Bakkavor announced that it has won the M&S Plan A Supplier Group of the Year 2015 Award. The award is presented to a supplier who has demonstrated clear sustainability leadership, a consistent commitment to delivering impactful sustainability outcomes, and that is inspirational to other businesses in leaving a positive sustainable legacy. France: Greenpeace accuses Leclerc of pesticide-use on produce
In a press release, the organisation proclaimed that “with this action, Greenpeace caricatures the tone often adopted by Leclerc in its advertising. We want to reveal its true face: the consequence of its dogged determination to buy large volumes of fruit and vegetables at the lowest possible price is that our fields and our plates are full of pesticides.” Greenpeace is calling on the supermarket to stop using pesticides. According to the organisation’s spokesperson, Cédric Gervet, Greenpeace has tested fresh produce from the supermarket and all contained traces of pesticides. (english.rfi.fr)US: Albertsons expects strong 2Q comps, $9M loss
Albertsons Cos. said this week that it expects to post companywide sales of $13.4bn and a $9m operating loss during the second quarter, reflecting strong ID sales and the effect of newly acquired Safeway stores. Identical-store sales, excluding fuel, grew by an estimated 4.4% during the period, which ended Sept. 4, the company added. Albertsons, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, reported the estimated figures with the SEC as an addendum to a stock prospectus for a forthcoming offering. (supermarketnews.com)UK: Woolworths to replace frequent flyer loyalty scheme with food bill discounts
Woolworths is scrapping frequent flyer points and replacing them with food and liquor discounts in a bid to win more customers and claw back market share. The supermarket giant has confirmed it will end the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme on 31 December. (theguardian.com)US: A&P puts brand, data on the block
While A&P’s stores and associated real estate have been the focus of the retailer’s bankruptcy wind-down, now the brand itself is going on the block. Hilco Streambank said Friday that it would be taking bids for the intellectual property of A&P, which includes brand names for its stores and private brands, its slogans and customer data. (supermarketnews.com)fAuchan expanding drive in Luxembourg
Auchan is to open a new supermarket in Differdange at the end of 2017, and another is under construction in Gasperich. These will complement the existing hypermarket in Kirchberg. Auchan has also been expanding Drive services in the market and now has four pick-up locations. (igd.com)Auchan plans for 20 stores in Senegal
Auchan has ambitious plans for Senegal, investing CFA6-7bn (USD10-11m) from 2015 - 2020 to open around 20 stores. Its local partner, Sénégal Atac Supermarchés, will develop a modern retail network with outlets stocking both local and French products. (igd.com)
Sainsbury's tests 'microstores' for busy shoppers
Sainsbury’s is trying out a “microstore” that could enable it to open small outlets in more than 1,000 new locations. Mike Coupe, CEO, said the supermarket could potentially more than double the size of its chain of smaller shops if the new format, which is about a third of the size of a typical convenience store, proved successful. It stocks only about 1,000 products – such as bread rolls, salads, sushi, cereal, cold meats and ready meals – that are suitable for putting together a quick meal. There are no cleaning products, cigarettes or lottery tickets. (theguardian.com)
Aldi follows rivals on raising UK minimum wagesBudget supermarket chain Aldi has decided to raise the minimum wage for all of its U.K. employees above the new national minimum wage announced by the government, following the footsteps of rival Lidl and WM Morrison Supermarkets. (marketwatch.com)
UK: Marc Bolland tells Marks & Spencer board he's staying put
Marc Bolland is planning to remain as CEO of Marks & Spencer for at least another two years, quashing sustained speculation that the Dutchman has tired of seeing the high street chain struggle to keep pace with faster growing rivals. Instead, it is understood that Mr Bolland has told the board that he is planning to stick around because he believes his turnaround efforts are beginning to pay off. (telegraph.co.uk)Serbia’s DIS seeks growth with new Formats & Products
Serbian retail chain DIS is betting on two market formats and the introduction of quality products to boost growth after a disappointing 2014. Please, click here to read more at esmmagazine.com.
Groupe Auchan to become 'Auchan Holding'
Auchan is to effect an executive management reshuffle and restructuring, with changes in many of its key senior positions in a move triggered by recent results, lsa-conso.fr reports. Groupe Auchan will henceforth carry the name Auchan Holding. Its subsidiary Immochan, (the newly created) Auchan Retail and its bank Banque Accord will gain a new degree of autonomy through each having its own chain of management. (esmmagazine.com)Metcash targets China sales boost
Australian wholesaler Metcash has become the latest retailer to partner with Alibaba and launch a new website to sell products to Chinese shoppers. The website will sell popular Australian grocery items, as well as focus on important categories for Chinese shoppers, such as infant formula milk. (igd.com)EU grocery price wars continue to keep prices down
Ongoing price wars in countries like the UK, France, Greece and Spain are keeping prices low, but are failing to ignite significant sales growth across the food sector in Europe. This is according to a new report – Price & Promotion in Western Europe: Encouraging signs of Recovery – examining price and promotion in FMCG across Europe from global insight leader, IRI. While European economies start to recover, the report shows that prices for food products across Europe only saw a 0.3% rise last year, while non-food products hardly saw any change at all – up just 0.1% on volume price. The value of food sales across Europe again increased slightly, by 0.5% to €276.3bn. However, the report, launched today, reveals that for half of the countries measured food sales by value are down. The UK, Spain and Greece experienced the biggest falls, while France, Germany and Italy saw value sales go up. Sales by volume for food rose slightly by 0.2%. Please, click here to read more at internationalsupermarketnews.com. 
Whole Foods Market launches 'Friends of 365'Please, click here to read the article.