Ocado - food industry company news 
Promo Tracker: Waitrose offers deepest promotions
7 February 2012
Waitrose's promotions offered consumers the highest saving on average, according to the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
6 February 2012
The appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour caused a flurry of comment throughout the industry, with pundits outlining what the new chief's priorities ought to be. Unilever and Kellogg were among manufacturers that announced annual results, while Hain Celestial, reporting its half-year numbers, said it saw a number of acquisition targets in the US. Elsewhere, suppliers expressed anger at a decision in Europe to block the use of new nutrition claims.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
6 February 2012
Hershey and Unilever were among the major food manufacturers that this week were the first to report their 2011 financial results. Unilever's profits inched up 1% and CEO Paul Polman pointed to the performance of its home and personal care operations - casting some questions over the prospects of its food operations. In the retail sector, this week saw the long-speculated appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour and analysts expressed concern about the outlook for Ocado despite narrowing full-year losses.
UK: Ocado's FY losses narrow
31 January 2012
UK online grocery retailer Ocado today (31 January) announced its full-year losses dropped 80% to GBP2.4m (US$3.79m).
UK: Analysts - questions remain for Ocado
31 January 2012
Analysts retain concerns about the prospects of UK online retailer Ocado even after it posted a reduction in full-year losses earlier today (31 January).
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
27 January 2012
The UK government this week launched a series of measures, drawn up with industry, to drive the food sector's growth overseas. The so-called export action plan came in the week that food and drink giant Princes announced a venture in Italy and UK confectioner Zetar opened its first sales office in Europe. Zetar's CEO outlined the company's Continental sales target to just-food and, in a further interview with a top executive, Spar International MD Dr Gordon Campbell told us about the symbol retailer's expansion plans in India.
UK: McNeil adds to Benecol yoghurt range
26 January 2012
McNeil Nutritionals has added to the range of Benecol yoghurts on sale in the UK.
UK: Ocado rejigs exec team as CFO Bracey quits
23 January 2012
UK online retailer Ocado has announced changes to its senior management team as it reported that its CFO Andrew Bracey was due to leave the business.
Promo Tracker: Asda upped discounts in December
13 January 2012
Asda, unlike Tesco and Sainsbury's, increased its number of promotions in December, according to data from just-food's Promo Tracker.
UK: Ocado announces festive sales boost
12 January 2012
Shares in UK online grocery retailer Ocado soared after gross sales jumped 16% in the run up to Christmas.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 December 2011
Wal-Mart stunned the US food sector this week with a decision to pull a Mead Johnson infant formula brand after the death of a baby in Missouri. In the UK, two retailers, Thorntons and Ocado, faced the scrutiny of investors after profit warnings. And, just-food launched its international food basket to highlight the difference in price between national brands and own label in seven markets.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
23 December 2011
This week, UK retailers Thorntons and Ocado issued profit warnings, while US food giant General Mills revealed a fall in quarterly profits. Meanwhile, in Europe, Italian retailer Conad acquired German retailer Rewe's 43 Billa stores in the country.
On the money: Analysts divided over Ocado outlook
19 December 2011
Analysts are split over the prospects of UK online retailer Ocado, which today (19 December) announced projected profits that were lower than expectations.
UK: Ocado shares fall after profit forecast misses expectations
19 December 2011
UK online retailer Ocado saw its shares slide today (19 December) after reporting profit forecasts that were lower than analyst expectations.
Promo Tracker: Sainsbury's ramps up promos in November
7 December 2011
Sainsbury's intensified its promotional activity in November, according to the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker.
Talking shop: Costcutter faces supermarket might
16 November 2011
Bibby Line hailed the convenience retail sector as a "great opportunity" in the wake of its acquisition of major player Costcutter. However, can Costcutter stand up to the will and spending power of supermarkets, which have also recognised the opportunities c-stores offer? just-food explores the issue.
UK: Ocado launches supermarket app
15 November 2011
UK online retailer Ocado has launched its first supermarket app for Blackberry phones.
Promo Tracker: Retailers split on promotions in October
2 November 2011
Tesco and Ocado stepped up their promotional activity in October but the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker showed a split among retailers.
UK: Charlie Bigham's names head of food
26 October 2011
UK-based ready meals firm Charlie Bigham's has appointed Georgina Wood to the newly-created role of head of food.
UK: PepsiCo launches Sakata rice crackers in UK
17 October 2011
PepsiCo has introduced its Japanese rice cracker brand Sakata in the UK.
Promo Tracker: Tesco, Asda, Ocado up promotions
5 October 2011
Tesco, Asda and Ocado increased the number of promotions they had on offer in September, according to data from the latest just-food Promo Tracker.
Best bits: Retailers gather in Berlin to talk shop
26 September 2011
The uncertain economic outlook, fed by the fears over Greece's public finances and pessimism over the growth prospects of markets like the US and the UK, is a key theme of this week's World Retail Congress in Berlin.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
26 September 2011
Tesco this week announced plans to cut GBP500m (US$773.6m) from the price of thousands of items in the UK in a revamp of its promotional strategy. Suppliers and rival retailers will be weighing up the impact on their businesses and the move comes at a difficult time for online retailer Ocado, which has a high-profile price-matching campaign aimed at Tesco and has seen its shares fall this week. Elsewhere, Kerry Group boosted its ingredients business with a move to buy Cargill's flavours arm while one deal that will not happen is ConAgra Foods' bid to buy Ralcorp Holdings, which again refused to talk to its suitor.
Talking shop: Uncertainty grows about whether Ocado can deliver
21 September 2011
Ocado's shares have dropped 30% this week after investors were spooked by a trading update and fears of a step-up in competition in the UK. There appears to be a rocky road ahead for the online retailer. Dean Best reports.
On the money: Ocado confident despite share setback
19 September 2011
UK online retailer Ocado remains confident despite investor concerns about capacity, the spectre of competition from Waitrose and the cost of improving customer service.
UK: Sales slowdown, margin warning hit Ocado shares
19 September 2011
Shares in Ocado dropped by nearly 12% today (19 September) after the UK online retailer's sales growth slowed and it admitted that margins would be lower than earlier forecast.
Promo Tracker: Unilever ups promotions on Ben & Jerry's
6 September 2011
Unilever ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's returned to the top 20 of the UK's most-promoted food brands in August, according to data from the latest just-food Promo Tracker.
UK: Jamie Oliver launches "sustainable" seafood range
17 August 2011
Young's Seafood has teamed up with Jamie Oliver to launch a range of "sustainable" frozen products.
UK: Ocado to open Oxford distribution centre
4 August 2011
UK online retailer Ocado is to open a distribution site in Oxford that is set to create up to 170 jobs.
Promo Tracker: Tesco ups promotional levels
3 August 2011
Tesco significantly increased the number of products on offer during July, according to data from the latest Promo Tracker.
Related research
Ocado and the UK Online Food & Grocery Market: Insight 2010
Verdict had the opportunity to visit Ocado's headquarters in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and to sit down with the grocer's management team. We reveal some of our findings and analyse the long term prospects for the UK pureplay and the UK online food & grocery market.
Online Food & Grocery: The Shopper Perspective
Addressing the increasingly important online channel in food and grocery retailing, this report presents authoritative research, analysis and insight into shoppers’ motivations and behaviour across the online path to purchase.The report offers detailed insight into shoppers’ attitudes, behaviours and purchasing habits online, retailers’ propositions and shopper marketing effectiveness, helping FMCGs, retailers and agencies understand and influence the shoppers’ decision making process across the online path to purchase.
Costco: The Pinnacle of Value
By 2009, Costco had overtaken Home Depot and Target to become the third largest US based retailer in revenue terms, and also the largest warehouse club in the US. This case study examines its operations to assess if the warehouse club format, or successful components of the business model, can be adopted by other retailers. It also acts as a useful resource for potential suppliers to the company
