The number of FamilyMart convenience stores in Thailand will double to over 2,000 within five years as the operator seeks to narrow the gap with industry leader 7-Eleven. The chain aims to draw more customers by providing unique products and services, said Chiranun Poopat, president of Central FamilyMart, which is owned 51% by companies such as Thai retail giant Central Group and 49% by Japan's FamilyMart Uny Holdings. (asia.nikkei.com) Tesco enjoys fastest growth in three years as Aldi and Lidl slow
Britain's biggest supermarket Tesco saw sales grow at their fastest rate in three years in its most recent trading period, industry data showed on Tuesday, consolidating its return to market share growth and sending its shares higher. Market researcher Kantar Worldpanel said Tesco's sales grew by 2.2% year-on-year in the 12 weeks to Nov. 6, boosting its share of Britain's grocery market to 28.2% from 27.9% this time last year. Conversely the discounters Aldi and Lidl are now growing at their slowest rate since 2011, at up 10.2% and up 6.1% respectively, Kantar said. (Reuters)US: Kroger testing new strategies at Fred Meyer
Kroger Co. is testing a new go-to-market strategy at select Fred Meyer stores in Spokane, Wash., and Coure d'Alene, Idaho, including a greater emphasis on food, and the introduction this month of a new rewards loyalty program called "My Freddy's." Known internally as the "Spokane Project," the changes include the addition of more than 1,000 new grocery items, expanded natural and organic foods and new store layouts. (supermarketnews.com)Mercadona's Juan Roig and wife named as Spain's second-richest
A study by Forbes has named Mercadona's president Juan Roig and his wife Hortensia Herrero as the second-richest in Spain, with a fortune of €8bn. Amancio Ortega, owner of the Inditex empire, tops the list. As reported by granconsumo.tv, the ranking includes several names from the Spanish retail and FMCG industries. (esmmagazine.com)Ahold Delhaize announces buy-back of floating rate notes
Retailer Ahold Delhaize has announced the buy back and cancellation of around ¥33bn worth of floating rate notes, due May 2031, dubbed the ‘JPY Notes’. An associated Yen-Euro currency swap will be unwound as part of the transaction. Together, the JPY Notes and the swap effectively represent a synthetic €299m long-term liability at an annual interest rate of 7.065%. The company said that it has agreed to buy back the JPY Notes at a purchase price of 108.1% for settlement on November 15, 2016. Cancellation of the JPY Notes will take place on the same day. (esmmagazine.com)AU Amazon to launch supermarkets which offer fresh-only
One of the world's biggest retailers, Amazon, is on track to launch bricks and mortar grocery stores and an online supermarket in Australia within two years. Amazon's stores would be smaller than a Woolworths or Coles, and similar in size to an Aldi store. It would stock only the items people like to inspect before purchasing, namely fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy and alcohol. (gizmodo.com.au) Fruit supplier to Coles and Woolworths using illegal foreign workers
An undercover investigation has exposed the exploitation of illegal migrant workers on farms supplying Coles and Woolworths, as a Federal Government adviser called for reforms to stop the "systemic" abuse of foreign labour. A joint 7.30 and Fairfax Media investigation infiltrated the underworld of illegal workers and labour hire syndicates operating in northern Victoria and southern NSW. Dozens of illegal labourers on the farms said they were being underpaid by about $9 an hour to pick and package fresh produce that ends up being sold by Australia's big supermarkets. Please, click here to read more at abc.net.au. Israeli supermarket chain Shufersal Q3 profit, revenue up
Shufersal, Israel's largest supermarket chain, said on Tuesday that net profit and revenue were up in the third quarter, boosted by strong online sales and continued promotion of its private label products. The company posted a net profit of 51m shekels ($13m), up from 47m shekels a year earlier. Revenue rose to 3.1bn shekels from 3bn shekels. Same store sales in the quarter rose 3.3%. (Reuters)US: Fresh Thyme’s private label expands rapidly
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, whose motto is “May the farm be with you,” has rapidly grown its private label line-up from zero to nearly 900 SKUs in just two years, Robin VanDenabeele, director of private label for the Phoenix-based chain told attendees of a panel session about America’s changing eating habits at PLMA’s 2016 Private Label Trade Show Sunday. Please, click here to read more at supermarketnews.com. India: Bigbasket plans second funding round
Indian online grocer Bigbasket, which raised $150m in March, plans to approach investors again early next year. Bigbasket, which has broken even in the Bengaluru market, will use the cash from its next round to develop its private-label brands, insiders say. Improving its private-label offering could help the grocer break even in tier-one cities. (insideretail.asia)US: Walmart brings mobile check-in to grocery ecommerce
Following an initial roll-out at Sam’s Club, Walmart has introduced mobile check-in to its grocery ecommerce service in the US. Walmart’s mobile check-in service enables customers of the retailer’s grocery ecommerce service to notify stores when they are about to arrive and collect their order. This enables store teams to assemble the order, bringing the fresh, ambient and frozen items together having already picked them earlier in the day. (igd.com)UK: Nisa to supply 298 stores acquired by McColl’s
Business owned co-operative Nisa has announced it would be supplying 298 convenience stores acquired by McColl’s Retail Group. The deal is pending approval from the Competition and Markets Authority. Earlier this year, McColl’s Retail Group acquired a portfolio of 298 convenience stores from the Co-op Group. Providing it receives clearance from CMA, Nisa will start supplying the first of the new stores in January 2917. The entire new store portfolio is expected to be transitioned by June 2017. (Co-operative News)Future Group to tie up with Booker Group for cash and carry stores in India
The Future Group, India's largest retailer, is partnering British wholesaler Booker Group to open cash and carry stores, in a move that will bring it into direct competition with the likes of Walmart India and Metro Cash & Carry. The equal joint venture between Future Consumer (FCL) and UK’s largest wholesaler, plans to open 60-70 stores in three years to sell merchandise to local kirana stores, hotels and catering firms. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)