Uber Canada signs deal with union offering workers dispute representation
Uber Technologies Inc. has signed an agreement with a private sector union that will provide representation to Canadian drivers and couriers, but does not unionize workers. The San Francisco, California-based tech giant said it was partnering with United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, a union representing at least 250,000 workers at companies including Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Molson Coors Beverage Co.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Fobi signs marketing deal with Abbot’s Butcher, a premium US plant-based protein company
Fobi AI Inc. (the “Company” or “FOBI”), a leader in providing real-time data analytics through artificial intelligence to drive customer activation and engagement, is pleased to announce the signing of a deal to provide Abbot’s Butcher, a premium plant-based protein brand, with Fobi’s Qples coupon platform.
Source: globenewswire.com
Shares in French supermarket retailer Casino slump after profit warning
Shares in French supermarket retailer Casino slumped after the company cut the 2021 profit outlook for its French retail operations, blaming a higher-than-expected decline in France's food market in the 4th quarter. Casino's shares were down 7.2% in early session trading, and Casino's woes weighed on its larger domestic rival Carrefour, whose shares also fell 3.2%. The group, which previously eyed a profit rise this year in France, said it now expected a decline in 2021 EBITDA (earnings before interests, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) at its French retail operations of 1.7% to around 1.28bln euros ($1.43bln).
Source: reuters.com
Lidl GB opens new head office in Tolworth
Lidl GB has opened its new British Headquarters in Tolworth. After 3 years of construction, the supermarket chain has opened the new state-of-the-art 250,000 square ft building, which has been designed to accommodate its 800-strong head office team, with further room to grow.
Source: corporate.lidl.co.uk
Grab completes acquisition of stake in Jaya Grocer
Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Jaya Grocer, a leading mass-premium supermarket chain in Malaysia. The 2 companies plan to work together to bring the convenience of on-demand grocery delivery to more consumers in Malaysia.
Source: grab.com
UK: CMA deepens probe into Morrisons takeover deal amid fuel price concerns
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a probe into the acquisition of the Morrisons supermarket chain by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. The £7bln deal, which was completed in October, saw Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Holdings (CD&R) remove Morrisons from the London Stock Exchange. The CMA will be looking into whether the billion deal will result in higher fuel prices on petrol forecourts around the UK.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
2021: Ecommerce in Germany worth €99bln
German ecommerce has gone through a strong growth in 2021. Gross sales of ecommerce products amounted to 99.1bln euros, which is a growth of 19% compared to 2020. Almost every 7th euro available to German consumers for household expenses was spent on products online. The significant growth in gross sales of goods in German ecommerce shows that ecommerce has become ‘normal’ in the country, according to ecommerce association Bevh.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
South Africa: Massmart sales drop as COVID curbs, civil unrest weigh
Massmart Holdings said its annual total sales dropped, dented by pandemic-related liquor trading restrictions, supply chain disruptions and as the South African retailer lost sales from stores damaged during the civil unrest last year. The company's total group sales came in at 84.9bln rand ($5.50bln) in the 52-week period ended December 26, 2021, a drop of 1.9% from year-ago numbers.
Source: reuters.com
UAE: Etisalat Group strengthens Smiles online marketplace presence with acquisition of elGrocer
Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC (Etisalat Group) announced that, further to the announcement on 18th November 2021, it has completed the acquisition of elGrocer DMCC. Founded in 2015, elGrocer is a leading online marketplace for groceries operating in all 7 Emirates of the UAE. It brings together major retailers and specialty stores on a single platform with more than 500 outlets and 120K products listed.
Source: wam.ae
Poland: Carrefour to reduce prices of over 18,500 products
Carrefour Polska will reduce the prices of over 18,500 products, following the Polish government’s decision to suspend VAT on select food items. The retailer plans to add 1,000 more items to the list, offering nearly 20,000 products at reduced prices from 1 February. The reduced prices will apply to a range of items under the 5% VAT category, including fruit and vegetables, cold cuts and meat, oil, dairy products, and bread, among others.
Source: esmmagazine.com
JD Property to build 2nd intelligent logistics park in Vietnam
JD Property announced that its 2nd intelligent logistics park in Vietnam is expected to start construction in the 3rd quarter in 2022, and be completed in the 2nd quarter of 2023, in Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park, Hai An District, Hai Phong City. With an area of nearly 100,000 square meters, JD Property’s Hai Phong logistics park will be able to accommodate demands of clients from various industries in several nearby countries, including Thailand and Laos.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
SPAR Express stores launched at AVIA forecourts in Poland
A collaboration between SPAR Poland and AVIA, launched in 2021, has led to the introduction of SPAR Express stores at 4 petrol forecourt stations. The 1st 2 SPAR Express forecourt sites opened in the 2nd half of December, followed by another 2 stores in mid-January.
Source: spar-international.com
Japan: 7-Eleven takes touchless to next level with hologram self-checkouts
7-Eleven Japan will take contactless shopping one step further with self-checkout registers that feature holographic touch screens.
Source: asia.nikkei.com
Germany: Globus rebrands with new logo and corporate design
German retailer Globus has launched a new corporate design and logo, which it says will convey modernity and transparency. Managing directors Matthias Bruch and Jochen Baab officially unveiled the new logo at the entrance to the Globus market hall in Maintal. The retailer aims to roll out the new look at all market halls by the end of this year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Veganuary sales boom with new plant-based meal deal
Veganuary sales have rocketed thanks to the launch of a new plant-based meal deal, says Tesco. Wicked Kitchen was the 1st plant-based range to launch in partnership with a UK supermarket in 2018.
Source: tescoplc.com
Lidl commits to €10mln worth of pay increases across Irish operationsDiscounter Lidl has announced it will invest €10mln in pay increases across its Irish workforce of 6,100 employees. The pay increases will be implemented from 1 March, and follow on from the retailer's commitment to paying its personnel a 'Living Wage' rate of €12.90 per hour.
Source: esmmagazine.com