UAE: Grandiose Supermarket unveils country-wide expansion plans
Grandiose Supermarket has announced a significant expansion plan that is ongoing implementation in the UAE market. With 12 new store openings planned for Q4 2022, the supermarket chain is one of the fastest growing retailers in the UAE, with plans to have a total of 30 outlets by the end of 2022. Much encouraged by market response, Grandiose Supermarket plans to open an additional 15-20 new outlets in 2023, the announcement coinciding with its fifth-year anniversary since its launch in the UAE.
Source: zawya.com
Portugal: Jeronimo Martins' profit up as inflation boosts sales, outlook uncertain
Portugal's second-largest retailer Jeronimo Martins posted a 14% rise in third-quarter net profit, as soaring inflation drove sales higher, and the company warned of an uncertain outlook for prices. Jeronimo Martins netted 157mln euros ($157.97mln) between July and September. Consolidated sales in the third quarter rose 22.7% to 6.5bln euros, driven by the company's market-leading Polish retail chain Biedronka, that posted a sales increase of 21.6% to 4.4bln euros. Annual food inflation in Poland clocked 19% in September.
Source: reuters.com
Kickstart AI: The outcome of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge
Over the past year Ahold Delhaize led three sprint weeks to complete the Food Waste Reduction Challenge as part of Kickstart AI. Kickstart AI aims to build practical Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions that solve real business problems by leveraging the joint AI talent of leading Dutch companies including Ahold Delhaize, ING, KLM, and NS.
Source: aholddelhaize.com
AI helping Japan convenience stores profit from reduced waste
In a bid to increase sales and reduce food waste, more and more of Japan's convenience stores and supermarkets are letting artificial intelligence analyze data such as past sales figures to decide what discounts to apply to perishable products. At about 3 p.m., in a branch of the Lawson convenience store chain in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, an in-store computer decides which food products should be discounted and by how much. A display read "assorted sandwiches, one, 20 yen ($0.13) discount", another: "crispy ham and lettuce sandwiches, three, 30 yen discount".
Source: english.kyodonews.net
Sweden: ICA Gruppen’s interim report for third quarter 2022
ICA Gruppen reported: "Operating profit for the third quarter of 2022 (SEK1,694mln) fell by 6.8% compared with the third quarter of 2021 (SEK1,818mln). ICA Gruppen’s Q3 sales increased by 7.6% to SEK34,533mln (32,094), driven by high inflation. High inflation and rising energy costs are creating major challenges in all areas".
Source: icagruppen.se
Premature end for Mere Belgium
Mere’s Belgian story is over: the Russian discounter has closed its first (and, so far?, only) Belgian store this week. That happened without a prior warning, only a message on Facebook late Sunday evening warned shoppers that the store would not open again on Monday. There is one exception: “small wholesalers” who want to purchase for at least 150 euros can still come to the store’s warehouse.
Source: retaildetail.eu
China: JD.com supports merchants’ growth during Singles’ Day Grand Promotion
JD.com released its support plan for merchants of 267 industrial belts across China at a press conference for the ongoing Singles’ Day Grand Promotion, among other measures to optimize the environment for businesses under the theme of “A More Solid Life” this year. JD Super, JD’s omni-channel supermarket business, also ushered in dozens of measures to reduce fees for setting up a third-party store by up to 80% during the Singles’ Day promotion. Deposits for merchants who are setting up stores of fresh products, fruits and vegetables was reduced from RMB20,000 yuan to RMB5,000 yuan.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Caprabo opens new store in Andorra
Retailer Caprabo has announced that it has opened a new supermarket in the parish of La Massana in Andorra. The move is part of Caprabo's expansion plan. This year, new store openings by the retailer have already exceeded last year's numbers.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Morrisons cafes to give away FREE Heinz jacket spuds to shoppers who say password
Morrisons cafes in Birmingham are giving away free jacket potatoes with baked beans to shoppers from Wednesday, October 26. The supermarket has teamed up with Heinz to provide the warm meals amid the cost of living crisis. The initiative, which will finish at the end of this month, or until stocks last, is said to have been inspired by the 'generous spirit' of Heinz founder Henry J Heinz. Over 160,000 spuds will be available across 397 Morrisons cafes in the UK. Those wanting to take advantage will need to 'ask for Henry' when at a Morrisons cafe. Each person will then be given one jacket potato covered with Heinz Beanz, alongside a salad.
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
Casino's quarterly net sales get boost from France, Latin America
French retailer Casino posted a marginal rise in its quarterly net sales, supported by growth in domestic and Latin American markets against an inflationary backdrop. The group is banking on an expansion of convenience stores located in city centres and its focus on e-commerce, notably home delivery through partnerships with Ocado or Amazon. Casino's third-quarter total consolidated net sales rose 5.4% to 8.55bln euros ($8.62bln) on a same-store basis from a year earlier, driven by its expansion strategy and the gradual return of tourists in Paris.
Source: reuters.com
Israel: Trigo raises $100mln to expand autonomous shopping technology
Israel’s Trigo said it raised $100mln in a private funding round to ramp up deployment for its technology that allows customers to shop without having to wait in line at a store’s checkout. The round was led by Singapore investment firm Temasek and 83North. They were joined by new strategic investor SAP SE, who will also help commercialize Trigo’s solution and existing investors Hetz Ventures, Red Dot Capital Partners, Vertex Ventures, Viola, and supermarket giant REWE Group. It said it would use the new funds to expand further into the United States and Europe, while developing an inventory management application suite.
Source: reuters.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market is opening 2 new stores Friday
Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market is opening two new stores Friday, one in Tucson, Arizona, and the other in Palmdale, California. Sprouts operates about 380 stores in 23 states. In Tucson and Palmdale, the openings will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting, and customers can receive 20% off their purchases throughout opening weekend, the company said.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: Walmart completes distribution center transformation in Texas
Walmart is making headway on its commitment to transform its 42 regional distribution centers into high-tech automation centers. The retailer’s Palestine, Texas, facility has officially come online, and boasts revolutionary new technology with artificial intelligence-powered software systems, robotics and automation to sort, store, retrieve and pack merchandise that is then shipped to stores.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Southeastern Grocers launches new delivery service in Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations
Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is now offering a new online shopping and delivery service to customers in more than 375 Winn-Dixie stores and Harveys Supermarket locations throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Source: businesswire.com