Defiant Gorillas “not to leave Belgium”
A fortnight ago, Gorillas announced that it would have to reorganise and concentrate on its four European core markets (Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) plus the United States. For the four other markets (Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Spain), the Germans would look at “all strategic options”: all followers understood from this that a departure was imminent, but the management now denies that this is true. At first, newspaper HLN reported management was confirming the withdrawal, citing an internal mail. Later on, however, other media later reported that no decision had yet been taken and that the withdrawal was just one of several scenarios that the management wanted to run by the trade unions. According to the management itself, a decision has now been taken to stay in Belgium, but to close a number of sites.
Source: retaildetail.eu
SPAR Netherlands’ goal is to double retail network within three years
Coinciding with the 90th anniversary of SPAR, John van der Ent, CEO SPAR Netherlands, announced the company's expansion plans. The retailer's vision is to double their retail network to 1,000 within three years, from the current level of 455. SPAR Netherlands vision is to be the king of convenience in the retail segment, with expansion in store numbers critical to the fulfilment of that vision.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Morrisons raises pay as stores battle for staff
Morrisons is raising pay for its store workers as UK supermarkets battle for staff amidst increasing competition in the sector. It will pay staff a minimum of £10.20 an hour, which the firm said made it the highest paying UK supermarket. Morrisons said the offer would mean a pay increase for 80,000 of its staff across the country.
Source: bbc.com
Ninjacart joins Ynsect, Pinduoduo at Food Future Asia forum to discuss investments in agri-food system
The main rationale for investing in other start-ups is to gain market access or new product categories, according to a panel discussion at the Food Future Asia forum involving NinjaCart, Ynsect, Next Gen Foods and Pinduoduo. “There are lots of problems to solve in the agri supply chain”, said Ben Mathew, director of strategy at NinjaCart, India’s largest fresh produce supply chain company. “And it’s not possible to solve all of them in-house”.
Source: outlookindia.com
UK: Inflationary pressures strain relationships between retailers and suppliers
Inflation has weakened the relationships between the UK’s designated retailers and their suppliers, the Groceries Code Adjudicator’s (GCA’s) 2022 sector survey revealed. The results, from the survey run by YouGov, suggest that following two years of pandemic where retailers and suppliers worked closely together and improved their relationships, the pressure from rising prices has strained relationships, and Code-related issues between the two have also risen. In response to these difficult conditions, retailer performance is mixed. Aldi returns to the top of the leader board with a score of 98% and in total five retailers either improved or maintained their score despite sector challenges.
Source: gov.uk
Spain: Caprabo allows customers to use own containers
Spanish retailer Caprabo has launched a new sustainable purchasing initiative by allowing customers to bring their own containers from home to carry purchases. Shoppers will be able to bring home fresh products from the fishmonger, butcher, and delicatessen sections in their own containers. Caprabo, which already allows purchases in reusable nets in the fruit and vegetable section of most of its supermarkets, will roll out the initiative in the 137 stores that have a fresh produce counter.
Source: esmmagazine.com
€130mln in fines issued to Portuguese supermarket chains
Supermarkets Auchan, E. Leclerc, Modelo Continente, and Pingo Doce, as well as supplier Unilever have been fined over €130mln by the Competition Authority (AdC) for a consumer price fixing scheme. "The investigation concluded that, through contacts established through [Unilever], without the need to communicate directly with each other, the participating distribution companies ensured the alignment of retail prices in their supermarkets. It is a conspiracy equivalent to a cartel, known in competition law terminology as a 'hub-spoke' model", the AdC detailed in a statement. Auchan was fined €16.19mln, Modelo Continente €50.8mln, and Pingo Doce €35.7mln. Unilever will pay €26.6mln, and E.Leclerc €2.9mln.
Source: theportugalnews.com
Walmart struggles to solve consumer needs in China
The Wall Street Journal reported: "Walmart has grown in China, but slower than competitors. Its giant hypermarkets, which it originally hoped would enable it to become a retail leader in China, have struggled for years to keep pace with Chinese retailers, known for their array of local products and more recently for fast home deliveries."
Source: foxbusiness.com
Report: Grocery inflation reached record high in May 
Data and tech company Numerator has taken a pulse on grocery inflation, and found that it climbed to record highs in May. For the four-week period ending May 29, grocery prices were up 14.6% compared to the year prior, growing from 12.1% in early May. This represents the steepest increase in grocery prices seen since tracking began one year ago.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Stop & Shop to invest $140mln in its New York stores
Ahold Delhaize banner Stop & Shop announced a $140mln capital investment in its New York City stores that, in addition to a “fresh new look”, will include thousands of new items from around the globe “to ensure the assortment at each store reflects the diversity of the neighborhood it serves”, the retailer said in a release. The remodels will also showcase value, Stop & Shop said, with deal bins and the addition of the Flashfood program, which offers fresh foods nearing its best-by date at up to 50% off.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: The Giant Co. to open two new stores in Philadelphia
Carlisle, Pennsylvania-based The Giant Co. has a busy summer planned as it announced that it will open two new Philadelphia area stores. The first location will be at 501 N. Broad St. in Philadelphia, which will open June 24, and the second will open July 1 at 1025 Second St. Pike in Richboro, Pennsylvania, The Giant Co. said in a statement.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com