US: Albertsons says it planned $4bln payout before Kroger deal
Plans by Albertsons Cos. to pay $4bln to shareholders as a special dividend were developed before the company started talking about a potential merger with Kroger Co., according to a letter from the grocery-store chain to a group of state attorneys general that raised concerns about the payout.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
US: Food Lion expands To Go services at 27 additional stores
With more shoppers opting to save time by ordering groceries online, Food Lion is excited to announce the expansion of its Food Lion To Go grocery pick up service to 27 more stores in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia beginning October 31. Food Lion is offering shoppers their first pickup for free.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: As grocery prices rise, shoppers can again buy Thanksgiving meal at Lidl for less than $30
Ahead of the holiday season, Lidl announced pricing for its Thanksgiving basket. Lidl shoppers will be pleased that, once again, they will be able to assemble a traditional Thanksgiving meal at Lidl that feeds up to 10 people for less than $30: Frozen Turkey (13 lbs.); Pumpkin Pie Mix, 30 oz.; Pie Crusts x 2; Milk, 1 gallon, whole; Celery, 1 stalk, whole; Baby Carrots, 16 oz.; Sweet Peas, 16 oz.; Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz.; Sweet Potatoes, 3 lbs. bag; Heavy Whipping Cream, 1 pint; Turkey Stuffing Mix x 3 (18 oz.); Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, 12 count.
Source: mediacenter.lidl.com
Survey: Walmart edges out Amazon as grocery destination
Consumers prefer to buy groceries at Walmart’s stores and websites versus Amazon, even as the latter holds the overall lead in retail e-commerce, according to an analysis by Jungle Scout. Of more than 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed, 57% said they’re more likely to shop Walmart for groceries, compared with 15% for Amazon.com, Jungle Scout said in its “2022 Amazon vs. Walmart Report”. The Walmart figure includes 32% of customers who prefer to shop for groceries at its stores and 24% at Walmart.com.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Weis Markets reports third quarter 2022 results
Weis Markets, Inc. reported its financial results for the 13-week third quarter and the 39-week year-to-date period ended September 24, 2022. Third quarter 2022 results: net sales totaled $1.15bln for the 13-week third quarter ended September 24, 2022, compared to $1.06bln for the same period in 2021, up 8.2%. Year-to-date 2022 results: net sales totaled $3.39bln for the 39-week year-to-date period ended September 24, 2022, compared to $3.12bln for the same period in 2021, up 8.7%.
Source: prnewswire.com
Mexico's FEMSA plans push for European kiosks, B2B fintech
Mexican bottler and retailer FEMSA is banking on an expansion of Swiss kiosk operator Valora in upcoming quarters as well as a business-to-business service through its financial technology arm, executives said.
Source: reuters.com
Italy: Coop Alleanza 3.0 targets €1.6bln sales in 2024
Coop Alleanza 3.0, the largest member of the Coop Italia network, is targeting €1.6bln in sales by 2024, as it expands its presence in southern Italy. According to Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the group is increasing its focus on its franchise network, with the number of stores operated by local partners progressively set to grow in the next couple of years, reaching 550 in 2024 from the current 484. Coop Alleanza 3.0 expects to post sales of more than €1.4bln in 2022, almost double the €797mln it recorded last year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Ocado enters South Korea with Lotte Shopping deal
Ocado Group, the British online supermarket and technology group, has entered the South Korean market through a partnership deal with Lotte Shopping, the companies said. Ocado and Lotte will develop a network of robotic warehouses, or Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs) as Ocado calls them, across South Korea to expand the retailer's online shopping business.
Source: reuters.com
SPAR Hungary invests over €2.2mln in hypermarket modernisation
SPAR Hungary has invested over €2.2mln in the modernisation of its INTERSPAR Hypermarket in Szentendre, 20km northwest of Budapest. The company refurbished the hypermarket, installing new equipment, including modern refrigerators, fresh produce racks, bakery department fixtures, and self-service checkouts. State-of-the-art LED lighting helps save energy, as do the new freezers, which are now equipped with doors.
Source: spar-international.com
Woolworths helps deliver Aussies value this Christmas
This Christmas, Woolworths is launching inflation-busting value in store and online to give customers certainty on the price of their delicious festive food and entertaining essentials. Woolworths has also committed that the price of its Odd Bunch range of 100% Australian fruit and vegetables will be at least 20% less than the standard shelf price of equivalent produce lines. The Odd Bunch has helped customers save on more than 250,000 tonnes of great tasting fruit and vegetables since 2015.
Source: woolworthsgroup.com.au
Amazon says India's Appario to stop selling on platform
One of Amazon India's biggest sellers, Appario, will cease to list products on the shopping website, the U.S. firm said, after it faced years of allegations from brick-and-mortar retailers of giving preferential treatment to the seller.
Source: reuters.com
Italy’s Conad opens first TuDay Conad store
Italian supermarket chain Conad has rolled out its new urban format, TuDay Conad, in the city of Pistoia, in Tuscany. The new store boasts an extensive fruit and vegetable department, as well as a bakery, delicatessen, and butcher, along with an assortment of ready to eat products prepared in-store, according to the retailer.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Germany: HelloFresh's marketing costs take a bite out of full-year outlook
HelloFresh warned that full-year results would be in the lower half of expectations as the German meal-kit maker spends more on advertising to retain customers amid consumer concerns about higher food and energy bills. The outlook came as the company reported a 10% drop in third-quarter AEBITDA to 71.8mln euros ($72.3mln), below an average of 75.6mln euros estimated by analysts in a company-provided poll. Revenue jumped 31.4% to 1.86bln euros, beating estimates of 1.79bln euros, as the company passed on higher food prices.
Source: reuters.com
Belgium: Spar Colruyt Group opens brand-new Spar Essen Heikant on 4 November
The new Spar store in Heikant (Essen) opens its doors on Friday 4 November. The 600 m² store surface will be filled by, among other things, a bakery with on-site risen buns and baguettes. In addition, customers can go there 7/7 for a large offer of fresh meat and fish products, a spacious vegetable and fruit department and a broad assortment of sliced cold meat and cheese.
Source: press.colruytgroup.com
New Zealand: One month since opening, and the Costco madness continues
A month after its grand opening, Costco madness continues with daily queueing to get into the Auckland store, and some high-demand items selling out hours before the store closes. The fruit and vege section of the store, where Costco sells large trays, sacks and packs of produce, had also been worked over, and some sections were nearing empty.
Source: stuff.co.nz