France: Carrefour does not see Casino as an acquisition target
Carrefour, Europe’s largest food retailer, does not see major acquisition opportunities in France and does not view smaller domestic peer Casino as a possible target, Carrefour Chief Executive Alexandre Bompard said. “We do not see opportunities to strengthen ourselves in France. There is no Casino topic and there is no topic of massive acquisitions in France”, Bompard told BFM television.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Aldi named supermarket of the year by Which?
Aldi is the UK's top supermarket store, according to the annual Which? survey of more than 3,000 members of the public. Customers were asked to rate their shopping experience, including appearance, layout, quality of produce, availability of online delivery slots and value for money. The German family-owned discount chain emerged as the top in-store supermarket in the UK after receiving a five-star rating for value for money - the only supermarket to achieve this in the survey.
Source: independent.co.uk
France: Intermarché accused of abuse of power
In France, the buying centres of Intermarché are accused of "abusive commercial practices". The Ministry of Economy is taking the distributor to court, thereby potentially undermining the operation of alliances such as Agecore. In 2018, the French competition watchdog Direction générale de la concurrence (DGCCRF) launched an investigation into the purchasing alliances Agecore (Switzerland) and ITM Belgium. The DGCCRF now concludes that the retailer put 93 suppliers under pressure: they would have had to pay large sums to continue supplying to the supermarket chain.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Ambani’s $3.4bln retail deal stalled by Indian Court
India’s Supreme Court stopped regulatory approval for the Future Group’s $3.4bln asset sale to Reliance Industries Ltd., delaying the deal in a boost for Amazon.com Inc., which wants to scuttle the transaction in its bid to dominate the country’s retail sector. Agreeing with the American e-commerce giant’s petition, the top court overturned a lower court’s ruling and said the company tribunal can continue hearing the case but must not give a final nod till further orders. The court also sought written statements from Future Retail Ltd. and said it will hear the case after 5 weeks. Future’s stocks and bonds fell.
Source: bloomberg.com
Vollmart enters the Polish discount market
A new hard discount chain, Vollmart, has entered the Polish market, with the opening of its first store in Siedlce, according to media reports. Trade publication Wiadomości Handlowe reported that Vollmart plans to open stores in towns with a minimum population of 50,000 residents, offering around 1,200 SKUs in each of its outlets.
Source: esmmagazine.com
South Korea: Lotte Mart gets a new CEO
Lotte Shopping appointed Kang Sung-hyun, CEO of Lotte Nestle Korea, as the head of its hypermarket chain, Lotte Mart. Kang gained retail experience at strategy consultancy firms Booz Allen Hamilton and Boston Consulting Group, and joined Lotte as Executive Director of the Lotte Strategy & Insight Centre more than a decade ago in 2009.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Australia: Woolworths starts work on new $184mln Heathwood Distribution Centre
Woolworths Group’s supply chain arm - Primary Connect - has commenced building works on its new Heathwood Distribution Centre (DC) in southeast Queensland. The 42,000 sqm temperature controlled facility - equivalent to more than 3 times the size of the Suncorp Stadium playing field - will enable fresher, faster and more efficient deliveries of around 4,000 frozen and chilled products to more than 260 stores across Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Source: woolworthsgroup.com.au
UK: Bestway completes acquisition of Costcutter
Bestway Wholesale completed its acquisition of the Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) from Bibby Line Group, following approval by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The deal was announced at the end of last year. The business will now be led by Bestway Wholesale’s Managing Director, Dawood Pervez, with Costcutter’s CEO Darcy Willson-Rymer having officially stepped down.
Source: kamcity.com
Germany: Aldi Süd teams up with vegan influencer Philipp Steuer
Aldi Süd has expanded its influencer marketing through a new collaboration with vegan influencer Philipp Steuer. Steuer will promote a vegan lifestyle using Aldi Süd products, as well as working with the company on other projects.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Russian supermarket chain Svetofor to open its first store in Serbia on February 26
Following the MERE supermarket chain opening their first store in Serbia, their sister company Svetofor is to arrive in Serbia as well. The Russian commerce group Torgservis soon plans to bring its other retail chain to Serbia, which will operate under the Svetofor brand. The first stores will open in Subotica and Krusevac on February 26.
Source: serbianmonitor.com
Brazil: Groupe Casino obtains approval for listing Assaí shares
The Brazilian subsidiary of Groupe Casino, Companhia Brasileira de Distribuição (GPA), has obtained the authorisation to list the shares issued by Sendas Distribuidora S.A. (Assaí) on the Novo Mercado segment of the B3 SA - Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão. It also has the approval to list the American Depositary Securities (ADSs) of Assaí on the New York Stock Exchange. The trading of Assaí shares and ADSs will commence on 1 March 2021.
Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Meijer’s forthcoming small format seeks hyperlocal products
Meijer’s fourth small-format store, Rivertown Market in Detroit, is searching for hyperlocal products - 2,000 items to be exact - to fill its shelves upon opening later this year. Store Manager Marcus Reliford set the goal and is inviting local businesses to submit their offerings for consideration.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: FMI’s Supermarket Employee Day makes debut
FMI-The Food Industry Association kicked off Supermarket Employee Day, a new industrywide campaign to recognize the efforts of the grocery sector’s workforce. FMI proclaimed February 22 as Supermarket Employee Day in mid-January.
Source: supermarketnews.com