Aldi outlines investment plans for Scotland
Aldi has revealed that it plans to invest more than £40mln over the next two years in expanding its operations in Scotland. Three new stores in Arbroath, Baillieston and Kirkintilloch are set to open in 2025. It has also committed to extending or refurbishing six of its existing stores over the next two years.
Source: kamcity.com
Switzerland: Migros is turning 100
Migros reported: "In 1925, Swiss entrepreneur Gottlieb Duttweiler founded Migros and sent the first five mobile shop vans out on the road. A whole century has passed since then. Who would have thought back then that Migros would become so important to the Swiss population? With a whole host of 'cult' products and a unique social commitment, Migros is as much a part of Switzerland as mountains and watches".
Source: corporate.migros.ch
JD Logistics launches Shenzhen-Bangkok flight through JD Airlines
JD Logistics, also known as JINGDONG Logistics, has officially launched a new international air cargo route connecting Shenzhen, China, with Bangkok, Thailand. Operated by JD Airlines, the maiden flight departed Shenzhen at 10 AM on January 3, 2025, carrying a full load of cross-border e-commerce goods to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The route will be operated three times per week, catering to cross-border transportation needs. It primarily facilitates the shipment of Chinese products such as electronics, apparel, small appliances, and industrial manufacturing items, to Thailand, while enabling the export of Thai seafood and fruits to China.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
UK: Shoppers trade up with Christmas boom in premium own-label, says AldiAldi reported: "Aldi recorded its best Christmas ever in 2024 with sales topping £1.6bln in the four weeks to Christmas Eve. The UK's fourth biggest supermarket saw total sales increase 3.4%, while its seasonal Christmas products rose by 10% year-on-year and its premium Specially Selected range jumped by 12% compared with the same period in 2023. Aldi also saw strong sales of fresh British products over the festive season, with a record 350,000 fresh British turkeys sold, more than 400 tonnes of British beef, and almost 3mln British Brussels sprouts. And it wasn't just Aldi's customers who fell in love with Aldi's quality this Christmas. Consumer champion Which? chose Aldi as the best supermarket to buy pigs in blankets, stuffing and fresh vegetables, and also named it the overall best place to do your Christmas food shop for the second year running".
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UK: New health campaign from M&S Food
M&S Food reported: "M&S Food has revealed its latest campaign to launch its two new health and wellness ranges, Brain Food and YAY! Mushrooms. The new ATL brings to life the nutrient rich and trend-led foods and positions M&S Food as the destination for customers looking to support their health this January and beyond. The new ranges are available in M&S Foodhalls and on Ocado".
Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com
New Zealand: Here's why the produce on sale might not be what you expect
A spokesperson for Woolworths said the seasons were running "a couple of weeks earlier than normal". "This is excellent news for our customers as we'll have plenty of summer fruit and vegetables available for the next couple of months. Stone fruit - nectarines, peaches, apricots and plums - is in full swing and eating really well. Watermelon is also building in supply and will be plentiful and good value for the next month. Gisborne sweetcorn has been in great supply since Christmas and is really good value and delicious".
Source: rnz.co.nz
UK: Convenience growth to outpace supermarkets
Convenience store sales growth will be higher than supermarkets or discounters in the next few years, according to analyst GlobalData. Food and grocery spending in UK convenience stores is projected to reach £43.2bln by 2028, after increasing by a compound annual growth rate of 2% between now and then. This rate of growth is higher than supermarkets, hypermarkets and discounters, said the data analytics company.
Source: talkingretail.com
UK: Iceland shuts two major stores
Iceland, which has around 900 branches closed its Borehamwood store as well as another site in Essex, bringing the total number of stores closed by the brand in the last year to 25.
Source: express.co.uk
'We have a lot more to do': no pats on the back at M&S despite blockbuster year
"We have a plan but it's a high wire act and we have got to keep both feet on the wire", says Archie Norman, the chair of Marks & Spencer. Under its chief executive, Stuart Machin, who took the reins in 2022, the group has closed more than 50 outdated stores, revamped a quarter of its estate and last year shot back into the FTSE 100 for the first time in four years. The revamp centres on a push to win over younger shoppers with families through a range of gambits including cheaper milk and bigger packs of pasta and vegetables, as well as improved baby clothes.
Source: theguardian.com
UK: Morrisons expands Aldi and Lidl Price Match to over 500 everyday essentials
Morrisons is expanding its Aldi and Lidl Price Match to include over 500 everyday essentials and best-sellers in stores and online to kick off the New Year. From 1 January, new additions such as olive oil, coffee, eggs, single cream and pasta sauce will join the hundreds of existing items already available in the Price Match, including bananas, potatoes, broccoli and onions. As it continues its commitment to British farming, staples such as 100% British beef mince, chicken fillets and locally sourced carrots will also be included, alongside semi-skimmed milk, rice, cheese, and tins of chopped tomatoes.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
US: Giant Food introduces first-of-its-kind community space
A grocery store in a food desert is destined to become a community focal point, something a Washington, D.C., Giant Food took to heart when it reopened its in-house community center recently. Located on Alabama Avenue SE in Ward 8 of the city - a food desert in part because of its lack of supermarkets, according to the D.C. Policy Center - the Ahold Delhaize banner store reintroduced the Healthy Living Center during a grand reopening event on December 10, 2024, which Grocery Dive attended.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Walmart doubles down on grocery as traditional rivals sputter
Walmart is doubling down on its grocery business as more consumers are turning to the company for their food needs amid lingering inflation. As the world's largest retailer attracts even more cost-conscious consumers, it is also remodeling the produce sections of its stores and increasing the assortment of food that it is offering, Walmart CFO John David Rainey told FOX Business. "We've got a very high-quality produce offering for people, and it invites them in", Rainey said. "It's a much broader assortment than what we've had historically".
Source: foxbusiness.com
US: King Soopers and Safeway labor talks continue in Colorado
Labor negotiations between King Soopers and Safeway unionized employees in Colorado and the respective retailers are continuing ahead of a contract expiration. United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7 shared an update on its Facebook page, reporting that the group's bargaining committee met with King Soopers/City Market representatives and came away with "miniscule" changes to the latest offer.
Source: progressivegrocer.com