The Co-op news and analysis – Page 96
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News
Consolidating the clashing symbols
Some experts say there are too many symbol groups and that this is diluting the competitive power of the independents. Rod Addy reportsAs the major multiples and co-ops have increased their presence in the c-store sector, independent...
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Best buys might have to go
The Competition Commission could force Somerfield to sell the two Safeway stores that best fit its customer base as they give the retailer a dominant market share, according to exclusive research for The Grocer.The watchdog is probing 23 of the...
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Why OFT is eyeing acquisitions
The Office of Fair Trading has questioned 23 of the 114 Safeway compact stores acquired by Somerfield. So why have these particular stores been called in?CACI has built catchments around each of the stores and modelled local grocery...
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Somerfield sells Mace in Scotland
Somerfield is to sell its interest in the Mace wholesale business in Scotland to Palmer & Harvey McLane in a bid to focus on its core retail estate.This follows a torrid time for Mace in Scotland. In the last few weeks 10 c-stores have left...
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Second retailer goes
A second Somerfield at Mace retailer has left in as many weeks, again claiming to be fed up with the wait for the new dual-branded fascia to arrive.Innes MacDonald, who owns single Mace stores at Conon Bridge, Ross-shire and Inverness, is...
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Co-ops hungry for growth
United Co-operatives’ surprise entry into the bidding war for Somerfield could be a front for a joint co-operative bid.Although chief executive Peter Marks initially signalled he had no intention of joining any other bidding groups, United ...
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The Co-op’s fair ground
The Co-op has continued to lead the grocery market for fair trade since it launched its own-label Fair Trade chocolate bar in 2000The first own-label fair trade product hit the UK market when The Co-op launched its Fair Trade...
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Co-op names new chief executive for food retail
The Co-operative Group has moved quickly to appoint a new chief executive for food retail after Eoin McGettigan’s surprise announcement that he is leaving after three months in the job.Former joint managing director of Marks and Spencer Guy...
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We care, for peat’s sake!
The Co-operative Group is claiming to be the first major UK retailer to stock peat-free salad cress. In an effort to conserve Britain’s vanishing peat bogs, a key wildlife habitat, the retailer’s salad cress is now grown on pesticide-free cellulose...
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United’s bid: who’s in the shadows?
Is United Co-op’s Peter Marks bidding for Somerfield on behalf of several societies? And should it take heed of the lessons from Morrisons’ acquisition of Safeway? Fiona McLelland reportsUnited Co-operatives surprised everyone last...
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Co-op appoints category marketing head for drinks
The Co-operative Group has appointed Vicky Steel as category marketing manager in its beers, wines and spirits team.She will report directly to Kay Wheelton, head of category buying for the department, and will play a key role in raising...
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Sales dip at Somerfield
Somerfield revealed today that its group like-for-like sales slipped by 0.4% in the 53 weeks to end April 30 after a difficult second-half.Group sales were up 0.6% in the first half on a like-for-like basis, but fell by 1.5% in the second...
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retailers are being taken for a ride...
from Romesh Perera, Costcutter/Somerfield Essentials retailer, LondonSir; I read your story about the row between PayPoint and independent retailers over payment margins with great interest (‘PayPoint told to reconsider’, April 30,...
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Drinking to Co-op wines
The Co-operative Group revealed an increased summer focus on Pinot Noir, Rosé, Fairtrade and own-label offerings at its spring tasting.“The new Pinot Noir wines cover a range of price points and regions,” said Paul Bastard, wine development...
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Asda bid for Somerfield ‘would be referred’
The OFT would immediately refer an Asda bid for Somerfield to the Competition Commission, according to an industry analyst, following speculation that the number two supermarket retailer is eyeing up its smaller rival. Head of equities at...
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Russian retailer set to float
Pyaterochka, Russia’s biggest grocery retailer is to launch a £312m flotation on the London stock exchange today.David Noble, Pyaterochka’s chairman and a former Somerfield director said that the flotation would raise monies for continued...
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Co-op deal for Dungannon
Dungannon Meats Group has won a contract to supply additional fresh beef to the Co-operative Group.The deal will create 30 new jobs involved in added-value work in Dungannon’s Northern Ireland factories.Dungannon has now won £55m of new...
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Poor food sales as Co-op profits fall
Grocery sales at The Co-operative Group have performed poorly as profit fell by 39% to £74.5m for the year to January 8.Group chief executive Martin Beaumont blamed internal issues as much as increased competition, as like-for-like sales...