Switzerland: Migros recorded an increase in sales in 2024
Migros reported: "Marked by restructuring and disposals, 2024 was a year of new beginnings for Migros. In this challenging environment, we succeeded in keeping sales at a stable level in our core business - the supermarket. Coming in at CHF 32.5bln (+1.6%), Group sales were well up on the previous year's strong performance. One of the major drivers was continued strong growth in online retail (+10.1%, CHF 4.5bln). Retail sales in Switzerland also increased by 1.4% to CHF 24.4bln".
Source: corporate.migros.ch
Indian foodtech startup Fambo raises $2.5mln pre-series
Foodtech startup Fambo has raised 21 crore rupees (US$2.5mln) in a pre-series funding round led by EV2 Ventures, with additional contributions from Rajesh Sawhney and several ultra-high net worth individuals. Founded in March 2022, Fambo connects farmers with restaurants, hotels, and cloud kitchens through an AI-enabled platform. The company also runs a micro-processing center in Noida, where it offers semi-processed food items such as pre-cut vegetables and sauces. Fambo currently serves over 500 clients, including well-known brands like Burger King, McDonald's, and Barbeque Nation.
Source: techinasia.com
Food stores in Great Britain have worst Christmas since 2013
Retailers in Great Britain experienced a surprise fall in sales last month, as supermarkets and food stores had their worst Christmas since 2013, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes fell 0.3% month on month in December, as the crucial retailing "golden quarter" of trading for the sector proved to be weak this year. The ONS figures showed the decline in December sales was led by food stores, and in particular supermarkets, where volumes dropped by 1.9% month on month to their lowest level in more than a decade.
Source: theguardian.com
Tobacco ban costs Jumbo sales and market share
Despite lower sales and market share in 2024, Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo says it is ready for a new phase of growth - emboldened by the "breakthrough" in Belgium, where the retailer became operationally profitable. Jumbo saw its sales fall 2.7% to 10.72bln euros last year, a drop that the retailer says can be attributed to the spin-off of restaurant chain La Place (accounting for 50mln euros) and the tobacco ban (which cost the chain 400mln euros). Supermarket sales fell 2.3% to 10.64bln euros, but excluding that tobacco ban sales would have risen by almost 3%.
Source: retaildetail.eu
New EUROSPAR Supermarket opens in Northern Ireland after significant investment
The new company-owned EUROSPAR Supermarket Doury Road in Ballymena welcomed customers after multi-million pound investment by SPAR licensed organisation for Northern Ireland Henderson Group. Shoppers can find everything they need under one roof. This includes fresh, locally sourced produce.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Sainsbury's opens first new store of 2025 in Burnt Oak
Sainsbury's reported: "Sainsbury's has celebrated the opening of its first new store of the year with the arrival of its Burnt Oak Broadway Local store in Edgware. The new store offers a carefully curated range of meal deals, fresh bread and cakes baked daily in-store, delicious fruit and veg, meat, fish, and meal solutions".
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
UK: Bestway kicks off 50th anniversary celebrations with deals for retailers
Bestway Wholesale kicks off 2025 with its flagship 'Thank You' event where "exceptional deals" are offered to its retailer customers, taking the lead with BOGOFs, (Buy One Get One Free) offers and big savings with 50%+ PORs on leading brands and products. 2025 is a huge milestone for Bestway as it marks the 50th anniversary of the business, which was founded by Sir Anwar Pervez who established his first wholesale depot in 1975.
Source: talkingretail.com
Ahold Delhaize introduces 500 new own-brand products in Central and Southeastern Europe region
Ahold Delhaize reported: "Ahold Delhaize is proud to introduce more than 500 new products across its own-brand lines, available now at Albert in Czechia, Mega Image in Romania, Alfa Beta in Greece and Maxi in Serbia. Thanks to an ongoing collaboration between our great local brands, customers will find a broader range of new products including more plant-based and organic choices, as well as redesigned packaging and innovations on existing food products".
Source: newsroom.aholddelhaize.com
Italy: Coop Alleanza 3.0 completes €222mln sale-and-leaseback operation
Italian grocery retailer and Europe's largest consumer cooperative Coop Alleanza 3.0 has divested a portfolio of 15 supermarkets and seven hypermarkets in Italy as part of a sale-and-leaseback operation. The buyer is ICG Real Estate, the real estate division of global alternative asset manager ICG, in partnership with GRR Garbe Retail and a German institutional investor.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Lidl Plus celebrates 100mln users
Lidl's Plus app has passed the milestone of 100mln users. The retailer continues to add new features to the digital loyalty card to make shopping easier for its customers. Just recently, the discounter also launched a loyalty programme in the app. Belgium and Luxembourg got the scoop, the Netherlands would soon follow.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Ahold Delhaize USA, Lidl US selected as Top Employers
Retailers Ahold Delhaize USA and Lidl US have been named among the Top Employers in the U.S. by the Top Employers Institute, which singles out organizations dedicated to upholding exemplary human resources policies and people practices.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Automation firm Symbotic soars on $200mln deal to buy Walmart's robotics unit
Symbotic's shares jumped about 14% on Thursday after the automation firm said it would buy Walmart's robotics business for $200mln as part of an agreement to expand the retailer's automated supply chain.
Source: reuters.com
US: Target says its holiday sales were better than expected - but its profits weren't
Target raised its fourth-quarter sales forecast, as customer traffic across stores and its website rose and deals attracted holiday shoppers. Target anticipates fourth-quarter earnings per share will range from $1.85 to $2.45 and full-year earnings per share will be between $8.30 and $8.90. Target will report full fourth-quarter earnings results March 4.
Source: cnbc.com
US: H-E-B plants a flag in Dallas proper
San Antonio, Texas-based grocer H-E-B has been dancing around Dallas for many years now. But it appears the regional supermarket chain is now ready to commit to a location in the city proper. H-E-B announced that a subsidiary of the chain purchased a 10-acre site in Dallas, at Hillcrest Road and LBJ Freeway, on the far north side of the city. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Source: supermarketnews.com