The first entirely vegan supermarket chain has filed for bankruptcy due to a lack of demand, according to reports on Monday. The chain Veganz, which shuns animal products, will close at least four of its nine of its branches after announcing its bankruptcy in December, Lebensmittelzeitung reported. (thelocal.de) AU: Amazon seeking skilled workers for fresh food delivery
US online retail giant Amazon is recruiting highly skilled workers in Australia for fresh food delivery operations, in an apparent confirmation of its ambitious plans for the local retail market. The company’s website currently has more than 100 job vacancies listed for Australia. While Amazon’s cloud computing business, Amazon Web Services, has had a local presence for several years, there is a range of software development roles in Brisbane for AmazonFresh — further evidence that the company’s much-speculated entry into the Australian grocery scene is imminent. (businessinsider.com.au) US grocery chain creates healthy fruits-only aisle
Healthy snacking is now easier than ever through the efforts of one Utah grocer. Associated Food Stores, in partnership with Intermountain Healthcare LiVe Well and the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), implemented a LiVe Well Lane check stand in all 43 of its grocery stores this month. The clearly marked LiVe Well Lanes feature only healthy fruits and snacks hand-selected by dietitians. (utahbusiness.com) Asda launches new app to tackle food waste
Asda has launched 'Asda Surplus Swap', an app for suppliers to exchange surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. Asda Surplus Swap' is effectively an online marketplace for suppliers to redistribute unwanted product to other suppliers who will be able to make use of it. (igd.com)Vietnam’s Mobile World plans 300 grocery stores
Vietnam’s Mobile World – the electronics retailer – says it plans to open 300 more grocery stores under the Bach Hoa Xanh banner this year. The convenience store chain targets time-poor Vietnamese housewives who prefer small stores to crowded supermarkets or hypermarkets. (thelocal.de) Brazilian Assaí: annual sales growth close to 50%
Ahead of GPA releasing fuller sales data, CEO Belmiro Gomes has spoken in a media interview about the strength of performance at Assaí, its atacerejo, cash & carry style format which is now the single biggest grocery format for the retailer. The 13 stores opened last year took total store count to 107: it will build six further stores and convert 15 Extra hypermarkets to the Assaí format in 2017, signalling how the business is placing huge emphasis on driving the atacarejo growth opportunity. Sr Gomes spoke of how Assaí has identified lower income cities in the North-East of Brazil as a focus for expansion. (igd.com)EMD announces Globus to be incorporated for 2017
Europe’s largest buying alliance, EMD, has announced that Germany-based Globus will incorporate the total volume for the eastern European locations in Russia and Czech Republic into the EMD agreements. EMD also said that purchase and marketing volumes in Globus’s Germany-based hypermarkets will also be integrated into EMD agreements. (igd.com)UK: Marks and Spencer joins other grocers in removing stickers from fruit
The UK retailer Marks and Spencer has joined other supermarkets in Europe, including Dutch supplier Nature & More, in their efforts to reduce packaging by removing sticky labels on fruit and vegetables. Developed by Spanish firm Laser Food, “Natural Branding” uses laser marking to replace sticky labels and reduce plastic packaging. (climateactionprogramme.org)Thailand's CP All competes for Polish retailer Zabka
Thailand's top convenience store chain CP All Pcl and three private equity funds are competing to buy Polish retail chain Zabka from Mid Europa Partners, in a deal valued at up to €1.5bn ($1.59bn), sources familiar with the transaction said. (Reuters)Ahold Delhaize commences €1bn share buyback program
Ahold Delhaize commences the €1bn share buyback program announced on December 7, 2016 and expects to complete the program before the end of 2017. Maintaining a balanced approach between funding growth in key channels and returning excess liquidity to shareholders is part of Ahold Delhaize’s financial framework to support its Better Together strategy. The purpose of the program is to reduce the capital of Ahold Delhaize, by cancelling all or part of the common shares acquired through the program. (internationalsupermarketnews.com) Switzerland's Migros Group reports 1% increase in turnover
Swiss retailer Migros Group has reported an overall turnover of CHF 27.7bn for 2016, an increase of CHF 274m, or around 1% over the previous year's result. The company's turnover outside Switzerland increased to CHF 23.3bn, representing an increase of 1.2% - or an adjusted growth of 2.2%, taking inflation into account. (esmmagazine.com) SuperValu retains top spot in Irish Kantar Worldpanel figures
SuperValu, part of the Musgrave Group has retained top spot in the Irish grocery market for the 12 weeks to 1 January, according to the latest market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel. The retailer holds 22.8% share, up 0.4% on the same period last year. Dunnes Stores, which in the previous reporting period shared top spot with SuperValu, is second with 22.7% share, while Tesco is third on 22.4% share. (esmmagazine.com) Casino keeps French profit goal after Q4 sales improvement
French retailer Casino said on Tuesday it would deliver on its French profit forecast for 2016 after fourth-quarter sales reflected an improvement in its home market on a same-store basis, notably at the Geant hypermarkets. In Brazil, its second-biggest market by revenue, food retail sales were robust, driven by the cash and carry Assai stores and sales revitalisation of the Extra hypermarkets, Casino said. Casino, which reports full-year earnings on March 7, said full-year 2016 trading profit in France - estimated and unaudited - was slightly over €500m, as forecast by the company. (Reuters) Why online grocers are so unsuccessful and what Amazon is doing about itPlease, click here to read the article.
Online grocery GrubMarket breaks even, and wants to go public in 2017Please, click here to read the article.