Mike Watkins news, comment and analysis – Page 8
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NewsCity snapshot: Premier Foods upgrades profits outlook after ‘exceptional’ half
Premier Foods has raised its profit expectations for the year after “exceptionally” strong first-half results as consumers flocked back to its stable of household brands during the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, the latest Kantar and Nielsen supermarket data shows no sign of rampant panic buying after the new lockdown was announced. And the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales report. Finally, a host of food and drink stocks rallied yesterday after the hopeful vaccine announcement by Pfizer.
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NewsCity Snapshot: Heineken to axe head office staff as profits plunge
Heineken is planning to slash jobs at its head office in a bid to cut costs and return to profitable growth as the Covid pandemic continues to slam the hospitality industry. Plus, Carlsberg revises profit expectations upwards after “strong” Q3; the latest inflation figures from the BRC-Nielsen shop prices index; and Tate & Lyle buys a tapioca starch manufacturer in Thailand.
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NewsCity snapshot: Shoppers spend an extra £260m on supermarket alcohol in preparation for new lockdown
Grocery sales jumped almost 11% in September as shoppers prepared for new lockdown restrictions, with consumers spending an extra £261m. Plus, the latest figures from Nielsen, BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor and Barclaycard spending report.
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NewsCity Snapshot: Shop prices continue to fall as food inflation eases
Shop prices fell by 1.6% in September as retailers cut prices to encourage spending and food price inflation continues to ease. Plus, trading at Compass Group improves as establishments reopen and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
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NewsGrocery sales growth slows in August
Fewer meals eaten at home due to the popularity of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme meant consumers spent £155m less in supermarkets
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NewsCity snapshot: Ocado sales surge by 52% ahead of M&S switch
Ocado’s retail revenues soared by 52% in the 13 weeks to August due to sharply rising demand for online groceries - plus, growth slows in August as more meals are eaten out according to the latest grocery market share figures.
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NewsUnilever pledges to eliminate fossil fuels from household products
Unilever will invest €1bn in a drive to remove ingredients derived from fossil fuels from its cleaning and laundry products.
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Analysis & FeaturesShould the discounters be taking advantage of the online grocery boom?
Online grocery has boomed during the pandemic, but discounters still have little online presence – could this be a huge missed opportunity?
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NewsSupermarket sales growth eases as stockpiling subsides
Take-home grocery sales growth slowed to 14.4% year on year during the 12 weeks to 9 August 2020
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Analysis & FeaturesWhat’s happening to grocery shopping habits as lockdown eases?
As lockdown continues to ease, Brits are slowly returning to a new kind of normal. But what has that meant for grocery shopping habits?
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NewsCity snapshot: M&S to cut 7,000 jobs after Covid clothing and home sales slump
Marks & Spencer has announced it plans to cut around 7,000 roles over the next three months as a result of a “material shift in trade” due to the coronavirus outbreak. Plus, grocery growth slows as shopper behaviour returns back towards normal and all the rest latest news from the City.
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NewsCity snapshot: Premier Foods sales surge 22.5% in first quarter
Premier Foods has posted a 22.5% surge in first quarter sales driven by consumers flocking to its brands during the coronavirus lockdown period. Plus, food inflation holds steady at 1.5% and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
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NewsCity snapshot: Grocery sales growth begins to slow from record highs
Take-home grocery sales rose by their highest level since 1994 over the past 12-weeks, however grocery sales growth began to slow last month as shoppers gradually return to their pre-lockdown behaviours.
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NewsCity snapshot: Sainsbury’s sales jump but coronavirus profit hit to exceed £500m
Sainsbury’s has reported a double digit grocery sales increase in the first quarter of the year, but warned it expects a profit hit of more than £500m from the coronavirus crisis. Plus, SSP Group plans to cut 5,000 jobs, B&M continues strong COVID trading and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
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NewsCity snapshot: Grocery sales boosted by online and convenience
British take-home grocery sales surged by 18.9% over the past four weeks as shopper habits remained “a world away” from usual expectations
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NewsCity snapshot: Grocery sales surge 17.2% as lockdown eases
British take-home grocery sales surged by 17.2% over the past four weeks to take 12-week grocery growth to its highest level since records began, according to Kantar. Plus, Britvic posts ‘robust’ performance despite coronavirus impact, Supermarket Income Reit creates JV to invest in Sainsbury’s supermarkets and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
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NewsCity snapshot: Fever-Tree co-founder to step down
Charles Rolls has announced he will step down from the company’s board at the next annual general meeting on 4 June
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Analysis & FeaturesWhat is happening to UK supermarket sales during the coronavirus crisis?
As the dust settles on panic buying – for now at least – how have categories performed, and how are consumers’ habits changing?
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NewsCity snapshot: Chapel Down sees booming retail and online wine sales but suspends brewing business
English winemaker Chapel Down has experienced “substantial” growth in supermarket, off license and online sales, but has shuttered its beer and cider brewing arm due to the closure of on-trade outlets. Plus, UK shop prices fall 0.8% in March and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
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NewsStockpiling reaches £3.2bn high in third week of March
An extra £1bn in sales saw weekly grocery spend veer close to the amount spent during the peak week of Christmas 2019