NEWS ShopTalk T
he Co-operative has taken advantage of the turmoil in the convenience sector by striking a wholesale deal to supply 2,500 Costcutter after Palmer & Harvey tumbled into administration. P&H, the UK’s fifth largest private company, collapsed after cashflow problems scuppered rescue takeover attempts.
Costcutter said that it had put in place contingency plans while the Co-op said that it was looking at “practical short-term ways” it can support Costcutter’s independent retailers ahead of the new supply contract formally starting next year.
Tim Steiner, chief executive of the retailer, said: “We are delighted that Groupe Casino has decided to partner with Ocado Solutions to grow and develop its online food business.
November and 19.1% for the full year, following acquisition of nearly 300 convenience stores from the Co-op in mid-July.
Full-year like-for-like sales rose 0.1% with sales growth of 0.1% in convenience stores and a 0.2% decline in sales at newsagents. Total like-for-like sales were down 1.1% in the fourth quarter due to the decline in traditional categories and unfavourable weather.
“We believe that the scalable, modular end-to-end solutions provided by the Ocado Smart Platform, will allow retailers such as Groupe Casino to build their online grocery offer in a way that is profitable and sustainable, creating value for customers, suppliers and shareholders.”
Ocado said the deal will create “significant” long-term value.
It is understood that Costcutter relied on a group of wholesalers stepping in to ensure empty shelves were kept to a minimum in the run-up to Christmas.
The Co-op’s deal will officially begin in spring and it will also supply the Mace, Kwiksave, Simply Fresh and Supershop brands.
O
cado shares surged over 25% after it announced a long- awaited international deal. Ocado has signed an agreement with Groupe Casino to develop its technology platform in France, starting with Casino’s Monoprix stores in Paris.
6 January 2018 M
cColl’s has said it has a contingency plan in place to protect itself from the
effects of wholesaler Palmer & Harvey’s collapse, and has hit a record £1bn in annual revenues.
P&H had supplied around 700 McColl’s newsagents and smaller convenience stores.
McColl’s said: “Our priority is to minimise any potential impact on customers. We are in ongoing discussions with our supply chain partners, and manufacturers, with a contingency plan already in place to ensure continuity of supply.” McColl’s total revenue rose 28.9% the fourth quarter ended 26
Newly acquired and converted stores were performing well, with like-for-like sales up 1.3% in the fourth quarter and 2.4% for the full year.
M
ajestic Wine has said it is now time to put its “foot on the gas” and ramp up sales growth as it cheered a recent return to profit.
The wine warehouse chain posted bottom line pre-tax profits of £3.1m for the six months to 2 October against losses of £4.4m a year earlier.
It thanked a boost in customer numbers for the turnaround, which helped offset a slowdown in underlying retail sales growth to 2% after hiking prices in the face of soaring buying costs from the weak pound and amid “tough” UK conditions.
Two years into a three-year turnaround, Majestic said it now plans to increase sales growth by “steadily” increasing spending to attract more new customers. Group-wide sales growth stood at 5.7%, including a 1.2% boost from the weak pound flattering sales in US
dollars, which puts it on track for its target to hit £500m of sales by 2019. Its online Naked Wines business saw sales leap 10.9% higher to £67.8m, with profits across all three of its markets worldwide. The group said Naked Wines’ revenues in the last 12 months were now double the level reported when it bought the business in April 2015.
M
&S has opened a massive food hall as part of Birmingham’s recently
redeveloped Gallagher Shopping Park, which has just been given a £16m makeover.
The 9,000 sq ft M&S food hall stocks more than 6,000 food and drink products and has a 50-seat cafe. In addition, it also provides customers with a click and collect service.
M&S also recently opened a new store in Moseley and has a flagship store in Longbridge.
The new food hall has brought 50 jobs to the area.
Store manager Steve Law commented at the time: “We are really excited to be opening a new M&S Foodhall in Wednesbury, bringing a whole range of delicious festive products to the community just in time for Christmas.”
www.acr-news.com
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