The Swedish retail and wholesale group Axfood reported consolidated net sales amounting to SEK 10,639m (€1,106m), an increase of 3.2%, and operating profit of SEK 397m (€41m), corresponding to an operating margin of 3.7% for this year's Q1. Net profit for the period was SEK 309m (€32m), and earnings per share were SEK 1.47. (esmmagazine.com)Dutch Sligro reports increased sales in Q1
Dutch food group Sligro's sales for the first quarter of 2017 were €669m, an increase of 5.8% compared with Q1 2016. Excluding the effect of acquisitions, sales were up by 2.5%. Food Retail's sales were down 0.2% in the first quarter. Like-for-like consumer sales at EMTÉ supermarkets declined 1.2% in the first quarter. (esmmagazine.com) Russia: Lenta's Q1 sales increase more than 15%
Russian retailer Lenta posted a total sales increase of 17.2% in Q1 2017 to RUR 77.9bn (€1.29bn), compared with RUR 66.5bn (€1.1bn) in Q1 2016. Lenta also reported a like-for-like increase of 1.7% compared to the same period last year. (esmmagazine.com) Singapore: FairPrice's bid to cut fresh produce waste pays off
Efforts to curb food waste at NTUC FairPrice have borne fruit - the supermarket chain discarded 48 tonnes less food between 2015 and last year. Food wastage at the supermarket stood at 1,278 tonnes last year, down from 1,326 tonnes in 2015. To reduce wastage, the supermarket chain sold imperfect fruits and vegetables at a discount, and donated unsold canned food to the needy. (straitstimes.com) UK risks 22% tariff on EU food imports if no Brexit deal - retailers
British shoppers could face an average tariff of 22% on food from the European Union if Prime Minister Theresa May fails to reach a trade deal with Brussels before Britain leaves in two years time, retailers said on Thursday. Nearly 80% of British food imports come from EU member states and if no trade agreement is struck Britain and the EU would have to treat each other as WTO members. "Such a scenario would put upward pressure on consumer food prices," said the British Retail Consortium, which represents big supermarkets and other stores. (Reuters)Finland's Kesko closes more stores
Kesko said on Thursday it will close another 42 convenience stores as part of its integration of the Suomen Lahikauppa retail chain, after failing to find a buyer. The Finnish competition watchdog required Kesko to sell 60 of Lahikauppa's 600 stores as a condition of the retailer's €60m takeover of loss-making Lahikauppa last year. But Kesko said on Thursday that it had only found a buyer for 10 stores and the watchdog had agreed it could close 42 stores and turn another eight outlets into Kesko stores instead. (Reuters)Russia's X5 Retail Group says Q1 sales up 26.4% y/y
Russia's X5 Retail Group has posted a 26.4% increase in net retail sales for the first quarter of the year. Like-for-like sales were up 7.3%. The group said that performance 'remained strong' despite slowing food price inflation in the country, with like-for-like trade positive across all its major formats. X5 added 630 net new stores in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 377 in the same period last year. (esmmagazine.com)
US: More Marsh stores to close
Marsh will be closing seven more stores in May, including three in Indianapolis. The company says they are closing the stores because of "sustained weak performance." "This is a very difficult decision for us as we have been serving these communities for many years and have many great relationships with our valued customers," said a company spokesperson. The company says they are trying to find positions for associates who wish to remain with Marsh at one of their other stores. (theindychannel.com) Walmart invites suppliers to fight CO2
Wal-Mart has launched a "sustainability platform" that will invite its suppliers to join the retail giant in pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions from operations and supply chains. Known as Project Gigaton, Wal-Mart said on Wednesday that an "emissions reduction toolkit" would be given to suppliers, with the aim of slashing one gigaton of emissions by 2030. (cnbc.com) Target, Wegmans honored for retail sustainability
The Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (PRSM) has presented Target Corp. and Wegmans Food Markets with its 2017 PRSM Innovation in Sustainability 
Award. Recognizing PRSM retail member companies with outstanding sustainability programs that deliver exceptional results, the honors were bestowed April 20 during the PRSM2017 National Conference in the association’s hometown of Dallas. (progressivegrocer.com) 
Lower GR potato returns to Ontario grocery storesFollowing a highly successful launch in 2016, Canadian produce company EarthFresh is bringing its lower glycemic response (GR)* Carisma potato back to Ontario grocery retailers for an extended season. (potatopro.com)
Walmart Canada laying off employees
Walmart Canada is laying off an unspecified number of employees as it undergoes a restructuring. Spokesman Alex Roberton would not disclose how many employees would lose their jobs. He denied a media report that 475 workers would be let go, saying the actual number is lower. (canadiangrocer.com) US: Hy-Vee to focus on health
Hy-Vee recently announced it restructured corporate departments to focus on growth in its dedicated health and wellness sections, restaurant operations and information technology, according to a company release. The process will add 70 new staff positions in the weeks ahead. Twenty jobs will go towards developing HealthMarkets, Hy-Vee’s dedicated health departments, and the store's Market Grille restaurant concept. (fooddive.com) 
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