US: Food Lion Feeds Orange Bag campaign to provide at least 1mln meals to help neighbors affected by food insecurity
For the fifth consecutive year, Food Lion Feeds is partnering with its customers to help provide at least 1mln meals to neighbors facing hunger through its annual Food Lion Feeds Orange Bag campaign. The campaign runs from March 1 - 21 and benefits Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and local partner food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Costco misses quarterly revenue estimates as demand slows for discretionary goods
Costco Wholesale Corp missed second-quarter revenue estimates, as consumers turned frugal on discretionary spending amid persistently high inflation, sending its shares down about 3% in after-hours trading. The company's total revenue for the quarter rose 6.5% to $55.27bln, but fell short of estimates of $55.54bln, according to Refinitiv data. Net income attributable to Costco rose to $1.47bln, or $3.30 per share, in the quarter ended February 12, from $1.30bln, or $2.92 per share, a year earlier.
Source: reuters.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. reports fourth quarter and full year 2022 results
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. reported results for the 13-week fourth quarter and 52-week year ending January 1, 2023. Fourth quarter highlights: net sales totaled $1.6bln; a 6% increase from the same period in 2021. Comparable store sales growth of 2.9%. Fiscal year 2022 highlights: net sales totaled $6.4bln; a 5% increase from 2021. Comparable store sales growth of 2.2%.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Afresh Technologies moves beyond fruits and vegetables
Afresh Technologies has started offering its food waste reduction technology to grocers for use in their meat, seafood, deli, and foodservice sections, building on the startup’s core business of helping retailers manage their produce operations, according to a press release.
Source: grocerydive.com
US: Walmart CEO plans to stay in role for at least three more years, WSJ reports
Walmart Inc Chief Executive Doug McMillon, 56, plans to helm the country's largest retailer for at least three more years as the company continues work to identify a successor, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Source: reuters.com
US: Digital boom helps Kroger in Q4, FY 2022
With a merger with Albertson’s still pending, grocery giant Kroger continues to be a force all its own, and 2023 could be a monumental year. Kroger unveiled fourth quarter results: total company sales were $34.8bln in the final quarter of 2022, compared to $33bln for the same period last year. Excluding fuel, sales increased 5.9% compared to the same period last year. Total company sales were $148.3bln in 2022, compared to $137.9bln for the same period last year. Excluding fuel, sales increased 5.2% compared to the same period last year.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Ahold Delhaize business highlights and community donations: a look back on 2022
Giant Food expanded its Fresh Connect program where participants can use prepaid debit cards prescribed by healthcare providers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at their local Giant Food.
Source: aholddelhaize.com
Chile: Cencosud posts uptick in profits boosted by core business
Retailer Cencosud posted a 22% rise in its fourth-quarter profit last year, the company said in a statement, boosted by stronger results in its core business such as supermarkets. The result excludes financial effects from its operations in Argentina. Cencosud's net profit in the October-to-December period totaled 251.028bln pesos ($292mln).
Source: reuters.com
All Belgian Metros have found new owner
The saga of Metro Belgium’s demise is coming to an end, now that all outlets have found a new owner. The one in Antwerp North was acquired by Horeca Totaal, a company from Bruges that was one of the four original acquisition candidates for the whole chain.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Mercadona earmarks €225mln for second warehouse in Portugal
Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona is investing €225mln in the construction of a new logistics centre to support its expansion plan in Portugal. Located on a 440,000 square metre plot acquired by the company, the Almeirim facility, north of Lisbon, will have a total construction area of around 120,000 square metres and include a cold storage unit, a dry goods unit, as well as buildings for general services and offices.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Carrefour launches Potager City: its new local fresh fruit and vegetable banner
Carrefour has just announced the opening of its first two Potager City [located in Rue de Tolbiac (13th arrondissement of Paris) and Rue de Seine (6th arrondissement of Paris)] stores in Paris. The stores will place the emphasis on fruit and vegetables: they will sell as many as 100 different products over more than 50% of the total sales area. A significant share will be seasonal fruit and vegetables - that way, customers can purchase them at optimal prices.
Source: carrefour.com
UK: ‘Systemic change’ needed to combat food crises
A study by consumer group Which? has found supermarket value items increased by 21% last year. Roberta Sonnino, professor of sustainable food systems at the University of Surrey, said: “The combined problems of food price rises and salad shortages are hammering the diets of people in the UK. When a crisis hits, it’s the vegetables, the backbone of a healthy and sustainable diet, which are quick to disappear. But where are the subsidies to tackle this?”
Source: talkingretail.com
Five Dutch retailers ban plastic bags for fruit and vegetables in favour of reusable alternatives
Dutch retailers Albert Heijn, ALDI, JUMBO, Lidl, and PLUS have pledged to implement reusable bags, which consumers can clean at home, for their fruit and vegetable products - a move expected to save an annual 126mln plastic bags and 10mln paper bags. The five supermarket chains are members of the Plastic Pact NL, in which the Dutch government and over 100 leaders in the plastics chain seek a collective reduction in plastic usage and better recycling systems.
Source: packagingeurope.com
UK: Moda, New York Square in Leeds gains a new Sainsbury’s Local
Residents of the brand-new Leeds rental neighbourhood Moda, New York Square were welcomed through the doors of Sainsbury’s newest Local, following the opening of the retailer’s latest store in the heart of Leeds. Customers will be able to pick up high quality, great value grocery and household essentials from fresh fruit & veg and food-to-go, to sweet, savoury and frozen staples.
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
UK: Getir gives away free tinned tomatoes as demand soars by 239%
Getir is giving away free tinned tomatoes via its app as UK supermarkets face shortages of the fresh produce. The ultrafast grocery delivery company has said over the past week, search demand for ‘tinned tomato recipes’ has skyrocketed by 239%, alongside searches for ‘tinned tomatoes’ spiking by 60%.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
UK: Aldi steps up search for new supermarket sites
Aldi is stepping up its search for new sites across the UK as continues the roll out out of new stores. The retailer is planning to invest more than £400mln in store development over the coming year and is looking to open new build and refurbished stores across the Midlands, North West, North East, Yorkshire and coastal towns.
Source: theretailbulletin.com