US: Supervalu's retail store sales could incite a feeding frenzy
When United Natural Foods eventually puts Supervalu’s remaining retail chains up for sale, it will offer grocers the rare opportunity to buy up prime real estate in major markets, according to various reports. UNFI said it planned to sell off Supervalu’s retail assets in order to fund the acquisition. The Cincinnati Business Courier spoke to sources that believe Kroger is a logical buyer for Supervalu’s Cub Foods chain in Minneapolis, citing its ability to become an immediate market share leader. Others, though, questioned the overall value the chain would add for Kroger. Meanwhile, Winsight Grocery Business spoke with sources who see a multitude of possible buyers for the Shoppers Food & Pharmacy banner, which has 50 locations in the Baltimore and Washington, DC markets. The list includes Giant, Harris Teeter, ShopRite and even Publix.
Source: fooddive.com
When United Natural Foods eventually puts Supervalu’s remaining retail chains up for sale, it will offer grocers the rare opportunity to buy up prime real estate in major markets, according to various reports. UNFI said it planned to sell off Supervalu’s retail assets in order to fund the acquisition. The Cincinnati Business Courier spoke to sources that believe Kroger is a logical buyer for Supervalu’s Cub Foods chain in Minneapolis, citing its ability to become an immediate market share leader. Others, though, questioned the overall value the chain would add for Kroger. Meanwhile, Winsight Grocery Business spoke with sources who see a multitude of possible buyers for the Shoppers Food & Pharmacy banner, which has 50 locations in the Baltimore and Washington, DC markets. The list includes Giant, Harris Teeter, ShopRite and even Publix.Source: fooddive.com
US: Lidl to open 2 D.C.-area stores
As proof that reports of its impending demise were exaggerated, Lidl is preparing for the grand openings of two new Washington, D.C.-area stores next month, including its first in Maryland. The stores (in Bowie, Maryland and Dumfries, Virginia) are the German deep discounter’s seventh and eighth in the region, set to open on Sept. 12 and Sept. 26, respectively. Both new locations will mark the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:40 a.m. sharp, just before the doors open. The first 100 customers at each store will receive a wooden coin redeemable for a special gift card ranging in value from $5 to $100. Customers can also try a variety of Lidl products and get a free reusable bag while supplies last. The festivities will stretch into the weekend, with games, activities, prizes, special deals and giveaways offered. The new locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Walmart reveals virtual reality retail plans via new patent filings
Two new patent filings from Walmart show that the retailer is moving further into virtual reality, which would enable consumers to shop from home in ways different from today’s eCommerce experience. The patent filings do not guarantee that the retailer will ever build or deploy the technology described in those documents, but they do show how the retailer is envisioning future shopping. One of the filings describes a VR headset “paired with sensor-laden gloves that would allow consumers to interact with a Walmart store in a virtual world,” according to CB Insights. The second patent involves a system in which robots, working in a fulfillment center, would located items on shelves as consumers use VR technology to put goods into virtual baskets. The robots would then place those items into containers for shipment.
Source: pymnts.com
As proof that reports of its impending demise were exaggerated, Lidl is preparing for the grand openings of two new Washington, D.C.-area stores next month, including its first in Maryland. The stores (in Bowie, Maryland and Dumfries, Virginia) are the German deep discounter’s seventh and eighth in the region, set to open on Sept. 12 and Sept. 26, respectively. Both new locations will mark the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:40 a.m. sharp, just before the doors open. The first 100 customers at each store will receive a wooden coin redeemable for a special gift card ranging in value from $5 to $100. Customers can also try a variety of Lidl products and get a free reusable bag while supplies last. The festivities will stretch into the weekend, with games, activities, prizes, special deals and giveaways offered. The new locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Walmart reveals virtual reality retail plans via new patent filings
Two new patent filings from Walmart show that the retailer is moving further into virtual reality, which would enable consumers to shop from home in ways different from today’s eCommerce experience. The patent filings do not guarantee that the retailer will ever build or deploy the technology described in those documents, but they do show how the retailer is envisioning future shopping. One of the filings describes a VR headset “paired with sensor-laden gloves that would allow consumers to interact with a Walmart store in a virtual world,” according to CB Insights. The second patent involves a system in which robots, working in a fulfillment center, would located items on shelves as consumers use VR technology to put goods into virtual baskets. The robots would then place those items into containers for shipment.Source: pymnts.com
India: Amazon & Samara Capital in talks to acquire More
Amazon.com Inc. is in advanced talks to acquire 42-49% in Aditya Birla Retail Ltd’s More supermarket chain, according to three people directly aware of the talks, as the US e-commerce giant doubles down on the grocery business in India. Amazon is joining hands with India-focused private equity firm Samara Capital for a complete buyout of More from the Aditya Birla Group for ₹ 4,200-4,400 crore, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. Samara and Amazon will jointly place their funds in a shell entity, which in turn will buy More from Aditya Birla, one of the three people said. Depending on Amazon’s stake in More, Samara would hold the remainder.Source: livemint.com
Czech Republic: Large supermarkets struggle with serious shortage of staff
Large supermarkets in the Czech Republic are struggling with a serious shortage of employees, caused by record low unemployment. According to the website Novinky.cz, a lack of employees has forced the British supermarket chain Tesco to cut opening hours in its Czech stores. “I can confirm that we will restrict opening hours in selected stores. The step was made for operational reasons,” Tesco spokesman Václav Koukolíček told the website Novinky.cz. Many Tesco stores, which are now open until midnight, will close at 10 p.m. in the future. “There are not many customers shopping at this time of day. We also wanted to enable our employees to get home earlier,” Mr. Koukoulíček added. Source: radio.cz
ICA Sweden launches digital service to help customers reduce their carbon footprint
Swedish retailer ICA has published its sustainability report for the second quarter of 2018, and said that it is launching a new service for its customers to help them lower their carbon footprint. During the quarter, the group said that it has continued to reduce its plastics use and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the report, ICA's greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 56% since 2006, mainly due to lower energy and refrigerant emissions in ICA stores and a company policy to favour renewable fuels.Source: esmmagazine.com
China's JD.com: revenue +31.2% in Q2
JD.com, part-owned by Walmart and Chinese technology giant Tencent, has reported a 31.2% increase in revenue to RMB122.3bln (US$218.5bln), for the quarter ended June 30. JD.com had over 170,000 merchants on its online marketplace, 521 warehouses with a gross floor area of 11.6m sq m as of June 30, 2018. It has expanded its leadership position in fulfilment capabilities among China’s ecommerce companies. JD Logistics launched its Flash Delivery initiative. By allocating merchandise across its distribution network based on shoppers' demand, JD Logistics is able to offer delivery times ranging from several minutes to about one hour for selected merchandise in certain areas. JD.com launched its open AI platform, NeuHub, in April, offering services such as natural language processing, speech recognition, computer vision, and machine learning. Based on JD.com's historical data, a new sentiment analysis application enables JIMI, JD’s automated customer service assistant, to identify customers’ emotions more precisely. JD.com reports that the new functionality has significantly increased user satisfaction on JD’s online chat service. In June, Google invested US$550mln in JD as part of a new strategic partnership. The companies will join forces to explore retail solutions, enabling personalised and frictionless shopping experiences. JD will also offer a selection of high quality products on Google Shopping in the US and Europe.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Philippines: PCC okays Robinsons’s 100% acquisition of Rustan’s Supercenter
The country’s antitrust body has approved Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.’s acquisition of approximately P18bln worth of shares of Rustan’s Supercenters Inc. With the Philippine Competition Commission’s (PCC) approval, Robinsons Retail is set to gain 100% of the issued and outstanding capital shares in Rustan’s Supercenters. Robinsons Retail will acquire all the issued and outstanding capital shares of Rustan’s Supercenters through a shares-for-shares swap involving shares of Rustan’s Supercenters in exchange for 191,489,360 primary common shares of Robinsons Retail.Source: businessmirror.com.ph
Turkey retail sales growth weakest in 8 months
Turkey's retail sales grew at the slowest pace in eight months in June, the Turkish Statistical Institute reported. Retail sales climbed 4.3% year-on-year in June, slower than the 5.1% increase logged in May. This was the weakest growth since November 2017, when sales advanced 3.1%. The slowdown was largely driven by a 5.2% drop in electronic goods and furniture sales and a 1.5% fall in automotive fuel. Meanwhile, food, drinks and tobacco sales advanced 6.7%. Month-on-month, retail sales dropped 0.3% in June, following a 1% decrease in May. Sales declined for the second straight month.Source: markets.businessinsider.com
Ireland: SuperValu has partnered with Guaranteed Irish to promote local produce
Musgrave has announced that SuperValu, Ireland’s leading grocery retailer, has partnered with Guaranteed Irish, the non-profit business membership organisation championing businesses operating in Ireland. 75% of products stocked on SuperValu shelves are sourced in Ireland, which will allow Guaranteed Irish to nurture and grow its partnerships with indigenous Irish companies. SuperValu also plans to invest over €700,000 to promote its official retail partnership with Guaranteed Irish to highlight and raise awareness of the benefits of purchasing Guaranteed Irish brands.Source: checkout.ie
UK: M&S has replaced over 100 of its call centre staff with AI bots
Marks and Spencer has replaced all its switchboard staff with an artificial intelligence system, affecting over 100 jobs. Phone calls to all 640 M&S stores and customer service centres are now handled by the new cloud-based system. The “intelligent” system, provided by Twillo, a communications firm, routes calls to the relevant department, store or contact centre agent. Announcing the change Twillo said M&S would be able to resolve inquiries more effectively, allowing more than 100 switchboard employees to move to customer-facing roles in store. Automating the department store’s switchboard operation will enable M&S to “analyse customer intent in real time for more than 12 million customer interactions annually”, Twillo revealed.Source: inews.co.uk