Amazon’s first Belgian distribution centre is open
Barely seven months after the announcement, Amazon’s first Belgian distribution centre is already completed and operational. The delivery centre is located in the south of Antwerp, in the new circular business park Blue Gate Antwerp. With a 5,764 m² warehouse, more than 2,000 m² of office space and a 40,000 m² car park, Amazon is preparing to launch its own Belgian online shop. The launch is planned for the next few months.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Italy: Esselunga reports significant drop in first-half net profit
Italian supermarket chain Esselunga has reported a net profit of €2.7mln in the first half of 2022, compared to €221.1mln for the same period last year. In the same period, EBITDA dropped from €427.1mln to €214.6mln. Sales declined marginally (-0.2%) to €4.32bln, although the yearly comparison is affected by the elevated sales growth in the first half of 2021 (+6.7%).
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia: Corryong's fruit and veg shop taken over by Acres and Acres
A North East food co-operative has moved into Corryong's greengrocer in a step it says will bring the community closer together. The greengrocer was owned for 23 years by Stephen and Julie Jarvis, who have retired. Founder Josh Collings said the Acres and Acres food program was a hub for fresh produce. When the Jarvis's got in touch with Mr Collings, the not-for-profit did not hesitate.
Source: bordermail.com.au
Bahrain: Danube Supermarket opens at Al Liwan in Hamala
BinDawood Holding, one of the leading grocery retail operators of hypermarkets and supermarkets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the opening of its first international store, Danube Supermarket in Al Liwan, which was developed by Seef Properties in Hamala area in the Northern Governorate. Danube Supermarket at Al Liwan is the brand’s first branch in Bahrain and also the first store outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Source: zawya.com
Woody Harrelson helps Wicked Kitchen ‘push boundaries’ in $20mln bridge round
Wicked Kitchen, the plant-based empire that started out of the U.K. supermarket chain Tesco, has secured $20mln in bridge funding, including a convertible note from actor Woody Harrelson. In addition to Harrelson’s participation, funding for the new round comes from Ahimsa VC and NRPT, Thailand’s leading food producer and innovator. Wicked Kitchen, the ready meal brand founded by brothers Chad and Derek Sarno, says the new funding will support efforts to expand its range globally as well as into other channels, including food service.
Source: greenqueen.com.hk
Ireland: Dunnes Stores records significant swing back into profit in the north
The northern operation of Dunnes Stores recorded a significant swing back into profit last year, a new set of company accounts have showed. The Irish supermarket chain, which has 15 stores in the north, reported a pre-tax profit of £6.5mln for the 12 months to December 25 2021. That followed a difficult 2020, when Dunnes registered an £8.1mln pre-tax loss in Northern Ireland.
Source: irishnews.com
Amazon India rolls out live-stream shopping to drive festive season sales
Amazon.com Inc rolled out a live-streaming video feature for promoting products on its shopping platform in India, employing a format already popular in China to drive sales in Asia’s third largest economy.
Source: reuters.com
Sweden: Coop expands collaboration with Too Good To Go
Coop Sweden has expanded its partnership with Too Good To Go to include more stores offering the service. The move follows a successful trial of the service in select Coop stores in the country.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Ireland: ALDI unveils its newly renovated Killorglin “Project Fresh” store 
ALDI’s Killorglin Co. Kerry “Project Fresh” store has reopened its doors to customers following an extensive renovation project worth almost €1mln, which has seen the store interior completely refurbished. The newly refurbished store has received a full makeover in line with ALDI’s award-winning Project Fresh design, which was recognised at the National Grocery Retail Awards when ALDI scooped the Discounter Store of the Year award for its Killaloe store, thanks in part to its superior quality of display across its fresh fruit and vegetable offering.
Source: aldipresscentre.ie
Co-op to expand ecommerce offering as it aims to become UK’s largest convenience retailer
Co-op has set its sights on expanding its ecommerce offering as part of its strategy to become the UK’s largest convenience retailer. It has said it will continue to build on its capital-light tie-ups with Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Amazon that support its own direct to consumer business. The retailer also plans to grow its store network, hoping to treble the existing number of franchise stores within three years. At the moment, there are nearly 5,000 independent stores on its franchise platform.
Source: chargedretail.co.uk
EG America pushes ahead with Tom Thumb-to-Cumberland Farms rebanners
EG Group, a leading convenience, coffee, and fuel retailer in the United States, has completed the first few of its many to come Tom Thumb to Cumberland Farms conversions in the Gulf Coast. Cumberland Farms has opened three stores with 50+ more projected to open by the end of the year. The first converted location to open was at 7074 State Hwy 59 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Organic Garage parent company Oragin posts million dollar sales loss in Q2
Oragin - the parent company of Toronto grocery chain Organic Garage and plant-based cheese manufacturer The Future of Cheese - reported a 17.3% slide in sales for the second quarter. Sales fell from $6.8mln to $5.7mln as the company posted a net loss of $789,768 for the quarter, compared to $383,130 the previous year.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Kroger marks anniversary of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan
Throughout the month of September, The Kroger Co. celebrated the five-year anniversary of its ambitious Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan. Launched in 2017, Zero Hunger | Zero Waste remains the center-piece of the company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy. It is widely recognized as an industry-leading platform for collective action and systems change.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Kwik Trip selects RELEX Solutions to optimize space planning and supply chain
Kwik Trip, a leading convenience store chain in the US, will partner with RELEX Solutions, provider of unified retail planning solutions, to implement automated planograms, floor planning, and supply chain optimization solutions. RELEX will service Kwik Trip’s convenience stores throughout the Midwest United States, driving improved sales, inventory management, and operational efficiency with a solution that seamlessly combines central planning and store operations.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Planet saving app "Too Good To Go" launches in Los Angeles
Too Good To Go, the world's largest surplus food marketplace, announced its official launch in the greater Los Angeles area. The free mobile app invites everyone in LA to save delicious meals and groceries for ⅓ of the retail price, in a simple, fun and impactful way. The launch in LA follows successful launches in 12 other major US cities.
Source: prnewswire.com