Croatia has biggest monthly decline in retail sales in EU
In March 2019 compared with February 2019, Croatia was in a group of EU countries with the biggest decline in the volume of retail sales but it was also in a group of countries recording the biggest annual increase of the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade, according to figures released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. According to seasonally and working day-adjusted data, the volume of retail sales in Croatia in March was down 1.9% on the month. In the euro area in March 2019, compared with February 2019, the volume of retail trade increased by 0.6% for food, drinks and tobacco, while automotive fuel decreased by 0.6% and non-food products by 0.4%.
Source: total-croatia-news.com
Robinsons Retail in Philippines plans 150 new stores
Robinsons Retail Holdings will launch up to 150 new stores in the Philippines this year. The firm published a presentation online revealing plans to invest PHP3–5bln (US$57.8–96.3mln) on the store openings, following expenditure of PHP4.41bln ($85mln) on openings last year. As at December, it had 1910 stores, including supermarkets, department stores, do-it-yourself stores, specialty stores, drugstores and convenience stores. The entire network covers a gross floor area of 1.48mln sqm. Robinson’s achieved a 5.9% same-store sales growth last year, with help from a 1.5% uptick in transaction count and 6.1% increase in basket size in its supermarket business. The group is targeting a 2-4% same-store sales growth this year.
Source: insideretail.asia
Belgium: Colruyt starts home deliveries
Belgium's biggest supermarket chain, Colruyt, is starting a test with home deliveries in Brussels. So far, the discounter only offered click-and-collect. The trial should demonstrate whether the service is "acceptable for customers and sustainable for us". Residents of five municipalities in the East of Brussels (Kraainem, Sterrebeek, Wezembeek-Oppem, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre) can use the new service to have their groceries delivered at home. "We take deliveries in our own hands, because we want to make the difference with a personal and customer-friendly service - as we do in the pick-up points", Colruyt's Tom Deprater says. The orders will be delivered on weekdays between 4 and 9 p.m., and on Saturday mornings from 8 till 12.
Source: retaildetail.eu
The Netherlands: Ahold Delhaize Q1 2019 results
Ahold Delhaize, one of the world’s largest food retail groups and a leader in both supermarkets and eCommerce, reports a solid first quarter with growth in sales, underlying operating income and net income at constant exchange rates. Net sales of €15.9bln, up 1.5% at constant exchange rates, adversely impacted by Easter timing. Net consumer online sales up 25.0% at constant exchange rates. Underlying operating margin of 4.4%, stable compared to the same quarter last year. Net income of €435mln, up 2.4% at constant exchange rates. Good performance in the U.S., not yet impacted by Stop & Shop strikes. Solid results in the Netherlands, with bol.com net consumer sales up 35.2%
Source: aholddelhaize.com
Casino: French retail sales improved in April
Supermarket group Casino, battling investor concerns over its high debt and ability to generate cash, said that retail sales in its core French market improved in April after a flat showing in the first quarter. Overall, same-store sales rose 0.9% on a year-on-year basis in France in April, according to slides released to coincide with Casino’s annual shareholder meeting. Revenues improved at its Geant hypermarket stores, Monoprix and Franprix convenience stores, outpacing the LeaderPrice discount stores where sales were still weak.
Source: uk.reuters.com
Italy: SPAR has modest FY growth
DESPAR Italia has reported a modest rise in sales for its 2018 fiscal year, helped by continued expansion of its store network. For the year, sales were up 3.5% year-on-year to €3.5bln, with own label sales growing by 7.7% to €334mln. SPAR also accounted for an 18.7% share of the country’s grocery market, a figure it aims to grow to 20% by 2020. SPAR opened 29 net new stores during the year, taking its total to 1,244 outlets in the country as of end-2018. The chain said it plans to open 50 new stores and renovate 36 in 2019, investing €95mln across all DESPAR Italia Partners.
Source: kamcity.com
Kesko to acquire Finnish foodservice wholesaler Heinon Tukku
Kesko has agreed to acquire the foodservice wholesaler Heinon Tukku Oy from the family-owned company Tukkuheino Oy and private individuals. The transaction enables Kesko to execute its growth strategy and increase its offering in the growing foodservice market. The wholesale company Kespro is part of Kesko’s grocery trade division and serves foodservice (hotel, restaurant and catering) and public sector customers in Finland. Kespro employs some 500 people and in 2018, the company recorded net sales of €872mln. Kespro has 14 cash & carry outlets across Finland. Heinon Tukku will complement Kespro’s current service offering and network especially in the greater Helsinki region, also enabling significant synergies. The acquisition is subject to approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority and the fulfilment of the other terms and conditions of the transaction. The transaction is expected to be completed during 2019.
Source: kesko.fi
Spain: Mercadona seeks staff
Mercadona is looking for staff to work two days a week (Friday and Sunday) with salaries of 497 euros per month. This new job offer is part of the more than eighty jobs that the Valencian capital distribution chain has offered. Vacancies are found in work centers in the provinces of Álava, Barcelona, Asturias, Navarra, Balearic Islands and León. The offer for working days of fifteen hours a week divided between Friday and Sunday is in the logistics block of the Leon town of Villadangos del Páramo. The company is looking for workers for the process of maturation and selection of bananas.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
Dunnes takes the crown as Ireland’s largest supermarket for eight month
Dunnes Stores has once again been crowned as the nation’s largest grocer for the eighth consecutive period. Tesco experienced sales growth of 2.8%, its strongest of 2019 so far, in the 12 weeks to 21 April 2019, according to the latest figures from Kantar. “It’s all the more impressive that the retailer has managed to maintain increasing sales considering at this time last year it was growing at 6.2%", said Douglas Faughnan, consumer insight director at Kantar. “Tesco’s own label offer now accounts for 47% of its sales and is increasing at 4.3%, boosting the retailer’s overall performance”. SuperValu also showed a return to growth this period which was bolstered by a 'robust performance' in fresh food.
Source: checkout.ie
US: Kroger to open 2 new stores, remodel 11 & close 1 in Metro Detroit
Kroger announced a large investment in Michigan stores, along with one store closure last week in Metro Detroit. Kroger announced its plans to invest $97mln in Michigan during 2019 by adding two new stores, remodeling 11 stores and adding three new fuel centers. New stores will open in Warren and Sterling Heights, with the latter a Kroger Marketplace. Kroger also announced the store north of Michigan Avenue near Outer Drive in Dearborn is closing this month. The store will close May 18 due to financial reasons, according to the company.
Source: clickondetroit.com
US: Amazon Go opens for the first time in New York and the cashier-free store will accept cash
Amazon is finally bringing its cashier-less convenience store to New York. And it will also mark the first time this type of store, called Amazon Go, accepts cash. The e-commerce company announced that Amazon Go is opening to the public this week at Brookfield Place in downtown New York, on the second level of the enclosed shopping mall. The roughly 1,300-square-foot store makes this the twelfth Amazon Go location to open in the U.S. It is, however, the first one to make it to New York, with most of the others blanketing the West Coast, including in Seattle and San Francisco.
Source: cnbc.com
US: Lucky Supermarkets launch Instacart delivery
Lucky Supermarkets has kicked off online grocery delivery with Instacart at 21 stores in the San Francisco Bay area. The Save Mart Cos. chain said same-day delivery service is available through stores under the Lucky and Lucky California banners in Castro Valley, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Foster City, Livermore, Millbrae, Milpitas, Pleasanton, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Francisco, San Jose, San Ramon, Sunnyvale and Vacaville. Plans call for Instacart service to launch at more locations this year. Lucky operates 70 supermarkets in the Bay Area and Northern California.
Source: supermarketnews.com