IGA on Thursday announced the launch of an online sales site it described as "on a par with the national chains." The service which will be marketed to shoppers as IGA GO, provides what the company called an e-commerce solution that meets shoppers' need for a convenient online ordering platform for pickup or delivery from local IGA stores. (supermarketnews.com)Spain: Fresh and local boost sales for Eroski
Underlining the importance of local ranges to shoppers, Eroski said that sales of locally sourced fresh ranges rose 10% in H1 in the Basque region and by 12% in Aragon. In the latter case Eroski said that volume sales of locally-sourced dairy products had jumped by 40% due to the launch of new products within the yoghurt and cheese categories, while sales of fruits and vegetables rose by 20%. The expansion of the ‘Contigo’ format in both Aragon and the Basque region helped the growth by enabling stores to put a greater focus on the fresh ranges and the health benefits that the products offer. (igd.com)Costco’s arrival as America’s top organic grocer
Costco sees a big future in selling organic produce – if it can source enough of it. The warehouse giant now ranks number one for organic sales among America's retailers, besting even Whole Foods. With annual sales already topping $4 billion, it anticipates exceeding $10 billion a year by 2020 thanks to the double-digit growth it expects every year until then. “We cannot get enough organics to stay in business day in and day out,” CEO Craig Jelinek told investors at a Costco shareholder meeting. Indeed, organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing segments of American agriculture. (eurofresh-distribution.com) AU: Samsung, Woolworths partner to deliver grocery
Customers of supermarket giant Woolworths are now able to order groceries directly from their compatible refrigerator using a connected appliance developed in collaboration with Samsung. Billed as an Australian-first in “connected appliance innovation”, a 21.5-inch LCD touchscreen which serves as the refrigerator’s digital 
command centre — the Samsung Family Hub — allows groceries to be ordered from Woolworths directly from their fridge via a customised Woolworths App. (itwire.com)EU retailers skirt round sanctions to do business in Crimea
Products for sale in the Crimean stores of two European retailers are being shipped there from Russia via a ferry and port that are subject to EU sanctions, people involved in the 
transportation said, suggesting companies are finding ways around the punitive economic regime facing Moscow since 2014. Products carrying the brands of Germany's Metro AG and Auchan of France are visibly for sale on the shelves of the retailers' Crimean subsidiaries. People involved in transporting the goods say they arrived via a ferry that serves the Crimean port of Kerch. (Reuters)UK: Former Tesco executives to plead not guilty to fraud charges
Three former senior executives of Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, will plead not guilty to fraud and false accounting charges, their lawyers said as the men appeared in court for the first time since being charged earlier this month. Judge Vanessa Baraitser said the trio would face trial at Southwark Crown Court in London and granted them unconditional bail until their next court appearance on Oct. 20. (Reuters)Nigeria: Spar is ‘best supermarket of year 2016’
SPAR, a hypermarket store chain in Nigeria, is the best supermarket in Nigeria. According to the African Quality Institute, organisers of the African Quality Awards, SPAR Nigeria was nominated from a list of other supermarkets operating in the country based on the supermarket’s hypermarket’s quality standards and relentless service in offering Nigerians the best products at the best prices. (thenationonlineng.net) Suppliers remain 'under pressure' as Woolies, Coles cull product range
As the big supermarkets cull their product range to cut costs and better compete with discounter Aldi, suppliers remain under the pump. According to Gary Dawson, CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council "the pressure is just as great now as it has been at any time over the past five years, particularly for suppliers that are third or fourth in a category. The risk of delisting is a huge issue for suppliers." (smh.com.au) 1 in 6 Dutch will order groceries online in 2017
Almost 1.6 million Dutch people already shopped for groceries online at least once and expectations are the 2 million milestone will be reached next year. This means that one in six Dutch people will buy their groceries online in 2017. The total revenue of online supermarkets in the Netherlands is expected to increase by 30 percent. (Ecommerce News)Singapore: Online grocer RedMart may be seeking buyer
As competition increases, Singapore online grocer RedMart is said to be seeking a buyer. Backed by billionaire Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, RedMart is working with an investment bank on options, including a possible sale, say insiders.They say the company has contacted potential buyers, including supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice. (insideretail.asia)US: New Market 32 store dedicated to organic and local produce
The Golub Corporation cut the ribbon on its first “ground up” Market 32 in the State of Connecticut today in Oxford. The retailer said it is dedicated to finding local providers for produce (as much as possible, given growing seasons) for the store and is committed to an expanded assortment of organic produce. Additionally, customers will find an assortment of prepared, ready-to-cook and grab-n-go fruit and vegetables. (eprretailnews.com)SPAR Ireland promotes fresh food for children
Following on from the launch of its Better Choices health and wellbeing initiative in June, SPAR Ireland has now launched SPAR Better Choices Kids, which sees new child specific food portions available in SPAR stores across Ireland. The initiative aims to offer children a new range of healthier options, with the solutions coming from its fresh food, deli and grocery ranges. A special lunch pack has been designed, which, among other things, contains a piece of fruit. (kamcity.com) Philippines: Puregold announces expansion plans
The Philippines’ leading supermarket chain Puregold is strengthening its presence in the Visayas and Mindanao provinces amid steady double-digit growth in sales. Antonio delos Santos, Puregold vice president for operations said that the expansion is in line with the company’s annual 25-store expansions annually and a double-digit growth of between 11-12%. Puregold posted a 13% sales growth last year. (igd.com)
