France: Carrefour confident about 2022 after 2021 profit rise, record cash
Carrefour SA said it looked to 2022 with confidence after Europe’s largest food retailer delivered record free cash flow of 1.23bln euros ($1.40bln) and a 7.7% rise in operating profit for 2021. Chairman and Chief Executive Alexandre Bompard said cash generation would remain above 1bln euros in 2022 and good commercial momentum would continue despite inflationary pressure. He also said he would unveil his new strategic plan for the group in autumn.
Source: reuters.com
SPAR Group sees sales up across Irish, Swiss and Polish operations
South Africa's SPAR Group has reported sales growth across all its international operations in the 18 weeks to 29 January, with its Irish BWG Foods operation up 6.9%, Switzerland up 1.9% and Poland up 11.8%. At group level, sales were up 5.8% to R45.5bln over the period, a performance that demonstrates the group's 'robustness and resilience during these disruptive times', it said in a statement.
Source: esmmagazine.com
French retailer Casino extends partnership with Britain's Ocado
French retailer Groupe Casino and British online technology firm Ocado Group said they would develop e-commerce logistics centres for retailers in France in a major expansion of their partnership. Ocado will also deploy its in-store fulfilment solution across the French company's Monoprix stores, the companies said.
Source: reuters.com
Germany: Retail technology and FinTech collide as Gorillas and Revolut team up
German rapid grocery delivery startup Gorillas has announced a partnership with FinTech giant Revolut. In a LinkedIn post, the former said: “What do we have in common with the world’s 1st truly global financial super app? We both get you what you need fast, so you can focus on things you really love.”
“Revolut helps you get more from your money by putting all things finance in 1, easy to use app. That means no more wasted hours standing at the bank, or at the grocery store”. It added: “Look out for a banner in your Gorillas app to sign up for Revolut and get 3 months free on a Revolut Premium plan and some cashback”.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Former KFC Asia CMO Vipul Chawla takes group CEO role at NTUC FairPrice
FairPrice Group has appointed Vipul Chawla as group CEO, effective 5 April 2022. The appointment comes as NTUC Enterprise and FairPrice Group look to further strengthen its core, and talents in its management team. According to NTUC, Chawla's international experience will help FPG drive its ambitions to build an omni-channel business with a superior customer experience.
Source: marketing-interactive.com
Israel woos UAE supermarket chains
The Ministry of Economy and Industry, headed by minister Orna Barbivai, is trying to bring international food store chains to Israel from the United Arab Emirates, in an attempt to boost competition in the Israeli market. Sources inform "Globes" that the ministry's director general Ron Malka and other senior officials will hold meetings with the heads of supermarket chains in the UAE, at the same time as negotiations on a free trade agreement between the UAE and Israel.
Source: en.globes.co.il
Switzerland: Coop sees sales up 5.6 % in 2021
Coop Switzerland has reported year-on-year sales growth of 5.6% to CHF31.9bln (€30.4bln) in its financial year 2021, with profit amounting to CHF559mln (€532.9mln). Total retail sales increased by CHF506mln to CHF19.6bln, while its online business posted sales of around CHF3bln - an increase of CHF353mln. Net sales in Coop supermarkets including Coop.ch amounted to CHF12.1bln, slightly lower than in the preceding year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Todis, Radenza expand Sicilian footprint
Italian discounter Todis has expanded its presence in Sicily with the acquisition of 12 Meridi stores, taking its network to 35 outlets. According to Todis, the takeover of the former Fortè shops, mainly located in Palermo and surrounding areas, “is just another step towards expansion in Sicily, which will be carried out through acquisitions and one to one development,” reports daily Il Sole 24 Ore.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Profit dips for Australia's Wesfarmers after perfect pandemic storm
Australian retail conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd said 1st-half profit slumped and cut its dividend after most of its businesses were hit by successive COVID-19 outbreaks and supply chain upheaval, sending its shares sharply lower. For the 6 months to end-December, overall net profit fell 14.2% to A$1.21bln ($871mln), in line with its previous guidance.
Source: reuters.com
South Africa: Spar to roll out grocery delivery service in Johannesburg
In a trading update for the 18 weeks to end January 2022, retailer Spar announced that its consumer-facing e-commerce delivery platform Spar2U will be available in Johannesburg in March 2022. Following a successful pilot, Spar has now confirmed that the Spar2U service will be made available in a group of stores in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg by the end of next month.
Source: bizcommunity.com
Walmart's Mexico unit sees profit rise 5% but costs increase
Walmart's Mexico unit said its 4th-quarter net profit grew more than 5% from the year-earlier period with the gross margin helped by new business lines, even as higher expenses ate into earnings. Walmart de Mexico, the biggest retailer in Mexico, said its net profit rose to 13.3bln pesos ($646.3mln) from the prior October-to-December period. Revenue increased 9.5% to reach 214.6bln pesos.
Source: reuters.com
US: KeHE lands primary distribution pact with Allegiance Retail Services
Grocery retail cooperative Allegiance Retail Services has tapped KeHE Distributors as its new primary distributor. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed. Naperville, Illinois-based KeHE said that it will bring Allegiance’s independent supermarket members an expanded product portfolio “at a significantly reduced cost”, especially a bigger selection of natural, organic, fresh and specialty foods. KeHE also will provide Allegiance members with a range of services, including data-driven market insights, store-level operational support, and sales, marketing and promotional support.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Save Mart expands rollout of grocery delivery robots
The Save Mart Cos. has kicked off robot-powered online grocery delivery at its flagship Lucky California store in Pleasanton using autonomous vehicles from Starship Technologies. Save Mart said that the program makes the Pleasanton Lucky California the 1st San Francisco Bay Area supermarket to use the compact delivery robots from San Francisco-based Starship.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Walmart forecasts full-year profit above expectations
Walmart Inc forecast full-year profit above market expectations, signaling a steady demand at stores even as supply-chain issues and rampant cost inflation pressure the retail giant’s margins. Net revenue in Walmart’s 4th quarter showed a surprise 0.5% increase to $152.87bln, beating analysts’ average estimate of $151.53bln, or a 0.4% fall. Sales at its U.S. stores open at least for a year rose 5.6%, excluding fuel, in line with analysts’ estimates.
Source: reuters.com
