US: Google drone company Wing to open 2nd Dallas Walmart location
It’s been a few months since Walmart announced its new partnership with Google-owned drone delivery company Wing to begin operating out of one of its Supercenter locations in Frisco, Texas, and the company is set to add a second Dallas-area Supercenter location early next year.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: AWG announces retirement of Don Woods, Jr. from Board of Directors; Appointments of successor
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) announced the retirement of Don Woods, Jr., Vice Chair of the AWG Board of Directors. Mr. Woods, owner of Woods Super Markets, Inc., served on the AWG Board for more than 38 years, serving as Vice Chair for 24 years. AWG Board member, Dale Trahan, owner of Dale L. Trahan Enterprises, Inc., was appointed to serve as AWG’s Vice Chair.
Source: awginc.com
US: Whole Foods Market unveils new pollinator health policy for Fresh Produce and Floral
Whole Foods Market announced a new pollinator policy for its Fresh Produce and Floral purchasing to support pollinators in recognition of the critical role they play in our food system and the environment. The company has long championed pollinator health through its commitment to organic agriculture, which prohibits toxic persistent pesticides.
Source: media.wholefoodsmarket.com
Canada: Georgia Main Food Group to open its first Asian grocery store
Georgia Main Food Group has announced plans to open its first-ever Asian grocery store in early 2024 in the Vancouver Metropolitan Area. The new store, called Meiga (pronounced May-ga), will offer fresh produce and meats, an open kitchen with ready-to-serve hot foods including traditional Chinese take-away specialties, Cantonese BBQ, RWA beef and pork, hot pot, sushi, fresh bakery and a juice bar.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Food pharmacy expanding to all UCSF primary care clinics in San Francisco
For San Francisco patient Macheryl Franklin, the food pharmacy at UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion has been nothing short of “a lifesaver”. “It’s wonderful to have fresh fruits and vegetables; they are too expensive at the store”, said Franklin, as she rests her bag of groceries on the footstool of the wheelchair she’s used since a 2004 car crash injured her spine. “It’s a special treat when they have blueberries that I can put on my salads; they’re good for the brain.”
Source: ucsf.edu
Morrisons: CEO warns business needs urgent overhaul to survive
Morrisons boss Rami Baitiéh has warned his workers that the supermarket requires an urgent overhaul to survive. The CEO told staff that businesses were like “burning candles” which would burn out unless they changed, The Sunday Times reported.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
India: How government may use Amazon’s Johari tech to reduce wastage of fresh fruits & vegetables
The government of India is considering the use of a technology tool developed by Amazon called Johari to minimize wastage of fresh fruits and vegetables in its warehouses and retail outlets. A pilot project is being planned at select Safal stores owned by Mother Dairy in Delhi and Bengaluru.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Lidl Bulgaria opens new stores in Elin Pelin, Dobrich
Supermarket chain Lidl Bulgaria, a unit of Germany's Schwarz Group, said it has opened two new stores in the country, in the town of Elin Pelin and the city of Dobrich.
Source: seenews.com
UK: Morrisons and Tesco announce Christmas freebie as 'wonky' veg to be given away
Morrisons and Tesco have announced they will be giving away free carrots that families can leave out as a treat for Rudolph this Christmas.
Source: dailyrecord.co.uk
France: Casino to sell big stores to rivals Auchan, Les Mousquetaires
French retailer Casino said it had entered into exclusive talks to sell all of its big stores to Les Mousquetaires and Auchan Retail. The deal to sell 313 hypermarkets and supermarkets is based on a fixed enterprise value of 1.35bln euros ($1.47bln), excluding real estate, Casino said in a statement.
Source: reuters.com
Asda completes record month of 81 Asda Express openings ahead of Christmas and confirms it is on track to hit 1000 UK stores by March 2024
Supermarket Asda opened a record 81 new Asda Express stores in December in a bid to bring Asda value to even more communities ahead of Christmas. The accelerated conversion process sets Asda on track to have 1000 stores across the UK and Northern Ireland by March 2024 - giving Asda its biggest estate in its 58-year history.
Source: corporate.asda.com
New Zealand: Foodstuffs North and South Island co-operatives apply for clearance to become one
Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island have applied to the Commerce Commission for clearance to bring the two co-operatives together next year as one national co-operative.
Source: foodstuffs.co.nz
Workers at Amazon logistics centre in Spain plan 3-day strike over wages
Spanish workers at a logistics centre of giant online retailer Amazon in northern Spain are planning a three-day strike ahead of the Epiphany feast day on January 6, when Spanish children receive holiday gifts, according to labor union LAB.
Source: reuters.com
Finland: Kesko Group sees sales decline by 3.5% in November
Kesko Group reported a 3.5% year-on-year decline in sales, to €998.2mln, in November. Grocery sales saw marginal growth of 0.1% in November, compared to last year, to €537.1mln, the company noted.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Kenya fines Carrefour franchisee $7.2mln for abuse of buyer power
Kenya's competition authority said it has penalised the local Carrefour franchise holder, UAE-based Majid al Futtaim, 1.1bln Kenyan shillings ($7.15mln) for abusing its ability to set terms to suppliers.
Source: reuters.com
Spanish retailer Mercadona to raise wages up to 6% a year until 2028
Spain's largest supermarket chain Mercadona agreed with labour unions to raise wages by up to 6% per year until 2028, the CCOO union said in a statement.
Source: reuters.com
New Zealand: Government looks to bring more competition to retail grocery in New Zealand
New Zealand is about to pass and implement legislation to address one of the most concentrated supermarket sectors in the world. The competitive landscape consists of two leading players and a small number of very minor players. In 2020, the government called upon the Commerce Commission to investigate the supermarket (grocery) sector. The commission concluded in mid-2022 and made several recommendations that will enter into force from 2023 and beyond.
Source: apps.fas.usda.gov
Spain: Caprabo opens its first 'Socially Inclusive' Supermarket
Caprabo has opened a new store, Supermercado Inclusivo y Social (SIS - Inclusive and Social Supermarket), in Catalonia in Vilafranca del Penedés, Barcelona. A first of its kind for Caprabo, the franchise store aims to promote the creation of job opportunities for disadvantaged groups and has been designed as a community connection centre, the company noted. The assortment in the store includes fresh and seasonal items and the retailer promotes offers that enable shoppers to save on their purchases.
Source: esmmagazine.com