Australia: Coles steps up backend processes in digital push
Three months after emerging from Wesfarmers as a separately-listed entity, Coles Group has rolled out new software to improve backend functions, such as procurement, supplier payment and HR, with the ultimate goal of freeing up employees’ time in service of the customer. The software, supplied by SAP, is expected to increase the consistency of these backend processes and remove duplicated data, as well as deliver more efficient services for its staff, suppliers, partners and customers.
Source: insideretail.com.au
UK: Scottish retail sales recover after poor December
Scottish retail sales recovered last month following a poor December, according to new figures. The Scottish Retail Consortium and KPMG found sales grew year-on-year by 2.2% between 30 December and 26 January. It was the highest rise since last June, when there was an increase of 2.7% on the back of warm weather. The largest increase last month was seen in food sales, which climbed by 4.9%, with new year and Burns night celebrations cited as key factors.
Source: bbc.com
France: E.Leclerc sees sales up 1.5% in full-year 2018, driven by multichannel
French retailer E.Leclerc has posted a 1.5% increase in turnover in full-year 2018, to €37.75bln, excluding fuel. The group said that its online channels contributed some 59.2% of its growth for the full year (compared to 30% in full-year 2017), which 'confirms the success of the multichannel strategy' adopted by E.Leclerc over the past three years, the retailer said. Revenue at its Drive business was up 6.9%, while it also enjoyed a boost from its specialty concepts (GSS) operations, including drugstore, pet shop and auto centre offerings, among others, of 4.2%. In-store, the group has sought to boost its organic offering, which now represents 4.2% of sales, compared to 3.5% in 2017, while its Marque Repère private label brand increased its sales by 1.2% and now accounts for 19.7% of private label market share.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Germany: Lidl relies on mini-stores in Munich
In the coming months, the first two small branches of Lidl in Munich are scheduled to open: in the Zweibrückenstraße in the former McDonald’s on 25 February and at the end of April at Leopoldstraße 21. Much is not yet known about the two new Mini-Lidl. The company promises a revised, adapted to downtown locations concept that actually represents a departure from the former location policy of the discounter. So far, the in-house criteria for a total property area of 3000 square meters before, on average, a Lidl market has about 860 square meters of sales area. In recent years, there has been a trend towards ever larger branches. The newly planned market on Tübinger Straße south of Heimeranplatz will even have a sales area of 1700 square meters.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
UK: Co-op to launch first ever franchise stores
The Co-op has announced plans to launch franchise stores, the first time the grocer would pursue this in its 175 year history. The supermarket said it planned to create “a significant number of new Co-op branded stores” under its franchise offering, and will license its brand to independent retailers as part of its progressive expansion program to open around 100 stores this year. This proposition for independent retailers who “share Co-op’s values and principles” will allow them to become part of the Co-op franchise, in addition to having access to the grocer’s own brand product which is currently available in 4000 stores following its acquisition of Nisa.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Mexican same-store retail sales rise 2.5% in January - ANTAD
Mexican retailers’ association ANTAD said that same-store sales climbed 2.5% in January compared to the same month last year. The figure reflects sales at stores that have been open for at least a year. Total sales, including newly opened stores, rose 6.4% compared with January last year, said ANTAD, which includes major chains such as Soriana and Chedraui. The country’s biggest retailer Wal Mart de Mexico told Reuters the company left the association in January. It was not immediately clear if ANTAD’s 2018 January numbers were adjusted to reflect the company’s exit from the group.
Source: reuters.com
US: Independent grocery stores on Mercato.com realize significant online sales growth, despite increased competition
Recent data from Mercato, the online ordering and delivery marketplace for independent grocers, shows that the platform is helping food retailers significantly increase online sales, with some more than tripling year-over-year. Mercato analyzed year-over-year and fourth quarter 2018 sales for retailers on the Mercato.com platform and found there were sharp increases. Increases ranged from 45 percent to 400 percent, with additional increases during year-end holidays, despite growing competition from national chains and large online grocery delivery providers.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Associated Supermarket Group partners with Wonder Rewards loyalty marketing program
Associated Supermarket Group (ASG) and Wonder Rewards have entered a partnership that establishes "Wonder Rewards" as a loyalty marketing program for ASG's banner stores and independents. Wonder Rewards was formally introduced at the February 7th ASG Retailer Summit, as part of "What's New for 2019 in Technology" for driving sales, profitability and improving the customer experience. Wonder Rewards has redefined and reinvented the concept of loyalty marketing. This innovative new program drives incremental sales for merchants through the execution of customer acquisition, retention and up-sell/cross-sell strategies.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: e-tailer Public Goods moves into grocery
Brooklyn-based D2C e-tailer Public Goods (formerly Morgans) started offering organic foods, in addition to its "clean" personal care products and ethically sourced goods, at what it describes as drastically low prices. Membership costs $59 per year and items are sold at cost. New consumers can use a 30-day free trial. Launched in 2015 as a personal care products company, the business now offers 60 organic products, including everything from split pea soup to olive oil to fancy baked goods. The e-tailer will feature new goods such as granola, pasta and jams each week. Company CEO Morgan Hirsh is hoping to compete with other health segment retailers like Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s by offering responsibly sourced and organic products while catering to an audience beyond coastal elites. It’s targeting sustainably minded consumers with things like sugar cane-based packaging and offering a zero-waste category, while also organizing items by dietary needs like vegan, gluten-free or vegetarian.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Farmstead partners to help eliminate hunger-waste paradox in Bay Area
AI-powered “micro-grocer” Farmstead, which seeks to reinvent the supermarket model with its new technology, has partnered with San Francisco-based Food Runners to help solve the hunger-waste paradox occurring in the Bay Area, where a quarter of the residents struggle with food insecurity. Food Runners' mission is to deliver to local nonprofits food that would otherwise be thrown away, thereby helping to alleviate hunger while also reducing the footprint made by food waste. Every day, Farmstead donates excess produce, baked goods, dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry from its warehouse through the Food Runner Network to such organizations as St. Francis of Assisi Community, Martin DePorres, Salvation Army Adult Rehab Center, SF Quaker Meeting Food Pantry and St. Vincent DePaul Multi Service Center.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon launches live-streamed shopping videos
Amazon has launched an online platform, Amazon Live, that allows sellers to live-stream videos showcasing their products. Through the Amazon Live Creator app, Amazon enables brands to livestream directly to Amazon.com and the Amazon mobile app. Through live streaming, merchants are able to showcase their products, interact with customers live and tell their brand story. Alongside the videos, shoppers are able to browse product details and purchase the items they wish. Sellers can also pay to promote their videos and reach a wider number of customers. Amazon Live streams multiple videos at once, so customers are able to chose and watch the ones that interest them the most, changing to a different stream when they want. Recordings of previous live streams are also available, as well as information on which live streams are coming up next. A wide range of products are available on Amazon Live, including toys, electronics, home goods and games.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: Kroger launches mobile payment solution
Kroger Pay is a mobile payment solution that combines a customer’s payment and loyalty card information. This has been developed to help it deliver a faster checkout-experience and reduce friction. The retailer also continues to roll-out its self-scanning solution, Scan, Bag, Go, as part of its focus on making its large format stores more convenient to shop. This programme was extended to 400 stores last year. Mobile payments and wallets are a key focus for retailers in the US. Walmart, Target and CVS Pharmacy have launched their own solutions. Several retailers including Costco, Whole Foods Market and 7-Eleven have added Apple Pay as a payment option. Kroger Pay provides customers with a single-use QR code that is scanned at either a traditional checkout or self-checkout. This communicates payment and loyalty card information, along with any digital coupons and personalised offers. Kroger Pay also rewards customers who use a payment option from the retailer’s personal finance business, enabling them to earn fuel points and grocery rewards with a single scan. Kroger Pay can also be linked to any major debit, credit or prepaid card.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com