Tag Archives: Morrisons

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Morrisons and FareShare partnership saved over 100,000 meals from waste and diverted to charities

Bradford, UK, 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons formalised a partnership between its food production sites and the food redistribution charity FareShare in April 2017, to use surplus food occurring at their manufacturing sites to benefit people in need. After nine months, the partnership has resulted in enough good quality food for over 100,000 meals being saved from waste and diverted to charities supporting vulnerable people across the UK.

Numerous Morrisons production sites have committed to work with FareShare, including the retailer’s fish processing plant in Grimsby which was the first to come on board, followed by their fruit packing house Cutler Heights and most recently, vegetable packing house Clayholes Farm in Carnoustie and the Gadbrook Regional Distribution Centre.

The recent addition of Clayholes Farm in December 2017 means that FareShare in Scotland now receives a regular supply of surplus potatoes. The Morrisons team recognised that potatoes used as quality samples could be collected and bagged up for donation to FareShare, rather than going to animal feed. The samples are now sent to FareShare Glasgow once a fortnight, where they are redistributed to local frontline charities.

The provision of off-cut grapes from the retailer’s fruit packing house Cutler Heights has grown from strength to strength since the project started in November 2017. FareShare now receives surplus grapes three times a week from the Bradford site, which are distributed nationwide to the charity’s network of Regional Centres. Three months since the project began, FareShare has received 40 tonnes of off-cut green grapes, which has directly benefited over 1,400 charities, including children’s breakfast clubs, day centres for older people and community centres in deprived areas. As of this week, the project has been expanded to include red surplus grapes, which is projected to significantly increase volumes donated.

Following the success of the partnership, Morrisons will work with Fareshare to embed the FareShare redistribution model further into their wider manufacturing network.

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare says: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Morrisons. Thanks to collaboration across multiple production sites, FareShare is able to access a range of fresh, nutritious food that is in such high demand by the thousands of frontline charities we support – items like fresh fish, potatoes and fruit. These types of surplus foods go a long way to helping local charities provide hot, nutritious meals for those who might otherwise go without. The fact that we have already reached a milestone of providing over 100,000 meals is testament to Morrisons commitment to putting their surplus food to the best possible use.”

Steven Butts, Head of Corporate Services at Morrisons says: “As a foodmaker that makes most of the fresh food we sell, our manufacturing sites represent the best opportunity to make a real difference by working with FareShare. We want more and more people to be able to eat well and that means ensuring as little as possible is wasted. Working with FareShare means we get surplus food made into wholesome meals where they are needed.”

For further information contact:

Morrisons Press Office
0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons acquires leading supplier of free range eggs Chippindale Foods

Bradford, UK, 2018-Feb-20 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons today (19/02/2018) announces it has acquired Chippindale Foods, a leading supplier of free range eggs.

The acquisition means that Morrisons will make even more of its own fresh food and become more competitive for customers on these important everyday products. It will also bring forward the date at which all Morrisons eggs will come from non-caged hens from the current commitment of 2025.

Morrisons is already the largest supermarket customer for British farmers and uniquely makes most of its own fresh food in 17 manufacturing sites and 491 stores, including bakery, seafood, meat, fruit & veg, flowers and chilled processed products.

The addition of the Chippindale Foods business will enable Morrisons to work closely with egg farmers to support a sustainable supply chain, the welfare of hens and the quality of their eggs.

Nick Chippindale, Managing Director, will stay with the business and the 54 staff employed at the site at Flaxby, North Yorkshire, will become Morrisons colleagues in a growing manufacturing business.

Andrew Thornber, Morrisons Manufacturing Director, said: “The addition of Chippindale Foods to our fresh food manufacturing business will give us the opportunity to build on our deep relationships with British farmers and become even more competitive for our supermarket and wholesale customers.”

For further information contact:

Morrisons Press Office
0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons announces long-term franchise and wholesale supply agreement with SandpiperCI

Bradford, UK, 2018-Feb-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons is today announcing a new, long-term franchise and wholesale supply agreement with SandpiperCI, an operator of 43 mini supermarkets and convenience stores in the Channel Islands.

Most sites will convert into Morrisons Daily stores and be supplied with both Morrisons own brand as well as branded products. In addition, Morrisons will supply Safeway and branded products to the remaining Sandpiper stores. All stores will convert to selling Morrisons-supplied products over the next year.

James Badger, Morrisons Wholesale Director, said: “We are pleased to be announcing a partnership with a strong franchise partner in Sandpiper and the opportunity to bring Morrisons quality and value to customers in the Channel Islands. As Morrisons becomes broader and stronger, our brand is becoming more accessible to more customers.”

Ends

For more information
For Morrisons: Morrisons Press Office 0845 611 5111
For Sandpiper: Glen Rankine 07797 713 579

SOURCE: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc.

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Morrisons launches “voice skill” using Amazon’s Alexa

Bradford, UK, 2017-Nov-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — Customers can now order from Morrisons.com without lifting a finger using Amazon’s Alexa.

Morrisons online shoppers will now be order their weekly shop from Morrisons.com using only their voice.

Customers will be able to ask Alexa to add milk, bread or any other item to their Morrisons.com shopping list.

They will also be able to ask Alexa to edit their order; ask if their delivery is on time; or check their basket to see if an item has been requested.

The service will be particularly helpful when customers find out that they’ve run out of an item in the fridge or store cupboard – they can just ask Alexa.

It will also be helpful for people who are disabled or even on the move – BMW recently announced that Alexa would be in its new cars from next year.

To access this service, customers will need to activate the Morrisons ‘skill’ or app, which is available on devices with Amazon Alexa such as the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap.

Matt Kelleher, Morrisons Online Director, said: “Customers are increasingly using voice commands in their everyday lives to check the weather, play music, or find out the latest news. It is important we follow this emerging trend and make Morrisons an easier and more accessible place to shop for groceries online. It’s exciting that our customers can now shop without even needing to login to a computer or mobile phone.”

The Morrisons.com skill on Alexa will be able to:

  • Add items to your basket
  • Remove items from your basket
  • Check the total of your order
  • Check if you have an item in your order
  • Check if Morrisons sells a product
  • Check if you can still edit your order
  • Check if your delivery is on time

The new app will suggest the right item based on previous shops, helping customers to add to their basket.

For further information please contact the Morrisons press office on 0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons introduces new own-brand Cook, Home and Stationery products

Bradford, UK, 2017-Nov-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons is launching an improved range of nearly 1,500 own-brand Cook, Home and Stationery products in all UK stores and online from 7th November.

Designed by Morrisons, the brand new range will include; cookware, utensils, ovenware and bakeware; countertop and kitchen cupboard electricals; dining and tableware; home furnishings, bedding, towels and candles; plus storage, stationary and gadgets.

  • Key products include a 20cm Hard Anodized Pan with pouring lip and lid for £25, A German Glass Kettle for £30, a bamboo and linen Tripod Table Lamp for £15, and a gold seal certified Egyptian cotton bath towel for £10.
  • The new range will be introduced to Morrisons supermarkets across the country. Nearly one hundred stores will see an extension of space dedicated to Home and a new look ‘store-within-a-store’ concept will be introduced. Morrisons.com is also flexing its online delivery service to offer over 1,000 of the new products to its online shoppers.
  • Morrisons is known as a food retailer but after listening to customers has been working on its non-food range so that it offers customers greater choice and better value. The design ethos has been to provide customers with quality and innovation at great value prices. All of the range includes Morrisons signature ‘thoughtful details’ – also seen in its Nutmeg clothing range.
  • Key Morrisons product innovations include: – Being the first to offer a three year guarantee on all own brand electricals; – Working with British fragrance houses to develop exclusive fragrances for candles, oils and reed diffusers; – Sourcing gold seal certified plain dye Egyptian towels, all of which have a two year guarantee; and – Offering a 10 year guarantee on all hard anodised and stainless steel try-ply pans.
  • David Lennon, Home & Leisure Category Director at Morrisons said: “We’ve designed a product offer that gives customers good quality at great value that they would be surprised to find in Morrisons.”

For all media enquiries call:
0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons helps growers sell superficially damaged apples with the launch of wonky British apples

Bradford, UK, 2017-Nov-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons has launched a range of wonky British apples to help growers sell apples superficially damaged by unusual frosts which occurred earlier this year.

Millions of apples have been affected by adverse weather conditions which have left a brown ring known as “frost eye” around the some of the UK’s most popular fruit.

  • Unusually low temperatures, which dropped to -4C at the end of April in parts of Britain, caused some apples to feature slight blemishes to their skins only with no effect on eating quality.
  • The cold weather not only damages the fruit, but also reduces the quantity that a tree can produce. To help farmers, Morrisons will be selling blemished apples as part of its wonky packs meaning affected British growers will be now able use perfectly good and tasty apples that might have otherwise not have been eaten.
  • Morrisons wonky range, launched in 2015, helps the supermarket’s farmers sell perfectly good fruit and veg that are misshapen, blemished, very large or very small. The range now includes cabbage, cauliflower, courgettes, peppers, swede, apples, pears, sprouts, asparagus and leeks.
  • Morrisons apple buyer, Mark Booth, said: “We want to see good fruit eaten. Whenever bad weather damages fruit we’ll work with our growers to help them make the most of their crops. Our wonky apples might be a little ugly, but they will taste great.”
  • Morrisons now sells more than 500 tonnes of wonky veg to 500,000 customers every week.

For all media enquiries:
0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons brings in its first Yorkshire suppliers in stores

Morrisons brings in its first Yorkshire suppliers in stores

 

Bradford, England, 2017-Jun-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons has today (20 June 2017) announced the first Yorkshire suppliers to be listed in its stores as part of a programme that aims to put more homegrown food and drink on customers plates.

The supermarket first announced the search for more local food and drink makers in February after research found that Yorkshire customers want to see more food and drink made and produced ‘just down the road’ from their communities.

Morrisons is already British farming’s biggest single customer and the company has made sourcing more local food a priority, to reduce the distance food travels, support local communities and respond to regional tastes.

75 Yorkshire suppliers applied to take part in Morrisons local foodmakers programme and the top 20 were then invited to the event at Keighley Town Hall, West Yorkshire where they met Morrisons customers, buyers and the local WI.

Now, the first three local food and drink makers have been selected to be listed in stores around Yorkshire . They are:

    • Masons Gin – will enter 133 Morrisons stores from 19th June
    • Grandma Wild’s Biscuits – will enter all Yorkshire stores from 26th June
    • Parrs Foods – will enter all Yorkshire stores from 3rd July

Earlier this month, Sheffield dairy farm Our Cow Molly also entered three local Morrisons stores.

The local businesses will be stocked alongside Yorkshire products already ranged in Morrisons such as, Wakefield Rhubarb, Bradford parkin and Yorkshire ham.

Danny Clee, Local Solutions Manager for Yorkshire said: “Morrisons is a Yorkshire business with over 20,000 colleagues in Yorkshire. Our customers tell us they want to see more local food and drink produced in our stores and this programme aims to do just that.

“At our event in Keighley in March, we saw a great range of Yorkshire products and are delighted to welcome the first of our new local suppliers to our stores this week.”

Morrisons are expected to announce more successful Yorkshire suppliers as part of the programme later this year.

Contact:
Rachel Kennedy
Morrisons press office
0845 611 4575
rachel.a.kennedy@morrisonsplc.co.uk

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons signs new three-year contract milk deal with Arla Foods

Bradford, England, 2017-May-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons has agreed a new three-year contract starting in March 2018 that will mean its own-brand liquid milk is provided by Arla Foods.

Morrisons is looking forward to working more closely with their farmers on a range of sustainability and animal welfare measures.

As part of this deal, Morrisons is also committing to further enhancing its regional and local milk offering.

Steve Newbould, Morrisons Head of Trading – Dairy, said: “We believe this agreement will be simpler for our business and will help to develop a sustainable dairy sector.”

Contact: 
0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons to pay its smaller suppliers within 14 days

Bradford, England, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — From 1st April 2017, all goods for resale suppliers, whose business with Morrisons is worth up to £100,000 annually with Morrisons, will be paid within 14 days of receipt of a valid electronic invoice.

As a result, more than 3,000 suppliers will be on payment terms of less than 14 days. Morrisons is also aiming to find 200 local suppliers as part of its ‘Nation’s Local Foodmakers’ programme and they could benefit from the change.

In addition, Morrisons is also announcing today (27/03/2017), that to help small suppliers who currently don’t use an electronic invoicing system, it is developing a free-to-use supplier portal, through which invoices can be raised and submitted. The new service is expected to be introduced later this year.

Darren Blackhurst, Morrisons Group Commercial Director, said:

“We aim to buy and sell simply and when we listened to our smaller suppliers, they told us that these payment terms would help them with their cash flow. We want our smallest suppliers to grow with us.”

Suppliers who are already on payment terms that are less than 14 days, including livestock farmers, will remain on the same terms.

The moves aim to build on Morrisons’ ambition to buy and sell simply and follows on from other changes that have been introduced, including:

  • Reducing the type of supplier income from 37 to three
  • Removing or reducing many charges that suppliers pay
  • Resolving all cost price invoice queries within five working days
  • Introducing a simpler standard Supply Agreement for adoption this yearMorrisons is currently:
    • Developing longer term business plans for own-brand partners and strategic suppliers allowing for more effective collaboration
    • Launching an independent whistleblowing service so suppliers may anonymously report concerns

Notes:

  • Morrisons is writing to suppliers to inform them of the changes
  • Morrisons’ suppliers can receive further information on our helpdesk number 0845 611 5700
  • To benefit a supplier must:
    – be a goods for resale supplier;
    – have a turnover with Morrisons on goods for resale during Morrisons last financial year, of £100,000 or less excluding VAT;
    – submit valid electronic invoices through an EDI platform approved by Morrisons.

 

Contact: 0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Amazon customers can soon pick up their orders at Morrisons with the introduction of Amazon Lockers at the supermarket this year

Bradford, England, 2016-Sep-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons is to install the UK’s largest collection of Amazon Lockers this year as part of its drive to introduce new popular and useful services in its stores.

  • Morrisons plans to install hundreds of Amazon Lockers at Morrisons supermarkets this year so that customers can pick up their orders without the need to wait in their home.
  • They will be able to pick up their Amazon order while doing their food shop at Morrisons.
    Trevor Strain, Chief Financial Officer of Morrisons, said: “Many busy customers can’t wait at home for their delivery, and we believe the option to pick it up from one of our hundreds of conveniently located supermarkets will be attractive.”
  • The introduction of Amazon Lockers at Morrisons builds on the relationship between the two companies. In May, Morrisons began to supply thousands of grocery items that are now available to Amazon customers through Amazon Fresh in London, Amazon Pantry nationwide and Amazon Prime Now, the company’s ultra-fast delivery service available to more than 30 per cent of the UK population.
  • John Tagawa, Amazon’s Vice President of UK Operations, said: “We are delighted to introduce Amazon Lockers at Morrisons supermarkets. Amazon Lockers are the delivery option of choice for many customers who want to pick up their shopping at a time and place that suits them best. Morrisons supermarkets are ideal locations for Amazon Lockers which allow people to pick up their parcels while on the move.”
  • One of Morrisons’ priorities is to add ‘popular and useful services’ to its stores. Over the last 12 months in-store cafes have been improved and Morrisons has partnered with Timpson to expand its dry cleaning, key cutting and shoe repair business.
  • Customers using the Amazon Lockers will receive an email or text with a unique code. They enter the code or scan the barcode from the email to retrieve their product at the locker.
    There are more than 1,000 Amazon Lockers nationwide in locations ranging from petrol forecourts, convenience stores and shopping centres to universities, train stations, banks and airports.

For all media enquiries call: 0845 611 5111

Source: Morrison

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Morrisons rolls out a checkout promise to open extra checkouts when queues are building

Bradford, England, 2016-Sep-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today [8 September 2016] Morrisons will roll out a checkout promise that it will open extra checkouts for customers if there is more than one person ahead of them in a queue.

The pledge comes after Morrisons listened carefully to customers who said that queuing was their top frustration in supermarkets (70%) ahead of unhelpful service (67%) and poor quality products (66%).

  • Research conducted for Morrisons found the average person can only last a maximum of 6m 48s in a queue before losing their patience.
  • So, Morrisons checkout managers will now be directing customers to newly-opened checkouts when they see queues building.
  • Thousands of Morrisons staff have been trained so that they can quickly turn to operating a checkout when stores become busy.
  • Gary Mills, Morrisons Retail Director, said: “While we are proud to have one of the shortest queue times in the industry[1] we want to serve our customers better. Our new checkout promise will ensure our eleven million customers get the best shopping trip possible even as our stores become busier.”
  • Morrisons research reveals that the average British shopper spends three months of their life waiting in line[2] – the equivalent of one day a year. It also found that more than half of UK adults (56 per cent) avoid shopping at places known for queues and that two thirds (64 per cent) would leave shops rather than join queues at tills.
  • [1] Which Survey 2016
    [2] Based on average life expectancy of 87.5 years, with women at 89 and men at 86, according to Office of National Statistics National Life Tables UK: 2012-2014

For all media enquiries call: 0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Morrisons announces price cut on essential meat and poultry products

Bradford, England, 2016-Sep-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — This week, Morrisons will cut the price of essential meat and poultry products by 12 per cent, to help families bring meat back to the dinner table this autumn.

  • Price cuts on ham and other cooked meats will also help families whose children will be returning to school with packed lunches this week.
  • The reductions in meat prices come as new research shows that families are eating more roasts mid-week. i The cuts are aimed at helping them eat meat more affordably.
  • The prices of nearly 130 top selling cooked meat, fresh meat and poultry products are being reduced along with more than 30 fruit & veg lines.
  • Andy Atkinson, Morrisons Customer and Marketing Director, said: “Meat is one of the priciest items in families’ shopping baskets and as kids go back to school the cost of packed lunches is an added cost. “We’re a British company, making our own ham and buying our own cattle here in Britain. By doing this efficiently ourselves we can pass much-needed savings on to customers.”
  • Example price cuts per product

The cuts form part of Morrisons latest ‘Price Crunch’, a rolling programme of lower prices, typically lasting a minimum of three months. To date this year, the grocer has reduced the prices of over 4,435 products.

For all media enquiries call: 0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons Group

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Morrisons launches one of its biggest price crunches on 1,045 every day products

Bradford, England, 2016-Aug-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons will today launch one of its biggest price crunches with an average of 18 per cent being cut from the price of 1,045 every day products – including hundreds of core grocery and dairy items.

The British supermarket will cut the price of family essentials such as British meat (beef, pork and poultry), seasonal fruit and vegetables and toiletries by as much as 56 per cent – as part of its on-going commitment to offer good quality, great value fresh food for its eleven million customers.

  • Morrisons is British farming’s biggest supermarket customer and the second largest producer of British fresh food in the world. This helps the supermarket to offer good quality, great value on local, seasonal produce whatever the economic weather.
  • EXAMPLE PRICE CRUNCH PER STORE DEPARTMENT
    • Bakery, cakes and desserts – average 18 per cent
    • Beers, wines, spirits and tobacco – average 16 per cent
    • Essential grocery – average 17 per cent
    • Dairy and provisions – average 18 per cent
    • Frozen food – average 16 per cent
    • Health, beauty and baby – average 27 per cent
    • Household and pet food – average 22 per cent
    • Meat, poultry and oven fresh – average 12 per cent
    • Fruit, vegetables and salad – average 17 per cent
    • Seafood – average 16 per cent
  • Andy Atkinson, Morrisons Customer and Marketing Director, said: “We are constantly listening to our customers and know they are concerned about whether food prices will go up following the Brexit vote, especially on imports. Morrisons is unique as a food-maker and shopkeeper, and unlike the rest of the industry manufactures food, both in our own food processing plants and our 500 stores. We are British farming’s biggest supermarket customer, which means we can better control our prices, and this latest round of crunches demonstrates our commitment to offering the best possible value to our customers this summer.”

Media enquiries call: 0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Timpson to take over the running of Morrisons dry cleaning operations at 116 stores

Morrisons is to partner with Timpson to extend the number of popular and useful services available at its stores.

Bradford, England, 2016-May-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Under the agreement Timpson will take over the running of Morrisons dry cleaning operations at 116 stores and will expand the offer to include key cutting, shoe and watch repairs as well the fast growing areas of phone and tablet repair.The outlets will be branded ‘Timpson at Morrisons’ and further units will roll out in Morrisons stores as they receive a refit under its Fresh Look programme.

Roger Fogg, Director of Popular and Useful Services at Morrisons, said: “This partnership will mean that customers will find more popular and useful services at Morrisons stores.

“This is a way of growing our offer that is both capital-light and simpler for our colleagues.”
James Timpson, Timpson Chief Executive, said:
“Through Timpson at Morrisons we will give shoppers our full service offer, from key cutting to mobile phone repairs, while they shop. We’re also looking forward to making our great value dry cleaning service available to new customers in even more Morrisons stores.”

Media contact

For all media enquiries call 0845 611 5111
Available 24 hours

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Morrisons to launch UK’s first ever potted ‘Ketchup and Chips’ plant

  • 47 per cent of gardeners plant on patios and balconies, as living in apartments overtakes houses [i]
  • 58 per cent of gardeners want to grow own crops

Bradford, England, 2016-Apr-27 — /EPR Retail News/ —  Morrisons is looking to transform the face of Britain’s gardens with the launch of the UK’s first ever potted ‘Ketchup and Chips’ plant, which will feature in stores from 25th April.

Answering the prayers of chips fans across the country, the incredible multi-tasker grows fresh tomatoes and potatoes in one pot at the same time. Above the ground the plant will produce an abundance of cherry tomatoes, while white potatoes will grow below.

The move comes as Britain’s gardens are getting smaller as an increasing number of people in the UK are living in flats and apartments. Research has revealed that 47 per cent of households now only have access to a small balcony and 11 per cent have no garden area at all.

However, green fingered Brits aren’t letting a lack of space prevent them from growing their own food and plants. People are adapting their gardening habits to suit their living space, with demand for compact potted plants soaring (10% up year-on-year). The growing popularity of organic produce has also led 58 per cent of people to want to ‘grow their own’.

The innovative ‘veg plot in a pot’ can be grown inside and out – in a large patio pot or 40 litre bag. Ketchup & Chips is entirely natural, expertly crafted together by hand with no genetic modification involved. When planted in late April, each plant can yield hundreds of sweet tomatoes from July to October, whilst simultaneously harvesting a hearty crop of potatoes – which can be boiled, mashed, roasted or made into chips, until late in the season.

Morrisons gardens expert, Glen Cooper said: “Many of our customers are green fingered. But over recent years we’ve witnessed the frustration of shoppers who have less and less space to grow their own. This new plant is just the solution for our shrinking gardens – and will enable everyone to follow their produce from plant pot to plate!”

The Ketchup and Chips Plant will be available in Morrisons 101 Garden Centres UK-wide from 25th April, for a limited time only and will cost £5. Also available during this time will be the Egg and Chips Plant, another unique hybrid plant that grows aubergines and potatoes, costing £5. For more information or to find your local store please visit morrisons.com

Morrisons Perfect Chips
Ingredients:

  • 1 kg potatoes from your Ketchup and Chips plant
  • 1 litre vegetable oil, for deep-frying
  • Coarse salt
  • Vinegar

Method:

  1. Peel and rinse 1kg Maris Piper potatoes from your Ketchup and Chips plant and cut into 1.5cm chips. Soak for 5 mins in cold water, drain, then add to a deep pan of cold salted water.
  2. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 4 mins, until just tender. Drain, allow to cool completely, then chill in the fridge for 1 hr.
  3. Heat 1 litre vegetable oil in a fryer to 120ºC. Add the chips to the basket, being careful not to overcrowd (you will need to do more than one batch). Blanch for 10 mins, or until cooked through but not coloured. Remove, drain and pat dry on kitchen paper. Chill in the fridge for 1 hr.
  4. Heat the oil to 160ºC. Cook the chips in the basket for 3-5 mins or until crisp and golden brown. Drain onto kitchen paper. Sprinkle with salt and vinegar if you wish and serve.

Morrisons Fresh Tomato Salsa
Ingredients:

  • 4 large vine tomatoes from your Ketchup and Chips plant, chopped
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • 1 small bunch coriander, chopped
  • Discovery Foods Red or Green Jalapeños, to taste
  • Salt and black pepper

Method:

  1. Mix together all ingredients and serve as an accompaniment to all your favourite Mexican dishes or as a fresh dip with tortilla chips.

Source: Morrisons

Media contact
For all media enquiries call 0845 611 5111Available 24 hours

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Morrisons to launch UK’s first ever potted ‘Ketchup and Chips’ plant

Morrisons to launch UK’s first ever potted ‘Ketchup and Chips’ plant

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Morrisons to provide wholesale supply service to Amazon

Bradford, England, 2016-Feb-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons and Amazon are today announcing a new supply agreement. In the coming months, hundreds of Morrisons products will be available to Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Pantry customers. Morrisons will provide a wholesale supply service to Amazon, allowing Amazon’s customers access to a wide range of Morrisons ambient, fresh and frozen products.

We are focussed on our six priorities to make the supermarkets strong again. In addition, we have an opportunity to build a broader business that complements our supermarkets and is consistent with our commitment to pursue capital light growth. Wholesale supply enables this by growing volumes and leveraging our manufacturing, distribution and wholesale capabilities.

David Potts, Chief Executive, said of the Amazon agreement:

“Today’s agreement is built on Morrisons unique strengths as a food maker. The combination of our fresh food expertise with Amazon’s online and logistics capabilities is compelling.

“This is a low risk and capital light wholesale supply arrangement that demonstrates the opportunity we have to become a broader business. We look forward to working with Amazon to develop and grow this partnership over the coming months.”

In addition, Morrisons has been in discussions with Ocado to grow Morrisons.com and an agreement in principle has been reached. This involves Morrisons taking space in Ocado’s new Customer Fulfilment Centre (“CFC”) in Erith, and Ocado delivering a store pick solution for Morrisons that leverages Ocado’s technology and Morrisons store assets. When implemented, this would enable Morrisons.com, working with Ocado, to sell to customers all over Great Britain.

This amended agreement is subject to detailed terms being agreed and will only proceed if it enables Morrisons to achieve profitable growth online. There can be no certainty that an agreement will be concluded.

Media contact
For all media enquiries call 0845 611 5111
Available 24 hours

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Morrisons provides better rest areas for colleagues with £30m staff facilities makeover

Bradford, England, 2016-Feb-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons is giving its staff facilities a £30m makeover in order to make them better places to take a break for hard-working colleagues.

Staff will play an important role in the revival of the company and management have decided to invest in better rest areas after listening to colleagues who said they needed to be modernised and made more comfortable.

The four year makeover will see dated decor and fixed furniture replaced at all of the company’s stores. Separate dining and casual seating areas will be developed for colleagues.

The revamped Morrisons colleague rest areas feature:

  • Casual dining tables and soft informal seating areas
  • Subsidised freshly ground coffee machines
  • Free wi-fi throughout colleague areas
  • Access to mobile phone charging points
  • An upgrade of staff toilets

Some colleague kitchens will also be developed and will include an expanded range of hot and cold foods available to staff throughout their shifts.

Morrisons Chief Executive, David Potts said: “We are a business that listens hard to colleagues and responds wherever possible. We asked our staff for their views about their stores and many commented about their restrooms saying they would like them to be more relaxing and offer a better food service. This investment will ensure they are provided with the facilities and food to help them recharge during their breaks.

In September, Morrisons announced that 90,000 store staff would receive a pay rise with hourly rates increasing from £6.83 to £8.20.

Media contact
For all media enquiries call
0845 611 5111
Available 24 hours

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Morrisons announces new regional management appointments

Bradford, England, 2016-Feb-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — Number of women in retail leadership team rises from one to eight.

Morrisons has reshaped the management of its stores business with 15 new appointments to the regional management that provide direction to more than 490 supermarkets.

They include Vicki Reay, formerly of Aldi, who will be the new Operations Director for the South East region and becomes the first female director of a region’s stores at Morrisons. John McAlpine will be Operations Director for the North region and arrives from Tesco. They will both report to Morrisons Group Retail Director Gary Mills alongside current Morrisons Operations Directors Miles Foster and Darren Hunter.

Below them will sit a revitalised team of Regional Managers who are a mixture of home-grown talent and professionals from elsewhere in the supermarket sector.

The number of women at this level rise from one to seven.

David Lepley, previously a Regional and Strategy Director at Asda, will be also be joining the Morrisons stores leadership team.

Clare Grainger, Morrisons Group People Director, said:

“We have appointed the most talented retail team on the market with the aim of the making core supermarkets strong again. We are also pleased that our retail management team is becoming more representative of our largely-female colleague and customer base.”

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Morrisons announces its first price cut in 2016

‘Price Crunch’ is first in a rolling programme of price cuts in 2016

Bradford, England, 2016-Feb-03 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons is to cut the price of 1,072 items with many of the reductions on fresh food, such as fruit and veg.

Morrisons Chief Executive David Potts said:

“We are cutting the prices of products that customers will welcome being cheaper at Morrisons and we are cutting every penny we can.

“We continue to listen carefully to customers and they have told us they want lower prices, particularly on fresh food and everyday essentials. As we improve our customers’ shopping trip we are becoming more competitive with our own distinct set of prices.”

The price cuts will be accompanied by a marketing campaign called ‘Price Crunch’ which will communicate the lower prices to customers through external and in-store advertising.

‘Price Crunch’ will be a rolling programme of lower prices, typically lasting a minimum of three months.

Morrisons is the UK’s second largest fresh food manufacturer and uniquely among the supermarkets, makes more than half of the fresh food it sells. It will be using its food manufacturing business to keep prices down.

Morrisons announces its first price cut in 2016

For further information please contact: Julian Bailey tel. 07969 061 092

About Morrisons
Morrisons is one of the UK’s biggest food retailers with 498 stores and we’re the only British supermarket to have our own food processing sites and abattoirs. We employ expert livestock buyers to pick animals straight from the farmer and we are unique in making almost a quarter of the food we sell in store ourselves, giving us unrivalled control over our supply chain.

We’re committed to supporting British farming, that’s why all Morrisons-branded fresh meat and everything on our butchers’ counters is 100% British. And we have more skilled specialists on hand to prepare more fresh food in store than any other retailer, with over 6,000 fully trained crafts people in our stores including butchers, bakers, fishmongers and cheesemongers.

Every week, over 11 million customers pass through our doors and more than 117,000 colleagues across the business work hard each day to deliver great service to them. Our aim is to give our customers more of what matters to them, offering great quality food at low prices.

SOURCE: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc

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Morrisons to donate £100,000 to support families affected by the floods in the north of England and Scotland

Bradford, England, 2015-12-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons is to give £100,000 to groups helping families affected by the floods in the north of England and Scotland.

The move comes as another storm is expected to hit western parts of the UK tonight.

The funds are being given to flood appeals in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Scotland and Cumbria to spend on clean-up costs, emergency repairs and emergency supplies of clothing and food and drink.

David Potts, Morrisons Chief Executive, said: “We have seen the terrible impact that the floods have had on communities that we serve and we want to do our bit to help.

“This money will help to start the clean-up process which will be a huge challenge over the coming days and weeks.”

Morrisons has already given food and other emergency supplies to crisis centres and store colleagues have also been supporting the clean-up, running collections and operating donating stations. Store cafés have also been used to provide free meals for displaced families.

Media contact
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Morrisons the first retailer to bring unleaded fuel price down to below the £1 mark since June 2009

Bradford, England, 2015-12-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — From this morning (Friday 11th December) motorists filling up with unleaded at a Morrisons petrol station will pay no more than 99.9p per litre.

This is the first time any retailer has brought its everyday price down to below the £1 mark since June 2009.

Earlier this week the RAC, predicted that prices would move below £1-a-litre before the Christmas getaway.

With the oil price tumbling, Morrisons is making the cut a fortnight earlier than expected.

Bryan Burger, Morrisons Petrol Retail Director, said: “Today, for the first time in more than six years, we are moving unleaded prices down to below £1-a-litre. This is a moment where motorists will feel some relief after being clobbered by tax and price rises for the last decade. From the petrol price peak four years ago, the average car driver will have saved £17-a-week* which they can now spend on more enjoyable things than filling up their car.”

RAC Fuel Watch spokesman Simon Williams said: “This is just the news motorists were expecting to hear after we reported this week that wholesale fuel prices were coming down again as the price of a barrel of oil fell below $40. Morrisons has delivered this festive saving at their pumps even sooner than we thought and no doubt their forecourts are now going to be very busy with motorists filling up with petrol at an everyday price of under £1 a litre.”

Morrisons is also cutting 1p off a litre of its diesel.

Morrisons will hold the price at this new everyday price for as long as possible but it remains subject to changes in oil markets and foreign exchange movements.


Media contact
For all media enquiries call
0845 611 5111
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SOURCE: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc

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Morrisons will increase retail price of fresh milk and will also increase price it pays to dairy farmers

Bradford, England, 2015-12-8 — /EPR Retail News/ — In a move to support dairy farmers, Morrisons has today confirmed that it will increase the retail price of its standard four pint fresh liquid milk to £1 and it’s Milk For Farmers to £1.23. Morrisons is also increasing the price it pays to dairy farmers on all of its own-brand fresh milk and Milk For Farmers.

Rick Bourne, Morrisons Dairy Director, said: “We believe that customers are now ready to pay a little extra to support the dairy sector. Combined with the launch of Milk for Farmers range, which is now nearly three times more popular than Evian in our stores, we are doing our bit to support the dairy industry at this difficult time.”

Jonathan Ovens, Arla Foods amba farmer board director, added: “As dairy farmers, we welcome the news from Morrisons at a time of an unprecedented pressure for dairy farmers. We appreciate the continued commitment that Morrisons has given to our cooperative and its principles.”

Meurig Raymond, President, NFU, said:”We welcome this latest move which recognises the need to increase the sustainable price back to farm, at this difficult time. The whole industry needs to ensure that farmers supplying milk for all dairy products, not just liquid milk, are treated fairly during this market downturn.‎”

Morrisons has therefore met the criteria to carry the Arla farmer-owned marque on milk supplied by the dairy cooperative. This marque offers shoppers a way to easily identify and trust that when they buy own label dairy products they are responsibly sourced from a farmer-owned business where all the profits go back to its owners, and has the highest expectations for animal welfare and environmental standards throughout its supply chain. The farmer-owned marque signifies that Morrisons is committing to a long-term sustainable milk price for farmers.

Media contact
For all media enquiries call 0845 611 5111
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SOURCE: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc

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Morrisons supports global day of charity giving #GivingTuesday

Bradford, England, 2015-11-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Colleagues at Morrisons stores across the country are preparing to ‘Dress Festive for Sue Ryder’ in support of #GivingTuesday, a global day of charity giving which is being supported by the supermarket chain.

A range of brand new products will also be going on sale in Morrisons stores this Christmas to support the health and social care charity, which is the retailer’s national charity partner, including virtual gifts, cuddly toys and festive scratchcards.

It all kicks off on 1st December, when colleagues will be dusting off their Santa hats and digging out their Christmas jumpers to mark #GivingTuesday, a global initiative organised by the Charities Aid Foundation following the busy shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Stores are also holding bag packs in support of Sue Ryder on the weekend of 12th and 13th December, when schools, groups and community organisations will be visiting their local stores to pack bags for customers and spread a little festive cheer.

David Scott, Head of Policy and Corporate Affairs at Morrisons, said: “We’re looking forward to our Christmas fundraising activities and we hope customers and colleagues will enjoy the events we have in store.

“We’re very proud to support Sue Ryder through our ‘Raise a Smile’ partnership, which is giving more people the best possible end of life care and providing support for their families. In total the partnership has raised almost £4m since it launched in February 2014, which is a phenomenal achievement.”

Morrisons is also stocking several new products to raise money for Sue Ryder this Christmas, including a range of virtual gifts. Customers looking for a stocking filler with a difference can donate £5 towards Sue Ryder’s community nurses or family bereavement support – two key elements of the care funded by the partnership – and receive a fridge magnet to pass onto their loved one, or keep for themselves. The gifts, costing £5, will be on sale at every checkout and could raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for Sue Ryder.

Stores are also selling ‘Raise a Smile’ toys costing £1 and a range of festive scratchcards, which are on sale at the kiosk and cost either £1 or £2. Morrisons is donating £50,000 to Sue Ryder from the sale of its charity Christmas cards; while the charity is also benefitting from an ongoing mince promotion, where 10p per pack of beef mince prepared and sold by butchers’ counters is being given to the Sue Ryder partnership.

Sue Ryder’s Director of Fundraising Holly Spiers said: “We’re delighted that there are so many new ways for Morrisons customers and colleagues to get involved in supporting Sue Ryder this year. We’re particularly excited about our range of virtual gifts, which could make an enormous difference to the care we are able to provide across the country.

“On behalf of Sue Ryder, I’d like to thank everyone at Morrisons for their support in 2015 – we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together next.”

Money raised through the Morrisons Raise a Smile partnership with Sue Ryder is funding new community healthcare services including community nursing teams and Hospice at Home services; family support teams and Sue Ryder’s Online Community and Support (www.sueryder.org/support). Our vision is to give people more choice and control over their care at the end of their lives and ensure their families receive the support they need.

For more information or to get involved, call our partnership hotline on 0800 949 6000 or email morrisons@sueryder.org to find out more. Alternatively, show your support today by texting ‘SMILE’ to 70123 to donate £3. You’ll be helping people at the end of their lives, and supporting their families. For more information about Sue Ryder, visit www.sueryder.org

Contacts for journalists Please call 0845 611 5111 to reach the Morrisons press office, in and out of office hours.

SOURCE: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc

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Morrisons Campylobacter results for the whole of 2015 below the 7% FSA target

Bradford, England, 2015-11-13 — /EPR Retail News/ — Since 2013 we have been working hard to reduce Campylobacter levels in fresh chicken. We have introduced a Campylobacter reduction plan which, following independent tests has shown significant improvements year on year. Our results for the whole of 2015 are below the 7% FSA target.

We understand that campylobacter can be a concern when it comes to fresh chicken. However there are simple steps you can take to minimise the risk of food poisoning. Do not wash poultry, use separate utensils and surfaces for raw and cooked foods and ensuring poultry is thoroughly cooked.

At Morrisons we have listened to the concerns about high levels of campylobacter found on some fresh chickens and since 2013 we have made significant progress in tackling campylobacter throughout our supply chain.

The facts

Campylobacter is a common bacteria found on raw chicken

Campylobacter is destroyed if chicken is cooked thoroughly

As a bacteria, xampylobacter can be transferred on to any surface that raw chicken contacts

Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice is don’t wash raw chicken

Information about campylobacter and food safety can be found on the FSA website http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/campaigns/campylobacter

What we’ve achieved

We have worked with our suppliers to introduce a detailed Campylobacter Action Plan which has successfully reduced campylobacter levels on fresh chicken.

We have established our own monitoring program, carried out by an independent accredited laboratory, which has been in place since 2013. Our tests are based on a larger sample size than the FSA survey and results show levels of campylobacter steadily reducing.

As a result of our Campylobacter Action Plan we have seen a consistent reduction in campylobacter levels and significant year on year improvement. This year our results show that on average only 4.8% of chickens tested have the higher levels of contamination compared to the FSA retail target of 7%

We are working closely with the FSA and regularly provide updates on our own results and performance

What’s next?

While the results of our reduction programme are extremely encouraging we are not complacent and we will continue to work closely with the FSA and our suppliers to reduce the presence of campylobacter even further.

Morrisons Campylobacter Action Plan 2015

From the farm to your kitchen, we have studied the journey of fresh chicken and introduced range of measures to combat campylobacter.

At the farm

1. Every farm supplying Morrisons with chicken is audited to ensure improved levels of Bio-security are in place. The farms are audited frequently to ensure compliance and to drive continuous improvements. Additionally enhanced levels of Bio-security training for Farm and Catching teams have also been implemented across our supply base.

2. A program of improved modernised design is being implemented for farm buildings to enhance bio security – this is a long term continuous process

3. Morrisons is trialling financial incentives for farmers who keep their flocks free from Campylobacter.

4. Morrisons continue to investigate the effect of not thinning on a number of supplying farms (thinning is the selective removal of birds during the growing cycle) – the process of thinning potentially impacts on bio-security).

Processing

1. Morrisons is committed to only use suppliers with demonstrable Campylobacter reduction plans. One of our suppliers has invested £25m in recent months.

2. Morrisons has developed its own ‘Slaughterhouse Campylobacter Best Practice Standard’ and have audited all our whole bird suppliers against it. This systematically reviews evisceration and carcase washing standards in the slaughterhouse to drive continuous improvement across our supply base.

3. Process innovation is being implemented across our supply base for example:

  • a. Our major chicken supplier has just installed a Sonosteam system. This steam/ ultrasound system has been scientifically proven to significantly reduce Campylobacter levels.
  • b. In December our other main supplier is installing a secondary scalding process which has been scientifically proven to significantly reduce Campylobacter levels.
  • c. Our main supplier has installed UV equipment to further reduce the risk of Campylobacter being present on the whole bird packaging.

4. Morrisons are working with its key suppliers on other processing interventions including, Rapid Surface Chilling.

5. A programme of improvements has been driven in factory process flows and handling procedures, to better segregate product and sealed packs to minimise the possibility of the outside of our packs being cross contaminated with Campylobacter.

Packaging

1. Our robust Food Messaging on pack informs the customer:

  • Do not wash poultry
  • Store raw meat covered at the bottom of the fridge
  • Use separate utensils and surfaces for raw and cooked foods or wash thoroughly in between use
  • Wash hands after handling raw meat and poultry
  • Unwrap and dispose of packaging carefully

2. We have robust packaging on our poultry products to minimise the risks of cross contamination in store or at home

3. For customers who prefer not to directly handle the chicken we have introduced cook in the bag chickens across half of our range

Media contact
For all media enquiries call 0845 611 5111
Available 24 hours

SOURCE: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc

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Morrisons to donate unsold food that is still safe to eat to local community organisations

Morrisons is to roll out an initiative that aims to end the waste of edible food in its 500 supermarkets.

Bradford, England, 2015-11-5 — /EPR Retail News/ — Across the UK, unsold food that is still safe to eat will be made available and donated to local community organisations. They will be able come to the store and collect the food that would previously have been wasted during the week. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables as well as products such as tins and packets.

It follows a trial in over 100 stores in Yorkshire and the North East that will be extended to all stores during the early part of 2016. It involves building a network of community organisations who can make use of the food.

The level of edible waste is already minimised through measures such as discounting food before it can no longer be sold or using it in our own staff canteens.

The small percentage of edible food in Morrisons stores that is wasted is currently used to produce energy rather than going to landfill. This initiative will ensure it gets eaten.

Andrew Clappen, Group Corporate Services Director, said: “We don’t like the idea of good food going to waste and this programme will ensure that we find a home for the small amount of unsold or used food in our stores.”

Mary McGrath, CEO of FoodCycle, one of the recipient organisations said, “We have 10 hubs close to Morrisons stores and we will be taking food from those stores. This will allow us to feed more people who are at risk of loneliness, isolation and hunger and we would urge other organisations to take part.”

Media contact

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Morrisons to pilot a convenience food offer in five petrol filling station shops owned by Motor Fuel Group

Bradford, England, 2015-10-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons is to pilot a convenience food offer in five petrol filling station shops owned by Motor Fuel Group (MFG).

The pilot will start by the end of the year and will allow Morrisons to supply branded and own-brand food to the forecourt stores.

The shops, all above 1,200 sq.ft, will be branded Morrisons and will receive deliveries of fresh and ambient food through Morrisons’ logistics network.

David Potts, Chief Executive of Morrisons, said: “As we said at our recent interim results, we want to consider new opportunities to Serve Customers Better in the convenience market where the capital commitment is low and the Morrisons resourcing is light-touch. This pilot in Motor Fuel Group filling stations will allow us to trial one opportunity in this growing channel.”

MFG has 373 stations operating under the BP, Shell, Texaco and JET fuel brands. This makes them the second larest independent forecourt operator in the UK.

Media contact

For all media enquiries call 0845 611 5111Available 24 hours

SOURCE: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc

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Morrisons commits to supporting the employment of veterans

Bradford, England, 2015-10-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons has today (Thursday 15 October) signed the Corporate Covenant – a voluntary pledge which demonstrates the retailer’s concrete support for the armed forces community.

The Covenant sets out Morrisons commitment to supporting the employment of veterans and giving colleagues in the reserve forces the time they need to fulfil training duties – and where necessary deployment.Speaking ahead of the launch, Morrisons CEO David Potts said: “We owe a tremendous debt to members of the armed forces because of the enormous contribution they make to our country both during and after their service. Signing the Corporate Covenant shows our commitment to the armed forces and the support we offer to veterans, reservists and their families.”

Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, Mark Lancaster MP, said: “The pledges of support made today by Morrisons are very welcome and should serve as a reminder of the tremendous contribution our Armed Forces make to society. By employing veterans and supporting reserves, Morrisons are helping to ensure that anyone who serves their country receives a fair deal as a result of that service.”

The Corporate Covenant will be signed at Morrisons Tamworth (Upper Gungate) store by David Potts and Brigadier Mark van der Lande, Head of Reserves Forces and Cadets, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Media contact

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0845 611 5111
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Morrisons’ introduces new milk brand ‘Morrisons Milk for Farmers’

Bradford, England, 2015-10-13 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons’ new milk brand ‘Morrisons Milk for Farmers’ goes on sale this Monday (12th Oct) with 23p or 10 pence per litre from every four pint bottle being distributed directly back to dairy farmers.

Morrisons is the first UK retailer to launch a dairy product where part of the purchase price goes directly back to farmers.

A recent Mintel study found that half of shoppers were willing to pay more for milk in order to support dairy farmers.

Morrisons will now give shoppers the opportunity to choose between standard milk at a competitive market price (89 pence for 4 pints) or the ‘Milk for Farmers’ brand at £1.12 for four pints.

Morrisons’ Corporate Services Director Martyn Jones said: “When surveyed, many customers tell us that they are prepared to pay more for their milk to support British dairy farmers and this will be the first time that they’ll be given the opportunity to do exactly that.

“We will be giving Milk For Farmers our full support and the sales will show whether customers in our supermarkets are prepared to pay more.”

Morrisons stores have also begun selling ‘Morrisons Milk for Farmers Cheddar Cheese’ where 34 pence from every pack sold will go directly back to the farmers who supplied the milk to make the cheese.

The cheddar is available in Mature and Extra Mature Cheddar strengths and priced at £2.52 per pack (350g) or two packs can be purchase together at an offer price of £4.

The introduction of the Milk For Farmers brand is part of a range of measures Morrisons introduced to help British dairy farmers. In the summer, Morrisons committed to raising its minimum milk price with the extra funds paid back to farmers. The percentage of British cheddar sold in Morrisons stores has also increased to 99% to further support of the UK dairy sector.

Media contact

For all media enquiries call 0845 611 5111
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Asda, Iceland, Morrisons and Waitrose to support the construction of new world class dementia research centre at UCL in London

LEEDS, England, 2015-10-6 — /EPR Retail News/ — Asda, Iceland, Morrisons and Waitrose have joined together in a unique partnership to support an initiative that will make medical history.

All four retailers have pledged funds from the new levy on single-use carrier bags to support the construction of a new world class dementia research centre at UCL in London, with the aim of meeting the G8 Group challenge, following a lead from David Cameron, to find a cure for dementia by 2025.

This £350 million project currently has a shortfall in funding of £100 million, and the cash generated by carrier bag sales in food retailers across Britain has the potential to bridge much of that gap.

In addition to committing funds from their own stores, the Chief Executives of Asda, Iceland, Morrisons and Waitrose are today writing to the CEOs of all other UK food retailers, urging them to lend their support either this year or in any of the next five years.

SOURCE: ASDA

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Morrisons Carrier Bag Charge expected to raise an estimated £5m windfall for good causes

Bradford, England, 2015-10-1 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Morrisons Foundation predicts an increase in the number of grants awarded following the introduction of the Single Use Carrier Bag charge on Monday 5th October. The charge in Morrisons stores is expected to raise an estimated £5m windfall for good causes when it is introduced next week.

The carrier bag legislation requires the retailer to charge customers 5p for every single use carrier bag used during a shop. Morrisons has committed to donating income from the charge to its charitable foundation which will offer grants to local charities across the country.

In the run-up to the introduction of the charge, Morrisons has helped customers prepare by:

  • * Displaying information in stores to remind customers.
  • * Checkout staff have also been telling customers about the charge.
  • * Introducing measures to encourage customers to switch from single use carrier bags to reusable bags including reducing the price of its Bags for Life from 12p to 10p.
  • * Launching a new range of reusable bags including classic woven bags, durable cotton bags, a convenient packable bag and insulated options ideal for chilled or frozen products.

In Scotland and Wales, where a similar charge is already in force, Morrisons has seen around an 80% reduction in the use of single use carrier bags.

Morrisons Group Corporate Services Director, Martyn Jones said: “This is a big change for customers and we are working hard to make our shoppers aware of the charge and provide them with a choice of reusable bags. However, the charge will be a boost for local charities across the country and help them to deliver projects that will make a real difference in their communities.”

The Morrisons Foundation was established earlier this year to provide grants to both local and national charities carrying out projects that improve people’s lives. To date the Foundation has awarded over 100 grants totalling around £650,000. In addition, some proceeds generated from the single use carrier bag charge will be donated to Morrisons curent charity partner, Sue Ryder.

Funds raised from Morrisons online deliveries will support a recycling initiative which will reprocess used online delivery bags into new carriers.

Media contact

For all media enquiries call
0845 611 5111
Available 24 hours