Find out which retailers are innovating in the on and offline retail space and what they are doing to keep ahead of the curve in this dynamic and highly competitive sector. Read the financials and analysis of the large multiples, the smaller chains to independent retailers, wholesalers and suppliers
The Co-operative Group has launched a web site to spearhead a marketing campaign to promote its Fairtrade credentials, including a major push in Co-operative and Somerfield stores. As well as TV and press advertising, the campaign features in-store communications, including
The ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on the Low Pay Commission to recommend a freeze in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) after 1 October 2010 claiming two in five convenience stores have laid off or not replaced
Morrisons, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket, is to trial a new convenience format in the first half of 2011. The retailer is also investigating the opportunities for Morrisons online – it is the only grocery retailer in the top four,
Spar China has opened its first hypermarket in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Three more stores are planned to open this year. The store has a sales area of 5,000sq m over two floors and is located in Beijing’s Chaoyang district.
Spar UK has posted a 3.1% sales increase in the three months to end July 2010, lifted by the trend to shop locally and growth in sales of own brand products, fresh food and wine. Spar said its 2,583 stores
Group pre-tax profits at the flower and gardening home shopping group, Flying Brands, fell from £2.74m to £480,000 in the six months to 2 July as it exits non-core markets. Flying Brands is selling its online collectables business, Benham, and
The Co-operative has scooped the Best Sausage award at the annual SuperMeat & Fish Awards. The prize was awarded to the retailer for its own-brand Truly Irresistible Gluten Free Sausages. The SuperMeat & Fish Awards aim to reward excellence in
Andy Bond, chairman of Asda, revealed his future vision of retailing at the Consumer Goods Forum’s Global Summit yesterday. “There has been an irreversible shift from shoppers as consumers to consumers as participants in every one of our businesses,” he
Pupils from the City of London Freemen School revealed how the net generation of consumers are accessing, using and sharing the information that influences their daily choices and purchasing decisions in an all-singing and dancing mini-drama at the Consumer Goods
Shoppers are reaching for premium ranges such as Tesco Finest and Morrisons’ The Best, according to the latest grocery market figures from Kantar Worldpanel, published today for the 12 weeks ending 13 June 2010. In spite of total grocery market
The Co-operative Group has been named Green Supermarket of the Year at the Grocer Gold Awards in London, beating off competition from Tesco, Ocado and Morrisons. The award was given to the retailer that had done the most in the
Couture Food Hall, an urban farm shop in Woolwich Arsenal, has adapted its high end range to meet local community needs. Fiona Briggs reports
Waitrose has opened its first new smaller format convenience store today in Cambridge. According to Waitrose, the store on Fitzroy Street has been designed with customers in mind. It features easy-to-navigate shelves and a product range, which will enable shoppers
Menus around the US are getting a makeover to comply with the new health care bill, which requires all restaurants, with 20 or more locations, to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards and drive-thrus. The rule will also apply
Sainsbury’s has launched a food and drink channel on MSN UK, Microsoft’s portal. The channel is focused on food ideas and recipes and is said to be the first channel of its kind to be hosted on the sitel. Under
Digdeep, a new steetwear clothing brand for men, has launched its website. Set up on 30 March, digdeep claims to take its inspiration from sporting legends and famous sporting moments. The web site features features digdeep’s collection of t-shirts, sweats,
Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore is investing £1m to reduce the wholesale prices of volume lines including milk, Fosters/Carling cans, granulated sugar and Red Bull. According to Blakemore, the savings are worth on average £5,000 per annum per store and build
Spar UK has won a £150m contract to operate stores on leisure parks owned by Bourne Leisure Group, including Haven Holiday Parks and Butlins. The five-year deal will see 42 Spar-branded stores at all 36 Haven Holiday Parks in
Spar International has launched a website dedicated to football in the run up to the World Cup. The microsite will highlight special offers for consumers and provides tips on food and drink solutions for those watching the World Cup and
Henderson Group, owner of the Spar, Eurospar, Vivo and Vivoxtra retail brands in Northern Ireland, has reported strong sales growth in 2009, despite tough economic conditions. Compared to 2008, sales increased by 11% to £500m last year. Ron Whitten,
Spar International is to open stores in Vietnam, taking its presence to 34 countries worldwide. Spar has teamed up with the wholesale distribution business Phu Thai Group to open 26 large Spar supermarkets and hypermarkets over the next three years.
The Co-operative is running a promotion with iTunes to target Father’s Day gifts. From 7-20 June 2010 inclusive, Co-operative customers will be able to save £5.00 on the purchase of £25 iTunes gift cards in over 500 stores nationwide. According
Hypermarkets and Eurospar stores have fueled growth at Spar International, which has reported worldwide sales up 5.5% to €28.5bn in 2009. Announcing the results at the 55th Annual Spar International Congress in China, Gordon Campbell, managing director of Spar International,
Spar opened a new hypermarket in Mangalore, India, yesterday (3 May); building on the success of previous recent store openings in the country. According to Spar, the Mangalore hypermarket will be one of the leading attractions in the city’s new City
Spar opened 18 Eurospar stores simultaneously in Denmark on 22 April. A further 20 Eurospar stores are planned at the beginning of 2011. According to Spar, the new stores will strengthen independent retailers’ position in Denmark and provide them with
