All articles by Alice Leader – Page 2
-
NewsUnitas launches first own-label confectionery range under Local Living
The Local Living confectionery range spans Fizzy Mix, Giant Fizzy Strawbs, Mini Pencils, Tangy Mix, Sour Snakes and Party Mix
-
NewsParfetts signs up 41 symbol stores after southern expansion
The employee-owned wholesaler launched the 113,000 sq ft site in September 2025 as its ninth depot overall, giving it a major foothold across the south coast and London
-
NewsAF Blakemore ramps up Snappy Shopper partnership as customer numbers rise
The rollout takes its online estate to 167 stores, all of which are company-owned
-
NewsKitwave acquires First Choice Foodservice
First Choice will join Kitwave’s foodservice division alongside its other acquired businesses Creed, Total, WestCountry, Fife Creamery and Charles Saunders Foodservice
-
NewsAF Blakemore CEO Carol Welch steps down
She joined in 2023, succeeding Jerry Marwood, having previously been Odeon MD for UK & Ireland and Europe commercial officer for six years
-
NewsCo-op appoints new managing director of retail
The new hire will be focused on accelerating Co-op’s food retail growth, strengthening the customer proposition, and supporting innovation across stores and digital channels
-
NewsVape display ban would cost retailers £3,000 per store, warns ACS
It comes as the Department of Health & Social Care launched a consultation in July, proposing to introduce plain packaging on both vape boxes and devices, as well as a complete ban on the display of vape and nicotine products in shops, as part of its efforts to stop young people vaping
-
NewsSpar wins Swansea University store contract from Costcutter
The store, which will now be supplied by Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore, has been revamped with new refrigeration, digital screens, electronic shelf labels, and a broader range
-
NewsWeight-loss drugs to fuel rise of smaller plates in 2027, says Bidfood
The foodservice wholesaler has predicted ‘Mini & Mighty’ dishes will drive growth for operators, such as right-sized bowls, sliders, snack pots, mini desserts and grazing plates
-
NewsDike & Son sells 92% of reduced stock through Gander in record week
The latest results mark its highest sell-through rate since joining Gander in February, up from around 73%, selling 1,200 of the 1,310 products it had reduced that week
-
NewsCMA accepts Co-op store sell-off plan in Southern merger deal
The watchdog was concerned that the merger with Southern Co-op could reduce competition in local areas where both businesses operate, harming both convenience store shoppers and people arranging attended funeral services.
-
NewsCo-op Wholesale renews contract with Pro Gro Supermarkets
The new supply contract will continue to cover Pro Gro’s estate of 12 Nisa stores across Scotland
-
InterviewsHow Here We Flo is taking the shame out of period care
Susan Allen and Tara Chandra are on a mission to tackle the stigma around period care
-
NewsCo-op rolls out coffee pod recycling points to more than 200 stores
The recycling points, supplied by coffee pod recycling service Podback, are being installed in stores across the south west of England and South Wales
-
Comment & OpinionCo-op’s complicated recovery journey is far from over
Leadership churn, ‘toxic’ culture claims and a cyberattack have hit the Co-op hard, but it’s confident it can turn the tide
-
NewsCo-op pulls plug on standalone On The Go format
The society first launched the micro-store concept on 31 July last year in Solihull, showcasing a range of food and drink to-go options catering different parts of the day
-
NewsCo-op Group banks on summer momentum and Southern Co-op deal to boost H2 growth
It comes as the society released its half-year results today (23 September), which showed underlying losses grew to £45m in the six months to 4 July 2026, up from £32m in H1 2025
-
NewsCo-op Wholesale extends rebate scheme to food-to-go DTS orders
Under the new model, which takes effect from 5 October, retailers can enjoy the benefits of a DTS service while adding to their potential rebate earnings
-
NewsScotmid rolls out robot floor cleaners across 14 stores
The machines, called Gausium Phantas Pro, will work alongside the society’s cleaning teams, using smart navigation that allows them to move safely around stores while scrubbing different types of flooring
-
NewsCo-op opens up q-commerce data to suppliers with new analytics platform
The platform, called Co-op Catalyst, gives suppliers visibility into product performance, shopper search terms, and store-level availability