Singapore: Alibaba faces a new challenger in online groceries
Online grocery startup Honestbee is betting a brick-and-mortar store will help it compete against tech giant Alibaba. Singapore-based Honestbee, best known for its grocery app, has opened a massive cashless store called Habitat that offers a mix of online and offline shopping. Habitat users scan an app on their phones to enter the store. To check out, they push their carts through a gate into a secure area behind a panel. Shoppers can then grab a coffee or snack at one of Habitat's restaurants while their goods are scanned and packed. When the groceries are ready, they get a notification on their app and then head to a pickup area where a small robot retrieves a locker containing their bags. Shoppers can also order groceries at the store online and have them delivered to their homes.
Source: edition.cnn.com
Germany: Aldi Süd expands its work with influencers
Aldi Süd has announced plans to strike up long-term cooperation agreements with five social media influencers for a period of one year. The discounter has also formed a new group 'Aldifamily', under which it will work together with these influencers. In the food sector, Aldi Süd is working alongside Aldifamily members to ensure the retailer's presence on their social media channels. "We want to create a connection between Aldi Süd and the individuals that follow theses influencers", said Marco Ganser, marketing director at Aldi Süd.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Tesco achieves surge in full year sales and profits
Tesco has reported impressive progress against key financial metrics in its newly released 2018/19 results, with strong growth in group sales driven by a resilient performance in the core UK business and strong trading at Booker. Headline results: Group sales: £56.9bln (+11.5%) +1.4% LFL; UK & ROI: +2.9%, with Tesco UK +1.7% and Booker +11.1%; Central Europe: -2.3% LFL (impacted by fewer trading days and less general merchandise); Asia: sales -6.2% LFL (with improvement to -3.0% in Q4); Group operating profit: +34% to £2.2bln, inc. UK & ROI +45.1% to £1.5bn and Booker £196mln; Group operating margin 3.45%, with H2 3.96% (3.79% excl. Booker), putting Tesco on track to meet 3.4 - 4.0% ambition by 2019/20.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Belgium: Delhaize launches ‘YesWeScan’ mobile payment app
Delhaize Belgium is enhancing speed and convenience for shoppers starting this week with the launch of a mobile payment application at its Delhaize Fresh Atelier store at the Galerie Ravenstein in Brussels. The app, called YesWeScan, will be introduced at other Delhaize Fresh Atelier locations later this year. YesWeScan, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play, will allow customers to scan product barcodes with their smartphone and add the items to an electronic shopping basket. They then pay using the Payconiq / Bancontact application or Apple Pay, with Google Pay available soon. After payment, customers will receive a digital ticket as they leave the store, as well as a receipt by email.
Source: aholddelhaize.com
France: Auchan and Carrefour test the automatic store
A kiosk without a cashier to buy a pack of pasta, organic apples, a pair of tights or a deodorant. In the container of 18 square meters, which has just landed in the parking lot of the Auchan headquarters in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, the offer focuses on small repairs. Badge in support, the employees of the sign can come and do their extra shopping among 400 references. Reserved for staff, this XXL vending machine uses the badge as an access key, payment method and to validate the exit. Charge everyone to scan their products on the terminal to edit their receipt. At the Carrefour headquarters in Massy, a similar project is in the making. The group has to open in the coming weeks an automatic store reserved for its employees. Located on the ground floor of the building, it will rub shoulders with the gym and the corporate nursery, as one more service offered to the teams.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
Norway: Reitan Convenience sees turnover up in full-year 2018
Reitan Convenience, the convenience arm of Norway's Reitangruppen, posted turnover of NOK 16.1bln (€1.67bln) in full-year 2018, up from NOK 15.9bln, the previous year. The group, which operates the Narvesen, Pressbyrån, 7-Eleven and R-kiosk banners, among others, in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and a number of CEE markets, posted EBITDA of NOK 783mln and an operating profit of NOK 569mln for the period. "We are well positioned in all seven markets in which we operate, and are looking to drive continued growth", commented the CEO of Reitan Convenience, Johannes Sangnes.
Source: www.esmmagazine.com
US: Deploying technology into store backrooms
Takeoff Technologies gets set to enter a period of rapid acceleration. The company has developed an automated fulfillment solution for grocery ecommerce that is positioned in the backrooms of existing stores. Taking around 10,000 sq ft of space, the solution can be deployed to fulfill orders in multiple stores, using a hub and spoke model, fulfilling orders faster and at lower cost than manual picking. It also enables retailers to utilise excess space in larger stores. In the US, the retailer has partnered with Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons and Wakefern. Its first site went live last year with Sedando’s Supermarkets, a regional chain in Florida.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: Downtown Orlando could be getting another Publix
A new Publix could be coming to downtown Orlando. The Florida grocery chain has been looking at the 15,000-square-foot Ferg's Depot located at 78 W. Church St., according to the Orlando Business Journal. The space was formerly a sports bar and restaurant that closed in August 2018. The new store would be close to a mile away from the Publix that's already in downtown Orlando on East Central Boulevard.
Source: orlandoweekly.com
Canada: Loblaw to receive $12mln in federal funds for climate action
To help it reduce carbon emissions, the federal government is giving Loblaw Companies Limited $12mln to retrofit refrigeration systems in approximately 370 stores over the next three years. The money will come from the government’s Low Carbon Economy Fund, which is valued at $450mln and aims to “reduce carbon pollution, save money, and create good jobs in a clean economy”, according to a press release. The government says the funding will help Canada’s largest grocer reduce its annual emissions by approximately 23%.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Food Lion remodeling 23 Virginia stores
Food Lion is investing $40mln to remodel 23 stores in 14 towns and cities in the Charlottesville and Harrisonburg, Virginia, areas. "Food Lion is proud to have been a part of the many towns and cities we serve throughout the Charlottesville / Harrisonburg market for 37 years, and we are even more excited to bring new offerings, services and a new look to these markets", noted Food Lion President Meg Ham. "We look forward to making significant investments in our stores, our associates and our communities to offer an enhanced shopping experience. Our mission is to ensure our customers can easily find fresh, quality products to nourish their families at affordable prices every day, delivered with the caring, friendly service they expect from Food Lion every time they shop. We look forward to reintroducing our renovated stores later this summer."
Source: progressivegrocer.com