Subsidiary of Mexico's Femsa agrees to acquire U.S. distributor Sigma Supply
Mexican bottler and retailer FEMSA announced its U.S. subsidiary Envoy Solutions reached an agreement to acquire the distributor Sigma Supply for an undisclosed amount.
Source: reuters.com
US: Albertsons upholds ‘top tier’ performance in strong fiscal 2021 finish
Albertsons Cos. topped Wall Street’s earnings forecast for its 2021 4th quarter and fiscal year as the grocery retailer saw net sales climb in both periods atop prior-year gains. For the 12 weeks ended February 26, net sales and other revenue totaled $17.38bln, up 10.2% from $15.77bln a year earlier, when the top line rose 2.2%, Albertsons said. Full-year 2021 net sales and other revenue edged up 3.2% to $71.89bln from $69.69bln in fiscal 2020, when Albertsons posted an 11.6% increase.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Ultrafast online grocer Getir partners with Copia to reduce food waste
In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of food waste, ultrafast grocery delivery provider Getir said it has partnered with Copia, a technology company that connects food donations to local not-for-profits in need. Through the partnership, surplus food and groceries from Getir’s stores will be delivered to select not-for-profits across its operating regions: New York, Chicago and Boston.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: Fareway accelerates Midwest expansion
Fareway Stores Inc. hosted groundbreaking ceremonies for 2 Iowa grocery stores to be located at 16035 Hickman Road in Clive (its 2nd store in the city) and 9080 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. Site work will begin immediately for the approximately 24,000-square-foot store in Clive and the approximately 21,000-square-foot store in West Des Moines. Completion of both locations is expected in early 2023.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Lidl Belgium and Luxembourg appoints new CEO
Lidl Belgium and Luxembourg has named Matúš Gála as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 May. He has been a part of Lidl for the past 14 years, including 5 years as chief executive officer of Lidl Slovakia.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Simply Fresh starts 2022 with a clutch of openings
A recruitment drive by Simply Fresh has resulted in the opening of 5 new stores this year, the group confirmed. A new Simply Fresh has opened in Poole, Dorset, while Simply Local stores have opened in Redcar, Hull, Newcastle Under Lyme and Sunderland. The group said 2 more stores would open in the north-east of England next month, making 7 in total.
Source: talkingretail.com
Certified compostable fruit and vegetable bags in South Aussie Woolworths stores a nation 1st
South Australia continues to keep up with its reputation for nation-leading environmental policy, as it becomes the 1st State to have 100% certified compostable bags replacing single use plastic fruit and vegetable bags in all Woolworths stores. Shoppers will no longer have to take plastic bags to hold loose produce and will be able to reuse the bags at home to compost food waste. This is the next step in moving on from single-use plastic and will be very popular with consumers.
Source: glamadelaide.com.au
New IGD report calls for urgent reassessment of UK packaging strategy
IGD has published a new report to help the food and consumer goods industry drive progress towards the shared ambition of halving the environmental impact of the UK packaging system by 2030. The new report - ‘Halving the environmental impact of the UK packaging system: How industry and key stakeholders can work together to drive positive change’ - focuses on the big challenges facing the industry and highlights opportunities to reduce impact and deliver cost savings.
Source: igd.com
UK: Tesco vows to rein in prices as profits treble
Tesco profits more than trebled last year amid rising sales and a fall in Covid-related costs. The UK's largest supermarket chain reported pre-tax profits of £2.03bln, up from £636mln the previous year. Group sales, excluding fuel, rose by 2.5% to £54.8bln, while in the UK retail sales rose by 2.3% year on year.
Source: bbc.com
Northern Ireland: Lidl is fresh fruit supplier at Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon
Lidl Northern Ireland announced a brand-new partnership with Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon as its official ‘Fresh Fruit Supplier’, providing competitors with an energetic and healthy boost to power them to the finish line when the race gets underway on Sunday, 1st May.
Source: businessfirstonline.co.uk
UK: NielsenIQ data shows potential impact off rising grocery prices on consumer shopping behaviours
Over half of consumers (53%) in the UK claim that the cost of their normal weekly grocery shop has risen in the last 6 months. The insight released by NielsenIQ is part of research that has identified 5 new consumer groups and how this will shape shopping behaviours in the year ahead amid soaring inflation.
Source: kamcity.com
Israel's Shufersal chairman quits after tenure not extended
The chairman of Israeli retailer Shufersal said he was stepping down after a special committee voted to not renew his tenure for another year. Shufersal, Israel's largest supermarket chain, did not say why the committee opted not to extend Yaki Vadami's term. It named board member Ran Gottfried as interim chairman.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Waitrose left with £4mln hole in pocket after brief deal with online partner
Supermarket Waitrose is owed some £4mln after a 4-month partnership with an insolvent venture launched by an Ocado founder. According to a report in The Times newspaper, Waitrose is the 2nd-largest trade creditor of online grocery business Today Development Partners, which collapsed last month.
Source: cityam.com
Jumbo limits further Belgian expansion
Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo currently has no plans to expand to Belgium's French-speaking South, nor for a Belgian webshop. Progress is slow, the retailer admits.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Japanese retailer Lawson Inc considers Seijo Ishii IPO
Japanese convenience store operator Lawson Inc is considering taking wholly owned supermarket chain Seijo Ishii Co public, it said. A Lawson spokesperson said the company is considering a listing of the supermarket business but a final decision has not been made, including specifics on the size or timing.
Source: reuters.com
Ahold Delhaize shares climate update with Dutch NGO Milieudefensie
Ahold Delhaize reported: "Ahold Delhaize shared a climate update with Dutch NGO Mileudefensie. The climate update is available here. With the most recent IPCC report just out, the world is more conscious than ever about the immediate steps we all need to take to mitigate climate change. At Ahold Delhaize we’re committed to doing our part."
Source: aholddelhaize.com
Northern Ireland: Iceland stores enter partnership with Uber Eats courier service
Frozen food retailer Iceland has partnered with Uber Eats to offer deliveries to customers in Northern Ireland in as little as 30 minutes. The partnership will begin with 6 stores initially though more outlets will join the new service throughout the year.
Source: belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Average Portuguese grocery basket has increased in price, notes Deco
Since the war in Ukraine began, the price of a basket of essential food items in Portugal has increased by €11.30, or 6.15%, a new study has found. The data from Portuguese consumer association Deco covers the period from 23 February to 6 April. Deco has been monitoring the prices of key products, such as turkey, chicken, hake, horse mackerel, onions, potatoes, carrots, bananas, apples, oranges, rice, spaghetti, sugar, ham, milk, cheese and butter.
Source: esmmagazine.com