U.S. e-grocery sales hold steady for March
The U.S. online grocery market totaled $8.7bln in March, the same as in February but down 6.5% from a record high of $9.3bln a year ago, strategic advisory firm Brick Meets Click reported. E-grocery sales through pickup in March came in at $3.8bln, down 5% from $4bln in February and an 11.6% decline from $4.3bln in March 2021, according to the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Costco posts 19.1% U.S. comp-sales gain in March
Costco Wholesale finished the calendar-year 1st quarter in March with its 3rd straight month of double-digit net and comparable sales gains. For the 5 weeks ended April 3, net sales surged 18.7% to $21.61bln from $18.21bln in the prior-year 5-week period, when sales were up 17.6%, Costco said. The warehouse club chain noted that the 2022 March retail reporting month had an extra shopping day versus a year ago because of the Easter calendar shift, which lifted net and comp sales by 1.5% to 2%.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Amazon calls for election re-run after workers voted for 1st U.S. union
Amazon.com Inc called for an election re-run after workers at a New York City warehouse voted to create the company's 1st U.S. union, saying that the U.S. labor board and worker-organizers suppressed turnout.
Source: reuters.com
US: PriceSmart announces record fiscal 2022 2nd quarter operating results
PriceSmart, Inc., operator of 49 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one U.S. territory, announced record operating results for the fiscal second quarter of 2022, which ended on February 28, 2022: Net merchandise sales exceed $1bln. Net merchandise sales grew by 12.6%. Comparable net merchandise sales grew by 10.3%. Membership base and renewal rate increased to record levels. Operating income increased by 7.4%. $1.03 diluted earnings per share.
Source: prnewswire.com
CEO Boudewijn van den Brand leaves Lidl Belgium
Lidl Belgium is getting a new CEO: Boudewijn van den Brand, the Dutchman who led the discounter for 8 years, is leaving on 22 April. His successor is already known. According to business newspaper De Tijd, van den Brand will remain in function until 22 April. As of 1 May, he will be succeeded by Matus Gala, the CEO of Lidl Slovakia. Lidl confirmed the unexpected news without giving any further details.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Spain: Caprabo opens 2 stores in Barcelona
Retailer Caprabo is continuing its expansion throughout Catalunya with the opening of 2 new supermarkets in the province of Barcelona. One of the stores is located in the El Raval area of the city, with the other new opening located in the town of Esparraguera.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Dutch retailer PLUS unveils 1st converted Coop store
Dutch retailer PLUS has said that the conversion process of former Coop stores is set to take place at a 'brisk pace' this year, as it announced the opening of its 1st revamped outlet in Heeg, Friesland. The retailer plans to convert approximately 70 Coop stores over the course of this year, with a total of 300 set for conversion overall.
Source: esmmagazine.com
JD Logistics Europe spotlights integrated supply chain solutions for global brands
The “Leaders in Logistics 2022” summit was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, where more than 60 logistics industry leaders around the world gathered to deliver key speeches on cutting-edge technology in the logistics industry. At the summit, Kannon Qian, GM of JD International Logistics Europe, shared his insights on how the world’s leading logistics companies, operators, retailers, and logistics professionals are working in today’s market.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
UK: Asda under pressure after pay rise lags behind Tesco and Sainsbury’s
Asda is under pressure to raise pay for its shop floor workers after wage increases at Tesco and Sainsbury’s left the Leeds-based chain as the UK’s lowest paying supermarket. Asda, the UK’s 3rd largest supermarket chain, pays workers a minimum of £9.66 an hour, or £10.83 in London, making it the only big chain to pay less than the independently verified living wage of £11.05 in the capital and £9.90 elsewhere.
Source: theguardian.com
Shopper confidence in UK 'hits a new low', IGD report finds
Shopper confidence has hit 'record lows' in the UK, the latest Shopper Confidence Index from IGD ShopperVista has found, following a further decline in the past month. The Index score for March fell from -18 in February to -23 in March, despite a slight peak halfway through the month, when it looked like oil prices may come down.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Partnership joins forces with Home-Start UK to support family volunteers
New research shows ‘fussy eating’ and complaints about nutritious meals from children can lead to parents dreading mealtimes. Worries about their children’s eating is one of the top anxieties for today’s parents. The survey, which questioned parents from across the UK with children aged 2-18, revealed that 56% struggle to get their child to eat a healthy balance of fruit, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates.
Source: waitrose.pressarea.com
China: E-commerce platforms, couriers in Shanghai multiply supply channels to ensure food, daily necessities
The e-commerce platform Hema Fresh, in cooperation with Ele.me, has launched an emergency channel for residents in over 5,000 compounds and the RT-MART supermarket that Ele.me cooperates with can supply 1,000 tons of vegetables and fruits in Shanghai, according to Xiao Shuixian, senior vice president of Ele.me.
Source: globaltimes.cn
E.Leclerc the big winner in France in March, says Kantar
French market leader E.Leclerc saw a 0.6 percentage point increase in market share in the period from 21 February to 20 March, according to Kantar, with its share now sitting on 22.4%.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Aldi named Britain's most popular supermarket
Aldi is officially the nation’s favourite supermarket, according to the latest polling data from YouGov. Shoppers rated the UK’s lowest-priced supermarket ahead of M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury’s in the study.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UAE: Right Farm raises USD2.8mln in seed funding round led by DisruptAD
Right Farm, a disruptive UAE-based B2B digital platform that sources fresh produce from local and international farms for the food and retail sector, announced it has raised USD2.8mln in its seed funding round. DisruptAD, ADQ’s venture platform, and Enhance Ventures, the venture studio for the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Turkey (MENAPT) region, led the seed equity funding round, investing USD2.8mln (AED10.2mln) in the AgTech company.
Source: zawya.com
Japan's Seven & i to reshape board as part of focus on global expansion
Japanese retailer Seven & I Holdings Co said it would revamp its board of directors as it seeks to accelerate overseas growth. The operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores has been under pressure from activist fund ValueAct Capital to make structural reforms and sell off assets.
Source: reuters.com