PCC Community Markets Introduces Self-Check Kiosks
The cash-free kiosks that PCC Community Markets is installing at all of its stores will accept all forms of contactless electronic payment, including credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. In a move coming later than many of its competing grocers, but indicative of the permanence of shopping habits adopted by many consumers during the pandemic, PCC Community Markets has begun rolling out self-check kiosks across its stores, with the installations expected to be complete by the end of summer.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Instacart wants to replace its army of gig shoppers with robots
Instacart Inc. has an audacious plan to replace its army of gig shoppers with robots — part of a long-term strategy to cut costs and put its relationship with supermarket chains on a sustainable footing. The plan, detailed in documents reviewed by Bloomberg, involves building automated fulfillment centres around the U.S., where hundreds of robots would fetch boxes of cereal and cans of soup while humans gather produce and deli products. Some facilities would be attached to existing grocery stores while larger standalone centres would process orders for several locations, according to the documents, which were dated July and December.
Source: financialpost.com
C-Store Operator Takes Over 5 Washington, D.C. area Save A Lot Stores
Discounter Save A Lot has flipped five corporate-owned stores near Washington, D.C., to a fuel and convenience store operator pivoting to discount supermarket retail. AQS Foods LLC is now operating the transferred Save A Lot stores in Temple Hills, Forestville, Bladensburg, Oxon Hill and Seat Pleasant, Md. AQS’s owner, Qasim Warraich, has more than nine years of experience operating gas and convenience retail. AQS is based in Port Deposit, Md., where it owns a Lion Xpress convenience store.
Source: www.winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Taylor Farms recognized with Supplier of the Year for Service and Partnership from Whole Foods Market
Taylor Farms has been recognized by Whole Foods Market as a winner of the grocer’s ninth-annual Supplier Awards, taking home the honor of Supplier of the Year for Service and Partnership. The Whole Foods Market Supplier Awards distinguish 42 companies that raised the bar in 2020, including local, regional and national brands across all product categories.
Source: www.prnewswire.com
Walmart increasing store hours after pandemic cuts
The extended hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. will begin Saturday. The company’s pharmacies and vision centers will go back to pre-pandemic hours at the beginning of July, according to a Walmart press release. “With the number of fully vaccinated Americans growing higher every day, we believe we can adjust hours once again,” Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S., said Tuesday. Walmart was open 24 hours a day before the pandemic, but cut its hours to help curb the spread of the virus. The company has slowly been expanding its hours throughout the pandemic.
Source: /thehill.com
SuperValu Continues To Hold Largest Share Of Irish Grocery Market
SuperValu continues to hold the largest share of the grocery market at 22.2%, the latest figures from Kantar show. Its growth was primarily driven by shoppers returning to the store more often, contributing an additional €41 million, in the 12 weeks ending 16 May 2021. Tesco remained in the second-highest position with a share of 21.6%, while Dunnes accounted for 21.2% of grocery sales in this period. Both Tesco and Dunnes benefited from growing confidence among shoppers and attracted new customers into stores in the past 12 weeks, with shopper numbers up 25,100 and 28,200 respectively. Aldi also brought more customers through the doors, boosting sales by €9 million and helping it to retain a 12.2% share. Lidl was the only retailer to grow in the past 12 weeks, increasing sales by 0.7% to account for 12.8% of the grocery market.
Source: www.checkout.ie
Supermarket retailer of the year named – and it’s not Aldi, Tesco, Lidl or Morrisons
The prestigious award is given to the best supermarket on the basis of certain criteria, with a budget-friendly retailer snatching the top spot.
Supermarket giant ASDA has beaten competitors like Aldi, Tesco and Lidl to be crowned with the prestigious title, thanks to their range of value products and investment into different foods. In total, ASDA was awarded 36 awards at the Free From Awards, including two gold, fourteen silver and twenty bronze as well as the top accolade of the night, Free From Retailer of the Year.
Source: www.essexlive.news
Lidl remains Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing retailer says Kantar
LIDL’S share of the grocery market in Northern Ireland has grown by 16.5 per cent over the last year and by 27.2 per cent since 2019, according to new figures from retail analysts Kantar.
The German-owner chain remains the north’s fastest-growing retailer, and in the year to May 16 this was largely driven by consumers buying more per trip, helping it to add £34.5 million to its sales. Lidl now commands a 6.7 per cent share of the region’s overall grocery market. Over the last 52-week period, Tesco remained the north’s biggest grocer. It held 35.5 per cent of the market, grew by 8.6 per cent and boosted its sales by an extra £102.6 million.
Source: www.irishnews.com
SPAR Spain Expands Business Through Partners
SPAR Spain has expanded its presence in the country by opening stores in new areas under a multi-format strategy aimed at meeting customers’ needs. The retailer has opened several new stores in different formats under the SPAR Express, SPAR supermarkets, and EUROSPAR banners. The retailer has opened a convenience outlet at A Valenzà, offering 1,300 products, including fresh, SPAR own-brand goods, and well-known brands.
Source: www.esmmagazine.com