US: Retail imports near record pace despite port congestion as holiday season begins
Imports at the nation’s congested container ports are expected to remain at near-record levels for the remainder of the year as retailers rush to move merchandise from docks to shelves in time to meet the expectations of holiday shoppers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. Dockworkers are unloading ships as fast as they can, but the challenge is to move the containers out of the ports to make room for the next ship,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said.
Source: nrf.com
US Foods named as Chicago Tribune 2021 Top Workplace
US Foods Holding Corp. announced that the company has been awarded a 2021 Top Workplace honor by the Chicago Tribune. The honor recognizes companies in the Chicago area that create and sustain a positive and productive culture for their employees. US Foods was ranked number 26 among the 200 Chicago-area workplaces featured on the list.
Source: ir.usfoods.com
US: Aldi touts low-price Thanksgiving meal deal
While Thanksgiving food prices rise around the country, Aldi is offering the complete holiday meal for an ultra-low price. Both in-store and online, shoppers can buy a Butterball turkey, multiple sides and a classic pumpkin pie for just $30. "Soon we’ll be reconnecting with family and friends around the Thanksgiving table”, said Dave Rinaldo, co-president of Aldi U.S. “I’m incredibly proud that for less than $30, Aldi shoppers can prepare a delicious Thanksgiving meal, including the turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and more."
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: C&S Wholesale paves the way for Grand Union redux
C&S Wholesale Grocers is bringing back a venerable name from the supermarket industry’s past: Grand Union. With the closing of the Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets merger, Keene, New Hampshire-based C&S said that it plans to buy 12 Tops supermarkets and convert them to Grand Union grocery stores. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The locations, 11 in New York and 1 in Vermont, will be run by C&S affiliate GU Markets LLC.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Meta looking into launching its own retail stores in the US
Facebook’s parent company Meta is looking into opening its own retail stores in the United States, according to a report in The New York Times. The stores will largely be used to show off the business’ physical goods, such as its virtual reality headsets and video chat tablets which are already sold in other chains across the country, and allow customers to try them out in a bid to get them hooked into Meta’s forthcoming ‘metaverse’.
Source: internetretailing.com.au
Walmart targets Dallas-Fort Worth for new high-tech supply facilities
Nearly 2 weeks after announcing plans for a new high-tech distribution center in South Carolina, Walmart aims to build 2 more in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The project in Lancaster, Texas, includes a 1.5mln-square-foot automated fulfillment center slated to open in 2023 and a 730,000-square-foot automated grocery DC due to open in 2024, Walmart said. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant noted that the facilities will be among the biggest automated fulfillment and distribution centers in its network.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Amazon seeking to settle EU antitrust investigations, sources say
Amazon is seeking to settle 2 EU antitrust investigations to stave off potential hefty fines and orders to change its business practices, people familiar with the matter said.
Source: reuters.com
GrabMart scales up grocery delivery with major retail chains across Southeast Asia
Grab, a leading superapp in Southeast Asia, announced an expansion of its grocery delivery service across Southeast Asia. New partners joining GrabMart include Indomaret in Indonesia, a convenience store chain with over 15,000 stores; Big C in Thailand, a hypermarket chain with over 1,000 outlets; Lotus’s Malaysia (formerly known as Tesco Malaysia) with over 62 locations; S&R supermarket in the Philippines best known for their attractive members-only discounts; and Mega Market in Vietnam, a leading wholesaler and distributor of grocery products.
Source: grab.com
Holland: Ahold Delhaize reports flat like-for-like sales in Europe in Q3
Ahold Delhaize has reported a 0.2% decline in like-for-like sales in its European operations (excluding gas) in the 3rd quarter of its financial year, however sales compared to the corresponding period 2 years ago were up 7.5%. The group's European segment posted net sales of €7.04bln for the period, which is a reported sales gain of 1.1%. Ahold Delhaize said that its Albert Heijn banner was a 'particular standout' in the quarter, seeing market share gains driven by successful marketing campaigns and a boost from store remodelling activities.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Israel: CEO of supermarket chain Shufersal denies price coordination allegations
The CEO of supermarket chain Shufersal, Itzik Abercohen, referred to the recent allegations that he and other higher-ups in the country's market and food industry coordinated prices. "We did not coordinate prices. I remind everyone - 2020, like 2021, were different years", Abercohen said in a meeting of the Knesset's Economics Committee.
Source: ynetnews.com
Glasgow becomes 1st Scottish city to transition to all-electric Tesco home delivery fleet - helping to secure a COP26 legacy
The host city of COP26 will be the 1st Scottish city to use zero emission vans to deliver Tesco home shopping. Over 3,700 deliveries per week will now be made by electric vans powered by clean green energy. This is all part of the transition to electrify Tesco’s entire home delivery fleet by 2028, build momentum from COP26 and reach net zero emissions across its Group-wide operations by 2035. A new Tesco rail service will see fresh produce delivered from Spain direct to Scotland.
Source: tescoplc.com
Belgium: Colruyt tests pickup points for fresh meals
Collect&Go, Colruyt Group's online shopping service, is opening mobile pickup points where customers can pick up freshly prepared meals. The test project starts in Leuven, followed by Ghent and Antwerp.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Marks & Spencer raises turnaround hopes as profits rise
British retailer Marks & Spencer performed ahead of forecasts for first-half profit and raised its full-year outlook, adding to evidence that its latest attempt at an elusive turnaround is delivering. The retailer said it made profit before tax and adjusting items of £269.4mln (€315.6mln) in the 6 months to October 2, compared to analyst forecasts of between £205mln and £264mln pounds.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Denmark: Dagrofa to invest in customer-oriented strategy
Danish retail group Dagrofa has announced that it will invest over DKK1bln (€130mln) over the next 3 years as part of a new customer-oriented strategy. The 3-year 'Fremgang Sammen' (Progress Together) strategy will see the retailer investing in more digitalisation, strengthening the store network and winning selected category positions.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Carrefour enters into a global strategic partnership with Meta
Carrefour announced the launch of an ambitious strategic partnership with Meta, which will be rolled out across the group's 9 integrated countries (France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Taiwan, Argentina and Brazil). The partnership will span many aspects of Carrefour’s business from internal communication and employee experience through to customer relations, digital advertising and the digitisation of leaflets, local communication and social commerce. It will include multiple Meta platforms and services: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Workplace.
Source: carrefour.com