US: Hy-Vee president to step down
Hy-Vee announced the retirement of Donna Tweeten, effective January 24. Tweeten - the first woman to serve as president at the Iowa grocer - is leaving after nearly 20 years at the supermarket chain. The grocery company has not yet named Tweeten's successor.
Source: grocerydive.com
Amazon pilots small-format grocery concept
Amazon is piloting a new small-format concept in Chicago "under the same roof" as - but separate from - an existing Whole Foods Market store, the company confirmed in an email to Grocery Dive. The store, called Amazon Grocery, is meant for quick fill-in trips like grocery top-offs, coffee and grab-and-go meals to keep shoppers from needing to visit multiple grocery locations to complete their shopping.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Grandson of legendary retailer Stew Leonard's named president of farm fresh store
The grandson of legendary Northeast retailer Stew Leonard, Sr., T.J. Leonard, has been named president of Tom Leonard's Farmer's Market, a farm fresh food store in the Richmond area of Virginia. T.J. Leonard is the son of the store founder Tom Leonard.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Report: Grocers capitalize on pumpkin flavor
Pumpkin is the premier flavor of Fall, and it comes at a premium price according to a new study. Pumpkin-flavored products cost an average of 7.4% more than non-pumpkin alternatives, according to data from online loan marketplace Lending Tree.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Belgium: Saint-Gilles welcomes the 38th Bio-Planet store
On Wednesday 23 October, Bio-Planet will open a new branch in Saint-Gillis, marking its 38th store in Belgium. This new supermarket, located in the heart of Brussels, offers a comprehensive selection of organic, pure, and 100% natural products. The store will consistently offer an extensive range of organic fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, pre-packaged meat, cheese and cold cuts.
Source: press.colruytgroup.com
Australia: Coles champions supplier excellence, quality and innovation at 2024 Supplier Partner Awards
Coles is proud to announce the winners of its annual Supplier Partner Awards, recognising and celebrating its valued suppliers for their dedication to providing great quality food, drinks and groceries around the country. Rock Ridge Fresh was named Fresh Supplier of the Year for its commitment to growing avocados, ensuring consistent availability of the popular produce for Coles customers. With meticulous attention to detail throughout the growing, packing and ripening process, Rock Ridge Fresh delivers fresh produce with year-round supply.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
Lulu Retail kicks off one of UAE's biggest IPOs this year
Lulu Retail Holdings, which runs one of the Middle East's biggest hypermarket chains, kicked off an initial public offering that bankers say could be the UAE's largest this year. The offering by the conglomerate that runs more than 240 stores in the six countries belonging to the Gulf Co-operation Council comes during a retail spending boom in the region that is spurring domestic listings by companies in the sector.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Ocado's AI-powered robotic arms: levelling up efficiency in online grocery and logistics
Ocado Group reported: "Robots simply don't possess the same sensory or cognitive abilities as a person, such as the cognition humans rely on to learn and generalise knowledge in new situations. In no industry is this more challenging than grocery retail, where a whole new host of complexities are introduced, from differing temperatures to delicate items like glass bottles, and food categories which vary in shape and size, such as soft fruit".
Source: ocadogroup.com
Spain's Consum acquires nine supermarkets from Kuups Design International
Spanish cooperative Consum has acquired nine supermarkets from the Valencian distribution company Kuups Design International. Out of this total, eight stores operate under the Economy Cash banner, and one as Vidal Tiendas, the company noted.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Carrefour France likely to see improved LFL sales growth in Q3: Barclays
French retailer Carrefour is likely to see improvement in LFL sales to -2.2% in the third quarter from -3.5% in the second quarter, according to estimates from Barclays. While price investments by Carrefour are becoming popular among customers, it is likely to impact the company's top-line performance in France.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Lidl GB triples plant-based range as it experiences double-digit growth
Lidl GB has revealed that demand for plant-based products is continuing to soar after the supermarket experienced double-digit growth in the category over the past year. Building on strong sales growth, the discounter is more than tripling the number of plant-based products that it offers shoppers, with the newly expanded range set to appear in selected stores from this month, ahead of completing a national roll out by January 2025.
Source: corporate.lidl.co.uk
Iceland Foods continues 8-year trademark battle with Icelandic government
Iceland has entered the latest phase of its ongoing trademark dispute with the Icelandic government, as the frozen food retailer appeals against a decision that stripped it of EU trademark protection for the word Iceland.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Indian retail group seeks antitrust probe of quick commerce companies Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto
India's biggest group of retail distributors has asked the antitrust authority to investigate three quick commerce companies - Zomato's Blinkit, Swiggy and Zepto - for alleged predatory pricing, a letter showed.
Source: reuters.com
South Africa: Over 60 community food gardens sell fresh produce at Shoprite and Checkers' Market Day
Sindiswa Maguma from Intambanana Farming and Multipurpose Coop in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape: "We sold spinach, cabbage, thyme, and beetroot, and our first batch of produce sold out in an hour! The demand was so high that we had to bring more produce to keep up. Our garden will continue participating in future Market Days, as it gives us the chance to reach more customers and generate more income, helping us grow sustainably".
Source: shopriteholdings.co.za
Italy: Gruppo Selex aims revenue of €22bln in 2025
Italian retailer Gruppo Selex has set a target to generate €22bln in revenue by 2025. To achieve this, the group plans to invest approximately €490mln in opening 67 new stores and renovating 109 existing ones.
Source: esmmagazine.com