UK: Aldi increases pay for warehouse colleagues and boosts night premium payments
Aldi is following up its recent market-leading pay rise for store colleagues by increasing the hourly rate of pay for thousands working in its regional distribution centres across the UK. From September, all hourly paid colleagues within its warehouses will receive pay rises of up to 9% on their previous January 2022 hourly rates. The majority of distribution centre roles are Warehouse Selectors, who will receive a new minimum rate of £12.66 an hour.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
SPAR opens its first supermarket in Latvia
Retail giant SPAR has opened its first supermarket in Latvia in the city of Saldus, 120 kilometres west of Riga. In 2021, SPAR International granted a licence to operate the brand in Latvia to S&P Logistics. The 720-square-metre store includes an in-store bakery, as well as grocery and fresh products.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Saudi-based Purity invests in rising online grocery startup Appetito
Based in Cairo and operating across Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, online grocery store Appetito has announced inking a MoU with the leading Riyadh-based information technology firm Purity. Under the agreement, Purity will be Appetito’s partner in the Saudi market and will provide the necessary financing for Appetito to expand its operations across the kingdom and the MENA region.
Source: dailynewsegypt.com
UK: Tesco set to strip out staple feature due to 'lack of customer demand'
Tesco appears to be moving away from manned checkouts and giving a greater emphasis on self-serve for the future. The big four supermarket has said it will be removing traditional manned checkouts due to "lack of customer demand". Tesco has said that larger self-checkout areas had been successful and its bigger self-checkout areas for trolleys were three times longer than standard sizes, meaning that six bags can be packed at once.
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
Too Good To Go available across all 107 SPAR Scotland company-owned stores
In December 2020, SPAR International entered into a partnership agreement with Too Good To Go, with the objective being to offer customers an innovative digital solution to reduce food waste. CJ Lang & Son, wholesaler for SPAR Scotland, is continuing this movement with Too Good To Go, hoping to inspire and empower customers in Scotland to take action in the fight against food waste.
Source: spar-international.com
Cyprus: Supermarkets, delivery platforms up the ante
Delivery companies and supermarkets are adjusting their business model by introducing new services, including own-store operations catering to online and from-home shoppers. AlphaMega Hypermarkets has continuously gained ground in the retail market in the one and a half years since launching its own online delivery service, confirming that Cypriot consumers are getting on board with a trend building across Europe. Delivery platforms also convince supermarkets to jump on board while changing their operating model to include their own online grocery stores. Finnish-owned delivery platform Wolt is looking to grow its in-house grocery, Wolt Market, and is on the hunt to hire administrative staff, initially in Nicosia.
Source: financialmirror.com
India: Fraazo shuts ops in multiple cities; in talks for acquisition
Trouble seems to be brewing in one of the companies in the quick delivery space. Fraazo, a fresh farm produce focused quick commerce startup, is potentially staring at a complete shutdown as the company is only left with a few months of runway, said three people aware of the inner details of the company. “Fraazo has shut down operations in all cities [excluding Mumbai]”, said one of the sources, requesting anonymity. “Even in its core market (Mumbai), the company has scaled down operations by 50-60%”. Previously, the company was operational in seven cities including Delhi (NCR), Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, but sources say “most of the local teams in these cities have been fired and dark stores have been shuttered”.
Source: entrackr.com
Convenience store sales increase in the Asia-Pacific in Q1, study finds
Convenience store sales increased in thirteen countries in the first quarter of 2022, while ten countries witnessed a decline, a new report by NielsenIQ and NACS has unveiled. The global convenience retailing industry report includes 23 countries in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Fruit stars in produce category
Though demand for organic produce has been a boon for supermarkets over the past year, fruit - both conventional and organic - has been a standout. “The gaps between conventional and organic fruit have really closed tremendously”, said Jay Schneider, head of produce buying for Gorillas US, a Berlin-based startup that offers grocery delivery in New York City. “More than ever, we are seeing the popularity of clean, healthy eating”.
Source: supermarketnews.com
bp expands ampm convenience brand to US East Coast
bp opened its first ampm convenience store in New York City, expanding the seventh largest c-store chain from its West Coast roots. The store, located at 824 Allerton Avenue in the Bronx, is the first opening for the convenience brand on the East Coast. The store will feature bp branding throughout the fuel experience and ampm’s food menu, including a hot deli and grocery with fresh fruit and extensive dry goods. The entire customer-centric experience is modeled after Thorntons, the renowned Kentucky-based fuel and convenience retailer that bp took full ownership of in 2021.
Source: bp.com
US: Bakkal receives funding to accelerate growth
Bakkal Corporation announced a seed round investment of $3mln from new and existing investors. Bakkal is a B2B2C marketplace and last mile delivery platform for ethnic goods founded in 2021. The company aims to reshape local corner stores by providing them strategic business tools and services.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Stop & Shop steps up fresh food donations
In an effort to stem hunger in its communities, Stop & Shop is introducing a new seasonal program that provides locally grown fresh vegetables to families in need. This month, the retailer will hold distribution events in stores across its multistate footprint. Consumers facing food insecurity in these areas can access locally grown produce such as corn, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant and peppers. Stop & Shop is working with regional and local food banks to coordinate donations in New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: H-E-B continues push into DFW Metroplex
H-E-B is expected to break ground on its newest addition to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex early next year. The Texas-based retailer, which already serves the region with its Central Market format, will bring its first H-E-B store to Tarrant County with a planned opening in Mansfield, about 30 miles from Dallas. The Mansfield store will be located at the corner of US 287 and Broad Street. H-E-B owns about 28 acres at the site.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: QuikTrip taps Amazon Just Walk Out tech for checkout-free store first
Convenience retailer QuikTrip has opened a store in Tulsa powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. This is its first venture into the checkout-free space. Those visiting the new location (in the BOK Tower at One Williams Center) will be able to insert their credit card at the entry gate to enter, shop like normal, and then leave.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com