Nisa Retail has introduced a new wholesale fresh produce service, giving members the opportunity to purchase loose produce in larger quantities and offering improved cost efficiency and profit margins. Launched on 7 March, Nisa said the initiative has already seen volume increases on fresh produce of 17%. (talkingretail.com) Global retailers given unlimited access in India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, long an opponent of global retail giants, is finally giving them an opening in India. Modi’s government is finalizing details of a policy to allow 100% foreign investment in marketing of food made in India. Companies like Walmart Stores Inc. and Carrefour SA will be allowed to set up shops as long as they only sell locally produced food, according to Rajinder Chaudhary, a spokesman for the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. (esmmagazine.com)US: Kroger to invest $180M in Michigan, create 1,000 jobs
Kroger has announced it’s making a $180-million investment in Michigan and creating 1,000 new jobs as part of a package of new retail locations and rehabs of existing stores. It comes in the form of three new Marketplace stores; six new fuel centers; 22 new ClickList sites, which are stores where you can pick up your online order without getting out of your car, and what it's calling extensive remodeling at 11 existing stores. (freep.com)US: Price Chopper cuts almost 50 jobs at headquarters
Forty-seven employees were laid off today at Golub Corp. headquarters in Schenectady, New York, as the supermarket chain continues to make big investments, and hire new workers, to convert its stores from Price Chopper to the Market 32 brand. (bizjournals.com)UK: Sainsbury's to axe hundreds of jobs
Hundreds of supermarket jobs are at risk after Sainsbury's completed their takeover Home Retail Group, it has been revealed. The supermarket chain - which boasts numerous stores across Coventry and Warwickshire - will reportedly axe its existing "store trainer" role. Currently held by 870 employees, the role is set to be abolished in favour of around 280 more senior “learning and development management positions”. (coventrytelegraph.net) US: Ahold appoints lacobucci EVP, merchandising
Ahold USA on Tuesday said Andrew Lacobucci has been appointed EVP of merchandising, effective April 11. Iacobucci will focus on leading a merchandising team that supports Ahold USA and its four retail divisions, Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle. US: Food Lion launches "how refreshing" advertising campaign
Food Lion debuts a new advertising campaign today, highlighting its fresh and affordable products, low prices and easy shopping experience. The launch of the spots is aimed at communicating the company's "Easy, Fresh and Affordable…You Can Count on Food Lion Every day!" strategy, which the company unveiled in 2014. Through this launch, the company has made improvements throughout its stores from product assortment expansion including natural and organic, produce, and other items. (businesswire.com)Germany: Rewe group posts record turnover in 2015
German retailer Rewe Group has posted its best operating results in the company's history, with a revenue growth of 3.7% to €52.4bn in the 2015 financial year. The group, which incorporates trade and tourism companies, saw an increase in EBITA of 12% to €587m. Revenue rose by 2.6% in Germany and 6.8% abroad, adjusting for currency effects. (esmmagazine.com)Mercadona and Lidl grow shares of Spanish market
Mercadona and Lidl have seen the most growth in grocery market share in Spain for the first quarter of 2016. According to a study by Kantar Worldpanel, and analysed by Eleconomista.es, both retailers have managed to increase their 
market share, despite falling sales across the Spanish grocery sector (which fell by 0.8% between December and February). Lidl grew its market share the most, going from a share of 3.3% to 3.8%. Meanwhile, Mercadona’s share grew by 0.3%, meaning the retailer now holds 22.3% of the market. (esmmagazine.com)Denmark: Dansk supermarked unveils €134m investment plan
Danish retailer Dansk Supermarked has announced it will invest Kr. 2bn (€134.4m) in its stores, after a successful 2015. The group, which operators the Netto, Bilka and Salling chains, announced it will invest the sum into the construction of new stores, refurbishment of existing stores and further development of the company's e-commerce platforms. It will invest Kr. 1bn in 2016 alone. In 2015 Dansk rose its turnover to Kr. 57.474bn compared to Kr. 57.156bn in 2014. (esmmagazine.com) UK: New boss of Marks & Spencer to simplify chain
Marks & Spencer’s new boss launched a thinly veiled attack on his predecessors at the retailer calling the business overcomplicated. Chief executive Steve Rowe, who has worked at the High Street chain for more than 26 years, said M&S has a ‘tendency to over-complicate things’ and plans to streamline reporting lines and operations and take decisions more quickly. (thisismoney.co.uk)CA: Sobeys price cuts on 8,500 items
Competition for shoppers’ dollars has tightened up with the announcement Tuesday that Sobeys Quebec is dropping prices on more than 8,500 grocery products in IGA, Tradition and Rachelle-Béry stores, beginning Thursday. Company president Yves Laverdière calls the reductions permanent and says they should save shoppers an average of 5 to 7% on their grocery bill. (montrealgazette.com) South-Africa: Pick n Pay says sorry for quality of fruit and veg
Starting about a week ago, Pick n Pay began displaying signs that apologised for fruits and vegetables it says fall below its normal quality standards. The signs, which were put up in grocery stores nationwide, said: “Sorry, some of our fruit and vegetables are not up to our usual standard. The severe drought is taking its toll. However, to keep supporting our farmers and to provide you with the option to decide, we will continue to stock these products.” (iol.co.za)SA: Shoprite distribution centre hit by strike
Outsourced Shoprite workers organised under the #OutsourcingMustFall movement on Tuesday went on strike to protest against poor pay and their employment through labour brokers at the retail giant’s largest distribution centre in Gauteng. (mini.iol.co.za)