The UK's grocery market is recognised as one of the leading and most innovative markets in the world. The market, which has seen significant growth and a number of acquisitions over the past ten years, is now worth more than �170 billion, with particular growth coming in the convenience and hypermarket sectors in recent years, according to retail marketing programme provider, The Continuity Company.
In fact, the company says, some 14% of the UK's spending on groceries is now spent in the convenience sector. With this in mind, The Continuity Company has arranged a forthcoming store tour programme of the most successful grocery store formats in the UK, as part of its international showcase on changing shopper behaviour to increase sales.
The showcase aims to give retail CEOs and Marketing Directors from all over Europe an insight into the success of retail marketing programmes run by The Continuity Company worldwide with some of the leading grocery retailers, as well as an opportunity to see first hand some of the developments in the UK grocery market.
Recipes for success
For example, according to The Continuity Company's Brendan Smith, who is organising the event, major supermarket chains are winning with both innovative ideas and careful planning:
- Tesco: With 31% market share and more than �2.5 billion in profits, Tesco is not only the leading grocery retailer in the UK, but is now the fifth largest worldwide. Successful formats, from hypermarkets to convenience stores, combined with sharp pricing and marketing excellence, have enabled the retailer to consistently achieve year on year growth.
- ASDA: Following the takeover by Walmart, Asda has continued to compete at the top of the UK market despite its relatively small estate and limited range of formats. The retailer has led the way in making a success of the hypermarket format and has recently replaced Sainsbury's as the main competitor to Tesco, with almost 17% market share.
- Sainsbury's: A strong focus on quality and customer service, together with innovative marketing, has enabled Sainsbury's to recover their sales and grow market share to almost 16% over the past two years.
- Morrisons: Over the past 20 years, Morrisons has grown from a small family retailer in the north of the country with less than 2% market share, to a leading player in the market. With particular strength in the mid to large supermarket format, Morrisons places a strong emphasis on its fresh food offering.
- Marks & Spencer: The premium retailer is known for the quality of its food offering. Having traditionally incorporated its food business within its clothing stores, there are now a number of food only formats across the country, combining convenience with premium quality ranges.
Booking in for the tour
Retail CEOs are invited to attend the 'Changing Customer Behaviour to Increase Sales' showcase on any of the days from 7th to 11th May 2007. The first day of the visit will include an evening cocktail reception at the Hilton on Park Lane (London), followed by dinner at top London restaurant. On day two, you will tour leading store examples in the area (approximately 6 hours, including lunch).
The store tour programme will include visits to a number of store formats - convenience, supermarket and hypermarket - run by the leading UK grocery retailers. The tour can be adjusted to include any specific stores that visitors want to see.
CEOs from retail organisations are welcome to book a place by contacting Matthew Betes at matthew.betes@contco.com.
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