The Co-op news and analysis – Page 105

  • News

    Team talk: Heart of England Co-op

    2003-08-23T00:00:00Z

    >>GEORGE FLOWER, GENERAL MANAGER OF FOODSTORES, AND HIS AREA MANAGERSHeart of England Co-op prides itself on the support it gives the area managers of its food stores. George Flower, general manager of its food division, says: “At a...

  • News

    United Milk heads into receivership

    2003-08-21T00:00:00Z

    Leading dairy farmer co-operative United Milk, based at Westbury, Wilts, has gone into receivership.The country's other major co-ops – First Milk, Milk Link and Dairy Farmers of Britain – confirmed they were in active discussions with the...

  • News

    Somerfield gets funky for kids

    2003-08-18T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield has launched its Funky Food Factory children’s food brand following trials in pilot stores. Marketing brand controller Nicholas Hall said 20 products would be rolled out by Christmas and a further 40 next year. Somerfield...

  • News

    New Tesco threatens a star Extra

    2003-08-16T00:00:00Z

    Tesco’s recent purchase of the Co-operative Group’s superstore in Uxbridge Road, Slough, is a surprise given its close proximity to Tesco’s existing Extra store in Brunel Way, just over half a mile to the west of the new site.The converted...

  • News

    Kears takes franchise expertise to Somerfield

    2003-08-09T00:00:00Z

    Norman Kears, managing director of Budgens Franchise which trades under the Budgens Local fascia, has been recruited by Somerfield.Kears, 63, has left to take up a two-year contract with the multiple in Yorkshire.Budgens said this...

  • News

    Co-op will now sue Regan

    2003-08-09T00:00:00Z

    The Co-operative Group is to proceed with suing Andrew Regan in a £10m damages claim following his acquittal this week on charges of paying £2m in bribes to secure a lucrative supply deal with the Co-op.After the verdict, Nick Eyre,...

  • News

    Press round-up ... Regan acquittal

    2003-08-07T00:00:00Z

    Andrew Regan has been cleared of stealing £2.4m from Hobson, the food group where he was chief executive, to use the money to bribe two Co-op managers to extend a food supply agreement. The Serious Fraud Office alleged that the money stolen...

  • News

    co-op’s irresistible

    2003-08-02T00:00:00Z

    n The Co-op is aiming to change consumers’ perceptions of its stores with a new ‘super premium’ own label range called Truly Irresistible. n Award-winning chef Paul Heathcote is helping...

  • News

    Hard grind for buyers

    2003-08-02T00:00:00Z

    Overworked, stressed and burnt out at 35? As the multiples pile on the pressure, Elaine Watson talks to the people at the coal face.Over at Tesco and the Co-operative Group, buyers have in turn seen their in-trays expand as...

  • News

    Double blow for JS

    2003-08-02T00:00:00Z

    Overtaken by Asda and with its Somerfield hopes dashed, what are the options now for Sainsbury? Elaine Watson reportsPlot the market share of Asda and Sainsbury on a graph since 1999 and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that their...

  • News

    Halal meat strips launched by Aria

    2003-08-02T00:00:00Z

    Former farmer co-op Aria Foods is launching halal meat strips.The newcomer, rolling out this month, comes as Aria bids to develop its range following a management buyout in March.The National Halal Food Group will supply halal meat...

  • News

    Opinion

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    The calls for unity which have coloured the Co-op's vocabulary since Andrew Regan's aborted attempt to take over the CWS will ring out again this weekend. But before they are heard, the roof of the national concert hall in Cardiff will be raised by...

  • News

    Opinion

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    It's always dangerous to judge the entire fleet by its flagship, but if Budgens could replicate its new Midhurst store across all its 105 sites, most of them situated in the south, it could certainly give Somerfield a run for its money. The...

  • News

    Opinion

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    The Rochdale Pioneers have been turning in their graves. It is unlikely that the Co-op Movement has ever been thrust so savagely into the media spotlight during its 153 chequered years. But although the much publicised bid by City whizzkid Andrew...

  • News

    Opinion

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Working on the maxim that all publicity is good publicity, Max Clifford would say the Co-op has enjoyed pretty good times recently. It is unlikely the trade historians will see it that way. The shock waves of the Andrew Regan saga are still being...

  • News

    Opinion

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    The Co-op won more than a few friends this week when it jumped the gun and began to put health warnings on 240 of its own brand wines, spirits and beers. As the Government debates the voluntary drinks labelling issue with industry bodies, the...

  • News

    The Saturday Essay

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    >>Martin Oakes, board director responsible for Somerfield’s development within the c-store sectorOur new business development teams have been busy in recent weeks with the purchase of Aberness, the award-winning convenience...

  • News

    The Saturday Essay

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    >>retailers cannot work alone in improving diets. Susan Bromley, marketing development manager, Co-operative GroupOnly individuals can take the decision to choose to live a healthy lifestyle. However, that doesn’t mean others don’t...

  • News

    Irresistible is ‘tangibly better’

    2003-07-26T00:00:00Z

    The Co-op is bidding to change consumers’ perceptions of its stores by introducing a ‘super premium’ own label range.Products in the new Truly Irresistible range started hitting shelves at selected stores this week and are being backed by a...

  • News

    Shaping up well?

    2003-07-24T00:00:00Z

    Given there are always plenty of people predicting a rather gloomy future for Somerfield, being invited to meet with executive chairman John von Spreckelsen at World’s End seemed somewhat ironic. But there were no prophets of doom to be found at the...