NORWAY: Philip Morris has started legal proceedings to overturn the country's tobacco display ban, introduced on 1 January this year. The tobacco supplier is challenging the ban on the grounds it constitutes a violation of the European Economic Area Agreement, and is seeking referral of the case to the European Free Trade Agreement Court in Luxembourg.
"Display bans have had no impact on reducing smoking in the countries that have implemented them. Instead they prevent adult consumers from seeing the available product range and overly restrict competition," Philip Morris said.
US: Stop & Shop has reached agreements with five unions, averting strikes for the time being. Workers are due to vote on the new pay and benefits this weekend, and industrial action has not been ruled out if workers vote against the proposals. The retailer, owned by Ahold, has been negotiating with the unions since January. Stop & Shop operates supermarkets in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire and New Jersey.
NEW ZEALAND: Supermarkets are fighting a proposal that would stop common cold and cough remedies from being sold anywhere other than pharmacies. The Food & Grocery Council said banning them from supermarkets would be "absurd and costly for consumers" and could lead to price rises of 45%.
The Medicines Classifications Committee is considering the reclassification of four ingredients in products such as hot lemon drinks and cough lozenges, and restrictions on how they are sold.
SWITZERLAND: Migros is modernising its operations with a trial of shelf-edge labelling. Switzerland's biggest grocer is the only major retailer in Europe to still print prices directly on to individual products. A trial is being run in six stores and a decision on whether to roll it out to all 700 stores will be made in May.
"It is time for us to change our current system in favour of shelf-edge labels and this project is key to our future success," said Aurelius Wespi, Migros project leader.
"Display bans have had no impact on reducing smoking in the countries that have implemented them. Instead they prevent adult consumers from seeing the available product range and overly restrict competition," Philip Morris said.
US: Stop & Shop has reached agreements with five unions, averting strikes for the time being. Workers are due to vote on the new pay and benefits this weekend, and industrial action has not been ruled out if workers vote against the proposals. The retailer, owned by Ahold, has been negotiating with the unions since January. Stop & Shop operates supermarkets in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire and New Jersey.
NEW ZEALAND: Supermarkets are fighting a proposal that would stop common cold and cough remedies from being sold anywhere other than pharmacies. The Food & Grocery Council said banning them from supermarkets would be "absurd and costly for consumers" and could lead to price rises of 45%.
The Medicines Classifications Committee is considering the reclassification of four ingredients in products such as hot lemon drinks and cough lozenges, and restrictions on how they are sold.
SWITZERLAND: Migros is modernising its operations with a trial of shelf-edge labelling. Switzerland's biggest grocer is the only major retailer in Europe to still print prices directly on to individual products. A trial is being run in six stores and a decision on whether to roll it out to all 700 stores will be made in May.
"It is time for us to change our current system in favour of shelf-edge labels and this project is key to our future success," said Aurelius Wespi, Migros project leader.
No comments yet