Aldi has applied for planning permission to open its first supermarket in Edinburgh, according to The Scotsman newspaper. It wants a further 12 stores in the Scottish capital, the report said. The new Aldi, on the site of a former Somerfield, could open next summer, and would employ about 12 people. Aldi already has 37 stores in Scotland, employing some 400 staff.
Tesco has been named European Retailer of the Year at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) banquet held last night in London. Tesco was singled out for using its own-label wine range to highlight food matching and educating the customer "at many levels".
Waitrose has been embroiled in an international row over the sale of produce grown in territories occupied by Israel on the West Bank. Campaigners are concerned that the supermarket may have sold vegetables grown in the West Bank, as well as some beauty products developed in the territory, with unclear labelling – which could mislead consumers into thinking they are helping struggling Palestinian farmers by buying the products.
Tesco has teamed up with Lord Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group to launch a childrenswear collection called My Favourite Things inspired by the Sound of Music musical. The collection includes Raindrops on Roses long-sleeve cotton t-shirts, a Whiskers on Kittens velour hooded dress and an I Have Confidence in Me t-shirt.
Sainsbury’s has announced that it is going to use only British, high quality meat in all its ready meals, even in its curries! The only exception is where continental meats are used for authenticity, such as the prosciutto ham used in Sainsbury’s ‘Inspired to Cook Basil Chicken and Prosciutto Ham’. Sainsbury’s has also announced that British vegetables, when in season, are now used in all side dishes and vegetable medleys, and all potato dishes will be made using British Maris Pipers.
Third-quarter sales at Asda climbed by almost 7% on a like-for-like basis, with the supermarket giant pointing to increased penetration among middle-class shoppers as a factor in the performance. Sales improved by 6.9% over the three months to 30 September, with Asda claiming it was reaping the benefits of so-called AB shoppers increasingly looking for value. However, US parent Wal-Mart yesterday downgraded its profit forecast after warning that the falling value of the pound and further currency variations in Mexico and Canada had badly affected its international business.
Shopworkers' union, Usdaw, is welcoming Midcounties Co-op's decision to remove knives from open sale. This follows Usdaw's campaign asking retailers to remove all knives from their shelves and sell in a restricted area. Midcounties Co-op has announced that it will remove knives from open sale by the 1st December 2008.
