Holland: Retailer Jumbo opens pop-up store dedicated to Formula 1 driver
Jumbo has opened a pop-up store in its Groningen Food Markt outlet dedicated to Dutch Formula 1 star Max Verstappen. The store-within-a-store concept features a Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car, as well as Max Verstappen-themed merchandise, including a clothing range and caps. The store was opened by the driver, currently placed fifth in the Formula 1 Drivers Championship, earlier this week. The new Jumbo Food Markt Groningen covers more than 4,000 square metres and features over 30,000 products, including the 'largest vegan assortment in the Netherlands', on a dedicated ten-metre long shelf.
Source: esmmagazine.com
India: Times Group arm invests Rs 26 crore in grocery firm Avenue11
Bengaluru based O2O (online-to-offline) grocery company Avenue 11 has raised Rs 26 crore from Brand Capital, the strategic investment arm of the Times Group. This investment by Brand Capital will be deployed for geographical expansion of the business and to increase its brand presence. Founded by Korean expat Nakkyun Chong, Avenue11 currently serves south and east Bengaluru, with a customer base of 35,000 people, and a monthly GMV of Rs 90 lakhs. With the current financial projections and the BCCL partnership, Avenue11 is poised to achieve a GMV of Rs 17 crores in 2018.
Source: thenewsminute.com
China: Low-end e-commerce platform Pinduoduo enters high-end grocery delivery
Chinese social e-commerce platform Pinduoduo has injected an undisclosed amount of funding into high-end groceries platform Chongma Linli Group, local media Ebrun reports. The lesser-known Chongma Linli Group was established in 2012 by three community neighbors in Shanghai. The founders who are from affluent families set up their social commerce model in 2014 after selling fruit alongside their newly-purchased top-gear Tesla. The move increased community members’ trust in their products and attracted around 30 members per day to join their enterprise WeChat group. Chongma Linli’s current services include delivery of fruit, snacks, vegetables, dairy, homemade delicatessens, and other groceries from factories and farms to families. The business has also set up community pick-up stores to display products and enhance consumer experience and is targeting around 1mln families in Shanghai.
Source: technode.com
New Zealand: Countdown first supermarket chain to team up with UnionPay nationwide
Countdown’s 181 supermarkets throughout New Zealand can now accept UnionPay cards, the major payment method for Chinese tourists which are now accepted in 170 countries and regions across the globe. This collaboration sees Countdown become the first supermarket chain in New Zealand to accept UnionPay payment options (prepaid, debit and credit cards) as well as UnionPay QuickPass - UnionPay’s contactless payment service available with UnionPay chip cards, mobile phones and wearable devices.
Source: voxy.co.nz
Holland: Bol.com is again the biggest online store
Bol.com is, again, the biggest online store in the Netherlands. Just like in 2016 and 2017, there is no online retailer with a bigger revenue to be found in the Western European country. Last year, the Ahold subsidiary generated 1.22bln euros in online revenue. Bol.com was the absolute number one retailer in 2016 and again in 2017. Nothing has changed since then, expect for the fact that the company’s revenue increased from 950mln to 1.22bln euros. The top three is completed by omnichannel retailer Coolblue and German fashion retailer Zalando. The latter has changed places (again) with Dutch former post order company Wehkamp.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
UK: Southern Co-op celebrates local producers
Regional co-operative Southern Co-op is promoting products supplied by local producers during British Food Fortnight. Southern Co-op’s Local Flavours range was first launched in its Isle of Wight stores in 2007. The range is produced by 200 local suppliers within 13 Southern England counties. 196 of its local stores stock several local products, including seasonal fruit and vegetables, fish and meat, cheeses, chutney, bakery goods and beers.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Carrefour Italy introduces blockchain technology
Carrefour Italy will release its first product mapped with blockchain technology on 29 September 2018. The technology follows a series of initiatives in line with Carrefour Italy’s ‘Food Transition’ strategy. After previously announcing plans to use the technology, Carrefour Italy will release its first blockchain mapped product, the Carrefour Quality Filiera chicken, on 29 September 2018. Shoppers can scan the QR code to trace the chicken’s supply chain information. Carrefour Italy will be the first retailer in the country to introduce blockchain technology. The retailer hopes to extend the use of blockchain to its private label citrus fruits soon.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Holland: Spar set for automated distribution centre
Spar has announced plans for an automated site in the Netherlands. The move will increase the retailer’s ability to service its growing portfolio of stores in a more efficient way. It will also relieve pressure on the existing site in Waalwijk, which has been struggling to service growing demand. There are two key reasons for this. Firstly, an increase in volume generated by 130 Express store openings in Texaco forecourts. Secondly, the mix of products housed within the current site is different to what was originally envisioned - around 40% of demand should come from fresh products but in reality, it’s significantly more.
Source: supplychainanalysis.igd.com
US: Seasons kosher supermarket files for bankruptcy
Seasons, a New York-based grocery store chain, has filed for bankruptcy. With $42mln worth of debt, the retailer has $5mln in assets, but it owes millions of dollars to its vendors, landlords, and banks, according to the Commercial Observer. These findings, the news source explained, were communicated in a Chapter 11 filing obtained by the Nationwide Research Company. The news source relayed that the CEO Mayer Gold couldn’t be reached for comment, and Co-Owner Zvi Bloom directed calls to business management consultant Joel Getzler, who didn’t respond to inquiries.
Source: delimarketnews.com
US: Kroger celebrates one-year anniversary of Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
One year ago, The Kroger Co. announced the launch of Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, the company's bold social impact plan aimed at ending hunger in the communities it calls home and eliminating waste across the company by 2025. "It's amazing how much our incredibly dedicated Kroger team has been able to accomplish in our first year of Zero Hunger | Zero Waste," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste is designed to address a fundamental absurdity in the nation's food system: 40% of the food produced in the U.S. is thrown away, yet one in eight Americans struggles with hunger.
Source: markets.businessinsider.com
US: Sprouts makes Pennsylvania debut
Sprouts Farmers Market has expanded its U.S. footprint to 19 states with the opening of its first store in Pennsylvania. The Phoenix, Arizona-based fresh, natural and organic grocer opened a 32,000-square-foot store at Lincoln Square in South Philadelphia. As part of a ribbon-cutting event at the store, located at 1000 South Broad St., the first 200 shoppers received 20% off their total purchase, and every 15th customer is being given a Sprouts coupon book. All shoppers will receive a free reusable bag with a purchase.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Amazon will consider opening up to 3,000 cashierless stores by 2021
Amazon.com Inc. is considering a plan to open as many as 3,000 new AmazonGo cashierless stores in the next few years, according to people familiar with matter, an aggressive and costly expansion that would threaten convenience chains like 7-Eleven Inc., quick-service sandwich shops like Subway and Panera Bread, and mom-and-pop pizzerias and taco trucks. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos sees eliminating meal-time logjams in busy cities as the best way for Amazon to reinvent the brick-and-mortar shopping experience, where most spending still occurs. But he’s still experimenting with the best format: a convenience store that sells fresh prepared foods as well as a limited grocery selection similar to 7-Eleven franchises, or a place to simply pick up a quick bite to eat for people in a rush, similar to the U.K.-based chain Pret a Manger, one of the people said. An Amazon spokeswoman declined to comment.
Source: bloomberg.com
Walmart Canada launches sustainable grocery delivery
Walmart Canada has introduced a sustainable online grocery delivery option in metropolitan Vancouver through a partnership with Food-X Urban Delivery Inc. Food-X uses food waste reduction technology and practices and reduces truck trips and GHG emissions by consolidating orders and increasing delivery density. The Burnaby, British Columbia-based company also cuts down on plastic through the use of low-waste and compostable packaging. To use the service Walmart Vancouver shoppers order their groceries at Walmart.ca/grocery or via the Walmart app, pay by credit card and choose a delivery time window. Their order then will be delivered to their door in reusable totes by Food-X as soon as the next day.
Source: supermarketnews.com