US: Target to remodel more stores Target Corp. is stepping up its plan to remodel stores and push into more city centres, in a bid to regain its cachet and fend off incursions by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. The retailer now plans to revamp more than 1,000 locations by the end of 2020, part of a sweeping overhaul of its operations. The Minneapolis-based company had previously said it was remodelling 600 stores by 2019.
(esmmagazine.com)
AUS: Woolworths facing possible staff strikesUnions are threatening industrial action at supermarket Woolworths. (AAP). As many as 2000 Woolworths staff at four distribution centres could go on strike, after their union applied to take protected industrial action. Supermarket giant Woolworths could face strikes at Victorian and NSW distribution centres as 2000 staff push for pay rises and job certainty.
(sbs.com.au)
Walmart poised to outlast its European rivals in the USThe method Lidl chose to use to enter the U.S. isn’t working because the more affluent consumers the German retailer wants to attract associate low-cost grocery with low quality, according to TheStreet. Instead of drawing Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods-style shoppers, Lidl has ended up fighting for the same customers as Aldi and Walmart, and it isn’t winning. (fooddive.com)
US: Billions in tax breaks offered to Amazon for second HQ
Amazon
is receiving offers of billions of dollars in tax breaks and other subsidies from cities and states across North America that are participating in the company's contest to pick a location for its second headquarters. Elected officials are eager for the $5 billion-plus investment by Amazon and up to 50,000 new jobs that will come with “HQ2.” For its second campus, Amazon wants a metropolitan area of more than a million people with good education, mass transit and likely lower costs than its home base in Seattle. (Reuters)
US: Listeria risk prompts Meijer to recall produce
Retailer Meijer Inc said it was recalling packaged vegetables in six U.S. states because of possible contamination from Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which can cause fatal food poisoning in young children, pregnant women and elderly or frail people. The recall affects 35 products and includes vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus. (Reuters)
Amazon
is receiving offers of billions of dollars in tax breaks and other subsidies from cities and states across North America that are participating in the company's contest to pick a location for its second headquarters. Elected officials are eager for the $5 billion-plus investment by Amazon and up to 50,000 new jobs that will come with “HQ2.” For its second campus, Amazon wants a metropolitan area of more than a million people with good education, mass transit and likely lower costs than its home base in Seattle. (Reuters)US: Listeria risk prompts Meijer to recall produce Retailer Meijer Inc said it was recalling packaged vegetables in six U.S. states because of possible contamination from Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which can cause fatal food poisoning in young children, pregnant women and elderly or frail people. The recall affects 35 products and includes vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus. (Reuters)
UK grocery inflation gains momentum
UK supermarkets saw sales revenues rise 3.9% in September, despite an increase in grocery inflation, according to the latest data from Nielsen. However, the organisation says that the amount people are spending on groceries is outstripping the number of items they're buying, as retailers struggle to absorb rising costs in the supply chain.(esmmagazine.com)
Russian retailer Magnit says Q3 net profit halves y-o-y
Russia’s second-biggest food retailer Magnit said on Friday its third
-quarter net profit more than halved year-on-year, sending its shares down more than 5 percent. The company, which has more than 15,000 low-cost stores, said net profit fell to 6.9 billion roubles ($120 million) from 14.8 billion a year ago. (Reuters)
X5 opens sixth DC in Moscow regionRussia's X5 Retail Group has announced the opening of a new 43,000 square metre distribution centre in the Moscow region. The logistics facility will serve 650 Pyaterochka stores in Moscow and the surrounding areas. X5 describes the distribution centre as 'one of the most high-tech of its kind is Russia', and aims for the facility to streamline operations and increase labour productivity. (esmmagazine.com)