All articles by Stephen Jones – Page 2
-
NewsRobinsons launches augmented reality ‘mirror’ to push Wicked squash in Tesco
The activation allowed shoppers to visualise themselves as either ‘bad’ witch Elphaba or ‘good’ Glinda, the two main characters in Wicked
-
NewsWaitrose piloting new customer service training to ‘raise the bar’ on store experience
Waitrose now views customer service as its key advantage over rival grocers, which have closed the gap on product quality
-
NewsAldi continues pre-Christmas store rollout with four new sites in one day
Aldi has set the long-term target of opening 1,500 UK stores, and intends to invest £1.4bn into its store estate by the end of 2025
-
NewsM&S to give 2,000 young people ‘first step’ in retail to curb youth unemployment crisis
The new “ambitious” multi-year strategy, in partnership with The King’s Trust, aims to provide support through its Marks & Start programme
-
NewsHotel Chocolat renews international ambitions with new US stores planned
The openings, which are planned for March 2025, mark the beginning of a new period of expansion under owner Mars
-
Comment & OpinionCan Sainsbury’s solve its ‘ridiculous’ yellow sticker self-checkout woes?
As customers continue to queue, Sainsbury’s self-checkout issues show retailers can’t give fraudsters carte blanche to do as they wish in the name of preserving ‘customer experience’
-
Grocer 33Tesco, Gorton, Manchester: Grocer 33 store of the week
‘This is a big shop, but it’s a community shop – I call it a hub,’ says store manager Tom Shafi
-
NewsJohn Lewis ‘optimistic’ £400m investment in automation will pay off this Christmas
The investment in automation had led to 75% improvement in storage capacity at John Lewis’ Milton Keynes distrbution campus
-
NewsWaitrose opens new store and expands convenience partnerships
Waitrose will expand its franchise partnerships with Shell and Welcome Break, after opening its first new store in six years
-
NewsPlanet Organic ‘forced’ to close another store after failing to agree new lease
The Spitalfields store is the third Planet Organic closed since founder Renée Elliott’s return to the business
-
NewsWH Smith set for major food ramp-up with new own labels and cafés
‘We’ve got lots of plans in the pipeline,’ WH Smith Travel MD Andrew Harrison told The Grocer
-
NewsSainsbury’s anti-fraud efforts causing friction at self-service tills
Shoppers are currently unable to scan reduced to clear yellow label items at Sainsbury’s self-service checkouts
-
NewsIceland would ‘happily’ trial facial recognition cameras in stores
Executive chairman Richard Walker repeated calls for retailers to have more legal powers to detain and deter thieves
-
Grocer 33Waitrose, Newport, Shropshire: Grocer 33 store of the week
‘Desserts are quite popular here generally – the people of Newport must have a sweet tooth’
-
NewsArla and McCain to launch exclusive products through Iceland’s accelerator scheme
Lithuanian baker Mantinga will also launch a new sweet and sour doughnut through Iceland’s Brands on Ice production innovation programme
-
NewsWaitrose promises to ‘always’ keep manned checkouts in stores
New signs have appeared in a number of Waitrose’s recently refitted stores, highlighting the retailer’s ‘promise’
-
NewsWH Smith expands food offer with ‘first-ever’ Christmas range
The first festive range from WH Smith includes ‘Christmas classics’ alongside ‘new flavours’ such as Miso Chicken
-
NewsByRuby launches new freezer concessions into Sainsbury’s
The new branded ‘standout’ freezers will sit away from the freezer aisle, alongside fresh and ambient products in Sainsbury’s stores
-
NewsAldi highlights most-needed items as food banks face ‘tough Christmas’
The discounter has published a list of the most in-demand items this Christmas, as a guide for customers looking to donate
-
Grocer 33Waitrose staff go above and beyond at its Lincoln store
Waitrose’s store felt ‘calm and orderly’ despite restocking taking place