Fast-growing Asian supermarket expands in Canada
The largest Asian supermarket chain in Canada is expanding its business in that country with a new location in British Columbia. T&T Supermarkets’ new Langley store, located in the Willowbrook Shopping Centre at unit 100, 19705 Fraser Highway, will celebrate its grand opening on October 22 at 9 a.m. Founded in Vancouver in 1993, T&T Supermarkets operates 28 stores in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Walmart selects Spartanburg County for new high-tech grocery distribution center
Walmart announced plans to build a new, high-tech distribution center for fresh and frozen groceries in Spartanburg County, set to open in 2024. The new 720,000+ square-foot facility will create more than 400 full-time regional jobs and will rely on the combination of Walmart associates, automation technology, robotics and machine learning to process grocery perishables - such as produce, eggs, dairy, flowers and frozen goods - and deliver them to nearby stores. The high-tech facility marks Walmart’s largest grocery distribution center to date and will move 2x’s more product than a traditional grocery DC in addition to presenting new technology-focused job opportunities in the region.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Coborn’s to buy Tadych’s Econofoods stores
Upper Midwest grocer Coborn’s plans to acquire all 6 Tadych’s Econofoods supermarkets in eastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region. St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s said that it has agreed to buy Econofoods stores in Sturgeon Bay, Clintonville and Brillion, Wisconsin, and in Marquette, Iron Mountain and Houghton, Michigan. All of the locations are operated by the Tadych family, doing business as T&C Markets, based in Brillion, Wisconsin.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Instacart acquires smart cart maker Caper
Aiming to join the in-store and online shopping experiences, Instacart has acquired “smart” shopping cart company Caper Inc. in a $350mln cash and stock deal. New York-based Caper’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cart enables shoppers to scan items they select off grocery store shelves and pay for them directly via the cart, eliminating the need to wait in line at the checkout area.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: TimeForge adds Associated WholeSale Grocers to its partner ecosystem
TimeForge, a data-driven labor management software suite serving the retail grocery industry, announced that it has established a preferred partnership with Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc (AWG).
Source: timeforge.com
SPAR Scotland offers free fruit in partnership with Healthy Living Programme
SPAR Scotland is continuing its support of Healthy Living Scotland (HLS) by giving out free fruit to children at a further four stores around the country. The campaign encourages children to eat more fruit and enjoy a healthier lifestyle which participating SPAR stores have given to children.
Source: spar-international.com
HelloFresh launches in Italy
HelloFresh SE has announced that it is entering Italy as part of the group’s global strategy to expand its total addressable market and secure long-term sustainable growth. Italy is the second country where the meal kit provider launched in 2021, following in the footsteps of Norway earlier this year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK supermarket Morrisons' shareholders back CD&R's $10bln takeover
Shareholders in supermarket group Morrisons approved a 7bln pound ($9.7bln) offer from U.S. private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), bringing the curtain down on Britain's most fiercely contested takeover this year.
Source: reuters.com
Germany: Globus sees 'a lot of tailwind' as full-year sales rise
German hypermarket operator Globus has reported a 2.4% increase in sales in its financial year to 30 June, to €7.76bln, with managing director Matthias Bruch saying that the business is seeing "a lot of tailwind" in the market at present. The group, which also operates stores in Russia, Czechia and Luxembourg, reported a 6.1% increase in operating profit in the period, to €301.3mln, compared to the previous year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
China: AliExpress launches logistics solution
Chinese marketplace AliExpress has announced the launch of a new logistics solution. This enables the company to offer a 10-day delivery guarantee, significantly speeding up deliveries in Europe. The new streamlined network is expected to enhance AliExpress’ cross-border ecosystem. The business-to-consumer subsidiary of Alibaba Group is a very popular online shopping platform from China. Now, AliExpress partners with Cainiao (Alibaba’s logistics arm) to create a logistics solution.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
Sustainability focused Australian online grocery platform raises equity to fund expansion
An Australian online grocery platform focussing on local, ethical and regenerative produce, has raised $609,338 in their recent equity crowdfunding campaign to fund their growth and expansion across the country. From their launch in 2017, female-founded food delivery business Your Food Collective has been taking a slice of Australia’s $7bln online grocery sector.
Source: ecowarriorprincess.net
South African retailer Pick n Pay's first-half profit nearly doubles
Reuters reported: "South African grocery retailer Pick n Pay reported a near 91% jump in half-year earnings, boosted by a strong first quarter as it recovered from last year's strict pandemic curbs."
Source: nasdaq.com
New Zealand: Foodstuffs says supermarket prices fair and competition strong
Supermarket group Foodstuffs North Island has hit back at claims food prices are too expensive on the eve of a conference that could pave the way for an overhaul of the $22bln groceries industry. Foodstuffs NI, which manages New World and Pak ‘n Save franchises, said that out of every dollar spent on groceries at its stores, the cooperative and its store owners earned a combined after-tax profit of 4 cents.
Source: stuff.co.nz
Northern Ireland Sainsbury's: '109 jobs at risk' with store closure
Sainsbury's is closing its store in Craigavon with one trade union warning more than 100 workers jobs are at risk. The supermarket described the decision as "difficult". It said it is doing "everything it can" to find alternative roles within Sainsbury's.
Source: bbc.com
Lidl to make a revolution in Ukraine’s retail and produce sectors: detailed analysis by EastFruit
The entry of the German retail network Lidl into the Ukrainian market was reported in the Ukrainian media, referring to the leak of an internal letter published by Lebensmittel Zeitung. Despite the information not being official yet, EastFruit experts analyzed what this could mean for the Ukrainian retail trade in fruits and vegetables, for Ukrainian farmers and vegetable growers, and for the retail business in general.
Source: east-fruit.com
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise collaborates with Big Basket to offer premium New Zealand products to Indian consumers
The New Zealand government’s international business development agency, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, strengthened its economic relations with India as they announced that several New Zealand businesses would be expanding their offer of premium products to shoppers across India. The brands listed on Big Basket include Mr. Apple, Rockit Global Ltd, Fonterra, Zespri International Ltd, Avanza Limited, Quality New Zealand, Addiction Foods NZ Ltd, and Olivado. The product offering ranges from fresh fruits, premium meat & seafood, dairy, pet care, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
Source: businesswireindia.com
French grocery spend down in September, E.Leclerc sees biggest gains
French consumers reduced their spend in the grocery channel by 0.6% in September, new data from Kantar has shown, however they are spending more per trip - an additional €6.70 compared to the same period last year. Traffic to stores in the so-called P10 period (running from 6 September to 3 October) was down 3.1%, while online sales grew by 0.6 percentage points to hold 9.3% of the market.
Source: esmmagazine.com