Amazon Fresh

Amazon’s Fresh idea

Sir, Amazon’s reported move into bricks & mortar convenience stores will inconvenience its grocery rivals. The new stores will be aimed at Fresh customers who want to choose their own produce or pick up their food on the way home from work.

Shoppers are rapidly moving their weekly food shop online, meaning the regular visit to the supermarket will soon be a memory. In contrast, convenience store sales are growing rapidly as consumers look to supplement weekly food home deliveries with fresh items.

In cities, super-fast c-stores make huge sense. The service, linked to Amazon Fresh checkouts on shoppers’ mobiles, will be ultra-convenient. Existing Fresh customers will probably use their mobiles to buy items. Drive-in locations for pick-ups are also likely.

If the experiment works out in the US, it’s a good bet we’ll see UK stores by the end of 2018.

David Jinks, head of consumer research, ParcelHero

 

Pensions sensitivities

Sir, Pension scheme deficits remain a sensitive topic in the sector. Employers are keen to balance their funding obligations with the need to invest and meet shareholder expectations. Trustees are aiming to eliminate deficits within sensible timeframes.  

The accounting deficits published with company results are formulaic and inflated by low corporate bond yields. Employers and trustees are more concerned with the funding basis used in the actuarial valuation every three years. 

The financial strength of the business is important. The scheme trust deed and rules can influence the balance of power between employer and trustees. It is important for both sides to obtain expert advice to optimise the outcome of the process for all interested parties.

Mark Poulston, head of pensions, Weightmans



Work together on waste

Sir, At Unilever we are very pleased our efforts so far to tackle food waste are being ­recognised by The Grocer.

It is clear that there is still much to do in the UK. That’s why, with our partner Hubbub, we are looking to drive this agenda and inspire positive behaviour change across UK households. However, we need a collaborative approach. It’s clear there are some fantastic initiatives, from redistributing surplus food to minimising waste at manufacturing sites.

We’re committed, through our Joint Ambition for a Zero Food Waste Britain, to proactively engage across industry to deliver meaningful change.

Charlotte Carroll, sustainable business & communications director, Unilever

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