UK: £1.2bn to be spent on online groceries in 2016
More people than ever before are shopping for food online with an extra £1.2bn forecast to be spent doing the groceries via the internet this year. A new study reveals that supermarket shopping is over for many Brits as they trade trolleys for home delivery. (westerndailypress.co.uk)
Aldi Australia's sales are forecast to rise almost 90% to $15bn over the next four years - challenging the Woolworths/Coles duopoly - as the discounter opens stores in new states and consumers become more willing to spend more of their grocery dollars at the discount retailer. Consumer research company Roy Morgan released the figures this week. Coles food and liquor sales are expected to rise 15% to $37bn and Woolworths to rise 10% to $46bn. (smh.com.au)
Struggling grocer Fairway Group Holdings Corp. has reached a tentative deal with creditors to restructure its debt in bankruptcy, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal would likely put the New York-based gourmet grocery chain into Chapter 11 proceedings by the end of May, one of the people said. (Bloomberg)
Sainsbury’s is hiring 150 digital and technology experts to help improve its online store as it finalises the buyout of Argos. The team, who will work out of an existing Sainsbury’s office in Manchester’s Arndale centre, will include software developers and engineers and will work in partnership with 900 other digital and technology experts based in London and Coventry. (theguardian.com)
Lidl reports €500m spend on Irish-sourced food in 2015
German discount retailer Lidl has commissioned a report from independent consultants to establish its contribution to the Irish economy. The report undertaken by DKM Economic Consultants – The Economic Impacts of Lidl’s Operations in the Republic of Ireland – has found that Lidl’s capital investment programme in Ireland to date, combined with its ongoing operations, has been and continues to be a major contributor to the Irish economy, the retailer said in a statement. Purchases from Irish suppliers have grown year-on-year and in 2015 a total of €539m was sourced from 180 Irish food suppliers. (farmersjournal.ie)
The supermarket chain won out against competitors Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer. Over 5,000 people voted for Aldi in a poll by Money Saving Expert, which featured 40 of the country’s most-loved retailers. (dailystar.co.uk)
Spain: Eroski set to return to profit in 2016
More people than ever before are shopping for food online with an extra £1.2bn forecast to be spent doing the groceries via the internet this year. A new study reveals that supermarket shopping is over for many Brits as they trade trolleys for home delivery. (westerndailypress.co.uk)Aldi Australia sales forecast to tip $15b by 2020
Aldi Australia's sales are forecast to rise almost 90% to $15bn over the next four years - challenging the Woolworths/Coles duopoly - as the discounter opens stores in new states and consumers become more willing to spend more of their grocery dollars at the discount retailer. Consumer research company Roy Morgan released the figures this week. Coles food and liquor sales are expected to rise 15% to $37bn and Woolworths to rise 10% to $46bn. (smh.com.au)US: Fairway said to be close to deal to put grocer in bankruptcy
Struggling grocer Fairway Group Holdings Corp. has reached a tentative deal with creditors to restructure its debt in bankruptcy, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal would likely put the New York-based gourmet grocery chain into Chapter 11 proceedings by the end of May, one of the people said. (Bloomberg)Sainsbury's hires 150 digital experts for face-off with Amazon and Tesco
Sainsbury’s is hiring 150 digital and technology experts to help improve its online store as it finalises the buyout of Argos. The team, who will work out of an existing Sainsbury’s office in Manchester’s Arndale centre, will include software developers and engineers and will work in partnership with 900 other digital and technology experts based in London and Coventry. (theguardian.com)Lidl reports €500m spend on Irish-sourced food in 2015
German discount retailer Lidl has commissioned a report from independent consultants to establish its contribution to the Irish economy. The report undertaken by DKM Economic Consultants – The Economic Impacts of Lidl’s Operations in the Republic of Ireland – has found that Lidl’s capital investment programme in Ireland to date, combined with its ongoing operations, has been and continues to be a major contributor to the Irish economy, the retailer said in a statement. Purchases from Irish suppliers have grown year-on-year and in 2015 a total of €539m was sourced from 180 Irish food suppliers. (farmersjournal.ie) Aldi most loved retailer of UK
The supermarket chain won out against competitors Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer. Over 5,000 people voted for Aldi in a poll by Money Saving Expert, which featured 40 of the country’s most-loved retailers. (dailystar.co.uk)Spain: Eroski set to return to profit in 2016
Eroski is on track see profits in 2016, and reverse the negative trend that has marked its performance during the last seven years, according to Spanish website GranConsumo.tv. While the retailer’s figures for 2015 will not be published until May, it is expected that they will show significant improvement compared to the years following 2008. (esmmagazine.com)
Albertsons Cos. said Friday Susan Morris has been named EVP, retail operations, for its East region. She succeeds Kelly Griffith, who said he plans to leave the company. Morris has been president of the company’s Denver division since March 2015, overseeing more than 140 stores in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and New Mexico. (supermarketnews.com)Lidl recalls mixed vegetables after allergy fears raised
Lidl has recalled packets of mixed vegetables after fears were raised they could cause allergic reactions. The discount supermarket has issued the warning on packs of its ‘Green Grocer’s’ brand of mixed vegetables after allergens not listed on the label were found. (supermarketnews.com)CVC and Qatar abandon £6bn Sainsbury’s bidA consortium involving the biggest shareholder in Formula One motor racing and a Qatari state fund have abandoned secret plans to bid for J Sainsbury, Britain’s second-largest supermarket chain. (sky.com)
Redback spider found in Woolies broccoli
A Runaway Bay woman received a nasty surprise when she found a redback spider in broccoli from her local supermarket. "We're very concerned about this, and take incidents like this very seriously," A Woolworths spokesperson wrote. (brisbanetimes.com.au)Hepatitis outbreak linked to frozen organic fruit sold at Costco
Canadian officials have linked an ongoing Hepatitis A outbreak to a frozen organic fruit blend of berries and cherries sold exclusively at Costco stores. Nature’s Touch is recalling its “Organic Berry Cherry Blend” because of the outbreak. Canadian health officials are particularly concerned that consumers may have the product, which has a “Best Before” date of March 15, 2018, in their homes. (foodsafetynews.com)Tesco's preliminary annual results designed to heat up investor sentiment - Kantar Retail
Tesco CEO Dave Lewis has announced preliminary annual results designed to heat up investor sentiment, says Ray Gaul, vice president of research and analytics at Kantar Retail. Once under pressure on all fronts, Lewis and his team have given the company some "breathing room, particularly on the balance sheet", according to Gaul. Earlier this week, Tesco posted a flat performance for its full year ending February 29, highlighted in its preliminary results. (esmmagazine.com)
