All articles by Ronan Hegarty – Page 102
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News
It’s just talks, says Tesco as it summons suppliers
Tesco has denied its current tough negotiating stance with suppliers breaches either the current Supermarkets Code of Conduct or the new tougher code currently being drafted by the Competition Commission. Responding to criticism from pressured...
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News
Tesco tightens the screw on suppliers despite Defra’s call
Days after the Government tells supermarkets to speed up payments, Tesco is accused of a new set of unfair supplier terms. Ronan Hegarty investigates
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News
Turton confident over Nisa’s financial future
Nisa-Today’s chief executive, Neil Turton, has moved to reassure existing and potential members that the buying group is on a secure financial footing despite the economic climate. Turton revealed to members at its recent conference in Dubai that it...
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News
Christmas is all about community initiatives
The team behind National Independents’ Week is putting together a plan of action aimed at shoring up the Christmas trading period for independent retailers, which is threatened by the twin challenges of the credit crunch and the supermarkets price...
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News
Blue-sky thinking on food policy signalled by Lansley
Can the industry expect a much less confrontational approach on food policy from the Tories should they get into power, asks Ronan Hegarty
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News
Asda favourite to buy Superquinn
Asda’s much-rumoured move into Ireland could become a reality, with the owners of Superquinn, the 23-store Irish chain, poised to sell up. Asda emerged as the favourite to snap up the chain although rumours also abound regarding interest from...
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Profiles
Him!’s Chisholm takes David Sands COO role
Scottish independent chain David Sands has poached Him! director Ewen Chisholm as part of a major expansion plan that could double the size of the business. Chisholm will join next month as chief operating officer overseeing the day-to-day running...
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News
Display ban won’t cut smoker levels says ACS
The expected benefits of the government’s proposed tobacco display ban have been grossly exaggerated, the Association of Convenience Stores is claiming. The government has set out health benefits worth £1.1bn based on reduced smoking prevalence...
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News
Whole Foods inthe red
Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey insists the UK operations will break even by 2011 – despite reporting pre-tax operating losses of $18.4m (£9.4m) on its London-based stores and a 31% reduction in its global third-quarter profits amid the...
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News
Hard line shirked by government
The government’s verdict on the Competition Commission’s grocery inquiry has caused anger and relief in equal measure this week. While retailers are welcoming the hands-off approach revealed this week by the Department for Business Enterprise &...
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News
Ruddock warns of tax if stores fail bag target
Waitrose is on track to cut carrier bag use by 50% by the end of the year – but will have to increase this to 70% by next spring if it wants to avoid charging consumers, the government has warned. Environment minister Joan Ruddock said that in the...
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News
Sainsbury’s takes the axe to HR and training
Sainsbury’s is shaking up its HR and training department both at head office and across its store network in a move that could lead to significant job losses. It is understood to be cutting the number of people in its Personnel and Training...
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News
Collaborative spirit of PM report welcomed
The government's new strategic framework for food has been hailed by manufacturers as the beginning of the end of conflicting and interventionist measures. The 126-page Food Matters: Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century report, published...
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News
Ombudsman role may be delayed by retailers
The creation of a grocery ombudsman could be delayed by as much as two years as the Competition Commission thrashes out the detail with the supermarkets. This was the fear expressed this week by supplier organisations, lawyers and MPs at a meeting...
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News
Norman: stand up to regulatory fists
Former Asda chairman and Tory MP Archie Norman claimed the current breed of politicians and regulators are the most reactionary yet and retailers need to stay ahead of the tide of regulation. In a provocative speech at The Grocer Gold...
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News
Booker to tailor offer to Scottish customers
Cash & carry giant Booker plans to start tailoring its offer to suit Scottish customers, after trading director Warren Thompson admitted this week that it was still not performing as it would like north of the border. In the week Booker...
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News
Nisa-Today's crosses border to build business in Republic
Buying group Nisa-Today's has made its first foray into the Republic of Ireland. Nisa has been supplying one major account in the Republic, the identity of which remains secret, for four months now as part of a trial. The contract...
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News
Asda tipped to buy Somerfield for £2bn
Asda has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to buy high-street grocery chain Somerfield, The Grocer has learnt. Somerfield hired the bank Citigroup this week after receiving "some unsolicited approaches", according to a source close...
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News
British urged to export health range expertise
Food from Britain has launched a bid to help UK manufacturers target overseas markets where better-for-you products are yet to make a mark. The UK's own label health and wellbeing category is worth £1.5bn a year, according to TNS...
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News
We're rivals to big four, Netto tells Commission
Netto UK has told the Competition Commission's groceries inquiry it is wrong not to consider discounters effective competition to the multiple grocers. In its provisional findings last October, the Commission said the discounters were...