US: Oregon grocery union endorses Kroger, Albertsons merger
A union representing thousands of grocery store workers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming has endorsed the proposed $24.6bln merger between grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 555, which represents more than 30,000 workers, some of whom are employees at Albertsons, Safeway, and Kroger-owned grocery banner Fred Meyer, among others, said that it supports the deal.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Walmart rips again in Q4, but as inflation retreats, so does customer spending per trip
Walmart reported another quarter of strong results, as its low prices attracted shoppers looking for deals in an economically challenging environment marked by bouts of inflation. Walmart earned $5.49bln, or $2.03 per share, in the quarter that ended January 31. That compares with $6.27bln, or $2.32 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings were $1.80 per share.
Source: apnews.com
US Foods plans more Chef'Stores
US Foods Holding Corp. is widening its retail footprint. The national food service distributor announced that it is opening five new Chef'Store locations this year in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon Fresh eyes best-in-class grocery shopping experience with Recurring Reservations offering
Amazon has launched a new feature designed to make grocery retail easier for those who shop from Amazon Fresh. Recurring Reservations helps customers in nearly 1,300 cities and towns in the US plan ahead and get groceries each week on their schedule.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
US: Independent Grocers request that Congress oppose SNAP restrictions
The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, along with independent grocers across the country, has sent a letter to Congress expressing opposition to recent efforts within the FY2024 House Agriculture Appropriations bill to limit SNAP purchases under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Retailer Loblaw expects to invest $1.5 bln in Canada, create 7,500 jobs
Canadian food and pharmacy retailer Loblaw Companies said it expects to invest over C$2bln ($1.48bln) this year to create more than 7,500 jobs. Loblaw plans to use the investment to improve its store network by renovating more than 700 stores and building more than 40 others.
Source: reuters.com
Australia: Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci to retire as company announces $781mln loss
Woolworths announces CEO Brad Banducci will leave the company in September after nearly nine years in charge. The company has posted a $781mln loss due to two major write-downs, but its underlying profits are up, driven by sales and profit margin gains in online groceries. The current head of WooliesX, its eCommerce division, Amanda Bardwell, will take over as CEO after Mr Banducci's departure.
Source: abc.net.au
Bio-Planet to open its first store in Luxembourg
On Wednesday, February 21, Bio-Planet, Colruyt Group's organic specialist, is opening its first supermarket in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The store is located in Gasperich, a suburb south of Luxembourg City, at the same location as a Colruyt Lowest Prices store. A total surface area of 515 m² and a range of 3,500 products makes the store the largest organic supermarket in Luxembourg. Incidentally, the product range is largely the same as in Belgium, showcasing fresh food like fruits, vegetables, and bread.
Source: press.colruytgroup.com
Carrefour sees sales up in France across all channels
Carrefour has reported a 1.0% increase in like-for-like sales in its home market of France in the fourth quarter of its financial year, with sales increasing across all channels - even hypermarkets. For the full-year 2023, sales at Carrefour rose 10.4% on a like-for-like basis to €94.13bln, while recurring operating income stood at €2.26bln. France saw a like-for-like increase of 4.7%, with Europe up 5.5% and Latin America rising 23.5%.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Aldi to create 5,500 new jobs in 2024
Aldi is to create 5,500 new roles across the UK this year. Britain's fourth-largest supermarket, which currently has more than 1,000 stores and employs more than 45,000 colleagues, plans to continue growing at speed throughout 2024.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
Mercadona to step up growth in Portugal with 11 new stores
Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona plans to open 11 new stores in Portugal in 2024 as it seeks to boost its presence in the country. The expansion will push its store count to 60 by year's end and mark its entry into two new districts: Guarda and Évora. Additionally, to support its growing network, the retailer is set to open its largest logistics block in the Iberian Peninsula in the second half of 2024 in Almeirim (Santarém).
Source: esmmagazine.com
UAE: Choithrams marks 50 years of goodness, ready for a golden run into the next 50
Community-favorite supermarket brand Choithrams announces the celebration of its golden jubilee anniversary in the UAE. Apart from a significant retail footprint in the UAE and the GCC region, including Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, Choithrams integrates an impressive global network of distribution channels and manufacturing bases under one roof.
Source: zawya.com
SPAR Group posts 'resilient' trading performance
SPAR Group, which operates SPAR businesses in Ireland, Switzerland, Poland as well as its native South Africa, has reported a 9.3% increase in turnover in the 20 weeks to February 16. 'Significant progress has been made to dispose of the Group's interests in SPAR Poland,' it said of its Polish operation.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Spain: Dia earmarks €150mln for promotions in 2024
Supermarket chain Dia is allocating a budget of €150mln for promotions and discounts this year, it said in a statement. According to recent research by Kantar, Dia's own-brand offerings, fresh produce, and store renovations are popular among consumers, consolidating its position as the fifth-largest mass-market chain in Spain.
Source: esmmagazine.com