All articles by Rob Brown – Page 29

  • VAULT
    Analysis & Features

    Diageo's virtual drinks aisle

    2011-09-10T00:00:00Z

    Diageo has big plans. They won’t be realised without retailers’ help. So it’s opened a hi-tech virtual reality suite to get them on board. Rob Brown is the first to visit

  • VODKA
    News

    Co-op trialling shelf sales of spirits after Diageo indie success

    2011-09-03T00:00:00Z

    The Co-operative Group has taken a lead from independents, teaming up with Diageo to boost spirits sales in its c-stores. The society is working with the drinks giant as part of its ongoing Free Your Spirits campaign, through which...

  • Profiles

    The Italian job

    2011-08-13T00:00:00Z

    Food co-op Produced in Italy is gunning for a four-fold increase in sales this year, despite the difficult market. Rob Brown talks to MD Mike Slegg about how he’s making the business work

  • SMARTPHONE SHOPPING
    Analysis & Features

    High-tech retail: back to the future

    2011-07-30T00:00:00Z

    We’re on the cusp of a retail revolution. From Seoul’s subways to the supermarkets of Britain, technology is transforming how we shop. Rob Brown looks at today’s breakthroughs… and finds their roots in 1930s Memphis

  • STADIUM SLICE
    Analysis & Features

    Olympic Special: Who’ll get the biggest slice?

    2011-07-23T00:00:00Z

    It’s been billed as the biggest peacetime catering operation. And for the first time an Olympic committee has set strict rules on the quality and provenance of the food it serves during the Games – good news potentially for British food and drink producers. Rob Brown reports

  • Irwin Lee Procter & Gamble
    Interviews

    P&G's Olympian ambitions

    2011-07-23T00:00:00Z

    P&G has netted one of the biggest Olympic sponsorships ever, paying an estimated £100m to partner the Games until 2020.

  • PROCTER & GAMBLE
    News

    P&G plans to expand into oral care market

    2011-07-11T00:00:00Z

    Procter & Gamble is planning to give away 20 million tubes of toothpaste in support of its push further into the oral care market.

  • DENBIES WINE
    Analysis & Features

    England’s grape expectations

    2011-06-25T00:00:00Z

    English wine makers have grand ambitions – to increase output and steal 10% of the booming Champagne market in the next five years. Can they do it? Rob Brown

  • JODY SCHECKTER PIGS
    Profiles

    Battling to bring home the bacon

    2011-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Former Formula 1 champ Jody Scheckter is finding organic farming hard going. His Laverstoke Park brand has yet to turn a profit, but he’s determined to tough it out, he tells Rob Brown

  • Analysis & Features

    The high street that thinks it's a supermarket

    2011-06-18T00:00:00Z

    The race is on to save indie retailers – and one Derbyshire village is even looking to revive its high street by taking a leaf out of the supermarkets’ book. Rob Brown reports

  • Profiles

    Hot stuff: The Grocer visits the chilli farm on top of the world

    2011-06-04T00:00:00Z

    Last year the world’s most northerly chilli farm was in hot water. Now it’s winning growing listings, packing its own products and poised to go national. Rob Brown reports

  • IRENE ROSENFELD BEST
    Analysis & Features

    MPs tell Kraft to ‘Come on Irene!’ But what’s the point?

    2011-05-28T00:00:00Z

    A new BIS committee report is obsessed over the no-show of Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld at its inquiry. Isn’t this missing the point?

  • Profiles

    Spice world

    2011-05-21T00:00:00Z

    Global spice giant McCormick has opened a new innovation centre in the Buckinghamshire countryside to develop a new generation of products. Rob Brown takes a look around

  • News

    Online crime: meet your new worst enemy

    2011-05-14T00:00:00Z

    Don’t be fooled by appearances. Today, hackers like him 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

  • Category Report

    Technology & Supply Chain 2011

    2011-05-14T00:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • OWN LABEL AWARD WINNER
    News

    Own-Label Awards 2011: The Oscars of own-label

    2011-05-14T00:00:00Z

    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

  • MARY PORTAS SHADES
    Analysis & Features

    Retail royalty

    2011-05-07T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • ROB MULLEN NEW LEAF
    Profiles

    The weird world of New Leaf's Rob Mullen

    2011-04-30T00:00:00Z

    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

  • JONATHAN-BURR
    Profiles

    Plum appoints Burr to development and growth market role

    2011-04-30T00:00:00Z

    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...

  • MARK FAIRWEATHER ALLIED
    Interviews

    Allied force: an interview with Mark Fairweather

    2011-04-30T00:00:00Z

    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