US: Exploring ALDI's unlimited success with limited assortments
U.S. shoppers are head over heels in love with ALDI - literally. In November, Michael Hurd and Jessica Bojanowski got married in the produce section of the company’s U.S. flagship location, in Batavia, Illinois, after spending many months “dating” by shopping together at ALDI.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
'Ugly produce': company gives second life to fruits and vegetables in Montreal
For Divy Ojha and his company Odd Bunch, Friday was a big step forward. It marked the first time his subscription-based food service completed a delivery in Quebec. Odd Bunch is capitalizing on what's called "ugly produce": fruits and vegetables with slight imperfections but would not make it to a grocery store shelf.
Source: montreal.ctvnews.ca
US: Hy-Vee acquiring Iowa Indie North Scott Foods
Following 45 years in the grocery business, Steve Grolmus is retiring from his position at the helm of Eldridge, Iowa-based North Scott Foods and selling the single-unit business to Hy-Vee. While there is no firm timeline in place for the acquisition, Grolmus stated on Facebook that Hy-Vee will be taking over in early April.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Smart & Final, UNFI warehouse workers in California join Teamsters
Warehouse associates at Smart & Final and United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) distribution centers have voted to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Teamsters said that more than 300 warehouse employees from the Smart & Final facility in Commerce, California, are now represented by Teamsters Local 630, based in Los Angeles. Earlier this month, 220 warehouse associates working in UNFI’s Rocklin, California, distribution center voted to join Teamsters Local 150, based in Sacramento.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Fresh produce keeps consumers coming back to brick-and-mortar grocers
Despite eGrocery advances, PYMNTS research shows that when it comes to fresh produce, consumers still overwhelmingly prefer physical stores. Grocery shoppers do not trust eCommerce options to pick out the right fruits and vegetables. In an interview with PYMNTS, Alex Ruhter, CEO and co-founder of recently-opened curbside-only grocery store JackBe, noted that consumers’ particular preferences for their fresh fruits and vegetables tend to hinder adoption of digital channels.
Source: pymnts.com
Amazon CEO doubles down on grocery store business - FT
Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Andy Jassy has vowed to double down on the ecommerce giant's struggling grocery store business, the Financial Times reported. Jassy blamed a lack of normalcy during the pandemic for a series of stumbles and said the company was ready to "go big" on bricks-and-mortar stores, the report added. Amazon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Source: reuters.com
US: Chick-fil-A is testing its first-ever plant-forward entrée, the Chick-fil-A™ Cauliflower Sandwich
The company announced it will begin testing its first plant-forward entrée, the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich, at restaurants in three markets. The sandwich is made with a tender filet cut from a whole, real cauliflower and embraces the plant-forward style that places vegetables at the center of the entrée.
Source: chick-fil-a.com
Walmart to close three U.S. tech hubs, relocate staff
Walmart Inc will close three of its U.S. technology hubs, asking hundreds of workers to relocate to keep their jobs, Robert Munroe, Walmart's director of global communications told Reuters. The big-box retailer would close offices that housed technology staff in Austin, Texas, in Carlsbad, California and in Portland, Oregon, Munroe said.
Source: reuters.com
Carrefour Brasil posts 28% drop in Q4 adjusted net profit
Carrefour Brasil reported its fourth-quarter adjusted net profit decreased 28.2% from a year earlier to 550mln reais ($106.19mln), hit by a double digit increase in expenses. The Brazilian arm of French retailer Carrefour SA said net sales rose 36.3% to 28.16bln reais, partly lifted following its acquisition of food retailer Grupo BIG. Carrefour Brasil's Atacadao unit posted 22.6% growth in net sales.
Source: reuters.com
Italy: Carrefour seeks to reduce food waste by 50% by 2025
Carrefour Italia has said that it plans to reduce its food waste by 50% by 2025 as part of a broad sustainability strategy that involves customers, local communities and charities. In addition, fresh products will be offered at a reduced price in the 'Box Ortofrutta', which contain fruit and vegetable items recovered from damaged packaging.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Amazon workers in Coventry to go on strike for seven more daysAmazon workers at a warehouse in Coventry have announced seven more days of strike action as they continue their push for better pay. More than 310 staff at a giant fulfilment centre in the West Midlands city will strike on 28 February, 2 March and from 13 to 17 March, according to the GMB union.
Source: theguardian.com
China: Dingdong (Cayman) Limited announces fourth quarter 2022 financial results
Dingdong (Cayman) Limited ("Dingdong" or the "Company"), a leading fresh grocery e-commerce company in China, with advanced supply chain capabilities, announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Fourth quarter 2022 highlights: GMV for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased by 12.7% year over year to RMB6,769.5mln (US$981.5mln) from RMB6,004.0mln in the same quarter of 2021. Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased by 13.1% year over year to RMB6,200.6mln (US$899.0mln) from RMB5,483.5mln in the same quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2022 was RMB115.8mln (US$16.8mln), compared with non-GAAP net loss of RMB1,034.1mln in the same quarter of 2021.
Source: prnewswire.com
Ireland's Dunnes Stores acquires delivery firm Buymie: reports
Dublin-based same-day delivery company Buymie has been acquired by Irish retailer Dunnes Stores, according to media reports. The Sunday Business Post reported that Dunnes Stores sees an opportunity to grow the Buymie business overseas, particularly in the UK. According to the paper, Buymie will continue to operate as an independent entity, with CEO Devan Hughes remaining in his role.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Independent fruit and veg shops of Australia united with a new free magazine for shoppers 
Independent fruit and vegetable retailers were united together with a brand new magazine offering, the ‘A better choice! Magazine, a product that is completely free for shoppers to collect at their local fruit and veg shop. The magazine is breaking the status quo of free recipe magazines currently available, with a unique perspective to encourage shoppers to support their local fruit and veg shop by sharing recipes that highlight seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Source: abetterchoice.com.au
France leans on retailers to help consumers cope with food prices
The government wants big retail chains such as Carrefour, Casino and the family-owned grocery dynasties Auchan and E. Leclerc, to sell a basket of about 50 everyday items at purchasing price from next month. However, only smaller chains such as discounter Lidl and Systeme U, which launched its own action plan covering 150 private label products earlier this month, have agreed to the government initiative, which is not mandatory. Some retailers such as Carrefour say they have already taken action by blocking prices on a set number of goods. Others, including Auchan, have since responded by launching their own initiatives, saying there was a need to focus the basket more on fresh products such as meat, fish, fruits and vegetables.
Source: reuters.com