Supermarket groups Ahold and Delhaize have dropped plans to give their chief executives a substantial bonus if shareholders vote in favour of a merger between the two companies at the March 14 AGM. The Dutch market leader said in a statement it ‘did not feel that this element of the remuneration proposal had the same broad base of support that investors and other stakeholders have expressed for the merger overall.’ (dutchnews.nl)German Rewe Group expanding in convenience stores (which sell fruit too)
Following on from a successful trial with Aral last year, Rewe Group in Germany has announced it will be rolling out its Rewe to go stores in Aral gas stations. Aral is the largest petrol station chain in Germany with 2,500 gas stations. The two companies plan to convert 1,000 gas stations into Rewe's convenience format, Rewe to go. There will also be a small selection of fresh meat, fruit and vegetables. Although the products will cost on average a little more than a large supermarket, they will be cheaper than the usual convenience stores. (igd.com)Publix and H-E-B best in customer experience survey
Supermarket chains took 13 out of the top 20 spots in the sixth annual Temkin Experience Ratings, with regional grocers Publix and H-E-B earning the highest overall scores. Other supermarket chains in the top 20 were Save-a-Lot, Kroger, Wegmans, Aldi, Food Lion, Shop Rite, Giant Eagle, Trader Joe’s, Wawa (classified as a supermarket by Temkin), Winn-Dixie and Hy-Vee. (chainstoreage.com) Dairy Farm's net profit slumps 17% to US$424m in 2015
Retail giant Dairy Farm reported that its full-year net profit dropped 17% to US$424 ($585m) in 2015, on back of lower profit margins and adverse exchange rate movements. The group booked US$118.9m in losses from exchange translation differences, compared to US$41.1m last year. (sbr.com.sg) US: Haggen core stores may be sold to Albertsons
The union that represents Haggen employees says that government regulators have given approval to a potential deal where Albertsons would purchase the remaining core Haggen stores, five of which are in Whatcom County. Haggen officials did not have a comment about the union statement. (bellinghamherald.com)Albert Heijn might scale down its non-food range
Several sources report that Albert Heijn, the biggest Dutch supermarket chain plans to address its non-food range firmly. In addition, most apparel, telecom products, books and CDs disappear from the range. Changes should be visible in April or May. Albert Heijn spokesman Anoesjka Aspeslagh said that in the spring of 2016 “some things change in the non-food departments in all stores and on our website to better suit the changing needs of our customers.” (internationalsupermarketnews.com)Canada: Imperial sells stations to 7-Eleven
Imperial Oil Ltd. will sell its remaining gas stations to five Canadian distributors for C$2.8 billion ($2.1 billion) as the oil producer focuses on its main oil-sands and refining businesses. Imperial will sell 497 company-owned Esso retail stations to distributors including 7-Eleven Inc., according to a statement released on Tuesday. Other purchasers include Parkland Fuel Inc. and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., a Laval, Quebec-based convenience store operator. (Bloomberg)
Wales: Co-op to open 12 new storesThe Co-op will open 10 new stores across Wales this year creating up to 350 new jobs.The retailer will invest more than £11m in the new stores and in refurbishing 12 existing stores around the country. (walesonline.co.uk)
AU: Coles catching up with Aldi in private label satisfaction
Aldi is winning hearts and minds across the country, but now Coles is fighting back in this one key area — spelling bad news for Woolworths. Customers are warming to Coles’ private label brands in a way they never have before, according to market research firm Canstar. German discount chain Aldi has traditionally topped customer satisfaction ratings in everything from overall supermarket to prepaid mobile provider. But in the last 12 months, Coles’ ratings have improved markedly, with the supermarket now having the top-rated product in long-life milk, toilet paper and dishwasher detergents. Canstar says before August 2015, Coles hadn’t won a single customer satisfaction category — now it holds three. (news.com.au) French Casino pushed to loss by Brazil
Groupe Casino SA, the French retailer in the crosshairs of short seller Carson Block, swung to a net loss for 2015, hurt by a slowdown in Brazil. The group reported a net loss of €43 million ($47.19 million) in 2015 having made a profit of €253 million a year earlier, hit by a sharp decline in its Latin American nonfood retail business. Casino said its earnings before interest and taxes last year dropped to €1.45 billion from €2.23 billion the year before. Analysts polled by the company had forecast €1.43 billion. (morningstar.com)US: Kroger's Fry's foods division announces $260 million expansion
In an effort that will build its footprint in Arizona’s retail market, Kroger subsidiary Fry’s Food Stores will be investing $260 million and building seven new locations. (andnowuknow.com)Bidding for Israel's Mega postponed again
Bidding deferred minutes after discount supermarket mogul Rami Levy placed bid offering to buy entire chain, rather than just a portion of Mega’s retail locations. (haaretz.com)Tesco appoints Tracey Clements as One Stop CEO
Tesco has announced the appointment of Tracey Clements as managing director for convenience and chief executive of One Stop. The role will see her develop Tesco’s convenience offer through its network of Metro, Express and One Stop convenience stores across the UK. (talkingretail.com)French Système U records 2.3% sales growth for 2015
Independent French retailer Système U has reported sales growth of 2.3 per cent to €18.93 billion in 2015 (or €23.4 billion when fuel sales are included), according to Lsa-Conso.fr. The banner’s market share also rose by 10bps to 10.4 per cent in 2015, although the group lost nine franchisees to its competitors. However, Système U says it intends to maintain its ongoing expansion plan, aiming to raise the number of supermarkets under its banner from 735 to 1,000 over the next three years. (esmmagazine.com)
