Russia: Magnit reports revenue growth of 13.5% in FY 2020
Russian retailer Magnit has reported a 13.5% year-on-year growth in revenue to RUB1,553.8bln (€17.8bln) in its financial year ended 31 December 2020. The company’s net retail sales increased by 13.3% in this period, to RUB1,510.1bln (€17.3bln), compared to the previous financial year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Poland: Dino Polska sees 12.6% growth in topline sales in FY 2020
Polish retailer Dino Polska has reported a 12.6% topline sales growth on a like-for-like basis in its financial year 2020. The company's total revenue increased by 32.4% to more than PLN10bln, driven by its geographic expansion. In 2020, the retailer completed investments to launch 278 Dino stores across the country, out of which 255 opened in 2020 and 23 in early 2021.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Carrefour completes acquisition of Supersol stores in Spain
Carrefour has completed the acquisition of Supersol proximity stores and supermarkets in Spain for a final enterprise value of €78mln. The deal includes 172 convenience stores and supermarkets located mainly in Andalusia and the Madrid region. The acquisition consolidates Carrefour's second position in Spain by diversifying its store network and strengthening its presence in growth formats, in line with the Carrefour 2022 transformation plan, the retailer said. The transaction is also part of the group's targeted and value-creating acquisition policy.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Austria: Lidl posts sales growth of 7% in FY 2020
Lidl Austria has reported a 7% year-on-year growth in sales to €1.47bln in its financial year 2020. In this period, the retailer invested approximately €100mln in modernisations, new buildings and expansions.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Iceland launches new Swift stores selling fresh food - with first shop in Newcastle
Frozen food chain Iceland has chosen Newcastle to trial a new type of store which sells fresh food and other items alongside frozen goods. The Swift store will open this week on the site of the former Iceland store at Four Lane Ends. The new shop will be around twice the size of the former store, however, and will offer a wider range of produce, including fresh food, alcohol and tobacco and snacks.
Source: chroniclelive.co.uk
"Incomprehensible that Albert Heijn is not yet active in Wallonia"
When Albert Heijn announced its arrival in Flanders in 2011, many eyebrows were raised. Retail experts were not immediately convinced. "I'm not going to lie: it has become much more successful than I ever thought it would be". This quote is from retail expert Gino Van Ossel, who frankly admits that he had a number of question marks at the start. Not so much about the reaction of the customers: "We already knew that many Belgians went to Albert Heijn across the border", says Van Ossel. "The question was whether Albert Heijn would be able to convince franchisees. I was wrong about that, and then again I was not. The first 2 stores were opened by newcomers on the scene, not by entrepreneurs from other chains. I expected Albert Heijn to have problems in that area in particular, but today we see Delhaize franchisees also operating Albert Heijn shops".
Source: retaildetail.eu
Foodpanda Hong Kong names Ryan Lai managing director
Tech industry veteran Ryan Lai has been named the new managing director for foodpanda Hong Kong. Lai will oversee all aspects of the delivery company's business operations, while contributing to growth and strategic development of the platform, including delivery and pickup, foodpanda mall, pandamart, catering, and other digital solutions to push the company forward and enhance the customer experience.
Source: marketing-interactive.com
UK: Oddbox adds recipes and food waste reduction tips in fresh rebrand
Oddbox is aiming to save 35,000 tonnes of fruit and veg from going to landfill by 2035. Surplus fruit and veg distributor Oddbox has announced it is conducting a thorough rebrand that will give the green innovator a new look and an enhanced customer experience that includes distributing recipe suggestions from Oddbox suppliers and customers in each box.
Source: businessgreen.com
China asks Alibaba to dispose of media assets: WSJ
China’s government has asked Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to dispose of its media assets, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Discussions over the matter have been held since early this year, the report said, adding that officials were shocked at how expansive Alibaba’s media interests have become. The company, whose mainstay business is online retail, has stakes in the Twitter-like Weibo platform and several news outlets including Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post.
Source: reuters.com
Budbee expands to Belgium
Budbee, a last-mile delivery startup from Sweden, will soon become available in Belgium. The logistics tech company has announced it will start in Flanders and Brussels. Later on, it will also expand to Wallonia.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
US: 1010data releases its 2021 State of Grocery Report
1010data, a leading provider of analytical intelligence and consumer transaction data, has released its in-depth State of Grocery Report: How Omnichannel Became A Reality In 2020. This study examines the changes catalyzed by pandemic shopping patterns in 2020 and makes the case for which shifts are here to stay. It also examines notable performance within the competitive landscape, and explores winning strategies to keep up with consumer needs and demand.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Schnuck Markets bringing new grocery concept to Jasper
Missouri-based Schnuck Markets Inc. is planning to open a new grocery store format in Dubois County this summer. The store will add about 30 jobs and will be located in the former Cash Saver building in the Germantown Shopping Center in Jasper. The “Schnucks Fresh” store will focus on fresh departments such as produce, meat, seafood and bakery.
Source: insideindianabusiness.com
Amazon, Union battle for undecided workers in high-stakes vote
After shrinking for decades, America’s private sector labor unions could get a shot in the arm later this month as 5,800 workers for one of America’s biggest employers, Amazon.com Inc, vote by mail on whether to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The outcome could have far-reaching implications, not just for workers at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Bessemer, Alabama, but also for the company as a whole and the growing U.S. e-commerce sector that so far has fended off most labor organizing.
Source: voanews.com
U.S. grocery spending grew 14% during COVID: report
After one full year of pandemic shopping, American household grocery spending has increased 14% on average because of new or increased consumer behaviors, such as cleaning and disinfecting as much or more than before and cooking at home more, according to a report from NCSolutions (NCS), a firm that helps improve advertising effectiveness for the consumer packaged goods ecosystem.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Walmart Canada spending $500mln to modernize stores
Walmart Canada is investing $500mln this year to modernize its stores. The big-box retailer announced that it was refurbishing and refreshing stores across the country as it continues to look for ways to improve customer service.
Source: canadiangrocer.com