US: Meijer reveals new convenience-store format
Mass-merchandise retailer Meijer has unveiled what it sees as the convenience-store concept of the future with a new 5,500-square-foot store that, along with a focus on fresh, will be its first gas station to include a separate full-service Starbucks. Boasting a large seating area with free Wi-Fi and phone-charging stations, the store will be located next to Meijer's headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its expanded assortment of fresh-prepared foods include daily-prepared sushi; locally prepared donuts delivered daily; fresh produce; protein-based snacks, wraps, fruit and organic items; grab-and-go meals made locally by Superior Foods; and such hot selections as handcrafted pizzas and chicken tenders.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger to open innovation center at University of Cincinnati
The Kroger Co. has revealed its plans to operate an innovation lab out of the University of Cincinnati (UC) in a move that company officials say is fueled by Restock Kroger. Kroger plans to staff its lab, located in UC's new 1819 Innovation Hub, with research and development engineers and software developers who will work closely with UC faculty as well as student co-op members and interns. Chris Hjelm, Kroger's EVP and chief information officer, said the effort is another way the company is investing to create the "now and future of retail," and it will provide the Kroger Technology team with a "creative space to partner and develop solutions to redefine the grocery customer experience."
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. announces Q2 fiscal 2018 results
BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. announced its financial results for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018. For the second quarter (thirteen weeks) ended August 4, 2018: net sales increased 4.3% to $3.2bln compared to $3.1bln in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Comparable sales increased 5.0% compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Excluding the impact of gasoline sales, merchandise comparable sales for the quarter increased 2.0% representing the fourth consecutive quarter of positive merchandise comparable sales. Membership fee income ("MFI") increased 9.7% to $70.4mln compared to $64.2mln in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Gross profit increased to $588.5mln from $553.3mln in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.
Source: bjs.mediaroom.com
Wegmans 1st U.S. supermarket chain to offer service for blind/low-vision shoppers
Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has become the first supermarket chain in the United States to offer free access to Aira, a San Diego-based startup that uses wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and live, human assistance to provide real-time visual description for people who are blind or have low vision. With a smartphone or a pair of smart glasses, an Aira “Explorer” can receive on-demand assistance from a remote trained professional. A blind or low-vision shopper is now able to download the Aira app, register as a guest and use the service at no charge in any Wegmans location. The app enables a user to connect to a remote sighted agent who can help the shopper navigate the store, find specific items and identify the shortest checkout line via live camera stream, GPS, maps, and information sourced from the web.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Mass-merchandise retailer Meijer has unveiled what it sees as the convenience-store concept of the future with a new 5,500-square-foot store that, along with a focus on fresh, will be its first gas station to include a separate full-service Starbucks. Boasting a large seating area with free Wi-Fi and phone-charging stations, the store will be located next to Meijer's headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its expanded assortment of fresh-prepared foods include daily-prepared sushi; locally prepared donuts delivered daily; fresh produce; protein-based snacks, wraps, fruit and organic items; grab-and-go meals made locally by Superior Foods; and such hot selections as handcrafted pizzas and chicken tenders.Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger to open innovation center at University of Cincinnati
The Kroger Co. has revealed its plans to operate an innovation lab out of the University of Cincinnati (UC) in a move that company officials say is fueled by Restock Kroger. Kroger plans to staff its lab, located in UC's new 1819 Innovation Hub, with research and development engineers and software developers who will work closely with UC faculty as well as student co-op members and interns. Chris Hjelm, Kroger's EVP and chief information officer, said the effort is another way the company is investing to create the "now and future of retail," and it will provide the Kroger Technology team with a "creative space to partner and develop solutions to redefine the grocery customer experience."Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. announces Q2 fiscal 2018 results
BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. announced its financial results for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018. For the second quarter (thirteen weeks) ended August 4, 2018: net sales increased 4.3% to $3.2bln compared to $3.1bln in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Comparable sales increased 5.0% compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Excluding the impact of gasoline sales, merchandise comparable sales for the quarter increased 2.0% representing the fourth consecutive quarter of positive merchandise comparable sales. Membership fee income ("MFI") increased 9.7% to $70.4mln compared to $64.2mln in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Gross profit increased to $588.5mln from $553.3mln in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Source: bjs.mediaroom.com
Wegmans 1st U.S. supermarket chain to offer service for blind/low-vision shoppers
Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has become the first supermarket chain in the United States to offer free access to Aira, a San Diego-based startup that uses wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and live, human assistance to provide real-time visual description for people who are blind or have low vision. With a smartphone or a pair of smart glasses, an Aira “Explorer” can receive on-demand assistance from a remote trained professional. A blind or low-vision shopper is now able to download the Aira app, register as a guest and use the service at no charge in any Wegmans location. The app enables a user to connect to a remote sighted agent who can help the shopper navigate the store, find specific items and identify the shortest checkout line via live camera stream, GPS, maps, and information sourced from the web.Source: progressivegrocer.com
Advent to invest $485mln in Walmart operations in Brazil
Advent International, the private equity firm that acquired 80% of Walmart Inc ‘s Brazilian operations, is going to invest 1.9bln reais ($485.66mln) in the existing stores as part of an agreement with the world’s biggest retailer, according to a document published in Brazil’s official gazette. In June, Walmart announced it sold an 80% stake in its Brazilian operations to Advent, partially exiting an underperforming business and taking a non-cash charge of roughly $4.5bln.
Source: reuters.com
Advent International, the private equity firm that acquired 80% of Walmart Inc ‘s Brazilian operations, is going to invest 1.9bln reais ($485.66mln) in the existing stores as part of an agreement with the world’s biggest retailer, according to a document published in Brazil’s official gazette. In June, Walmart announced it sold an 80% stake in its Brazilian operations to Advent, partially exiting an underperforming business and taking a non-cash charge of roughly $4.5bln.Source: reuters.com
Carrefour Poland optimises logistics fleet, reduces CO2 emissions
Carrefour's Polish operation has announced that following the rollout of an internal Transport Management System (TMS), its truck fleet has reduced its annual distance travelled by 2mln kilometres in the past year. Using the TMS, the retailer has sought to optimise the loading of its truck fleet, as well as reduce the number of empty truck journeys. The TMS is a multi-module tool that enables optimisation of the transport process from the supplier to the store, and facilities communication across the different aspects of the supply chain.Source: esmmagazine.com
Lithuania's retail sales growth remains stable
Lithuania's retail sales growth held steady in July after improving in the previous three months, figures from the statistical office showed. Excluding VAT, retail sales advanced a working-day-adjusted 7.2% year-over-year in July, the same rate of increase as in June. Sales of food products, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products grew 4.5% annually in July and those of non-food items climbed by 6.4%. On a monthly basis, retail sales edged up 0.2% in July.Source: markets.businessinsider.com
UAE: Union Coop sets up Dh94mln commercial centre Dubai Silicon Oasis
Retailer Union Coop has signed an investment contract with the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSO) to establish a commercial centre worth an estimated Dh94.4mln. In a statement, the pair said that the deal was signed by Juma Al Matroushi, deputy CEO for operations and client affairs at DSOA, and Khalid Humaid Bin Diban Al Falasi, CEO of Union Coop. Al Matroushi said that DSOA was keen to attract “investment opportunities that contribute to the diversification of services available to its residents.”Source: gulfnews.com
China: Alibaba drives grocery openings, fusing bricks and clicks
Alibaba Group Holding has raised the target for store openings in its Hema Fresh cashless supermarkets to 100 this year from the originally planned 60 as the Chinese e-commerce leader gains confidence in its effort to combine physical stores with an online presence. The grocery chain spans over 65 stores as of late. The Hema supermarkets not only serve as grocery stores that customers can visit, they also operate as warehouses for online orders. Deliveries are made within 30 minutes of receiving the order if the address is within 3 km of an outlet.Source: asia.nikkei.com
Japan: Aeon stock hits 11-year high on shareholder perks
Japanese retailer Aeon rose to an 11-year high of 2,474 yen on Monday as retail investors snapped up the shares to secure special shareholder benefits such as store discounts ahead of a deadline the next day. The stock closed 0.9% higher at 2,468.5 yen, rising for the seventh straight session. Investors that purchase up until Tuesday the stock of certain companies with fiscal years ending in February or August are eligible to receive dividend payments and perks like store discounts. Source: asia.nikkei.com
Tesco remains fastest growing chain in buoyant Irish grocery market
Despite an intensely competitive retail environment - with just 1.5 percentage points separating the market share of the three largest retailers - all the major Irish supermarkets have grown sales for the sixth period in a row, according to latest grocery market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks ending 12 August 2018. For the seventh consecutive period, Tesco was the fastest growing of the Irish retailers, with sales up 4.8% compared to this time last year. Tesco is the only one of the three major retailers to witness a further decline in the average price paid per item, but this has been counteracted by shoppers spending more overall. On average, customers spent an extra €21 this period as they visited the grocer more regularly and bought more items each time.