US: Grocery-anchored shopping centers get thumbs-up
Amid headlines of retailer bankruptcies and shuttered stores, supermarkets are seen as a plus by the commercial real estate sector. Shopping centers anchored by grocery stores “continue to exceed expectations” and are high on the list of desirable sites among retail property investors, according the May 2018 Retail Investor Sentiment Report from Real Capital Markets (RCM), a Carlsbad, California-based commercial real estate marketplace. “There is a general consensus that grocery-anchored retail centers will be around forever and, as long as they are, will be among the most attractive and highly sought-after investments,” the report said. “Underscoring this notion are statistics that show the number of grocery-anchored centers brought to market via RCM’s platform nearly doubled over the last two years.”
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Many Americans unconvinced about buying groceries online
For most U.S. consumers, it will take a big change in shopping behaviors and attitudes to shift their grocery purchases online, according to a new study by Morning Consult. Of 2,000 U.S. adults polled, 67% have never purchased packaged food or beverage products online, the e-survey and market research firm said in its “Consumer Insights On The Food and Beverage Industry” report. Meanwhile, 65% of those who have never bought groceries online indicated that they have no interest in doing so in the future.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Amid headlines of retailer bankruptcies and shuttered stores, supermarkets are seen as a plus by the commercial real estate sector. Shopping centers anchored by grocery stores “continue to exceed expectations” and are high on the list of desirable sites among retail property investors, according the May 2018 Retail Investor Sentiment Report from Real Capital Markets (RCM), a Carlsbad, California-based commercial real estate marketplace. “There is a general consensus that grocery-anchored retail centers will be around forever and, as long as they are, will be among the most attractive and highly sought-after investments,” the report said. “Underscoring this notion are statistics that show the number of grocery-anchored centers brought to market via RCM’s platform nearly doubled over the last two years.”Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Many Americans unconvinced about buying groceries online
For most U.S. consumers, it will take a big change in shopping behaviors and attitudes to shift their grocery purchases online, according to a new study by Morning Consult. Of 2,000 U.S. adults polled, 67% have never purchased packaged food or beverage products online, the e-survey and market research firm said in its “Consumer Insights On The Food and Beverage Industry” report. Meanwhile, 65% of those who have never bought groceries online indicated that they have no interest in doing so in the future.Source: supermarketnews.com
China: FamilyMart UNY withdraws Hong Kong operations
UNY has agreed a deal to withdraw its operations in Hong Kong as part of the Group's restructure, post-merger of FamilyMart and UNY. In December last year, FamilyMart UNY alluded to the possibility of selling its operations in HK. This has stalled until a recent update by the retailer, which has confirmed a deal with Henderson Land Development Company Limited to purchase of all its shares in UNY HK. The companies have until the 31 May to complete the transaction, but financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. UNY operates three hypermarkets (APITA, PIAGO and UNY banners) and a free-standing Watshi To Seikatsu store in Hong Kong. The stores are likely to keep their existing banner names, but will be operated by the new owner through a licensing contract.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
UNY has agreed a deal to withdraw its operations in Hong Kong as part of the Group's restructure, post-merger of FamilyMart and UNY. In December last year, FamilyMart UNY alluded to the possibility of selling its operations in HK. This has stalled until a recent update by the retailer, which has confirmed a deal with Henderson Land Development Company Limited to purchase of all its shares in UNY HK. The companies have until the 31 May to complete the transaction, but financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. UNY operates three hypermarkets (APITA, PIAGO and UNY banners) and a free-standing Watshi To Seikatsu store in Hong Kong. The stores are likely to keep their existing banner names, but will be operated by the new owner through a licensing contract. Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Russia: X5 Retail Group to test 3 innovative labelling technologies for quality control
Russian food retailer X5 Retail Group has said that it is testing three unique labelling technologies to ensure the consistent quality of its products. X5 Retail Group is testing two types of colour-changing labels that warn if the required storage or transportation temperatures have not been maintained, as well as barcodes that prevent the sale of expired products.Source: esmmagazine.com
Italy: Penny to invest €167mln across 2018 and 2019
As it looks to strengthen its presence in Italy, versus local competitors and long-standing rivals from its home market, Penny has said it will invest €167mln across 2018 and 2019. The investment will be divided between new stores (about €80mln), wholesale remodelling of existing stores (about €30mln) and the updating of existing sites (about €20mln), with the remainder to be spent on new warehouses, a new headquarters and in technology. Penny said it is planning to open 20 new stores in 2018, with a focus on Tuscany, Lombardy, Piedmont and southern Italy.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
As it looks to strengthen its presence in Italy, versus local competitors and long-standing rivals from its home market, Penny has said it will invest €167mln across 2018 and 2019. The investment will be divided between new stores (about €80mln), wholesale remodelling of existing stores (about €30mln) and the updating of existing sites (about €20mln), with the remainder to be spent on new warehouses, a new headquarters and in technology. Penny said it is planning to open 20 new stores in 2018, with a focus on Tuscany, Lombardy, Piedmont and southern Italy.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Spain's Eroski posts increase in profits in full year 2017
Spanish retail group Eroski has posted a 5.7% increase in profit before tax to €55.7mln in its full year 2017. The group recorded net sales of €4.79bln for the period, which saw Eroski invest massively in converting stores to its 'Contigo' format. The group opened 61 new stores in 2017, and now boasts more than 600 new generation stores, which together represent 65% of food sales.Source: esmmagazine.com
Spar UK announces new flagship store in Rotherham
Spar UK has announced that its partner Blakemore Retail has relocated its Thurcroft Spar store in Rotherham and re-launched it as a new flagship supermarket. The newly-built 280 square metre store has been updated to provide a wide range of food-to-go options and will be Blakemore Retail’s biggest flagship store to open this year. The store has also been developed to include an extended fresh foods department, along with off-licence services and everyday essentials such as bread, milk, fresh fruit and vegetables.Source: esmmagazine.com
Wesfarmers' two-year UK foray ends with sale of troubled home improvement chain
Australian retail conglomerate Wesfarmers is selling UK home improvement chain Homebase for a nominal 1 pound ($1.34) just two years after buying it, ending an embarrassing offshore adventure that cost it $1bln and sowing doubts about its future investments. The owner of Australian No. 2 supermarket Coles, Kmart and Target said London-based turnaround specialist Hilco will buy its 255-store UK DIY chain. It did not disclose a price, but said the UK exit would bring an up to 230mln pound ($308mln) loss this year.Source: reuters.com
China: Meituan’s first offline fresh grocery delivery business debuts in Beijing
Ella Supermarket, the fresh grocery delivery affiliate of life convenience and food delivery platform Meituan, opened its first offline shop in Beijing. According to Meituan, Ella Supermarket is a one-stop offline + online supermarket. Ella integrates fresh grocery, dinning, e-commerce, and quick delivery to serve fast-paced city lives. Ella Supermarket offers 30 min delivery to residents whose locations are no farther than 3km to the offline store.Source: technode.com
Cencosud reports first quarter 2018 results
Cencosud S.A., a leading South American retailer with operations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Colombia, announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2018. All figures are in Chilean pesos (CLP), except where indicated otherwise, and in accordance with IFRS. Revenues decreased in comparison to 1Q17 impacted by currency depreciation against the CLP in all countries the Company operates and food deflation in Brazil and Peru. At a constant exchange rate, revenue increased 7.2% explained mainly by the good performance in Chile of Supermarkets (+5.4%) and Shopping Centers (+3.6%); in Argentina of Financial Services (+64.9% in local currency) and Home Improvement (+30.6% in local currency); and in Peru of Department Stores (+20.6% in local currency) and Financial Services (+23.1% in local currency). Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.0% YoY (+19.9% at constant exchange rate) reaching CLP 183,161mln, driven by margin expansion (+77 bps); in Chile (+15 bps), Argentina (+266 bps) and Colombia (+74 bps) as a result of the good performance of Home Improvement in all countries and Financial Services in Argentina. This was partially offset by the depreciation of all currencies against CLP and the weaker performance YoY of Supermarkets in Peru and Brazil. Source: finance.yahoo.com