South Africa: SPAR rural hub initiative in the spotlight
SPAR South Africa began the SPAR Rural Hub in the Mopani District of Limpopo in 2017 to assist smaller producers in entering the formal value chain. The model provides relevant technical and food safety training, facilitates access to funding, and provides a guaranteed market for harvested produce.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Morrisons trading update for Q3 2023/24
Morrisons has updated investors on its Q3 performance, covering the period from 29th April to 28th July 2024. Key highlights: Group like-for-like (LFL) sales ex-fuel/ex-VAT up 2.9%, primarily volume driven (2022/23: up 2.9%). Total sales ex-fuel £3.9bln, up by 2.1%.
Source: morrisons-corporate.com
Waitrose vineyard and orchard first in UK to achieve Regenified certification
Waitrose's orchard and vineyards at the Leckford Estate in Hampshire have become the first in the UK to achieve Regenified™ certification, a global leader in regenerative agriculture verification. This means the farm has been recognised for its commitment to grow produce - in this case grapes and apples and pears - in a way that is more friendly towards nature.
Source: johnlewispartnership.media
France: Groupe Casino offloads assets worth over €200mln
Groupe Casino has announced it has finalised the sale of 26 retail assets for a net selling price of more than €200mln, excluding subsequent earn outs. The announcement follows the signing of an agreement with French investment group Tikehau Capital in June 2024, which covered a portfolio of 30 real estate assets, owned by Casino.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Iceland partners with Deliveroo for rapid grocery delivery service
Iceland has become the latest supermarket chain to partner with Deliveroo to offer a rapid grocery delivery service. The move will see more than 3,000 of the frozen food specialist's products, including essentials, fresh and frozen groceries, available on the delivery platform.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Amazon UK pays corporation tax for first time since 2020
Amazon's main UK division has paid corporation tax for the first time since 2020 after the end of a "super-deduction" tax break introduced by Rishi Sunak. Amazon UK Services, which employs more than half of the group's UK workers, said it paid £18.7mln in "current tax" last year, which is understood to have been largely corporation tax.
Source: theguardian.com
UK: Acquisition feeds national growth plans for natural foods business
Southport-based plant-based food products brand Wild Root has revealed plans to significantly expand the business over the next six years through the creation of a 25-site portfolio around the UK. With estimates of more than 2.5mln people in the UK now classifying themselves as vegan - an increase of 1.1mln from January 2023 to January 2024 - Wild Root is focused on delivering a premium service for those seeking a plant-based diet.
Source: thebusinessdesk.com
South Africa: Strand now home to Helderberg's first Checkers Foods 
Strand is home to the first Checkers Foods to open its doors in the Helderberg district. Conveniently located at The Junction (previously Koopsentrum) in Beach Road, the store has created 22 new job opportunities. Checkers Foods Beach Road offers, among other things: Fresh fruit and vegetables.
Source: shopriteholdings.co.za
Sodexo buying Aramark would buck trend of US deals in Europe
A potential $10bln acquisition of catering firm Aramark by France's Sodexo SA would go against the typical pattern of American companies targeting European rivals. Over the past five years, there have been nine other proposed deals of at least that size involving a European firm as the suitor for a US company, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
US: The Wakefern Food Corp. Showcase is back!
Wakefern Food Corp., the nation's largest retailer-owned cooperative with member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Dearborn Market and Di Bruno Bros. banners, successfully hosted the 2024 Wakefern Showcase on September 18 and 19 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey.
Source: newsroom.wakefern.com
US: The nation's oldest private food co-op looks back and ahead
As it marks its eighth decade in business in 2024, Topco Associates operates in a market that is vastly different yet driven by some of the same basic needs and mindsets. The company has grown from its humble roots in 1944 to a global $18.3bln corporation that is the sixth largest privately-held company in its home state of Illinois.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Costco Wholesale Corporation reports fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 operating results
Costco Wholesale Corporation ("Costco" or the "Company") announced its operating results for the 16-week fourth quarter and the 52-week fiscal year ended September 1, 2024. For the 16-week fourth quarter, the Company reported net sales of $78.2bln, an increase of 1.0% compared to net sales of $77.4bln in the 17-week fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023. For the 52-week fiscal year, the Company reported net sales of $249.6bln, an increase of 5.0% from $237.7bln reported in the 53-week fiscal year 2023.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Aldi opens Michigan store
German discount grocer Aldi opened its newest store on Thursday in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, suburb of Portage, the retailer said in a press release. Aldi celebrated the new store at 5070 S. Westnedge Ave. by handing out gift bags with popular Aldi products to the first 100 customers.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Colorado AG prepares for trial over state's attempt to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
The Colorado attorney general's legal effort to stop the merger between grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons moves to the trial phase Monday. In a press conference ahead of the trial in Denver district court, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the case will focus on the consequences Coloradans would face if the merger were to go through.
Source: coloradonewsline.com
US: Balls Food Stores employees are now owners
Balls Food Stores employees now have some skin in the game with the Kansas City, Kansas-based grocery chain through the company's new employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), the retailer announced. The ESOP transfers ownership of the 25-store chain to some 2,600 employees at the chain that operates under the banners Hen House Markets, SunFresh Markets, Payless Discount Foods, Price Chopper, and Tippins Pies.
Source: supermarketnews.com