Vietnam: HCMC supermarkets roll out promotions amid rising prices
Supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) are offering double-digit discounts as food and gasoline prices surge. Central Retail is offering discounts of up to 50% on 390 products before 10 a.m. from Monday to Thursday every week. The list of products includes pork, vegetables, and fast-moving consumer goods.
Source: retailnews.asia
Indian banks to start debt recovery proceedings against Future Retail - sources
Indian lenders are set to initiate debt recovery proceedings against Future Retail this week to safeguard their interests after rival Reliance unexpectedly took over some of the retailer's stores, 2 bankers told Reuters.
Source: reuters.com
China: Alibaba surges more than 11% after it ups share buyback program to $25bln
Alibaba said it will increase the size of its share buyback program from $15bln to $25bln, effective for a 2-year period through March 2024. The Chinese e-commerce giant’s Hong Kong-listed stock surged more than 11%. Alibaba appointed Weijian Shan, executive chairman of investment group PAG, to the its board as an independent director, replacing Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm.
Source: cnbc.com
Asda launches employment support package for Ukrainian refugees
Asda has announced it will offer Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK a guaranteed job interview and provide specialist support to those who are recruited as Asda colleagues. The supermarket currently has around 1,500 salaried and hourly-paid roles available in its stores, warehouses and within its sourcing and procurement arm IPL and would welcome applications from Ukrainian refugees to fill these roles.
Source: corporate.asda.com
Independent Retail Europe elects new board of directors
Independent Retail Europe, which represents the independent food and non-food retail segments in Europe, has announced the appointment of its board of directors for the period 2022 to 2025. The group has also announced the re-election of Thomas Nonn, vice president for independent retailers and cooperatives at REWE Group in Germany, as president.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Holland: Less food waste in supermarkets
On average, 98.4% of all food and beverages available in Dutch supermarkets in 2020 was actually sold; the remaining 1.6% did not reach consumers (measured by weight in kilogrammes). That means 3.6% less food was wasted by supermarkets than in 2018. These findings are based on research carried out by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) for Centraal Bureau Levensmiddelenhandel [Central Food Trade Office] (CBL) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality under the umbrella of the Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling [Food Waste Free United] foundation. 5 Dutch supermarket organisations participated in the project on the basis of self-reporting: Albert Heijn, Aldi, Jumbo, Lidl and PLUS. Together they represent almost 80% of the Dutch market.
Source: wur.nl
Lidl closes 2 stores in Spain due to supply shortage
The national transport strike in Spain is taking its toll on every sector. The latest casualty is German supermarket giant Lidl, which was forced to shut 2 stores in Gijón, Asturias on Friday March 18 as there simply weren’t enough products to fill the shelves. Although the shops on calles Ezcurdia and Pérez de Ayala reopened as normal the following day, it points to a bigger problem which is already spreading out to affect other sectors.
Source: murciatoday.com
New data confirms Aldi as the UK's cheapest supermarket
Aldi has been named as the UK’s lowest-priced supermarket by trade magazine The Grocer, in its independent price comparison survey. Aldi retains its unbeaten record as it returns as the ‘guest retailer’ in this week’s Grocer 33, offering the lowest price for 26 products. The news follows Aldi being confirmed as cheapest supermarket of the year in the UK by consumer champion Which?
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
US: Instacart’s refreshed brand identity showcases company’s evolution
Online grocery platform Instacart has rolled out a new brand identity that the company says better reflects its evolution and supports a “more modern, inspirational and connected experience for our community”. The refresh retains Instacart’s iconic carrot graphic but includes a new logo, wordmark, typography and color.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Walmart Canada to build high-tech fulfillment centre in Alberta
Walmart Canada is investing more than $118mln to build a high-tech fulfillment centre in Alberta. Located in Rocky View County, just outside of Calgary, the 430,000-square-foot warehouse will serve as a delivery hub for orders in Western Canada. The retail giant says this will expand 2-day shipping to 61% of Canadians. Slated to open in September, Walmart says the new centre will be equipped with cutting edge technology that will allow for a “quicker, easier and more efficient” fulfillment process, and better product availability and quicker service both in-store and online.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Pattison Food Group strengthens its foothold in the U.S.
Pattison Food Group continues to grow in the U.S. The Western grocery company’s Roth’s Fresh Markets business has acquired Chuck’s Produce and Street Markets, which operates 2 locations in Vancouver, Washington.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: New Dollar General opens in Baltimore with fresh produce
Dollar General announced that its new Baltimore location on Greenmount Avenue is open. The new store features an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables including lettuce, tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes, and more.
Source: foxbaltimore.com
US: How Just Salad is making everyday health and sustainability possible for more Americans
The New York-based fast casual Just Salad has built a reputation for not only serving healthy ingredients, but also managing sustainable operations. CEO Nick Kenner shared how those 2 efforts will be scaled as the brand pursues growth.
Source: nrn.com
Amazon union backers see bright future for organizing despite tough odds
Workers at Amazon.com Inc seeking to organize a warehouse in Alabama after a bruising defeat last year have been invigorated by a resurgent labor movement, bringing energy to the campaign despite the long odds they face.
Source: reuters.com