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Costcutter

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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.

Costcutter CEO Darcy Willson-Rymer has told just-food the UK c-store group's new venture with wholesaler Palmer & Harvey will benefit independent retailers and suppliers.

Tesco-owned UK convenience business One Stop Stores is to trial a franchise model with local independent retailers.

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Morrisons last week announced firmer plans for an online food service - and the UK retailer could join forces with specialist Ocado. Larger rival Tesco, meanwhile, launched its own price-comparison scheme to lure in customers. Tesco, however, attracted more headlines on horsemeat with another recall. On a separate note, an Irish meat firm was said to know its beef was contaminated a year ago. Dole Food Co., Chiquita and Diamond Foods were among companies announcing results and, on the M&A front, UK firm Burton's Biscuit Co. could soon be up for grabs.

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Food prices - or the prospect of inflation - was a hot topic last week. A vote by the European Parliament to extend sugar quotas to 2020 was criticised, while proposed US changes to country-of-origin labelling were also argued to be set to lead to higher prices. Meanwhile, a drought in Spain is causing concern over global olive oil prices.

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Independent convenience operator Costcutter and distribution giant Palmer & Harvey have inked a deal to create the UK's second-largest convenience chain and form a buying joint venture.

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UK retailer The Co-operative Group is to buy ten Costcutter stores in London for an undisclosed sum.

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UK convenience retailer Costcutter has remained silent over reports it is in talks over a supply tie-up with Asda.

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UK convenience retailer Costcutter has appointed a new chief executive, with Darcy Willson-Rymer replacing Nick Ivel.

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UK convenience retailer Costcutter has booked an increase in first-half sales and set a new target of Kwiksave store openings for the end of the year.

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Morrisons has signed a logistics deal with Bibby Distribution, owner of the Costcutter convenience store chain reports have claimed it has been looking to buy.

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The top stories on just-food this week had a distinctly French flavour. Danone issued a profit warning, with Spain's problems affecting the Activia maker. Meanwhile, French retail giant Carrefour's new CEO Georges Plassat made his first public appearance since taking the job, with the industry keen to hear how he planned to revitalise the world's second-largest retailer.

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An acquisition of UK retailer Costcutter by Morrisons could give the grocer greater scope for expansion in convenience retail in the south of England, according to Conlumino analyst Simon Chinn.

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Directors of UK convenience retailer Costcutter are optimistic despite posting a drop in full-year profits.

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Uncertainty surrounds PepsiCo at the moment, with rumours that some directors now want the US food and drink giant to examine whether to split the company in two - a move some analysts and investors demand. CEO Indra Nooyi is reported to be against such a move and is said to be lining up acquisitions to bolster the company. Elsewhere, Unilever again faced claims that it would look to offload more food brands and HJ Heinz said it would close more factories to deal with the "difficult" trading conditions in some markets, Click on the headlines for more.

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Spar stores in the UK have rolled out a marketing campaign that compares its prices with those in Tesco's convenience outlets.

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Bibby Line Group has finalised the acquisition of UK convenience retailer Costcutter.

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The majority shareholder of Costcutter is in negotiations to buy the remainder of the UK convenience retailer.