All articles by Ronan Hegarty – Page 95
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News
Chains take strain as demand soars over bank holiday period
As temperatures soared, grocery retailers claimed to cope well during the four-day Easter and Royal Wedding bank holiday bonanza but The Grocer has learned that demand for party and BBQ essentials in particular pushed supermarket supply chains to...
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Analysis & Features
Prices up 3% as promotions keep inflation costs in check
This week’s GPI shows that, thanks to record levels of promotions, food price inflation is less dramatic than was feared.
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News
Kings of convenience
They’re this year’s stars of the convenience retailing world. Along with our sister title Convenience Store, The Grocer celebrated the sharpest c-store operators at this year’s Convenience Retail Awards in London. Ronan Hegarty reports
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News
JTI thinks small with Calisto cigar to tap miniatures market
A new miniature brand dubbed Calisto is Japan Tobacco International's attempt to meet the shifting demand in the cigar market.Cigar smokers have been switching to smaller versions since the introduction of the ban on smoking in public...
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News
Inflation locked down by the Asda-Tesco price war
Food price inflation is all we seem to read about these days, but latest figures from The Grocer Price Index prove that competition between the rival supermarkets is keeping a lid on the cost of a weekly shop.
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Analysis & Features
Asda is the most successful at keeping inflation in check
The latest Grocer Price Index figures show Asda keeping its prices at the same level as a year ago. Not so at the other big multiples.
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News
Morrisons splashes out on schemes to train up executives
Morrisons is investing millions in leadership training to "turbocharge" its senior executive team. The Morrisons Advanced Leadership Programme was launched earlier this year, with a budget of £90,000 per head for six members of the...
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Profiles
Dalton Philips Q&A: 'There is a real opportunity to romance the customer more'
This week’s Guest Editor, Morrisons CEO Dalton Philips, talks to Ronan Hegarty about a “fantastic” first year, driving the fresh food advantage, and those labs…
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News
Sainsbury’s sits down with African suppliers
Sainsbury's enlisted the help of the Kenyan government, the British High Commission and the Fairtrade Foundation to get more than 100 African suppliers to attend its conference on its supply chain in the continent this week.
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News
Nectar scheme takes flight with easyJet tie-up
Sainsbury’s shoppers will now be able to swap their Nectar points for flights via a new tie-up between easyJet and the loyalty scheme.
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Analysis & Features
Lansley out of his mind over ‘blank cheque’ for criminals
Retailers fear unscrupulous gangs will undermine all the government hopes to achieve with a display ban and plain packaging, says Ronan Hegarty
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News
Tobacco display ban gets go-ahead for 2012
Tobacco products will go under the counter in England after all – but not until April 2012 for large stores and 2015 for smaller shops. Announcing sweeping plans to reduce the impact from smoking on public health, the government today confirmed its intention to bring in the controversial display ban. ...
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News
Reduced Tesco lines had first been raised
More than a third of prices highlighted by Tesco last week to illustrate its £200m investment in pricing went up in price shortly before coming down, The Grocer can reveal. Tesco last week kicked off its counter-offensive to Asda's 10%...
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Analysis & Features
Retail Prices: Is Asda managing to wean itself off heavy promotions?
Morrisons has been left as clear leader in the promotional stakes, as Asda finally starts to scale back its activity. Ronan Hegarty reports
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News
Focus On Tobacco: Smokers roll on
When the coalition government came into power last May, those involved in the tobacco industry breathed a collective sigh of relief. But were they too hasty, asks Ronan Hegarty
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News
Waitrose chef Nugent poached by Morrisons
Morrisons is set to give its own label a touch of Waitrose-style quality after poaching its executive chef Neil Nugent. It is understood Nugent will work with group commercial director Richard Hodgson and new own-brand director Belinda...
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News
Kiddicare swoop kick-starts Morrisons’ online adventure
Morrisons has kick-started its push into online retailing with the £70m purchase of baby product retailer Kiddicare. The deal price represents almost double the £37.5m sales Kiddicare achieved last year and includes the rights to its highly regarded technology platform.
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News
Emarket using news duo to target c-stores
Grocery's answer to eBay, Emarket, is targeting the convenience sector via a tie-up with news wholesalers Menzies Distribution and Smiths News. The online trading operation will use the wholesalers' supply chain networks to...
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News
Morrisons retail boss Gunter announces retirement
Morrisons’ veteran group retail director Mark Gunter is to retire next year. Gunter, who oversaw the integration of Safeway after Morrisons acquired the rival supermarket in 2004, will step down from the board this year at June’s AGM. He will then retire in June 2012.
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News
Kerry Group accused of pushing up prices after acquiring rival
Customers and rivals of frozen ready meals giant Kerry Group have accused it of trying to take advantage of its dominant market position to force through price rises after quietly snapping up a major rival this month. Kerry moved to buy...