Carrefour's new boss may close hypermarket stores in France: union
UK: Ocado sees strong growth
British online grocer Ocado said on Tuesday it was growing sales at a rate ahead of the industry average and saw a slight acceleration in its latest quarter. Ocado said retail sales rose 13.1% to 312.7m pounds ($423.4m) in the 13 weeks to August 27, its fiscal third quarter. They were up 12.5% in its first half. Average orders per week increased 16.0% to 254,000, more than offsetting a 1.2% fall in average order size to 106.25 pounds. (Reuters)Poland’s Eurocash takes over Mila S.A.
Polish wholesaler Eurocash has announced the takeover of Mila S.A., owner of a network of 188 stores located mainly in central Poland. The group said that the purchase of Mila is part of its strategy to build a ‘nationwide supermarket chain based both on cooperation with franchise partners and running own stores’, which in turn will assist with the development of its supply chain in new regions of Poland. (esmmagazine.com)
UK: Co-op to invest in young farmers
The Co-op has beefed up its British farming investment programme with a blueprint to give young farmers the business skills they need to accelerate their agricultural careers. The extension of the retailer’s “Farming Pioneers” programme, which launched in 2016 and was initially intended to run for two years, will mean that by 2019 over 100 young farmers will have embarked upon the course.
Lidl opens first mini grocery shop
'Lidl Slovenija has presented its first mobile shop or 'pop-up store' concept during the MOS International Trade Fair taking place in Celje, in the north east of the country. The store at the MOS is much smaller than the usual Lidl supermarket, as the retail space is only about 94 square metres. The offer includes 122 products and includes fruit and vegetables. (esmmagazine.com)
Large African supermarket accepts Bitcoins
The second largest supermarket chain store in South Africa, Pick n Pay, recently started testing Bitcoin payments at its stores. The South African based Pick n Pay stated that they are excited to offer the Bitcoin payment option: "As a result of this groundbreaking innovation project, for a limited time, customers at Pick n Pay’s campus store have been able to use the Bitcoin cryptocurrency to purchase groceries and services." Pick n Pay doesn’t yet have a definite date for full Bitcoin integration for its stores. (bitcoinist.com)
Polish wholesaler Eurocash has announced the takeover of Mila S.A., owner of a network of 188 stores located mainly in central Poland. The group said that the purchase of Mila is part of its strategy to build a ‘nationwide supermarket chain based both on cooperation with franchise partners and running own stores’, which in turn will assist with the development of its supply chain in new regions of Poland. (esmmagazine.com)UK: Co-op to invest in young farmers
The Co-op has beefed up its British farming investment programme with a blueprint to give young farmers the business skills they need to accelerate their agricultural careers. The extension of the retailer’s “Farming Pioneers” programme, which launched in 2016 and was initially intended to run for two years, will mean that by 2019 over 100 young farmers will have embarked upon the course. Lidl opens first mini grocery shop
'Lidl Slovenija has presented its first mobile shop or 'pop-up store' concept during the MOS International Trade Fair taking place in Celje, in the north east of the country. The store at the MOS is much smaller than the usual Lidl supermarket, as the retail space is only about 94 square metres. The offer includes 122 products and includes fruit and vegetables. (esmmagazine.com) Large African supermarket accepts Bitcoins
The second largest supermarket chain store in South Africa, Pick n Pay, recently started testing Bitcoin payments at its stores. The South African based Pick n Pay stated that they are excited to offer the Bitcoin payment option: "As a result of this groundbreaking innovation project, for a limited time, customers at Pick n Pay’s campus store have been able to use the Bitcoin cryptocurrency to purchase groceries and services." Pick n Pay doesn’t yet have a definite date for full Bitcoin integration for its stores. (bitcoinist.com)Russia: X5, Rosneft explore Pyaterochka forecourt concept
Russia’s X5 Retail Group is reportedly looking at rolling out a series of Pyaterochka stores at petrol stations operated by the Rosneft Group. Lebensmittel Zeitung, quoting Russian news source RBK.ru, said that the group has already opened a pilot store near Smirnovka in the Moscow region, ahead of a wider rollout. (esmmagazine.com)
UK: Costcutter doesn't comment on tie-up rumour
Costcutter says it will not be commenting on “rumour and speculation” regarding a potential tie-up with another operator as industry sources point to the Co-op and Morrisons. Industry observers believe Costcutter has been in discussions with the Co-op about a supply deal that could eventually see it re-united with Nisa under the Co-op umbrella some four years after the two companies split. (talkingretail.com)
Lulu reaffirms US$500 million investment plans in Indonesia
LuLu, which opened its first hypermarket and department store in the capital city of Jakarta last year, is firm on its planned investment of US$500 million as part of its expansion and intends to set up 10 hypermarket and department stores in the next three years in the country. Speaking to media Yusuffali MA, Chairman of LULU Group said “the tremendous response for our first LULU Hypermarket opened last year in Cakung has encouraged us to further expand our operations in Indonesia and we plan to open another 8 new hypermarkets in coming years”. (internationalsupermarketnews.com)
Metro Cash & Carry builds warehouse in Myanmar
Metro Cash & Carry, an international specialist in wholesale and food retail with a presence in 25 countries, recently entered Myanmar by kicking off construction of its warehouse in Thilawa special economic zone this week. Tiparayat Kaewsringarm, deputy CEO of Metro Wholesale Myanmar, the company’s Myanmar subsidiary, said in an interview that the firm would not have physical outlets in the nation unlike other countries that it operates, and only operate through the warehouse in Thilawa. (nationmultimedia.com)
Brazilian supermarkets recorded R$ 7.11bn worth of losses during 2016, an increase of 0.14 percentage points over 2015. This figure accounts for 2.28% of total turnover, according to a study published by the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (ABRAS), which took into account the performance 339 supermarket chains. Among the main causes of losses registered in 2016 are: operational issues, external theft, inventory errors, administrative errors, internal theft, and supplier-related issues. (esmmagazine.com)
Meal kit provider HelloFresh announced it will add 100 positions to its IT and tech departments, according to a news release. The positions will be added to the company’s Berlin and New York offices. The company is looking to hire front- and back-end engineers, UX/UI analysts, quality assurance engineers and product developers. (fooddive.com)
Maxima Bulgaria has placed among the top 10 retail chains in Bulgaria for the first time, according to the 'First in the Business' ranking by local magazine Manager. The company placed ninth among the 30 largest retailers in the country and has been described as one of the fastest-growing companies in Bulgaria based on its financial performance and presence on the market. (esmmagazine.com)
Spanish retailer Mercadona has opened an Co-Innovation Centre in Matosinhos, near Porto, as one of its first investments in Portugal. The facility represents Mercadona’s first step in preparation for entry into the Portuguese market. Mercadona’s Co-Innovation Centre, which boasts more than 1,000 square metres of space, 'is designed to study, in constant collaboration with customers, the habits and preferences of the Portuguese consumer in order to develop a an efficient and innovative product range', the company said in a statement. (esmmagazine.com)
Kenya’s Nakumatt Supermarkets will merge with local retailer Tuskys to help alleviate a severe cash flow problem that has left it with empty shelves and led to the closure of some outlets, Nakumatt’s managing director said on Monday. Privately-owned Nakumatt had accumulated debts of $150m by the start of this year. “It is a merger,” Atul Shah told Reuters. Asked if the deal would help Nakumatt resolve its cash flow problems, he said: “It is a start.” (Reuters)
Tata Group is venturing into online grocery business under Starquik brand, taking on Amazon and Bigbasket. A pilot venture will be rolled out within the next two months as an online channel for Trent Hypermarket, an equal joint venture between Tata and British retailer Tesco, said two people privy with the development. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
British supermarket sales increased by 3.6% in the 12 weeks to Sept. 10, largely driven by higher inflation and extending a run of above-3-percent growth to six months, industry data showed on Tuesday. Lidl grew the fastest, with an increase of 19.2% taking its share to a record high of 5.3%, Kantar Worldpanel said, while growth at rival Aldi was 15.6%, resulting in a share of 6.9%. Of the “big four” supermarkets, market leader Tesco came out on top, with sales up 2.7%, although its share was squeezed by 0.3 percentage points to 27.8%. Sainsbury’s sales were up 2.1%, Asda rose 1.5% and Morrisons was up 2.3%, Kantar said. (Reuters)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will construct a brand-new headquarters building on J Street in its hometown of Bentonville, Ark., President and CEO Doug McMillon wrote in an online message to associates. Expected to take five to seven years to build, the new facility will provide “a central campus with accommodations for a more digitally native workforce and space that encourages greater collaboration and speed,” McMillon said. (progressivegrocer.com)
US: Kroger ventures into comfort food
Kroger will open a comfort food restaurant called Kitchen 1883 late next month in Union, Kentucky, according to a press release. The restaurant will feature international and American cuisine, along with cocktails and what the company calls “a community-centered atmosphere.” (fooddive.com)
US: Food Lion to boost private label sales
Food Lion is bringing back a “Quarter Back” promotion that will run through Oct. 10th and save shoppers a quarter on every private label brand product they purchase, according to Own Brands Now. Consumers can save up to $10 per store visit and receive coupons that are eligible for more savings on their next trip to the market. (ownbrandsnow.com)
Report: Amazon and Whole Foods to thrive by nabbing each other's customers
New research by Morgan Stanley estimates that 80% of U.S. Amazon Prime members — or about 38 million consumers — don’t shop at Whole Foods. Likewise, the investment firm estimates about 5 million U.S. households — roughly 38% of Whole Foods shoppers — aren’t Prime members. This disparity between the two shopper bases creates a huge opportunity for the newly combined Amazon/Whole Foods entity to grab more shopper dollars, according to Quartz. (fooddive.com)
Russia’s X5 Retail Group is reportedly looking at rolling out a series of Pyaterochka stores at petrol stations operated by the Rosneft Group. Lebensmittel Zeitung, quoting Russian news source RBK.ru, said that the group has already opened a pilot store near Smirnovka in the Moscow region, ahead of a wider rollout. (esmmagazine.com) UK: Costcutter doesn't comment on tie-up rumour
Costcutter says it will not be commenting on “rumour and speculation” regarding a potential tie-up with another operator as industry sources point to the Co-op and Morrisons. Industry observers believe Costcutter has been in discussions with the Co-op about a supply deal that could eventually see it re-united with Nisa under the Co-op umbrella some four years after the two companies split. (talkingretail.com) Lulu reaffirms US$500 million investment plans in Indonesia
LuLu, which opened its first hypermarket and department store in the capital city of Jakarta last year, is firm on its planned investment of US$500 million as part of its expansion and intends to set up 10 hypermarket and department stores in the next three years in the country. Speaking to media Yusuffali MA, Chairman of LULU Group said “the tremendous response for our first LULU Hypermarket opened last year in Cakung has encouraged us to further expand our operations in Indonesia and we plan to open another 8 new hypermarkets in coming years”. (internationalsupermarketnews.com) Metro Cash & Carry builds warehouse in Myanmar
Metro Cash & Carry, an international specialist in wholesale and food retail with a presence in 25 countries, recently entered Myanmar by kicking off construction of its warehouse in Thilawa special economic zone this week. Tiparayat Kaewsringarm, deputy CEO of Metro Wholesale Myanmar, the company’s Myanmar subsidiary, said in an interview that the firm would not have physical outlets in the nation unlike other countries that it operates, and only operate through the warehouse in Thilawa. (nationmultimedia.com) Brazilian supermarkets record R$7bn worth of losses in 2016
Brazilian supermarkets recorded R$ 7.11bn worth of losses during 2016, an increase of 0.14 percentage points over 2015. This figure accounts for 2.28% of total turnover, according to a study published by the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (ABRAS), which took into account the performance 339 supermarket chains. Among the main causes of losses registered in 2016 are: operational issues, external theft, inventory errors, administrative errors, internal theft, and supplier-related issues. (esmmagazine.com) HelloFresh looks to beef up its tech workforce
Meal kit provider HelloFresh announced it will add 100 positions to its IT and tech departments, according to a news release. The positions will be added to the company’s Berlin and New York offices. The company is looking to hire front- and back-end engineers, UX/UI analysts, quality assurance engineers and product developers. (fooddive.com) Maxima named among top 10 retailers in Bulgaria
Maxima Bulgaria has placed among the top 10 retail chains in Bulgaria for the first time, according to the 'First in the Business' ranking by local magazine Manager. The company placed ninth among the 30 largest retailers in the country and has been described as one of the fastest-growing companies in Bulgaria based on its financial performance and presence on the market. (esmmagazine.com) Mercadona opens innovation ventre in Portugal
Spanish retailer Mercadona has opened an Co-Innovation Centre in Matosinhos, near Porto, as one of its first investments in Portugal. The facility represents Mercadona’s first step in preparation for entry into the Portuguese market. Mercadona’s Co-Innovation Centre, which boasts more than 1,000 square metres of space, 'is designed to study, in constant collaboration with customers, the habits and preferences of the Portuguese consumer in order to develop a an efficient and innovative product range', the company said in a statement. (esmmagazine.com) Kenya's Nakumatt Supermarkets to merge with local rival Tuskys
Kenya’s Nakumatt Supermarkets will merge with local retailer Tuskys to help alleviate a severe cash flow problem that has left it with empty shelves and led to the closure of some outlets, Nakumatt’s managing director said on Monday. Privately-owned Nakumatt had accumulated debts of $150m by the start of this year. “It is a merger,” Atul Shah told Reuters. Asked if the deal would help Nakumatt resolve its cash flow problems, he said: “It is a start.” (Reuters)India: Tata Group to take on Bigbasket
Tata Group is venturing into online grocery business under Starquik brand, taking on Amazon and Bigbasket. A pilot venture will be rolled out within the next two months as an online channel for Trent Hypermarket, an equal joint venture between Tata and British retailer Tesco, said two people privy with the development. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)British supermarket sales up
British supermarket sales increased by 3.6% in the 12 weeks to Sept. 10, largely driven by higher inflation and extending a run of above-3-percent growth to six months, industry data showed on Tuesday. Lidl grew the fastest, with an increase of 19.2% taking its share to a record high of 5.3%, Kantar Worldpanel said, while growth at rival Aldi was 15.6%, resulting in a share of 6.9%. Of the “big four” supermarkets, market leader Tesco came out on top, with sales up 2.7%, although its share was squeezed by 0.3 percentage points to 27.8%. Sainsbury’s sales were up 2.1%, Asda rose 1.5% and Morrisons was up 2.3%, Kantar said. (Reuters)Walmart to build new HQ
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will construct a brand-new headquarters building on J Street in its hometown of Bentonville, Ark., President and CEO Doug McMillon wrote in an online message to associates. Expected to take five to seven years to build, the new facility will provide “a central campus with accommodations for a more digitally native workforce and space that encourages greater collaboration and speed,” McMillon said. (progressivegrocer.com) US: Kroger ventures into comfort food
Kroger will open a comfort food restaurant called Kitchen 1883 late next month in Union, Kentucky, according to a press release. The restaurant will feature international and American cuisine, along with cocktails and what the company calls “a community-centered atmosphere.” (fooddive.com)US: Food Lion to boost private label sales
Food Lion is bringing back a “Quarter Back” promotion that will run through Oct. 10th and save shoppers a quarter on every private label brand product they purchase, according to Own Brands Now. Consumers can save up to $10 per store visit and receive coupons that are eligible for more savings on their next trip to the market. (ownbrandsnow.com) Report: Amazon and Whole Foods to thrive by nabbing each other's customers
New research by Morgan Stanley estimates that 80% of U.S. Amazon Prime members — or about 38 million consumers — don’t shop at Whole Foods. Likewise, the investment firm estimates about 5 million U.S. households — roughly 38% of Whole Foods shoppers — aren’t Prime members. This disparity between the two shopper bases creates a huge opportunity for the newly combined Amazon/Whole Foods entity to grab more shopper dollars, according to Quartz. (fooddive.com)