Amazon pushes for more companies to create exclusive brands
Amazon is pushing for more manufacturers to create exclusive, private label products to sell only on its site, according to The Wall Street Journal. Companies making everything from mattresses to artificial sweeteners to coffee have already launched brands only available through Amazon. After finding that it was too expensive for Amazon to develop exclusive brands independently, the company started pushing established food and beverage manufacturers to take on the R&D work, a source told the Journal. Nutrition brand GNC was one of the first to launch products through the program Amazon started last year. Private-label has always presented a risk to manufacturers because it limits sales to a single outlet. But Amazon has worked to sweeten the deal with promises of rapid-fire customer feedback, marketing support and prominent position in search results.
Source: fooddive.com
US: Walmart deploys Spark City staff training app
Walmart is using Spark City, a simulation-style video game, to assist in training its store associates. Developed by staff member Daniel Shepherd and available in the App Store and Google Play, this puts players in charge of a Walmart dry grocery department. It was piloted with Walmart Academies and already has had more than 104,000 downloads. “Spark City appeals to a variety of people, including those already in the department manager supervisor role and associates not in the role but who want to experience it, such as a cashier who works at a register but is interested in learning about working on the sales floor”, says Shepherd.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Italy: Pam acquires 16 Arimondo Stores
Pam has acquired 16 stores in Genoa, Savona and Imperia from regional retailer Arimondo. The acquisition follows a commercial partnership agreement signed between the companies in November 2018. The partnership aims to offer customers “a richer and more innovative range, at always convenient prices”. The former Arimondo stores in Liguria will stock Pam’s private label ranges. Pam’s loyalty programme, Carta Per Te, will be extended to the stores as well. Separately, Pam said it hopes to open six new stores in Albissola, Albenga, Genoa, Loano, Rapallo and Sanremo in 2019.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Kenya: Quickmart opens first 24-hour branch in Lavington
Fast rising retailer Quickmart Supermarkets has opened its first 24-hour outlet in Lavington’s Valley Arcade as it count on quality services and convenience to penetrate the country’s competitive retail sector. Quickmart’s latest strategic location is expected to serve customers in the wider Kilimani region that includes Kileleshwa and Lavington neighborhoods where residents have been having limited shopping options, relying on nearby malls that close before midnight. Marketing head at Quickmart Betty Wamaitha said the retailer, the pioneer estate shopping experience in Kenya is adding time factor to its quality services to give customers both guaranteed price and convenience.
Source: biznews.co.ke
Italy: Coop Lombardia introduces SmartFood corners
Coop Lombardia has commenced the rollout of SmartFood corners in the fruit and vegetable departments of its stores. The healthy nutrition project is being implemented alongside the European Institute of Oncology (IEO), and the first Smart Food corner was unveiled at the Ipercoop Piazza Lodi hypermarket in Milan. Within the Smart Food corners, which are dedicated to three dining occasions of the day (breakfast, snack and dinner), a selection of seasonal products and brands will be presented for customers that seek to follow a balanced diet. These include fresh fruit and vegetables in season; seeds; dried and dehydrated fruit; spices; cereals and legumes; fish, eggs and dairy products; and soups.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Tesco confirms 9,000 jobs at risk as it axes fresh food counters
Tesco has confirmed that up to 9,000 staff jobs are at risk as it closes fresh food counters in about 90 of its stores and makes cuts at its head office. The retailer, which has more than 300,000 UK employees and more than 3,400 stores, said it hoped to redeploy up to half of the 9,000 directly employed Tesco staff into other customer service roles. The Guardian understands that hundreds more jobs are at risk from the closure of about 200 staff canteens, which have been run by outsourcing companies since 2017. Tesco said it could not confirm how many outsourced jobs would be affected.
Source: theguardian.com
Spain: DIA refines its capital increase
The supermarket chain will have four allied banks to ensure its rescue: Santander, JP Morgan, Barclays and Société Générale. These entities have committed to subscribe the capital increase of at least 600mln euros that will be directed by Morgan Stanley. DIA, which wants to avoid entering into bankruptcy, tries to close the operation before Easter: the operation is scheduled for March 15 and April 15. These terms would mean carrying out the entire expansion with barely a month’s margin. The supermarket group plans to hold its shareholders’ meeting in mid-March, more than a month before what has been usual in recent years. Then, the shareholders must approve the execution of this extension. The supermarket chain also has pending the presentation of the annual results, marked by the profit warning announced in October, the shareholders’ meeting and the extension and refinancing of the debt, amounting to 1,600mln euros, including bonds for 900mln. DIA is also in the process of selling its Clarel and Max Discount brands.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
Italy: Gruppo Abate sells 35 stores
Selex member Gruppo Abate has sold 20 supermarkets and 15 franchised stores to Ergon. Ergon is a part of the Sicilia Discount consortium of which Gruppo Abate is a member. Gruppo Abate said it is currently receiving and evaluating offers as it tries to sell more stores.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
UK: Ocado shares rise after M&S deal report
Ocado shares rose as much as 6.7% after a report suggested it may agree a deal with Marks and Spencer to deliver its food and drink. M&S could buy distribution centres and vans from Ocado, the Mail on Sunday reported. It has been exploring options for food delivery online in a bid to catch up with rivals such as Sainsbury's. Both companies declined to comment. Analysts suggested Ocado could stock M&S food or run its website. Ocado currently has a deal with southern England-focused Waitrose, which is due to come to an end in September 2020.
Source: bbc.com
Egypt: new Lulu hypermarket locations in Cairo
After the confirmation of approving the contract between Lulu Hypermarket and the internal trade development authority, the company has declared that it will be having four new locations. According to The Daily News Egypt, the new branches of the Lulu Hypermarket are allocated in two land plots in Rehab and El Koronfel in New Cairo on 15,000 sqm each, as well as a plot of land in the Sixth of October next to the Hosary Square on 40,000 sqm, and a land in Obour city on 15,000 sqm on an annual usufruct system.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
UAE retail giant launches first business school
Dubai-based retail major Majid Al Futtaim has launched the region’s first Retail Business School, designed to help foster a new generation of innovative retail industry leaders in the UAE. The company, which holds the exclusive franchise rights to operate Carrefour in 38 countries, said the Majid Al Futtaim Retail Business School will focus exclusively on dynamic learning programmes for employees running its Carrefour operations as the company seeks to accelerate its ambitious growth plans. Around 2,500 employees are expected to benefit from professional development opportunities at the school this year, the company added.
Source: arabianbusiness.com
South Korea's Homeplus joins EMD
The European Marketing Distribution AG (EMD) welcomes a new partner: Homeplus Co. Ltd, Korea's second largest retailer, is from now on closely cooperating in the sourcing of private label products with the leading European associated group. The agreement signed on Wednesday 23 January in Zürich by Homeplus' CEO Lim Il-Soon provides also for the option of cooperation in other areas of intercontinental cooperation. Homeplus, founded in 1997, is the second largest company in the South Korean retailer market with a turnover of 9.7bln US dollars. The Homeplus Group owned by the Asian private equity firm MBK Partners operates currently 752 retail outlets and eight logistics centres. More specifically, the branch network comprises 351 supermarkets, 140 hypermarkets, 261 convenience shops, various shopping malls and bakeries operated in the checkout areas. The Homeplus Group offers its food and non-food assortments also online and owns a delivery company.
Source: presseportal.ch
Iceland voted top supermarket for customer satisfaction in the UK: study
Frozen food retailer Iceland has been voted as UK's top supermarket for customer service, according to new figures released by The Institute of Customer Service. The retailer emerged as the highest-ranking supermarket with a score of 83.2, way above the national average of 77.7. Managing director of Iceland, Richard Walker, said: “The satisfaction of our customers is central to our success and we are constantly building on this through competitive pricing, quality, and in-store experience. Customer satisfaction is now more important than ever as the market becomes increasingly competitive, but I am proud that we continue to offer our customers the very best experience of any UK supermarket.” The supermarket scored 81.7 for its emotional connection and 80.9 for ethics.
Source: esmmagazine.com