US: GrubMarket launches GrubPay to bring payments solutions to the food supply chain industry
GrubMarket announced the launch of GrubPay, a powerful and easy-to-use payment platform that facilitates safe and secure payments for food wholesalers and distributors, making GrubMarket the first and only eCommerce platform to offer a fully integrated payment solution designed for the fresh industry.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Food City planning major expansion in Alabama
K-VA-T Food Stores-owned Food City is planning to build six new stores in Huntsville, Alabama, over the next several years, according to a local report. The company is investing $90mln in the project and will create approximately 1,350 jobs in the area.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Walmart in Mexico sees net profit rise in first quarter, yet trails competitors
Walmart's Mexico unit posted a 3.7% rise in first quarter net profit as same-store sales rose in all markets, but it flagged inflation concerns after falling behind competitors in Mexico. Walmart de Mexico, known as Walmex, recorded 11.5bln pesos ($639mln) in net profit for the first three months of the year, missing a Refinitiv estimate of 12.3bln pesos.
Source: reuters.com
US: Falling avocado prices cause Chipotle to up its earnings forecast
Ailing restaurant chain Chipotle, which has been plagued with problems in recent months, announced improved earnings forecast, with “cheaper avocados” being one driver. Total revenue for Chipotle, which is well-known for its burritos, salads and quesadillas, rose by 17.2%.
Source: thedrinksbusiness.com
US: What about the local farms H-E-B supports to provide Texas fresh options at its retail grocers?
H-E-B supports local Texas farmers with their Texas roots products that offer Texas fresh fruit from the Rio Grande Valley and fresh vegetables, meat, legumes and nuts grown and harvested across the entire state.
Source: lmtonline.com
Ahold Delhaize announces the appointment of Boudewijn van Nieuwenhuijzen as Brand President Super Indo
Ahold Delhaize announced that Boudewijn van Nieuwenhuijzen will be appointed Brand President of Super Indo as of June 1, 2023. He will succeed Johan Boeijenga, who stepped down on 31 March. Johan will serve as an advisor to Van Nieuwenhuijzen and Super Indo, to ensure a smooth transition.
Source: aholddelhaize.com
Germany: HelloFresh SE delivers over €2bln of revenue in strong first quarter of 2023
HelloFresh SE (“HelloFresh”) published its financial results for the first quarter of 2023. In Q1 2023 HelloFresh reached an all time high quarterly revenue of €2.02bln, corresponding to a 5.3% revenue growth (Q1 2022: €1.92bln, 3.3% constant currency growth). HelloFresh recorded a continued increase in average order value to €61.2 (+8.9% on a constant currency basis, Q1 2022: €55.1).
Source: hellofreshgroup.com
Ireland: SuperValu launches new state-of-the-art Newcastle store following €15mln investment 
SuperValu, Ireland’s leading food retailer, is launching a new state-of-the-art store in Newcastle, Co. Dublin following a significant €15mln investment. SuperValu Newcastle will have an enhanced fresh-food range with a focus on artisan and vegan products, a premium fruit and veg offering including loose products, which will inspire shoppers to make more sustainable choices, while giving greater choice in terms of seasonality, for Irish and organic produce.
Source: retailnews.ie
Australia: Coles opens its first Automated Distribution Centre in Redbank, Queensland
The first Australian Automated Distribution Centre (ADC) using global leading Witron technology is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The state-of-the-art facility in Redbank is located 30 kilometres south-west of Brisbane and will service 219 Coles supermarkets in Queensland and Northern New South Wales, as far north as Port Douglas and as far south as Laurieton in NSW.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
Spain: In pursuit of zero waste, Carrefour supermarket turns unsold oranges and tomatoes into jam
In Spain, Carrefour has introduced a new product line to its Madrid hypermarkets to help tackle food waste: jam made from unsold fruit from its own produce aisles. The supermarket currently offers two varieties - orange and tomato - both produced by preserve and sauce maker Helios, using ripe fruit that's past its due date for selling to customers but perfect for transforming into 'Marmelada Desperdicio Alimentario Zero'. The 250-gram jars retail for EUR 0.89.
Source: trendwatching.com
Britain's Sainsbury's expects to beat market forecasts this year
Sainsbury's, Britain's second largest supermarket group, said it had started its new financial year "with great momentum" despite a still uncertain outlook for consumer spending, forecasting a profit outcome ahead of market expectations. It said underlying pretax profit was 690mln pounds ($861mln) in the year to March 4, at the top end of guidance but down from the 730mln pounds made in 2021-22. Group revenue rose 5.3% to 31.5bln pounds, with fourth quarter like-for-like sales up 7.8%, having increased 5.9% in the previous quarter.
Source: reuters.com
China: JD Airlines launches all-cargo route from Beijing to Shenzhen
On April 26, a B737-800BCF fully loaded, all-cargo aircraft landed in Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), marking the official launch of JD Airlines’ “PKX-Shenzhen” all-cargo route. The airline will be operating the route six days a week, with a daily transportation capacity of up to 20 tons, mainly transporting high-end goods including fresh produce, fashion and luxury products, medicine and medical products, among other items. During the upcoming summer season, the newly launched route will also charter recently harvested cherries.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Portugal: Jeronimo Martins' first-quarter profit jumps 59%, margin narrows
Portugal's second-largest retailer Jeronimo Martins posted a 59% jump in first-quarter net income as higher prices to offset soaring inflation boosted sales, though its margins narrowed. The company booked a net profit of 140mln euros ($154.71mln) between January and March.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Iceland to close more stores amid high energy costs and double-digit inflation
Iceland is set to close more stores in coming weeks as it struggles with high energy costs and double-digit inflation. According to reporting by The Sun, the frozen food retailer has confirmed it will be closing two stores this year, including Flint, Wales on 27 May and Beccles, Suffolk on 17 June.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Too Good To Go reveal Brits throw out almost 80mln edible food items each week
Too Good To Go has revealed that Brits are throwing away almost 80mln perfectly edible food items each week. When it comes to fruit and veg, Londoners (68%) and Northern Ireland (65%) are the worst offenders for throwing away at least 1-2 edible fruit and vegetables per week, compared to only half of people in Wales (53%) and Yorkshire (54%).
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Taiwan’s supermarket sector at a crossroads
A recent acquisition in Taiwan’s retail market has raised questions about monopoly effects and caused concern among shoppers used to supermarkets’ wide range of imported foods. In July 2022, French retailer Carrefour announced it had agreed to sell its 60% stake in Carrefour Taiwan to co-shareholder Uni-President, in a transaction valued at US$2.15bln. Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is currently reviewing the sale, but approval is expected.
Source: topics.amcham.com.tw
Getir explains decision behind closure of some UK stores
Following its acquisition of Gorillas, on-demand delivery service company Getir has announced the closure of some its UK stores. Getir will continue to serve customers in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Southampton, Portsmouth, and Brighton.
Source: talkingretail.com