Lidl has resubmitted its plans for a regional distribution centre at a 31 acre site at the Newbridge townlands of Greatconnell, Littleconnell and Oldconnell. The company had initially submitted the application in April last year, but withdrew it on May 2 2017. If approved, the 57,611 sqm facility would be bounded by the Naas Road, the Pfizer complex, Lidl Distribution Centre and farmland to the east, and south. (leinsterleader.ie) Online buyers still avoid fruit and veg - Nielsen
Only 9% of consumers across the globe buy fresh fruit and vegetables online, according to market research company Nielsen. Nielsen’s director for retail services Megan Treston, who spoke at the Horticulture Connection conference in Adelaide last week, said one in five consumers shopped online — but the majority were buying packaged foods rather than fresh produce. She says the digital fresh produce space wasn’t appealing to consumers. “There’s a lot of investment put into in-store shopping experiences to make those experiences enjoyable and easy for consumers but there isn’t the same investment being made in the digital space. “And this is not an Australian or New Zealand problem. It’s a global problem and we need to work out ways to address it. Please, click here to read more at weeklytimesnow.com.au. Spar China continues 'strong growth' in 2017
Spar International has announced a partnership agreement with Yunnan Anning Jinfang commercial group (Jinfang) to expand Spar's presence across Southeast China. Jinfang, which operates in the retail and supermarket sector, will invest in converting 32 of its stores to the Spar brand in the coming months. “Our new partnership with Jinfang is consistent with Spar China’s strategic focus on accelerating expansion," said Wang Peihuan, chairman of Spar China. (esmmagazine.com) Japan's Aeon eyes 57% profit boost in fiscal 2019
Japanese retail giant Aeon aims to boost operating revenue by 16% and operating profit by 57% over the next three years, thanks to structural reforms, President Motoya Okada told shareholders Wednesday. The Chiba-based company hopes to generate "9.5 trillion yen ($84.8bn) in sales and 290bn yen in operating profit in the year ending February 2020," said Okada. (asia.nikkei.com) Israeli supermarket chain Shufersal Q1 profit, revenue up
Shufersal, Israel's largest supermarket chain, said on Wednesday net profit was up in the first quarter, boosted by its private label products that now account for more than a fifth of all sales.The company posted net profit of 65m shekels ($18m), up from 53m shekels a year earlier. Revenue edged up 1.5 percent to 2.9bn shekels. Same store sales in the quarter were unchanged. (Reuters)OK Zimbabwe posts 800pc rise in full-year profit
Zimbabwe's largest grocery chain OK Zimbabwe posted an 800% jump in full-year after tax profits to $6.1m from $700,000 in 2016, the company said on Wednesday. The customer-oriented retail organisation posted the figure after reducing costs and improving margins, the company said. Revenue rose 8.0% to $472m during the year to March. (thefinancialexpress-bd.com) Malaysia: 7-Eleven's 1Q net profit halves
7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd saw its net profit for the first financial quarter ended March 31, 2017 (1QFY17) halve to RM8m from RM15.93m a year ago, due to an increase in selling and distribution costs. Revenue for 1QFY17 was marginally lower at RM522.5m, from RM526.2m a year ago. (theedgemarkets.com) Single grape costs Woolworths $11,000
A disabled Queensland pensioner, Raymond Polwarth, sued Woolworths in a Brisbane District Court after slipping on the grape in its Hervey Bay store in February, 2014. But it could have cost the supermarket giant a whole lot more, had covert video surveillance not revealed the man suing the company had exaggerated the effect the fall had on him. (news.com.au) Walmart to begin testing skinny potatoes
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.—the largest retailer in the U.S.—is expected to begin testing the Skinny Potato this month, says Scott McDulin, vice president of Schmieding Produce Co. in Springdale, Ark. “I talked to [Walmart’s] category manager two weeks ago, and he loved the idea,” says McDulin, who added that the test will be in Walmart stores served by the retailer’s Dallas distribution center. (potatogrower.com) 
Grocery stores are working to get slice of growing meal-kit marketPlease, click here to read the article.
Walmart announces $450M in 2017-2018 investments throughout Florida
The world’s largest retailer today announced its statewide growth and investment plans for the state of Florida, which will result in an economic impact well over $450m. The plan will expand the company’s more than 375 facility footprint in Florida and build on the continued positive momentum in U.S. sales, customer traffic and customer feedback noted in the company’s most recent earnings report. The retailer said that it will open nine new stores across the state. Walmart also confirmed its plans to break ground later this year on a new Distribution Center for perishable goods in the City of Cocoa. (groceryretailonline.com)Wal-Mart regaining grocery share from competitors at 'accelerating rate'
Wal-Mart Stores is gaining a bigger slice of the $800bn market and momentum picked up in the recent first quarter, according to a new report. "Wal-Mart is taking back share from the traditional supermarket at an accelerating rate," according to Loop Capital analyst Andrew Wolf, who estimates the retailer now has a 21.5% market share in the U.S. traditional grocery industry. In a report this week, Wolf said the world's biggest retailer's domestic grocery same-store sales beat U.S. supermarkets by 2.9% in the first quarter, which represented a stronger pace from 1.6% outperformance in the fourth quarter of 2016. (cnbc.com)