Discounter Aldi may be expanding rapidly in most European countries, however in Denmark, the retailer has announced that it is to close 32 stores, following a DKK 246m loss in 2016. While the business, which is part of Aldi Nord, posted a loss for the year, this is still a DKK 54m improvement on its performance the previous year. (esmmagazine.com) IGD, Consumer goods forum reveal 'grocery store of the future' vision
In a new report, international grocery research organisation IGD and The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) have sought to identify the 10 areas grocery retailers must focus on to ensure physical stores remain relevant for shoppers in 'an increasingly digital age'. The Evolution of the Physical Store report maps out a vision for the future of the physical grocery store, and it includes a series of considerations for retailers, to ensure they are ready to meet the demands of that future. Please, click here to read the report. (esmmagazine.com) Super-size lemons taken by Tesco to save food waste
Excessive rain in Spain has swollen lemons to a super-size. Known as Emperor lemons, these larger sized lemons are usually not sold in the UK because there are normally so few of them. Tesco worked with their suppliers to sell the fruit in its UK stores. Tesco is best performing big supermarket in latest sales figures
Tesco is in the healthiest position of the big four supermarkets with quarterly sales up 2.2% year-on-year. It meant the market leader outperformed Sainsbury’s (up 1.2%), Morrisons (up 1.4%), and Asda (down 0.1%), according to the Nielsen figures for the 12 weeks up to 20 May. All four retailers have lost market share since last year, with their combined total falling from 67.9% of the market to 66.3%, taking it under two-thirds. Discounters Aldi and Lidl are continuing to see significant growth in both sales – which are up 18.1% and 19.7% respectively – and market share. Aldi now has an 8.1% share, up from 7.1% last year, while Lidl is on 5.4%, up from 4.7%. (campaignlive.co.uk) Sonae to roll out Continente stores in UAE and Middle East
Portuguese retail group Sonae is planning to roll out its Continente hypermarket brand in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East. “Currently we are in the market evaluation phase and are seeking partners to introduce the grocery retail banner in other countries of the Middle East”, Sonae’s Jose Carlos Trinidade told Portuguese daily Expresso. (esmmagazine.com) Lidl maps its first U.S. stores
In releasing a list Tuesday of its first locations, due to start opening June 15, Lidl said it will focus on Virginia, North and South Carolina. In Virginia, Lidl is opening stores in Virginia Beach and Hampton, while in South Carolina, it will have stores in Spartanburg and Greenville, the retailer said. In North Carolina, it plans to initially open stores in Kinston, Greenville, Sanford, Rocky Mount and Winston-Salem. (usatoday.com) South Africa: Sales in Spar slow
South African retailer and wholesaler Spar Group on Wednesday reported a small fall in half-year earnings per share after issuing shares to fund foreign acquisitions and to settle its share schemes aimed at black investors. Sales rose 12.6% to 47.4bn rand ($3.62bn), slowing from 16.7% growth a year earlier. (Reuters)UK: Asda's new online tool to benefit suppliers
Northern Ireland is the first region in the UK to roll out Asda’s Sustain & Save Exchange (SSE) which aims to help local suppliers make savings of £2.5m over the next three years. SSE has already helped Asda’s national suppliers save and invest over £30million in their businesses. A total of 45,000 tonnes of carbon has also been removed from the supply chain and over 100,000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill. (boardroomni.com) 
AU: Aldi continues to rise while Woolworths’ fortunes stay in the doldrums
Aldi’s share of Australia’s A$90bn (US$67bn) supermarket budget continues to grow, at the expense of both Woolworths’ and IGA’s slices of the market. Please, click here to read the article at foodnavigator-asia.com.
Italy: Coop Alleanza 3.0 reports first annual results
Coop Alleanza 3.0, Italy’s largest consumer cooperative and grocery retailer, has reported sales of €4.7bn for its first financial year. At group level, including sales in the fuel, tourism and bookshop sectors, the figure reaches €5.1bn (+8% on 2015). Total profit exceeds €14.8m, according to a company press release. The 2017-2019 business plan foresees €875m in investments. (esmmagazine.com) US: Sprouts off the table as potential Albertsons acquisition
Although it previously was looking to purchase natural food grocer Sprouts Farmers Market, Albertsons appears to have backed out of its pursuit, The New York Post has reported. Initially, the Boise, Idaho-based company’s talks with Sprouts about a potential merger involved a plan to take the Phoenix-based retailer private and add it to the Albertsons family of stores. However, Sprouts is now trading at too high a multiple for a transaction to take place, the newspaper reported. (progressivegrocer.com)