Latin America: Cencosud sees improved second half
Chile-based Cencosud, which operates supermarkets and department stores throughout Latin America, said an improving economic climate in Chile and Peru and easier comparatives for Argentina led it to expect a stronger performance in the second half of 2017. In the second quarter, Cencosud reported net profit of 23 billion Chilean pesos ($36 million), below a Reuters forecast for 36 billion, and said a weaker Argentine peso had hurt its results. (Reuters)Amazon lowers Whole-Foods fruit and veg prices
Amazon.com Inc said it will cut prices on a range of popular goods, including fresh produce as it completes its acquisition of Whole Foods Market, sending shares of rival grocers tumbling on fears that brutal market share battles will intensify. Amazon said that starting on Monday it will cut prices on organic grocery staples such as bananas, avocados, baby kale, lettuce and some apples. (Reuters)Hannaford carrying NYS Grown & Certified Farms’ items
Hannaford Supermarkets is offering local products from farms participating in the New York State Grown & Certified program. The Ahold Delhaize banner is the first grocer in the state’s Capital Region to feature products grown and produced by New York farms that have been certified as using safe food-handling best practices and demonstrating environmental stewardship. (progressivegrocer.com) 
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Former Lidl boss to become new CEO of Aldi Danmark
The former CEO of Lidl's Danish operations, Finn Tang, is set to become the new CEO of rival discount retailer Aldi Danmark, according to Dansk Handelsblad. Tang held the top position at supermarket chain Lidl until 2016, and will now start in his new role on 1 September. "As Aldi's competitor for 10 years, I can only say that I have always been very respectful of Aldi as the grocery chain that sets the price level for everyone else, and I am very proud to have been given this opportunity," said Tang. (esmmagazine.com) 
British supermarket group Tesco and wholesaler Booker have rejected suggestions their planned 3.7 billion pound tie-up will hurt suppliers, saying they should benefit from growth and lower costs as a result of the deal. “We believe that suppliers will support the proposed merger – and the opportunities it brings for them, in terms of growth and additional revenue and/or in terms of efficiency and reduced cost,” Tesco Chief Executive Dave Lewis and Booker counterpart Charles Wilson said in a joint letter to the CMA’s merger inquiry group. (Reuters)Dagrofa invests €7mln to expand Spar network in Denmark
Danish retail group Dagrofa has announced that it is investing DKK 50 million (€6.7 million) to expand its network of Spar stores in Denmark. The group plans to open 25 new outlets, with a focus on growing connections with local suppliers and communities. (esmmagazine.com)
Danish retail group Dagrofa has announced that it is investing DKK 50 million (€6.7 million) to expand its network of Spar stores in Denmark. The group plans to open 25 new outlets, with a focus on growing connections with local suppliers and communities. (esmmagazine.com) Poland’s Eurocash seeks to buy rival Mila
Polish retail group Eurocash has signed a letter of intent to acquire a 100% stake in supermarket chain Mila, according to reports by Wiadomości Handlowe. Mila's owners - Argus Retail Holding, Elbrus Investment fund, Robert Kasner, Robert Zaleski, and Stanislaw Sosnowski – have given Eurocash an exclusive right to close the transaction until 8 September. This means that the seller will not conduct any dealings with entities other than Eurocash during the exclusivity period. (esmmagazine.com)