UK: Walmart's Asda sales rise 0.4% in second quarter
Asda, the British supermarket arm of Walmart that has agreed to be acquired by Sainsbury’s, reported a 0.4% rise in underlying sales, and said it was more profitable due to improvements in non-food margins. Asda, the UK’s third largest grocer after Sainsbury’s and market leader Tesco, said like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, rose 0.4%, in its fiscal second quarter, on a gross profit rate that increased compared to last year. In the previous quarter, underlying sales had risen 1.0%, adjusted for Easter.
Source: uk.reuters.com
Asda, the British supermarket arm of Walmart that has agreed to be acquired by Sainsbury’s, reported a 0.4% rise in underlying sales, and said it was more profitable due to improvements in non-food margins. Asda, the UK’s third largest grocer after Sainsbury’s and market leader Tesco, said like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, rose 0.4%, in its fiscal second quarter, on a gross profit rate that increased compared to last year. In the previous quarter, underlying sales had risen 1.0%, adjusted for Easter.Source: uk.reuters.com
South Korea: Shinsegae's supermarket chain to launch 'cashier-less' store
E-Mart Everyday Inc., retail giant Shinsegae's supermarket chain operator, opened a "cashier-less" store in Seoul on Friday in its latest effort to secure competitiveness through the use of new technologies. The 212-square-meter store in Gangnam, southern Seoul, opened after remodeling to allow customers to pay via Shinsegae's mobile payment service SSG Pay without going through a checkout counter, the company said. There is a self-checkout counter for those who cannot use the app or do not have mobile devices, and a cashier for the sale of alcohol and cigarettes, which require age verification, according to E-Mart. The new store also has electronic labels to replace paper labels to improve the effectiveness and accuracy with which it provides price information, E-Mart said.
Source: english.yonhapnews.co.kr
E-Mart Everyday Inc., retail giant Shinsegae's supermarket chain operator, opened a "cashier-less" store in Seoul on Friday in its latest effort to secure competitiveness through the use of new technologies. The 212-square-meter store in Gangnam, southern Seoul, opened after remodeling to allow customers to pay via Shinsegae's mobile payment service SSG Pay without going through a checkout counter, the company said. There is a self-checkout counter for those who cannot use the app or do not have mobile devices, and a cashier for the sale of alcohol and cigarettes, which require age verification, according to E-Mart. The new store also has electronic labels to replace paper labels to improve the effectiveness and accuracy with which it provides price information, E-Mart said.Source: english.yonhapnews.co.kr
Spain: Mercadona to invest 35mln euros in the expansion of its logistics block in Huévar
Mercadona has begun works for the expansion of its logistics block in the municipality of Huévar del Aljarafe in Seville, where it plans to construct a new storage warehouse facility of 36,700 m2 on a parcel of more than 88,000 m2 of surface area. Some 150 companies will participate in the construction, most being Andalusian SMEs. This activity will require an investment by the company of 35mln euros, executed throughout several phases, with the new warehouse facility, dedicated to storage, preparation and shipment of fresh products, anticipated to be operational in the year 2021. The new Mercadona facilities will be equipped with a picking overhead crane (PPG), an innovative system for storage and automatic preparation of pallets for meat, fruit and vegetables. The primary part shall be a robotic system responsible for the execution of heavy work throughout the process, from reception of merchandise to the formation of pallets to be delivered to stores, in order to prevent overexertion of employees. Additionally, it shall ensure greater process efficiency, essential to achieve the company´s objective of guaranteeing maximum quality and freshness to customers.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
Mercadona has begun works for the expansion of its logistics block in the municipality of Huévar del Aljarafe in Seville, where it plans to construct a new storage warehouse facility of 36,700 m2 on a parcel of more than 88,000 m2 of surface area. Some 150 companies will participate in the construction, most being Andalusian SMEs. This activity will require an investment by the company of 35mln euros, executed throughout several phases, with the new warehouse facility, dedicated to storage, preparation and shipment of fresh products, anticipated to be operational in the year 2021. The new Mercadona facilities will be equipped with a picking overhead crane (PPG), an innovative system for storage and automatic preparation of pallets for meat, fruit and vegetables. The primary part shall be a robotic system responsible for the execution of heavy work throughout the process, from reception of merchandise to the formation of pallets to be delivered to stores, in order to prevent overexertion of employees. Additionally, it shall ensure greater process efficiency, essential to achieve the company´s objective of guaranteeing maximum quality and freshness to customers.Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
Tesco is reportedly planning to open an Aldi-style discount chain called Jack’s, in a bid to revitalise the company’s brand. The company plans to convert up to 60 of its current or mothballed stores into the new format, which could (if the rumors are true) be named Jack’s after the founder of the company, Jack Cohen. So far, Tesco has refused to comment on the story, however the plans would make sense. Aldi and Lidl are making increasing market share gains in the UK grocery sector, and their combined market share is now 12.9%, up from 12.1% last year, according to the latest Kantar Worldpanel data. Meanwhile, Tesco’s market share has fallen to 27.6%, from 27.9%, over the same time period.Source: shareprices.com
Spain: DIA completes the deal
DIA’s agreement with NanjingSuning.com, part of the Chinese group Suning, began on April 3 2018 and has been announced as completed by the retailer. 100% of its entities will be transferred, marking DIA’s exit from the Chinese market. DIA is present in the following markets: Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil. Its latest results highlighted challenges ahead for the retailer, with net sales falling in H1. Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Pingo Doce takes a different approach to recycling in Portugal
In a pilot scheme 'Recycle More', Pingo Doce will host a network of 15 ecopoints located by its stores. Shoppers can exchange used packaging for money loaded onto a Poupa Mais card. A 30 litre bag of packaging is worth €0.10 and 50 litre €0.15. There is a daily limit of 15 bags per card, and the scheme runs until 31 December 2018. The initiative is supported by Pingo Doce and Environmental Global Facilities (EGF). It aims to encourage recycling and educate consumers about sustainability, and should boost footfall in participating stores.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Amazon to open Colombia service center, employing 600 workers
Amazon.com Inc said it will open its first customer service center in Colombia in October and employ 600 people. The center, intended to prevent and resolve problems, will serve customers worldwide in Spanish, English and Portuguese, the world’s largest online retailer said in a statement.Source: reuters.com
CAN: Metro reports third-quarter profit down on Jean Coutu acquisition costs
Grocer Metro Inc. earned $167.5mln in its latest quarter as it completed its acquisition of the Jean Coutu Group. The retailer says its profit amounted to 69 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended July 7 compared with a profit of $183.0mln or 78 cents per diluted share a year ago. Metro closed its acquisition of the Jean Coutu Group drug store chain on May 11.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Grocer Metro Inc. earned $167.5mln in its latest quarter as it completed its acquisition of the Jean Coutu Group. The retailer says its profit amounted to 69 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended July 7 compared with a profit of $183.0mln or 78 cents per diluted share a year ago. Metro closed its acquisition of the Jean Coutu Group drug store chain on May 11.Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: WinCo Foods to enter Montana with stores to open in Helena, Billings
Employee-owned retailer WinCo Foods has confirmed its plans to opening stores in Montana - a new market for the grocery chain who confirmed to local news source the Independent Record that WinCo has broken ground on a 84,000-square-foot Helena location - with a second location in Billings to follow. “We know the people of Helena are excited for us to arrive, because so many of them have told us,” Director of Corporate Communications Noah Fleisher said in a statement to the news source. “We share that anticipation with them here at WinCo. We expect Montana will be a great market for us and we’re thrilled that Helena will be the place we get to start.”
Source: delimarketnews.com
Employee-owned retailer WinCo Foods has confirmed its plans to opening stores in Montana - a new market for the grocery chain who confirmed to local news source the Independent Record that WinCo has broken ground on a 84,000-square-foot Helena location - with a second location in Billings to follow. “We know the people of Helena are excited for us to arrive, because so many of them have told us,” Director of Corporate Communications Noah Fleisher said in a statement to the news source. “We share that anticipation with them here at WinCo. We expect Montana will be a great market for us and we’re thrilled that Helena will be the place we get to start.”Source: delimarketnews.com
US: Distribution business spurs Q2 sales gain at SpartanNash
SpartanNash Co. got a lift in the fiscal 2018 second quarter from growth in its distribution businesses, but losses from a product recall at its Caito Foods unit bit into earnings per share, which fell short of Wall Street estimates. For the 12-week quarter ended July 14, SpartanNash’s consolidated revenue rose 2.1% to nearly $1.9 billion from $1.86 billion a year ago. “The food distribution and military segments completed another quarter of strong sales growth, and we realized sequential improvements in comparable-store sales at retail for the second consecutive quarter as we enhance and develop innovative solutions for our diverse customer base,” President and CEO David Staples said in a statement. “As a result, we remain excited about the opportunities to grow our business, despite a difficult operating environment.”
Source: supermarketnews.com
SpartanNash Co. got a lift in the fiscal 2018 second quarter from growth in its distribution businesses, but losses from a product recall at its Caito Foods unit bit into earnings per share, which fell short of Wall Street estimates. For the 12-week quarter ended July 14, SpartanNash’s consolidated revenue rose 2.1% to nearly $1.9 billion from $1.86 billion a year ago. “The food distribution and military segments completed another quarter of strong sales growth, and we realized sequential improvements in comparable-store sales at retail for the second consecutive quarter as we enhance and develop innovative solutions for our diverse customer base,” President and CEO David Staples said in a statement. “As a result, we remain excited about the opportunities to grow our business, despite a difficult operating environment.”Source: supermarketnews.com
Kroger confirmed Thursday it will begin testing driverless grocery delivery in suburban Phoenix. Customers of Kroger subsidiary Fry's in Scottsdale, Arizona will be able to place online orders starting Thursday. Grocery orders can be scheduled for same-day or next-day delivery by Nuro's fleet of self-driving vehicles. The flat fee is $5.95 with no minimum order. Kroger first announced plans for the delivery test at its June annual shareholder meeting. The vision was for a system where customers will be able to place same-day delivery orders through Kroger's ClickList ordering system and technology by California-based robotics firm Nuro.Source: eu.cincinnati.com
US: Walmart reports best sales growth in a decade, shares spike
Walmart had a blowout quarter and shares are surging. U.S. second-quarter comparable store sales, excluding gas, were up 4.5% in the quarter, surpassing analysts’ estimates of 2.2% growth. “The Walmart U.S. business delivered the best quarterly comp sales results in more than a decade,” CEO Doug McMillon said in a statement. The retailing giant reported adjusted earnings of $1.29 per share, beating Wall Street expectations of $1.22. Management raised its full-year EPS guidance (excluding Flipkart results) to a range of $4.90 to $5.05 per share, up from previous guidance of $4.75 to $5.00. Shares were up more than 10% in pre-market trading. E-commerce was a bright spot for Walmart, with sales growing more than 40% in the quarter. “We feel good about the direction of the business and remain confident in our ability to grow sales by about 40% for the full year,” CFO Brett Biggs said.Source: finance.yahoo.com