Spain: DIA secures €350mln in new financingSpanish supermarket chain DIA, controlled by Letterone, has secured €350mln in new financing as part of its efforts to refinance debt worth €885mln. The financing has been provided by a group of European banks, including Société Générale, Santander, BBVA, and CaixaBank, as well as North American funds, according to Spanish daily Cinco Dias.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Carrefour and Lagardère to open 150 stores in French stationsOver the next five years, Carrefour and Lagardère plan to open 150 stores in stations across France. These new outlets will combine supermarkets with collection points for online orders, targeting commuters seeking quick shopping options during their daily travels.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK retailers post big drop in sales, CBI saysBritish retailers reported a sharp drop in sales volumes during the year to January and they expect no improvement next month, an industry survey showed. The Confederation of British Industry's monthly gauge of retail sales fell in January to -24 from -15 in December, the lowest reading since August last year.
Source: reuters.com
China: Supermarkets see rise in foot trafficChinese supermarket chains have reported increases in both visitor numbers and online sales, with three out of four that undertook adjustments and renovations in 2024 achieving growth, according to a report by the China Chain Store and Franchise Association.
Source: chinadaily.com.cn
Long-awaited SPAR store in Denmark's Vindinge to open this monthAt the end of this month, SPAR is set to open a new store in Vindinge, Denmark, that has been in the pipeline since 2017. At the helm of the new supermarket is Michael Møller-Jørgensen, a grocer with almost 25 years of experience. In Denmark, Dagrofa operates the SPAR chain, in addition to MENY, Min Købmand and Let-Køb. It also owns Dagrofa Foodservice and Dagrofa Logistik.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Kenya: Bolt enters grocery delivery while others run for the doorBolt is currently offering Bolt Market in Nairobi's upscale Kilimani area and targeting customers within a 10-kilometre radius of its store, including Upper Hill, South C and Riverside. Customers using the Bolt Food app can order groceries from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM or schedule deliveries 24 hours in advance. Bolt Market claims it has access to over 2,000 products, including fresh produce from local suppliers, household essentials, and beverages.
Source: techcabal.com
UK: Plenish launches its biggest-ever marketing campaignPlenish, the juice shots brand owned by Britvic, has launched its biggest marketing campaign to date. The 'Give it a Shot' campaign will spotlight the health and lifestyle benefits of Plenish's range of powerful health shots, and aims to encourage consumers to invest in their wellbeing and upgrade their daily routine with a Plenish shot.
Source: kamcity.com
A new and bigger boycott of shops in Croatia announcedOn Friday, people across Croatia boycotted stores, supermarkets, and petrol stations, expressing their frustration with rising prices. According to Eurostat, food prices in Croatia have jumped by 45% since 2020, far exceeding the EU average increase of 33%. Bread prices have risen by 61% (compared to the EU average of 35%), eggs by 63%, fruit by 40%, meat by 38%, and vegetables by 44%.
Source: croatiaweek.com
UK: Snappy Shopper enjoys best-ever DecemberSnappy Shopper had a record-breaking end to the year, according to its fourth-quarter figures for 2024. The quick-commerce platform reported 42% year-on-year growth in the quarter and handled £14mln of transactions in December alone. It reported an average order value of £29 for its deliveries, which is nearly four times the typical in-store transaction value (ACS Local Shop Report 2024).
Source: talkingretail.com
Amazon Fresh struggles to gain traction in the UKAmazon Fresh, the grocery arm of the e-commerce giant, is facing mounting challenges in its efforts to disrupt the UK supermarket sector. Initially hailed as a game-changer with its innovative "Just Walk Out" technology, the retailer's ambitious expansion plans appear to be faltering.
Source: fpcfreshtalkdaily.co.uk
China becomes largest online retail market for 12 consecutive yearsChina has become the world's largest online retail market for 12 consecutive years, with online retail sales reaching 15.5tln yuan (about 2.16tln U.S. dollars) in 2024, the Ministry of Commerce said.
Source: english.news.cn
Sainsbury's announces plans to accelerate momentum one year into Next Level strategy Sainsbury's has shared plans to accelerate into the second year of its three-year Next Level strategy. As part of the company's plan to become First Choice for Food, Sainsbury's has shared plans to create space to offer more of its fresh food ranges in more stores.
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
Amazon, Costco, and UPS rank highest in Caliber's U.S. Trust & Like pollCaliber released its annual U.S. Fortune 30 Most Trusted & Liked Companies Survey, finding that Amazon, Costco, and UPS have the best corporate reputation among the biggest listed companies in the United States in 2024, just ahead of well-respected brands like FedEx and Lowe's.
Source: businesswire.com
UNFI: Private label expected to soar over the next few yearsPrivate-label brands are expected to grow by about 40% over the next six years. United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) highlighted current trends and growth opportunities in the grocery retail industry during its Spring and Summer Selling Show in San Diego, California. One of the key trends was the continued surge in the private-label segment of the business. Other trends identified by UNFI include: Retail media is projected to grow by over 24% annually between 2024 and 2028; Fresh product growth is now outpacing the rest of the store; Natural/organic and functional food/beverages are expected to grow by about 4% annually over the next four years.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: FreshTake Grocery ushers in a new era of shopping in Augusta with grand opening celebrationFreshTake Grocery is thrilled to announce the Grand Opening celebration of its flagship location on Thursday, January 30th, at 10:00 a.m. With a focus on fresh ingredients, chef-inspired meals, and a comprehensive selection of grocery options, FreshTake is dedicated to serving every shopper's needs.
Source: prnewswire.com
Cuba opens first grocery store taking U.S. currency in two decadesA supermarket that accepts dollars has opened in Havana, part of growing dollarization in Cuba. The government is short of foreign currency, which it says it wants to use to fund social programs.
Source: reuters.com