John Franey

Marks and Spencer to build new £340m automated food distribution centre Northamptonshire in plans to double the size of its food business The facility at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal will span 1.3 million sq ft and represents M&S’s biggest #supplychain investment in its history

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What is the biggest take out from Tesco's update today? Rollback isn't working. We all know it's not working but the Tesco numbers highlight just how much it isn't working. In April Tesco said they expected to spend over £400m on price in a highly competitive market, they now expect to spend less than half of this amount. Ken Murphy's expectation is that Christmas will be just as intensive as the first half of the year. Tesco's results contain a few interesting nuggets highlighting why they continue to dominate. Overall supplier satisfaction 88%, up +1ppt YoY, 1st in the Advantage Survey for the 10th year running. Are Tesco challenging? Of course, but Suppliers are seeing a return with increased volumes. Are their stores less cluttered most of their competitors, yes. Does this make it a better experience for the Customer? Of course. An improved price position against the market, notably on the products most frequently purchased by customers. Price activity by their competitors is having no impact on how Tesco's Customers see their price position. Continued range innovation with investments in distribution capacity and new AI capabilities. Over 470 new products launched, Finest sales up +16%, with over 300 new and improved products. Sainsbury's launched over 1300 new products in their last financial year, over 600 in Taste the Difference. Launching new products comes with risk, the likelihood of success is always low. Better to have less launches with a higher rate of success than a scattergun approach. With all the system chaos & churn of senior leaders the innovation coming out of Leeds has been severely lacking! Tesco are early adopters of technology & it would appear that AI is very high in their agenda. The use of AI is only going to increase. This year Tesco have made improvements to in-house tools which find the most efficient journey for every Tesco lorry and delivery van, removing around 100,000 miles per week. 5.2 million miles removed, that is some saving! Growth in advertisers using Tesco Media and Insight Platform; particularly significant growth for smaller advertisers. We know that all Retailers are on the Retail Media band wagon, some buyers are now targeted on it. But when overused it loses it's impact. There is a fine line that needs to be trodden to ensure that investment by any Supplier sees a return. Otherwise it just becomes wallpaper instore & is ignored by the Customer! Clubcard penetration remains high in all markets: UK 84% with over 24m Clubcard households in the UK. No other Retailer comes close, not just in the number of Customers but how it is used. Tesco are trialling use of Clubcard analytics to anticipate and remind customers when they may be running low on household products. The numbers from Tesco are impressive, they haven't had to invest what they expected due to weak competitors. Foot to the floor is what you can expect from them, absolutely no let up! #theretailmind #groceryretail #keepitsimple  

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Marks and Spencer announces major food DC investment - Marks & Spencer has announced a landmark £340 million investment in its food supply chain – the largest in its history – with the multi-year investment funding the development of an automated NDC in Northamptonshire. https://lnkd.in/eXKCQhM6 #automation #logistics #warehouse #DC #investment

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A thoughtful piece in The Grocer this week explores what Marks and Spencer Food’s new distribution centre at DIRFT says about the direction of travel for UK warehouse logistics. Automation, scale, and visibility are all front and centre – both in terms of operations and public perception. As the logistics sector continues to modernise, it’s encouraging to see national media shining a light on the role these facilities play in keeping shelves stocked and supply chains resilient. Featuring Paul Weston and Simon Cox Article here: https://prolo.gs/4pGmOoB

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🧁 Tesco NI has expanded its bakery range by partnering with a number of local bakeries to launch 31 new products. 🧁 The expansion reinforces the retailer's commitment to both local producers and high-quality products. Read all about it: https://lnkd.in/eUfmkEGV

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Lubina boosts capabilities with machinery investment Colchester-based kitchen manufacturer The Lubina Kitchen Company has invested in a new edge banding machine, which it says will allow it to further increase its manufacturing capabilities. Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4Yqyg8n

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of UK retail for Monday, 18 August: 📦 Retailers are urging the Government to close a loophole that allows small imports under £135 to bypass customs duties. The total declared trade value of de minimis imports reached £5.9bn last year. ✈️ Retailers are outraged after the Treasury confirmed it would not review the controversial tourist tax in the upcoming Budget. Businesses argue that the absence of VAT-free shopping has hindered economic growth. 👜 In 2022, Gen Z and Millennials accounted for the entirety of the luxury market’s growth. The latest data, however, shows something of an exodus of younger buyers. 🎤 Oasis’ sell-out UK tour is set to bring in a staggering £1.1bn into the flagging UK economy, and has provided a much needed boost for struggling high streets, bars, shops and city centres. 👔 Charles Tyrwhitt opened the doors to its latest UK store in Solihull on Friday on Mill Lane in Mell Square, marking the next step in the brand’s future focused retail strategy. 🍺 BrewDog has seen its beers dropped by nearly 2,000 pubs across Britain, slashing the brewer's UK distribution by more than a third in just two years. Industry data reveals its flagship Punk IPA was hit hardest. 🫐 Blueberries have surged in popularity in the UK, with consumption reaching 53,300 tonnes annually. Introduced in the early 1990s, the fruit now outsells apples and pears at Marks and Spencer. 🐷 Undercover footage has revealed extensive animal cruelty at Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire, a major pork supplier to UK supermarkets. Investigators documented piglets being kicked and beaten. 🍣 Exports of Scottish salmon are on course to touch £1 billion after a 23% year-on-year leap to £528 million for the first six months, according to new HMRC data. 🍽️ TGI Fridays' new Texas Grill, Beef Short Rib, and Mother Clucker Burger have broken into its top 10 bestsellers within weeks. 🏦 Digital challenger banks have topped the latest set of banking satisfaction results published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). #retail #retailnews #UKretail #economy #DailyRetailNews

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New for 2026: Leadership with a Supply Chain Edge From early 2026, we’re proud to launch the CMI Level 5 Leadership & Operations Management programme — delivered with our own Supply Chain Academy flavour. This isn’t just another qualification. It’s a career accelerator — giving you the leadership, operational and management skills to step into senior roles with confidence. And it puts you on the pathway to becoming a Chartered Manager (CMgr), the ultimate recognition of professional management. ✨ Why it matters for your career: Gain a CMI-accredited qualification that employers recognise across industries (and internationally). Build the skills to lead people, drive performance, and transform operations. Develop leadership with a supply chain focus — a sector where effective managers are in huge demand. Position yourself for senior leadership roles and greater earning potential. Take the next step toward achieving the prestigious Chartered Manager status. 📅 The first cohort starts in early 2026. Spaces will be limited. Fully funded by using you levy! 👉 Register your interest today by messaging me: [email protected] #Leadership #Operations #Manager #Supplychain

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