Filed under: Close To The Consumer | Tags: ASDA, cartel office, Edeka, Lidl, Metro, price cuts, raids, Rewe, Rossmann, Tesco
Competition is good for business. That’s what they say and also what we saw last week when I gave you an overview about the current “price war” between Tesco and ASDA in the UK.
Meanwhile in Germany, news of the Federal Cartel Office accusing a total of 15 major retail companies and manufacturers of illegal price collusions was released today. Who’s in disfavour? Of course, the consumer. (more…)
Filed under: Close To The Consumer | Tags: ASDA, Christmas, groceries, price cuts, Tesco
Food magically becomes more expensive right before Christmas. Or at least, that’s what most of us feel year, after year, after year. Now, Britain’s two largest grocers ASDA and Tesco are up for a price war as ASDA releases plans to make significant price cuts throughout the month of January. Are we customers finally in for some pleasant surprise? First reactions show scepticism.
Filed under: Close To The Consumer | Tags: artificial, laboratory, meat, natural
Last Sunday, the Times reported that scientists have grown meat in the laboratory for the first time. Experts in Holland used cells from a live pig to replicate growth in a petri dish. (Times Online 2009) What does this mean for us, the consumers? The answer is simple: sausages and other processed products being made from laboratory meat in as little as five years’ time. (Times Online, 2009)
Would you really want to eat meat grown in a vat?
Filed under: Close To The Consumer | Tags: corporate identity, green, logo, McDonald's, red
Which colour do you associate with nature? Green. Which colour makes you think of plants? Green. Which colour do you relate to being healthy? Green.
Well, what a coincidence that McDonald’s announced this week that they wanted to change their predominant used colour to green. (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2009) Why would they do that? (more…)
Filed under: Close To The Consumer | Tags: commercials, Dairylea, Fruit Factory, healthy snacks, Kellogg's, Lunchables, salt, sugar
So called “healthy” snacks are bought by mothers who only want the best for their children.
Unfortunately, this often turns out rather badly. Some new examples are presented in this post.
Filed under: Close To The Consumer | Tags: Actimel, Aldi, banned, commercials, goji berries, super foods
Yesterday, Actimel’s TV commercial claiming the product was “scientifically proven to help support your kids’ defences” was banned in the UK. An article published by The Daily Telegraph revealed that the scientific proof, so to say, was based on a study featuring 6000 people out of which 23 showed health benefits.
The news of Actimel being accused of false advertising comes at a time of ferocious debate about the so – called “Super Foods” such as the goji berries,pomegranates or spirulina. (more…)
