US: Grocery inflation flat in February, up 1% for the year
Grocery-price inflation continues to abate, according to Consumer Price Index data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the full year, dairy was down 1.8%, and meats, poultry, fish, and eggs were down 0.5%. Other major categories ranged from a 0.8% increase for fruits and vegetables to a 2.3% increase for non-alcoholic beverages.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Tops Markets holds grand reopening for New York state store
As part of its ongoing store renovation project, Tops Markets LLC marked the grand reopening of its 57,000-square-foot Grand Island, New York, store with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Tops has also added to its selection of fresh produce, including seasonal items and offering fresh-cut veggies, fruit and trays for quick and easy ready-to-serve convenience.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: DoorDash expands food access for SNAP customers with new grocery partners
DoorDash is proud to expand its SNAP/EBT payment offering with additional grocers to make fresh food accessible to more people: ACME Markets, Food City, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, Kings Food Markets, Pavilions, Randalls, Shaw's, Sprouts Farmers Market, Star Market, Stater Bros. Markets, Tom Thumb, and Vons.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Dollar Tree plans 1,000 store closures
Dollar Tree said it plans to close 1,000 stores, including 600 Family Dollar locations that are slated to close in the first half of fiscal 2024. The planned closures resulted in fourth-quarter charges totaling more than $2bln, the company said in reporting results for fiscal 2023.
Source: supermarketnews.com
GS1 US releases suite of resources to help food industry address US FDA requirements
GS1 US has published a new suite of resources to help companies address the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act Traceability Rule (FSMA Rule 204). The documents are designed to help trading partners understand how they can use GS1 Standards to meet the stringent recordkeeping requirements for "high-risk" foods.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: February online grocery sales at $7.9bln, down 10% from last year
The US online grocery market finished February with total monthly sales of $7.9bln, down 10.5% compared to 2023, according to the most recent Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey fielded February 28-29.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Australians waste about $2000 a year on uneaten groceries
Australians are wasting up to $2000 a year on uneaten groceries, with the majority saying fruit and vegetables are the main culprit. According to new research from Australian Pears, 80% of Aussies say their grocery bills have jumped by at least 25% over the last year, but despite the rising costs, the majority are still throwing away up to a quarter of the groceries.
Source: news.com.au
UK: Aldi celebrates the success of the Company Shop Group partnership
Aldi is celebrating a significant milestone in its partnership with surplus food and household products redistributor, Company Shop Group. In the past year, Britain's fourth-largest supermarket has now donated an impressive two and a half million meals from its Regional Distribution Centres across the UK through Company Shop Group, saving an estimated 1,000 tonnes of food from going to waste.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UK: Tesco and Sainsbury's landlord reports profit boom despite declining assets
Supermarket Income REIT, which rents out properties to some of the UK's biggest supermarkets, saw operating profit jump 18% last year, even as its net assets dropped 8% in the same period. In its interim results, the FTSE 250-listed trust revealed that operating profit has climbed to £45mln, largely due to a 10% increase in annualized passing rent to £104.7mln for the second half of 2023.
Source: cityam.com
Portugal: ALDI to open a new supermarket in Vila do Bispo
A new ALDI supermarket will open next Wednesday (March 20) in Vila do Bispo, Algarve. It will be the German supermarket chain's first store in the municipality, bringing its total in the Algarve to 20.
Source: portugalresident.com
Launch of Retail Transition Pathway an important first step says EuroCommerce
The launch of the Retail Transition Pathway has been welcomed by representative group EuroCommerce, which has described it as 'first step to bring all actors together to help the sustainability, digitalisation and skills transformation of the sector'.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: John Lewis back in profit but no bonus for staff
John Lewis has reported a return to profit, but it will not pay its staff a bonus for the second year in a row. The retail partnership, which also owns Waitrose supermarkets, reported a pre-tax annual profit of £56mln compared with a £234mln loss the year before. However, it said it would not pay a bonus as it was increasing overall pay and investing in the business.
Source: bbc.com
Tesco and Love Irish Food retail partnership helps Irish brands grow sales by 40%
Retail sales of Love Irish Food brands have increased by 40% since it began a partnership with Tesco Ireland, promoting Irish food and drink products in stores in 2021. This increase in support for Irish food and drink brands have been revealed by Tesco Ireland, as together with Love Irish Food (LIF), they announce a new two-year retail partnership. Since the partnership began, the number of Love Irish Food brands who have secured listings with the retailer has also grown by a quarter, from 60 to 80 of Ireland's favorite brands. Some of the more recent brands welcomed into Tesco include The Galway Kitchen, Nomadic, Fresh Cut Foods, Bowes Bakery, Velo coffee, Zingibeer, Sussed Rapeseed oil, Blanco Nino, and Ór butter.
Source: tescoireland.ie
Romania: La Cocoș expands to Brașov, plans five more stores
Romanian hypermarket chain La Cocoș is setting up shop in Brașov. The new location, secured through Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, will occupy 10,000 square meters in the Brintex-Brașov shopping complex. The company aims to open five additional stores across Romania by 2025.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: SPAR wholesaler James Hall produces the 75 millionth sandwich
SPAR UK wholesaler James Hall & Co. reached a major milestone, celebrating the 75 millionth sandwich produced for sale in SPAR stores across the North of England.
Source: spar-international.com