SPAR Austria merges sales units from January 2024
Starting from January 1, 2024, SPAR Austria will merge its two sales units - company-owned and independent retailer sales, following a decision by the management board. This change is prompted by the upcoming retirement of Alois Huber, the current head of sales for independent SPAR retailers, in March 2024. Gerhard Weinberger, already responsible for the company-owned stores, will lead the new sales unit. Michael Pecher will be the new head of independent retail sales, and Romana Kaufmann will expand her existing role to include the coordination of all SPAR stores.
Source: spar-international.com
Sharp rise in cost of food basics forces UK families ‘to make desperate choices’
Food price inflation has slowed in recent months, but costs remain much higher than they were two years ago, disproportionally affecting low-income households, according to research by consumer body Which? shared exclusively with the Guardian. Vegetable prices are up 19.1% since May-July 2021.
Source: theguardian.com
No more FamilyMart in Thailand: 200 outlets to be converted to Thai supermarket chain
Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart is leaving Thailand. Nikkei Asia reported that the chain's franchise agreement with Thai retailer Central Group ended in May 2023. The current 200-odd FamilyMart outlets in Thailand will be converted to Tops Daily, a small supermarket chain owned by Central Group, within this year.
Source: mothership.sg
Delhaize strikes: 12 shops blocked in Brussels, management sends bailiffs
In the labor dispute at the Delhaize supermarket chain, 14 of its 128 shops were closed or blocked on Friday morning: 12 in Brussels and two in Liège. For the shops in Brussels, the management has an injunction in place: bailiffs will unblock the shops, Delhaize spokesperson Roel Dekelver told Belga News Agency. As for the two blocked shops in Liège, bailiffs will also go to the scene.
Source: brusselstimes.com
Veg of Lund signs distribution agreement with Synergy Trading Corporation for the Japanese market
Veg of Lund has entered into a distribution agreement to commence sales in the Japanese market. The first trial order has been shipped from Europe and on shelves, sales will commence with confirmed retail partners by the end of Q3. Veg of Lund AB also published its Interim report Q2 2023.
Source: ir.dugdrinks.com
UK: Sainsbury’s opens brand-new store in Ketley
Sainsbury’s has launched its newest store with the opening of Sainsbury’s Ketley Holyhead Road Local in Telford, Shropshire. Customers will now have the chance to sample Sainsbury’s latest convenience range, from fresh fruit and veg, healthy snacks, and food-to-go to sweet, savory, and frozen staples.
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
Woolworths New Zealand signs wholesale agreement with National Retail Group
Woolworths New Zealand (WWNZ) and the National Retail Group have announced a wholesale agreement that will see Woolworths NZ provide groceries to the National Retail Group’s KwikMart membership group. The deal will provide KwikMart members access to a greater product range and more choices.
Source: countdown.co.nz
Deliveroo looks set for profitability
In the second quarter, Deliveroo’s couriers delivered 145mln orders, 6% less than the 154mln a year earlier. Still, sales rose 5% to 1.19bln euros, thanks to higher average spending per order - a result of high inflation. Most importantly, the meal delivery company was able to cut its loss from 177mln euros last year to 96mln this year.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Tesco announces major change to cut bills in Express store
Tesco has announced a major overhaul to the range of products it stocks in Express stores, as it reinforces its position as the UK’s best value convenience store chain. Tesco Convenience Managing Director Sarah Lawler said: “We know customers are watching every penny at the moment, so we hope these helpful product swaps will bring down food bills for even more families. Our Express stores offer unbeatable value on everything from essentials to fresh produce, making healthy food more accessible for the 2,000 communities that we serve across the UK. And while our convenience stores don’t have the shelf space to carry the full range of our larger shops, by swapping these products, we’ve been able to make way for even more of our great-value own brand ranges.”
Source: tescoplc.com
Australian startup calls on industry to change produce beauty standards
Over 50% of citrus fruits, including lemons, oranges, and mandarins, are rejected by supermarkets and never make it to store shelves, despite being perfectly fine for consumption, according to Farmers Pick co-founder Josh Ball. This Australian startup has rescued over 1.5mln kg of fresh produce since 2020 that has been deemed unworthy of supermarket standards, selling it directly to households at a cheaper price.
Source: claytoncountyregister.com
Denmark's Salling Group unveils new BilkaToGo delivery service
Retailer Salling Group has announced the rollout of a new delivery service operating under its Bilka chain, through which shoppers will be able to select from a range of 30,000 products. The new BilkaToGo delivery service was developed by the retailer in association with 3F Transport and is commencing deliveries from August 15 from stores in Skalborg, Tilst, Vejle, Odense, Hundige, and Ishøj, with more to follow.
Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Harris Teeter and Titan Farms donate 37,800 pounds of fresh peaches to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Harris Teeter and Titan Farms donated 37,800 pounds of fresh peaches to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (SHFBM) through the companies' Peaches with a Purpose campaign.
Source: prweb.com
Amazon will now sell Whole Foods 365
Shoppers will soon be able to order Whole Foods 365 private label brand on Amazon, reports the Austin American-Statesman. The delivery giant will offer the private label brand on its site starting this summer and will also offer up to 15% off recurring orders that include 365 by Whole Foods Market, a brand that has over 3,500 products.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Albertsons leans into organic breakfast trends
In the 2023 “Wake Up Organic Data Study,” commissioned by Albertsons Cos. and carried out in partnership with El Segundo, California-based Prodege from March 25 to April 2, the Boise, Idaho-based grocer noted various trends in relation to consumers’ breakfast practices. Respondents noted that their top five organic breakfast items are fruit (53%), eggs (44%), yogurt (32%), nutrition bar (30%), and milk (29%).
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Uber offers exclusive NFL experience to launch Hy-Vee for on-demand grocery delivery
Uber Technologies, Inc. announced its new partnership with grocery chain Hy-Vee to offer on-demand and scheduled grocery delivery to customers across the Midwest, strengthening Uber Eats' grocery selection in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Source: prnewswire.com
Wynshop helps grocers meet rising digital commerce demand from Spanish-speaking shoppers in the US and Latin America
Wynshop, the leading provider of digital commerce and fulfillment solutions for local store-based retailers, announced that it is expanding its research and development team into Colombia to help grocers provide better online shopping experiences for Spanish-speaking shoppers in both the United States and Latin America.
Source: prnewswire.com