more supermarket news & analysis – Page 1036

  • News

    Waitrose links with Irish retailer

    2003-02-21T00:00:00Z

    Waitrose products will be available in the Irish Republic for the first time following a joint trading agreement between the British retailer and Superquinn.Under the deal, a range of 110 prepacked chilled Waitrose products will be sold in...

  • News

    Sainsbury opens 50th local store

    2003-02-21T00:00:00Z

    Sainsbury opened a landmark 50th Local store, in Castle Street, Liverpool this week, targeted at commuters and office workers.Ian Elkins, Sainsbury’s regional operations director, said: “Since we opened the first Sainsbury’s Local, we have...

  • News

    Asda employee scheme pays off

    2003-02-19T00:00:00Z

    Asda staff is to receive a £13.7m bonus as part of the retail giants benefits scheme.This Friday 100,000 employees will pocket the bonuses of up to £300 each as part of the Asda Wal-Mart colleague bonus scheme which was introduced in 2000 -...

  • News

    Safeway ready to uncork new wines

    2003-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Safeway insists it is “business as usual” as its wine department prepares to unveil its new range amid speculation over the multiple’s sale. The new line-up will be showcased at a trade event in April. In the meantime, the beer team has...

  • News

    Retailers plan defences against terror

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    A clutch of top retailers has formed a working group to tackle security threats from e-mail viruses and fuel shortages to terrorist attacks. Membership details have not been disclosed, but the group includes representatives from one of the...

  • News

    Asda builds up links with farmers

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    Ed Bedington Pig and lamb farmers are set to benefit after Asda reaffirmed its commitment to British agriculture. The retailer has announced plans to extend two successful schemes which have helped to boost farmers' businesses. Dr Chris...

  • News

    How should porcupines try to mate?

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    The headline on my Opinion column this week was one of the questions posed at the seminar we organised to examine how the Safeway sell-off will affect the industry, consumers and investors. For those who don't know the answer, porcupines should...

  • News

    A case of low expectations

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    Safeway investors should expect cash bids of no more than 280p a share if, as expected, the major trade buyers are referred and the tussle ends up between the leverage bidders and Morrisons. CAI Cheuvreux food analyst Mike Dennis said Morrisons...

  • News

    Waitrose would be the winner

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    Waitrose and Marks and Spencer will be the winners in a Safeway sale, with Somerfield, Sainsbury,Big Food Group and the Co-operative Group likely losers. That was the consensus of opiinion at the seminar.If Sainsbury lost, it would be exposed as...

  • News

    United Co-op's Griffiths seeks fresh challenges

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    John Wood The head of United Co-op's food group, Paul Griffiths, has left after six years with the society and is currently evaluating opportunities within the food sector. Griffiths said he had been with the co-op for six years during a...

  • News

    Share needs defining

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    The Competition Commission will be torn between consumer and manufacturer best interests if the Safeway sale is referred to it by the OFT, according to seminar speakers. An Asda/ Wal-Mart takeover would benefit consumers by bringing prices down...

  • News

    Safeway extracting the last penny

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    from Safeway supplier, name and address supplied Sir; Safeway is certainly a focused business now ­ focused on threatening its suppliers to bolster its short-term cash and profits. Having supplied Safeway for many years, we have got used to...

  • News

    Weaker suppliers in firing line

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    Anne Bruce The sale of Safeway will produce a "killing ground" of weak brand and private label suppliers who face crippling reductions in margins and the possibility of losing their entire business, former Somerfield chief executive David Simons...

  • News

    Biodiesel at Tesco

    2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

    Tesco will become the second supermarket to sell biodiesel ­ a blend of low sulphur diesel and rapeseed oil ­ on its forecourts. The new fuel, first trialed by Sainsbury at its Greenwich store in January, will go on sale at Tesco's Hatfield store at...

  • News

    Asda launches range for kids

    2003-02-12T00:00:00Z

    Asda is set to follow its rivals in launching a 90-product children’s range, More for Kids.Due on shelves on February 17, the range arrives two years after Sainsbury launched its 170-strong Blue Parrot Café range and six months after Tesco...

  • News

    Asda demands security tagging

    2003-02-12T00:00:00Z

    Asda is asking hundreds of suppliers to put security tags on packaging in a bid to reduce shrinkage by 30%.Asda loss prevention manager Kate Defraja said the new regime would cut store theft, improve customer service, product availability,...

  • News

    Tesco buys stake in green fuel firm

    2003-02-11T00:00:00Z

    Tesco has bought a 25% stake in environmentally focused fuel supplier Greenergy Fuels for £1.9m.Under the deal Tesco will extend its current supply agreement with Greenergy – a wholly owned subsidiary of Greenergy International.Tesco...

  • News

    RSPCA promotes free range at Tesco

    2003-02-10T00:00:00Z

    The RSPCA has embarked on a new supermarket advertising campaign to urge consumers to choose free range and barn eggs. Posters ads will go up at 154 Tesco stores to publicise the “less cruelty, free range or barn eggs” campaign. Ads...

  • News

    Staring into the abyss

    2003-02-08T00:00:00Z

    While Safeway shareholders face weeks of uncertainty as the bidding war for the chain intensifies, spare a thought for its 92,000-plus staff who must endure a worrying period of job insecurity while the battle rages. Similarly, employees at...

  • News

    Tesco switches on digital trials

    2003-02-08T00:00:00Z

    Tesco was this week formalising its strategy for an instore digital screen network after taking delivery of its feasibility study last week. Media manager Bill Pennell said he now had a clearer idea how to manage the network and which suppliers...