more supermarket news & analysis – Page 839

  • News

    Letter of the week - Clock ticking on pig industry collapse

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    You reported in The Grocer's Meat and Fish supplement (19 April, p22) that neither Tesco, Asda nor Sainsbury's responded to your question as to whether the potential collapse of the UK pig industry was of any consequence to their business. As a...

  • News

    What happened to "every little helps"?

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    Sir; Hats off to Tesco, as it turns in yet another stellar profit report. But at what cost to the primary production base of UK farming? Working with the dedicated band of pig producers in the UK, one wonders where the evidence of true corporate...

  • News

    Tesco's 'troubles' are simply blips

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    While Tesco's current performance is undoubtedly strong, there have been dips in the past 18 months, so what's in store for the future?Tesco's figures last week were exemplary and blocked many analysts' jabs. UK trading is showing...

  • News

    Cafe culture comes of age

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    F orget stodgy hash browns, greasy sausages and runny baked beans. A new generation of supermarket cafe is typified by a trial at Sainsbury's London Colney. It has a fruit smoothie bar, soft armchair seating and access to wi-fi. The mezzanine...

  • News

    Calon Wen bags on TV

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    Calon Wen is launching a Wales-wide TV advertising campaign to promote the benefits of its bagged milk.The Welsh organic milk co-op introduced local milk packed in an eco-bag in 43 Tesco stores in the principality this week. To back the...

  • News

    Cucumber as a snack

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    A new 'thin skinned' cucumber is being launched to appeal to shoppers seeking convenience. The fruit, which goes into Sainsbury's this month, has a thin translucent skin, is mint green in colour, and is smaller than a conventional...

  • News

    Tesco is concentrating doubly hard on squash

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    Tesco is launching what it claims is the first double concentrate squash in an environmental move it hopes will also tap into new growth in the cordials category.Fruit squashes slumped by almost 4% last year, according to TNS, following...

  • News

    KMI's Little Me set to go nationwide

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    Organic babies' toiletries brand Little Me arrives in Sainsbury's this week as part of ambitious expansion plans by new owner KMI . The King of Shaves parent company acquired the £4m Floraroma business, which owns Little Me, last week....

  • News

    Sainsbury's takes up Top 10 display tactics

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    Sainsbury's has taken inspiration from Blockbuster and Waterstone's as it tries to boost wine sales.The retailer is introducing a "Top 10" wine display to its wine aisles, following research showing the majority of wine drinkers were...

  • News

    Price Survey - 26th April 2008

    2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

    The title of cheapest retailer has been hard to hang on to over the past four weeks with each of the big four taking a turn. This week, it was Morrisons' moment in the sun. Its £43.41 basket was 56p cheaper than last week's winner Asda. But compared...

  • News

    Asda launches £5 mobile phone

    2008-04-25T08:16:00Z

    Asda has launched what it claims is Britain's lowest pay as you go mobile phone at just £5.It is selling more than 50,000 handsets and customers will be able to choose from four different phones. Asda claims it is the fastest growing...

  • News

    Co-op clashes with Soil Association

    2008-04-22T08:20:00Z

    The Co-operative Group is at loggerheads with the Soil Association over its plans for air freighted produce.The Soil Association has called for air freighted produce to meet tough ethical trading standards but the Co-op Group has argued this...

  • News

    Is the Co-op about to join the grocery big league?

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    It was the worst-kept secret, but at last, Peter Marks, chief executive of The Co-operative Group, has confirmed what everybody knew: that it is in talks to buy Somerfield, the UK's fifth-largest grocery retailer from its backers: private equity...

  • News

    M&S reducing fat in fish ready meals

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    Marks & Spencer has reduced saturated fat levels across its fish ready meal range, with new and reformulated meals going on sale this month.Fish ready meals are often high in saturated fats because of creamy sauces, but M&S said its...

  • News

    Fenmarc in administration

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    Supermarket vegetable and ready meal supplier Fenmarc Prepared Foods went into administration this week with the loss of 60 jobs.Fenmarc, which supplies own-label ready meals to Asda, cut its headcount to 130 at its site in...

  • News

    Sainsbury's launches new dairy initiatives

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    Sainsbury's has put the environment and animal welfare at the heart of a string of initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency of its dairy suppliers.The supermarket held a meeting of dairy farmers and producers at its Holborn offices...

  • News

    Own-label switch for Asda supplier

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    Cornish milk producer Trewithen Dairy has switched from supplying branded to own-label local milk to Asda in a move described as a first by the supermarket.Trewithen has been supplying Asda with locally sourced branded milk for the past...

  • News

    Soup in a Bun breaks into Tesco in big way

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    Breaking Into Tesco winner Nick Smallwood has sold up to £100,000 of his Soup in a Bun line within a week of the amateur's product hitting shelves.The £2.99 product - a bun that is heated up, scooped out and filled with soup - is on at...

  • News

    Marks says Co-op may keep hold of all 900 Somerfields

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    The CEO of The Co-operative Group, Peter Marks, has not ruled out keeping hold of all of Somerfield if it bought the chain.The society confirmed this week it was in "serious discussions" to buy the retailer. It was conducting due...

  • News

    Tesco opts for organic growth instead of c-store acquisitions

    2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

    Tesco will not be undertaking a fresh wave of acquisitions in the convenience sector despite receiving the green light from the Competition Commission.Speaking this week after the multiple announced an 11.8% increase in pre-tax profit to...