Coles awards $3.6mln to Aussie producers to drive innovation & sustainability
An innovative plan to develop a carbon neutral banana range while reducing runoff into the Great Barrier Reef is one of eight projects to receive a share in more than $3.6mln from the Coles Nurture Fund. Coles announced it will award grants of up to $500,000 to eight small and medium sized businesses from across the country to implement plans to drive sustainability and innovation.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
“Jumbo will not exit Belgium”
There is no question of Jumbo leaving Belgium, CEO Ton van Veen emphasises: sales in the Belgian stores are growing fast and candidate franchisees are coming forward. In the home market, however, a fresh focus on the chain’s core values is needed.
Source: retaildetail.eu
New Zealand: Countdown commit to Odd Bunch price drop 
Countdown has announced a new commitment to value in the fruit and veg aisle, with the retailer’s popular Odd Bunch range is guaranteed at least 20% less than the standard shelf price of comparable fruit and vegetables. The Odd Bunch range has been a key part of Countdown’s produce aisle since 2017, and in that time, it’s proved increasingly popular with New Zealanders, with Odd Bunch now making up to 20% of sales in some categories, like apples, capsicums and carrots. Countdown customers purchased over 9mln bags of Odd Bunch produce in the last financial year alone.
Source: supermarketnews.co.nz
UK: Asda owners use supermarket assets to fund £450mln of forecourt takeover
Asda owners Mohsin and Zuber Issa have revealed that they are using the supermarket’s assets to help fund part of its acquisition of EG Group, as they look to expand their forecourt empire in the UK. The entrepreneurial brothers, and their private equity backers at TDR Capital, will be paying over £450mln from the proceeds of selling Asda’s assets to help fund the total £2.3bln purchase.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Aldi named UK's cheapest supermarket for a record twelve months in a row
Latest research from consumer group Which? has found Aldi to be the UK’s cheapest supermarket for the twelfth consecutive month. A basket of shopping at Aldi is around £9 cheaper than Tesco. Shoppers can save over £18 compared to the most expensive supermarket, for the same basket of items.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
Discount retailer Pepco says trading tougher in latest quarter
European discount retailer Pepco Group reported an 11% rise in first-half core earnings as revenue surged 23% but said trading has been tougher in its third quarter. Revenue was 2.84bln euros, as the group's discount offer chimed with cash-strapped consumers and it opened a net 166 new stores, taking the total to 4,127. Like-for-like sales rose 11.1%.
Source: reuters.com
Swiss ecommerce faces shortage warehouse locations
Online retailers in Switzerland are facing a shortage of suitable logistics locations within the country. They are outsourcing warehousing or seeking solutions across the border, according to the Swiss Handelszeitung.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
UK: BRP deal brings The Kay Group c-stores to Londis
Booker Retail Partners (BRP) and The Kay Group have announced a new partnership agreement which has seen all 23 of the group’s convenience stores joining Londis. The stores located on petrol forecourts across the midlands, north Wales and northern England will now adopt the Londis brand, Booker’s exclusive own-label ranges such as Jack’s and Euro Shopper and the business support provided by a dedicated forecourt development team.
Source: talkingretail.com
Australia: Coles adds fresh produce to locked price program
Coles will add selected fresh produce items to its locked price program for the first time from Wednesday. The supermarket says the move is designed to give customers more certainty on the price they pay for fruit and vegetables each week. Lunch box favourites like mini apples and pears, and 2kg bags of potatoes, will be the first to have their prices set for at least the next six weeks. Apple grower Scott Montague, whose business Montague is Coles supplier, said it was a great time of year to be buying and eating apples.
Source: heraldsun.com.au
Ireland: Musgrave signs €170mln contract with Lusk supplier
Lusk-based Ballymaguire Foods has signed a new multi-million euro deal with Musgrave valued at €170mln. Ballymaguire Foods is a sister company to the agri-food business Country Crest, founded by Michael and Gabriel Hoey. Country Crest is a family-run business which has been growing potatoes for generations in north County Dublin. The company is one of the largest suppliers of potatoes, onions and sweet potatoes to Irish retailers.
Source: agriland.ie
Casino bankruptcy event has not occurred - CDS committee
A European derivatives committee said that a bankruptcy credit event has not occurred in relation to France's debt-laden Casino, dashing investor hopes for a payout on credit insurance linked to the retailer.
Source: reuters.com
Australia: Woolworths supermarket unveils controversial change to fruit and veg aisle
Woolworths supermarket has confirmed a major change to its fruit and vegetable aisles at selected stores. The retail giant is trialling placing glass doors on its chilled fresh produce range as a way to reduce energy consumption. A photograph of the new set-up at Woolworths Southpoint in Brisbane was recently unveiled, showing a row of eight fridge doors with baskets and shelves of fruit and vegetable displayed behind them.
Source: 7news.com.au
Food Lion pioneer, leader Tom Smith dies
Tom Smith, the former CEO and leader of Food Lion, has died after a long battle with a terminal illness and a brief time in hospice. Ronnie Smith, a long-time friend and 50-year co-worker, said Tom Smith was “a pioneer and a legend. He was instrumental in leading Food Town, now known as Food Lion, becoming one of the largest, most successful food store chains in the country.”
Source: salisburypost.com
US: Wendy's Summer Strawberry Salad is back!
The Wendy's Company reported: "Wendy's Summer Strawberry Salad is available NOW at participating Wendy's restaurants nationwide for a limited time. WHY: As the only hamburger QSR to offer craft salads, Wendy's is intentional about capturing and delivering the freshest flavors of the season. The Summer Strawberry Salad is a fan-favorite for the summertime - packed full of high-quality, flavorful ingredients and craveable flavors. Not to mention, it pairs excellently with Wendy's Strawberry Frosty® - because we couldn't help but give customers not one, but two strawberry-packed menu items to enjoy all season long."
Source: prnewswire.com
Ex-CEOs at Brazil's Americanas did not make proper accounting disclosures - regulator
Brazil's securities regulator has accused two former CEOs of retailer Americanas of failing to comply with information disclosure requirements following an investigation into the firm's accounting inconsistencies, the agency said. According to a document from securities regulator CVM, the two ex-CEOs, Sergio Rial and Joao Guerra, also failed to meet other obligations on informing investors.
Source: reuters.com
Grubhub and Amazon extend one-year free Grubhub+ offer for U.S. Prime members
Grubhub and Amazon announced the extension for an additional year of their free one-year Grubhub+ offer for Amazon Prime members in the United States.
Source: justeattakeaway.com