SPAR International has announced today that it has reached an agreement with two partners to expand SPAR retail operations in the Moscow region as part of its continued growth in Russia. The licensing agreements, with Intertorg and Azbuka Vkusa, represent a significant strengthening and extension of existing arrangements between SPAR International and the two companies and will result in a total of 45 SPAR stores in the Moscow region in the next 12 months according to a press release. SPAR Russia confirmed a record year in 2014. Retail sales grew by more than 30% to €1.45B. Lidl tests new format in Italy
Lidl has started testing a new intuitive store layout in Italy, putting an emphasis on greater attention to the environmental impact, esmmagazine.com reports. The Italian arm of Lidl has been mandated to test the format by the parent company, according to a pilot project which, if successful, could be implemented worldwide. UK: Living near Waitrose makes you £40,000 richer
It turns out that living near a Waitrose may not only be handy for the weekly shop but it could also boost the price of your house by as much as £38,831, AOL Money UK reports. Lloyds Bank have compared the house prices in areas which have national supermarkets. Living near a Waitrose store will make the most difference.US: Arizona food prices down 5%
Arizona retail food prices at supermarkets are down in the first quarter of 2015, according to the latest Arizona Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey, kpho.com reports. Compared to Arizona's January 2014 survey, the 2015 first quarter Marketbasket survey shows that Arizona's food prices have decreased about 3% year-to-year. Comparatively, the American Farm Bureau Federation's national survey was about 1 % higher than the survey conducted a year ago, March 2014.China:
reports decrease in turnover in 2014 As at 31 December 2014, Lianhua's turnover amounted to US$ 4,731M, a fall of 4.1% on 2013's figure, retailanalysis.igd.com reports. The Group said like-for-like sales decreased by 5.5% as compared to 2013. The total number of outlets reached 4,291. The Group opened 275 new outlets in 2014, including four hypermarkets, 158 supermarkets. Looking forward, the Group's Supermarket segment will focus on fresh produce in 2015.
India: Flipkart to sell groceries
Flipkart is poised to begin selling groceries from the second half of this year, sources said, entering a line of business which is crowded but also regarded as an attractive one for online retailers, indiatimes.com reports. When it launches a grocery retail service, Flipkart will be following in the wake of rivals Amazon and Snapdeal, which have a head start in the segment. Japan: Seven & I surpasses sales predictions
Group total sales grow ahead of plan at 6.6% to US$85.1B, retailanalysis.igd.com reports. However, only the convenience division hit its operating income target, resulting in more subdued growth of 1.1% to US$2.9B.
Japanese Seven-Eleven record growth
Seven-Eleven Japan (SEJ) achieved operating income growth of 5% to US$1.86B, a record high for the fourth consecutive year, retailanalysis.igd.com. Total store sales grew 6% to US$33.4B. Same store sales were the healthiest to be reported in recent years, rising 2.4% year-on-year. In addition, SEJ increased net store numbers by 1,172 to a total of 17,491 stores.
UK: Tesco opens 2nd Food-to-Go concept store
After receiving positive feedback on its first 'food-to-go' concept store in London, Tesco has launched a second concept store in the British capital, esmmagazine.com reports. The store's range includes over 50 types of sandwiches, pre-packed sushi, hot food-to-go items, snacks and drinks and is geared towards tourists and nearby office workers.US: Kroger taps Stewart to head Dillons division
Kroger said Tuesday that Marlene Stewart has been promoted to president of the company's Dillons division, supermarketnews.com reports. She replaces Joe Grieshaber, who was recently named president of Kroger's Columbus division. US: Some Harris Teeter stores converting to Kroger
Major changes are in the works for the Nashville area grocery scene as Harris Teeter announced plans Tuesday to close four locations and convert three of those to Kroger stores, tennessean.com reports. The move comes about one year after The Kroger Co. acquired Harris Teeter for $2.5B. Kroger retained the Harris Teeter brand in the merger.
UK shop price deflation reaches record low
Prices in UK shops fell sharply again in March, registering their 23rd month of declines, ft.com reports. According to the BRC's index, prices dropped by a record 2.1% in March. This marked an acceleration from a 1.7% decline the previous month. Food prices declined by 0.9% - an acceleration from February's 0.4% fall - as the major supermarket chains continue to engage in a fierce war to lure shoppers back from the German discounters.US: Food Lion wins energy award for the 14th time
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Food Lion with a 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements, nassaunewslive.com reports. This is the 14th year Food Lion has received the award, making it the only grocer to achieve this honour for so many years consecutively.Turkish retail sales rise
Turkish retails sales rose in 2.9% in February from the same period in the previous year, the Turkish Statistical Institute said, turkishweekly.net reports. Food and drink sales rose sharply as well, up 4.2% in the same period. There has been relative food scarcity in Turkey, as the past harsh winter hurt harvests, and increased exports of food to Russia have cut into supply. Turkey exports about $6B worth of goods and services to Russia. Food exports now constitute about $1.3B, according to the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.US: Walmart unveils new delivery service
Walmart Unveils New Direct Home Delivery Service For Foster City, patch.com reports. Bay Area residents can now order online and receive groceries straight to their door. The residents are among the first in the country to take part in Patch partner Walmart’s direct home delivery program.Walmart tops IDC list of world's biggest IT spenders
According to a new IDC report, the world's largest companies spent $895B on technology in 2014 - with discount retail giant Walmart taking the spending crown, zdnet.com reports.
US: Walmart launches nationwide initiative against hunger
Today, Walmart launches the spring initiative, Fight Hunger, eprretailnews.com reports. Spark Change campaign, a nationwide initiative inviting the public to take action in the fight against hunger. Walmart joins the campaign together with some of the nation’s leading food companies – Campbell’s, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Kraft, and Unilever.
Foodland expands rewards program
Less than two years after unveiling the program, the Foodland grocery store chain has introduced its Foodland Rewards program to nearly all of its locations in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, charlestondailymail.com reports.UK: Marks & Spencer launch 'forgotten food' range
Marks & Spencer have launched a new British-themed summer range called Tastes Of The British Isles, burtonmail.co.uk reports. The firm says they will "put the British Isles back on the food map for 2015" Is Wal-Mart asking suppliers to fund Savings Catcher?
Consultants to the supplier community have told The City Wire that after Wal-Mart greatly reduced or abandoned co-marketing agreements with suppliers that some Wal-Mart buyers have asked for funding help with the retailer’s Savings Catcher program. Winning on prize has been one of the major mantras for Wal-Mart Stores CEO Doug McMillon this year, The City Wire reports. Wal-Mart spokeswoman Molly Blakeman said she was not unable to substantiate claims about supplier support of the Savings Catcher program prior to publishing this report. Please, click here to read more. How far can discounters expand?
Lessons from France and Germany can show us the future of supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl, say analysts from BPEX. The website thepigsite.com has published an article on How Far Can they expand. Please, click here to read the article.