US: SoCal unions turn up the pressure on grocers
The United Food and Commercial Workers has announced plans to begin demonstrating and communicating directly with consumers as ongoing negotiations with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons fail to make headway, according to union locals. More than 500 stores could be affected. The parties have been negotiating wage and healthcare-related aspects of their contract, which expired in March 2019. According to UFCW, the stores are offering most workers a 1% salary increase and changes to their healthcare plans, which they deem insufficient to afford the cost of living in Southern California. Ralphs posted a statement to its website stating that it has offered “top-rate” wage increases without making changes to healthcare benefits and while protecting current pensions.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Stater Bros. gets a logo makeover for its 83rd birthday
Stater Bros. is giving itself a facelift for its 83rd birthday. The supermarket chain, with all 172 stores in California, last week unveiled in Tustin a new store logo featuring a modern font that’s replacing a 1970s-era look. Stater Bros., known for a working-class image, has been quietly giving its stores a hipper look in recent years to meet customer demands. It’s added everything from cut fruit offerings to sushi to expanded wine and beer selections. And it’s repainting, reflooring and relighting interiors with friendly, warmer tones. By October, the chain hopes to have refurbished the interiors of 45 of its stores.
Source: ocregister.com
Canada: Metro Ontario expands ready-to-eat meal delivery
Following a pilot project that launched at an Etobicoke store last February, Metro Ontario is expanding its partnership with food delivery app SkipTheDishes to include six additional locations. Customers can now order individual and family sized ready-to-eat meals, as well as lunchtime sandwich and salad combos for delivery from select Metro Ontario locations in Burlington, Etobicoke and Toronto. “By utilizing SkipTheDishes’ network of professional couriers, it will allow Metro to focus on preparing the fresh, quality meals that our customers have come to know and expect, while expanding our online and delivery presence”, said Andre Gagne, vice-president, fresh merchandising, Metro, in a press release.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Australia: Coles agreement secures three new solar power plants
Solar power plants capable of generating sufficient electricity for 39,000 homes will be built in regional New South Wales following a landmark 10-year agreement between Coles and global renewable power generation company Metka EGN. In the first deal of its kind to be made by a major Australian retailer, Coles will purchase more than 70% of the electricity generated by three solar power plants to be built and operated by Metka EGN outside the regional centres of Wagga Wagga, Corowa and Junee - the equivalent of 10% of Coles’ national electricity usage. The photovoltaic solar plants will supply more than 220 gigawatt hours of electricity into the national electricity grid. Producing the same amount of power from non-renewable sources would result in more than 180,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, or the equivalent of the annual emissions of 83,000 cars.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
China: Alibaba postpones up to $15bln Hong Kong listing amid protests
China’s biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has delayed its up to $15bln listing in Hong Kong amid growing political unrest in the Asian financial hub, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listing plans are being closely watched by the financial community for indications on the business environment in the Chinese-controlled territory and provides a window into Beijing’s reading of the situation. While no new timetable has been formally set, Alibaba could potentially launch the deal as early as October, still seeking to raise $10bln-$15bln, depending on whether political tensions had eased and market conditions became more favorable, one of the people said.
Source: reuters.com
Poland: Dino Polska S.A. posts solid top-line growth in H1 2019
Polish grocer Dino Polska S.A. posted a 30.5% year-on-year growth in revenue to PLN3.5bln (€800mln) in the first half of its financial year. The company's EBITDA grew by more than 36.8% during this period and its EBITDA margin increased by 0.4 percentage points year on year to 8.9%. It attributed the strong performance to Dino’s steady network expansion and higher like-for-like sales in existing stores, which grew 11.1% in H1 2019.
Source: esmmagazine.com
China: Costco sets up shop in Minhang
Costco’s first China store opens in Minhang District next Tuesday, with the US membership-based retailer hoping to grab a share of the nation's booming consumer market. China will be a key focus of the US company and the Shanghai store's performance will serve as a gauge for it to assess whether to push deeper into the China market, said Richard Zhang, the company’s senior vice president for Costco Asia. Prices at the Minhang store will be lower than its online store on Tmall, the company said.
Source: shine.cn
South Africa: Shoprite misses forecasts despite stronger home market
Shoprite Holdings missed full-year earnings forecasts, hit by inventory shortages in South Africa and currency devaluations in the rest of Africa, which overshadowed an improved second half in its home market. The owner of Checkers and Usave retail chains is recovering from a poor first half when sales and profit were hit by a strike at its largest distribution center at home and installation of a new IT system which disrupted supply chains. The retailer reported significantly improved growth in the second half, driven mainly by its Supermarkets South Africa operation, where sales rose by 7.4% in the six-months ended June 30 and 9.4% in the final quarter. This business generates 74.9% of group sales.
Source: reuters.com
Cyprus: Spar adds two new stores to its network
Spar Cyprus has announced that it has converted two former Debenhams Food Hall outlets in Nicosia and Limassol to Spar supermarkets. The retailer said that it also trained store employees to ensure a smooth integration within the organisation. The new stores offer a wide range of products, private-label ranges from across the world, and daily special deals, Spar said. It also supports local farmers and producers by sourcing regional produce for its bakery, butchery, delicatessen, and fruit and vegetable departments. The retailer has also introduced the Spar Natural range in the new supermarkets to cater to the needs of vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. Spar Cyprus aims to open 20 stores in the country within the next five years.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Amazon under fire for new packaging that cannot be recycled
Amazon has been criticised by environmental groups and customers after introducing a range of plastic packaging that cannot be recycled in the UK. While supermarkets and other retailers have been reducing their use of single use plastics, the world’s biggest online retailer has started sending small items in plastic envelopes, seemingly to allow more parcels to be loaded on to each delivery truck. Adrian Fletcher, an Amazon customer from Glasgow, is among a number who have complained to the company. He said the move felt like a “major step backwards” in the fight against plastic.
Source: theguardian.com
China: Alibaba to buy Kaola unit from NetEase for $2blnAlibaba Group Holding Ltd has agreed to pay $2bln in cash to buy Chinese e-commerce firm Kaola, local news outlet Caixin reported. Kaola, owned by Nasdaq-listed NetEase Inc, sells apparel, household appliances and other products, and is the biggest among Chinese shopping sites selling imported goods, according to a report from consulting agency iiMedia.
Source: reuters.com