Grocery retailers’ attempts to bring value to the shopping experience all too often undermine it, says Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy.
Debating the future of the European grocery market at the ECR Europe conference in Paris last week, Leahy said it was important for retailers to create value. But “too much in the value creation toolkit is about adding complexity”, he said.
“Assortments are too wide, we struggle to keep in stock, and the result is shoppers struggle to shop,” said Leahy. “We need sense and simplicity.”
On the topic of demographic trends for the future, Leahy felt that companies needed to target the ageing population.
However, he added: “Interpreting what the ageing population means is very difficult. What are these customers spending time and money on?”
The panel, which also included L’Oréal Consumer Products president Patrick Rabain and Philips Consumer Electronics CEO Rudy Provoost, agreed, however, that these customers all want to look good and live forever.
Debating the future of the European grocery market at the ECR Europe conference in Paris last week, Leahy said it was important for retailers to create value. But “too much in the value creation toolkit is about adding complexity”, he said.
“Assortments are too wide, we struggle to keep in stock, and the result is shoppers struggle to shop,” said Leahy. “We need sense and simplicity.”
On the topic of demographic trends for the future, Leahy felt that companies needed to target the ageing population.
However, he added: “Interpreting what the ageing population means is very difficult. What are these customers spending time and money on?”
The panel, which also included L’Oréal Consumer Products president Patrick Rabain and Philips Consumer Electronics CEO Rudy Provoost, agreed, however, that these customers all want to look good and live forever.
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