US: Independent retailers lead natural products' sustainability efforts
As sustainable business practices become more and more important to consumers, and as big corporations proclaim their commitment to sustainability, independent natural retailers point out that they've been leading in this area all along. "We have held these values near and dear for 29 years", said Steven Rosenberg, founder and chief eating officer, Liberty Heights Fresh in Salt Lake City. "This isn't anything new to us. We feel we should all do our best to use less of the Earth's resources, whether it be water, clean air, healthy soil, less electricity, and certainly less carbon-emitting energy."
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Strike at Kroger's King Soopers stores imminent as union talks fail
Negotiations between Kroger's King Soopers grocery store and the union that represents more than 8,700 workers at the Colorado chain have failed, setting the stage for a 3-week strike starting from Wednesday.
Source: reuters.com
US: PCC Community Markets teams with Shipt on grocery delivery
PCC Community Markets and Shipt have joined forces to bring same-day grocery delivery to customers across Washington state’s Puget Sound area. Shipt Shoppers can deliver PCC items to residents’ doors in as short a time as 1 hour.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
For grocers and food CPGs, finding harmony online is a difficult dance
Throughout the course of its more than 130-year history, Del Monte Foods has become an expert in growing, packing and marketing everything from canned corn and green beans to its plastic fruit cups stuffed full with peaches and mandarin oranges. But now the fruit and vegetable giant is dealing with a new set of challenges that have proven much harder to overcome: navigating the dizzying array of requirements put in place by retailers for CPGs that want to sell their products online.
Source: grocerydive.com
Holland: Detailresult Groep to spin off DekaMarkt and Dirk banners
Detailresult Groep (DRG), which operates the DekaMarkt and Dirk supermarket brands in The Netherlands, has announced that both banners are to operate as separate legal entities in the future. The group made the announcement following an organisational restructuring of both businesses, and the appointment of new operational and commercial management teams to both banners.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Irish grocery sales exceed €3bln in the latest 12 weeks: Kantar
Irish grocery sales amounted to €3.1bln during the 12 weeks to 26 December 2021, according to the latest figures from Kantar. The latest 12 weeks marked a 10.9% sales growth compared with 2019. However, the value of the grocery market declined by 5.2% compared with record sales in 2020.
Source: esmmagazine.com
JD.com launches robotic shops “ochama” in the Netherlands
On January 10th, 2022, JD.com, a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider, opened 2 robotic shops by the new brand name “ochama” in the Netherlands, with more locations to follow soon. The new model of shops introduces an unprecedented shopping format merging online ordering and pick-up shops in which robots prepare the parcels, and home delivery service. The first 2 ochama pick-up shops are in Leiden and Rotterdam, with 2 more to open in Amsterdam (Diemen) and Utrecht.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
UK Dunnes Stores subsidiary sees losses double to £4.5mln
A UK subsidiary of Dunnes Stores recorded a loss of £4.5mln (€5.4mln) in 2020, according to accounts just filed, largely due to a hit to the value of certain properties on its books. Accounts for Dunnes Stores (UK) show that it recorded rental income from investment properties of £363,000 (€434,000) in the year to December 26th, 2020. This compared with income of £350,000 (€419,000) a year earlier.
Source: irishtimes.com
Lidl GB sales up 2.6% over Christmas period
The British arm of German discount supermarket group Lidl said its sales rose 2.6% year-on-year in the 4 weeks to December 26 as it benefited from shoppers switching from other grocers. Lidl GB, owned by Germany's Schwarz group, said it gained 21mln pounds ($28.5mln) of sales in the period from customers swapping from other food retailers, citing data from market researcher Kantar. It said its sales were up 21% versus 2019, before the pandemic impacted trading.
Source: reuters.com
Alibaba appoints general manager for UK, Netherlands and Nordics
Alibaba Group has promoted Roland Palmer to the role of general manager for the UK, Netherlands and Nordics. He will succeed David Lloyd who has recently left the company.
Source: theretailbulletin.com
Picnic almost doubled its turnover
In 2020, Picnic saw its turnover almost double, thanks in part to a strong expansion in Germany. However, the online supermarket is not yet profitable: losses amounted to tens of millions. In the year 2020, Picnic's revenues rose from 232mln euros to 455mln euros, an increase of 96%. In that year, the Dutch web supermarket was only active in its own country and in Germany. Sales in the Netherlands grew by 80% and in Germany by 252%. Last year, the online supermarket also took its 1st steps in France.
Source: retaildetail.eu
India's DMart Q3 results: Standalone net profit rises to Rs586crores; revenue up 22%
Avenue Supermarts (DMart), one of India's largest food and grocery retailers, reported a 23.71% year-on-year (YoY) jump in consolidated net profit at Rs553crore for the December quarter compared with Rs447crore in the corresponding quarter of last year.
Source: timesnownews.com
M&S was Britain's fastest growing food retailer in Christmas quarter - NielsenIQ
Marks & Spencer was Britain's fastest growing food retailer in the key Christmas quarter, market researcher NielsenIQ said, providing further evidence that the company's latest turnaround programme is gaining traction.
Source: reuters.com
Swedish ICA stores - December sales figures
Sales in ICA stores increased by 0.7% in December 2021 compared with the corresponding month last year. Sales in like-for-like stores increased by 0.3% compared to last year. In December 2021, sales in ICA stores totalled SEK12,403mln excluding VAT, which is an increase of 0.7% compared with the same month in the previous year. Sales in January-December 2021 amounted to SEK132,083mln, an increase of 1.0% compared with the previous year.
Source: cision.com
Sri Lanka: Kapruka to play a dominant role in B2B e-commerce marketplace
Kapruka Holdings Limited, the pioneering e-commerce platform that has evolved into Sri Lanka’s largest locally owned e-com platform, announced plans for the launch of Kapruka B2B; a dedicated B2B platform for bulk purchases. The Company has a well-integrated supply chain and sells its own-label products, predominantly, Kapruka cakes, flowers and value-added fruits and vegetables.
Source: island.lk
Switzerland: Coop publishes 2nd Plant-Based Food Report
Coop Switzerland has published its 2nd annual Plant-Based Food Report, which coincides with Veganuary. The report revealed that 27% of those surveyed said they enjoyed plant-based alternatives to meat, milk, and cheese several times a month.
Source: esmmagazine.com
France: Marketplace Ankorstore becomes unicorn
B2B-marketplace Ankorstore has secured 250mln euros. After only 2 years of operations, the French company is Europe’s latest unicorn with a value over 1,75bln euros. The platform wants to use the money to develop their existing services and open new offices in Italy and Spain.
Source: ecommercenews.eu