UK retailer the Co-op has opened three new food stores in the Worcester area over the last few weeks. The stores came after a £2.25mln investment, and will create up to 30 jobs. Guy Wimhurst, regional manager for the retailer’s large store formats said: “As a community retailer the Co-op is moving forward with a clear purpose and momentum. We are investing in our people, stores, products, prices and communities – our ambition is for our stores to be at the heart of local life, bringing communities together and offering great quality products when and where shoppers need them.”Source: esmmagazine.com
New CEO of MPPA Retail Group appointed in Indonesia
PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk (MPPA) appoints new CEO, effective 30 April 2018. Elliot Dickson has been named as the new CEO for MPPA. Mr. Dickson previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of Walmart China, responsible for more than 400 hypermarkets in China. In the supermarket business for more than 35 years, Mr. Dickson has also held senior positions at PT. Lion Super Indo, Mega Image S.R.L and Delhaize America. He is excited about returning to Indonesia and brings with him a deep understanding of the Indonesian consumer.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Holland: Albert Heijn launches Product Pitch 2018
As part of its aims to support innovative new product development and small, local entrepreneurs, Albert Heijn has announced the launch of Product Pitch 2018. The initiative is aimed at enabling start-ups to compete for a place on the retailer’s shelves, investment to help the growth of their business and coaching about how it could develop.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Ireland: Aldi is the cheapest supermarket!
Aldi has been proven to be the best value supermarket in a new price survey. The Grant Thornton study compared 62 own brand items in the five main supermarkets and found the shop in Aldi was €65.04. The random sample of products included strawberry jam, fresh cream, honey, ice-cream, rice, orange juice, cheese, yogurt, soda bread and a wide range of fruit and vegetables including cucumbers, mushrooms, apples and broccoli. Lidl followed close behind at €65.53, while SuperValu was most expensive at €95.50 - 47% dearer than Aldi. Source: todayfm.com
FamilyMart Taiwan launches digital prototype
FamilyMart Taiwan has launched a pilot convenience store concept that incorporates a range of digital technology including robots, VR interfaces, interactive projection screens, smart shelves and blockchain applications. A Fujitsu Robopin communication robot is stationed at the entrance to highlight offers and in-store events, while video content about products is projected on to the doors of freezer units. Electronic price tags interact with POS registers to update automatically, and product information is available through QR codes and NFC(5) technology built into the price tags.Source: insideretail.asia
UK: New Lidl supermarket to open on prison site
Lidl is to open a new supermarket on the site of a former prison. The fast-growing retailer will take a 21,000 sq ft unit in the Treadmills retail scheme at the old Northallerton Jail, creating 40 new jobs. The scheme will also feature another 6,000 sq ft retail unit and parking for about 130 vehicles, with a detailed planning application expected to be submitted this summer and Lidl due to open by late 2019.Source: yorkpress.co.uk
Walmart China sets new 2030 green target
Walmart in China has set itself a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions in its value chain by 50mln tonnes by 2030. The target is part of the retailer's global initiative called Project Gigaton, whereby it is looking to reduce emissions in all of its operations by 1bln tonnes by 2030. In China, Walmart will initially look to its top 100 suppliers to get involved in the programme, which if successful would see emissions cut in China that are equivalent to that of the annual electricity consumption of 40mln Chinese households.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: Food City plans to expand kerbside pick-up to more Tri-Cities locations
Abingdon-based Food City is expanding a very convenient program to more stores in the Tri-Cities region and beyond. Food City says it plans to continue to expand GoCart, a curbside pick-up program. So more locations will be added in the near future. “GoCart combines the added convenience of drive-thru service with the personalization of online shopping. It’s truly the best of both worlds,” says Food City president, Steven C. Smith. Source: wjhl.com
US: Ahold Delhaize will add Guiding Stars rating system to more banners
Ahold USA banners Stop & Shop, Giant, Giant/Martins and Peapod will introduce the Guiding Stars nutrition labeling system to store shelves this week, according to a news release and press officials for the company. Developed by Hannaford stores back in 2006, Guiding Stars uses an algorithm to assign products one, two or three stars depending on their nutrition content, in what the company describes as a “good, better, best” hierarchy. Not every product receives a rating, including dietary supplements, products with less than five calories like water and spices, and products like cookies and chips that don’t meet the program’s criteria. Source: fooddive.com
US: H-E-B rolls out new home delivery option
H-E-B has begun rolling out its new home delivery service, giving time-strapped customers another option to have groceries delivered to their doorstep. The home delivery service launched in select zip codes across Texas and continues to expand. "We are adding zip codes every day," said HEB spokeswoman Julie Bedingfield. By logging on to HEBTOYOU.COM, customers can find out if delivery is available in their zip code and the availability of kerbside pickup.Source: ksat.com
US: Sprouts unveils 13 new store locations for Q3
Sprouts Farmers Market has shared its plans to open 13 new stores in the third quarter of 2018, which include its entry into Pennsylvania and Washington state. The new store locations will include one each in Durham, North Carolina; El Paso, Texas; Lodi, California; Mill Creek, Washington; Oklahoma City; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Sacramento, California; Vacaville, California; and Towson, Maryland; as well as three in Las Vegas. Opening dates will be shared at a later time. Source: progressivegrocer.com