Billa invests over €56mln in 2024 to expand presence in Bulgaria
Supermarket chain Billa has invested BGN 110mln (€56mln) since the start of 2024 in Bulgaria to boost its market presence in the Balkan country. The company, part of REWE Group, has spent nearly BGN 60mln (€31mln) in store expansion and renovations, and over BGN 50mln (€25mln) on a new logistics centre.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Lidl GB sees highest increase in shopper visits across the sector as it celebrates 30 years
Lidl GB reported: "As it celebrates 30 years since opening its first stores in GB this month, Lidl has revealed it experienced the highest growth in customer visits of any supermarket last year. As the fastest growing supermarket for more than a year - an unparallelled accomplishment - shoppers also switched half a billion of spending to the discounter from other grocers. In the financial year ending 28th February 2024, earnings before interest and tax [EBIT] increased to £220.8mln (FY23: £28.5mln) and revenue increased by 16.9% from £9.3bln to almost £11bln (Lidl, y/e 29 February 2024). It saw particularly strong category growth across its fresh produce (+22%) becoming the fastest growing grocery retailer across the fresh fruit, veg and salad market, whilst bakery grew from 10.8% to 16% in the last 10 months, taking the discounter from 4th to 2nd largest retailer in the category (Kantar, 12 and 52 w/e 03 November 2024). Lidl accelerates expansion with 18 new stores set to open in the next few months followed by 40 in next financial year".
Source: corporate.lidl.co.uk
Carrefour Italia focuses on franchising and Italian organic products
Carrefour Italia is implementing a recovery strategy focused on franchising expansion and its 'Act for Food' programme. This follows a disappointing summer and a 3.5% drop in first-half sales to €2.06bln, while third-quarter turnover is also expected to be weak.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: This is the show-stopping new M&S Plymouth Derriford store
Marks & Spencer reported: "Marks & Spencer has officially opened its amazing new Plymouth Derriford store. The new store offers customers a fresh market-style Foodhall, with displays brimming with great quality, trusted value produce from M&S Select Farms".
In other news: Transformed M&S Brixton Road store reopens to customers.
Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com
Australia: Supermarkets make plastic problem worse with cheap pre-packaged produce, report finds
Big chain supermarkets are fuelling Australia's plastic problem by charging significantly less for fresh produce that is pre-wrapped, a new report reveals. The Australian Marine Conversation Society (AMCS) and Boomerang Alliance have conducted an audit of supermarkets, focusing on five fruit and vegetable products. Its report shows customers are being charged less for plastic-wrapped fresh produce 73% of the time. The audit found potatoes cost customers on average 53% more to buy loose than packaged in plastic. "It encourages people to buy more packaging and more plastic because they see it's a cheaper price", AMCS plastics campaign manager Cip Hamilton said.
Source: abc.net.au
Ireland: SuperValu parent Musgrave Group reports record turnover in FY 2023
Musgrave Group has exceeded €5bln in annual turnover, with profit after tax amounting to around €104mln in its financial year 2023, according to media reports. Musgrave Group, which operates the SuperValu and Centra franchises, reported a 6% year-on-year increase in revenue, while pre-tax profit amounted to €128mln - up from €116mln in full year 2022.
Source: esmmagazine.com
AF Blakemore & Son onboard as DLT and IoT solution aims to decarbonise UK's transport logistics sector
Digital Catapult has announced the results of a pilot programme it delivered to address the environmental impact of empty trucks on roads across the country. The initiative trialled a new solution to decarbonise the transport logistics sector, demonstrating a potential to cut CO2e emissions by 15-30%.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
UK: Focus on automation and self-service as Marks & Spencer renews and expands services contract with Diebold Nixdorf
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has renewed and increased the scope of its services contract with Diebold Nixdorf for an additional four years. The agreement includes support services for the entire store estate, managed services for self-checkout technology and self-order terminals in the digital cafés, implementation services for M&S stores and distribution centres, and software services.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Japan: Funding for Seven & i founding family buyout will be finalised by end December, say sources
Funding for the proposed buyout of Japan's Seven & i Holdings by its founding family will be finalised by the end of December and will involve Japan's three largest lenders, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
Source: reuters.com
SPAR International and Circana global partnership to deliver curated data insights
SPAR International announced a key partnership with Circana, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior. This agreement marks a milestone in the SPAR international network of utilising data insights to enhance its digital customer-centric strategies.
Source: spar-international.com
US: Roundy's settles with Wisconsin trade agency for just over $1mln
Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc. agreed to a settlement with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) for just over $1mln. The grocer allegedly committed 1,202 short-weight package violations and 90 package label violations. Food products recorded by DATCP as short-weight included precooked meals, salad kits, store-packaged sandwiches, premade cold platters, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fish filets, and others.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Canada: Grocery and drugstore retailer Metro reports $219.9mln fourth-quarter profit
Metro Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit of $219.9mln, down from $222.2mln a year earlier when its fourth-quarter included one more week. Sales or the 12-week period ended September 28 totalled $4.94bln compared with $5.07bln for the 13-week period ended September 30, 2023.
In other news: Metro to open dozen discount stores in 2025.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Co-op grocer Chicago Market plans 2025 opening in Uptown
The member-owned grocery store Chicago Market is preparing for construction as it expects to open next year in Uptown's historic Gerber Building, formerly home to the CTA's Wilson station. The 13,000-square-foot store at 4618 N. Broadway is being touted as the city's largest cooperative grocer once it opens.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
US: Target misses Q3 earnings expectations, lowers guidance
Target's third-quarter sales of $25.2bln were down nearly 1% from a year ago, missing some analysts' expectations. Operating income fell 11% to $1.2bln, while net earnings declined 12.1% to $854mln year over year, the company said.
Source: grocerydive.com