Dunnes top performer in Ireland as shoppers take advantage of promotions amid rising inflation
Latest data from Kantar shows take-home value sales in Ireland increased by 4.9% over the four weeks to 23 February, a slowdown on the 6.5% figure recorded the previous month. Over the 12 weeks to 23 February, Dunnes held 24.6% of the market, with sales growth of 6.9% year-on-year. The chain welcomed new shoppers, and with existing shoppers picking up more per trip, this contributed a combined €18.2m to its overall performance.
Source: kamcity.com
India: Handpickd to enter Bengaluru, turns EBITDA positive
Handpickd, an online platform for fruits and vegetables, has turned EBITDA positive in Gurugram and has ventured into Bengaluru. Launched last April, Handpickd enables consumers to buy quality fresh produce of any quantity as per their preference, akin to offline buying. As part of its strategic move, the company plans to enter Bengaluru market.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Germany: HelloFresh Group achieves AEBITDA of approx. €399mln in 2024 - Focus on long-term AEBIT and free cash flow growth yields results
HelloFresh SE ("HelloFresh" or "Company") finished the year 2024 with a strong financial profile that is reflective of the Company's focus on pursuing higher profitability and cash flow generation over volume growth. The HelloFresh Group reached an adjusted EBITDA ("AEBITDA") of €399.4mln and hence the upper end of its previous outlook for the full year 2024 (FY 2023: €447.6mln), representing an AEBITDA margin of 5.2% (FY 2023: 5.9%), with strong y-o-y progress in profitability in H2 2024. Group revenue amounted to approx. €7.66bln in 2024, corresponding to a 0.9% y-o-y growth in constant currency (FY 2023: €7.60bln).
Source: ir.hellofreshgroup.com
UK: Celebrate Mother's Day with afternoon tea for less than £2.50 per person at Aldi
Aldi has shoppers covered this Mother's Day offering a range of quintessential afternoon tea items for just £2.45 per person, available in stores now, including: Nature's Pick Cucumber - 89p.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
Watchdog investigates four of Turkey's biggest retailers
Turkey's competition watchdog is carrying out an investigation into four of the country's five biggest retailers by sales, the supermarket group Carrefour, the discount store chain BİM, the supermarket chain Migros and the discount store group Şok. Their shares on the Boursa Istanbul fell by as much as 6.3% on Monday, the day the Turkish Competition Authority announced its probe into the four.
Source: agbi.com
Ireland: Lidl to invest €8mln in pay increases
Lidl Ireland has announced an investment of €8mln in pay increases for its workforce in the Republic of Ireland, with an additional £1.1mln (€1.31mln) allocated for operations in Northern Ireland.
Source: esmmagazine.com
New Zealand: ComCom takes HelloFresh to court for misleading consumers over subscriptions
The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against HelloFresh New Zealand, alleging the company misled consumers in cold calls used to "re-activate" customers who had cancelled the food delivery service. The claim relates to conduct between February 2022 and July 2023 when previous HelloFresh customers were offered a discount voucher without it being made clear that acceptance of the voucher would reactivate their subscription.
Source: comcom.govt.nz
Mubadala seeks regulatory approval for acquisition of Getir subsidiaries
Mubadala Investment Company has applied to Türkiye's Competition Authority for the acquisition of four Getir subsidiaries, as the embattled Turkish quick-commerce company undergoes a financial restructuring process.
Source: turkiyetoday.com
Canada: Couche-Tard rejects Seven & i's antitrust concerns over $47bln takeover bid
Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard said it is confident there is a "clear path" to overcome U.S. regulatory hurdles in its proposed $47bln acquisition of Japan's Seven & i, and expressed frustration at the 7-Eleven owner's "limited engagement."
Source: reuters.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market celebrates new store opening in Largo, Florida
Sprouts Farmers Market has announced it will open a new store in Largo, Florida on Friday, March 21, located at 2156 E. Bay Dr. From Friday, March 21 through Sunday, March 23, a variety of activities will celebrate the grand opening. A "pop-up party" out front will give guests the chance to taste seasonal produce from the tasting bar, participate in a "guess the weight" contest of an oversized piece of produce and more.
Source: sprouts.com
US: Stater Brothers lays off 63 clerks: 'We've never done this before'
On the heels of 63 layoffs, the Stater Bros. grocery chain leader blames the fear of inflation as the root cause, according to a recent video announcement to workers. CEO Chairman of the Board Pete Van Helden attempted to explain his position to workers still employed at his store, saying that "it's impactful to everyone who hears the word 'layoff.'" Instead of passing along cost increases to customers, the 171-store chain made a decision it had never made before: it laid off clerks to lower the cost of operations. "Those 63 jobs are a cost reduction, and with that, we can hold the line on pricing and not raise our prices if we can", he said.
Source: patch.com
Loblaw to identify products sourced from U.S. with 'tariff' symbol
Loblaw is making it easy for customers to identify which grocery products are caught in the crosshairs of Canada's trade war with the U.S. A new "T" symbol - standing for "tariffs" - will be slapped on labels for products sourced from America. Loblaw Companies Ltd. president and CEO Per Bank said prices won't rise immediately as a result of Canada's counter-tariffs on U.S. goods like poultry, dairy and produce.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Where is Trader Joe's headed next?
Trader Joe's is springing ahead with plans for new stores. Trader Joe's announced this month that it is readying sites in Yucaipa, California, in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles, and Tracy, California, in San Joaquin County east of San Francisco. No official date was given, but the markets will open this year, as will another Trader Joe's in Sherman Oaks, California. The grocer's first location in New Orleans Parish at 2501 Tulane Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, is in the works, and another is underway in the Uptown neighborhood.
Source: progressivegrocer.com