End of the road: Soho's al fresco festival to end in September

It has been one of the few positives to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, but as the virus recedes it appears so will Soho’s al fresco revival.

Westminster City Council has informed businesses that traffic will be re-introduced to Soho’s streets at the end of September, bringing to an end the weekend and evening pedestrian takeover of the capital’s oldest entertainment district.

Restaurants with existing licences will still be able to use pavements, but roads will be off-limits.
The streets affected by the ending of the temporary road closures include Frith St, Greek St, Dean St, Moor St and the buzzing Old Compton Street.

NamNews Implications:

• 'SOHO needs al fresco to survive' says it all
• City A.M. understands the Council are open to the idea of extending alfresco schemes where residents are keen
• Key that residents act...
• More here

#AlFresco #StreetLifeHospitality

Lidl GB Set To Roll Out Eco Label Trial

The ‘Eco-Score’ system utilises open-source data to independently grade products on their sustainability credentials, such as including production methods, impact on biodiversity, packaging and carbon footprint. 

Products also receive better scores where they are certified to third party schemes such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance. The products are then assigned colour codes, ranging from green ‘A’ (low impact) to red ‘E’ (high impact).

The move will initially cover more than 50 Lidl own label products across all 105 of its outlets in Scotland, beginning October 2021. The products included in the trial include teas, coffees, and hot chocolate.

NamNews Implications:

• If shoppers are in favour, and vote with their feet…
• …anticipate a full roll-out.
• As a pointer for all…
• Despite the inevitability of a shelf-price cost?

#EcoLidl #EcoPackaging #LidlFirst

Growing In-Store Visits Lead To Online Grocery Decline

For the four weeks to 14 August 2021, total till sales were up 1.1% year-on-year to £7.7bn, partially helped by the short heatwave in July, which saw sales for the week ending 24 July jump up 6.2%.

NielsenIQ said the growth was driven by 50 million more in-store visits (+12%) during the four-week period.

NamNews Implications:

• Key for suppliers to compare by category.
• And budget accordingly.
• Medium and longer-term, best to try and anticipate how long it will take for online to grow from 13% to 50% of sales.
• (again finetuned by category and channel, where possible)
• Good NielsenIQ advice to factor in consumer uncertainty….
• As the market reopens…

#OnlineGrocery #RoutesToConsumer #nielsen

Charlie Watts - R.I.P

New HFSS Rules To Make More Space Available In Supermarkets

The new regulations concerning in-store promotion and off-shelf display of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products, which will come into force in 2022, are expected to result in 26% of shelf-space in UK supermarkets being “up for grabs”, according to new research from IRI.

IRI noted that HFSS categories – including confectionery, yoghurts and fruit juices – currently make up 38% of actual store space, but this is forecast to drop to just 12% when the new restrictions are introduced.

NamNews Implications:

• ‘HFSS currently make up 38% of actual store space, but this is forecast to drop to just 12%’
• (note also chilled category impact)
• Best keep in mind that any category/brand hoping to optimise space released…
• …will need to at least match HFSS financial performance, sales and gross profits, vacating the space.

#HFSSRetailSpace

Private Equity Firm Now Eyeing Sainsbury’s?

According to The Sunday Times, US group Apollo is said to be looking at options regarding the supermarket group. 

The paper noted that this interest is exploratory, while a Bloomberg report cited unnamed sources to add that Apollo has not hired any advisers yet.

NamNews Implications:

• A bid of £7bn+ should get the ball rolling...
• Re-entering a period of distraction for Sainsbury’s management.
• Supply and Retail…
• Meanwhile, a short- & medium-term focus on financial performance.
• …by reflex, if not by design.

#MultsTakeover #OtherBiddingWar

Post-lockdown pricing options, from the NamNews Team!

#Pricing #PostLockdown

Russian Discounter Opens First UK Store With Prices Cheaper Than Aldi

The interior of the store in Preston is minimalist with painted breeze-block walls and no branding (see video). Journalists visiting the site described it as a “drab” retail space that makes a branch of Aldi look almost glamorous.

To keep costs down, goods are sold from pallets with limited in-store services and only a handful of staff. The product range is focused on longer life ambient and frozen items, alongside household items. Everyday staples like milk, eggs and bread aren’t available, and there is no fresh fruit or veg.
There is an area with a selection of limited deals on non-food products, similar to the middle aisle in Aldi and Lidl stores.

Suppliers must deliver direct to stores and are expected to offer stock on a sale or return basis. MERE’s Chief Procurement OfficerPavels Antonovs, said: “We are a hard discounter. When we see that a manufacturer or a distributor has an offer that fits our business criteria, we will have it in store.”

NamNews Implications:

• A gauntlet thrown down!
• There has to be an Aldi/Lidl reaction…
• The real issue is how the nearby mults will react.
• Getting listings should be straightforward for suppliers.
• (although direct store delivery, SOR may cause some to pause…)
• But a MERE startup in the UK cannot be ignored… 

#HardDiscounter #Discounter

Grocery Sales Fall, Inflation Returns, And Tesco, Sainsbury’s, And Discounters Gain Market Share

The latest take-home grocery figures from Kantar show sales fell by 4.0% year-on-year during the 12 weeks to 8 August as consumers continued to return to pre-pandemic shopping habits, making smaller but more frequent trips to the stores. However, in the last month, sales declined more slowly by 0.5% and the data shows that Covid is still having an impact on people’s spending as grocery sales remain 9.9% higher in the latest 12 weeks than in 2019.

NamNews Implications:

• A solid base of online loyals has emerged…
• ‘Ocado has retained 1.8% of total grocery sales, the same as last year, and sales are up by 44.4% compared with 2019, the fastest two-year growth in the market.’
• Says it all for Ocado.
• Meanwhile, with 11% of Amazon grocery in own-label…
• …they have plenty of O/L headspace vs mkt average 50%.
• ‘Aldi now holds 8.2% of the market and Lidl 6.1%’ illustrates the continuing discounter threat…

#GroceryMarketShares #PostLockdownRecovery #DiscounterThreat

Amazon To Add New Own-Label Food Range To Online Offering

The own-label food range developed for Amazon’s new grocery store format that launched in the UK earlier this year is set to be offered to its online customers.

The two ranges made their debut in March in the new ‘just walk out’ Amazon Fresh stores. Said to be sourced from UK suppliers, the ‘By Amazon’ label focused on everyday items such as milk and bread, whilst the ‘Our Selection’ offer covered more premium lines. They are sold alongside branded products and items that come from Morrisons and Booths.

NamNews Implications:

• The ultimate test of a retailer’s pulling power (and ego) is the extent to which they can monetise their retail brand via own-label.
• Key is the Generation they choose to position the offering (See our 1-page treatment of Four generations of own label)
• i.e. like Tesco Finest, deliberately positioned as Gen 4: better than national brand but the same price.
• Then branded suppliers have a real (and threatening) competitor…

#PrivateLabel #Amazon

Lockdown, what Lockdown? Some wishful thinking from the NamNews Team!

#Lockdown #Hospitality #PoliticalDilusion

Two Wrongs won't make it a Right Question, from the NamNews Team!

 (Best focus on how to rebuild a business from Lockdown?) 

#LockdownDamage #BackToBasics #RelativeCompetitiveAppeal

Asda’s CEO Steps Down Earlier Than Expected

Trevor Strain, Morrisons’ Chief Operating Officer, Steve Murrells, the boss of the Co-op, Jason Tarry, CEO of Tesco UK & Ireland, Stuart Machin, head of Food at M&S, Ronny Gottschlich, a former boss of Lidl, and Anthony Hemmerdinger, Asda’s COO, have been named by industry watchers as potential candidates to take over from Burnley.

NamNews Implications:

• With six potential candidates, NAMs will need further clarity…
• …in order to muse re impact of a replacement on Asda policy.
• Meanwhile, anticipate more influence from the owners…

#Succession #AsdaFuture

The Hut Group Makes Another Acquisition

E-commerce giant The Hut Group (THG) has continued its acquisition spree by buying online retailer Cult Beauty for £275m.

Launched in 2008, London-headquartered Cult Beauty sells around 300 brands across skincare, haircare and cosmetics, including Charlotte Tilbury, Drunk Elephant, and Huda Beauty.

NamNews Implications:

• In the infinite space of online…
• …this is a no-brainer addition to THG will add scale benefits inc cost efficiencies, minimum.
• And at growth rates of 38% and 41%…
• …you have to have a good reason for not being on board.

#

OnlineCosmetics #beauty #skincare

Doritos Unveils Latest On-Pack Promotion

PepsiCo’s Doritos brand is launching a new on-pack promotion that offers shoppers the chance to win a grand prize of £20,000. There is also an additional opportunity for consumers to win £200 every day.

NamNews Implications:

• A versatile brand…
• …combined with creative consumer engagement…
• …and potential financial reward.
• A no-brainer…

#ConsumerEngagement #Promotions

PepsiCo Selling Juice Brands To Private Equity Firm

PepsiCo has entered into an agreement with PAI Partners (PAI) to sell a 61% majority stake at $3.3bn in its Tropicana, Naked and other select juice brands across North America, and an irrevocable option for certain juice businesses in Europe.

NamNews Implications:

• Rivals should anticipate two changes resulting from this move…
• A different focus on the selling of the juice brands to release potential
• A more intensive focus on PepsiCo’s current portfolio of diverse offerings
• Including growing their portfolio of healthier snacks, zero-calorie beverages, and products like SodaStream.
• Watch these places…