UK supermarkets ask shoppers to keep wearing masks

LONDON - Britain's biggest supermarket groups will encourage staff and customers to keep wearing face coverings from Monday despite new rules making it a matter of personal choice.

The government is removing most pandemic restrictions from July 19 in England, saying a rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has largely broken the link between infections and serious illness or death.

Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Aldi all said they would prefer staff and customers to keep wearing masks.

The groups - who are among Britain's biggest private sector employers - said they would keep other safety measures in place, including limits on the number of people in stores, protective screens at checkouts and regular cleaning.

"We’re asking our customers and colleagues to be on the safe side," Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, said.

An opinion poll published on Thursday by Kantar Public found two thirds of people wanted some, most or all of the coronavirus restrictions to remain and 60% thought everyone should continue to wear face masks in shops and on public transport.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that a wave of infections is inevitable when restrictions end, but said worse harm would come from keeping the economy shut and pointed to the successful vaccine rollout.

Government advice is that people should still wear masks in crowded areas. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said they will remain mandatory on the capital's public transport network.

In Scotland and Wales face coverings remain a legal requirement. 

-reuters

Safeway to expand BPO operations in Philippines

A leading US retailer is “keen on expanding” its business process outsourcing (BPO) operations in the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the DTI said top executives of Safeway Inc arrived this month “to conduct due diligence relative to its plan of expanding its business operations in the country.”

"The team that came here was only from their BPO area," Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said in text message when asked if Safeway has also expressed interest in retail operations here.

 Safeway is said to be the second-biggest supermarket chain in North America. The Pleasanton, California-based retailer has a Philippine affiliate, Safeway Philtech Inc, whose BPO operations have served over 1,700 stores and corporate offices in Canada and the US for a decade.

Safeway Philtech provides application development and enhancements, application support and maintenance, and technology and infrastructure support services.

“Top-ranked executives of Safeway were particularly upbeat on taking advantage of opportunities in the country’s BPO industry and looked at BPO activities that can add significant value to their global operations,” the DTI said.

“DTI-Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) Assistant Secretary Josephine Romero personally met the [Safeway] team and urged them to expand their operations in the country and join the rosters of foreign companies that are reaping the benefits of a vibrant Philippine economy,” the DTI added.

source: interaksyon.com

Filipino Shoppers Going Modern – Survey

More and more Filipinos are purchasing goods in modern trade channels such as supermarkets and hypermarkets throughout the country but sari-sari stores still rule, a consumer survey by Kantar Worldpanel found.

A study by Kantar Worldpanel, the world-leading provider of continuous, syndicated consumer panels and research solutions into shoppers’ purchase and usage behavior, looked at the venues where Filipino households make their fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) purchases.

It tracked 3,000 urban and rural households nationwide, predominantly from the DE market with an annual household income that is P800 billion more than the national budget

Around 17 million homes comprise the DE market with FMCG purchases amounting to P434 billion.

Almost half of Filipino shoppers (47%) still buy from the sari-sari stores.

However, the Kantar Worldpanel study, “Philippine Households’ FMCG Spending,” reveals that Filipinos are now increasingly buying more goods in supermarkets and hypermarkets where promotions and affordable packs are becoming more available.

An upward trend in the growth of channel shares has been seen in modern trade channels, increasing from 26% to 28% in the past four years, compared to other channels like grocery stores, drug stores and market stalls, which registered flat or decreasing growth.

Filipino homes are also spending more on modern trade. The average FMCG spending in modern trade channels per household has increased to Php 9,495 in 2011 from Php 9,194 in 2010 (301-pesos increase). In fact, average spending on modern trade has also steadily increased in the past four years.

Another key finding in the “Philippine Households’ FMCG Spending” study is the expansion of modern trade retailers to reach more Filipinos. These retailers have been aggressive in opening more branches outside the National Capital Region (NCR). The likes of Mercury Drug, Watsons and SM have post the highest number of branches at 700, 218 and 144, respectively. Evidenced by its number of branches nationwide, Mercury Drug enjoys a market penetration rate of 30.4%, compared to SM at 25.9% and Watsons at 4.5%.

source: mb.com.ph