Target Corp. CEO Brian Cornell sees the chain eventually opening hundreds of smaller “flex-format” stores, he told reporters Wednesday prior to the company’s fall national meeting at its Minneapolis headquarters, Bloomberg reported. Target has opened 23 smaller stores in major cities, with plans to add nine more this year. (Chainstoreage / Bloomberg)Google makes "hard decision" on selling fresh fruit and vegetables
Google wants to seriously step up its Amazon Prime competitor, Express. The speedy online delivery service plans to spread its coverage from roughly 20 states and regions to the entire country by the end of the year, general manager Brian Elliott tells Business Insider. To make that possible, the group made the "hard decision" to kill part of its grocery business and stop selling perishables, like fresh fruit and vegetables, a pilot it started this February in parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles. "We've been testing a lot of different things, figuring what works, and how it works," Elliott says. "And now we're really, dramatically scaling the business." (uk.businessinsider.com) UK: Morrisons recovery continues as sales and profits rise
Morrisons reported a rise in first-half profit for the first time in four years and a third straight quarter of underlying sales growth, indicating that its recovery under a new management team is gaining momentum. Morrisons said its underlying pretax profit rose 11% to 157m pounds ($208m) in the 26 weeks to July 31. That was ahead of analysts' average forecast of 150m pounds. (Reuters)UK: Waitrose sees like-for-like sales decline in H1
Upmarket UK grocer Waitrose has seen its gross sales rise by 2.2% in the first half of the year, according to half year figures released by parent company John Lewis Partnership today (15 September). However, like-for-like sales at Watirose decreased 1.0% in the period. Online sales at the grocer rose by 4.3%. Operating profit before exceptional items was down 10.5% to £121.3m. (esmmagazine.com)AU: Coles will offer 10% discounts on fruit and vegetables
Between 14 September and 30 November 2016, customers who wear compatible activity trackers, like a Fitbit, and are members of the Flybuys loyalty scheme, will be eligible to qualify for the promotion. Every time someone achieves 100,000, 200,000, 300,000, 400,000 and 500,000 steps, eligible members will receive 10% off the ticketed price of their fresh fruit and vegetable purchases in their next qualifying transaction. (igd.com)
Scottish suppliers benefitting from Asda’s supplier development academyOver £26m has been generated in Asda stores by 25 Scottish food firms, after they participated in the supermarket’s Supplier Development Academy (SDA), with some products seeing sales growth of up to 69% year-on-year. (kamcity.com)
Associated British Foods announces trading update
Associated British Foods plc has issued a trading update ahead of the publication of its full year results on 8 November. The company has declared that it expects full year earnings per share to be slightly ahead of the previous year. Operating profits are expected to be ahead of last year, while net interest expenses are estimated to remain the same. (esmmagazine.com)Dutch Albert Heijn opens its first forecourt 'To Go' shop
Dutch retailer Albert Heijn has opened its first forecourt-based 'To Go' outlet. It offers a selection of fresh produce, other foodstuffs and products of particular use to passing motorists. The new shop is located at BP filling station 'De Vink', off the A20 motorway. (igd.com)India: Grocers BigBasket and Grofers finding new ways to push their private brands
Online grocers Grofers and BigBasket are tapping hotels, restaurants, caterers and hospitals for their private-label offerings in a move which is likely to help them improve revenue as well as profitability. Private labels are brands owned by retailers, and typically, the profit margins on these are higher than on brands that are owned by other companies. In the case of groceries, the margins could be as high as 30-40%, at least double the margins on other brands. (livemint.com) 
Lalamove delivery app enters BangkokPlease, click here to read more.
Sweden: ICA announces sales figures for August
Swedish retailer ICA has reported an increase in sales of 1.1% in August, compared to the same month last year. Maxi ICA Stormarknad’s sales totalled SEK 2,846m, with a 1.8% like-for-like sales increase on last year. (esmmagazine.com)
US: Brookshire completes Walmart Express conversionsOn Tuesday, Brookshire Grocery Co. completed the rebranding of 25 former Walmart Express stores in Texas and Louisiana under the new Spring Market banner. (supermarketnews.com)
Japan's Mitsubishi Corp considering majority stake in Lawson
Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp on Thursday said it is considering raising its stake in convenience store operator Lawson Inc to make it a subsidiary, in a deal worth about 140bn yen ($1.37bn). (Reuters)
US: Instacart CEO denies sale to Whole FoodsPlease, click here to read the article