Romania: Lidl set to continue expansion & open over 15 stores in 2019
German-held discount store chain Lidl has grown to 238 stores in Romania and continues expansion at its usual pace, 10 to 15 new stores a year. The chain officially entered Romania in 2011 when it took over the 107 Plus Discount store chains. It then continued development from scratch. “We intend to continue growing at the same pace in 2019 and inaugurate more than 15 new stores in Romania (…),” says Lidl Romania CEO of three years, Frank Wagner.
Source: agroberichtenbuitenland.nl
UK: Co-op opens franchise store at Leeds University
The Co-op has opened its first franchise store on a university campus at Leeds University. The new store opening follows Co-op’s announcement that it plans to develop a network of franchise stores. The franchise store is managed and run by Leeds University Union (LUU) with the aim of better serving the campus community. Co-op’s full range is available at the new store including fresh, healthy foods and an extended vegan and free-from range. The store also offers Fairtrade products, food-to-go, in-store bakery and essentials.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
India: Grofers raises fresh funds from existing investors, valuation hits $425mln
Grocery delivery startup Grofers has raised around $60mln in fresh capital from Softbank Vision Fund (SVF), the first tranche of a larger $120-140mln funding round that the company is stitching together. ET had first reported about the financing round in its October 29, edition last year. As reported at the time, SoftBank has moved Grofers to its $100bln Vision Fund. The Japanese group had earlier backed the e-grocer through its balance sheet.
Source: tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com
South Korea: Seoul to get its first Emart Traders branch next month
Emart, a Shinsegae Group company, will open a new branch of Traders, its big-box warehouse chain, in Seoul next month. It will be the first branch in the capital. The outlet will be located in Wolgye-dong, Nowon District, northern Seoul, with the opening scheduled for March 14. The Wolgye Traders is being built in the parking lot of Emart’s Wolgye store. The warehouse store will be 9,917 square meters (106,746 square feet) in size, with 45,302 square meters of floor area. Emart said the annual sales goal for the first Seoul branch of Traders is 140bln won ($12.6mln). The company is planning to raise the new branch’s competitiveness by offering instant and fresh food at prices that could be 45 to 50% lower than the average price at department stores.
Source: retailnews.asia
One Below: new UK discount chain launches
Poundworld founder Chris Edwards has launched a new discount concept with products carrying price points of up to £1. Key features of One Below are: Over 5,000 SKUs; around 2,500 SKUs will be groceries; 10 departments including; home, health and beauty, and gardening; prices will start at 29p rising to £1; branded good such as Coca-Cola, Pedigree and Kellogg's will be available; between 2,500-5,000 sq ft,
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
UK: Iceland launches a new wholesale service
A trial of 'Iceland Trade', a new wholesale service for independent retailers and caterers has launched, according to trade publication RN. The trial is UK-wide. Customers can order anything from Iceland's range, with free delivery for orders over £35. There is a maximum order of 12 cases of a product. Deliveries will come from Iceland stores or warehouses depending on volume. Anthony Howard, Iceland's Business Development Manager has said: "We are trying to bridge the gap between wholesaler and retailer."
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Metro AG delists from Luxembourg Stock Exchange
Wholesaler Metro AG has announced it is to delist from the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, as a result of the low volume of shares being traded on the exchange since their listing in July 2017. Announcing its decision, Metro said that it believes "maintaining an admission to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange offers no benefits to the shareholders and investors". It has removed the shares from trading on the regulated market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange with effect from 1 March.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UAE: Union Coop plans move into Abu Dhabi
Union Coop, the largest cooperative retail group in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is planning to expand outside its home emirate of Dubai, its CEO has said. Khalid Humaid Bin Diban Al Falasi said the Coop has gained approval from the authorities to expand outside Dubai. “We have got the approval to expand outside Dubai, which is big news for our shareholders. We would be collaborating with local governments in this regard”, he said during a press conference announcing the company’s 2018 annual results.
Source: zawya.com
Australia: Coles signs up Optus for business connectivity deal
Australian retail giant Coles has turned to Optus Business to provide connectivity to its more than 2,400 stores and other corporate sites. Under the multi-year deal, NBN will use fibre to connect Coles sites, with Optus providing corporate mobile services. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but it is one of the telco's largest recent arrangements. At the same time, Coles will be offering a larger range of Optus products in-store, and the telco will join the supermarket chain's Flybuys program.
Source: zdnet.com
US: Independent grocer in Connecticut now has ‘intelligent’ buildings
Connecticut independent grocer Highland Park Market has teamed with JouleSmart Solutions to transform its supermarkets into so-called "intelligent" buildings. Portland, Oregon-based JouleSmart has updated the grocer’s Suffield and Glastonbury locations with its Integrated Intelligence Gateway (IIG), a system that provides remote facility oversight and active, real-time, optimization of comfort, indoor air quality and energy usage.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Whole Foods 500th location
Whole Foods Market is fueling its expansion across the Southeast with the debut of its new Midtown Atlanta flagship store, which will celebrate its grand opening April 5. Located at 22 14th St. NW, the 70,000-square-foot multilevel space marks the retailer’s 500th location and largest store in the Southeast. Touted as a community gathering destination, the new store features four fast-casual eateries, including a rooftop bar, offering exclusive food menus and selections of locally sourced beer and wine. The store will also feature a variety of natural, organic and locally sourced items, as well as prepared food bars such as a build-your-own avocado toast station, a lettuce wrap bar and a skillet bar.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: Publix Q4 sales edge up, but earnings fall
Sales at Publix Super Markets for the three months ended December 29, 2018, were $9.3bln, a 3.8% increase from the $8.9bln logged in 2017, while comparable-store sales for the three months ended December 29, 2018, edged up 1.1%. The grocer’s net earnings for the three months ended December 29, 2018, came to $407mln, versus $766.6mln in 2017, a 46.9% decline, and its earnings per share for the three months ended December 29, 2018, fell to 57 cents per share, from $1.04 in 2017. According to Lakeland, Florida-based Publix, earnings were negatively affected by the new accounting standard requiring equity securities be measured at fair value with net unrealized gains and losses from changes in the fair value recognized in earnings.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon plans new grocery chain
Arguably one of the largest pioneers of e-tail continues to expand its goals into brick-and-mortar grocery. Amazon has a new U.S. chain in the works, according to the Wall Street Journal, and the first outlet could make its debut as soon as this year. This would not be branched off from its Whole Foods Market brand acquired just over a year ago, but separate distinct business, the report notes. One Amazon insider told the news source that the first grocery store is planned for Los Angeles at the end of this year, with leases already signed for at least two other grocery locations to open early in 2020.
Source: delimarketnews.com