US: Big Y’s myPicks online shopping to expand to 10 sites
Launched just 2 months ago, Big Y’s myPicks Online Ordering e-commerce platform is expanding to 10 sites throughout the greater Springfield, Massachusetts, area. The program will enable Big Y customers to purchase groceries by ordering online for curbside pickup via temperature-controlled totes in secure lockers at the grocer’s supermarkets in Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, South Hadley, Cooley St. Springfield, Westfield, Westfield Shops, West Springfield and Wilbraham.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon restores service after global outage
Reuters reported: "Amazon.com Inc said its online stores had returned to normal services after a global outage disrupted shopping on its country sites. According to outage monitoring website Downdetector, services were disrupted for nearly 2 hours and at the peak of the disruption, more than 38,000 user reports indicated issues with Amazon's online stores. They occurred on Sunday evening in the United States and Monday morning for much of the rest of the world."
Source: usnews.com
US: Stop & Shop is 1st food retailer to join roundtable on obesity solutions
Stop & Shop has become the first grocery retailer to join the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Obesity Solutions, working alongside experts from fields such as public policy, health, medicine and education to develop sustainable system-wide solutions to combat the obesity epidemic.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Save A Lot unveils plans to modernize stores
Save A Lot, one of the largest discount grocery chains in the U.S., announced its plan to accelerate investment in its stores as part of the Company’s ongoing modernization efforts. While modernizing its look, this re-design reflects Save A Lot’s continued mission and commitment to its local communities, providing value, quality products and neighborhood support. The rollout builds on the success of recent market-wide upgrades in St. Louis, Denver and Tampa.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Smart & Final is making history
It has been a momentous year for Smart & Final and President and CEO Dave Hirz. The uniquely positioned retailer is observing its 150th anniversary and was recently acquired by Bodega Latina, parent company of El Super and Fiesta Mart, and a subsidiary of Mexican supermarket operator Grupo Comercial Chedraui. Progressive Grocer spoke with Hirz about the $620mln deal, what’s next for Smart & Final, and the keys to staying relevant with shoppers for 150 years.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Sweden: ICA Gruppen sees June sales up 1.4%
Swedish retailer ICA Gruppen saw store sales up 1.4% year-on-year in June to SEK11.8bln (€1.2bln), excluding VAT. Sales in like-for-like stores increased by 1.2% compared to the same period last year, the retailer added.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Portugal: Continente expands partnership with Uber Eats
Portuguese retailer Continente has expanded its partnership with Uber Eats to include more than 40 stores in the greater Lisbon and greater Porto areas. Several exclusive take-away meals from Continente stores will now be available to customers through instant delivery, the retailer added.
Source: esmmagazine.com
India: Flipkart valued at $37.6bln in new $3.6bln fundraise
Flipkart said it has raised $3.6bln at a post-money valuation of $37.6bln in what is considered as the pre-IPO round for the Indian e-commerce conglomerate as it works to list in the public markets as soon as early next year.
Source: techcrunch.com
China: SPAR announced partnership with Guizhou Heli Supermarket Group
SPAR China announced a partnership, in place since July 1, with Guizhou Heli Supermarket Group, which will see increased growth through the expansion of SPAR into the Guizhou province. Guizhou Heli Supermarket Group is a well-known retail chain operating over 100 supermarkets, shopping centres and department stores in Guizhou province, located in the Southwest region of China, employing 10,000 people.
Source: spar-international.com
Dutch regulator ACM approves acquisition of DEEN by Albert Heijn, Vomar Voordeelmarkt and DekaMarkt
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has approved the sale of DEEN. Of the 80 DEEN stores, 38 branches go to Albert Heijn, 23 to Vomar Voordeelmarkt and 19 to DekaMarkt. Albert Heijn also takes over the distribution center in Hoorn and the flower center. DekaMarkt takes over the distribution center in Beverwijk and the kitchen facility in Hoorn. The four parties can now complete the transaction together.
Source: aholddelhaize.com
Kurly, the Korean grocery startup, raises $200mln on a $2.2bln valuation after shifting IPO plans away from the NYSE
Kurly - a startup in South Korea that provides next-day grocery delivery services across the country - has closed $200mln in funding, a Series F valuing the company at $2.2bln, the company confirmed. This means the company’s valuation has more than doubled in the last year.
Source: techcrunch.com
Stokrotka parent applies for acquisition of grocery stores in Poland
Emperia Holding, a Maxima Grupė subsidiary that operates the Stokrotka grocery chain in Poland, has filed an application with the Polish competition authority UOKiK to proceed with the acquisition of 9 stores in the Warsaw region, according to a media report. The acquired stores will be located in Józefów, Karczew, Kołbiel, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Otwock and Ząbki.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Morrisons reassures farmers over Fortress sale
Morrisons has written to farmers to calm fears that a planned takeover could undermine its agreements with suppliers. In a letter to 3,000 farmers, David Potts, chief executive, stressed that the takeover consortium, led by the American private equity firm Fortress, had made commitments that “carry genuine weight”.
Source: thetimes.co.uk
Denmark: Aldi cuts food waste by 118 tonnes in 4 months
Aldi Denmark has saved around 118 tonnes of good fruit and vegetables from ending up in waste bins in 4 months through its association with the food waste prevention app 'Too Good To Go'. The retailer shared the data along with an update on its achievements in packaging and food waste reduction over the past year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Sainsbury's rebuked on pay as one fifth of investors oppose report
Reuters reported: "Nearly one fifth of votes cast at Sainsbury's annual shareholders' meeting opposed the British supermarket group's remuneration report in the latest investor protest against executive pay."
Source: money.usnews.com
Ireland: SPAR teams up with national football captain for Better Choices campaignSPAR Ireland and Republic of Ireland captain, Seamus Coleman, have again teamed up to launch the Better Choices summer campaign. Available in SPAR stores nationwide, the expanded Better Choices range brings healthier food and refreshment options during this season of outdoor dining.
Source: spar-international.com