US: February online grocery sales get lift from same-day services
After declines in January, U.S. online grocery sales in February rose 2.4% from sequentially and 8.5% versus a year ago, according to the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey. The U.S. online grocery market hit $8.7bln for February, up from $8.5bln in January and $8bln in February 2021, strategic advisory firm Brick Meets Click said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Amazon opens 2nd Whole Foods store with cashierless technology
Amazon is expanding the availability of its “Just Walk Out” autonomous checkout experience in its Whole Foods Market grocery chain. Amazon is now offering the experience at a new Whole Foods location in Sherman Oaks, California. Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” tech leverages a combination of computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning - similar to what is used in a self-driving car - that enables shoppers to shop the store, select products and skip the checkout when they’re done.
Source: chainstoreage.com
US: Impossible Foods taps Chobani executive as new CEO, founder Pat Brown steps down
Impossible Foods founder Pat Brown is stepping down as CEO, and Chobani’s departing operating chief Peter McGuinness will take the helm of the company. Brown will continue working at the company as chief visionary officer and will report to the board.
Source: cnbc.com
US: Dollar General's same-store sales slid 2.8% in fiscal 2021
Dollar General's comp sales fell in the 4th quarter of fiscal 2021 and for the full fiscal year, although full-year comp sales were up 13.5% on a 2-year stack, the Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based discounter reported. In the company's fiscal 4th quarter, which ended January 28, comp sales were off 1.4% year over year. For the full year, the decline was more pronounced, with sales at stores open at least a year falling 2.8% vs. fiscal 2020.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Freshlocal secures new funding from the government of Canada focused on improving grocery services for Albertans
Freshlocal Solutions Inc. ("Freshlocal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Prairies Economic Development Canada ("PrairiesCan") has agreed to provide funding of $4.4mln (the "Funding") to the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Organics Express Inc., operating as SPUD Alberta, to expand its operational capacity in Alberta and further enhance its FoodX eGrocery Management Solution ("eGMS").
Source: newswire.ca
Amazon Fresh, Target aim for sustainability goals with net-zero carbon stores
2 of the nation’s leading retailers - Amazon and Target Corp. - announced that they are seeking net zero certification from the International Living Future Institute for 2 of their store locations as they continue to take steps to meet their sustainability goals.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Getir raises $768mln in Series E funding at $11.8bln valuation
Getir, the pioneer of ultrafast grocery delivery, announced the close of its $768mln Series E funding round, bringing the company's valuation to $11.8bln and cementing its position as a decacorn. Led by Mubadala Investment Company, the round included Abu Dhabi Growth Fund (ADG), Alpha Wave Global, Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global as major investors. With this latest investment, Getir becomes Europe's 1st grocery delivery decacorn, having raised $2bln to date.
Source: prnewswire.com
UK facing double-digit inflation, John Lewis head predicts
The boss of John Lewis and the supermarket chain Waitrose has said the UK is facing double-digit inflation as the war in Ukraine exacerbates the soaring cost of living, with prices rising in the supply chain and on shelves. The prediction from Sharon White, chair of the John Lewis Partnership, comes with UK inflation ready at a 30-year high of 5.5%, and expected to rise to almost 8% in April, when household energy bills will soar by hundreds of pounds.
Source: theguardian.com
Portugal: Sonae Q4 profit rises 46%, sees challenges ahead
Sonae, which owns Portugal’s largest food retailer, said 4th-quarter net profit rose 46% after most coronavirus restrictions were lifted, though challenges linked to rising inflation and war in Ukraine loom. Sonae, whose businesses range from food retail to telecoms, earned 109mln euros ($120.40mln) from October to December, up from 75mln euros a year earlier, when the pandemic still restricted private consumption. Consolidated sales rose 6.7% to 2bln euros in the 4th quarter, it said in a statement.
Source: reuters.com
France: Everli relies on franprix to deploy its personal shopper service in Paris and Lyon
Everli, Europe's leading grocery marketplace, teams up with franprix to offer its users even more choice and to provide access to its unique personal shopper service to franprix's clients. Everli customers will be able to shop online at franprix and specify to a personal shopper what they want (a well-baked baguette, a ripe avocado, etc.). Once in the shop, the personal shopper will carefully select the products and deliver them within 2 hours.
Source: prnewswire.com
Abu Dhabi-based supermarket operator Lulu Group plans RM420mln investment in Melaka
Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group International plans to invest US$100mln (RM420mln) to open a chain of supermarkets and export centres in Melaka within 3 years. Lulu chief operating officer Saleem V I said the investment includes the cost of several hypermarkets and supermarkets throughout Melaka in the next 2 or 3 years.
Source: theedgemarkets.com
France: With Uber Eats, you can get more than 6000 Carrefour products delivered to your door in under 30 minutes
Carrefour and Uber Eats are celebrating 2 years of working together and on 21 March are launching a profile-raising campaign, reminding consumers that they can shop at Carrefour via their Uber Eats delivery app. Central to the campaign’s design was the decision to use iconic and highly recognisable components featuring in both brands: the Uber Eats delivery bag and the Carrefour sign - a simple way to convey to people that they can have a wide selection of products (up to 6000) delivered to them via the Uber Eats application in 15 to 30 minutes.
Source: carrefour.com
UK: Sainsbury’s opens new store on Hampstead High Street
Sainsbury’s has welcomed customers through the doors of its new Hampstead High Street Local. Colleagues held a small ceremony to cut the ribbon and launch the new 1,938 sq. ft. store, which will be open from 7am-11pm 7 days a week. The store will stock an excellent range of fresh food, fruit and vegetables, meat-free options and grocery staples as well as Sainsbury’s delicious selection of sandwiches and ‘food to go’.
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
JD.com data: Sales boom for agricultural products in the mid-spring
Online shopping in rural areas has increased rapidly on JD.com in recent years. Before the spring equinox of 2022, which falls on March 20 this year, “green consumption” such as agricultural products, gardening and plants increased significantly. Recently, JD’s Consumption and Industry Development Institute released a report featuring analysis on green consumption.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
UK: Aldi responds to Aberystwyth supermarket refusal
Supermarket chain Aldi says it is ‘bitterly disappointed’ after the Welsh Government rejected its plans to build a new store in Aberystwyth. The plans to build a new supermarket along Park Avenue on the derelict site of the former Kwik Save and Cambrian Garage, which would have created 40 new jobs in the town, were blocked by the Welsh Government over potential flooding concerns.
Source: cambrian-news.co.uk