Senin, 11 Juni 2012

Supermarket giant Tesco posts another sales fall

Supermarket giant Tesco posts another sales fall

By Ed Monk

PUBLISHED: 02:31 EST, 11 June 2012 | UPDATED: 03:59 EST, 11 June 2012

Retail giant Tesco's crown slipped further today as the supermarket reported another sales fall.

Tesco sales in the 13 weeks to 26 May were 1.5 per cent lower than the same period last year, although the fall was less severe than the 1.6 per cent drop for the preceding quarter.

Tesco's management, headed by new chief executive Phil Clarke, is struggling to re-energise the retailer, the UK's largest, which boasts 2,800 stores across the UK, following the firm’s first profit warning in 20 years in January.

Every little helps: Tesco sales fell but analysts praised the 'stabilisation' achieved after the retailers first profits warning in 20 years.

Every little helps: Tesco sales fell but analysts praised the 'stabilisation' achieved after the retailers first profits warning in 20 years.

Tesco has embarked on a turnaround plan involving store revamps, a hiring spree and pricing overhaul. Tesco has already given 145,000 staff specialist training, improved the offers through its Clubcard scheme and relaunched its Value range as Everyday Value with more colourful packaging.

Chief executive Philip Clarke said: 'Our customers are seeing the evidence of the changes we're making and they're telling us they like what they see.'

Tesco kept its profits outlook for the year ahead unchanged, Shares opened nearly 2 p[er cent higher - up 4.9p to 307.7p - following the update.

Mr Clarke added: 'We are rapidly implementing our six-point UK plan and I'm particularly proud of the relaunch of our Everyday Value range and the fact we have now put extra staff into 700 of our stores - in 500 of them within the last three weeks alone.'

He said the group's sales overseas proved resilient, despite battling slowing economic growth in China and the eurozone debt crisis.

Clive Black, a leading retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: 'We see this as a steady statement suggesting stabilisation is coming through in the UK.'

Pressure: Phil Clarke's plan to revamp stores struggled failed to gain momentum.

Pressure: Phil Clarke's plan to revamp stores struggled failed to gain momentum.

The trading update today had been expected to show falling sales because of April’s washout showers and comparisons with strong figures last year that were buoyed by the Royal Wedding.

And despite the overall sales fall, there was some better news. The group said it gained share from its rivals in a declining grocery market, helped by the addition of 4,300 extra staff and the overhaul of 100 stores.

And it said it had enjoyed its best ever week outside of Christmas amid the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, with more than £1billion of sales, but this was not included in today's figures.


Nick Coulter, an analyst at Normura, said: ‘The roll-out and phased execution of Tesco’s recent initiatives will take time to change customer behaviour, and as such we expect the newsflow to improve only gradually across 2012.’

There is extra pressure on Tesco becuase rivals supermarkets are managing to find success. Sainsbury’s is lik ely to wow on Wednesday with strong growth from its convenience chain and online business. Its brand match initiative, which guarantees to match Asda and Tesco on 14,000 branded goods, is also likely to have been a winner.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Best rated
  • Worst rated

If Tesco dropped the prices of a Large Tub of ice cream during a Heat-wave instead of putting it up. They’d be more popular and make more sales. Hence Iceland got my custom.

Report abuse

Give Lidel a try,Ifind them hard to fault,lots of people would not like to be seen in a Lidel's store apparently,what mugs.

Report abuse

I usually shop at Morrison's but thought I'd use Tesco for a change a couple of months ago, I soon regretted my decision after waiting over 15 minutes to check out and still not at the front of the queue I eventually just left the stuff there. What was even more annoying was the fact there were other staff just standing around seemingly doing nothing at all but watching. I said then I'd never step foot in a Tesco's again and I haven't.

Report abuse

It's a shame but they only have themselves to blame. Squeezing suppliers, trying to fool customers with dodgy 'offers' and quality have brought about this situation. In these economic times people want value for money and you just don't get that in Tesco anymore.

Report abuse

What training and where's the extra staff, certainly not in the stores around us, still rude and queues to pay, sometimes feel they don't want my money… Even had a manager make us stop while he walked down an isle, I just looked at him and said you're the reason Tesco is going down, left my trolley and left, he came after me and when he asked me and I explained, he hadn't a clue what he had done was bad customer service. So staff don't have a chance.

Report abuse

Tesco at last is beginning to lose its fight for 'world domination'. Not before time! We should all be supporting our local corner shops, farmers markets independent grocers, butchers, fishmongers, bakers etc. If these independent suppliers of 'good quality' food stuffs disappear, then we as consumers will regret not supporting them in a few years time!

Report abuse

You only have to walk a few doors along from our local Tesco Metro to get cleaning bits snd bobs far cheaper than they can be had in Tesco. If we had a local grocer I'd never go in there. They aren't cheap any more and their business model, which seems to be undercutting the competition and then charging monopoly prices, only works if they actually do remove all the competition. Here and probably other places too they've failed to do that. It would be worth while for a national butchers chain to set up a local outlet and undercut Tesco for a while, same for grocers too. That'd be the end of them here I'd say. I don't know anyone that likes the shop and there are fewer and fewer staff in there to serve you too, more and more automated checkouts that I for one can't use because of my back. Then there's the issue of Tesco not paying as much tax in the country as it might which doesn't help the Treasury at all. Sooner it's gone the better I say.

Report abuse

Tesco shares are a bit like property...............................Yesterdays investment!

Report abuse

If Tesco in Britain are as bad as Tesco here in Thailand no wonder they are going down ,i have just come back from their store and found 3 bad apples in a pack of 5 ,my fault i know that their fruit is always substandard .

Report abuse

I used to buy tesco's own brand chicken curry from the chill cabinet for under £1 ....they have not only changed the package but also the recipe and it is gross .... I am buying less and less food each week at the store and it is just a matter of time before I think that it is not worth the petrol to get there.......... As for the clothes ... Don't get me started !!!!

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Diposting oleh di

Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar

Langganan: Posting Komentar (Atom)