Take-home grocery sales are expected to surpass £13 billion for the first time ever this December, according to the leading marketing data and analytics company Kantar which showed that sales grew by 6.3 per cent over the four weeks to 26 November 2023 to reach £11.7 billion.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, comments, “The scene is set for record-breaking spend through the supermarket tills this Christmas. The festive period is always a bumper one for the grocers with consumers buying on average 10 per cent more items than in a typical month. Some of the increase, of course, will also be driven by the ongoing price inflation we’ve seen this year.
“While the rate at which grocery prices are rising is still well above the norm, the good news for shoppers is that inflation is continuing to come down. It dropped again in November to 9.1 per cent. The retailers are also battling it out to offer value to consumers during this important month for trading and are doing what they can to keep prices low.
"In a sign of just how fierce the contest is between the grocers, the cost of a Christmas dinner for four has risen well below the overall inflation rate this year at 1.3 per cent, as some items on our festive plate have actually fallen in price. Brussels sprouts are now 4.3 per cent cheaper than 12 months ago so there’s no excuse for people not to enjoy them!"
Retailers are putting the emphasis on own-label lines and promotions to attract people through their doors. Kantar data shows that spending on offers hit its highest level in over two years in the latest four week period at 28.4 per cent.
"The amount of money spent on deals usually leaps in the run up to Christmas, but this year is already looking a bit different. We’re well above 2022 levels, with customers making an additional £180 million in savings this November versus 12 months ago. Brands have benefited from the boost in offers and have now edged ahead of their own-label counterparts, growing sales by 6.5 per cent versus 6.4 per centfor retailer lines. However, own-label is still doing incredibly well and premium lines especially so.
"These products are up by 15.4 per cent year on year, with wine, chilled ready meals and fresh beef among the big winners last month. We’re likely to see a seasonal jump in premium stuffing, sausage meat and Christmas puddings over the coming weeks," explains McKevitt.
Dec 22 is predicted to be the single busiest day in store as people rush to make sure they have what they need ahead of the big day. Nearly 41 million brussels sprouts will pass through the tills every day in the week before 25 December.
The two biggest supermarkets continued their fightback in the battle for market share last month.
McKevitt adds,“Sainsbury’s delivered its largest market share gain in over a decade this November, taking an additional 0.4 percentage points to reach 15.6 per cent. The last time it made this big a jump was in March 2013. Its growth was driven in no small part by the continued success of its own-label offer, with sales of its popular ‘Taste the Difference’ range up by a whopping 23 per cent year on year.
"These premium products feature prominently in Sainsbury’s Christmas TV spot this year and our testing showed its lead TV ad is one of the top performers for potential short-term sales impact. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the numbers next month to see how this translates at the tills.
“Tesco also put in a strong performance to increase its market share to 27.5 per cent following a growth in sales of 8.6 per cent, marking the fifth month in a row that Britain’s largest retailer has made gains.”
Danish brewer Carlsberg's Russian assets have been removed from a list of Western assets under the management of the Russian state, a presidential decree showed on Monday.
Moscow seized control of Carlsberg's stake in Russia's Baltika Breweries in July 2023 and placed it under "temporary management," prompting Carlsberg Group CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen to say that its business had been stolen.
The decree, signed by President Vladimir Putin on Monday, voided the previous move to put Carlsberg's Russian assets under the temporary control of the country's federal property management agency Rosimushchestvo.
It did not say who would assume control of the assets.
Russia's Vedomosti newspaper reported late on Monday, citing three sources, that Carlsberg had reached an agreement with private investors on the sale of its Russian business.
Two of Vedomosti's sources named one of the investors as Taimuraz Bolloev, president of Baltika. The deal is expected to conclude by the end of the year, one of the sources said.
Carlsberg said it was aware of the announcement from the Russian authorities but had no immediate comment. Baltika, Russia's largest brewery, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Carlsberg's assets were seized at the same time as those of Danone. Moscow forced through a sale of the French yoghurt maker's assets to a pro-war businessman earlier this year.
Bolloev, who ran Baltika from 1991 to 2004, was appointed its president without Carlsberg's approval after the state took control.
EU countries are poised to push for stricter anti-smoking rules on Tuesday, backing bans on smoking and vaping in many outdoor areas including playgrounds and cafe patios.
A recommendation inviting member states to crack down on second-hand smoke - and vapour - will be on the table as health ministers from the bloc's 27 nations meet in Brussels.
It is likely to be approved, according to diplomatic sources, despite political divisions on the issue - on display last week when the European Parliament voted against a similar text.
The recommendation would be non-binding, as health is a competence of individual member states.
But it gives an indication of the policies governments could pursue in the future as they seek to reduce smoke-related deaths and ailments.
Following an initial proposal by the European Commission in September, a draft document calls on EU countries to extend restrictions in place for cigarettes to cover "emerging products", such as heated tobacco devices and electronic cigarettes that are increasingly popular with young people.
Governments should "provide effective protection" from aerosols emitted by these in indoor environments such as offices and public buildings.
Such protection should also be granted in some outdoor areas, it says.
This in practice entails that all smoking should be banned in locations including swimming pools, beaches, zoos, rooftop bars and restaurant terraces.
'Violation of individual freedom'
The push comes as the EU is aiming to reduce its smoking population from around 25 per cent now to less than five percent of the total by 2040, as part of its "Beating Cancer Plan".
Tobacco use is estimated to kill more than eight million people globally each year, including about 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke, World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show.
Emissions from electronic cigarettes also typically contain nicotine and other toxic substances that are harmful including to second-hand smokers, according to the WHO.
But treating smoking and vaping the same way is contentious.
In a joint declaration seen by AFP, Italy and Romania said calls for a ban on outdoor vaping lacked scientific basis and should have not been included in the recommendation.
The two countries should nevertheless back the text, according to a diplomatic source.
The European Parliament last week voted against a resolution on the same subject, after lawmakers on the right passed amendments to differentiate between traditional tobacco products and electronic devices.
This drew the ire of the left, which had supported the original text but rejected its watered down version.
"We see the outdoor smoking ban as a violation of individual freedom," Pietro Fiocchi, a lawmaker with the hard-right ECR group, said in a statement.
The parliamentary resolution, which would have had only symbolic value, was turned down with 378 votes against and only 152 in favour.
Newcastle United has announced the early extension of its partnership with parcel delivery service, InPost. This follows a very successful first 12 months which has seen a number of community activations reach thousands of fans in the North East.
To kick off the partnership, InPost installed bespoke Lockers at St. James’s Park, the first in the country at a Premier League stadium, and has since gone on to form a key part of the club’s newly launched ecommerce offering, giving fans the option of online deliveries to be sent to any InPost Locker across the UK.
As well as using their logistical expertise to benefit supporters, InPost has partnered with the club and Newcastle United Foundation on a number of community initiatives.
As part of an innovative campaign to support the club’s mental health engagements in October 2024, InPost captured personal wellbeing messages from first team players and placed them inside its lockers for its customers to read – proving “what’s inside really does matter”.
Building on this message of mental wellbeing and community connection, this month the Newcastle United Foundation will launch a collaborative art project with InPost. The project will feature artwork created by local school pupils, alongside contributions from a talented local artist. This project will provide visitors to the Foundation with a thoughtful and engaging display that celebrates the creativity and spirit of the local community.
“Over the past 12 months, InPost has become immersed in the football club and city,” said Newcastle United’s Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Silverstone. “We have been able to offer bespoke, localised services to our supporters which are powerful, positive and meaningful to the Newcastle community. As a result, this partnership has been a resounding success for both parties and is testament to the incredible spirit that has been forged so quickly with InPost.”
Michael Rouse, CEO International of InPost group, added: “Our partnership with Newcastle United reflects a shared ambition to make a tangible difference – both for the club’s supporters and the wider community. Together, we are building meaningful connections with thousands of consumers and supporting the communities at the heart of InPost and Newcastle United.
“We look forward to growing this partnership and providing even more consumers with new initiatives and innovative delivery solutions for the future.”
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF), the Trade Association for the Scottish Convenience sector, said that small retailers are desperate to invest in their businesses, and take advantage of new technologies and sustainable practices, but many stores are now struggling to stay viable.
SGF has called on the Scottish Finance Secretary to ensure that 40% reliefs on Non-Domestic Rates announced for retail businesses south of the border are passed on to Scottish stores. Alongside the extra reliefs, SGF say that the Scottish Government should focus on growth by ringfencing funding through the Small Business Bonus Scheme and freezing poundage for the foreseeable future.
“The Scottish Government has a real opportunity to boost growth in communities across Scotland, and help rejuvenate town centres, by passing on the NDR reliefs announced by the Chancellor," said SGF Chief Executive, Dr Pete Cheema OBE.
“In past years, convenience stores in England have benefited from 75 per cent reliefs, that support has dropped to 40 per cent this year, but it could still be crucial in helping put the Scottish Economy back on track.
“Many SGF members, and small store across Scotland, are facing a raft of challenges. Alongside increases to National Insurance Contributions, hire wage rates, higher inflation, energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis. Not to mention a pile on of regulation across a range of product categories.
“Scottish Businesses have been operating at an economic disadvantage to our counterparts in England. Sorting out the damaging impact of business rates on economic growth and small business in Scotland is a no brainer.”
SGF has also called for an uplift for Police Scotland and Scottish Justice to help tackle the sharp increase in retail crime which is having a significant impact on business viability.
Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, today announces the appointment of Alison Acquaye-Acford as Director of Commercial Partnerships and Retail Sales.
With a career in retail spanning almost three decades, Alison joins Allwyn from Acosta Europe where, in her role as Business Unit Director, she was responsible for transforming the growth of client brands including Red Bull. She also spearheaded various revenue-driving projects that contributed to Acosta’s most successful year yet.
Prior to this, Alison held senior leadership roles for seven years at Pepsico with a focus on Pipers Crisps – overseeing the growth of its independent retailer customer base, leading the integration of teams after its acquisition by Pepsico, and bringing in innovative technology to increase sales and engagement.
Alison has also held roles at Heineken UK, GlaxoSmithKline, Coca-Cola and Schweppes Beverages.
“I’m delighted to be joining Allwyn and leading retail operations at such an exciting time for the business," said Alison. "Everyone knows the amazing good that The National Lottery does – whether that’s winners winning life-changing prizes, or the Good Causes making lives better around the UK every single day. It clearly has an incredibly important role in the UK and its success would not be possible without the commitment and advocacy of our retail partners.”
Allwyn’s Operations Director, Jenny Blogg, said, “With the appointment of Alison, we’re bringing in an experienced senior leader who has a deep understanding of retail. This directly speaks to the enormous role our retail channel has in our exciting plans to restore the magic to The National Lottery and deliver responsible growth, enabling us to raise more money than ever before for Good Causes.”