US: UNFI's Cub Foods stores welcomes new CEO
Since being acquired by UNFI in its $2.9bln SuperValu transaction last year, Cub Foods has been the subject of much speculation. And now, it seems, the banner has a new CEO. Mike Stigers stepped into the new position in the last few weeks, in the wake of UNFI losing some of its top executives: Anne Dament, Executive Vice President of Retail, and Chad Ferguson, President of Retail Operations.
Source: delimarketnews.com
US: First-half sales up at Ingles Markets
A second-quarter gain helped drive solid sales growth in the first half at Ingles Markets, which at the bottom line cycled through a prior-year benefit from federal tax reform. Ingles said that net sales totaled just over $1bln for the quarter ended March 30, up 1.8% from $984.6mln a year earlier. Retail grocery comparable-store sales, which exclude fuel, rose 3.4% and reflect increases in customer transactions and basket size, the Asheville, North Carolina-based grocer said. Comp-store results also exclude the impact of the calendar shift for Easter, which this year occurred in April and will provide a lift in the third quarter, whereas last year the holiday took place in March and benefited second-quarter results, the retailer noted. Gross profit came in at $244.3mln, up 3.9% year over year from $235.2mln. As a percentage of sales, gross profit was 24.4% in the 2019 quarter versus 23.9% a year ago.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Costco Wholesale Corporation reports April sales results
Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) reported net sales of $11.60bln for the retail month of April, the four weeks ended May 5, 2019, an increase of 7.3% from $10.81bln last year. For the thirty-five weeks ended May 5, 2019, the Company reported net sales of $99.89bln, an increase of 8.3% from $92.24bln during the similar period last year. This year’s April retail month had one less shopping day than last year, due to the calendar shift of Easter. This negatively impacted total and comparable sales by approximately 1 and 1.5 to 2%.
Source: globenewswire.com
Canada: Sobeys unveils online home delivery brand
Sobeys has unveiled the name and brand for its online home delivery service that is slated to launch in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) next year. The grocery company also announced the service would be expanding to the Ottawa area and “major cities in Quebec” in 2021. Called Voilà by Sobeys (Voilà par IGA in Quebec), the service powered by British company Ocado Group will offer up to 39,000 products including fresh produce. Orders for the GTA will be filled through an automated warehouse in Vaughan, which is still under construction and costing the company an estimated $95mln to build. A second customer fulfillment centre (CFC) will open in the Montreal suburb of Pointe-Claire to serve the Ottawa and Quebec markets. The company said it expected the cost of the Montreal CFC to “be consistent or less than Vaughan.” The majority of the investment, however, will fall on Crombie REIT which will develop and own the warehouse. Each CFC is expected to create 1,500 jobs. In a press release announcing the service name and brand, Sarah Joyce, SVP, e-commerce for Sobeys’ parent company Empire, said a home delivery experience such as this one doesn’t yet exist in Canada.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: SpartanNash announces preliminary first quarter 2019 net sales and earnings results
SpartanNash Company (“SpartanNash” or the “Company”) provided preliminary net sales and earnings results for the 16-week first quarter ended April 20, 2019. The Company also updated its outlook for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2019. David Staples, SpartanNash’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We remain focused on achieving our top five objectives for 2019: 1) growing sales in the mid-single digit range; 2) realizing an annual run rate of at least $15mln of earnings improvements through Project One Team over 24 months; 3) strengthening our management team, systems, food processing and supply chain operations; 4) reducing debt and working capital while lowering financial leverage ratios; and 5) improving adjusted operating earnings and EBITDA.” The Company expects net sales for the 16-week first quarter ended April 20, 2019 to be $2.54bln compared to net sales of $2.39bln for the first quarter of fiscal 2018.
Source: businesswire.com
UK: Jack’s private label lines launched in Tesco stores
Tesco rolls out Jack’s private label products to 900 of its stores. Tesco has rolled out Jack’s private label products into Tesco stores for the first time. Nine private label products from its discount fascia, Jack’s, will be stocked in 900 of its larger format stores until the end of May.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Lidl inaugurates its first logistics centre in eastern Romania
Lidl is continuing to invest in Romania by commissioning the first logistics centre in the eastern country near the town of Roman, Neamt county. Lidl’s 5th warehouse has kicked off activity this month, serving 50 stores in Moldavia region. Stretching on a 133,000sqm plot of land, the 45,000-sqm logistics centre is located in Cordun commune, near Roman and near E85 European road. The warehouse was designed to have a lower carbon footprint and provides almost 200 jobs in Moldavia region, both in operational and administrative areas.
Source: romaniajournal.ro
Spokeswoman: sale of Carrefour's business in China not on the agenda
A sale of Carrefour’s business in China is not on the agenda, a spokeswoman for the French retailer said in answer to market rumors that had sent the share higher. Carrefour’s sales in China have been declining for several years despite its attempts to fight E-commerce competition and sealing a partnership with Tencent.
Source: reuters.com
Coop Netherlands lowers price of reusable shopper bag
In a bid to encourage customers to reduce the use of plastic bags, Coop Netherlands has announced plans to reduce the price of its large reusable shopper bag. It has also increased the price of normal, disposable plastic bags. According to Coop CSR manager Yvonne van Asselt, the idea to slash the price of the shopper bags was partly suggested by consumers. The move is in line with Coop's strategy to offer customers more sustainable, everyday solutions. The retailer also plans to introduce reusable bags in the fresh produce department, for fruit and vegetables. Presently, plastic bags offered in its fresh produce section are fully recyclable.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Spain: Consum FY results
Consum has announced FY2018 results saying turnover rose 8.45% to €2.73bln. During the year the retailer invested €149.3mln, a rise of 30% over the previous year, with €15.1mln targeted at innovation. Consum said that it ended the year with 730 stores, 447 company owned and operated and 283 Charter franchises, with a total selling space of 571,330 sq. m. In 2018 it opened 40 new stores, of which 26 were franchised and 14 company owned, renovated 32 and extended 15.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
French retailer Casino reviewing options for Latin American assets
French supermarket retailer Casino , which has been selling assets to cut debts and reassure investors, said it was reviewing its strategic options in Latin America. Casino, which controls Brazilian retailer Grupo Pao de Acucar (GPA), issued a statement after Brazilian paper 0 Globo said the French firm could announce “in the next few days” a plan to combine its assets in Latin America. Citing press reports about plans in Latin America, Casino said “it studies its various strategic options in this region in the context of the permanent review of its investments.” It added: “These thoughts have not led to any material element that would justify a disclosure to the market”.
Source: reuters.com
Lidl celebrates 30 years in France!On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the Lidl brand is putting “the fancy in the big” with a vast multi-media campaign signed by its new agency Lidl Australia. On the menu of this multi-level device: Food trucks, print displays, TV campaigns, promotional activations in supermarkets and digital activations (Facebook and Instagram). Thus, since April 30, Lidl unveils the campaign that challenges itself with unbearable offers, then to reveal to the general public its commitments while since May 5, in TV, the communication focuses on the quality of products "at the real price".
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com