Dunnes Stores has managed to hold the top supermarket spot in Ireland for two consecutive months, a first for the retailer, according to Kantar Worldpanel Ireland figures. For the twelve weeks ended 26 February, sales at Dunnes grew by 4.6%, and market share reached 22.9%, up 40 basis points on last year. (esmmagazine.com) 
US: Produce most sought after supermarket item
Produce is the "most sought after supermarket item," according to Produce Retailer Magazine Editor, Pamela Riemenschneider. She provided a sneak preview of the 2017 Fresh Trends national survey results, which showed that Romaine lettuce for the first time has surpassed the old stand-by of Iceberg as the most purchased lettuce variety. In addition to lettuce, Colorado produce in the top five by number of acres raised — potatoes, onions, sweet corn and peaches — continues to enjoy strong demand with new varieties gaining in popularity. (agjournalonline.com) US: Albertsons is closing the Randalls DC
Albertsons is closing the Randalls distribution center and office in Houston, cutting 205 jobs there. The Houston operations are being combined with Albertsons' office in Fort Worth and its distribution center in Roanoke. The office transition will happen over the next three months and the distribution center will take longer, said Albertsons spokeswoman, Connie Yates. (dallasnews.com) Wal-Mart has $320M plan to win back Brazilians
Wal-Mart will renovate its giant hypermarkets in Brazil to win back shoppers hurt by the recession, even as it grapples with sluggish sales there. The retail giant plans to spend about $320m in the next three years on upgrades to locations in Brazil, where sales fell 4% year over year in the fourth quarter. (investopedia.com) AmazonFresh to deliver in South Florida
The Seattle-based retailer's online grocery service launched Wednesday in eight cities, delivering fresh food to Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miramar, Miami Gardens, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Westchester and Kendall, according to a news release. Items available include fresh fruits and vegetables. (sun-sentinel.com)AU: Greengrocers caught incorrectly charging shoppers
A report has found that greengrocers around the country are incorrectly charging customers by selling goods with the wrong weight marked on the package. The National Measurement Institute’s (NMI) 2015-16 compliance report found 50% of the 332 fruit and vegetable retailers it audited failed to comply with trade measurement law. (startsat60.com) US: Meijer is expanding home delivery
Meijer has inked-in a deal with grocery delivery service Shipt to expand home delivery across its six-state footprint in the Midwest, following a “highly successful” launch of the service in Detroit last fall, which has generated an estimated 65,000 orders since September. The expanded service will take place in the retailer’s six-state footprint, starting with Grand Rapids, Mich. and Fort Wayne and Indianapolis in Indiana. Meijer will follow into other major markets in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin. (progressivegrocer.com / fooddive.com) US: Produce for Kids celebrates 15 year anniversary at Southern Exposure
Produce for Kids celebrated its 15th anniversary and milestone of $6m raised for programs that benefit families and children, during a reception last Friday at the Southeast Produce Council’s annual Southern Exposure. The organization announced the addition of two new retail partners, Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) Springfield Division and Military Produce Group, participating in 2017 in-store cause-marketing campaigns. (groceryheadquarters.com) UK: Ocado sales rise
Online grocery retailer Ocado Tuesday reported higher sales, though it flagged signs of rising prices. Ocado said gross retail sales in the 13 weeks to Feb. 26 rose 13.1%, the same rate of increase as in the previous quarter. Average orders per week lifted 16.7% to 252,000 in the first quarter versus the same period in 2016, driven by both new and existing Ocado customers. Average order size fell 1.6% to £110.84, a slower rate of decline than in previous quarters and driven mainly by fewer multi-buy promotions and a loyalty scheme. Gross group sales rose 13.3% to £ 384.7m while gross retail sales were up 13.1% at £ 352.4m. (marketwatch.com) Struggling Carrefour China looks to revamp
French retailer Carrefour has reported lower profits as it struggles in China. The Carrefour China business model will be revamped as the company tries to turn around a €58m loss last year, compared to a profit of €13m the previous year. (insideretail.asia) Vietnam: Aeon to spend $200 mln
Japanese retailer Aeon is planning to pour $200m into its second shopping mall in Hanoi this year, a company official said, which would see its investment in Vietnam's capital nearly doubling. (e.vnexpress.net) Belgium: Ahold Delhaize announces sales of stores
Ahold Delhaize today announced its Belgian subsidiaries have reached agreements to divest five stores and one project in Belgium. Lidl Belgium has agreed to buy three Albert Heijn stores and one project. Tanger has agreed to buy one Albert Heijn store and one Proxy Delhaize store. (globenewswire.com) UK: Tesco launches new ‘food waste hotline’
Tesco has launched an innovative, online ‘food waste hotline’, to help make it easier for suppliers and growers to pinpoint ongoing food waste hotspots, and work with the retailer in tackling them. The ‘hotline’ is accessible to all Tesco suppliers via the retailer’s online Supplier Network, a resource used by over 5,000 Tesco partners regularly. (tescoplc.com) Study: Coles & Woolies still Australia’s top companies when it comes to revenues
An annual study by industry market research firm IBISWorld into the top 1000 Australian companies in terms of earnings has put the retailers Wesfarmers (which owns Coles) and Woolworths in the top two spots for 2016. Wesfarmers had total revenues last year of $66bn, Woolworths had $58bn, CBA was third with $44bn. (bandt.com.au) Finland: Kesko's growth boosted by private label grocery sales
Kesko has published its 2016 results, reporting that group net sales increased by 17.3% to €10.2bn. Kesko’s grocery trade saw net sales increase by 12.4% to €5.3bn, although this was largely driven by the acquisition of Suomen Lähikauppa. In 2016, private label accounted for around 20% of Kesko’s grocery sales. (igd.com)
Marks and Spencer pulls out of China's high streetPlease, click here to read the article.
Survey: Tobacco easier to get than fruits in CaliforniaPlease, click here to read the article.