Israeli supermarket makes stores accessible for the blind and visually impaired
Shufersal, the largest supermarket chain in Israel, has implemented a solution that improves accessibility and orientation for blind and visually impaired shoppers. The RightHear app uses customers’ own smartphones to provide them with real-time audio descriptions about their precise location and surroundings. The voice notifications are based on Bluetooth beacons placed around the store, which are attached to walls with a sticker. The directions can guide shoppers to the entrance as they arrive, whatever aisles or sections they seek inside, and then the checkout area and exit as they complete their trip. RightHear also includes an administrator dashboard, which lets staff program the system to meet the needs of their customers.
Source: retailtouchpoints.com
Shufersal, the largest supermarket chain in Israel, has implemented a solution that improves accessibility and orientation for blind and visually impaired shoppers. The RightHear app uses customers’ own smartphones to provide them with real-time audio descriptions about their precise location and surroundings. The voice notifications are based on Bluetooth beacons placed around the store, which are attached to walls with a sticker. The directions can guide shoppers to the entrance as they arrive, whatever aisles or sections they seek inside, and then the checkout area and exit as they complete their trip. RightHear also includes an administrator dashboard, which lets staff program the system to meet the needs of their customers.Source: retailtouchpoints.com
UK's Poundland: Q3 update
Poundland's nine month results reveal a decline in sales, but like-for-likes remain in growth. Poundland reported total sales of €1,324mln for the nine month period ending 30 June 2018, a decline of 5% (3% at constant exchange rates). This reflects 60 fewer stores trading compared to the previous period. The retailer's like-for-like sales remain in growth, up +1.7% across the nine month period. However, this performance has diluted period-on-period, as at the half year point like-for-likes were up +2.4%. Parent company Steinhoff attributes this to the early timing of Easter this year.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Spain's Mercadona: Ready-to-eat products added in-store
According to Expansión newspaper, Mercadona is testing a new range of fresh meal solutions in a Valencian store, before expansion into other locations in 2019. 1mln euros were invested to develop the range, supported by a new culinary laboratory. Pastas, paella and pizzas feature, some of which will be finished at the counter and be customisable for shoppers. This takeaway offer adds value to Mercadona’s range by meeting shoppers’ need for convenience and food-to-go. The test run in Valencia will inform Mercadona what the best recipes are, in which hours sales grow, and what the optimum space allocation is.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Lidl opens three more stores in Romania
Lidl is consolidating its position on the Romanian market, and is opening three new stores in Bucharest, Pantelimon and Giroc (Timis county). With these new inaugurations, the retailer will reach 220 stores in Romania. Each of the three stores have a sales area of approximately 1300 sqm and have around 100 parking spaces. Source: business-review.eu
UK: Asda calls time on price guarantee scheme
Asda will next month abandon a scheme which refunds shoppers the difference if the goods they purchase are more expensive than in rival supermarkets, following other chains that have scrapped similar programmes. Asda, the British supermarket arm of Walmart that has agreed to a takeover by bigger rival Sainsbury’s, said the scheme was no longer relevant and it would instead invest directly in lowering prices. Asda said it has invested over 100mln pounds in price cuts over the last year and plans another round of reductions in October.Source: uk.reuters.com
Denmark's Netto opens new look store in Aarhus
Danish discounter Netto, part of the Salling Group, has announced the opening of a new-look store in Aarhus, following on from its launch of its 'discount store of the future' concept earlier this year. The new store has a sales area of almost twice that of the previous store, of 900 square metres, with a significantly larger fruit and vegetable department, a wider range of convenience items, and a new location for the familiar 'spot' discount items. "We have revitalised our entire store concept, which has received a profound makeover," said Michael Løve, Netto director. "The core of our concept will still be what customers know - good products at the right price. But with our new concept, we want to create even more shops that are nice for customers and employees."Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Thrive Market works to optimize new product discovery
Online grocer Thrive Market is working to better offer customers organic products that they want at prices "well below" those of its competitors through its membership site. For the initiative, the Los Angeles-based pure-play ecommerce grocer is partnering with RangeMe, which supplies a platform that streamlines new product discovery for retailers and suppliers. RangeMe is owned by Solon, Ohio-based ECRM, a provider of business innovation and technology. With online grocery sales rising steadily in recent years - expected to make up 20% of total grocery retail by 2025 - grocers are rethinking how they source and sell products online.Source: progressivegrocer.com
CAN: Loblaw to spin out real estate trust to parent company
Loblaw Companies Ltd. says it will spin out its real estate investment trust to focus solely on its grocery and pharmacy business. The company says George Weston Ltd., which has majority ownership of Loblaw, will receive its 61.6% interest in Choice Properties REIT and Loblaw’s minority shareholders will receive George Weston shares in exchange. George Weston already owns 3.8% of the trust and the deal would boost its position to 65.4%. The arrangement is conditional on at least two-thirds of Loblaw’s common shareholders and a majority of its minority sharesholders approving the deal in a vote at a meeting expected to take place next month, as well as court and other approvals. The companies anticipate the transaction will close in the fourth quarter.Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Walmart explores delivery via drone
Walmart is investigating how to use blockchain technology for the delivery of its products via automated delivery drones. That news was retrieved from a recent patent application by the U.S. supermarket giant. The document describes drones arriving at a delivery exchange point, verifying their identity via the wireless exchange of ‘blockchain keys’, then passing on deliveries to other drones. Using automated technology reduces the number of times a delivery process currently has to be verified manually. Blockchain technology would create a reliable system of verification that customers can trust, even if the delivery process becomes highly automated. “Drones moving packages from A to B are only a small part of the potential market opportunity”, comments John Frazer, CCO of DAV, a company offering an open-source platform for trading transportation services in a decentralised market.
Source: globalfleet.com
Walmart is investigating how to use blockchain technology for the delivery of its products via automated delivery drones. That news was retrieved from a recent patent application by the U.S. supermarket giant. The document describes drones arriving at a delivery exchange point, verifying their identity via the wireless exchange of ‘blockchain keys’, then passing on deliveries to other drones. Using automated technology reduces the number of times a delivery process currently has to be verified manually. Blockchain technology would create a reliable system of verification that customers can trust, even if the delivery process becomes highly automated. “Drones moving packages from A to B are only a small part of the potential market opportunity”, comments John Frazer, CCO of DAV, a company offering an open-source platform for trading transportation services in a decentralised market. Source: globalfleet.com
US: H-E-B opens digital headquarters in Austin
H-E-B is launching its digital headquarters in Austin. The San Antonio-based supermarket chain has signed a lease for a 81,000-square-foot facility on East Sixth Street. The "world-class tech facility and innovation lab" will be home to H-E-B's digital team as well as Favor's corporate headquarters. H-E-B bought the delivery company earlier this year. H-E-B said it plans to hire several hundred people for positions in areas such as product management, product design, and software engineering. The facility is expected to open in spring of next year.Source: spectrumlocalnews.com