Following a successful trial, the retailer is extending the number of its branches participating in the FareShare Go programme, using the Irish social enterprise FoodCloud IT platform, to all full-size supermarkets by the end of the year. The food redistribution technology is supported by FareShare and powered by FoodCloud, and makes it easier for branches to let local charities know about surplus goods. Waitrose shops are already established in donating food to local charities and the IT platform will help smooth communication between branches and groups.Source: waitrose.pressarea.com
Malaysia: Aeon Kuching Central opens with a bang
Aeon CO (M) Bhd has finally opened the doors of its first mall in East Malaysia – Aeon Kuching Central – to the public. Spanning over 1.6mln square feet of gross built up area, Aeon Kuching Central is designed to provide ample space for maximum shopping satisfaction to shoppers during their visit to the new mall while providing them the convenience of having access to a variety of products and facilities under one roof. Speaking in a statement, Aeon’s managing director Shinobu Washizawa said: “We are excited to finally cement our presence in East Malaysia."Source: theborneopost.com
Albert Heijn named most sustainable Dutch supermarket chain
Dutch retailer Albert Heijn has been named the most sustainable supermarket chain in the Netherlands, according to a new study. The retailer came in at number nine overall, marking the second year in a row that it was the highest retailer in the rankings. The award was announced during the presentation of this year’s Sustainable Brands Awards in Amsterdam. The Award winners are compiled from an independent annual survey of 5,000 Dutch consumers, which assesses the sustainability of well-known brands in the country.Source: esmmagazine.com
UK’s competition authority approves Co-Op’s Nisa takeover
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved The Co-Op’s £137.5mln takeover of retailer Nisa after finding that the merger does not give rise to competition concerns. The CMA declared that as The Co-op operates as a groceries retailer and Nisa operates as a groceries wholesaler they do not compete head-to-head, and that competition in the retail market meant it was unlikely the merged company would raise prices.Source: foodbev.com
Coop Norway launches plastic clean up campaign
Coop Norway has announced a litter clean up campaign, as part of a series of initiatives to tackle plastic waste. The retailer will run its ‘Coop rydder Norge’ initiative from April 30 to May 5, offering free cleaning kits and collection points to encourage its employees, customers and co-owners to collect litter across the country. “Littering affects all of us and we in Coop will have a responsibility to do our part,” said Knut Lutnæs, environmental manager at Coop Norway. “Together with our customers, who are also our owners, we will now contribute to clearing Norway of marine litter.”Source: esmmagazine.com
South Africa: Pick n Pay opts for smaller stores to suit shopping habits
Pick n Pay will avoid building "huge stores", as consumers are becoming less inclined to do large weekly purchases, says CEO Richard Brasher. Excluding its Zimbabwean operations, the retailer opened 124 net new stores in the year to February 25, adding 3.3% to its total space. None of these new stores were hypermarkets, while the number of Pick n Pay supermarkets rose just less than 3% and the number of "local" stores surged 23%, albeit off a low base.Source: businesslive.co.za
Singapore’s first zero-waste grocery store is opening
The first zero-waste grocery store is launching in Singapore. Called UnPackt, the store’s goods will be sold without any packaging and customers will be encouraged to bring their own containers. Dispensed in self-serve gravity bins to reduce food waste, dried food and cleaning supplies are to go on sale first, with plans to introduce fresh fruit and vegetables once sales volumes pick up. Goods will be priced lower than regular high street items, since they are packaging-free.Source: eco-business.com
US: Walmart tests on-the-spot checkout service
In another move to position its stores as convenient shopping destinations, Walmart is piloting a new program for on-the-spot customer checkout. Walmart said that the service, dubbed Check Out With Me, is being tested in the Lawn & Garden Centers of more than 350 stores nationwide. For the program, Walmart has equipped store associates with cellular devices and Bluetooth printers. When shoppers are ready to pay, an associate scans their items with the Check Out With Me mobile device, swipes their credit card, and provides a printed or digital receipt, completing checkout.Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Tops seeks OK to shutter stores, but no word on closures yet
Tops Markets LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, has sought permission to close underperforming stores, according to a published report citing documents filed last week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The Rochester, New York, Democrat & Chronicle reported that grocer requested in a document “to close any stores that they determine, in their business judgement, should be closed in order to preserve liquidity and maximize the value of their respective estates.”Source: progressivegrocer.com
Report: Amazon's online grocery sales grew 50% in Q1
Amazon sold an estimated $650mln worth of groceries through its website in this year’s first quarter, according to One Click Retail. That’s a 50% increase over last year’s Q1, and a slight slowdown from the growth seen during last year's first quarter. Beverages were the top-selling items on the site, accounting for nine of Amazon’s 10 best-selling grocery products. Amazon Pantry’s sales were up just 14%, a “leveling out” of growth for the service that lets customers bundle grocery and household goods together, according to One Click Retail. Source: fooddive.com