Britain’s biggest retailer returned to growth for the first time in a year, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Its figures confirmed a 0.3% increase in sales for the 12 weeks ending February 1, with an extra 236,000 shoppers tempted through the doors over the period.
But it was not all sunshine in Tescoland, as its market share fell to 29%, down by 0.2% points compared with the same period of last year.
Creating 145 jobs
Tulip was also high on the hot list of our sideways look at the week’s news, after creating 145 jobs at its Westerleigh production facility in Gloucestershire. The investment was part of a £16M project to expand the site. The investment will allow the meat firm to boost supplies to the UK market and also the key export market, with a view to boosting exports to China.
Good week
- Tesco
- Tulip
- Premier Foods
- Quorn Foods
There was more good news for Premier Foods and Quorn Foods. In an exclusive interview with FoodManufacture.co.uk Premier Foods ceo Gavin Darby revealed plans to pump £25M into its production facilities in a bid to boost output and efficiencies across the UK.
The investment was in addition to the £20M to be invested in a new Mr Kipling cake production line at its Barnsley plant, announced last year. The Premier Foods boss told us he had got his foot on the gas
8% growth in global sales
Finally, in the good news column comes Quorn Foods, which reported an 8% growth in global sales last month to reach more than £14.5M.
But it was bad news this week for the Scotch Smoked Salmon Co in Rainham Essex and milk producers. The fish company suffered a blaze at its offices, which the fire brigade linked to an electrical fault.
Bad week
- Scotch Smoked Salmon Co
- Salty snacks
- Milk producers
Salty snacks had an unpalatable week, with the news that a Nielsen survey of 30,000 people reported nearly a third planned to ditch salty treats on health worries.
Producers' milk prices were again in the spotlight as a dairy working group was formed to tackle milk contracts following an emergency roundtable convened by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and trade representatives this week.
During the meeting, the National Farmers Union urged DEFRA secretary of state Liz Truss to assist the beleaguered sector by speeding up overdue EU single payment scheme payouts owed to producers and backing extra bank support and staggering tax payments.
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