Aldi is piloting sensory-friendly shopping hours across select UK stores to support customers who prefer a quieter environment.This initiative is being trialled in nearly 100 stores in regions including Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire.The sensory-friendly hours, set for Tuesdays from 6pm to 8:30pm, aim to provide a quieter shopping atmosphere by reducing noise levels.Aldi staff have received training to assist customers with hidden disabilities, recognising the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower symbol.This trial, if successful, will be expanded nationwide to enhance accessibility and inclusivity at Aldi stores.Aldi has announced the implementation of sensory-friendly shopping hours in select UK locations, aiming to create…
Author: Scott Dylan
Scott Dylan is the Founder of NexaTech Ventures
The era of cheap food in the UK is concluding as economists predict continued food price increases.Food inflation reached a 45-year high earlier this year, easing slightly but remaining significant.The cost of food is not expected to decrease despite a peak in inflation, underscores experts’ warnings.As expenses rise, lower-income households are compelled to reduce their grocery spending habits.Shrinkflation affects customers with products being downsized, while prices of own-brand goods rise most quickly.Economists have sounded the alarm that the era of cheap food is drawing to a close in the UK. Food prices have been marked by a significant increase, with…
Meatless Farm’s strategic expansion into Europe led to significant financial losses and eventual bankruptcy.The company’s relocation to Amsterdam in 2020 was a costly move that failed to yield profit.By 2023, Meatless Farm reported nearly £17m in losses across its European operations.A lack of investor interest compounded financial struggles, aggravated by global economic challenges.Despite sales to major European supermarkets, Meatless Farm struggled with innovation and competitive pressures.Meatless Farm’s ambitious plan to penetrate the European market ended in financial turmoil. After moving its headquarters from Leeds to Amsterdam in 2020, the company incurred substantial operating costs that surpassed its revenue. The company’s…
M&S has unveiled plans for a significant transformation of its Newcastle store, committing £13 million to the North East.The Northumberland Street store will undergo a top-to-bottom redesign, maintaining operations throughout the process.A newly refurbished foodhall is set to open by year-end, with clothing, home, and beauty departments following by early 2024.M&S is expanding its innovative ‘Scan & Shop’ system, enhancing customer convenience across the region.This investment underscores M&S’s long-standing dedication to North Eastern communities, reinforcing its position as a customer favourite.Marks and Spencer is set to embark on a significant transformation of its Newcastle store as part of a £13…
The UK government postpones border controls on EU food imports amid inflation concerns, impacting the grocery sector.Originally scheduled for October 2023, the Border Target Operating Model’s full implementation now extends into 2024.Businesses and ports receive more time to adjust to complex import requirements, including vet certificates and physical checks.Industry voices fear increased costs could raise consumer prices, with government estimates suggesting £420m yearly expenses.Surveys indicate significant EU suppliers are unprepared, potentially causing food shortages, particularly during the Christmas season.The UK government has decided to postpone the implementation of post-Brexit border checks on food products imported from the European Union. This…
Tesco is spearheading sustainability with its new ‘pillow pack’ for fresh mince, reducing plastic usage by 70%.This change applies to 500g packs of both 5% and 20% fat beef lean steak mince.The ‘pillow pack’ design avoids compression of the meat, unlike vacuum-packed options.New packs are more efficient, allowing more to be transported and displayed, boosting availability.Part of Tesco’s 4Rs strategy, the packaging is recyclable, aligning with their environmental goals.In a significant move towards sustainability, Tesco has introduced innovative ‘pillow packs’ for its fresh mince. This change marks a 70% reduction in plastic used compared to traditional tray wrap packs. The…
Aldi has been recognised as the UK’s most affordable supermarket for the fourteenth consecutive month, maintaining its commitment to low prices.Which? reports Aldi’s grocery basket costs £71.22, £1.38 less than Lidl.Asda and Tesco follow with slightly higher costs, priced at £78.65 and £79.59 respectively.Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Ocado exceed £80 for a standard grocery basket.Waitrose remains the priciest option at £87.24.Aldi continues to reign as the most cost-effective supermarket in the UK, marking its fourteenth month at the top according to consumer watchdog, Which?. With a basket of groceries priced at £71.22, Aldi manages to save its customers on average over…
Asda is pioneering fuel pricing transparency by displaying daily rates online.The initiative is a response to MP scrutiny and aims to address inflated prices.Motorists can now access daily fuel rates and vital station details before visiting.Asda plans to enhance this service by introducing real-time pricing updates soon.The move aligns with a wider call for improved fuel price transparency across supermarkets.In a significant step towards transparency, Asda has become the first supermarket to post its local fuel prices online. Responding to scrutiny from Members of Parliament over soaring prices, this initiative is designed to give consumers the ability to view petrol…
In a landmark development, Asda could be liable for a £1.2 billion payout due to an equal pay case, with significant implications for the retail sector.An email leaked to ITV News suggests nearly 55,000 shopfloor workers are underpaid compared to distribution colleagues.Evidence indicates male distribution workers earn up to £3 more per hour than female shopfloor staff.The case highlights gender-based pay disparities within Asda’s workforce.This legal battle could reshape pay structures across the supermarket industry.An email leaked to ITV News has shed light on a potentially groundbreaking equal pay case confronting Asda, one of the UK’s prominent supermarket chains. At…
Co-op’s MD challenges claims linking profiteering to rising shoplifting.The conglomerate has faced nearly 1,000 crime incidents daily in 2023.Comments defending shoplifting as a non-crime face strong rebuttal.Security measures, like locking baby formula, are in response to organised crime.Calls for police intervention as stricter laws are anticipated in a new bill.Co-op’s Managing Director, Matt Hood, has addressed claims that profiteering is being used as a justification for escalating shoplifting incidents. With the convenience retailer experiencing over 175,000 recorded cases of crime, shoplifting, and antisocial behaviour in the first half of 2023 alone, Hood’s comments follow public concern suggesting supermarkets might be…