SPAR Kosova celebrates five year anniversary
This year, SPAR Kosova celebrates its five year anniversary of development of the renowned brand. Since entering Kosovo in 2019, the licensed SPAR organisation has established itself in the market, now operating 9 company-owned stores nationwide and has plans for further expansion in 2024.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Aldi peels away plastic waste on bananas
Aldi is removing the plastic packaging on its bananas in a trial across selected stores in the North East, Yorkshire, the South West, the South East and the Midlands. The UK's fourth-largest supermarket is replacing the traditional plastic bag with a paper band alternative on selected lines, including its Nature's Pick five-pack, midi bananas and the Organic six-pack. If successful, the change would help to remove an estimated 234 tonnes of plastic packaging per year.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
Finland: S Group to open robot-assisted collection centre for online groceries
Finnish retailer S Group will open a robot-assisted collection centre for online grocery shopping in Pirkanmaa in August 2024. Robots will ensure more efficient and faster picking and help the company speed up order fulfilment.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Carrefour opens first European Atacadão: "15% cheaper"
Carrefour has opened its first Atacadão store in France. The Brazilian cash-and-carry formula aims to be up to 15% cheaper than normal hypermarkets and gives volume discounts: the more you buy, the lower the price.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Euro zone consumer confidence rises to -14.0 in June
Euro zone consumer confidence rose by 0.3 point in June from the May number, figures showed. The European Commission said a flash estimate showed euro zone consumer morale improved to -14.0 this month from -14.3 in May.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Just Eat and 1,500 independent restaurants call on next Government for Business Rates relief and creation of Office for Small Business - to urgently support and grow hospitality sector
Just Eat has launched a manifesto and open letter signed by over 1,500 small restaurants, calling for support from the next Government across three key areas. The manifesto's recommendations are aimed at supporting the growth of small businesses in the hospitality industry, and enhancing their resilience against a tough economic backdrop.
Source: justeattakeaway.com
India: Flipkart launches its 1st grocery Fulfillment Center in Rajasthan
India's homegrown e-commerce marketplace Flipkart has recently inaugurated a new grocery Fulfillment Center (FC) in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Notably, this new FC is Flipkart's first grocery FC in the state of Rajasthan.
Source: indianweb2.com
UK: Uber Eats turns couriers into personal shoppers
Uber Eats is determined to capture a bigger share of the grocery delivery market. Customers will soon be able to interact with couriers in real time, as they walk through the shop. The delivery company has already introduced the new services in the United States and is now bringing them to Europe. The United Kingdom is served first, but other countries will follow.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Ocado share price plummets as Canada's Sobeys halts new warehouse
Ocado's share price has plunged almost 15% after it revealed that its partner, Canadian supermarket Sobeys, has paused the launch of its new warehouse in Vancouver as the pair agree to "end terms related to their mutual exclusivity". The online grocery giant said: "Ocado and Sobeys have decided for now to focus their joint resources into driving order and sales volumes across the current network".
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Canada: Empire reports fourth quarter and fiscal 2024 results
Empire Company Limited ("Empire" or the "Company") announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended May 4, 2024. For the quarter, the Company recorded net earnings of $148.9mln ($0.61 per share) compared to $182.9mln ($0.72 per share) last year. For the quarter, the Company recorded adjusted net earnings of $154.0mln ($0.63 per share) compared to $184.9mln ($0.72 per share) last year.
Source: empireco.ca
US: Walmart pilots crop monitoring tech for informed produce purchasing
Walmart announced it will pilot agriculture technology to get real-time information on crops and improve sourcing decisions around produce. The partnership with crop supply intelligence company Agritask will deploy remote sensing and data analytics tools in various regions in the U.S. and Mexico and provide hyperlocal information on blackberry and cherry crops grown by certain Walmart suppliers.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Instacart serves up 4th of July flavor
Instacart reported: "During the seven days ending on July 4th, 2023, certain items flew off the shelves at unexpected rates: Yellow Corn: With a staggering 380% increase in purchases compared to the overall yearly average, it's clear that corn on the cob is a must-have for many cookouts. Watermelon +139%".
Source: instacart.com
US: Festival Foods is expanding in Wisconsin
Skogen's Festival Foods will open two new stores in Wisconsin later this year. The Kimberly store, located at 800 East Maes Avenue, will open September 20, followed by the Hudson store, which will open November 8 at 1616 Crest View Drive.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger's Q1 led by better-than-expected grocery performance
The Kroger Co. has reported solid financial results for its first quarter of 2024 thanks to growth in digital sales, increased total household penetration, better-than-expected performance in its grocery business and more. Total company sales were $45.3bln during the quarter compared to $45.2bln for the same period in 2023.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: California Teamsters strike at Smart & Final distribution centers
More than 600 warehouse workers represented by Teamsters Local 630 at two Smart & Final grocery store warehouses in Southern California reportedly went on strike on June 19, alleging mass layoffs and other unfair labor practices.
Source: progressivegrocer.com