Sobeys parent, Empire Company Ltd., has reported a massive fourth-quarter net loss of more than $900m, citing “challenges” related to its Canada Safeway acquisition in Western Canada. CEO of Empire, said that Sobeys executives were “also seeing early evidence of a softening sales trend in other regions of the country.” Sobeys, he added, “remains focused on reversing these negative trends by continuing on our core strategies of cost reduction, network renewal and relevant pricing for our customers. However, the CEO cautioned that “the stabilization of our business will take time.” Sales for the quarter were $6.28bn, up $512.7m or 8.9% from $5.77bn. (canadiangrocer.com)Major Taiwanese organic supermarket chain debuts in Canada
A major supermarket chain in Taiwan has opened a grocery store in Charlottetown. Leezen operates 120 stores in Taiwan but it is beginning to branch out internationally, opening its first location in P.E.I. It is the only store operating outside Taiwan. The company boasts that it sells only 100% organic food. All of the fresh produce it sells is grown by P.E.I. farmers and all of its wild blueberry and cranberry products are also home grown. (theguardian.pe.ca)Albert Heijn to test one-hour delivery in Amsterdam
Albert Heijn is set to trial one-hour grocery delivery in Amsterdam, using bicycle couriers taking orders from two stores – in Museumplein, which is company owned and operated, and Elandsgracht, which is franchisee-run. One of the benefits of the service is that it will enable the value of sales to go to the store, which will be positive for franchise-owned stores. (igd.com) 
Weak pound 'could raise supermarket prices'Supermarket prices could rise if the pound's fall continues, retail analysts have said. Some 40% of food consumed in the UK is imported meaning "any long term change in exchange rates may threaten the current period of cheaper groceries," according to Kantar Worldpanel. (bbc.co.uk)
Ireland: Iput pays €17.8m for Dunnes Stores distribution centre
Property fund Iput has acquired the Dunnes Stores logistics facility at Rosemount Business Park in Dublin 15 for €17.8m. The purchase will provide the fund with an initial income yield of 6.5%. (irishtimes.com)Ireland: Food Academy firms' sales to hit €25m in 2016
Sales from companies supported by the Food Academy programme are expected to top €25m in 2016 it was announced today. The Food Academy Programme is a partnership initiative between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) Network, and works with and nurtures small food businesses from start up to getting their products onto supermarket shelves. (businessworld.ie) France: Spar begins delivery service for holiday campsites
Those holidaying in campsites in the southeast of France can now avail of a delivery system whereby they can order groceries to be brought to their accommodation through the new service Spar Lib’. (esmmagazine.com)AU: Woolworths former chief Roger Corbett quits adviser role
Woolworths former chief Roger Corbett has unexpectedly quit Australia's biggest supermarket chain just seven months after rejoining the business he once commanded as an adviser to help drive its turn around. Mr Corbett said the $1bn major expansion of MaynePharma, which he chairs, meant he was unable to continue his work with Woolworths, which had turned out to be very "time consuming." (smh.com.au) 
Own-label sales move from ‘supermarkets to discounters’Own-label food manufacturers will continue to see their major multiple supermarket customers lose sales to discount retailers, according to a new report from market analysts IRI. (foodmanufacture.co.uk)
Bulgaria Marinopoulos files for bankruptcy protection in Greece
Greece's Marinopoulos Group, which holds the franchise rights for the Carrefour supermarkets in Bulgaria, has filed for bankruptcy protection, Greek media reported on Tuesday. The application will be discussed in court on Friday, daily Kathimerini said. If approved, Marinopoulos, which owes some 3bn Euro ($3.3bn) to more than 1,000 creditors, will fall under protection from its creditors and enforcement measures will be temporarily suspended until the company, hopefully, gets back on track. (seenews.com) 55% of Ocado’s orders happened via mobile
Online supermarket Ocado has revealed more than half of its orders, 55% to be precise, were checked out on a mobile device. The online grocer also saw it profit rise and is currently talking with potential international retailers to secure a long awaited overseas deal. (ecommercenews.eu)Spain: Auchan Spain closes 2015 with positive results
Aunchan Retail España has posted what it describes as 'satisfactory' results for FY 2015. The group, which includes all the Spanish retail formats of Auchan Holding (hypermarkets, supermarkets and e-commerce), closed last year with sales of €4.594m and an investment of €80m, destined mainly to the building of new shops and facility modernisation. (esmmagazine.com)US: Whole Foods to start sharing POS data with Nielsen
Whole Foods Market – which has historically not shared its sales data with syndicated data providers - has selected Nielsen as its primary US analytics provider for point of sale (POS) data, consumer insights, and industry metrics. (foodnavigator-usa.com)
Aldi Süd receives German Brand Award for new design concept
This year Aldi Süd has won the German Brand Award for their new branch concept. Zehra Yildirim, the project manager and Holger Philippin received the “Gold" in the category Brand Showrooms & Point of Sales counter during a festive ceremony in Berlin. AU: Big W tipped to be expanded to take on Aldi
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