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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Apr- 2018 -5 April
Co-op to open trio of stores in Worcester
The Co-op is set to open three new food stores in the Worcester area following a £2.25m investment. A store in Station Road, Honeybourne, opened today and includes an in-store bakery and a focus on fresh, healthy foods and meal ideas. Another store in Barker Street, Worcester opened on 22…
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4 April
Grocery sales remain strong despite frosty weather
The latest grocery market share figures show that grocery sales increased in value by 2.5% compared to the same period in 2017, despite adverse weather conditions disrupting shoppers. In the run up to and during the cold snap shoppers stockpiled groceries, buying 4% more items than normal, increasing the…
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4 April
UK shop prices plummet to lowest point in a year
UK shop prices in March fell at their fastest rate since February 2017. Deflation in non-food prices decreased at a rate of 1.9% in March, according to the British Retail Consortium. Food inflation slowed down substantially in March, inflation standing at 0.4%, down from 1.6% in February. This is the…
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Mar- 2018 -27 March
Easter chocolate launches rise by 23%
There has been a 23% rise in Easter chocolate product launches between March 2017 and February 2018. According to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), Brazil accounted for 11% of global Easter chocolate product launches in 2017. Germany is also host to plenty of Easter chocolate innovation, sharing second place…
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21 March
Ocado revenue hit by adverse weather conditions
Online grocer Ocado has reported its sales were “impacted by adverse weather conditions” ensuing from the ‘Beast from the East’ early this month, and that profits have also taken a hit. Growth was 11.7% to £363.4 million, with tens of thousands of orders over the quarter being affected by snow.…
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14 March
Morrisons reports third consecutive year of profit growth
Supermarket giant Morrisons has revealed profit growth of 16.9% to £380m, in a third consecutive year of positive financial growth. The group’s like-for-like sales also rose to 2.8% in 2018, compared with 1.9% the previous year, and revenue increased by 5.8% to £17.3bn. In the trading update the group said…
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13 March
Leading retailers support plan for sustainability and equality
Over 25 leading UK retailers, including Sainsbury’s and John Lewis, have signed up to a series of pledges to tackle global challenges over the coming decades. The ‘Better Retail Better World’ scheme includes a series of stretching targets for the retail industry to achieve by 2020, and uses the United…
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9 March
Co-op Group investigated for treatment of suppliers
The Co-operative Group Limited is facing an investigation by the Grocery Industry Watchdog due its treatment of suppliers. Christine Tacon of the Groceries Code Adjudicator launched an investigation having formed “a reasonable suspicion that the retailer may have broken the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (the Code)”. It relates to…
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8 March
Co-op launches ‘pay in aisle’ mobile app technology
The Co-op has launched a new mobile app that allows customers to pay for their groceries in the aisle and avoid going to the till altogether. The ‘shop, scan and go’ initiative is being trialled at a Co-op’s store in the group’s support centre in Manchester, with a wider roll-out…
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8 March
Owner of John Lewis and Waitrose reports 77% drop in annual profits
The John Lewis Partnership has announced a 77% drop in annual profits and has cut the annual bonus given to staff. Pre-tax profit for the year to 27 January fell to £103.9m while the employee-owned partnership’s bonus scheme fell to 5% of salary – down from 6% for 2017/18 and…
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