UK: East of England Co-op goes viral
The newest East of England Co-op store that opened in Chelmsford, opposite the station, has been gaining traction online after it was branded the ‘UK’s coolest Co-op’. A TikTok video created by Kristie Rolfe has gone viral online, reaching 300 thousand people, after Rolfe shared her experience in the new store.
Source: talkingretail.com
UK: Tesco and Marks & Spencer emerge as Christmas winners
Tesco and Marks & Spencer were both Christmas winners with unexpectedly strong sales helped by growth in online orders and high demand for festive treats. The UK’s biggest supermarket Tesco upgraded its profits expectations for the year by £50mln to £2.75bln as it reported “a stronger trading performance than anticipated” over the festive period. Marks & Spencer said food sales in established stores rose by almost 10% as more shoppers opted to do their full weekly shop with the chain after it cut prices on basics. Sales of the group’s Remarksable value range were up by 18% with strong growth in meat, poultry, produce, grocery and in-store bakery.
Source: theguardian.com
Australia: Melbourne’s Docklands shopping precinct to wave goodbye to Costco
A major blow has hit shoppers in Melbourne with the announcement from wholesale giant Costco confirming the closure of a major store. Shoppers have described the announcement as a “real blow” for those who frequent the Docklands supermarket chain.
Source: news.com.au
SPAR Hungary invest in new stores and trials Gen Z pop-up store
November saw the opening of a new SPAR Supermarket in Budapest, a new SPAR Supermarket in Békéscsaba and an INTERSPAR Hypermarket in Debrecen following investment of 4.6bln HUF. SPAR Hungary also ran a two-day trial of an automated store targeting Gen Z incorporating technology and AI powered tools. SPAR Hungary has converted a former car dealership into a 700m² modern SPAR Supermarket in District XV of Budapest. Customers enter into the fruit and vegetable section, which is opposite the bakery before accessing the ready-made meal section.
Source: spar-international.com
It's a hat trick - Aldi crowned the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for third year in a row
Which? names Aldi UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for the third consecutive year. The supermarket was also named the Cheapest Supermarket of the month for December, its eleventh win in 2023.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UK and Ireland: Sales of vegan and vegetarian meals continue to grow says Sodexo
Marking Veganuary 2024, Sodexo has announced another year-on-year increase in the consumption of meat-free meals. Analysis of over 2.7mln meals sold across 285 of its UK and Ireland client sites in 2023 reveals that 11% were vegan or vegetarian. This represents an incremental increase on the 10% reported in the previous year. Sodexo’s diverse range of delicious meat-free meal options - including Southern Indian Chickpea Curry, Potato and Cauliflower Masala and Japanese Teriyaki Tofu, among many others - have been instrumental in driving this growth.
Source: uk.sodexo.com
Ochama launches Global Shipped Items and Low-Price Sales with upgraded pick-up services
In celebration of its second anniversary, ochama, the innovative omni-channel retailer, announced a series of significant enhancements to its product range and services. The company is introducing “Global Shipped Items” and “Everyday Low Price” (EDLP) channels, along with a streamlined Same-Day Pick-up service.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Which vegetable is the new kale? An unlikely ingredient is on the rise
Celery root, the bulbous root of a variety of celery also known as celeriac, is shaping up to be a trendy new delicacy. The slightly nutty vegetable is making waves in a culture that’s increasingly popularizing vegan and plant-based meals. Celery root is popping up as a plant-based meat alternative in restaurants around the country, according to a 2024 trend report from hospitality marketing firm AF & Co and communications agency Carbonate.
Source: themessenger.com
HelloFresh: Introducing our last mile solution for US deliveries
HelloFresh reported: "Focusing on our end-to-end customer experience continues to be a top priority for us. That’s one reason the company extended our delivery fleet network in the United States, joining Germany, Austria and the UK with a last mile solution. Outfitted in both HelloFresh and Factor branding, the company-managed fleet is now available in 19 major metropolitan areas across the US. This marks a significant investment in the customer experience by ensuring on-time delivery and improving quality control, while also furthering the company’s sustainability efforts with a focus on electrification."
Source: hellofreshgroup.com
US: A look inside the 1st Publix in Kentucky
“Hello, Kentucky”. That introductory greeting was emblazoned on shopping bags, a speaker podium and other displays around the new Publix store in east Louisville, the grocer’s first location in the state of Kentucky. Over in the produce section near the foodservice area, customers can gaze at the picture-perfect displays and pick out fresh fruits and vegetables as well as value-added kits and packaged items that meet their interest in variety and convenience.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Walmart unleashes ‘largest drone delivery footprint of any U.S. retailer’
Walmart is expanding its drone delivery service, claiming it now has the largest drone delivery footprint of any U.S. retailer thanks to partnerships with Wing and Zipline.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Sam’s Club is testing out AI, computer vision tech to speed up exit process at stores
To speed up the time it takes shoppers to have their carts full of purchased items checked at Sam’s Club the retailer is testing out an application of artificial intelligence and computer vision technology. Pilots are currently underway at 10 Sam’s Club locations and involves a combination of computer vision and digital technology which captures images of carts and verifies payment for all the items in the shopper’s possession.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Aldi achieves goal of cutting plastic shopping bagsDiscount grocer Aldi has removed plastic shopping bags from its more than 2,300 stores, the grocer announced. The Batavia, Illinois-based grocer, which set a goal of cutting the plastic shopping bags from its stores by 2023, called the achievement a “landmark moment for the industry”, as the no-frills grocer becomes the first major U.S. retailer to eliminate plastic bags.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Walmart to create new type of tech-based commerceDuring CES 2024 in Las Vegas, tech leader Walmart unveiled its plans to deliver a new type of commerce - one that is customer-centric, interconnected, frictionless and consistently exceeds expectations.
Source: progressivegrocer.com