Food and grocery wholesaler Metcash has appointed former British supermarket giant Tesco executive Jeff Adams as its next CEO. Mr Adams will step in to the four-year role in December, succeeding Ian Morrice who in June announced his intention to retire after five years as chief executive, Metcash said on Tuesday. Mr Adams has held a number of senior positions over his 20 years with the UK retailer including as chief executive of Tesco Kipa in Turkey, CEO of Tesco Lotus in Thailand, and director of operations of Tesco Express in the UK. (smh.com.au) Sainsbury's Fairtrade banana in danger
MPs have piled pressure onto Sainsbury’s to continue to back the 25-year-old Fairtrade campaign, after the grocer’s own “Fairly Traded” initiative threatens its future. Forty MPs across both parties, alongside shareholders and an 85,000-signature petition have urged the UK’s second largest grocer to stick with Fairtrade. Sainsbury’s new Fairly Traded scheme on its tea has been accused of undermining Fairtrade, and there are fears that the ethical label will extend to bananas and coffee in the future. (retailgazette.co.uk)Asda now committing to clear promotional pricing: CMA
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has welcomed steps taken by Asda to make its promotions clearer for customers, a year on from the authority conducting an investigation into misleading price promotional strategies at leading supermarket groups. (esmmagazine.com) Sweden: Coop grocery chain ‘misled’ consumers about organic
The makers of the viral 2015 “Organic Effect” video, which claimed that switching to an all organic diet can eliminate pesticides from the body, are no longer allowed to promote the video or its claims, ruled the Swedish Patent and Market Court. The chain is no longer allowed to use the video. (geneticliteracyproject.org) Lidl UK to open 60 stores a year
In an interview with The Telegraph, Lidl’s UK chief executive Christian Härtnagel explained that the plans to double its rate of growth is the fastest ever in the UK. Last year, the retailer opened 30 new stores. Härtnagel plans to invest at least £1.45bn by 2019 into the openings. (campaignlive.co.uk) UK: Marks & Spencer shares drop after Q1 sales decline
Marks & Spencer Group plc’s first quarter sales fell, weighed down by its troubled clothing division, a competitive market and weak consumer spending. UK sales dipped 0.5% on a like-for-like basis in the 13 weeks to 1 July, driven by a 1.2% decline in the clothing and home business. Like for-like food sales edged down 0.1%. Shares in M&S dropped 1.27% to 334.70p in early trading. (proactiveinvestors.co.uk)Sainsbury's strawberry sales boosted by Wimbledon
UK retailer Sainsbury’s has said that it expects an increase in sales of strawberries during the British strawberry season (April to October), with sales peaking during the current Wimbledon tennis tournament, when the retailer expects strawberry sales to go up by 700%. Sainsbury’s says that strawberries are usually its best-selling product during the summer months, outselling all other products, including milk and bread. (esmmagazine.com) Spar Cyprus to launch first stores in 2018
Spar International has announced that it is partnering with Cypriot retailer Ermes Group to introduce the Spar brand across Cyprus next year. Spar Cyprus will focus on opening company owned food retail outlets, but it is also seeking to partner with independent retailers. The first Spar stores to open in Cyprus are planned for the start of 2018, with a target of opening more than 20 supermarkets over the next five years. (esmmagazine.com) CEO of 7-Eleven Malaysia resigns
Malaysia's largest convenience store operator, 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings (SEM), said its chief executive Gary Brown has resigned for personal reasons. The company has appointed Ho Meng as acting CEO with effect from 1 August. Hishammudin Hasan will support Ho as deputy CEO. (igd.com)HelloFresh UK appoints new CEO
Recipe kit delivery service HelloFresh has appointed Claire Davenport as CEO for its UK business, effective immediately. Davenport joins the company from VoucherCodes.co.uk where she was General Manager. Previous roles include Chief Commercial Officer at global online games company Bigpoint GmbH, Chief of Staff at Skype and Executive Vice President of Strategy at broadcasting and production company, RTL Group. (kamcity.com) Spar opens three new outlets in SpainSpar Spain has opened three new supermarkets in Tenerife, Canyelles and Almendralejo. The stores were opened in June by Spar’s regional partners Agrucan, Fragadis and Lider Aliment. (esmmagazine.com)
Russia: X5 opens two new DC's
X5 Retail Group announces the launch of two new state-of-the-art distribution centres ("DCs") in "Yekaterinburg" and "Kosulino". The new DCs will help boost the efficiency of X5's logistics operations, encourage more local sourcing and provide the best available prices to customers in the Ural, Volga and Siberian Federal Districts. (lse.co.uk)US: Aldi opens 100th store in Texas
Aldi, which dipped a toe into Texas for the first time in 2010, now has a whole boot in, opening its 100th unit in the Lone Star state last week. The store in Fulshear, near Houston, is one of 14 new Aldi locations scheduled to open in Texas this year, Karla Waddleton (left), vice president of Aldi’s Rosenberg Division, told Supermarket News. (supermarketnews.com) US: Shotput aims to reduce food deserts
Shotput, an Oakland, California-based grocery startup, hopes to leverage supply chain technology to bring healthy food to people who need it throughout the city. Mathur, who ran a logistics and supply chain company, has formed partnerships with meal delivery platforms including UberEATS, Postmares and Caviar to deliver convenient-store type perishable groceries to people. According to the release, the service has grown 30% week-over-week. Starting next month, Shotput plans to set up pick-up points at convenient locations, such as train stations or parting lots, for customers to get their groceries during their commutes. The final step in the plan is to set up automated grocery stores in areas like office parks and parking lots. (fooddive.com) US: AmazonFresh to open new grocery logistics operation
Amazon seems to have gotten the hint from analysts’ warnings that the e-commerce giant will need to bolster its fresh food distribution resources. In a new report from Realty News Report, the cource revealed AmazonFresh has selected Fallbrook Pines Business Park in northwest Houston as the site for the new facility. The source notes the new building will likely enforce Amazon’s fresh food delivery capabilities throughout the city. (delimarketnews.com) Whole Foods stalls Midwestern 365 expansion
Whole Foods Market has stalled the Midwest expansion of its 365 by Whole Foods Market smaller-format stores despite opening or proposing new stores under the banner elsewhere in the nation, the Chicago Tribune reported. Please, click here to read more. US: Utah grocers featuring in-store and outdoor farmers markets
Five Utah grocery chains are making it easier for shoppers to get the freshest fruits and vegetables this season. Macey’s, Lin’s, Dan’s, Dick’s Market and Fresh Market are bringing back the Eat Fresh, Eat Local in-store and outdoor farmers markets, which feature a variety of Utah-grown produce. The farmers markets run through the first week of September. (theshelbyreport) 
