NTUC FairPrice, the leading multi-format retailer in Singapore, has launched a revamped convenience store format for Esso petrol service stations that features a new ready-to-eat range and lockers for parcel collection. The new format also offers a wide variety of fresh fruit, such as apples, kiwi fruit and avocado. The fruits are refrigerated for freshness. (igd.com)Dutch Albert Heijn ready for St. Nicholas tangerine rush
Dutch retailer Albert Heijn has predicted it will sell around 18m tangerines during the week starting 5 December, the birthday of St. Nicholas in The Netherlands. (esmmagazine.com)
Lidl flies the flag for Scottish suppliers
Discount supermaket Lidl is flying the flag for local suppliers, now stocking almost 300 Scottish products in its 92 stores in the country. The products makes up 20% of the supermarket’s in-store range. The company said: “There is a wealth of amazing products being made in Scotland and we’re always on the lookout for any new items to offer our customers. The food & drink industry is in strong growth and we aim to support it further by listing many more fantastic Scottish products at Lidl.” (bqlive.co.uk) AU: Woolies 'underestimated Aldi threat'
Woolworths was initially too relaxed about the threat of German discounter Aldi but that is no longer the case, the supermarket giant's chairman Gordon Cairns says. Mr Cairns says Woolies' own-brand products now match Aldi's prices, and it has regained its lead in fresh food after allowing quality and service to slip while arch-rival Coles stepped up its fresh produce. "We were somewhat lackadaisical in responding to the threat from Aldi - that is no longer the case," Mr Cairns said during the group's annual general meeting on Thursday. (sbs.com.au) Online food industry makes breakthrough in Sweden
Ecommerce in Sweden is growing rapidly and this year every fourth household has shopped online for groceries. Online sales of foods and drinks has made a breakthrough in Sweden, statistics from GFK have revealed. Until September of this year, the purchase of food online was worth 5.4bn kronor, or €550m euros. This corresponds with 4.2% of total sales of foods. (ecommercenews.eu) US: Food City selected as retailer of the year
Abingdon, Virginia-based, Food City was selected as The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Retailer of the Year as a company that exemplifies leadership in merchandising, marketing, innovation and community service, according to a recent news release. (greenevillesun.com) SPAR Hungary sustains investment in operations
SPAR Hungary is to invest HUF23 bn (US$79.1m) to expand its operations in the country and upgrade its existing stores. The announcement came as the retailer opened a 600 sq. m. supermarket in Budapest, in which it had invested HUF260m (c. US$900,000). (igd.com)New Dutch e-grocer Picnic planning for expansion
According to Picnic’s co-founder, Michiel Muller, in an interview with local newspaper, Financieele Dagblad, the company is aiming to expand its presence to cover between 40 to 50 cities over the course of the next three years. Muller said that 14,000 people had ordered over the website and that growth was accelerating as brand awareness grew. To continue to meet the demand, Muller said that Picnic would add another distribution centre in 2017. (igd.com)Japanese retailers keen to enter Vietnamese markets
Japanese enterprises have performed market research and then taken moves to attract more local consumers to their products, according to Takimoto Koji, Chief Representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Vietnam. Numerous Japanese brands have entered Vietnam. Japanese enterprises have also bought several local names, such as FamilyMart, MiniCop, 7-Eleven and City Mart. According to JETRO, there are nearly 200 Japanese convenience stores across Vietnam. The figure is expected to increase because numerous Japanese brands plan to expand in the country. (english.vietnamnet.vn) US: Harps CEO Collins resigns, Eskew promoted
The long-time head of Harps Food Stores, Roger Collins, has passed the CEO title to President and COO, Kim Eskew, the company announced in a Facebook post. Collins, who will remain as chairman of the board, had served as CEO for nearly 17 years. Harps operates 85 stores in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. (supermarketnews.com)
Iowa Mogul Richard Hurd buys several Hy-Vee properties for $61mPlease, click here to read the article.