supplied by Waitrose, as well as heading up Marks and Spencer’s food business....

  • News

    Safeway names new CFO

    2004-03-24T00:00:00Z

    US grocer Safeway has appointed Robert Edwards as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer. Edwards will oversee the company's finance, investor relations, information technology, real estate and legal functions....

  • News

    Goldman Sachs buys into Ocado

    2004-03-22T00:00:00Z

    Goldman Sachs the US investment bank has bought a 4% stake in Ocado, the online grocery business of Waitrose. The US company is believed to have paid £12.5m for the stake in Ocado which is now valued at £312m.Ocado services 145,000...

  • News

    Londis names McNamara as CEO

    2004-03-22T00:00:00Z

    Londis has announced that recently appointed vice chairman Peter McNamara would temporarily take over the role of chief executive.Last week chief executive, Graham White, agreed to step down, while finance director Andrew Wallace has also...

  • News

    Fruit set a new record

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    The first English glasshouse strawberries are set to hit supermarket shelves two weeks earlier than normal.The first token pickings were delivered to Sainsbury this week by the Summerfruit Company, a venture between Redbridge AFI and Worldwide...

  • News

    Durose is Tesco’s new director of produce

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Tesco has appointed Peter Durose category director for produce in the wake of senior management changes announced last week.He replaces Steve Murrells who was promoted to chief executive officer of T& S Stores, the convenience store chain Tesco...

  • News

    Somerfield taps expertise

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield revealed the extent of its convenience retailing ambitions when it swallowed Scottish Mace chain Aberness this week.Aberness’s new md, David Cheyne, said Somerfield saw huge potential in the convenience sector as did Tesco and...

  • News

    There’s rapid change ahead

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield will move ahead quickly to introduce changes following its acquisition of Aberness, with plans to convert two trial stores (the Countesswells Road and Kintore stores – both about 2,000sq ft) to the Somerfield ‘Essentials’ brand within six...

  • News

    Waitrose catches the up swing

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Waitrose has been quick to react to Wandsworth’s rise up the demographic ladder, with the opening of its 144th store.Until recently the postcode SW18 would not have drawn one of Britain’s most upmarket grocers to even pay a visit, let alone...

  • News

    Strength In Numbers

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Some industry commentators have predicted that Britain's co-op share of the dairy market will be heading for 70% in the next 10 years. Though still lagging behind their rivals on the continent, in New Zealand and even in Northern Ireland ­...

  • News

    Rocket kits have lift-off

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Gourmet meal kit company Rocket has announced a big expansion, including supply deals with Somerfield and the Co-operative Group.The Unilever Ventures backed company has also signed up with c-store chain Whistlestop and Wine Cellar, and is...

  • News

    Shoppers win as Morrisons cuts prices

    2004-03-19T00:00:00Z

    Morrisons made a raft of price cuts at newly acquired Safeway within days of its £3bn takeover of the chain on March 8.The Grocer 33 survey this week shows that 13.6% was slashed from the total price of 14 items on the list at Safeway in...

  • News

    Londis CEO to step down

    2004-03-19T00:00:00Z

    The Londis saga has taken a new twist with reports that chief executive, Graham White, has agreed to step down.Earlier this month, Londis put itself up for sale three months after Irish food group Musgrave’s controversial £40m offer sparked...

  • News

    Londis warms to Musgrave

    2004-03-15T00:00:00Z

    Musgrave is emerging as the frontrunner in the bidding war for Londis, according to exclusive research conducted by The Grocer.Our telephone poll of Londis retailers revealed Musgrave was edging ahead as the preferred bidder with 34% of the...

  • News

    Londis warms to Musgrave

    2004-03-15T00:00:00Z

    Musgrave is emerging as the frontrunner in the bidding war for Londis, according to exclusive research conducted by The Grocer.Our telephone poll of Londis retailers revealed Musgrave was edging ahead as the preferred bidder with 34% of the...

  • News

    Waitrose move axes Chitty plant

    2004-03-13T00:00:00Z

    A meat producer has been forced to axe a large part of its business after the loss of a major retail customer.Slaughterer and meat processor Chitty Food Group is to close its Congerstone killing plant in Warwickshire, which it bought in...

  • News

    Sainsbury’s mango scrum down

    2004-03-13T00:00:00Z

    Importers are getting creative in a bid to boost mango consumption in the UK.Birmingham-based importer Minor, Weir and Willis, the UK’s biggest handler of fresh mangoes, is set to work closely with Sainsbury to organise a number of instore...

  • News

    Ross range gets £1m

    2004-03-13T00:00:00Z

    Dalepak is boosting the marketing budget for its Ross frozen burgers and grills brand by 50% to more than £1m, to back new products and revamped packaging.The range, which was introduced last year and has secured listings in Tesco, Sainsbury,...

  • News

    Home baking café style

    2004-03-13T00:00:00Z

    Bakehouse, best known for supplying frozen continental pastries and bread to instore bakeries and foodservice outlets, is launching its first bake-at-home range aimed at consumers.Available in Tesco freezers and priced at £1.79, the Café Simple...