US: Trader Joe's will grow in Southern California
Trader Joe's is planning to open eight new stores in Southern California this year, reports Los Angeles ABC affiliate KABC. There are also reports that the Monrovia, California-based retailer will be powering up a total of 24 new locations nationwide, but Trader Joe's has not confirmed that number with Supermarket News.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Albertsons partners With Uber on ambitious food rescue program
As part of the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, Albertsons Cos. is teaming up with Uber on an ambitious food rescue iniatitive.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Brazil's Grupo Mateus planning €1.2bln merger with Novo Atacarejo
Brazil's third-largest supermarket chain, Grupo Mateus, has signed a non-binding agreement with regional cash-and-carry chain Novo Atacarejo to merge the two businesses. The merger will combine 21 Grupo Mateus stores in Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Alagoas with 29 Novo Atacarejo stores, creating a new company with R$6.8bln (approximately €1.2bln) in gross revenue.
Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Kroger celebrates Dad with Father's Day gift guide
The Kroger Co. is celebrating dads with a Father's Day gift guide boasting thoughtful and convenient gifts to mark the occasion. Bring dad a Kroger prepared lunch: Fresh Cut Fruits and Veggies. Gift the ultimate outdoor grilling bundle: Private Selection™ Mexican Street Corn Kit.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Village Super Market cites labor, store opening costs in Q3
Village Super Market posted third-quarter sales gains of 3.2% over year-ago levels, but said net income was down 18.6%, to about $9mln. The company said that operating and administrative expenses as a percent of sales increased nearly a full percentage point, to 25.19% of sales, in part due to higher labor and fringe benefit costs. The labor and benefit costs were primarily due to minimum wage and demand-driven pay rate increases and higher union health and welfare plan costs, Village said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
No Okanagan stone fruit will be on the shelves this summer: grocer
An independent grocer in the Fraser Valley says its shelves that usually store Okanagan stone fruit over the summer will be completely bare this year after extreme weather wiped out many crops. Lepp Farm Market in Abbotsford shared the news on its website last month, saying, "There's just no way to soften the news. I will give it to you straight. There will be no Okanagan stone fruit this year; the deep January freeze wiped out this summer's crop of apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums in the entire Okanagan valley."
Source: vancouver.citynews.ca
US: Entry of dollar stores affected rural independent grocery stores more than urban stores
Compared to urban independent grocery stores, rural independent grocery stores were nearly three times more likely to close following the opening of a new dollar store in the same census tract from 2000–19.
Source: ers.usda.gov
India: Swiggy Instamart's new ad comes with the aroma of mangoes
Swiggy Instamart CEO Phani Kishan took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share that the brand has recently come up with a "scented" print ad where one can enjoy the aroma of fresh mangoes as well. He further mentioned that this advertisement was exclusively for Mumbai.
Source: food.ndtv.com
Heura launches at leading Northern Italian retailer Esselunga, expands presence in UK & Netherlands
Spanish plant-based meat brand Heura has announced that it is launching at Esselunga, a leading supermarket chain in Northern Italy. Additionally, Heura has strengthened its partnerships with UK supermarket chain Waitrose and Dutch retailer Jumbo, gaining listings for its plant-based burger.
Source: vegconomist.com
Aussie producers receive more than $3.7mln from Coles Nurture Fund to drive sustainability and innovation
The latest grants bring the total financial support awarded through the Coles Nurture Fund to more than $36mln across 108 businesses since the funding initiative was established in 2015. Located in Manjimup, Prada Farms is an avocado farm that has been awarded $461,000 to transition to a fully electric harvesting system that is charged by renewable energy. Bulla Mushrooms in Victoria will use a grant of $490,000 to create a zero-waste mushroom facility which will capture excess mushrooms grown on the farm and turn them into dehydrated high-quality products that would otherwise be imported from overseas. White Cloud Farms in Victoria will use a grant of $400,000 to create a blueberry growing system that is sustainable for both the crop and the land.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
SPAR Denmark expands with store openings in 70th anniversary year
In its 70th year of operation, SPAR Denmark continues to expand its network. On 2 May, SPAR Supermarket Skejby opened in Risskov, and on 30 May, a new SPAR Supermarket was launched in a historic building in Søllerød, increasing the total number of SPAR stores in Denmark to 138.
Source: spar-international.com
Ireland: Tesco launches '52 weeks of little helps' campaign
Tesco is helping home cooks with the new '52 weeks of little helps' campaign, which will see Tesco releasing a new recipe each week for a year. Each dish is created for the home chefs who want convenient, affordable meals, using simply quality ingredients.
Source: tescoireland.ie
May in Estonian supermarkets: Biggest fluctuations hit vegetable prices
Comparing last month's prices with this April's prices, the prices of dairy products didn't change much, according to figures released by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research (EKI). Last month, the vegetable category saw among the biggest fluctuations in price on year. The biggest such difference was recorded for import cucumbers, which went up 56% from €1.89 to €2.94 per kilogram. Even so, last month's cucumber prices were down 14% compared with April.
Source: news.err.ee
Holland: Jumbo's La Place to operate as an independent business
La Place, the restaurant business of Dutch retailer Jumbo, will continue to operate as an independent organisation. The activities of La Place will be transferred to an independent joint venture with Royal Jumbo Food Group and Vermaat as intended shareholders, the retailer noted.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Asda announces expanded food donation programme
Asda has announced an expansion of its comprehensive 'back of store' food donation scheme, which will see the retailer enter into a new three-way partnership with long-standing food redistribution charity FareShare and local food sharing app Olio.
Source: corporate.asda.com
Belgium: Renewed Spar Eindhout to reopen on 13 June
Spar Colruyt Group Eindhout reopens its doors on Thursday 13 June. With a new interior and exterior inspired by the latest-generation Spar stores, Spar Eindhout can now fully focus on sustainability, freshness and local products.
Source: press.colruytgroup.com