South Africa's SPAR Group sees full-year turnover up 6%
South Africa's SPAR Group, which also boasts operations in Ireland, Poland and Switzerland, has reported a 6.0% increase in group turnover in the year to 30 September. Turnover for the year came in at R135.6bln (€7.54bln), with operating profit for the period rising 1.1% to R3.43bln (€190mln).
Source: esmmagazine.com
A bid for Makro after all: a French fund steps forward
Against all odds, there is a takeover candidate for the Belgian Makro shops. A French investment fund wants to take over the majority of the staff. According to Het Nieuwsblad, the French candidate will be assisted by a Flemish partner, but no names are known as yet. For Metro, Sligro is said to have made the best offer.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Just Eat Takeaway.com and Getir announce pan-European partnership
Just Eat Takeaway.com is partnering with ultrafast grocery delivery company Getir across Europe. As part of this, Getir's entire product portfolio will be integrated into Just Eat Takeaway.com's marketplace and will be delivered directly by Getir couriers. The partnership will kick off in Germany next week, with approximately 2,000 items ready for customers to buy online from all Getir stores, through Lieferando’s app and website.
Source: justeattakeaway.com
Grab pares losses by 24% in third quarter; deliveries segment breaks even earlier than expected
Southeast Asian tech giant Grab reported narrower losses and said its deliveries business broke even for the first time since 2012, in the third quarter. It posted an adjusted EBITDA loss of $161mln, a 24% improvement from a year ago. Grab’s deliveries segment reported positive adjusted EBITDA for the first time, three quarters ahead of its previous guidance.
Source: cnbc.com
UK: Reduced in price but just as nice - Tesco helps customers find mark-down bargains
Increasing pressure on household budgets has led to a sharp rise in the number of shoppers looking for yellow sticker deals, in a trend that is also helping to further cut food waste. A new YouGov survey commissioned by Tesco reveals that 69% of shoppers now look out for mark downs in store and the thrifty trick is gaining appeal with 33% of customers seeking these reductions more frequently. Tesco’s survey also revealed: meat products prove most popular in the reduced-to-clear section followed by ready meals, vegetables and then desserts.
Source: tescoplc.com
China: Tencent to hand $20bln Meituan stake to shareholders as sales slip
Tencent Holdings said it would return capital to shareholders through a dividend distribution of its $20.3bln stake in food delivery firm Meituan as its sales fell for a second straight quarter. Meituan said it would maintain its mutually beneficial business relationship with Tencent after the divestment, which comes as the Shenzhen-based tech giant shuts some unprofitable businesses and laying off staff in a bid to return to growth.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Food delivery robots ready to roll into historic Cambridge streets
Food delivery robots will be taking to the historic streets of Cambridge as part of a new scheme by Cambridgeshire County Council, Starship Technologies and Co-op. Following a popular pilot in nearby Cambourne earlier this year - with 98% of people saying they would recommend the delivery robots to their friends - the decision was made by the Highways and Transport Committee to welcome the robots to the streets of Cambridge, with the grocery delivery service available to 12,200 residents within the Cherry Hinton and Queen Edith areas of Cambridge.
Source: co-operative.coop
Lidl GB says more shoppers switching to it as profit rises
The British arm of German discount supermarket Lidl said more shoppers were switching to it from traditional grocers during the cost-of-living crunch as it reported a rise in full-year profit. Citing industry data, Lidl GB said shoppers switched 58mln pounds ($69mln) of spending from the traditional supermarkets - market leader Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons - to it in the last month as they sought savings. Lidl GB said revenue in the year to February 28, 2022, rose 1.5% to 7.8bln pounds while pretax profit was 41.1mln pounds, up from 9.8mln pounds.
Source: reuters.com
Holland: Albert Heijn to open robotic home shop center in Barendrecht next year
Albert Heijn will open an automated Home Shop Center (HSC) in Barendrecht next year. In this HSC, employees won’t have to pack non-perishable products from the shelves to fill online orders because robots will do that automatically, the company announced. The Dutch supermarket chain is working with Swisslog, a global warehouse automation and software supplier, to automate its new HSC.
Source: nltimes.nl
Canada: Metro reports Q4 profit down from year ago as it takes one time Air Miles charge
The Canadian Press announced: "Metro Inc. reported its fourth-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as it took a $60mln charge related to the company's decision to have its Jean Coutu drugstore chain withdraw from the Air Miles loyalty program next year. The grocery and drugstore retailer says it earned $168.7mln or 70 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended September 24 compared with a profit of $194.0mln or 79 cents per diluted share a year ago. Sales totalled $4.43bln, up from $4.09bln in the same quarter last year."
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Wholly Veggie launches first national campaign
Wholly Veggie has been shaking up the plant-based frozen food aisle since its inception in 2017, making vegetables fun, delicious and accessible with its plant-based mozzarella style sticks, cauliflower wings, entrées and more. In true Wholly Veggie fashion, the frozen vegetable pioneer is breaking category conventions once again with the launch of its first creative campaign: “Haha You Just Ate Vegetables”. Created by independent creative agency Party Land, “Haha You Just Ate Vegetables” transforms the time-honored tradition of tricking your family into eating healthy into an unforgettable heavy metal anthem.
Source: nosh.com
US: HMart to open new store on Tuesday on Long Island
Specialty Grocer HMart will open its newest store on Long Island in New York on Tuesday, according to the Korean grocer’s website. The new store will be located at 34-51 48th Street and will feature fresh produce, meat, seafood, Asian groceries and housewares.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: Target Q3 sales edge up amid earnings plunge
Atop double-digit gains a year earlier, Target Corp. generated net and comparable sales growth in the fiscal 2022 third quarter, but earnings sank amid consumer economic concerns and the company’s ongoing efforts to “rightsize” inventory and costs. For the quarter ended October 29, net sales edged up 3.3% to $26.12bln from $25.29bln a year ago, when sales surged 13.2%. Total revenue came in at $26.52bln, up 3.4% year over year, Minneapolis-based Target reported.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Canada: Loblaw says supplier cost increases continue, shoppers turn to discount banners and private label in Q3
Loblaw Companies Limited said it has few levers at its disposal to relieve inflationary cost pressures as “unprecedented” price increases from suppliers continue unabated. Loblaw reported an 8.3% increase in revenue to $17.39bln for Q3. Retail sales were up 8.2% to $17.13bln, with food same-store sales increasing by 6.9% and drug same-store sales up 7.7%.
Source: canadiangrocer.com