Tag Archives: Competition

The Price of Petrol

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Leigh Sparks

During the summer my pattern of buying petrol changed.  My semi-regular route takes me past two independent garages and two superstores.  Almost invariably over years Tesco has been the cheapest, often by some margin.  But this changed at some point, … Continue reading →

Posted in Asda, CMA, Competition, Competition and Markets Authority, Convenience stores, Cooperative Group, Independents, Petrol, Pricing, Tesco, Wholesaling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Asda/Sainsbury’s vs the CMA: The verdict

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Leigh Sparks

If this was a boxing match, then the result was a clear knockout, perhaps to the surprise of some onlookers.  As one of my followers on Twitter noted, it is nice to see a regulator regulating.  In this case, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Asda, CMA, Competition, Competition and Markets Authority, Consumer Choice, Consumers, Convenience stores, Cooperatives, Food Retailing, Internet shopping, Lidl, Market Shares, Regulation, Retail Change, Retail Policy, Retailing, Sainsbury, Supermarket, Uncategorized, Waitrose | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Next Ten Years of Grocery Retailing?

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Leigh Sparks

Given we are less than 10 weeks away from Brexit and the possible end of the grocery world as we know, writing a post about retailing a decade ahead seems foolhardy (spoiler alert; it is).  But bear with me. Let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Amazon, Asda, Brexit, Competition, Consumer Change, Customer engagement, Food Retailing, Property, Reinvention, Retail Change, Retail Failure, Sainsbury, Store Closures, Tesco, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Retail Disruptors – the spectacular rise and impact of the hard discounters

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Leigh Sparks

The rise of the hard discounters is a well-observed phenomenon of continuing research endeavour and commentary.  In the UK, as is well known, Aldi and Lidl have captured considerable market share over the last decade. ‘Retail Disruptors’ by Jan-Benedict Steenkamp … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Aldi, Competition, Consumer Choice, Discounters, Food Retailing, Jack's, Lidl, Market Shares, Pricing, Retail Change, Retailers, Strategy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“We’re in the Money”

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Leigh Sparks

A couple of weeks have gone by since the notion of a merger of Asda and Sainsbury began to be debated in the media.  During that time I wondered whether to add to the coverage via this blog or to … Continue reading →

Posted in Asda, Booker, CMA, Competition and Markets Authority, Consumers, Food Retailing, Government, Mergers, Policy, Retail Change, Retailers, Retailing, Sainsbury, Store Closures, Suppliers, Tesco, Wal-Mart | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Waaaagaaamaaamaaa – Tesco and Booker spring a surpise (perhaps)

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

I read something the other day whereby the author noted that such was the bad news coming out of this government and the USA so far in January, they were getting nostalgic for the calm and reason of 2016. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Association of Convenience Stores, Booker, Click and Collect, Competition, Competition and Markets Authority, Consumer Change, Consumer Lifestyle, Convenience stores, Food and Beverage, Food Retailing, Mergers, Restaurants, Retail Change, Tesco, Wholesaling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Boldly Going to the Borders

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Leigh Sparks

The 8th September this year was notable for a couple of anniversaries.  In 2015 the Queen formally re-opened the Borders Railway.  It was also 50 years since the first episode of Star Trek was broadcast; may retailers ‘live long and … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Change, Convenience stores, Cooperative Group, Food Retailing, High Streets, Local Retailers, Places, Retail Change, Retailers, Rural, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Borders, Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, Scottish Grocers Federation, Small Towns, Town Centres, Towns | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Musselburgh, the Scottish Grocers Federation and the Scottish Local Shop Report 2015

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

Some of you will recall that the Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) organised a Study Day this year to Musselburgh, with the aim of looking at what the discounters have to offer and the competition that they “provide” to local convenience … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Aldi, Association of Convenience Stores, Competition, Convenience stores, Discounters, Lidl, Local Retailers, Poundland, Scottish Grocers Federation, Scottish Local Retailer, Small Shops | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Super Thursday?

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

Last Thursday was dubbed Super Thursday by a number of analysts due to the sheer volume of results, trading updates and other news expected from retail companies. It did not disappoint in that Morrisons sold off their convenience stores and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aldi, Competition, Convenience stores, Discounters, Discounts, Food Retailing, Lidl, Local Retailers, Multichannel, Places, Post Offices, Pound Shops, Poundland, Scottish Grocers Federation, Understanding Scottish Places, USP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Conversation: What is Going on at Tesco?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

The University of Stirling is a supporter of The Conversation, and I published a commentary there yesterday. I reblog it here. My commentary, perhaps unsurprisingly, was on the goings-on at Tesco, which has been something of a running theme on … Continue reading →

Posted in Click and Collect, Competition, Consumer Change, Discounters, Finance, Food Retailing, Internet shopping, Retail Failure, Tesco | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments