Independent grocers turned around a two-year decline in profits in 2015 thanks to higher sales and better margins, according to NGA’s annual Independent Grocers Financial Survey, released Wednesday. “A stronger 2015 once again proves the resilience of the independent grocer,” Robert Graybill, president and CEO of FMS Solutions Holdings LLC, which conducted the study with NGA, said in a release announcing the results. “In what are still uncertain economic times, independents managed to improve upon many financial indicators over 2014. While grocers in the Northeast continued to struggle after last year’s supplier turmoil, this year’s survey shows that they are headed in the right direction and are poised to continue to improve.” The study polled independent supermarket operators in 38 states and four Canadian provinces about their financial performance and business strategies. (supermarketnews.com)Walmart's Mexico unit selling chain for about $852 million
Walmart Stores Inc's Mexican unit said on Wednesday it has agreed to sell its Suburbia clothing chain to El Puerto De Liverpool for about $852 million as the world's largest retailer streamlines operations in its largest non-U.S. market. (Reuters)
China's Sun Art to invest 1 billion yuan in e-commerce development
Hypermarket operator Sun Art Retail Group Ltd said on Thursday it plans to invest 1 billion yuan (US$150.6 million) in e-commerce development over the next two years. Executive director Peter Huang, speaking at an earnings briefing, also said he expects the company's e-commerce business to break even in 2020-2021. Sun Art, which competes with China Resources and Walmart Stores Inc on the mainland, posted a 2.7 percent decline in first-half profit as it faced intense competition from fast growing e-commerce platforms. (Reuters)Spain: El Corte Inglés plans disinvestment to help reduce debt
Among the assets to be sold, some of the highlights are the company's logistic centres in Bisbal Del Penedès (Tarragona) and in Madrid. El Grupo Inglés hopes that this disinvestment helps them reduce their debt, without the need to sell more non-strategic assets in the future. (esmmagazine.com / expansion.com)AU: Coles to take on 7-Eleven with new-look stores
Three new small-form Coles stores will open this year, as the supermarket giant looks to expand into the convenience sector. The stores, branded as ‘Big Yum at Little Coles’ and opening across Melbourne, will put Coles in direct competition with 7-Eleven. Healthier food options will be the focus of the Big Yum stores, with the product range including fruit, wraps, sushi, and sandwiches. (thenewdaily.com.au)US: Whole Foods installs greenest cooling system
Whole foods has installed a new refrigeration system in one of its stores. The system at Whole Foods Market Santa Clara is the most environmentally advanced in the US, the retailer says in a press release. Ahold Delhaize wants suppliers to pay integration bonus
Ahold Delhaize is having talks with its major name brand suppliers about an integration bonus and new purchase conditions that would work retroactively. Ahold Delhaize wants to enforce an "integrations bonus" into its international suppliers, for example. The merger company also wants to negotiate new purchase conditions and wants those to work retroactively, back to 1 January 2016. Please, click here to read more at retaildetail.eu. CA: Walmart opens new prototype store - features locally-grown products
Walmart Canada has cut the ribbon on its newest Walmart Supercentre, as well as the innovative layout the company plans to use as a sort of prototype for its future stores. Guelph Today reported that one of the most noticeable additions was a large grocery section, displaying many Ontario-grown products. (andnowuknow.com)Philippines: Gaisano group posts 24% H1 profit hike
Gaisano-led Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI), the largest retailer in the Visayas, booked a 24 percent year-on-year growth in net profit to P262 million on higher earnings from its expanding store network. For the six months ended June, net sales rose by 8 percent year-on-year to P15.91 billion, largely due to the increase in sales as a result of opening a new store during the second half of 2015 and three new stores in 2016. Same store sales grew by 5 percent. The six-month performance was fueled by the 14.7 percent growth of the hypermarket segment. (business.inquirer.net) Sprouts confirms Florida expansion
Sprouts Farmers Market has finally confirmed its plans to expand in the Sunshine State. The Phoenix-based grocer (Nasdaq: SFM) in a regulatory filing Tuesday listed Florida as a "mid-term expansion market," along with Carolinas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. Sprouts has been rumored for several years to be entering Florida. At least three locations in Tampa Bay are in the works, in Valrico, Palm Harbor and South Tampa. (bizjournals.com) 
