Tesco, the United Kingdom’s largest supermarket chain, recently honored the Jones Village Bakery of Wrexham with its prestigious award for "Outstanding Innovation and Quality." This accolade acknowledges the bakery’s commitment to developing new products, which are now available on Tesco’s shelves across the country. The recognition is particularly significant as it reflects the successful partnership between the two entities over the past year.
Jones Village Bakery has gained notable acclaim for its latest range of sourdough bread, which was featured prominently in Tesco’s major television advertising campaigns. CEO Robin Jones emphasized the bakery’s focus on innovation, stating, “We’ve done an awful lot of work for Tesco in the last 12 months and it’s nice to be recognised for all of our hard work.” He elaborated, expressing pride in the commercial success of their deliveries to Tesco, noting, “The volumes are amazing.”
Highlighting the bakery's efforts, Glen Marriott, Commercial Controller at Jones Village Bakery, pointed out the dedication of the New Product Development (NPD) team. He remarked, “Quality is at the heart of everything we do.” This focus on quality and market trends has enabled them to consistently create appealing products, which have been well received by consumers.
Lesley Arnot, Commercial Director of the bakery, echoed Marriott's sentiments, stating, “Success breeds success and we want to continue to deliver great innovation and to deliver premium products for our customers.” Both Marriott and Jones emphasized the continuous effort required to maintain high standards and meet customer demands.
Meanwhile, Tesco has been enjoying significant business growth as the holiday season approached. The retail giant reported strong performance, with overall sales increasing by 3.1% over the 19-week period leading to January 4. This growth has bolstered Tesco’s market share, which now sits at 28.5%, its largest stake since 2016. This rise is partly attributed to the shift of consumers from rival grocery stores during the competitive holiday shopping season.
Looking at the broader retail picture, other retailers also released their holiday sales figures during this busy time, contributing to the overall assessment of consumer spending patterns. Notably, JD Sports and Marks & Spencer have faced challenges, with some firms predicting price increases due to rising costs from recent budget measures.
On the other hand, the festive shopping surge benefited discount retailers such as Lidl and Aldis. Lidl reported an impressive 7% sales rise year-on-year, highlighting how their strategic pricing led to increased customer influx during the Christmas season. Aldi also surpassed £1.6 billion in sales over the festive month, showcasing how consumers are increasingly trading up to premium ranges amid budget-conscious shopping.
Returning to Tesco, the chain is also making changes at the community level. A Tesco Express located on Goodwick Parrog is set to close temporarily for refurbishment from January 18 until February 17. This closure aims to upgrade the store's facilities to provide customers with enhanced shopping experiences. A spokesperson for Tesco explained, “Our Goodwick Express will close for a month from mid-January to allow us to carry out a full refurbishment of the store to offer a…"
This store has served as the only supermarket option for the Goodwick community since its inception over 15 years ago, known for its long opening hours and community support efforts like providing surplus food to the local Community Pantry.
Local shoppers will have alternate options available, such as Co-op and CKs, which are both located roughly one mile away. Despite these temporary inconveniences, the refurbishment promises to bring improvements, ensuring customers will have access to modern amenities upon its reopening.
Overall, as Tesco navigates the competitive grocery market and prepares for future advancements, the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and quality. This dedication helps solidify its position as the leading supermarket chain in the UK, especially during key trading periods like Christmas.