South Korea: 7-Eleven tests delivery robot in South Korea
Global convenience store giant 7-Eleven has begun a test run of a robot delivery service in South Korea in conjunction with Neubility, a South Korean startup.
7-Eleven said that the test will run through October at two locations, one near Konkuk University in eastern Seoul and the other in southern Seoul.
Source: www.upi.com
France: Amazon Prime customers offered discount at French supermarket Monoprix
Around 10 million customers are expected to be able to benefit from the deal. Since Monday (June 19) subscribers to both Amazon Prime and Monoprix’s ‘Monopflix’ loyalty programme will receive 10% off their shopping at the store, with a subscription to the latter free for the first six months.
Source: www.connexionfrance.com/
Germany: discounters pile pressure on rivals in grocery battle
Aldi sales up 24.6% on a year earlier with Lidl's rising 23.2%
The march of the discounters continues as Aldi and Lidl steal customers from rivals – which are now cutting prices in a bid to win back business.
Industry figures show the German discounters were once again the fastest growth supermarkets in the UK over the past 12 weeks, with Aldi sales jumping 24.6 per cent on a year earlier and Lidl up 23.2 per cent.
Source: www.thisismoney.co.uk
UK: United Kingdom fines WH Smith, M&S and others for not paying minimum wage
Britain has fined more than 200 companies, including top retailers WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and Argos, for failing to pay their lowest paid staff the minimum wage between 2017 and 2019. The government said on Wednesday 202 businesses - ranging from major high-street names to small businesses and sole traders - had broken the law by leaving around 63,000 workers out of pocket.
Source: www.reuters.com
US: Retailers, including Walmart, are backing new farming tech
The system can grow a year-round supply of fresh produce. Retailers, including Walmart, are beginning to invest more and more in vertical farming, with several leaning into one specific vendor, the San Francisco-based tech agriculture company Plenty.
Source: www.supermarketnews.com
US: NYC grocery stores fight proposed facial recognition ban
Grocery store owners in New York City oppose a bill that would limit use of facial recognition software, saying the algorithms reduce shoplifting. The measure, introduced to the city council early last month, calls for businesses to inform customers and get their written consent before using biometric recognition on them or face a $5,000 fine.
Source: www.biometricupdate.com
US: 3,700 workers at across 27 Metro Stores in the Greater Toronto Area vote to strike
Over 3,700 workers have voted to go on strike ahead of next week's contract negotiations with the grocery store chain.
Metro employees in Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton and other Greater Toronto Area grocery stores have unanimously delivered a “historic” strike voted ahead of contract negations with the grocery store chain.
Source: https://www.insauga.com
US: Whole Foods in NYC gets hit with $5M class action lawsuit
A Whole Foods store in New York City is being sued for allegedly using a sales tax to overcharge customers. The class action lawsuit, which has filed for over $5 million in damages, claims the store still applied a tax on ready-to-eat, ready-to-heat, and ready-to-cook meals, according to court documents.
Source: www.supermarketnews.com
US: Puregold acquires a number of DiviMart supermarkets 
Puregold Price Club Inc. acquired a number of DiviMart supermarkets, with plans to convert more into the namesake grocery chain. The plan was announced in a disclosure sent to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
Puregold explained that the deal covered 14 DiviMart supermarkets, including leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and merchandise inventory.
Source: www.philstar.com