Archive of all The Co-op articles – Page 81

  • News

    Here's the brand new Kwik Save

    2007-04-23T00:00:00Z

    Kwik Save is to shed its soft discounter image and adopt a new high street convenience-focused format - a move that could take it into direct competition with former owner Somerfield.Speaking exclusively to The Grocer, Kwik Save chief...

  • News

    Sharper Co-op Group tactics deliver 'tremendous' uplift

    2007-04-16T00:00:00Z

    The Co-operative Group this week hailed a "tremendous" turnaround of its food operations, as it reported strong annual sales and its fifth successive quarter of like-for-like growth.Guy McCracken, CEO of Food Retail for the Co-operative...

  • News

    Somerfield takes action to boost flagging stock levels

    2007-04-09T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield is overhauling its supply chain and in-store procedures in a bid to revive its flagging availability levels. Last month the retailer, which is the subject of takeover speculation, had an availability rating of just 93.8% having...

  • News

    United: merger would spark acquisition drive

    2007-04-09T00:00:00Z

    Peter Marks, chief executive of United Co-operatives, has promised a ramped-up acquisition programme if United merges with the Co-operative Group. ?Marks, ?who will become chief executive of the enlarged society if the deal goes...

  • News

    Percol hires Mount for an adventure in coffee

    2007-03-31T00:00:00Z

    Wine guru Angela Mount has linked up with coffee producer Percol to encourage consumers to explore different flavours of coffee. Ex-Somerfield wine buyer Mount, whose tastebuds were once famously insured for £10m, will be working with...

  • News

    Top-Up shop

    2007-03-24T00:00:00Z

    Who we visited Sainsbury's Local Birmingham, West Midlands Co-op Crieff, Perthshire Nisa Stockport, Greater Manchester Tesco express Amersham, Bucks Budgens Trowbridge, Wiltshire How they...

  • News

    Heated fields bring on early asparagus crop

    2007-03-24T00:00:00Z

    Underground heating in fields has put the first British asparagus onto shelves four weeks earlier than usual. The Co-operative Group said it was the first retailer to offer a home-grown crop, which went on sale in 11 stores on Monday 19...

  • News

    Co-ops reveal their plans if members approve merger

    2007-03-24T00:00:00Z

    The Co-operative Group and United Co-operatives have admitted the merger of the two societies will result in redundancies. Last month, the two societies agreed to recommend to their members that approval should be given to a merger, which...

  • News

    Top-Up shop

    2007-03-17T00:00:00Z

    Who we visitedlondis Burley Grove, BristolCo-op local Benfleet, Essexlifestyle express Kirkintilloch, Glasgowone stop Roffey, West SussexSpar Saintfield Road, BelfastHow they...

  • News

    Farmers hope stores will follow Tesco lead

    2007-03-10T00:00:00Z

    The dairy industry is holding its breath to see what happens following Tesco's decision to raise its retail milk prices this week.Farming leaders are hoping Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Somerfield will follow suit, after Tesco...

  • News

    Farmers hope stores will follow Tesco lead

    2007-03-10T00:00:00Z

    The dairy industry is holding its breath to see what happens following Tesco's decision to raise its retail milk prices this week.Farming leaders are hoping Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Somerfield will follow suit, after Tesco...

  • News

    Shelf barkers give Comfort to shoppers

    2007-03-10T00:00:00Z

    A scented shelf barker is the latest innovation to hit the laundry aisle and forms part of an in-store media first for Unilever's Comfort brand.The initiative brings together Comfort with The Co-operative Group, which has signed a...

  • News

    In Brief: Bags not recycled; Focus group online; Clarification

    2007-03-10T00:00:00Z

    Bags not recycled Forty two per cent of Brits fail to recycle their plastic bags, according to Somerfield. The retailer is offering shoppers a free bag for life each time they return five used carrier bags. Focus group...

  • News

    Co-op Group's produce gets upmarket revamp

    2007-03-03T00:00:00Z

    New-look packaging is being rolled out across the entire fresh produce category at The Co-operative Group. By the end of June, packaging on all 330 fresh produce lines will have been revamped, and many products improved, according to Sue...

  • News

    Hi-tech line polishes the look of salad

    2007-02-24T00:00:00Z

    A new, high-speed production system that eliminates the need for drying salads and enhances shelf life and appearance has been commissioned by Lancashire-based Salads to Go, which supplies The Co-operative Group with salad.A vacuum and...

  • News

    still in the fight

    2007-02-24T00:00:00Z

    ?It's been a tough year for the top overseas and private equity-owned chains - none more so than Kwik Save. Since its split from Somerfield, it has endured the departure of four MDs, plummeting market share, shocking availability and speculation...

  • News

    cop a load of this - shoot-out in somerfield

    2007-02-24T00:00:00Z

    Staff at Somerfield's Wells store got a taste of Hollywood when Simon Pegg, creator of the zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead, asked to film his latest movie in the supermarket he worked in as a teenager. The film, Hot Fuzz, in which Pegg...

  • News

    Fairtrade importer names Bowes MD

    2007-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Fairtrade fruit importer Agrofair has appointed a former Co-operative Group man as managing director. John Bowes spent 20 years at the Co-op and was chief general manager of strategy before he left to write about Fairtrade in...

  • News

    Somerfield shakes up its retail field teams

    2007-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield has completed a major revamp of its retail field teams in a bid to better support its newly restructured 977-strong store estate.Former regional director Nick Wood moves to the new role of retail development director. He will...

  • News

    Co-op's on a roll with sustainability

    2007-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Co-operative Group chief executive Martin Beaumont (pictured) got his roll out for the society's latest roll-out this week. In what is far from a bogstandard initiative, the Co-op has vowed only to sell household tissue products made from...