US: Goodbye, little robots. Why Save Mart’s Modesto grocery delivery program ended abruptly
The little white robots that had become part of Modesto’s landscape as they rolled around town delivering groceries are no more. Save Mart Supermarkets officials have confirmed their autonomous, touchless delivery fleet has been grounded by their San Francisco-based partner, Starship Technologies.
Source: modbee.com
US: Walmart adding hundreds of products following Open Call event
Walmart Inc. is continuing its commitment to sourcing products from U.S. manufacturers as it wraps up its ninth annual Open Call. During the event, finalists representing all 50 states pitched their products through 30-minute, one-on-one virtual and in-person meetings at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. Of the 1,100 businesses that pitched their products to be sold by the retailer, more than 330 resulted in a deal and about 280 are being considered for potential future deals. Products chosen will be available on Walmart or Sam’s Club shelves, online at Walmart.com or on Walmart’s Marketplace.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Puerto Rico: Walmart sells Amigo stores, will invest $57mln in upgrades
Walmart Puerto Rico announced plans to revamp its network of 25 stores and clubs across the island through a $57mln investment that will bring new technologies and equipment to the island. The investment in existing Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations is part of a broader strategy focused on improving the company’s core assets in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Walmart has agreed to sell its chain of 11 Amigo Supermarkets to Pueblo Supermarkets.
Source: newsismybusiness.com
UAE supermarket Union Coop to list on Dubai stock market
Emirati supermarket chain Union Coop announced its intention to list shares on the Dubai stock market on July 18. The company said in a statement that existing shareholders would be offered ten shares in the listing for each share held, and that trading of shares on its own portal had been suspended. The share price will be determined on the first day of trading, it said.
Source: reuters.com
Stokrotka, controlled by Maxima Grupė, signed an agreement to take over 14 stores in Poland
Retail grocery chain Stokrotka signed an agreement to take over 14 grocery stores that are operating in Poland in the Masovian Voivodeship. The transaction is planned to be completed until the end of 2022, subject to certain conditions to be fulfilled according to the agreement, including antitrust approval. Target sales of 14 stores operations to be taken over are expected to reach more than EUR25mln. Stokrotka is a Polish grocery retail chain and at the end of 2021 operated over 800 own and franchised stores, its turnover amounted to over EUR1bln. Stokrotka belongs to Maxima Grupė since 2018.
Source: maximagrupe.eu
Pushkart.ph plans expansion to Cavite, Pampanga by third quarter
Online grocery shopping and delivery platform Pushkart.ph is aiming to expand in cities across Cavite and Pampanga within the third quarter of this year. Pushkart.ph said that the expansion to Cavite and Pampanga would be under a partnership with Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc., via its Metro Supermarket.
Source: bworldonline.com
Amazon Prime changes its cancellation practices to comply with EU consumer rules
Following a dialogue with the European Commission and national consumer protection authorities, Amazon has committed to bringing its cancellation practices in line with EU consumer rules. The platform will enable consumers from the EU and EEA to unsubscribe from Amazon Prime with just two clicks, using a prominent and clear “cancel button”.
Source: ec.europa.eu
NielsenIQ and GfK to merge
Two reputable market research companies will become one: NielsenIQ and GfK, both specialised in consumer and shopper behaviour, are going to merge. Both companies are complementary, says main shareholder Advent International.
Source: retaildetail.eu
China: Missfresh announces the substantial completion of the audit committee-led independent internal review
Missfresh Limited (“Missfresh” or the “Company”), an innovator and leader in China’s neighborhood retail industry, announced the results of the previously disclosed independent review conducted by the independent audit committee of its board of directors (the “Audit Committee”).
Source: globenewswire.com
Ahold Delhaize Serbia presented Sustainable Business Report for 2021
The retail chain Ahold Delhaize Serbia presented their sustainable business report for 2021. Cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade and accredited laboratories enabled the company to develop a concept for the innovative growing of fruits and vegetables with the aim of reducing pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables and setting standards in pesticide control in this type of production.
Source: agroberichtenbuitenland.nl
New Zealand: Retailers told to adapt to online shopping needs as consumers look to shop online more next year
Online shopping is expected to grow again next year, but retailers are being told they will need to update their technology to keep up. New research from Klarna, a global retail bank, payments and shopping service, revealed that four in 10 New Zealanders said they would shop mostly online in 2023. The report, Shopping pulse: New Zealand, found 40% of New Zealand shoppers believed they would make most of their purchases online in 2023.
Source: stuff.co.nz
Vietnam: VinShop aims for success as store connection platform
VinShop is expected to soon become a successful store connection platform in Vietnam, with a business strategy similar to Tokopedia in Indonesia. One year after its launch, VinShop has connected more than 100,000 traditional grocery stores. However, this figure is still modest compared to the market potential.
Source: retailnews.asia
Senegalese agritech startup ‘Afrikamart’ raises US$850,000 in seed funding
Senegal's annual fresh fruit and vegetable market is half a million tonnes, representing a $1bln market opportunity. The end-to-end solution provided by Afrikamart allows for the formalisation of the fresh food value chain as well as the empowerment of small market operators. Afrikamart, a Senegalese startup that is using digital technology to transform the value chain of fresh agricultural produce, has raised US$850,000 in seed funding from leading venture capital firms such as BLOC Smart Africa - a fund managed by Bamboo Capital Partners, Orange Ventures, Launch Africa, and Teranga Capital.
Source: krishijagran.com
New Zealand: Countdown axing plastic produce bags labelled 'great'
Countdown's being praised by experts for its move to phase out plastic produce bags. Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Science at Canterbury University Sara Tolbert said it was a "great" move by the franchise and "exactly what corporations should be doing". Sustainability Consultant Nick Morrison agreed, saying it'll "nudge" consumers in the right direction. Countdown's Commercial Director of Fresh Produce Pieter De Wet told 1News, the supermarket's customers use 50mln plastic produce bags per year. "So the impact is enormous, the quicker we can stop the bigger positive impact we can have on the environment", he said.
Source: 1news.co.nz