David Sables
David Sables is CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants.
Comment & OpinionRetail’s obsession with pushing volume is a zero-sum game
Volume is a zero-sum game right now – this spate of activity is a simple share grab with no net extra for suppliers, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionDarren Blackhurst’s ‘Mad Hatter’ approach could just work for Asda
Chief commercial officer Darren Blackhurst has undone himself in the past with excessive war rhetoric, but his true style is trading, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionGSCOP needs a high-profile win. The GCA should fine Amazon
GSCOP needs a high-profile win to re-engage suppliers and drive long-term progress on retailer compliance, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionAs food inflation returns, government is looking desperate
P&Ls cannot sustain the pressures around them, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionBuyer negotiations for branded suppliers are as fraught as ever
As buying roles have been reduced, buyer responsibilities are relatively unchanged but their actual responsibility is through the roof, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionEven a second cost of living crisis can’t help Asda now
Allan Leighton’s price strategy is a desperate dice-roll and I believe it has no chance of working, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionAmazon ruins GSCOP’s reputation. Why is the GCA allowing it?
Amazon entered the GCA’s jurisdiction as a serial code offender and has been allowed to get worse, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionBig four must differentiate to avoid further job cuts
As Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons announce job losses in the thousands, Aldi and Lidl continue to push expansion, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionFmcg innovation is worse than ever. Here’s why
The most innovative breakthroughs in fmcg are in logistics and supply chain, not actual product, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionLabour’s National Food Strategy aim is laudable, but will drive inflation
Henry Dimbleby’s recommendations should be broken down, prioritised and phased in over time, says David Sables of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionTarry’s work at Tesco shows the power of supplier collaboration
Under Jason Tarry, supplier dialogue with Tesco buyers became more strategic – investment followed and honourable commitments replaced settlement wrangling, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionMorrisons must sell suppliers a clear turnaround vision
The next stage requires more strategy from Morrisons and serious judgement from suppliers, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionSuppliers: survive the recession by mastering three trends
Retail media, artificial intelligence and sustainability: all demand a coherent strategy now, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionSuppliers must not capitulate to retailer bullies
Such escalating retailer-supplier tensions are bad for both parties but suppliers must navigate especially carefully, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionPoor maths and anti-brand bias are the flaws in the CMA’s new report
The clumsy and manipulative presentation of the CMA’s findings left the door open to unwarranted criticism of brands, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionJoint business plans are often meaningless – suppliers don’t need them
The customer agrees to JBPs whilst chuckling quietly about how much they are getting for a simple signature on a meaningless plan, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionAn open letter to the CMA: your profiteering accusations are damaging
I wish to highlight a concern about the approach taken in the report on suppliers, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionGrocery delivery is not profitable and stores are the casualties
Online grocery may be the future but the pace of transition is causing death by a thousand cuts, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionCo-op’s price cuts show the convenience battle is on
The Co-op’s £70m investment in pricing marks yet another landmark shift in the retail landscape, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Comment & OpinionCMA ‘profiteering’ findings expose its flawed understanding of supermarkets
The latest outcome shows the CMA’s criticism of fuel pricing was incorrect, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants