Sri Lankan supermarket chain Keells has unveiled a new brand identity and store concept in Colombo, developed by design and brand agency Whippet. “The new brand, new store design and every innovative new feature in the store, propels Keells ahead in the Sri Lankan supermarket sector,” said Charitha Subasinghe, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Keells Supermarket Chain. Source: thedrum.com
UK: Booker to trial catering implant in Tesco Extra
In a first indication of how Booker and Tesco may develop joint projects going forward, Booker is to open a Chef Central store-within-a-store in one of the largest Tesco stores at Bar Hill, Cambridge. This first trial implant will open before the completion of the proposed merger (currently expected to occur on 5 March), and will be operated on an 'arm's length' basis pending the completion. The project will be aimed at exploring further ways of exploiting currently under-used space within Tesco's very biggest stores.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Sweden: ICA Gruppen Q4 profit matches expectations
Sweden’s biggest grocery retailer, ICA Gruppen, posted a quarterly profit that matched expectations and said it would start up a first central picking warehouse for its online business in the third quarter at the latest. Operating profit grew to 1.18bln crowns ($146mln) from a year-ago 1.03bln, against a mean forecast in a Reuters poll of analysts of 1.19bln.Source: in.reuters.com
UK: Tesco introduces longer-lasting avocado packaging
UK retailer Tesco has introduced a new packaging design for avocados that will add two extra days of shelf life. The new design uses a combination of UV light treatment and improved packaging film to extend freshness without any change in packaging volume or compromise in quality or flavour, according to Tesco. Demand for the fruit has risen by over 10% in the last year at the UK retailer.Source: esmmagazine.com
Philippine Seven steps up expansion after robust 2017 results
After opening 318 new stores in 2017, Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), the exclusive local licensor of global C-store chain 7-Eleven, announced it was stepping up its momentum with more strategic franchising initiatives as part of its aggressive expansion plan. As it embarks for long-term profitability and strong leadership this 2018, PSC, with a C-store fleet now pegged at 2,285, is targeting to open 375 new stores in various strategic locations this fiscal year.Source: business.mb.com.ph
Bennet rolls out new 'Bennet Smart' store concept in Italy
Italian supermarket chain Bennet has rolled out a new store format at the Le Piazze shopping center in Lecco. The store, Bennet Smart, seeks to combine food quality and healthy eating with factors that are increasingly important to Millennials, such as speed, practicality, comfort and pricing. Some of the technological innovations of the new 'smart' store include digital signage, interactive totems and self-service that accept Apple Pay technology.Source: esmmagazine.com
Spar Slovenia launches online store as part of upgrade plans
Spar Slovenia has launched a new online store, which offers a range of over 15,500 products for collection or delivery. Customers can now order products on the Spar Online website, and collect them using the drive-in service or request home delivery. This includes groceries, household and personal care products, and fresh produce.Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Consumer spending rises as cost of essential items climbs
UK shoppers boosted spending in January as they paid more for essential purchases. Consumer spending climbed 3.9% from a year earlier, Barclaycard said in a report, an increase driven by higher prices and supermarket purchases. In a separate survey, the British Retail Consortium also cited higher food prices as it reported a 0.6% increase in like-for-like retail sales last month.Source: esmmagazine.com
Malaysia: Aeon’s FY17 results to meet expectations
Aeon Corporation (Malaysia) Bhd’s financial results for the fourth quarter of financial year 2017 (4QFY17) which are set to come out on Feb 28, should meet expectations with earnings coming in at a range of RM26 to RM32mln. In a corporate update, MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd (MIDF Research) said expected earnings will be higher than the RM25mln reported in 4QFY16 as the group’s earnings have been supported by higher contribution from the property management segment which helped offset slowed growth in the retailing segment.Source: theborneopost.com
China: JD.com delivers new Australian HQ
China’s biggest online retailer, JD.com, has established a Melbourne office to gain closer access to brands and retailers across Australia and New Zealand. JD.com’s Australian headquarters, located on Melbourne’s Collins Street, will allow retailers and brands access to the platform’s 266.3mln active users, in addition to more than 900mln consumers through an exclusive partnership with Tencent’s WeChat.Source: acbr.com.au
Spain:
Mercadona updates launch plan for PortugalSpanish grocery retailer Mercadona has commenced the process of hiring staff for a supermarket that is set to open in Maia, Portugal, in 2019. This Portuguese city thus joins the other three locations in which Mercadona will start its operation in Portugal next year: Vila Nova da Gaia, Matosinhos and Gondomar. All locations are in the Greater Porto area.
Source: esmmagazine.com
France: Leclerc FY2017 sales up 2.0% in France
France-based Leclerc has announced full year results for 2017, saying sales rose 2%, excluding fuel, to €37.2 bln. Including fuel sales rose 3.2% to €44.83 bln. Leclerc said hypermarkets accounted for 44% of sales growth, while ecommerce accounted for 30%. The share of growth accounted for by ecommerce meant Leclerc’s sales through the channel grew 10.3%, while at its hypermarkets they rose by 1.4%. The retailer’s specialist stores – Espaces Culturels, Brico-Jardi, parapharmacies – grew sales by 4.4%.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Brazil: Retail sales fall more than expected in December
Retail sales in Brazil decreased by 1.5% in December from November, said the country's statistics office. Compared to November, six out of the eight retail sectors surveyed posted lower sales in December, highlighting articles of personal and domestic use (-6.3%), books, newspapers, and stationery (-4.0%) and hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-3.0%).Source: markets.businessinsider.com
Lidl to make record €200mln investment in Ireland this year
Discount retailer Lidl is to make its single biggest one-year investment in Ireland since entering the market in 2000, with a total of €200mln earmarked for a range of projects over the coming months. It is investing in both its store network and in the building of a new distribution centre. The group has 154 stores in the Republic of Ireland and has a share of over 10% of the Irish grocery spend, according to Kantar Worldpanel.Source: independent.ie
UK's Tesco is planning a chain of discount stores
Supermarket group Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, is planning a chain of cut-price stores to counter the growth of discount rivals Aldi and Lidl, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. The paper said Tesco was understood to be developing a separate brand that would match its German competitors on price with a more limited range than in its main stores.Tesco had no immediate comment on the report.Source: reuters.com
US: Albertsons taps into foodie-culture with new format
Albertsons is to open a new food-inspired format, Market Street Idaho, later this year. The retailer will open two stores under this new format and banner in Boise, Idaho. The concept has been developed to create an elevated food experience, reflecting the area’s food heritage. Featuring locally sourced and unique products, the store will aim to stimulate shoppers’ food passions through in-store events and culinary classes. Prepared foods will be a key element, with the store featuring a food court and catering services.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: Supervalu highlights business transformation
Supervalu is currently undergoing a major transformation as it continues to invest in growing its wholesale division. Following two major acquisitions, Unified Grocers and Associated Grocers of Florida, and winning new business, notably from The Fresh Market, this division accounts for 75% of annual sales. This is a marked increase from accounting for less than half of the business two years ago.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: Costco Wholesale Corporation reports January sales results
Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) reported net sales of $12.24bln for the month of January, the five weeks ended February 4, 2018, an increase of 8.4% from $11.29bln last year. For the first twenty-two weeks of fiscal year 2018, the Company reported net sales of $58.30bln, an increase of 11.6% from $52.26bln last year.Source: globenewswire.com
US: Walmart introduces new app to attract busy shoppers into its stores
Walmart has upgraded its app with something called Store Assistant. “Essentially, Store Assistant puts all the tools that you need to make shopping fast and easy right at your fingertips,” says Erin Hulliberger, a spokesperson for Walmart. “This app is going to be really helpful for our customers, especially busy families who really want to get in an out of our stores really quickly and easily,” added Hulliberger.Source: pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
US: Ingles’ Q1 sales, net income grow
As it continues to grow its business, Ingles Markets Inc. posted higher first-quarter sales and net income for the period ended Dec. 30, 2017, compared with the year-ago period ended Dec. 24, 2016. Total sales grew 3.2% over the comparative quarters. Net income came to $45.1mln for the quarter ended Dec. 30, 2017, versus last year. Ingles’ current-quarter net income includes a reduction in noncash deferred tax expense of $26.7mln from changes to federal income tax law.Source: progressivegrocer.com