The Grocer breaks exciting new ground next week when it moves into television. GrocerTV goes live on Sky Digital channel 642 on Wednesday with the first series conceived and produced for the independent grocery sector. Preproduction work was being completed as this issue went to press and the half hour programme will be screened twice between 7am and 8am every Wednesday for 12 weeks on Sky Digital Channel 642. Journalists from The Grocer and our sister paper Convenience Store, have been working for weeks to prepare fact filled programmes for owners and managers of c-stores and local retail outlets. Jerry Gosney, COO of William Reed, publisher of The Grocer, said: "Retailing is a highly visual business and we think TV has advantages over the web as a platform to get across key trade messages and store guidance. And seven o'clock in the morning is a good time to capture this audience." Overall content responsibility for the programmes is in the hands of Sonia Young, editor of Convenience Store, working with Brighton based production and broadcasting company BiteTV. The shows will feature up to the minute sector news, personalities, trading tips, price information, competitions and product promotions ­ all designed to help independents increase profits. Clive Beddall, editor of The Grocer, said on Thursday: "The preproduction work has gone well and we have some exciting exclusive news and features on our programme agenda. This is a logical venture for The Grocer to build on the great expansion the magazine has enjoyed during the past four years." The new channel has already won support from leading fmcg suppliers including Pedigree, Heinz, Walkers, McVitie's and Britvic, as well as Booker Cash and Carry. GrocerTV willl also have its own web site ­ www.grocertv.co.uk ­ where retailers can view segments of the programme and follow up deals and competitions featured on the broadcast. {{NEWS }}

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