John’s Blog

Tesco has gained the majority stake in Dobbies, the British garden centre chain, as reported by the UK’s Gardenforum online service. With its 53 per cent stake in the company, the British supermarket giant now controls the Dobbies business in which Tom Hunter, owner of the biggest British garden centre chain, Wyevale, was also interested. […]

To many, organic retailing is a new trend, but Waitrose in the UK have lead the way since 1983. The August edition of Boss introduced a story by Susan Owens on “How Green is my Supermarket.” In 2007 Waitrose, the UK retailer carries the largest amount of organic produce of any UK retailer with 11300

Blueberry sales in the UK have increased 132% since 2005 according to A. C. Neilsen . In 2005 Brits spent £40mil a year on the fruit, in 2007 £95million. Why the rush in sales? This is a fruit that is one of the world’s beneficial super-foods. It contains antioxidants to help keep the heart healthy,

Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Canada has established a unique way to get customers. It is using its roof. Venture onto the roof and you’ll find an organic garden cared for by the hotel chef, David Garcelon. At present Aubergine, gooseberries and edible flowers are grown on the roof, but he is about to

I heard a news report on the radio yesterday that said “A study shows kids will eat vegetables if they are presented to them in a Mc Donalds bag.” One of the challenges in Australia is children’s obesity. Like other countries we need to try and change the eating habits of schools. Different countries are

Last weekend, the town next to mine, had a Gourmet Farmers Market. This was the launch to judge whether it would me a viable market. We ended up buying a $100 truffle; the area I live in is the southern hemispheres biggest truffle growing area. At the market, I could also have purchased a variety

I was recently at a conference where we were talking about the bling effect in retailing, one retailer in the audience was brave enough to mention he had no idea what we were talking about. Bling to some is a hit record called ”Bling Bling” made in 1999 by the group The B.G. This group

Ref: Daily reader 16 July 2007 OFA Newsletter If you’re a business owner, you have probably felt frustration accompanying expensive new marketing techniques. You want to increase your profits, but you need to spend more to do so, right? In “How to Get Customers for Next to Nothing,” Bob Negen of WhizBang! Training presented methods

Ref: Daily reader 16 July 2007 OFA Newsletter Many Business owners overlook the use of low-cost or no-cost incentives as a way to let employees know they are appreciated. These 21 ideas are designed to challenge your creative senses. Get your employees involved and find out how they want to be recognised: Welcome new hires

Over the past decade or so, there has been a shift in consumer preferences. Baby Boomers and their Generation X children have dominated the market for the past several decades, but now Generation Y is coming in full force. All Members of the industry need to be aware of the changing marketplace to remain successful.