Hema said it has recently opened 10 stores in 10 Chinese cities, giving the New Retail-driven supermarket chain a foothold in four new markets and expanding its network to 46 stores in 13 cities across the country. For the first time, Hema is now serving consumers in Xi’an, Nanjing, Wuhan and Guangzhou. The other stores were opened in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen, adding to existing networks in those cities. Hema also has locations in Ningbo, Fuzhou and Guiyang.Source: alizila.com
Belarus' Eurotorg reports profit in 2017
Belarusian supermarket chain Eurotorg reported: net profit in 2017 totalled 102.5mln Belarusian roubles ($53.1mln) after a net loss of 42.8mln in 2016. Adjusted net profit rose to 113.2mln roubles from 30.4mln. EBITDA increased 44.4% to 371.7mln roubles.Source: uk.reuters.com
Kenya: Carrefour gears up for new Village Market outlet
French retailer Carrefour has inked a deal with Village Market that will see the supermarket chain open an additional branch at the mall later this year. The planned outlet will mostly focus on food items, a model that deviates from its normal branches where the retailer stocks all types of goods including electronics in volumes. “Carrefour Market is an innovative approach that allows us to serve our customers by offering them a store that caters for their everyday shopping needs. This attests to our commitment to addressing customers’ needs effectively while growing and expanding our presence in Kenya,” said Franck Moreau, Majid Al Futtaim Country Manager in a statement.Source: businessdailyafrica.com
Ireland: BWG wholesaler moves to purchase Gala firm
Plans by BWG to buy rival 4 Aces Wholesale can go ahead but only if it meets certain conditions, the competition watchdog has ruled. The wholesaler is best known as the supplier to Spar, Eurospar, Londis and other independent stores in Ireland. The significance of the transaction, which was first announced in late January, is that BWG for the first time will become a supplier to some of the rival Gala wholesale network, covering stores in nine counties from Monaghan to Tipperary.Source: irishexaminer.com
Germany: Lidl owner targets over 100bln euros in sales in 2018
Germany’s Schwarz Gruppe, the owner of discount retailers Lidl and Kaufland, is aiming to reach over 100bln euros ($119.6bln) in sales this year and plans to keep on investing. Schwarz Gruppe said in a brief statement that last year sales rose 7.4% to 96.9bln euros, of which 74.6bln came from Lidl, which has 10,460 stores in Europe and the United States.Source: reuters.com
UK: Co-op trials robot delivery
Co-op customers in Milton Keynes can now have their groceries delivered by robot. The Monkston branch has been trialling unaccompanied robot delivery for the past four weeks, promoting the service using targeted local social media marketing. Between 10-15 robots are being used and around 1,000 orders have been dispatched since the project went live a month ago. The robots travel at about 4mph and can deliver up to 10kg of shopping in under an hour. The robots weigh about 25kg, have six wheels and nine cameras and are equipped with a sophisticated sensor suite including radars, computer vision and ultrasonic sensors. This allows them to understand their environment, enabling them to avoid obstructions and cross roads on their own, for example. The Monkston store chosen for the trial is close to the premises of Starship Technologies, developers of the robots. Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: Shipt and Target expand same-day delivery in the Midwest and South
Shipt, a leading online marketplace, and Target Corporation announced they will begin same-day delivery of more than 55,000 groceries, essentials, home, electronics, toys and other products in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas, and expand service in Mississippi. The following metro areas will soon have access to Target products delivered by Shipt, beginning May 10: Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri. Beginning May 15: Lawrence, Topeka and Wichita, Kansas. Beginning May 17: Conway and Little Rock, Arkansas. Beginning May 17: Jackson, Mississippi. This marks the first time Shipt’s marketplace will be available in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. Shipt and Target’s expansion to the Jackson, Mississippi area follows their recent entrance into the Biloxi/Gulfport, Mississippi, market in April 2018. Cumulatively, the partnership gives almost 1.2mln households across the four states access to Target products delivered by Shipt in as little as one hour. Source: globenewswire.com
US: Sprouts lowers guidance as comp-store sales growth slides
Sprouts Farmers Market reported a same-store sales increase of 2.7% for the first financial quarter ended April 1, according to a news release. This marks a slowdown for the company, which previously reported two straight quarters of 4.6% comps increases. Sprouts stated that slight deflation, produce supply challenges and a calendar shift that excluded the New Year’s holiday from results all contributed to the decline. Net sales were $1.3bln, up 14% from the same period one year ago, while net income was $67mln, up 44% from last year’s Q1. Sprouts adjusted its full-year outlook, projecting comp sales growth of 1.5% to 2.5% compared to previous guidance of 2.5% to 3.5%. Net sales projections, meanwhile, fell to 10.5% to 11.5% compared to 11.5% to 12.5% previously.Source: fooddive.com
US: Smart & Final sales rise in Q1, foodservice banner rebrands
Smart & Final Stores Inc. experienced a rise in net and comparable-store sales during its first quarter of fiscal 2018, and also revealed a plan to rebrand its Cash&Carry Smart Foodservice banner. The Commerce, California-based warehouse grocer reported 5.1% growth in net sales during the period, which ended March 25, reaching $1,016.2mln. Net sales growth was driven by a 1.2% increase in comps and by the net sales contribution of new stores. The comps growth was composed of a 2.9% rise in comparable average transaction size, partly offset by a 1.7% drop in comparable transaction count.Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Flipkart board approves $15bln deal with Walmart
The board of Flipkart Online Services Pvt has approved an agreement to sell about 75% of the company to a Walmart Inc.-led group for approximately $15bln, according to people familiar with the matter, an enormous bet by the American retailer on international expansion. Under the proposed deal, SoftBank Group Corp. will sell all of the 20-plus % stake it holds in Flipkart through an investment fund at a valuation of roughly $20bln, said the people, asking not to be named because the matter is private. Google-parent Alphabet Inc. is likely to participate in the investment with Walmart, said one of the people. A final close is expected within 10 days, though terms could still change and a deal isn’t certain, they said.Source: bloomberg.com