Nisa-Today’s has barred major multiple retailers from membership in a bid to refocus on its independent roots.
The move means that Sainsbury, which gained shares in Nisa-Today’s after it bought Jacksons and Bells in 2004, will be forced to sever its links.
At its pre-Christmas agm on December 22, Nisa-Today’s passed a resolution preventing retailers with more than a 2% share of the food and grocery market, as defined by the IGD, from owning group shares. It said those affected, including Sainsbury, would become “trade customers” and it would continue to supply them.
The move is academic for Somerfield, which resigned from its membership of Nisa-Today’s at the end of last year.
“When the company was founded almost 30 years ago, it was not our intention to have multiples as shareholders,” said Dudley Ramsden, chairman of Nisa-Today’s. “However, when several of our larger members were purchased by multiples, they became shareholders.
“Nisa-Today’s focus has always been rooted in serving the independent.”
Meanwhile, Nisa-Today’s said that problems at its new Scunthorpe ambient depot, which resulted in supply chaos in the run up to Christmas, had been resolved, with all retailers now getting everything they ordered on schedule.
However, it has emerged that it is now being blighted by problems with its Retek Order Capture System ordering software, slowing down requests for frozen and chilled.
There has also been a knock-on effect on deliveries of ambient. A spokesman said some retailers were receiving deliveries a day later. However, he said the problems would be rectified quickly.
>>p24 Annus Horribilis
Rod Addy