US: Independence Day is Red, White and Delicious at Kroger
Kroger reported: "With everyday locked-in-low prices and special seasonal savings, Kroger is helping families honor the holiday without skipping on any summertime favorites. The retailer is the one-stop shop for all the products customers need to enjoy a festive Fourth of July celebration, including great deals on: All Things Fresh: Asparagus, sweet corn on the cob, mushrooms, sweet onions, peaches, watermelon, Kroger® Brand Veggies trays, bag salads, red cherries and more".
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Amazon reignites Amazon Fresh store growth with 2nd New Jersey location
Amazon opened its second Amazon Fresh store in New Jersey, the company said in an emailed announcement. The new supermarket in Eatontown features the updated brick-and-mortar format that the retailer unveiled at stores in Chicago and Southern California last year. The new location signals Amazon is pushing forward with efforts to revamp its troubled brick-and-mortar supermarket chain.
Source: grocerydive.com
Canada: Ontario recognizes retailers who promote locally grown food
Three Awards of Excellence were given to stores which received Platinum awards in two consecutive years for multiple eye-catching displays of Ontario fruits and vegetables throughout the seasons. The winning stores are: Foodland #3249 in Markdale; Longo's #34 in Stouffville; Starsky Fine Foods in Hamilton.
Source: news.ontario.ca
Dollars and scents: how the right smells can encourage shoppers to buy healthier foods
Megan Phillips and Sommer Kapitan of Auckland University of Technology reported: "Using scent to sell in retail stores is a well-established strategy. But our new research has found introducing a herbal scent (such as thyme, rosemary, oregano and basil) in supermarkets can encourage shoppers to select and purchase more wholesome foods".
Source: theconversation.com
Vietnamese dragon fruit makes a splash at Spinneys debut in Saudi Arabia
Vietnamese exports received a sweet boost on June 24 with the presence of its red and yellow-fleshed dragon fruits at the grand opening of Spinneys, a high-end supermarket chain from the United Arab Emirates. This marked the first time the Vietnamese dragon fruit has hit shelves in Saudi Arabia.
Source: en.vietnamplus.vn
SPAR Austria celebrates 70 years with extra day off for employees
This year, SPAR Austria is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Employee wellbeing has always been a top priority, as satisfied employees are key to the company's success. As a token of appreciation, the retailer is giving all employees in Austria an extra day off, which can be used immediately.
Source: spar-international.com
South Korea: High fresh food prices drive demand for 'ugly' fruits and vegetables
Imperfect fruits and vegetables, typically rejected for display on supermarket shelves, are selling quickly due to steep rises in prices of fresh produce caused by supply shortages. Sales of imperfect produce surged a remarkable 235% in the first three months of this year compared to the previous year, according to data from TV home shopping company NS Shopping.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr
Casino Group: Agreement with Rocca and Auchan Retail France for the sale of Codim 2
Casino Group announced that it has signed a unilateral purchase agreement for the sale of Codim 2, which operates 4 hypermarkets, 9 supermarkets, 3 cash & carries and 2 drive-throughs in Corsica, with sales of 332mln euros excluding taxes in 2023. Completion of the sale is expected to take place after consultation with employee representative bodies and subject to clearance by the competent competition authorities.
Source: globenewswire.com
DESPAR Italia network grows further in May
With eight new openings in Italy's Central South region and a new DESPAR Supermarket in Turin, DESPAR Italia's store network continues to grow in 2024. Each DESPAR Supermarket caters to customers with attention paid to fresh produce ranging from fruit and vegetables to bakery and butchery, a rich grocery assortment and DESPAR Own Brand products.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: From food waste to just… food
Argon & Co reported: "Ample is a B2B marketplace which enables British farmers to sell their fresh, tasty, surplus produce to the food industry including restaurants, wholesalers, manufacturers, caterers and charities. Argon & Co had the opportunity to work with Ample in the early stages of development with progressing their commercial vision and model, helping to prepare for funding rounds and navigating stakeholder engagement".
Source: argonandco.com
UK: Morrisons reports 4.1% increase in LFL sales in second quarter
UK retailer Morrisons has reported a 4.1% increase in like-for-like sales in the second quarter of its financial year. Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 3.7% during the quarter to £3.8bln (€4.5bln), the company said in a trading update. Underlying EBITDA for the first half, excluding the fuel business, grew 16% to £321mln (€379.8mln).
Source: esmmagazine.com
Irish grocery sales increase despite unseasonable weather
Kantar reported: "Although the milder-than-usual weather impacted barbecue category sales, it increased sales of other categories like winter warmers, according to our latest data. With less than typical sunny weather this June, it meant shoppers were not cracking open the barbeques or dining outdoors. As a result, they spent a combined €1.6mln less on chilled salads, burgers, grills and sausages than this time last year".
Source: kantar.com