The Co-op news and analysis – Page 120
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Former Somerfield ceo on the scent of a truly fresh challeng
Exclusive Julian Hunt David Simons is already plotting how to make his comeback to the retail scene and that could include making a bid for Somerfield. Speaking for the first time since he was ousted as Somerfield's chief executive, Simons...
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A stretching' rebranding
Waitrose will reopen three of its rebranded Somerfield stores by June. But the store openings, in Sudbury, Paddock Wood and Hythe, will mean Waitrose's services department will be "uncomfortably stretched", as the company rushes to open the other...
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Name Martin Hyson
Position Chief executive Company Budgens The job A promotion prompted by the imminent departure of John von Spreckelsen who joins struggling Somerfield as executive chairman at the end of the month. Hyson is seen by the Budgens board as the natural...
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News analysis: all change at Somerfield The man for the job
He's done great things at Budgens so can John von Spreckelsen work the same magic at Somerfield, asks Tony Brown Somerfield first encountered John von Spreckelsen in its bid to take over Booker back in September 1998. On that occasion, both...
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THE HEAT IS ON FOR SALES
Supermarkets across the country are preparing a carnivores' feast in preparation for this year's barbecue season. Somerfield has streamlined its range of chicken products into a core range of popular lines namely chicken and chinese flavours ...
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Green light for Co-op merger
CWS and CRS will form Europe's largest co-operative when their merger goes live this week. But CWS says there is still much to be done before the benefits will be seen. Chief executive Graham Melmouth said: "This is a seminal moment in the...
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Somerfield boss hopes to trade out of the gloom
Somerfield's new chief executive Alan Smith arrives this week amid a commitment from the group that its focus on neighbourhood retailing and home delivery will remain unchanged. Smith will be charged with improving the trading performance of the...
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Co-op bomb hoaxer gets jail
A Co-op worker was jailed this week for 18 months after being convicted of making four hoax bomb calls to his own store.
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Major supermarket chains rally behind new code for fair prac
Clive Beddall Six top multiples are responding to a plea from agriculture minister Nick Brown and introducing an industry code of best practice for doing business with farmers and small producers. Asda, Morrisons, Safeway, Sainsbury, Somerfield...
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Somerfield scheme gets our vote...
Sir; I read with interest the story on Somerfield's plans to supply village stores and the trial at our store in Ickford, Buckinghamshire (The Grocer, March 18). What was clearly missing, however, was a view from the village. Village stores and...
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Now Somerfield treads on wholesalers' toes
Somerfield is set to challenge traditional delivered wholesalers after announcing plans to supply village stores. In a clear threat to established wholesalers, the retailer said the scheme would be available to shops within a 10 mile radius of any...
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New IT system for Co-op
Exclusive Julian Hunt United Norwest Co-op has started the roll out of a sales based ordering system as part of a major investment in IT systems. Paul Griffiths, who heads the society's food division, said the initial focus for the perpetual...
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Lady Louise Patten
Chairman Somerfield Lady Patten joined the Somerfield board in 1998 and is chairman of its Remuneration Committee. She was formerly a partner in Bain & Company, the global strategy company. She is a non executive director of Great Universal...
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Co-op merger is long overdue
Sir; The news that, at long last, the CWS and CRS are to merge stirs many memories for a longstanding co-operator like me. I recall the topic coming up at countless meetings in Manchester, not to mention umpteen Co-op Congresses. This merger has...
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FULL CIRCLE
The old guard will grumble but the reunion of CWS and CRS will have to mean democracy removed from the grassroots It is ironic that one of the main architects of the Co-op merger plans should be culled by his own axe when the plans got the approval...
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City sceptical at talk of US venture capital move
Belinda Gannaway The City has been forced into a waiting game following Somerfield's announcement on Monday that it is in talks with one or more bidders. Few analysts believe the approach has come from a trade buyer either domestic or overseas....
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A SMILEY FUTURE?
Can a new era dawn for the co-op movement in Blair's Britain? Is the new Commission the last best hope to do what needs to be done? The Grocer news team investigates Once they were strong partners. But for many years the Labour Party and the...
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United Norwest pumps cash into store refurbs
United Norwest Co-op has announced a record £10m investment in 100 of its 276 convenience stores. The investment plan covers the next 12 months and includes conversions to the Late Shop or Village Store format, as well as refurbs. Martin Beaumont,...
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danish bacon goes down under
After years of accelerating consolidation in the Danish pig industry, just three producer co-ops remain: the giant Danish Crown, mid-range Steff Houlberg; and small Jutland specialist Tican. "We can respond rapidly to changes in the market," md Ove...
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Blair backs Co-op review
Tony Blair is backing a wide ranging commission to examine the future of the UK Co-operative Movement. This will be just the second full-scale review of the Co-op in its 150 year history. The commission, which will sit for six months, is being...