China: Alibaba to invest $15.5bln for "common prosperity"
China's Alibaba Group will invest 100bln yuan ($15.5bln) by 2025 in support of "common prosperity", it said, becoming the latest corporate giant to pledge support for the initiative driven by President Xi Jinping.
Source: reuters.com
Amazon, food, postal deliveries hit as Australian lockdowns bite
Some of the world’s longest Covid-19 lockdowns are finally hitting Australia’s food and household-goods supply lines. Amazon.com Inc. said a surge of internet purchases in Australia by people forced to stay at home is putting pressure on its distribution network, and delivery times are lengthening.
“We’re working to increase our operational capacity to address this issue”, the company said in a statement.
Source: bloombergquint.com
Singapore: A new supermarket experience at CS Fresh!
When it comes to grocery shopping in Singapore, Cold Storage is an easy pick - especially for its impressive selection of premium meats, fresh produce and international products. If you’re looking for a supermarket in Orchard, you’ll be pleased to know that CS Fresh Gold has opened its doors in Paragon. The store will join Cold Storage’s lineup of premium supermarkets at Altez, Great World and Guthrie House.
Source: expatliving.sg
Wholesaler Metro to cease operations in Myanmar
Wholesale giant Metro has announced the decision to discontinue its foodservice distribution business in Myanmar, citing volatile investment and business environment in the Southeast Asian nation. The company will close operations in Myanmar by the end of October 2021.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Express delivery service Cajoo eyes Belgium
French express courier Cajoo wants to expand into other European countries from next year, with 1 of the options being Belgium. Some of the capital and expertise needed for this expansion comes from Carrefour, which recently became a minority shareholder. "For now, our ambition is to consolidate our position in France", co-founder Henri Capoul tells Sifted. Cajoo already has more than 100,000 users in 10 French cities and operates from 20 'dark stores'.
Source: retaildetail.eu
SPAR UK MD Louise Hoste announced as new Chair of the UK Association of Convenience Stores
The UK Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has announced the appointment of SPAR Managing Director Louise Hoste as its new chair from November. Louise Hoste will succeed Central England Co-Operative Chief Executive Debbie Robinson as chair of the board.
Source: spar-international.com
Hard discounter Mere is also on its way to France
The Russian hard discounter Mere, which announced major expansion plans in Western Europe earlier this year, has made its plans for the French market tangible. The chain wants to open 3 stores in October and aims for branches in all major French cities.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Grab launches GrabSupermarket Fresh in the Philippines
Grab has officially expanded its delivery services to fresh produce and meats with the launch of GrabSupermarket Fresh on GrabMart. Sourcing fresh pantry and kitchen staples direct from reputable farmers and local suppliers, GrabSupermarket Fresh has partnered up with farmers and suppliers all across the country from Pangasinan to Bukidnon to deliver farm-to-table produce that is as fresh as possible.
Source: yugatech.com
UK: Ocado to hire 1500 new staff as it opens 2nd-largest robotic fulfilment centre
Ocado is set to create 1500 new jobs as it officially opens its 6th UK automated customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Purfleet. Ocado Retail, which is also celebrating the one-year anniversary of its joint venture with Marks & Spencer, says that operations have officially commenced at the new location.
Source: chargedretail.co.uk
Australia: The start-up delivery services promising groceries at your door in 15 minutes
Voly has launched in the past fortnight, promising delivery in Sydney's inner city within 15 minutes with the aim of "teleporting the grocery store" to customers with a flat delivery fee of $2.99. They have around 1500 items to choose from. A full-service supermarket has between 20,000 and 25,000 lines. Co-founders Thibault Henri and Mark Heath have supply chain, logistics and food experience between them. "We deliver groceries in 15 minutes; we do the pick and pack in our store here in 3 minutes", Mr Henri said. "We've got about 1500 products and that's increasing every day. You can get everything from your fruit and veg to your cleaning products all the way to your baby products," Mr Heath said.
Source: 9news.com.au
France’s favourite supermarket revealed
With their wide range of fresh fruit and veg and extensive cheese and charcuterie selections, French supermarkets are popular with visitors - but which chain do the French themselves prefer? E. Leclerc is the nation’s favourite supermarket, according to the study conducted by OpinionWay for Bonial. Of around 5,000 people surveyed, 23% listed Leclerc as the place where they do the majority of their shopping. Carrefour came second, favoured by 21% of people, followed by Intermarché (12%). German discount retailer Lidl came in 4th with 9%, although 45% of French people had done some of their shopping in Lidl over the past year.
Source: thelocal.fr
Chilean retailer Cencosud plans IPO of Brazilian unit
Chilean retailer Cencosud filed for an initial public offering of its Brazilian unit, as it plans to expand its operations in Latin America's biggest economy, according to the offering prospectus.
Source: reuters.com
US: Costco Wholesale Corporation reports August sales results
Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) reported net sales of $15.75bln for the retail month of August, the 4 weeks ended August 29, 2021, an increase of 16.2% from $13.56bln last year. For the 16-week 4th quarter ended August 29, 2021, the Company reported net sales of $61.4bln, an increase of 17.4% compared to net sales of $52.3bln during the similar period last year. For the 52-week fiscal year ended August 29, 2021, the Company reported net sales of $192.1bln, an increase of 17.7% from the $163.2bln during the similar period last year.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Buyk launched ultra-fast deliveries in New York City
Russian owned Buyk has launched its ultra-fast delivery offering in New York City. The Russian retailer Samokat-owned delivery firm is offering deliveries within 15 minutes of ordering in most of Manhattan, a statement from the firm reveals. Founded in 2018, Samokat has raised $46mln in venture capital funding to start its planned global expansion. Buyk is the first such move outside of Russia.
Source: apex-insight.com
Canada: Goodfood collaborates with Microsoft to enable technology platform at 1st automated local fulfillment centre in Ottawa
Goodfood Market Corp. (“Goodfood” or “the Company”), a leading online grocery company in Canada, announced that it had leased its 1st tech-enabled local fulfilment centre in Ottawa with automation capabilities able to deliver 4,000 products on a same-day or faster basis. Goodfood continues collaborating with Microsoft to build customized technology solutions enabling cutting-edge order orchestration and delivery processes.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Walmart hikes hourly pay by $1 for more than 550,000 workers ahead of the holidays
Walmart said that it is raising the hourly wages for more than 565,000 store workers by at least $1. Employees who work on the front end of Walmart stores and in its food and consumable and general merchandise departments will receive the higher wages, which will be effective September 25. The retail industry faces a tight labor market as it prepares to staff up for the holidays.
Source: cnbc.com