UK audio brand GEAR4 has partnered with karaoke company Lucky Voice and FremantleMedia Enterprises to produce and distribute The X Factor Party Box, a limited edition karaoke system based on the hit TV show, The X Factor. The deal includes access
Sales at fast, casual restaurants in the US have increased by 30% to $23bn in the last four years, according to a recent Mintel foodservice report. Restaurants in this market claim to combine the quality of family casual dining with
Specialist SAP consultant De Villiers Walton has launched a programme for enhancing SAP Business Intelligence (BI) solutions following customer feedback, which revealed CFOs and senior managers are suffering from a lack of data quality. De Villiers Walton found many businesses
The Co-operative has expanded its Grown by Us own label range to include Scottish porridge oats. The Grown by Us porridge oats have been grown by The Co-operative Farms in Scotland. The new product goes on sale at Co-operative Food stores across
US crisp brand, Lay’s, has launched a ‘Chip Tracker’ on its web site to allow consumers to see where their crisps were made and where the potatoes were grown in the US. Customers simply enter their postcode and the first
Grocers were among the strongest performers in August, according to the latest CBI quarterly Distributive Trades Survey. Clothing, durable household goods, footwear and leather, and hardware and DIY also did well; boosted by better weather at the beginning of August,
The Co-operative is promising a range of terrifyingly terrific treats for halloween this year. The products, available in Co-operative and Somerfield stores, include halloween Treacle & Ginger Loaf, Treacle Toffee, pumpkins and an assortment of spooky themed treats such as
BT is advising business how to cut costs in a tough economic climate in a new white paper: Crisis or Catalyst? Lessons from the frontline of cost transformation. The report draws on the company’s own experience in reducing operating costs
Ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend, woodcare brand Sadolin has painted the beach huts in Bournemouth in paint from its Superdec range. According to the company, Superdec offers a paint-like, solid colour finish but has the flexibility of a
British wallpapers and paint manufacturer, Farrow & Ball, has launched a new e-commerce web site in conjunction with BT’s retail specialist e-commerce division, BT Fresca. Farrow & Ball is renowned for its traditionally-made range of premium paint and wallpaper. The
Powershot is launching 330ml organic energy drinks featuring a blend of tea extracts, ginseng, fruit juices and mineral water. There are three flavours in the range, formulated to provide refreshment and a daily energy and well-being boost. All three variants
Starbucks is providing wireless internet access – Wi-Fi – across some 140 Starbucks coffee houses in Germany in a contract with BT. The service has been installed in most of the locations over the last months and can be used
Co-operative and Somerfield customers are now providing fresh, clean drinking water for 1m people in Africa, and the retailer is marking the milestone with a campaign to encourage more customers to support ‘water for water’ projects. The Co-operative partnered with
Otley Brewery, the South Wales-based, family-run brewery, marked its fifth year in business on 14 August 2010 with an event at its premises in Cilfynydd. More than 100 people, including regular customers, key suppliers, beer writers and press, attended the
Grocery market figures from Kantar Worldpanel, published today for the 12 weeks ending 8 August 2010, show healthy growth in the grocery sector, boosted by food price inflation, which crept up in August for the third month running. Despite the
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has criticised David Cameron’s support for local minimum alcohol pricing. The Prime Minister made the comments in an interview with the Manchester Evening News, where he said the plans to introduce a minimum unit
Retailers’ investment in IT remains stagnant this year but the sector is planning to spend more on technology as the economic situation improves. That’s the key finding of a Martec International’s new IT in Retail report, which surveys the top
Energy drinks/shots manufacturers are having difficulties attracting new customers in the US, despite a 136% increase in sales from 2005 to 2009, according to new research from Mintel. Three quarters (74%) of those surveyed say they don’t consume energy drinks/shots
In a regular new column, Verdict retail analyst Simon Chinn, assesses the latest grocery store formats and concepts around the globe Germany’s REWE is trialing a new market-style concept in Cologne in response to rising demand for organic and local
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
Toy and gift company Jellycat has implemented a SAP application to keep track of stock and improve customer service. The company, which supplies soft toys to retailers all over the world, including some of the top high street names, has
Eminem has surpassed 10m fans on Facebook, according to Famecount. He becomes only the second living musician to have done so – behind Lady Gaga – who now boasts more than 15 million Facebook fans. So far four musicians/groups have
Newly released insolvency statistics show CVA’s (Company Voluntary Arrangements) still remain popular in retail as a tool to steer through the downturn, according to insolvency experts Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP. Commenting on the latest insolvency figures in retail released for
Mintel lifted the lid on the latest food and drink trends at The Institute of Food Technologists’ (IFT) annual event in Chicago last month. Hosting the Global New Products Pavilion, Mintel showcased innovative lines while its new product experts, Lynn
Sweet Freedom syrup, a natural alternative to sugar made entirely from fruit (apples, grapes and carob), and products sweetened with the syrup are going on sale in UK supermarkets. They include Kirsty Henshaw’s healthier iced dessert range, which featured on BBC’s
