The Co-op news and analysis – Page 100

  • News

    Investor’s chronicle

    2004-04-03T00:00:00Z

    The Grocer’s basket of shares is back in the black and has outperformed the FTSE 100. Sean McAllister reportsWho would have thought over two years ago that Somerfield would prove to be our best stock market investment? But then,...

  • News

    Six of the best: tobacco and accessories

    2004-04-03T00:00:00Z

    >>nominated this month: asda, booker, budgens, the co-operative group, somerfield and tescoDanny Aytoncategory buyer, BookerAyton joined Booker in 1998, having worked for BP as a retail category buyer, and then One Stop...

  • News

    ESL trial for OS&G Co-op

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op is planning to trial electronic shelf edge labels from Fujitsu at its Swift Shop in Walton Street, Oxford, during the summer.Group general manager retail Bill Laird said he was planning a trip to Australia to...

  • News

    Is there any future for independents?

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Last week yet another independent bit the dust with Somerfield’s acquisition of Aberness, which owns or distributes to some 170 c-stores in Scotland under the Mace fascia.Signalling the first aggressive move by one of the smaller...

  • News

    Somerfield earmarks 40 stores for conversion

    2004-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield has selected 40 stores to convert to its new Essentials and Market Fresh formats in the next financial year as it steps up its refurbishment programme.Sales uplifts from trial stores at Carshalton and Wanstead (Market Fresh),...

  • News

    Strength In Numbers

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Some industry commentators have predicted that Britain's co-op share of the dairy market will be heading for 70% in the next 10 years. Though still lagging behind their rivals on the continent, in New Zealand and even in Northern Ireland ­...

  • News

    Rocket kits have lift-off

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Gourmet meal kit company Rocket has announced a big expansion, including supply deals with Somerfield and the Co-operative Group.The Unilever Ventures backed company has also signed up with c-store chain Whistlestop and Wine Cellar, and is...

  • News

    Somerfield taps expertise

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield revealed the extent of its convenience retailing ambitions when it swallowed Scottish Mace chain Aberness this week.Aberness’s new md, David Cheyne, said Somerfield saw huge potential in the convenience sector as did Tesco and...

  • News

    There’s rapid change ahead

    2004-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield will move ahead quickly to introduce changes following its acquisition of Aberness, with plans to convert two trial stores (the Countesswells Road and Kintore stores – both about 2,000sq ft) to the Somerfield ‘Essentials’ brand within six...

  • News

    Sainsbury to takeover a Somerfield store

    2004-03-10T00:00:00Z

    Sainsbury has won a bid to takeover the Somerfield supermarket in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. The store will cease trading as Somerfield on April 25. It is believed that contracts for the 165 staff will not change as part of the handover....

  • News

    Somerfield m-way store debut

    2004-03-06T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield has opened its first store at a motorway service station at the Extra services on the M65 in Blackburn.Somerfield said it was the first supermarket convenience store on a motorway in the UK. The 2,700 sq ft pilot store was...

  • News

    Six of the best ice cream buyers

    2004-03-06T00:00:00Z

    >>nominated this monthMIKE LEWISsenior buyer for frozen foods, MORRISONSMike has worked in retail for more than 10 years, starting off at the Co-operative Group before moving to Booker in a group buying role....

  • News

    Count on Somerfield for cereals

    2004-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Breakfast cereal suppliers’ margins will have been hurt by an intensification of price and promotional-based activity that took place last year.Cereals is one of the biggest categories in store, reflecting a high market penetration and diverse...

  • News

    Londis bidding war opens

    2004-02-28T00:00:00Z

    The bidding war for Londis has begun in earnest after the symbol group’s board unanimously decided that selling out to a bigger player was the best way to safeguard the future of its retailers.Big Food Group, Musgrave, Somerfield, the ...

  • News

    Press round-up…ex-Somerfield chief on the move

    2004-02-20T00:00:00Z

    Former Somerfield chief executive Alan Smith could be in line to head up high street hardware chain Robert Dyas.The Financial Times reported that Change Capital, a private equity firm set up last year by Marks and Spencer chairman Luc...

  • News

    OS&G divi goes super

    2004-02-14T00:00:00Z

    Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op is relaunching its dividend with the introduction of a superdividend card.Customers will no longer receive dividends as point of sale discounts but as points earned on the card. Shoppers earn points on the...

  • News

    Somerfield’s HR director will head up business unit

    2004-02-14T00:00:00Z

    Katie Peters, Somerfield Group’s human resources director, is to replace Bill Williams as head of the Somerfield business unit.Peters, who is already a member of the group executive committee, will take up her new post on February 16, reporting...

  • News

    Six of the best household goods buyers

    2004-02-07T00:00:00Z

    >>nominated this month: Tesco, somerfield, Morrisons, ASDA, sainsbury, makroMike ArnottSenior buying manager, household, tescoArnott joined Tesco in 1995 to work in product marketing for two years. He then moved into...

  • News

    Scotmid hits 76

    2004-02-07T00:00:00Z

    Scotmid Co-op has boosted its presence in the Edinburgh area with the acquisition of eight former Alldays stores from the Co-operative Group.The deal takes its food retail estate to 76 stores, although overlap with its existing estate meant...

  • News

    Somerfield’s franchise deal

    2004-01-31T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield is to unveil full details of its franchise package at the Convenience Retailing Show at the NEC, Birmingham, from March 14 to 17.Somerfield’s business director for franchise, Norman Kears, has been developing the package since he...