All news articles – Page 3734
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Bakkovar sends proposal to Geest
Chilled food company Geest has announced that it has received an approach from the Bakkavor Group, which could value the company at up to £512m. Icelandic food group Bakkavor has built a 20% stake in Geest but said earlier this year it had...
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Sainsbury debt drops closer to junk status
Sainsbury’s debt has been downgraded to within one notch of ‘junk’ status by Moody’s the ratings agency.The rating on £1.9bn of Sainsbury debt has been reduced by Moody’s from Baa2 to Baa3, and the agency stated that even this was a weak...
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Scottish & Newcastle go for Mythos brand
Scottish & Newcastle has agreed to acquire 21.5% of the shares of Mythos SA from its joint venture partner Boutari Holdings for E4.8m.The deal also includes an ‘earn-out’ element of up to E3.6m based on the subsequent net sales growth of the...
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The search for the best
Calling all multiple retailers, independents, symbol groups and wholesalers: have you got what it takes to go for gold?This week we launch The Grocer Gold Awards 2005, sponsored by KPMG, Geac and Lawson Software.We are inviting...
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Tesco to overtake global competitors
Tesco will overtake international rivals Metro and Ahold to take third position in the global grocery retail league by 2010, according to a new report from IGD.If its growth continues at an annual rate of 9.6%, Tesco’s global sales will...
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Indulgence still a priority
Food and drink brands are proving remarkably resilient in the face of the raging health debate, according to new figures published exclusively by The Grocer.Consumers appear unkeen to be force-fed the government’s health message with...
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NHS launches food testing service for industry
A new company offering glycaemic index (GI) testing inhuman volunteers has emerged from NHS nutrition and dietetic research at Hammersmith Hospital in London. Hammersmith Food Research will offer companies throughout the food industry GI...
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Tea towel and mince pie sales start festive season
Tea towel sales are booming this month as parents use them for headdresses for their kids’ Nativity plays, according to Sainsbury supermarket. The retailer has had to order extra supplies to fuel this demand during the festive season, which...
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W&DB to buy Burtonwood brewery
Wolverhampton & Dudley, the UK’s biggest regional brewer, has said it is buying Burtonwood brewery for £119m, following its annual results announcement last week.W&DB, the maker of Marston’s Pedigree beer, posted a 6.3% rise in annual...
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Loblaw to increase Canadian presence
Canadian retailer Lowlaw has said it is planning to open more large superstores with an investment of CAD1.4bn ($1bn) next year.The investment is a 10% increase on last year as it aims to strengthen its position within the Canadian retail...
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Multiples on the menu
Foodservice operators aren’t just buying stock from supermarkets. They look to them for inspiration too says Siân HarringtonThose cash and carries thinking that their salvation will come in the form of foodservice operators had better...
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Tenth Top 50 chain bought
JB Beaumont has become the tenth independent in The Grocer Top 50 ranking of independent retailers to be snapped up in the 10 months since the list was published.Just one has become part of another independent – AJ Gillespie was acquired by CJ...
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Defra abolishes OTM ban
The government is to lift the Over Thirty Months rule and replace it with a system of testing older cattle for BSE.The move, predicted in last week’s issue of The Grocer (p54), will result in BSE-free cattle born on or after August 1 1996...
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The Acid Test
>>consumers and buyers give their views on the latest launchesAltú blackFrom: NutrinnovatorAltú Black is aimed at people who prefer standard colas to diet ones, but find them too sweet and sticky. It contains 30%...
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Haslett is in the family way with new ad approach
Northern Irish symbol group J& J Haslett, operator of the province’s Mace outlets, has launched a TV advertising campaign which it claimed was a departure from the clichéd predictability or celebrity endorsement approaches of its...
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Special trolley adjusts to help kids with disabilities
A trolley for children with disabilities and special needs has been developed for Waitrose after a shopper requested the device for her son.The seat has adjustable head, arm and leg supports and can be used by youngsters between two and six...
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Don’t discount their advantage
The discount chains are tightening their grip on continental Europe. Could the same happen here? John Wood and Siân Harrington reportFor mainstream retailers operating in the UK, Aldi’s announcement...
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Aldi soup launch
Discounter supermarket group Aldi is launching a new range of low calorie fresh soups.Available in three varieties – Tomato & Red Pepper, Spicy Parsnip and Chicken & Sweetcorn – all the soups contain less than 3.4g of fat and 53 calories...
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Almost famous
A small industrial estate in rural Yorkshire houses a band of local suppliers who are realising their big ambitions, thanks to the regional food group. Liz Hamson reportsThey are small companies that produce innovative luxury products...
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Austin Reed expertise for Tesco
Chris Holmes, managing director of Austin Reed Group, is quitting the company to join Tesco’s international non-food division early in the new year.Holmes will be reporting to international support office director Dido Harding. He will be...