Irish SuperValu regains top slot in supermarket league
New data this morning from research group Kantar Worldpanel shows that SuperValu, the brand owned by Cork-based Musgrave, had a 24.6% share of Ireland’s multi-billion euro grocery market during the 12 weeks to November 8. Tesco had 24.1%. SuperValu had clinched the pole position earlier this year, making it the first time in over 10 years that Tesco hadn’t been Ireland’s biggest grocery retailer. But Tesco had quickly recovered the number one position, holding it until this month. (independent.ie)Germany: Lidl buys delivery service Kochzauber to take on Amazon Fresh
Lidl is aping the concept of Amazon Fresh in its home market, with the acquisition of grocery delivery start-up Kochzauber, a company simular to HelloFresh. Lidl confirmed the acquisition, first reported by German publication Gruenderszene, but hasn’t revealed a price tag. A spokesperson told Marketing: "Ordering recipe boxes for home delivery has become a growing market in Germany. "It responds to consumer demand for cooking delicious meals using market fresh ingredients, but without the need to go shopping. Kochzauber already has a strong offering with great potential for development within this growing market." Lidl currently doesn’t offer a home delivery service, and the acquisition of Kochzauber may offer the discounter a foothold in e-commerce. (marketingmagazine.co.uk)US: Supermarket chain Brookshire Grocery terminates sale process
Brookshire Holdings Inc, the parent of Louisiana-based Brookshire Grocery Co, said on Monday it would no longer explore a sale of the supermarket store operator. Sources told Reuters earlier this month that the company had been exploring a sale that could value the grocer at as much as $1bn, including debt. Brookshire was said to be working with investment bank JPMorgan Chase & Co in an auction that had attracted larger peers, including Albertsons Companies Inc. Brookshire did not detail why it ended the sale process. (Reuters)Japan supermarket sales: fragile but onwards
Supermarket sales rose slightly year-on-year in Japan, indicating how fragile the economic recovery in the country is although at least showing sales are pulling away from contraction following a sales tax increase last year. Supermarket sales rose 2.8% year-on-year in October. They had risen 2.9% in September. (ft.com)UK: Waitrose reports early Christmas sales boost
Waitrose said total divisional sales (excl fuel) last week were up 4.7% on last year, as early Christmas shoppers responded to its latest festive marketing campaign. The retailer said online grocery sales also jumped 26.1% on last year following a promotion. (talkingretail.com)Monoprix opens 100th franchise store in France
Franchise-magazine.com reports that Monoprix opened their 100th franchise store, a Monop’daily, on Monday on the SFR campus in Saint-Denis (93). This is the first store to open in a private, professional setting - a new market that is now part of the group’s franchise development strategy. The amount of franchised stores (10% of total end of 2011), has tripled over the last 5 years, from 20 or so in 2009 , to 60 at the end of 2012 and 79 at the end of 2013. Russia: Retail was the most dynamic sector
The published list of the 50 fastest growing Russian companies is dominated by the retail sector, reports retail.ru. RBC media group compiled the list of the top-50 companies between 2011-2014: the composition was radically renewed, 37 of the companies are newcomers and retail trade was the growth leader across the industries with 15 of the companies engaged in retail. Among the major food retailers, Magnit took the highest place, 18th, Maksima group which is developing the Familia chain stores, took 28th place, followed by Dixi in 31st. The Siberian retailer Hollifund took 34th place followed by Lenta, 37th. Concluding the list is TD Intertorg, which manages the Narodnaya 7YA SemYa stores, IdeYa supermarkets, and Spar in the North-West federal district and owner of Amatus grocery stores in Moscow and the Moscow region, it took 48th place.AU: Woolies turns to Corbett for advice
Former Woolworths boss Roger Corbett has been brought back into the fold as an adviser to the struggling retailer’s board. Woolies announced Mr Corbett’s appointment on Monday, saying he would be a mentor to senior managers as well as advise the board on the company’s performance and ways to improve. (news.com.au)
Local trade press publication, Distrifood, has confirmed that Jumbo has begun trialling home delivery of online orders in Utrecht, after a period of speculation about where it might begin offering such a service. (igd.com)AU: Coles funds state-of-the-art greenhouse at Clyde
A clyde herb farm will receive a $430,000 interest-free loan from the Coles Nurture Fund to build a state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse and invest in sustainable farming methods. (weeklytimesnow.com.au)
Dutch SPAR expanding City format, updating other storesSPAR is set to invest in its City store concept in the Netherlands to expand its presence to 30 stores by 2018, from 20 in November 2015. (igd.com)
Dutch Ekoplaza updates online service
Ekoplaza, a 73 store organic-focused retailer, has rolled out free delivery of online orders in an area around Eindhoven, Uden, Veghel and Veldhoven. (igd.com)
Russia: Third Metro Cash and Carry opens in Rostov
Metro Cash and Carry recently opened their third wholesale store in Rostov-on-Don, in Russia, reports 163gorod.ru. The retail premises covers an area of 9,000 m2 and the investment in the project amounted to €22m, making it one of the most important in the city. The Croatian unit of German retailer Lidl will get a new president of the Board of Directors as of 4 December. Boris Lozić, who is currently a Board member of Lidl in Switzerland with responsibility for sales, will move to Lidl Hrvatska. The current president of the Board of Lidl Hrvatska, Boris Lukšić, who headed the company for over two years, will take over as Board member of Kaufland International, within parent Schwarz Group. (esmmagzine.com)
Grocery industry is growing ever more inclusive
Can online retailers create the perfect ecommerce assortment?