UK: Aldi to open 11 stores before Christmas
Aldi is planning to open 11 new stores across the UK between now and Christmas as it continues its expansion across the UK. The discounter will open new stores in Sedgley in the West Midlands and Castle Douglas in Scotland this week, followed by Horsham in West Sussex and Muswell Hill in London later this month.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
UK: Deliveroo reveals top 100 trending dishes of 2024
Deliveroo reveals its annual 'Deliveroo 100 Report' highlighting trending dishes from around the world in 2024. Six UK dishes are in the global top 20 this year, with items from Wingstop, Salad Project, Atis, and Waitrose making the list. From TikTok to table, Brits dined out on trending food items this year, with kimchi, cucumber and Caesar salads making the UK's top list.
Source: deliveroo.co.uk
UK: Marks & Spencer winning streak continues as profits soar
Marks & Spencer profits soared 17.2% in the first half, with the retailer continuing to beat expectations thanks to market share gains. The FTSE 100-listed group made a profit before tax and adjusting items of £407.8mln in the six months to 28 September, ahead of analyst forecasts and the £348.1mln profit at the same point a year ago.
Source: thisismoney.co.uk
Majid Al Futtaim replaces Carrefour in Jordan with what it calls new Arab grocery chain
Carrefour's Middle East franchisee Majid Al Futtaim has suspended Carrefour Jordan and is replacing it with a new brand, Hypermax, it announced, without giving a reason for the decision.
Source: reuters.com
October in Estonian supermarkets: Vegetable, fish prices going up
This October saw vegetable prices go up on year in supermarkets, including for cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes and carrots. Several types of fish likewise got more expensive, even as grains prices fell. Comparing last month's prices with October 2023 prices, dairy products fell in price somewhat on year, according to figures released by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research (EKI). The most significant spike was seen with imported cucumbers, which climbed 82% from €2.30 per kilogram last October to €4.18 per kilo last month. Domestic cucumbers went up 29% in price as well.
Source: news.err.ee
Germany: REWE's first vegan-only supermarket shares findings after six months in Berlin
In April 2024, German supermarket chain REWE opened its first 100% vegan store. Now, the brand has shared its findings after six months of operations. The ten most popular products include chocolate croissants, franzbrötchen (a regional variation on cinnamon rolls), freshly prepared coconut-almond spreads, cucumbers, bananas, oat-based soft-serve ice cream and deli sandwiches featuring schnitzel alternatives and smoked tofu.
Source: trendwatching.com
UK: Aldi named cheapest supermarket for 12th month in a row
Aldi UK reported: "Aldi has taken home the title of Which? Cheapest Supermarket every month since October 2023. The latest research from consumer group Which? has revealed shoppers could have saved £1,475 in the last year by switching to Aldi. Aldi is the only supermarket to achieve this milestone".
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UK: Six innovative and exciting new suppliers to hit Co-op shelves this month through its Incubator programme, the Apiary
New suppliers set to hit Co-op shelves this month through Co-op's Apiary (Incubator) programme, are: Cháps; Cheeky Nibble; ELEAT Cereal; Family Secret - Proppadoms; Some Grub; Loro Crisps - Founders Natalia Welsh & Daniela Orrego explained: "Our 100% vegan and gluten-free plantain crisps are bursting with flavour and packed with natural fibre and potassium".
Source: co-operative.coop
JD Logistics introduces "Zhilang" Intelligent Warehousing Solution at CeMAT Asia 2024
JD Logistics (also known as JINGDONG Logistics) announced at CeMAT ASIA 2024 its latest Goods-to-Person (GTP) automated warehousing innovation, the "Zhilang" solution. Meaning "Intelligent Wolf", Zhilang is a proprietary system that improves picking efficiency by over three times compared to traditional methods.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Sweden: ICA Real estate sells four retail properties to Delcore Fastigheter
ICA Real Estate sells four retail properties to Delcore Fastigheter, a property company joinly owned by occupational pensions company AMF and ICA Real Estate. The total area of the buildings is approximately 15,373 square metres and the property value amounts to approximately SEK 520mln.
Source: icagruppen.se
Tesco Ireland announces creation of 1,200 temporary festive jobs nationwide
Speaking about the festive jobs, Maurice Kelly, People Director at Tesco Ireland said: "We are thrilled to be generating almost 1,200 additional festive roles across the country this Christmas".
Source: tescoireland.ie
Holland: Ahold Delhaize delivers solid Q3 performance, reiterates 2024 outlook and announces €1bln share buyback for 2025
Ahold Delhaize, one of the world's largest food retail groups and a leader in both supermarkets and e-commerce, reports third quarter results. Q3 Group net sales were €22.0bln, up 1.0% at constant exchange rates and up 0.2% at actual exchange rates. Q3 comparable sales excluding gasoline increased by 1.4% for the Group, up 1.2% in the U.S. and 1.6% in Europe. The Company reiterates its 2024 full-year outlook, including underlying operating margin of ≥4.0%; underlying EPS at around 2023 levels; free cash flow of around €2.3bln; and net capital expenditures of around €2.2bln. Ahold Delhaize announces a €1bln share buyback program to start at the beginning of 2025.
Source: newsroom.aholddelhaize.com
US: Dollar General adds produce to Roseville location
Dollar General is excited to announce it recently remodeled its store at 497 State Highway 116 in Roseville. In addition to the same categories, brands and products customers trust Dollar General to carry, the store now provides customers with an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Source: 977wmoi.com
US: Kroger and bitewell launch groundbreaking nutrition scoring system to help customers make healthier food choices
The Kroger Co. and bitewell, the FoodHealth Company, announced their collaboration to bring bitewell's FoodHealth Score, an innovative nutrition scoring system, to Kroger customers nationwide. The scoring system seeks to give customers a fast, reliable way to evaluate the healthfulness of their food.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Roche Bros. to sell controlling interest to wholesale customer
Roche Bros. Supermarkets is selling controlling interest to one of its suppliers. The family-owned retailer that operates 20 stores in Massachusetts entered into agreement with Bozzuto's Inc., a deal through which the wholesaler is said to control a majority of the business.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Weis Markets reports third quarter 2024 results
Weis Markets, Inc. reported its financial results for the 13-week third quarter and 39-week year-to-date period ended September 28, 2024. Net sales totaled $1.19bln for the 13-week third quarter ended September 28, 2024, compared to $1.16bln for the 13-week third quarter ended September 30, 2023, up 2.2%. The Company's third quarter net income totaled $25.84mln, which included a $4.58mln gain on disposition of fixed assets, compared to $23.23mln in 2023, up 11.3%.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Kroger plans 2 Asian-focused concept stores in Texas
The Kroger Co. is putting a greater emphasis on its ethnic offerings with its latest stores in Texas. The stores, located in Collin and Denton Counties in North Texas, will receive a new décor package with updated signage and an expanded selection of multi-cultural products, and are expected to open in 2025.
Source: progressivegrocer.com