US: UNFI moves on from president and CEO of its retail arm
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) and President and CEO of Retail Andre Persaud are parting ways. UNFI announced that Persaud will step down effective July 25, the company said. UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas will oversee the retail business until a successor is found, the company said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Publix, not Walmart, viewed as best grocery retailer
Trader Joe's, The Fresh Market, Publix, Costco, and Walmart all ranked among the top performers in Newsweek's America's Best Retailers 2025 list. Newsweek partnered with global data and business intelligence platform Statista to identify the retail elite, using results from an independent survey of participants who had made purchases, used services, or gathered information about products or services within the past three years. Lakeland, Florida-based Publix topped the supermarket category with a score of 90.51, followed by Wegmans (88.84), Kroger (84.88), Giant Eagle (84.82), and Safeway (83.37). Publix earned the highest score among all grocery retailers.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Hannaford Supermarkets launches new "All for Good" brand campaign
Hannaford Supermarkets reported: "Hannaford Supermarkets recently launched a new brand campaign that demonstrates how the grocery and pharmacy retailer creates "more good" for the customers and communities it serves. The "All for Good" campaign is currently rolling out across Hannaford's footprint in New England and New York, and is brought to life via television, radio, social media, digital, and out-of-home platforms".
Source: hannaford.com
US: Market Basket CEO blasts company's board members over firing of long-time execs
The firing of two long-time Market Basket executives by the company's board of directors on Tuesday was "among the worst decisions that could be made", the grocery store chain's CEO said in a statement Tuesday evening. Earlier in the day, Board Member Steven Collins called the Tewksbury-based company's operations manager, Joe Schmidt, and grocery supervisor, Tom Gordon, to inform them of the board's decision to remove them from their positions, Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas said. The chief executive plans to "use all efforts to reverse this heartless and unwarranted decision".
Source: masslive.com
SPAR Norway grows retail footprint with new store openings
The new SPAR supermarket Lund Torv, located in the Southern city of Kristiansand, opened close to the previous SPAR Lund site. The assortment instore reflects the needs of those based in the locality, with a focus on its fresh ranges, including bread and baked goods, fruit and vegetables, and hot food-to-go. Also located in the city of Kristiansand is the new company-owned SPAR supermarket Sørlandsparken. The grocery assortment includes local specialities, including popular pork knuckles, and an extensive selection of fresh produce. Meanwhile, just outside of the small town of Hønefoss, North-West of Oslo, the new SPAR supermarket Haugsbygd has opened to customers.
Source: spar-international.com
"Predominantly local agricultural products in Belgian supermarkets"
96% of pork, 92% of beef and 95% of chicken meat in Belgian supermarkets comes from Belgian farmers. For milk it is 98%, for eggs it is more that 87%. More than 58% of all vegetables sold in supermarkets are also grown in Belgium. For apples it is 66%, for pears even 91%. This is according to a survey conducted by the Comeos trade federation on the eve of the Libramont agricultural fair. At that fair, the federation is organising an event bringing farmers and retail together.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Lidl: 1,000th store in Great Britain
Lidl GB reported: "Later this year, we'll be opening our 1,000th store in Great Britain - a huge milestone. Beyond the number, it reflects just how embedded Lidl is in communities up and down the country".
Source: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/lidl-gb
Spain: Transgourmet Ibérica unveils Fresh&Go convenience store model
Spanish wholesale food distributor Transgourmet Ibérica has launched a new convenience store format: Fresh&Go. The first three franchised Suma-branded outlets have opened - two in Valencia and one in Palma. Fresh&Go stores feature a bakery and coffee breakfast area with daily baked pastries, coffee, and fresh juice. A daily menu section offers competitively priced meal packs, including sandwiches, rolls, or salads with a drink. The offer also includes impulse and fresh products, such as snacks, cold drinks, smoothies, drinkable yoghurts, pre-cut fruit, and ice cream.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Tesco announces extra support for children and families facing hunger over the school holidays this summer
Tesco reported: "Schools are running holiday breakfast and lunch clubs to tackle the lack of free school meals and keep pupils fed and active. Tesco is supporting them by giving £200 gift cards to all 400 schools that are part of its term-time Fruit and Veg for Schools programme".
Source: tescoplc.com
South Korea: Lotte Mart's vegetable team combats climate challenges to ensure quality supply
At the headquarters of Lotte Mart in Songpa District, Seoul, Kim Si-eun and Hong Yoon-hee, Merchandisers (MD) for the vegetable team at Lotte Mart, met with ChosunBiz and said: "Our top priority is to respond quickly to climate change and refine our distribution methods to provide customers with high-quality products at reasonable prices every year".
Source: biz.chosun.com
Belgium: Refurbished Okay Moerbeke reopens on 23 July as a sustainable neighbourhood supermarket
On Wednesday 23 July, Okay Moerbeke, located on Statiestraat, will reopen its doors following a complete refurbishment. "In the new freshmart, it's easy to choose from our wide range of fruit and vegetables, dairy, meat, charcuterie, fish and ready-made meals - all freshly prepared, as our customers have come to expect", says store manager Melissa Baerbier.
Source: press.colruytgroup.com
Harlech Foodservice: We've acquired Oren Foods
Harlech Foodservice reported: "We're proud to be an award-winning Welsh food supplier, and we're excited to be adding new lines to our range after taking over a thriving fruit and veg wholesaler. We at Harlech Foodservice, crowned Food Wholesaler of the Year by The Caterer magazine this year, have guaranteed the jobs of the 25 staff at Oren Foods in Penrhyndeudraeth in Gwynedd. We know it's a strong move for us - and here's what our Managing Director David Cattrall said: "Adding fresh fruit and vegetables to our offer fills a gap for our customers. It's always been our ambition to be a total range supplier and buying up a well-established and respected local business fills a gap in our range of products". Oren - Welsh for orange - was launched 45 years ago as Ffrwythau DJ Fruit by Dei and Cheryl Jones from their existing greengrocers in Cricieth, rebranded as Oren in 2021, and for the past 12 years the business has been run by their son, Gethin Dwyfor".
Source: harlech.co.uk
UK: Morrisons introduces new and improved terms for independent retailers
Morrisons reported: "Morrisons is introducing enhanced terms for its independent retail partners as it continues to grow its convenience business. Morrisons focus on fresh lines, particularly its bakery offer, also helps to quickly generate a positive margin for retailers".
Source: morrisons-corporate.com
