The Co-op news and analysis – Page 110
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Welcome set for the next step
The Co-operative Group is finalising plans for a new generation of Welcome stores as the current crop has spearheaded growth in both turnover and profitability of its food business.Unveiling profits up 63% to £113.4m on sales up 17.4% to £3bn...
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Scotmid on the acquisition trail
Co-operative group Scotmid is to invest £20m to ramp up technology at its grocery outlets and at its health and beauty stores SemiChem.For the year to January 31, Scotmid posted a 32% rise in annual turnover from £223m to £295m.The...
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Co-op staff set to vote on pay offer that tops 10%
Staff working in co-operative stores are being advised by their union to accept a 10.4% pay offer. Under the deal, the hourly rate for more than 35,000 employees would rise to £5.The offer has been made by the Co-operative Employers’...
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Six of the best: tobacco and accessories
>>nominated this month: asda, booker, budgens, the co-operative group, somerfield and tescoDanny Aytoncategory buyer, BookerAyton joined Booker in 1998, having worked for BP as a retail category buyer, and then One Stop...
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Investor’s chronicle
The Grocer’s basket of shares is back in the black and has outperformed the FTSE 100. Sean McAllister reportsWho would have thought over two years ago that Somerfield would prove to be our best stock market investment? But then,...
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Somerfield earmarks 40 stores for conversion
Somerfield has selected 40 stores to convert to its new Essentials and Market Fresh formats in the next financial year as it steps up its refurbishment programme.Sales uplifts from trial stores at Carshalton and Wanstead (Market Fresh),...
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Is there any future for independents?
Last week yet another independent bit the dust with Somerfield’s acquisition of Aberness, which owns or distributes to some 170 c-stores in Scotland under the Mace fascia.Signalling the first aggressive move by one of the smaller...
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ESL trial for OS&G Co-op
Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op is planning to trial electronic shelf edge labels from Fujitsu at its Swift Shop in Walton Street, Oxford, during the summer.Group general manager retail Bill Laird said he was planning a trip to Australia to...
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There’s rapid change ahead
Somerfield will move ahead quickly to introduce changes following its acquisition of Aberness, with plans to convert two trial stores (the Countesswells Road and Kintore stores – both about 2,000sq ft) to the Somerfield ‘Essentials’ brand within six...
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Somerfield taps expertise
Somerfield revealed the extent of its convenience retailing ambitions when it swallowed Scottish Mace chain Aberness this week.Aberness’s new md, David Cheyne, said Somerfield saw huge potential in the convenience sector as did Tesco and...
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Rocket kits have lift-off
Gourmet meal kit company Rocket has announced a big expansion, including supply deals with Somerfield and the Co-operative Group.The Unilever Ventures backed company has also signed up with c-store chain Whistlestop and Wine Cellar, and is...
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Strength In Numbers
Some industry commentators have predicted that Britain's co-op share of the dairy market will be heading for 70% in the next 10 years. Though still lagging behind their rivals on the continent, in New Zealand and even in Northern Ireland Â...
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Sainsbury to takeover a Somerfield store
Sainsbury has won a bid to takeover the Somerfield supermarket in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. The store will cease trading as Somerfield on April 25. It is believed that contracts for the 165 staff will not change as part of the handover....
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Six of the best ice cream buyers
>>nominated this monthMIKE LEWISsenior buyer for frozen foods, MORRISONSMike has worked in retail for more than 10 years, starting off at the Co-operative Group before moving to Booker in a group buying role....
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Somerfield m-way store debut
Somerfield has opened its first store at a motorway service station at the Extra services on the M65 in Blackburn.Somerfield said it was the first supermarket convenience store on a motorway in the UK. The 2,700 sq ft pilot store was...
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Londis bidding war opens
The bidding war for Londis has begun in earnest after the symbol group’s board unanimously decided that selling out to a bigger player was the best way to safeguard the future of its retailers.Big Food Group, Musgrave, Somerfield, the ...
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Count on Somerfield for cereals
Breakfast cereal suppliers’ margins will have been hurt by an intensification of price and promotional-based activity that took place last year.Cereals is one of the biggest categories in store, reflecting a high market penetration and diverse...
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Press round-up…ex-Somerfield chief on the move
Former Somerfield chief executive Alan Smith could be in line to head up high street hardware chain Robert Dyas.The Financial Times reported that Change Capital, a private equity firm set up last year by Marks and Spencer chairman Luc...
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Somerfield’s HR director will head up business unit
Katie Peters, Somerfield Group’s human resources director, is to replace Bill Williams as head of the Somerfield business unit.Peters, who is already a member of the group executive committee, will take up her new post on February 16, reporting...
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OS&G divi goes super
Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op is relaunching its dividend with the introduction of a superdividend card.Customers will no longer receive dividends as point of sale discounts but as points earned on the card. Shoppers earn points on the...