The grocery multiples began to see improved sales success in January, although demand for food and drink is still weak, according to this month's Nielsen figures. Overall sales at the multiples rose 6.5% in the four weeks to 24 January 2007, the company said. In the 12 weeks to this date, Morrisons boosted sales by 9.6% and Asda by 7.2%, compared with the corresponding period in 2008. Discounter Iceland saw sales growth of 16% during the same 12-week period. it also significantly boosted sales on today's TNS figures. And Marks & Spencer (M&S), which had began to see weaker growth, re-entered positive growth of 1.4%, Nielsen added. Senior manager of retailer services Mike Watkins said: "M&S has extended it's dine in for two offer, kept the £5 off a £25 basket voucher scheme running and also reduced prices on a number of individual products across the store, providing shoppers with the same high quality at very good prices. "Shoppers are responding well and coming back for more with number of visits per shopper up 12% on last January."

Lidl, the discount supermarket chain, is set to open 50 extra stores and create 2,000 new jobs this year after seeing continued success. The company's takings rose 11.6% in December as rivals such as Marks & Spencer and Waitrose were hit by the credit crunch, reports the Daily Mirror.

Waitrose has revealed the majority of Brits are in the dark when it comes to European Union pig farming standards. The retailer said 70% of UK consumers are unaware of the conditions imported pigs are reared in, and almost 60% will now stop eating foreign pork. An additional 85% of respondents to the poll - conducted by YouGov for Waitrose - said they want to see clearer labels on pork products so they can be sure of the origins of the meat. Currently, retailers can label meat imported from abroad as British if it has been processed in the UK.

Tesco is deep in the throes of a major cost-cutting initiative ahead of its financial year-end next month. The Stock Reduction Programme, rolled out four weeks ago, aims to reduce unnecessary waste by clamping down on “stock control and general housekeeping”. Some store managers have been tasked with delivering savings of up to £100,000. Store managers have three weeks left to meet their individual targets and keep orders to a minimum by ensuring as much stock as possible is out of the warehouse and on the shop floors. The programme also aims to generate more sales by boosting availability and reducing the amount of stock handling in the long run.

Asda and Tesco have opened a new front line in the escalating war to attract cash-conscious shoppers - the increasingly extravagant claims about cheaper prices. A complaint by Asda over a Tesco advertisement has prompted an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority and Clearcast, the body that judges the accuracy of television advertising.