Retail giant Aeon holding out as Japan dismantles controversial listings
As many Japanese firms bow to pressure from shareholders and regulators to end the practice of listing subsidiaries - which critics say compromises corporate governance - one of the country's biggest retailers isn't buying it. Aeon Co Ltd, whose 15 listed subsidiaries include supermarkets and drugstores, said so-called parent-child listings improve, rather than hinder, governance. "It's the most cost-effective way to strengthen management of our subsidiaries," Executive Officer Tsukasa Ojima told Reuters in a recent interview.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Morrisons / McColl’s merger only raises concerns in a small number of local areas
The CMA’s initial investigation into Morrisons’ completed purchase of McColl’s shops has found competition concerns in 35 local areas where the 2 brands compete. However, overall, the deal would not harm the vast majority of shoppers or other businesses.
Source: gov.uk
Israel's Shufersal opens first checkout free store in Tel Aviv
Israel's largest supermarket chain Shufersal said it had opened the country's first autonomous store where shoppers do not have to queue at checkout or scan any goods and where payments and receipts are settled digitally. The technology at Shufersal's store is powered by Israeli start-up Trigo, which also developed the technology at British retailer Tesco's High Holborn branch in London.
Source: reuters.com
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com bets big on online grocery, lower-tier markets amid slowing economy
JD.com is ramping up its online grocery business and lower-tier market operations, as a slowing economy and draconian Covid-19 restrictions raise the urgency for the country’s largest private business to seek new growth engines. The Beijing-based firm announced that it aimed to bring more shoppers to its JD Supermarket service partly by strengthening partnerships with offline retailers, including Walmart. The US supermarket chain has been collaborating with the Chinese company to attract more online customers during the pandemic, with JD Supermarket contributing to roughly 40% of sales at several Walmart outlets in Beijing, said Liu Lizhen, a vice-president at JD.com.
Source: scmp.com
Austria: Penny introduces Amazon parcel lockers
Discounter Penny is introducing Amazon parcel lockers in 47 outlets across Austria, allowing customers to collect packages around the clock. By the end of the year, 31 more stores across Austria will join the initiative, the discounter noted.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Italy: GS, Auchan probed in 1.8bln tax fraud case
Supermarket giants GS and Auchan (now Margherita) are among those being probed in a 1.8bln euro tax fraud case, Milan judges said. Nine people have been placed under house arrest on charges of issuing 1.8bln euros in false invoices and evading VAT to the tune of 260mln euros, judicial sources said. Some 33.8mln euros were seized from GS, which is controlled by Carrefour, and 26.2mln from Auchan.
Source: ansa.it
Food delivery firm foodpanda lays off staff in Singapore, retrenchment reportedly affects about 60
Food delivery company foodpanda has reportedly laid off 5% of its 1,200 staff in Singapore in a bid to remain competitive, just months after it launched its regional headquarters in Singapore. This works out to be about 60 employees. In response to media queries, the company spokesman said that its German parent company - Delivery Hero - has a clear objective to become Ebitda-positive, which refers to the profitability of a company's core operations. Hence, the "critical need" to reduce costs and make a profit to remain competitive, he added.
Source: straitstimes.com
UK: Depop founder aims to fix ‘broken’ food industry
A new venture from Depop founder Simon Beckerman aims to fix the ‘broken’ food industry. DELLI is described as the latest innovation in community-focused food and beverage and has announced a £6.3mln capital raise. The funding was co-led by Balderton and HV Capital, original investors in fashion marketplace unicorn Depop, which was acquired by US giant Etsy last year.
Source: businesscloud.co.uk
Sea’s Shopee shuts operations in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico - sources
Sea Ltd's e-commerce arm told employees it was shutting local operations in Chile, Colombia and Mexico, and leaving Argentina entirely, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the matter and an internal email. The Singapore-based company will maintain cross-border operations in the first three markets but will cut the majority of its teams in the countries, affecting dozens of employees, the sources said. Brazil, in which Shopee has become a dominant player, will not be affected.
Source: reuters.com
US: Uber partners with Nuro in push for autonomous food, grocery delivery
Uber Technologies Inc said it has partnered with start-up Nuro to test food delivery via unmanned vehicles in some U.S. locations, expanding its tie-ups with companies focused on building self-driving machines. Tests with Nuro will begin this fall in Houston, Texas, and Mountain View, California, under a 10-year partnership and the company plans to expand the service to the greater Bay Area.
Source: reuters.com
US: For many consumers, online grocery shopping is the new normal
Many consumers have gotten used to the idea of shopping online for groceries. The pandemic initiated another way of shopping, and now more than half of consumers consider online grocery shopping a new normal, according to the Online Grocery Landscape Report from global integrated sales and marketing services company Acosta.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: Kroger announces new Smart Way product line
The Kroger Co. announced Smart Way, a new opening price point Our Brands product line. This line brings together 16 legacy brands into a single, easy-to-find identity. "We are confident Smart Way will have something for everyone", said Juan De Paoli, Vice President, Our Brands for Kroger. "From canned vegetables and bread to juices and staples, this new product line features the products families need to put an even more affordable meal on their table."
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Southeastern Grocers partners with DoorDash to continue its e-commerce expansion
Last-mile logistics provider DoorDash has partnered with Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie, Harveys Supermarket and Fresco y Más, to offer online shopping at its Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners, the company announced. The new relationship will feature in-store prices and delivery in two hours or less starting next month, the company said.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com