Supermarkets
Supermarkets examines the strategies, performance, and operational challenges facing the UK grocery retail sector. This section reports on trading results, pricing strategy, supply chain management, sustainability initiatives, and consumer trends influencing supermarket performance. Retail Sector’s Supermarkets coverage provides analysis and insight for retail leaders, buyers, and suppliers, exploring how competition, regulation, and innovation are shaping profitability and long-term growth across the grocery landscape.
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Mar- 2020 -31 March
WHSmith launches partnership with Sainsbury’s amid Covid-19 virus outbreak
WHSmith and Sainsbury’s has announced its partnership to help NHS staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. WHSmith will be stocking an extended range of Sainsbury’s grocery products to “support the incredible work of the NHS through this challenging time.” The partnership will be available in over 80 hospital stores to include…
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31 March
UK supermarket sales surge amid Covid-19 outbreak
British consumers made over 79 million extra grocery shopping trips in the last four weeks, with total till sales at supermarkets surging to 20.5%, according to new data from Nielsen. The uptick in sales was particularly pronounced in the week ending 21 March, which saw a “massive” 43% weekly growth…
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26 March
Co-op introduces ‘stricter measures’ amid Covid-19 crisis
The Co-operative has introduced new measures to enforce social distancing in stores, in a bid to protect customers and colleagues from the spread of coronavirus. The community retailer backs the government’s request for “tighter” in-store protocols and has introduced a range of measures across its 2,600 stores including floor markers…
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25 March
Tesco introduces social distancing measures amid Covid-19 virus outbreak
‘Big 4’ grocer Tesco has written to customers to inform them about the latest measures put in place amid the Covid-19 virus breakout. CEO Dave Lewis revealed there would be floor markings in store as well as the car park to practice social distancing when queuing. The retailer also revealed…
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25 March
UK shoppers spent an additional £467m on groceries in March
Grocery sales at UK supermarkets during the week ending 14 March increased by over 22% compared with the same period in 2019, according to new data from Nielsen. This is equal to an additional £467m more in purchases than this time last year, and the “significant” rise in grocery sales…
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25 March
Asda announces new measures amid Covid-19 outbreak
Supermarket Asda has outlined a wide ranging package of measures to help support its colleagues and other workers whose jobs have been impacted by coronavirus. Acknowledging the “incredible efforts’”of Asda’s hourly paid retail and distribution colleagues, CEO Roger Burnley confirmed to colleagues that they will receive full pay if they…
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24 March
Aldi to grant employees 10% bonus
Aldi has today announced that all store and distribution employees will receive a 10% bonus on their hours worked, effective from 9 March 2020. The bonus is the retailer’s tribute to its “amazing colleagues” who have “worked tirelessly throughout this extremely busy time”. The supermarket giant has also announced a…
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20 March
Government tells supermarkets to ‘join forces’
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has told supermarkets to “join forces” as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. It announced it is “temporarily relaxing” elements of competition law as part of a new package of measures to allow supermarkets to “work together to feed the nation”. The move…
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19 March
Ocado sales rise as website goes dark
Ocado Retail has announced that revenue grew by 10.3% to £441.2m in the first quarter of the year. Average orders per week rose by 10.2% in the 13 weeks ended 1 March 2020, while average order size rose by 0.3%. The supermarket group attributed the increased demand for orders and…
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18 March
Morrisons ‘takes action’ amid coronavirus pandemic
Morrisons has announced its steps to take “immediate action” as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds. These include its promise for a pay guarantee for all “sick and affected” colleagues, and more flexibility around shifts and annual leave. It also announced plans to expand its online delivery capability to more than 100…
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