Ard Discount replaces Leader Price in Sardinia
Italian discount grocery chain Ard Discount has opened its first store in Sardinia, in Oristano, in a joint venture with local retail group Fratelli Ibba. The new Ard Discount stores, like the rest of the network, will offer a range of products, including groceries, fresh and frozen foods, quality meats and preparations, fresh fruit and vegetables, and housewares and appliances.
Source: esmmagazine.com
'Largest ever' €1mln national campaign for Irish organics
The "largest ever" national campaign for Irish organics is to begin next month. Run by Bord Bia, it will start on November 6 and run until December 17, with a second burst in spring 2024. Organic Irish fruit and vegetables have a 7% share of the organic fresh produce market in Ireland.
Source: irishexaminer.com
Australia: Woolworths sales rise as cooling prices stoke demand
Top Australian grocer Woolworths said food sales jumped in the first quarter as value-conscious shoppers seized on cheaper meat, fruit, and vegetables, but warned living cost pressures were continuing to make its trading outlook uncertain. Total sales, which include department store chain Big W, rose 5.3%, Woolworths said. It said average prices for fruit and vegetables dipped 12%, with berries, lettuce, cucumbers, capsicum, and tomatoes all declining "materially," the company said.
Source: reuters.com
UK: The University of Warwick's 'Spud-tacular' Vegan & Veggie Potato Van' mashes' expectations
SPUD Loaded Baked Potatoes has opened on campus at the University of Warwick, offering a vegan and vegetarian alternative menu. The SPUD van marks the first step towards a more sustainable food offering at the University after research found that people on campus wanted more eco-friendly options for their lunch, with a demand for fresh and healthy meals in a move away from ultra-processed food where possible. The van's design has been created by University of Warwick food historian Professor Rebecca Earle - to celebrate the history of the potato and bring it to life.
Source: warwick.ac.uk
UK: One Stop extends fresh food offer with first range reset in two years
One Stop is looking to provide customers with healthier, fresher options by extending its fresh food offering with its first range reset in over two years. The convenience retailer has added 108 new lines to stores, 16 of which are own-label products such as leeks, parsnips, pink lady apples, grated mozzarella, fresh-picked beetroot, and large flat mushrooms.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Pyaterochka to acquire more than 100 Grozd stores in Saratov region
Retailer X5 Group has entered into an agreement with LLC Restructuring Centre to open Pyaterochka stores in the retail spaces formerly occupied by the Grozd retail chain. Pyaterochka has acquired long leases of more than 100 Grozd stores in Saratov and the Saratov Region, X5 Group said in a statement.
Source: esmmagazine.com
New Zealand: The Warehouse in Hastings moves into selling fresh fruit and vegetables
A new big red grocery player has entered Hawke's Bay's fruit bowl. Despite not being the usual mum-and-dad store that many in the region have become accustomed to, one long-standing vendor says the competition will likely be a win for local consumers. Starting from October 25, superstore giant The Warehouse will be stocking its Hastings branch with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
UK: The Food Foundation representation ahead of the Autumn Statement 2023
Children who eat free school meals consume more fruit and vegetables and have lower rates of obesity - studies in London boroughs where Universal Free School Meals have been in place for approximately a decade show that obesity is reduced in Reception children by 9.3%. This is significant, given how hard it is to influence obesity through other interventions.
Source: foodfoundation.org.uk
US: Giant Eagle searching for new headquarters as it pivots from fully remote work
Giant Eagle has said it plans to transition away from its fully remote corporate working model and additionally confirmed that the retailer is exploring potential new headquarters, according to reporting from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: GrubMarket acquires Philadelphia wholesaler to expand further in Pennsylvania
GrubMarket, the largest private food tech company in the US, expands along the East Coast and solidifies its position in the global food supply chain industry with the acquisition of PA China Farm, a Pennsylvania-based provider of specialty fruits and vegetables sourced from South America, Africa, and other parts of the world.
Source: prnewswire.com
Survey: Shoppers want healthier food options at dollar stores
Americans with lower incomes who live near Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, or other dollar stores hold surprisingly positive views about the role those establishments play in their communities, according to the first-of-its-kind national survey of dollar store utilization and perception commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. While 82% of respondents said dollar stores helped their communities, just as many (81%) indicated that dollar stores should stock more healthy products, and three-quarters (74%) indicated dollar stores should do more to market healthier options, including by placing healthy options in prominent places in stores, according to the report.
Source: cspinet.org
Target's food and beverage chief: Grocery offers' gateway to the rest of the store'
The grocery category isn't just bringing more shoppers to Target Corp., but it's also creating more dedicated customers, according to Rick Gomez, executive vice president and chief food and beverage officer. At Minneapolis-based Target, food and beverages are a growing business, expanding from 19.4% of sales in fiscal 2021 to 21.3% in fiscal 2022, or $22.92bln. "And our fresh business is doing incredibly well. We've made big changes to specifications and quality control to deliver better, fresher products."
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Price Chopper/Market 32 strengthens partnership with Invafresh to combat food waste
Price Chopper/Market 32 announced that it is strengthening its partnership with Invafresh, the industry-leading fresh grocery platform, to increase sales, reduce food waste, and deliver an improved experience to in-store teammates and customers in its produce, bakery, deli, meat, and seafood departments.
Source: businesswire.com