US: AiFi raises $65mln in Series B funding to strengthen leadership position in autonomous retail
AiFi, the most flexible AI platform that enables retailers to affordably deploy and scale autonomous shopping solutions, announced a $65mln Series B funding round with participation from ALDI South Group, Żabka Group, REWE, Verizon Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures LLC, among others.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Walmart to build new distribution center in Houston area
Walmart plans to add a 1mln-square-foot distribution center to its Baytown, Texas, supply chain campus, near Houston. To be located at 4633 Borusan Rd., the new DC is slated to open this fall and will be Walmart’s 4th facility in Baytown, enlarging the campus’ total space to more than 5mln square feet, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Bashas’ calls on customers to join in 90th anniversary celebration
As Bashas’ prepares to celebrate 90 years in business this year, the Arizona grocery retailer is inviting customers across the state to look back and share the sights, sounds, tastes and experiences that have become part of their memories. From now to April 30, 2022, Arizonans can share their Bashas’ memories by visiting Bashas.com/bashas_love/ or by scanning a special QR code and sharing their stories, photos and videos depicting how Bashas’ has played an important role in their lives.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Dino Polska reports sales growth of 32% in FY 2021
Polish retailer Dino Polska has reported sales growth of 32%, to PLN13.4bln (€2.8bln), in its financial year 2021. The company attributed this growth to a combination of the expansion of its store network and an increase in like-for-like sales (+12.4% year-on-year).
Source: esmmagazine.com
Ecommerce in Belgium: €11.7bln in 2021
Ecommerce in Belgium was worth 11.7bln euros in 2021. This is a growth of 33% when compared to the situation 1 year earlier. At the end of the year, a total of 56.642 online stores were registered in Belgium. These figures are from the 6th E-commerce Barometer by SafeShops.be, a Belgian ecommerce association.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
UK: Iceland earmarks London for next Swift c-store format
Iceland has revealed plans to roll out its Swift convenience store format to London as it seeks further locations for store openings. The retailer opened Swift as a single-store pilot in Newcastle last spring and is now looking to extend to 4 more stores in London over the next few months.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Gorillas acquires Frichti, joins Just Eat collaboration
Gorillas is tightening its grip on the European flash delivery market: the Berlin-based company has acquired French competitor Frichti and concluded a remarkable alliance with Just Eat.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: How we shop online is changing
Customers should expect changes in the way they shop online, in a move to combat online fraud. The changes are a result of new Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements, a set of rules that will change how you confirm your identity when making online purchases.
Source: brc.org.uk
Traveloka joins the burgeoning e-grocery market in Indonesia
Indonesian unicorn Traveloka has entered the e-grocery market as it awaits the travel industry’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Called Mart, the new service offers frozen food, fresh produce, and personal care items, among others.
Source: techinasia.com
UK: Nisa supports government campaign to help shoppers buy healthy food
Nisa has teamed up with the Better Health campaign to encourage shoppers to buy healthier food. Nisa retailers will receive window posters, shelf-tags and wobblers to use in their stores to support the Better Health food scanner campaign run by the Department of Health.
Source: talkingretail.com
Sri Lanka: Keells opens 1st ever state-of-the-art Distribution Centre
Keells Supermarkets officially launched its Rs4.6bln, state-of-the-art centralised distribution centre (DC) in the industrial zone at Kerawalapitiya. The facility is equipped with latest cutting-edge technology and systems on par with global retail giants. This will serve as Keells Supermarkets’ 1st owned and operated DC and is a testament to their commitment to product and service excellence, the company said in a media release.
Source: sundaytimes.lk
UK: Co-op further extends robot delivery scheme in Northampton
The Co-op has again expanded its robot delivery service in Northampton, with the revolutionary scheme now available to 80,000 households in the town. The group has added stores and households to the network several times since its launch in 2020. The robots are made by Starship Technologies and orders can be made through an app. The latest announcement means local communities in Blackthorn, Far Cotton, Grange Park, Southfields and Thornton Park will now see Starship’s robots, which look like cold boxes on wheels, on the streets.
Source: talkingretail.com
Online groceries save time, money: survey
COVID-19 has accelerated the preference for online convenience among grocery shoppers, with almost 8 in 10 who’ve switched over during the pandemic saying they wanted to avoid traditional supermarket aisles. Research commissioned by ING bank also reveals pay-offs can be had by doing the weekly food shop online, with consumers saving nearly $1370 a year and getting the equivalent of an extra-long weekend in time back. The national survey of more than a 1000 adults reveals about 6 in 10 are out to save time and dodge crowds by ditching in-person trips to the shops.
Source: aap.com.au
Lidl Germany introduces food waste 'rescue bags'
Lidl is aiming to reduce food waste across its stores with the introduction of 'rescue bags' consisting of imperfect fruit and vegetables that would normally be thrown out. The retailer will begin rolling out the bags, priced €3 each, in stores from May of this year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: McColl’s reaches Morrisons Daily milestone
Troubled convenience retailer McColl’s has reached the milestone of opening its 200th Morrisons Daily store following the latest conversion of a site in Stockport. The rollout of Morrisons Daily stores, which offer a wider range of groceries and the supermarket’s own-label products, is a key part McColl’s strategy to boost sales and build a food-led convenience chain.
Source: kamcity.com
North Macedonia limits trade margins on basic food items
The government of North Macedonia has decided to limit the trade margin on basic food products to 5% in wholesale and 10% in retail for 3 months. The government’s decision is limited to bread, sugar, Type 400 flour, crude sunflower oil and sunflower oil for consumption, long-life milk (with 2.8%, 3.2% and 3.5% fat), fresh and cured meat products, cheese, rice, eggs, pasta, wheat, fruits and vegetables.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Ocado axes 'best before' label on some fruit and vegetables in bid to reduce food waste in victory for the MoS
Online grocer Ocado is to scrap ‘best before’ labels on some fruit and vegetables in an effort to eradicate food waste. The move is expected to save thousands of tons of edible food from being needlessly thrown away, by allowing customers to use their own judgment as to when something is still good to eat.
Source: dailymail.co.uk