Carrefour Brasil bets on know-how to expand small stores operation
Grupo Carrefour Brasil launched a franchise model of convenience stores in the Brazilian market, aiming to tap into its know-how from years of experience in Europe, a top executive said. Carrefour Brasil’s convenience executive director Joao Edson Gravata said that the franchise format would put Carrefour in a stronger position to take on competitors.
Source: reuters.com
Brazil's GPA rejects Colombian billionaire's $836mln offer for retailer Exito
Reuters reported: "Brazil retailer GPA said its board has unanimously rejected the $836mln offer from Colombian billionaire businessman Jaime Gilinski to buy GPA's controlling stake in Colombian subsidiary Almacenes Exito SA".
Source: nasdaq.com
US: The Giant Co. marking 100 years with Make a Difference Challenge
The Giant Co. is gearing up for its 100th anniversary this fall by launching the Make a Difference Challenge, a new initiative to support communities through nonprofit organizations that promote healthier people and a healthier planet.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Cardenas Markets parent acquires El Rancho Supermercado
Heritage Grocers Group, the parent of Cardenas Markets and Tony’s Fresh Markets, has acquired another Hispanic grocery chain. The grocer confirmed that it has completed the acquisition of Garland, Texas-based El Rancho Supermercado, which has 27 stores in Texas and one in Kansas. El Rancho will remain headquartered in Texas and will continue to operate as its own banner within the Ontario, California-based Heritage Grocers company. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Canada: Walmart opens $100mln high-tech fulfillment centre in Alberta
Walmart Canada has opened a 430,000 square foot fulfillment centre in Rocky View County, Alberta. The high-tech facility - representing a more than $100mln investment - serves as a delivery hub for the retailer’s Western Canada customers.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Dollar General announces planned expansion into Montana
Dollar General announced it is planning to open its first store in Montana in fall 2023, which will give the major retailer a presence in its 48th state and complete its continental U.S. presence.
Source: businesswire.com
Italy: Francesco Pugliese stepping down as Conad CEO
Francesco Pugliese is stepping down from the role of CEO of Italian retailer Conad after 12 years in the post, having been with the business since the early 2000s. In a short statement, the cooperative said that Pugliese ‘has been among the architects, during his long tenure, of a path of growth and development' at the retailer.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Aldi predicts record strawberry and cream sales for Wimbledon 
Brits are gearing up for peak strawberry season as tennis fans across the nation prepare to immerse themselves in the Wimbledon Championships. According to Aldi, this season means one thing for the fruit aisle - a record number of strawberry sales. With the first match taking place on Monday 3rd July, the iconic Wimbledon fruit will once again take Centre Court, with the supermarket set to sell up to 1,300 tonnes of strawberries throughout the tournament. Sales will include Aldi’s British Specially Selected Strawberries (£2.85, 400g), and juicy Nature’s Pick Strawberries (£1.89, 400g).
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
Poland: Żabka Group unveils its automated logistics centre in Radzymin near Warsaw
Żabka Group has unveiled its state-of-the-art automated logistics centre in Radzymin near Warsaw, which can supply around 3,500 stores. This facility is the largest and most technologically advanced addition to Żabka Group's logistics infrastructure.
Source: prnewswire.com
India: Get fresh fruits and veggies home delivered from HOPCOMS through ONDC
After failing to make much stride in the online market earlier, the Horticulture Producers’ Cooperative Marketing Society (HOPCOMS) has now hopped on to Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers’ doorsteps.
Source: thehindu.com
Australia: Pact Group announces new recycled packaging partnership with ALDI
Pact Group, a leading plastic recycler and sustainable packaging manufacturer, has signed a strategic partnership with ALDI Australia to supply recycled plastic packaging for some of the retail giant’s own brand products. Under the new partnership, Pact will offer ALDI’s supply partners access to more sustainable packaging options for ALDI’s exclusive brand products, such as milk bottles, meat trays, fruit and vegetable punnets, beverage bottles and shampoo bottles.
Source: pactgroup.com
Auchan opens first Auchan GO self-service store in Poland
The Polish arm of French supermarket chain Auchan has introduced its first self service store in Poland. Situated in Warsaw, the new cashier-free Auchan GO shop is open 24/7 and aims to offer customers a quick and seamless way to shop. The new format offers more than 1,000 products, including drinks and snacks, bread, dairy products, frozen food, BIO products and delicatessen items. Other categories include meat, cold cuts and fruit. Auchan has partnered with Trigo on the advanced AI-powered solution used in the store.
Source: theretailbulletin.com
UK: Asda launches new half price café meals for adults and extends kids eat for £1 offer to support hard-pressed families
As an alternative to a hot meal, Asda cafés offer a £1 kids cold pick and mix selection that includes a sandwich, drink and piece of fruit. The refreshed menu now includes new treats such as a jelly pot with whole fruit pieces or a jelly squeeze pouch as an alternative to a pack of crisps.
Source: corporate.asda.com
Dutch claim for privacy violation by Amazon
Ecommerce giant Amazon is imperceptibly tracking visitors’ online behavior after they leave the marketplace. Even when they did not give permission for cookies to be placed. The Dutch Foundation for Data Protection (SDBN) is starting a mass claim, as at least 5mln Dutch customers have been duped.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
New Zealand: With single-use plastic gone, paper isn't the greenest choice for your fruit and veg
From Saturday, single-use plastic produce bags will be consigned to history. Foodstuff’s sustainable packaging programme manager Debra Goulding said New World, Pak'nSave and Four Square fruit and vegetable sections will offer paper bags at no charge “for the foreseeable future” as people get used to the change.
Source: stuff.co.nz
Are Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd set to merge? Analysis
Rumours are once again circulating that German retailing giants Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd could be about to merge, to create a retail behemoth with total sales of €115bln per year. According to Manager Magazin, 'rough plans' regarding the reunification of the two Aldis - which were split apart by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1961 - have already been drawn up, while the ownership structure of the potential future entity is said to have been 'clarified'.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Belgium's Colruyt joins EMD retail alliance
Belgian retailer Colruyt Group has partnered with European Marketing Distribution (EMD), an international retail buying alliance, in a partnership exclusively focused on sourcing of private-label products.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Holland: Albert Heijn innovates with Generative AI for customers and employees
Albert Heijn has recently launched its own AI start-up: Gen AI Labs. Gen AI Labs strives to explore the application of Generative AI quickly and experimentally with a team of young talents. This allows Albert Heijn to develop and test ideas at a rapid pace. If successful, these will be rolled out immediately.
Source: nieuws.ah.nl