US: Bigger avocados at Meijer reveal grocery trend as Big Game approaches
As the Big Game approaches, produce experts at Meijer say avocados are already the leading MVP candidate on grocery lists this year. The retailer reports that large avocados trended in December with a surprising sale surge doubling 2021 and continue to be a top grocery trend in the early months this year, with customers adding more than 1mln avocados per week to shopping carts across the Midwest.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Save A Lot completes wholesale model transition, positions company for growth
Save A Lot, one of the largest discount grocery chains in the U.S., announced the December completion of its ongoing re-licensing program and its transition to a pure play wholesale model. This follows the sale of nearly 300 corporate-operated locations to Retail Partners, who will continue to operate the stores under the Save A Lot brand.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Workers at Sobeys distribution centre in Quebec strike after talks break down
Workers at a Sobeys distribution centre in Quebec have gone on strike after negotiations between the company and the union broke down, a situation that could strain an already delicate food supply chain. About 190 workers at the grocery warehouse north of Montreal walked off the job and have started picketing outside the Terrebonne facility, said Kim Bergeron, a lawyer representing UFCW Canada's Local 501.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Salad Station seeks national expansion through the freshest franchising opportunity
Salad Station - a fully customizable salad restaurant concept famous for serving farm-fresh gourmet ingredients - is looking to capitalize on the growth it experienced throughout the course of the pandemic. The brand was able to keep all of their locations open during this time as it now expands into new markets through franchising.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: 60,000 bees stolen from Giant Co.
In a loss for the local food chain and regional bee populations, colonies of nearly 60,000 bees have been stolen from a site at The Giant Co.'s headquarters in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. According to media reports, the pollinators were taken from the 7-acre solar field between January 28 and January 30.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Blue Apron reports revenue losses in Q4
While work-from-home schedules and at-home meals continue for consumers, Blue Apron said these trends helped elevate customer engagement metrics despite revenue losses in the company's 4th quarter of fiscal 2021. For the period ending December 31, Blue Apron said revenues decreased by 7% to $107mln, and its net loss was $26.4mln. The company lost $11.9mln in the same period of 2020.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: BentoBox releases final instalment of Restaurant Delivery Consumer Trend Report
BentoBox, a website, e-commerce, and marketing platform for over 8,000 restaurant concepts worldwide, released the 4th and final instalment of its Restaurant Delivery Consumer Trend Report, as part of a year-long study tracking how U.S. consumers' delivery and takeout habits have evolved through COVID-19 recovery.
Source: prnewswire.com
Belarus: Eurotorg continues with store expansion, sees Q4 sales up
Eurotorg, Belarus's biggest retailer, has passed the 1,000-store milestone, with the opening of a net 96 new outlets in 2021 taking its total store count to 1,023. Following on from a strong Q3, in the final quarter of 2021 Eurotorg reported a 16.3% increase in net retail sales year-on-year to BYN1.37bln (€470mln). For the full year, Eurotorg reported net retail sales of BYN5.13bln (€1.74bln), a 13.1% increase, or 3.3% in like-for-like terms.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Waitrose and Deliveroo boost partnership with new rapid grocery service trial
Waitrose is expanding its partnership with Deliveroo and will be trialling Deliveroo Hop, the rapid delivery service that brings groceries to customers' doors in as little as 10 minutes. The 1st ‘Hop’ delivery-only store, in partnership with Waitrose, will open in Bermondsey later this month.
Source: waitrose.pressarea.com
Holland: Albert Heijn makes progress in becoming an even more sustainable business
The mission of Dutch Ahold Delhaize brand Albert Heijn is: “Together we make better eating the easy choice. For everyone”. Through this mission, the brand takes responsibility for using the planet’s resources more sustainably. Albert Heijn has announced that 240 electric charging stations will be installed at Albert Heijn stores this year. And Albert Heijn Belgium was named most vegan friendly supermarket in Flanders and Brussels. These are just 2 examples of the great steps Albert Heijn is taking to be an even more sustainable business.
Source: aholddelhaize.com
Germany: Wholesale giant Metro sees 1st-quarter sales up by a 5th
Cash-and-carry firm Metro AG has reported a 20% increase in sales in the 1st quarter of its financial year, to €7.6bln, as the business continues its rebound following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Sales in Metro's store-based business grew by 13% to €6.2bln, foodservice delivery (FSD) sales were up 64% to €1.4bln, while sales in its Metro Markets business grew by 161% to €15mln.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Dutch supermarket chain Plus places ESLs order with Pricer
Pricer has landed an order of approximately 55mln SEK from the Dutch co-operative supermarket chain Plus to equip 80 stores previously under the Coop banner with electronic shelf labels (ESLs). Roll-out is set to start in April and to be finalised before the end of the year.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Comau and Iuvo design new wearable robotic technologies for employees at Italian supermarket chain Esselunga
Comau and IUVO are developing an innovative wearable robotics solution to improve the ergonomics of operators engaged in manually moving loads at Esselunga, a leading large-scale retail trade company. The aim is to improve well-being by reducing lower back fatigue.
Source: retailtimes.co.uk
Russia: X5, Plug and Play to collaborate on sustainability initiatives
Retailer X5 Group and Plug and Play - an accelerator and investor - are teaming up to explore innovative solutions in sustainability. The 2 companies look to focus on projects related to reducing waste and GHG emissions, as well as sustainable packaging.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Germany: Delivery Hero stock plunge wipes out $6bln in value after disappointing 2022 guidance
Shares of Germany-based food delivery firm Delivery Hero plummeted 29%. Analysts pointed to Delivery Hero’s 2022 guidance as the reason behind the negative market reaction. The company shed nearly $6bln in market value as a result.
Source: cnbc.com