The Co-op news and analysis – Page 87

  • News

    Somerfield now fully loaded! - Q&A and Availability

    2007-09-08T00:00:00Z

    This week's winning Somerfield store, in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, is extraordinary for three reasons. For one, most of the shoppers at the branch fall into the 'hard-pressed' category, according to CACI, making it the first such store this year to...

  • News

    Co-op attacks rivals' lazy thinking on green issues

    2007-09-08T00:00:00Z

    The Co-operative Group has accused its rivals of "lazy thinking" on environmental issues. This week the society announced plans to consult its four million members on the development of an ethical food policy. Launching the...

  • News

    Southern rolls out deli concession

    2007-09-03T00:00:00Z

    Southern Co-operatives is to expand an in-store tie-up with specialist retailer The Hampshire Delicatessen to four further supermarkets.The independent deli already has a concession in Southern Co-op's Wickham store, set up 18 months ago...

  • News

    Midcounties switches cards

    2007-08-20T00:00:00Z

    Midcounties Co-operative has become the first society to join the Co-operative Group's new membership scheme. It has ditched its Super­dividend card for the group's co-operative membership card, which was relaunched last September. Midcounties,...

  • News

    In Brief: Gill joins Booths; Greencore controller; Co-op accounts; Appletiser duo; Seafood sales chief

    2007-08-20T00:00:00Z

    Gill joins Booths  Booths has appointed John Gill as a non-food buyer responsible for laundry, homecare, toiletries, medicines, petfood and paper. Gill joins from Spar wholesaler James Hall where he worked in the buying department for eight years...

  • News

    Irate Commission tells Tesco to halt work on Slough store

    2007-08-13T00:00:00Z

    The Competition Commission was reportedly "seething" this week after being forced to stop Tesco developing the site of a former Co-op supermarket in Slough. The store is the subject of a parallel investigation to the main groceries inquiry and this...

  • News

    Co-op emergency plan defies disruption caused by flooding

    2007-08-06T00:00:00Z

    Midcounties Co-operative Society is back in full operation following last week's devastating floods, thanks to some help from the Co-operative Group. The society was forced to close its chilled distribution centre in Osney Mead, Oxford, for eight...

  • News

    Somerfield has 'no plans to sell'

    2007-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Somerfield chief executive Paul Mason has played down rumours the chain is poised for an imminent sell-off, insisting instead that the current owners had significant investment plans for the coming year. There has been conjecture about a...

  • News

    United at last... but will others co-operate?

    2007-07-30T00:00:00Z

    The world's largest consumer-facing co-operative society is officially formed tomorrow. The as-yet-unnamed society brings together the UK's number one and number two co-operative societies, The Co-operative Group and United Co-operatives, and...

  • News

    Shloer Bucks Fizz

    2007-07-23T00:00:00Z

    Sparkling juice drink Shloer has secured three significant listings within the grocery channel.Shloer Bucks Fizz will be stocked as a permanent listing in Sainsbury's, within the seasonal aisle in Tesco's and within Somerfield. To...

  • News

    New Co-op label plays on farming credentials

    2007-06-30T00:00:00Z

    The Co-operative Group has launched a campaign to tell shoppers that it produces food on its own farms.Claiming to be Britain's largest farmer, The Co-op is relaunching packaging to draw attention to its farming business, which supplies...

  • News

    DFB to threaten milk moustache campaign

    2007-06-30T00:00:00Z

    Dairy Farmers of Britain could scupper a deal to promote liquid milk in England and Wales.The co-op has been slow to back a marketing campaign using the milk moustache device, despite the huge success of generic ads north of the border....

  • News

    Monopoly - or just doing good business?

    2007-06-30T00:00:00Z

    Thanks to its ethical approach to business, The Co-operative Group is not usually seen as a villain. But that is what happened last week when Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, went public with his call for the Competition...

  • News

    Hudson takes on south east Co-op stores

    2007-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Mark Hudson has been appointed chief officer of food retail operations for The Co-operative Group's south east region. Hudson will take responsibility for almost 350 food stores in the south east. He has more than 25 years experience in...

  • News

    MP asks for probe of Co-op purchase and closure tactics

    2007-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Lib Dem MP Alan Beith has asked the Competition Commission to investigate The Co-operative Group, claiming it is establishing a local monopoly by buying up rival stores with the sole intent of closing them.Beith, MP for Berwick, said he...

  • News

    99 boast is 100 years too late

    2007-06-25T00:00:00Z

    In a press release this week, The Co-op proclaims proudly that its "iconic" 99 Tea brand is going Fairtrade.Laudable indeed. But what comes next doesn't quite add up. "The Co-op invented supermarket own labels at the turn of the last...

  • News

    Top-Up shop

    2007-06-23T00:00:00Z

    Who we visitedbudgens Tolworth, Surreyco-op Combs Ford, StowmarketOne stop Highbridge, SomersetSpar Uphall Station, West Lothian TESCO Express Stockport, Greater ManchesterHow they...

  • News

    Somerfield finance plan

    2007-06-18T00:00:00Z

    Kwik Save's former owner Somerfield is considering refinancing its portfolio of 230 freehold stores, said to be worth £1.3bn.Somerfield's owners, Apax Partners-led consortium Violet Acquisitions, has asked banks to "put forward...

  • News

    Price Survey - 16th June 2007

    2007-06-18T00:00:00Z

    Bizarre weather patterns in the vineyards of Chile and Egypt has led to a shortage of red seedless grapes, prompting dramatic price rises from every retailer except Somerfield. Asda has kicked off the new Grocer 33 year in the manner it ended it -...

  • News

    neighbourhood retailers

    2007-06-09T00:00:00Z

    last year: 91Peter Marks Chief executive United Co-opThe plain speaking veteran of the Co-operative Movement has shot up the power rankings this year to take the number one spot after masterminding the...