UK retailers raise prices by most in nearly 11 years - BRC
Major British retailers increased their prices by the most in almost 11 years this month, according to a survey that tallies with forecasts showing the country's inflation rate is set to accelerate further. The British Retail Consortium said shop prices rose by 2.1% in March for the fastest annual increase since September 2011, gathering speed from February's 1.8% increase.
Source: reuters.com
SPAR Poland to expand Czeladź logistics centre by 11,200m2
SPAR Poland plans to expand its logistics centre in Czeladź from 8,800m2 to 20,000m2. The expanded facility will become operational this year and include ambient, cold, and frozen storage. Modern offices of 250m2 will be added to the facility in the third quarter of 2022.
Source: spar-international.com
Abu Dhabi’s Lulu invites pitches for 2023 UAE listing
Lulu Group International, which runs one of the Middle East’s largest supermarket chains, is considering an initial public offering early next year in the United Arab Emirates, people familiar with the matter said. The diversified conglomerate - valued at more than $5bln in 2020 - has asked global banks to pitch for roles for potential listings, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. The firm may opt for multiple listings in the Gulf stock exchanges, one of the people said.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
Egypt: ON Market e-grocery marketplace raises $215k in a pre-seed funding round
ON Market, an e-grocery marketplace has successfully raised $215k from regional angel investors in a round led by Yasser AlGhamdi. The funding will support the startup in expanding across major cities in Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria, Tanta, Mansoura, among others, in addition to scaling their tech solutions.
Source: waya.media
Spain: El Corte Inglés announces new executive committee
The board of directors of El Corte Inglés has approved the formation of a new executive committee comprising 5 members: the chairperson, 2 directors and 2 general managers. Marta Álvarez will step in as the chairperson of the new executive committee, while the directors include José Ramón de Hoces and Javier Rodríguez-Arias. The 2 general managers joining the committee are José María Folache González-Parrado and Santiago Bau Arrechea. Chief executive of the company, Víctor del Pozo, has decided to leave the company, citing personal reasons.
Source: esmmagazine.com
South Africa: New jobs created with opening of Shoprite Dlamini
Shoprite created 57 new jobs with the opening of its supermarket in Dlamini, Soweto. This new store offers customers a convenient shopping experience with 8 pay points and access to several in-store fresh food departments including a Meat Market, Hot & Cold Foods Deli, Bakery and Fresh Fruit and Vegetables.
Source: shopriteholdings.co.za
Saudi retail major BinDawood’s unit acquires majority stake in IATC for $29mln
Future Tech Retail, a unit of BinDawood Holding, has acquired a 62% stake in e-commerce platform operator International Applications Trading Co. for SR108mln ($29mln). A fully owned subsidiary of Saudi retailer BinDawood, Future Tech signed the deal with Amwaj Real Estate Co. and First Commercial Application Co., to acquire the stake, a bourse filing showed. BinDawood Holding Co. suffered a 46% decline in net profit in 2021 citing pandemic restrictions. The group reported a SR240mln ($64mln) profit, compared to SR447mln in the same period of 2020, it said in a filing.
Source: arabnews.com
UK: Sainsbury’s expands World Food offering
Sainsbury’s has announced it is adding over 350 brand-new World Food products across 1,118 UK stores. The move is the biggest investment into its World Food category to date.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
New Zealand: Break up supermarket duopoly and guarantee liveable incomes
The Green Party is calling on the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, David Clark to break up the supermarket duopoly. “There is an inequality crisis in New Zealand, and food prices are just another reason why we need to break the supermarket duopoly and ensure everyone has a liveable income,” says Ricardo Menéndez March, spokesperson for commerce and consumer affairs. “We all want children to have access to healthy, nourishing kai. However, as the Commerce Commission recently showed, supermarkets are raking in $430mln a year in excess profits as thousands of families struggle to put food on the table. Even before the current inflation spike, more than 1 in 4 children living in some of the country’s worst-off families were going without fresh fruit and vegetables.”
Source: greens.org.nz
US: Meijer announces 1st-ever Sustainability Supplier Summit to expand offering of sustainable products
Meijer announced that it will host its 1st Sustainability Supplier Summit, giving vendors nationwide the opportunity to showcase their sustainable products - from food to pets to home goods - for Meijer merchants to consider offering on shelves.
Source: prnewswire.com
Canada: Leading grocery retailers deliver fresh success with Invafresh improving gross margin in their fresh operations
Invafresh, the market leader of Freshology™ for the fresh food retail industry, is helping grocery retail customers optimize operations to meet changing consumer behavior and combat rising food costs by balancing demand with supply and availability, to provide the freshest products. Coborn’s realizes real-time visibility with Invafresh. Price Chopper achieves effective shrink management Invafresh. Roche Bros. optimizes operating costs with Invafresh. Invafresh committed to being best in Fresh.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Hy-Vee continues expansion plans with entry into Tennessee
Hy-Vee Inc. announced plans to expand into a new state as the Midwest grocer released details about its 1st store location in Tennessee. Hy-Vee had previously announced plans to open stores in Kentucky and Indiana. In Tennessee, Hy-Vee has secured 17 acres at the corner of Buckner Lane and June Lake Boulevard, within the new June Lake gateway development, in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: bp and Uber to drive delivery growth with global strategic partnership
bp and Uber Technologies, Inc. announced a new global strategic convenience delivery partnership, extending their existing local arrangements to reach more consumers across the world. Together, the partners will offer a huge range of quality convenience products, including fresh and prepared ranges, from select retail locations.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Independent grocers testify against marketplace consolidation
Independent grocers Tom Charley and Anthony Pena have testified on behalf of the National Grocers Association (NGA) on the anticompetitive tactics by major players in the grocery marketplace that result in unfair conditions for indies. Charley and Pena offered their remarks in a forum held by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division. This issue is a major priority for NGA.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: ChargePoint® and Gatik partner to develop an electric ecosystem for autonomous electric medium-duty trucks
ChargePoint, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network, and Gatik announced a strategic partnership to develop an electric ecosystem for autonomous vehicles designed to maximize sustainability, operational efficiency and economics for ChargePoint and Gatik’s customers across North America.
Source: businesswire.com
Walmart Canada plans sustainability-focused supercenter for 2023
Walmart Canada is making an approximately CAD$20mln investment into a recently announced supercenter in Quebec that will push the company’s sustainability-focused strategy into full focus. Expected to open its doors in summer 2023, the new Montreal location will feature a 125,000-square-foot green roof, ultra-low flow restrooms, building materials made with recycled content and LED lighting throughout the store and its offices.
Source: progressivegrocer.com