Hard-pressed motorists see 3p drop in the cost of a litre of petrol as Sainsbury's and Asda start forecourt price war - Daily Mail | LONDON SUPERMARKETS TESCO,ASDA,MORRISONS,LIDL,ALDI

Hard-pressed motorists see 3p drop in the cost of a litre of petrol as Sainsbury's and Asda start forecourt price war - Daily Mail

New prices will come into effect tomorrow
Move comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall
Lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April
But cost of petrol will start to rise again in the summer because of Government plans for fuel duty increase in August

By Jill Reilly

PUBLISHED: 05:26 EST, 12 June 2012 | UPDATED: 05:27 EST, 12 June 2012

A fresh supermarket price war on the forecourts is underway with giants Asda and Sainsbury's cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel.

The retailers said the new charges would come into effect tomorrow.

The slash follows April’s record high petrol prices, which pushed the price of filling a family car to 100.

Slashed: Supermarket giants Asda and Sainsbury's are cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel. The retailers said the new prices would come into effect tomorrow

The cuts mean that filling a typical car will be the cheapest since February 2011, according to experts.

Asda said an ease in global oil prices has enabled it to pass those savings on to motorists.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to control prices

Drivers filling up at any of Asda's 195 forecourts nationwide will now pay no more than 129.7p per litre for unleaded and 134.7p per litre for diesel.

Andy Peake, Asda's director of petrol trading, said: 'Motorists will be pleased to know fuel is now at the lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April.

'Unlike other retailers, our price cuts benefit everyone across the country, meaning that no-one filling up at Asda will be forced to pay a premium for their fuel.'

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'From tomorrow we will be cutting petrol and diesel prices in our petrol stations by up to 3p per litre. Sainsbury's is committed to delivering great value and helping customers cut down on cost wherever possible.'

A spokesman for the AA welcomed the cuts, saying that motorists would be getting a 'good price' for fuel.

But the cost of petrol looks set to rise again in the summer - in August the Government has planned 3.02 pence per litre rise in fuel duty.

The move to pass on lower prices to drivers comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall.

Two weeks ago, Transport Secretary Justine Greening said companies should develop a code of practice to stop the 'indefensible' practice of petrol companies raising prices at the pump as soon as wholesale petrol and oil prices rise, only to delay lowering them again when costs fall.

She said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to bring about the change if companies failed to come up with a code of their own.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

GMB seals staff deal with Asda - The Independent

The GMB said the deal, covering 10,000 of its members employed in transport and warehouse operations in 20 depots in England, Wales and Scotland, was the first of its kind anywhere in the world involving the United States-owned company.

The agreement, signed at the GMB's annual conference in Brighton today, follows 14 months of negotiations and was described as a "huge step forward" by the union.

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "The growing confidence in the benefits collective bargaining can bring to productivity, staff retention, growth and positive and stable industrial relations is there for all to see following all the hard work of all the parties involved over the past few years."

Ian Stansfield, director of distribution at Asda, said: "This is a ground-breaking agreement that brings our practices up to date and creates the framework for the way Asda distribution and GMB will work together.

"It secures jobs, supports growth and ensures our operation is as efficient as possible at a time when our customers are relying on us more than ever to save them money every day."

GMB national officer Mick Rix added: "This agreement is truly ground-breaking and historic. The agreement delivers a new relationship of working together to enhance the job security of GMB members, enhances their skills and has created a benchmark in terms of health and safety that will move standards in this highly complex logistics sector, where safety is paramount, to new levels."

The Asda depots covered by the deal are at Grangemouth and Falkirk in Scotland, Skelmersdale, Wigan, Warrington, Washington, Doncaster, Wakefield, Lymedale, Lutterworth, Erith, Bedford, Bristol and Chepstow.

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tesco stays upbeat over recovery as sales suffer fresh slump - Belfast Telegraph

By Peter Cripps
Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Under-pressure grocer Tesco posted another UK sales decline but said its performance has been robust as it battles to revive its fortunes.

The UK's biggest retailer, which operates 2,800 stores, said like-for-like sales fell 1.5% in the 13 weeks to May 26, which was slightly better than the 1.6% decline in the previous quarter. But 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 1bn of sales, but this was not included in yesterday's figures.

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, reassuring investors after the chain's first profits warning in 20 years in January.

Shares opened nearly 2% higher following the update.

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."

Mr Clarke launched his turnaround plan this year after admitting Tesco needed to sharpen up its pricing and customer service and that stores had become jaded and tired.

It 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.

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.

Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Aldi Süd and affiliates enter into MPEG-2 licences with MPEG LA - ITWeb

MPEG LA announced today that Aldi Süd and affiliates (Aldi Süd) have entered into MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio Licences with MPEG LA.

Under the licenses, Aldi Süd is responsible for paying royalties on its own branded MPEG-2 products.

As a result of this agreement, several companies that licence their essential MPEG-2 patents through MPEG LA have settled their patent enforcement actions against Aldi Süd before the District Court Düsseldorf, Germany.

Source: www.itweb.co.za

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Tuesday, 12 June 2012