Living in poor neighborhoods has been linked to increased heart risk, and a new U.S. study suggests the lack of access to fresh, healthy foods may be to blame. “Previous studies have found relationships between neighborhood characteristics and cardiovascular disease,” said lead author Jeffrey Wing of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Finding that the density of healthy food stores was the only factor among those tested that was consistently related to slowing the progression of coronary calcium build-up was interesting in that we didn’t see the same relation with other neighborhood features,” like recreation centers, Wing told Reuters Health by email. The researchers analyzed data from a large multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis, in which 6,000 adults had CT scans for coronary artery calcium at the start, and at least once more after a 12-year follow-up period. (Reuters)H-E-B buys six sites in North Texas
The San Antonio-based chain announced Monday that it has acquired six “properties in the North Texas region” from Sun Fresh Markets “to add to its real estate investment portfolio,” the company said in a news release. H-E-B is still “evaluating the feasibility of each site” and “Central Market continues to be the primary format” for North Texas, the news release said. Sun Fresh Markets is closing the six stores. (star-telegram.com) Sklavenitis: 2015 results & Marinopoulos rescue deal
Greek retailer Sklavenitis has revealed double digit sales growth in 2015. Sklavenitis said that its 2015 turnover increased by 40.8% to €1.744bn, partly due to its acquisition of Mart Cash & Carry (formerly Makro Cash & Carry). Profit after tax also increased by 164.4% to €25.63m. Separately, there have been local reports that Sklavenitis is in negotiations with banks regarding a rescue deal for Marinopoulos. (igd.com)Target's big problem: getting customers to buy fresh food
Target has a big problem: customers aren't visiting their stores often enough to buy the discount retailer's fresh meat, fruits and vegetables before they spoil. The Wall Street Journal says Target's perishable foods have been a drag on the company's profits. The retailer reports earnings on Wednesday, and has warned overall sales at stores could decline 2% in the last quarter. According to the Journal, since he took over in 2014, Target CEO Brian Cornell has made several efforts to revamp the grocery business, which accounts for a fifth of Target’s revenue. The company changed leadership, added more organic and gluten-free items and invested in store design. Despite the changes, Target has been struggling. (wcvb.com) Why nobody does their grocery shopping at Target
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US: The Fresh Market signs supply deal with Supervalu
Supervalu and The Fresh Market have reached a long term supply agreement for Supervalu to serve as a grocery 
wholesaler and distributor to The Fresh Market. Under the leadership of recently appointed President and CEO, Mark Gross, Supervalu has placed an increased focus on building its wholesale business. This comes as the retailer continues with its plans to spin-off its Save-A-Lot hard discount operation into a separate company, which could include its divestment. The focus on wholesaling takes Supervalu back to its roots prior to its acquisition of Albertsons (since divested) in 2006. Last month the company announced that it was expanding its wholesale business through the acquisition of 22 Food Lion stores and had entered into a long-term supply agreement with Marsh Supermarkets which operates 70 stores. As part of the agreement, Supervalu will supply The Fresh Market with traditional and signature grocery products across a range of categories. (igd.com)Big C Thailand like-for-like declines in H1
Big C Thailand has reported a revenue decline in H1 caused by decrease in retail sales of 1.3%. Like-for-like growth was a negative 2.9% and 4.0% in Q1 and Q2 respectively. The target for 2016 was to open 6 hypermarkets, 3 Big C Market, c.75 Mini Big C, including franchise stores. (igd.com)Walmart expected to report decent earnings on flat revenue
Despite a hit and miss retail environment, Wall Street analysts expect Walmart Stores will have a decent quarter fuelled in part by strong grocery sales. The consensus estimate is for net income to top $3.2bn in the second quarter, just short of the $3.475bn reported a year ago. (ualrpublicradio.org)Metro India outlines growth strategy
CEO of Metro India said although there is a new strategic plan for the next five years, the numbers outlined in 2015: to invest INR4bn (around USD60m) and open 50 stores by 2020. The new plan will concentrate on maximising value, gaining a greater share of traders' spend and encouraging them to visit Metro more often. As well as opening new stores, Metro wants to get more out of its existing outlets. It is concentrating on six to seven big states. Furthermore, Metro is piloting online in Jaipur; traders can get delivery, typically, within 24 hours. (igd.com)
US: Coborn’s unveils ‘Next Generation’ supermarket
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Lidl plans "big data" offensive to determine product range
The discount chain is currently investing millions into new IT systems to systematically analyze consumer behaviour, according to our German Lebensmittel Zeitung colleagues. Lidl confirmed the news to the paper, stating a modern and flexible "business intelligence" system will play an ever increasingly decisive role whether retailers are successful. The goal is to optimize its product range, its pricing, its customer communication and its discounts in order to gain a competitive edge. (retaildetail.eu) Circle K Hong Kong remains resilient in tough retail environment
Convenience Retail Asia, operator of Circle K in Hong Kong has reported a 4.7% growth in H1 despite tough market conditions. Like-for-like sales rose 5.2% over the same time last year. (igd.com)UK: Aldi 18% cheaper than nearest rival
The German discount chain has been included in trade mag The Grocer’s weekly pricing survey of 33 items as a guest retailer, and it beat its nearest supermarket rival by almost 18%. The £39.03 paid at the Aldi checkout was a staggering £25 lower than for the same basket of goods at upmarket Waitrose. (mirror.co.uk) Aldi - £39.03- Asda - £47.55
- Morrisons - £49.22
- Tesco - £51.29
- Sainsbury's - £52.98
- Waitrose - £64.40
In an effort to stay ahead of national and local competitors in convenient shopping services, Martin's Super Markets has launched Groceries to Go — an online grocery shopping and pickup service. McClellan says it's been about a two-year process to roll it out. The company fully committed in January of this year to creating the service. (southbendtribune.com)Philippines: Rustan's appoints new CEO
Rustan Supercenters, a member of Dairy Farm International in the Philippines, has appointed Irwin Lee as its new CEO. The former managing director of P&G's business in the UK, Ireland and then Northern Europe, has been announced as the new CEO of Rustan Supercenters in his native Philippines. Irwin Lee will bring 30 years of experience of working for P&G to the role, from which he stepped down from last year. (igd.com)