latest news
Philip Clarke: price and refit failures meant he 'had to go'
Clarke “had to go” because his store refit programme under-delivered and he failed to make Tesco competitive on price…
Sixteen horsemeat cases uncovered by EC testing programme
Pan-European testing for horsemeat DNA uncovered 16 new instances in beef products between April and June, the European Commission has revealed.
Conviviality Retail thinks big with new BB's Warehouse format
Conviviality Retail is set to launch a new retail brand on Monday, The Grocer can reveal.
Off-trade full-year beer sales exceed pub sales for first time
For the first time, supermarkets and off-licenses have sold more beer over a 12-month period than pubs, according to new British Beer & Pub Association figures.
Sugar & salt FSA survey sees 'genuine public attitude shift' Subscription
Brits are now almost as worried about the sugar in their food as they are they are about food prices…
JTI extends Amber Leaf range with organic Signature Blend
Japan Tobacco International is expanding its Amber Leaf rolling tobacco range with a new premium line made with organic Brazilian tobacco.
The Grocer New Product Awards 2014 shortlist revealed Subscription
The shortlist of products competing for The Grocer’s 2014 New Product Awards has been revealed…
Health minister orders probe into 2 Sisters plants
Health minister Jeremy Hunt has ordered the immediate inspection of two 2 Sisters plants embroiled in The Guardian poultry industry probe – less than 24 hours after the Food Standards Agency issued a statement supporting one of the sites.
Morrisons averts strike at Northwich distribution centre Subscription
Morrisons has averted a potentially disruptive strike planned by drivers at a distribution centre in the North West…
SABMiller’s pay policy passes amid shareholder concern Subscription
SABMiller’s remuneration policy was passed by over 92% of voting shareholders yesterday, but almost 20% of shareholders abstained from giving their approval.
AG Barr sales up 5.6% on promos and warmer weather
AG Barr has announced sales growth of 5.6% for the first half of its financial year.
Hovis Seed Sensations adds granary loaf
Hovis has added a granary loaf to its Seed Sensations brand…
Bestway mulls indie pharmacy wholesale Subscription
Bestway is hoping its acquisition of Co-operative Pharmacy will help it become a wholesaler for independent pharmacies…
Lily's Kitchen 10% cheaper range to go exclusively into Tesco Subscription
Lily’s Kitchen is launching an exclusive range into Tesco that will sell for 10% less than its original products…
Billy Bear launches into cheese slices
Sliced meat brand Billy Bear is extending into the cheese market…
FSA backs 2 Sisters plant accused in Guardian report
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says it is “satisfied that appropriate action was taken” at a 2 Sisters Food Group plant in Anglesey accused of poor hygiene standards.
Reckitt Benckiser to pour £100m into healthcare R&D centre in Hull
RB – formerly Reckitt Benckiser – today revealed it will plough £100m into a new consumer health R&D centre in Hull
Shloer freshens up with new colour scheme and bigger labels Subscription
Shloer has refreshed its 750ml bottle with larger labels and a new colour scheme…
Premier Foods adds Slime & Shock to Halloween line-up
Premier Foods is expanding its Halloween cake offer with two new lines from 15 September…
Tomato cordial launched by The Tomato Stall
Tomato supplier The Tomato Stall has launched what it claims is the first cordial made from the fruit…
Wingman Products to roll out Rebel & Fuel hair and skin ranges Subscription
Wingman Products is set to make its first foray into hair styling and facial skincare…
Campylobacter claims: the industry responds
An undercover investigation by the Guardian newspaper into the food poisoning bug campylobacter has claimed to have uncovered hygiene breaches in the UK poultry industry.
African demand boosts SABMiller’s global volumes
SABMiller’s first quarter global drinks volumes grew by 3%, driven by increased demand in South Africa and the African region.
FSA rapped for refusing to 'name and shame' in campylobacter results
The Food Standards Agency has come under attack for deciding not to ‘name and shame’ retailers and suppliers in a major food safety survey on supermarket chicken.
Vimto maker Nichols reports half-year profit boost
Vimto brand owner Nichols has reported a double-digit increase in half-year profits – boosted by strong UK sales.
Unilever’s sales growth hit by emerging markets slowdown
Unilever today reported underling first half sales growth of 3.7%, but warned of a slowdown in emerging markets.
Arla cuts farmgate milk price by 0.94p a litre
Arla Foods amba is dropping its global farmgate milk price for co-op members by €1.25 cents a kilogram.
Britvic raises profit forecast as fizzy drinks sparkle
Britvic has raised its profit forecast for the full year after enjoying strong fizzy drink sales in the third quarter.
James Lancaster 'no longer retiring' from McColl's Subscription
McColl’s Retail Group founder James Lancaster has declared he is “no longer retiring”…
GlaxoSmithKline’s consumer sales fall after 'supply interruptions'
GlaxoSmithKline has reported a 4% drop in its second quarter consumer healthcare sales after being hit by supply issues in the US and Europe.
Lidl insists it pays its 'fair share' of UK tax Subscription
Lidl has revealed that it paid more than £25m in UK corporation tax last year.
Over 200 jobs at risk as Hovis plans Leicester bakery closure Subscription
Hovis is planning to close its bakery in Leicester with the loss of more than 200 jobs, The Grocer has learned.
Sunkissed launches TOWIE Lucy Mecklenburgh gift sets Subscription
Bronzing brand Sunkissed has worked with its TOWIE brand ambassador Lucy Mecklenburgh to develop a gift range…
Portlebay Popcorn adds three sweet flavours to range
Portlebay Popcorn – founded by a former director of Burts Chips – has expanded its line-up with a sweet range…
Müller whips up new ad for Greek-style Bliss Corner yoghurt
Müller is backing its new whipped Greek-style yoghurt Bliss Corner with a TV push.
insight
Has Tesco's store revamp scheme hit the buffers? Subscription
When Philip Clarke launched his £1bn ‘Building a Better Tesco’ programme in April 2012, he could not have envisaged how much it would struggle to “refresh” its physical empire.
Dave Lewis at Tesco: how experts see the challenges ahead Subscription
The Grocer dubbed him ‘Drastic Dave’ when he axed 300 jobs in 2007 as UK & Ireland chair, and halved the number of SKUs…
Almond and walnut prices driven up by drought in US Subscription
Some of the most common nuts used in baking have risen sharply in price because of bad weather…
Tesco may find lessons in Carrefour's recovery Subscription
French giant sold off international operations and simplified offer…
The race to bring the best NPD to market Subscription
With brands facing competition from own label, the innovation race is hard fought. So why does so much NPD fail?…
Logistics collaboration essential in multichannel age Subscription
The logistics industry has been talking about collaboration for a long time…
Fruit prices in UK shock Joanna Blythman after visit to Italy Subscription
Back in Britain after a spell abroad, I can feel my healthy, sun-kissed diet go down the tube…
McColl's Plus scheme points a new way to loyalty Subscription
A loyalty programme can play an important role in driving frequency of visits, provided it offers shoppers clear benefits…
More big businesses need the entrepreneurial spirit Subscription
Looking through The Grocer each week, much content now focuses on innovation from entrepreneurial start-ups…
Asda Pudsey G33 mystery shop win down to great availability Subscription
Asda Pudsey in Leeds had just one out-of-stock and one not-stocked product…
Store of the Week: Asda Pudsey, Leeds Subscription
Although our 12 department managers have now been reduced to six section managers, the morale among staff has remained hig…
Asda finally takes first prices win of the Grocer 33 year Subscription
Week six, and Asda has picked up its first win of the Grocer 33 year…
FSA U-turn is a Pyrrhic victory for industry
The poultry industry has successfully lobbied the FSA into U-turning on plans to ‘name and shame’ companies in its campylobacter survey, but it shouldn’t rejoice.
Tesco boss Philip Clarke steps down
Philip Clarke to depart Tesco: reaction
Bottled water brands jump aboard industry working group
Philip Clarke's highs and lows at Tesco: in pictures
Tesco Hinckley depot 'meltdown' caused by availability trial
The new man in the Tesco hot seat
Morrisons dump bins return as 'pick-up' bins
FSA backs 2 Sisters plant accused in Guardian report
Campylobacter claims: the industry responds
Aldi co-founder Karl Albrecht dies aged 94
Asda defends in-store manager restructure redundancy packages
The Grocer is looking for cheese
Nisa hails delivery on time rate running at over 96% 
Discounters replace Waitrose and Sainsbury's at top of the public opinion charts
GlaxoSmithKline’s consumer sales fall after 'supply interruptions'
Tomato cordial launched by The Tomato Stall 
Fruit prices in UK shock Joanna Blythman after visit to Italy
Tesco claims slimline self-service checkouts slash queue times
Greene King to distribute AB InBev Goose Island craft beers
