US: NRF forecasts 2025 retail sales to hit $5.42tln, despite economic uncertainty
The National Retail Federation forecast that retail sales during 2025 will grow between 2.7% and 3.7% over 2024 to between $5.42tln and $5.48tln. The announcement was made during NRF's fifth annual State of Retail & the Consumer virtual event on the health of American consumers and the retail industry.
Source: nrf.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market celebrates new store opening in Aurora, Colorado
Sprouts Farmers Market has announced it will open a new store in Aurora, Colorado on Friday, April 18, located at 405 S. Chambers Rd. "I am pleased to see Sprouts Farmers Market grow its footprint here in the city of Aurora and expand options for our residents who want access to fresh and healthy foods", Mayor Mike Coffman said.
Source: sprouts.com
US: Walmart launches WIC online shopping in 2 states
Walmart has started offering online shopping to Women, Infants and Children Nutrition program participants in Massachusetts and Washington state, the states' health departments separately announced.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Fortune® and Great Place To Work® name Wegmans to 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2025, ranking no. 6
Great Place To Work® and Fortune® have recognized Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2025. This is Wegmans 28th time being named to this prestigious list, this year coming in at 6th place.
Source: wegmans.com
New Report: Many Swedes can't afford to eat healthily
Greenfood reported: "Picadeli's Vegocracy Report 2025 is here! This annual survey takes a deep dive into our eating habits. This year's report reveals that 9 out of 10 Swedes - equivalent to millions of people - do not eat fruits and vegetables according to recommended guidelines, despite them being the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. When fruits and vegetables are too expensive, Swedes deprioritize them. Some groups are more vulnerable than others, with families and the unemployed standing out. As many as one in three families with children (31%) say they simply can't afford enough fruits and vegetables - an 82% increase from last year's Vegocracy Report. Among the unemployed, 6 in 10 (58%) say the same. "When prices rise, the most vulnerable in society are hit hardest. Even though inflation has decreased compared to last year, food prices are still high, unemployment is rising, and global uncertainty is great. It's reflected in Swedes' eating habits. This year, significantly more people say they can't afford enough fruits and vegetables - an increase of 63%. That's alarming", says David von Laskowski, CEO of Picadeli and Greenfood Group. These insights come from this year's edition of The Vegocracy Report, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Swedish salad pioneer Picadeli. The study, which surveyed 12,000 people across Sweden, Finland, Germany, Belgium, France, the UK, and the US, explores our eating habits and how we feel they impact our health and quality of life".
Source: greenfood.se
Birthday Bonanza: Aldi set to treat shoppers who share its birthday
Aldi reported: "Aldi is celebrating its 35th anniversary in the UK with a unique giveaway for shoppers who share the same birthday. Britain's fourth-largest supermarket, which opened its first UK store on 5th April 1990, is inviting anyone born on 5th April, irrespective of the year, to claim an Aldi voucher - the perfect birthday treat!"
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UK: Former M&S co-CEO Katie Bickerstaffe joins Sainsbury's as non-exec
Sainsbury's has appointed former M&S co-chief executive Katie Bickerstaffe and The Sage Group boss Steve Hare as new non-executive directors. Sainsbury's chair Martin Scicluna said: "[Bickerstaffe and Hare's] extensive experience and leadership in retail and digital businesses will be invaluable to our board".
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Spain: Mercadona promotes healthy eating
Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona is strengthening its commitment to healthy eating by catering to changing consumer habits. The company is also offering more practical formats, like shelled nuts, and labels with cooking instructions for various methods of food preparation such as grill, oven, steam, and air fryer, among others.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Polish supermarket chain Eurocash swings to loss in 2024
Polish supermarket chain Eurocash said its annual result turned to a loss of 26.9mln zlotys ($7.0mln) in 2024, from a profit of 99.2mln a year earlier, after it warned of a tough market environment late last year.
Source: reuters.com
Brassicas top Australia's best-value fruit and veg for April
Cauliflower and other brassicas are the highlight of early autumn veg, according to Dean Lamb from Watts Fresh in Kyneton and trader at the Melbourne markets. "A lot of growers will change from summer to winter varieties. If you pay attention, you'd notice the flower is tighter and whiter - you tend to get a bit of discolouration through summer", he says.
Source: theguardian.com
SPAR Gran Canaria President awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year
SPAR Gran Canaria reported: "SPAR Gran Canaria is delighted to celebrate a significant award. Ángel Medina Padrón, President of SPAR Gran Canaria, was awarded the EY National Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 Award in the Social Entrepreneur category, in recognition of his work, business success, and commitment to society. With a strong CSR strategy, SPAR Gran Canaria fostered a multitude of long-lasting partnerships with charities, schools, museums and local communities. As part of their sustainable sourcing policy, SPAR Gran Canaria places special emphasis on fostering relationships with farmers. Through these partnerships, SPAR Gran Canaria ensures the purchasing volumes of local produce and supports farmers financially. These agreements ensure that they can offer the best quality fruits and vegetables to customers through their retail network".
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Co-op achieves profit and membership growth against external headwinds
Co-op reported: "Revenue maintained at £11.3bln as we continued to right size the business and reflecting an additional 53rd week in the comparative year. Underlying operating profit up by £34mln to £131mln (2023: £97mln). Profit before tax up by £133mln to £161mln (2023: £28mln), driven by increased operating profits and improved Funeralcare plan investment returns".
Source: co-operative.coop
M&S chair Archie Norman: Online grocery is a 'desert of profit'
Former Asda boss and current Marks & Spencer chairman Archie Norman has declared that Ocado Retail - the joint venture between M&S and Ocado Group - will soon "be worth a lot of money", despite the online food sector remaining a "desert of profit". Speaking at the 2025 Retail Technology Show, Norman emphasised the potential of the venture, saying it would be a unique way of delivering a better online food business. He pointed out that Ocado Retail is growing 13% a year, outpacing the UK food retail sector, with nearly a third of its sales now coming from M&S products.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk