Costco plans second China store
Following the huge wave of success with its first store opening in Shanghai, Costco plans on opening its second location “as soon as possible,” according to news source China Knowledge. While there were already high expectations, the turnout to Costco’s first store in the country exceeded anticipations with wrap-around lines and early store closing due to a massive turnout. The reception prompted Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti to assure construction on the next location is coming, adding that the company is optimistic about the long-term success of its stores in China and will continue to bring high-quality, exciting, new products to its members around the world.
Source: delimarketnews.com
UK: Sainsbury's ends till-free trial store trial
Sainsbury's has ended its till-free store experiment at Holborn Circus Local after concluding that not all of its customers were ready for it. The trial was launched in April and made Sainsbury's 'SmartShop Scan, Pay and Go' technology the primary way to pay for purchases at the store. Customers have needed to download the app, scan their purchases as they walk around the store and complete their shopping by scanning an in-store QR code. The trial has been part of a wider rollout of the SmartShop app to a number of London convenience stores, but it was the only one where tills were removed to make it the main payment method.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Russia: Food retailer VkusVill targets New York IPO in overseas foray
VkusVill, a fast growing Russian supermarket chain, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in New York and expansion overseas, targeting markets in Europe and China. Founder Andrey Krivenko told Reuters that VkusVill, which positions itself as a technology-focused company as well as a supermarket with around 1,000 stores in central Russia, is looking at a share listing on New York’s Nasdaq. With annual revenue growth of 60%, VkusVill could become the first Russian food retailer to go public since 2014 when hypermarket chain Lenta listed in London. After an initial spike, Lenta shares have lost two-thirds of their value.
Source: reuters.com
Europe: Volume of retail trade down by 0.6% in euro area
In July 2019 compared with June 2019, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 0.6% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.5% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In June 2019, the retail trade volume increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU28. In July 2019 compared with July 2018, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.2% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU28.
Source: ec.europa.eu
UK: Central England Co-op expands new ‘carefully crafted’ local range into second supermarket 
Central England Co-op is again shining the spotlight on quality local producers by launching a new range at its Oakham Supermarket featuring some of the best products Rutland has to offer. The launch of the ‘Carefully Crafted’ range at the Burley Road store follows the successful launch of the concept at its Bakewell supermarket in Derbyshire in July. It will showcase a wide array of artisan and homemade products produced by independent manufacturers.
Source: retailtimes.co.uk
Sweden: Coop announces organisational changes, forms new digital unit
Coop Sweden has announced several changes in its organisational structure, including the establishment of a new digital unit to accelerate the company's digital transformation. The retailer will merge its marketing and communications unit into a single unit, to be known as the marketing, sustainability and communications division. Elsewhere, the communications director of Coop Sweden, Anna Rasin, has stepped down from her position. "[By] streamlining [operations], we can also free up resources to build an organisation for the future that ensures that we drive our digital strategy, so that we create value for our members and customers", said Coop Sverige AB CEO, Magnus Johansson. The retailer plans to launch an external innovation platform to strengthen its ability to support and develop sustainable innovations. The team will include a number of strategic partners and entrepreneurs who will collaborate on developing and testing innovative ideas. Coop will provide mentoring, financial support, and access to data and channels to help entrepreneurs test their business ideas.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Deliveroo Belgium grows fast, aims for profit
Meal box delivery company Deliveroo has seen its Belgian turnover go up 16% last year, to 16.8mln euros, and hopes to reach profitability in the next few years. That turnover growth comes courtesy of major investments of some 6mln euros, meaning Deliveroo Belgium was able to expand into three more cities (Charleroi, Hasselt and Kortrijk). Last year saw a total expansion with a thousand new restaurants across the Kingdom. According to local newspaper Le Soir, the London-based company will continue to invest in its Belgian branch: spokesperson Rodolphe Van Nuffel says investment targets will be further expansion and new technologies. Thus far, Deliveroo is still suffering losses in Belgium: only on the British and French markets is the company already profitable. Some major cities already have profitable operations, but the company's aim is to lift profits above zero throughout the country in the next few years. To make room for the necessary investments, Deliveroo quit Germany as it was unable to earn a decent market share.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Amazon trials hand recognition payment method at Whole Foods
Amazon is testing a new payment system that uses handprints for checkout instead of a card or an app, The New York Post reported. Codenamed “Orville”, the technology will scan human hands to ring up purchases. Sources told the NYP that the e-commerce giant is using its New York employees as test subjects by installing the system on a handful of vending machines selling chips, sodas and phone chargers in its offices. Amazon plans to roll out the new tech at its Whole Foods supermarket chain in the coming months, the article said. Unlike other biometric systems that require you to touch the surface of a scanner, Amazon’s technology uses computer vision and depth geometry to identify the size and shape of a person’s hand before charging the credit card on file. Shoppers won’t even have to bring their phones. The technology will roll out to a handful of Whole Foods stores by the beginning of next year, the NYP said.
Source: pymnts.com
US: Hy-Vee dietitians offer free heart health screenings
Hy-Vee is providing its customers with free heart health screenings during the month of September at more than 130 grocery locations in eight states. The screenings will each last 15 to 20 minutes and take place in Hy-Vee Healthy You Mobiles in store parking lots. Dietitians will collect a blood sample from a finger prick that will be used to determine cholesterol levels, triglycerides and glucose levels. They will also take resting blood pressure; measurements of height, weight and waist; and calculate body mass index. Hy-Vee has partnered with Barlean's, Beef Association, California Walnuts and Potatoes USA for the screenings.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Raley's, Instacart partner on ecommerce order delivery
Raley's has started offering home delivery for ecommerce orders through Instacart, an expansion of the pickup and delivery eCart service it has offered on its own online platform since 2017. Instacart delivery will be available in Northern California and Nevada at 93 Raley's, Bel Air and Nob Hill Foods stores. “The demand from customers for delivery service has continued to steadily grow, and this partnership with Instacart will expand our services to reach more customers”, said Deirdre Zimmermann, Raley’s chief customer experience officer. “We are excited to bring Raley’s great products and competitive prices to Instacart’s loyal customers.”
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Lidl US: 100 stores by next spring
Over the coming months, Lidl plans on opening new stores in South Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These form part of its plans to have around 100 stores trading by next spring. This includes its plan to open its first stores on Long Island, New York, following its acquisition of 27 stores from Best Market last year. While the pace of development has been slower than anticipated, it appears that following a period of refinement, the retailer is set to run with a more aggressive pace of new space growth. Four new stores are opening this month.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: AmazonFresh kicks off in Indianapolis
Amazon’s same-day delivery service for fresh foods, AmazonFresh, has launched in Indianapolis. The e-tail giant said that members of the Amazon Prime customer benefits program in Indianapolis can now shop tens of thousands of products - from fresh produce, meat and seafood to groceries, household staples and health and personal care items - for one- or two-hour delivery. Members also can order best-selling items on Amazon.com, including electronics, home and kitchen products, toys and other offerings.
Source: supermarketnews.com