US: Numerator launches monthly Inflation Report: Food-at-home prices up 0.6% in October vs September
Numerator, a data and technology company serving the market research space, has released its first Numerator Inflation Report, an advance projection of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI). The report measures inflation for food-at-home overall, as well as for cereals and bakery products; meats, poultry, fish, and eggs; dairy and related products; fruits and vegetables; and nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials.
Source: globenewswire.com
Canada: Trendi seeks to stem food waste at its source
A Canadian startup is seeking to reduce food waste by rescuing fruits and vegetables before they enter the waste stream and processing them into powders and flakes that can be used in other applications. Trendi, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has developed robotic, mobile processing facilities called BioTrim units, which it can take to farms, food manufacturing facilities, and other places where fruit and vegetable waste is generated. The organic materials can be freeze-dried on site, reducing their mass to a small fraction of the original volume while preserving almost all of the nutrients, Christine Couvelier, president of Trendi, told SFA News Daily.
Source: specialtyfood.com
US: It's go time at Sprouts Farmers Market
Sprouts Farmers Market is living up to its name, with several pockets of growth across its business. The publicly-traded company posted higher sales and earnings for the recent-concluded third quarter and is on track to exceed financial expectations for the rest of its fiscal year. For the 13-week period ending October 2, Arizona-based Sprouts reported that net sales rose 5% on a year-over-year basis to reach $1.6bln. Comparable store sales were up 2.4% during the same time frame and e-commerce sales climbed 19%.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Uber and Grocery Outlet expand on-demand grocery delivery nationally
Uber Technologies, Inc. and Grocery Outlet Holding Corp announced the expansion of their partnership, extending on-demand and scheduled grocery delivery across the country. Grocery Outlet locations across New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania will come online, joining storefronts in California, Oregon, and Washington for a total of 386 across the country including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Philadelphia, Seattle, Sacramento, Portland and more.
Source: prnewswire.com
Frans Muller (Ahold Delhaize): “Suppliers must contribute more”
The energy crisis and inflation are increasing tensions in negotiations between Ahold Delhaize and its major suppliers. “I expected more cooperation”, CEO Frans Muller says.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Chile: Falabella posts Q3 net loss of $26mln
Chilean retailer Falabella reported a third-quarter net loss of 24.87bln pesos ($25.7mln), down from the 183bln peso profit seen one year ago, hit by a decrease in margins and increases in expenses. Its third-quarter net revenue grew 2.4% to 2.97tln pesos.
Source: reuters.com
Carrefour Brasil profit slumps nearly 60% on high interest rates
Carrefour Brasil posted a third-quarter adjusted net profit that slumped 59% from a year earlier, hit by high interest rates on the retailer's surging debt following its acquisition of Grupo BIG. The Brazilian arm of French supermarket giant Carrefour posted a quarterly profit of 256mln reais ($49.5mln) compared to 621mln reais in the same period last year.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Strike by HGV drivers delivering goods for Asda averted
Disruption to Asda’s supply chain during the key Christmas trading period has been avoided following a pay deal with HGV drivers. Over 80 lorry drivers employed by Wincanton on an outsourced contract and responsible for delivering food to Asda’s regional distribution centres around the country had begun to ballot for industrial action in a dispute over pay. However, following the announcement of the ballot by the Unite union, fresh negotiations were held. As a result, a “vastly improved” deal of a 9.5% increase was agreed upon, giving a basic pay rate of £14.97 per hour.
Source: kamcity.com
Australia: Woolworths rolling out high-tech scales to show exact prices of fruit and vegetables before checkout
Woolworths customers will be able to see the exact price of loose fruit and vegetables from the aisle instead of the checkout as part of the retailer's technology upgrade. As customers walk down the fresh produce aisles, Woolworths Scan&Go stores will have a digital scale where loose fruit and vegetables can be weighed and the exact price shown. It will be available at Woolworths Crows Nest, Double Bay, Metro Park Sydney and Norwest initially. Tiliter, the company behind the technology, CEO Marcel Herz said the scales are not only convenient but also helps customers keep on top of their budget.
Source: 9news.com.au
South Korea: E-commerce giant Coupang swings to profit in Q3, the first since 2014
E-commerce giant Coupang Inc. said it swung to the black in the third quarter for the first time since 2014, when it introduced its ultrafast delivery service, Rocket Delivery. Net income came to US$90.7mln in the July-September period, compared with a net loss of $324mln during the same period of last year, the New York-listed e-commerce titan said in a regulatory filing. Coupang's operating profit came to $77.4mln, the first positive figure since 2014.
Source: en.yna.co.kr
Australian grocery delivery start-up cuts more staff after $18mln fundraiser
An Australian online grocery delivery start-up, which raised $18mln in funding at the end of last year, has slashed more staff from its operations as the sector struggles to compete against Woolworths and Coles. The company called Voly had already fired half of its office staff back in June and closed its Sydney warehouses in Crows Nest, Manly, Maroubra and Alexandria, with delivery times extended to 20 minutes and plans to expand into Melbourne shelved, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Source: news.com.au
UK: Large blaze at supermarket tackled by fire crews as black smoke billows from roof
Multiple fire crews attended a blaze at a supermarket in Sedgefield, with thick black smoke spilling from the building. George Bolam Foods is a popular and well known supermarket in the North East, selling locally sourced meat products as well as fruit, vegetables and baked goods.
Source: gazettelive.co.uk
Discounter B&M sticks to forecasts as Britons hunt Christmas bargains
British discount retailer B&M kept its financial guidance for this year, saying trading had been good in the first weeks of the key Christmas quarter as shoppers look for savings amid a cost-of-living squeeze. B&M said it still expected core earnings (adjusted EBITDA) for 2022-23 to be in a range of 550mln to 600mln pounds, down from the 619mln pounds made in 2021-22. It made core earnings of 232mln pounds in the six months to September 24, down 17.9%, on revenue up 1.8% to 2.31bln pounds. B&M performed well during the pandemic making year-on-year comparatives tough.
Source: reuters.com
Japan: Seven & i to sell Sogo & Seibu to U.S. fund
Seven & i Holdings Co. plans to sell its department store unit, Sogo & Seibu Co., to U.S. investment fund Fortress Investment Group LLC for over 200bln yen, sources familiar with the matter said. The Japanese retailer is expected to make a decision on the sale soon, the sources said.
Source: jen.jiji.com