US: BJ's owners register to sell remainder of stake in company
More than 42% of East Coast grocery chain BJ’s Wholesale Club may be headed to market. The company filed forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to prepare more than 58mln shares of common stock for sale. “This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus of up to an aggregate of 58,345,145 shares of our common stock…” BJ’s noted in an SEC filing. The retailer also noted: “We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our shares by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds and bear all commissions and discounts, if any, from the sale of our shares pursuant to this prospectus”.
Source: delimarketnews.com
US: Allegiance reviving Pathmark banner
Supermarket cooperative Allegiance Retail Services LLC has revealed its plans to resurrect the Pathmark Supermarkets banner with a 49,000-square-foot store currently under construction in Brooklyn, New York, and slated to open its doors in late March or early April. Ironically, the store is located at a site that operated as a Pathmark until the bankruptcy of the chain’s parent company, A&P, in 2015.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Tops expands grocery ecommerce, now delivers to 90% of its shoppers
Northeastern grocer Tops Markets has expanded its grocery delivery program to officially serve more than 90% of its shoppers. Partnering with third-party delivery service Instacart, the grocer has added 10 stores to to its delivery footprint of 119 stores, with 129 stores now able to bring groceries directly to shoppers' doorsteps. The new locations included are Frewsburg, Boston, Owego, Cooperstown, Norwich and Lowville, New York, plus Canton, Troy, Sayre and Towanda, Pennsylvania. Some stores have already begun delivery, while others will start the service February 28.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon is rapidly expanding its air fleet to handle more of its own shipping
Amazon is becoming a player in the logistics and shipping industry. That's what analysts think about the recent expansion of Amazon Air to include 50 planes and several new regional hubs, including a $1.5bln hub opening in northern Kentucky in 2021. According to Wolfe Research, the e-commerce giant is now handling its own shipping for 26% of online orders. In a December press release, Amazon said that it can "transport hundreds of thousands of packages per day" with its new "dedicated air network" and that its fleet of planes make "two-day shipping possible almost anywhere in the U.S."
Source: cnbc.com
South Africa: Pick n Pay trials a R5 reusable bag made from green plastic bottles
Pick n Pay is trialling the lowest priced reusable bag yet in South Africa, as an affordable reusable alternative to plastic carrier bags. This first of its kind and environment-friendly R5 budget bag is made from green recycled plastic bottles, and will initially be introduced in 22 stores across the country to gauge customer reaction. Pick n Pay was the first retailer to introduce a reusable bag in 2003 and has since offered customers a range of alternatives, including cotton and RPET bags.
Source: iol.co.za
Slovenia: Spar to reduce salt & sugar in own-brand products
Spar Slovenia has announced that it aims to cut 80 tonnes of sugar and 25 tonnes of salt from its private-label ranges by 2020. The move comes in the wake of a study that has revealed that Slovenians consume too much salt and sugar. The new low-sugar products will cut annual sugar consumption in the country by 15 tonnes, the retailer said. Annual salt consumption will likely decrease by around three tonnes as a result of the retailer's low-salt, own-brand products.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Lidl will open at least 5 new stores in Bulgaria in 2019
The Lidl chain continues its sustainable expansion in Bulgaria in 2019. The company plans to open at least 5 new stores, focusing on the big cities and the Black Sea coast. A few days ago, the 94th store of the chain opened in the resort of St. St. Constantine and Helena, followed by Pomorie, Tsarevo and several shops in Sofia. "Our plans for 2019 are ambitious, as we have opened 7 new stores in 2018. With the new expansion of our sales network this year, we are aiming to offer convenient shopping locations for residents in central areas and the periphery of major cities, as well as the opportunity for more people on the Black Sea coast to access our products in an optimal price-quality ratio. Lidl Bulgaria will continue to expand its sales network by offering the Lidl range of products to more and more potential customers prompting them to save money and time in providing quality products for their family", said Milena Dragiyska, CEO of Lidl Bulgaria.
Source: novinite.com
7-Eleven India launch likely with Future Group
Convenience store chain 7-Eleven is holding advanced talks with India’s Future Group to enter the territory. The parties may announce an agreement to launch a network of 7-Eleven India stores next month, according to inside reports. Future Group would operate small format stores as a master franchisee, with a focus on food retailing. The partnership is expected to help Future extend its reach to buyers beyond its own existing store network.
Source: insideretail.asia
France: Groupe Casino agrees to sell 33 stores to Lidl
French retail giant Groupe Casino has announced that it has signed two agreements to sell 33 stores to Lidl and one Géant hypermarket in Roubaix to a Leclerc member for €42mln. The move is a part of the retail group's ongoing strategy to divest structurally loss-making stores including hypermarkets, supermarkets, and Leader Price stores. Both agreements provide for the continuation of services of employees in these stores, in accordance with legal rules. The disposals are expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Holland: Spar inaugurates 100th Spar Express store
Spar Netherlands has announced that it has opened its 100th Express forecourt store, along the A12 highway near Ede. The retailer opened its first Spar Express store in the country in 2017. The new store combines two new concepts - Spar Local and Spar Bakery - that were developed jointly in association with Spar International. The bakery section caters to on-the-go customers, offering a large assortment of freshly baked breads, buns, and pastries as well as sandwiches, smoothies, yoghurts, freshly made pizzas, and pancakes. The newly introduced foodservice concept, Spar Local, provides a seating area for customers. It also doubles up as a workspace and a meeting point for social and business purposes.
Source: esmmagazine.com