Unilever’s Fourth-Quarter Sales Boosted By Higher Prices
ESM - European Supermarket Magazine
The industry magazine for C-suite executives and procurement managers working in the European grocery retail sector.
Unilever?has?reported?quarterly underlying sales growth above expectations , helped by higher prices for its detergents, soaps and packaged food. The London-based company said it expects cost?inflation?to continue in 2023, forecasting net material inflation in the first half of around €1.5 billion.
A new French?discount supermarket?chain – Toujust – is set to open its first store in Alès, in the Gard region, mainly selling private-label products, according to?media reports. Toujust?is the brainchild of Fabrice Gerber, an experienced manager in the retail trade, formerly of E. Leclerc, Système U and Aldi. It will function as a cooperative, with four main shareholders: Gerdis (Fabrice Gerber's company), RT Logistique, Mila Capital and Val Invest. In addition, the suppliers will be shareholders and will share 25% of the profits.
Grocery sales in?Ireland?increased by 5% in the four weeks to 23 January 2023, the latest data from?Kantar?has shown, with grocery price inflation driving value sales growth. In January, average price per pack rose 14.6%, while volume per trip was down 13%. Take home?grocery?sales increased by 6.8% in the 12-week period to 23 January 2023, with shoppers contributing an additional €211.8 million to the overall market performance, and spending an additional €90.50 per household year-on-year, data showed.
Spain’s?DIA?Group reported €7.3 billion in net sales for 2022 , a 9.6% increase on the previous year, fuelled by a 7.3% LFL sales increase in the fourth quarter of the year, to €1.8 billion. Gross sales in Spain increased 6.3% to €5.3 billion in 2022, with like-for-like sales growth of 11.6% in the fourth quarter, with the retailer also gaining market share.
Soft drinks firm Britvic has?announced?the appointment of Munnawar Chishty as its new marketing director in?Great Britain, effective later this year. Chishty succeeds Bruce Dallas, who is taking up the role of commercial growth director. Matt Barwell, chief marketing officer at?Britvic?said, "Bringing Munnawar on to the team reflects our commitment to consumer experience, innovation and world-class marketing for our brands.
The onus is on consumer goods brands to prove that they are taking actions in reducing packaging, particularly following the introduction of new EU rules on?packaging waste , global assurance provider?LRQA?has said. The amendments to the EU Packaging Directive include additional?waste?prevention and re-use obligations for EU countries, an increase in recycling targets on?packaging?waste, as well as the introduction of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
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