US: H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans tops in customer satisfaction
As if H-E-B, Trader Joe’s and Wegmans weren’t flying high enough after finishing in the top 5 in dunnhumby’s nationwide consumer study, the 3 have resurfaced at the top of another consumer satisfaction index. The latest retail report from the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) took the temperature of consumers, rating the customer satisfaction levels of both traditional and online retailers, including department and discount stores, specialty retail, drug stores, supermarkets and ecommerce retailers. Looking specifically at the supermarket category, Trader Joe’s, which stood alone in last year’s index, now shares the lead with H-E-B and Wegmans, the former of which climbed the highest in the rankings just as it did in the dunnhumby report.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Doordash, Rosie team up for grocery delivery
Ecommerce company Rosie and on-demand logistics platform DoorDash are offering independent grocers what the companies call a completely seamless end-to-end ecommerce and delivery experience for both the shopper and the retailer. Retailers can use the Rosie online shopping platform to sell groceries via their Rosie-powered ecommerce website and to hand-select shopping lists with Rosie’s picking software. Now retailers who use the Rosie platform can offer their customers delivery fulfillment through the DoorDash Drive integration. Retailers that have partnered with Rosie can make use of this DoorDash integration at no additional cost.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Island Pacific Supermarket launches community-driven initiatives with ‘Bangon Batangas’ campaign following Taal eruption
Filipino American supermarket chain Island Pacific Supermarket, currently with 16 locations serving communities in California and Las Vegas, is shifting its organizational culture for 2020. The purpose-driven focus of the Island Pacific company will specifically develop tangible and measurable community initiatives to create opportunities for partnerships that transform their store spaces as the hub for Filipino American diasporic society and life, and its ever-evolving culture.
Source: asianjournal.com
Canada: George Weston Q4 earnings up year over year
George Weston Ltd. reported its fourth-quarter profit rose compared with a year earlier, boosted in part by an improvement in its underlying business, increased ownership in Loblaw and a full year of direct ownership in Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. The retail, bakery and real estate business says its net earnings available to common shareholders totalled $433mln or $2.81 per diluted share, up from $271mln or $1.86 per diluted share in the last 3 months of 2018. Sales totalled $12.1bln, up from $11.7bln in the same quarter a year earlier.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Walmart plans to bring together eCommerce, store groups
As Walmart aims to grow profits at its online shopping business and cut discord between units, the retailer is bringing together its store and eCommerce product-buying teams, The Wall Street Journal reported. Manufacturers that sold items in Walmart’s physical locations and on Walmart.com had to pitch 2 distinct buying teams, and groups sometimes had discordant opinions over pricing differences between in-store and online products. The retailer is making 6 category teams, such as apparel, entertainment, food and consumables. An executive will head up each team and eventually purchase each product Walmart sells in the U.S. The food and consumable groups will commence joint buying right away, and other purchasing categories will join forces as time goes on.
Source: pymnts.com
US: Giant Food Stores now known as The Giant Company
Giant Food Stores has a new company name - The Giant Company - and new logos to match. The new moniker was revealed during the grocer’s annual business meeting February 26 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. According to Giant, the name change highlights the important role the company, its stores and associates have played in the lives of families since the company’s founding in 1923.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
The Suning era for Carrefour China, achieved significant profit increase in January
In September 2019, Carrefour China was officially acquired by Suning Group. Tian Rui, Carrefour China CEO publicly disclosed the achievements of Suning Carrefour's integration for the first time and looked forward to the future with strategic development on February 25, 2020. Tian Rui said that in the past 5 months, Carrefour China has steadily improved its operating efficiency through the digital transformation of its stores and accelerated integration with Suning ecological system. The effect is magnificent, in Q4 2019, Carrefour China achieved its first quarterly profit among the last 7 years. In January this year, Carrefour's profits increased significantly compared with the same period last year, exceeding the sum of January and February last year.
Source: prnewswire.com
Malaysia: Aeon boosts sales and profits on new stores
Aeon in Malaysia has reported a 5.4% boost in sales last year to US$275.9mln, boosting profit by 3.97% to $25.8mln. The company credited the improvement to freshly renovated stores and new specialty stores. But Aeon in Malaysia has warned of challenging times ahead in wake of the coronavirus crisis, which is already adversely affecting the nation’s economy. “Barring the economic stimulus package to be announced by the government, we expect a moderate growth due to the challenging environment”, the company said in an earnings statement.
Source: insideretail.asia
UK: Tesco opens cashless store in central London
Tesco has joined the growing cash-free revolution in the UK after opening its first cashless store in central London. The outlet offers shoppers a range of electronic payment methods via self-service tills but does not accept notes or coins. The store, which Tesco says is planned to be a permanent outlet, is aimed at shoppers in a hurry. Payment methods include contactless cards, debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Tesco Pay+.
Source: theguardian.com
UK: Co-op boss Steve Murrells calls for grocers to become greener
The boss of the Co-operative supermarket says ‘the climate emergency is upon us’ and has called on retailers to cut plastic use and ditch polluting lorries. Steve Murrells, who will be giving a speech at the Westminster Business Forum, will be the first supermarket boss to publicly support the introduction of electric lorries for the big grocers. Murrells took the top job at the Co-op in 2017, having led its food business since 2012.
Source: daily-news-media.com
Aldi’s expansion in Spain looks to employment in Malaga
The Aldi supermarket chain continues to consolidate its expansion in Spain. The company faces this growth with plans to hire 800 people, with the aim of strengthening the service in its already 308 supermarkets scattered throughout Spain and in its future openings of new establishments. With this increase in hiring, the staff of Aldi professionals will have grown by about 20% since 2017. Spain is a strategic market for Aldi and the company’s growth has been gradual over recent years. In fact, in recent years Aldi has experienced double-digit growth until the end of 2019; with 4,354 employees in that period.
Source: euroweeklynews.com
Apps and blockchain help European supermarkets lure climate-conscious consumers
Mobile phone apps that point shoppers to discounted groceries, codes on chicken and cheese that display their origin, and water dispensers and degradable packaging that slash plastic use. These are just some of the steps European supermarkets are taking to attract customers increasingly concerned about the environmental cost of farming, food waste and everyday products. “We are witnessing a bit of a seismic change in attitudes in consumers who are purchasing food”, said Julian Burnett, vice president for the distribution sector at IBM UK & Ireland.
Source: reuters.com
Spain: Amazon Business Prime launched
Amazon Business Prime has launched in Spain, the fourth market in Europe where this premium service can now be used by businesses. With Amazon Business Prime, customers can get unlimited free delivery in one business day, as well as delivery on the same evening. In 2017, Germany was the first European market where Amazon launched Amazon Business Prime. 2 years later, it also started offering this premium service in the United Kingdom and France. Now, Spain is the fourth European country to enjoy this service for companies. Other countries where Amazon offers Prime for businesses, are the US, Japan and Canada.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
Israel: Nahum Bitan forced out as Yeinot Bitan CEO
Nearly four decades after founding Israeli supermarket chain Yeinot Bitan, Nahum Bitan is hiring a CEO for for the first time - outgoing G. Willi-Food CEO Michael Luboschitz. The appointment comes a few days before the date on which Yeinot Bitan hopes to sign a deal with the Klirmark Capital fund that will ease the chain's cash flow problems. The appointment is believed one of the fund's demands for the deal, along with the appointment of a board of directors for Yeinot Bitan.
Source: en.globes.co.il
UK: Walmart in talks with possible buyers for Asda stake
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is in talks with possible buyers of a stake in its British supermarket Asda, which it failed to combine with Sainsbury’s last year. Asda and Walmart said in a joint statement that discussions with “a small number” of suitors followed “inbound interest” but no decisions had been taken. In common with its traditional big four British rivals - market leader Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons - Asda has been losing market share to German-owned discounters Aldi and Lidl, which are still opening lots of new stores.
Source: reuters.com