Latvia: New Unity deputy requests 5% VAT rate to be kept for fruits and vegetables
Andrejs Ceļapīters from New Unity political party, unlike the leaders of this Latvian ruling coalition party, suggests maintaining the 5% value added tax (VAT) rate for fruits and vegetables typical for Latvia.
Source: bnn-news.com
Supermarket company Casino warns of 2023 losses for core French arm
Debt-laden supermarket retailer Casino warned of likely 2023 losses for its core French business, due to a slower than expected turnaround at its hypermarkets division and the impact of investment costs. Casino estimated that its 2023 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) after leases would range between a loss of 78mln euros ($85.1mln) and a loss of 140mln euros.
Source: reuters.com
Antitrust: Commission carries out unannounced inspections in the online food delivery sector
The European Commission is carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the online ordering and delivery of food, groceries and other consumer goods in two Member States.
Source: ec.europa.eu
DESPAR Italia celebrates Retailer of the Year 2023-2024 award
DESPAR Italia received the prestigious Retailer of the Year award in the Supermarket category for the fourth year in a row. The award reaffirms DESPAR Italia’s quality offering and customer service.
Source: spar-international.com
UK: SeeChange Technologies raises £8mln in seed extension funding to transform global retail with visual AI
SeeChange Technologies, a leader in retail-focused visual AI, announced the closing of its seed extension funding of £8mln (US$10mln), led by Crane Venture Partners and Triple Point Ventures. New investors Runa Capital, True, Portfolio Ventures and Material Ventures also participated.
Source: prweb.com
Carrefour announces a new partnership in the Czech Republic
Carrefour International Partnership pursues its expansion with a new partnership with Czech Group JIP Retail. All stores of the chain’s network will start selling a large range of Carrefour products. JIP Retail will leverage Carrefour brands to offer customers an affordable selection of quality products across the main food and non food categories. This launch of Carrefour products in the Czech market is a first step: Carrefour International Partnership and JIP Retail plan to deploy Carrefour banners in JIP Retail’s convenience network in 2024.
Source: carrefour.com
Italy: Private labels, digitalisation to drive growth for Gruppo VéGé in 2024
Retail cooperative Gruppo VéGé will focus on expanding its private-label offerings and invest in digitalisation to drive growth in 2024. The company expects to achieve a turnover of €13.78bln in 2023, representing a 9.4% increase from the previous year, according to media reports. The company has projected further growth to €14.48bln in 2024. The retailer plans to open 78 new outlets in 2024 alone, including five hypermarkets and 60 supermarkets.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Dutch retail sales increase, volumes decline in Q3: CBS
Retail sales in the Netherlands increased by more than 4% year-on-year in the third quarter, due to price increases. Sales volumes for the quarter declined by nearly 3%, the latest data from the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS, Statistics Netherlands) showed.
Source: esmmagazine.com
‘A big help’: how Hong Kong charity Foodlink Foundation reduces both food waste and hunger
Every morning, charity Foodlink Foundation sends its fleet of vans to supermarkets and retail chains across Hong Kong to pick up food that would otherwise go to waste, such as soon-to-expire pasta and slightly bruised or overripe fruit. Boxes full of fresh produce and packaged food are then delivered to Foodlink Mart, the charity’s 250 sq ft store located in a shopping centre in Kwun Tong.
Source: scmp.com
Plant Based World Expo Europe welcomes over 3,700 attendees from 25 countries
Plant Based World Expo Europe - the continent’s largest fully plant-based trade event - took place in London for the third time from November 15-16. Exhibitors such as Upfield highlighted the environmentally friendly credentials of their foods, while others demonstrated products made from vegetables and whole foods - a growing trend as consumers look for less processed and more nutritious options.
Source: vegconomist.com
Australia: Ready for a Good Different summer - ALDI heads to tropical North Queensland
ALDI reported: "After much anticipation, ALDI, Australia’s best-rated supermarket will bring its Good Different shopping experience to the sunny city of Townsville, when a new store located within the Willow’s Shopping Centre opens on Wednesday, 22nd November".
Source: aldiunpacked.com.au
Huel expands into German retail, bats off IPO rumours
UK meal replacement brand Huel, whose founder Julian Hearn downplayed rumours of an IPO following a surge in sales, is to launch its “Smart Food” products onto the retail market in Germany.
Source: vegconomist.com
Canada: Small fire forces local Metro to toss fresh fruits and veggies
The produce shelves are restocked at the Metro grocery store on Northern Avenue after the response to a small fire required fresh fruits and vegetables to be thrown in the garbage.
Source: sootoday.com
US: How Walmart aims to reinvent sourcing
Walmart has embarked on a joint project with enterprise retail technology solution provider Bamboo Rose to develop and implement a state-of-the-art enterprise sourcing platform (ESP) that will change the way the retailer does business with its many suppliers around the world.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: FreshDirect unveils its top 5 food trends for 2024
FreshDirect, the online grocery shopping pioneer, announced its 2024 food trend insights which range from flavor and function to sustainability and influence. FreshDirect’s top 5 trends for 2024 include: The Upside to Upcycling: Tackling Food Waste; Beyond the Shelf: The Rise of DEI in the Grocery Sector; Greens, Eggs, and Ham: Sustainability in Farming Practices; Following Your Gut: The Power of Functional Beverages; Pass the Dip, Spread the Flavor: Embracing Small Plates.
Source: businesswire.com
Decision time for Kroger-Albertsons merger gets closer
Decision time on the Kroger-Albertsons merger deal looks to be arriving just about when the two supermarket giants expected.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Green Giant® survey finds nearly 1 in 2 Americans will celebrate Friendsgiving this year
Green Giant®, the iconic brand synonymous with delicious and high-quality vegetables for families, revealed new survey findings that indicate Friendsgiving is growing in popularity among Americans, with nearly half of the Americans surveyed indicating they plan to attend at least one Friendsgiving event this year. In a survey of 1,000 consumers, timed to the peak week of Friendsgiving, the Green Giant® brand also found that: Bringing veggies to the table - Nearly half of people surveyed said they are planning to bring a veggie dish as one of their contributions to Friendsgiving this year; 26% surveyed say they'll be bringing Green Bean Casserole while 32% surveyed say they'll be bringing Corn Casserole.
Source: prnewswire.com