UK: Costcutter hails success in shopper satisfaction survey
Costcutter has come top on every shopper satisfaction measure in the renowned HIM Convenience Tracking Programme (CTP). The recently published survey, which took place in the first three months of 2020, scores convenience stores across speed of service, ease of shop, staff friendliness and helpfulness and community involvement, as well as product range, availability and quality. Costcutter stores scored higher than any of their competitors on every measure and recorded the highest basket spend. Mike Hollis, Retail Director for Costcutter, said: “These survey results are testimony to the outstanding performance of our retailers, creating a platform for our continued growth and success throughout 2020”.
Source: kamcity.com
Russia: Sbermarket braces for e-grocery boom
Russian e-commerce company Sbermarket is expecting at least 11-fold growth in its 2020 sales versus last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic triggers a surge in online retail it predicts is the start of permanent change. Sbermarket, controlled by a joint venture between Russia’s largest lender Sberbank and internet firm Mail.Ru, expects its gross merchandise volume (GMV) - or volume of online sales - to be 11-13 times higher for 2020 than its 1.9bln roubles ($27.41mln) in 2019, General Director Asan Kurmanguzhin told Reuters in an interview.
Source: reuters.com
Australia: Woolworths to build automated distribution centres in NSW
Woolworths will invest up to $780mln in new automated and semi-automated grocery distribution centres in NSW. The investment covers a fully-automated regional distribution centre and a semi-automated national distribution centre at Sydney’s Moorebank Logistics Park. Woolworths will spend between $700mln and $780mln on the technology and fitout of the two distribution centres - which are yet to receive NSW government planning approval - over the next four years. The company has also signed an initial lease term of 20 years with Qube Holdings, which itself will invest between $420mln and $460mln to build the actual warehouses.
Source: itnews.com.au
China's JD FRESH: Procurement volume increased by 200% to ensure supply
Leveraging its supply chain and in-house logistics network, JD.com has quickly responded to the new wave of COVID-19 cases in Beijing to ensure the enough supply of food and fresh produce to customers, online and offline. Since June 12th, JD Fresh, JD.com’s online fresh food business, has increased the procurement volume by 200% that of the normal daily average, especially for the procurement of meat, poultry, eggs, fruit and vegetables. JD is collaborating with over 1,000 suppliers and is prioritizing supply to Beijing market. At JD’s offline 7FRESH supermarkets, each batch of goods arriving at the store will be checked carefully and suppliers are required to submit related certificates so that JD can trace the supply chain.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Germany: Schwarz Gruppe acquires online platform real.de
Schwarz Gruppe, a major retail group that owns Lidl and Kaufland, has acquired Real.de from SCP Group. Real.de is one of the largest online marketplaces in Germany. SCP Group didn’t own Real for very long. In February of this year, the investment firm acquired Real from Metro AG. Now, the online platform has a new owner: Schwarz Gruppe. In the future, the continuation of the online marketplace is planned under the name Kaufland, as part of Schwarz Gruppe’s digital business. Real.de should complement the group’s stationery business and expand the offer for customers and trading partners in Germany and abroad.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
UK: IGD reveals how Covid-19 has changed the shopping landscape
The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed shopper behaviour, providing retailers with a unique opportunity to retain shoppers they traditionally wouldn’t have seen, new research reveals. IGD’s first report in the Shoppers of Our Time series: ‘Life Under Lockdown’, shows that 13% of consumers claim to have shopped online for the first time during lockdown. Older shoppers, in particular, have driven usage of the channel, with 42% of over-65s opting for online during the pandemic. In addition, specialist food stores, such as butchers, fishmongers and grocers, have been most popular with younger shoppers (18-24 year-olds). One-quarter (23%) of 18-24-year olds claim to have visited specialist food stores in 2020, up from 20% in 2019.
Source: talkingretail.com
UK: Poundland owner Pepco sees profit down 16% on COVID impact
Pepco Group, the owner of British discount retailer Poundland, reported a 16.3% fall in first-half profit to €89mln, hurt by the dent to sales from COVID-19. The retailer, which also owns the PEPCO and Dealz brands in Europe and is part of troubled South African conglomerate Steinhoff, said revenue rose 9.7% in the six months to March, having been up 14.4% in the five months to February.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Thailand: Grab helps fruit farmers
Grab Thailand, the local unit of the Singapore-based multipurpose app, has embarked on a new assistance campaign to help local farmers and food merchants overcome hardship in the wake of the pandemic. The campaign is called Grab Loves Thais, said Chantsuda Thananitayaudom, country marketing head of Grab Thailand. Kengkran Louvirojanakul, head of public affairs for Grab Thailand, said Grab has been collaborating with the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to bring local fresh fruit to be sold on GrabMart's Farmers' Market feature. The move, which started this month, covers mango, durian, lychee, mangosteen and Gros Michel bananas.
Source: bangkokpost.com
Iran confirms arrival of ship carrying 'goods for Iranian supermarket' in Caracas
An Iranian ship carrying foodstuff has arrived in Venezuelan waters amid a shortage of basic goods and is nearing Puerto La Guaira, Iran's government news agency IRNA reported. Venezuelan media reported that the goods from Golsan will supply an Iranian supermarket in Terrazas del Ávila in Caracas. According to these reports the Iranian group that purchased Salva Foods and renamed it as Megasis is planning to open several supermarkets in the country. "In theory, they will come with everything", a source told Extra Venezuela.
Source: en.radiofarda.com
Raley's joins other U.S. retailers going dark
The pandemic has served as high-octane fuel for e-commerce, forcing food retailers to respond in various ways, including via expanded delivery and curbside pickup services. For California-based Raley’s, its most recent response reportedly involves turning an old, high-profile store into an e-commerce fulfillment center. The move is temporary, according to a report from the Sacramento Business Journal. In April, as the pandemic was forcing many consumers to stay at home, the food retailer opened a new, 55,000-square-foot flagship store in Sacramento. Among other favorable features, that new store “can process up to 250 orders for pickup or delivery per day. Not only that, but pickup customers have access to covered, pull-through parking spots, and the proximity of those spot to online ordering, eCart, storage will significantly reduce the wait time for customers when they arrive”, the report said.
Source: retailleader.com
Canada: Voilà by Sobeys launches in the GTA - The future of online grocery shopping is here 
Empire Company Limited ("Empire" or the "Company") introduces the future of online grocery home delivery to the Greater Toronto Area ("GTA"). The Company's newest ecommerce platform, Voilà by Sobeys has a freshness guarantee and products at affordable prices with no hidden fees, delivered straight to customers' doors in convenient one-hour delivery windows. From June 22, customers in Vaughan will be able to order online at voila.ca or by downloading the Voilà mobile app. Service across the GTA will follow in the coming weeks.
Source: newswire.ca
US: The Giant Co. completes HQ pollinator field
In time for National Pollinator Week, The Giant Co. has completed a seven-acre pollinator-friendly solar field at its corporate headquarters in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. According to Giant, the initiative is the first of its kind for a grocer and creates a synergistic environment that contributes both to clean energy and support for bee and pollinator populations. “From almonds to zucchini and countless fruits, vegetables and nuts in between, nearly one-third of our food supply depends on pollinators, making bees an essential part of our food supply chain and ecosystem”, noted Giant Co. President Nicholas Bertram.
Source: progressivegrocer.com