US: Wegmans survey spotlights customers' desire for holiday simplicity
Wegmans Food Markets is sharing the results of a recent survey about what shoppers are currently prioritizing. According to the findings, 77% of respondents are spotlighting traditional holiday recipes, and 78% are finding ways to simplify their holiday meals and entertaining. The survey of 9,395 shoppers was conducted online by Wegmans between November 7 and November 21.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Atlanta will provide $8.1mln in funding to open 2 grocery stores in food deserts
An independent grocery store chain will receive $8.1mln in incentives to open a pair of stores in food deserts in Atlanta. Savi Provisions, a specialty supermarket with 16 stores in the Atlanta area and over 20 stores in Tennessee and North Carolina, will receive funding from the city's development authority, Invest Atlanta, for stores near Campbellton Plaza and downtown Atlanta. The stores are expected to open in the second half of 2025. Both locations will feature fresh produce, meats, dairy products, and other essential grocery items
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: BJ's opens 40th location in Florida
BJ's newest club opened in St. Johns, Florida, which is south of Jacksonville. Located at 115 Beachwalk Boulevard in the Beachwalk East Shopping Center, this marks BJ's 40th club in Florida and the latest in a string of new openings. The St. Johns club features an on-site BJ's Gas location, as well as fresh foods, produce, full-service deli items, fresh bakery goods, household essentials, home décor, pet supplies, toys, technology and more.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Portugal: Aldi opens new supermarket in Parchal
German supermarket chain Aldi has opened a new two-storey store in Parchal, Lagoa, its 22nd in the Algarve. Located on Rua Infante de Sagres, in Parchal's new bustling commercial area, the supermarket boasts a 1,100sqm sales area, offering the usual 'discount' products that Aldi is known for, including fresh fruit and vegetables and freshly baked bread, as well as a self-service orange juice machine.
Source: portugalresident.com
South Korea: Coupang doubles strawberry purchases
Coupang has announced plans to purchase over 2,600 tons of strawberries this season, more than double the 1,200 tons it procured in 2023. The move comes as strawberry prices have surged by more than 10% in 2024 to date due to the summer heatwave, prompting retailers to secure quality produce at competitive prices. The online retailer will source strawberries from 10 regions across South Korea, including Yeongam in South Jeolla Province and Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province, for sale through April 2025. This is a significant expansion from the five regions it sourced from previously. Coupang also doubled the number of participating agricultural cooperatives and farmers' organizations, increasing from 7 to 16. The company's purchases of apples from Chungju, melons from Seongju, and peaches and plums from Uiseong increased more than threefold in the period between January to August 2024 compared to the same period in 2021.
Source: pulse.mk.co.kr
Italy: Conad sees above average market growth in 2024
Italian grocery retailer Conad has reported a turnover of €21.1bln in its financial year 2024, representing a 4.5% increase compared to the previous year. Despite a challenging economic climate with inflation and stagnant consumer spending, this growth outpaced the overall large-scale distribution market. Conad's turnover has increased by 70% over the past decade, the company noted. Conad's private label generated €6.3bln in revenue, a 4.7% increase, representing 33.7% of total supermarket sales.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: From Rochdale pioneers to global impact: Celebrating 180 years of co-operation with new development fund
Rochdale's historic Toad Lane - the birthplace of the co-operative movement - marked 180 years of co-operation on Saturday, 21 December, with the launch of the Fund for International Co-operative Development (FICD). The new fund will provide financial support and expertise to co-operatives globally, helping communities rebuild after crises, foster peace, and create sustainable economies. Developed through collaboration between leading UK co-operatives, the fund reflects the power of co-operation to drive global change.
Source: co-operative.coop
Bulgaria: Wholesale prices of almost all basic food producs, fruit, veg up in past week
The wholesale price of almost all basic food products, vegetables and fruit went up in the past week, according to data from the State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets. Onions appreciated by 4% to BGN 1.15/kg, lettuce by 0.3% to BGN 1.15 per piece, and garlic by 1.7% to 5.76/kg. Greenhouse tomatoes depreciated by 3.8% to BGN 3.59/kg, potatoes by 0.3% to BGN 1.22/kg, and carrots by 2% to BGN 1.15/kg. Oranges and mandarines are the only fruit that depreciated in the past week, by 3.3% to BGN 1.95 per kilogram and by 5.9% to BGN 2.20/kg, respectively. Bananas appreciated by 1.2% to BGN 2.69/kg, lemons by 1.5% to BGN 2.29/kg, grapefruit by 3.5% to BGN 2.40/kg, and apples by 3.4% to BGN 1.69/kg.
Source: bta.bg
Northern Ireland: Antrim retailers end the year with anniversary celebrations
Charles and Rhonda Henderson, owners of SPAR Parkhall, are celebrating 15 years serving their community as a SPAR store. Over the years, Charles and Rhonda have made major investments into the SPAR Parkhall store totalling £290,000, completing five significant refurbishments to bring the highest quality products and services to their shoppers, as Charles explained: "We've invested significantly over the years to make five major refurbishments which have transformed our store to bring even more products to shoppers' doorsteps, including an extended range of fresh and locally sourced produce".
Source: henderson-group.com
Potato growers in Northern Ireland protest outside Asda distribution centre
Potato growers gathered outside an Asda distribution depot in Larne Co. Antrim on Saturday, December 21 to protest unfair pricing. The protest followed the supermarket's decision to slash the price of potatoes in its stores, with two kilo bags on sale in Asda outlets for 8p each over recent days.
Source: agriland.co.uk