How AWS is integrating advanced business intelligence at Whole Foods Market
In a recent blog post for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Ravi Reddy, data engineering manager at Amazon, and Maitri Shah, senior technical program manager at Amazon QuickSight, shared how the division's worldwide grocery data and tech group worked closely with Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market to create a scalable solution to optimize business intelligence.
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Source: progressivegrocer.com
No Frills to open 100th store in Western Canada
No Frills marks a major milestone in Western Canada Thursday (December 5). The hard-discount supermarket chain is set to open its 100th store in the region. Walsh's No Frills - located at 21546 92 Ave NW in Edmonton - will offer the Loblaw banner's typical fare of grocery and everyday items, including fresh produce, meat and pantry staples.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Village Super Market, Inc. reports results for the first quarter ended October 26, 2024
Village Super Market, Inc. reported its results of operations for the first quarter ended October 26, 2024. First quarter highlights: sales increased 4.0% and same store sales increased 2.4%. Same store digital sales increased 8%. Net income of $12.8mln, an increase of 11% compared to the first quarter of the prior year.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: The Fresh Market opens 2nd location in this grocery hotspot
The Fresh Market cut the ribbon on its 165th location, and its second in the booming grocery hotspot of Louisville, Kentucky. The 25,000-square-foot store includes an extensive selection of fresh, local, organic and specialty items; as well as award-winning bakery, deli and prepared food items.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Dollar Tree, Inc. reports results for the third quarter fiscal 2024
Dollar Tree, Inc. reported financial results for its third quarter ended November 2, 2024: same-store net sales: Dollar Tree +1.8%; Family Dollar +1.9%; Enterprise +1.8%. Fourth quarter fiscal 2024 net sales outlook range of $8.1bln to $8.3bln. Full-year fiscal 2024 net sales outlook range of $30.7bln to $30.9bln.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Natural Grocers closing 1 of its Tucson stores
Natural Grocers plans to close one of its Tucson, Arizona stores at the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Kolb Road on December 11. The store, located at 7220 E Broadway Boulevard, is one of 12 Natural Grocers locations in Arizona and one of four in the Tucson area.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
SPAR Scotland confirms date of next year's tradeshow
SPAR Scotland has confirmed that its 2025 tradeshow and awards will take place on 25th September in Aviemore. The annual event brings together suppliers and SPAR retailers operating in the Scottish convenience sector.
Source: kamcity.com
Bulgaria sees closure of more than 10,000 small grocery stores in the past 10 years
Over the past decade, approximately 10,000 small grocery stores in Bulgaria have closed, primarily due to competition from larger, more modern retailers. The data was presented at a meeting in Sofia hosted by Metro Cash & Carry for around 250 independent retailers, as reported by BTA.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Tomatoes triumph, peaches sweet: Australia's best value fruit and veg this December
Tomatoes are going "gangbusters", says Julio Azzarello, director of sales at Gourmand Providore in Sydney. "Buy tomatoes and bottle them now. Don't wait till the end of the season. Roma tomatoes are absolutely amazing". Azzarello's pick of the stone fruits is a doughnut peach. "I always say to people that it is your ready-made peach pie", he says. "You knock out that stone in the middle, wrap it up in filo and bake it".
Source: theguardian.com
UK: Snappy Shopper and One Stop expand partnership with 530 stores
Snappy Shopper has announced a major expansion of its partnership with One Stop, with an additional 280 stores joining the platform. Following an initial 250-store launch in October, the expansion will bring One Stop's total to 530 stores on the Snappy Shopper platform.
Source: talkingretail.com
November in Estonian supermarkets: Vegetable, butter and cheese prices up
Comparing last month's prices with November 2023 prices, prices for some dairy products fell on year, according to figures released by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research (EKI). Vegetables have seen significant fluctuations in price recently as well. Imported cucumbers saw the sharpest increase on year in November, rising 58% from €2.66 per kilogram to €4.20 per kilo. The price of short import cucumbers specifically was even higher - rising 83% on year. Domestic cucumber prices rose significantly as well - by 41%, from €3.43 per kilo last November to €4.84 per kilo last month. Import tomato prices also went up 26%, and cabbage and carrot prices rose 14-15% on year as well. Import apple prices went up 6% on year, from €2.17 to €2.30 per kilogram.
Source: news.err.ee
UK: Healthy and sustainable choices
Asda reported: "Using the Government's Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM), we have set out our ambition to improve the average sales weighted health score of the food we sell, both branded and own-brand, year on year. In the NPM, points are allocated based on a product's negative nutrients i.e. energy, saturated fat, sugar and salt and deducted for positive nutrients i.e. fibre, protein and % fruit, veg & nuts. Our new Health Menu range offers nutritionist-approved meals that are not only affordable but focused on specific health benefits. The range has been designed so customers can eat more whole foods, try a plant-based diet or add more vegetables to their plate".
In other news, Reuters reported: "UK supermarket Asda raises $196 mln to help pay down debt".
Source: corporate.asda.com
Finland: SOK Executive Board for 2025 selected
The Supervisory Board of SOK Corporation has selected the members of SOK's Executive Board for 2025. Reima Loukkola, managing director of Arina Cooperative Society, was chosen as a new member of the Executive Board.
Source: s-ryhma.fi
UK: Sainsbury's issues 7-day warning over Christmas dinner food items for 15p
In store and online, Sainsbury's is offering various Christmas dinner essentials for the bargain price, but has warned customers that the offers will only be available for seven days. Sainsbury's will sell brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, white potatoes, swede, white cabbages and red cabbages for just 15p each if you have a Nectar card.
Source: express.co.uk
UK: 'People queued out of the door when we opened'
A community grocery offering discounted shopping has opened with the aim of helping people struggling with the cost of living. The venture, in Darlington's Baptist Church on Corporation Road, sells produce such as fruit and vegetables, tinned goods and other household items. Simon Mitchell, Community Grocery's regional manager for the North East, said the scheme was important as "prices have gone up and up".
Source: bbc.com
20 years of Marks & Start: M&S commits to supporting a further 2,000 young people into work 
M&S reported: "M&S is celebrating 20 years of Marks & Start - its groundbreaking employability programme in partnership with The Kings Trust. In that time, it has supported 30,000 people, including 12,000 young people facing barriers to employment gain their crucial first step on the career ladder".
Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com