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Friday, January 30, 2015

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Total export -6% in 2014, the Netherlands main buyer
Brazilian apple harvest in free fall
The Brazilian export of fresh fruit and vegetables was 6% down in 2014, compared to the previous year. In total almost 680,000 tonnes was exported, compared to 720,000 tonnes in 2013. The record year was in 2008, when 990,000 tonnes was exported.In 2013, globally, Brazil was the 22nd exporter of fresh fruit.....

Job Offers:

• Black Earth Farming, Potato Technical Manager - Russia

Conrad Rijnhout, Verdi Import:
"Grape market slightly more positive"
Last year Namibia and South Africa started on an empty grape market with sky high prices as a result. In mid December the market collapsed due to more than enough supply. Now the sales are going slightly better and there is some light at the end of the tunnel. "At the beginning of December the prices in the.....

Capespan acquisition to increase topfruit production
Capespan added two more assets to its portfolio with the acquisition of Novo pack house and Theewaterskloof Estate.Novo pack house is a state-of-the-art topfruit packing facility situated in Paarl in the Western Cape, strategically located to service topfruit farmers in the Ceres, Villiersdorp, Piketberg,.....

Alain Tulpin, Tulpin Group:
"Egyptian strawberry season increasingly short and concentrated"
The season of Egyptian strawberries is already almost over. What is striking is that the season is becoming shorter every year," says Alain Tulpin of the Tulpin Group, the fruit and vegetable company that mainly transports strawberries. He indicates that there are still some volumes of Egyptian strawberries.....

South African topfruit volumes back to normal
The South African topfruit season is running around two weeks earlier than normal this year. Central areas of Langkloof were affected by some hail, but the Ceres area which was badly hit last year is back to normal production this season.The industry estimate is a total apple export crop of 33.8m cartons,.....

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Israeli herb growers recovering from effects of cold
Cold weather has affected supplies of herbs out of Israel, but growers expect the ill effects from inclement weather to be resolved within two weeks.“There have been a lot of shortages of herbs in Israel because of the storm,” said Omer Kamp of Arava Growers. “In part, it was due to planning, but, mostly,.....

Cravo opens Demonstration and Education greenhouse
Cravo is pleased to announce the opening of our demonstration and education retractable roof greenhouse in Culiacan Mexico. This greenhouse is located at latitude 24 and is designed to combine the advantage of a greenhouse, a nethouse and the open field using automated retractable roofs.Sixty percent of the.....

Zeus Kiwi testing new green kiwifruit variety
The Greek company Zeus Kiwi, devoted to the production and distribution of kiwifruit (as well as grapes and plums), has identified four new green varieties which, according to General Manager Christina Manosis, “Have been selected for their superior taste, and which will be trialled in orchards this year......

Serbia and Russia partner against illegal import
EU extends sanctions Russia
The European ministers of Foreign Affairs have reached an agreement on extending the sanctions against Russia. There was some uncertainty on the Greek point of view beforehand, but in the end the Greek minister acceded. The government leaders still need to have their say on the agreement. Moldova, meanwhile,.....

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Prices expected to drop in the coming weeks
Good weather boosts courgette production volumes
So far in 2015, courgettes have been trading at very high prices of over 3 Euro per kilo. This has been due, in part, to the significant shortages caused by the bad weather and low temperatures registered until recently in Almeria. Furthermore, we also have to take into account Italy's low productivity,.....

Ecuadorian broccoli export to Russia increases
"At the moment we are increasing our shipments to Russia. Broccoli nowadays has almost become a commodity and, frankly, it is not expensive, there will always be strong demand for our product," affirms Xavier Hervás, who heads the IQF (instant quick freeze) department of Nova Alimentos, which exports from.....

North America

US(RI): Specialty Mushrooms on the rise
The RI Mushroom Company cultivates exotic mushrooms for restaurants and consumers in Rhode Island and further north. RI Mushroom grows several varieties or mushrooms, like blue oyster, crimini, golden oyster, king oyster, maitake, portobello and pioppino.“I started growing them at Sweet Berry Farm, almost as.....

US(IN): Could cherries be next big thing?
Greg Lang, horticulture professor at Michigan State University, has been researching how to grow sweet cherries in Michigan for years. He shared his insight at the Indiana Horticultural Congress and Trade Show.“There are big market opportunities for small-scale cherry productions,” Lang said. “There are all.....

US(FL): Halfway through grapefruit season
“We’re just past the halfway mark on this 2014-15 Florida season, and the grapefruit has sized up nicely and at its peak flavor now,” said Mark Hanks, vice president of sales and marketing, North America, for DNE World Fruit Sales, headquartered in Fort Pierce, FL. “It’s a great way to kick off National.....

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Ontario specialist receives Golden Apple Award
Leslie Huffman is the 2014 recipient of the Chemtura Golden Apple Award. Huffman is the Apple Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The award was presented at the annual banquet of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association in Niagara Falls on January.....

Ambrosia™ apples go Hollywood
With the countdown to the 87th Annual Oscars® in full swing, Hollywood’s biggest night beckons with the allure of the red carpet, golden statues and glamourous celebrities mixing it up with the evening’s nominees. But for those Oscar hopefuls who don’t win the major Academy Awards categories of Best.....

Avocado sales have soared in N. America
On Feb. 1, with an estimated 184 million people watching in the U.S., the industry group Avocados From Mexico will air a Super Bowl ad. It seems that it will be the first commercial for produce in the history of the annual advertising bonanza. These spots cost $4.5 million for 30 seconds of airtime. The.....

Asian food trends with Chinese New Year promotions
Authentic Asian flavors are among the top food trends of 2015, and there’s no better time to introduce Asian specialties to shoppers and diners than during the Chinese New Year celebration.The Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year) begins on February 19 and ends on March 5. During this 15-day celebration to.....

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Eimskip to bring
 more cargo ships to Portland
Icelandic steamship line Eimskip has changed its routes to allow for more frequent container shipments between Europe and Portland, and to provide direct service across the Atlantic without having to transfer containers in Iceland – important steps for boosting its business in North America.The change, which.....

Juicing trend still going strong in 2015
A year ago, tendistas were snuggling up to juice bars all over L.A. to cleanse, reset, detox and glow a little. Today, things are only busier in the world of juice, and I don't mean Minute Maid. Juicing just won't go away."The concept has settled into being just part of a healthy life, rather than a thing,".....

Central America

Apatzingan Valley
Mexico: Lemon prices at origin up 28.57%
Lemon prices at origin in the Valley of Apatzingan, Mexico, recorded a 28.57% growth; a sign that the fruit's cost in the domestic markets is recovering, which will allow local growers to make some profits after weeks of consumer prices below eight pesos, said Sergio Ramírez Castañeda, President of Sistema.....

Mexico: Raspberry exports to China kick off
Mexico has started exporting raspberries and blackberries to China with a 6 tonne shipment of fruit harvested in Jalisco and Michoacan. This is the result of agreements between the governments of Mexico and China, which open a new stage in food trade relationships between both nations.Jalisco and Michoacan.....

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Avocados from Mexico to have multimillion Super Bowl spot
The TV channel NBC stated that 15 brands will debut in the unprecedented meeting between the Seahawks and the New England Patriots on Sunday.The Super Bowl is the most anticipated Sunday for many Americans, and now also for Michoacan avocado producers.Avocados from Mexico (AFM) will be one of the trademarks.....

Tom Vilsack:
'Cuba trade could grow by hundreds of millions'
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack predicts U.S. trade with Cuba could rebound from its current $300 million to close to $500 million with Florida among the states capitalizing the most.But to move to the next level, Vilsack urged Congress to go beyond the loosened trade restrictions recently ordered.....

South America

Lower prices for Chilean Sweet Cherries in China/HK
While in Chile the last volumes of sweet cherries are being shipped, in China the markets are in full swing. The Shipments from Chile this campaign reached unprecedented volumes and it is expected to close the season with a total volume of 100.000 tons. Also, during 2014/15 the China/HK market gained more.....

128,000 tonnes of fruit to 40 countries
Uruguay: Fruit exports up 20% in 2014
Demand for Uruguayan fresh fruit is on the rise in the international market and this is reflected in last year's export figures. In 2014, Uruguay exported 128,000 tonnes of fruit to 40 countries, with a value that exceeded US$ 115 million, 20% more than in the previous year.Fruit shipments are also.....

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Brazil approaches Belgium and speeds up EU-Mercosur negotiations
Brazilian authorities presented their case before the Belgian ambassador to Brazil and are looking to accelerate the negotiations between the EU and Mercosur.Armando MonteiroThe meeting between Brazil’s Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Armando Monteiro, and the Belgian Ambassador to.....

Asia

Will Japanese high-tech save Vietnamese agriculture?
Japanese entrepreneurs have been progressively moving into agriculture ventures with Vietnamese farmers in the high-profit niche markets, capitalizing on the trend in consumer demand for organic and technologically altered foods.Japan once notorious for its high tech electronics industry has been.....

Meeting the UAE’s premier organic farmers
Growing your own fruit and vegetables on the edge of the desert might seem like a daunting prospect, but it can also be a deeply satisfying one. A growing number of UAE gardeners are doing just that – cultivating a wide variety of fresh organic produce in back gardens, and on terraces and balconies.I’m at.....

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S.Korea: Carrots discarded to stabilize prices
The Gujwa-eup Office in Jeju is discarding 4,000 tons of carrots farmed at 100 local farms, totaling 100 ha, in order to stabilize souring carrot prices resulting from overproduction.The carrot farmers will be financially supported for discarding their harvests, and are expected to be compensated 1 million.....

Armenia’s potato trade:
Import from Holland, export to Georgia
Over the last two years, Armenia’s potato exports have risen considerably.According to figures provided by the National Statistical Service, 2013 saw the largest amount of potato exports since 2007. That year the country exported 23,500 tons of spuds at a value of US$6.6 million.Figures for 2014 haven’t.....

Sampling Fukushima delicacies to promote exports
Ambassadors of four Commonwealth nations tucked into rice balls and other tasty morsels from Fukushima at an event in Tokyo to show support for food from the disaster-stricken prefecture.The Jan. 27 event was organized by the farm ministry to raise attention to efforts to resuscitate the local economy and.....

UAE: 16% of fruit and veg domestically produced
The results of a survey carried out by the Farmers' Services Centre in Abu Dhabi have revealed that the United Arab Emirate's fruit and vegetable market size currently stands at about 1.05 million tonnes with a total value of up to 2.4 billion dirhams (575.5 million Euro), with local produce estimated to.....

Lebanon: Market rehabilitation successful
The once embattled Souq al-Khoudar market in Bab al-Tabbaneh reclaimed its bustle Sunday, after rehabilitation efforts revived the stores and infrastructure destroyed by the latest rounds of clashes in the northern city.A month ago, the Tripoli market was a tattered narrow strip. The walls were punctuated.....

Europe

Cabbage market hits new low
The cabbage market is facing heavy weather, according to grower Christof Callewaert, located near Roeselare. He indicates there were few upswings this season. "The second week of January, there was a brief revival, and the price bounced back a bit. But that's over already. It's not at all spectacular now."He.....

Tomato grafting:
Young plant business trends “to shape the future”
On January 28 and 29, Syngenta held the International Tomato Grafting Conference in Almeria, Spain to discuss the development vision for a profitable tomato business in terms of technology, infrastructures and hygiene. The conference was focused on the combinations between rootstocks and scions to optimize.....

Mercadona to market 16,000 tons of Huelva strawberries
With the aim of promoting fresh Spanish products, Mercadona will offer strawberries from Huelva in its supermarkets until May. The company has purchased 500,000 kilos of strawberries since the beginning of December, when the campaign began, from their suppliers from Huelva: Uniland, Sat Las Palmeritas, Cuna.....

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Spanish blackberries gaining presence in Europe
Around twenty years ago, when a boom in the planting of strawberries was taking place in the province of Huelva, a few growers decided to produce blackberries, which are still relatively unknown in the market compared to strawberries, blueberries or raspberries.While most who tried their luck with.....

Murcia, leading producer of table grape
After overtaking Almeria and Alicante and having taken most of the market in recent years, the producers of seedless table grapes from the Region of Murcia, which used to have 2,000 productive hectares and currently have 6,000 hectares, have become the leading producers of table grapes in Spain. The region.....

Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, UAE, U.S. and South Africa, the most important
Spanish lemon shipments to non-EU destinations up 70%
Spanish lemon shipments to non-EU destinations are growing significantly this year, by about 70%, according to data supplied by the Interprofessional Lemon and Grapefruit Association (Ailimpo).Up to 31 December 2014, lemon shipments to Saudi Arabia increased by 4,884% (942,372 kg); those to Hong Kong grew by.....

Tony Derwael: "New harvest will be much smaller"
Hope for the apple market
After a difficult period, the apple market seems to be moving again. "There's been a bit more action the last few weeks, and I expect it to improve a more," Tony Derwael of Bel'Export thinks. "Domestically it's going okay, with 10 to 20% more being sold than last year. But we can't deal with this amount.....

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Marni Fruit warns of dubious debtor: Nartek
Marni Fruit wants to warn people about a dubious debtor in London (UK). It concerns the firm NARTEKCompany details: Nartek 5C Picketts Lock LaneEdmonton, London N9 0ASUnited KingdomName of buyer: Selcuk KandemirDeliveries are claimed weeks after delivery and credit notes are made. Despite many promises of.....

Schiavone Group
Italy: "End of season table grape prices rose"
"The season started well for grapes, as quality was good and prices were in line with previous years. Then the situation changed as quality hindered exports and affected prices," explains Schiavone Group."The Russian ban was also a problem, especially since many exporters counted on that share of the market......

Supermarket wars, oversupply hurts UK spuds
Sellers mashed shares of Produce Investments after the Doddington-based potato supplier warned that profits would fall ‘substantially below’ market expectations, hit by the damaging knock-on effects of the raging UK supermarket price wars. They were sold down to 134 1|4p before closing 28 1|2p or 17 per cent.....

helping hand loyal group of growers
Konaxx Onions starts up again
Early January, manager Tjerk Nagel announced that Konaxx Onions would immediately halt its activities. A loyal group of growers and suppliers who were willing to lend a helping hand, have turned this situation around. "We are very happy that we're able to return like this, in a somewhat downsized form,".....

Russia opens border to Dutch and German seedlings
After the Russian phytosanitary service announced that the borders would open up for Finnish seedlings earlier this months, export of seed potatoes from the Netherlands and Germany is now also allowed. The inspection service examined samples of the seedlings in December of last year, but found no objections......

Aweta
Italy: New sensors for graders and sorters
"Nature puts so much effortinto creating each single fruit, that we at Aweta must do the same!" Says Jean-Luc Delcassé Managing Director Aweta Group - "We focus on the external and internal selection of ourPOWER VISION 3D-HS and Inscan IQA sensors: these new technologies enable us to ensurea.....

FME revamps all international packaging
Fresh Mushroom Europe (FME) successfully introduced a completely new range of mushrooms on the Dutch retail market in September 2014.At Fruit Logistica 2015, this range will be presented in new international packaging. In addition to the well-known white mushrooms, the other mushrooms are discovered and used.....

Baustok UG, Frankfurt
"The Alphonso mango is a new and interesting variation."
On January 20, 2015 the European Commission lifted the import ban on Indian Alphonso mango into the European Union. The exotic fruit was not allowed to be imported into the EU last year due phytosanitary reasons. Kartik Tagaré director of Baustok UG (Biothal), an import company from Hamburg, does have very.....

Official Journal of the EU
France must return 1,450 million euro for fraud and errors
The European Commission stated that France had to return a total of 1,450 million Euro that it received between 2008 and 2012 in agricultural aid because of fraud and errors.The amount represents 2 percent of the 40,000 million Euro that France received in this period under the Common Agricultural Policy.....

Interview with Minister Martina
How Italy can strengthen extra-EU exports
FreshPlaza has spoken to the Minister for Agricultural Policy Maurizio Martina prior to the Fruit Logistica in Berlin.FreshPlaza (FP) - We are among the first producer countries in Europe, though we presented less applications for the EU funds made available after the Russian ban than others. Is this a.....

Over 415,000 visitors at 'Grüne Woche' (Green Week)
This year the Grüne Woche (Green Week) has attracted, yet again, even more visitors. More than 415,000 visitors attended the world's largest agricultural fair, said spokesman Wolfgang Rogall last Sunday in Berlin.Visitors also bought and ordered slightly more than last year, and spent, on average, 117 Euro.....

Portugal aims to double fruit, veg export
Portugal aims to double its exports of fruits and vegetables by 2020, President of Association Portugal Fresh Manuel Evora said on Thursday, according to Portuguese Lusa News Agency.Over 40 national producers will showcase what they have to offer from next Wednesday in Berlin, Germany, at Fruit Logistica......

Oceania

Aussie Eggplant harvest bounces back from ‘difficult’ December
New customers choosing to buy from the glasshouse eggplant segment has meant major expansion and a return to a decent market price, according to reports from growers. “As expected our sales price was lower than last year, however we have experienced many new customers entering the glasshouse eggplant segment.....

HIA project yields strong results for apple growers
Achieving a 35 per cent increase in his apple yields is just one of the outcomes of a Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) funded project, which grower Robert Green says attributed to his recent recognition as ABC Rural Australian Farmer of the Year.Mr Green is part of a select group of growers.....

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AU: Teams work to wipe out banana virus
Banana Freckle Virus has crippled crops across the Northern Territory and teams are working around the clock to eradicate it before it spreads further. The disease significantly reduces the growth of leaves and bunches of fruit on trees, as well as impacting appearance. The only way to stop the virus is to.....

Africa

Nigeria: Incentives boost tomato business
Tomato farmers in Kano State may soon overcome the uncertainties surrounding their business as Dansa Foods, a branch of Dangote Group, commences operation.This was disclosed yesterday when the team of the Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZ) from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,.....

Moroccan tomatoes increasing in Europe
Moroccan agricultural exports to the European market have been on the rise in recent years, with tomatoes having pushed Spanish produce from the French market. That is the conclusion reached by a report prepared by the Spanish Federation of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables.According to the.....

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Egypt: Agro Alex Group launches new packing station
Last year, the Egyptian company Agro Alex Group Co., devoted to the production and export of premium fresh fruit and vegetables, started the construction of a new packing station for the processing and packing of citrus fruits. “Work at the new station just started this season. We have imported the sorting.....

Gambia’s financial woes not contagious
Times are tough in Africa. Ebola, in addition to claiming many lives, has also damaged economies. Tourism is suffering as frightened foreigners stay away. Falling commodity prices are also taking a toll. Investors are pulling money out of riskier spots, prompted by the prospect of rising interest rates in.....

Egyptian agricultural exports to EU and Arab countries
An official report issued by the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine, of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, has revealed the country's agricultural exports to European and Gulf countries so far this year.The list includes a total of 9,123 tonnes of potatoes (guaranteed to be free of brown.....

World

Hall 4.1 / D 08
Koppert Machines Multi Packager Fruit Logistica
New in the Koppert Machines' assortment is the Koppert Multi Packager. This machine is mainly built from stainless steel and foreseen of the latest types of controls and electronics. This has resulted in a sustainable and food safe machine, which needs little maintenance and is very easy to clean.The new.....

Hall 4.2, Stand C-09
Italy: Sipo makes its debut at Fruit Logistica
"This is the first time we will take part in Fruit Logistica, and it is a direct consequence of the internationalisation policy we developed two years ago," explains Massimiliano Ceccarini, general manager for the Sipo Group.The policy was complemented by the establishment of Flavour Valley, a company.....

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How to extend shipping distance, maintain quality during transport
People around the globe expect fresh goods at stores and restaurants to be of the same quality and appearance as at the moment of harvest. To meet this demand, global exporters want the most advanced options available so they can deliver perishable products from their origin to the most distant locations.....

Article boosts ‘baby’ Bananas
The produce industry is starting 2015 with a big bang in the form of an article about exotic bananas published by the Wall Street Journal.“Is the Time Right for Baby Bananas?” by Barry Newman follows the trail of the small bananas from test to staple at a Key Food store in Brooklyn. The article posted to the.....

Retail

Lidl to expand Austrian locations
Discounter Lidl wants to modernize all their Austrian branches by the end of 2016, with the cost of the project expected to hit the hundreds of millions mark, reports the 'Tiroler Tageszeitung' on their website. Lidl opened their first branch in Austria in 1998. Now there are 203 stores in the country.....

Germans now have more confidence in thier food
German consumer confidence, in the food available in Germany, has noticeably increased, reports the German website Proplanta.de. Researchers from TNS Infratest came to this conclusion on behalf of 'Die Lebensmittelwirtschaft' (The Food Industry).Compared with last year, the index value rose seven points,.....

Morrisons chairman:
'Accountants winning' supermarket war
New Morrisons chairman, Andrew Higginson, believes the accountants are winning in the supermarket price war, at the expense of innovation and honesty with customers. Speaking at the Advertising Association’s Lead conference in London yesterday, Higginson said the ongoing battle over driving shareholder value.....

Kroger recognized by EPA
The Kroger Co. this week was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its leadership, innovation and education efforts to feed hungry people, protect the environment, and save money through food recovery.A participant in the EPA's Food Recovery Challenge, Kroger was named winner in.....

AU: Online grocery website promises half-price groceries
At 32, Ruslan Kogan is going head to head with Coles and Woolworths, promising his new online grocery website will halve people's weekly grocery bills.Cutting the middle man has always been Kogan's strategy to keep prices down, together with keeping his fixed costs low by only selling online. He is certain.....

Spotlight on new consumers
From curation to beacons, retailers need to explore new ways of connecting with radically changing shopper bases, according to speakers during the final sessions at FMI's 2015 Midwinter Executive Conference in Miami Beach.Anthony Flynn, business author and CEO of YouBar, said customization, curation and.....

Innovative retailers eyed as future winners
Sweeping changes in technology and competitive sets haven't changed one rule of retail: Those companies that innovate and make shopping fun will have a big edge."Great retailers travel the world and see what works," said Burt Flickinger, managing director, Strategic Resource Group, who was part of a panel.....

Comercial Mexicana to sell 160 stores to Soriana
Mexican supermarket chain Comercial Mexicana has agreed to sell most of its stores to its rival Soriana for 39.19 billion pesos ($2.66 billion), the two companies said on Wednesday.Comercial Mexicana, known locally as Comerci, said the sale of 160 stores, including the low-price Mega and Bodega Comercial.....

Natural Grocers posts Q1 sales, earnings gains
Increased consumer demand for healthy foods helped to drive quarterly sales sales and earnings gains for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, the Lakewood, Colo.-based retailer said Thursday.Sales increased 21% to $145.9 million in the first quarter, which ended Dec. 31. Net earnings improved 22% to $3.6.....

Lenta to scale back openings
Lenta Ltd., the Russian hypermarket operator backed by U.S. fund TPG Capital, will consider scaling back store-opening plans to counter a faltering economy after the company led growth by the country’s publicly traded retailers in 2014.Lenta boosted sales 35 percent last year to 194 billion rubles ($2.82.....

Système U and Auchan tighten alliance
An exclusive report in LSA shows that the agreement signed between Système U and Auchan in September 2014 is evolving and strengthening at a considerable pace.The latter has proposed that 70 Système U hypermarkets (Super U stores) be rebranded as Hyper U outlets, which, it hopes, will bear the Auchan logo......

FreshPlaza Funny

I didn't do anything.....