US: Hannaford rolls out paid parental leave benefits
Hannaford Supermarkets has unveiled new parental leave benefits that will provide qualifying full-and-part-time associates with six weeks of fully paid leave during the first 12 months after the birth, adoption or legal placement of a child. The benefits, which aim to support new parents and caregivers of all genders and gender identities, go into effect on September 1. “We see and appreciate that there is a wide spectrum of circumstances that brings families together, and we want to ensure we live up to what it means to be an inclusive employer in how we extend our care and support”, explained Margo Peffer, Hannaford’s VP of human resources. “Having easy access to tools and benefits that support well-being and balance in our personal and professional lives is important for all of us at Hannaford.”
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Alltown Fresh unveils new convenience market in Connecticut
Alltown Fresh is joining the ring of fresh produce. The new fresh convenience market is taking on big names like Amazon in a smaller format, celebrating its first store opening in Connecticut. "There is not one ingredient that we haven't put effort into. At Alltown Fresh, we give our guests the ability to watch our team members as they crack an egg and cook it, take fresh bread and toast it - and top it off with a little bit of avocado. We want to be known as a restaurant and a marketplace farm stand - and ultimately don't want to be doing the same thing everyone else is doing in the convenience store space", said Eric Slifka, CEO of Global Partners LP, Alltown Fresh’s parent company. "We truly believe our guests shouldn't have to sacrifice healthy foods for convenience, and we're excited to introduce this efficient, fresh approach to the people of Connecticut starting with our Waterbury location."
Source: delimarketnews.com
US: Green Bay UNFI/SuperValu workers reject contract, authorize strike to keep health care benefits
Drivers and warehouse workers at the UNFI distribution center in Ashwaubenon have authorized a strike in response to a nationwide contract dispute between the Teamsters and the Providence, Rhode Island wholesale food distributor. Wisconsin's Teamsters Local 662 voted almost unanimously on August 24 to reject a 6-year contract that would reduce health care benefits for approximately 150 workers at UNFI's Ashwaubenon distribution center. Authorization to strike does not necessarily mean Wisconsin Teamsters will strike. It just means they can strike. Meanwhile, UNFI announced it was making contingency plans in case workers do so.
Source: eu.greenbaypressgazette.com
Walmart Canada brings grocery delivery to Montreal for the first time
For the first time ever, Walmart Canada is excited to announce the launch of online grocery delivery in Montreal, Quebec, bringing grocery delivery to Montreal customers. Customers can shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood and dairy, as well as health and beauty products, household goods, pet food, baby food, diapers and much more. "Introducing grocery delivery to Montreal brings more time-saving ways to shop at Walmart to even more Canadians", said Daryl Porter, Vice-President Omni-channel and eCommerce. "Whether our customers choose to shop in-store, online, pick up or have their groceries delivered, we want to make Walmart the easiest and most convenient place to shop for everything they need."
Source: newswire.ca
Amazon's 'Ring' to partner with 400 police agencies nationwide
Doorbell-camera producer Ring will partner with more than 400 police agencies nationwide through its app in a bid to become the country’s “new neighborhood watch”, the company announced on a post to its website. The Amazon-owned company’s app, Neighborhood, will allow 405 police departments to request homeowners’ camera footage for a certain time frame, but will also give the owners the opportunity to deny law enforcement access, according to the company. Law enforcement will not be able to view to live footage.
Source: foxbusiness.com
US: Dollar General encouraged by DG Fresh rollout
With the addition of new distribution facilities in the past quarter, Dollar General Corp.’s self-distributed DG Fresh initiative is now in 3,500 stores and should be in nearly a third of its store base, or 5,000 locations, by the end of 2019, executives said. “We are very excited about the early results we are seeing from this initiative as well as the long-term potential benefits it can deliver for our customers and our business”, said Todd Vasos, Dollar General CEO, in a second-quarter earnings call. “We continue to believe it can be accretive as early as 2020.”
Source: supermarketnews.com
US and Canada: Mercato & DoorDash partner in ecommerce for independent grocers
Mercato, the online ordering and delivery platform for independent grocers, has partnered with technology and delivery company DoorDash in more than 4,000 cities in the United States and Canada. Mercato currently has onboarded approximately 750 independent grocers and specialty markets in 22 states, and DoorDash will fulfill the majority of these ecommerce orders. Customers can receive free order delivery within 10 miles through September 30, using the promo code "DoorDash" at checkout at www.mercato.com. Same-day delivery is available for meat, fish, produce, bakery, prepared foods, pantry staples, and more.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Wegmans announces future locations
Wegmans is pushing ahead with an ambitious growth plan, recently opening stores in Harrison, New York, and Alexandria, Virginia. Now, the retailer has announced two more brick-and-mortar locations in Brooklyn, New York, and Raleigh, North Carolina, continuing its expansion on the East Coast. Both of these stores, according to the company’s website, are due to open soon. The store in Raleigh will open September 29, 2019; the Brooklyn store will open October 27, 2019.
Source: delimarketnews.com
UK: Convenience stores face ban on supermarket purchases
An anonymous major supermarket boss told the BBC it is considering banning retailer purchasing to give “customers a chance to get what they need”. They said: “Businesses who are struggling with their supply chains effectively use ours. We would need to limit the amount convenience stores, for example, could buy.” Former Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King said a block on wholesale purchases would be “inevitable” if there was a no-deal Brexit. Nearly all shop owners polled by betterRetailing said they had previously sourced products from supermarkets.
Source: betterretailing.com
Russia: 1H 2019 IFRS financial results for Lenta
Lenta Ltd (“Lenta” or the “Company”), one of the largest retail chains in Russia, announced its reviewed consolidated IFRS results for the half year ending 30 June 2019. 1H 2019 Financial Highlights: Total sales grew 3.1% in 1H 2019 to Rub 199.2bln (USD2.99bln). (Compared to 1H 2018: Rub 193.2bln), including retail sales growth of 7.2% and wholesale decline of 62.2%; Gross margin of 22.5% (+0.6p.p vs. 1H 2018) increased as a share of low-margin wholesales business declined in total sales, while retail margin remained almost flat; SG&A rose to 19.1% of sales (+2.0p.p vs. 1H 2018) due to combined effects of the higher personnel cost, rent expenses, rise in depreciation, as well as increases in utility and communal costs; EBITDA of Rub 16.1bn, down 5.7% (1H 2018: Rub 17.1bn) with a margin of 8.1% (1H 2018: 8.9%).
Source: lentainvestor.com
Australia: Woolworths maintains plans to close 30 Big W stores as profit tumbles
Woolworths is pushing ahead with plans to close 30 unprofitable Big W stores as it battles a tough consumer environment and a drop in profits. While Woolworths' full-year results were negatively affected by the loss of revenue from the sale of its petrol and convenience store wing, net profit for the continuing business still fell 7% to $1.49bln over the year, or 9% taking into account the extra week of trade in the 2019 financial year compared to 2018. The market had expected a stronger profit of around $1.7bln.
Source: abc.net.au
UAE: Majid Al Futtaim reports half-year loss as value of properties falls
Majid al Futtaim Group swung to a net loss during the first half of 2019 as it suffered a Dh860mln (USD234mln) writedown on the value of its land and property portfolio. The company reported a loss to its owners of Dh448mln for the year to June 30, compared to a profit of Dh446mln in the same period last year. It managed to grow revenue by 1% to Dh17.9bln, though, and said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation were 1.2% higher at Dh1.2bln. “The strength and durability of our business has been a key factor in our financial performance for the first half of 2019, demonstrating the importance of geographic and business model diversification", said Alain Bejjani, chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim Holding.
Source: thenational.ae
Australia: Hypermarket giant Kaufland slates 11 new stores for Victoria
German hypermarket Kaufland is set to shake up Australia's retail sector with two more stores confirmed for Melbourne and a further nine to be reviewed for roll-outs across Victoria. The move comes as construction continues for Kaufland's 115,000 square metre distribution centre in Mickleham, and adds to three stores approved in March for Dandenong, Epping and Chirnside Park. The confirmed sites of Oakleigh South and Coolaroo take Kaufland Australia's total number of approved stores in Victoria to five, while the company has also acquired three sites in South East Queensland and has plans to set up shop at Adelaide's Prospect 1838 development.
Source: businessnewsaus.com.au