Global retail powers of 2009: discount supermarkets more prominent
January 13, 2009

A new report has suggested discount supermarkets will continue to make inroads in the retail sector, while Australia’s Woolworths and Coles both made it comfortably onto the list of the world’s largest 250 retailers. As the global economy shifted in 2007 from relatively strong growth, to deceleration and on to modest recession in early 2008, consumers cut back on their spending and turned to discount retailers in ever increasing numbers, according to the report, 2009 Global Powers of... ...Read more »

Woolworths begins rebranding process
January 12, 2009

Woolworths has today launched a corporate rebranding including a new logo, representing the biggest change to the communication of their brand since the introduction of “The Fresh Food People” just over two decades ago. The new logo, which resembles a peeling apple, is set to be added to over 100,000 staff shirts, 800 trucks, their trolleys and plastic bags and in their 780 supermarkets. It already appears at 30 stores, all of which have been recently opened or refurbished. The logo will... ...Read more »

Specialist online grocer sees record sales - a sign of things to come?
January 12, 2009

UK upmarket specialist online grocer Ocado last week posted record sales figures in a sign that the online grocery sector is steadily making inroads in Britain. They saw sales rise 25 per cent above results of the year before in the four weeks to January 3 despite recessionary headwinds, including a staggering 97% rise in Christmas week sales. Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, also noted that their online grocery business had grown, delivering “very strong sales”. Ocado, which sells products... ...Read more »

Woolworths UK closes
December 24, 2008

      Long been a part of the retail offering in Britain where families on a budget could find everything from chocolate and toys to toiletries, socks & jocks and stationery, Woolworths in the UK has been a familiar brand for decades. Sadly for some British consumers, from January 5th the last Woolworths door will close, putting around 27,000 staff back on the job market & leaving 807 retail premises looking for an occupant. Woolworths are yet another casualty of the world’s... ...Read more »

Woolworths looks to give loyalty a boost
December 12, 2008

With consumer loyalty now, arguably, more important than ever before, Australia’s largest supermarket operator has teamed with the Australia’s largest airline to create a new loyalty alliance. Woolworths and Qantas today announced an exclusive Heads of Agreement to create a loyalty alliance, which would begin in the middle of next year. The new relationship will allow Woolworths customers who participate in the Everyday Rewards program to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points when they shop... ...Read more »

Nestlé claims Woolworths Supplier of the Year prize
December 12, 2008

Nestlé Australia Limited was awarded with the title of Woolworths Supplier of the Year at the annual ceremony in Sydney on Friday 5 December.The award meant that the world’s largest food manufacturer became the first company to receive the honour twice, having previously earned the title in 2004. They also took the prizes for New Product Launch of the Year and the Grocery (over $50m) category. The awards were set up by Woolworths to encourage greater feedback in the supply chain, with 15... ...Read more »

Online grocery shopping yet to take off in Australia
December 8, 2008

Australians are yet to embrace the internet when it comes to shopping for food and groceries, according to a survey released today by Deloitte. The survey discovered that food and groceries were the least likely of 12 categories to be researched over the internet, with only 6% conducting research online as opposed to 94% in-store. The leader of the category, outings and entertainment, had 73% of people conducting research on-line, highlighting a major gulf between different product categories when... ...Read more »

Independent supermarkets gain ground in latest GROCERYchoice survey
December 2, 2008

The latest survey on the GROCERYchoice website has indicated that, on a total grocery basket, Woolworths supermarkets are the cheapest in 45 of the 61 regions surveyed. This compares with 30 of 61 regions in the previous month’s survey. Independents are again the cheapest in the Eastern Central Queensland sector, with Coles on top in the other 15 regions. The basket prices represent the average price for a retailer within a specified region, not the price for a specific individual supermarket... ...Read more »

Woolworths introduces employee scheme that could boost sales by $115m
December 1, 2008

Australia’s largest supermarket operator, Woolworths, has unveiled a scheme to their employees that will allow staff to use their pretax salary dollars to spend up to A$1000 each at Woolworths outlets prior to January 9, 2009, The Australian Financial Review has reported. The salary sacrifice plan applies to 115,000 of the company’s 160,000 employees, meaning it could encourage a $115m sales boost. The company will only accept two receipts to come to the $1000 figure, however, encouraging... ...Read more »

Woolworths remains bullish, market share boost expected
November 27, 2008

Australia’s largest supermarket operator, Woolworths, has informed shareholders that their growth outlook remains on track, with plans to strengthen their market position in coming years. The nature of their business would partially “shield” them from the impact of any downturn, with investments unlikely to dry up because of economic conditions. Speaking at their AGM today, Woolworths Chairman James Strong outlined his belief that there was “continuing potential” to... ...Read more »

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