Retail news compilation
Tesco opens Farm food-to-go concept
Tesco has added to its growing portfolio of food-to-go ventures with the opening of 'Farm' in London, IGD Retail Analysis reports. Farm's mission is to offer "food we love from farms we trust" and this is well communicated in store with imagery of the 'creators' it sources from and messaging to tell the story of how it has scoured the UK to find the best products which are then cooked by 'people who care'.
Tesco Ireland appoints new chief executive
Phil J Clarke, a 40-year veteran of Tesco, who was appointed chief executive of Tesco Ireland less than two years ago, is leaving the company, irishtimes.com reports. He will be replaced next month by Andrew Yaxley, currently the managing director of Tesco’s London business.
Tesco criticised by doctors
Tesco has been criticised by doctors and dieticians after it emerged that its “sweet free” checkout aisles – designed to help prevent children pestering parents into buying sweets and chocolate – still contain crisps, independent.co.uk reports. Doctor and science writer Ben Goldacre tweeted: “There is only one explanation. Someone in Tescos is a joker.”
Canada: Fresh organic foods shaping Metro makeover
Metro Inc.’s newest supermarket, a prototype store in Toronto, devotes 60% of its space to fresh foods, including prepared fare, compared with 40% in regular Metro stores, theglobeandmail reports. "Fresh food is important because it can generate up to 20% higher gross margins than packaged goods", a member of the company said. Metro is spending $300 mln overall on its stores in 2015, much of it to upgrade conventional stores. That’s up from $250 mln last year when investments were more heavily directed to improving the retailer’s Food Basics discount outlets.
Russia's Lenta raises $225 mln for store openings
Russian budget hypermarket chain Lenta has raised $225 mln via an oversubscribed share sale, signalling investors are betting on food retail stocks to weather an economic crisis as squeezed Russian consumers seek cheaper goods, Reuters reports. Lenta said the new funds would help finance more store openings.
Most trusted company H-E-B quietly buying land Texas
H-E-B has quietly been gathering acreage in North Texas while building stores in Houston and San Antonio that redefine the traditional Texas supermarket. The San Antonio-based grocer has bought at least a dozen locations in the region. A full-blown expansion north seems like a natural step to everyone else in Texas, but the business did not make it to the top of its game by rushing into anything, dallasnews.com reports.
Study: H-E-B most trusted company in US
Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, H-E-B took the top spot in the 2015 Temkin Trust Ratings, which rates the trust that consumers have with 293 companies across 20 industries, cnbc.com reports. Retailer Publix is ranked number six.
New Delhi among top retail hotspots
New Delhi has retained eighth position among Asia Pacific's top retail hotspots, according to an assessment of established and emerging retail markets in the region, warc.com reports. Global property consultancy CBRE examined how many new retail entrants there were in 2014 and found New Delhi attracted 19 global retailers. However, the established market of Tokyo attracted the highest number of new retail entrants (63), followed by Singapore. Overall, the region had 464 new retail entrants last year, up 23% from 2013, and US retailers made up almost a quarter (24%) of the total. British and Italian retailers accounted for 11% each followed by French retailers with 10.5%.
Walmart India extends online wholesale
Walmart India today extended the reach of its online wholesale platform to members in Jammu, the tenth city where it has launched the e-commerce facility for its trading partners, indiatimes.com reports.
Woolworths remains Australia’s most valuable brand
Woolworths Limited has managed to retain its status as Australia’s most valuable brand, despite a considerable decline in its value during the year, fool.com.au reports. According to a report issued by Brand Finance, which lists Australia’s top 100 brands, Woolworths kept its position at the top of the list with a value of $10.96 billion, down 10% from its $12.12 billion value last year.
Carrefour launches new digital solution
Carrefour Belgium has launched the Connected Kitchen device, which allows users to scan products and add them to a shopping list; it also responds to spoken commands and recognises competitors' products. Other retailers - Waitrose and Auchan - are already using similar devices to help drive loyalty with their online shoppers, IGD Retail Analysis reports. In Romania, Carrefour is set to relaunch its online grocery platform by the middle of 2015.
Carrefour Brazil launches Instituto!
Carrefour Brazil has launched Instituto! The Instituto! Carrefour is a non-profit philanthropy body with the aim of promoting diversity and reducing social inequality in Brazil, esmmagazine.com reports.
Bestway launches 'The Great Rebate'
Bestway has announced the launch of its key annual Spring/Summer trade promotional campaign for 2015, IGD Retail Analysis reports. 'The Great Rebate' aims to drive sales and penetration of category best sellers through independent retailers, with ongoing programmes of promotions on key lines over a six month period.
Portuguese opt for hypermarket shopping
Some 70% of Portuguese consumers opt for hypermarkets in search of lower prices, claims a study by the Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection (DECO). Price is by far the largest factor dictating the choice of establishment (80% of cases), followed by proximity, variety and price, esmmagazine.com reports.
Retailer Spar Slovenija revenue up, profit flat
Retailer Spar Slovenija posted revenue of €729.6 mln for 2014, up from € 727.3 mln in the year before, english.sta.si reports. "2014 was a good year for us," general manager Igor Mervič told the press on Wednesday.
Denmark: Retailer Irma most sustainable
The supermarket chain Irma has been named the most sustainable brand in Denmark, according to the 2015 Sustainable Brand Index, cphpost.dk reports. “The reasons are the chain's sharp focus on organic food products and a goal to be 50 percent organic in ten years.”, the CEO of Sustainable Brand Insight said.
UK: Clipper agrees ten-year John Lewis deal
Logistics giant Clipper has agreed to provide The John Lewis Partnership with "a range of retail support services" from a new distribution centre under a ten-year agreement, insidermedia.com reports. The new DC in the Milton Keynes area will provide more than 300,000 sq ft of capacity.