US: Giant Food and UFCW Locals 400 and 27 ratify new contract
Giant Food reported: "Giant Food is pleased to announce that our store associates have ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement negotiated between Giant Food and UFCW Locals 400 and 27. The agreement significantly enhances the wages and benefits for our 17,000+ represented associates and demonstrates the respect we have for our associates' contributions and commitment to Giant Food."
Source: prnewswire.com
Amazon’s top Fresh exec says store re-openings are part of broader grocery revamp
Amazon reopened three Fresh supermarkets in the Los Angeles area as the company continues to refine its grocery strategy. Claire Peters, who was hired in February as vice president of retail, said the company has “more work to do” to win over customers.
Source: cnbc.com
Salads: Meeting consumers' quest for eating better in a convenient way
Albertsons Cos. is testing Picadeli’s smart salad bar at several stores on the East Coast. The Boise, Idaho-based company installed the equipment at six Safeway, Acme, and Kings locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New Jersey over the past year.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger brings new traditions and flavors to the table this holiday season
The Kroger Co. unveiled its 2023 holiday campaign celebrating the magic of traditions, both new and old. Developed by Kroger's Agency of Record, adam&eveDDB New York, the new campaign serves as a reminder that Kroger is here to support its customers during the holidays, no matter what traditions - or flavors - they bring to the table.
Source: prnewswire.com
Intermarché completes Belgian franchising operation
On December 4, Intermarché will hand the last twelve supermarkets of Intermarché by Mestdagh over to independent operators. This will complete the entire franchising operation well before the deadline.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Poland: Eurocash Group sees total revenues up 8%
Retailer and wholesaler Eurocash Group has reported an 8% increase in revenue in the first nine months of its financial year, while consolidated EBITDA was up 7% to PLN739mln (€167mln). In the third quarter alone, the business saw sales revenues up 4% to PLN8.6bln (€1.94bln), it said, with consolidated EBITDA rising 7%.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Pakistan grocery startup raises funds as it nears profitability
Delivery startup Krave Mart raised Pakistan’s third-largest funding round for the year, saying the proceeds will help it reach profitability next year. The Karachi-based company raised the $6.25mln round over the past year, Chief Executive Officer Kassim Shroff said in an interview. Investors participating included Y Combinator, football manager and former player Keisuke Honda, Zayn Capital, JAM Fund, Rebel Fund, Decart Ventures, and Conjunction Capital.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
Spain: The prices of food continue to rise
From the endless list of groceries monitored by the Household Food Consumption Panel, SUR has selected 75 items that typically feature on most shopping lists. (Price increase, Price 2023, Price 2013) 1. Green beans 109.1%, €4.81, €2.30; 3. Kiwi 108.3%, €4.77, €2.29; 9. Tomatoes 78.5%, €1.91, €1.07; 12. Onions 69.6%, €1.73, €1.02; 14. Peppers 63.2%, €2.22, €1.36; 16. Melon 61.3%, €1.21, €0.75; 22. Watermelon 57.8%, €1.01, €0.64; 29. Lettuce, chicory 49.2%, €2.91, €1.95; 33. Oranges 48.3%, €1.78, €1.20; 38. Garlic 44.4%, €4.91, €3.40; 60. Pears 34.0%, €2.05, €1.53; 65. Avocados 28.9%, €3.88, €3.01; 66. Lemons 27.2%, €2.01, €1.58; 69. Potatoes 21.3%, €1.14, €0.94; 70. Mandarins 21.0%, €2.25, €1.86; 72. Apples 8.1%, €2.01, €1.86; 74. Bananas 3.8%, €1.64, €1.58.
Source: surinenglish.com
New Zealand: Costs from grocery suppliers to supermarkets increased 5.4%pa in October
The average annual rate of supplier cost increases continued to moderate in October. The Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index (GSCI) shows a 5.4% increase in what suppliers charged supermarkets for goods in October 2023 compared to a year ago - down from 6.1%pa in September 2023. Infometrics Chief Executive and Principal Economist Brad Olsen: “Produce costs fell again in October from the month before, reducing their annual increase to 6.2% - the lowest annual rise since the end of 2021. Lower costs for salad vegetables (tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers) drove this result.”
Source: infometrics.co.nz
China: Taobao and Tmall’s 11.11 Shopping Festival records positive growth
Taobao and Tmall Group (“Taobao and Tmall”), Alibaba Group's China commerce business, successfully concluded its 15th annual 11.11 Shopping Festival (“11.11” or the “Festival”). For the entire campaign period, Taobao and Tmall recorded positive year-on-year growth in GMV, order number, and participating merchants compared to the same period last year.
Source: alibabagroup.com
Interview: Matt Birch on Amazon Fresh's UK plansIt’s been two and a half years since Amazon Fresh launched its first store in the UK and seven years since it made its online debut. Despite the traditional grocers quaking in their boots at the prospect of the online giant stepping into food, Amazon Fresh has yet to have a widescale impact. However, Matt Birch - the ex-Sainsbury’s and Central Co-op executive who has been leading Amazon Fresh in the UK since 2019 - is aiming to change that.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Greece: Insects and Vegetables - Athens - November 15
The environmental NGO Astiki Melissa and producers and consumers’ community Mpostani are set to present an informative talk about the value of insects in the production and variety of vegetables and which produce would disappear if insects were to go extinct. The event will take place at the Kypseli Municipal Market (agorakypselis.gr) between 3 and 5 p.m. with free admission.
Source: ekathimerini.com