Welcome to the May-June issue of Grocery Trader. Asda’s first stand-alone ‘George’ concept store has officially opened its doors at Crown Point Retail Park in Leeds, marked by a spectacular launch event on Saturday 10 May, headlined by Spice Girls icon and Leeds native, Mel B. The retailer recently announced the trial of the new George store, which it hopes to replace its current Asda Living stores across the UK with the new format.
READ THE MAY / JUNE ISSUE HERE
Aldi UK’s CEO has pledged to stick to its existing high food safety and welfare standards, even if current regulations are watered down to align with international trade deals. UK rules currently prohibit imports such as chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef, which are commonplace in some markets. Amid concerns that post-Brexit trade negotiations could lead to a weakening of these protections, Aldi has committed to maintain its existing sourcing standards as a minimum, meaning no meat, poultry or dairy products will be sold in future that do not meet Aldi’s high standards.
Smart Charge, Sainsbury’s ultra-rapid EV charging network, has reached a major milestone by saving the equivalent of 60 million fossil fuel miles on UK roads, resulting in a reduction of 10.71 million kg of CO2 emissions compared to non-electric vehicles. By building the infrastructure to support the switch to cleaner transport, Smart Charge is making it easier for UK motorists to adopt electric vehicles.
According to an annual crime survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), there were 20 million thefts committed between January and August in 2024, equating to 55,000 a day, costing retailers £2.2 billion in losses. Police attendance at incidents has remained low, leading many retailers to invest billions in loss-prevention technology, including CCTV and body-worn cameras, writes Daryl Bedford, Managing Director at Harrison Retail.
The UK supermarket price battle is heating up. That’s according to media reports of Asda’s revitalised Rollback strategy, with the grocer slashing the prices of 1,500 ‘family favourite’ products in an effort to halt a sales slide. Add in the proliferation of loyalty schemes and price-matching promotions, and the fact that small to medium sized businesses now hold a growing 15.1% share of the UK FMCG sector, and the UK retail landscape is perhaps more competitive than ever, writes Rachel White, Managing Director, NielsenIQ UK & Ireland.
The private brand revolution is no longer on the horizon, it’s here, reshaping the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) landscape in real time. While private brands were once viewed as cheaper alternatives, often associated with compromise on quality or prestige, today’s reality is very different. Retailers are transforming private brands into powerhouses of innovation, quality and consumer connection, writes Howard Wright of Equator Design.
Enjoy reading the issue.
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