United Kingdom news

Shoppers are very much in the swing of preparing for Christmas. Over the past couple of years, shoppers have longed for a ‘normal’ Christmas. Unfortunately, 2022 again brings new challenges and this will create unique shopping behaviours. Once again, we have been out asking UK shoppers what their plans are for this Christmas. Where will they shop? How will they shop? What will they eat? These ...

Tesco and dunnhumby have unveiled the next phase of their Tesco Media & Insight Platform. The partnership has launched new onsite and in-store media channels, announced new self-serve capabilities, and confirmed several partnerships expanding the offsite channels available through the platform. The increased suite of media options “ will help brands improve engagement with Tesco customers and off...

We’ve already looked at the trends shaping festive food-to-go ranges this year but what’s shaping menu innovation in the wider eating out market? We hosted our first eating out immersion day focused on Christmas last week – here are the top trends we’re seeing in menus this year. 1. Twists on traditional favourites Operators are using the flavours of Christmas in different ways, all...

The latest release from the British Retail Consortium Retail Sales Monitor (BRC-RSM) reports that in November UK retail sales accelerated to 4.2% on a Total basis. However, as price inflation has also continued to accelerate during this time, this still represents a volume decline. Black Friday activity, launched roughly a week earlier than in 2021, drove sales for non-food, with fashion and h...

Asda has announced an ambition to create 10,000 new convenience store jobs over the next four years as it accelerates the rollout of its new Asda Express store concept. To open 300 more by the end of 2026 Asda has confirmed its plans to open 300 more by the end of 2026, to "bring Asda value and great products to even more customers and local communities throughout the UK." With sales in con...

As Ocado pauses the opening of new customer fulfilment centres (CFCs) and trials a digital deposit return scheme, we round up news from the retailer. Ocado pauses expansion due to reduced demand Ocado had planned to open more automated CFCs over the next few years to keep up with growing demand.  However, in a recent presentation to analysts it announced that two new CFCs scheduled to open ...

Ocado Retail is rolling out a new shopper insights platform for suppliers called Beet Insight. Opportunities for suppliers Beet Insight, will provide suppliers with information on key shopper and ecommerce trends.  According to Ocado it will provide “the deepest and broadest customer shopping insights available in the UK”.  Suppliers using this data will have access to the same insights as ...

Waitrose is expanding its partnership with the bakery chain Gail’s, by trialling a new Gail’s fixture in three of its stores.  Whilst Gail’s bread is available in many Waitrose stores across the UK, the range is limited.  The three trial stores are in Berkhamsted, Bloomsbury and Richmond. Providing differentiation for Waitrose As well as increasing the range, Waitrose will be highlighting t...

Having expanded to a growing number of towns and suburbs in Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire the Starship/Co-op robot delivery service is now to be launched as a trial in two areas of Leeds, West Yorkshire; bringing the autonomous delivery experience to the north of England for the first time. To operate from the Co-op stores in Adel and Tinshill Using the Co-op’s A...

More than 3,500 Tesco suppliers can now potentially cut production costs and reduce waste by selling or donating surplus stock or products to other suppliers who can make use of them. Tesco Exchange is a new online marketplace that matches suppliers who have a surplus of crops, by-products, ingredients or packaging with other Tesco suppliers that can use it. It is expected that savings in prod...