Big Food Group has pledged to drive up operational efficiency at Iceland after another quarter of negative like-for-like sales growth.
Posting a 1.7% drop in like-for-like sales at Iceland and a 1.1% drop at Booker in the 13 weeks to July 2, chief executive Bill Grimsey said new Iceland MD Andy Clarke would focus on “availability, displays, the deal profile and space management” as sales at unrefurbished stores continued to fall.
Although suppliers were now able to access more supply chain and EPoS data from Iceland via a link up with JDA Software, availability was still poor, said Grimsey.
“We said we wanted someone in charge of Iceland that was more operationally biased than [former MD] Mike Coupe - and that’s where Andy comes in.”
At Booker, the focus would be on streamlining the supply chain, said Grimsey. “We’re doing several things. Sales-based ordering is coming in as we need to get inventory down. But we’re also looking at project Heartland [the central distribution system].
“Other cash & carry operators don’t have the costs we do as suppliers deliver straight to depots.”
He declined to comment on whether Booker would dismantle its RDC network, but added: “We need to unpick Heartland. We’ve already started with the closure of Didcott and Nuneaton.”
Last year’s summer was so hot, sales of soft drinks and ice cream the following year were bound to struggle, he added.
“Euro 2004 wasn’t really that great for us either. The sector is under an enormous pressure. Foodservice is also not as strong as it has been.
“This is the toughest trading I have experienced in recent years.”
Posting a 1.7% drop in like-for-like sales at Iceland and a 1.1% drop at Booker in the 13 weeks to July 2, chief executive Bill Grimsey said new Iceland MD Andy Clarke would focus on “availability, displays, the deal profile and space management” as sales at unrefurbished stores continued to fall.
Although suppliers were now able to access more supply chain and EPoS data from Iceland via a link up with JDA Software, availability was still poor, said Grimsey.
“We said we wanted someone in charge of Iceland that was more operationally biased than [former MD] Mike Coupe - and that’s where Andy comes in.”
At Booker, the focus would be on streamlining the supply chain, said Grimsey. “We’re doing several things. Sales-based ordering is coming in as we need to get inventory down. But we’re also looking at project Heartland [the central distribution system].
“Other cash & carry operators don’t have the costs we do as suppliers deliver straight to depots.”
He declined to comment on whether Booker would dismantle its RDC network, but added: “We need to unpick Heartland. We’ve already started with the closure of Didcott and Nuneaton.”
Last year’s summer was so hot, sales of soft drinks and ice cream the following year were bound to struggle, he added.
“Euro 2004 wasn’t really that great for us either. The sector is under an enormous pressure. Foodservice is also not as strong as it has been.
“This is the toughest trading I have experienced in recent years.”
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