Belgium-based Colruyt has formally launched the Apporto service after announcing a trial in January 2018. The retailer said the platform provides a solution that makes ‘it easier to shop groceries for others’. As part of the launch Colruyt highlighted how Apporto could support shoppers who are unable to get to a store due to being ill, having suffered an accident, being unable to lift heavy groceries they have bought. The retailer also said it could help those who simply do not have time to get to the shop. Commenting on the launch, Colruyt’s COO, Frans Colruyt, said: “In a time of increasing social isolation and people keeping more to themselves, our intention - as a retailer - is to ensure people have more social contacts.”Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
AUS: Poor diets mimic supermarket catalogues
The poor eating habits of many Australians appear to mimic supermarket catalogues, filled with too much junk food and soft drinks and not enough fruit and vegetables, a study has found. Over a seven-week period, researchers at Cancer Council Victoria for the LiveLighter campaign analysed weekly catalogues from Australia's big four supermarkets; Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA. The analysis showed on average just 4% of all items advertised in supermarket catalogues were fruit and vegetables.Source: sbs.com.au
Denmark: MMM Prize for Dansk Supermarked Group
Per Bank, CEO of Dansk Supermaked Group reported: "Last night Dansk Supermarked Group was awarded the most prestigious prize in Danish retail, the MMM Prize. More than 30 years ago, our founder Herman Salling was the recipient of the exact same award for his ability to disrupt the Danish market, long before it became fashionable to talk about disruption. This time around, the prize was awarded for Dansk Supermarked Group returning to our roots, following the Salling Foundations’ buy back of the ownership last year. We are now a 100% Danish company, owned by two foundations, with the ambition of improving everyday life for our customers, colleagues and partners and not the least the communities we are a part of. This is very much in line with our founder’s vision for the company, so the award is testament to his efforts and to the work done by so many dedicated colleagues over the years. Thank you very much."Source: linkedin.com
Carrefour trialling Supeco in Poland
Carrefour is reported to have opened two trial outlets of its Supeco discount, cash & carry hybrid format in Poland. The stores have been added in Piekary Slaskie and Tarnobrzeg meaning the banner operates in four countries: Italy, Romania, Spain and now Poland. Supeco is an evolution of the retailer’s Brazil-based Atacadão format, which has been highly successful in that country. As part of its 2022 Transformation Plan Carrefour has committed to adapt the atacajero format further for Europe. The development in Poland underlines how it continue to experiment with the banner in the region.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Supermarkets and online shopping spur Feb spike in UK retail sales
British retail sales jumped in February, although doubts remain about the underlying strength of consumer demand as the Bank of England weighs when to raise interest rates ahead of Brexit. The Office for National Statistics said retail sales growth in February was driven mostly by supermarkets, as well as vehicle fuel and online shopping. Non-food retailers, which include department stores and clothes shops, suffered a fall in sales.Source: reuters.com
France: Carrefour launches data intelligence platform
Carrefour has introduced a new data intelligence platform, called Xperiences, which it said will link its own customer knowledge to that “accumulated by other French stakeholders in order to enrich their experience”. The group said the launch is in line with its aim to become a leading omnichannel player by 2022. Carrefour said the first initiative by the platform will be the launch of Foodlab, an “exclusive programmatic data and media innovation” created through a tie-up with Tradelab (the leading proprietary programmatic platform), Marmiton and 750g (leading recipe websites in France). Foodlab offers a set of programmatically activated tools (data and media package) aimed at helping food brands bridge the gap between digital and physical retail, while optimising the distribution and targeting of digital campaigns.Source: kamcity.com
US: Wegmans cuts prices on some popular items
Wegmans has again lowered prices on produce, grocery, dairy and frozen food items it says families buy most. The items join a list now totaling roughly 102 products representing 530 varieties, which was last refigured in 2016. The full list of products can be found at wegmans.com. “For the most part, we have been able to keep prices at the same level since they were lowered in 2016; some of the prices have actually gone down. A couple have gone up,” said Jo Natale, a Wegmans spokeswoman.Source: buffalonews.com
US: HelloFresh on track to break even in FY18
Sharing the results of fiscal 2017 in the U.S. market, the multinational service HelloFresh reported growth of 89.5% in fourth-quarter revenue, totaling €150.7mln (US $184.9mln), compared with the same period a year prior. Q4 contribution margin was €40.5mln (US $49.7mln), a 231.1% increase over Q4 2016. For the full year, U.S. revenue rose 90.1% to reach €545.2mln (US $668.9mln). Contribution margin shot up 270.8% to €125.6mln (US $154.1mln).Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Raley's acquires 6 NV stores from Scolari's
Western grocer Raley’s will purchase six stores in northern Nevada – five under the Scolari’s Food and Drug banner, and one under the Sak ‘N Save name. The five Scolari’s locations – two in Reno and one each in Fernley, Yerington and Tonopah – will transition to the Raley’s name, although the Sak ‘N Save store, also in Reno, will keep its current moniker and operate as part of Raley’s Food Source division. The transition should wrap up by the end of spring.Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger outlines new commercial technology venture
Kroger has established a commercial business that licenses the grocer’s proprietary technology to other companies, according to Annette Franke, vice president of Kroger’s customer experience network and chief operating officer of Sunrise Technologies, during a presentation at the Shoptalk conference in Las Vegas. The company will offer several technologies to interested parties, including its interactive shelf edge system; its remote-monitor temperature control system, known as Food at Safe Temperatures (FAST); an employee management technology called RAD; and Zooter, a camera that can help employees track merchandising programs and inventory. Source: fooddive.com