The latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel in Ireland show Tesco boasts 25.2% of the grocery market, farmersjournal.ie reports. The supermarket giant was knocked off the top spot by SuperValu in April in Ireland, but drew level with the Irish chain last month. SuperValu, meanwhile, captured 24.8% of the grocery market over the past 12 weeks with sales growing by 1.2%. 
Source: Kantar
Walmart sets up global online operation at Asda
Walmart has set up an international operation at Asda’s head office in Leeds, UK, to support the launch of its online operations across the globe, according to the Yorkshire Post. Walmart says it has chosen its Asda subsidiary as the launchpad for its online operations around the world, as the UK leads the way in online shopping. The new operation will rely on Asda’s technology centre which is the first of its kind in the UK, IGD.com reports. It enables Asda and Walmart to monitor all traffic and interactions with its global websites 24 hours a day, seven days a week. China will be the next target. French Leclerc and German giant Rewe partner up
French Leclerc and German giant Rewe have announced they will create a new purchase alliance in order to stimulate their growth and purchase deals, retaildetail.eu reports. They said they would "enter a strategic alliance in order to align their common strategic plans". Both companies particularly aim to collaborate on a purchase level.AU: Woolworths unveils large investment of $500M
Woolworths has unveiled plans to invest more than $500m in new supermarkets and distribution infrastructure in Victoria over the next three years as the retailer diverts capital from its struggling general merchandise and hardware businesses to food and liquor, theage.com.au reports. Woolworths outlined plans on Monday to invest $350m on a semi-automated grocery distribution centre in south-east Melbourne, and spend about $150m opening at least 20 new supermarkets and refurbishing another 40 existing stores in Victoria. Woolworths said the new distribution centre would represent its largest single investment in infrastructure. French Carrefour signs contract for 3,000 tons of Chinese Hami melons
French retail giant, Carrefour, signed a contract for 3,000 tons of Hami melons with the Xinjiang region, in order to increase their presence in the West of China, french.china.org.cn reports. The contract was signed by the Heads of 6 Carrefour China supply centres, 2 local agricultural cooperatives, and the Xinjiang Guagau Fruit Co from the Shanshan district, Turpan. Dai Wei, Vice-President of Carrefour China, stated that Carrefour planned to buy up to 7,000 tons of fresh and dried fruit that would be sold in other markets this year, particularly in the East of China. Carrefour began buying fruit in 2007 from Xinjiang, including grapes, watermelons, pears and apples. Carrefour CEO expresses concern over discounters
The push worldwide for a low cost model in retailing is a damaging trend, the head of France-based food retail group Carrefour said in an interview with the Journal de Dimanche newspaper, Reuters reports. "We have to be competitive. In all countries price is crucial," said Chairman and Chief Executive Georges Plassat, whose company has more than 10,000 stores across 33 countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. "But I say this: the systematic prioritisation of the low cost model and the never-ending hunt for cost reductions is destroying jobs and value."
KKR, Carlyle invited to bid for Tesco's South Korea unit
British retailer Tesco has invited at least six firms including KKR & Co and Carlyle Group to bid for its South Korean unit Homeplus, valued at about $6bn, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Homeplus is expected to appeal mainly to private equity firms which are likely to look at making money from the retailer's valuable property assets through sale-and-leaseback agreements, Reuters reports.UK: Tesco admits to breaking grocery code
Tesco has admitted to a number of cases that it believes are likely to have breached the grocery sector’s code of practice, retail-week.com reports. The grocer was accused of mistreating and delaying payments to suppliers in February by the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).
Italy: Carrefour Gourmet open 24/7
Carrefour have announced that since the 21st May 2015 in Naples, it is possible to go shopping 7 days a week, at any time of the day or night. This is in their new Carrefour Market “Gourmet” store in Corso Europa. The supermarket employs 75 people, of which 18 were specifically hired to turn the store into a Market Gourmet.
France: Franprix launches a new concept
Chain of small supermarkets, Franprix, has announced their new “Mandarine” stores, lesechosdelafranchise.com reports. Following 2 years of tests, they intend to renovate 57% of their stores for this new concept, i.e. 453 stores, which according to a press release will all have been converted by 2017. The new stores will be brightly coloured with glazed facades and will focus on the functionality of sales space as well as high range products and their own brand “Marché Franprix”. Created in 1958, Franprix belongs to the Casino group and has 860 stores, mainly in the Ile-de-France region. US: Pick 'N Save introduces exotic fruits
Pick ’n Save stores are promoting Tropical Fruits through Frieda’s Produce University program, prweb.com reports. The program is a way to introduce shoppers to new and exciting produce such as Young Coconut, Rambutan, Kiwano, Feijoa, and many more.India: Online grocery business model is yet to be cracked!
Online grocery is a successful business model in many developed countries like Japan, France, Switzerland, UK, US etc, entrepreneurindia.com reports. Now, the market is set to become an exciting space and experience exponential growth in India with a large chunk of Indian population coming online. Retail consultancy Technopak expects the online grocery business to grow at a rate of 25-30% year-on-year in major Indian cities. Research firm IGD predicts that by 2016, the Indian grocery market would overtake Japan to become the third largest market worldwide. India’s online grocery market, which is estimated to be less than $100m at present, is expected to cross $25bn by 2020. US: Walmart’s fresh approach to online grocery delivery
Customers have to wait to long when collecting their groceries at Walmart. It has now come up with new features which allows to cut down customers spend collecting their orders: "After you’ve placed the order, a notification on your phone prompts you to “check in” when you’re ready to pick it up. Before you hop in your car to retrieve your order at Sam’s Club, you go to that check-in screen and let the store know how long it will take for you to get there."India: BigBasket to tie up with 1,800 grocery stores
Online grocery store BigBasket will tie up with about 1,800 grocery stores to sell its private-label products across categories such as vegetables, staples and bakery in a move aimed at increasing revenue four-fold and improving profitability this financial year, livemint.com reports. India: Same day delivery e-grocery portal VeggyKart launches in Delhi NCR
Online grocery venture for home delivery, VeggyKart.com has recently launched operations in Delhi NCR, indianretailer.com reports. VeggyKart provides a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables by providing consumers with quality products at market. The company aims to make a difference for customers in the grocery e-commerce market with a same-day delivery service of handpicked and cleaned goods packed in bio degradable hygienic bags. US: Publix just one spot away from fortune 100 list
A Virginia-based defense contractor is the only company standing between Publix Super Markets Inc. and a spot on the Fortune 100 list, theledger.com reports. The Lakeland-based grocery chain ranked No. 101 on the recently released Fortune 500, an annual ranking of the top 500 U.S.-based companies based on revenue.US: 7-Eleven’s zero franchise fee initiative ending soon
The deadline for 7-Eleven Inc.’s Zero Franchise Fee initiative is June 30, according to CSPnet.com. The initiative waives the franchise fee for select U.S.-based 7-Eleven convenience stores available for franchise, which is a savings of up to $80,000, stated the release. Across the country, around 250 stores are eligible, reported the release, and 67 stores have been franchised or are currently in the approval process. (carwash.com)Interesting links on retail:
India: Retail gains prominence: Future Retail profit soars 5-fold in Q4 Click here to read the article.
The future supermarket will be
as much a learning space as a shopping center
Click here to read the article.
Grocery stores find productivity and service improve when employees become owners
Click here to read the article.
How Walmart Canada can leap ahead with online grocery pickup Click here to read the article.