Lawmakers call on US regulator to thwart Kroger-Albertsons deal
Six U.S. lawmakers wrote to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressing their opposition to the proposed $24.6bln acquisition of grocery chain operator Albertsons by peer Kroger Co, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.
Source: reuters.com
US: DoorDash added to the Nasdaq-100 Index
San Francisco-based food delivery company DoorDash (DASH) will be added to the Nasdaq-100 Index, along with five other companies, on December 18, the index announced.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Brazil: Daki selects RELEX to optimize demand forecasting and replenishment
Daki, an on-demand groceries and essentials app that offers deliveries in minutes or scheduled, has selected RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, to drive accuracy and efficiency in their demand forecasting and replenishment processes. The RELEX solution will support Daki's operations throughout Brazil.
Source: businesswire.com
US: New Whole Foods Market in South Windsor, Connecticut, to open January 17
Whole Foods Market will open a new 43,406-square-foot store, located in The Shops at Evergreen Walk (801 Evergreen Way), South Windsor, Connecticut, on January 17 at 8 a.m. EST. Features of the South Windsor store include an array of certified organic, conventional, and Sourced for Good produce, plus offerings from more than five local farms, including herbs and microgreens from Gilbertie's Organics, juice varieties from RIPE Bar Juice, and sweet potatoes from Oxen Hill Farms.
Source: media.wholefoodsmarket.com
Canada: Food Basics stores in Ontario ratify new collective agreement
Metro discounter banner Food Basics has ratified a new five-year collective agreement with its unionized employees across 115 locations in Ontario.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Alibaba's Freshippo shows how it harnesses tech to combat climate change at COP28
Freshippo helps peach farmers cut losses from natural disasters and increase revenue by $168/mu. Helping hold back the encroaching desert, Freshippo opened up a 200-mu organic base in the Ulan Buh Desert in Inner Mongolia. Last year, it harvested 400,000 pumpkins.
Source: alizila.com
SPAR UK regional partners expand through acquisition
SPAR UK partners Henderson and A.F. Blakemore expand and ensure continued supply to local communities through the acquisition of SPAR stores.
Source: spar-international.com
EU-funded program increases fruit and veg in schools
The Cyprus Agriculture Payments Organisation (Capo) has officially completed payments totaling €748,567 for the program bringing fruit, vegetables, and milk into schools for the academic year 2022-2023. Capo said that the program was entirely funded by the European Union, with the government contributing a total of €21,709 to subsidize the VAT expenses incurred within the program.
Source: cyprus-mail.com
UK: Aldi announces even more price cuts
Aldi has revealed yet more price cuts as it gears up for its biggest Christmas yet. All effective from 10.12.23: Strawberries 400g Old price £3.49 New price £2.99; Extra Large Mild Onions 3pk Old price £1.49 New price £1.39; Red Onions 1kg Old price £0.99 New price £0.95; Mango Each Old price £0.95 New price £0.89.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
E.Leclerc cements leadership position in France as Christmas approaches
E.Leclerc has maintained its leadership position in France, seeing its sales rise 1.6% in the four-week period to November 26, according to Kantar data.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Belgium: Colruyt gains market share but sees increasing promo pressure
Colruyt is climbing out of the valley, according to the better-than-expected half-year figures published by the retailer. Revenue rose 16% to almost 5.5bln euros, operating profit went up more than twice, from 108 to 246mln euros, and the margin rose from 2.3 to 4.5%.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Fresh Direct predicts 'innovation' will drive sales of traditional vegetables
Foodservice produce provider Fresh Direct is predicting that 'innovation' will help drive sales of traditional vegetables this Christmas.
Source: craftguildofchefs.org
Italy: Newlat in talks to buy UK food group Princes
Italy's Newlat said it was in "very advanced" talks to buy British food group Princes, confirming reports in the British and Italian media. Princes supplies tinned fruit and fish under its own name brand and also has other brands such as Flora sunflower oil and the Napolina range of Italian-style tomato sauces and cooking ingredients.
Source: reuters.com
UK shoppers predicted to spend a record £5bln on food during Christmas week
Total Till sales at UK supermarkets has slowed (+6.8%) in the last four weeks ending December 2, 2023, according to new data released by NIQ (previously known as NielsenIQ).
Source: talkingretail.com
Ireland: Aldi says price cuts will have 'no impact' on prices paid to producersAldi price cuts to 170 seasonal products will have "no impact" on the prices paid to producers and suppliers, the retailer has told the Irish Examiner. Aldi has announced that ahead of the busy Christmas period, prices are being reduced in-store on a range of festive favorites, including fresh Irish turkeys and fruit and vegetables.
Source: irishexaminer.com
UK: IGD unveils environmental labeling recommendations for the food industry
IGD has published a set of recommendations to ensure a consistent approach to environmental labeling of food items, following two years of extensive research and consultations with government, industry, technical experts, the third sector, and academia.
Source: esmmagazine.com
New Zealand: Salad greens and lamb cheaper ahead of Christmas, as FPI's decline continues
Foodstuffs' biggest year-on-year price falls, on average, were in the produce department, namely cabbage (down 35%), cauliflower (down 29%), avocados (down 26%) and lettuce (down 24%).
Source: foodstuffs.co.nz
Biodiversity in the supermarket: is the choice in the consumer's hands?
Do products fly off the shelves if they have been produced in a way that benefits biodiversity? Or does this make little difference to consumers? Communication scientists Julia Shen and Marijn Poortvliet are researching what motivates consumers to shop more sustainably. But they also sound a note of caution: 'Changing consumer behavior is only one piece of the puzzle, and perhaps not the starting point.'
Source: wur.nl
Six-person roast for under £20 announced as 44% of Brits avoid hosting Christmas due to cost concerns
Sainsbury's reported: "The roast features a fresh turkey, along with other items deemed the top essentials of the Christmas dinner - along with potatoes (79%), gravy (75%), stuffing (69%) and pigs in blankets (63%). Meanwhile, other festive staples, including parsnips, carrots, and brussels sprouts, which all cost just 19p per pack, will be included as part of the roast, topped off with a fruit sherry trifle to sweeten up guests at the end of the meal".
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk