Supermarkets are mixing cheaper imported beef with British, says the National Beef Association. Taking advantage of reduced prices for beef from the Republic of Ireland, several retailers are now mixing imported beef with British beef to avoid increasing prices for home-produced beef.
Only Morrisons, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Co-op, Budgens sell 100% British. Tesco’s sales of British beef have dropped from 98% to 90% since 2007, while just 60% of ASDA’s beef is British. Anyone wishing to buy British beef should certainly avoid Netto, which imports all its beef. Despite these varied sourcing policies, surprising results emerge from price comparisons.
During the Competition Commission’s lengthy inquiry into the grocery market in 2006 to 2008, the media was b u z z i n g with questions about the supermarkets’ alleged practice of landbanking (holding or controlling land for future development or to impede the entry of competitors to the local market). It all went rather [...]
The Co-operative Group has announced today that it’s agreed to buy Somerfield for just short of £1.6 billion. The co-op is different from other retailers. It’s owned by its customers (those who elect to become members) and has a long commitment to quality, healthy food and to the environment and animal welfare. This is a momentous development in British retail.
Barack Obama supports US union’s campaign for union engagement and better working conditions at Tesco’s US Fresh and Easy stores
The Competition Commission’s provisional findings include real criticism of supermarket practices with suggested remedies that might just tackle some of the problems. But suggested changes to the planning system would be nothing less than a bonanza for the larger retailers and spell disaster for town centres and the small independent operators.
Amazon.com has today announced a new venture: AmazonFresh will be delivering fresh (and frozen and “shelf-stable”) foods, ordered online, to households in Seattle. The foods available will include “highest-quality fresh fruits and vegetables” and a “leading assortment of natural, organic, and specialty brands”. Some of the produce is described as “farm-fresh” but there’s no further [...]
