Walmart streamlines operations, adds real estate to top U.S. executive roles
In an effort to streamline its workings, Walmart has added real estate to the running list of responsibilities for its top U.S. executives and is reorganizing other executive positions as a result. According to Bloomberg, Executive Vice President of U.S. Central Operations Mark Ibbotson will take on the company’s realty division. In his current role, Ibbotson is in charge of the company's fresh operations, as well as online grocery pickup and activity management, according to the company's website. An internal memo that Bloomberg obtained offered insight into the move, which also includes more shakeups in executive command. Now, Head of Real Estate JP Suarez will go to the international side of Walmart—there, he will be Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer.
Source: delimarketnews.com
In an effort to streamline its workings, Walmart has added real estate to the running list of responsibilities for its top U.S. executives and is reorganizing other executive positions as a result. According to Bloomberg, Executive Vice President of U.S. Central Operations Mark Ibbotson will take on the company’s realty division. In his current role, Ibbotson is in charge of the company's fresh operations, as well as online grocery pickup and activity management, according to the company's website. An internal memo that Bloomberg obtained offered insight into the move, which also includes more shakeups in executive command. Now, Head of Real Estate JP Suarez will go to the international side of Walmart—there, he will be Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer.Source: delimarketnews.com
US: New Kroger platform better connects brands with shoppers through search results
The Kroger Co. has introduced a self-service brands-to-consumer platform for marketing “hyper-relevant” products within search results across digital properties and viewing performance in real time. Using the power of Kroger’s 84.51° personalization science, Kroger Precision Marketing, the retailer's marketing services and advertising solutions arm, has launched Boosted Products in Search, the new service, on June 4. Brands will be able to promote their online selection with product listing ads through the Kroger Precision Marketing platform by balancing cost-per-click bid pricing, customer relevancy and in-flight performance optimization. Native product integration will take SKUs appearing within search results, or within relevant categories, and feature them in high-visibility slots for the customer.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
The Kroger Co. has introduced a self-service brands-to-consumer platform for marketing “hyper-relevant” products within search results across digital properties and viewing performance in real time. Using the power of Kroger’s 84.51° personalization science, Kroger Precision Marketing, the retailer's marketing services and advertising solutions arm, has launched Boosted Products in Search, the new service, on June 4. Brands will be able to promote their online selection with product listing ads through the Kroger Precision Marketing platform by balancing cost-per-click bid pricing, customer relevancy and in-flight performance optimization. Native product integration will take SKUs appearing within search results, or within relevant categories, and feature them in high-visibility slots for the customer.Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Costco Wholesale Corporation reports Q3 and Year-to-Date operating results for fiscal 2018
Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) announced its operating results for the third quarter (twelve weeks) and the thirty-six weeks ended May 13, 2018. Net sales for the quarter increased 12.1%, to $31.62bln, from $28.22bln last year. Net sales for the first thirty-six weeks of fiscal 2018 increased 12.0%, to $95.02bln, from $84.82bln last year.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Southeastern Grocers successfully completes financial restructuring
Southeastern Grocers ("SEG" or "the Company") announced that it has successfully completed its financial restructuring and has emerged from Chapter 11 in record timing. Through this process, SEG has transformed its financial profile and established a strengthened balance sheet by decreasing overall debt levels by approximately $600 million (including $522mln of debt exchanged for equity in the reorganized Company) while maintaining the Company's strong liquidity position. With a solid financial foundation, SEG will further advance its business through store remodels and new stores. The Company will also invest in additional customer programs, including the introduction of the new SE Grocers rewards loyalty program beginning in July 2018.
Source: prnewswire.com
Metro a big winner at the 25th Canadian Grand Prix awards
Metro was a big winner at the 25th Anniversary Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards, recognized by the Retail Council of Canada during a gala event in Toronto. The Montreal-based grocer was the most-awarded company of the evening, taking home a total of five trophies for products in its Irresistibles private label line: Irresistibles Apple, Maple and Cranberry Pie, Irresistibles Organics Lactose-Free Cheese, Irresistibles Organics Chicken, Irresistibles Old-Fashioned Potato Chips and Irresistibles Dog Treats. The Grand Prix awards recognize the best new products in food, non-food and private label categories.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) announced its operating results for the third quarter (twelve weeks) and the thirty-six weeks ended May 13, 2018. Net sales for the quarter increased 12.1%, to $31.62bln, from $28.22bln last year. Net sales for the first thirty-six weeks of fiscal 2018 increased 12.0%, to $95.02bln, from $84.82bln last year.Source: globenewswire.com
US: Southeastern Grocers successfully completes financial restructuring
Southeastern Grocers ("SEG" or "the Company") announced that it has successfully completed its financial restructuring and has emerged from Chapter 11 in record timing. Through this process, SEG has transformed its financial profile and established a strengthened balance sheet by decreasing overall debt levels by approximately $600 million (including $522mln of debt exchanged for equity in the reorganized Company) while maintaining the Company's strong liquidity position. With a solid financial foundation, SEG will further advance its business through store remodels and new stores. The Company will also invest in additional customer programs, including the introduction of the new SE Grocers rewards loyalty program beginning in July 2018.Source: prnewswire.com
Metro a big winner at the 25th Canadian Grand Prix awards
Metro was a big winner at the 25th Anniversary Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards, recognized by the Retail Council of Canada during a gala event in Toronto. The Montreal-based grocer was the most-awarded company of the evening, taking home a total of five trophies for products in its Irresistibles private label line: Irresistibles Apple, Maple and Cranberry Pie, Irresistibles Organics Lactose-Free Cheese, Irresistibles Organics Chicken, Irresistibles Old-Fashioned Potato Chips and Irresistibles Dog Treats. The Grand Prix awards recognize the best new products in food, non-food and private label categories.Source: canadiangrocer.com
Israel: supermarket chain Yochananof coming to Jerusalem
The Israeli supermarket chain Yochananof will be opening its first store in Jerusalem in the coming months. Situated in Talpiot, the store will compete directly with Rami Levy and Osher Ad — the two dominant discount supermarkets in the area. Being constructed on HaUman Street, the 6,500 square meter location will be one of the largest of the company, which was holding off on entering the Jerusalem marketplace until it found an adequate location. Once completed, the supermarket will employ nearly 350 people and will offer a wide range of departments, including prepared foods.Source: rejerusalem.com
Kenya's innovation: Jumia Fresh, JumiaPay and Jumia One
Jumia Fresh is a new service for Kenya, which launched in May 2018. It is the first time Jumia will sell fresh produce through its site. It will deliver fruit, vegetables and meat to shoppers within four hours. Delivery is free for orders over KES500 (US$4.8). Separately, in 2017, it launched two new payment services; JumiaPay and Jumia One. The former is a payment platform that makes the interactions between shoppers and sellers more convenient. Jumia One, meanwhile, is an app that allows shoppers to pay for digital services such as airtime, TV and utilities. The retailer is looking to integrate online and financial services as much as possible to create a one-stop shop app and enable shoppers to fulfil more elements of their lives through its growing ecosystem.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Swiss retail trade turnover rises in April
Turnover in the Swiss retail sector rose by 2.2% in nominal terms in April 2018 compared with the previous year. Seasonally adjusted, nominal turnover fell by 0.1% compared with the previous month, according to provisional findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Retail sales of food, drinks and tobacco registered an increase in nominal turnover of 2.5% (in real terms +1.3%), whereas the non-food sector registered a nominal plus of 2.5% (in real terms +3.3%). Excluding service stations, the retail sector showed a seasonally adjusted decline in nominal turnover of 0.1% compared with the previous month (in real terms 0.0%). Retail sales of food, drinks and tobacco registered a nominal minus of 0.2% (in real terms -0.3%). The non-food sector showed a plus of 1.1% (in real terms +1.2%). Source: sharesmagazine.co.uk
France: Carrefour own-brand products to have fully recyclable packaging
Carrefour plans to have 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging for its own-brand products by 2025. The France-headquartered supermarket chain aims to eliminate non-recyclable packaging of organic fruit and vegetables and to stop selling plastic straws by the end of 2018. It will gradually replace plastic straws on juice cartons. The company stressed it is committed to using recyclable packaging for all its products, starting with its organic Carrefour products, as of 2020. Polystyrene trays used in the meat, fish and cheese departments will be replaced with recyclable packaging. As of 2022, the group will also use 50% recycled plastics for its juice, soda and water bottles.Source: foodbev.com
Alibaba opens Belgian warehouse in Liege
Alibaba will open five new warehouses, including one in Liege. The Chinese retail group will use its subsidiary Cainiao to expand its logistical network and technology. Alibaba owns more than 50% in Cainiao, a logistical company, and the latter organized a Global Smart Logistic Summit, where it revealed new technologies for smart logistics. The summit was also the location where the group unveiled its plans to expand its global network with another five hubs: Dubai, Hangzhou, Kuala Lumpur, Liege and Moscow. These five cities are only the first wave of the Chinese retail group’s expansion plans, it said. More locations will most likely soon follow and the ultimate goal is to ship anywhere in the world within 72 hours.Source: retaildetail.eu
Japan's FamilyMart opens shop with discount retailer Don Quijote
Convenience store operator FamilyMart Uny Holdings Co Ltd stepped up cooperation with Japan’s largest discounter, Don Quijote Holdings Co Ltd, opening a joint store aimed at stemming a slide in business. FamilyMart and other Japanese convenience stores, which are open 24 hours and sell everything from underwear to freshly-brewed coffee, have struggled with falling customer numbers in the past two years amid competition from discount drugstores and labor shortages.Source: reuters.com
India: Flipkart Internet brings down its FY 17 losses but sales lag behind
Flipkart Internet Pvt, the unit that operates the online retail platform of Flipkart India, has reported narrower losses for FY 2017 but the growth in overall sales of the company, that was recently bought by US retail giant Walmart, also slowed down, ET reported. Flipkart Internet reported a loss of $244.2mln (INR 1639 Cr) versus a loss of $343.6mln (INR 2,305 Cr) in the year-ago period and this was mainly led by a drop in logistics and storage costs.Source: inc42.com