Japanese conglomerate, AEON, has posted a 14% increase in operating profit to JPY210.2bln (US$1.9bln) and 2.2% increase in operating revenue to JPY8,390bln (US$77.9bln) for the fiscal year ending 28th February 2018. The retailer's operating revenue increased 1.7% to JPY7,674.4bln and 7.1% to JPY334.9bln in Japan and ASEAN respectively. Growth was led by an increased number of customers following deeper price cuts and stronger profitability was achieved through reduced advertising costs. The Group ended the fiscal year with 21,268 stores (4,346 outlets overseas), up 635 from previous year.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Indonesia: Alfamart to open more stores despite reduced profits
PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya, owner of Alfamart, announces that it will add another 800 outlets to the Indonesian market this year. This brings the total number of stores in their network to more than 13,000. Half of these new stores will be opened within the Java Island, with the remainder being spread across the territories of Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Sumatra. Also, in this year, the chain will add another 150 stores to their network in the Philippines, increasing their total number of stores there to more than 500. While their existing 400 outlets are located in the Greater Manila area, these new stores are intended to extend Alfamart’s reach to regions outside of Manila.Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Spar Austria launches 'Young & Urban By Spar' start-up initiative
Spar Austria has announced a new start-up programme, 'Young & Urban by Spar' aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs and the development of their products. The initiative will expand the retailer's 'existing range of trendy products' in the food, household, and leisure segments. Previous successful start-up products include Inspiriti and its low-sugar 'lifestyle' drinks which feature flavours such as elderberry, pomegranate, and green tea; and the NEOH Crossbar, a nutritional protein bar with only one gramme of sugar.Source: esmmagazine.com
CAN: Superstores on P.E.I. launch online grocery shopping
The Atlantic Superstore in West Royalty is Loblaw’s first store on the Island to offer an online grocery ordering and pick-up service. People register for the online service for free at www.atlanticsuperstore.ca. Once there, they select a time slot to pick up their order and then start selecting items for their virtual grocery cart. They can search for items or browse an aisle. Nutrition facts on items are displayed for the customer. When it is time to pick up the order, drivers pull up to two designated areas marked with orange signs by the store’s entrance. An employee brings out the order, and then the customer pays with visa, debit, cash or another method. Customers are charged a $3 or $5 pick up fee on each order for the service depending on the day and time slot, according to the website.Source: theguardian.pe.ca
America's first all-kosher supermarket to change hands
America’s first all-kosher supermarket is set to change hands, marking the end of an era for Hungarian Kosher Foods, a Chicago-area landmark for 45 years. On April 20, Orian Azulay, the owner of the kosher supermarket Sara’s Tent in Aventura, Florida, is set to buy Hungarian. It will be his first purchase since buying Sara’s Tent 10 years ago.Source: israelnationalnews.com
US: BJ's builds out digital payment options with Masterpass
BJ’s Wholesale Club has expanded its digital payment options for customers to include Masterpass by Mastercard. With Masterpass, members of the Westborough, Massachusetts-based club chain can pay for products in their virtual cart without having to take their card out or input all of their credentials. The digital platform securely stores all payment information: card details, shipping information and payment preference.Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Buckeye to get Aldi grocery store, the first known location in Arizona
An Aldi grocery store will open in Buckeye early next year. Aldi — which is scheduled to open a distribution center in Goodyear in 2020 — is expected to open more stores in Arizona, but a company spokeswoman said there's no "specific information about expansion areas or potential store locations." Last year, the company announced plans to open another 900 stores in the U.S. by 2022.Source: azcentral.com
US: Save-A-Lot moving headquarters to St. Ann
Missouri-based Save-A-Lot announced that construction will begin on its new corporate headquarters at the crossings at northwest in St. Ann. The move will bring needed employment opportunities to the area. The company began in 1977 with its first store in Cahokia, Illinois. In the years since, the company has grown to 1,200 stores and distribution centers nationwide. The location of the headquarters in the former northwest plaza will help anchor the mixed-use redevelopment.Source: fox2now.com
US retail sales rebounded a solid 0.6% in March
The Commerce Department says retail sales rose 0.6% last month, the largest increase since November. Auto sales jumped 2%, the most in six months. Retail sales slipped in the first two months of the year as consumers pulled back after heavy spending during the winter holidays. Last month's figures suggest Americans are returning to more free-spending ways. Economists predict that healthy consumer confidence, steady job gains and the impact of tax cuts will fuel solid spending growth in the months ahead. Sales rose at grocery stores, restaurants and bars, and drug stores. They fell at home and garden stores, clothing shops and sporting goods stores.Source: cnbc.com
US: Meijer unveils new checkout app
Meijer introduced Shop & Scan, an app that streamlines the checkout process by allowing customers to scan bar codes on products and bag them as they shop, which decreases checkout time, a known pain point in the shopping process. “Shop & Scan will make the Meijer experience dramatically faster and more convenient for our customers,” said Terry Ledbetter, chief information officer for Grand Rapids, Mich-based Meijer. “This technology joins our kerbside pickup and home delivery programs to provide yet another option for Meijer customers to personalize their shopping experience.”Source: progressivegrocer.com
