Adam Leyland

1 week ago | thegrocer.co.uk | Adam Leyland

Inflation is back with a vengeance. Chancellor Rachel Reeves assumed businesses would simply “have to absorb some of [the NIC increases in her October budget] through [reduced] profit and [lower] wage increases”. But shoppers will be absorbing the extra costs too. The start of the new financial year has brought an immediate uptick in inflation, with prices rising 4.1% last month [Kantar 4 w/e 18 May] to their highest levels since February 2024.

2 weeks ago | thegrocer.co.uk | Adam Leyland

After alienating nurses, pensioners, farmers and businesses in its first few months in power, the new government has been making a better fist of it in recent weeks. The u-turn this week on winter fuel payments will appease the Labour Party faithful.

3 weeks ago | thegrocer.co.uk | Adam Leyland

The last time Tesco enjoyed 30% share in UK grocery sales was October 2013 [Kantar]. The same month the wheels came off the Tesco juggernaut: in its H1 results, profits slumped by almost 25% and sales fell in every single country in which it operated. The rest, as they say, is history.

4 weeks ago | thegrocer.co.uk | Adam Leyland

With Kingsmill now a distant third in the plant bread market, Associated British Foods has finally thrown in the towel, confirming talks this week with Hovis-owned Endless over a potential merger. It’s a move that could and should have happened years ago. In a market combining declining sales with overcapacity, ABF has failed to make its eye-watering investments pay, either in manufacturing capacity or successive relaunches of its three brands – Kingsmill, Allinson’s or Burgen.

4 weeks ago | thegrocer.co.uk | Adam Leyland

With seven weeks to go, Asda notched its 15th win in the Grocer 33 price comparison survey competition to move six clear of nearest rival Sainsbury’s. Asda’s no-strings-attached total of £81.26 was cheaper than nearest rival Morrisons by £2.38 (2.8%), with Sainsbury’s (4.4%) and Tesco (5.8%) also trailing in its wake despite their various loyalty price promotions.