Supervalu Inc. posted strong overall sales for its fourth quarter and year end, buttressed by strong wholesale performance, while its shrinking retail store operations continue to lag. The Minneapolis-based grocery operator reported an increase of $3.25bln in its consolidated net sales for its fiscal year ending Feb. 24. That 30% jump over last year includes $2.6bln from the company’s acquisitions of Unified Grocers and AG Florida. Q4 sales were up $1.07bln, or 42%. Net earnings for the year were $46mln.Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon launches in-car delivery
Amazon has announced that Prime members can now request in-car delivery through Amazon Key. The service is currently available in 37 US cities, with plans to roll this out further in the future. The service gives Amazon couriers access to shoppers' cars to leave packages inside, putting convenience at the forefront. Cars must be parked within areas that are eligible for Amazon deliveries, but this can include public car parks and streets. Customers can change delivery location or block access to their car at any point within the delivery window. The delivery service is only valid on items that do not require a signature. Furthermore, it is only available to shoppers with a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac or Volvo car no older than 2015, and requires an active OnStar or Volvo On Call account. Amazon plans to support other brands and models in the future. Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Metro Canada: operating costs hit profitability
Metro’s second quarter sales decreased by 0.1% to $2.9bln, with same-store sales down 1.2%. The sales performance was impacted by a shift in the timing of the Christmas week. Excluding this, same-store sales increased by 1.0%. Net earnings over the period fell 19.3% to $106.9mln, with the retailer noting the impact of changes in employment laws affecting its operating costs.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Spanish supermarket giant Mercadona unveils a presence in UK
Supermarket giant Mercadona has unveiled ambitious five-year plans to strengthen its dominance of Spain’s grocery market – and has also opened new premises in the north of England in the process. The company plans a €8.5bln investment over the next six-years to refurbish stores and improve logistics. Eleven new stores are set to open in Spain in 2018 at a cost of €1.5bln. The supermarket giant has opened a commercial office in Harrogate in the north of England in the UK.Source: euroweeklynews.com
Italy: Conad Cooperatives plan new store openings for 2018
Two of the eight regional cooperatives making up Italian supermarket chain Conad have announced plans to open some 58 new stores during 2018. Conad Adriatico (covering the Abruzzo, Molise, Marche, Basilicata and Puglia regions) is planning 36 new openings, covering a surface area of over 34,000 square metres, for an investment of €20mln, reports La Repubblica. Conad Centro Nord (covering the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy regions) has earmarked €190mln during 2018-2020 for 22 new store openings, 14 renovations and the modernisation of its sales network.Source: esmmagazine.com
Denmark retail sales rise in March
Denmark's retail sales increased for the first time in four months in March, preliminary figures from Statistics Denmark showed. Retail turnover rose 0.4% month-over-month in March, reversing a 0.1% drop in the previous month. Sales of food and other groceries grew 0.3% over the month and those of other consumables climbed by 0.7%. Meanwhile, clothing and related sales dropped 1.2%.Source: markets.businessinsider.com
Dutch retailer Coop removes ATMs from stores to tackle theft
Dutch retailer Coop has taken the step to remove ATMs from its store portfolio, due to an increased number of 'ram raids' and robberies at stores in the Netherlands. Coop said that the increased number of ATMs in supermarkets is reflective of the closure of several bank branches, however increased crime has led the retailer to urge all its retailers to remove ATM services from their outlets.Source: esmmagazine.com
Spinneys opens first supermarket at Dubai International
Supermarket brand Spinneys has opened its first landside store at Terminal 1, Dubai International Airport. Spinney’s fresh food offering is now be accessible to international and domestic travellers – a first for the region, the company said in a statement. The new opening follows Spinneys’ recent announcement of a series of vigorous developments as part of its ambitious expansion strategy for 2018.Source: arabianbusiness.com
Spanish AhorraMas: positive 2017 results
The Madrid-based supermarket chain continues to increase its sales, with €1,608.7mln in 2017, a 3.2% increase from 2016. Sales have been on the increase for AhorraMas since 2007, when it generated €1,198mln. From 2007 to 2017, there has been a 34.3% increase in sales. Four new stores were opened in 2017, making the network total 253, with a sales area of 203,825sq m. All these stores fall under the “AhorraMas” banner, and range from 150 to 1,800 sq m. Whilst investment was down 11.3% from 2016 to 2017, the company plans to increase investment to the 2016 figure of €60mln in 2018, and add nine more stores to its network.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Spar Italy partner, Ergon, opens four Sicilian stores
Ergon, a Spar Italy partner, has opened four new stores in Sicily over the past few weeks. Ergon recently announced a series of new store openings for 2018 and reported a strong business performance last year, at its annual convention in Catania. “Despar is a large family that continues to grow in Sicily,” said Concetta Lo Magno, head of marketing at Ergon, highlighting the positive sales results that the Despar stores are enjoying in the region, having achieved a considerable market share.Source: esmmagazine.com