Canada: Picketing in Metro strike extends to a pair of distribution centers
With the Toronto-area strike against Metro Inc. nearing four weeks, the picketing has now expanded beyond stores. National union Unifor said frontline grocery workers represented by Unifor Local 414 began a "secondary picket" at two Metro distribution centers in Toronto.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: BJ's Wholesale Club 'well-positioned' following Q2 results
Despite what appears to be mixed second-quarter results, BJ's Wholesale Club is satisfied with its numbers over the 13 weeks ending July 29. Gross profit increased from $860mln in Q2 2022 to $896mln. However, net income was down to $131.3mln in Q2 2023 compared to $141mln a year ago.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Caputo's opens 10th store in the Chicago area
Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets, founded in the Chicago area more than 65 years ago, is adding to its roster of stores. The family-owned company recently celebrated the grand opening of a new location in the near northwest suburb of Norridge. This is the 10th Chicagoland site for the independent chain, known locally as Caputo's.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Giant set to close fulfillment center just months after first opening
A super-sized Giant grocery fulfillment center that opened only a few months ago is now set to close, along with two other complexes, reports local Washington DC newsgroup WTOP. The fulfillment center, which opened in May in Manassas, Virginia, was originally opened with the goal of completing delivery orders in just three hours, according to Giant.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: KDA joins Harvesters to welcome fresh produce delivery purchases
Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) joined Harvesters on Wednesday, August 23, in Topeka to welcome fresh produce delivery purchases for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program.
Source: wibw.com
UK: Amazon Fresh opens new London store
Amazon has opened a new Fresh convenience store in Moorgate, adding to its portfolio of London sites. The newly opened store offers products from the retailer's private food brand 'by Amazon' and its premium grocery range 'Our Selection,' as well as staples including British meat, poultry, fish, dairy, fruit and veg, bakery, and prepared meals.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Hungary: SPAR's inaugural Sustainability Report issued
SPAR Hungary's inaugural Sustainability Report was recently released, showcasing accomplishments throughout 2022. In the second half of 2022, SPAR Hungary phased out single-use plastic bags from its fruit and vegetable departments. Since August 2022, only biodegradable bags are available to customers, reducing the amount of plastic by 450 tonnes per year.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Waitrose launches its first-ever meal deal
Waitrose has joined the lunchtime battle to win over customers as it launches its first-ever meal deal. The meal deal costs £5 and includes a main, side, and drink, and launches on August 30. Customers can choose from a range of sandwiches, sushi, salads, and wraps, as well as fruit, cereal bars, crisps, juices, and smoothies.
Source: standard.co.uk
Delhaize Serbia: Dedicated warehouse for online orders
Delhaize has opened its first specialized warehouse for online food distribution in Serbia, in which it invested €11mln. This modern center, built on Bežanijska Kosa in Belgrade, enables faster, complete, and more efficient delivery of products to users of the Maxi Online store. Equipped with the latest technology and software, the 6,700 square meter distribution center enables storing a wide range of products in optimal conditions, guaranteeing their freshness and quality during delivery.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Qatar's QIA to invest $1bln in India's Reliance Retail Ventures
Qatar Investment Authority will invest Rs82.78bln rupees ($1bln) for about a 1% stake in Reliance Retail Ventures, the retail arm of India's Reliance Industries, valuing the company at $100bln, the companies said.
Source: gulfnews.com
UK: Sainsbury's boosts value offering and savings for customers
Sainsbury's has added over 40 products to its Aldi Price Match campaign, making it the biggest yet with over 400 products. Sainsbury's Frozen Blueberries 400g (Nectar Price £2.00, Without Nectar £2.50), by Sainsbury's Naturally Sweet Sweetcorn in Water 325g (Aldi Price Match £0.65, Before Aldi Price Match £0.95).
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
India: Amazon introduces farm-to-fridge quality assurance system for fresh produce
Amazon India introduced a shelf monitoring solution - a Machine Learning (ML) powered farm-to-fridge quality assurance system for fresh produce. With this launch, the tech giant aims to enable its sellers to meet the consumer demands for high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables while shopping on Amazon Fresh.
Source: latestly.com
Ireland: SPAR ambassador Seamus Coleman launches Better Choices Little Chefs' campaignSeamus Coleman, Republic of Ireland captain, and father of three, launched SPAR's Better Choices Back to School campaign, which aims to give a helping hand to the next generation when it comes to learning about healthy food and healthy lifestyles. SPAR has created a series of easy, accessible breakfast and lunchbox recipes for children to make at home. The recipes include No Bake Breakfast Bars, Funny Faced Sambos, and Veggie Dib Dabs, all designed with simplicity at their core.
Source: retailnews.ie
Singapore's Grab says its ride-hailing unit is on track to hit pre-Covid levels by the end of the year
Grab said its mobility GMV has recovered to 85% of pre-Covid levels. "We remain on track to exit 2023 at pre-Covid GMV levels", said CFO Peter Oey during the firm's second-quarter earnings call. Grab pushed forward its breakeven target to the third quarter and said it expects 2023 revenue between $2.2bln and $2.3bln.
Source: cnbc.com
UK: Raheem Sterling-backed delivery startup Oja collapses
Oja, the London-based delivery startup backed by Premier League footballer Raheem Sterling, has entered administration amid allegations of unpaid suppliers and staff. First reported by the Evening Standard, the startup known for providing products catering to African, Caribbean, and other underrepresented cultures released a statement revealing it had suspended operations "due to funding constraints."
Source: uktech.news
Supermarket chain Iceland to close two more Norwegian stores
Iceland will close its stores in Kristiansand and Bekkestua, with a combination of Brexit and finding suitable premises playing a factor in the supermarket's struggles.
Source: thelocal.no
Big Tech braces for EU Digital Services Act regulations
More than a dozen of the world's biggest tech companies face unprecedented legal scrutiny as the European Commission's sweeping Digital Services Act (DSA) imposes new rules on content moderation, user privacy, and transparency this month.
Source: reuters.com