Tuzla-based supermarket chain Bingo has officially assumed the leadership position in Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of store numbers, with 186 outlets across the country.This comes after the Supervisory Board of Slovenian retailer Mercator confirmed the termination of the lease of 83 stores to Konzum in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports Fokus. These locations formally passed into the hands of Mercator, while Konzum will continue to operate around 170 stores in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (esmmagazine.com) French Carrefour sales up 1.9% in Q3
French retail group Carrefour has reported that sales grew 1.9% to €21.9 billion in the third quarter of its financial year. The retailer says that this growth was driven by increases in Europe and Latin America, with an improvement seen in non-food sales. In its home market of France, however, Carrefour posted sales of €10,042 million, representing a decrease of 1.3% compared to the same period last year. Overall, these figures bring Carrefour's total sales for the first nine months of 2017 to €64,912 million - an increase of 2.8% at constant exchange rates. (esmmagazine.com) Austria's Hofer reaches 100 branches in Vienna
Austrian discounter Hofer is celebrating the milestone of reaching 100 stores in the country's capital city, Vienna. The first Hofer market in Vienna was opened in 1974, and the retailer now operates stores in each of the city's 23 districts, employing over 1,900 people. (esmmagazine.com) Spar Albania opens 30 stores
One year after starting activities in Albania, grocery retailer Spar now operates more than 30 stores in nine cities of the Balkan country. According to Spar Albania CEO Elona Mema, the retail business still accounts for only 15% of the food market in Albania, which is still in the early stages of development. The development plan for 2018 foresees the opening of at least 20 new stores, of which ten will be under direct management and ten under the partnership model. (esmmagazine.com) Russia's Magnit in talks to buy Siberian store operator ETK
Russian food retailer Magnit said on Wednesday it was in talks to buy Siberian company ETK which holds lease rights in and around the city of Krasnoyarsk. The low-cost Magnit, which has around 15,000 stores across Russia, said the deal would allow it to open at least 153 discount stores and three hypermarkets. (Reuters)Russia's Lenta posts 18.7% sales growth
Lenta has announced that total sales grew by 18.7% in the third quarter of its 2017 financial year, increasing to RUB 89.6 billion. This brings the retail group's total sales for the first nine months of the year to RUB 235.1 billion, representing an increase of 17.4% compared to the same period last year. "Lenta’s sales growth accelerated to 19% in the third quarter of 2017," said CEO Jan Dunning. (esmmagazine.com) US: Supervalu to acquire Associated Grocers
Supervalu has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Associated Grocers of Florida, a leading wholesale business, in a $180m deal. Under the leadership of its President and CEO, Mark Gross, Supervalu has been pivoting towards being a more wholesale-led organisation. Earlier this year, it announced the acquisition of Unified Grocers in a $375m deal, adding net sales of around $3.8bn to the organisation. The business has positioned itself to lead, and benefit from, consolidation in the wholesale channel. Last year it completed the divestment of Save-A-Lot, its major retail business. (igd.com)US: Blue Apron cuts 320 employees
Blue Apron is cutting about 320 jobs, less than four months after the meal-kit seller became a public company. New York-based Blue Apron, which had nearly 5,400 employees in June, said Wednesday that the layoffs represent about 6 percent of its workforce. (pressherald.com) US: Kids to get free fruit at Kroger's Delta Division
The grocery chain announced Wednesday that all of its Delta Division stores would provide free fresh fruit for customers’ children as the shop. Kids can choose between bananas, apples, and a citrus fruit. The fruit, according to a news release from the company, is free of charge for children up to 10 years of age. (kait8.com) 
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