Musgrave Retail Partners GB is set to sharpen its promotional activity and own-label ranges this year to give its Budgens and Londis retailers and customers a helping hand through the recession.
Speaking to The Grocer, MD Phil Smith said the wholesaler had been focusing on half-price deals and matching prices on key lines with Tesco.
"We've really sharpened our promotional act following research that found customers wanted fixed prices and half-price deals," he said. "Our half-price deals have been a big success. In November, when we sold a chicken for half-price, we sold more than a year's supply in three weeks."
Many of the deals had an emphasis on fresh and the next half-price deal planned for Budgens was a meal deal for pork, asparagus, potatoes and wine. It's Beat the Crunch promotions had also proved a success, through which 200 key lines had been matched against Tesco prices.
Musgrave GB was also planning to launch a new range for Londis retailers called Londis Fresh.
Londis Fresh would be a core fresh range with produce directed straight from the supplier to guarantee maximum shelf life and quality. The range is set to launch in Musgrave GB's South Elmsall depot in West Yorkshire, soon, and would be rolled out to depots in Andover and Thamesmead later in the year.
The group was also planning to relaunch its mid-tier own-label ranges this summer, which Smith said would be matched against the leading brands for quality. It will also replace its premium offer Our Kitchen with a new range.
Its budget offer Good Value launched in January, now represented more than 1% of sales in Budgens stores, added Smith. Key selling products in the range included carrots, bacon, ham, cheese, apples, potatoes and tomatoes.
The 13 stores Musgrave GB bought from The Co-op Group earlier this year would be divested to independents and relaunched as Budgens, he added.
Speaking to The Grocer, MD Phil Smith said the wholesaler had been focusing on half-price deals and matching prices on key lines with Tesco.
"We've really sharpened our promotional act following research that found customers wanted fixed prices and half-price deals," he said. "Our half-price deals have been a big success. In November, when we sold a chicken for half-price, we sold more than a year's supply in three weeks."
Many of the deals had an emphasis on fresh and the next half-price deal planned for Budgens was a meal deal for pork, asparagus, potatoes and wine. It's Beat the Crunch promotions had also proved a success, through which 200 key lines had been matched against Tesco prices.
Musgrave GB was also planning to launch a new range for Londis retailers called Londis Fresh.
Londis Fresh would be a core fresh range with produce directed straight from the supplier to guarantee maximum shelf life and quality. The range is set to launch in Musgrave GB's South Elmsall depot in West Yorkshire, soon, and would be rolled out to depots in Andover and Thamesmead later in the year.
The group was also planning to relaunch its mid-tier own-label ranges this summer, which Smith said would be matched against the leading brands for quality. It will also replace its premium offer Our Kitchen with a new range.
Its budget offer Good Value launched in January, now represented more than 1% of sales in Budgens stores, added Smith. Key selling products in the range included carrots, bacon, ham, cheese, apples, potatoes and tomatoes.
The 13 stores Musgrave GB bought from The Co-op Group earlier this year would be divested to independents and relaunched as Budgens, he added.
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