popular brands in UK - Aldi has once again come out top in YouGov's annual BrandIndex poll, with rival discounter Lidl snapping at its heels. The top five brands are: Aldi, Lidl, BBC iPlayer, John Lewis and Dyson. (esmmagazine.com)
Ahold Delhaize sales up 2.8% in fourth quarter
Ahold Delhaize has posted pro-forma net sales of €15.5bn in the fourth quarter of its financial year – a 2.8% increase at constant exchange rates. In the Netherlands, comparable sales were up 6.6%, driven by ‘assortment innovations and improved service in our supermarkets’, according to the group, as well as a strong performance for online channel Bol.com. Market share for the Albert Heijn banner was up ‘slightly’, compared to the same period last year. However, in Belgium, sales were down 0.9% for the period, ‘when compared to a strong fourth quarter in 2015.’ Market share for the Delhaize operation ‘remained stable’. Comparable sales were down 0.2% at Ahold USA, while Delhaize America posted a comparable sales growth of 2.2%. For full-year 2016, the group saw pro-forma net sales of €62.3bn, which is up 3.4% at constant exchange rates and adjusted for week 53 in 2016. (esmmagazine.com) Carrefour Q4 sales growth slows
French retail giant Carrefour has posted a 3.3% increase in full-year sales to €85.7bn, in its fifth consecutive year of like-for-like sales growth. The retailer’s like-for-like sales in its home market, in France, were up 0.3% to €40.1bn, however, total growth (excluding petrol) at constant exchange rates was down 0.5%. Internationally, like-for-like sales were up 4.9% to €45.6bn (+6.3% at constant exchange rates). The retailer also saw an improvement in like-for-likes in its fourth quarter, which were 2.9% up overall. France saw a 0.7% increase in like-for-like sales in the quarter, while international like-for-likes went up by 4.5%. (esmmagazine.com) AU: Wesfarmers CEO braces for Woolworths comeback
Reports say that Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder has been softening investor expectations ahead of the release of Coles’ latest interim results. “Richard Goyder has told people Woolworths’ like-for-like [sales growth] will be better than Coles and there’s no doubt in my mind Woolworths will have passed Coles” one source told the Sydney Morning Herald. It’s believed that both Goyder and Coles managing director John Durkan have spoken to analysts and investors, admitting suspicions that Woolworths’ $1bn investment in the price war between the two supermarkets could see them overtake Coles for the first time in quarterly growth. (channelnews.com.au) Ahold Delhaize to keep investing in Serbia
Ahold Delhaize intends to keep investing in Serbia, the Serbian government quoted Boer as saying during a meeting with Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday. Vucic and Boer discussed the abolition of fees for donated food, as well as the launch of a Serbian Food Safety Agency, in line with the European standards, the government added. (seenews.com) US: Whole Foods closing three food-prep facilities
Whole Foods Market’s reported plans to close three of its food-production facilities along the East Coast reflect its efforts to streamline operations and reduce costs, observers said. The chain will close facilities in Everett, Mass.; Landover, Md.; and Roswell, Ga., and will outsource or move in-store the prepared-foods operations that had been conducted at those sites, according to local reports. (supermarketnews.com) US: Target exec returns home to Supervalu
Supervalu has appointed Anne Dament to senior VP of retail, merchandising and marketing, effective immediately. Dament is a 25-year retail veteran who began her career at Supervalu. She most recently served as senior VP, president of merchandising for Target Corp., where she oversaw food merchandising for its grocery business, including perishables, non-perishables, food service and private-label brands. In her new role, Dament will lead the company’s retail banner operations, oversee retail merchandising and marketing functions, and report to Mark Gross, Supervalu’s president and CEO. (chainstoreage.com)Portugal’s Sonae MC posts 5.6% growth for full-year 2016
Sonae MC, the food-retail arm of Portuguese retail and communications conglomerate Sonae, has posted a 5.6% increase in like-for-like sales for full-year 2016, seeing a 6.6% increase in the last quarter of 2016. Sonae MC posted sales of €3.69bn for the full year and broke the billion-euro mark for the fourth quarter, posting sales of €1.002bn. (esmmagazine.com) Kenya: Nakumatt sells 25% stake for $75 mln
Privately owned Nakumatt, Kenya's biggest supermarket chain by sales, has agreed to sell a 25% stake to a foreign fund for $75m, its managing director said on Wednesday. "We are already at final stages with the investor. We are just waiting for the money to come," Atul Shah told Reuters, without naming the fund involved. (Reuters)
SA: Shoprite enjoys strong growth in H1
Shoprite said that in the 26-week period to 25 December, total sales rose by 14.0% to ZAR71.3 bn (US$5.3 bn), aided by like-for-like growth of 8.6%. The retailer said that it remained pleased by the performance of its operations in its home market, where its supermarkets saw total sales rise by 10.7%, boosted by ‘good festive trading’. Shoprite said that in its home market it had seen like-for-like sales grow 7.4%, with internal inflation averaging out at the same figure. (igd.com)SA: Woolworths announces slowing pace of sales growth
Woolworths said that in the 26-week period to 25 December group sales rose 6.7%, with the figure boosted by its food sales and the acquisition of Australia-based David Jones. Woolworths Food Sales increased by 9.5%, with price movement of 9.2%, while the retailer noted that comparable store sales increase by 5.6% and net retail space grew by 7.9%. (igd.com)Q3 Sales Seven & i continue to decline
Asia’s largest retailer Seven & i has posted the third-quarter results ending 30 November 2016. Its group total sales continue to decline for the second quarter by 1.4% to JPY7,909bn (US$69.7bn), whilst its operating profit has improved by 5%. With over 19,000 stores in Japan, Seven-Eleven Japan has achieved continued growth. Total sales have increased by 5.5% to JPY3,422bn (US$30.1bn) and its operating profit reached JPY187.1bn (US$1.64 bn) for the nine-month period, up 4% YoY. Total sales in the US and Canada have dropped by 9.5%. (igd.com)
