Thailand: 7-Eleven’s individually wrapped bananas guarantee customer satisfaction
7-Eleven's bananas have become a staple in the Thai market. The company sells an estimated 100,000 bananas per day, making it one of the best-selling items in its stores, according to the convenience store’s franchise owner, CP All.
Source: nationthailand.com
UK: Aldi makes shopping at checkout-free store even easier
Aldi, the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket, has introduced contactless payment at its checkout-free store in London to make it even quicker and easier for customers. The change means customers will no longer have to register via the Shop&Go app on their phones and can instead simply tap their contactless payment card or mobile phone to enter the store.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
India: KisanKonnect raises $3.7mln to boost its climate-smart agriculture playbook
Mumbai-based omnichannel farm-to-fork startup KisanKonnect has raised INR31Cr (around $3.7mln) as a part of its pre-Series A funding round led by Green Frontier Capital. The round also saw participation from Dhanuka Agritech Limited, along with VC Grid and other family offices. The startup plans to use the fresh capital to increase its activities in climate-smart agriculture interventions with its 5,000 farmers, strengthen its fresh-produce supply chain technology, and add new farm stores to the existing ones in Mumbai and Pune.
Source: inc42.com
UK: Ocado Retail returns to positive full-year earnings after stellar Christmas
Ocado Retail said it would return to positive earnings for the full year after celebrating a bumper Christmas, posting fourth quarter to 26 November revenue growth of 10.9%. The joint venture between the online supermarket and M&S said it was boosted by its “highest ever level of sales” over the peak Christmas trading period, selling over 9% of peak slots released by mid-October. For the full year, revenue was up 7% to £2.3bln, and average orders were up 6.3% to 407.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Belgium: Delhaize nears completion of franchising operation, adds 18 more stores
Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize has announced the offloading of eighteen additional supermarkets to independent operators. This brings the total to 107 out of 128 stores, or 84% of the total.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Brits give up on drastic New Year’s resolutions but are eating more veg, Tesco reports
Tesco sales data shows an increase in public appetite for versatile salad veggies like avocado, which has seen a 46% increase in popularity since 2021, and cucumber, which has seen an increase of 41%. Sales of products, including asparagus, baby corn, and leeks, have all increased, as have pulse products, including tinned chickpeas and lentils, which have soared in popularity since 2021 by 21% and 9%, respectively. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say that they now eat more greens, with 68% eating more root veg like carrots and sweet potato, and 62% eating more salad veg such as lettuce and peppers.
Source: retailtimes.co.uk
Finland: Kesko sees grocery sales up 4% in FY 2023
Kesko generated sales worth €12bln between January-December 2023, registering a 0.1% decline compared to the previous year. Sales in the company's grocery trade unit increased 4% to €6.4bln in this period, according to the company.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: GCA opens 2024 groceries sector survey
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has launched its annual groceries sector survey, which asks suppliers to disclose how they are being treated by the 14 retailers covered by GSCOP.
Source: kamcity.com
Spain: Consum opens new store in Tomelloso
Spanish cooperative retailer Consum has opened a new store in Tomelloso in the province of Ciudad Real. The new store, spanning 1,400 square metres, features a fishmonger, delicatessen, butcher shop, bulk fruit and vegetable sections, as well as a bakery, the Consum perfumery section, and an area for exclusive Consum brands.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Morrisons hires ex-Tesco chief as adviser after supermarket CEO’s call for urgent change
The owner of Morrisons has announced the hire of former Tesco boss Sir Dave Lewis who will join the supermarket chain as an adviser.
Source: gbnews.com
Belgium: “Prices rose fastest at Colruyt, slowest at Delhaize”
Since January 2022, prices at Colruyt rose by 30% on average, compared to + 24.7% at Carrefour and + 22% at Delhaize, an analysis by the app PingPrice shows. The survey compared the price evolution of fifty well-known brands over the past two years at the three biggest Belgian food retailers.
Source: retaildetail.eu
US: Proposed Kroger, Albertsons merger will take more time to close as scrutiny continues
The proposed merger was previously set to be completed by early 2024. The deal has faced intense opposition from US lawmakers and political leaders. Those who oppose the merger worry that consolidation will lead to higher prices and fewer shopping options for consumers.
Source: cnbc.com
US: Vitality and Tangelo launch partnership to deliver Food as Medicine benefits
To offer increased access and encourage greater consumption of nutritious foods among its members, Vitality Group, a global health and wellbeing company specializing in behavior change, is partnering with Tangelo to administer Food as Medicine at scale. Members can benefit from easy access to fresh produce, mixed grocery boxes, and ready-to-eat meals and meal kits to support their health needs and goals.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Gelson’s selects Clear Demand Price and Promotion Optimization to provide additional value to their customers
Clear Demand announced its newest retail customer: Gelson’s, a specialty supermarket chain in Southern California known for its unique assortment, high quality, product freshness, and unsurpassed service.
Source: businesswire.com