Germany: Edeka says goodbye to retail alliance Agecore
Edeka, the German market leader and by far the largest member of AgeCore, is pulling out of the retail alliance which it founded 5 years ago together with Colruyt (Belgium), Coop (Switzerland), Intermarché (France), Conad (Italy) and Eroski (Spain). This is reported in the German trade journal Lebensmittel Zeitung. With its termination, Edeka is reportedly anticipating problems that could arise as a result of a lawsuit in France: there, Intermarché risks a fine of 150mln euros for alleged abuse of power via the Agecore and ITM Belgium purchasing offices.
Source: retaildetail.eu
France: Intermarché also leaves retail alliance AgeCore
After German Edeka, French retailer Intermarché also wants to leave the AgeCore alliance. In the background is a redrawing of the landscape of French purchasing alliances: "Everyone talks to everyone". At Intermarché, other factors are at play. One is a lawsuit filed by the French competition watchdog. The retailer is accused of abuse of power via the purchasing centres AgeCore and ITM Belgium. The French Ministry of the Economy considers it unacceptable for central buying offices to demand money from brand manufacturers without any real quid pro quo.
Source: retaildetail.eu
First EUROSPAR in France opens its doors in Corsica
SPAR is proud to announce the opening of the first EUROSPAR Supermarket in France. Located in the city centre of Ajaccio, the main city of Corsica, the new store brings an expanded range of healthier choices, organic and local products, and a wide fresh market area to the residents and holiday goers on the island. Another highlight of this EUROSPAR store is the spacious fruit and vegetable area.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Asda workers win key victory in equal pay dispute
Worke
rs at Britain’s Asda supermarkets won a key victory in a long-running dispute over equal pay, with the UK’s top court ruling they can compare themselves to staff at the group’s distribution centres. Law firm Leigh Day is representing 44,000 current and former Asda shop floor workers in an equal pay claim against Britain’s third largest supermarket group, in what is seen as a test case ahead of similar cases against the UK’s other big supermarket groups. Asda appealed to the Supreme Court against a Court of Appeal judgement in 2019 that lower-paid store staff, who are mostly women, could compare themselves with more highly paid distribution centre workers, who are mostly men, in pay claims.
Source: reuters.com
Turkey: Getir becomes a unicorn with $2.6bln valuation
Getir, pioneers of ultrafast grocery delivery, have completed a $300mln Series C funding round just 2 months after finalizing its $128mln Series B round. The Series C round was led by Sequoia Capital and repeat investor Tiger Global. The investment round included 7 out of 8 existing funds.
Source: prnewswire.com
Verschueren to step down as EuroCommerce director-general
EuroCommerce has announced that longstanding director general Christian Verschueren is to step down from his position later this year, with the representative group in the process of finding a successor. Verschueren has led the group, which represents the retail and wholesale communities at a European level, for 10 years, having assumed the role in July 2011.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Germany: Kaufland joins wholesale and retail dialogue forum to reduce food waste
Kaufland is taking a stand against food waste and has confirmed its participation in the national dialogue forum for wholesalers and retailers to reduce food waste. Kaufland has been working for many years to limit food waste across its operations to a minimum. By participating in the dialogue forum, the retailer is making it clear that it wishes to build on the successes it has achieved so far and that it is constantly making an effort to reduce food waste.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Ukraine: How to turn a supermarket green
EBRD and donors help Ukrainian supermarket chain Silpo adopt innovative technologies. Avoiding plastic wrap, installing energy-efficient fridges, recycling materials wherever possible… these are only 3 of the many things a supermarket can do to protect the planet. Thanks to the backing of the EBRD and its donors, consumers in Ukraine now have another way to enjoy safer and more environmentally friendly shopping - the Silpo Recycling supermarket, one of the few supermarkets in the country to adopt the very latest in green technology. Silpo is part of Fozzy Group, one of Ukraine’s largest industrial trading groups and a leading multiformat retailer, with brands such as Silpo, Fora and Fozzy C&C and almost 700 outlets nationwide.
Source: ebrd.com
Germany: Gorillas, the on-demand grocery delivery startup, raises $290mln and ‘surpasses’ $1bln valuation
Gorillas, the Berlin-HQ’d startup that promises to let you order groceries and other “every day” items for delivery in as little as 10 minutes, has raised $290mln in Series B funding, at a valuation that surpasses $1bln. The round - which was first reported by BI - is led by Coatue Management, DST Global and Tencent, with participation from Green Oaks, Fifth Wall and Dragoneer. Previous backer Atlantic Food Labs also followed on.
Source: techcrunch.com
Ahold Delhaize USA eyes the ‘connected customer’, CEO Kevin Holt says
Becoming a successful omnichannel grocery retailer goes well beyond enabling customers to order online and have their purchases available for pickup or delivery, according to Kevin Holt, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA. In a session during Western Michigan University’s virtual Food Marketing Conference, Holt said Ahold Delhaize USA is undergoing a companywide transformation designed not just to be able to serve customers when, where and how they want through multiple channels, but also to meet their specific needs, earn their trust and loyalty, and help them improve their well-being.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: H-E-B announces expansion into DFW Metroplex
H-E-B reported: "H-E-B is excited to announce plans to bring its flagship H-E-B brand stores to the DFW Metroplex next year. The stores, which will open in Frisco and Plano in the Fall of 2022, build on the company’s longstanding presence in the area and reinforce its commitment to serve more customers in this dynamic and growing part of Texas. H-E-B will open 1 store in Frisco at the northeast corner of Legacy Dr. and Main St., and 1 store in Plano at the southwest corner of Preston Rd. and Spring Creek Parkway. Additional details about the new stores will be shared at the groundbreakings, which are projected for this summer".
Source: newsroom.heb.com
US: JC Penney’s interim CEO sees green shoots emerging as department store chain plots post-bankruptcy turnaround
Just a few months into serving as interim CEO of J.C. Penney, Stanley Shashoua said he sees signs of growth in the business. Shashoua, who also serves as chief investment officer of the biggest U.S. mall owner, Simon Property Group, has been at the helm of Penney since December 31. That’s when former CEO Jill Soltau abruptly left, following the department store chain’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing 7 months earlier.
Source: cnbc.com