Biedronka: goBIO product range expanded

Australia retail sales return to growth in April 2018

The Australian retail industry returned to growth in April with a 0.4% rise in sales after stalling in March, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), surpassing expectations of a 0.2% gain. “Retail turnover rose by 0.4% in April, seasonally adjusted, which is an improvement on the March figures which showed no increase,” said National Retail Association CEO, Dominique Lamb, adding it was positive news following the sluggish start to 2018 for the sector. All seven Australian states, except for South Australia, recorded growth for the month period, with the Northern Territory lifting the most in value terms, up 2.6% in April.
Source: retailinasia.com

Ireland: Applegreen sees positive start to the year, despite 'severe' March weather

Forecourt retailer Applegreen has made a 'positive' start to the year, with performance up on the same period in 2017. In a statement to coincide with the group's AGM, Applegreen said that 'trading results continuing to improve on the prior year', in spite of the 'severe weather in March' which affected the group's entire portfolio, particularly its Irish operation. The Dublin-headquartered group has added 24 new sites to its portfolio since year-end, with seven new sites opening in the Republic of Ireland, 14 new outlets opening in the UK, and three in the US.
Source: esmmagazine.com

Poland: Biedronka expands goBIO product range

Polish supermarket chain Biedronka has announced that it has extended its range of goBIO organic products. The retailer said that more than 60 goBIO SKUs are now available to shoppers, following the addition of 40 new product lines. In addition, on 9 June customers will be able to avail of a 20% discount when they purchase any two goBIO products. Biedronka ensures that all products in the goBIO range are packaged in environmentally friendly materials.
Source: esmmagazine.com

UK's House of Fraser to shut 31 stores, 6,000 jobs at risk

House of Fraser said it needed to close 31 stores to survive, in a plan likely to result in as many as 6,000 job losses, making the department store group the latest in a long line of retail casualties in Britain. The closures include the group’s flagship shop on Oxford Street in central London and will leave it with just 28 stores across Britain and Ireland. “These proposals are central to the significant restructuring of the business, without which House of Fraser does not have a viable future,” the group, whose history stretches back to 1849, said in a statement.
Source: reuters.com

Australia: Metcash loses major supply deal

Metcash in Australia has lost its contract with South Australian retailer Drakes Supermarkets, plus facing other headwinds in an increasingly competitive environment. The wholesale and distribution business will log an impairment on its goodwill and other assets of AU$352mln in its supermarkets and convenience division full year results, which are to be released on 25 June. The company said that the amount was due to the loss of its supply deal with Drakes Supermarkets, Metcash's largest customer in South Australia, and competitive intensity in Western Australia.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com

Amazon to create more than 2,500 jobs in Britain this year

Amazon.com Inc will add over 2,500 permanent jobs in Britain this year, taking the U.S. retail giant’s UK workforce to nearly 28,000. The company said the jobs will be in head office, research and development, web services and operations roles. Apart from nationwide goods deliveries, Amazon’s services include video streaming and a digital home assistant known as Alexa. “We’re committed to the UK, we’re continuing to invest in the UK,” Doug Gurr, Amazon’s UK Country Manager, told reporters.
Source: reuters.com

Mexico's Walmex says same-store sales up 7.2% in May

Mexico’s biggest retailer, Walmart de Mexico (WALMEX.MX), said that same-store sales in Mexico rose in May by 7.2%. The retailer, commonly known as Walmex, said its total sales in Mexico were up 8.6% in May over the same month last year.
Source: reuters.com

US: Grocery delivery comes to Omaha Family Fare Supermarkets

Retailer-wholesaler SpartanNash is continuing its expansion of same-day grocery delivery with a launch in Omaha, now offering the service at 13 Family Fare Supermarkets. In partnership with third-party delivery service Instacart, customers can order groceries online for delivery in as little as an hour. Customers will have access to in-store promotions through the ecommerce service, as well as produce, dairy, meat, frozen food and everyday essentials.
Source: progressivegrocer.com

CAN: Farm Boy to implement omNovos retail management platform

Canada-based food retailer Farm Boy has partnered with omnichannel customer engagement solutions provider omNovos to implement its comprehensive retail management and customer engagement platform, PACE. Personalized Automated Customer Engagement (PACE) is designed for retailers to help manage all retail channels, including in-store, mobile and online, while offering customer profile information in a 360° view. The platform will assist the retailer to enhance the experience of its customers by leveraging a multitude of tools available in the platform.

Source: retail-insight-network.com

US: Chicago to get 2 Amazon Go stores

Following reports that San Francisco and Chicago are the next two cities getting Amazon Go stores, sources have told the Chicago Tribune that the Windy City is getting not one, but two locations of the checkout-free concept. According to the news outlet, Seattle-based Amazon has leased spaces for the stores in Chicago’s tallest building, Willis Tower, and in an office connected to Ogilvie Transportation Center, both sites located downtown, the Tribune reported. Both locations are known for their heavy foot traffic: Willis Tower claims to welcome approximately 25,000 people every day, while local commuter railroad operator Metra says it serves more than 106,000 people at Ogilvie daily.
Source: progressivegrocer.com