Under the agreement, Alibaba will introduce an annual “Australian Fresh Food Week” sales promotion and education event on Tmall Fresh, Tmall’s fresh food channel, advancing the interests of Australian companies that export fruit and other fresh produce, among others. (insideretail.asia)Spain: Eroski invests 6.4m in the renovation of 7 hypermarkets
The distribution chain Eroski has invested €6.4m in the renovation of seven hypermarkets for them to become part of the new generation of stores under the business model "Contigo" ("With you"). The move has generated 74 new jobs. (financialfood.es)Consumers appear to be losing their enthusiasm for discounter Aldi
Shoppers appear to be losing their enthusiasm for German supermarket powerhouse Aldi with the chain’s growth in the eastern states going backwards for the first time since it began trading in Australia. Industry data obtained by the Daily Telegraph shows Aldi’s market share in NSW, Victoria and Queensland began to falter during the 2016 financial year, despite the supermarket opening new stores up and down the coast. It dropped to 11.7% in June, down from 12% in the same month in 2015. It’s the first time its growth has hit a speed bump since opening its inaugural store in Bankstown 15 years ago. Please, click here to read more at dailytelegraph.com.au.Wal-Mart China to invest CNY60 million to upgrade Kunming stores
The world's leading supermarket retailer Wal-Mart said that they are optimistic about their development in Yunnan province and will continue to enhance investment and construction to open four new outlets in the southern Chinese province, including one in Kunming, before the end of 2016. Meanwhile, the company expects to launch over 20 new stores in Yunnan, including 12 in Kunming, before the end of 2020. (chinaretailnews.com) Sales slip below £23bn but profits rise at Asda
Annual profits have increased at Asda despite revenue at the supermarket giant dropping back below the £23bn mark amid an intensely competitive grocery market, accounts filed this morning (7 September 2016) have revealed. In results for the year to 31 December 2015, profit after tax at Asda Group Ltd rose from £780.1m to £820.1m. Operating profit increased by 3.3% to £1.045bn, but underlying operating profit fell by 1.5%. (insidermedia.com)Austrian Billa presents: The wonky veg promotional video
Austrian supermarket chain Billa has started an online campaign to highlight its seasonal selection of 'Wunderlinge', or 'Wonky Fruit & Veg'. A heart-shaped potato, a cucumber with "pretty sharp curves" and a four-legged carrot are part of a Wonky Veg troupe, performing in a video published on YouTube. As they dance across the screen, speech-bubbles appear with encouraging phrases like, "Real taste comes from within" and "The time has come for natural beauty". (esmmagazine.com)Amazon India considers investment in online food delivery startup Swiggy
Amazon India is considering an investment in online food delivery startup Swiggy and has held several rounds of discussions with the Bengaluru-based startup over the past three months, according to four people directly aware of the ongoing negotiations. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) Whole Foods names 3 senior leaders
Whole Foods Market on Monday announced three new members of its senior leadership team, including two former Wal-Mart Stores executives and a Starbucks veteran. Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, global VP of marketing; Martin Tracey, global VP of team member services, and Brooke Buchanan, global VP of communications, joined their respective teams Monday, Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods said. (supermarketnews.com)Walmart, MoneyGram partner on new online money transfer platform
MoneyGram and Walmart on Tuesday announced the launch of a new state-of-the-art online money transfer platform that offers customers new features and a streamlined experience when sending money through Walmart.moneygram.com. (chainstoreage.com)Norwegian consumers least satisfied with fruit/veg in Europe
According to the European Commission’s Consumer Markets Scoreboard, released in full on Monday, Norway has some of the absolute least satisfied consumers among the 30 nations surveyed. Norwegians are particularly unhappy with fruit and vegetables. In the category of ‘fruit and vegetables’, Norwegian consumer satisfaction was ranked at just 72.5 out of 100, far behind the 81.6 EU average. (thelocal.no)Supermarket price war looms as Asda set to copy Morrisons’ price-slashing
Analysts expect Asda to be the next major player to pull the trigger following Morrisons’ announcement of its latest round of cost cuts on Sunday. The move marks Morrisons’ second post-Brexit price reduction after cutting prices on more than 1,000 products by an average of 18% at the start of August. “The next in line to cut prices significantly will be Asda,” Nicla Di Palma, an equity analyst at wealth manager Brewin Dolphin, said. (banburyguardian.co.uk) Carrefour opens 'Innovative' Romania hypermarket with focus on fresh produce
Carrefour has opened a new hypermarket in Bucharest, Romania, which it describes as offering an 'innovative shopping experience'. Within the store, particular emphasis has been given to fresh produce, with an 'in-house laboratory' developing fresh recipes for customers. (esmmagazine.com)Slovenia: Store renewals impact Mercator revenue in H1
Slovenian retailer Mercator Group has ended the first half of 2016 with revenue of €1.25bn, down by 3.3% on last year due to harsh market conditions and the cost impact of store refurbishments. The largest drop of revenue was in Croatia, where the entire FMCG program was included by the end of June 2015 into the consolidation process within the Mercator Group. (esmmagazine.com)US: Target’s top marketing exec heading off to Uber
Target Corp. is losing its top marketing honcho just months before it enters its most important selling season. Jeff Jones, executive VP, chief marketing officer at Target, will depart the discounter effective Sept. 9. Jones will be joining Uber as president, ridesharing. He will responsible for Uber’s operations, marketing and customer support globally. (chainstoreage.com) Poland considers limiting shopping on Sundays
Poland’s largest trade union submitted a draft bill to parliament restrict retail trade on Sundays. The Solidarnosc union collected more than half a million signatures, or five times more than required to submit a bill to parliament, for a draft law that would force shopping centers and supermarkets to shut on Sundays, while allowing retail stores at gas stations, train and bus stops, airports, hospitals and schools to remain open. (esmmagazine.com)Amazon Fresh London now followed by Amazon Restaurant
People can soon take advantage of Amazon’s food delivery service and order meals from their favourite restaurants. Amazon Restaurants allows Prime members in certain postcodes across London, to order food from selected restaurants for free delivery within an hour. It was launched in Seattle a year ago, and follows the launch of Amazon Fresh food deliveries in June. (thisislocallondon.co.uk)
