US: UNFI ramps up business with new, existing customers in Q1
Strategic initiatives, new business, and strong retail and e-commerce performances boosted results at United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) for its fiscal 2021 first quarter. For the quarter ended October 31, net sales totaled $6.67bln, up 6% from $6.3bln a year earlier, UNFI said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Canada: Market share gains continue in Empire’s second quarter fiscal 2021 earnings
Empire Company Limited (“Empire” or the “Company”) announced its financial results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2020. Net earnings for the second quarter of $0.60 per share reflect strong results with Food retailing net earnings of $162.8mln compared to $127.9mln last year, an increase of 27.3%. Total earnings per share last year included $0.06 of unusually large property disposals by Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust (“Crombie REIT”); removing this impact, total net earnings per share increased by 17.6%.
Source: empireco.ca
US: Online grocery sales continue growth, hitting $8bln again in November
Total U.S. online grocery sales hit $8.1bln in sales during November as 60.1mln U.S. households placed on average 2.8 orders during the month, according to the Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey fielded November 11-14, 2020. Delivery and pickup segments captured 73% of online sales during the month and active delivery and pickup shoppers reported a record-high repeat intent rate of 83%, according to the survey.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Giant Co. expands Flashfood partnership
After a successful pilot program this past spring at four Lancaster, Pennsylvania, stores earlier this year, The Giant Co. will expand its partnership with the Flashfood app to another 33 stores this month. Flashfood enables customers to buy fresh produce, meat, deli and bakery products nearing their best-before date at significantly lower prices.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Germany: HelloFresh SE increases its full year 2020 guidance and provides first indicative outlook for full year 2021
HelloFresh SE (“Company”) has experienced continued exceptionally strong demand across most markets, partly influenced by the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures. As a consequence, the Company increases its full year 2020 revenue growth guidance for the HelloFresh Group on a constant currency basis from previously between 95% and 105% to now between 107% and 112%.
Source: hellofreshgroup.com
Sweden: Retailer ICA sees little margin hit from start-up of new online solution
ICA Gruppen, the owner of Sweden’s biggest grocery chain, said negative effects on profit margins from the implementation of 2 new digital solutions would be marginal this year and next. ICA Gruppen is rolling out a new upgraded e-commerce platform for customers and stores, and is also starting up a highly automated so-called dark store - a facility that fulfils solely online orders. “It is estimated that the new online solutions for ICA Sweden will have a margin effect of approximately -0.1% in 2021 and less than -0.1% in 2022”, it said in a statement.
Source: uk.reuters.com
Lidl tests new store concept in Belgium
In the renovated store in the city of Lokeren, Lidl changes the traditional shopping route. The supermarket is divided into different eating worlds that want to inspire the shopper. "We notice that customers have been in a hurry in recent years and don't always feel like spending a lot of time on the necessary groceries. Still, they like to eat fresh and healthy food. With this new test concept we want to make shopping efficient, but pleasant and above all inspire our customers", says spokesperson Isabelle Colbrandt. After the entrance, shoppers enter the ‘dining world’ where they can quickly find everything they need for a fresh dinner or lunch. In that dining world Lidl brings together vegetables and fruit, fresh meat, poultry and the veggie and vegan products.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Asda extends partnership with Uber Eats
Asda has expanded its partnership with Uber Eats to 100 stores across the UK. Following an initial 25-store trial earlier this summer, the expansion will allow customers to buy 350 Asda own-brand products and branded everyday items for fast delivery. Through the partnership, customers are able to shop in the same way as they would when ordering from a restaurant via the Uber Eats app. Once confirmed, the order is picked in-store by Asda colleagues before being collected and delivered by a courier using the Uber Eats app.
Source: insidermedia.com
Holland: Albert Heijn, Selecta expand AH to go
Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn has partnered with Selecta Nederland to provide a varied and healthy food offering in the workplace. Selecta's FOODIE'S micro-markets will offer Albert Heijn's fresh on-the-go range from vending devices in offices across the country.
Source: kantarretailiq.com
UK: Tesco reveals it is stockpiling food supplies amid fears of No-Deal Brexit
Tesco has announced it is stockpiling food and warning customers they will face shortages and steep price increases in the “worst-case scenario” of a No-Deal Brexit. Fresh foods including some fruit and vegetables which are not produced in the UK are most at risk because they can not be stockpiled in warehouses.
Source: thenational.scot
Holland: Hema's financing deal almost complete
Investment company Parcom and family Van Eerd, owners of the Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo, are close to an agreement with 3 major Dutch banks on financing Hema's acquisition. According to Dutch newspaper FD, the loan turned out to be a lot lower than what the potential buyers had hoped. The banking trio (Amro, ING and Rabobank) apparently provide around 200mln euro, while Parcom and Van Eerd had initially counted on 300mln euros. However, the risk departments of the banks involved still have to approve of the loan. In theory, this should be done within a week, as the deadline for the purchase falls within a week.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Russia: O'Key Group's GDRs approved for listing on Moscow Exchange
Russian retailer O'Key Group has said that its global depositary receipts (GDRs) have been approved for listing on the Moscow Exchange. The Group’s GDRs are included in the Exchange’s Level 1 quotation list. The retailer expects the GDRs to begin trading on 14 December, under the ticker OKEY. The group said that it will continue to maintain its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, where its GDRs have traded since 2010.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Holland: Ahold Delhaize announces €1bln Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Facility
Ahold Delhaize announced that it has successfully closed a €1bln, Sustainability-linked Revolving Credit Facility (the ‘Facility’), refinancing its existing 2015-dated €1bln facility. The Facility is an important milestone that highlights how Ahold Delhaize is reinforcing the alignment of its funding strategy and its commitments laid out in its Healthy & Sustainable ambition, which can be found here.
Source: aholddelhaize.com