Aldi closes in on Waitrose as the discounters scent blood July 29, 2014 The challenges facing Britain’s big four grocers was further laid bare yesterday after new data revealed that Aldi was poised to overtake Waitrose to become the country’s sixth biggest supermarket. Kantar Worlpanel data released yesterday showed Aldi’s sales jumped 32 per cent year-on-year in the 12 weeks to 20 July, bringing its market share within [...]
Lidl launches first television Christmas ad October 30, 2013 LIDL has launched its very first UK national TV campaign promoting its luxury range as the first-growing discount chain looks to win more middle-class shoppers from its larger rivals in the Christmas rush. The adverts, which go live today, will feature products from Lidl’s deluxe range, including mulled wine, whole cooked lobster and Serrano ham. [...]
Marketing to millennials: Is Generation Y really all that different? September 21, 2014 Talking to advertising and media executives these days, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there’s an alien group lurking among UK consumers. Millennials, we are told, are different. Born between 1980 and 1995, they split their summers between south-east Asia and Bestival, often sporting torn jeans, face paint and/or a pair of Google Glasses. When [...]
Ukip party conference 2014: Three reasons Ukip might have the best brand in politics September 26, 2014 After Ed Miliband’s much-maligned slip-ups, this weekend it’s Nigel Farage’s turn to show the world he’s a man of the people, at the Ukip party conference. Farage may be mocked by some – but during his tenure as its leader, he has transformed it from a party on the margins of the political system [...]
Tesco share price: What the analysts are saying August 29, 2014 Tesco's profit warning – its second in just over a month – came out of the blue this morning, but its sentiment has been known for a while. The supermarket's struggles are well documented, from loss of market share against Lidl and Aldi, and growth at a 10-year low. Here's how analysts have responded to Tesco's [...]
Asda to cut 1,360 jobs in management restructure July 3, 2014 Asda has announced that it will be making 1,360 employees redundant over the next three months. The supermarket chain, which is owned by US-based Walmart, had previously said that there would be job losses but did not confirm the number until now. The cuts are being made to help create more flexible management structures across [...]
Tesco’s credit rating downgraded by S&P amid profit fears August 8, 2014 Tesco suffered a fresh blow yesterday after Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the troubled supermarket’s credit rating over concerns of rising competition in its home market and its recent profit warning. S&P said it had cut its long-term rating on Tesco to “BBB” from “BBB+”, but reiterated its “A-2” short-term corporate credit rating on the [...]
Morrisons ramps up assault on rival supermarkets after slashing more prices June 23, 2014 Morrisons has launched a fresh round of price cuts today as the troubled supermarket group steps up its efforts to win back shoppers defecting to cheaper rivals. Britain’s fourth-largest grocer will cut the price of a further 135 grocery and household products today by an average 14 per cent. “These are permanent price cuts, not [...]
Analysts to the fore in big sectorial shakeups September 9, 2014 ANALYST of the year The role of the analyst has become increasingly important at such an uncertain time in the economy, when everyone is looking for guidance. With the UK retail sector in turmoil over the decline of Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Waitrose and especially Tesco – caused mainly by the rise of the German discounters – their views [...]
Danish discount retailer Netto teams up with Sainsbury’s in UK return June 20, 2014 Danish international discount grocery retailer Netto is returning to the UK, teaming up with Sainsbury's as the supermarket chain attempts to take on rivals Aldi and Lidl. This is an attempt by Sainsbury's to reposition itself, via Netto, to tackle the burgeoning discount store market that has grown rapidly in recent years and started [...]