California city becomes first in nation to use American Rescue Plan funds for grocery worker COVID pay
The Oxnard, Calif., City Council will allocate $2.5 million of its American Rescue Plan funds for essential-worker COVID premium pay for retail grocery and pharmacy workers, becoming the first city in the nation to use the government funds to support those workers who have served their community on the frontlines of the pandemic since it started. Frontline workers who worked at least three months in a grocery store or pharmacy during the first 12 months of the coronavirus pandemic will receive a $1,000 bonus, according to the Oxnard City Council.
Source: Supermarket News
Is Meijer opening a grocery-only concept?
It was reported by a local news report that Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer will open a grocery-only concept in Orion Township, Mich., next spring; however, a spokesperson for Meijer has told WGB that while it is still finalizing plans for the store, the format is incorrect. Township Supervisor Chris Barnett told the Oakland County Times that Meijer is in the process of purchasing a building that housed a 80,000-square-foot Kmart until 2018, with plans to build a 90,000-square-foot Meijer.
"We are considering a site in Orion Township that currently has an abandoned retail building," Frank Guglielmi told WGB, adding that, "It’s still very early in the process, and once we finalize our plans we’ll share them." Barnett said Meijer will "fill a need that’s been really expressed by our residents over the last several years,” adding that residents have asked for another grocery store in community surveys since 2013. The township currently has a Kroger.
Source: Winsight Grocery Business
Rosauers Supermarkets names Cliff Rigsbee CEO
Former Albertsons executive Cliff Rigsbee is joining Rosauers Supermarkets as president and chief executive officer, succeeding longtime CEO Jeff Philipps, who is retiring. Plans call for Rigsbee, currently CEO and chief marketing officer at spring water company Hawaiian Springs, to start at Rosauers on June 21, the Spokane, Wash.-based regional operator of 22 grocery stores said yesterday. Philipps is slated to retire on Aug. 13. “Cliff is very well-qualified with extensive industry experience and an enthusiasm to create vision and success for our company and employees,” Philipps wrote in a letter to employees on his retirement.
Source: Supermarketnews
Albertsons partners with Fetch Rewards to drive sales and customer acquisition
Following a five-week pilot programme, Albertsons is partnering with Fetch Rewards on a national roll-out, covering all 20 banners and over 2,200 stores. Fetch Rewards is one of the fastest growing loyalty and rewards apps in the US. Since launching in 2017, it has been downloaded almost 19m times and has almost 7m active users. Through the app, shoppers have access to savings on tens of thousands of products, whenever and wherever they are purchased. The central feature of the app is the ability for users to earn rewards for taking pictures of their grocery receipts, featuring specific products which have been purchased. They can also earn rewards through special officers. Commenting on the partnership, Jason Marker, chief growth officer, Fetch Rewards, said: "Expanding our business model to include retail partners is the next step in the evolution of Fetch Rewards as we work to maximize the value and savings we deliver for our shoppers. Albertsons Companies is an outstanding grocer, and we are so excited to be working with them to provide shoppers with even more ways to get rewarded for their purchases."
Source: Retail Analysis
Belgium: Colruyt and Albert Heijn cheapest chains in Belgium
A new study confirms Colruyt as the cheapest supermarket chain in Belgium. Albert Heijn is a close second, the others are miles behind. Colruyt and Albert Heijn are both ten per cent cheaper than number three, the Carrefour hypermarkets. The price gap between the first two and the others is so big that the rest seem to have given up the price war, a new Daltix report suggests. Several chains used the beginning of the Covid crisis in March 2020 to apply huge price hikes, which they did not turn back afterwards.
Source: RetailDetail
Australia: Woolworths now offering free same day home delivery to Delivery Unlimited subscribers
Woolworths has revamped its Delivery Unlimited subscription plan to offer customers more convenient delivery options, bonus Everyday Rewards points and a dedicated customer care line. Delivery Unlimited subscribers will now have access to free same day delivery options and heavily discounted Delivery Now orders, which offer groceries to their door in less than two hours. The move comes as Woolworths has more than doubled same day delivery windows for customers over the past year. Launched in 2019, Delivery Unlimited offers subscribers access to unlimited home deliveries on Woolworths orders over $100, while also covering the cost of reusable or paper bags.
Source: 7news
UK: Tesco announces pay-rise for staff in every single supermarket in September
Supermarket giant Tesco has announced a major change coming to all shop staff this year. Those who work in fulfilment centres will also be affected. The supermarket has confirmed a 2.7% pay rise for staff who are paid hourly rates, taking their pay from £9.30 to £9.55. It will start from September 5, with Tesco consulting with union reps from Usdaw to come up with the pay packet. In its announcement, the supermarket said its hourly rate has increased by 29.2% since July 2014. Tesco is also increasing night premium payments for eligible colleagues from the current rate of £2.21 to £2.30 – an increase of 4.1%. The Mirror recently rounded up how much each of the major UK supermarkets pay their staff. Morrisons came out top, paying all staff a minimum of £10 per hour, followed by Aldi who also pay £9.55 an hour. Tesco was the lowest paying of the Big Four, but the announcement today means Asda is now bottom at £9.36 per hour. The only supermarket who pays less than this is Iceland, who pay £8.91 per hour.
Source: Manchester Evening News
Some 90% Of Shoppers Believe Supermarkets Can 'Help Them Make Sustainable Choices'
Nine in ten shoppers believe that grocery businesses can play a key role in helping them to make more sustainable purchasing decisions, a study by tcc has found. According to the research, which captured the views of close to 2,500 shoppers in Germany, France, Russia, China and Italy, 90% of respondents said that they believe supermarkets can help them make more sustainable choices in-store, while 78% said that they now make purchasing decisions based on whether products are environmentally friendly. In terms of how shoppers in each of the survey countries responded, some 96% of respondents in Italy and China said that they believed supermarkets could help them make more sustainable choices. This figure stood at 87% in Russia, 86% in Germany and 85% in France.
Source: ESM