Walmart to launch in Nigeria
Nigerians are visibly excited by the news that Walmart is coming to the country. Although Walmart is yet to issue an official statement, Walmart has already opened a Twitter account to announce it's coming to Nigeria: In its first tweet on @Walmart_Nigeria, it wrote: “Hello from Nigeria”, then followed it with another and then a poll.(naija247news.com)
Nigerians are visibly excited by the news that Walmart is coming to the country. Although Walmart is yet to issue an official statement, Walmart has already opened a Twitter account to announce it's coming to Nigeria: In its first tweet on @Walmart_Nigeria, it wrote: “Hello from Nigeria”, then followed it with another and then a poll.(naija247news.com)Sainsbury’s to open 10 netto stores in UK
Sainsbury’s decided to step up the discount battle with the budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl by opening 10 Netto stores in UK. The supermarket 
giant also confirmed that the planning application required for the launch has now been filled. Apart from discounters, online retailers like Amazon have also hurt UK’s big four supermarket chains. The move would increase the number of netto shops in the nation from 15 to 25. Per Bank, CEO at Dansk said that in doing so the supermarkets plans to put a better resistance to the challenges posting by the discount supermarkets in the European terrain, starting in UK. He included that the new form of stores would be an alternate idea. (tendenzeonline.info)UK: Sainsbury's 'preparing formal bid for HRG'
It emerged last week that the supermarket chain approached HRG in November regarding a possible offer but was rebuffed. Now, there are reports that Sainsbury's is set to go back to the group and present a deal worth £1.2bn, although some believe £1.4bn would be more likely to succeed. Sainsbury's, which is now talking to its shareholders, has to make its offer by February 2 but observers think it may come this week.(diyweek.net)
Walmart Stores Inc.’s Asda has pledged to invest an additional 500 million pounds in cutting prices, creating further upheaval for the U.K.’s largest supermarket chains. To fund the move, Asda is changing how it buys products. The grocer is joining Europe’s leading buying alliance European Marketing Distribution, which pools the collective power of 250 supermarket chains, to make the required savings. Asda expects 2016 to be another challenging year for U.K. grocers. “The rise of the limited assortment discounters means that we must take radical action to win back our customers." CEO Andy Clarke said in a statement Sunday. (esmmagazine.com)Asda joins EMD buying group
UK retailer Asda, part of the Walmart Group, has been announced as the newest member of EMD, one of the largest buying groups in Europe, which boasts a presence in 15 countries. Through its EMD membership, Asda will be able to 'increase its buying power, generating significant savings from its supply chain, which it will reinvest in lowering prices and further increasing product quality', according to an EMD statement.(esmmagazine.com)
UK Christmas food sales up 9% from last year
Supermarket FMCG sales in the UK reached £3.1bn during the Christmas week, an increase of 7.4% in value compared with the same period in 2014, consumer insight provider IRI has reported. According to IRI’s latest retail data, food sales in British supermarkets were up 8.8% to £2.3bn, while non-food sales rose 3.8% to £789m. (esmmagazine.com)Saudi Arabia supermarket chain Al Raya sale talks said to stall
Talks for the sale of a majority stake in Saudi Arabian supermarket chain Al-Raya For Foodstuff Co. to Dubai-based private equity firms Abraaj Group Ltd. and Fajr Capital have stalled, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Negotiations broke down because of differences over valuation as economic growth and consumer spending slow in the country, two of the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. (Bloomberg)Reasor’s unveils new logo
Reasor’s has rolled out a new branding design—including a new logo, color scheme and store features that portray a comfortable feel revolving around traditional family time at the dinner table. (theshelbyreport.com)Metro China sales up 17.4% in 2014/15 fiscal year
Germany's Metro Group says during 2014/15 financial year ended September 30, 2015, the group realized sales of €59.3bn, a year-on-year decrease of 1.2%. Meanwhile, its sales in the Chinese market still maintained a growth trend, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.4% to €2.662bn. (chinaretailnews.com)Auchan and Système U submit buying merger to French competition authority
The purchasing agreement reached between Auchan and Système U, which if approved will mean the fifth- and sixth-biggest food retailers in France will benefit from greater power in negotiating with suppliers, has been formally put before France’s competition authority, lsa-conso.fr reports. The companies have submitted a joint proposal to l’Autorité de la Concurrence, which will either approve, reject or demand amendments to particulars of the updated document in the spring. (esmmagazine.com)