US: C&S Wholesale Grocers names Eric Winn as COO
Eric Winn has been promoted to chief operating officer, a newly created position, at C&S Wholesale Grocers. Keene, New Hampshire-based C&S said that Winn, previously president of the commercial division, now will oversee both the commercial and supply chain organizations to provide a more seamless customer experience.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Ahold Delhaize USA opens checkout-free food store in Giant e-commerce hub
Ahold Delhaize USA’s Retail Business Services (RBS) arm has opened a checkout-free employee grocery outlet inside the Giant Direct e-commerce fulfillment center (EFC) in Philadelphia. Salisbury, North Carolina-based RBS said its “Lunchbox” frictionless technology in the 450-square-foot store enables staff to buy fresh and shelf-stable food and beverages in seconds by scanning in to enter, shopping and walking out.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Kroger fulfillment network expands in Indianapolis area
The Kroger Co., America's largest grocery retailer, announced an expansion of its Kroger fulfillment network. The addition of a delivery "spoke" brings innovation and modern e-commerce to the Indianapolis area, extending the grocer's reach and ability to provide its customers anything, anytime, anywhere.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Stop & Shop launches hiring campaign across New England
Stop & Shop announced the launch of its “We’re Hiring” campaign, centered around its commitment to being a better place to work, better place to shop, and a better neighbor. The campaign, in new :06, :15, and :30 TV ads, highlights the benefits of working in one of the local grocer’s more than 250 stores and e-commerce facilities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: E-commerce tech startup Rokt valued at $1.95 bln in latest funding
E-commerce technology startup Rokt said it has raised $325mln in fresh capital in a late stage funding round led by Tiger Global that more than doubled the company's valuation to $1.95bln. The New York-based company's series E funding round also saw participation from Wellington Management, Whale Rock Capital Management, Pavilion Capital and Square Peg.
Source: reuters.com
Germany: Wholesaler Metro AG expects 3% to 7% growth in 2021/22
Wholesale giant Metro AG expects sales growth of between 3% and 7% in its 2021/22 full year, after the business met expectations in its current full-year period. Full-year sales for the 2020/21 period came in at €24.8bln, which was down 3.4% in euro-denominated terms due to negative currency effects in Russia and Turkey. Adjusted EBITDA was up €72mln to €1.17bln.
Source: esmmagazine.com
IELKA: The average price for the Christmas table in the big Greek supermarket chains increased by 5%
The average price for the Christmas table in the big supermarket chains has increased by 5% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to the Consumer Goods Research Institute (IELKA). The IELKA study presents the results of product price research in large supermarket chains in Greece in December 2021. The research concerns 22 typical categories of products included in the Christmas table (eg chocolate chip cookies, melomakarona, king pie, turkey, lamb, chestnuts, eggs, potatoes, etc.).
Source: athina984.gr
British retailers report pre-Xmas sales boost in November
British retail sales rose faster than expected last month, helped by Black Friday discounts, early Christmas shopping and no lockdown restrictions that closed many shops last year, official figures showed. Retail sales volumes rose by 1.4% in November on a seasonally-adjusted basis and were 4.7% higher than a year earlier, when non-essential stores were closed to the public, the Office for National Statistics said.
Source: reuters.com
Just Eat joins UK on-demand grocery delivery market with Asda tie-up
Just Eat has entered the fast grocery delivery market by partnering with Asda in its 1st tie-up with a supermarket in the UK. From January, Just Eat customers will be able to add a range of products to their baskets starting with 5 Asda stores, with the exact locations to be announced in the new year.
Source: theguardian.com
Ireland: Experts discuss the future of food-to-go at Rational's Retail Summit
The Retail Expert Summit, organised by Rational in Dublin, Ireland, featured a discussion on what the future holds for supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations. The participants comprised Scott Annan of Blue Ananta, Gavin Rothwell of Food Futures Insights, Thomas Ennis, CEO of Thomas Ennis Group, Nathan Watts of Interstore Schweitzer, Marijke Streng, Lead Foodservice Albert Heijn, and Mike Fogarty of Choice. For more information on the event, visit www.rational-online.com.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Italy: Esselunga opens its 1st store in Vicenza
Italian supermarket chain Esselunga has opened its 1st supermarket in Vicenza Ponte Alto, featuring 2,500 square metres of sales area and a large underground car park with a capacity for over 400 vehicles. The store employs around 143 people, of which 128 are new hires, with 69 employees living in Vicenza and in the province.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: IGD convenes industry to prioritise sustainable packaging to reduce environmental impact
With its ambition to mobilise the food and consumer goods industry to halve the environmental impact of all packaging by 2030, IGD has launched new consumer research to help industry achieve the shared goal. In a new report from IGD’s Social Impact Sustainability team, How To Help Consumers Adopt Reusable Packaging, IGD gives suppliers and retailers insight into consumer attitudes towards refill and return packaging solutions. With insight into current usage and factors that will potentially drive growth, the report is a tool for industry to help formulate sustainable packaging strategies that influence longer-term behaviour change. From the reusable options currently available in the market, the report found that consumers are most open to refill-at-home and return solutions, and are most likely to use them for fruit, vegetables, dried goods and household products.
Source: igd.com
Amazon could benefit as younger consumers embrace online top-up grocery shopping
A new study by TWC Trends, exploring the digitisation and delivery of food & drink and its impact on the convenience retail sector, confirms that online grocery shopping is not just for the main shop but is increasingly being used for top-up shopping. The ‘Online Explosion’ report found that 38% of consumers buying groceries online do top-up shopping missions online, with this proportion increasing to 42% amongst the 18 - 34 age group. Meanwhile, 22% said they are only doing top-up shopping when they buy groceries online, rising to 28% of the younger cohort.
Source: kamcity.com
Sweden: Coop raises climate impact targets
Coop Sweden has added 2 new goals to its climate impact project, including halving greenhouse gas emissions and a reduction in climate impact of food. The retailer now has 4 climate goals, which have been approved by Science Based Targets and validated to be in line with what Coop needs to do to help limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Amazon opens its 1st next generation solar powered sustainable ‘Farmer Collection Centre’ in Wai, Maharashtra
Amazon Retail India Pvt Ltd has announced to expand its farm sourcing network in north and west India across multiple states. The Wai farmer collection center expansion in Maharashtra is the third such center in the state which is a part of Amazon’s expansion of its farm sourcing network - an initiative with the focus on directly working with farmers and sourcing fresh produce directly from farms.
Source: indiaretailing.com