Lidl UK to expand Oaklands Fun Size fruit and veg range for kidsLidl UK has announced it is expanding its award-winning* Oaklands Fun Size fruit and vegetable range for children in response to huge customer demand for its fresh, playful produce. This comes as Lidl UK commits to the Food Foundation’s Peas Please initiative, aimed at making vegetables more accessible. Since launching in 2016, Lidl has seen sales of its children’s fruit and veg range surge 100%, with parents using the products as a creative way to encourage their children to eat five a day. A total of 12 new items have been launched so far this year, with at least a further five in the pipeline, including ‘Avodillo’s’ (baby avocados). (retailtimes.co.uk)
Sainsbury's criticised for importing foreign vegetables in British peak seasonA shopper has took to social media to criticise Sainsbury's for importing foreign vegetables in peak British season. Sara Venn, who is used to working with local farmers in her role at the Incredible Edible network, asked Sainsbury’s on social media why the squash it sells in her local store was grown in Greece and Portugal. The retailer has yet to make a pledge about buying 100% British fruit and vegetables in all its stores. (www.farminguk.com)
AUS: Fruit and veg prices bite Coles' sales
Coles, the long-time engine of Perth-based conglomerate Wesfarmers, has reported one of its slowest rates of sales growth since it was bought 10 years ago, as it wages a pitched battle with Woolworths and Aldi to remain competitive and win shoppers to its stores. The Coles sales performance for the quarter was heavily impacted by price deflation, especially among the fresh food, fruit and vegetables category, as very good growing conditions and a lack of any disruptions from cyclones produced bumper crops that pushed down market prices. (theaustralian.com.au)
UK’s biggest retailer joins NFU Fruit and Veg PledgeThe NFU says it is pleased that Tesco has signed up to the Fruit and Veg Pledge, committing to supporting British horticulture and ensuring fairness for growers and the supply chain. The pledge is a charter of best business practice that calls on retailers to back British growers and offer suppliers a fairer share of risk and reward for farmers and growers. (minsterfm.com)
Aldi has been voted Britain’s best value supermarket
For the third year in a row, Aldi has been voted Britain’s best value supermarket at the Moneywise Home Finance Awards. The prize, which was voted for by thousands of Moneywise readers, judges businesses on their value for money and customer service. According to a spokesperson for the brand, the accolade reflects Aldi’s commitment to sourcing high-quality produce. (goodhousekeeping.co.uk)
Retailers pledge to help Brits boost vegetable intake Supermarkets, food-on-the-go chains and manufacturers have pledged to put more vegetables into ready meals and soups, into on-pack recipes and in promotional deals. Lidl will expand its fun-sized vegetable range and has pledged to pack more veg into its ready meals, the Co-op is increasing veg in lunchtime meal deals, Sainsbury’s will increase the amount of products that contain a ‘one of your five a day’ message; and Tesco is making more veg a key element of its new product development. (talkingretail.com)
US: Sprouts Farmers Market named Pear Retailer of the YearFor the second straight year, the pear industry has granted the Pear Retailer of the Year honor to a Phoenix-based natural foods store. Sprouts Farmers Market, which has 240 stores in 15 states, was chosen by the Pear Bureau Northwest for giving shoppers choices within its pear category, using in-store sampling and training personnel in all things pears, according to a news release from the Pear Bureau, which presented the award last week at the annual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit in New Orleans. (goodfruit.com)
US: Lidl & Shipt launch pilot grocery delivery service in Greenville, S.C.German grocer Lidl has launched a pilot program partnership with online grocery delivery service Shipt in Greenville, S.C. to deliver groceries to area residents, Lidl confirmed to American Shipper. (americanshipper.com)
US: Amazon's booming online sales and Whole Foods acquisition make it a buy: AnalystsAmazon shares have nearly doubled the market's gain so far this year. But even after the big runup, Wall Street analysts are recommending that investors buy them before this week's earnings report. Deutsche Bank on Tuesday reiterated its buy rating for Amazon shares, predicting solid results from its e-commerce business. (www.cnbc.com)
US: Aldi spurs 3% price drop in SoCal grocery marketAldi’s entry into the Southern California market has contributed to a 3% average price reduction on basic grocery items throughout the region, according to the Orange County Register, citing data from Strategic Resources Group. Price deflation has also contributed to the price decline. (fooddive.com)
US: Albertsons reports strong e-commerce growth in Q2 reportAlbertsons’ revenue was flat in this year's second fiscal quarter, with the company recording a negligible decrease of 0.2%, according to a company release. Identical store sales were down 1.8%, largely due to a lack of food price inflation and selective price investments. The retailer grew its e-commerce business 19% year over year in Q2, reports Retail Leader, a bright spot amid the lackluster quarterly results. The company plans to double the number of stores offering click and collect by the end of fiscal 2017. It’s also upgrading its app for delivery and pickup in an effort to enhance its digital shopping experience. (fooddive.com)