The Co-op news and analysis – Page 85
-
News
Single society spectre as giants talk merger
The Co-operative Group and United Co-operatives are poised to merge in a deal that would create the UK's fifth-largest grocery retailer by market share. The UK's two largest co-operative societies revealed this week they were in talks...
-
News
Somerfield GDAs hit mag
Somerfield is aiming to help customers have a healthier Christmas by applying the GDA labelling scheme to recipes in its magazine. The chain opted for GDA front-of-pack labelling earlier this year, eschewing the multiple traffic light...
-
News
Glenrath ramps up free-range capacity
A Scottish egg producer has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Somerfield and Morrisons' move to import free-range eggs. Peeblesshire-based Glenrath Farms has submitted plans to invest £8m in enough free-range birds and sheds to...
-
News
Top-Up shop
Who we visited. Spar, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Texaco, Nottingham Road, Ashby de la Zouche. Sainsbury's Local, Bridge Way, Cobham, Surrey. Co-op Group, Kingfisher Drive, Westbury, Wiltshire. Tesco Express, Warwick...
-
News
MacKenzie takes co-op clout to SRC
Ken MacKenzie is the new chairman of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC). MacKenzie has worked in retail for more than 30 years and has been chief officer of the Scottish Co-op since 1992. He is also a member of the Scottish Grocers'...
-
News
Top-Up shop
Who we visited. Spar, Manor Green Road, Epsom, Surrey. Kwik Save, The Paddock, Handforth, Cheshire. Best One Ditton Hill, Long Ditton, Surrey. Scotmid Co-op East Main Street, Uphall, West Lothian. Tesco Express,...
-
News
Low egg prices spark free-range shortages
Somerfield's move to source nearly half its free-range eggs from France is a sure sign of a UK supply crisis, producers say. The retailer is not the only one looking at sourcing abroad, but producers here say they warned customers of the...
-
News
Co-op Group is OK with me
Sir; I was rather surprised to see that the Co-operative Group was being criticised for the content of its submissions to the Competition Commission grocery inquiry ('The Co-op bares its soul', 18 November, p6). All supermarket groups at...
-
News
Climbing the ladder
How did you get where you are today? I started in the retail arena with the Co-op back in 1986 and then moved into sales with Mars Confectionery in 1989. I stayed on the sales side with Mars for over seven years and was then made a NAM. From...
-
News
Chelmsford latest to sign up to unity
Chelmsford Star Co-operative is to adopt the Co-operative Group's unifying fascia at its largest store as part of a revamp. The Essex-based society is to trial the fascia at its supermarket in Kings Road, Chelmsford, for three months from...
-
News
Somerfield: 'We don't compete with big four'
Somerfield has told the Competition Commission it does not compete with the big four - a statement that reinforces its strategy of positioning itself as a local grocer and not a major supermarket chain. In its submission to the grocery...
-
News
In Brief: Bigger in UK beer; The Nun's clothes; Red nose in winter
Bigger in UK beer UK craft brewer Freeminer is preparing for a bigger role in UK beer next year with an investment that doubles its capacity. The brewery supplies the Co-operative Group with its Gold Miner and Honey Ale beers, as...
-
News
Top-Up shop
Who we visited. Total Bonjour, Surbiton, Surrey. Nisa, Woodford, Manchester. Midlands Co-op Measham, Derbyshire. Londis Surbiton, Surrey. Tesco Express, Clifton, Bristol. How they performed. Our...
-
News
United, Leeds next in run of Co-op mergers
Consolidation of the co-operative movement continued this week, with United Co-operatives and Leeds Co-operative Society set to merge. Leeds' members will vote on the tie-up at a meeting on 11 December. If two thirds vote in favour, a...
-
News
Co-op offers lower prices on selection
The Co-op is offering reduced prices on certain wines until 3 December to encourage consumers to buy into the lesser known regions and varieties. Its white wine of the month is the Co-op Orvieto Classico 2005 from Italy, priced from...
-
News
The Co-op bares its soul
Below cost selling, price flexing and applying restrictive covenants to land. Typical of Tesco? Asda? Sainsbury's? No - it's the Co-operative Group. The society, which prides itself on its ethical approach to business, this week published...
-
News
Tesco backing S&A in ongoing worker row
Tesco and Sainbury's are standing by soft fruit grower S&A as it clashes again with unions. The Herefordshire strawberry growing co-op came under the spotlight earlier in the year after the TGWU received complaints from 200 migrant...
-
News
Now coupons are getting personal
Somerfield has unveiled the replacement to its Saver Card loyalty scheme in the shape of a new entirely supplier-funded coupon programme.The supermarket, which dropped the card scheme in May as part of the new management's strategy...
-
News
Top-Up shop
Who we visited. Londis, Goseley Avenue, Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Nisa, HazLemere Foodhall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. ScotMid Co-Op, Morning Noon & Night, Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire. Smile, Kingsway, Little Stoke,...
-
News
Co-ops to ditch familiar logo from own-label packaging
Co-operative societies are ditching the iconic Co-op 'clover' on own-label packaging as part of an overhaul to tie in with the unifying fascia created this year by the Co-operative Group. Current packaging for the 3,000 products branded...