Nielsen has released UK supermarket sales data for the four weeks to 16 July, which indicate that the value of sales was down 2.4% compared to the same period a year ago - the worst four-week performance since July 2014. The week ending 2 July was the worst performing in the period, posting a 5.5% decline in the value of sales since last year, Nielsen said. In terms of market share performance, all the Big Four supermarket groups saw a decline in value sales compared to last year, in the 12 week period to 16 July. Tesco, which holds 27.8% market share, saw its sales down 1.0%, while there were also falls in sales for Sainsbury (-1.5%), Asda (-5.7%) and Morrisons (-2.0%). (esmmagazine.com)'Ugly' fresh produce gets hipper for grocers, but there's one problem — supply
It might be hip for supermarkets such as Walmart to embrace the sale of so-called ugly produce as a way to reduce food waste, but whether it makes practical or economic sense to launch regular offerings of odd-looking or funny-shaped fruits and vegetables may be something different.Walmart started selling branded and bagged apples at a discount earlier this week to consumers in about 300 of its Florida stores under the "I'm Perfect" label, but even smaller chains have found it difficult to get a steady stream of ugly fruits and veggies to continue such programs. The retailer may get a shipment of imperfect produce one week but then have to wait weeks or months until the next harvest brings more, thus making it difficult to keep stores regularly stocked with this cheaper-priced produce.
"Selling cosmetically imperfect produce is relatively rare right now," said Dana Gunders, a senior scientist in the food and agriculture program at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Whole Foods has a pilot program, and there was a California chain, Raley's, that tried it for a little while but discontinued it." Please, click here to continue reading.
German Edeka opts for environmentally friendly packagingGerman Edeka Group is going to make the packaging of private label products of Edeka and Netto Marken more environmentally friendly. The retailer is supported by the WWF. The new rating system for packaging has been developed by the WWF. The retailer aims to use as little as possible packaging material and focusses on material that can be recycled.
Bosnia abolishes national product quota in supermarkets
The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has prepared amendments to its Law on Internal Trade, deleting the provision that obliges retailers to source at least 50% of food products on shelves from domestic manufacturers. In the opinion of the European Commission, the provision of Article 13 of the Law undermines the consistent application of the principle of free trade under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. In addition it creates obstacles in the negotiations of Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the WTO. (esmmagazine.com) Les Mousquetaires to open 63 new hypermarkets in Portugal
French retail group Les Mousquetaires is planning to open 63 new stores in Portugal by 2020. Operating as Os Mosqueteiros in Portugal, the retailer currently has 306 stores in three formats (Intermarché, Bricomarché and Roady), operated in partnership with 220 local entrepreneurs. Of this number, 241 are Intermarché hypermarkets. By 2020, the brand will invest €200 million for the opening of 63 new hypermarkets and 90 petrol forecourts. The aim of this investment is to reach a 13.5% market share in the retail segment, up from the current 9.9% (Nielsen data). (esmmagazine.com) Key role for greengrocers in Bulgaria’s retail market
Bulgaria’s retail market is seeing an emerging wave of small specialised stores for fruit and vegetables. Along with those for dairy and meat products, these stores focus on consumer convenience and the need for fresh, local, and organic food of high quality – something which so far has not been the strongpoint of the country’s modern retailers. (eurofresh-distribution.com) Malaysia: 7-Eleven Malaysia takes on “lifestyle store” concept
7-Eleven Malaysia has launched its 2000 store in Malaysia with a revamped and modern convenience store format. This will be rolled out across Malaysia via a programme of store refurbishments and new stores since late 2013. The retailer's CEO said that the store’s latest product and service innovations sets it apart from other convenience stores in Malaysia “with a strong emphasis on best in class fresh food and beverage such as our well-received RM2 Fresh to Go hot beverages.” (igd.com)Finnish S Group: Online update
In 2015, S Group achieved online food sales of €15.5m. The retailer has been developing its food online capability since 2010, while more recently the focus has been on serving the areas of Jyväskylä, Oulu, Tampere, Kokkola, Lahti and Turku. Online order fulfilment methods that have been trialled include click and collect, home delivery. S Group's online shoppers over-index on organic products, particularly meat, vegetables and eggs. To run a successful online business, customers want reassurance that products have as long a shelf life as possible and may have specific requirements on certain products, e.g.‘choose green bananas’. (igd.com)UK: IGD identifies opportunities in food to go sector
Research carried out by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) shows that the food-to-go market in the UK offers significant opportunities for growth. The IGD is anticipating the market to be worth £16.1bn in 2016 - an increase of 6.8 % in the last year.“There are some clear development opportunities for food-to-go in the UK, driven by the growth of little and often shopping, the rise in popularity of street food and coffee culture, and shoppers’ increasingly flexible lifestyles”, IGD CEO Joanne Denney-Finch said. (esmmagazine.com)