Ireland: SuperValu made record sales of €2.67bn in 2016
SuperValu has announced plans to open three new stores this year, which the grocery retailer said would create 190 jobs. The new stores are part of a €35m investment, which is also aimed at revamping existing stores. The company also revealed today it recorded retail sales of €2.67bn last year, representing an annual rise of 2.4%. (rte.ie)
Aldi joins BEPI to improve sustainable supply chain
The Aldi North and Aldi South groups have joined the Business Environmental Performance Initiative (BEPI) to increase the sustainability of their supply chains. The move comes as the companies' bid to step up their efforts to reduce the chemical impact of their global supply chains’ operations. BEPI is an initiative by the Foreign Trade Association (FTA). (fibre2fashion.com)
SuperValu has announced plans to open three new stores this year, which the grocery retailer said would create 190 jobs. The new stores are part of a €35m investment, which is also aimed at revamping existing stores. The company also revealed today it recorded retail sales of €2.67bn last year, representing an annual rise of 2.4%. (rte.ie) Aldi joins BEPI to improve sustainable supply chain
The Aldi North and Aldi South groups have joined the Business Environmental Performance Initiative (BEPI) to increase the sustainability of their supply chains. The move comes as the companies' bid to step up their efforts to reduce the chemical impact of their global supply chains’ operations. BEPI is an initiative by the Foreign Trade Association (FTA). (fibre2fashion.com) 
Britain's biggest retailer, Tesco, is replacing 1,700 deputy managers at its "Express" convenience stores with lower paid "shift leaders" in a restructuring of the business, it said on Monday. The supermarket group, which agreed a 3.7bn pound ($4.6bn) merger with wholesaler Booker last month, said it would abolish deputy manager positions at its 1,800 Express stores and instead create 3,300 shift leader roles. It said the changes would result in a net increase of about 1,500 positions, increasing the number of staff serving customers on the shop floor. (Reuters) UK: Lidl opens new ‘Loft’ concept store in Calais
Lidl France has unveiled a new store concept, dubbed ‘Loft’, in Calais, which is positioned as a testing ground for new concepts. The store, which is located on Avenue de Saint-Éxupéry, mid-way between Calais and Marck, offers wider aisles and more than 1,600 products. (esmmagazine.com) US: Sprouts Farmers Market beats Wall Street’s expectations
Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) reported a 6% YoY (year-over-year) rise in its sales to $986 million in 4Q16, $11 million higher than analysts’ expectations. The company witnessed another slowdown in its same-store sales during the quarter. Its sales comps rose 0.7% in 4Q16, compared to average comps growth of 9% between 2013 and 2015. Nevertheless, 4Q16 was SFM’s 39th consecutive quarter of positive sales comps. (marketrealist.com) Facebook, Amazon, 7-Eleven ranked most 'Mobile-Ready'
Convenience store retailer 7-Eleven is the most “mobile-ready” brand that isn’t inherently a digital media product, according to a new index, ranking thousands of brands worldwide based on their mobile “readiness.” (mediapost.com)
Spar Austria sees gross sales rise 5.3% in full year
Spar Austria has posted a gross sales turnover of €6.42 billion in full year 2016, an increase of 5.3% on the previous financial year. The group attributed the growth to the acquisition and integration of 28 sites in the eastern part of Austria, as well as 'strong capital expansion and modernisation'. Spar Austria also operates in neighbouring countries Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. Together, these markets achieved a total turnover of €4.86 billion, growth of 3.4% year-on-year. (esmmagazine.com)
Food sales soar for Korean supermarket chains
Major South Korean retailers saw their sales soar in January from a year earlier, driven by convenience stores and supermarket chains, government data shows. Sales by convenience stores surged 15.5% year-on-year, followed by those of supermarkets with an 11.3% gain. Food sales by supermarket chains also helped boost growth with an 18.5% gain. (insideretail.asia)
US: Food Lion to remodel 93 stores
Food Lion has announced the company will remodel 93 stores in the greater Greensboro, N.C., market in 2017. In an effort to make shopping easier and more affordable for its customers, the company will make a $178 million investment in its stores. (finance.yahoo.com)
Norwegian supermarket chain wants to have at least 400 stores in Denmark
Norwegian supermarket Rema 1000 has today announced plans to open over 100 more in the foreseeable future, with an aim to hit the 400 mark. Henrik Burkal, the operating director at Rema 1000, said the company has the money to expand, but plans to take it slowly. (cphpost.dk)
New Zealand: Supermarkets restock bananas
Bananas are back on the shelf after a short supply scare. A delayed ship from Ecuador has affected Foodstuffs supermarkets this week - Pak 'n Save and New World - with a lower than normal amount of bananas available. (stuff.co.nz)
Spar Austria sees gross sales rise 5.3% in full year
Spar Austria has posted a gross sales turnover of €6.42 billion in full year 2016, an increase of 5.3% on the previous financial year. The group attributed the growth to the acquisition and integration of 28 sites in the eastern part of Austria, as well as 'strong capital expansion and modernisation'. Spar Austria also operates in neighbouring countries Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. Together, these markets achieved a total turnover of €4.86 billion, growth of 3.4% year-on-year. (esmmagazine.com) Food sales soar for Korean supermarket chains
Major South Korean retailers saw their sales soar in January from a year earlier, driven by convenience stores and supermarket chains, government data shows. Sales by convenience stores surged 15.5% year-on-year, followed by those of supermarkets with an 11.3% gain. Food sales by supermarket chains also helped boost growth with an 18.5% gain. (insideretail.asia)US: Food Lion to remodel 93 stores
Food Lion has announced the company will remodel 93 stores in the greater Greensboro, N.C., market in 2017. In an effort to make shopping easier and more affordable for its customers, the company will make a $178 million investment in its stores. (finance.yahoo.com) Norwegian supermarket chain wants to have at least 400 stores in Denmark
Norwegian supermarket Rema 1000 has today announced plans to open over 100 more in the foreseeable future, with an aim to hit the 400 mark. Henrik Burkal, the operating director at Rema 1000, said the company has the money to expand, but plans to take it slowly. (cphpost.dk) New Zealand: Supermarkets restock bananas
Bananas are back on the shelf after a short supply scare. A delayed ship from Ecuador has affected Foodstuffs supermarkets this week - Pak 'n Save and New World - with a lower than normal amount of bananas available. (stuff.co.nz)