SPAR Spain opens five stores during the summer season
During this summer, SPAR Spain has launched five new stores along the Mediterranean coast in Spain, stretching from Cádiz to Barcelona in the Costa Brava area and also in Atlantic Gran Canaria. SPAR Gran Canaria opened a new store in Taliarte, Telde, increasing the total number of SPAR Supermarkets to 22 in this region. The store emphasizes fresh local products in sections like fruit, vegetables, bakery, and butchery. Spanish SPAR partner, Líder Aliment, opened a new SPAR store in Cádiz with a sales area of 600m². The store features self-service counters in the meat, fruit, and vegetables, delicatessen, and frozen food sections.
Source: spar-international.com
E-Mart to open 1st S.Korean convenience store in Cambodia
E-Mart Inc. is set to launch the first South Korean convenience store in Cambodia as the struggling hypermarket giant aims to seek growth opportunities in overseas markets, especially Southeast Asia.
Source: kedglobal.com
New Zealand: 'Ugly' fruit and veggie shop sells out in half an hour on first day
The Beautification Trust, a South Auckland community organization, has partnered with food collective FoodTogether to open a pop-up shop at Manurewa selling "ugly" veggies and fruits - fresh food produce that are sometimes a little "wonky" and misshapen and don't make their way into supermarket shelves. The shop was supposed to close at two in the afternoon, but "we sold out in half an hour," says volunteer Stephen Brown.
Source: teaonews.co.nz
Brits stock up for last big BBQ parties of the year ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend
Brits have started stocking up for what is likely to be the last big BBQ bonanza of the year for the Bank Holiday weekend. Across the Bank Holiday weekend, Tesco expects to sell more than 225,000 plant-based meat alternatives and more than 1mln punnets of strawberries.
Source: tescoplc.com
Denmark: Coop to close the last Irma store next year
Coop Denmark's high-end retail chain Irma is to close its last store in the spring of 2024, according to media reports. Martin Brinch Jöhncke, acting chain director for Irma, told the Danish daily Politiken that the group has been working on the new Coop supermarket concept, which will replace Irma, and in the process, it "raised its ambitions a little."
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Waitrose hit by middle-class vegetable shortage
The middle classes may have survived the first wave of Britain's fruit and vegetable shortages, but a scarcity of artichokes at Waitrose could reignite panic. Shoppers seeking out globe artichokes for their summer dishes have been met with disappointment in recent weeks after unpredictable weather disrupted supplies. The retailer told the Telegraph that British artichokes are unavailable because crops have been "temporarily impacted by the unseasonable and fluctuating weather conditions."
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Spadel invests in packaging-free startup Dripl
Dripl, a startup developing packaging-free soft drink dispensers, is raising fresh growth capital. One of the investors is The Source, the fund of water producer Spadel, which sees great potential in Europe.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: East Horsley store relaunched as new Sainsbury's Local
Sainsbury's has opened its first store in East Horsley, following weeks of renovations and upgrade works to convert the premises on the corner of Kingston Avenue and Ockham Road South into a brand-new Sainsbury's Local. Providing everything from fresh bread and cakes baked daily in-store to delicious fruit and veg, meat, fish, and meal solutions, the new store has been designed to bring more convenience and choice to customers.
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
UK: Asda invests £23mln to lower prices on hundreds of products
Asda has announced price cuts on 425 branded and own-label products as part of its continued support for families impacted by the cost of living crisis. Asda Tangy & Sweet Orange Juice (1.75ltr) current price £2.60p; new price £2.25p; Heinz Chopped Tomatoes 4x400g current price £4.75p; new price £3.50p.
Source: corporate.asda.com
Australia: Shocking price of tiny Coles grocery haul
Coles has been called out over the staggering price of a "tiny" grocery haul just days after posting a billion-dollar profit. A young Aussie who goes by the name King Kutrone online shared a video in which he complained about a small grocery shop that cost $91.84. The Coles haul included items such as a bag of carrots, 18 cage-free eggs, a carton of soy milk, twiggy sticks, bacon, rice, cold drip coffee, dog food, onions, and garlic.
Source: news.com.au
UK: John Lewis to recruit for 10,000 jobs
British retailer the John Lewis Partnership said it is recruiting for more than 10,000 jobs over the coming months - 1,700 permanent positions and over 8,400 seasonal roles.
Source: reuters.com
US: County-supported program bringing fresh produce to corner stores
Fresh fruits and vegetables are arriving weekly at neighborhood convenience stores like corner markets and liquor stores thanks to a County-supported program. Brightside Produce is funded in part by the County's San Diego Racial and Ethnic Approach to Community Health (SD REACH) program, which is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Source: countynewscenter.com
US: Subway® announces sale to Roark Capital
Subway announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Roark Capital. The transaction is a major milestone in Subway's multi-year transformation journey, combining Subway's global presence and brand strength with Roark's deep expertise in restaurant and franchise business models.
Source: prnewswire.com
Love it or loathe it: Instacart reveals America's most polarizing foods
Instacart reported: "After researching some of the most divisive foods, we created a list of the top contenders and then commissioned a survey conducted online by The Harris Poll. Within the survey, we asked more than 2,000 Americans which of those foods they hated. Here's a breakdown of the most hated to least hated polarizing foods: Beets 33%, Okra 33%, Capers 31%, Brussels sprouts 28%, Fennel 26%, Mushrooms 19%, Cilantro 17%, Coconut 16%".
Source: instacart.com
US: Dollar Tree rebounds in Q2
Dollar Tree saw increased same-store sales gains, as well as increased store traffic in its second quarter - wins which the company attributes to a new strategy. Consolidated net sales increased by 8.2% year-over-year to $7.32bln, enterprise same-store sales were up 6.9%, with Dollar Tree same-store sales coming in at a 7.8% improvement vs. the second quarter of 2022, and traffic was up 9.6%. Family Dollar registered a 5.8% same-store increase year-over-year.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Walmart delivery takes to the skies with new drone partner
Walmart is expanding its commitment to drone delivery with the addition of Wing, an on-demand provider powered by Google's parent company Alphabet, as one of its partners. In the coming months, the service will be offered from two stores in the Dallas metro area.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: UFCW files to organize workers at Kroger's Home Chef
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the nation's largest grocery industry union, is seeking to represent employees of Home Chef's Chicago-area production and distribution site. In a filing with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), UFCW reported that it aims to unionize 188 workers at the Bedford Park, Illinois, facility of Relish Labs LLC dba Home Chef, a meal solutions subsidiary of The Kroger Co.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com