Randalls has launched at-home grocery delivery in the Houston and Austin areas. The online-and-app-based delivery service begins Thursday and uses a fleet of 25 new temperature-controlled trucks, according to the company. "We're very excited to bring Randalls grocery delivery to Houston and Austin," Randalls president Sidney Hopper said in a statement. "We know how busy folks are, and this new service will help give time back to our customers juggling family, work, evening activities and various responsibilities." (chron.com) Aldi set to build stores in China in 2017
German supermarket chain Aldi plans to enter China and other Asian markets with Australia as its springboard in the hemisphere. The company will launch online supermarket and alcohol supermarkets in China in the first half of 2017 and its physical stores will be opened later in 2017. Aldi's spokesperson told local Chinese media that its Chinese physical stores will sell supermarket goods and wine and most of those products will be purchased from Aldi's suppliers in Australia. (chinaretailnews.com) Morrisons revives Safeway brand
Morrisons is to resuscitate the Safeway brand, 12 years after sealing the takeover of the supermarket chain, while announcing a new foray into the convenience food market. The Bradford-based supermarket absorbed Safeway in a £2.9bn merger in 2004, the largest deal of its kind at the time. However the revived Safeway brand will not hang over shop doors; instead Morrisons is adding the name to a range of products it will sell to wholesalers. Please, click here to read more at telegraph.co.uk. UK: Co-op to double number of local suppliers
A new small business charter launched by the Co-op vows to double its number of local suppliers. Backing British is a cornerstone of the Co-op’s food strategy and the community retailer has pledged to increase the number of small suppliers it works with to 1,200 by the end of 2017. The five-point charter sets out clear principles to foster closer relationships and support for Co-op’s local suppliers. It will:- Double the amount of local suppliers.
- Break down barriers to trading by sharing technical expertise and practical support, understanding the challenges faced by small suppliers it will create the best route to market.
- Avoid any expensive and duplicate audits with a universal standard (SALSA accreditation) for food production, legislation and labelling.
- Not seek exclusivity to help small businesses to grow.
- Build long-term relationships with suppliers and growers, offering greater certainty and stability while championing local suppliers. (internationalsupermarketnews.com)
The Israeli supermarket chain ‘Osher Ad’ officially opened its first store branch under the name of Bingo in New York City this week with the help of an investment amounting to $9m from local partners. (jewishbusinessnews.com) US: Retailers make top revenue in four states
Business Insider collected the number one companies in each respective state, based on revenue, compiling a list from the 2015 Fortune’s 1,000 List. In it, Walmart, Albertsons, Costco, and Kroger, each make the list, along with a number of other corporate giants like CVS, FedEx, Dupont, and Nike. (delimarketnews.com) UK: Storms drown Booth’s profits
Winter storm Desmond blasted the profits of county supermarket Booths, leaving it with a £6.3m pre-tax loss. Devastating flooding at its stores in Keswick and Kirkby Lonsdale, plus falling food prices and costs to do with closures of old stores and the opening of new ones, left the firm feeling the winter chill. This time last year the up-market grocer posted a profit of £1.1m. This year operating profits also fell from £3.1m to £2.6m and turnover dropped from £278.6m to £276.6m. (blackpoolgazette.co.uk)UK: Bestway unveils investment plan across 575 Best-one stores
Bestway has announced a new store format and three-year plan to “take Best-one to the top of symbol group retailing”. The plan involves the wholesaler working with 575 Best-one retailers to create business plans, which range from small fixture tweaks to major refits. The refits place more of an emphasis on catering for shoppers buying on the go and evening meals, with an increased space given to chilled, as 40% of a Best-one store’s takings will be chilled within five years. (betterretailing.com)Lidl plans to invest another €60 mln in expansion in Lithuania next year
Germany's retail chain Lidl, which entered the Lithuanian market last June, has unveiled plans to invest around 60 mln euros in expansion next year, the same amount as this year, but it would not disclose how many new stores it expects to open in the country in 2017, reports LETA/BNS. (baltic-course.com)Mercadona suppliers invested €1.3bn in innovation between 2012 and 2016
Spanish retailer Mercadona's suppliers have invested a total of €1.3bn in infrastructure and innovation during the past four years. These figures, published recently on a study by Institut Cerdà, points out that 90 out of the 125 manufacturers that supply Mercadona invested a total of €377.5m in innovation (€85.5m in new products and €292m in new processes) and €882m in infrastructure. (esmmagazine.com)Dunnes Stores crowned lead Irish supermarket
Dunnes Stores is now Ireland's largest grocery retailer, according to market share figures from consumer thinktank Kantar Worldpanel. In the 12 weeks ending 6 November, Dunnes has increased its share to 22.6%, beating out competitors such as Tesco and Lidl. Rival SuperValu is close behind with 22.4% market share, with an increase of 2.3% in year-on-year sales. Third-place Tesco clinched 21.4% of market share and has continued its upward trend, with value shares falling by only 0.6% in the past 12 weeks and volume sales ramping up compared to last year. (esmmagazine.com)LuLu opens export facility in US
Through its wholly owned subsidiary Y International, LuLu has opened a food processing and logistics plant in New Jersey. The company said that it would use the facility to purchase, process, re-label and export food, non-food, chilled and frozen products made in the US to its stores throughout the GCC and Asia. (igd.com)Discount growing quickly in Colombia
Colombian retail association Fenalco confirmed to IGD the significant growth being seen in the discount channel: it estimates discount accounts for around 6% of total grocery sales, compared to just 2% in 2014. Discount stores largely compete against traditional stores and small supermarkets, which is based on the channel’s strength in proximity locations and low prices on a limited product range. Market leader Grupo Exito also leads the discount channel through its Surtimax fascia and the more fresh produce focused Super Inter banner. (igd.com)Qatar: Al Meera’s chief executive resigns
Without giving reasons, Al Meera has said that its chief executive, Guy Sauvage, has submitted his resignation, which has been accepted. The company said that Sauvage will stay on until March or April 2017 ‘for the sake of continuity’. (igd.com)Spain's DIA launches new corporate brand
Spanish retailer DIA has launched a new corporate brand, which combines all of the company's commercial banners, the retailer revealed last Monday, 21 November. Spokespersons from the company told El Economista that the new image aims to reflect DIA's "dynamism, efficiency, proximity and optimism" while staying true to an essence that persists through its "brands, personality and history." (esmmagazine.com)Serbian discounter TSV Diskont expands to Croatia
Serbian discount market TSV Diskont has expanded its portfolio to neighbouring Croatia, where it has now opened 17 stores. TSV Diskont (registered company name Kasica-S) has around 250 stores in Serbia. The chain offers a limited range of products at low prices, mostly produced in Serbia, Poland and other countries. (esmmagazine.com) 
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