A new report from independent market analyst Datamonitor has revealed that UK consumers are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables to meet their “five a day” target. Between 2002 and 2007, the annual consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in the UK increased from 93kg per person in 2002 to 113kg in 2007, and Datamonitor forecasts this will increase to 123kg in 2012. The 21.5% increase in consumption rates is indicative of the success of the “five a day” message... ...Read more »
Planet Retail has announced the world’s top 30 grocery retailers (by sales), with Wal-Mart at the top of the heap for the tenth straight year. Sales of US$395.31* billion (A$419.45 billion) last year enabled US retailer Wal-Mart to eclipse the French-based Carrefour in second place, which had approximately A$145 billion in sales. Tesco, the leading UK retailer, climbed from fourth to third thanks to sales of A$105 billion. Australia’s two market leaders, Woolworths and Coles Group, ... ...Read more »
The grocery sector has ended packaging growth in the UK despite a sharp increase in sales, the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) said overnight. WRAP has been working in consultation with the UK’s top retailers and brands to achieve this target and believe the sector is now on track to cut food and packaging waste. This success is the result of the ‘Courtauld Commitment’, according to WRAP. This is a voluntary agreement between WRAP, Defra (Department for Environment,... ...Read more »
Business confidence amongst Australian fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers has taken a turn for the worse with 45 per cent suggesting business conditions have deteriorated in the past 12 months, according to the latest Nielsen research. The hit to confidence appears to have been driven by rising costs, coupled with a drop in consumer confidence. The findings were released by The Nielsen Company as part of its latest bi-annual Retail Barometer survey. The research captured responses from... ...Read more »
Former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman, Allan Fels has warned that town planning laws are currently a “tragedy for consumers” and suggests that action needs to be taken to ensure preferential treatment is not given to the leading retailers. “The planning laws restrict competition -they protect the big shopping centres,” Professor Fels said. Professor Fels made his comments at an Urban Taskforce luncheon - just a week before the ACCC finalises... ...Read more »
The Romeo family has walked away from the IGA Retailer of the Year Awards with the top honour. The awards, held this week on the Gold Coast, recognised the leading grocers within the IGA network and were separated into three divisions for each category based on the type of IGA outlet. Supa IGA/Foodland IGA stores represent one division, the smaller neighbourhood stores represent the next division (IGA) and the final division is reserved for IGA X-Press outlets. In addition to their Supa IGA Retailer... ...Read more »
A multi-country study into the future of retailing reveals technology’s potential impact on how consumers shop and how retailers engage their customers. The new research suggests that, among Canadian Internet users who have primary responsibility in their household for shopping, more than half believe that networked refrigerators and online devices will be available to prepare shopping lists and order goods that require replenishing. TNS’ “New Future In Store” report reveals... ...Read more »
The five year association between Schweppes and Red Bull GmbH is about to come to an end. In July 2003 Red Bull Australia and Schweppes formed a distribution alliance, with Schweppes to assist with sales, distribution and merchandising of the popular energy drink. In most countries Red Bull takes sole responsibility for distribution, but the association with Schweppes was made due to the strength of their network in Australia and the resulting ability to increase sales of the product. The... ...Read more »
The latest TNS Worldpanel grocery market share figures, for the 12 weeks ending 13th July 2008 reveal that the success of the UK discounters is continuing. The discount supermarkets now account for a 5.9% share of Grocery Spending, higher than ever before reported, and they are also the fastest-growing sector of the market. The total grocery market continues to grow strongly (+7% year-on-year), fuelled partly by food price inflation and also by better performance for Supermarkets than other Retail... ...Read more »
British Retail Consortium (BRC) Director General, Stephen Robertson, has urged all politicians to seriously consider the impact of any grocery regulation, as the costs are ultimately borne by customers in the form of higher prices. His comments, at the Conservative Party’s Economic Summit last week, were in response to proposed changes to legislation in the wake of the inquiry into competition within the British grocery sector. The changes could include the introduction of an ombudsman to monitor... ...Read more »