Organic merger in Belgium: Ekoplaza and Färm join forces
After acquiring Belgian Origin'O, Dutch organic chain Ekoplaza has now also joined forces with Brussels-based Färm in order to increase its presence in Belgium. Unlike Origin'O, however, Färm will remain as a separate chain.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Kosovo: SPAR invests €1.4mln in flagship supermarket
SPAR Kosovo opened a flagship SPAR Supermarket in the neighbourhood of Arbëria in Pristina. The extensive fresh food departments include butchery, bakery, fish, fruit and vegetables and home meal replacement. In the fresh produce area, both loose and pre-packed choices are available, giving customers greater options.
Source: spar-international.com
Russia: Magnit reports 19.5% total sales growth and 7.2% EBITDA margin in 2021
Magnit PJSC (the Company), one of Russia’s leading retailers, announced its audited FY 2021 financial results prepared in accordance with IFRS. FY 2021 key operational and financial highlights: Total revenue increased by 19.5% y-o-y to RUB1,856.1bln. Total revenue adjusted for the Dixy acquisition increased by 10.8%; Net retail sales reached RUB1,807.8bln increasing 19.7% y-o-y. Net retail sales growth adjusted for the Dixy acquisition was 11.3%.
Source: magnit.com
Indonesian ag marketplace AgriAku raises $6mln to democratize farmer access to inputs
AgriAku, an online ag marketplace looking to democratize and streamline the crop input supply chain in Indonesia, has raised $6mln in pre-Series A funding. Go-Ventures, the VC arm of Gojek - the pan-Southeast Asian transportation, food delivery, and payments ‘super app’ - led the round. Investing alongside Go-Ventures were 2 funds operating under the VC unit of the country’s majority state-owned telecommunications company Telkom Group - MDI Arise and MDI Centauri, as well as Mercy Corps Social Venture Fund and several unnamed business angels.
Source: agfundernews.com
Czech group Rohlik plans to create 1,000 jobs in Romania with its sezamo online supermarket
The sezamo online grocery retailer, which will be launched in Romania this spring by the Czech group Rohlik, will create approximately 1,000 jobs in the 1st year. The company will start its local operations with 200 employees, and the team will increase by about 800 people after the launch.
Source: romania-insider.com
M&S suspends shipments to Turkish franchisee's Russian business
British food and clothing retailer Marks & Spencer has suspended shipments to its Turkish franchisee's Russian business following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it said. FiBA Group has worked in partnership with the UK retailer since 1999. It operates 48 M&S stores in Russia and 10 in Ukraine as well as stores in Turkey.
Source: reuters.com
Which? names Lidl the cheapest supermarket in the UK for February 2022
Lidl has been crowned the cheapest supermarket in the UK in February, according to the latest monthly analysis from Which?, beating the big 4 supermarkets and Aldi - by 62p. Which? compared prices for a trolley of 23 grocery items throughout February, including both own-brand and branded goods, revealing that on average shoppers would have paid £24.21 at Lidl. Products analysed included fresh produce such as apples and eggs, and branded goods such as Hovis wholemeal bread, to give a comprehensive review of the UK’s cheapest supermarket in February.
Source: retailtimes.co.uk
US Foods further reduces the carbon footprint of its fleet
US Foods Holding Corp. announced additional sustainability initiatives that support the company’s ongoing commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its delivery fleet. The company will convert fleet fuel at all California broadline distribution centers from traditional diesel fuel to renewable diesel (RD) fuel by mid-2022. In addition, the company will add 30 electric trucks to its La Mirada, California distribution center by the end of 2023.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Kroger reports 4th quarter and full-year 2021 results
The Kroger Co. reported its 4th quarter and fiscal year 2021 results and provided 2022 guidance. 4th quarter highlights: identical sales without fuel increased 4.0%; 2-year stack increased 14.6%; operating profit of $965mln; adjusted FIFO operating profit of $1,014mln. Fiscal 2021 highlights: identical sales without fuel increased 0.2%; 2-year stack increased 14.3%; operating profit of $3.5bln; adjusted FIFO operating profit of $4.3bln. Full year 2022 guidance highlights: identical sales growth without fuel of 2.0% to 3.0%; adjusted FIFO operating profit of $4.2bln to $4.3bln.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Saladworks opens 20 ghost kitchen locations in central Florida through its partnership with Combo Kitchen
Saladworks, the nation's leading fast-casual create-your-own salad franchise and part of the WOWorks family of brands, is opening 20 new ghost kitchen locations through its partnership with Combo Kitchen, the world's leading and largest ghost kitchen franchise. Scheduled to begin operations by March 25, Saladworks menu items will soon be available for delivery across Central Florida through Combo Kitchen's agreement with the Florida-based restaurant chain, WingHouse Bar & Grill, and its numerous locations throughout the state.
Source: prnewswire.com
Canada: T&T Supermarkets continues to expand footprint with 4 new stores in 2022
Continuing its steady expansion across the country, T&T Supermarkets announced plans to open 2 stores in Western Canada over the next year. These are in addition to a new location in Toronto at CF Fairview Mall and T&T's 1st store in Montreal, both announced in recent months.
Source: newswire.ca
US: Costco beats estimates as shoppers flock back to stores
Costco Wholesale Corp beat Wall Street estimates for quarterly revenue and profit. Total revenue rose 16% to $51.90bln in the 2nd quarter from a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected $51.47bln. Net income rose to $1.30bln, or $2.92 per share, in the quarter ended February 13, from $951mln, or $2.14 per share, a year earlier. Analysts were expecting it to report profit of $2.74 per share.
Source: reuters.com
US: Sweetgreen stock soars after posting impressive sales growth in its 1st quarterly report since IPO
Sweetgreen shared its 1st quarterly report since going public in mid-November, reporting impressive sales growth and widening losses. The salad chain also issued a strong sales outlook for 2022, although it doesn’t expect to turn a profit yet. After a strong debut on the public markets in mid-November, the stock has struggled as investors question the company’s lack of profitability.
Source: cnbc.com
US: BJ’s calls 2021 ‘the best year in our history’
BJ’s Wholesale Club added to strong year-ago net and comparable sales growth in its 2021 4th quarter and fiscal year, including hitting the $1bln mark in e-commerce sales. In the 4th quarter ended January 29, net sales climbed 10.4% to $4.266bln from $3.86bln a year earlier, Westborough, Massachusetts-based BJ’s said. Membership fee income grew 9.5% to $94.3mln. Comparable-club sales rose 8.8% overall but edged up 0.9% excluding fuel, for 2-year stack growth of 21.8% (16.8% without gasoline). BJ’s announced that the 1st expansion phase will include 4 new clubs: in Warwick, Rhode Island; Lady Lake, Florida; Canton, Michigan; and Greenburgh, New York.
Source: supermarketnews.com