The government has indicated that it wishes to abolish wages councils. So long as the UK ratifies the International Labour Organisation Convention, it is committed to the…
Abstract
The government has indicated that it wishes to abolish wages councils. So long as the UK ratifies the International Labour Organisation Convention, it is committed to the maintenance of low pay machinery in poorly paid industries, but it could deratify and abolition could take place in 1986. The two retail councils are the largest of the wages councils. Nobody pretends they function effectively. Small retailers claim that they cannot afford the minimum rates fixed by the councils, while some large companies assert that the council's recommended increases have a knock‐on effect on their own collective bargaining arrangements. But in spite of the increases in recent years, the current highest minimum rate in retailing is still 18% below what the Council of Europe described in 1983 as the “decency threshold”. If the councils are to be retained, clearly reform is needed. There is evidence of an alarming level of underpayment, and the “policing” system faces acute difficulties — not least a reduction of one‐third in the number of inspectors. In this special feature, Susan Shaw examines the arguments for abolition, retention, or reform.
Britain is substantially less‐sufficient in bacon production thanother European competitors, especially Denmark and The Netherlands,although in recent years the competitive…
Abstract
Britain is substantially less‐sufficient in bacon production than other European competitors, especially Denmark and The Netherlands, although in recent years the competitive position of the industry has improved. British animals are now of high quality and a rationalization process is under way in the processing sector. Proposes a number of changes to develop the industry further and reduce the trading deficit.
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The first of a series of articles explaining the objectives,methods and progress of the Strathclyde University Food Project –a British food industry initiative which has as its…
Abstract
The first of a series of articles explaining the objectives, methods and progress of the Strathclyde University Food Project – a British food industry initiative which has as its objective the reduction of the British food trade gap through programmes of action research. Explains the background to the Project, its structure and the way in which it is managed. Discusses general issues of British food industry competitiveness which have been brought into focus through the activities of the Project in different sectors.
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Susan A. Shaw, Neil Harris and Sara Carter
Describes the state of the UK tomato sector which is facing fallingreal price levels and low profitability in a situation of generalovercapacity in the EC tomato industry and…
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Describes the state of the UK tomato sector which is facing falling real price levels and low profitability in a situation of general overcapacity in the EC tomato industry and where imports into the UK market are a substantial percentage of total consumption. Evaluates the Working Party for Salads′ improved short‐term marketing intelligence system during its first year of operation.
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John A. Dawson and Susan A. Shaw
Using the evidence from interview surveys of UK retailers andmanufacturers, it is argued that the changing horizontal structure ofretailing in the UK is having a profound…
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Using the evidence from interview surveys of UK retailers and manufacturers, it is argued that the changing horizontal structure of retailing in the UK is having a profound influence on the structure of vertical relationships in the channel. Whilst horizontal competition has increased and retailer strategies have been directed at improving their competitive horizontal advantage, the form of vertical relationships has been changed to an administered structure in order to maximise this horizontal competition. This has resulted in a number of vertical channel changes, including more stable relationships. The implications of this change are profound, both for the academic study of marketing channels and for the practice of channel management.
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John A. Dawson and Susan A. Shaw
This article reviews the changes that have occurred, points to the factors involved and considers the likelihood of future changes in the management of the retailer‐supplier…
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This article reviews the changes that have occurred, points to the factors involved and considers the likelihood of future changes in the management of the retailer‐supplier interface and their impact on the links between retailers and suppliers. At all times this is related to the impact on physical distribution.
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Sara Carter, Susan A. Shaw and Neil Harris
Describes the changes which have taken place in the UK strawberrymarket in recent years and presents an outline of the opportunities forBritish producers identified by the Soft…
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Describes the changes which have taken place in the UK strawberry market in recent years and presents an outline of the opportunities for British producers identified by the Soft Fruit Working Party. New opportunities have been largely met by imports which have grown substantially in volume in recent years. Examines the reasons for the limited exploitation by British producers of these opportunities and analyses changing attitudes to production and marketing by British strawberry growers.
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Market trends have offered an incentive to retailers todifferentiate product assortments by region, whilst new developments inpurchasing technology have enabled retail buyers to…
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Market trends have offered an incentive to retailers to differentiate product assortments by region, whilst new developments in purchasing technology have enabled retail buyers to fragment orders by region and even by store and to tranship between regions. Reports on an initiative to take advantage of recent developments and to facilitate the access of small, regionally‐based suppliers to retail food multiples through a series of Meet the Buyer events. Presents preliminary results of a survey of 123 small suppliers and 28 retail buyers who have participated in these events.
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Describes a number of serious challenges facing the British appleindustry. Concludes that the way forward lies in moving away fromcompetition in commodity markets by…
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Describes a number of serious challenges facing the British apple industry. Concludes that the way forward lies in moving away from competition in commodity markets by differentiating and branding the product, and that opportunities are available for traditional British varieties such as Cox and Bramley in fresh, processed and juicing sectors.
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Presents an analysis of the domestic market for field vegetablesand comments on the nature of the market changes and the role of marketintelligence. Concludes with a discussion of…
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Presents an analysis of the domestic market for field vegetables and comments on the nature of the market changes and the role of market intelligence. Concludes with a discussion of how British producers can use their competitive advantages to exploit current opportunities and to build new markets.