China: JD.com appoints new president as founder steps back from day-to-day operations
JD.com’s founder and CEO Richard Liu is stepping back from day-to-day operations while the Chinese e-commerce giant said it has created a new president role. Xu Lei, who was previously CEO of JD Retail, will take up the role of president and take over day-to-day operations of JD. Liu has grown JD into one of China’s biggest e-commerce companies and has expanded into areas including health and logistics.
Source: cnbc.com
Souq rebrands as Amazon in Egypt
Souq.com rebranded as Amazon.eg in Egypt, marking the last local operation to shift its platform since Amazon’s $580mln acquisition of the Dubai-based online retailer in 2017.
Source: thenationalnews.com
Fortenova changes management structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Fortenova Group has announced plans to implement a new management structure for its retail companies Konzum and Mercator in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The company has decided to implement the changes in order to connect the businesses and strengthen synergies across its retail operations in the country.
Source: esmmagazine.com
METRO Austria acquires AGM wholesale business from REWE Group
METRO Austria has announced the acquisition of C&C Abholgroßmärkte GmbH (AGM), a logistics operation operated by REWE Group, taking control of 9 wholesale locations as well as a delivery business. AGM, which is based in Salzburg, boasts around 20,000 customers, and generated total sales of €125mln in 2019. With the transaction, METRO Austria said that it will be able to expand its operations in Styria, Carinthia and Burgenland, while also expanding its offering for customers.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Asda updates on Q2 trading and announces plans to roll out Asda On the Move
Asda reported: "Q2 like-for-like sales (LFL), excluding fuel, declined by 0.7% between 1st April and 30th June 2021 compared with the exceptional sales seen during the first lockdown in the same period last year. Two-year LFL sales growth excluding fuel remained resilient, up 3.1% as more meals continued to be consumed at home. 28 new Asda on the Move convenience stores will open on EG Group forecourts this year with a target of 200 by the end of next year and the ambition to roll out more sites in 2023."
Source: corporate.asda.com
Hungary: Lidl launches trademark for locally made products
Discount supermarket chain operator Lidl Hungary launched its trademark for locally made products on September 1, the company said, according to origo.hu. Lidl has a key role in boosting sales of high-quality Hungarian products, thereby supporting producers and suppliers, communications officer Judit Tőzsér said. The company launched its "Lidl for Hungarian suppliers" program 8 years ago and now works with almost 450 domestic suppliers, offering a total of 3,800 local products, up 87% from the first year of the program. Sales of locally sourced food products account for almost 60% of the supermarket chain's total food purchases, up 22% in 2020 from a year earlier. The most popular products are fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, and baked goods, with 100% of eggs and fresh poultry coming from domestic suppliers, Lidl said.
Source: bbj.hu
UK: Weyify takes the hassle out of zero waste shopping
Zero waste and reduced plastic shopping are important goals for retailers and their customers - and now there’s a dedicated self-checkout app-based solution to make zero waste shopping as simple, fast and convenient as going to the supermarket - customers just Scan, Weigh and Pay. As zero waste shops multiply across the UK, the Weyify app is helping convert people from plastic supermarket shoppers to zero waste shoppers.
Source: realwire.com
Amazon and 11st launch new Amazon Global Store in Korea
Amazon and 11st announced the launch of Amazon Global Store on 11st, a new way for customers in Korea to shop Amazon US selection.
Source: en.prnasia.com
Holland: Dwarfs attracts 30mln euros, acquires 4 online shops
Dutch ecommerce acquisition company Dwarfs has attracted 30mln euros in debt financing from European investor North Wall Capital. Dwarfs has used the money to acquire 4 online shops that are active in the lifestyle and home furnishing industry.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
Holland: PLUS and Coop merge to become 3rd largest supermarket
Supermarkets PLUS and Coop will merge, the companies announced. This creates the 3rd largest supermarket formula in the Netherlands. Only Albert Heijn and Jumbo are bigger. The supermarkets will continue as PLUS, which will soon have 550 branches and a combined turnover of around 5bln euros. The merger is expected to be completed in early 2022.
Source: nu.nl
Amazon brings Luxury Stores to EuropeThe busy online luxury market is set to become even busier, as Amazon would be planning to bring its Luxury Stores to Europe. Currently, the platform is only available in the United States.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Amazon is now shipping cargo for outside customers in its latest move to compete with FedEx and UPSAmazon is on a spending spree to grow its shipping business and isn’t content with only delivering products purchased on its own site. The company is now moving cargo for outside customers in its latest move to compete directly with FedEx and UPS. “They want to be a new kind of U.S. Postal Service where everything can get everywhere, but also quickly,” said e-commerce consultant Chris McCabe, who was a seller performance investigator at Amazon from 2006 to 2012.
Source: cnbc.com
US: Aldi opens 3rd Brooklyn, N.Y., store
Aldi has opened a 3rd store in the New York borough of Brooklyn, on 1628 Flatbush Ave., very close to Brooklyn College. The new location is part of the German deep-discount grocer’s aggressive U.S. expansion. Currently operating more than 2,000 stores in 37 states, Aldi is on track to become the 3rd-largest U.S. grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Performance Food Group Company completes the acquisition of Core-Mark
Performance Food Group Company (PFG) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Core-Mark Holding Company, Inc. (Core-Mark). The transaction creates a best-in-class convenience business within PFG’s Vistar segment that includes the Core-Mark and Eby-Brown businesses. The expanded convenience business will continue to operate under Core-Mark and will be headquartered in Westlake, Texas with Eby maintaining ongoing operations in Naperville, Illinois. Scott McPherson will continue in his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Core-Mark, and Tom Wake will continue as President and Chief Executive Officer of Eby-Brown, reporting to Mr. McPherson.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Lowes Foods gains additional fulfillment capabilities
To accommodate the surge in demand for online grocery shopping, Lowes Foods has partnered with last-mile solutions provider Delivery Solutions. With this partnership, the locally owned and operated grocer gains additional fulfillment capabilities to serve customers through its Lowes Foods-To-Go offering, with access to the entire in-store inventory, real-time visibility, and fast, reliable deliveries.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc. to hire over 3,000 for holidays
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc. (Ollie’s), one of America’s largest closeout retailers, is hosting a nationwide hiring event on September 8th from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. to fill over 3,000 positions across its 400+ store locations, and 3 distribution centers. On-site interviews will be conducted at all locations.
Source: businesswire.com