Tesco, Sainsbury’s face calls for investigation into ‘profiteering’ as prices soar May 2, 2023 An inquiry should be commissioned into whether supermarkets have been “profiteering” during the cost-of-living crisis, the Liberal Democrats have said. Party leader Sir Ed Davey is calling for the competition watchdog to start an investigation into whether food retailers put up the price of goods by more than was necessary to cover the cost of [...]
Sainsbury’s to pump tens of millions into its prices to offset inflation pressure on Brits August 31, 2022 Sainsbury’s said this morning the supermarket giant plans to invest £65m into its pricing next month amid ratcheting pressure on customers’ budgets. Simon Roberts, chief executive of the supermarket chain, promised the brand will stand with its customers “to ease the financial pressure they face”. The latest pricing pledge – which is part of wider [...]
Jubilee high street boom risks being upended by cost of living crisis June 3, 2022 The Jubilee fervour driving shoppers back to bricks-and-mortar stores is “fragile” and could be upended by the cost-of-living crisis, experts have warned. According to figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), visitor numbers inched up 0.6% between April and May, but are down 12.5% since 2019. However, this is ahead of Italy, France and [...]
A cash-based society isn’t just for the old, it’s for the young and foolish too December 12, 2023 Out in the wilderness of central London, armed with a £20 note, I was faced with just how hostile our city has become to the use of cash.
MPs urge ministers to back ‘all in’ recycling return scheme July 14, 2022 Some 20 MPs have urged the environment minister to back a scheme that would see Brits charged extra for purchasing drinks in single-use containers, redeemable upon recycling. Cross-party MPs urged George Eustice to “introduce the most ambitious scheme possible,” pointing to successful Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) across the globe. A scheme to encourage consumers to [...]
From online to in-store: How retail is adapting to consumers August 3, 2024 The dual effects of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, as well as the ever-improving technology on offer, have changed the way people shop and how retail adapts to customers.
Shoppers are flocking back to UK high streets faster than EU rivals, footfall data shows November 5, 2021 UK retail destinations have reported footfall recovering to near-pre-Covid levels faster than those in major EU economies. Total UK footfall was down 13.7 per cent in October compared to 2019, the pre-Covid comparative. There was a 3.2 percentage point improvement from September. This was ahead of Spain (-19.8 per cent), Germany (-26.1 per cent), Italy [...]
Food prices continue to skyrocket despite easing UK shop inflation January 4, 2023 UK inflation is beginning to ease, but food prices are still accelerating at one of the fastest paces on record, new research out today shows. Annual shop price inflation, calculated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ, dropped slightly to 7.3 per cent last month from 7.4 per cent in November. Despite the drop, [...]
Supermarket wars: Lidl and Aldi gain ground on Tesco as bargain-hunting Brits battle grocery inflation March 28, 2023 Lidl is the UK’s fastest growing supermarket as bargain-hunting Brits turn to the discount grocer during the cost of living crisis. With grocery inflation now at 15 per cent, new figures published by Kantar this morning show value outlets have seen an uptick in sales last month. Sales in the German supermarket Aldi rose 25.8 [...]
35 per cent of Brits admit bulk buying amid war and inflation shortage fears, report claims April 12, 2022 Warnings have been made against claims of stockpiling food after a report claimed 35 per cent have bulk bought items recently. Consumers are reportedly purchasing items in scenes reminiscent of the start of the pandemic, amid concerns about falling production for items such as wheat and oil, impacted by the war in Ukraine. Items such [...]