The newsletter archive

271 notes sent to subscribers between 2014 and 2023: store visits, pricing moves and range changes, written the week they happened.

Current writing goes out through the newsletter on Substack. There is also the blog archive going back to 2009.

Browse by retailer

Tesco 263 Sainsbury's 150 Morrisons 113 Asda 111 Aldi 99 Lidl 59 Waitrose 27 Amazon 19 Co-op 16 Walmart 15 Home Bargains 13 Poundland 10 M&S 9 Iceland 9

2023

• Issue 491 - Value in Iceland · 30 August 2023
• Issue 490 - Tesco cutting prices (Sample) · 28 July 2023
• Issue 490 - Tesco cutting prices · 26 July 2023
• Issue 489 - Lidl Prices (13 July 2023) · 13 July 2023
• Issue 489 - Lidl Prices (13 July 2023) [2] · 13 July 2023
• Issue 488 - Prices down? · 8 June 2023
• Issue 487 - Nectar prices · 5 May 2023

2022

• Issue 485 - Asda - Going Well · 12 December 2022
• Issue 484 - A catch up and HFSS · 14 November 2022
• Retail by Email - Issue 483 - HFSS · 28 September 2022
• Issue 482 - Sainsbury's Price Lock expanded · 2 September 2022
• Retail by Email - Issue 481 - Tesco · 8 August 2022
• Retail by Email - Issue 480 - Iceland · 29 July 2022
• Retail By Email - 479 - Mars and Heinz · 14 July 2022
• Retail by Email · 28 June 2022
• Retail By Email - Issue 477 - Tesco Clubcard Prices · 17 June 2022
• Retail by Email - Issue 476 - USA (17 June 2022) · 17 June 2022
• Retail by Email - Issue 476 - USA (8 June 2022) · 8 June 2022
• Retail by Email - Issue 474 · 5 May 2022
• Issue 473 - Price, price baby · 26 April 2022
• Retail By Email - Issue 472 - Tesco delivered · 25 April 2022
• Week 15 in stores · 25 April 2022
• A few things we spotted in stores this week · 7 April 2022
• Retail By Email - Issue 471 - Asda pushing on · 5 April 2022
• Retail By Email - Issue 470 - Inflation and HFSS delay · 23 March 2022
• Retail By Email - 470 - HFSS delay? · 23 March 2022
• Retail by Email - Issue 469 - Value is for ever · 11 March 2022
• Retail by email - No. 4468 - Tesco pushing margin · 1 March 2022
• 467 - Sainsbury's back in the meal deal space · 16 February 2022
• HFSS - Change incoming · 10 February 2022
• *sample content* HFSS - Change incoming · 10 February 2022
• Boots and loyalty · 4 February 2022
• Lidl strong on value · 18 January 2022
• Produce prices and inflation · 7 January 2022

2021

• The leading deal this Christmas · 15 December 2021
• IKEA · 25 November 2021
• John Lewis - Part 2 · 4 November 2021
• John Lewis - Another visit (3 November 2021) · 3 November 2021
• John Lewis - Another visit (3 November 2021) [2] · 3 November 2021
• Asda Loyalty in trial · 26 October 2021
• Tesco expand their Aldi price comparison · 13 September 2021
• Multibuys are back at Sainsbury's · 10 September 2021
• Mere - Austerity retailing · 16 August 2021
• Brexit, Drivers and Pings · 22 July 2021
• Superdrug - Night and Day vs. Boots · 21 June 2021
• Boots - would you invent it today? · 11 June 2021
• John Lewis - Never knowingly well retailed (4 June 2021) · 4 June 2021
• John Lewis - Never knowingly well retailed (3 June 2021) · 3 June 2021
• Sainsbury's - New strapline ahoy · 27 May 2021
• Sainsbury's - Habitat rolling in · 13 May 2021
• Sainsbury's full year results · 30 April 2021
• Stock shortages, Online and Non-Food · 22 April 2021
• Tesco full year results · 14 April 2021
• Apologies and Updates · 13 April 2021
• Imitation is flattery? · 17 February 2021
• Loyalty and Non Food developments · 4 February 2021
• Brexit related issues at Sainsbury's? · 25 January 2021
• Online and masks · 13 January 2021

2020

• Shortages and wagons · 23 December 2020
• Tier 4 · 20 December 2020
• Key themes for Christmas 2020 · 18 December 2020
• The Coop - doing what they do · 24 November 2020
• Sainsbury's - a new strategy in slides · 11 November 2020
• M&S offering slots to shop · 3 November 2020
• Asda - Plastic trial in Leeds · 21 October 2020
• Asda - Takeover complete · 6 October 2020
• Clubcard Prices from Tesco · 16 September 2020
• Price activity in own label · 9 September 2020
• Lidl - loyalty card introduction · 20 August 2020
• Lidl - out of the firing line · 10 August 2020
• Tesco vs Aldi - hotting up · 28 July 2020
• Home Bargains - progression as ever · 14 July 2020
• Sainsbury's Q1 · 3 July 2020
• Tesco Q1 · 26 June 2020
• Tesco prices in Health and Beauty · 23 June 2020
• A nation of decorators & the future is.... · 17 June 2020
• Corona panic buy - email 1 of many... · 26 March 2020
• Tesco v Aldi · 5 March 2020
• New York - February 2020 · 2 March 2020
• Sainsbury's and Nectar · 17 February 2020
• Aldi - XL packs and Special Buys · 5 February 2020
• Sainsbury's - Change afoot - the long read · 29 January 2020
• Waitrose - stability in a time of crisis · 21 January 2020
• Veganuary · 7 January 2020

2019

• Sainsbury's - Marked Aggression · 16 December 2019
• The CoOp - Going along nicely · 9 December 2019
• Tesco - The legacy · 22 October 2019
• Capital Markets Day for Sainsbury's · 1 October 2019
• Entry level tier changes · 18 September 2019
• Home Bargains moving in to Bakery? · 10 September 2019
• Further money off highlights · 30 August 2019
• Fuel and promotions · 23 August 2019
• Amazon Go - What did we think? · 6 August 2019
• Tesco own label - Prioritisation continues apace · 23 July 2019
• Tesco v Aldi - Another shot fired · 16 July 2019
• Lidl - Onwards and upwards · 19 June 2019
• Daily's - Rebranded Basics for Sainsbury's · 10 June 2019
• Tesco - 100 years of value phase 2 · 13 May 2019
• Sainsbury's - Slides that matter · 1 May 2019
• Not in the money · 25 April 2019
• JL Food Hall - Disappointment of the year · 17 April 2019
• Wholesale change? · 5 April 2019
• B&M - More signs of progression · 22 March 2019
• Sainsbury's - More 'brands' incoming · 11 March 2019
• New York, New York · 27 February 2019
• Sainsbury's / Asda - Not looking good (20 February 2019) · 20 February 2019
• Sainsbury's / Asda - Not looking good (20 February 2019) [2] · 20 February 2019
• Aldi - Range growing? · 4 February 2019
• There's always a price war · 10 January 2019
• Christmas 2017 - Sainsbury's - A re-send · 9 January 2019
• Happy New Year 2019 · 8 January 2019

2018

• Turmoil ahead for Christmas? (18 December 2018) · 18 December 2018
• Turmoil ahead for Christmas? (18 December 2018) [2] · 18 December 2018
• Aldi - Peak Carrot · 3 December 2018
• Asda - Turning the corner · 19 November 2018
• A busy old week - Sainsbury's · 9 November 2018
• Plastic (not) fantastic · 30 October 2018
• Waitrose - the longer term outlook · 30 October 2018
• Sainsbury's - Messages to the customer · 15 October 2018
• Sainsbury's - New signage for price(?) · 8 October 2018
• What did we learn from the Tesco slides / statement? · 4 October 2018
• Aldi - What is their reaction to Jack? · 1 October 2018
• Jack's - part of the Tesco family · 28 September 2018
• With Jack's - what is the discount reaction(?) · 27 September 2018
• Jack's - Images · 24 September 2018
• Jack's open today! · 20 September 2018
• Jack's tomorrow · 18 September 2018
• The problem with Whole Foods · 10 September 2018
• Ireland - Price central · 3 September 2018
• More from Sainsbury's · 10 August 2018
• What about the Tesco discount format(?) · 1 August 2018
• Sainsbury's - Ongoing trading and future outlook · 27 July 2018
• Tesco - Further brands update · 10 July 2018
• Tesco - More of their 'brands' · 19 June 2018
• Whole Foods - Becoming Amazon'ified (5 June 2018) · 5 June 2018
• Whole Foods - Becoming Amazon'ified (5 June 2018) [2] · 5 June 2018
• A brief interlude 2 - Tesco 'brands' and pricing (17 May 2018) · 17 May 2018
• A brief interlude 2 - Tesco 'brands' and pricing (17 May 2018) [2] · 17 May 2018
• A brief interlude 2 - Tesco 'brands' and pricing (17 May 2018) [3] · 17 May 2018
• A brief interlude 2 - Tesco 'brands' and pricing (17 May 2018) [4] · 17 May 2018
• A brief interlude - More brands from Tesco · 8 May 2018
• Asda / Sainsbury's & Argos - A few wider thoughts (4 May 2018) · 4 May 2018
• Asda / Sainsbury's & Argos - A few wider thoughts (4 May 2018) [2] · 4 May 2018
• A marriage of convenience? (2 May 2018) · 2 May 2018
• A marriage of convenience? (2 May 2018) [2] · 2 May 2018
• Sainsbury's & Asda · 30 April 2018
• Poundworld could close up to 100 stores - what did we think in Feb '18? (26 April 2018) · 26 April 2018
• Poundworld could close up to 100 stores - what did we think in Feb '18? (26 April 2018) [2] · 26 April 2018
• Lidl and the Free From category · 24 April 2018
• Tesco - Booker coming... · 16 April 2018
• Sainsbury's - More on those price cuts · 29 March 2018
• Waitrose - a few more pointers · 19 March 2018
• Waitrose - where from here? · 14 March 2018
• Poundworld - Multi price, Multi confusion? · 26 February 2018
• Tesco - First Booker on site · 26 February 2018
• M&S - Concept store but more of the same? · 26 February 2018
• Iceland - Value signposting · 19 February 2018
• The Co-Operative - a price campaign · 7 February 2018
• Asda - Rolled Back... · 17 January 2018
• Christmas 2017 - Sainsbury's · 10 January 2018
• Christmas 2017 - Morrisons · 9 January 2018
• Christmas 2017 - Debenhams (8 January 2018) · 8 January 2018
• Christmas 2017 - Tesco · 8 January 2018
• Christmas 2017 - Debenhams (8 January 2018) [2] · 8 January 2018
• Christmas 2017 - Clearance · 4 January 2018
• Trends - Easter 2018 · 2 January 2018

2017

• Christmas 2017 - Price · 23 December 2017
• Own label developments · 15 December 2017
• So, Black Friday.... · 11 December 2017
• P&H impacting Tesco Express... · 6 December 2017
• Sainsbury's results - Transition, some three years in? · 28 November 2017
• Booths - Back to the family - Updated · 27 November 2017
• Tesco/Booker and B&M results · 17 November 2017
• M&S - Results and plans · 10 November 2017
• M&S - All eyes on results this week · 6 November 2017
• The market - very competitive out there. · 30 October 2017
• Lower prices in M&S · 23 October 2017
• Sainsbury's - Top stocking incoming · 16 October 2017
• Tesco fuelling growth · 16 October 2017
• Tesco Ireland - turned the tide? · 9 October 2017
• More Tesco - larger labels. · 3 October 2017
• Profits down, sales up at Aldi · 26 September 2017
• Price cuts in Waitrose · 22 September 2017
• Non Food in Tesco · 19 September 2017
• Christmas 2017 · 14 September 2017
• Discounters and brands · 8 September 2017
• Amazon takes over *special souvenir edition* · 6 September 2017
• Asda - Green shoots of recovery? · 29 August 2017
• Morrisons / McColls and the wider wholesale sector · 21 August 2017
• Larger packs at Tesco... · 9 August 2017
• Poundland to Multipoundland · 7 August 2017
• Lidl Cheaper? · 27 July 2017
• Sainsbury's - own label progression · 18 July 2017
• Sainsbury's - in to growth · 5 July 2017
• Big suppliers - need to do more? · 28 June 2017
• Retail - It's all going on · 19 June 2017
• Booths - Back to the family · 16 June 2017
• More examples of a sharper Tesco · 9 June 2017
• Discount category killers - 2) Nappies/Diapers · 5 June 2017
• Discount category killers - 1) Household · 22 May 2017
• Lidl - Ongoing banality · 19 May 2017
• A quick market update · 11 May 2017
• Sainsbury's results - What's in store? · 3 May 2017
• Sainsbury's - Noteworthy slides · 3 May 2017
• Not just any online operation..... · 2 May 2017
• New York Retail - A few thoughts · 25 April 2017
• Tesco - The slides that matter · 13 April 2017
• Tesco - Results ahoy · 12 April 2017
• Tesco - Cuts and new store formats · 6 April 2017
• *exclusive* New format Aldi · 30 March 2017
• Lidl - A bit up and down · 29 March 2017
• More Tesco range work · 23 March 2017
• Tesco now charging for food click / collect? · 20 March 2017
• Poundland - Multi-price... · 16 March 2017
• Iceland - Ongoing strength in the market · 14 March 2017
• Morrisons - Reasons to be cheerful · 9 March 2017
• Aldi - Intriguing developments · 6 March 2017
• Tesco - Own label push · 3 March 2017
• Tesco - Non Food woes · 2 March 2017
• Aldi - Dilution in the ranges? · 24 February 2017
• Sainsbury's - Home launch · 22 February 2017
• Booths - Difficult market · 17 February 2017
• Poundworld - Will Brexit see them come good? · 13 February 2017
• Homebase, still looks like B&M · 7 February 2017
• Could it be...Improving M&S Non Food/Clothing? · 1 February 2017
• Tesco / Booker - High level overview (30 January 2017) · 30 January 2017
• Tesco / Booker - High level overview (30 January 2017) [2] · 30 January 2017
• Aldi - Are specials all that special? · 25 January 2017
• Food dancing · 19 January 2017
• Aldi - Good news(?) · 10 January 2017
• It's a long read! Market Overview - Christmas 2016 · 3 January 2017

2016

• Sainsbury's / Argos / Habitat - New location... · 27 December 2016
• Aldi - Looking strong for Christmas · 22 December 2016
• Christmas 2016 in focus - Lidl · 19 December 2016
• Waitrose - Improvements all around for Christmas · 15 December 2016
• *flash* Produce war for Christmas · 15 December 2016
• Tesco changes - night shift under threat? · 5 December 2016
• Branded invasion at Aldi · 30 November 2016
• M&S - Tough trading for food too? · 18 November 2016
• Tesco vs. Argos - Stepping up a gear · 15 November 2016
• Sainsbury's - The slides that matter · 10 November 2016
• Is the value tier on the way out? · 1 November 2016
• Poundland hitting the headlines · 31 October 2016
• Toy wars · 26 October 2016
• Iceland - real progress · 21 October 2016
• Good results from the Co-Op · 20 October 2016
• Asda - Price activity · 13 October 2016
• Tesco - Half year · 5 October 2016

2015

• Tesco - Tough at the top · 23 June 2015

2014

• Asda - trying to be more than just price. · 19 June 2014
• The value paradox · 12 June 2014
• Sainsbury's 'a real sleek machine' · 11 June 2014
• Tesco Q1 - What's been happening? (9 June 2014) · 9 June 2014
• Tesco Q1 - What's been happening? (4 June 2014) · 4 June 2014
• There are chinks within the Aldi armour - price isn't one, health is... · 29 May 2014
• Rumours of the Co-Op's demise have been greatly exaggerated.. · 27 May 2014
• Tesco also own Dobbies · 21 May 2014
• Lincoln - A realistic Extra.. (17 May 2014) · 17 May 2014
• Lincoln - A realistic Extra.. (16 May 2014) · 16 May 2014
• Feet on the ground - Real insight. · 11 May 2014
• Price - Not everyone can be the cheapest. · 7 May 2014
• Morrisons are cheaper... · 1 May 2014
• Insight from the trenches. · 30 April 2014
• Co-Op - Fair & Square Pricing · 23 April 2014
• Booths - A northern utopia · 14 April 2014
• Food 'to go' for Tesco London · 7 April 2014
• Comparing Apples and Apples... · 2 April 2014
• Range change will do you good · 25 March 2014
• Tesco Fuel Save - No Petrol Stations for Aldi. · 17 March 2014
• Tesco....Execution, Execution, Execution · 28 February 2014
• Tesco UK - Self facing shelves? Here's an interesting cost saving idea. · 24 February 2014