Finland: Kesko sees sales up 6.1% in March
Kesko Group has reported sales of €1.1bln in March, marking an increase of 6.1% (5.6% on a comparable basis) compared to the same period last year. In the grocery trade, sales in March amounted to €522.4mln, down 1.4% compared to the same period last year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
China: In Shanghai lockdown, Carrefour staff sleep at store to keep residents supplied
To prepare the 3,000-plus orders of vegetables, meat and essentials her Carrefour supermarket sends out every day to locked-in Shanghai residents, manager Zhang Wei wakes at 5 a.m. after a night in a sleeping bag on her office floor.
Source: reuters.com
British retailers facing a 'tsunami' of costs amid the return of full business rates, soaring utility bills and national insurance hike, experts warn
Soaring costs endured by Britain's retailers could prove to be a 'permanent blow' for the sector, new findings have warned. While retailers fared relatively well in the 1st quarter, a mounting 'tsunami' of costs and falling consumer spending could have a negative impact on many businesses in the sector, the latest assessment by KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank members suggests.
Source: thisismoney.co.uk
Thailand: Central Retail invests US$3mln for Tops Market’s new model
Central Retail has invested US$3mln to build Tops Market’s 1st standalone supermarket, on Bangkok’s Pattanakarn 30. Catering to the residential areas in Eastern Bangkok, the new standalone supermarket spans 3400sqm, housing more than 17,000 items across 7 zones, including Healthiful, Snacker, Asian Flavours and Petster. Tops Market Pattanakarn 30 offers omnichannel with personal shopper service and quick commerce service through Line.
Source: retailnews.asia
Portugal: Os Mosqueteiros sees turnover up 9.6% in FY 2021
Os Mosqueteiros, the Portuguese unit of French retailer Les Mousquetaires, has posted a 9.6% increase in turnover to €2.5bln in its financial year 2021. The retailer operates the banners Intermarché, Bricomarché and Roady in the country. Intermarché reported 9.56% growth (including fuel) with turnover amounting to €2.26mln, while Bricomarché registered an increase of 10%, with a turnover of €165mln.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Chinese e-commerce platform Dmall preparing for Hong Kong IPO
Chinese e-commerce platform Dmall is expected to submit an application this quarter for a public listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx), local media outlet Photon Planet reported, citing individuals familiar with the matter.
Source: pandaily.com
India: BigBasket eyes 30% rise in GMV to ₹13,000cr this fiscal
Online grocery seller BigBasket said it expects gross merchandise value on its platform to grow by 30% to ₹13,000crore in the current fiscal with push from its quick commerce business and expansion of presence across the country. BigBasket co-founder and CEO Hari Menon said that the company will significantly scale up offline stores from 90 to 695 in a year to reach out to 100% of its customer base.
Source: livemint.com
France: Supermarket Casino launches seasonal fruit and veg labels
French supermarket group Casino has launched a new system to show the seasonality of fruit and vegetables on its shelves. Using a colour code, consumers will be able to tell which fruits or veg are seasonal and which are not. Casino has said that the new system will be informative and also raise awareness of seasonality among fresh produce.
Source: connexionfrance.com
Discounter Pepco's 1st-half sales up 17.5% on new store openings
Pepco Group, owner of European discount retailer brands PEPCO, Poundland and Dealz, reported a 17.5% increase in 1st-half revenue, driven by new store openings. The group, which listed on the Warsaw stock market last May, said revenue totalled 2.37bln euros ($2.57bln) in the 6 months to March 31 as it opened 192 new stores, taking the total to 3,696 across 17 countries.
Source: reuters.com
Carrefour shares fall as retailer's French Q1 sales disappoint
Shares in Carrefour fell after Europe’s largest food retailer reported 1st quarter sales that showed a lacklustre performance in its core French market which overshadowed more robust growth in Brazil. Carrefour reported that 1st quarter sales reached 20.239bln euros ($22bln), marking like-for-like growth of 3.4%, an acceleration from 0.7% sales growth in the 4th quarter of 2021. French sales, however, were flat in the quarter, with hypermarket sales down by 1.1%.
Source: reuters.com
US: Kroger readies grocery delivery for South Florida
The Kroger Co. is building up its Florida e-commerce operations to expand online grocery service into the South Florida market. Cincinnati-based Kroger said that it aims to hire more than 200 associates to help support the launch of Kroger Delivery in South Florida this summer.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Apollo Global Management acquires Tony’s Fresh Market
Chicago-area specialty grocer Tony’s Fresh Market has been acquired by affiliates of investment firm Apollo Global Management. Financial terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed. New York-based Apollo said that, going forward, Tony’s Fresh Market’s founding family will remain partners in the business, serving in management roles and as shareholders.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market announces 1st-ever Sustainability Vendor Summit
Sprouts Farmers Market reported: "Sprouts Farmers Market will host its 1st-ever Our Brands focused Sustainability Vendor Summit June 21-24 as part of the company’s commitment in bringing responsibly grown and sourced food to our customers. The virtual event, hosted in partnership with ECRM and RangeMe, will allow Sprouts to discover new suppliers to support the continued expansion of Sprouts Branded items in departments including: grocery, produce, frozen, deli, bulk foods, meat and seafood, and vitamins and supplements".
Source: about.sprouts.com
US: Why this up-and-coming salad chain says it's ready to go head-to-head with Sweetgreen
Crisp & Green, the Minneapolis-based fast-casual salad chain, expects to open a new restaurant every 6 days this year and into 2023. That’s according to CEO Steele Smiley, the former fitness chain executive, who founded the health-focused concept in 2016. “That’s an aggressive pace”, Smiley said.
Source: restaurantbusinessonline.com