Imports drop below 2mln TEU as pandemic-driven shipping surge comes to an end
With a pandemic-driven surge finally over, monthly import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports has fallen below the 2mln TEU mark and should remain there through most of this spring, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
Source: nrf.com
Lidl US to open its largest and 1st ground-up build on Long Island on January 18
Lidl US will open its Deer Park, New York, store - the grocer’s largest and first ground-up build on Long Island - on January 18, the Arlington, Virginia-based division of Germany’s Schwarz Group said. Located at 450 Commack Road, Lidl said it invested over $12mln for this location, which will create more than 50 new jobs.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
UNFI unlikely to pursue retail acquisitions: CEO
United Natural Foods Inc. would not likely be interested in making any retail acquisitions that might arise as a result of the pending Kroger-Albertsons merger, Sandy Douglas, CEO of UNFI, suggested at an investor conference. UNFI has considerable opportunities to expand its growth as a wholesaler, and the company plans to continue to focus on its retail business as a learning opportunity rather than expanding its retail holdings, he said at the 2023 ICR Conference.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Whole Foods Market sets opening date for 1st Montana store
Shoppers in The Treasure State will soon have an opportunity to go on a grocery treasure hunt with the opening of a Whole Foods Market in Bozeman, Montana. The Amazon-owned natural foods retailer will welcome customers to the new 31,718-square-foot store on February 1. This is the first Whole Foods in Montana.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Albertsons to open micro-fulfillment center
Albertsons Cos. and Takeoff Technologies will open a micro-fulfillment center in Laguna Niguel, California, on January 11. Waltham, Massachusetts-based Takeoff offers an e-grocery solution that enables grocers to succeed online using micro-fulfillment centers - small robotic fulfillment centers that can be leveraged at a hyperlocal scale. Orders are placed online through established retailers like Albertsons, and Takeoff’s automated technology fulfills the order.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Curbside drive-thru grocer JackBe opens first location
JackBe, a curbside drive-thru grocer, is opening its first location: the first of three locations set to open this year for the new-to-market grocer. The first store opened Tuesday in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “By opening JackBe, we’re introducing a new way for customers to shop”, said JackBe CEO Alex Ruhter in a statement.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Community Groceries takes KC into future of markets
A new grocery store concept is open in Kansas City, Missouri, on the corner of 18th and Holmes streets. Community Groceries is the first of its kind in the nation to use Amazon technology while being a standalone store, not an Amazon Fresh grocery store. The technology is called Amazon One, and the owner of Community Groceries worked with Amazon for over three years to be able to use it.
Source: kshb.com
With almost 50% of vegan market share, Checkers’ plant-based products gain popularity
New data shows that Checkers now has nearly 50% of the vegan and plant-based market share in South Africa. As vegan, plant-based, meat-free and dairy-free options continue to gain popularity with customers looking for healthier alternatives, Checkers is providing more choice through partnerships with the likes of US-based vegetarian-foods giant, LiveKindly Collective.
Source: shopriteholdings.co.za
Irish grocery sales hit record €1.3bln in December: Kantar
Grocery sales in Ireland increased by 10% in the four weeks to 25 December 2022, witnessing the strongest growth since February 2021 and generating record sales of €1.3bln, according to latest data from Kantar.
Source: esmmagazine.com
South Korea: Strawberries surpass apples in popularity amid rise of ‘convenient consumption’ trends
Discount retailer Emart Inc. said that strawberries and grapes were the most popular fruits last year. Apples and tangerines, which had topped the sales charts as recently as 2019, dropped to third and fourth place, respectively. The rising consumption trend that focuses on convenience led consumers away from apples and tangerines, which require the skin or peel to be removed, to strawberries and grapes, which are easier to eat. Premium strawberries accounted for 37% of all strawberry sales last year.
Source: koreabizwire.com
Retail chain Carrefour denies bankruptcy and withdrawal from China after consumer complaints over unusable shopping cards
Supermarket chain Carrefour denied online speculation that the company is facing bankruptcy and will withdraw from the Chinese market, after a number of consumers lodged complaints in recent days claiming they were unable to pay with the supermarket’s shopping and value cards, with some interpreting it as a sign of the retail company’s massive closure wave.
Source: globaltimes.cn
UK: Central Co-op celebrates Veganuary with offers
Central Co-op is celebrating Veganuary with a selection of offers to assist with those interested in pursuing a vegan diet in the month of January. This includes 1/3 off selected vegan products in-store, with the offer valid from 2 January until 14 February. Ranges featured in the offer include Co-op Gro, Alpro, Flora, Innocent, Violife, Elmlea, and more.
Source: talkingretail.com
Italy: In’s Mercato gets antitrust nod for acquisition of 54 Dico stores
Italy’s Competition and Market Authority (AGCM) has authorised the acquisition by In's Mercato of 54 stores operated by Cesed and its subsidiary Dico. The transaction was completed in September but was waiting for the green light from competition bodies. The deal includes 39 supermarkets (between 400 and 2,499 square metres in size) and 15 neighbourhood stores (between 100 and 399 square metres in size) under the TuoDì, FrescoMarket and Ingrande banners. The stores are located in the Lazio, Tuscany, Umbria and Marche regions.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Heinz launches Beanz Nuggetz in three varieties
Heinz has launched Magical Beanz Nuggetz; crispy, bean-shaped nuggets, packed with beans and veggies. Designed to appeal to kids who love nuggets, the veg-packed Nuggetz come in three child-friendly varieties: Original Nuggetz - with tomato and sweetcorn (suitable for vegans and vegetarians). Cheesy Nuggetz - with cauliflower and cheddar cheese (suitable for vegetarians). Curried Nuggetz - with parsnip, carrot, coconut and mild curry spices (suitable for vegans and vegetarians).
Source: somersetlive.co.uk
Aldi officially crowned the UK's cheapest supermarket
Which? names Aldi as the Cheapest Supermarket of the year for 2022. The supermarket was also named the cheapest for a basket of 48 products for the month of December, marking its seventh consecutive win.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
