Supermarket prices declined in France in November
The price of frequently purchased goods in French supermarkets and hypermarkets declined by 0.7% in November 2024, compared to the same month the previous year, according to Insee, the French statistics body.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Asda announces major change to produce prices
Asda reported: "Asda has announced it will be reducing the prices of key Christmas veg lines to just 15p from Thursday 19th December 2024, to support families with the big Christmas shop. Available instore and online while stocks last, customers will be able get 1kg carrots (currently 69p), 500g sprouts (currently 85p), 360g broccoli (currently 79p) and 500g parsnips (currently 75p) for just 15p each until Tuesday 24th December. For the first time, Asda will also be including 2kg potatoes in the offer (currently £1.35) meaning customers can bag all the key Christmas dinner sides for a fraction of the price - slashing £3.68 off the final bill".
Source: corporate.asda.com
Woolworths New Zealand supermarket team agree to 6.8% wage increase over two years in new collective agreement
Thousands of Woolworths team members working in supermarkets will benefit from a new collective agreement which includes minimum wage increases of 6.8% over the next two years, and the introduction of a multi-skilled hourly rate to support varied and rewarding retail careers.
Source: woolworths.co.nz
Ireland: ALDI makes changes to its Too Good to Go surprise food bag partnership for Christmas
ALDI Ireland is making its popular Too Good To Go 'Surprise Bags' available for reservation earlier than ever before for Christmas and New Year's Eve. Customers will be able to reserve a bag via the Too Good To Go app up to five days in advance, giving shoppers even more flexibility during the busy festive period.
Source: retailnews.ie
Spain: BM Supermercados' parent rejects bid from Carrefour
Carrefour's bid to acquire Uvesco, the parent company of the BM Supermercados chain in Spain, has been rejected by Uvesco's majority shareholder, the French fund PAI Partners, according to reports. Through the proposed deal, Carrefour aimed to expand its Spanish presence, but PAI Partners deemed that Carrefour's offer, reportedly around €800mln, was insufficient, according to local media.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Marks and Spencer opens warehouse to store Brexit paperwork
Marks and Spencer has been forced to hire a warehouse to store post-Brexit paperwork needed for exports to the Republic of Ireland. The retailer has 16 stores in the Republic and also sells products at some Applegreen petrol forecourts. It has resulted in a deluge of paper forms needed to ship goods into the EU after Britain left the customs union in 2020.
Source: thelondoneconomic.com
UK: Nectar and Woodland Trust extend partnership to 2027
Sainsburys reported: "The Nectar and Woodland Trust partnership was launched in 2021, following a successful corporate partnership between the charity and Sainsburys which has been in place since 2004; playing a key role in conservation projects, including planting over 5.1mln trees and protecting more than 2,000 acres of woodland across the UK".
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
UK food inflation could hit nearly 5% in 2025, says industry researcher
British shoppers face renewed pressure next year with food prices set to rise by up to 4.9%, mainly driven by higher costs for businesses caused by measures in the government's budget, a prominent grocery industry researcher said. The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) forecast 2025 food inflation in a range of 2.4% to 4.9%.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Morrisons opens brand new store in Cranbrook
Morrisons opened a brand new supermarket on Elm Drive in Cranbrook with the creation of around 100 jobs in full and part-time roles. Morrisons is proud to work with foodmakers, growers and producers to provide locally loved food and drink and the Cranbrook store will stock a wide selection of products that have been sourced from local suppliers. These include: Four Elms Fruit Farm Real Devonshire Apple Juice Braeburn".
Source: morrisons-corporate.com
Lidl becomes Official Partner of UEFA Women's EURO 2025
UEFA has announced that Lidl has become an Official Partner of UEFA Women's EURO 2025, the biggest women's EURO ever taking place in Switzerland across eight host cities from 2 to 27 July.
Source: uefa.com
Ahold Delhaize USA names Greg Finchum as President of Food Lion
Ahold Delhaize reported: "Ahold Delhaize USA has announced that Food Lion executive Greg Finchum, currently Executive Vice President, Retail Operations, will assume the role of President, in May 2025".
Source: newsroom.aholddelhaize.com
US: Consumer Price Index - November 2024
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis in November, after rising 0.2% in each of the previous 4 months, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The nonalcoholic beverages index increased 1.5% in November, after rising 0.4% in October. The index for other food at home rose 0.1% over the month and the index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.2%.
Source: bls.gov
Mexican regulator fines local Walmart unit for monopolistic practice
Mexico's antitrust watchdog Cofece ruled that the local unit of U.S.-based retail giant Walmart, known as Walmex, engaged in monopolistic behavior related to its suppliers, the company said in a statement. Walmex said it has been ordered to pay a fine of just over 93mln pesos, or about $4.6mln, while stressing it believes the regulator's analysis is incorrect and that it will appeal its ruling.
Source: reuters.com
Carrefour Brasil divests eight stores to Muffato and Festval
Carrefour Brasil has offloaded eight Nacional stores in the Brazilian city of Curitiba to local retailers Muffato and Festval, with each acquiring four locations. Muffato is a leading food retail group in the Brazilian state of Paraná, while Festval is a regional retailer.
Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Meati settles false advertising lawsuit over 'mushroom root' claims
Alt meat startup Meati Foods has settled a putative class action lawsuit alleging it falsely advertised its cutlets and steaks as 'made from mushroom root' when they are in fact made from a strain of filamentous fungus called Neurospora Crassa, a type of mold.
Source: agfundernews.com