Kroger’s first quarter sales increased by 4.7% to $34.6bn, with identical store sales, ex-fuel, up 2.4.%. This was the 50th consecutive quarter of positive identical sales growth for the retailer, highlighting the remarkable level of consistency which it is achieving. Net earnings over the same period increased by 9.9% to $680m. The retailer also noted that excluding pharmacy, the quarter was slightly deflationary, driven primarily by commodity pricing in fresh foods. Overall, volumes remained positive. Kroger continues to expand its digital presence, with its grocery e-commerce pick-up service, ClickList, now available in 25 markets. (BBC)Amazon to deliver fruit within 60 minutes in Paris
Following the introduction of a super-fast delivery service in the US, Britain and Italy, the global e-commerce giant Amazon is introducing a similar service in France tomorrow. The new service, baptized Prime Now, promises to deliver orders to people in Paris and its surrounds within an hour. Apart from other non-food, the French service will be available on 4000 food products including 85 types of fruit and vegetables. (en.rfi.fr)The UK's first vegetable butcher has just opened at Sainsbury’s
The UK's first vegetable butcher has just opened at Sainsbury’s. Today Amber, also famously known for her vegetable art, unveiled the UK’s first Vegetable Butcher at Sainsbury’s Wandsworth superstore. Her passion for vegetables is a perfect match with the supermarket giant, which was inspired by the rise in nose to tail eating and the expert knife skills found in traditional butchers. (standard.co.uk)Spain: Carrefour to buy 36 Eroski hypermarkets
Carrefour is reportedly negotiating the purchase of 36 Eroski's supermarkets in Spain, a deal said to be worth in the region of €205m. According to Laverdad.es, the first phase of the purchasing was approved by the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC). (esmmagazine)UK: Convenience store openings up by 20%
The total number of convenience stores in the UK rose by more than a fifth in the five years to the end of 2015 as fewer people do big weekly shops. There were 16,426 convenience stores at the end of last year, a rise of 21%, according to figures from the Local Data Company (LDC). The fastest rate of openings was among the "big four" supermarkets. In each of the years from 2011 to 2015, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrison's and Asda opened convenience stores at a far faster rate than they did larger store formats. (BBC)UK: Tesco to sell Garden-Center chain
Tesco Plc agreed to sell its Dobbies Garden Centres chain for 217 million pounds ($309 million) as the U.K.’s biggest retailer continues to sell peripheral assets to focus on reviving its main supermarket business. (esmmagazine.com)US: Publix partners with Produce for Kids
The healthy eating-focused Produce for Kids® campaign with Publix Super Markets launches June 2 and will raise funds for local Feeding America member food banks and offer Publix shoppers healthy meal solutions, recipes and tips. The campaign is supported by 13 participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, representing nearly every major category of fresh produce. India: BigBasket rolls out specialty food vertical
Online grocer BigBasket is launching a new business vertical specialty foods. The e-commerce company has been running a pilot for this line of business in Bengaluru even as it plans to take it to other major metro cities. Aimed to shore up revenues, the new vertical will offer about 20-25% margin compared to thinner margins in the grocery business, a company executive claimed. (thehansindia.com)IGD: UK food and grocery forecast to grow by 10% over next five years
The UK food and grocery market is forecast to grow by 10% between now and 2021, giving it a value of £197bn, according to the latest forecasts from IGD. IGD is predicting a stabilisation of sales at larger stores over the next five years, following a challenging few years for the channel. However, online will remain the fastest-growing format, followed by the discounters:- Hypermarkets and supermarkets are set to see a stabilisation in sales by 2021, as large stores evolve to reflect the changing needs of shoppers(see notes to editor)
- Online is forecast to grow by 68% over the next five years
- By 2021, discounters will be worth £24.9bn, although growth will be more measured than previously
- Convenience will remain the third fastest-growing sector, yet will also see a slowdown in expansion
Source: IGD/retailtimes.co.uk
UK: Poundland profits suffer
Poundland, being stalked by potential bidder Steinhoff, saw profits fall amid weak trading and the "strain" of integrating former rival 99p Stores. Poundland, being stalked by potential bidder Steinhoff, saw profits fall amid weak trading and the "strain" of integrating former rival 99p Stores. Poundland said in its statement that the 99p-chain purchase "naturally placed a strain on the core business". (BBC)S.Korea's E-Land signs accord to sell hypermarket chain to KKR
South Korean retail group E-Land said on Wednesday it signed a binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to sell hypermarket chain Kim's Club to U.S. private equity fund KKR & Co LP without disclosing the price of the deal. E-Land said in a statement that it expects to reach a final sales agreement with KKR in about a month. (Reuters)Kroger: Roundy's integration 'on plan' but remodels running late
The integration of Roundy’s is tracking “on plan,” though it’s taking a little longer than expected to get the remodeling process underway, W. Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO of Kroger Co., told investors Thursday. “The synergies continued to come in a little bit better than what we were expecting, and we’ll continue to invest those synergies into driving our business,” he said. (supermarketnews.com)
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