All articles by Ronan Hegarty – Page 98
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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 and QandAs
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...
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News
FSA aims to beat food fraudsters
The Food Standards Agency is explore new methods of detecting food fraud. It is to invite experts on food fraud detection to a seminar next month to tell enforcement officers how they can use modern techniques, such as DNA testing, to...
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News
Select & Save cuts 60 everyday prices
Symbol group Select & Save has introduced a round of price cuts designed to turn up the heat on rivals Tesco and Bargain Booze. The group has cut the prices of 60 everyday grocery items for a three-week promotion starting this month. The...
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News
CJ Lang raises age challenge to 25
Dundee-based wholesaler and Spar retailer CJ Lang is introducing a Challenge 25 policy in a bid to prevent underage sales of alcohol. CJ Lang currently asks its retailers to demand ID from anyone staff believe to be under 21. It is set to...
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News
Nisa rebels seek election to board
The rebels who derailed Nisa-Today's proposed merger with Costcutter have launched a controversial bid to win seats on the buying group's board. Papers seen by The Grocer show that former leading lights in the Nisa Members Association,...
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News
Test may view discounters as ineffective competition
Attempts by Aldi, Lidl and Netto to expand could be hampered by a Competition Commission proposal to introduce a 'competition test' for new store developments. The idea, mooted in the provisional findings, would mean any proposed new...