Fruit popular in digital supermarket in the Netherlands -
Fruit is the top-selling category in the online sales of supermarkets. In second place are the vegetables, according to figures from market research company GfK. This is a logical consequence of the steady growth of webshops. Apart from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, smaller chains invest in the service too. UK: The Co-op Food store sales deliver £250m profit
The Co-operative Group has today announced its full results for the 52 weeks ended 2nd January 2016, showing overall sales in a continuing stable position at £9.3bn (2014: £9.4bn). Its Food division is posting some strong numbers, especially considering the current deflation within food pricing. Like-for-like sales grew by 1.6% and like-for-like volumes grew by 5%. Core convenience business outperforming the market with like-for-like sales were up 3.8% (on a two-year basis up 7%). Underlying profit rose 3.3% to £250m. (igd.com)
To boost its supply of organic foods, Costco is trying something new: It’s working with farmers to help them buy land and equipment as it struggles to keep pace with customer demand. The effort is still in its infancy. So far, Costco is working with just one partner, loaning money to help San Diego-based Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce buy equipment and 1,200 acres of land in the Mexican state of Baja California. But Costco is looking at expanding the initiative. The idea is to ensure a greater supply of organic foods at a time when demand is soaring but supply has not kept up. (seattletimes.com)
Waitrose (UK): 'Early Easter 2016 makes judging weekly sales growth tough'
Waitrose’s Commerical Director, Mark Williamson, has issued a trade update for the week ending 2 April, explaining that the date of Easter in 2015 has made it difficult to compare sales for the week on a yearly basis. Sales for last week, excluding fuel, were down by 24.1 per cent compared with the previous year, which has a boost in sales from the Easter holiday. Williamson said that "A more meaningful comparison is that sales this year were 1.8 per cent above the equivalent post Easter week in 2015." (esmmagazine.com)
British-grown Asparagus will be reaching selected Sainsbury’s stores from today. These first British asparagus tips, grown by Lichfield-based New Farm Produce Ltd, have been harvested by hand and will be delivered to selected stores in time for customers to enjoy this weekend. (eprretailnews.com)
The Price Chopper supermarket chain, in the midst of a $300 million rebranding campaign with the rollout of its Market 32 stores, has unveiled a house brand called Pics. Mentions of the new Pics line of foods has been made in the past week in newspaper circulars, in stores and on the company's Facebook page and web site. The name stands for "hand picked" items and is designed to conjure up the idea of healthy and wholesome foods, an emphasis of the new Market 32 brand. (timesunion.com)
Announcing its 2015 results, cooperative Covirán has said that its gross sales under banner reached €1.215 bn during the year, with it generating €1.114 bn in Spain and €101m in Portugal. Covirán grew total gross sales by 4% in the year, with comparable sales rising by 2.1%. At the end of the 2015 financial year, Covirán said its partners operated 2,549 supermarkets under its banner, with 2,361 in Spain and 188 in Portugal, and a further 60 set to be opened across both countries in 2016. Elsewhere, Covirán said that it would invest in 2016 and 2017 in its logistics platform in order to open a distribution centre in the Canary Islands in April 2016, with another to be added near Barcelona in 2017. (igd.com)
AU: Caltex to roll out new convenience format
The Co-operative Group has today announced its full results for the 52 weeks ended 2nd January 2016, showing overall sales in a continuing stable position at £9.3bn (2014: £9.4bn). Its Food division is posting some strong numbers, especially considering the current deflation within food pricing. Like-for-like sales grew by 1.6% and like-for-like volumes grew by 5%. Core convenience business outperforming the market with like-for-like sales were up 3.8% (on a two-year basis up 7%). Underlying profit rose 3.3% to £250m. (igd.com)US: Costco to cooperate with organic farmers
To boost its supply of organic foods, Costco is trying something new: It’s working with farmers to help them buy land and equipment as it struggles to keep pace with customer demand. The effort is still in its infancy. So far, Costco is working with just one partner, loaning money to help San Diego-based Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce buy equipment and 1,200 acres of land in the Mexican state of Baja California. But Costco is looking at expanding the initiative. The idea is to ensure a greater supply of organic foods at a time when demand is soaring but supply has not kept up. (seattletimes.com)Waitrose (UK): 'Early Easter 2016 makes judging weekly sales growth tough'
Waitrose’s Commerical Director, Mark Williamson, has issued a trade update for the week ending 2 April, explaining that the date of Easter in 2015 has made it difficult to compare sales for the week on a yearly basis. Sales for last week, excluding fuel, were down by 24.1 per cent compared with the previous year, which has a boost in sales from the Easter holiday. Williamson said that "A more meaningful comparison is that sales this year were 1.8 per cent above the equivalent post Easter week in 2015." (esmmagazine.com)Sainsbury's first British asparagus
British-grown Asparagus will be reaching selected Sainsbury’s stores from today. These first British asparagus tips, grown by Lichfield-based New Farm Produce Ltd, have been harvested by hand and will be delivered to selected stores in time for customers to enjoy this weekend. (eprretailnews.com) US: Price Chopper steps up rebranding with new Pics house brand
The Price Chopper supermarket chain, in the midst of a $300 million rebranding campaign with the rollout of its Market 32 stores, has unveiled a house brand called Pics. Mentions of the new Pics line of foods has been made in the past week in newspaper circulars, in stores and on the company's Facebook page and web site. The name stands for "hand picked" items and is designed to conjure up the idea of healthy and wholesome foods, an emphasis of the new Market 32 brand. (timesunion.com)Spain: Covirán sees gross sales reach €1.2 bn in 2015
Announcing its 2015 results, cooperative Covirán has said that its gross sales under banner reached €1.215 bn during the year, with it generating €1.114 bn in Spain and €101m in Portugal. Covirán grew total gross sales by 4% in the year, with comparable sales rising by 2.1%. At the end of the 2015 financial year, Covirán said its partners operated 2,549 supermarkets under its banner, with 2,361 in Spain and 188 in Portugal, and a further 60 set to be opened across both countries in 2016. Elsewhere, Covirán said that it would invest in 2016 and 2017 in its logistics platform in order to open a distribution centre in the Canary Islands in April 2016, with another to be added near Barcelona in 2017. (igd.com) AU: Caltex to roll out new convenience format
Australian petrol forecourts are set to see a new convenience format rolled out later this year, as Caltex looks to revamp its existing stores. The new format, which will be revealed over the coming months, is set to offer better value and more services, including food-to-go, ready meals, dry cleaning and even haircuts. (igd.com)Spain: DIA extends reach of online channel…
After recently expanding the coverage of its online store to further cities, DIA has said it has launched the service in Alicante and Valencia. Although online grocery retail is less developed in Spain than other markets in Europe, retailers are investing further in it in 2016 as competition rises and everyone prepares for the potential expansion of Amazon’s offer in the country. (igd.com)
Condis announced it had opened 33 stores in 2015, with 28 of them added by franchisees. The retailer said that it had already opened seven stores in 2016, with seven more set to be opened in April, as it aims to add more than 20 stores during the year. (igd.com)
Despite the weak market condition, Hong Kong-based Convenience Retail Asia (CRA) has seen solid growth in FY2015, with its turnover increasing by 4.3% to HKD4.7bn (US$609.5m). It operates 449 Circle K c-stores in Hong Kong, with an additional 121 franchised stores across Mainland China and Macau. (igd.com)US: Fmi creates alliance between-culinary and sales leadership in food-retail
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today announces a new initiative that lays the groundwork for a trusted business and creative partnership between two unique grocery roles – the supermarket chef and the head of fresh prepared foods. Entitled Supermarket Chefs, this community will help to promote sales, profits and professionalism by forging collaboration between sales leadership and culinary talent in food retail. (internationalsupermarketnews.com)