more supermarket news & analysis – Page 998

  • News

    Own label hits shelves faster with web specs

    2004-04-03T00:00:00Z

    Tesco and Asda are relaunching their online technical information sites to get new products to market faster.The new Tesco due diligence information system developed by software supplier Ramesys will allow suppliers to validate their own...

  • News

    Cottle takes on key role

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Sainsbury has promoted Finn Cottle from head of dairy trading to head of fresh foods product development, as it fights for market share in the key convenience category.Her role includes responsibility for Sainsbury’s regional foods offer and...

  • News

    Tesco set for 75% FGP target

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Tesco plans to increase its volumes through factory gate pricing from 66% to 75% within the next 12 months.Supply chain director Stuart Ross told suppliers at the IGD Supply Chain Transformation conference that he expected 15 million cases per...

  • News

    JLP unveils credit card

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    The John Lewis Partnership has launched a credit card for John Lewis and Waitrose. The HSBC-backed card offers six months interest-free credit on balance transfers and rewards of up to 1% of spend issued as vouchers. JLP card director Caspar...

  • News

    First Safeways go to Waitrose

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Tesco and Sainsbury are frontrunners in the race to pick up the remaining Safeway stores that Morrisons must sell to satisfy regulators.Waitrose this week picked up 14 stores from the disposal list plus four other Safeway stores and a Morrisons...

  • News

    Somerfield earmarks 40 stores for conversion

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield has selected 40 stores to convert to its new Essentials and Market Fresh formats in the next financial year as it steps up its refurbishment programme.Sales uplifts from trial stores at Carshalton and Wanstead (Market Fresh),...

  • News

    ESL trial for OS&G Co-op

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op is planning to trial electronic shelf edge labels from Fujitsu at its Swift Shop in Walton Street, Oxford, during the summer.Group general manager retail Bill Laird said he was planning a trip to Australia to...

  • News

    Is there any future for independents?

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Last week yet another independent bit the dust with Somerfield’s acquisition of Aberness, which owns or distributes to some 170 c-stores in Scotland under the Mace fascia.Signalling the first aggressive move by one of the smaller...

  • 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

    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...