US: Publix notches another double-digit sales gain in Q4
Closing out fiscal 2021, Publix Super Markets turned in its 2nd 4th-quarter double-digit sales increase since the pre-pandemic period. For the quarter ended December 25, sales rose 12.4% to $12.6bln from $11.2bln a year earlier, with comparable-store sales climbing 10.5% year over year, Publix reported. Those increases, which the Lakeland, Florida-based grocer attributed mainly to higher product costs, came atop net and comparable sales growth of 14.8% and 13.4%, respectively, in the fiscal 2020 quarter.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Kroger Fulfillment Network expands with facility in Cleveland region
The Kroger Co., America's largest grocery retailer, announced it will offer more Americans delivery through the addition of a Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC) in a new geography - northeast Ohio. The facility will be powered by the Ocado Group and combine vertical integration, machine learning, and robotics to provide an affordable, friendly, and fast fresh food delivery service as part of the company's seamless ecosystem.
Source: prnewswire.com
Amazon workers get go-ahead for a 2nd union election in New York - organizer
Amazon.com Inc workers at a Staten Island sortation center have been given the greenlight to hold a vote on whether to unionize, according to a labor advocate, in what would be a 2nd potential union election for the retailer in New York.
Source: reuters.com
US: Dollar Tree, Inc. reports results for the 4th quarter and fiscal year 2021
Dollar Tree, Inc. reported financial results for its 4th quarter and fiscal year ended January 29, 2022. 4th quarter results: Consolidated net sales increased 4.6% to $7.08bln from $6.77bln in the prior year’s 4th quarter. Full year fiscal 2021 results: Consolidated net sales increased 3.1% to $26.31bln from $25.51blnn in the prior year. For fiscal 2022, the Company plans to open 590 new stores and to renovate 800 Family Dollar stores. The new stores are expected to consist of 190 Dollar Tree stores and 400 Family Dollar stores. Approximately 350 of the new Family Dollar stores will be in the Combo Store format. Additionally, the Company plans to expand the $3 and $5 Plus assortment to more than 1,500 Dollar Tree stores.
Source: businesswire.com
Lidl surpasses 700 stores in Italy, plans 2 new logistics centres
Lidl has reached the threshold of 700 stores in Italy, following the opening of 42 new openings during its fiscal year 2021/22, which ended on 28 February. In March, the discounter will celebrate 30 years of operating in Italy, with its 1st outlet opening in Arzignano near Vicenza in 1992. In parallel to new store openings, Lidl Italia is also boosting its logistics infrastructure.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Germany: Nearly 1bln HelloFresh meals
HelloFresh once again recorded spectacular growth figures in 2021, after the recipe-kit formula already broke all records in 2020. Sales increased by 60% to 5.99bln euros, delivering 964mln meals in 17 countries. 1 year earlier, the company delivered 601mln meal kits. Not only did the 7.2mln active customers (+37%) order more than before the coronavirus pandemic, they also spent more per order on average.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Gopuff officially launches its instant delivery service in France
After launching its service in the U.K. late last year, Gopuff is officially expanding to Europe starting with France. In addition to the Paris area, the instant grocery delivery service is now live in Marseille, Lille and Toulouse. There are more European countries on the company’s road map, such as Spain.
Source: techcrunch.com
Amazon and India's Future Group agree to talks, aiming to resolve bitter legal dispute
Amazon.com Inc and India's 2nd-largest retailer Future Group have agreed to talks, seeking to resolve legal wrangles at the heart of a battle for supremacy in the country's vast retail sector.
Source: reuters.com
The 1st Chinese retailer among world Top 10: JD.com
According to the report “Global Powers of Retailing 2022” released by Deloitte in late February, JD.com was listed as one of the Top 10 retailers worldwide and the only Chinese company that made the list. The ranking is based on the financial performance and operations for financial years ending within the 12 months from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 (FY2020). With a revenue of over USD94.4bln, JD.com moved up 4 places to enter the Top 10.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Holland: Plus to commence conversion of Coop stores in April
Dutch retailer Plus has announced that it will commence the conversion of Coop stores in April of this year. Coop Gerritsma Heeg will be the 1st store to switch to the Plus banner and will open its doors to the masses on 6 April 2022 as Plus Gerritsma Heeg. The new store features Plus’ new Briljant 2.0 format, with a wide range of fresh products and offers on the shop floor.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Russian retailers limit margins on 'socially-important products'
Russian retailers including Magnit, O’Key and Auchan Russia have said that they are voluntarily limiting margins on 'socially-important' products, such as bakery, dairy, sugar and some vegetables, at 5%. Magnit is limiting margins on 304 commodity items across 27 categories, it said, including beets, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, onions, milk, cottage cheese, kefir, butter, sugar and bread.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Just Eat Takeaway.com posts 2021 loss; might surrender majority in GrubHub
Just Eat Takeaway.com, Europe’s largest meal delivery company, reported a smaller-than-expected full-year core loss and upheld its growth targets for 2022 even as the effect of a pandemic-driven boost in online food ordering wanes. Its shares, which have lost half of their value over the past year, rose 4.4% after the group reported a loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) before of 350mln euros ($389mln), better than the 366mln euro loss forecast by analysts. Revenue rose 33% to 5.33bln euros in 2021.
Source: reuters.com
Missfresh expands China-wide direct-supply vegetable farm network to total more than 1,300 hectares
Missfresh Limited ("Missfresh" or the "Company"), a pioneer in China's neighborhood retail industry, has just signed an agreement to add nearly 70 hectares of land in Luliang County in Yunnan Province to its China-wide vegetable farm network. This increases Missfresh's nationwide network of vegetable farms - which directly supply the Company with fresh vegetables - to more than 1,300 hectares.
Source: prnewswire.com
First-of-its-kind survey shows impact of UK farm shops
Farm shops across the UK generate a massive £1.4bln in sales nationally while employing 25,000 workers, the 1st substantial survey of its kind has shown. The fresh findings were revealed by Harper Adams University at the annual Farm Retail Association Conference.
Source: farminguk.com
European chains Metro, SPAR still active in Ukraine, Russia
German wholesaler Metro and Dutch food retailer Spar International BV said they are still operating in Ukraine and Russia, keeping stores running either by reducing opening hours or paying salaries through international banks.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Poundland acquires Poundshop.com to power national online rollout
Poundland has completed the purchase of online discount retail business, Poundshop.com. The acquisition of Poundshop.com for an undisclosed sum, is another step in the transformation of Poundland and will provide the infrastructure to power a national roll-out of its own pilot ecommerce operation.
Source: poundland.co.uk