US: Struggling discount grocer Save-A-Lot to seek buyer or investor - sources
Save-A-Lot Ltd, the U.S. discount grocer owned by private equity firm Onex Corp, is exploring a sale of all or part of itself, as it grapples with increased competition and a swelling debt load, people familiar with the matter said. Save-A-Lot has hired investment bank PJ Solomon to explore a potential deal, said the sources. The move comes as German discounters Lidl and Aldi are putting pressure on Save-A-Lot by expanding across the country, and big box rivals such as Walmart Inc cut prices. If a deal cannot be inked, Save-A-Lot will also consider options for reducing its debt pile, the people said. The sources asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. PJ Solomon declined to comment. Save-A-Lot and Onex did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Source: reuters.com
US: GrubMarket acquires VIP Wholesale
GrubMarket, which delivers organic and local produce, meat, dairy, and more to customers at up to half off what they’d find at a typical grocer, has completed the acquisition of VIP Wholesale, formerly an independent family-owned supplier of produce and specialty foods to San Diego-area restaurants and grocery stores, which has earned a reputation for being able to source any specific food item requested, even unique and rare products. As a result of the acquisition, VIP will now be able to make use of GrubMarket’s extensive produce supply chain network and innovative technologies, among them the recently launched GWholesaler software suite. The supplier will remain based in San Diego, and the company will continue to be managed by its current leadership team, including CEO Huy Huynh, who has headed VIP for more than 15 years.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon expands in-car delivery service
Amazon has expanded its in-car delivery service to include select Ford and Lincoln vehicles, following the launch of the service last year. Amazon’s Key In-Car service gives Amazon couriers access to shoppers' cars to leave packages inside. The in-car delivery service works via the Amazon Key App. Shoppers have to add their car details to the app so that Amazon couriers can locate it via GPS. The app notifies customers regularly regarding location of their item, and when it has been delivered. Shoppers can also track when their car was unlocked and relocked, and rate their experience of the service. Previously the service was only available to shoppers with a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac or Volvo car no older than 2015. Amazon has now expanded the service to include 2017 and later model Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The delivery service is now available in 50 US cities and is only valid on items that do not require a signature. Furthermore, items weighing over 50 pounds and exceeding 26 x 21 x 16 inches are not eligible for in-car delivery.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Mexico: Waltmart's same-store sales rise 6.1% in April
Walmart de Mexico said that sales at stores open more than a year in Mexico rose 6.1% in April compared to the same month last year. The retailer, which is the largest in Mexico, said total sales in the country rose 7.1% in April.
Source: reuters.com
Germany: Redos in talks with Metro on potential Real hypermarkets deal - sources
German retailer Metro remains in talks with a consortium led by real estate investor Redos over a potential sale of Metro’s hypermarket chain Real, sources close to the matter said. Talks with a different consortium led by property investor X+Bricks - which had been seen as frontrunner to secure a deal - have been put on hold, they added. A Metro spokeswoman said that talks on Real were at an advanced stage, declining to elaborate. Redos and X+Bricks declined to comment. Metro Chief Executive Olaf Koch said in March that he was aiming to sign a deal on the sale the loss-making chain with sales of more than 7bln euros ($7.84bln) in April or May.
Source: reuters.com
Russia: Magnit in line with expectations
The retailer reported like-for-like growth for the second quarter in a row, in line with its expectations for the year. It opened more stores than in 2018, which supported its improved total sales growth to reach RUB289,700mln (US$4,346mln) in Q1 2019. However, profitability continues to be a struggle with margin dropping from 7.1% in Q1 2018 to 6% in Q1 2019. The retailer gave several reasons for the decline, which included lower revenues from new store openings and increased rent costs from more leased space.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
UK: Ocado secures new capacity with Morrisons agreement
British online supermarket pioneer Ocado has secured more operational capacity following a fire at one of its centres, after it agreed with partner Morrisons to take back sole use of one of its sites in London. The two companies said that Ocado would have sole use of its newest customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Erith, south east London, until January 2021. Under the new terms of the agreement, Morrisons will return to the Erith CFC in February 2021. It will not incur start up or running costs before then and by the time it returns the new site will be operating at a higher capacity. In the interim period Morrison’s can grow its online business by fulfilling orders from its stores using Ocado’s store pick solution. The two companies have also agreed that Ocado will no longer be Morrisons’ exclusive digital partner, giving Morrisons more flexibility.
Source: uk.reuters.com
Glovo announces raising €150mln to expand in Morocco, worldwide
Spanish delivery start-up Glovo announced fundraising €150mln to boost growth and make itself the number one service application in Morocco and worldwide. The landed funding is led by Lakestar, with the participation from Drake, Korelya, and Idinvest. The company announced in a statement that it has raised more than €457mln since its creation in 2015.
Source: moroccoworldnews.com
Lithuania: Franmax names Povilas Šulys as new CEO
Maxima Grupė's purchasing and operations arm, Franmax, has appointed Povilas Šulys as its new chief executive officer. Most recently, Šulys served as the head of planning and analysis at Maxima Grupė, and has been a part of the retail group's management team for more than three years. Šulys will replace Eglė Šimė, who has stepped down from the position. In 2018, Maxima Grupė announced the decision to reorganise Franmax to refine and strengthen its international purchasing competencies.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: April retail sales “below expectations” despite warm Easter
UK retail sales came in “below expectations” in April as late Easter timing distorted figures against a backdrop of persistent consumer caution. According to the latest monthly Retail Sales Monitor from the BRC and KPMG, total retail sales increased by 4.1% year-on-year in April, compared to a 3.1% decrease the same period last year. Last month’s growth was also above both the three-month and 12-month average rises of 1.2% and 1.4% respectively. However, the BRC said the figures were distorted by Easter falling in April rather compared to last year when it fell in March.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Spain: Lidl invests €27mln in four new stores
Lidl advances its expansion plan in Spain and welcomes the month of May by opening four new points of sale in Spain. The first two, located in the city of Vitoria and the municipality of Torrelodones (Madrid), open their doors simultaneously on May 9, while that of the San Javier (Murcia) and the city of Barcelona will do the same on days 16 and 30, respectively. The investment made by the company for these openings has exceeded 27mln euros. With the start-up of these four stores, Lidl will reinforce its presence in the autonomous communities of the Basque Country, Madrid, Murcia and Catalonia. LED lighting technology, photovoltaic panels, low consumption cooling systems and charging points for electric cars are just some of the energy efficiency measures that incorporate these four points of sale.
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
UK: Nick Jones to leave Asda to join Joules
Commenting on the announcement that Nick Jones is to leave Asda after eight years to take on the role of CEO for Joules, Roger Burnley, CEO and President of Asda commented: “I would like to thank Nick for his contribution to Asda and all he has done in helping make George the second largest clothing brand in the UK. This is a great opportunity for Nick and he leaves us with our very best wishes for the future. I am also pleased to confirm that I have asked Derek Lawlor to step up and take on the role of SVP Food and GM, and join the Leadership Team. Derek joined Asda in 2015 as VP Fresh Trading and brings a wealth of experience and expertise in our food business.”
Source: corporate.asda.com
Migros launches click and collect service with Swiss Post
Migros has made it possible for its customers to collect online orders in one of many Migros stores across Switzerland. The supermarket giant has partnered with Swiss Post to make this new service available. The new click and collect service will be available at 300 branches across Switzerland. The collaboration is the result of Swiss Post trying to continually expand the number of access points to postal services throughout the Central-European country. As a result of the partnership, customers from supermarket chain Migros can now send and receive their parcels throughout the country at around 300 Migros supermarkets. The service is integrated into’s Migros’ existing PickMup service, which enables customers to buy products from a Migros brand and pick them up in the store.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
British political uncertainty hits Morrisons' quarterly sales
Morrisons, Britain's fourth-biggest supermarket group, said political and economic uncertainty had weighed on its first-quarter growth and warned that it faced a tough comparative over the next three months. The group, which trails market leader Tesco, Sainsbury's and Walmart's Asda in annual sales, said its like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, rose 2.3% in the 13 weeks to May 5, its fiscal first quarter. That was slightly below analysts' average forecast for growth of 2.5%, and below growth of 3.8% in the previous quarter.
Source: esmmagazine.com