US: Food Lion Feeds Apple Bag campaign to help provide at least 1mln meals to families in need
In partnership with customers, Food Lion will help provide at least 1mln meals to neighbors facing hunger through its annual Food Lion Feeds Apple Bag campaign. The campaign runs from September 14 - October 4 and benefits Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and local partner member food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area.
Source: globenewswire.com
Amazon's next union vote to start on October 12 in upstate New York
Amazon.com Inc said employees at its "ALB1" warehouse in upstate New York will start voting on October 12 on whether to unionize, with the ballot count expected to commence on October 18.
Source: reuters.com
U.S. online grocery sales sustain for August
Total U.S. online grocery sales dipped less than 1% in August versus last year but still racked up an impressive - and consistent - $8.5bln in total sales. Following the $2bln in sales reported in August 2019 before the pandemic changed everything, e-grocery sales quadrupled in 2020 and have maintained at least $8.2bln in sales for three straight Augusts, according to the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US Foods names Irfan Badibanga president of CHEF'STORE
US Foods named Irfan Badibanga president of CHEF’STORE, the warehouse retail concept from the broadline distributor, the company announced. Rosemont, Illinois-based US Foods acquired Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores in April 2020 and rebranded them to US Foods CHEF’STORE in February 2021. There are currently more than 80 cash-and-carry CHEF'STORE warehouse retail locations around the country.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Canada: Walmart rolling out computer vision AI solution for on-shelf availability across the country
Walmart Canada stores across the country are getting an automated AI-assist to keep shelves stocked and provide the best possible customer and associate experience - whether customers are shopping in-store or online. Following a 70-store pilot, a computer vision AI solution from Focal Systems that uses cameras to automate out-of-stock detection, is rolling out to all stores.
Source: walmartcanada.ca
US: Grocery delivery, 3rd-party sales see lift in August
Digital grocery trends have been shifting throughout the summer, and delivery came out on top in August, according to a new report from industry insights firm Incisiv and digital commerce provider Wynshop. The share of third-party grocery delivery sales also saw a lift in August, rebounding by 21.2%. The report is part of Incisiv and Wynshop’s Grocery Doppio platform, a free, independent source of grocery insights and data designed to help grocers jumpstart, accelerate and sustain digital growth.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Belgium: Makro receives protection from creditors
The Belgian branches of Makro and Metro have had their application for judicial reorganisation approved. The court of Antwerp grants the retail chain protection from its creditors.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Finland: Kesko sees group sales up by 8.4% in August
For the month of August, Kesko Group's sales totalled €1.06bln, an increase of 8.4% from the year before. There was one more delivery day in August than in the previous year, the retailer noted. In the grocery trade, sales for the month of August amounted to €548.6mln, up 8.9% year on year. Grocery sales to K-food stores increased by 5.9% year-on-year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia: Online platform Open Pantry links hospitality venues with suppliers
An online platform called Open Pantry has been created to assist hospitality businesses and venues discover and place orders with suppliers. Businesses can access suppliers across poultry, fruit and vegetables, dry and frozen goods, beverages, alcohol and packaging on the portal.
Source: insidefmcg.com.au
Denmark: Coop unites retail chains in major business simplification move
Coop Denmark is bringing some of its biggest retail chains together under unified banners, as it seeks to become "more efficient, simpler and cheaper for customers", according to managing director Kræn Østergård Nielsen. The group's SuperBrugsen and Kvickly will henceforth be operated as one unified chain, with Kenneth Holmen Pedersen, currently director of SuperBrugsen, appointed director of the combined business. With a total turnover of DKK25bln (€3.36bln), it will be Denmark's largest supermarket chain. As part of the simplification process, Coop is also bringing together its discount banners Coop 365discount and Fakta, under one unified banner, Coop 365discount. By the end of the year, all 350 discount stores operated by the firm will trade under the Coop 365discount banner.
Source: esmmagazine.com
The changing face of Australian grocery shoppers
John Day of ShopAbility reported: "The Focus Insights 2022 Grocery Shopper Report highlights trends among fruit and vegetable shoppers: this profile is important for both retailers and suppliers alike on how they maximise these changes in behaviour to innovate new product offerings that meet shopper expectations. There has been a move back towards more loose/single items after the increased demand for pre-packaged fruit and vegetables during the peak of the pandemic where more consumers demanded pre-packaging as a “protection” against other people touching/handling the product. The current trend of plant-based purchasing by shoppers also continues with 39% of Australian shoppers having purchased a plant-based meal product, up from 27% last year. While this category continues to experience strong growth and interest, price (it is perceived as too expensive) is still the number one reason why people are not continuing to buy (or try) plant-based meat alternatives".
Source: insidefmcg.com.au
Russia's Yandex launches food delivery service in Armenia
Russian tech giant Yandex said it had launched food delivery service Yandex Eats in Armenia, delivering on a promise to develop its e-commerce offering after selling some other business lines to rival VK.
Source: reuters.com