Opinion – Page 12
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Opinion
‘As Lidl overtakes the Co-op, grocery’s established order could be set for a shake-up’
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine heaps further pressure on global supply chains and commodity prices, Aldi and Lidl could permanently shift UK grocery’s established order, writes Hugh Radojev.
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Opinion
‘Make no mistake – Amazon still has big ambitions in bricks and mortar’
Amazon might be calling time on its bookshops and 4-star stores, but rivals should not be fooled – the etail titan remains hell-bent on making its mark in bricks-and-mortar retail, warns George MacDonald.
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Opinion
‘John Lewis may have ditched Never Knowingly Undersold but it must keep service promise’
How many John Lewis customers took advantage of its Never Knowingly Undersold price promise last year?
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Opinion
Nigel Oddy: ‘Concerns for the planet are as prominent as cost for UK consumers’
The fashion industry has a responsibility to take sustainability seriously, writes New Look chief executive Nigel Oddy
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Opinion
‘UK retailers could follow US as ghost kitchens swoop into supermarkets’
Ghost kitchens are becoming an increasing part of the food retail landscape as grocers and restaurants compete for stomach share. Innovations in the US, from TikTok to Kroger, may inspire similar initiatives in the UK, says George MacDonald
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Opinion
‘Asda’s reaction to Jack Monroe reveals rise of a new style of influencer’
As the spiralling cost of living unsettles consumers – inflation now stands at a 30-year high according to this week’s ONS data – retailers’ value propositions are coming under the spotlight in new ways, sometimes in an unflattering light, from a new type of influencer.
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Opinion
‘Booming demand has spurred creation of more resale businesses’
The rising cost of living will power the growth of second-hand products and resale, maintains eBay UK general manager Murray Lambell.
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Opinion
‘When do we stop calling Amazon a retailer?’
Amazon’s varied and growing revenue streams mean that selling ‘stuff’ is increasingly incidental to the tech giant’s business proposition, Natalie Berg observes.
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Opinion
‘Amid all the turbulence, retail starts the year from a position of relative strength’
Christmas was good for many retailers, but to maintain share or increase growth in a volatile environment, it will be necessary to invest in differentiation, believes PwC industry leader for consumer markets Lisa Hooker
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Opinion
'Why Walmart’s InHome delivery scheme may be convenience retail’s final frontier'
Where Walmart goes, other retailers frequently follow and the latest foray by the US powerhouse takes it right into customers’ homes – specifically their kitchens.
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Opinion
Jo Whitfield: ‘Race to the bottom on price raises fears about sustainability of food production’
Lower prices for shoppers must not mean a squeeze on farming and suppliers, argues Co-op Food chief executive Jo Whitfield
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Opinion
‘Was discount format Jack’s a waste of Tesco’s time?’
When Tesco’s first Jack’s store opened in Chatteris in 2018 the Fenland town found itself in the unusual position of being a must-visit retail destination.
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Opinion
‘Now is the time for Ocado to deliver on its promise after latest tech revolution’
Last week Ocado’s chief executive Tim Steiner unveiled a host of upgrades for the retailer’s Smart Platform. Nearly a decade after the grocer first styled itself as a tech platform, now is the time for Ocado to walk the walk, says Hugh Radojev.
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Opinion
‘The era of Covid-forgiveness is over – retail must put service at the top of the agenda’
Shoppers were willing to put up with lower standards of service while they and the retailers they relied on navigated the health emergency. But now, as conditions normalise, they expect better. Good service will increasingly characterise retail success but a poor experience will be punished, argues Luke Tugby.
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Opinion
‘As cost of living climbs, value-for-money battle will make or break retail success’
With consumers across the board feeling the pinch of rising prices, retailers should remember that value for money need not mean cheap, writes George MacDonald
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Opinion
‘With the world of retail rapidly changing, employers must move with the times’
The shift to more flexible working and a greater focus on mental wellbeing has made the jobs market more competitive, writes Tony Gregg, but this presents an opportunity, not a threat.
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Opinion
‘RIP John Sainsbury – one of Britain’s greatest ever retailers’
Following the death of legendary retailer Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, Shore Capital’s Clive Black pays tribute to a man who changed the grocery and retail landscape
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Opinion
‘Maybe it’s Terry Smith who’s lost the plot – Unilever’s sustainability focus is logical, not ludicrous’
The Fundsmith founder has criticised the extent of Unilever’s sustainability agenda, but investors need to get with the programme or be left behind, writes Luke Tugby.
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Opinion
‘Retailers achieved the incredible during Covid – imagine what we can do next’
If 2020 was a year of destruction, then 2021 was one of reconstruction and progress. But 2022 will put this to the test, warns BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson
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Opinion
‘How green can retailers become and still turn a profit?’
Over the past few years there has been a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour with people becoming more conscious about what they buy and how they shop.