Tesco Lotus has opened Asia’s the first of its “zero-carbon” supermarket Asia, as part of its commitment to be a zero carbon business by 2050. Tesco Lotus is a major supermarket chain in Thailand, Cambodia and China. In Thailand, the stores are operated by the Ek-Chai Distribution System Co. According to Tesco Lotus, the new store in Bang Pra, Thailand, will put back into the Thai National Grid as much energy as it uses over the course of a year. Renewable fuel is converted into energy... ...Read more »

Woolworths Limited has recruited the current CEO of Tesco Malaysia as its new Director of Australian Supermarkets and Petrol. Tjeerd Jegen, 40, has held store operations, commercial, marketing and general management roles with three leading international retailers in seven countries. He was Chief Operating Officer for Tesco Thailand before his appointment as CEO in Malaysia, in early 2010. Woolworths Limited Deputy CEO Grant O’Brien said, “Whilst an external appointment might be viewed as an... ...Read more »

UK supermarket chain Tesco is launching a healthy-eating range for children in the UK called Tesco Goodness, which is already on sale at its stores in the US.The range is a selection of healthy snacks, convenient chilled prepared meals and lunchbox fillers developed to meet children’s nutritional needs, the UK retailer said. It is also the first own-label range to be introduced to the UK market from Tesco’s international business. Goodness is already available in Tesco’s Fresh &... ...Read more »

The Consumer Goods Forum has unveiled a new set of industry-wide resolutions designed to promote health and wellness. On the first day of its annual global summit in Barcelona today (15 June), the Forum committed to improving access to healthier products, providing “transparent, fact-based” information to allow consumers to make informed dietary decisions and promoting educational programmes that raise awareness of healthy lifestyles. The collaborative work to promote these resolutions... ...Read more »

UK supermarket chain Tesco has sent a letter to its major suppliers asking them to reduce their carbon footprint by 30% before 2020. Speaking at the IGD’s annual convention on Tuesday, Tesco’s commercial and marketing director Richard Brasher said that the retailer would not enforce the reductions. However, he added: “Those who produce green products will be rewarded”. On collaboration in the grocery sector, Brasher, who will become the chief executive of Tesco’s UK... ...Read more »

Europe’s food retail industry is set to see the return of mergers and acquisitions, analysts at J.P.Morgan Cazenove said yesterday (12 October) as they started their coverage of the sector.In a report covering 12 European grocers from Carrefour and Colruyt to Ahold and Tesco, Matthew Truman and Paul Diamond argued retailers had to respond to moves from food manufacturers that are driving scale and broadening their global reach. Truman and Diamond said “initial overtures” were starting... ...Read more »

Tesco posted a 16% rise in profits for the first half of its fiscal year on the back of strong international results. The UK retailer announced yesterday (5 October) that its net profit reached GBP1.19bn (US$1.89bn) for the 26 weeks ended 28 August, against GBP1.03bn in the same period of 2009. Turnover was up 8.3% at GBP32.9bn. In the UK, sales, excluding petrol, were up 4.4% to GBP21.87bn. Like-for-like sales, exluding petrol and adjusting for VAT, however, inched up 0.3%. Nevertheless, Tesco said... ...Read more »

Datamonitor’s monthly Food Marketwatch product rundown sees sweet and savory flavors appearing in an increasing number of unexpected and unprecedented product categories. Products from black cheesecake to savory sprinkles and double cheese ice cream show how manufacturers are turning to unconventional, even counterintuitive, combinations to add an extra sensory edge to their product offerings. Defying the traditional use of sprinkles as a sweet confectionery product, Easy Tasty Magic’s... ...Read more »

Carrefour has reportedly dropped Tesco and Aeon from the bidding for its businesses in three south-east Asian markets.According to the Wall Street Journal, the remaining bidders reportedly include Carrefour’s French peer Casino and PTT PCL, an energy company that has convenience stores at its gas stations. Other bidders are Thai retailers Big C, which Casino part owns and Central Group, as well as Thai FMCG firm Berli Jucker Pcl. While Carrefour has remained tight-lipped on its plans, it reportedly... ...Read more »

UK retail giant Tesco has launched the country’s first drive-thru supermarket. The retailer’s Baldock Extra store in Hertfordshire will be used as a trial store for the drive-thru service, the firm said yesterday, before a decision is made on rolling-out to additional areas if successful. Tesco said the store, run by the firm’s dotcom team, has been designed to help busy customers who want their shop picked and packed but who don’t have the time to wait at home for delivery. “This will... ...Read more »