latest news
Max 99p opens in Peterborough with one eye on expansion
Discount store Max 99p has opened a second store in a residential area of Peterborough and has announced plans to open another three stores this year.
Diageo sales growth stalls as emerging markets weaken
Weakness in emerging markets has continued to affect the performance of Diageo, which today reported a “mixed performance” in the year to 30 June.
Heinz Black Label soups get four new lines Subscription
Heinz is expanding its Black Label soup offering with four new flavours…
Premier Foods doubles number of price-marked packs Subscription
Premier Foods is doubling the number of price-marked packs it offers to include all lines in its core convenience range.
UK consumer confidence falters in July, study finds
Consumer confidence in the UK economy has fallen for the first time in six months, according to a new study.
Werther's rolling out first assortment gift pack
Storck UK is gearing up for Christmas with the launch of Werther’s Original Golden Mix – its first-ever assortment gift pack.
Lake District Cheddar set to be relaunched by Adams Foods Subscription
Lake District Dairy Co Cheddar – which has lost most of its supermarket listings in recent months – is to be relaunched…
Jägermeister’s first UK TV ad rapped by ASA
Jägermeister’s first TV ad in the UK has been banned by advertising watchdogs on the grounds that it links alcohol with daring and irresponsible behaviour.
Müller adds first split-pot products to rice range
Müller is adding the first split-pot variant to its Müller Rice range.
Colston Bassett blue Stilton tops Nantwich cheese awards
A blue Stilton made by Nottinghamshire-based Colston Bassett & District Dairy has been crowned supreme champion at the 2014 International Cheese Awards in Nantwich.
Strong pound dents British American Tobacco’s revenues
British American Tobacco saw first half headline revenues decline by 10% after being hit by adverse exchange rate movements.
Chobani refused permission to fight Greek yoghurt ruling Subscription
A long-running legal battle over the term “Greek yoghurt” appears to have come to an end – with US dairy giant Chobani refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Adams Food Ingredients to buy Dairy Crest’s Foodtec UK
Adams Food Ingredients has confirmed the purchase of the business and assets of Dairy Crest’s Foodtec UK subsidiary in a £1.2m deal.
Revamped coffee and sandwiches help drive Greggs profit surge
Greggs has reported an almost 50% rise in first half pre-tax profit after diversifying its product range
Diageo shuffles exec team as Gilbert Ghostine departs
Diageo’s long-serving senior director Gilbert Ghostine is to step down after 19 years with the drinks giant, which has announced a number of exec changes.
Co-op sticks tablets on trolleys to gain customer feedback
The Co-operative Group is rolling out hi-tech trolleys that allow shoppers to give the society instant feedback on stores.
Soft drink sales tipped to slump as shoppers snub sugar
One in four consumers - and a third of 16 to 24-year-olds - are drinking fewer fizzy soft drinks than six months ago, according to new research from Mintel.
JTI to appeal ASA ruling on 'misleading' plain packs ad
Japan Tobacco International has rejected an Advertising Standards Authority ruling against one of its ads and is taking its case to the ASA’s Independent Reviewer.
Co-op rows back on in-store radio policy after staff complaints
The Co-operative Group is to start playing a mixture of both well-known songs and tracks by unsigned artists on its in-store radio following a stream of complaints by staff.
BB's Warehouse: Conviviality Retail's new format in pictures
Here’s a first look inside BB’s Warehouse, a new format from Bargain Booze owner Conviviality Retail.
Morrisons bans high-strength booze cans in alcohol pledge
Morrisons has become the first retailer to sign up to the new Responsibility Deal pledge banning any carbonated product in its stores with more than four units of alcohol in a single-serve can.
Sodbuster South African wine range sold direct to farmers Subscription
Broadlands Winery has launched a range of South African wines that it is selling direct to UK farmers.
FSA food origins study uncovers single labelling issue Subscription
A Food Standards Agency study into the origins of foods stated to be from the UK and Ireland has uncovered just one issue with country of origin labelling
Greencore sales buoyed by food-to-go market
Greencore has reported another quarter of strong sales growth, with like-for-likes climbing 7.5%.
Iceland sales dip in latest market share figures
Iceland has posted its first drop in sales since 2005, according to the latest grocery market share data from Kantar Worldpanel.
PZ Cussons defies currency headwinds to post profit growth
Soap maker PZ Cussons has recorded a 7% rise in full year profits despite negative currency movements and unrest in Nigeria.
Poundland names Darren Shapland chairman
Poundland has appointed Darren Shapland its new chairman, following Andrew Higginson’s departure to Morrisons.
Morrisons names former Tesco finance boss Higginson chairman
Morrisons has surprised the City by appointing former Tesco finance boss Andrew Higginson company chairman when Sir Ian Gibson retires in 2015.
Sainsbury's to roll out 100% recycled polymer food crates
Sainsbury’s is to recycle its old food crates into more efficient ones made from 100% recycled polymer - a move it claims is a first for a UK retailer.
High streets enjoying convenience retail resurgence, report claims
High streets are experiencing a “retail resurgence” due to the convenience culture sparked by austerity Britain, a government report claimed today.
Graham's targets NE Scotland through Mitchells milk deal
Graham’s The Family Dairy is looking to grow its presence in North East Scotland after taking over the milk distribution business of Mitchells Dairy.
Reckitt Benckiser spins off pharma to focus on consumer goods
Reckitt Benckiser is to spin off its pharmaceutical division to concentrate on its core business of consumer goods.
McVitie's cakes to target Halloween and Bonfire Night
UBUK-owned McVitie’s Cake Company is gearing up for Halloween and Bonfire Night by bringing back a selection of seasonal lines.
Concha y Toro brand Trivento to sponsor Premiership rugby
Concha y Toro UK has secured a deal to make its Argentine wine brand Trivento the official supporter of Aviva Premiership Rugby.
Protein shake Everything But The Cow eyes supermarket listings Subscription
A low fat, gluten and dairy free protein shake aimed at active women is hoping to expand into supermarkets by the end of the year.
insight
Top 10 global innovations in confectionery 2014: pictures
From super premium, Reishi mushroom chocolate to boiled sweets containing spinach… here’s our pick of the most interesting recent confectionery launches from around the world.
Online shoppers with a sweet tooth Video
We’re buying more confectionery online - a stat we reveal in the first of a new series of digital reports.
Levi Roots: The Big Interview Subscription
A high-profile court case – and a 17% slump in sales of its hero sauces line last year – made Levi Roots ‘wake up’…
Currency headwinds are fast turning into a gale Subscription
The UK economy is thriving, but currency headwinds continue to have a huge impact on UK-listed companies’ results.
Citrus Saturday looks to create entrepreneurs with lemons Subscription
How can an entrepreneurial attitude be developed in teenagers? Citrus Saturday found them focused on the bottom line……
BB’s Warehouse piles ’em high in Wakefield Subscription
BB’s Warehouse, which opened on Monday, is Conviviality Retail’s new brand designed to be “bold, fun and democratic”. The Grocer paid a visit.
Does hurricane Higginson signal a wind of change at Morrisons? Subscription
Yesterday a who’s who of retail veterans was paraded in the press as potential replacements for Sir Ian Gibson as the next Morrisons chairman.
A new front in the war on obesity Subscription
Could local authorities pick up the baton from central government in the battle to get consumers eating healthier food?
Insolvencies are falling, but for how long? Subscription
The number of food and drink companies having to call in the administrators is on the decrease, data from Grant Thornton shows.
Ten things you need to know about... confectionery
In the first of a major new series of digital features on The Grocer, we lift the lid on the confectionery market. Here are 10 things you absolutely need to know…
The Grocer makes a Marvellous Creation with Cadbury: Video Video
Mondelez International invited The Grocer along to its R&D kitchens in Bournville to make our own Marvellous Ceation.
Online confectionery sales smash the £100m barrier
Online confectionery sales have passed the £100m mark for the first time, The Grocer can reveal.
Confectionery brands on social media: size isn’t everything
Size is important when it comes to a social media following. But it’s not everything.
Wonka will be missed: our consumer panel speaks out
We’ve put together our very own digital consumer panel, with the help of Watch Me Think, to test four high-profile confectionery launches from the past year…
Giraffe co-founders exit the Tesco-owned chain
Co-op in-store radio drops pops for flops
FSA backs 2 Sisters plant accused in Guardian report
Iceland sales dip in latest market share figures
Campylobacter claims: the industry responds
Alcohol seller assaults to be discussed by justice minister
Philip Clarke: price and refit failures meant he 'had to go'
Morrisons names former Tesco finance boss Higginson chairman
Health minister orders probe into 2 Sisters plants
High streets enjoying convenience retail resurgence, report claims
P&H and Costcutter: 'still work to do' as service improves
One Stop Halal opens 200,000 sq ft plant to tap market growth
Asda defends in-store manager restructure redundancy packages
The Grocer is looking for cheese
Asda confirms 1,360 management redundancies in stores
Owen Paterson's green blobs: some would shrink UK farming
Why is UK fruit so expensive? asks Joanna Blythman
Nisa hails delivery on time rate running at over 96% 
