Amazon taps Whole Foods CEO to helm its entire grocery business
Amazon announced that Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel will also take on the role of vice president for worldwide grocery stores for Amazon. This leadership move furthers Amazon's efforts to unify its grocery operating business, which it combined into a single entity in 2022.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Stater Bros. rolls out Afresh in all produce departments
Following a successful pilot, Stater Bros. is implementing Afresh's store ordering solution across all of the Southern California grocer's produce departments. "With Afresh, our produce managers have a tool that can assist them in placing orders that reduce waste and increase shelf life", noted Bertha Luna, Stater Bros.' SVP retail operations. "The result is fresher produce at affordable prices, which translates into happier and more loyal customers".
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Food Lion expands in North Carolina
A second Food Lion is opening this week in Troutman, North Carolina, a town about 35 miles north of Charlotte. The location at 155 Crosstie Lane anchors a new shopping center and will officially kick off business on January 29. Food Lion operates another store at 520 N. Main Street in Troutman, which has been a community fixture for nearly 50 years.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: JOH welcomes Brian LaMarche, Director of Produce & Fresh, North Central Region
JOH proudly welcomes Brian LaMarche as the Director of Produce & Fresh in the North Central Region. Brian joins the JOH team with 25 years of
experience in the produce industry.
Source: johare.com
US: GrubMarket acquires Sally Produce, a prominent provider of specialty produce to grocery retailers across the West Coast
GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Gilroy, CA-based Sally Produce, one of the largest and most reputable Asian produce wholesalers in California. Sally Produce offers a full spectrum of fresh fruits and vegetables, with a specialization in Asian greens, pomelos, and melons, sourced directly from local farms in the Watsonville, Gilroy, Bakersfield, and Santa Cruz areas. With over 100 business customers, the company supplies major Asian grocery stores including 99 Ranch Market throughout Northern California and Washington state, as well as restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Whole Foods workers in Philadelphia vote to form Amazon-owned grocery store's first union
Workers at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union. The vote marks the first successful organizing effort at Whole Foods since Amazon acquired the grocer for $13.7bln in 2017.
Source: cnbc.com
UK food & drink businesses facing disruption from possible US tariffs and inflation pressures
IGD has published its latest Viewpoint report. The report - A Shaky Start to 2025, what's next? - states that the political position in the UK is arguably the most stable it has been for nearly a decade, although a threat to global trade could emerge from the US with the new administration's trade policies.
Source: kamcity.com
UK: Asda restarts search for new CEO
Asda chair Allan Leighton has restarted the supermarket's search for a new chief executive following a failed effort by his predecessor Lord Rose. Leighton, who returned to the business in November after 24 years, is thought to be seeking a candidate who he can work alongside rather than oversee, The Telegraph reported.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Spanish grocery spending hits record €122bln in 2024
Grocery spending in Spain hit a record €122bln in 2024, representing a 4.6% increase, driven by higher prices (2.5%) and increased purchase volume (2%), according to the Consumer Trends 2024 report from NielsenIQ (NIQ). Regional supermarkets maintained a steady 25% market share, highlighting the continued demand for locally sourced fresh produce.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Lidl opens its largest logistics hub in Europe
Lidl has opened the doors of its new flagship logistics hub in Ablis, southwest of Paris. Covering 87,000 sqm, it is the largest of its kind in Europe. The new logistics hub will initially serve around fifty Lidl shops in the Paris region. The construction project took more than seven years to complete, but it has now been officially inaugurated, LSA reports.
Source: retaildetail.eu
South African retailer Shoprite posts half-year sales growth on festive demand
Shoprite Holdings, South Africa's biggest supermarket retailer, said its half-year sales from continuing operations grew by 9.6%, as both upmarket and discount customers stocked up on food during the festive season. Shoprite, with more than 2,700 stores excluding OK Franchise across 10 countries, said sales in the six-month period ended December 29 came in at 128.6bln rand ($6.84bln).
Source: reuters.com
Kaufland discontinues fulfillment service
German online marketplace Kaufland is discontinuing Fulfillment by Kaufland (FBK). The service will remain active until February 28, after which stored products will be returned free of charge to the respective selling partners. The platform is working on an international multichannel alternative.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
UK: Certification scheme re-launched for Real Farmers Market
The Farm Retail Association is re-launching its certification scheme to make it clear what counts as a real farmers' market. This move is set to bring consistency to the UK's farmers' markets, which serve as a crucial sales avenue for thousands of farmers across the country. The refreshed 'Real Farmers Market' certification scheme is aimed at helping the public identify genuine farmers' markets.
Source: northernfarmer.co.uk
DIA sees 3% increase in Q4 sales, Spain drives growth
Spanish grocery retailer DIA has reported that sales in the fourth quarter of its 2024 financial year reached €1.48bln, registering a 2.9% increase overall. DIA Spain's fourth-quarter net sales hit €1.1bln, while full-year net sales reached €4.3bln - a 5.4% rise with a 5.6% LFL increase.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Amazon picks UK location for deliveries by drone
Amazon has chosen Darlington as the first location in the UK to see parcels delivered by drones. It says it will now start the planning process for initial flights from its fulfilment centre on the outskirts of the town.
Source: bbc.com
Highlighting SPAR brand growth across Africa
The SPAR brand is present across more than 48 countries with over 14,000 stores operating worldwide. On the African continent, new store openings in various formats across Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and South Africa reflect how local retailers continue to meet the needs of their customers.
Source: spar-international.com