France: Cora launches digital screens instore
Louis Delhaize-owned Cora is investing in digital screens to broadcast commercials instore at its hypermarkets in France. Cora will use 560 screens across the 60 hypermarkets it operates. Screens will be suspended above store entrances and central aisles to maximise their impact with shoppers and raise their visibility. Lionel Barbaras, general manager of the Provera advertising department, commented: “With this network of digital screens, we offer brands an additional modern and powerful media to communicate with our customers”.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Australia: Drakes integrating data analytics into state-of-the-art warehouse
South Australian grocery retailer Drakes Supermarkets has partnered with technology partner Infor to integrate data analytics into its upcoming state-of-the-art warehouse facility in Adelaide. The system will deliver optimisation throughout Drakes’ retail business, as well as its upcoming wholesaling venture, allowing it to take greater control of its supply chain by providing users with accurate and readily-available data regarding stock.
Source: insideretail.com.au
Retail confidence declines in Sweden in January
Svensk Handel, the group that represents the retail sector in Sweden, has said that retail confidence has declined in January, with a barometer measuring future trading expectations lower than it was at the same point in 2018 and 2017. Svensk Handel's monthly trading barometer found that the future indicator was down 6.6 units to 90.5. However, at the same time, future indicators in the e-commerce sector are rising, by 1.5 units to 109.2.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Portugal: Jerónimo Martins positive FY 2018 results
All the group’s banners performed well in FY 2018, with positive sales increases, according to the retailer’s preliminary sales figures. Biedronka, Pingo Doce and Recheio strengthened their value propositions and continued to gain market share, whilst Ara continues to expand in Columbia. Group net sales grew 6.5% to €17.3bln in FY 2018, despite 21 fewer trading days in Poland.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
UK retailer Booths sees sales rise during Christmas
Premium supermarket chain Booths, based in the North of England, has had a successful Christmas, posting a 3.3% increase in sales in the three weeks between 15 December and 5 January. Commenting on its performance, chief executive Edwin Booth said that the retailer performed "very well in a highly competitive market over Christmas. We focused on offering the very best traditional Christmas food and drink with flair and purpose."
Source: esmmagazine.com
France: Carrefour, MonAvisLeRendGratuit to include customers in the operation of the production
Carrefour and “MonAvisLeRendGratuit”, a site developed in 2013 by ShopAdvizor bringing together a community of consumers who test and give their opinion on products, have decided to involve their customers in the development of new products. "Through this, we want to create a lasting link with them, to best meet their expectations and meet their needs", Says Daphné Guédon, Carrefour brand manager. Through online questionnaires and test panels, members of the MonAvisLeRendGratuit community are invited to participate in every step of the product creation process, from the selection of the recipe to the packaging. This reference, for which nearly 20,000 participants were surveyed, is already present in several French hypermarkets in the group.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
UK: Marks & Spencer identifies next 17 stores to close
British retailer Marks & Spencer has announced the next 17 stores it will close as part of its programme to reshape its business, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. M&S, Britain's best known stores group, is targeting over 100 store closures by 2022 as it strives to make at least a third of clothing and home sales online. Its store closure plan was first announced in 2016 and accelerated last year. The latest 17 include stores in Hull and Huddersfield in northern England, Ashford in south-east England, Cwmbran in Wales, and Antrim in Northern Ireland. M&S said the latest plan will affect 1,045 workers.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Canada: Loblaw goes without a CEO
Loblaw Cos. no longer has the position of chief executive officer. Canada’s largest grocery retailer said that Chairman and CEO Galen Weston has become executive chairman, and Sarah Davis has taken on additional duties in her role as president. With the move, Davis now oversees Loblaw’s 13-member management board and adds finance and human resources to her direct reporting lines, on top of her daily supervision of the company’s business performance. She continues to report to Weston.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: 45 California Whole Foods Markets certified for environmental stewardship
Recognizing a commitment to environmental stewardship, 45 Whole Foods Markets in Northern California have received Manomet’s Grocery Stewardship Certification (GSC). The program works with grocers to engage employees on operational sustainability strategies and to review store-level practices and equipment, with an eye to increasing energy efficiency, boosting revenue and lowering costs. “Environmental stewardship is a core value for Whole Foods Market, and working with Manomet’s Grocery Stewardship Certification program ensures that each store is consistently improving sustainability practices in our operations”, said Tristam Coffin, director of sustainability and facilities for Whole Foods Market’s Northern California region. “The GSC helps us to further engage our team members and has given us another tool to reduce our energy use, conserve water and minimize food waste.”
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Chicago Market Co-op to open in 2020
Chicago Market, a local, sustainable co-op grocery store, plans to open April 2020 in the former Wilson Red Line (public transit) Station in the Uptown neighborhood. Plans for the store were originally revealed in May 2018 after it was selected to fill the space by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) during an RFP (request for proposal) process. Owned by the community and democratically run, Chicago Market offers a unique alternative shopping experience in which the customer can be a part of the store.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Ahold Delhaize expands in-store robot use to 500 Giant/Martin's and Stop & Shop locations
Ahold Delhaize said it will bring shelf-scanning robots to nearly 500 of its Giant/Martin's and Stop & Shop locations after a successful test at two Giant stores during the last year. The in-store robots, which are named "Marty", will be in all 172 Giant stores. The Netherlands-based grocery giant said it has started rolling out the robots at Giant/Martin's and Stop & Shop, a deployment that will continue through the early part of 2019. Other Ahold Delhaize USA brands will continue to test autonomous robots in select stores. "Several companies in the grocery retail space have recently begun testing or using in-store robots - something Retail Business Services and the local brands we serve have been doing for some time", Paul Scorza, executive vice president and chief information officer for the Retail Business Services division of Ahold Delhaize, said in a statement. “We’re pleased to support the Giant/Martin's and Stop & Shop brands as they now lead the industry from test to large-scale usage of robots and to see the benefits the technology continues to drive for their businesses.”
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Walmart to debut high-tech consolidation center
Walmart Inc. has revealed plans to open a 340,000-square-foot high-tech consolidation center in Colton, California, this July - the first in the company’s supply chain to receive, sort and ship freight via automated technology that “will enable three times more volume to flow throughout the center and [help] Walmart deliver the right product to the right store, so customers can find the products they need”, according to the company. Initially to be staffed by 150 full-time associates, the center is expected to employ more than 600 workers by 2021. “With the combined might of people and world-class logistic technology, this facility will be the most efficient consolidation center in Walmart’s supply chain”, the mega-retailer asserted.
Source: progressivegrocer.com