All articles by Ronan Hegarty – Page 98
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News
Waitrose chef Nugent poached by Morrisons
Morrisons is set to give its own label a touch of Waitrose-style quality after poaching its executive chef Neil Nugent. It is understood Nugent will work with group commercial director Richard Hodgson and new own-brand director Belinda...
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NewsKiddicare swoop kick-starts Morrisons’ online adventure
Morrisons has kick-started its push into online retailing with the £70m purchase of baby product retailer Kiddicare. The deal price represents almost double the £37.5m sales Kiddicare achieved last year and includes the rights to its highly regarded technology platform.
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NewsEmarket using news duo to target c-stores
Grocery's answer to eBay, Emarket, is targeting the convenience sector via a tie-up with news wholesalers Menzies Distribution and Smiths News. The online trading operation will use the wholesalers' supply chain networks to...
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NewsMorrisons retail boss Gunter announces retirement
Morrisons’ veteran group retail director Mark Gunter is to retire next year. Gunter, who oversaw the integration of Safeway after Morrisons acquired the rival supermarket in 2004, will step down from the board this year at June’s AGM. He will then retire in June 2012.
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News
Kerry Group accused of pushing up prices after acquiring rival
Customers and rivals of frozen ready meals giant Kerry Group have accused it of trying to take advantage of its dominant market position to force through price rises after quietly snapping up a major rival this month. Kerry moved to buy...
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NewsPatience pays off for Colley as Rippleglen buyout saga finishes
Rippleglen managing director Mike Colley has finally agreed terms for the long-awaited management buyout of the company. The Birmingham-based CTN specialist revealed this week that Colley is to lead a vendor-assisted MBO that will...
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News
Delay to display ban in England ‘looks likely’
In the week Scotland delayed the introduction of a tobacco display ban, The Grocer has learned that a delay in England is also likely. A senior lobbyist revealed that a decision to delay the ban south of the border was imminent.
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News
Retail Prices: Cuts are not enough to stop inflation hitting 2.1%
Food and drink inflation is no longer possible to ignore – and it’s the price of booze that is most to blame, reports Ronan Hegarty
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NewsRippleglen: discounter ranges are hurting CTN
Leading CTN operator Rippleglen has accused big confectionery companies of damaging traditional newsagents’ businesses by developing exclusive ranges for discounters.
MD Mike Colley said major confectionery manufacturers were not just… -
NewsMorrisons ‘a nose ahead’ as Philips hails strong Christmas
Morrisons boss Dalton Philips hailed a “very strong” festive performance after the retailer posted a 1% increase in like-for-like sales for the six weeks to 2 January.
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News
Retail Prices: Festive alcohol deals mask true picture of rising prices
The Grocer Price Index shows an overall fall in prices in December but dig a little deeper and the picture looks very different, reports Ronan Hegarty
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News
Consumers choose price over branding in tobacco
Andrew Lansley may want to rethink his support of putting cigarettes in plain packs after The Grocer's annual Top Products survey revealed that price - far more than bright shiny packaging - determines purchasing decisions.
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NewsSupplier alarm over whistleblowing line
Suppliers are up in arms after Tesco rolled out a confidential whistleblower scheme calling on their staff to report any concerns they have over product quality or safety directly to the retailer.
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News
Suppliers hit out at ‘wild’ press stories of Lansley cave-in
The food and drink industry has hit back at "wild and ill-informed" press coverage accusing it of running the nation's health policy in the wake of the publication of the government's public health White Paper this week.As part of the...
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NewsLansley vows to ‘nudge not nanny’ in health White Paper
The government has reached agreement with the food industry over further salt reductions and better information for consumers about food, but has yet to reveal whether it plans to press ahead with the tobacco display ban.
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NewsCost hikes drive use of retail-ready packaging
The multiples have instigated a fresh push on retail-ready packaging as they look to mitigate soaring costs and meet sustainability targets. All the major supermarkets are exploring the issue, primarily on own-label lines, said John...
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News'A big, big step up’: Essenta synergies create chilled giant
This week's surprise merger of Greencore and Northern Foods will make Essenta the biggest UK player in chilled foods, deliver £40m of savings and create a company with a debt position that is the envy of its own-label rivals, said new CEO Patrick...
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News
C&C growing twice as fast as delivered sector
Cash & carry is now growing at more than twice the rate of delivered and faster than the multiples though growth has slowed in both sectors over the past year. The entire wholesale market will have grown 2.7% to £26.3bn by the end...
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News
Health groups sound alert as new calorie count report looms
Health groups are on red alert as they await the publication of a key government report that proposes a dramatic increase in our recommended daily calorie intake.
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NewsEFSA leaves door open to claims for probiotics
The door is not yet closed on suppliers who want to make health claims regarding probiotic ingredients, despite last week's ruling by EU scientists that they had not proved their case.