Lidl’s suppliers warned of EU tariff import costs August 18, 2019 Supermarket giant Lidl has reportedly indicated that its suppliers will have to foot the potential bill for EU import tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. For goods delivered to Ireland, the German discounter has told British suppliers to be “delivery duty paid-ready” as the government’s October deadline for leaving the EU with or [...]
Weak Asda sales drive down Walmart’s international income August 15, 2019 Slow sales at Asda and other non-US retailers owned by Walmart have driven down the corporation’s international operating income by almost 30 per cent in the second quarter. In second quarter results released today, Walmart said that overall operating income was also down 2.9 per cent, as it lowered international sales growth guidance. Revenue was [...]
Cheesed off: Watchdog bans two adverts in first crackdown on harmful gender stereotypes August 14, 2019 The advertising watchdog has banned two adverts in its first crackdown on campaigns that feature harmful gender stereotypes. In landmark rulings published today, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) censured Mondelez and Volkswagen following complaints their ads portrayed male and female roles and characteristics in a way that caused offence. Read more: Advertising watchdog bans junk [...]
Payments firm Wirecard posts surge in profit as it nets new clients August 7, 2019 German payments firm Wirecard reported a jump in profits in its half-year results today and said it expected to do better in 2019 than originally thought. The firm, which provides payments systems to businesses and cards to customers, was boosted by new relationships with companies such as supermarket Aldi. Read more: Softbank to invest €900m [...]
Ocado bags sales jump amid decline in supermarket sector July 23, 2019 Ocado has posted a double-digit rise in sales over the last quarter as it defied an overall decline in the supermarket sector. The online retailer boosted its sales by 11.9 per cent in the 12 weeks to 14 July, stealing a larger chunk of the competitive grocery market. Read more: Sainsbury’s sales slip in ‘tough’ [...]
Kicking up a fizz: Aldi champagne advert banned after Tesco complaint July 17, 2019 The advertising watchdog has banned an advert promoting Aldi’s own-brand champagne after Tesco complained it was misleading. Read more: TfL revises junk food ad ban after rules spark confusion In the advert, the German discount supermarket claimed customers could save 45 per cent on a selection of products when compared to rival Tesco. The products [...]
ii view: Sales retreat at Sainsbury’s July 8, 2019 By Keith Bowman from interactive investor. Tough comparatives have impacted results for this supermarket, but that is no surprise. First quarter trading for 16 weeks to 29 June 2019 Total sales down 1.2 per cent (excluding fuel) Like-for-like sales declined 1.6 per cent (excluding fuel) Grocery sales fell 0.5 per cent General merchandise sales down 3.1 per cent [...]
Lidl plans 500 new jobs in Scotland July 8, 2019 Supermarket chain Lidl is planning to hire 500 new people in Scotland across 12 new stores, it announced this morning. The low-cost grocer will add to its 98 stores across the country. It is already building new sites at Dundee, Cowdenbeath, Larkhall, Dumbarton and East Kilbride. Read more: Lidl unveils £500m London expansion plan for [...]
Mike Coupe is yet to convince the City that he has a Plan B for Sainsbury’s July 3, 2019 It has been several months since the Mike Coupe dream of a merger with Asda was dealt a lethal blow from Britain’s competition watchdog. But how much has the embattled chief executive changed his tune? Not enough, it would seem, to quell anxiety among investors. Shares in the supermarket giant failed to pick up today [...]
What’s gone wrong at Sainsbury’s? Three problems the supermarket must address July 3, 2019 It has been several months now since the Mike Coupe’s dreams of a merger with Asda were dealt a lethal blow from Britain’s competition watchdog, but how much has changed? Directors at the supermarket chain have been setting out a plan to cut costs, slash debt and refurbish 400 stores. Yet investors will likely have [...]