U.S. retail sales stumble as inflation bites
U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in May as motor vehicle purchases declined amid rampant shortages, and record high gasoline prices pulled spending away from other goods. The first drop in sales in five months reported by the Commerce Department also suggested that high inflation was starting to hurt demand. It followed in the wake of major retailers like Walmart and Target cutting their profit forecasts because of cost pressures.
Source: reuters.com
7-Eleven taps Waitr to deliver to hundreds of stores
7-Eleven, one of the nation’s top brands and popular convenience stores, has teamed up with online food ordering and delivery platform Waitr Holdings Inc. The new partnership will allow Waitr, along with its Bite Squad and Delivery Dudes platforms, to deliver from more than 700 7-Eleven locations. Consumers will now be able to order and have their purchases from various 7-Eleven locations delivered to their homes and places of business.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
State-of-the-art technology helps Walmart Canada court downtown Toronto online customers
State-of-the-art technology inside a Walmart store in Scarborough is creating more availability, better selection and expanded delivery options for downtown Toronto's online grocery customers. The repurposed space inside the Scarborough West store integrates state-of-the art technology, helping associates to pick online grocery orders six times faster than on a regular sales floor.
Source: newswire.ca
Puerto Rico: Supermercados ECONO expects quick impact from Local Express e-commerce platform
Supermercados ECONO (ECONO), with 64 stores in 48 municipalities across Puerto Rico, is upgrading its current e-commerce platform (“ECONO ToGo”) with technology from Local Express. Founded in Puerto Rico 52 years ago, ECONO is devoted to continuing its family tradition of exceptional service, which is one of the key reasons they selected the comprehensive digital solution from Local Express.
Source: businesswire.com
Fast-delivery startup Jokr cuts back US operations to focus on Latin America
Rapid delivery startup Jokr is pulling back from its US operations to focus on its core Latin America business, joining a growing number of similar companies that are paring down and prioritizing profitability amid fading investor enthusiasm. Jokr said it will end delivery operations in Boston and New York, which include a network of nine micro-fulfillment centers out of about 200 worldwide. As part of the restructuring, the company will also cut about 50 workers from its 950-member office staff globally.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
UK food inflation to hit 15% this summer, says IGD
Food price inflation in Britain is likely to peak at up to 15% this summer and high levels will persist into 2023, industry researcher the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) said. Its latest report said the most vulnerable households in Britain would be hit hardest by the spike in food and drink prices. IGD predicted that the average monthly spend on groceries for a typical family of four would reach 439 pounds ($528) in January 2023, up from 396 pounds in January 2022. It expects inflation to be most evident in prices for meat, cereal products, dairy, fruit and vegetables.
Source: reuters.com
Amazon Fresh store opens in Hoxton, London, powered by Just Walk Out tech
Amazon has opened an Amazon Fresh checkout-free store in Hoxton, London, its 18th such location in the UK. Powered by Just Walk Out technology, the store can be found at Unit 10, 3A Rosewood Building, Shoreditch Exchange, 97-137 Hackney Road, E2 8GY.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Russia: X5 retail group to buy St. Petersburg chain from Finland's Prisma
Russian retail group X5 said it had agreed to buy the Prisma retail chain in St. Petersburg from Finnish firm SOK Retail for an undisclosed sum. X5, Russia’s largest food retail chain, said in a statement it would buy 15 stores - all in St. Petersburg - through the deal.
Source: reuters.com
Ireland: Musgrave to invest €25mln in stores to reduce emissions
Musgrave will invest €25mln in SuperValu and Centra stores across the island of Ireland in a move to reduce carbon emissions by 12% over a two-year period. The investment from the supermarket supplier is also part of Musgrave’s overall strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040. All fruit and vegetables packaging, as well as in-store packaging, will also be recyclable, reusable or compostable within the next three years.
Source: independent.ie
UK: Sainsbury's adds top sellers to price match scheme
British supermarket group Sainsbury's, seeking an edge amid a worsening cost of living crisis, will for the first time include its biggest selling lines in a scheme that matches the prices of German-owned discounter Aldi. Sainsbury's said its top 20 highest volume items would now be price-matched to Aldi. Sainsbury's said a focus will be on the key footfall drivers of meat and poultry. Over 60% more volume in these categories will be included in the scheme. Other key items such as butter, onions, cauliflower and oven chips will also be included.
Source: reuters.com
Wholesaler Metro offloads Belgian operations to Bronze Properties
Wholesale group Metro AG has announced the sale of its Belgian operations, Makro Cash & Carry Belgium N.V. to Bronze Properties S.à r.l, following a review process. The group made the announcement following what it said were 'significant efforts' to improve performance at the business. As part of its sCore growth strategy, the group no longer sees Belgium as a core business going froward, which has prompted the sale. The value of the transaction has not been revealed.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Asda marks quarter-of-a-century as the UK’s cheapest major supermarket
Asda has been crowned the UK’s lowest-priced major supermarket for the 25th consecutive year by trade bible The Grocer in its annual ‘Grocer Gold’ industry awards. The retailer convincingly beat rivals Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons after winning the Grocer’s weekly price comparison survey 43 out of a possible 50 times during the last 12 months. Asda remains the only retailer to win this pricing award thanks to its long heritage of providing shoppers with low prices.
Source: corporate.asda.com
Belgium: New online supermarket launches in Brussels for fresh and local produce
The Dutch online supermarket Crisp is venturing into the Belgium market and will be launching activities in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven, but can serve customers all across Flanders. The company, which has been active in the Netherlands for about four years, will be working from a 15,000 m2 distribution centre in Bornem, Antwerp and mainly offers local and fresh products, including from Flemish entrepreneurs. Many Belgian products are put in the limelight by the app-based supermarket, from Belgian beers to white asparagus, line-caught plaice and Belgian milk.
Source: brusselstimes.com