Online grocery is failing, except for Amazon -
The TABS Analytics Fourth Annual Food and Beverage Study found, once again, that online grocery shopping continues to be weak, with just 4.5% of consumers regularly purchasing food and beverages online, compared to 78 percent of consumers regularly purchasing food and beverages from brick and mortar grocery outlets. Although regular online grocery purchasing has increased by half a percentage point since the 2015 study (from 3.9% in 2015 to 4.5% in 2016), it has yet to break five percent in the four years TABS has conducted this study. Amazon was the one bright spot in online grocery shopping, with the ecommerce giant realising a two percent increase in shopper penetration from 14% in 2015 to 16% in 2016, the TABS study found. (undercurrentnews.com)Sources: 'Lild to open 150 stores in US in 2018'
A new wave of European grocery stores is about to invade the US. The German supermarket chain Lidl is gearing up to open stores in dozens of cities along the East Coast, spanning from New Jersey to Georgia, the company told Business Insider. Lidl wouldn't reveal how many stores it's planning to open, but sources told the commercial real-estate firm CoStar that the company will open as many as 150 US stores by 2018. The company currently has 10,000 stores in 26 European countries. Please, click here to read more in uk.businessinsider.com. ex-CEO Aldi: expand product range and drop prices to fight Aldi/Lidl
A former Aldi executive says supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles need to prune their huge product range and services such as delicatessens to battle Aldi's cheaper but utilitarian offer. Paul Foley, who spent 23 years at Aldi and helped the German discount supermarket set up in Australia, said: "What I think the incumbents have to do is market the choice that they're offering, and they have to be first to market with new concepts." (smh.com.au) 
Spanish co-op group Unide has opened three new Udaco stores in Benidorm, La Cala and Arenzana de Abajo. The three shops feature fruit and vegetables sections as well as a large offering of own-brand Unide products. Unide has now opened 50 shops in 2016. (esmmagazine.com)US: Sobeys eyeing discount option for struggling stores
Sobeys is pondering a rollout of a discount format in Western Canada, as sales challenges at acquired Safeway stores there persisted in the first quarter, officials said late Thursday. Francios Vimard, the interim CEO who replaced Marc Poulin at the head of the Stellarton, Nova Scotia, company in July, said Sobeys posted positive same-store sales outside of Western Canada, but that overall sales and tonnage was down as Canadians sought more value. (supermarketnews.com) India: Future Group in talks to buy Heritage Foods’ retail division
Future Group is in advanced talks to acquire the retail business of Heritage FoodsBSE 11.67 %, a deal that would give Kishore Biyani sway over a network of more than 100 grocery outlets in Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru, according to people aware of the development. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) Bingo set to become market leader in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local company Bingo is set to become the largest food retailer in Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of revenue, surpassing Croatia’s Konzum. Tuzla-based Bingo had total revenues of BAM 803.43m (€410.78m) in 2015, compared to Konzum’s BAM 849.96m (€434.57m). However, Bingo’s revenues grew by 42%, while Konzum achieved a growth of 22%, based on market analysis conducted by LRC, reports local portal BiznisInfo. If such a growth trend were to continue, Bingo would surpass Konzum in 2016. (esmmagazine.com)German organic supermarket nominated for 'Most Sustainable Company' honour
German organic supermarket chain Alnatura has been nominated for the ‘Germany’s Most Sustainable Company’ award, for the fourth time. Alnatura operates 106 organic’s supermarkets in 50 cities - across 11 provinces - in Germany. The company currently employs 2,630 people (esmmagazine.com)US: H-E-B rolls out 'free-from' private label line
Alnatura operates 106 organic’s supermarkets in 50 cities - across 11 provinces - in Germany. The company currently employs 2,630 people, including 180 trainees. H-E-B is rolling out a new private label line that excludes more than 200 synthetic ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors. H-E-B Select Ingredients products include nuts. (supermarketnews.com)Living near an Aldi adds £5,000 to your house value
Living near an Aldi adds £5,000 to house value, The Sun reports. According to a new research, the ‘Aldi effect’ has boosted property values in nearly every location where the low-cost brand has opened a new shop – including in the exclusive Chipping Norton, previously home to former Prime Minister David Cameron, which saw prices surge by a colossal 133%. (thesun.co.uk) 
IGD CEO calls for investment in people and skillsPlease, click here to read the article.
