US: Vallarta Supermarkets grows in the San Gabriel Valley with grand opening in Azusa
Vallarta Supermarkets will officially open its newest location at 273 E. Gladstone St., Azusa, CA 91702 on Wednesday, December 10th. Global Meets Local: Alongside staples of Latin American cuisine, Vallarta brings variety with hand-rolled sushi, fresh-pressed juices, fruit bowls topped with Tajín and chamoy, and a wide selection of organic produce sourced both locally and worldwide.
Source: prnewswire.com
Brazil: Assaí unveils strategic vision for 2026
Brazilian food retailer Assaí has unveiled a new strategic plan aimed at driving sustained growth and diversification into 2026 and beyond. Assaí is set to launch Assaí Pay, a comprehensive new financial services ecosystem designed to support SMEs.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Mexico: Cold chain demands rise as online grocery purchases expand
Mexico's growing online grocery market is reshaping logistics requirements as nearly 30% of consumers ages 16 to 64 buy food online each week, according to a study by We Are Social and Meltwater. The shift is accelerating pressure on transportation networks, particularly refrigerated ground transport, which has become central to ensuring product quality in last-mile delivery. "Refrigerated ground transport is becoming a determining factor. A shipment that does not guarantee proper temperatures can lose its value in minutes. Logistics is now a factor of competitiveness for food e-commerce", said José Carlos Gómez, Sales Director LAR North, Thermo King.
Source: mexicobusiness.news
Albertsons partners with Microsoft to create AI-capable workforce
Albertsons Cos. is empowering its associates to thrive in an increasingly AI-enabled workplace. According to a company blog post written by Anuj Dhanda, Albertsons' chief technology and transformation officer, the national grocer is launching a robust AI skilling initiative.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
UK retailers' confidence collapses to 17-year low before budget
British retailers have reported the sharpest drop in confidence in 17 years and their sales fell again. The Confederation of British Industry said its gauge of how retail sales compared with a year earlier worsened to -32 from -27 in October. The CBI's gauge of expected sales for the month ahead improved to -24 from -39.
Source: reuters.com
Auchan to operate French supermarkets under Intermarché and Netto banners
Auchan Retail plans to operate its French supermarkets as franchises under the Intermarché and Netto banners. Auchan will operate the stores via a new autonomous legal entity, and the plan includes its supermarkets in mainland France, barring Corsica.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Aldi's festive Super Six Veg returns for just 8p
Aldi reported: "Supermarket Aldi has announced it will once again slash prices on its festive veg staples to just 8p as part of its popular Christmas Super Six promotion, available in stores from 18th December. Shoppers are guaranteed a tree-mendous Christmas feast with a selection of Aldi's fresh and delicious British-sourced veggies including White Potatoes (8p, 2kg), Carrots (8p, 1kg), Parsnips (8p, 500g), Red and White Cabbages (8p each), Brussels Sprouts (8p, 500g) and Swede (8p each). What's more, Aldi partners with British growers and uses fixed-cost pricing to ensure they receive a fair price, no matter the season. This commitment allows Aldi to offer shoppers the best savings without compromising on quality or fairness".
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UK: Enzo Wholesale joins Unitas to accelerate its growth ambitions
North London cash and carry operator Enzo Wholesale is set to become the latest member of Unitas in January 2026. The company says Unitas' buying power, services and support will help it achieve its ambition of growing its £40mln to £100mln by the end of 2027.
Source: talkingretail.com
East of England Co-op goes live with Snappy Shopper on demand delivery service in Food stores
East of England Co-op reports the relaunch of Snappy Shopper's on demand delivery service in five of its Food stores. It says that this is part of a renewed focus on enhanced accessibility and flexibility for customers across its region.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Amazon under fire in Italian customs and VAT fraud investigation
Italian authorities are investigating possible large-scale customs and tax fraud involving Chinese imports via Amazon. The e-commerce platform allegedly acted as a "Trojan horse" for goods entering Italy without paying VAT or customs duties.
Source: retaildetail.eu
"This is why they're famous for strawberries"...Lotte Mart offers discounts on all strawberry products
Lotte Mart announced that it will hold a 'Winter Happy Deal' event from the 27th through the 3rd of next month, offering up to 50% off on seasonal fruits, including strawberries, and winter products.
Source: mk.co.kr
China: Alibaba revenue tops estimates with strong instant retail, AI push
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba beat analysts' quarterly revenue estimates as investments in one-hour delivery helped drive more users to its shopping apps, while its cloud division reported strong growth. The company reported revenue of 247.80bln yuan ($35bln) in the second quarter, compared with estimates of 242.65bln yuan, according to data compiled by LSEG, though adjusted profit of 4.36 yuan per American Depository Share missed estimates of 5.49 yuan.
Source: reuters.com
