UK: Abel and Cole introduces eco-labels for fruit and vegetables that details supply chain impacts
Organic goods specialist. Abel and Cole are introducing eco-labelling across fruit and vegetables that maps the carbon and nature impact of produce across the entire supply chain. The retailer has partnered with the same team at Oxford University that introduced the nutritional traffic light system to food products.
Source: edie.net
Supermarket store openings and refurbishments down by 27% in Spain
Store openings and refurbishments fell by 27% in Spain last year, new data from RetailData.es has found. According to the data, which was presented by trade association ASEDAS, the Spanish Association of Distributors, Self-Service and Supermarkets, some 825 new stores opened last year, along with 1,300 refurbishments, which is well above the 692 new openings in 2019 and just under the 848 new stores that opened in 2020.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Belgium: Delhaize ends social peace to streamline organisation
Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize says it needs a more efficient organisation in its supermarkets, so it is cancelling the current collective labour agreement on its in-store organisation. The unions are not amused.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Holland: Bankruptcy looms for Pieter Pot
Dutch package-free online supermarket Pieter Pot is no longer able to pay its debts. Jordan Koppelle and Dominique Rommers, owners of salad producer Delicatessenfabriek, have taken over the shares in an attempt to save the Dutch scale-up from bankruptcy. Co-founder Jouri Schoemaker remains the face of the company (for now), but is no longer CEO nor shareholder.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Co-op cuts best before dates from 150 fruit and veg products
The Co-op is to remove best before dates from many fruit and vegetables in a bid to reduce food waste. The company said taking the dates off its fresh produce would help shoppers save money and help the environment. From next week, the Co-op will remove best before dates from more than 150 fresh products, including apples, broccoli, carrots, onions, oranges, potatoes and tomatoes.
Source: bbc.com
Which? data: M&S named best supermarket for instore shopping
M&S has been crowned the best supermarket for shopping in-store with 77% overall customer satisfaction, new research shows. According to recent data from consumer watchdog Which?, M&S scored most highly on staff availability and helpfulness, store appearance and the quality of own-label and fresh products.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Belgium: Colruyt General Manager Chris Van Wettere to retire
Chris Van Wettere, General Manager of Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt Lowest Prices, says he will retire on 31 March. COO food retail Jo Willemyns will succeed him, on top of his current functions.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Supermarket chain Planet Organic hires advisers to explore sale
Planet Organic, the organic supermarket chain, has drafted in City advisers to explore a possible sale. Sky News has learnt that Planet Organic, which was founded in 1995 by Renee Elliot, is working with Interpath on a review of its strategic options.
Source: news.sky.com
Loss of nearly 15,000 UK retail jobs a ‘brutal start to 2023’, report says
Nearly 15,000 British retail jobs have already been cut since January in a “brutal start to the year” for the high street. A total of 14,874 retail job losses have been announced by companies so far, according to analysis from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR). National retailers including stationery brand Paperchase, clothing chain M&Co and Tile Giant have all gone bust in recent weeks, while discount retailer Wilko, clothing retailer New Look and supermarkets Tesco and Asda have all also announced job cuts.
Source: theguardian.com
UK: Morrisons to make price cuts worth £25mln to Help Shoppers
British supermarket chain Morrisons said it would cut prices across many of its own-brand products to help consumers squeezed by the cost of living crisis. The move, which Morrisons said would cost £25mln ($30mln), will reduce prices by an average of 19% on items including potatoes, coffee and rice.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
Iceland chain sells its 27 Irish stores to The Project Point Technologies
The owner of the Iceland supermarket chain has sold all of its 27 Irish-based stores in order to focus on its UK business. Iceland Foods said it sold its entire shareholding in the Irish operation to The Project Point Technologies, which it said intends to continue operating the stores under the Iceland brand as part of a franchise agreement.
Source: rte.ie
Germany: New fulfilment platform for e-commerce processing by METRO LOGISTICS
METRO LOGISTICS is launching a new platform for the logistical fulfilment of e-commerce orders in Altlandsberg, Brandenburg. With standardised processes and framework conditions, the company is thus creating a fulfilment offer for online shops and start-ups with smaller order and shipment volumes. Orders from different segments can now be processed on an area of around 5,000 square metres at the multi-user logistics location in Altlandsberg.
Source: newsroom.metroag.de
Carrefour sets up in Mongolia with its partner Altan Joloo and opens two stores, one hypermarket and one supermarket in Ulaanbaatar
Carrefour International Partnership strengthens its international presence and announces the opening of its first two stores in Mongolia with Altan Joloo and its subsidiary Sansar, under the banner Carrefour (hypermarket) and Carrefour Market (supermarket). Thanks to this partnership, Carrefour banners are deployed in Mongolia and allow all Sansar stores, more than 20 to date, to have access to Carrefour brand products.
Source: carrefour.com
UK: Asda staff to get 10% pay rise
Workers at Asda stores across the UK will see their pay rise by 10% to £11.11 an hour from July, following a two-stage pay deal agreed with retail trade union Usdaw. The deal has been overwhelmingly accepted by Usdaw members in a ballot with a 78% turnout and 88% voting in favour. The new deal is £11 from April and £11.11 per hour from July this year and applies to staff regardless of age.
Source: talkingretail.com
US: Sprouts on pace for several store openings
Sprouts stores are, well, sprouting up in different markets around the United States. The retailer, which raised its full-year outlook in November following a solid third quarter, is in hiring mode for locations on opposite sides of the country, and at earlier stages of rolling out other new stores.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Lidl layoffs affect 200 employees
Approximately 200 employees at Lidl US headquarters in Arlington, VA have been laid off, according to a statement from the grocery story chain. The German-owned grocery store chain has been growing quickly in the D.C. area and throughout the East Coast. Lidl representative Chandler Spivey confirmed to FOX 5 that no store employees are impacted by the layoffs.
Source: fox5dc.com
US: H Mart expands presence in New Jersey
Asian retailer H Mart is growing, this time with the opening of a new location at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The new store will offer produce, seafood, meat, dairy and ready-to-cook sections, as well as standard Asian grocery and houseware aisles.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Study: Dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers
Dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers by household expenditure share, according to a new study from experts at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Source: scrippsnews.com