Australia: SPAR announces transformational upgrade to Brisbane Distribution Centre
SPAR Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to the local retail market with a transformational upgrade to its Brisbane (Queensland) Distribution Centre. The upgrade is set to improve business efficiencies and create significant cost savings while reducing the environmental footprint.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: Tesco expands one-hour rapid delivery service to London and Bristol
Tesco has expanded its Whoosh one-hour delivery service to London and Bristol, as chief executive Ken Murphy announced plans to transform Tesco into a more digital business. The grocer expanded its one-hour offering from a single store in Wolverhampton, adding a further 11 Express stores in London and Bristol. Murphy said the trial had provided Tesco with “some very interesting data”.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
India: Grofers cofounder Saurabh Kumar exits, says he wants to ‘wander again’
Grofers’ cofounder Saurabh Kumar has decided to step away from his role at the online grocery delivery giant, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) Albinder Dhindsa announced. Though Kumar will no longer be involved in the day-to-day activities at the grocery delivery firm, he will continue to be a board member and a shareholder at the company.
Source: businessinsider.in
South Korea’s Coupang expands into Japan
South Korean ecommerce giant Coupang has made its first international foray in neighboring Japan, a move that was supported by investor SoftBank. Coupang is testing its delivery service in selected locations in Tokyo. Same day delivery service will be available in the Nakanobu area as of this month.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
UK: Sainsbury’s salad shortage with ’empty shelves’ seen around Devon
Sainsburys supermarkets around Torbay – and some stores across Devon – have been facing a salad shortage with empty shelves being seen for up to 2 weeks. Torquay’s store in The Willows as well as a store in Newton Abbot has been struck with short supply of bagged salad with customers wondering what has caused it.
Source: plymouthherald.co.uk
2021 6.18: JD.com transaction volume +28%YoY
As the 18-day annual grand promotion came to a close, JD.com announced that it has achieved total transaction volume of over CNY343.8bln (US$53.28bln), a 28% year-on-year increase. JD.com shared they have seen strong purchasing power during the festival and its fresh grocery and FMCG continue to drive growth. “Some categories peaked during COVID-19, but for a lot of other categories such as fresh and FMCG, we can see a lot of momentum”, said Chenkai Ling, vice president of JD.com and head of strategy at JD Retail. JD Super, JD’s online supermarket highlight on the first hour on 18 June: Fruit and vegetables +88%YoY.
Source: retailanalysis.igd.com
Russia’s X5 Group rolls out dark kitchens in St Petersburg
Mnogo Lososya, which was recently acquired by Russia’s largest retailer and e-grocer X5 Retail Group, will be launching its dark kitchen format in 20 locations in Saint Petersburg, operating under 4 brands (Mnogo Lososya, Ten Ideal Pizzas, Rolls No. 1, YAJI).
Source: intellinews.com
Morrisons rejects £5.5bln offer from US private equity firm
Morrisons has rejected a £5.5bln takeover proposal from US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket, with 118,000 staff, said the offer “significantly undervalues” the firm. CD&R, where former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy is an advisor, confirmed it was considering a formal bid after weekend media speculation about its plans. The US firm has previously made investments in the discount shop chain B&M, from which it made more than £1bln.
Source: bbc.com
Shoptalk, the leading retail event in the U.S., announces Shoptalk Europe to be held at ExCeL London 6-8 June 2022
Shoptalk, the leading U.S. conference in the retail, grocery and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries, has announced their global expansion with the relaunch of Shoptalk Europe. Taking place at ExCeL London on 6-8 June 2022, Shoptalk Europe will provide a platform for the entire European retail ecosystem to come together to reimagine the future of retail.
Source: prnewswire.com
Many Canadians are shopping online, but few are committing: Study
More than half (53%) of Canadians are doing at least some of their grocery shopping online – and an additional 30% said they are open to the idea – but brick-and-mortar remains “king”, according to a new study by research firm Field Agent Canada. The State of Digital Grocery study found that 97% of respondents continue to shop in a brick-and-mortar store, but many of them use e-commerce as well with 45% shopping online or via app for in-store pickup and/or home delivery, and 38% shopping online or in-app for curbside pick-up.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Yesway named CStore Decisions 2021 Convenience Store Chain of the Year
With 402 stores across the U.S., the Texas-based chain is the 32nd winner of the most prestigious award in the industry for convenience retailing. Continuing a tradition that began in 1990, CStore Decisions is proud to announce Yesway as its 2021 Convenience Store Chain of the Year. What makes Yesway special is that it continues to cement its presence as a retail leader by evolving to meet and exceed customers’ expectations, all while being one of the fastest growing chains in the convenience store industry.
Source: cstoredecisions.com
US: Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets’ namesake founder dies
Angelo Caputo, the founder of the Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets independent grocery store chain, has died, according to a published report. He was 89. The funeral mass was scheduled for June 18.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Brookshire Grocery invests $33mln in wage hikes
In part a thank-you to existing employees and as a way to differentiate itself in an increasingly tight labor market, Brookshire Grocery Co. announced that it is raising wages for nearly 13,500 of its approximately 16,000 workers.
Source: progressivegrocer.com