German retailer Aldi Süd has opened a new ‘Filiale der Zukunft’ (branch of the future) in Memmingen, Bavaria, making it the 500th store with this concept. Since May 2016, the retailer has reconstructed more than a quarter of its 1,870 outlets in Germany, and it is planning to refurbish all of its stores by the end of 2019. (esmmagazine.com) France: Casino Q2 sales accelerate
French supermarket retailer Casino said sales growth accelerated slightly in the second quarter, reflecting an improvement at its Geant hypermarkets in France, and reported a resilient performance at its recession-hit Brazilian market. Casino, which controls Brazil's top retailer Grupo Pao de Acucar, said second-quarter group sales reached 9.277bn euros ($10.6bn), above the 9.173bn euros average in a company-compiled consensus of analysts' forecasts. (Reuters)
Carrefour Market will place product reviews in storesCarrefour Market will display customer ratings for some two hundred items in its physical stores. It will include a short text from the customer and a star-based rating. The chain will implement this feature in its home territory, France, first. (retaildetail.eu)
Spar Hungary posts 4.6% sales growth in 2016
Spar Hungary has reported a 4.6% growth in sales to €1.65bn in 2016, following the opening of 46 new stores across the country, including 22 Spar Express forecourt outlets. The retailer has continued its upward trend in 2017, adding 13 new outlets to the existing network of 129 stores in Hungary during the first five months of the year. (esmmagazine.com) Italy’s VéGé group reports 4.2% sales increase in 2016
Italian retailer VéGé Group has reported double-digit growth for the third year running, ending 2016 with a turnover of €5.85bn. This represents an increase of 4.2% in like-for-like sales and a growth of 76.6% in current terms compared to 2015, according to the company. Contributing to the positive result was last year’s arrival of new members, such as local grocery retailers Supermercati Toscano Cerea, Fratelli Arena, Multicedi, Bava and Asta. (esmmagazine.com) France: Monoprix launches new Shop & Give service
French retailer Monoprix has launched a new service called 'Shop & Give', which aims to help customers reduce their food waste. Shop & Give allows customers who are having their groceries delivered at home to return products they no longer want to eat to the delivery driver. This may include food items near their expiry date, for example. (esmmagazine.com)Italy’s Naturasì expands to Bulgaria
Italy’s largest organic supermarket chain Naturasì has opened its first store in Bulgaria, as part of a franchising agreement with local company Vegan Milk, reports Capital. Located in Sofia, the 240 square metre store offers over 4,000 organic products, including fresh produce. (esmmagazine.com)Lidl US hires ex-Walmart real estate director
Lidl US has hired erstwhile Walmart real estate executive Kevin Sweet as its new senior director of real estate. Sweet held this position during his period at the US’s largest grocer, between 2010 and 2016. He oversaw approximately 153 Walmart real estate supermarket projects during this timeframe. (esmmagazine.com)
US: 7 more Winn-Dixie stores to become HarveysSoutheastern Grocers said Wednesday it would expand its discount Harveys Supermarket brand to another seven Winn-Dixie stores in Florida, including the brand’s debut in the Central and West Florida markets. (supermarketnews.com)
US: Whole Kids foundation launches organic education app
The Whole Kids Foundation, a foundation of Austin, Texas-based natural grocer Whole Foods Market, has launched a free organic education mobile app, offering a “fun way for kids and parents to learn what it looks and feels like to grow food in harmony with nature.” (progressivegrocer.com)Winn-Dixie puts revamped private brands to the test
Winn-Dixie wants kids to taste test its private label products and have customers submit video reviews for a chance to win a grand prize, according to Store Brands. The contest runs through July 15. Three new brands were launched — including SE Grocers Essentials, SE Grocers and Prestige — featuring nearly 3,000 new or retooled products. (fooddive.com) Peapod offers voice-activated grocery shopping
Peapod is launching "Ask Peapod" for Alexa that will allow consumers to voice order items that are then added to the shoppers' weekly grocery carts, the company said in a statement. Peapod said voice ordering is a natural next step in ordering groceries and comes as the company invests in more innovations designed for the connected shopper. "The beauty of online grocery shopping is that you can add to your order throughout the week and at the very moment you remember that you need something," (fooddive.com) Giant Eagle inks deal to improve collaboration with suppliers
Giant Eagle has signed a multi-year contract with customer insight software company Symphony EYC in a move the companies on Tuesday said would help the Pittsburgh-based grocer “build improved strategies against constant competitive pressures.” Symphony EYC said Giant Eagle would use its solutions covering customer insights, personalized marketing, promotion, assortment and space. It said the data provided would be integrated into internal processes and collaboration with suppliers. (supermarketnews.com) Former insider: 'Walmart should buy Costco to compete with Amazon'
If the Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods goes through, Amazon could become the top grocer in the U.S. by 2030, says Brittain Ladd, who worked on global expansion for the online retail giant’s grocery arm, AmazonFresh. “From a strategy perspective, Walmart must do something dramatic to change the entire dynamic within retail,” Ladd said. “Therefore, based on my analysis and experience, I recommend that Walmart divest Sam’s Club and then acquire Costco. Walmart/Costco/Jet has an ability to challenge Amazon on a level never before seen.” (geekwire.com) US: Fresh Market promotes rebrand roll out
Fresh Market continues to lean into its rebrand, sliding its position from gourmet specialty chain to traditional grocer. The retailer is marking the change via special events at several of its North Carolina and South Carolina locations from July 12 to the 16. Under the leadership of alternative investment manager and parent company, Apollo Global Management LLC, the store has rolled out lower prices and a greater selection since being acquired in March of 2016. “A commitment to fresh has always been a priority, and our guests’ love of food remains at the heart of what we do,” The Fresh Market's EVP said. (supermarketnews.com)Canada: Couche-Tard reports strong results
Alimentation Couche-Tard capped its fiscal year with a strong fourth quarter as its Canadian operations got a boost from the full impact of its acquisition of Esso convenience stores.The Quebec-based owner of Circle K, Couche-Tard and Mac's convenience stores and gas bars said its Canadian sales increased by 81% from a year ago while gross profit was up 54%. (bnn.ca)