Europe finds compromise for platform workers
As temporary president of the European Council, Belgium was tasked with a new attempt to improve the status of platform workers - Uber drivers, meal couriers and the like. An earlier attempt by Spain had failed, but a provisional agreement has now been now found, Belgian newspaper De Standaard reports. However, the European Parliament still has to agree with the proposal.
Source: retaildetail.eu
South Africa: SPAR's "Think Fresh, Find Love" offers fresh approach to dating
SPAR, South Africa’s community-first retailer, is ushering in Valentine’s Day with a fresh perspective on love and a new campaign that promotes the purchase of fresh produce - SPAR’s “Think Fresh, Find Love”. The campaign is based on a study that showed that individuals who include healthy meals in their dating app profiles, like Tinder, are more likely to get a ‘right swipe’.
Source: news24.com
Australia: Supermarkets promote cyclone-affected bananas in Queensland as farmers hope it changes perceptions
Farmers hope a campaign by a major supermarket to promote blemished bananas from cyclone-hit regions will be a catalyst for a change in consumer and retailer expectations about what good produce looks like. Woolworths has introduced in-store signs to encourage shoppers to buy fruit blemished by wild weather in Queensland where Tropical Cyclone Jasper left growers scrambling to salvage their crops late last year. But farmers, whose produce is subject to strict standards for size and markings, say the initiative should be standard practice.
Source: abc.net.au
Co-op and Snappy Shopper launch Northern Ireland trial offering quick and convenient local store-to-door deliveries, 'in a snap'
Co-op and Snappy Shopper have teamed-up to embarked on a local store-to-door trial in Northern Ireland to further expand access to the convenience retailer’s quick and convenient online home delivery of groceries.
Source: co-operative.coop
UK: Fresh business owners bed in new roots at business park
Fresh fruit and vegetable supplier Handy Veg continues to supply high-quality, fresh produce to restaurants, pubs, local shops and households across Shropshire under the new ownership of Lisa Sandford and Samantha Stubbs.
Source: loveshrewsbury.com
Consumer prices in Hungary 3.8% higher in January
Consumer prices in Hungary were 3.8% higher on average in January 2024, than a year earlier, according to figures from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. Compared to December 2023, food became 1.2% more expensive on average, dominantly owing to a 6.4% increase in the price of seasonal food items (potatoes, fresh vegetables and fresh domestic and tropical fruits).
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Fresh Direct releases watermelon rind chutney
Fresh Direct, a supplier of fresh produce for foodservice, has unveiled its latest innovation aimed at tackling food waste: Watermelon Rind Chutney. This new offering follows the success of their Pickled Watermelon.
Source: foodbev.com
US: Mass retailers like Walmart continue to pick up online grocery customers
The online grocery market ended January up 1.8% to $8.5bln from the previous year, according to the monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Town & Country Markets names new president and CEO
Town & Country (T&C) Markets, an independent family-owned and -operated grocery store chain with locations across Washington state’s Puget Sound, has promoted Ryan Ritter from executive director of operations to president and CEO.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
January was good to Costco
Costco is coming off a successful January, reports MarketWatch. Sales for the warehouse retailer during the first month of the year were 4.5% higher than January 2023 at just over $22bln. However, it was not enough to top a holiday shopping-crazed December, which sold more than $26bln in goods.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Ingles Markets sees Q1 sales dip
Ingles Markets has reported its first quarter results for the three months ended December 30, 2023. Net sales totaled $1.48bln for the quarter ended December 30, 2023, a decrease of 0.8% compared with $1.49bln for the quarter ended December 24, 2022. Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 totaled $348.8mln, or 23.6% of sales. Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 was $371.2mln, or 24.9% of sales.
Source: supermarketnews.com