US: Save-A-Lot laying off staff at new corporate headquarters
Save-a-Lot, which moved into new corporate headquarters in St. Ann, Missouri, last month, is laying off up to 100 people in its corporate office, or about 1% of its 10,000-strong workforce, local news reports have revealed. “We can confirm that a limited number of corporate job reductions were announced impacting about 1% of our company-wide workforce,” the company said in a statement emailed to local press. “The reductions are mostly managerial and administrative positions. They do not include store level team members nor do they impact operations at our 1,300 stores.”
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Walmart expands its Grocery Delivery service providers
Walmart announced the addition of four delivery companies to its team to help expand the retailer’s popular Online Grocery Delivery option. Point Pickup, Skipcart, AxleHire and Roadie will help power Walmart’s Online Grocery Delivery in metro areas across four states with further expansion planned in the coming weeks. Walmart Grocery Delivery is available in more than 800 stores with another 800 being adding this year. “Customers love our Grocery Delivery service. As they are busy managing jobs, soccer practice, dance lessons and social schedules we are on a mission to do more than keep a little extra money in their their pockets”, said Tom Ward, senior vice president of Digital Operations, Walmart U.S. “With the help of these new delivery partners, we’re making grocery shopping even easier by bringing the everyday low prices of Walmart right to the front door of customers.”
Source: apnews.com
US: DoorDash expands footprint into all 50 states
With the launch of DoorDash in Anchorage, Alaska; Billings, Bozeman and Missoula, Montana; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the third-party delivery platform is now available in all 50 states, according to a press release. The platform also expanded into Fargo, North Dakota; Morgantown and Huntington, West Virginia; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Source: restaurantdive.com
Amazon's online grocery sales growth slowed in 2018, report says
Consumables accounted for more than $10bln of Amazon's sales last year - nearly $5bln in health and personal care, $3bln in grocery and $2.5bln in pet products, according to Edge by Asciential's 2018 review. These low-cost, high-volume household items drive frequent traffic, compared to one-time luxury purchases of expensive electronics. In grocery, year-over-year growth dropped 25% as Amazon struggled to capitalize on perishable sales through its Amazon Fresh and Prime Pantry services. Led by $600mln in both coffee and cold drinks, beverages offered a bright spot. Single-use coffee pods dominated over 80% of the coffee segment, while RTD coffee drinks doubled. Corn snacks, seeds and nuts led growth in the latter subset, spiking 90% compared to 2017. Snacks and breakfast foods reached $550mln, up 50% and 15%.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Stop & Shop to test ‘self-driving grocery stores’
Stop & Shop plans to pilot driverless vehicles that bring consumers a selection of groceries when summoned via an app. The Ahold Delhaize USA supermarket chain said that the test, due to launch this spring in greater Boston, will use autonomous electric vehicles from San Francisco-based startup Robomart Inc. Billed as a “self-driving grocery store”, the vehicles will carry an assortment of produce, meal kits and convenience items directly to customers, where they can choose what they want.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Spain: Bon Preu upgrades its online offer
Catalonia-based Bon Preu has launched a mobile application, allowing shoppers to order from the BonpreuEsclat online supermarket using their mobiles. Its online store has been available since November 2018 and offers a full range of 11,000 products. The application is free to download on the Google Play and App store. A new smart search engine lets shoppers search for products quickly. Shoppers can also use multiple devices on their path to purchase, for example, starting the purchase with a computer and finishing it with a tablet or mobile. The retailer also has another app where shoppers can check vouchers and promotions. The group’s loyalty programme works across its online and physical channels. With their client card, customers accumulate 1% of the amount of each purchase, receive custom promotions, and fortnightly offers. Home delivery is not yet available but is being piloted. Customers can however use its wide network of pick-up points. In a new Esclat hypermarket opened recently, the online collection point will be installed with a mini market.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Greece: Supermarket sales increased 2.2% last year
Supermarket sales recorded a rise in sales in 2018 for the second year in a row, as the sector appears to be entering a period of relative normality after its dramatic developments and radical restructuring. Of course 2018 also saw significant merger and acquisition activity, though not of the scale of previous years and without any bankruptcies, while the smooth course is also set to continue this year. Data research company Nielsen reported that supermarket sales grew 2.2% last year compared to 2017 (a figure concerning stores of 100 square meters or larger on mainland Greece and the island of Crete). That means turnover amounted to about 9.36bln euros in 2018, from about 9.16bln in 2017 and 9.02bln in 2016. Still, so-called fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) - everyday products bought on a frequent basis - underperformed and only posted a year-on-year increase of 1.8% in 2018.
Source: ekathimerini.com
Groupe Casino sees sales up in France, despite 'gilets jaunes' protests
Groupe Casino has posted a 0.5% increase in same store sales growth in its home market of France, with the retailer citing the 'gilets jaunes' protests towards the end of the year as a reason for the slowdown in performance. The group's France Retail division posted 1.4% total growth in the period, and 0.2% organic growth, reporting sales of €4.92bln for the quarter.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Lidl’s premium range drives Christmas growth
Lidl has reported a year-on-year sales increase of 8% over Christmas in the six weeks leading up to 30th December. The growth was attributed to its strongly positioned premium range and continued expansion of its estate. Lidl’s premium private label product range ‘Deluxe’ saw a 33% sales increase year-on-year over the holiday period. Products that performed best were the free-range turkey and speciality fruit and vegetables, with sales increasing more than 100% year-on-year.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Belarus: Spar launches new supermarket in Mazyr
Spar Belarus has announced that it has opened a new Eurospar supermarket in the city of Mazyr. Located in a residential area in southern Belarus, the new store offers a sales space of nearly 1,000 square metres. The new store offers a high level of customer service, along with a wide range of products, the retailer said. A structured floor plan makes navigation easy, and enables customers to find things effortlessly. The retailer is set to launch more stores in the country over the course of the year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Italian customers optimistic about the year ahead, retail co-op finds
A recent report published by Coop Italia revealed that 19% of Italians are hopeful about the year ahead. Coop Italia is a market leader in Italy, with a 14% market share and 6.8mln customers. The report is based on a survey carried out by the Ancc-Coop Studies office of Coop Italia and it involved 1,000 customers. The survey revealed that 27% of Italians think the economy will grow over the next 12 months whereas 19% think the country could enter a recession. Another 7% believe that Italy will leave the EU while 14% want to strengthen the relationship with the Union.
Source: thenews.coop