Tag Archives: retail

Waitrose looking for food innovation

Waitrose has joined forces with its sister company John Lewis to create the UK’s largest retail tech accelerator: JLAB 2017.

The announcement came as the John Lewis Partnership opened the call for applications for JLAB 2017, its global start-up accelerator programme, which is run in association with innovation specialists L Marks. Now in its fourth year, this year’s JLAB sees Waitrose joining the programme, which this year is focusing on enhancing customer experience and is inviting early-stage and high-growth companies.

A new category of Amazing Food Experiences has been added, with the application website saying, “There is a growing potential to enhance customer experience in food shopping and food service. We are looking for start-ups which will help us serve food to our customers in more convenient, exciting and innovative ways.”

Throughout the twelve-week programme, which commences in July, applicants will receive support from senior level mentors and free workspace in John Lewis’s head office in Victoria and Waitrose’s head office in Bracknell. Participating companies will also have access to industry knowledge and expertise from across the John Lewis Partnership.

Start-ups participating in JLAB will also have access to capital from the dedicated microfund provided by the John Lewis Partnership and L Marks. Each team will be eligible to apply for funding of up to £100,000 from the total pot of £200,000, in exchange for equity in their company.

Photo Caption: Waitrose is looking to enhance the customer experience in food shopping

Photo Credit: Waitrose

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MPs call for British Produce button for online shoppers

According to a report in The Telegraph, MP and Agriculture Minister George Eustice is supporting an initiative which could see a ‘Buy British’ button added to online grocery shopping sites.

Mr Eustice told MPs on Tuesday (14th March) that he was in talks with the National Farmers Union about such a system. Other MPs, like York’s Julian Sturdy, are also believed to be supportive of the idea.

NFU president Meurig Raymond told The Telegraph: “From the independent surveys that the NFU has carried out over the years, we know that 86 per cent of shoppers want to buy more British food, so we would welcome any move which would enable them to back British farming.”

However, as yet it is unclear if any supermarkets or other internet retailers are on board with the plans.

Photo Caption: The new button would allow shoppers to filter produce by country of origin

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Lidl targets children with veg range

Discount retailer Lidl has launched a new range of fun sized vegetables specifically targeted at children. The new trial has been launched following the success of the supermarket’s existing range of fruit and veg aimed at kids.

The new products include Mini Broccoli Trees; Cauliflower Clouds; Unicorn Carrots and mini Romanesco marketed at Romanesaurus Rex. Lidl claims it is the ‘the first British supermarket to introduce a range of fresh fruit and vegetables that are specifically targeted towards children, helping families with the ongoing challenge of inspiring younger generations to eat their greens and maintain a healthy lifestyle.’

Emma Byrne, Lidl’s Head of Fresh Produce, commented, “At Lidl we’re always looking at new and innovative ways to make parent’s lives a little easier. Following the success of our fun sized fruit and veg range, we made the decision to take the additional step of introducing new product names and designs that are geared towards getting kids to eat quality, healthier food.”

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Sainsbury’s introduces anti-greening pack for potatoes

As part of its ‘Save Our Spuds’ campaign, Sainsbury’s has introduced new packaging which will prevent potatoes from going green and developing a bitter taste. Designed to be 100% opaque – whilst still breathable – the new packaging prevents any light from reaching the produce, the most common culprit for greening.

The green discolouration develops thanks to a build-up of solanine which is triggered by too much light. The retailer estimates that this is responsible for the wasting of 5.8 million potatoes every day.

Jane Skelton, Head of Packaging for Sainsbury’s, commented, “Potatoes are a British favourite. But exposure to sunlight means many of our spuds never make it to the table. That’s why we’re calling ‘lights out’ in our latest effort to help tackle food waste. We’re confident that this will improve the shelf-life of our potatoes and, while the packaging might be opaque, we’re hoping the results will be clear to see.”

The new packaging will be rolled out across Sainsbury’s stores, across King Edwards and Lady Balfour potatoes – two varieties which are most susceptible to greening. The retailer continues to recommend that all potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark place.

Photo Caption: Lady Balfour and King Edwards will be the first to benefit from the new packaging

This story first appeared on HortNews.

Morrison’s and Amazon sign supply agreement

Supermarket Morrisons and Amazon have announced a new supply agreement which will see hundreds of Morrisons products made available to Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Pantry customers.

According to the retailer, it will provide a wholesale supply service to Amazon, allowing Amazon’s customers access to a wide range of Morrisons ambient, fresh and frozen products.

In a statement, Morrisons said, ‘We are focused on our six priorities to make the supermarkets strong again. In addition, we have an opportunity to build a broader business that complements our supermarkets and is consistent with our commitment to pursue capital light growth. Wholesale supply enables this by growing volumes and leveraging our manufacturing, distribution and wholesale capabilities.’

David Potts, Morrions Chief Executive, commented, “Today’s agreement is built on Morrisons unique strengths as a food maker. The combination of our fresh food expertise with Amazon’s online and logistics capabilities is compelling. “This is a low risk and capital light wholesale supply arrangement that demonstrates the opportunity we have to become a broader business. We look forward to working with Amazon to develop and grow this partnership over the coming months.”

In addition, Morrisons has been in discussions with Ocado to grow Morrisons.com and has agreed in principle to take space in Ocado’s new Customer Fulfilment Centre Erith, while Ocado delivers a store pick solution for Morrisons.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

The post Morrison’s and Amazon sign supply agreement appeared first on Hort News on 3 March 2016.

Tesco re-introduces ‘Festive Five’ at even lower price

In the most recent example of extreme retailer discounting of fruit and vegetables, Tesco has reintroduced its ‘Festive Five’ fresh produce promotion on key lines, but at a sale price 20 per cent less than last year.

The promotion includes 2.5 kg of white potatoes, 1kg packs of carrots, 500 g packs of Brussels sprouts and parsnips and whole cauliflowers at a retail price of just 39p. A Tesco spokesperson told The Grocer, “The Festive Five offers shoppers great value deals on great quality produce.”

The promotion is seen as a direct response to Aldi’s long-running Super Six and the Co-Op’s Fresh Three promotions, both of which share the 39p price point since. However, with produce always selling well over the festive period, in particular potatoes, carrots and sprouts, many in the industry will question the wisdom of taking value from key products in the hope that it is offset by increased sales. It may however help suppliers deal with a glut of cauliflowers caused by unseasonably warm weather.

Photo Credit: Tesco

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Kent shopkeeper fined for selling rotten fruit

A Kentish shopkeeper has been fined for selling rotten fruit and vegetables after an inspection by the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (HMI).

Ishtiaq Ahmed, proprietor of the Garden of England store in Canterbury was sentenced at Canterbury Magistrates Court on 23 November 2015. An HMI investigation in April found nine breaches of EU marketing rules for fresh produce quality and labelling, including apples and lemons which failed to meet the lowest marketable standards permitted.

Rural Payments Agency Operations Director Paul Caldwell commented, “Prosecution is only used as a last resort and we will always try to get businesses complying with the marketing standards through advice and guidance and, where possible, with the full cooperation and support from the business itself.”

Mr Ahmed pleaded guilty and was fined £1,305 for the offences, £2,871.42 for the prosecution’s costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Photo Credit: Gov.uk

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Aldi to open 1,000 stores & launch online

Discounter Aldi is continuing to buck the trend of difficult trading conditions in food retail, announcing that plans to open 65 stores this year are ‘on track’.

The German-based company also said it plans to open another 1,000 stores by 2022 and will launch an online offering next year. The company will initially sell cases of wine online, followed by non-food ‘Specialbuys’ later in the year.

In its last financial year Aldi’s sales rose 31% to £6.9 billion in the 12 months to 31 December, compared with £5.27 billion the year before. It is continuing to challenge rivals. Morrisons recently said it would no longer price-match Aldi and Lidl, while press reports suggest Aldi itself will ‘respond to price cuts from competitors with further discounts.’ However the price war is having an effect. Aldi’s operating profits fell by £11 million to £260.3 million in the last calendar year while pre-tax profits also slipped by £10.1 million to £250.6 million.

“We refuse to be beaten on price from anyone. People can buy exactly what they want from us rather than three of an item to qualify for a discount. We don’t bamboozle our customers with promotions,” said chief executive, Matthew Barnes.

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Florette refreshes pack sizes

Branded salad company Florette has introduced an updated logo and new pack sizes in what it says is an effort to solve waste and inject growth into the leafy prepared salad category.

After commissioning research over a six month period, which the company described as, “intensive qualitative and quantitative research into consumer attitudes, purchase intent and pricing” it has developed a new ‘range blueprint.’

Neil Sanderson, managing director of Florette, commented, “Replacing ambiguous ‘serving numbers’ with pictures of salad portions on plates provides a new, clearer indication of how many platefuls, side portions and handfuls of product are contained within each bag.

“These tangible and understandable portion indicators make it easier for shoppers to judge how much product is in each bag, which informs how much they need to buy to suit their needs. Shoppers are telling us they want to find what they want easily, in order to buy what they need, and then use what they buy. We are responding responsibly to the desire for reduced wastage and making shopping for salads easier by optimising the pack sizes and prices of our key products.”

Florette hopes that the moves, which include pack size reductions from 200g to 170g, could generate growth in the sector worth more than £8 million.

The post Florette refreshes pack sizes appeared first on Hort News on 29 april 2015.