Fiji: Supermarket chain records $7.7mln profit
Supermarket chain RB Patel Group Limited has recorded $7.7mln in profit after tax for the 12 months ended June 30, 2023. For the previous corresponding financial year, the publicly-listed company recorded $10.9mln, an increase of 8.6% from the $8.5mln profit after tax recorded for the 12 months ended June 30, 2021.
Source: fijitimes.com
Ireland: Aldi reveals the most popular products sold in Louth stores
Aldi has revealed the most popular products bought in Louth stores. New data released by the retailer has revealed Ireland's favorite products, including what's popular with Louth shoppers. Mini banana packs, bananas, and fresh milk are the three biggest sellers nationwide.
Source: lmfm.ie
Germany: METRO grows by 7.9% in Q4 2022/23
METRO AG reported: "Sales development in Q4 2022/23 remained positive due to consistent implementation of the sCore strategy. Sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects grow by 7.9%, in local currency by 5.4%; reported sales decline by 1.1% to €7.9bln due to negative currency and portfolio effects (PY: €8.0bln)".
Source: newsroom.metroag.de
Mid Europa Partners seeks buyer for Romania’s Profi
Private equity firm Mid Europa Partners is reportedly looking to sell the Romanian retail chain Profi for €1bln. The firm has hired investment bank Citi to find a buyer, sources close to the talks told Romanian daily Ziarul Financiar.
Source: esmmagazine.com
‘Perfectly saleable’ Irish produce being rejected by retailers - farm org
Produce that is "perfectly saleable” is being rejected by packers and retailers because of “minor blemishes,” the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has heard. The committee, which has been discussing the challenges facing the fruit and vegetable industry in Ireland, also heard that over the past 10 years, the supermarket specifications of all fresh produce have “increased dramatically.”
Source: agriland.ie
One year of Amazon in Belgium: 1,200 partners, 5mln products
One year after its launch, Amazon‘s Belgian webshop is already selling products from 1,200 local businesses. The retailer still sees potential, as more than half of the 1.2mln Belgian SMEs are not yet selling online.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Portugal: Continente allocates €3mln to improve shopping experience
Portuguese supermarket chain Continente is investing €3mln in a technological renovation project to improve the shopping experience of its customers. This includes a new NCR self-checkout system, which will be available in 70 Continente stores by the end of 2023, the company noted.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Issa brothers deny taking money out of Asda in response to MPs
Asda co-owners, the Issa brothers, have denied taking money out of the grocer as they defended its complex ownership structure to MPs. The Issas refuted suggestions that they took dividends out of business following their £6.8bln Asda acquisition in 2021. The Telegraph reported that Asda now comprises a total of 24 businesses, some of which are incorporated in Jersey.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Belgium: Ikea drones win innovation award
This year, Belgian retail federation Comeos has awarded its annual Mercury Prize to a world first: a project involving autonomous drones taking inventory in Ikea‘s Belgian shops at night.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Hungary: Indotek Group to purchase 47% of Auchan Magyarország Kft.
Indotek Group signed an agreement to acquire 47% of Auchan Magyarország Kft., who manages the retail operations of the Auchan supermarket chain and owns several of its stores and petrol station network, and 100% of the legal entities owning the retail premises in the shopping areas of Auchan stores.
Source: hungarytoday.hu
Business rates could rise by £1.95bln in ‘bleak picture’ for UK retail and hospitality
High street shops could see their business rates bill increase by up to £1.95bln next year because the rate charged is linked to inflation. Helen Dickinson, head of the British Retail Consortium trade body, which represents most of the UK’s big chains, said the rise would “inevitably put renewed pressure on consumer prices” and called on the government to take steps to ease the expected increase.
Source: theguardian.com
Amazon is launching ultra-fast drone deliveries in Italy, the UK, and a third location in the U.S.Amazon customers in Italy, the UK, and an additional U.S. city will soon have the option to get their packages delivered by a drone beginning in late 2024. The Prime Air drone delivery system is expanding to international locations and adding a third city in the United States by the end of next year - specific cities in the U.S. and abroad will be named in the coming months.
Source: aboutamazon.com
US: Aldi opens 4th store in the BronxAldi US has opened a new store in the Bronx, giving residents of the New York City upper borough another location to shop. Situated at 845 White Plains Rd., the new Aldi marks the Batavia, Illinois-based chain's fourth Bronx location.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: ReposiTrak Traceability Network adds herb and leafy greens supplier and fresh vegetable supplier
Park City Group, Inc., the parent company of ReposiTrak, the world's largest food traceability and regulatory compliance network, built upon its proven inventory management and out-of-stock reduction SaaS platform, announced the addition of two produce suppliers to the ReposiTrak Traceability Network® (“RTN”): A southern California-based grower, shipper and distributor of fresh herbs, leafy greens and other produce; A third-generation Minnesota produce company that grows, packs and markets fresh vegetables.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Town & Country Markets’ MiddleField Farm about to turn 100
Independent grocer Town & Country Markets is gearing up to mark 100 years of growing food and training farmers at its Bainbridge Island, Washington, MiddleField Farm. Owned by Town & Country Markets, the Nakata family business, the farm was originally purchased in 1924 and given its name because the name Nakata means “middle field” in Japanese. Currently, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, sunflowers, green beans, radishes, lettuce, beets, and assorted winter squash grow there.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Misfits Market eyes growth after integration of Imperfect Foods
Online value grocer Misfits Market has put itself in a stronger position for growth, according to Chief Operating Officer Corey Farrell. About a month ago, Misfits Market completed its integration of fellow online grocer Imperfect Foods, which it purchased in November 2022. With the acquisition, Farrell said Misfits now offers delivery to about 90% of all U.S. ZIP codes. Misfits has also increased its product offering by as much as 40% through the addition of Imperfect and is now folding Imperfect’s private-label products into its own Odds and Ends brand.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Dollarama, Shoppers, Metro make valuable Canadian brands ranking: Kantar
Retailers rose to the top of the 2023 Kantar BrandZ Top 40 Most Valuable Canadian Brands ranking. Discount retailer Dollarama was one of the top three highest-growing brands, along with HomeSense and Winners.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Chile: Cencosud appoints new CEO after regulator scraps earlier nomination
Reuters reported: "Chilean retailer Cencosud appointed Renato Gutierrez as interim chief executive, it said, marking its second attempt to fill the position following the previous chief's exit after being sanctioned for insider trading."
Source: nasdaq.com