Britain's Tesco outperforms rivals in key Christmas period - Kantar
Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, outperformed its major rivals in the key Christmas period, achieving its highest grocery market share since January 2018, industry data showed. Market researcher Kantar said Tesco's grocery sales over the 12 weeks to December 26 fell by 0.9% versus the same period in 2020, when several areas in Britain faced COVID-19 restrictions that boosted food sales. On a 2-year basis, Tesco's sales were up 10.1%.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Co-op Group CEO Steve Murrells given CBE for services to food supply chain
Steve Murrells, chief executive of the Co-op Group, is one of several UK co-operators to be named in the new year honours list, picking up a CBE for services to the food supply chain. The honour reflect the efforts made by Mr Murrells to keep food supplies moving during the Covid-19 crisis - with a similar award going to former Asda chief Roger Burnley, who stepped down from his role last year.
Source: thenews.coop
Aeon eyes 100 grocery stores in Vietnam
Aeon has unveiled plans to expand its network of MaxValu compact supermarket stores in Vietnam, eyeing about 100 new locations across the country by 2025. According to Nikkei Asia, the expansion will include a larger store format with floor space spanning 500sqm or more. MaxValu currently operates 4 Vietnam stores, all in Hanoi. In addition, Aeon Group’s subsidiary, Aeon Mall, aims to expand its network of malls in Vietnam from 6 to 16 by 2025.
Source: retailnews.asia
India: Ninjacart implements Rs100crore Esop plan for current, former staff
Ninjacart, a business-to-business marketplace for agricultural produce, said it has implemented a Rs100crore (about $13.4mln) employee stock ownership plan (Esop). Current and former employees with vested Esops as of December 2021 are eligible to sell all their vested Esops. The move is aimed at helping the startup attract and retain good talent while bolstering the company’s vision of building technology and infrastructure for farmers, resellers, retailers, consumers, and supply chain participants.
Source: vccircle.com
Greenpeace recognises INTERSPAR Austria as Supermarket of the year 2021
Greenpeace has recognised INTERSPAR Austria as ‘Supermarket of the Year’ based on the company’s extensive eco-friendly grocery range. “I am very pleased that Greenpeace rated our sustainable range positively! With the expansion of the reusable assortment, initiatives including organic meat at service counters, and increasingly unpackaged fruit and vegetables, we will continue to work on providing the largest sustainable product assortment for our customers”, said Johannes Holzleitner, Managing Director at INTERSPAR Austria.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Iceland has 11% of staff isolating as retail warns Omicron rules threaten disruption
Frozen food specialist Iceland has revealed that more than 1 in 10 workers are currently self-isolating as staff shortages take a toll on business, the NHS, and public transport networks after the Christmas break. The supermarket chain told Sky News that about 3,300 people were currently at home - representing 11% of its entire workforce - as rules to stem the spread of the Omicron variant add to disruption.
Source: news.sky.com
Pepco CEO Andy Bond to step down due to health reasons
Andy Bond, the chief executive of the owner of British discount retailer Poundland, is to step down because of health reasons at the end of March, less than a year after leading a 5bln euros ($5.7bln) flotation of the business. Pepco Group, which also owns European discount retailer brands PEPCO and Dealz, said it has appointed Trevor Masters, currently group chief operating officer, to the role of interim CEO from March 31.
Source: reuters.com
US: Imperfect Foods appoints Dan Park as Chief Executive Officer
Imperfect Foods, the online grocer at the forefront of eliminating food waste and building a better food system, announced the hire of Dan Park as its new Chief Executive Officer. Park officially joined the Imperfect Foods team on January 3, 2022.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Walmart expands its direct-to-fridge InHome delivery service to 30mln homes
Walmart announced that it will expand the availability of its InHome delivery service from 6mln to 30mln households. InHome allows employees wearing cameras to enter a customer’s home to deliver groceries and other purchases or to pick up returns, even when the customer is not there. Walmart also said it will hire 3,000 employees to support the service’s expansion.
Source: cnbc.com
US: Schnuck Markets rewards smarter food choices
Schnuck Markets is providing customers added incentive to buy better-for-you foods when they shop. St. Louis-based Schnucks launched Good For You, a new program for Schnucks Rewards that enables loyalty plan members to track purchases of healthier foods and receive rewards for their wellness-focused choices.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Canada: SkipTheDishes makes foray into e-grocery market
Canadian food delivery network SkipTheDishes has jumped into the grocery arena. In the wake of summer pilots, the Winnipeg, Manitoba-based company said it plans to expand its new Skip Express Lane grocery and household products delivery service - with orders reaching customers in 25 minutes or less - across Canada through the opening of 38 new fulfillment centers by mid-2022.
Source: supermarketnews.com