Leading Asian American grocery supermarket chain and online grocer iFresh Inc. announced that 2 new stores that it will manage opened in Houston, TX and El Monte, CA. "iFresh Harwin and iFresh El Monte are parts of our new program pursuant to which iFresh manages stores owned by others in exchange for a management fee. We are excited to bring iFresh's signature commitment to daily fresh produce from regional farms at reasonable prices to Houston and El Monte. We are optimistic about the potential of these new stores and our new managed-store program," said Mr. Long Deng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of iFresh. (nasdaq.com) US: Publix will open smaller-format GreenWise grocery store
Mount Pleasant will be the site of Publix Super Markets' second newly redesigned smaller-format grocery store. It will focus on specialty and organic products. It's expected to open in 2019. Publix opened its first GreenWise store a decade ago and went on to build two more, all in its home state. It relaunched the concept this year by announcing plans for a slimmed-down location near Florida State University in Tallahassee that's expected to open in late 2018. The Mount Pleasant store will be second to be developed under the retooled format. (postandcourier.com)Ireland: SuperValu expects huge sales of brussels sprouts this Christmas
SuperValu has announced that it expects to sell 64,000 nets of brussels sprouts this Christmas. The brussels sprouts season runs from September to March and SuperValu forecasts that a total of 64,000 nets of brussels sprouts will be sold in its stores across Ireland this year. "Brussels sprouts are an extremely popular vegetable during the festive season and we are delighted that sprouts sold in our stores are locally grown," said Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu. "As the number one supporter of the Irish agri-food industry, we are happy to work with growers like Ballygarron Vegetable Farm to ensure that we deliver the very best in locally sourced fresh food to SuperValu shoppers." (irishexaminer.com) AUS: Low-sensory shopping experience for Prahran Coles customers with autism
The supermarket giant will turn down the music, dim lighting and avoid making announcements between 10.30am and 11.30am on Tuesday mornings in an effort to create a low-sensory shopping experience. Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) community engagement and operations Manager Linzi Coyle said it had the potential to benefit many people who shopped at the 68 participating stores: “With autism affecting 1 in 100 Australians, expanding this low-sensory shopping experience to more Coles stores will have a significant improvement on the lives of many children, young people and adults on the spectrum, as well as their family members”. (heraldsun.com.au) Italy: Unicoop Firenze plans to expand local produce range
Italian regional cooperative retailer Unicoop Firenze is planning to introduce products from 200 suppliers from the Tuscany region. Out of a total of about 2,200 Unicoop Firenze suppliers, more than 700 are Tuscan (about 32%), for a value of €454mln, representing 23% of total sales. The retailer says that its intention is to promote the gastronomic culture of the region and support the development of the small local producers, enhancing the relationship between producers and consumers. (esmmagazine.com) 3 new supermarkets opened in Romania by Carrefour
Carrefour Romania has opened three new supermarkets under its 'Market' store format in Arad, Valea Călugărească and Slatina. All of the new Carrefour stores feature around 7,000 products, including over 1,000 private label items, which the retailer says are at least 20% cheaper than national brands. Consumers can find a wide assortment of dairy products, meat, groceries, bakery products, fruit and vegetables, drinks, organic and dietary ranges, fresh fish, as well as non-food hygiene and housekeeping products. Carrefour Romania says that its Market store concept offers fast service, with fresh, quality produce. (esmmagazine.com) France: Casino uses Ocado's technology for e-commerce push
French supermarket Groupe Casino has signed a deal with Ocado to use the British online retailer’s grocery e-commerce platform to develop its online business, starting with Monoprix.fr. The agreement includes plans to build a customer fulfilment center using Ocado’s proprietary mechanical handling equipment to serve the Greater Paris area, the Normandie and Hauts de France Regions, the companies said. (Reuters)