US: October import cargo to remain strong despite three-day strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports
Imports at the nation's major container ports should continue at elevated levels this month despite a strike that briefly shut down operations from Maine to Texas last week, according to the Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
Source: nrf.com
Ahold Delhaize focuses on doing a better job for consumers
While food retail is an ever-evolving industry, catering to a shopper's desire for value, quality and convenience remains at the heart of the business. Ahold Delhaize CEO Frans Muller discussed those basic tenets of grocery, as well as the multinational company's focus on omnichannel, retail media, private label and more, during a keynote at this week's Groceryshop conference in Las Vegas.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: H-E-B stores adding digital tap-to-pay service
Over the next few weeks, H-E-B will begin a phased rollout that will add digital tap-to-pay services to all of its H-E-B stores throughout Texas. The service will first become available at H-E-B stores in the San Antonio area, where it will take about a week to launch at every location in the region.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Save A Lot partners with Fabric and Uber for automated, low priced delivery of everyday grocery essentials in New York City
Save A Lot, one of the largest discount grocery chains in the U.S., and Fabric, a leading provider of advanced fulfillment automation solutions, announced a new partnership to provide innovative fulfillment solutions for on-demand grocery delivery with the opening of a Brooklyn-based micro fulfillment center.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Publix names two new VPs
Publix Super Markets has named two new VPs to its executive teams. After 46 years, Vice President of Industrial Maintenance and Industrial Operations Purchasing Randy Barber has announced his decision to retire at the end of this year. Additionally, after more than a decade with Publix, Vice President of Facilities Bob McGarrity will retire at the end of 2024. Existing Director of Industrial Maintenance and Industrial Operations Purchasing John Fisher will be promoted to vice president of industrial maintenance and industrial operations purchasing. And Architect Program Manager Dave Taulbee will be promoted to vice president of facilities.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: DoorDash announces new partnership with Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
DoorDash, the local commerce platform, announced an expanded partnership with Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Grocery delivery from Wegmans is now available through DoorDash from all Maryland Wegmans locations. Stores in Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Delaware, and upstate New York will be available in the coming days with more stores coming soon.
Source: businesswire.com
Amazon's ex-retail boss Dave Clark launches new startup to solve supply chain 'Franken-software'
Dave Clark, a veteran Amazon executive who briefly helmed logistics company Flexport, is returning to the startup world with his new company Auger. Auger aims to help companies and governments bring together the mishmash of "Franken-software" overseeing their supply chains into a single platform.
Source: cnbc.com
Japan: Seven & i's revised bid from Couche-Tard sweetens offer by a fifth, sources say
Japan's Seven & i Holdings said it had received a revised takeover bid from Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard, which was raised to around $47bln from $38.5bln, according to two people familiar with the matter. If it were to go ahead, the deal for the 7-Eleven owner would be the largest-ever overseas buyout of a Japanese firm. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because information about the pricing has not been made public.
Source: reuters.com
Korean retailers roll out ultra-low price products amid high inflation
CU, a convenience store chain operated by BGF Retail Co. announced that it will offer 990-won vegetable products later this month. The products include onions, green onions, radish slices, carrots, and king oyster mushrooms. It is the first time fresh produce has been included in CU's under-1,000-won product line.
Source: pulse.mk.co.kr
UK: Tesco to provide £4mln of fruit and vegetables to 400 schools this year
Tesco is to invest £4mln in a new scheme that will give thousands of young people fruit and vegetables every day at school. Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools, which has been developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, will provide funding for up to 140,000 pupils to receive at least one piece of fruit or veg a day, giving their diets a healthy and nutritious boost.
Source: tescoplc.com
Finnish co-operative retailer S Group deploys Pricer digital solution in over 100 additional stores
Within a five-year framework agreement signed in 2023, and after deploying the 300 initially planned stores during the past year, Finnish retailer S Group has moved to the next wave of installations of Pricer's in-store communication and automation solution. More than 100 stores will be equipped during the first half of 2025.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
JD Logistics expands international express delivery with new service from China to Japan and South Korea
JD Logistics (also known as JINGDONG Logistics), the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, officially announced the launch of a new express delivery service from China to Japan and South Korea.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
UK: Food sales growth 'slackens' in September following wet weather
Food sales growth weakened in September following wet weather conditions, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG retail sales monitor. Over the three months to September, food sales rose 3.1% year on year, however this was against a growth of 7.4% in September 2023 and below the 12-month average growth of 4.4%.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
UK: Morrisons launches Christmas recruitment drive
Morrisons launched a search for up to 3,000 extra colleagues to work in its stores, food manufacturing sites and logistics operations nationwide to help meet increased demand over the busy Christmas period.
Source: morrisons-corporate.com
'DISH Dine': METRO subsidiary launches new online portal for gastronomy
METRO's subsidiary DISH, which offers online services for the digitalisation of the hospitality industry in 16 countries, is expanding its offering and launching its own search portal, DISH Dine. DISH Dine is starting in Germany as a pilot market with over 30,000 listed hospitality businesses that already use DISH tools.
Source: newsroom.metroag.de