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Asda, the UK's second-largest retailer, has reported "market-leading growth" in early weeks of 2012. Analysts say Asda's focus on price has helped the retailer gain shoppers from the likes of Tesco and Morrisons, although, if and when the economy recovers, it may need to demonstrate it can offer consumers more. Dean Best reports.

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Since the onset of the downturn, German discounters Aldi and Lidl have, for the most part, been able to grow sales ahead of the UK's four largest grocery retailers. Andrew Don investigates whether they can maintain momentum after the country's now double-dip recession.

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A year ago, when Philip Clarke took the reins as chief executive of Tesco, one City analyst told just-food that the retailer's new boss was likely to only have to "fine-tune" the business than "rebuild the engine".

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We are just days away from the end of the first quarter of 2012, a year in which manufacturers were hoping the pressure of last year's commodity inflation would ease significantly. However, those hopes may not materialise as quickly as many manufacturing giants expect.

The Co-operative Group accounted for a quarter of the UK grocery retail market in the 1960s. By 2008, its share had fallen to 5%. However, the Co-op's purchase of the Somerfield chain two years ago has sparked its renaissance and Tim Hurrell, the head of the company's food retail arm, spoke with Petah Marian about the integration, Fairtrade and how the company is rising again.

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There has been huge growth in ethically-traded goods in recent years but some brands stand out from the crowd. Divine Chocolate would be among them. As the UK’s Fairtrade Fortnight draws to a close, Ben Cooper spoke with Sophi Tranchell, managing director of Divine Chocolate, about what differentiates Divine from many Fairtrade products, the brand’s international aspirations and whether Fairtrade can withstand the onslaught of recession.

In a week when ConAgra Foods faced uncomfortable questions over its performance, Ben & Jerry's waded into the GMO-debate and the UK government revealed that it is looking at various ways to curb sugar consumption - including fiscal levers - here is just-food's week in words.

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Denmark-based retailer Dansk Supermarked, which is set to switch owners, has reported higher operating profit and sales for 2013.

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Dansk Supermarked owner Maersk Holding has denied reports the company is looking to divest the Danish supermarket chain.

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German retailer Edeka has booked an increase in full-year sales, with growth in each of its divisions.

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French food retailer and manufacturer Les Mousquetaires saw its sales increase by more than 5% in 2012, with supermarket chain Intermarché gaining market share and higher revenues at its production arm.

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German food retailer Edeka has divested its minority stake in discount chain Netto Stavenhagen.

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UK retailer Asda has booked an increase in profit last year, despite a "challenging" period for the economy and despite its new chain of small stores incurring losses.

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UK retailer Morrisons lost ground to its bigger rivals Asda and Sainsbury's, Kantar Worldpanel claimed today (11 September) as they issued their latest sales data on the country's grocery sector.

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The sale of Dansk Supermarked's Netto stores in the UK to Asda has hit profits at the Denmark-based retailer.

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The top- and bottom-end of the UK grocery market is outperforming the middle ground, with the discounters and Waitrose benefitting from the hourglass effect and witnessing faster sales growth than the country's largest supermarkets.

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Asda has grown its market share to an all-time high as the impact of last year's acquisition of Netto's UK stores boosted sales.

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Tesco has seen its share of the UK grocery market fall to its lowest level for seven years, according to data issued by Kantar Worldpanel.

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Shares in Wal-Mart Stores fell today (21 February) after the retail giant admitted price cuts in the US had led to lower margins from its local operations in the last quarter of its financial year.

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Asda, the UK's second-largest retailer, saw its sales growth slow in the final quarter of its financial year.

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Asda, unlike Tesco and Sainsbury's, increased its number of promotions in December, according to data from just-food's Promo Tracker.

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Asda and Sainsbury's have increased their share of the UK grocery market, according to the latest data from Kantar Wordpanel, which includes the run-up to Christmas.

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Asda and Aldi enjoyed the fastest sales growth in the UK in the run-up to Christmas, according to data issued by Nielsen.

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Tesco's Big Price Drop promotional campaign has hit its share of the UK grocery market, according to the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel.

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UK supermarket giant Asda saw its like-for-like sales growth accelerate in the third quarter of its financial year.

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German grocery retailer Edeka has confirmed it is looking to expand into foreign markets as part of its plans for future growth.

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French retail group Les Mousquetaires has appointed Thierry Cotillard as director for purchasing for its Intermarché and Netto divisions.

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Malcolm Walker, the founder and current CEO of Iceland Foods, will reportedly not make an offer to buy the remaining shares in the UK food retailer in the first round of bidding.