European Grocery Report 2023
European Supermarket Magazine ESM reported: "ESM is delighted to present the European Grocery Report, a 122-page deep-dive into the current state of the European retail and consumer landscape as we enter the final months of 2023. This digital-only publication seeks to provide a synopsis of the challenges facing retailers in various European markets, as well as provide a snapshot of the best-performing retailers and brands across the continent".
Source: esmmagazine.com
Fruit and vegetables: Call for a forum to address waste
A "food forum" must be established to deal with the issue of wastage of "imperfect" fruit and vegetables, according to one senator. Tim Lombard, Fine Gael's Seanad spokesperson on agriculture, food, and the marine, said that vegetables are the most commonly wasted food type in supermarkets, accounting for 20% of waste, followed by fruit at 16%. As a result, Lombard said, food producers in Ireland are obliged to grow more food to counter the amount that will be discarded.
Source: agriland.ie
UK supermarket Asda's like-for-like sales rise 9.6%
British supermarket group Asda reported stronger like-for-like sales in the second quarter, driven by higher demand for cheaper alternatives to branded grocery products amid a cost-of-living crisis, it said. Excluding fuel, like-for-like sales jumped 9.6% in the three months ended June 30, while revenue reached 5.4bln pounds ($6.87bln), Asda said.
Source: reuters.com
Holland: Jan Linders to open first Albert Heijn rebranded store
Dutch regional supermarket chain Jan Linders is preparing to open its first stores rebranded as Albert Heijn. On August 29, the first converted store will open in Venlo, and the company expects to complete all store conversions by the end of 2023.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Successful first trip for Tesco double-stacked rail freight container 
Tesco last week took delivery of a new rail container that can carry double-stacked pallets, so increasing the volume of goods it can transport by rail. The container uses a mechanism that raises the roof to allow maximum stacking before lowering it for transit. This makes it easier to carry up to double the volume of products compared to other container types.
Source: railadvent.co.uk
Burger King says tomatoes on 'vacation' as India battles food inflation
Burger King has scrapped tomatoes from its wraps and burgers in many Indian outlets after prices more than quadrupled, the latest symptom of surging food inflation that is hitting consumers hard across the world's most populous nation. "Even tomatoes need a vacation... we are unable to add tomatoes to our food", read notices posted at two Burger King India outlets. The chain has cited quality issues in explaining the shortfall.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Asda launches new food-to-go trial to drive shoppers to storesAsda has unveiled a new food-to-go trial as part of its plan to become the UK's number two supermarket. The Asda Food Hub will first be trialed throughout the grocer's Leicester and Dagenham stores and could be rolled out to further UK supermarkets if it performs well.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
HelloFresh launches ready-to-eat service Factor in the Netherlands and Flanders
HelloFresh Group ("HelloFresh") is expanding its ready-to-eat (RTE) brand Factor to the Netherlands and the Flanders region in Belgium. Following the success of Factor in the United States and Canada, this strategic move supports HelloFresh's goal to expand its total addressable market (TAM) by growing the RTE category globally.
Source: hellofreshgroup.com
Canada: T&T Supermarkets to open the second store in Quebec
T&T Supermarkets is growing its footprint in Quebec with a second location. The Loblaw Companies-owned Asian grocery chain is set to open a 5,000 square-meter store in Brossard - located in Greater Montreal - at the Quartier Dix30.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Dollar General set to build a massive distribution center in Arkansas
Dollar General is planning on building a 1.2mln-square-foot distribution center in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and it is expected to open in April, reports local news outlet Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The new site neighbors Amazon's already-open distribution center and Lowe's soon-to-be-occupied distribution center. The new $140mln building will help Dollar General sell fresh produce in more stores and create 300 jobs in the area, according to North Little Rock Development Director Robert Birch.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Casey's agrees to acquire 63 convenience stores from EG Group
Casey's General Stores, Inc. ("Casey's") announced an agreement to acquire 63 convenience stores from EG America, LLC ("EG America"), a subsidiary of EG Group Ltd. ("EG Group"). The stores are located in Kentucky and Tennessee and currently operate under the Minit Mart and Certified Oil banners.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Erewhon Market rolls out new app that improves prepared food ordering experience
Southern California specialty grocer Erewhon Market has launched a new mobile app that allows customers to place orders for pickup or delivery without needing to access the retailer's website, according to Chief Growth Officer Kabir Jain. Apart from unveiling the new app, Erewhon started shipping perishable products to shoppers located outside its service area in Southern California, Jain said.
Source: grocerydive.com
Seafood with roots: Seed to Surf crafts unique seafood alternatives from whole vegetables
Seed to Surf is a Canadian plant-based seafood company tapping into the nutritional, health, and sustainability benefits of whole vegetables to create ocean delicacies. Launched in 2022, this vegetable-forward company is introducing a creative and unique approach to crafting alternatives: it prepares and preserves high-quality vegetables into canned seafood products.
Source: vegconomist.com
US: Good Food Holdings has a vision for the next generation of high-end grocery stores
The Carson, California-based holding company has already established a reputation for running high-end banners: Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres, New Seasons Market, New Leaf Community Markets, and Metropolitan Market. As it looks ahead, its leaders see an opportunity to bring that high-touch, personalized experience into the digital age.
Source: grocerydive.com