"Meal kit brands should move away from discount marketing" - Insights from Patrick Stal, SVP Marketing
The HelloFresh Group reported: "With more than one billion meals served each year, the HelloFresh Group is one of the biggest direct to consumer food companies worldwide. Each of our eight food solution brands offers a unique and delicious experience, and our team is responsible for bringing those experiences closer to our customers across the world. Patrick Stal, Senior Vice President of Marketing, joined the HelloFresh Group in December 2023 and is now leading the marketing team across our international markets - encompassing 16 countries spanning from Spain to New Zealand - from Berlin. He recently sat down with us to provide insights on his personal journey, his vision for AI in marketing and share why meal kit brands should move away from their discount spirals".
Source: hellofreshgroup.com
Iceland boss warns 'shock' minimum wage rise would bankrupt chain
Iceland boss Richard Walker has warned Labour that a "shock" increase in minimum wage would bankrupt the frozen food specialist. Walker told The Telegraph that the new government was "absolutely right" to overhaul working practices, but that any changes must happen slowly to avoid a "disastrous" impact.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Ocado and Coles announce the launch of Australian CFCs
Ocado Group and Coles Group announced that both of their Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs) in Australia commenced operations in July - introducing a new level of customer service and differentiated home delivery to communities in Metropolitan Melbourne and Sydney.
Source: ocadogroup.com
UK: Food inflation eases driven by fresh produce prices
Food inflation has eased to the biggest monthly decrease since December 2020, driven by fresh food prices, such as fruit, meat and fish. Food inflation slowed to 2.0% in August, down from 2.3% in July with the annual rate sitting at its lowest rate since November 2021. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: "Food inflation eased with fresh food prices, especially fruit, meat and fish, seeing the biggest monthly decrease since December 2020 as supplier input costs lessened".
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Switzerland: Aldi reduces non-food range and sells more fresh produce
The Swiss branch of the German discounter Aldi will be focusing more on food in future. Aldi is using the space freed up in its stores to expand its food range. Particular attention is being paid to fresh products such as fruit and vegetables, regional specialties and organic products. However, Aldi Suisse is also expanding its frozen food range. In addition, foods from the Balkans, Mexico, Asia and Iberia "have been given a permanent place".
Source: bluewin.ch
Woolies registers big profit discount, says prices down
Woolworths' shoppers are paying less for their groceries, the supermarket giant says, as it comes into more criticism over profits during a cost-of-living crisis. This is despite the company announcing a 93.3% plunge in statutory profit to $108mln for 2023-24, after its $1.7bln operating profit was hit by $1.6bln in writedowns against its New Zealand stores and drinks group Endeavour. Woolworths' food prices fell 0.6% in the June quarter and 0.2% in the March quarter, the company announced, with meat and fruit and vegetables dipping the most.
Source: aap.com.au
FairPrice Group signs Memorandum of Understanding with Korea's largest retail group LOTTE Retail to bring the best of South Korean food to Singapore
In an all-out effort to feed Singaporeans' obsession with Korean food and pop culture, NTUC FairPrice Co-operative Limited (FairPrice Group) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LOTTE Shopping Co., Ltd (LOTTE Retail) to bring the finest South Korean flavors and food experiences to Singaporean consumers, starting with innovative shop-in-shop Korean food concepts. The MOU is LOTTE Retail's first MOU in Southeast Asia and Singapore. It is also FairPrice Group's first MOU with a Korean retailer.
Source: fairpricegroup.com.sg
Australia: Retailers call for national consistency on phase out of single-use plastics
With the next phase of single-use-plastics bans coming into effect in Western Australia and South Australia from 1 September, Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has renewed calls for national alignment and a more common-sense approach to the legislation. Changes coming into effect from 1 September are: South Australia: plastic barrier bags, thick supermarket or boutique-style plastic bags, single-use plastic beverage containers including coffee cups, expanded food and beverage containers including gelato tubs, polystyrene trays used for meat, fruit and other food items. Western Australia: produce bags for loose fresh fruit and vegetables, lids for disposable food containers, bowls, plates and trays.
Source: retail.org.au
Return of the humble swede as sales soar amid Tik Tok trend
Tesco reported: "Retro veg side dish swede has ditched its 1970s image thanks to a Tik Tok hack for cooking the traditional favourite in the microwave as a healthy lower-carb jacket potato alternative. Sales of the healthy seasonal swede have soared 23% this year at Tesco, as influencers convinced people to give the old school root veg a try. The supermarket promoted swedes in its 'Festive 5' discounted vegetables for Christmas last year and sales have been rising ever since. Shoppers have returned to the swede as they embrace its attributes as a super healthy lower-carb and high fibre option, which is great value for money at just 63p for a 400g vegetable. Tesco's swedes are supplied by food companies in Scotland, including family firm Stewarts of Tayside, based near Perth".
Source: tescoplc.com
US: Amazon, Kroger, and UNFI workers join Teamsters
UNFI warehouse workers in Illinois and Kroger truck drivers in Georgia have voted to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, less than a week after the National Labor Relations Board ordered Amazon to recognize Teamster drivers in California.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market expanding into 10 more communities
In addition to the dozen of new store openings announced last week, Sprouts Farmers Market has informed Progressive Grocer of 10 more grand openings it has planned in the coming months: November 8 Palm Springs, California. November 15 Stockbridge-Jodeco, Georgia; Studio City, California. November 22 Cheyanne, Wyoming; Georgetown-Wildwood Dr., Texas. December 6 San Jose-N. Capitol Ave., California; Downey, California; Middletown, Delaware; Melbourne-Wickham, Florida; Madison, Tennessee.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Food delivery is seeing more consolidation: GrubMarket snaps up FreshGoGo
GrubMarket, the $3.6bln food delivery and supply chain startup backed by Tiger Global, BlackRock and nearly 100 other investors, has snapped up another food delivery startup on its consolidation march: It is acquiring FreshGoGo, a New York-based, B2C platform selling Asian groceries and ready-made dishes.
Source: techcrunch.com
Walmart unveils new marketplace seller services for holiday boost
Walmart said it would provide marketplace sellers its services to handle transportation of their goods from Asia directly to its U.S. warehouses, as well as fulfill orders and manage returns from any e-commerce website, in a new approach to bolstering its marketplace business ahead of the holiday season.
Source: reuters.com