All articles by James Ball – Page 4
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Quality Test: Own-label plain naan bread
A good naan should be crisp on the outside, soft inside, and pleasantly yet subtly seasoned. Sainsbury's tried a different approach, with a soggy and artificial offering. It didn't work.
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British deals threaten to kill off booze cruise
The traditional British booze cruise has been all but sunk by cut-price supermarket drink deals and the pound's weakness against the euro, The Grocer can reveal.
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NewsRetail Prices: Stores show there’s always room for a few more deals
The supermarkets have done it again. Despite the volume of deals putting the squeeze on stores' featured promotional space, retailers have managed to fit yet more high-profile offers onto their shelves.
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Offers all around, but savings have shrunk
Shoppers have more money-off deals to choose between than ever before but the size of the savings is shrinking fast, according to exclusive research carried out for The Grocer. The number of promotions in supermarket featured space, such...
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Most people don’t trust ads that compare prices
Trust has become the latest victim of the supermarket price war, as exclusive research reveals 82% of shoppers don't trust price comparison adverts.
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Gloves come off over threat of Tories upping VAT to 20%
While the Tory party is keeping quiet over reports it may up VAT to 20%, economists and trade bodies are not impressed by the idea. James Ball reports
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Frijj sponsors Soccer AM
Frijj has been revealed as the new sponsor of iconic Sky Sports show Soccer AM this season.Under the deal the Dairy Crest milkshake is being promoted in 15 second idents at the beginning and end of the three hour programme, as well as five second slots at each commercial break...
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Retail Prices: Promotions growth stalls as focus shifts to pricier goods
There were fewer deals this month as supermarkets switched their focus to offering bigger savings on costlier items, reports James Ball
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NewsGrowth of budget own-label slowing after recession boom
While organic and premium sales have foundered of late, the big four supermarkets’ budget own-label lines have been flying off the shelves, sales growing at more than 35% year-on-year at their peak.
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Retail Prices: Inflation more than halves as key category prices drop
Down down down... inflation has slowed by more than half compared to last year and fruit and veg prices plummeted 7.9% in July. James Ball reports
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Sound as a pound? 173 of Asda’s £1 lines were cheaper before
Asda's heavily publicised round pound lines have become a key part of its promotional offer but almost one in five of these lines sold for less than a quid just months ago.
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NewsBrewdog bites back at binge drinking claims after launch of 18% abv Tokyo*
Independent Scottish brewer Brewdog has come under fire from alcohol campaigners after launching an 18.2% alcohol content beer.
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NewsTesco branded ‘hypocrites’ in Suffolk allotment row
Tesco has found itself locked in battle with a group of Suffolk allotment-holders after unveiling a new scheme to encourage people to take up their hoes and grow their own vegetables.
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NewsRetail Prices: Are retailers starting to run out of promotional space?
The number of offers keeps growing, as does the amount of space devoted to them. How much longer can retailers keep it up, asks James Ball
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Trade credit where it's due
Trade credit insurance acts a vital lifeline to suppliers in stormy economic seas. So why, after throwing it to suppliers this April, is the government thinking of removing it - plunging them back into deep water? James Ball reports
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VAT and duty to impact volumes as much as 5%
Drinks suppliers have warned that the government's disastrous VAT and duty hike double whammy could lead to a fall in volume sales of up to 5%.
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Tesco overtakes M&S in Northern's retail ranks
Tesco has overtaken Marks & Spencer as Northern Foods' largest customer, for the first time in the supplier's history.Northern Foods CEO Stefan Barden revealed that Tesco was the company's biggest customer as he talked to The Grocer about...
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Carling emphasises barley quality with local farmer group
Molson Coors is hoping to reinforce its '100% British Barley' Carling campaign by strengthening relationships with its barley growers through the creation of a farming group. Carling has signed 70 UK growers up to a three-year deal to supply...
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Diageo defends Scottish cuts as backlash grows
The backlash against Diageo's decision to close two Scottish sites and cut 500 jobs picked up pace this week as Scotland's SNP government vowed to halt the proposals. The drinks giant revealed two weeks ago plans to close two sites including...
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Diageo defends Scottish cuts as backlash grows
The backlash against Diageo's decision to close two Scottish sites and cut 500 jobs picked up pace this week as Scotland's SNP government vowed to halt the proposals. The drinks giant revealed two weeks ago plans to close two sites including...