Holland: Retail turnover up by nearly 2% in February
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 1.6% higher in February 2025 than in February 2024. Turnover in shops selling food, beverages and tobacco was up by 1.5% in February, year on year. Sales volume was 3.6% lower. Turnover in supermarkets was up by 1.2%, and turnover in specialty shops was up by 3.6%.
Source: cbs.nl
Belgium: Colruyt Group increases its stake in Smartmat NV to 100%
Colruyt Group reported: "Since February 2022, Colruyt Group has held a 41,36% stake in Smartmat NV ("Smartmat"), a company specialising in meal boxes under the Foodbag brand. In April 2025, Colruyt Group NV will increase its interest further to 100% by acquiring the 41,36% stake currently held by Korys Investments NV ("Korys") and the final 17,28% interest held by the remaining founders".
Source: press.colruytgroup.com
'We won't be beaten on price' Lidl launches Easter veg pledge as it slashes Easter prices to just 15p ahead of Easter
Lidl reported: "With Easter just weeks away, Lidl has announced it is slashing the prices of its Easter Pick of the Week deals to just 15p, making the retailer cheapest on the market and saving shoppers up to 89% per item. Available from the 15th April in stores nationwide, popular staple items including Carrots, White Potatoes and Green Beans have all been reduced just in time for savvy shoppers looking to put on a show stopping spread this Easter Sunday. The full Pick of the Week deals: Carrots (1kg) - 15p; White Potatoes (2 kg) - 15p; Green Beans (220g) - 15p; Swede (per item) - 15p; Parsnips (500g) - 15p; Spring Onions (per bunch) - 15p".
Source: corporate.lidl.co.uk
Aldi is selling cheapest Easter veggies with prices starting from just 15p
Aldi reported: "Shoppers can hop to Aldi to fill their Easter baskets with the cheapest veggies where prices start from just 15p. Aldi's Easter Super Six includes all the Easter favourite veg shoppers need which will be available in stores from 15th-19th April and until 20th April in Scotland. Aldi's Easter Super Six: Nature's Pick White Potatoes (15p, 2kg) - was £1.35, savings 89%; Nature's Pick Carrots (15p, 1kg each) - was 69p, saving 78%; Nature's Pick Broccoli (15p, 360g each) - was 79p, saving 81%; Nature's Pick Spring Onions (15p, 100g) - was 69p, saving 78%; Nature's Pick Loose Garlic (15p, each) - was 37p, saving 59%; Nature's Pick Cucumber (59p, each) - was 89p, saving 34%".
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
France: Carrefour acquires convenience retailer Magne, to open more stores this year
French supermarket group Carrefour announced the acquisition of French convenience retailer Magne, which owns 101 stores in the south-east of France. Carrefour also plans to open 400 of its own convenience stores this year, compared with the 250 initially planned, the company added in a statement.
Source: reuters.com
Perthshire's Taylor Snacks partners with M&S
M&S reported: "Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Perthshire-based supplier, Taylors Snacks, have announced a significant partnership, resulting in the launch of the exciting new "Extreme Ridge" crisp range now available in 900 M&S stores across the UK and Ireland. This collaboration has also generated 30 new jobs at Taylors Snacks".
Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com
UK food group Greencore to buy rival Bakkavor in $1.6bln deal
Convenience food manufacturer Greencore agreed to buy rival Bakkavor in a deal valued at 1.2bln pounds ($1.55bln), to create a convenience foods giant in Britain. Greencore has offered to buy Bakkavor for 200 pence per share in a cash and stock deal, after being rebuffed twice, at a premium of nearly 6% to its last bid of 189 pence.
Source: reuters.com
Bulgaria: Organizers of boycott against supermarket chains express support for Agriculture Ministry's Agrifood Chain Bill
© Rogier Peterse | HortiDaily.comThe organizers of the boycott against supermarket chains expressed full support for the agrifood chain bill drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. This transpired during a round table discussion on "Food Chain Markups: Problems and Solutions" held at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia. "The drafting of this bill is a success of the boycott and of all Bulgarian citizens who showed civic activism and demanded that the state finally intervene in the regulation of prices of basic food products", said Maya Manolova, former ombudsman of Bulgaria.
Source: bta.bg
US: Natural Grocers shares the Ladybug Love
As Earth Month - also known as April - kicks off, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is teaming up with the nonprofit Rodale Institute for the retailer's annual Ladybug Love campaign. Through the initiative, Natural Grocers encourages local communities to pledge to protect beneficial insects and advance Rodale Institute's mission to help farmers implement regenerative organic agricultural methods.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Brazil's St. Marche prepares recovery while negotiating sale
Struggling with debt due to high interest rates and inflation in Brazil, the upscale supermarket chain St. Marche is working with advisors on a private debt restructuring, according to media reports. The company plans to file an out-of-court recovery plan in April to restructure approximately R$640mln (€102mln) in debt owed to financial creditors. The plan focuses on debt held by the operating company, Hortus, and the holding company, STM Participações, and aims to secure support from at least one-third of the creditors, as reported by the Brazilian daily Valor Econômico.
Source: esmmagazine.com