Canadian grocery workers prepare to bargain with 'Big Three' grocery giants
More than 11,000 Unifor grocery store members are preparing to take on Canada's Big Three grocery giants - Loblaw, Metro, and Sobeys - in upcoming contract negotiations. The front-line supermarket workers are seeking pay increases, benefit improvements, and more full-time jobs as bargaining begins next month.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: BJ’s Wholesale Club announces opening date for first club in Tennessee
BJ's Wholesale Club announced that its newest club in La Vergne, Tennessee, will open on Wednesday, June 14. The club, located 20 miles outside of downtown Nashville, marks the first BJ’s Wholesale Club (Marlborough, Massachusetts) in the state. The retailer will now have a total of 238 U.S. clubs, expanding the company’s footprint to its 19th state.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: ALDI unveils Instacart-powered virtual convenience store
Through its partnership with grocery technology company Instacart, ALDI has introduced a virtual convenience store that promises delivery in as fast as 30 minutes. Dubbed ALDI Express, the service will give shoppers access to nearly 2,000 of the most-shopped ALDI items from more than 2,100 of its locations throughout the United States.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Giant Food offers local produce boxes for summer
It’s summer, and the produce-buying time is easy - at least for Giant Food customers in the Washington, D.C. area. The grocer is bringing back its local produce boxes filled with seasonal produce sourced from farms in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
CEO: Dollar General shoppers are struggling
By the end of the first quarter, Dollar General sold fresh produce in nearly 3,900 stores, with plans to expand the offering to more than 5,000 stores by the end of 2023. “And while produce is not currently serviced by our internal supply chain, we continue to believe that DG Fresh provides a potential path forward to expand our produce offering to more than 10,000 stores over time,” CEO Jeffrey Owen said.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
US: SpartanNash rides sales momentum in 1st quarter
SpartanNash’s wholesale and retail business units built on prior-year gains with solid sales growth in the fiscal 2023 first quarter. For the 16-week quarter ended April 22, net sales rose 5.2% to $2.91bln from $2.76bln a year earlier, aided in part by inflation, SpartanNash said.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
With new UK border controls due in October, how can British supermarkets plan for fruit and vegetable shortages?
Mikko Kärkkäinen, CEO and Co-Founder of RELEX Solutions: “UK retailers should focus on putting the correct tools in place in preparation for the incoming border controls, which will almost certainly have an effect on stock availability. Smarter, more accurate forecasting can help retailers who’ve struggled with fruit and vegetable shortages in the past to minimise disruption and maximise the availability of fresh goods for their customers”.
Source: kamcity.com
France: Casino chief executive in custody over corruption claim
Jean-Charles Naouri, the chief executive of French supermarket group Casino, is being questioned by police in a corruption case. The CEO has been taken into custody. Investigation into the case has been ongoing since 2020.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Germany's Penny commits to regional fruit and vegetables
German discount retailer Penny has announced it is creating its own overarching regional brand, 'Marktliebe Regional', to underpin its commitment to locally-sourced fruit and vegetables. The REWE Group-owned banner currently offers up to 200 types of fruit and vegetables in its range, around half of which is sourced from conventional and organic production in Germany.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Saudi Arabia's PIF to acquire 30% of supermarket chain Tamimi Markets
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) plans to acquire a 30% stake in local supermarket chain Tamimi Markets Company, the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund said. PIF, which has more than $620bln in assets under management, said it signed a share subscription agreement to invest in Tamimi Markets.
Source: reuters.com
Kenya: Judge deals final blow against Tuskys
Tuskys, a once-thriving family-owned supermarket chain has been ordered to liquidate by the High Court. Justice David Majanja ruled that there is no hope for rescuing Tuskys. He noted that for the three years the supermarket had been fighting the liquidation petition, not much had been done to revive the retailer.
Source: pulselive.co.ke
France: Auchan is moving into franchising as well
Auchan Retail France wishes to dispose of seven supermarkets that "no longer fit into the commercial project", the retailer told Linéaires. The sale will involve 261 permanent employees and 15 temporary staff, LSA also reports.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Just Eat unveils the UK’s biggest fish and chip lovers - with the North East coming out on top
New data from Just Eat reveals the North East as the top region of fish and chip lovers, making the most orders from fish and chip shops across the UK. The research, to mark National Fish and Chip Day, found that a whopping fifty thousand orders have been made in the region so far this year via Just Eat, with Scotland and the West Midlands following closely behind.
Source: justeattakeaway.com
Kenya: Carrefour opens its 20th store in Eastleigh
Retail chain Carrefour has opened its 20th store at Business Bay Square Mall (BBS) in Eastleigh, Nairobi, as it seeks to tap the area’s growing population and businesses. Located along General Waruinge Street, the 3,000-square-meter store will be one of the largest opened by the retailer in the country since 2019. Approximately 20,000 products from consumer goods, cleaning and household products, personal hygiene products, and fresh food, including fruits and vegetables, will be stocked at the facility.
Source: capitalfm.co.ke
UK: Convenience stores expected to enjoy June sales boost
Convenience stores and supermarkets should see an increase in sales in June with warmer weather boosting business, according to NIQ (formerly Nielsen). The consumer intelligence company made its prediction as its figures revealed that UK supermarkets enjoyed a 12.3% increase in takings for the four weeks to May 20 compared to the same period last year. This is a higher increase than the previous four weeks in April, which was up 9.7%.
Source: talkingretail.com
UK: New Your Co-op Food supermarket opens near Old Town
A new supermarket has opened in Swindon after a major £500,000 investment. The Midcounties Co-operative set up a new branch of Your Co-op Food in the Gilbert Place housing development on Lowry Way, off Pipers Way. The convenience store has created 15 jobs and offers essential grocery items like fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, flowers, wines, spirits, and chilled beers.
Source: swindonadvertiser.co.uk