Archive of all AF Blakemore articles – Page 12
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News
Tates’ fresh look boosts sales
An initiative to boost fresh produce takings in Spar stores has resulted in a sales uplift of almost a third in 12 months.Central Meridian Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore undertook a “root and branch overhaul” of its fresh produce offer last...
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Preview of 2005
Ditch the NPD bluesInnovation: Tony Smith>>customer management director, Unilever UK foodsDeflationary pressure will continue to bear down on the industry. However, it is doubtful we will see a noticeable decrease in...
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Blakemore ops director
Darren Pugh has been promoted to operations director at Blakemore Wholesale, a Landmark member, following its recent HQ relocation from Willenhall to Wolverhampton.Pugh started his career at the Co-operative Group where he worked for four years...
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Focus on fresh lifts Tates performance
Sales at Tates, the 185-strong chain of Spar stores owned by AF Blakemore, have smashed through the £200m barrier.
The rise, to £213.9m for the year to April, represents a £3.9m increase on company sales forecasts.
Managing director Geoff… -
News
Three Cooks 'great fit'
Blakemore Food Service has clinched a £50m three-year contract to supply 240 Three Cooks bakery outlets.The AF Blakemore subsidiary will supply ambient, chilled and frozen products and fruit and vegetables to the outlets.Products...
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New depot stands to deliver
Andy Mitchell, manager, AF Blakemore, WolverhamptonBeing chosen to run AF Blakemore’s flagship cash and carry at the Science Park in Wolverhampton is both an honour and a burden, says new manager Andy Mitchell. “On the one hand, I...
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News
Blakemore looks to tourist trade
Blakemore Food Service is rolling out catering sections to 21 Spar stores in tourist locations, offering supplies to a range of foodservice customers.The stores, located mainly in seaside towns, are owned by Tates, the company-owned stores...
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Top tactics for growth
Admired frozen food discounter Farmfoods now heads The Grocer Top 50Sean McAllister reports on the updated ranking for 2004Farmfoods may be a bit bashful about talking to the press, but the new number one in our Top...
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Farmfoods top of the 50
Farmfoods has reclaimed top spot in The Grocer’s third annual ranking of the independent sector’s Top 50 chains. But some old faces have disappeared due to consolidation.The frozen food discounter, which headed the Top 50 in 2002, has had two...
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Blakemore invests in new depot
Landmark wholesaler AF Blakemore & Son has invested £5m in a new 72,000 sq ft C&C in Wolverhampton, to replace its existing smaller unit in Great Brickkiln Street. The new depot, which will be completed shortly, will also provide new offices...
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Franchise launch
Midlands-based Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore is launching a franchise scheme for budding store managers.The company has identified 20 sites for potential franchises in 2004 and said 100 people had so far registered interest. The target...
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Man of many fascias
Harvey Bains has a heady mix of outlets plus a nightclub. Elaine Watson talks to him about his £15m c-store businessBattle through the crates of booze, soft drinks and snacks piled up round the back of Bains Stores in Kingstanding,...
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What young grocery managers say
>>time-of-day merchandising is the next big thing…the importance of consumer insights...Martyn Soar, area manager, Jacksons Stores Soar started his career in 1986 as a warehouse manager for Tates, the company-owned store...
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News
Eight depots for Hadley
Landmark member AF Blakemore has promoted trading manager Steve Hadley to trading controller with responsibility for its eight cash and carry depots. Supported by a team of six trading managers, Hadley will report directly to sales and marketing...
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News
Attempting to break into frozen snacks may not be the most o
The company, set up 22 years ago by former ICI man Tony Craske, has turned its attention towards a new avenue to add to the company's £7.4m annual turnover. The company, which employs 65 workers at its Abergavenny factory, settled on the Rodeo Joe's...
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Closing in on Cellar 5
Manchester based property company Maryland Securities is understood to have beaten off rival bidders in a sealed bids process for off-licence chain Cellar 5. First Quench had been widely tipped to pick up a large chunk of the chain, which called in...
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News
Spar bags deal to supply Stars News c-stores...
John Wood Spar has topped last week's 56-store win ( Right Choice deal swells Spar', The Grocer, January 18, p6) with a deal to supply 63 c-stores in the Wolverhampton-based Stars News chain. Spar's biggest wholesaler AF Blakemore has signed...
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Right Choice deal swells Spar
Elaine Watson Spar has scored a major coup in the north of England after striking a deal to supply 56 Right Choice c-stores. Cellar 5 purchasing and marketing director Andy Smallman and operations director Steve McArdle led a management...
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News
Right Choice deal swells Spar
Spar has scored a major coup in the north of England after striking a deal to supply 56 Right Choice c-stores.Cellar 5 purchasing and marketing director Andy Smallman and operations director Steve McArdle led a management buyout of the 59...
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The Tates modern
A big spend on refurbishments is helping Tates achieve 4% growth as it aims for 250 stores by 2005 says Elaine Watson When Geoff Hallam joined Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore, it had 12 company-owned stores, and they weren't making much money....