Planet Retail 9 May 2008

According to reports in the Chinese press, Metro Group has launched a pilot project supported by the Ministry of Commerce that helps to enhance food safety through a standardised and professional supply chain. The "Metro agricultural products sourcing base project" introduces a consulting company to guide local farmers on safe breeding and planting. Metro estimates about 100 leading agricultural companies will attend the training programme this year.

Planet Retail 9 May 2008

According to reports in the Chinese press, Metro Group has launched a pilot project supported by the Ministry of Commerce that helps to enhance food safety through a standardised and professional supply chain. The "Metro agricultural products sourcing base project" introduces a consulting company to guide local farmers on safe breeding and planting. Metro estimates about 100 leading agricultural companies will attend the training programme this year.

Planet Retail 5 May 2008

Reports in The Indian Express suggest that the Indian government has decided to issue a fresh set of guidelines aimed at governing wholesale trading under the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, in order to clamp down on misuse of the current policy. According to ministry officials, "it was essential to come up with detailed guidelines on wholesale trading permitted under the current FDI policy. These guidelines will have built-in checks and measures to prevent misuse of the current policy." Refusing to share details, the source added that the guidelines were awaiting internal clearance and were likely to be announced within a month.

Planet Retail 2 May 2008

According to unconfirmed reports in the Polish press, retailers such as Tesco and Carrefour have suspended investments in the country as the law on large-surface stores (WOH) has not yet been abolished. The ruling coalition declared before the elections that it would withdraw the law, which was passed by the previous parliament and limited the building of stores larger than 400 square metres. However, the law is still valid, even though there have been no specific regulations issued, which blocks permission applications and makes expansion by both foreign and Polish companies difficult.

Farmers Guardian 30 April, 2008

FARMERS can celebrate victory today, as the Competition Commission (CC) published a raft of proposals in a major shake-up of Britain's supermarkets.

Chief amongst those proposals is a move to establish a supermarket ombudsman to ensure fair trade between retailers and their suppliers.

Telegraph.co.uk 1 May 2008  

Supermarket chiefs have hit out at the proposed imposition of a new "supermarket Tsar" to regulate relations between retailers and suppliers.
 
The Competition Commission has called for the establishment of an independent ombudsman to monitor and police the relationship between grocery chains and food manufacturers.

Sunday Telegraph 27 April 2008

The Competition Commission will this week spark anger among UK supermarket bosses by demanding that they foot much of the bill for the controversial industry ombudsman it is planning.

The watchdog is expected to announce the final findings of its 23-month investigation into supermarkets this week. One of its key demands will be the establishment of a 'supply tsar' to oversee retailers' relationships with their suppliers. The move is likely to cost the industry millions of pounds a year.

German farmers are up in arms over a decision by leading supermarket chains to cut milk prices, claiming they are being exploited. Dairy farmers are even threatening to suspend milk deliveries if the trend continues.

Planet Retail 25 Apr 2008

According to reports in the Indian press, Metro's local cash & carry operation is planning a training programme to organise the activities of conventional retailers. The programme, expected to be launched by year-end, will be designed to improve the facilities in small corner shops. According to John Indicula, director (human resources), Metro Cash & Carry, "Metro's key objective is to make traditional kirana stores more organised by helping them to improve offerings, assortments and liquidity." He refused to reveal details of the proposed programme. The company also intends to increase its workforce in India from 1,800 to 5,000 in the next two years.

Planet Retail 25 Apr 2008

Speaking at Ahold's annual shareholders meeting this week, chief executive John Rishton discussed how the retailer is meeting its corporate social responsibility measures. "In 2007, we made CSR a key element of our global strategy. We believe CSR is essential to the longer-term success -- even survival -- of the business." According to Rishton, during last year the retailer organised its efforts into four main areas: healthy living, sustainable trade, climate action, and community engagement. In response to shareholder requests, Ahold will now publish a CSR report annually, at the same time as its annual report, according to Mr Rishton. The 2007 CSR report came out last month.