US Report: Walmart brings website ad sales in-house
Walmart is bringing its website ad sales and the related analytics work in-house, according to Ad Age. The account has been handled by WPP’s Triad, and the move eliminates most of the work for Triad, which WPP acquired less than three years ago. The transition is expected to last through May. Hundreds of jobs will be affected, and Triad, which is part of GroupM’s performance marketing group, reportedly will enforce non-compete clauses in their contracts, thereby preventing employees from moving to Walmart Media Group, which will handle the ad operations. Walmart is expected to add hundreds of employees with the move, sources told Ad Age. Triad’s other clients include Staples, Office Depot, Kohl’s, CVS, Wayfair and Sears, which combined include about half of Walmart’s retail sales. In 2017, Triad’s then second-largest client eBay took its business in-house. Haworth handles media buying for Walmart and Sam’s Club and is 49% owned by WPP.
Source: marketingdive.com
US: Albertsons Companies & KeHE renew partnership
KeHE Distributors LLC announced that it has renewed its supply agreement with Albertsons Companies as their primary distribution partner for natural, organic and specialty products. Speaking about the renewed partnership, Brandon Barnholt, President & Chief Executive Officer of KeHE Distributors stated: "Albertsons is a premier U.S. food retailer, their blue-chip portfolio of banners, emerging omnichannel capabilities, and national scale position the company for growth and success. We are very excited and honored to continue to serve them." Shane Sampson, Albertsons Companies' Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer added: "KeHE has been a key partner to Albertsons Companies as we focus on delivering the great natural, organic and specialty products customers want when and how they want them, both in our stores and online. We are very pleased to renew this partnership."
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Kroger names next 2 locations for Ocado-powered automated fulfilment centers
The Kroger Co. has named the country's next two customer fulfilment centers in its partnership with U.K. online grocer Ocado. Central Florida and the Mid-Atlantic will host the new facilities, automated warehouses with digital robotics capabilities - aka "sheds." Last November, Kroger announced its first center in the Cincinnati suburb of Monroe, Ohio, which is also home to one of two stores testing Kroger's new digital shelf tags, an innovation to which test shoppers have so far responded well. "Kroger is excited to partner with Ocado - one of the most innovative, advanced companies in the world - to redefine the grocery shopping experience for customers along the East Coast", said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "We are incredibly excited to introduce customer fulfilment centers in this region to deliver on our Restock Kroger vision to serve America through food inspiration and uplift."
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Carrefour China trials conveyor belt solution in-store
Mirroring the in-store fulfilment option from Hema, Carrefour China is trialling the use of a ceiling conveyor system at its Shanghai Gubei hypermarket. The announcement was made by Carrefour Asia’s executive director and Carrefour China’s president and chief executive, Thierry Garnier, on his LinkedIn page. Garnier said the solution would enable the retailer to accept 3,000 orders a day.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
UK: The Co-op announces franchise recruitment programme
UK retailer The Co-operative has announced details of a new franchise programme, which offers independent retailers the opportunity to become a part of the brand. The retailer aims to expand its business by adding new Co-op branded stores through this programme. This programme is in addition to the retailer's plan to launch around 100 new stores in 2019. Head of new channels at The Co-op, Martin Rogers, said: "This is a significant milestone in our franchise ambition and we’re looking for the right retailers in the right locations to share in our success and help widen the reach of Co-op products." Co-op franchisees will gain access to a full-service model, receive support, tools, and training that will help them to grow their business with The Co-op. The franchise stores will offer a wide range of branded and private-label lines.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Belgium: Makro gets final warning and grant
Makro Belgium will receive another 40mln euros from German parent company Metro, but that may well be the final lifeline. The Germans' patience with the loss-making Belgian branch is wearing thin: without a quick improvement the branch may be closed. Makro's six Belgian stores will be getting a new capital injection of 40mln euros, according to local website De Rijkste Belgen. Over the past few years, the German parent holding has been spending hundreds of millions on the chain: last year alone, Makro is said to have received 80mln euros.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Holland: Jumbo commences home delivery of online orders in Amsterdam
Dutch retailer Jumbo has announced that it will now offer home delivery services for online orders in the central areas of Amsterdam. The purchases, ordered through Jumbo.com or the Jumbo app, will be delivered via specially developed, CO2 emission-free Jumbo electric street scooters. Customers can also opt for one or two-hour delivery of orders. As well as offering convenience, the service will also contribute to the retailer's sustainability goals, it said. The orders will be delivered from one central distribution point, thereby reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Jumbo is aiming to cut CO2 emissions from transport by 50% by 2020, when compared with 2008.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia's Woolworths H1 results: sales up 2.3% to AU$30.6bln
Woolworths has released H1 results with overall sales up 2.3% to AU$30.6bln for the six month to 30 December 2018. Food sales improved in the second quarter, but lower than expected sales in Q1 meant a slowdown for the half. It posted a 2.3% increase to AU$19.9bln, with EBIT rising 4% to AU$937mln. The impact of the plastic bag ban and the success of Coles' Little Shop campaign were cited as the key reasons to falling 0.8% behind Coles' reported sales growth. However, Woolworths regained sales growth lead in the second quarter over Coles, as the two retailers continue to face difficult trading conditions.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Lidl plans major Danish expansion program
German discount supermarket chain Lidl has plans to open 103 new shops in Denmark over the next few years. The expansion would be at the rate of around 10-15 shops per year and in 2019 alone, 1bln kroner has been set aside for investment. Lidl has over 10,000 shops in 30 countries and although they only arrived in Denmark in 2005, there are 117 of them in Denmark. The chain has 20 branches in Copenhagen but thinks that there is room for 60-80. That would bring them in sharp competition with Netto, that at present has 100 branches in the capital.
Source: cphpost.dk
Switzerland: Coop sees retail sales up 1.9% in full-year 2018
Coop Switzerland has posted a 1.9% increase in sales in its retail division in full-year 2018, reporting sales of CHF 17.7bln (€15.6bln) for the period. Its supermarkets division posted revenue of CHF 10.4bln (€9.16bln) for the year, which was 0.8% higher than the previous 12-month period, while specialised formats were up 3.6%, to CHF 7.3bln (€6.43bln). As of the end of 2018, Coop operated 2,313 outlets across Switzerland - the densest sales network of any retailer operating in the country. Overall, Coop Switzerland posted growth of 5.0%, to CHF 30.7bln (€27.05bln), with EBITDA rising by 5.5%, to CHF 2.1bln (€1.85bln).
Source: esmmagazine.com