UK: Amazon workers narrowly reject union in historic voteThe GMB has narrowly lost its historic bid for union recognition at the Amazon warehouse in Coventry. Some 49.5% of workers balloted voted in favour, while 50.5% voted against. The union needed a majority to vote in favour. If the GMB had won it would have been the first time Amazon recognised a union in the UK.
Source: bbc.com
Lotte Mart to launch AI-selected crisp peachesLotte Mart, a major Korean retailer, announced that it will introduce peaches selected by artificial intelligence (AI) starting July 18. The company said it aims to enhance product quality through an advanced AI-based sorting system that utilizes deep learning algorithms to improve accuracy in fruit selection.
Source: ajupress.com
Sweden: Axfood reports 2.6% growth in retail sales in second quarterRetailer Axfood has reported a 2.6% year-on-year increase in retail sales to SEK 16.5bln (€1.4bln) in the second quarter of its financial year. Net sales for the quarter increased 1.2% to SEK 21bln (€1.8bln) while operating profit amounted to SEK 836mln (€72.6mln), the company added. Net profit for the quarter amounted to SEK 582mln (€50.6mln) and earnings per share before dilution to SEK 2.68.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Ireland: ALDI unveils its newly renovated Belgard Road "Project Fresh" storeALDI's Belgard Road, Tallaght, Co. Dublin "Project Fresh" store has reopened its doors to customers following an extensive renovation project investment of over €1mln which has seen the store interior completely refurbished.
Source: aldipresscentre.ie
UK: Morrisons launches 'brilliant' £15 Family Picnic Box to help with days out this school holidaysA Family Picnic Box has been launched by Morrisons and shoppers say it's 'a brilliant idea for the school holidays'. Inside the box: Fruit pack - choose from a seven-pack of sweet easy peel oranges, a five-pack of bananas, or a six-pack of apples.
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Ireland: Applegreen transforms its Midway service area with €3mln upgradeApplegreen, one of Ireland's leading roadside hospitality retailers, has reopened its Midway service area in Portlaoise, which is located at exit 17 on the M7, following a €3mln investment. The Applegreen at Midway will feature the best of M&S Food, including fresh fruit and salads.
Source: retailnews.ie
South Korea: Irwin promoterTainan Mayor Huang Wei-che promotes Irwin mangoes on South Korean online shopping platform Kakao Shopping. The platform reported that its Shopping Live program set a record of more than 270,000 simultaneous viewers for the program featuring the Tainan-grown fruit.
Source: taipeitimes.com
French favour more effective promotion of plant-based foods, study findsPeople in France support better promotion of plant-based foods, enhanced visibility in stores, and improved product traceability, according to the latest Make.org consultation. Monoprix, Bonduelle and Céréal Bio, with the support of 17 partner structures, conducted the first citizen consultation from January to March 2024 on the make.org platform.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Bulgaria's Minimart gets a new shareholderBulgarian convenience store chain Minimart has secured investment from Trinity Capital, a local company active in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, and real estate sectors. Trinity Capital has invested €5mln for a 14.3% stake in BGC - the holding company that manages the Minimart chain.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Aldi named Britain's favourite supermarketAldi has been named as the nation's most popular supermarket, according to new polling data from YouGov for the three months to June 2024. The supermarket has maintained its leading position since July 2023, ranking ahead of its traditional Big Four rivals, as well as M&S and Lidl.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
Germany: Could rural areas benefit from self-checkout?Self-checkout technology by Diebold Nixdorf is spreading in Germany, and its AI-powered age-verification technology is helping a small store in the village of Freckenfeld to keep its doors open. The village grocer in Freckenfeld closed up shop in May of 2023 but was recently reopened as Dorfladen Freckenfeld - Powered by EDEKA Paul with the installation of two self-checkout registers that feature age-recognition technology that enables liquor sales without the need for a cashier.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Walgreens launches healthy private-label lineWalgreens has created a new private-label brand of more than 150 healthy food and beverage products, the company announced. The new product line, Nice! For You, is an addition to Walgreens' Nice! brand, which was first launched in 2011. The new brand includes items such as jerky, oatmeal, nuts and trail mixes, dried fruit, coffee, frozen food products, beverages, white cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, roasted pistachios, tart cherry juice, apple juice boxes, and more.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: The Fresh Market expands locations in Washington, D.C.The Fresh Market, Inc., a specialty fresh food retailer, is making strides in its expansion plan with two new locations entering the metro Washington, D.C., market. The Reston Station Fresh Market will be situated at the corner of Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hill Road, occupying approximately 27,000 square feet on the ground floor of the planned building. Located at the corner of Leesburg Pike and Haycock Road, The Fresh Market's new store at West Falls will also occupy approximately 29,000 square feet on the ground floor of future residential space.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Edible Brands® launches new fresh fruit subscription delivery service for today's convenience-oriented consumerEdible Brands® announced the launch of its latest endeavor: freshfruit.com. The new e-commerce brand boasts a subscription business model, providing a delicious way for consumers to receive premium whole fruits hand-delivered directly to their doorstep.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: New Whole Foods partnership aims to reduce food wasteWhole Foods Market has partnered with Too Good To Go to make excess food available for purchase at a reduced price for customers, according to an announcement. More than 450 of the specialty grocer's stores are now connected to the food waste company's app.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Instacart partners with NY's largest health systemInstacart has partnered with New York's largest health system, Northwell Health, to provide grocery stipends for select patients to purchase healthy groceries via the last-mile delivery service.
Source: supermarketnews.com