US: Hannaford’s remodels focus on fresh
Hannaford Supermarkets has completed remodels at Portland-area stores in Maine as part of efforts to bolster its fresh offering and provide more shopper conveniences. The Scarborough, Maine-based chain, part of Ahold Delhaize USA, plans to begin holding weekend grand reopening events at four stores - Portland Riverside, Westbrook, Gorham and Falmouth - through May 5. The events will offer samples from the stores’ expanded kitchens and area vendors, coupons, product giveaways and other activities, as well as weekly themes (kitchen/deli, local items, wellness and the Taste of Inspirations private brand).
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Shoppers want more premium private label products, report says
More than half of consumers are loyal to a specific store due to its private label brands, according to a report from retail consulting firm Daymon. The report also found that 85% of consumers say they trust a private brand just as much as a national brand, and 81% say they purchase a private brand product during every shopping trip. Private brand dollar sales grew 4% in 2018, nearly six times the growth of national brand sales. This growth was present in food, household, pet, beauty and personal care categories. The report also noted that 20% of sales growth in private brands comes from products that are branded premium, trendy or organic. About 41% percent of consumers would like to see more better-for-you products and 44% want more unique attributes.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: UNFI refutes rumors of Shoppers Food & Pharmacy closures
Recent headlines made waves in the realm of grocery retail when they suggested that United Natural Foods, Inc (UNFI) planned to shutter Shoppers Food & Pharmacy locations. These headlines have now been refuted and labeled unsubstantiated. Though several news sources, including our own, reported on the flurry of store closures that were ostensibly in order for the SuperValu-owned banner, UNFI has repudiated those claims, saying that, while UNFI is in the process of divesting retail assets it acquired while buying SuperValu, no store closures are planned. “Several of the recent media reports have said that Shoppers Food and Pharmacy stores are closing. We want to clarify that there are no immediate plans for any Shoppers stores to close”, UNFI noted in a statement. “What we previously communicated was that UNFI plans to thoughtfully and economically divest its retail operations and the company is making progress on that front. As this is an ongoing and fluid process, we don’t have any specific updates or timing to share. When there is something to communicate, we will do so. But, most importantly, we want to be clear that UNFI has not announced any plans for store closures.”
Source: delimarketnews.com
US: SpartanNash Minot facility to close
The SpartanNash food distribution facility in Minot will be closing its doors by early May. The company says it plans to transition its 39 customers to its Fargo distribution center. They say 42 employees work at the facility, and the building will be listed for sale. SpartanNash says the employees were notified of the decision on March 4. They say it’s not a reflection of the employees’ work, but rather a strategic decision.
Source: kfyrtv.com
Canada: Walmart joins Project Gigaton
Walmart Canada is joining Project Gigaton, the retailer’s global effort to reduce emissions from supply chains. Launched by Walmart in the U.S. in 2017, Project Gigaton seeks to reduce emissions by a gigaton–or equivalent to the reduction of the emissions from 211mln average passenger vehicles in a year–by 2030. To date, more than 1,000 suppliers from 40 countries have signed on to the project and helped conserve 93mln metric tons of emissions.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Amazon workers strike at four German warehouses
Workers at four Amazon logistic centers in Germany went on strike on Monday, the latest action in a long-running campaign for better pay and conditions. Trade union Verdi said workers at warehouses in Rheinberg, Werne, Bad Hersfeld and Koblenz had stopped work, with the strike set to last until Thursday in some centers, and others potentially joining over the Easter holiday period. An Amazon spokeswoman said the company saw very limited participation in the strike across Germany, adding there was no operational impact so customer deliveries would not be delayed.
Source: reuters.com
Italy: Lidl opens store with 'urban garden' in Turin
Lidl Italia has opened its first store with an 'urban garden', managed by an NGO that develops cooperation and social inclusion projects for people in need. The store, located in Turin features 1,400 square metres of vegetable gardens on the roof of the building. According to Lidl Italia’s regional director, Maurizio Cellini, the project symbolises the retailer’s willingness “to be part of a social inclusion project in which the families of the neighbourhood will play a leading role".
Source: esmmagazine.com
Portugal: Intermarché to focus on competitive pricing 
Intermarché is seeking growth in Portugal, and has pledged to improve its price-quality ratio in order to attract shoppers. Speaking to Jornal Economico, the CEO of the Portuguese unit Martinho Lopes said that the company's new business model will enable the company to offer customers better value for money, with each store owner independently adapt supply to demand, in close contact with local producers. This means that stores can gain access to the freshest product while also generating transport savings. As a result, the retailer is also able to reduce the ecological footprint, producers benefit from a cost reduction, which translates into lower prices for the consumer.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Veropoulos rolls out new store concept in Serbia
Greek retail group Veropoulos is rolling out a new store concept for its Super Vero hypermarkets in Serbia. Following the re-opening of two stores last year, remodeling work has now been completed on the retailer’s store in New Belgrade, which first opened 15 years ago. The store has 5,800 square metres of retail space and features an assortment of around 45,000 products, of which more than 400 are sourced from Greece, both food and non-food. An estimated €3.5mln was invested in the project, with the store boasting an extended fresh offering, a redesigned butcher department, and a wider range of ready-to-eat dishes, with greater focus on Mediterranean cuisine. This is also the first Super Vero store to feature a bistro, where shoppers can purchase a cooked meal and enjoy it in-store.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Sainsbury’s makes UK first with electric vans for home delivery
Sainsbury’s is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable practices by becoming the first UK supermarket to trial electric van technology for home deliveries. Initially using one 100% electric van - named Evie - the trial will run until May when a second vehicle will be added and the plan is for further electric zero-emission vans to be added by the supermarket in order to service more online shoppers. Clodagh Moriarty, chief digital officer at Sainsbury’s, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Evie to the team and lead the charge in putting the latest electric van technology to the test for grocery deliveries. We’re always looking at how we can use the latest innovations to best serve our customers and this trial will help us explore how we can deliver Sainsbury’s groceries in a more environmentally-friendly way.”
Source: essentialretail.com
Germany: REWE Group publishes Human Rights policy statement
REWE Group has published its 'Human Rights' policy statement, with which the group outlines its commitment to human rights in both its direct business activities and global supply chains. The human rights policy statement is based on a number of 'hot spot' analyses prepared in cooperation with independent experts to identify potential risks for human rights violations. In addition, it includes internationally recognised standards and guidelines such as the UN's Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Children's Rights Conventions and the principles of the United Nations Global Compact. REWE Group has identified child and forced labour, income right, working hours, discrimination, freedom of association and occupational health and safety as key target areas of the policy.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Go Natural plans to double store count in Portugal
Health and nutrition retailer Go Natural plans to double the number of supermarkets it operates in Greater Lisbon and Greater Porto this year. Go Natural currently operates eight stores in the two cities. Plans also include the opening of seven new restaurants under the banner, one of which will be located at Barcelona airport, Frederico Paiva, director of the healthy nutrition business area of Sonae MC, told Dinheiro Vivo. If the plan is fulfilled, the business will close the year with a total of 16 Go Natural supermarkets and 27 restaurants.
Source: esmmagazine.com