Online grocer Ocado announced today that it is leading work on a project to build an autonomous humanoid robot that will help staff in its distribution centres in the future, engadget.com reports. Work to build the robot starts today in an EU-wide initiative led by Ocado Technology, the technology arm of the Ocado ecommerce grocery business, and four leading European research institutions. A spokesman said: “The robot will basically help keep the warehouse running so they can keep delivering products to customers.”New ABC of Taste deluxe supermarket in Moscow
The company "ABC of Taste" has opened a new deluxe supermarket in the metropolitan area of Strogino, Moscow. The store has a sales area of 507 m2, new-retail.ru reports. The new "ABC of Taste" will soon open its own Enoteca with 1,500 kinds of wines. Customers will also be able to buy a wide variety of goods under its own brands and premium goods from all over the world. "ABC of Taste" runs 82 supermarkets and a small number of stores under other formats in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Its revenue by the end of the fiscal year 2013 amounted to 32.5B Rouble (€ 532m).Lidl keeps rivals guessing about entry into Australia
German discounter Lidl has "no current plans" to enter Australia, even though it has been eyeing the local grocery market over the last 15 years, smh.com.au reports. IP Australia records show Lidl Stiftung and Co, a major rival to fellow discounter Aldi, first registered the Lidl trademark in Australia in August 2000. Since then the world's fourth largest retailer, has registered 500 trademarks in Australia – the latest in 2009 – as part of an international registration process to protect its intellectual property. However, a Lidl spokesman told retail analysts as recently as last week, the retailer had "no current" plans to enter Australia, reiterating a statement made in July last year. Analysts say the company does not appear to have secured sites for stores or major supply agreements with local food and grocery suppliers, prerequisites to setting up a network of stores. However, retailers, analysts and investors believe Lidl's eventual entry into Australia cannot be ruled out, as there is room in the market. Ahold to explain Delhaize talks
Dutch food retailer Ahold Wednesday said it would eventually explain its disclosure of talks between it and rival Delhaize last month, in response to a complaint by Dutch 
investor union VEB, on behalf of a group of small shareholders, marketwatch.com reports. "We cannot comment further at this time, without disclosing the nature and status of the preliminary talks", the company said. "We will continue discussing this subject at a later time," Ahold said, adding that it is complying with regulations and discussing with regulators if needed.Top grocers in China striving to maintain their position
The latest share figures from Kantar Worldpanel in China, published for the 12 weeks ending 17th April, show that the 2nd largest retail group CRVanguard has stabilized its share at 6.6% for 3 consecutive periods, kantarworldpanel.com reports. The retailer suffered ‘integration pain’ through the takeover of Tesco business in China since Q1 2014. CRVanguard is on the right track of recovery with a strong Chinese New Year. The recovery is more noticeable in the East and North region.
Source: Kantar Worldpanel
US: Kroger rolling out online shopping
Kroger has expanded from testing its online shopping service with select customers of its Liberty Twp. store to making it available for all customers of the Butler County grocery, the company announced today, journal-news.com reports. Cincinnati-based The Kroger Co. began testing last year, with employees, an online ordering and in-store pick up service at the Liberty Twp. It’s the first and so far only Kroger-branded store nationally to test the service. “We are going to expand to other locations soon,” said Kroger spokeswoman Patty Leesemann in an email.German Edeka launches cooking channel on Youtube
Yumtamtam, is the new online cooking channel by supermarket chain EDEKA. And it starts today at www.youtube.com/yumtamtam, according edeka-verbund.de. The channel presents for the target audience of 20- to 35-year-olds a wide range of videos under the slogan "Discover the joy of cooking". Every week a YouTube cook presents a show on yumtamtam. UK: Sainsbury's sales fall again, but glimmers of hope cheer investors
Sainsbury’s has revealed its sixth quarter of falling sales, theguardian.com reports. But despite the new decline, shares in Sainsbury’s rose more than 4.5% to 260p as Coupe said shoppers’ average spend per visit had not declined for the first time in five years. The number of shoppers and the volume of goods sold in its stores had risen for the second quarter in a row.UK : Sainsbury's online sales go well
While overall sales were down, the supermarket giant revealed that online grocery shopping hit record levels during the quarter, news.sky.com reports. Online sales aside, it has been a tough year for Sainsbury’s. Last month it reported pre-tax profits down 14.7% to £681m.
US: White House says Walmart, other companies pledge to help environment
Walmart, Unilever and PepsiCo joined other international business giants Wednesday in announcing they would increase their dependence on agricultural suppliers that help the environment, the White House said, desmoinesregister.com reports. The Obama administration said the commitments focus on agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water quality and improve water efficiency. They came as part of a White House summit with Monsanto, Syngenta, Cargill and others on Wednesday to discuss ways to cut emissions and help the rural economy.UK: Lidl named Grocer of the Year for the first time
Lidl has been named Grocer of the Year for the first time at the Grocer Gold Awards, following year in which it shook up the supermarket industry, sparking a price war among the more established big four brands, independent.co.uk reports. Ocado was named online supermarket of the year. Lidl Italia scoops awards for innovation and social networking
Retailer Lidl Italia has received the Positive Business Award in the categories innovation, repositioning and social network, esmmagazine.com reports. The prestigious award, created by the Palo Alto School, the main non-academic Italian business school, is dedicated to companies, entrepreneurs and managers who understand how success "can be built starting from the happiness of the people".
It's Vietnam week at S. Korean supermarket
Vietnamese products are showcased during a week of Vietnamese goods display at Emart Supermarket, one of the largest retailers in the Republic of Korea, vietnamnews.vn reports. The event, jointly held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Emart retailer, aims to introduce Vietnamese goods to customers in the host country, as well as establish distribution channels between Vietnamese producers and importers from the RoK.CA: Loblaw: "Click and collect boosts availability"
Canadian retailer, Loblaw, is reporting higher product availability after introducing click and collect, igd.com reports. Bruce Burrows, Loblaw’s chief information officer, highlighted this at the Retail Council of Canada’s annual conference: “We think that’s a really big side benefit that we get by having this business available to us… It helps us with a better in-stock position”.UK: Morrisons focuses on product availability
Morrisons has stated that it will work to improve its product availability, igd.com reports. CEO David Potts said that product availability will improve, but investors should be patient, as it takes “painstaking effort” and would not be a quick fix.China: Metro opens new wholesale store in Changsha
METRO China today announced the opening of its 2nd store in Changsha, one of the most economically competitive cities in mid-west China, chinamoneynetwork.com reports. The store will provide more professional solutions and services to local customers through METRO's new Cash & Carry store concept.Ireland: Minister calls on Dunnes Stores to engage with union
Minister of State for Jobs and Business Ged Nash has again criticised Dunnes Stores for failing to engage with the Mandate trade union in their dispute over pay, contracts and negotiating rights, rte.ie reports. However, he told the Dáil he believed that new legislation on collective bargaining may persuade the company of the merits of doing so in the very near future.Interesting links on retail:
Merger between Ahold and Delhaize could transform the US retail landscape
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Moody's: UK supermarkets' margin recovery unlikely before 2016/17
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Analysis: REWE and Leclerc cannot live without each other
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Supermarkets urged to borrow from restaurant playbook
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US: Is it finally time to go back to Walmart?
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AU: Could this be the Aldi killer?
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