Digital startup Forager has launched a new platform that offers supply information, procurement and payment between retailers and local product suppliers, according to a company release. The launch, which will focus on the northeast US, follows a successful pilot in Maine that handled supply and ordering between 100 farmers and ten retailers and distributors. According to the company, traditional local sourcing methods consume 60 hours of work each week, and can lower margins by a third or more. Please, click here to read more at fooddive.com. Wal-Mart submits proposal to build new DC in Arkansas
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wants to build another distribution center in Northwest Arkansas. The building will include 1.03m square feet of warehouse floor. (arkansasonline.com)
US: Kroger wins price war on produce
Walmart and Kroger are in a price war, and Walmart is winning, but Kroger's fresh category is cheaper. Walmart's groceries cost about 4% less than Kroger's, according to a recent price check by Barclays. Analysts compared prices on a basket of 78 identical items at Walmart and Kroger stores. Walmart offered lower prices than Kroger on 74% of the items checked. Kroger was cheaper than Walmart in the "fresh" category, however, which includes vegetables. (yahoo.com) US: Sprouts may be eyeing new regions
Sprouts Farmers Market may be exploring opportunities to expand its reach into new regions in the Northeast and Northwest, according to information on the retailer’s website and local reports. The company on Wednesday detailed its plans for 11 new-store openings in the second half of 2017, all of which are in existing operating areas. On its website, however, Sprouts lists a real estate director for a region that covers the Mid-Atlantic, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. Another real estate director is listed for a territory that includes the states of Oregon and Washington, where Sprouts also does not yet have a presence and has not yet announced plans to open. Please, click here to read more at supermarketnews.com. US: ALDI recalls frozen vegetables
ALDI and Lakeside Foods, Inc. are recalling the stores's Season's Choice Frozen Sweet Peas due to possible listeria contamination. The frozen peas were sold in Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. (mynbc5.com)
Report: Walmart slashing jobs in US IT division
Retail giant Wal-Mart in its re-organization of the Walmart U.S. technology division is eliminating around 300 jobs in the Information Systems Division (ISD). Insiders said the retailer is laying off about 10% of its ISD workforce over the next few days. The layoffs at ISD in Bentonville began this week and are expected to continue through the month. (talkbusiness.net) Dubai to open M&S food-only store
While the city already has its fair share of M&S department stores, the retailer will now open a store which will be solely dedicated to bringing the large selection of the chain’s signature foodstuff to the region. The food-only store will look to carry around 2000 items and be located in Dubai Marina when it opens its doors in July of this year. (whatson.ae) French Auchan invests $356m in Russian market this year
In 2017, Auchan Retail, a French company, plans to invest more than 20bn rubles ($356m) in the Russian market, the General Director for a hypermarket format of the Russian branch of the retailer, Oleg Alkhamov, told reporters. (russianconstruction.com) Esselunga opens first supermarket in Rome
Italian supermarket chain Esselunga has opened its first store in the country’s capital, Rome. The fruit and vegetables section includes more than 500 products. With the latest opening, Esselunga now has 154 points of sale in Italy, in the Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, Liguria and Lazio regions. (esmmagazine.com)Croatia: Agrokor replaces senior executives at Mercator and Konzum
Major changes have been announced at Agrokor Group companies with new CEOs being brought in to both Mercator and Konzum. Former CEO of Mercator Toni Balažič has stepped down to be replaced by long time managing director of Mercator Croatia, Tomislav Čizmić. (esmmagazine.com) UK: Co-op reports strong 2016 results
British group Co-op has reported strong annual results for 2016, with like for like food sales up by 3.5% and a membership boost of 18%. The company reported that active membership reached 4 million at year end, with a further 350,000 members recruited so far in 2017. These figures are ahead of forecasted growth. Members now account for 31% of food sales, which is up from 20% before the launch of the new membership scheme. (esmmagazine.com) • Total sales up 1% at £7.1bn; like-for-like sales up 3.5%
• Operating profit - up 4% to £203m (2015: £196m)
• Underlying operating profit down 2% to £182m (2015: £186m)
Irish court rules in favour of Aldi over trademark infringement
Ireland's Court of Appeals has ruled in favour of Aldi, in a case relating to a marketing campaign by rival chain Dunnes Stores, which the discounter said infringed its trademark. The Court upheld the original High court decision that advertising banners Dunnes Stores had been using for the purposes of comparative advertising 'did not comply with the law and infringed Aldi’s trademark', a statement by the retailer said. (esmmagazine.com)