The Brands Blog
News and opinion from the Group and its supportersThe GCA challenge of Amazon’s GSCOP compliance
The Grocer magazine recently featured an interesting article on GSCOP (Grocery Supplies Code of Practice) compliance and the challenge this presents to the GCA (Groceries Code Adjudicator), notably in relation to Amazon. The GCA is fully aware of the current...
Five key factors impacting retailers in 2025
2025 is seeing unprecedented pressures on retailers. There 5 key factors include: Rising Food Inflation: Food inflation is projected to reach 5% by the end of 2025, largely driven by the cost of goods and services. Retailers are also facing challenges, including an...
The Itsy-bitsy truth about handling AI and marketing
This Brands Blog is based on presentation given to members by Jonathan Gabay in March 2024. A video of this presentation can be found our YouTube channel here. The British Brands Group recently invited me to deliver a keynote to its members at its Annual General...
An analogue ‘dark nudge’ that still matters
Technology and digital transformations have revolutionised both our lives and our relationship with marketing and brands. It is accepted that this has led to a mix of good and bad practices, behaviours and interventions. The digital world has also created a new...
Exploring what GSCOP means for Amazon Vendors
Amazon’s designation under the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) is ‘probably the biggest news in years’, fundamentally affecting Vendors’ relationships with Amazon. The detail will emerge over time, though big questions are already in play, such as how will Amazon maintain its profitability if upfront fees, price matching with margin support and chargebacks are constrained? Key for Vendors is to prepare and make sure they know GSCOP in detail.
Amazon & GSCOP: the implications for brands
The announcement by the Competition and Markets Authority that Amazon was to become a designated GSCOP retailer and must comply with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice is a milestone for the company and suppliers. This Brands Blog explores the implications for suppliers and for Amazon itself and the steps suppliers need to take to ensure they benefit from this designation.
Brands and their Role in Competition Between Retailers
The symbiotic relationship between branded suppliers and retailers is as important now as it has ever been. Brands need retailers as a key route to market, but retailers also need the presence, support and resources of their branded suppliers too. Intense competition...
Changing Lives, Changing Behaviour and the Implications for Brands
The last year has brought big changes in how brands get their products to market and maintain their brand relevance, but it also has seen changes in the broader priorities and behaviour of brands, retailers and consumers. Not just buying and selling behaviour, but...
Changing Routes to Market and the Implications for Brands
There is a pervasive sense of change. That was true before the global challenges of 2020 and has accelerated exponentially since. What does this mean for today’s brand builders in the world of fast-moving consumer goods? Where should they concentrate in order to build and sustain relevance and continue to engage us as individuals, both rationally and emotionally, and succeed? This first of two events focuses on channels to market and the implications for brands.
Guest blog: Comparing and contrasting the business models of retailers and brand manufacturers
A wide choice of products at a range of prices across the country remains a good measure of an effective grocery market for shoppers. Retailers and suppliers play distinct roles in delivering this and it is important to understand the differences when considering...