US: Whole Foods launches free virtual home economics classes
As part of its new brand design rollout for its 365 by Whole Foods Market private label, Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods is launching Home Ec 365, a digital curriculum that updates the fundamentals of home economics while putting a modern twist on the basics. Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, operates more than 500 stores in the United States.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Grocery Outlet focused on expansion & talent
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. is accelerating talent and operational initiatives to drive long-term growth and shareholder value after posting yet another impressive fiscal quarter. The Merryville, California-based discounter's second-quarter sales and profit decelerated from the first quarter but still benefited tremendously from coronavirus-fueled buying. For the second quarter ended June 27, net sales increased 24.5% to $803.4mln. Same-store sales increased 16.7%. Net income increased by $40mln to $29.3mln. Adjusted net income increased 189.2% to $41.8mln. And adjusted EBITDA increased 34.7% to $60.6mln.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger to launch digital marketplace this fall
The Kroger Co. is getting into the online marketplace business. This fall, Kroger plans to go live with a digital marketplace of third-party sellers through a partnership with e-commerce provider Mirakl, which specializes in B2C and B2B e-marketplaces. Kroger said that, under the move, its Kroger Ship direct-to-customer platform will extend its ship-to-home assortment beyond groceries to a range of other categories, including natural and organic products, international food, specialty items, housewares and toys. Initially, more than 50,000 items will be available to customers, the Cincinnati-based retailer said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Walmart and Instacart partner for same-day U.S. delivery in fight against Amazon’s Whole Foods
Walmart is partnering with Instacart to offer same-day delivery starting in a few U.S. markets, making it the latest major grocery chain to team up with Instacart in its fight against Amazon and Whole Foods. The partnership is currently in a pilot phase in four markets across California and in Oklahoma.
Source: cnbc.com
US: DoorDash launches online convenience stores
DoorDash has launched virtual convenience stores in 8 cities in the US, called DashMart, offering a range of household essentials and restaurant retail products. The online convenience stores are available in Chicago, Minneapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Redwood City. More stores are set to launch in San Diego, Baltimore, Denver, Sacramento and Concord, over the coming months. The stores are owned, operated, and curated by DoorDash, and do not have brick-and-mortar locations. Instead, customers can order through the DoorDash app, and orders are fulfilled from micro-fulfilment centres, with delivery in 30 minutes.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Jerónimo Martins will “challenge in court” a fine of 26mln euros in Poland
Jerónimo Martins, owner of Pingo Doce, will “judicially challenge” the fine of 26mln euros, which was applied to the supermarket chain it owns in Poland, Biedronka, the group's official source told Lusa. "Jerónimo Martins Polska (JMP) disagrees with the understanding and conclusion of the Polish Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (UOKiK) and will challenge the decision in court," said the company.
Source: jornaleconomico.sapo.pt
Italy's D.IT Distribuzione Italia sees strong growth in H1
Retail consortium D.IT Distribuzione Italia has said that it was one of the fastest-growing grocery retailers in Italy in the first half of 2020, reporting 19.9% revenue growth over the 6 month period, compared to the same period last year. The consortium, which includes local retailers Sigma, Sisa and Coal, reported 5% growth in June alone Gdonews reported. The result was achieved in the context of an Italian retail market that saw independent retailers grow 12.6% in the period, with discounters seeing 11% growth and supermarkets growing by 10.8%.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Pakistan: New Carrefour investments bring fresh fruits & vegetables to its shopping app
Carrefour, operated in Pakistan by Majid Al Futtaim, has invested in its logistical infrastructure to now deliver fresh produce including fruits and vegetables to shoppers who use the Carrefour Pakistan mobile application. The investment introduces a hygiene-controlled picking area and strict operating procedures to the brand’s existing online order fulfilment process, allowing the safe delivery of quality fresh produce to customers.
Source: nation.com.pk
Australia: Coles transformation to accelerate with launch of coles&co digital channel
As Australians increasingly look online for their daily shopping inspiration, Coles is launching coles&co, a brand new experience that will offer the very best specials alongside exclusive content to inspire customers with new products, tips and recipes. “With COVID-19, we’ve really seen a shift to online shopping in the last few months, as lots of our customers try our contactless home delivery and Click&Collect services for the first time. We’ve also seen an increase of more than 50% in readership for our digital catalogue since March”, said Coles Group CEO Steven Cain.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
UK: Co-op and Deliveroo partnership reaches 400 stores
Co-op has announced it has expanded its partnership with Deliveroo, now offering delivery from 400 stores. Co-op has become the most widely available food retailer on the Deliveroo app, serving towns and cities across the UK with a combined population of 27mln people. Customers can order from a range of more than 600 grocery and household items, which are ordered on the Deliveroo app and packed by Co-op colleagues at local stores. Orders are delivered within 30 minutes.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Belgium: Carrefour brings loyalty card to Wallet
Carrefour has now made its loyalty card available on smartphone for Belgian customers too. They can add their Bonus Card on their Android or iPhone 'Wallet', eliminating the need for the French retailer's app. Last month, Carrefour already had made a mobile version of its loyalty card available in France, but now that service is extended to its Belgian customers as well. The retailer aims to reach customers who do not want to install an additional app and still want to use their Bonus Card on their smartphone.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Japanese investor Beyond Next Ventures leads $2.2mln funding round in BigHaat
BigHaat Agro, which runs agricultural ecommerce platform BigHaat, said it has raised $2.2mln in a bridge funding round, dubbed a pre-Series A round, led by Tokyo based Beyond Next Ventures. Participants in the round included Mumbai based Rockstud Capital Fund, along with returning investors Ankur Capital and undisclosed angel investors, a statement said. The platform last raised an undisclosed amount of seed capital from Ankur Capital in 2016.
Source: techcircle.in