UK: Former Selby police station sold to supermarket
The sale of a former North Yorkshire police station to discount supermarket chain Aldi has been completed. Selby Police Station, in Portholme Road, has stood empty since 2019 when officers moved to Selby Civic Centre.
Source: bbc.com
New owners end lifeline Metro Belgium
The owners of Makro/Metro‘s Belgian branch have applied for protection against creditors. They admit in as many words that a continued existence for the chain is no longer an option. Bronze Properties, which has been the new owner of the seventeen stores since June, says that it wants to keep all options open this way. “This petition makes it possible to transfer all or part of the company’s activities to another entity and to safeguard jobs”, Belgian newspaper De Tijd quotes Bronze’s statement.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Ecommerce brand Motatos lands €38mln to tackle growing food waste problem
Based in Stockholm and recently launched in the UK, Motatos is a startup taking on food waste through ecommerce. The Nordic team has just raised €38mln through a directed new share issue to existing shareholders.
Source: eu-startups.com
Every lettuce helps: Tesco supports farmers through difficult growing seasons
Tesco has doubled down on its commitment to supporting farmers through difficult growing seasons, as the current warm and dry conditions prove to be a challenge for many suppliers. The UK’s leading supermarket is continually looking at ways to support its growers and suppliers. As a result of this ongoing commitment, Tesco has changed the required specification of its Iceberg lettuces, allowing growers to harvest them quicker so they retain their crispiness.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Kenya: Naivas founders strike deal to value supermarket at Sh45.6bln
The family behind the success of the Naivas supermarket chain has sold shares worth about Sh3.8bln to a group of international investors. The 8.5% stake sold by the family is part of the 40% shares that were acquired by the investors led by Mauritius-based conglomerate IBL Group at a cost of Sh18.25bln. IBL Group bought the shares through the investment vehicle Mambo Retail. The supermarket founded by the late Peter Mukuha Kago is now said to be worth Sh45.6bln, becoming the biggest local supermarket chain.
Source: pulselive.co.ke
Hopes of lower prices with Woolworth NZ's first wholesale agreement
Woolworths New Zealand, who own the Countdown supermarket chain, has signed its first wholesale agreement - with organic grocer Huckleberry. It comes amid growing concerns in recent years around the lack of competition in the grocery sector due to the dominance of supermarket giants Woolworths New Zealand and Foodstuffs.
Source: 1news.co.nz
Indonesia's GoTo looks to raise $1bln via convertible bonds - sources
Indonesia's largest tech firm PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk is seeking to raise about $1bln through a convertible bond issue, three sources familiar with the matter said. A GoTo spokesperson declined to comment. GoTo, formed last year by the merger of ride-hailing-to-payments firm Gojek and e-commerce leader Tokopedia, surprised analysts when it braved turbulence in global equity markets earlier this year to raise $1.1bln in an initial public offering (IPO).
Source: reuters.com
Brazil delivery app iFood focusing on growth, not profits, says CEO
Brazil's food delivery app iFood will focus on growing its grocery delivery and financial services rather than becoming profitable, the company's president and founder Fabricio Bloisi said. "Our marketplace and fintechs businesses will still grow for five to seven years", Bloisi told Reuters. "If you pursue profitability too fast, it can kill the business". Serving a network of about 320,000 restaurants in the country, iFood now aims to increase its base of 30,000 supermarkets.
Source: reuters.com
Costco’s Canadian sales continue to soar with boost in August
Costco sales in Canada were up 11.6% in August as the company reported total net sales of US$17.55bln for the month. That figure is an increase of 11.4% from US$15.75bln last year. Comparably, Canadian sales were up 11.7% in July and 14.2% in June. Sales in the U.S. grew 11% for the period (August 1 to 28) while international climbed 3.4% and e-commerce increased 3.9%.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Food Bazaar opening 1st Manhattan store
Food Bazaar Supermarket, well-known for its extensive international food offerings and charitable contributions, is further expanding its retail presence with the opening of its first Manhattan location, in East Harlem at 201 East 125th Street. Also, Food Bazaar’s online shopping and home delivery offerings, available through its website and mobile app, will expand to service most of Manhattan.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: New Jersey Department of Agriculture highlights Jersey Fresh at Stop & Shop
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher visited the Kingsland Avenue Stop & Shop in Clifton to highlight the store featuring Jersey Fresh in its produce department. Stop & Shop’s 58 New Jersey stores source produce from several local farms from the state. They include Abma's Farm in Bergen County, Cassaday Farms, and Circle M Farms each in Salem County, Flaim Farms in Cumberland County, Guarino Sons Produce, and Muth Family Farms each in Gloucester County, Pastore Orchards in Atlantic County, Tranquility Farms in Sussex County, and Vaccaro Farms in Burlington County. “Stop & Shop’s support of New Jersey’s farmers is sincerely appreciated”, NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher said. “Local means Jersey Fresh and informs customers they are buying fruits and vegetables grown right here in the Garden State”.
Source: nj.gov
US: Meijer to launch a new, smaller store concept called Meijer Grocery in 2023
Next year, Michigan-based retail giant Meijer plans to debut a new version of its brick-and-mortar stores called Meijer Grocery. The first two smaller stores will open in early 2023 in Orion Township and Macomb Township. The stores will range from 75,000 to 90,000 square feet and offer a condensed, easier-to-navigate footprint in contrast to the larger Meijer supercenters.
Source: eu.detroitnews.com