Thread by @dresserman

As the @Grocery_Insight image portal/server/best practice (name TBC) launch becomes near reality. A reminder that we have a huge amount of imagery to showcase everything (Tesco, amongst many, many others). Register your interest here: groceryinsight.com/grocery-insigh…

Often, I think people forget how bad Tesco was. The accounting scandal is 'top of mind' but the reality is that the stores were a mess, pricing abysmal and the message was confused (being polite.) Here, from our archive: (2014!)

1) How many variants of Coke in the range(?) (2014)

Answer? Too many.

2) Aug 2014 - Clubcard fuel save. A fine attempt to grow sales with money off for Clubcard holders. But symptomatic of the chain struggling with what 'base' value looked like.

3) Jul 2014 - Store standards were poor to abysmal. Despite a bright start for Clarke, hours came back out and the decline accelerated. (100% guarantee, not a staged image).

4) Aug 2014 - Hopeless "promotions" that just looked expensive due to the supplier monies ruling the roost.

5) June 2014 - A questionable value proposition at the shelf edge. Why range 2x lines with a 3p gap?

6) July 2014 - A near-obsession with ridiculous sub-brands that diverted attention from the core job, added no value and took shelf space away from faster moving items.

7) May 2014 - Price Drop was introduced as a response to Asda Price Lock when they pushed back against discounters. However, it was limited to a few products which made them cheaper, but still too expensive on everything else.

8) July 2014 - Supplier monies were ruling the roost. Even without the accounting issues, just look at the signage here. It added no value to the customer, at all. Merely (trying) to prop up a failed strategy.

9) July 2014 - Sales were falling and customers were deserting the poorly staffed stores.

Answer? Focus on a near obsessive cost-control regime. High-value items became near 100% unavailable as stores didn't / couldn't / wouldn't zero out the stock on the system.

10) 2014 - Trailed earlier this week but whilst the Hudl/Hudl2 may have had positive points, a retailer that couldn't keep beans on the shelf had no business getting in the tech game.

See also: Blinkbox, Hudl phone, Euphorium Bakery, Harris and Hoole, Nutricentre. etc etc.

A "top 10" from the archive, it could have been 110. Quite literally. More power to Dave Lewis and his turnaround.

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