Carrefour SA shares fell the most on record after France’s biggest retailer warned the second half of the year will be as tough as the first, giving new Chief Executive Officer Alexandre Bompard an even bigger challenge to turn around the company. The surprise warning and a share-price plunge of as much as 15 percent mean Bompard has his work cut out in rejuvenating Carrefour’s sprawling hypermarkets, which sell everything from food to garden furniture but are struggling with price competition and inroads by online retailers. The 44-year-old took over as CEO from Georges Plassat in July, joining the company from French media and electronics retailer Fnac Darty SA. (esmmagazine.com)McColl's posts positive like-for-like sales following acquisitions
UK convenience retailer McColl's has announced that total revenue was up by 31.1% in its third quarter and 15.8% in the year to date, following the successful integration of nearly 300 newly-acquired stores. In the third quarter, like-for-like sales were up by 0.7% in convenience stores, and by 0.3% in newsagents. For the year to date, like-for-like sales were up by 0.4%, driven by growth in key grocery categories. (esmmagazine.com) Food retail investment by e-tailers likely to boost Indian supply chain
Experts have opined that the nod by the government of India to Amazon, the American e-commerce giant planning to invest $500 million in food retail in the country, could facilitate the overall processable food product market with the even arrangement of the currently uneven Indian retail sector and act as a building block for the growth of the Indian food supply chain. Please, click here to read the article at fnbnews.com. NorgesGruppen posts 8% revenue increase despite strong competition
Norwegian retail group NorgesGruppen has reported total operating revenues of NOK 41,769 million in the first half of 2017, representing an increase of 8.1% compared to the same period last year. However, operating profit for the first half stood at NOK 1,398 million, down from NOK 1,435 million last year, with operating margin falling to 3.3%. The retailer says that this 'somewhat weaker result' was due to continued investment, such as structural changes in Dagrofa. (esmmagazine.com) More and more Poles doing their groceries online
The e-grocery industry is experiencing dynamic growth in Poland, as confirmed by the results of the Warsaw market leader among online supermarkets: Frisco.pl, whose shareholders are MCI and Eurocash. In comparison to the first half of 2016, Frisco.pl has recorded a 33% increase in customer shipments in the same period this year, and maintained nearly 100% delivery punctuality and order completeness. Internet shoppers are looking for high quality products, and Frisco.pl proves that Poles are increasingly buying fresh fruit, vegetables and other fresh products online. In the last six months, 78% of all orders contained fresh articles, of which fruits and vegetables were found in 75% of baskets. Frisco.pl customers preferred bananas, peppers and lemons. (wirtualnemedia.pl)Amazon adds Whole Foods products to website to boost grocery sales
Amazon.com Inc. this week added hundreds of new Whole Foods products to its website in a bid to get consumers to finally buy their groceries online. Amazon declined to comment beyond a statement issued last week, which said that several of Whole Foods private labels, including 365 Everyday Value, would be available on Amazon.com and via several of its grocery delivery options. (foxbusiness.com) Grocery among fastest-growing retail segments: report
According to a new report from global research and advisory firm IHL Group, U.S. retailers are opening 4,080 more stores in 2017 than they’re closing and plan to open an additional 5,500 next year. The report, “Debunking the Retail Apocalypse,” identified grocery retailers as among the three fastest-growing core retail segments, with 674 stores expected to open. The other two fastest-growing core retail segments, the report found, were mass merchandisers such as off-price retailers and dollar stores, with 1,905 stores expected to open, and convenience stores, with 1,700 stores. (progressivegrocer.com) Walmart's new sweeter 'designer' melon coming to stores this winter
Walmart — the nation's largest food retailer — is even branching out into the agro-business, partnering with Bayer to create a designer melon. The final result is the Sweet Spark, a cantaloupe that tastes nearly twice as sweet as the average melon available during cooler months. (today.com) Online grocery US: fresh is more prevalent than was thought
Nearly a fourth of online shoppers bought groceries, and 85% of those grocery orders included produce. That’s the latest from the Brick Meets Click Grocery eCommerce Scorecard. The Barrington, Ill.-based research firm tracked purchases during a 4-week period ending March 31. Data came from nearly 200 stores under 26 retail banners. (produceretailer.com) Kroger expands meal kits to more stores & adds recipes
Kroger Co.’s meal kits are working so well that it’s adding stores that carry the popular products and expanding recipe offerings. Cincinnati-based Kroger, the nation’s largest operator of traditional supermarkets, is adding five Ohio stores to the five where it already sells its own brand of meal kits. But that's just the beginning. It will sell Prep + Pared kits in 37 local stores by the end of September. (bizjournals.com) American retailers oppose US NAFTA produce proposal
In one letter seen by Reuters, sent to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Thursday, retailers argued that the U.S. proposal to allow more complaints about the dumping of perishable produce would have “dangerous implications for U.S. businesses and consumers.” American retail, restaurant and agriculture groups weighed in on Thursday against a U.S. NAFTA modernization proposal that could pave the way for U.S. seasonal produce growers to file anti-dumping cases against Mexico, according to letters sent to Trump administration officials. (Reuters)