US: Central Co-op recognized for sustainability
Seattle’s Central Co-op has garnered two awards in recognition of its eco-friendly efforts: Chinook Book’s Heart of Seattle and Sustainable Seattle’s 2019 Sustainability Leadership Award. Sustainable Seattle’s Sustainability Leadership Awards celebrate businesses that are engaged in mitigating the effects of climate impact and forging new pathways for the Puget Sound region. Central Co-op is recognized in the Place category, which honors businesses transforming the sector by embedding sustainable practices into their operations, and influencing others in their field to follow suit. It's the second year that the co-op has received the award.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger to hire 600 for Georgia, Eastern Alabama, and South Carolina stores
This week, Kroger announced plans to grow its workforce by as many as 600 full- and part-time employees - setting the stage potentially for future growth in Georgia, Eastern Alabama, and South Carolina. The company is hosting a one-day job fair for its Atlanta Division - the 183-store division spanning those three states. The event will take place Saturday, April 13th, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. “Kroger is committed to creating job opportunities in the communities we serve”, Kroger Atlanta Division Corporate Affairs Manager Felix Turner said, according to a report from local Fox affiliate Fox-5 Atlanta. Turner continued: “We invite and encourage area residents to explore the numerous job and career options available at Kroger locations throughout Georgia, Eastern Alabama, and South Carolina.”
Source: delimarketnews.com
US: SpartanNash gets ready for Earth Week
In honor of Earth Week, which runs April 15-22, SpartanNash is prepping a lineup of eco-friendly initiatives that will take place across the company. “At SpartanNash, we love Earth Week, because it allows us to engage and educate our associates, store guests and communities while celebrating and promoting environmental stewardship”, noted Meredith Gremel, VP of corporate affairs and communications at the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based grocer. “We also take this opportunity to raise awareness for the need to recycle, reuse and reinvest in workforce development training through our Goodwill partnership.”
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon Go may face competition for checkout-free stores in Europe
Grocers, alarmed at Amazon.com Inc.’s rapid growth in Europe, are considering fighting back with the help of a tiny Portuguese startup. Sensei, a 16-month-old technology company based in Lisbon that’s backed by Germany’s Metro AG and Portugal’s Sonae SGPS SA, is pitching its technology to European supermarkets as they race the ecommerce giant to open the region’s first checkoutless stores. Sensei says three major European grocers, including a U.K. supermarket operator, have tapped its technology for stores they plan to open this year - potentially getting in ahead of Amazon. The U.S. behemoth has reportedly scouted space for its Amazon Go stores in London, but has not announced any openings.
Source: digitalcommerce360.com
HMY installing accessible cash payment points at Auchan Retail Spain outlets
Auchan Retail Spain has taken a step forward in its universal accessibility policy, with the installation of accessible cash payment points for people with reduced mobility in six of its Alcampo hypermarkets. The installation was made by HMY, an international leader in global services and innovation for the retail sector. These ergonomic cash points incorporate an electric mechanism, which enables the regulation of the height of the counter for easier access, simply by pressing a button.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Holland: Albert Heijn launches its own podcast about food
Supermarket chain Albert Heijn is launching a podcast series in five parts on the origins and production of our food. 'Op ons bord' (On our plates) is the title of a new five-part podcast series from Albert Heijn, designed to show us where our food comes from and how it will be produced in the future. In each episode, Justin Verkijk (a radio producer, DJ and presenter from The Hague) will seek out the answers with farmers, growers, manufacturers and experts. "I want to make informed decisions about what I put into my mouth", says Verkijk. Every episode will focus on a different theme. The first, which will be available on April 11th, is about organic food. "We chose for a journalistic approach that allows us to paint a nuanced picture of the origins as well as the future of our food. Listening to Justin's quest is fun and engrossing for anyone interested in good food", said Fleur Bernhard, director of social media at Albert Heijn.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Russia: retailer Magnit makes $1.78bln rival bid for Lenta
Russian grocery chain Magnit has made a $1.78bln non-binding and indicative proposal to smaller competitor Lenta, topping a rival offer from Russian steel magnate Alexey Mordashov, Lenta said. The arrival of a second potential bidder for Lenta inflates competition for the third-largest grocery retailer in Russia amid a decline in the shares of many Russian food retailers over the past year. Magnit sent its proposal to Lenta on April 1, the same day U.S. private equity fund TPG and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) agreed to sell their 42% stake in Lenta to Mordashov. Lenta said it had received the proposal from Magnit to buy 100% of the company for $3.65 per global depository receipt (GDR).
Source: reuters.com
Amazon enters Austrian retail top 10 for first time
For the first time, Amazon has entered the top 10 of the biggest retailers in Austria. The country’s retail trade association, Handelsverband Österreich, has compiled a new list of the top 100 retailers in Austria and after ending in eleventh place last year, Amazon now ranks ninth. Handelsverband Österreich releases the brand new report "Austrian Top 100 Retailers", in cooperation with creditors protection association KSV1870. In this report, the largest retail companies in Austria are ranked according to their turnover.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
Spain: Eroski is expanding its network of convenience and franchise stores 
Eroski is planning to expand its estate of convenience stores in tourist zones and metropolitan areas, where the model has proven successful. Two years ago, the Spanish retailer, which forms part of the Mondragon Group, launched a new Rapid store format to enable customers to shop quicker, responding to a change is shopping patterns. At only 140 sq meters, the Rapid stores are smaller than the usual supermarkets. They have around 1,500 products on display, including freshly baked pastries. The retailer - which has a 5.6% market share of grocery stores with network of 1,651 outlets - has opened more than ten Rapid stores, with another 20 planned by the end of the year. It aims to have 200 convenience stores over the next five years. The retailer is also looking at partnership with small local stores to open 50 more stores under the Eroski Rapid franchise. In 2018 it opened 52 franchises after an investment of €7.6mln, and plans 50 more franchises in 2019.
Source: thenews.coop
Bol.com named Netherlands’ strongest retail brand
Bol.com, operated by Ahold Delhaize, has been named the strongest retail brand in the Netherlands, according to the annual Retail Brand Survey 2018 by the Hendrik Beerda Brand Consultancy. This year’s study sees the top three unchanged since last year, with Bol.com’s stablemate Albert Heijn taking second place, followed by Kruidvat. Non-food discounter Action takes fourth place, while Lidl jumps two places to fifth in the table. Ikea (6th), Hema (7th), Jumbo (8th), Blokker (9th) and Gamma (10th) round off the top ten.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Sri Lanka: Softlogic opens supermarkets in hospitals chain
Sri Lanka’s Softlogic Holdings said it is opening ‘mini format’ Glomark supermarkets in its hospitals chain to make best use of links between group units and larger format outlets in densely populated suburbs. Two ‘Glomark Essentials’ outlets have been opened at Asiri Central Hospitals in Colombo and Asiri Hospital in Kandy in the central hills, a statement said. The strategy to have the big format Softlogic Glomark along with the new mini format Glomark Essentials is part of Softlogic’s plans for rapid expansion and growth of the brand. The supermarket chain was launched by Softlogic Supermarkets Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Softlogic Retail (Pvt) Ltd, under the ultimate parent group, Softlogic Holdings PLC.
Source: economynext.com
Bulgaria: Billa to invest over 17mln euro in expansion in 2019
Billa Bulgaria, the local unit of supermarket chain Billa owned by Germany's REWE Group, will invest over 34mln levs ($19.5mln/ 17.4mln euro) in 2019 in the opening of new stores and renovation of existing ones, it said. By the end of the year Billa Bulgaria will open two new stores at key locations in Sofia - in Paradise Center and The Mall shopping centres, the company said in an e-mailed statement. The Bulgarian unit increased its revenue by 5.9% year-on-year in 2018. The revenue of REWE Group rose by 4.7 % to 61.2bln euro ($68.7bln) mostly due to its retail business in Central and Eastern Europe. For the first time, REWE Group's revenue exceeds 60bln euro.
Source: seenews.com