Cereals firm Kellogg's is to strengthen its code on marketing to children through the adoption of "new nutritional criteria".

Cadbury Schweppes has announced it is to shed 15% of its staff by 2011, according to reports, but remains tight-lipped about how or if this would affect its UK operations or brands.

Morrisons has been named the top chain for availability over the past year.

The Food Executive at the Co-op has asked staff to submit ideas for proving the multiple is Good With Food.

Whole Foods Market opened its flagship Kensington store last month, with big promises on organic freshness, but customers and local retailers are not all bowled over.

Moving on to more serious matters, especially if you work at Kwik Save - the chain has closed 79 stores and others are sporting empty shelves. I can remember back in the 90s when 'Kwikies' was considered a role model of how to run a great discounter. The stores were pleasant to shop, cheap and with a decent range.

We have recently listed Bounce Balls well-being positioned snacks, in four variants: Premium Protein, Spirulina & Ginseng, Cashew & Pecan and Almond Protein. We are now rolling them out across the Partnership.

Nine major suppliers have signed up to the Government-backed commitment to reducing packaging waste, which means they have to stop their waste increasing before 2008.

Summer is the second biggest time of the year for spirits sales. Unlike Christmas, the season is very dependent on weather, which presents a few challenges but also many opportunities for retailers. Britain is Europe's biggest BBQ nation and when the sun is shining people tend to plan more impromptu entertaining at home.

You may be familiar with the old anecdote: a message saying that the General "flies back to the front" is received as "the General's flies are back to front."

Life is good for the estate agent. As he strolls around the supermarket, choosing the best a modern retail mega-shed has to offer, he is justifiably pleased with himself. He's grown fat on commission in the past few years, and the ludicrously overheated housing market means that he will be living off the fat of the land for a good while yet.

QHow can I get my suppliers to recognise that my business strategy, fascias and customers are different to my competitors? When they come to sell their ideas and new products, why don't they see the points of difference between us supermarkets?

QI've two big promotions in my store next week and have just had shippers, signage, extra product and shelf-edge labelling delivered. Is it necessary to follow promotion instructions to the letter? I don't have the time or manpower to keep promotional shippers filled and the signage looks messy. It feels like I'll be going to a lot of trouble without seeing any more return than if I put the promotional packs onto the usual fixture.

While the retail environment can enhance selling, the ability of in-store materials to communicate effectively has grown difficult as the sheer number of these materials has increased. That's according to a recent report by shopping research company Shoppercentric.

Joan Houghton, 56, has been working at Sainsbury's, Redditch, Worcs, for 11 years.

Sawbridgeworth is a pretty town in rural Hertfordshire. It has almost been a victim of its own desirability, as small retailers have been replaced by service sector businesses like architects, as rates rise. However, the Budgens store run by Paul and Michelle Gravelle is going strong, although it has to be said it is 'the only supermarket in the village.'