Google launches Grow My Store tool
Google has unveiled a new tool known as Grow My Store to support retailers with improving their customers’ online and omnichannel experiences. The new Grow My Store tool gives retailers a rating of their website, while generating reports with recommendations on how to improve their customers’ online experience. The site is initially being rolled out in English, French and Spanish speaking countries, with further European expansion plans in 2019. Recommendations for retailers are based on country-level research, and are therefore specific to retailers’ own markets. Retailers are testing against up to 22 metrics with Grow My Store. The metrics are based on studies into customer experience best practice. Google created the tool in response to consumers increasingly demanding more information and services expected from retailers online.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
US: Kroger expands deployment of higi stations
Extending an eight-year relationship, the Kroger Co. has rolled out higi smart health stations to all of its Roundy’s division supermarkets. Chicago-based higi said this week that its digital health screening kiosks are now available to customers across the Roundy’s retail network, which includes about 150 stores under the Pick ’n Save, Copps, Metro Market and Mariano’s banners in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Canada: Shopify quietly acquired Handshake, an e-commerce platform for B2B wholesale purchasing
E-commerce platform Shopify has quietly made an acquisition to continue its expansion of the services and products that merchants can sell and purchase through its platform. It has acquired Handshake, a New York startup that offers a commerce platform for businesses that sell wholesale goods. Shopify has confirmed the deal in a short statement: “Handshake is now a part of Shopify. We consider acquisitions in the normal course of business as we focus on making commerce better for everyone.” It hasn’t disclosed the value but a source tells us it was less than $100mln.
Source: techcrunch.com
Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia denounce decision on Amazon domain
The presidents of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia criticized a recent decision by the organization that manages internet protocol to grant global retailer Amazon Inc the rights to the .amazon domain. Amazon Inc has been seeking the exclusive rights to the .amazon domain name since 2012. But Amazon basin countries - including Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia - have argued it refers to their geographic region and should not be the monopoly of one company.
Source: reuters.com
X5 Retail Group opens 15,000th store in Russia
Russian food retailer X5 Retail Group has announced that it has opened its 15,000th store. The new launch is a Pyaterochka outlet in Zelenograd featuring a new store design. The move is a part of the retail chain's external and internal transformation plan, which is aimed at improving the customer experience, and offering better services. Pyaterochka general director, Sergei Goncharov, said: "Our aim is to make qualitative improvements to the shopping experience and earn our customers' trust, making Pyaterochka a more caring, practical, and convenient store that is recognised for its fresh assortment."
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK's dunnhumby: Loyalty programs still encouraging customers into stores
Global customer data science company dunnhumby and Retail Week have partnered on an exclusive study to better understand what customers want from a food shopping experience. As part of the study: "Grocery CX: Driving loyalty in a disloyal market" 2,000 UK consumers were asked about their in-store and online retail grocery experiences. A selection of key findings: Customers reported feeling ‘most loyal to’ Ocado and Tesco for the online shopping experience they provide, while M&S and Waitrose generated the strongest feelings of loyalty in store; The survey indicated distinctions between emotional and behavioural loyalty. Respondents rated ‘shopping with a retailer that offers a loyalty scheme’ as being more important than ‘feeling loyal’ towards a retailer. Two-thirds of respondents with a Tesco Clubcard claimed they would be more likely to shop in store with Tesco.
Source: apnews.com
Belgium: Delhaize launches ambitious sustainability plan
Delhaize Belgium has announced the launch of the Lion's Footprint, an ambitious sustainability program to improve the brand’s impact on the environment. The program, introduced by Delhaize CEO Xavier Piesvaux, consists of three main parts: reducing the use of plastic; cutting food waste; and achieving carbon neutrality by 2021. With the help of associates and sustainability partners, Delhaize is taking up the challenge to be the first Belgian retailer to neutralize its ecological footprint.
Source: aholddelhaize.com
VinMart opens Vietnam’s first virtual store
Vietnamese supermarket chain VinMart claims to have opened Vietnam’s first virtual store. Run by VinGroup’s subsidiary VinCommerce, the new concept is being tested in 20 locations, including apartments, office buildings, schools and at bus stops, both in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Each store provides images and QR codes of more than 100 product groups for customers to scan and order via VinID app. The products will be delivered within two to four hours. VinMart launched the Scan&Go function in its app in March, applying it in 73 supermarkets across the country.
Source: insideretail.asia
Germany's Metro to expect at least eight second-round bids for China unit: sources
At least eight suitors are preparing second-round bids to buy a majority stake in German wholesaler Metro AG’s Chinese operations, Reuters learned from people directly involved in the matter, as suitors vie for heft in a changing offline landscape. A deal could see Metro’s China business valued at $1.5bln to $2bln, Reuters previously reported. Metro has asked a shortlist of bidders to submit non-binding offers by June 10, said two of the people, who all declined to be identified as the information is confidential. The whole process is likely to conclude in September, the two added. Bidders include the consortia of private equity firm Boyu Capital with property developer China Vanke Co Ltd, Hopu Investments with fresh food delivery firm Meicai, and Hillhouse Capital Group with supermarket chain operator Yonghui Superstores Co Ltd, the people said.
Source: reuters.com
UK: John Lewis to partner with Co-op for click & collect trial
John Lewis & Partners has announced it will trial a click and collect service in a number of Co-op food stores. The click and collect trial, part of John Lewis’ strategy to reach more customers, will initially be launched in Co-op’s Manchester Support Centre and will offer next-day click and collect for customers in areas with a smaller John Lewis store presence. Further roll out is planned for five additional stores across London, Manchester and Nottingham from May 28th 2019. Customers will also be able to return orders to the Co-op stores throughout the trial.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Ele.me partners with supermarket giant China Resources Vanguard
China’s third largest supermarket chain, China Resources Vanguard, will add 2,000 stores to the Alibaba-owned delivery platform Ele.me across 100 Chinese cities, according to an exclusive report by 36Kr. CR Vanguard’s four categories of stores - hypermarkets, standard supermarkets, boutique supermarkets, and convenience stores - are included in the Ele.me partnership. The grocery giant owns a number of brands across these categories, including its namesake CR Vanguard stores, VanGo convenience stores, V+, Tesco Express, the upmarket stores blt and Ole’, as well as others.
Source: kr-asia.com
France: Franprix and Cdiscount to collaborate on omnichannel solution
France-based, Casino-owned subsidiaries Cdiscount and Franprix are set to collaborate ‘to generate unprecedented synergies across the physical and digital retail spheres’. The combination will see the enhancement of each other’s offer and the services they are able to offer shoppers. Following the tie up, Franprix and Cdiscount said that the cooperation would lead to: Expansion of their ranges: the partnership will expand each banner’s product offering. They highlighted how, for example, Cdiscount shoppers will ‘have access to 800 items from the selective beauty and well-being line-up offered by Le Drugstore Parisien via Cdiscount’s marketplace’; Cdiscount corners to be added in Franprix stores: to expand Franprix’s non-food offer, Cdiscount corners will be added. These will offer ‘an exclusive line-up, from small household appliances to high-tech products’; Cdiscount to support Franprix’s evolution: drawing on its expertise in digital technology and in specific categories, like wine, Cdiscount will help Franprix to renew its offer and to quicken the pace of its digital transformation.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Italy: Carrefour expands collaboration with Supermercato24
Carrefour and Supermercato24 have announced they are expanding the coverage of their partnership beyond the 14 cities where the service is operated into the regions of Toscana and Campania. The agreement will enable shoppers to have their orders delivered to their homes within one hour of ordering. They will pay the same price for their products as they would in-store. Commenting on the service, Carrefour’s director of ecommerce and digital transformation, Enrico Fantini, said: “Carrefour Italia is very attentive to innovation and continues to invest in solutions that can allow us to be closer to our consumers and their territory, both online and at sales points.”
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Serbia: Aman acquires Orion supermarket chain
Serbian supermarket chain Aman has obtained the approval of antitrust authorities for the acquisition of Leskovac-based retailer - Orion. According to the ruling by Serbia’s Commission for Protection of Competition, the merger will not create a monopoly situation in the city of Leskovac and surrounding areas, where Aman has a market share of 0-5% in revenue and Orion has between 10-20% in revenue and store count. Primanova and Mercator-S are two major players in the Serbian retail sector with a market share of 10% - 20%, while Lidl has a share of up to 5%. Aman is one of the five biggest grocery retailers in Serbia, with a market share of 0-5% in terms of revenue and store count. The company has 214 stores in 24 cities and towns, of which 154 are in Belgrade.
Source: esmmagazine.com