GENERAL NEWS:
Drinkaware aims to tackle booze problem abroad
Drinkaware is teaming up with the youth holiday operator Club 18-30 to promote responsible holiday drinking during the 2010 summer season. In previous years youth holiday brands have come under the spotlight for apparently encouraging excessive drinking and loutish behaviour. Since then Club 18-30 has tried to position itself as offering a more sport and adventure-focused holiday.
GENERAL NEWS:
‘A million more shoppers a week’ help Sainsbury’s profits surge
Sainsbury’s has announced a 17.5% rise in pre-tax profits for the past year, citing improved savings on costs and a million new customers a week over last year.
GENERAL NEWS:
Asda seeks to boost growth with price guarantee
Asda is launching a “Price Guarantee” as a shift in strategy backed by a television and press advertising campaign. The Price Guarantee is designed to give shoppers “the certainty that they are looking for in today’s world”.
The supermarket is guaranteeing that the cost of a shopper’s basket will be lower than that of the same basket at their leading competitors and if it’s not, it will repay the difference.
GENERAL NEWS:
No 3D TV for World Cup
The BBC and ITV, which have broadcast rights for the World Cup games in the UK, have both confirmed that they have no plans to screen matches in the 3D format. This is a blow to the 1,000 pubs that are now 3D compatible.
GENERAL NEWS:
Beer tasting hits Twitter for Cask Ale Week
The Campaign for Real Ale is to host the first ever Twitter beer tasting event in celebration of National Cask Ale Week. Pub-goers can then follow Roger’s Protz’s comments on real ales and discuss what they like or dislike about the beers.
BEER, ALE & CIDER:
Grolsch packs encourage continental habits
Molson Coors hopes to encourage continental drinking habits among consumers with the launch of the Perfect Grolsch Serve Home Experience Pack. The kits include a nucleated Grolsch glass, beer skimmer and a book which ‘celebrates the art of pouring and enjoying beer through delivering the perfect Grolsch continental serve’.
NEWS GENERAL:
3D football in Pubs and clubs
More than 1,000 pubs and clubs in the UK and Ireland have signed up to receive 3D football through Sky. The broadcaster’s official website, SkySports.com, says Sky’s special 3D TV channel will go live with the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea in April. Sky will show at least a further five Premier League games in 3D before the end of the current season.
NEWS GENERAL:
Half of English towns ‘have five or more supermarkets’
Almost half of English towns are within a 10-minute drive of five or more supermarkets, new research has claimed. Forty-two percent of towns nationwide are within 10 minutes of five supermarkets, retail consultancy CACI found – a proportion that rises to 58% in the West Midlands.
NEWS GENERAL:
Whole Food launches online offering
Whole Foods Market has launched an online shopping service in the UK. The US-owned organic specialist will deliver a range of hampers and fruit baskets nationwide via a new website, wholefoodsmarketonline.co.uk.
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=207492
NEWS GENERAL:
Alcohol Concern slams pub offers in three towns
Alcohol Concern has slammed pub and club operators after finding half the venues in three Welsh cities were offering “irresponsible” discounts. Some of the promotions encouraged people to get “plastered” while in other pubs and clubs alcohol was cheaper than soft drinks.