Sainsbury has tied up with German coffee-to-clothing retailer Tchibo to trial its non food offer in its supermarkets.
The partnership would be Tchibo’s second in the UK, following its deal with Somerfield last year. It now has branded cabinets in more than 200 Somerfield stores, selling a weekly changing range of non food items, from cookware and gardening products to fitness equipment and gadgets.
Sainsbury has already agreed arrangements with Tchibo, giving it branded shelf space in two stores, in Leicestershire and Leeds. However, the details of how it will be further rolled out are still under discussion.
Earlier this year, Tchibo boss Dieter Ammer said he was in talks with a number of retailers in the UK. It has since emerged that it approached Waitrose, but the retailer did not take it further.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury has stolen a march on Tesco and Asda with the launch of online video games rental to run alongside its DVD business.
Tesco was the first UK supermarket to introduce a white-label online DVD rental service last year, but has yet to expand it to include games, despite plans to make its own web site an entertainment portal.
The launch, which coincides with Sainsbury introducing a Christmas gift pack for the online service, can be bundled with DVDs, meaning customers can order both films and games from the same account.
Last week, Sainsbury chief executive Justin King said non food would begin playing a bigger role for the retailer. He said it was looking into remerchandising its Tu clothing department, as childrenswear, which is manufactured under contract by Adams, was currently separated in-store from adult clothing.
Forecourt operator Total UK will be the first retailer to stock One Water, the official mineral water for Live 8 and Make Poverty History, at up to 180 of its stores from November 30.
The GMB union is calling for a regulator for multiple retailers with powers to intervene in planning issues on competition grounds. Paul Kenny, GMB acing secretary, said: “The regulator should be able to prevent multiple retailers from abusing suppliers and processors, and from exploiting their workforces in the UK.”
The reusable bag campaign, Choose to Reuse, has been extended over the Christmas period. Tesco, Asda, Somerfield, Scotmid and The Co-operative Group have all been taking part in the pilot in Bristol and Edinburgh. The Waste & Resources Action Programme said it would be re-evaluated in January.
Cake and bread manufacturer Finsbury Food Group has acquired the California Cake Company and Campbell’s Cake Company from Enterprise Food Group for £7.4m. It has also acquired United Central Bakeries for £2.5m.
Iceland has recalled a batch of its Chinese Takeaway Egg Fried Rice due to a packaging error. The affected packs are Iceland Chinese Takeaway Egg Fried Rice 350g, batch number L5304, with a best before date of April 30, 2007.
Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co is rolling out a voice-picking system across its entire warehouse operation after trials cut manual errors by 90%. The voice-activated technology, supplied by BCP from its Accord suite, replaces traditional paper-based manual ordering systems.
Rachel Barnes
One water listed
Call for regulator
still reusing bags
cake acquisition
batch recalled
reducing errors
The partnership would be Tchibo’s second in the UK, following its deal with Somerfield last year. It now has branded cabinets in more than 200 Somerfield stores, selling a weekly changing range of non food items, from cookware and gardening products to fitness equipment and gadgets.
Sainsbury has already agreed arrangements with Tchibo, giving it branded shelf space in two stores, in Leicestershire and Leeds. However, the details of how it will be further rolled out are still under discussion.
Earlier this year, Tchibo boss Dieter Ammer said he was in talks with a number of retailers in the UK. It has since emerged that it approached Waitrose, but the retailer did not take it further.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury has stolen a march on Tesco and Asda with the launch of online video games rental to run alongside its DVD business.
Tesco was the first UK supermarket to introduce a white-label online DVD rental service last year, but has yet to expand it to include games, despite plans to make its own web site an entertainment portal.
The launch, which coincides with Sainsbury introducing a Christmas gift pack for the online service, can be bundled with DVDs, meaning customers can order both films and games from the same account.
Last week, Sainsbury chief executive Justin King said non food would begin playing a bigger role for the retailer. He said it was looking into remerchandising its Tu clothing department, as childrenswear, which is manufactured under contract by Adams, was currently separated in-store from adult clothing.
Forecourt operator Total UK will be the first retailer to stock One Water, the official mineral water for Live 8 and Make Poverty History, at up to 180 of its stores from November 30.
The GMB union is calling for a regulator for multiple retailers with powers to intervene in planning issues on competition grounds. Paul Kenny, GMB acing secretary, said: “The regulator should be able to prevent multiple retailers from abusing suppliers and processors, and from exploiting their workforces in the UK.”
The reusable bag campaign, Choose to Reuse, has been extended over the Christmas period. Tesco, Asda, Somerfield, Scotmid and The Co-operative Group have all been taking part in the pilot in Bristol and Edinburgh. The Waste & Resources Action Programme said it would be re-evaluated in January.
Cake and bread manufacturer Finsbury Food Group has acquired the California Cake Company and Campbell’s Cake Company from Enterprise Food Group for £7.4m. It has also acquired United Central Bakeries for £2.5m.
Iceland has recalled a batch of its Chinese Takeaway Egg Fried Rice due to a packaging error. The affected packs are Iceland Chinese Takeaway Egg Fried Rice 350g, batch number L5304, with a best before date of April 30, 2007.
Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co is rolling out a voice-picking system across its entire warehouse operation after trials cut manual errors by 90%. The voice-activated technology, supplied by BCP from its Accord suite, replaces traditional paper-based manual ordering systems.
Rachel Barnes
One water listed
Call for regulator
still reusing bags
cake acquisition
batch recalled
reducing errors
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