US: Three attorneys general file lawsuit seeking to block Albertsons' $4bln payout
The attorneys general of Washington D.C., California and Illinois filed a lawsuit in a federal court seeking to block grocer Albertsons' $4bln dividend payout to shareholders before the closing of its proposed merger with rival Kroger Co.
Source: reuters.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market expands on-demand delivery through partnership with DoorDash
Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, is now available on the DoorDash marketplace in select cities, for on-demand grocery delivery. More than 20,000 products from Sprouts are available for delivery on the DoorDash marketplace, including organic groceries, local farm-fresh produce, keto friendly, gluten-free, vegan, and plant-based items.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Majors Management announces acquisition of six convenience stores from Bay Shores Oil in Baldwin County, Alabama
Majors Management, LLC, and its affiliates ("Majors"), a growing leader in the convenience store industry, announced it has acquired 6 convenience stores from Bay Shores Oil, Inc. ("Bay Shores"). The sites, located in Baldwin County, Alabama, are in the 7th fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States. This acquisition further expands Majors' footprint in Alabama.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: SpartanNash announces preliminary Q3 results
Food solutions company SpartanNash has provided preliminary results for the 12-week third quarter ended October 8. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company said it expects certain results for the third quarter will include the following: Net sales of $2.28 to $2.31bln, compared to $2.07bln in the prior year quarter. Net earnings of $8.9 to $9.9mln, compared to $15.2mln in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA of $56.3 to $58.3mln, compared to $51.5mln in the prior year quarter.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Carrefour Romania emerges second at group level for non-financial initiatives
Carrefour Romania has achieved the second-best score of 121% at the group level for its non-financial performance in 2021. Carrefour France topped the list at 125%. During the year, responsibility actions undertaken by Carrefour Romania led to a 33% increase compared to its previous year's score.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia: Woolies flags potato chips, frozen food shortages over summer
Supermarket giant Woolworths has warned there could be a supply squeeze for some frozen foods and potato crisps this summer. Woolworths Group chief executive Brad Banducci said wet weather had been a major problem. “The big issue right now … is in frozen vegetables”, he told reporters. “In particular, corn and potatoes, with the very poor growing season that we’ve had in Tasmania”. Woolworths Group’s revenue has hit $16.36bln, with total group sales up 1.8% in the first quarter of the financial year compared to a year ago.
Source: news.com.au
Belgium: Eataly’s arrival in Brussels draws closer
The opening of an Eataly branch in the centre of Brussels is getting closer: the redevelopment project where the Italian deli supermarket is to be located has been given the green light.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Sainsbury's to recruit 18,000 Christmas workers
Sainsbury's has announced it is looking to recruit 18,000 temporary workers to support the supermarket through the festive season. The company said it was hiring workers for 15,000 roles at Sainsbury's, 2,000 at Argos and 1,000 in its logistics division which runs its warehouses. Sainsbury's said new recruits would be paid £10.25 an hour, with London-based staff getting £11.30.
Source: bbc.com
Britain's Sainsbury's well-placed for Christmas as trading holds upSainsbury’s, Britain’s second-biggest supermarket group, said trading momentum was strong over the last month and it was well placed for Christmas, with shoppers starting to stock up on festive treats earlier. The group, which holds a 14.7% share of Britain’s grocery market, said it still expected 2022-23 underlying pre-tax profit of between 630mln and 690mln pounds ($718-$786mln), down from the 730mln pounds it made in 2021-22. Sainsbury’s reported underlying pre-tax profit of 340mln pounds for the 28 weeks to September 17, an 8% fall.
Source: reuters.com
Tesco wins appeal in trademark fight with Lidl in UK court
Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco can argue at trial that discount supermarket Lidl applied for trademarks for a yellow circle against a blue background in “bad faith” after a London court allowed its appeal.
Source: reuters.com
In meat-loving South Africa, climate concerns whet appetite for veggie burgers
In South Africa, a country where 'braai' all-day barbecuing is a national pastime, plant-based substitutes are making surprising inroads despite a deep cultural love of meat. Plant-based meat substitutes are growing by 6.5% a year and sales are expected to reach $561mln by 2023, according to Research and Markets - more than half Africa's share of a global market forecast to hit $162bln by 2030.
Source: reuters.com
Germany: Galeria department stores insolvent again: 1 in 3 shops to close
Galeria (Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof in full) is launching a new insolvency procedure. For the second time in three years, the chain of department stores is seeking protection. At least one in three German shops will have to close.
Source: retaildetail.eu
France: Carrefour delivers groceries straight to the fridge
From now on, Carrefour does not only deliver to your home, but also inside your home. The supermarket chain is currently testing this new service with a limited number of customers in France. Those who order via the Carrefour online shop (temporarily interrupted in Belgium) can opt for delivery directly to the fridge as part of the pilot project. To do so, customers simply install a smart lock from Assa Abloy, Carrefour’s partner in the project.
Source: retaildetail.eu