U.S. Retail Sales Bounce Back in October
After a period of lull, retail sales rebounded in October. The Commerce Department, recently, reported that retail sales rose 0.3% in October, which is a 3.1% increase from a year ago. What’s more, retail sales rebounded from September’s 0.3% contraction, the weakest level of outlays since February. The report showed that U.S. consumers have spent more on buying cars and made significant online purchases. However, higher tariffs imposed in September on many consumer products imported from China and trade uncertainties held consumers back from spending heavily.
Source: https://www.nasdaq.com
Walmart Still Has a Lot of Work to Do to Catch Up With Amazon
Walmart's online sales are growing, but it's still struggling in a key area. Walmart posted another quarter of rapid growth in online sales in the United States. E-commerce sales for Walmart U.S. rose 41% in Q3, accelerating from 37% growth. That's also notably much faster than Amazon's 24% increase in North American sales (an acceleration as well).
Source: https://www.fool.com
Peapod And Giant Food Stores Join Forces To Enhance The Omnichannel Experience
While many grocery stores are partnering with third party delivery services such as Shipt and Instacart, GIANT Food Stores is partnering with their sister company Peapod Digital Labs to create a more on-brand omnichannel experience for their customers. Using the logistics of Peapod Digital Labs and brand recognition of GIANT Food Stores, they are rolling out their GIANT DIRECT grocery delivery and pickup services with the slogan “Direct from us, to you.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com
Whole Foods Inks 20-Year Lease For 50,000 Sq. Ft. at Broad & Washington
Broad & Washington LLC, a venture of the Arlington-based Insight Property Group, announced today that it has signed a 20-year lease for a 50,000-square foot Whole Foods Market to anchor its redevelopment of the corner of E. Broad and N. Washington Streets in Falls Church, the central intersection in the City’s downtown.
Source: https://fcnp.com
Africa retailer Jumia suspends e-commerce in Cameroon
Online retailer Jumia Technologies said on Monday it had suspended its e-commerce platform activities in Cameroon because they were “not suitable” for the African state.
Jumia, whose share price hit a record low of $4.96 after Reuters reported the suspension on Monday, said it would continue supporting buyers and vendors in Cameroon using its classified portal Jumia Deals.
Source: https://www.reuters.com
Retailers enjoy a relief rally as Boris Johnson promises business rates review
Markets are moving off latest polling data, which suggests that Boris Johnson's party has over a 60% chance of winning a majority in December's snap election, after which the pro-business measures would be introduced. Boris Johnson fired up the market for British retailers, promising to review business rates with a view to easing the taxes that companies pay for the buildings they occupy if he is elected as Prime Minister in December.
Source: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/
Wage boost for Lidl employees as all staff in Ireland to get Living Wage of €12.30 per hour
A pay increase for some 800 Lidl employees is on the way, the supermarket chain has announced. The minimum wage in Ireland currently sits at €9.80. The German discount chain on Monday announced that it is committed to matching the latest Living Wage of €12.30 per hour which is expected to benefit around 15% their employees.
Source: https://www.irishmirror.ie
Supermarkets are to ban hard-to-recycle black plastic trays in UK stores by Christmas in pollution crackdown
Major supermarkets, including Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, are set to ditch black plastic from their own-label food and drink ranges within the next three months. This move follows Morrisons who last week pledged to make 4,000 tonnes of their packaging recyclable for the first time.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk