German supermarket chain Lidl expects to generate a €70bn turnover in its current fiscal year, which ends in February 2017. Discount chain Aldi's turnover is not revealed publicly, but is estimated to be about €65bn: slightly below Lidl's turnover, with the gap set to rise over the next few years. (retaildetail.eu) US: ShopRite launches organic label
ShopRite has launched a new, private-label line of free-form and organic products, called Wholesome Pantry. The Wholesome Pantry brand, which was designed as an alternative for customers seeking cleaner food and simpler labeling, will be available exclusively at all ShopRite locations, including those on Staten Island. The new organic line is made up of a wide variety of products, including frozen food and produce. (silive.com)
BP in talks with grocery store partners to boost global forecourt sales BP is in talks with grocery retailers in three new countries about launching convenience stores on petrol forecourts, as it seeks to emulate the success of its M&S Simply Food tie-up in the UK. Tufan Erginbilgic, BP’s chief executive of refining and marketing, said it was pushing the model as a “global strategy” as it seeks to boost earnings from its worldwide portfolio of 17,200 service stations. (telegraph.co.uk)
Uchumi delays release of results again Uchumi Supermarket has once postponed the release of its financial results until the end of January. According to the listed retailer, there is a problem with putting all financial records in order for operations in Uganda and Tanzania. (hivisasa.com)
Australia's Woolworths sells petrol chain to BP for $1.3bn
Australia's top grocer Woolworths said on Wednesday it will sell its chain of petrol stations to BP for A$1.8bn ($1.3bn), the latest disposal in a bid to return the company's focus to its core supermarket business. (Reuters)Little to no pesticides found on California grocery store fruit
The fruits and vegetables you buy at the supermarket or farmers markets in California have little to no pesticide residue. Only about 1% exceeded state or federal standards. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation released its report on pesticide residues in 2015. Click here to read more at capradio.org. 
AU: Coles and Woolworths scrapping waxed applesGrocers have been buffing our fruit with wax for years, but now Coles and Woolworths have decided to take the shine off their apples. Angie Asimus reports. Click here for more.
Kesko study finds Finns eager to embrace vegetables
A study on the future purchasing habits of Finnish consumers, carried out by retailer Kesko, has found that many plan to be more active in promoting their own well-being through their everyday food choices. Increased vegetable purchases are likely, the study found, while vegetable-based protein products will also remain popular. More than half of respondents (57%) plan to eat more fruit and vegetables next year. Some 51% of Finnish people say they will buy more berries. (esmmagazine.com) German grocery chain Lidl targets Annapolis for US expansion
The European grocery chain Lidl has selected Annapolis for one of the first locations of its expansion into the United States. If approved, Lidl would be the first new supermarket brand to open in the city since Fresh Market and Trader Joe's more than a decade ago. Neither officials with Lidl's U.S. operations nor their representatives in Annapolis could be reached for comment Friday. (capitalgazette.com)VéGé Group gets new partner in Italy’s Campania region
Italian retail group VéGé has announced it will be working with a new regional partner from January 2017, expanding its presence in the Campania region. Supermercati Piccolo is an important player in the regional wholesale distribution and retail market, active mainly in the Naples area.The new partners have a sales network consisting of 13 outlets, including small grocery stores, supermarkets and cash & carry sites, comprising a total net area of 12,270 square metres. (esmmagazine.com) Co-op to open 100 new food shops in 2017
The Co-op is to invest £70m in 100 new stores across the country next year, creating 1,500 jobs. The retail giant said it will focus on opening stores in London and the South East, with five new sites in the capital before the end of March. The business opened a similar number of stores in 2016. (belfasttelegraph.co.uk) Convenience stores boom as Korea's households change
The rising number of single-person households in South Korea is helping to fuel a boom in neighborhood convenience stores, one of the few bright spots in the nation’s sluggish economy. The number of convenience stores has jumped by more than half over the past five years, to 32,000 this year, according to the Korea Association of Convenience Store Industry. (esmmagazine.com)Mercadona to accelerate Portuguese debut
Spanish retailer Mercadona has decided to accelerate its Portuguese debut to 2017/2018, one year ahead of the previously announced date of 2019. The news was revealed by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, reported daily Publico. (esmmagazine.com)Coop Switzerland buys Aperto convenience chain
Retailer Coop Switzerland has purchased convenience player Aperto Group to consolidate its position in the retail sector, it announced at the weekend. The Swiss group, previously owned by a joint partnership between Hofer Holding AG and Villars Holding AG, has stores in train stations and service stations in 'attractive' locations around the country. (esmmagazine.com)Spain’s DIA Group opens first store in Rio de Janeiro
Spanish retailer DIA Group has opened its first stores in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. The company initially expects to open 32 establishments with a local partner, bringing its entire range to the region, which has a population of more than 16m inhabitants. Since starting operations in Brazil over 15 years ago, DIA Brasil is now present in five Brazilian states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro. (esmmagazine.com)Pozzoli Food joins Italy discount consortium
Italian retail and purchasing consortium Italy Discount is continuing to expand with the addition of Pozzoli Food, which has 13 outlets. The new partner is active in the Lombardy region, in the municipalities of Milan, Monza, Brianza, Lecco, Como, Varese and Bergamo. It also has plans to open three new stores. (esmmagazine.com) Sweden’s ICA Gruppen to acquire Lithuania’s IKI
Swedish retail group ICA has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Lithuanian-based UAB Palink, which operates the grocery-retail business IKI, for €213m. The purchase means that ICA will now become the second-largest player in the Lithuanian grocery market, where it currently operates the Rimi Baltic business. It is currently in fourth place in the country. (esmmagazine.com) 
Supermarket chain hilariously mocks AmazonPlease, click here to read the article.
Spar turns into major player in Croatia’s retail marketPlease, click here to read the article.
