US: NRF says economy is slowing but recession is unlikely in near term
The U.S. economy’s rate of growth is slowing, but consumers remain financially healthy and the nation is unlikely to enter into a recession during the remainder of 2022, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said.
Source: nrf.com
US: Lidl’s 1st Baltimore store set to open July 13
Lidl US will hold the grand opening of its newest store - and first in the city of Baltimore - at the Northwood Commons shopping center on Wednesday, July 13. On that date, local leaders will take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:40 a.m. The store, located at 1500 Havenwood Road, will operate daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Giant Food brings back local produce boxes for summer
Giant Food is taking a more direct route in its farm-to-table offerings, reintroducing local produce boxes in time for summer harvests. The boxes are filled with a variety of locally sourced, in-season produce and are available through the Giant Delivers service.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Canada: Couche-Tard records 37.3% full-year revenue growth in FY22
Convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard has reported a C$17.0bln ($13.2bln) increase in revenue for the fiscal year 2022 (FY22), up by 37.3% year-on-year. During the year, the retailer’s merchandise and service revenues grew by C$730.8mln compared with the fiscal year 2021 (FY21).
Source: retail-insight-network.com
Walmart Canada’s most popular Great Value choices from coast to coast
Walmart Canada reported: "Customers in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, are comparing apples to oranges when it comes to juice. Our Great Value Apple Juice is our top private brand fruit juice pick in Yellowknife with orange trailing closely behind. But our customers in Gander prefer orange to apple!"
Source: walmartcanada.ca
Costco buys remaining stake in Taiwan joint venture for $1.05bln
Costco Wholesale Corp said it bought the 45% stake it did not already own in its Taiwan joint venture, Costco-Taiwan, for $1.05bln. The deal, executed through a unit, is expected to add to the company's earnings per share by 1% to 1-1/2%, Costco said in a statement.
Source: reuters.com
Management changes at Carrefour
Surprising management change at Carrefour: Geoffroy Gersdorff returns after two years from the headquarters in Massy and becomes general manager Belgium from Monday, 4 July. Laurent Vallée will become executive director Northern Europe.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Amazon to open Dutch fulfilment centre
Amazon will open a fulfilment centre in the Netherlands in the foreseeable future. Third-party sellers currently have to store their products in Germany. Moreover, the Dutch Amazon wants to attract three times as many merchants. That is what Benelux country manager Roeland Donker said during his presentation at the Webwinkel Vakdagen, the largest ecommerce event of the Benelux region.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
Italy: Lidl to open 150 new stores by 2024Lidl Italia has reported a 2021 turnover of €5.9bln, up 6.9% compared to the previous year, and has announced plans to invest €1.5bln by 2024 to open 150 new outlets. Currently, the retailer’s network consists of 700 stores in Italy, and the discounter is seeking to reach 1,000 stores by 2030.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Vietnam: Son La mango and safe farm produce week launched in Hanoi
Mangoes and safe agricultural products from the northern mountainous province of Son La are being introduced at Big C Thang Long supermarket in Hanoi. The week-long event, organised by the Son La Provincial People’s Committee in collaboration with Central Retail Vietnam, is an effort to promote high-quality provincial products to the capital city’s consumers. The event has attracted 15 businesses and cooperatives, introducing both fresh fruits and vegetables such as mango, longan, avocado, guava, banana, Moc Chau pumpkin, cabbage and zucchini to processed foods. These products all meet food safety standards such as VietGAP, GolbalGAP and organic certification.
Source: en.vietnamplus.vn
Shipping firm CMA CGM to cut price for French retailers in inflation fight
Shipping firm CMA CGM will lower container shipping rates by about 10% for large retailers in France to support government steps to curb inflation, it said. CMA CGM will from August 1 reduce shipping rates by 500 euros ($520) per 40-foot container for consumer products imported by major retail chains to mainland France, it said in a statement.
Source: reuters.com
Thailand: “Central Retail” opens a new model “Tops Food Hall” Sukhumvit 39, a world-class premium food store 
Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited (CRC) has launched a food business in the premium food retail market in Thailand, investing more than 150mln baht in the launch of “Tops Food Hall” Sukhumvit 39, the world-class premium food store, the first 2-storey standalone model in Thailand.
Source: thailand.postsen.com
Availability concerns remain high
The war in Ukraine is continuing having wide economic and commercial implications for food supply chains. The cost of living crisis has also resulted in more people switching products, thereby further impacting supply chains. In the latest consumer research conducted for IGD (24-26 June 2022) around two thirds of adults (65%) experienced shortages of some food and groceries in-store or online recently. This is still relatively high, though has declined marginally compared to last month (68%). Availability concerns are still highest for fresh produce (24%).
Source: igd.com
Reliance to launch British sandwich outlet Pret A Manger in India
Reliance Industries said it would open outlets of Pret A Manger in India under a franchise deal with the British sandwich and coffee chain, a first foray by the Indian firm in the country's growing food and beverage industry.
Source: reuters.com
New Zealand: Single-use plastic produce bags on the way out - Countdown announces pilot that will remove the bags from 20 stores from 25 July
It’s the beginning of the end for single-use plastic produce bags, with Countdown announcing a pilot to remove them in a further 19 stores from 25 July, joining the Metro Herne Bay store which opened without single-use plastic produce bags last month. The pilot will be run in stores located throughout Aotearoa and will help Countdown understand how to make the transition to being single-use plastic produce bag free as easy as possible for customers.
Source: countdown.co.nz