Supermarket
This coverage examines the supermarket sector within UK retail, focusing on store operations, pricing strategies, product innovation, supply chain efficiency, financial performance, and leadership decisions. Reporting provides insights into competitive dynamics, shopper behaviour, and strategic initiatives shaping grocery and high-volume retail. Tailored for executives and managers, it supports effective decision-making in a fast-moving market.
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Nov- 2023 -16 NovemberNews
Today’s news in brief-16/11/23
Mars has acquired Hotel Chocolat in a £534m deal, offering a 168% premium on the share price. Mars sees cultural alignment between the two companies, sharing values of quality, sustainability, and purpose. Hotel Chocolat’s directors deemed the deal “fair and reasonable.” Mars, with its international footprint and global supply chain,…
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16 NovemberSupermarkets
Iceland posts £17m full-year loss amid soaring energy prices
Iceland has fallen to a loss of £17.1m in its latest full-year results following a “wholly unprecedented” rise in global energy costs. It comes as the group saw a £93.6m rise in energy costs, which it attributed to the global surge in wholesale prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless,…
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15 NovemberSupermarkets
UK supermarkets sales rise 8.7% despite cautious consumer spending
Total Till sales at UK supermarkets increased 8.7% in the last four weeks ending 4 November 2023, according to new data released today by NIQ . This growth is against the backdrop of slowing inflation and an increase in promotional activity (24%, up from 21% last year) by supermarkets as…
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15 NovemberSupermarkets
Asda cuts debt as Q3 sales slow
Asda has announced that it has shaved £300m off its debt pile during the third quarter of the year while also revealing it has seen its sales slow during the period. In the three months to the end of September, the supermarket paid off the £200m loan it took out…
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14 NovemberSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s, M&S and Currys call for business rates freeze
Supermarket retailers such as Sainsbury’s, M&S and Currys have urged the chancellor to freeze business rates for all retail businesses at the forthcoming Autumn Statement. According to the British Retail Consortium, as things stand, business rates for retailers in England alone will increase by 6.7% next April, which represents an…
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13 NovemberNews
Ikea owner snaps up Brighton shopping centre
Ikea’s owner Ingka Group has reportedly acquired Brighton’s Churchill Square Shopping Centre, According to The Guardian. The £145m deal will see the furniture retailer converting Brighton’s Churchill Square Centre into a new Ikea store, which is expected to open within two years. The latest acquisition comes three years after the…
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8 NovemberNews
Today’s news in brief-8/11/23
JD Sports is facing scrutiny over a £3.5m non-compete deal with its former CEO, Peter Cowgill. This agreement, signed in September of the previous year, was intended to prevent Cowgill from working with or advising competitors for the next two years. However, it has come to light that Cowgill has…
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8 NovemberSupermarkets
Lidl becomes first supermarket to launch body cameras for all staff
Lidl GB has become the first supermarket to roll out body-worn cameras across all its stores as standard, as it looks to ensure the “safety and security of customers and colleagues” amid a rise in retail crime. From the end of the month, stores across its network will start to…
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7 NovemberSupermarkets
Grocery price inflation hits single digits for first time this year
Grocery price inflation has fallen below 10% for the first time since July 2022 and now sits at 9.7% for the four weeks to 29 October 2023, according to the latest data from Kantar. It comes as take-home grocery sales over the same period rose by 7.4% compared with last…
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6 NovemberNews
Today’s news in brief-6/11/23
The future ownership of the iconic London department store, Selfridges, is reportedly in question as co-owner Signa grapples with a financial crisis. Restructuring experts have been enlisted to help Signa raise funds amidst rising borrowing costs and falling property valuations. The sale of Signa’s 50% stake in Selfridges is likely,…
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