Metcash shares have rallied after the supermarkets wholesaler announced a $125mln share buyback alongside an impairment-driven full-year loss of $150mln. The IGA and Foodland supermarket supplier’s shares closed up 6¢, or 2%, at $2.85 after Metcash announced the loss for the year to April 30 - down from a $172mln profit a year ago. Metcash announced in May it would take a $352mln impairment for 2017-18 - as a result of the loss of a major South Australian contract and tougher competition.Source: thewest.com.au
Denmark retail sales rise for third month
Denmark's retail sales increased for the third successive month in May, preliminary figures from Statistics Denmark showed. Retail turnover climbed 0.9% month-over-month in may, faster than the 0.1% slight rise in April, which was revised down from 0.2%. Clothing and related sales grew 1.6% over the month and sales of food and other groceries went up by 0.7%. On a yearly basis, retail sales rebounded strongly by 3.9% in May, following a 0.7% drop in April.Source: markets.businessinsider.com
Ireland: Grocery delivery platform Buymie raises seed round
Buymie has closed a new seed funding round, bringing the total amount invested in the on-demand grocery platform to more than €1mln. Buymie’s shareholder list is a relative who’s who of industry leaders, with the likes of retail industry veteran and Dragons’ Den star Eamonn Quinn stepping into the role of chair as well as backing from fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) giant Unilever Plc and the former CEO of Morrisons.com, Scott Weavers-Wright.Source: siliconrepublic.com
UK: Sainsbury's falls behind rivals with dip in sales - Kantar Worldpanel
Sales at Sainsbury’s, Britain’s second biggest supermarket group, dipped in the last 12 weeks, while its main rivals all saw increases, industry data showed. Sainsbury’s sales were down 0.2% in the 12 weeks to June 17 and its market share fell 0.4 percentage points to 15.6%, researcher Kantar Worldpanel said. Shares in the group, which in April agreed to buy No. 3 player Asda for 7.3bln pounds ($9.7bln), were down 1.8% at 0814 GMT.Source: uk.reuters.com
Chinese c-store chain Bianli24 to get US$10mln funding
A 24-hour Chinese convenience-store chain has closed a US$10mln series pre-A funding round led by Sequoia Capital China. The chain, Bianli24, is a 2017 startup known for its self-service vending machines which shop owners can use to automate sales of popular items and conduct after-hours trading. It plans to use the new funding to expand into third & fourth-tier cities within China, beyond the 13 cities it currently operates in.Source: retailnews.asia
Mexico: Summer could be best in 10 years for supermarkets, department stores
Predicted bumper sales at Mexico’s supermarkets and department stores between June and August could make this summer their best in 10 years, according to market analysts. Sales will increase between 5% and 7% compared to the same period last year, analysts anticipate, with the World Cup in Russia and this Sunday’s elections expected to drive the surge in household expenditures.Source: mexiconewsdaily.com
Amazon expands Whole Foods Market grocery delivery
Amazon has announced that it is expanding its grocery delivery service from Whole Foods Market to the US cities of Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and San Antonio. The service launched earlier this year and is now available in 19 cities, with further expansion across the US planned throughout 2018. In a statement Christina Minardi, Whole Foods Market Executive Vice President of Operations, said: “We’ve been delighted with the customer response to delivery in as little as an hour through Prime Now, and we’re excited to bring the service to our customers in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and San Antonio.”Source: postandparcel.info
US: Shipt launches same-day delivery across upstate New York
Shipt, a leading online marketplace, today announced that it will begin same-day delivery of an assortment of groceries and home essentials within upstate New York. Delivery from Target stores will begin in the following metro areas: July 10: Rochester, New York. July 17: Ithaca, New York. July 19: Albany and Syracuse, New York. Delivery from Gordon Restaurant Market and Target will begin in Buffalo, New York on July 12. Cumulatively, the launch gives more than 1.2mln households in the upstate New York area access to Shipt delivery. Source: globenewswire.com
US: Walmart to provide online grocery delivery in Tulsa & surrounding areas
Walmart is now making grocery shopping even easier for customers in Tulsa by expanding its Online Grocery service to include delivery to Tulsa residents and its outlying areas, like Broken Arrow and Glenpool. Tulsa is the 23rd area nationwide to receive the service. Unlike Grocery Pickup, however, the new delivery option does have a fee included. Customers can visit Walmart's grocery section on their website or through the Walmart Grocery app to order items for either pickup or delivery. The Online Grocery Delivery is an extension of Walmart’s kerbside pickup service, which is now available at 20 stores in the Tulsa metro area.Source: ktul.com
US: Giant Carlisle to open ecommerce hub in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Giant Food Stores LLC has revealed a $22mln investment in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which will include debuting an ecommerce hub at its former North Reservoir Street Location, remodeling four stores, slashing prices across its stores in the area, and opening a new fuel station in Lititz. According to the Carlisle, Pennsylvania-based Ahold Delhaize USA division, the ecommerce hub concept will spur development of the North Reservoir Street site and create about 150 new jobs in the community.Source: progressivegrocer.com