All articles by Rob Brown – Page 30
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Analysis & FeaturesEngland’s grape expectations
English wine makers have grand ambitions – to increase output and steal 10% of the booming Champagne market in the next five years. Can they do it? Rob Brown
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ProfilesBattling to bring home the bacon
Former Formula 1 champ Jody Scheckter is finding organic farming hard going. His Laverstoke Park brand has yet to turn a profit, but he’s determined to tough it out, he tells Rob Brown
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Analysis & Features
The high street that thinks it's a supermarket
The race is on to save indie retailers – and one Derbyshire village is even looking to revive its high street by taking a leaf out of the supermarkets’ book. Rob Brown reports
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Profiles
Hot stuff: The Grocer visits the chilli farm on top of the world
Last year the world’s most northerly chilli farm was in hot water. Now it’s winning growing listings, packing its own products and poised to go national. Rob Brown reports
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Analysis & FeaturesMPs tell Kraft to ‘Come on Irene!’ But what’s the point?
A new BIS committee report is obsessed over the no-show of Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld at its inquiry. Isn’t this missing the point?
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Profiles
Spice world
Global spice giant McCormick has opened a new innovation centre in the Buckinghamshire countryside to develop a new generation of products. Rob Brown takes a look around
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News
Online crime: meet your new worst enemy
Don’t be fooled by appearances. Today, hackers like him pose perhaps the greatest threat to business, stealing customer data on behalf of their highly organised criminal paymasters. So what can businesses do to protect themselves? Rob Brown reports
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Category Report
Technology & Supply Chain 2011
Don’t be fooled by appearances. Today, hackers pose perhaps the greatest threat to business, stealing customer data on behalf of their highly organised criminal paymasters. So what can businesses do to protect themselves? Rob Brown reports They used to wear masks and tote shotguns. Today they sit in darkened ...
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NewsOwn-Label Awards 2011: The Oscars of own-label
At a glittering and sellout ceremony, this year’s Own-Label Food & Drink Awards were the biggest and most fiercely fought ever. Rob Brown reports
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Analysis & FeaturesRetail royalty
Mary ‘Queen of Shops’ Portas has big news – soon she’ll be striding down Downing Street to dish out some of her trademark no-nonsense advice. And Tesco had better watch out.
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ProfilesThe weird world of New Leaf's Rob Mullen
Posh crumpets, oats for teens, vodka in fishnets and oozing alien biscuits. New Leaf is bringing a touch of the bizarre to food and drink. Rob Brown reports
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ProfilesPlum appoints Burr to development and growth market role
Premium babyfood business Plum has named Jonathan Burr as commercial director. Burr joins Plum from Senoble Group, where he was sales and marketing director for its bakery business Elizabeth the Chef. In his new role, he will be...
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InterviewsAllied force: an interview with Mark Fairweather
Soaring costs and deep supermarket promotions – it’s tough being a baker today. But, with a little help from a couple from Solihull, Allied Bakeries is succeeding where others aren’t, as CEO Mark Fairweather tells Rob Brown
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Analysis & FeaturesAsda’s baby brand grows up
Brands beware. Retailers are looking to steal your customers with revamped own-label lines. Rob Brown meets the team behind Asda’s Little Angels baby range to find out how fresh design and grand ambitions are converting shoppers to own label
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NewsTo the end of the earth and back
World food player Unearthed has risen from nothing to become a multimillion-pound brand in just three years. But that’s just the start, says this team of culinary explorers. Rob Brown reports
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Analysis & FeaturesThe royal bandwagon: what Wills and Kate's wedding means for grocery
Last year’s World Cup didn’t quite live up to the promise as far as merchandising went – for obvious reasons. But with the Royal Wedding nearly upon us, brands and retailers have another chance to strike gold. So who’s poised to cash in? Rob Brown reports
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NewsRetailers overtake fmcg in advertising firepower
A huge increase in supermarket advertising saw retailers outspend fmcg brands for the first time last year. Research conducted by Ebiquity for The Grocer revealed retailers increased spend on TV, press, cinema, radio and outdoor...
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ProfilesNew kids on the block: the next generation of celebrity chefs
In the 1980s, Keith Floyd reinvented the TV chef. Today, his successors aren’t just on the box, they’re earning big bucks through endorsements – and a new generation of stars are waiting in the wings. Rob Brown reports
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NewsNational roll-out mooted for People’s Supermarket
Co-operative retailing scheme The People's Supermarket could be rolled out across the UK. Founder Arthur Potts Dawson claimed he had been swamped with calls for advice on how to set up similar schemes since 6 February, when the first...
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NewsMajor cities lack hot c-store sites, reveals survey
The relentless march of the supermarkets into the convenience sector has left many of the UK's biggest cities with a dearth of hot retail space, a new survey by The Grocer has found. On the eve of the National Convenience Show, analysis...