All articles by Rob Brown – Page 29
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NewsOwn-Label Awards 2011: The Oscars of own-label
At a glittering and sellout ceremony, this year’s Own-Label Food & Drink Awards were the biggest and most fiercely fought ever. Rob Brown reports
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Category Report
Technology & Supply Chain 2011
Don’t be fooled by appearances. Today, hackers pose perhaps the greatest threat to business, stealing customer data on behalf of their highly organised criminal paymasters. So what can businesses do to protect themselves? Rob Brown reports They used to wear masks and tote shotguns. Today they sit in darkened ...
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Analysis and FeaturesRetail royalty
Mary ‘Queen of Shops’ Portas has big news – soon she’ll be striding down Downing Street to dish out some of her trademark no-nonsense advice. And Tesco had better watch out.
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Profiles and QandAsThe weird world of New Leaf's Rob Mullen
Posh crumpets, oats for teens, vodka in fishnets and oozing alien biscuits. New Leaf is bringing a touch of the bizarre to food and drink. Rob Brown reports
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Profiles and QandAsPlum appoints Burr to development and growth market role
Premium babyfood business Plum has named Jonathan Burr as commercial director. Burr joins Plum from Senoble Group, where he was sales and marketing director for its bakery business Elizabeth the Chef. In his new role, he will be...
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The Big InterviewAllied force: an interview with Mark Fairweather
Soaring costs and deep supermarket promotions – it’s tough being a baker today. But, with a little help from a couple from Solihull, Allied Bakeries is succeeding where others aren’t, as CEO Mark Fairweather tells Rob Brown
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Analysis and FeaturesAsda’s baby brand grows up
Brands beware. Retailers are looking to steal your customers with revamped own-label lines. Rob Brown meets the team behind Asda’s Little Angels baby range to find out how fresh design and grand ambitions are converting shoppers to own label
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NewsTo the end of the earth and back
World food player Unearthed has risen from nothing to become a multimillion-pound brand in just three years. But that’s just the start, says this team of culinary explorers. Rob Brown reports
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Analysis and FeaturesThe royal bandwagon: what Wills and Kate's wedding means for grocery
Last year’s World Cup didn’t quite live up to the promise as far as merchandising went – for obvious reasons. But with the Royal Wedding nearly upon us, brands and retailers have another chance to strike gold. So who’s poised to cash in? Rob Brown reports
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NewsRetailers overtake fmcg in advertising firepower
A huge increase in supermarket advertising saw retailers outspend fmcg brands for the first time last year. Research conducted by Ebiquity for The Grocer revealed retailers increased spend on TV, press, cinema, radio and outdoor...
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Profiles and QandAsNew kids on the block: the next generation of celebrity chefs
In the 1980s, Keith Floyd reinvented the TV chef. Today, his successors aren’t just on the box, they’re earning big bucks through endorsements – and a new generation of stars are waiting in the wings. Rob Brown reports
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NewsNational roll-out mooted for People’s Supermarket
Co-operative retailing scheme The People's Supermarket could be rolled out across the UK. Founder Arthur Potts Dawson claimed he had been swamped with calls for advice on how to set up similar schemes since 6 February, when the first...
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NewsMajor cities lack hot c-store sites, reveals survey
The relentless march of the supermarkets into the convenience sector has left many of the UK's biggest cities with a dearth of hot retail space, a new survey by The Grocer has found. On the eve of the National Convenience Show, analysis...
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Analysis and FeaturesTesco loses fizz as its dotcom queen quits for M&S board
Why did Tesco.com’s leading lady walk from Tesco just two weeks after her elevation to the retailer’s UK executive committee? Rob Brown reports
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NewsCustomer Satisfaction Index: Good service isn’t dead
It is looking positively perky, despite the scepticism of Mary Portas. A new survey reveals increased satisfaction levels, with supermarkets coming out on top. Rob Brown reports
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NewsRowse’s homemade TV ads to be chosen online
They won't win any Oscars for their performances, but the Rowse staff taking part in a novel advertising campaign for the brand will be hoping that they can at least win a few customers. In what it claims is a marketing first, Rowse is...
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Profiles and QandAsSalary Survey 2011: The big thaw
Things are starting to look up in the fmcg jobs market – salary freezes are thawing, average pay packages are climbing and competition for the top talent is hotting up. But, with more emphasis on bonuses than salaries, people had better be prepared to work for their money, says Rob ...
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News
Diageo in talks with the makers of Zacapa Centenario rum
Global drinks giant Diageo is set to add a super premium Guatemalan rum to its drinks cabinet.
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NewsBrands take out celebrity disgrace insurance cover
Brands are taking out new 'disgrace insurance' policies to cover themselves if their celebrity brand ambassadors get caught with their pants down. High-profile celebrity sex scandals are fuelling an insurance industry boom, say sector...
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NewsBrand ambassadors: sinners and saints
Sleaze doesn’t sell – which is why some brand owners are rethinking their current roster of sporting ambassadors. But, as Rob Brown and Charlie Wright discover, it doesn’t always pay to switch from sinners to saints