Jumbo speeds up Belgian expansion with franchising
Until now, Jumbo has only opened company-operated stores in Belgium, but that is about to change. At the end of this year, the chain will open a supermarket run by an independent entrepreneur and for next year 2 contracts have already been signed with entrepreneurs. More franchise stores will follow, financial director Ton van Veen says in business newspaper De Tijd.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Kaufland reports full-year sales of PLN11bln in Poland
Retailer Kaufland reported full-year sales of PLN11bln (€2.4bln) in Poland last year, recruiting an additional 2,600 personnel in the full-year period, according to local media reports. The group paid around PLN770mln in taxes last year, while also continuing to open new stores and refurbish its existing estate.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Morrisons shareholders to vote on Fortress offer on August 16
Reuters reported: “Shareholders in British supermarket group Morrisons will get to vote on a 6.3bln pound ($8.7bln) takeover offer from a consortium led by SoftBank owned Fortress Investment Group on August 16. A scheme document outlining Fortress’ offer said a court meeting and a general meeting of shareholders would be held on that date”.
Source: nasdaq.com
Finland: Retail sales up at S Group, boosted by convenience, forecourt operations
S Group said that its convenience store and forecourt business reported a 17.9% increase in sales in the period from January to June, boosting its overall retail division. In June, retail sales in this division, where S Group operates the ABC chain, were 27.1% higher than the previous year, indicating that the business is ‘returning to normal’ after the pandemic. Overall retail sales at the business were up 5.2% in the half year period, to €5.89bln, with sales in its grocery arm rising by 3.9%.
Source: esmmagazine.com
India watchdog accuses Amazon of concealing facts in deal for Future Group unit
India’s antitrust regulator has accused Amazon.com Inc of concealing facts and making false submissions when it sought approval for a 2019 investment in a Future Group unit, a letter to the U.S. e-commerce giant seen by Reuters showed.
Source: reuters.com
Who is Kenneth McGrath? The Irishman one rung away from the top job at Lidl
Lidl has appointed Kenneth McGrath as the new deputy chairman of its international business, with the 46-year-old Irishman no stranger to the discount sector. Cork native McGrath will assume his role on 1 October, Lidl’s owner Schwarz Group announced, and report to the group’s lead executive Gerd Chrzanowski, who is set to assume the chairmanship of Schwarz Group in due course.
Source: esmmagazine.com
China: Hema (Freshippo) has created a new format! 400 stores opened in 80 days
This hot summer, the community e-commerce track has a new familiar player. Hou Yi, President of the Hema Business Group, issued an internal letter, formally establishing the Hema Neighborhood Business Unit (Hema NB). NB stands for Neighbor Business. As the third division of the Hema business group, it is regarded as an important move for Hema to enter the community e-commerce. Hou Yi also placed high expectations on Hema NB, and defined the project as “Hema’s People’s Livelihood Project” in the internal letter.
Source: inf.news
UK: Supermarkets struggle to stock shelves as ‘pingdemic’ havoc spreads
Supermarkets are under “increasing pressure” to keep shelves fully stocked, retail industry leaders have warned as the growing havoc wreaked by the “pingdemic” continues to force thousands of workers to self-isolate. With shops in some areas suffering shortages, and firms in sectors from petrol stations to the postal service affected by absences, the government is being urged to include supermarket staff, lorry drivers and other frontline workers on a list of those exempted from self-isolation rules.
Source: theguardian.com
Sheng Siong Group to open fourth store in China
Supermarket operator Sheng Siong Group said that its subsidiary has entered into a lease agreement to open a new store in China. In an exchange filing, the mainboard-listed company said the new store – located in the city of Kunming in Yunnan province – is expected to be operational before the end of this year.
Source: businesstimes.com.sg
Stor.ai partners with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions to equip its grocers with holistic ecommerce infrastructure
Stor.ai, the end-to-end digital commerce solution for grocers, announced a strengthened partnership with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, the global market share leader in retail store technology. The partnership will facilitate the full offering and integration of stor.ai’s platform within the retailer’s environment providing their customers with the tools to create a scalable, online storefront with full infrastructure.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: The online grocery market nearly tripled in 2020
The U.S. food and beverage industry has been impacted heavily by COVID-19. In 2020, more consumers than ever before were deciding to order food and beverage items online to avoid grocery shopping in crowded stores, where they might be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. As reported by Packaged Facts’ new report The Future of Grocery: Online Grocery, Meal Kits, & Direct-to-Consumer Food, the online grocery market nearly tripled in 2020.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Inflation will cause grocery prices to rise even higher by October: billionaire supermarket owner
John Catsimatidis, the billionaire owner and CEO of New York City supermarket chain Gristedes, warned that inflation will lead to even higher grocery prices by October. Speaking on “Varney & Co.”, Catsimatidis said he expected that “by October you’re going to have over a 6% annualized rate of inflation”.
Source: foxbusiness.com
US: The Fresh Market moves forward with IPO
The Fresh Market is proceeding with an official filing for an initial public offering, marking the second time that the company will go public. Parent company The Fresh Market Holdings Inc. submitted an S-1 registration statement for an IPO on July 16 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). That followed a draft IPO registration statement filed on March 12, as well as several amended filings.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Uber and Costco kick off grocery delivery pilot in Texas
Uber Technologies, Inc. and Costco have entered a delivery pilot with 25 locations across the state of Texas where Costco members could have their groceries delivered within hours, if not minutes, with Uber and Uber Eats. Over the coming weeks, 7 additional Costco warehouses will be available to Uber users via Uber and Uber Eats mobile apps. The minimum order amount is $35 and delivery is free for Uber Pass and Eats Pass holders. This is Uber’s first pilot with a food wholesaler in the United States.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: GrubMarket acquires Terminal Produce to further expand in New York
GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Terminal Produce, a highly reputable and well-established produce wholesaler in New York. Terminal Produce is a key sourcing channel for premium tropical fruits, vegetables and fish in the New York and New Jersey area, and has established deep relationships with domestic and overseas farms. Terminal Produce works with many customers ranging from supermarkets to restaurants and other retailers.
Source: prnewswire.com