Spar International has announced that it is appointing Wouter Lefevere as its new head of international buying. Lefevere will be based in the company’s head office in Amsterdam. He will be responsible for the buying of products as well as supplier relationships and negotiations, working in close co-operation with partners worldwide. (esmmagazine.com) Whole Foods swoop sends Ocado soaring on hopes of Amazon tie-up
Ocado shares rocketed by almost 7% on Monday as Amazon’s swoop on US grocer Whole Foods raised the prospect of a supply deal between the two online retailers. Broker Exane said Amazon’s decision to splurge $13.7bn (£10.7bn) on the upmarket chain, revealed last week, shows the online giant is getting more involved in food retail, increasing the chances of a separate deal with Ocado. (standard.co.uk) Germany's Rewe group wins NACS sustainability award 2017
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has awarded German retailer Rewe Group with the 2017 NACS Insight European Convenience Retail Sustainability Award. The award was presented at the NACS Insight Convenience Summit–Europe awards dinner in London on 14 June. It recognised Rewe Group for its ‘leadership in developing and implementing sustainable strategies and making sustainability a core aspect of the company’s mission’. (esmmagazine.com)Germany: Edeka Nord posts 3.6% increase in sales for 2016
German retailer Edeka Nord has posted a 3.6% increase in sales for its independent retailers for full-year 2016, with group sales rising by 3.4% to €2.9bn. The total sales from Edeka’s own industrial bakery in Hohenwestedt amounted to €14.6m (previous year, €14.7m), while its Dallmeyers Backhus posted sales of €42.2m (previous year, €42.1m). A total of 13 new stores were opened and six stores were expanded, with the retailer's total sales space increasing by 0.6%. (esmmagazine.com) Coop Switzerland named most sustainable retailer worldwide
Coop Switzerland has been named as the world's most committed retailer in the area of sustainable development, in a study by German research group Oekom. In its study, Oekom examined the ecological commitment of 148 global retailers based on a hundred criteria. Coop Switzerland came in first place, followed by UK retailers Marks & Spencer and Tesco. (esmmagazine.com) German: Edeka purchasing to be managed by CEO Markus Mosa
Edeka has announced changes in its management structure. As of 1 July 2017, the company's purchasing will be directly managed by CEO Markus Mosa. “Purchasing is the trade’s core element and therefore an important factor to further expand Edeka’s competitiveness in the future," said Uwe Kohler, chairman of Edeka's supervisory board. "Due to the increasing complexity of purchasing in the national and international commodity trade, short decision paths are a strategic advantage for us.” (esmmagazine.com)
South African supermarket giants in fine food fight
In a bid to retain its leading industry position, the discount retailer's new boss is driving hard into the upmarket, higher-margin niche dominated by rival Woolworths. Shoprite CEO Pieter Engelbrecht told Reuters that affluent areas and customers were where he saw growth in the maturing South African market. "A lot of wealthier customers, 2 million of them, actually frequent our stores already, but not exclusively," he said in an interview. "Our job is to get a better share of their wallets when they are in our stores and then impress them so that they come back again." (Reuters)US: Southeastern Grocers CEO resigns
A little more than two years after he took over the Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys and Fresco y Más grocery stores, the president and CEO is leaving. Ian McLeod’s last day with Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of the four chains, will be June 30. The company confirmed Monday afternoon that McLeod is leaving to take another position, but would not say what that was. Anthony Hucker, current COO, will assume the president and CEO positions on July 1. (jacksonville.com) US grocery meal kit sales topped $80 mln in 2016
Nielsen Fresh data shows meal kit sales at U.S grocers totaled $80.6m during the past year. According to Supermarket News, numerous mainstream grocers, including Whole Foods and Kroger, are cashing in on the trend with kits that typically cost between $10 and $20. A study by Morningstar estimates 19 million Americans will have tried meal kits by 2021, with 11 million people making regular orders by that time. (fooddive.com) US: Kroger takes a $7bn hit
The biggest U.S. supermarket chain lost more than $7bn in market value combined on Thursday and Friday, the biggest two-day loss for the company since December 1999. The 19% plummet on Thursday was thanks to a lousy earnings report. The 9% drop the next day was courtesy of Amazon.com Inc.’s announcement about acquiring Whole Foods Market Inc. If Amazon pulls that deal off, the competition will be even more cutthroat in an industry known for razor-thin profit margins. (Bloomberg)US: ShopRite expanding locally grown products
ShopRite has revealed plans to expand its Locally Grown program, which offers a wide variety of products throughout the supermarket, including fresh fruits and vegetables A Shoprite VP said: “More than ever, we are meeting increased customer demand for locally sourced products by working hand-in-hand with local entrepreneurs, family farms and businesses to procure and sell products that have been locally grown.” (progressivegrocer.com) US: Southeastern flips 7 more Winn-Dixies to Hispanic concept
Southeastern Grocers on Wednesday reopened another seven south Florida Winn-Dixie stores under its Hispanic Fresco Y Más concept. The seven sites – five in Miami, one in Hialeah and one in Hollywood – opened on the first anniversary of the initial Fresco Y Más store last June 15 in Hialeah, and expands the concept to 18 stores, all of which previously traded under the Winn-Dixie banner. Southeastern continues to operate 58 Winn-Dixie stores in the greater Miami area. (supermarketnews.com) US: Blue Apron launches IPO
Blue Apron Holdings Inc began marketing an initial public offering on Monday, as an already competitive meal-kit industry faces a potential threat from Amazon.com Inc's plan to buy Whole Foods Market Inc. Blue Apron's up to $510mln IPO will test whether the growth seen by the meal-kit industry's greatest players will continue to whet investor appetite, even as costs to acquire new customers mount and possible new competitors with established distribution systems appear. (Reuters)