Author: Scott Dylan

The latest grocery market analysis shows Tesco and Sainsbury’s leading the retail sector as inflation eases.Food price inflation decreases by 2.2%, settling at 12.7% in the period ending 6 August 2023.Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s sales grew by 9.5% and 9.3%, respectively, bolstering their market presence.Aldi remains the fastest-growing grocery retailer with a 21.2% sales increase, achieving a 10.2% market share.Overall grocery sales rose by 6.5%, marking a decrease from the previous month’s growth rate.According to recent data published by retail analyst Kantar, both Tesco and Sainsbury’s have performed exceptionally well in the grocery market during the past month. With grocery price…

M&S has revised its profit forecast upwards for the fiscal year ending April 2024.This adjustment follows an 11% increase in like-for-like food sales over 19 weeks.Investment in own-brand quality and value has driven this sales surge.Clothing and home sales also rose by 6%, primarily due to in-store growth.Ongoing economic uncertainties could impact future consumer markets.Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced an upward revision of its profit forecast for the year ending April 2024, a significant shift from its earlier projection of a slight decline. This adjustment is underpinned by robust dynamics in its grocery segment, where like-for-like food sales have…

Action on Sugar calls for removal of child-targeted packaging on sugary cereals and yoghurts.Research shows high sugar content in nearly half of cereals and most yoghurts targeting kids.Lidl, Aldi, and Nestle cereals feature highest sugar levels with child-friendly designs.Child-friendly packaging misleads parents amidst health issues in children.Nestle claims significant reforms in sugar reduction across their product range.The health advocacy group Action on Sugar has urged that packaging appealing to children should be removed from breakfast cereals and yoghurts with high sugar content. This call is particularly aimed at products categorised as high or medium in sugars, salt, or saturated fat,…

Workers at a Tesco depot in Didcot, Oxfordshire are set to strike over new contracts that do not include a pay increase.Cleaning and catering staff, outsourced to facility management company Atalian Servest, are affected by the lack of negotiation over pay.Current pay rates for cleaners at the depot are £11 per hour, with no extra pay for weekends and bank holidays.Unite the Union is leading the strike action, with four planned strikes in September 2023.Atalian Servest reported a gross profit of £84 million in 2021, yet refuses to negotiate pay increases.Employees at Tesco’s Didcot depot, particularly those in cleaning and…

Sainsbury’s has launched an initiative to combat plastic waste, replacing five million plastic hangers with eco-friendly cardboard versions.This change targets the Tu Clothing Baby range, with implementation across more than 400 stores nationwide.Customers can now opt to recycle these cardboard hangers at home or return plastic ones to stores for recycling.Between January and July, Sainsbury’s managed to recycle 12 million plastic hangers, amounting to 85 tonnes of plastic.The retailer has also switched its laundry detergent packaging to cardboard, showcasing its commitment to sustainability.In a significant move towards sustainability, Sainsbury’s is aiming to save 103 tonnes of plastic by implementing cardboard…

Retailers face significant challenges due to data protection laws in tackling shoplifting, hindering their ability to deter and manage repeat offenders.Current data regulations prevent naming and shaming tactics, which could deter shoplifters and assist staff in identifying frequent offenders.Industry leaders express frustration over limited police involvement in escalating shoplifting incidents, attributed partly to economic strain.Some retail chains report a surge in shoplifting incidents, highlighting inadequacies in handling the situation under current legal frameworks.Discussions intensify on whether adjustments to laws could enhance security measures without compromising individual privacy rights.Retailers across the UK are finding themselves increasingly hampered by data protection laws…

Tesco is making substantial changes to its Express stores in response to the cost-of-living crisis, aiming to provide more affordable options for consumers.The initiative involves replacing 50 everyday items with significantly cheaper alternatives, many from Tesco’s own-brand range.These changes, which will roll out over the next two weeks, promise to offer some products at less than a third of their previous prices.Research by Which? highlighted a lack of budget-friendly options in convenience stores, prompting Tesco’s strategic adjustments.Tesco’s efforts are part of a broader industry trend towards introducing more cost-effective products in smaller, localised stores.In light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis,…

Recent data indicates that essential food prices have increased by more than 30% in the UK over the last two years.Despite a recent slowdown in price rises, key items such as milk and bread have experienced significant inflation.Research highlights substantial price hikes in groceries like cheese, butter, and bakery goods.Consumer advocacy groups are placing increased pressure on retailers to offer more budget-friendly options.Major supermarkets are adapting by expanding their value and own-brand ranges to meet consumer demand.Recent research reveals that the prices of essential food items in the UK, such as cheese, butter, and bread, have surged by over 30%…

Unilever’s CEO Hein Schumacher plans to reassess the company’s operations in Russia, following significant international scrutiny and a personal plea from a Ukrainian soldier.The commitment to review comes as Unilever continues operations where other firms have exited due to geopolitical tensions related to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.Unilever justifies its presence in Russia by arguing that halting operations could lead to state control of assets, opposing calls from various quarters urging cessation.Valeriia Voshchevska from the Ukraine Solidarity Project has welcomed the CEO’s intention, citing reputational risks and ethical considerations.The debate puts Unilever in a complex position as it weighs the potential…

The Women’s World Cup 2023 is set to significantly influence UK retail sales.Forecasts suggest retailers will net £463 million from the World Cup period.Approximately 7.1 million Brits plan to watch the matches, stimulating economic activity.Retail sales are expected to surpass those of hospitality venues by a substantial margin.Family-oriented consumer offers are seen as a key strategy for retailers.Retailers in the UK are gearing up for a considerable financial uplift, projected at £463 million, as the nation turns its attention to the Women’s World Cup in 2023. According to a spending report by VoucherCodes, around 7.1 million Brits are expected to…