Sovenia’s largest supermarket chain has reportedly reversed a decision to pull Israeli produce from its shelves. Mercator has renewed orders for Israeli-grown pomelos and avocados despite pressure from the pro-Palestinian BDS movement, that run a global campaign to target Israel, the Ynet news site reported Thursday. (timesofisrael.com)Ahold reports sharp rise Q4 sales
Ahold on Thursday reported a sharp rise in Q4 sales as the Dutch supermarket operator benefited from favorable currency effects and an extra selling week. Sales were €9.8bn in the last three months of 2015, an increase of 21% compared with €8.1bn in the same period a year earlier. Adjusted for the extra week and at constant exchange rates, sales rose 3.1%. In the US, where Ahold generates the bulk of its revenue, sales at stores open at least a year excluding gasoline rose 1.6% and the company said its operating margin improved during the fourth quarter. In the Netherlands, sales at stores open at least a year rose 3.2%, thanks to a strong performance during the holiday season. (marketwatch.com)Delhaize Q4 sales rise better than expected
Delhaize reported a better-than-expected sales increase in Belgium. The group said Q4 comparable store sales in Belgium increased by 5.1%, compared with the 3.5% increase expected in a Reuters poll. The company added that its market share in Belgium rose to 24%. The group, which makes some two-thirds of its revenue in the United States, said like-for-like sales there rose by 2.3% after a 1.7% expansion in the third quarter. Overall, group revenue in the fourth quarter came in line with expectations at €6.3bn. (Reuters)Russian retail giants among biggest in the world
Although the economic crisis in Russia significantly reduced citizens’ purchasing power, Russian retailers have managed to feature on Deloitte’s list of the world’s biggest and fastest growing retailers, reports turkrus.com. Some companies have even improved their positions on last year. According to Deloitte, Russian food giant Magnit with revenues of $19,851bn in financial year 2015, took 51st place, X5 Retail Group took 60th, Dixy 162nd, Lenta 183rd and O’Key 229th. In the list of the fasting growing companies Dixy took 8th place, Magnit 11th, Lenta 12th, O’Key 30th and X5 Retail Group 41st.Romania: Volume of domestic produce sold by Profi doubled in 2015
While the meat sold in the store network managed by Profi Rom Food comes entirely from Romanian producers, the volume of fruit and vegetables grown by local producers sold in 2015 has 
doubled compared to the previous year. Profi currently has a network 367 stores this year wants to continue expanding and reach 500 stores. "During the peak season for producers in Romania (June-July), the percentage of local produce represents 20% of the category's sales," said General Manager Daniel Cirstea to wall-street.ro. He added that this year the company's sales are expected to grow by double digits, keeping the trend registered in 2015. The retailer's estimates that 2015 closed with a record turnover of over €550m, up 40 % compared to 2014. (wall-street.ro)India: Bigbasket starts contract with organic farmers
Online supermarket Bigbasket.com is soon going to start contract farming for organic fruits and vegetables and is also in talks with the Centre to develop a local certification process for such produce which is aimed to bring down their current premium pricing. Bigbasket co-founder and chief executive officer Hari Menon said the company will start contract farming for organic produce in each and every state where it has operation. Please, click here to read more at indiatimes.comThai Tycoons said to compete for Casino's Southeast Asia units
Some of Thailand’s richest families are preparing to compete for the Southeast Asian operations of French supermarket operator Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA, according to people with knowledge of the matter. TCC Holding Co. and the Chirathivat family’s Central Group are weighing first-round bids for the Big C Supercenter chains in Thailand and Vietnam, which are due Feb. 5, the people said. The companies have been speaking with banks about advisory roles and financing options, according to the people, who asked not to be named as the process is private. (Bloomberg)US: Coborn's opts for Supervalu distribution
Coborn’s said Thursday it will switch all distribution to Supervalu after buying products for some stores from Affiliated Foods Midwest since last spring. The company said it will begin making the transition Feb. 5 and expects it to be fully implemented by May 1. Coborn’s, based in St. Cloud, Minn., operates 54 supermarkets across six states. Please go to supermarketnews.com to read more. Tesco CEO heads up global food waste campaign
Tesco CEO Dave Lewis is chair of a coalition of 30 leaders from business, governments, UN agencies, foundations and NGOs who want to prompt action to reduce the third of all food produced which is never consumed. Such volumes result from a combination of overproduction and wastage in the west and spoilage in developing countries. Mamadou Biteye, head of the Foundation’s work in Africa, says hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers in Africa lose 15-42% of their fruit and vegetable crops due to issues such as improper storage, lack of access to finance and inability to link to sustainable markets. The World Bank estimates that just a 1% reduction in post-harvest losses in sub-Saharan Africa could lead to economic gains of $40m a year, most of which would go directly to farmers. (theguardian.com)
US: Costco same-store sales rise 1% Costco Wholesale’s same store sales rose 1% during the month of December, Analyst Ratings Network.com reports. (emqtv.com)
AU: Woolworths can still not find new CEO
Troubled retail giant Woolworths is set to be run by a foreigner after a search for a local executive to head the chain came up empty-handed. In surprisingly frank comments, Woolworths chairman Gordon Cairns has admitted he invited several Australians to consider the job to replace Grant O'Brien but none were interested in even interviewing for the role. (smh.com.au)India: Bigbasket aim at billion dollar business by 2020
Bigbasket.com, today launched its door to dooronline marketing operations in Kolkata, the 15th city across India, aiming to climbatop three online shopping companies with a turnout of one billion dollars by 2020, companyco-founder and chief executive officer Hari Menon said. (news.webindia123.com)Japan: Supermarkets' sales rise for first time in two decades
Japanese supermarkets' existing-store sales increased in 2015 for the first time in 19 years, driven by higher household spending on food items. The Japan Chain Stores Association said Thursday that sales for supermarkets, including general merchandise stores, totaled €111bn. Same-store sales rose 0.7% year over year, as food sales climbed 2.5% while sales of apparel and housing items declined. (asia.nikkei.com)Safeway will take over operation of Maryland warehouse
The Teamsters union said Thursday it has reached an agreement with Safeway that will reverse the decision by parent-company Albertsons to close a Safeway grocery and perishables distribution center in Maryland. Under terms of the new agreement Safeway will take over operation of the Upper Marlboro facility and assume the contracts for members of Teamsters Locals 730 and 639 who work there, the union said. (supermarketnews.com)Swiss: Coop catches up with Migros in global retail ranking
The top 250 global retailers generated aggregated revenues of US$ 4.5 trillion in 2014, up 4.3% on 2013, according to Deloitte. Switzerland’s Migros, with retail sales of US$ 25.6bn dropped two positions to number 40 while Coop with revenue of US$ 24.7bn climbed 7 positions to number 43. (lenews.ch)