US: Major Asian supermarket chain adopts Alipay mobile wallet
One of the largest Asian supermarket chains in the United States will soon begin accepting mobile payments via Alipay, a third-party mobile and online payment platform developed and owned by China-based Ant Financial and used by Chinese retail and technology company Alibaba Group. Beginning July 1, New York-based 99 Ranch Market, which operates more than four-dozen locations in California, Washington, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, Texas and Oregon, will allow customers to pay for products using Alipay’s mobile wallet in-store at locations in all states where it operates. 99 Ranch Market will provide services for the grocery technology in-store through the activation and implementation support of CITCON, a cross-border mobile payment and marketing solutions provider that helps connect merchants with Chinese mobile wallet users.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
One of the largest Asian supermarket chains in the United States will soon begin accepting mobile payments via Alipay, a third-party mobile and online payment platform developed and owned by China-based Ant Financial and used by Chinese retail and technology company Alibaba Group. Beginning July 1, New York-based 99 Ranch Market, which operates more than four-dozen locations in California, Washington, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, Texas and Oregon, will allow customers to pay for products using Alipay’s mobile wallet in-store at locations in all states where it operates. 99 Ranch Market will provide services for the grocery technology in-store through the activation and implementation support of CITCON, a cross-border mobile payment and marketing solutions provider that helps connect merchants with Chinese mobile wallet users.Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Gala Foods Supermarket chain grows
Seven new Gala Foods Supermarkets have become part of Key Food Stores Co-Operative Inc., a chain of primarily independently owned and corporate grocery stores. The expansion brings the total number of Gala Foods stores to nine for Aurora Grocery Group, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based parent company of the Gala Foods and GalaFresh Farms banners, which are located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Family-owned and -operated Aurora licensed its first locations under the Compare Foods Supermarket banner almost 30 years ago. To streamline operations and distribution channels, the seven locations have switched to the Gala Foods brand. Aurora has a total of 23 supermarkets operated by 13 owners.Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon launches Delivery Service Partners
Amazon has launched Delivery Service Partners, a new programme that allows entrepreneurs to start their own package delivery business under the Amazon brand. This is the latest of Amazon's initiatives to ensure fast and efficient delivery for its customers. Each Delivery Service Partner is vetted by Amazon, and is expected to represent the Amazon brand. Partners will lease Prime-branded vehicles from Amazon, delivery units will collect parcels from Amazon stations, and drivers will be expected to wear an Amazon uniform. The entrepreneurs will, however, be in charge of recruiting and hiring drivers. Amazon will also offer discounts for costs incurred to run the business.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Spar Zimbabwe opens new store in country's industrial capital
Spar Zimbabwe has opened a new store in Kwekwe, a mining city considered the 'industrial centre' of the country. The new store features 1,020 square metres of selling space, with butchery, bakery, food-to-go, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen, and dairy departments. The store is located close to the Central Business District and opened with a road show, supplier demos outside the store and entertainment throughout the day.Source: esmmagazine.com
Latvia retail sales growth at 5-month high
Latvia's retail sales grew at the fastest pace for five months in May, figures from the Central Statistical Bureau showed. Retail sales climbed 7.0% year-over-year in May, well above the 3.0% increase in April. Moreover, this was the sharpest rate of rise since December last year, when sales had grown 7.3%. Turnover of retail trade in food products grew 6.5% annually in May and those of non-food products advanced by 7.3%.Source: markets.businessinsider.com
French co-operative supermarket model reaches Toulon
A new wave of co-operative supermarkets is emerging across France, inspired by a model pioneered in New York. The latest is in the port city of Toulon, on southern France’s Mediterranean coast. Named La Coop sur Mer, the co-operative opened its first store in June 2017, using a 25 square meter space in Toulon’s city centre. The small grocery store, which is open three times a week, currently works with 17 producers and seven wholesalers, selling over 200 products.Source: thenews.coop
Ecommerce in Hungary was worth €1.65bln in 2017
For the first time, the ecommerce turnover of Hungary has surpassed the psychological limit of 500bln Hungarian forints. Ecommerce in Hungary was worth 545bln forints, or 1.65bln euros, last year. In 10 years time, the domestic ecommerce revenue in Hungary grew from about 140mln euros to 1.65bln euros now. These numbers were revealed by eNet during the Ecommerce Hungary conference.Source: ecommercenews.eu
UK: Positive H1 like-for-likes at Poundland
Like-for-like sales grew 2.4% in the six months to 31 March 2018. First half results highlights included positive like-for-like sales growth, and maintaining margin rates, despite a tough trading period. However, Poundland sales declined -6% to EUR900mln, reflecting approximately 60 store closures at the end of the period last year. Poundland's international store network now comprises of 871 stores, including two new Dealz stores in Poland, four new Dealz stores in the Republic of Ireland, and five new Poundland stores in the UK. Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Russia: Magnit's Board of Directors assign second new CEO in 2018
In an announcement to the Board of Directors, Magnit CEO Khachatur Pombukhchan submitted his resignation notice, and this is followed by the appointment of Olga Naumova to the role. Ms Naumova recently joined Magnit in the role of Executive Director of Operations, leaving her role of General Director of Pyaterochka at X5, a role now taken over by Sergei Goncharov. Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Germany: HelloFresh hints at extending into ready-made meals
HelloFresh co-founder Thomas Griesel hinted that the meal-kit company may extend into ready-made meals, telling a German newspaper, “we see a very big market niche.” The company already offers some ready-made meals and snacks in vending machines in corporate offices in Berlin, but there are plans to expand those meals throughout Germany. If HelloFresh were to expand into ready-made options, Griesel said the meals would be available online, not at supermarkets.
Source: fooddive.com
HelloFresh co-founder Thomas Griesel hinted that the meal-kit company may extend into ready-made meals, telling a German newspaper, “we see a very big market niche.” The company already offers some ready-made meals and snacks in vending machines in corporate offices in Berlin, but there are plans to expand those meals throughout Germany. If HelloFresh were to expand into ready-made options, Griesel said the meals would be available online, not at supermarkets. Source: fooddive.com
Several agreements have been concluded during the past three months between Auchan Retail, Casino Group, METRO and Schiever Group. A set of alliances in purchasing called “Horizon” has been created. The new alliances will focus on moving away from purely transactional negotiations towards a collaborative, balanced and innovative type of negotiations. In building Horizon internationally and in France, Auchan Retail, Casino Group, METRO and Schiever confirm their common vision and culture when it comes to their relationship with suppliers.Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com