"Rabobank: "70% chance for Ahold

Edeka cements top position in Germany
German market leader Edeka has strengthened its top position in the country by reporting a two% sales growth to €47.2bn in 2014, esmmagazine.com reports. While the supermarket industry stagnated somewhat in Germany last year, Edeka's sales rise was driven by its independent retailers, which now total 4000 and generated revenues of €23.4bn in 2014, up 3.6%. Edeka's discount arm Netto enjoyed a 2.2% increase in sales to €12.0bn in 2014.

Rabobank: "70 % chance for Ahold - Delhaize merger"
Rabobank's analysts have told investors to buy Delhaize's share: its value could rise 39 % compared to its price prior to the Ahold merger rumours, retaildetail.eu reports. The bank is extremely confident about what Ahold and Delhaize could realize together and feels there is about 70 % chance the merger will go ahead. "It is now or never" is how Rabobank's financial analysts describe the merger talks between Delhaize and Ahold.

Carrefour’s Turkish wing acquires 85% of local supermarket chain
CarrefourSA on Friday in a written statement announced it had signed a deal to acquire an 85% of stake in Turkish supermarket chain Kiler for TRY 429.57m, bgnnews.com reports. The agreement will be completed after the required approval is secured from the authorities, the company reported to the Public Disclosure Platform.

French Auchan invests in an online grocery retailer in China
Sun Art Retail Group Ltd., a Chinese joint venture of French supermarket chain Groupe Auchan SA and retail and financial services conglomerate Ruentex Group of Taiwan, has acquired a 54.5% stake in FieldsChina.com, an online grocery store, internetretailer.com reports. Sun Art is one of the largest grocery chains in China by sales.

Tesco agriculture director Tom Hind steps down
Tesco agriculture director Tom Hind is stepping down – little more than 18 months after taking on the role at Britain’s troubled food retailer, fwi.co.uk reports. “We can confirm Tom Hind will be leaving Tesco,” a spokesperson for the supermarket chain confirmed to Farmers Weekly. Mr Hind joined Tesco in November 2013 with a remit to develop the supermarket’s relationship with farmers and producers across the UK and around the world.

Carrefour Romania freeze prices in May
As announced last week by the retailer, Carrefour Romania has frozen all food prices since 1 May in preparation for the application of Emergency Ordinance which will reduce the VAT on food and non-alcoholic beverages to 9%, dailybusiness.ro reports. The only two exceptions to the price freeze are products that are on promotion or certain types of fruits and vegetables, where prices may be subject to variations due to the products' seasonality, said company representatives. The price of fruit and vegetables depends on the country of origin, shipping costs and the volumes available on the market. In this respect, Carrefour highlighted that it imports fruits and vegetables only when a Romanian alternative is not available.

Hungarian petrol stations boost retail after Sunday shopping ban
Petrol stations in Hungary, including OMV and MOL, are working on boosting their retail segments, esmmagazine.com. Following the compulsory Sunday closure of retailers that operate on more than 200 square metres, a Hungarian-owned group operating petrol stations, MOL, is changing its strategy. The law adopted in December 2014 provides for several exemptions, including retail units at airports, train stations and petrol stations, among others. Since 15 March, approximately 100 new products, mostly basic foodstuffs, have been added to the shelves of MOL´s 170 petrol stations in Hungary.

Irish Dunnes plans autumn launch of its online grocery service
Dunnes Stores is gearing up for an autumn launch of its online grocery service, the Irish Independent reports. It has now also applied for planning permission to make alterations to its flagship outlet, at Cornelscourt in south Dublin, to prepare the store for fulfilling online deliveries. Industry sources also said that meeting a target of an autumn launch will be challenging for Dunnes.

CA: UFCW vote for strike at Loblaws
The United Food and Commercial Workers union says its members working at Loblaw Companies Ltd. in Ontario have voted 97% in favour of strike action, mississauga.com reports. The strike votes at locals 175 and 633 took place after the union broke off talks on May 5. The two UFCW locals represent 28,000 grocery workers employed at Loblaws Great Food and Superstore, Zehrs, Zehrs Great Food and Superstore, and Fortinos. The locals say the main issues are wages, work schedules, benefits and they're seeking improvements and limits on third party providers.

CA: Loblaw boosts its business with Port of Halifax
Loblaw Companies Ltd. has changed its distribution chain for inbound cargo, meaning more containers will be coming through the Port of Halifax, thechronicleherald.ca reports. Karen Oldfield, president and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority, talked briefly about the partnership with Loblaw at the authority’s annual general meeting Friday. “What it means is more of Loblaw’s total offshore shipments will now arrive directly in Halifax, which for Loblaw means a more efficient supply chain, allowing them to better serve their customers in Atlantic Canada,” Oldfield said.

US: Kentucky Proud product sales exceed Kroger's expectations
Kentucky Proud members and a Kroger official say the state's farm marketing program has been a success at the supermarket chain's stores, wcpo.com reports. They say they've seen positive results in the first six months of the partnership between the chain and Kentucky Proud members.

US: Whole Foods to test its cheaper concept in the Northwest
Whole Foods Market will pilot at least two editions of its new value-focused format in the Northwest, kgw.com reports. Just where in the Northwest remains a mystery, but Denise Breyley, Whole Foods' Northwest forager, told a Portland audience Thursday they will soon get a chance to investigate the new offering, slated to roll out in 2016.

Nielsen: Hungarian retail food sales grow 5%
Retail food sales rose 5% reaching HUF 490 bln during the period from last December to March of this year, market research company Nielsen told MTI last Friday, bbj.hu reports. In volume terms, retail sales increased 4%.

Slovenia: Mercator Group ends Q1 with €12.2m operating profit
Slovenia-based retailer Mercator Group ended the first quarter of the year with an operating profit of €12.2m, a three-fold increase on Q1 2014, resulting from higher revenue and lower costs, esmmagazine.com reports. Net profit for the period amounted to €4.1m, while revenue reached €628.7m, up 0.6% year on year. Total investments amounted to €6.7m.

New sales director at Metro Cash & Carry Croatia
Tomislav Smolčec has been appointed Director of Sales and Associate Member of the Management Board, responsible for the sales channels of METRO Cash & Carry in Croatia, esmmagazine.com reports. In the new position, he will be responsible for the further development and implementation of strategy.

Raley's supports creation of urban farm
Raley’s Supermarkets said Friday it has formed a partnership with the Center for Land-Based Learning to help develop an urban farm in its headquarters city of West Sacramento, Calif., supermarketnews.com writes.

Dia doing well in Latin America
DIA has begun 2015 well in emerging markets, with a 30% increase in net sales for Q1 2015 (note emerging markets include operations in China), retailanalysis.igd.com reports. . Despite a tougher business environment to date than in 2014, DIA says it continues to gain market share in Latin America and is performing strongly.