Archive of all AF Blakemore articles – Page 10
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NewsPower List 2010: Power vacuum
The past year has seen an extraordinary shift in the balance of power. With the toughest market conditions since the early 90s, coalition politics, the euro on a precipice and markets in confusion, the new leaders are struggling to fill the void
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News
Spar shoppers sink teeth into revamped fresh meat offering
Sales of fresh meat in Spar stores supplied by AF Blakemore have soared 58% over the past year as part of a drive to attract more top-up food shoppers.The 700 Spar stores had benefited from a relaunch of its meat range a year ago, said...
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News
Asco closes store while suppliers wait for cash
Asco Stores has closed its only store, in Warrington, after just four and a half months trading. "This store is now closed for a temporary period," a sign on the door reads. "We will reopen in the near future. Apologies for any...
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News
Second foodservice depot for Blakemore
AF Blakemore has bought a second foodservice depot as part of plans to double the size of its foodservice business.The 80,000 sq ft depot in Oulton, Leeds, is being renovated to give it a multi-temperature storage capability and is set...
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News
Tates takes two off The Co-op to grow
Tates has bought two stores from The Co-operative Group and will turn one of them into its third Eurospar store.AF Blakemore's retail arm will spend £250,000 converting the sites in Wales, which became available when the Office of Fair...
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Profiles
Blakemore’s Liptrot exits after one year
John Liptrot has left his job as sales director for the delivered wholesale business at AF Blakemore after just over a year in the post.Liptrot, formerly MD of the now defunct buying group Key Lekkerland, is taking up the role of MD of...
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NewsDuty fraud results in 40% booze sales loss
Angry wholesalers are demanding the government takes drastic action to combat duty fraud and have released figures to show the "devastating" impact the worsening problem is having on their businesses.
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NewsKPMG hands back the keys to 480 Threshers
The administrator of First Quench Retailing, which ran Threshers, The Local and Wine Rack stores, is to hand the keys back to the landlords of 480 Threshers stores. KPMG had appointed property agent Christie & Co to sell the stores,...
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News
The Thresher chest
First Quench Retailing may have gone, but its customers haven't. What should c-stores be doing to take advantage? Graham Holter reports
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News
Blakemore appoints ex-Somerfield man as trading director
AF Blakemore has appointed Mike Boardman as trading director, replacing David White, who retired due to ill health.Boardman joins from Somerfield, where he was head of ambient trading, following the supermarket group's acquisition by The...
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News
New Blakemore depot fuels delivered growth
AF Blakemore & Son is poised to become a fully fledged national delivered wholesaler after buying a new 83,000 sq ft depot for deliveries to national customers.Blakemore is to spend £700,000 renovating the former metal storage depot...
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NewsWhat is it about the round pound?
Round pound deals seem to be everywhere these days. Peter Cripps asks why they have suddenly become so ubiquitous and just what is their appeal
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News
Prince Charles praises Peter Blakemore
Prince Charles has made wholesaler Peter Blakemore one of his business ambassadors for his commitment to responsible trading.
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News
The £4bn duty fraud scandal
The Government has announced new plans to crack down on duty fraud on beer. But it has also increased duty on cigarettes and alcohol - a move wholesalers fear will exacerbate the problem. So what can be done to stop the duty fraudsters, asks Peter Cripps
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NewsEurospar format set to make its debut on the British mainland
The first Eurospars are due to open on the UK mainland next month. Tates, the retail arm of AF Blakemore, which distributes for Spar in the Midlands and parts of Wales, will open a 5,000 sq ft store in Nottingham at the beginning of May and a...
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News
In the firing line
Trade bodies have warned of a significant rise in retail theft, burglary and violence as a result of the economic downturn. So what steps are retailers taking to protect themselves and their staff, asks Kelly Smith
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News
The Big 30: Who's holding the best hand?
The Grocer’s annual The Big 30 league table of Britain’s wholesalers reveals which companies have played their cards right over the past 12 months and which have been dealt a losing hand. Peter Cripps sorts the jacks from the kings
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News
Co-op talks to OFT over Lothian deal
The OFT launched a consultation this week into whether The Co-operative Group's merger with Lothian Borders & Angus Co-op would reduce competition - in a move that could force the society to sell off yet more stores. The OFT said it would...
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News
Liptrot joins Blakemore to fuel delivered growth
John Liptrot, the former MD of the now-defunct buying group Key Lekkerland, has joined AF Blakemore in the newly created position of sales director for the Spar distributor's wholesale division.Liptrot has worked in wholesale for more than...
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News
AF Blakemore approves Spar retailer loans
Retailers are beginning to reap the rewards of a new loan scheme from wholesaler AF Blakemore for store refurbishments.Five applications to the Guaranteed Investment Scheme have been approved for loans, while a further 19 are in progress....