Walmart CEO: fresh produce must improve
Kings Food Markets is excited to bring back its exclusive 24 Hour Just Picked Promise this summer, prnewswire.com reports. The program is designed to bring Kings' customers locally grown, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs within 24 hours of being picked – giving shoppers the benefits of a local farm stand in the convenience of their neighborhood food markets. "Each summer, we look forward to bringing the Just Picked Promise Program to our customers," said Kings Food Markets' CEO. "This exclusive program allows us to deliver the freshest produce available from our shoppers' local community. As soon as customers see the Just Picked Promise seal, they know they are purchasing high quality products just like what they find at their local produce stand."
Metro: Shoppers not ready online groceries,
Despite an increase in online advertising, consumers aren’t yet ready to do their grocery shopping via the Internet, the president and CEO of Metro said Wednesday, montrealgazette.com reports. Only a small minority of Canadians are buying groceries online, Eric La Flèche said at an investors’ conference. However, he added that countries with populations similar to Canada have seen long-term potential.
US: Target beats street in Q1
Target reported a solid first quarter Wednesday as the effects of its turnaround plan under CEO Brian Cornell start to take hold, usatoday.com reports. Target reported earnings of $635m, up more than 50% from the same period last year. Sales were $17.12bn, with a 2.3% increase in sales at stores open at least a year. Analysts expected sales of $17.1bn, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
UK: Food sales lift M&S profits
Marks and Spencer (M&S) said pre-tax profits rose 6.1% to £661.2m for the year to 28 March, the company’s first profit rise in four years, talkingretail.com reports. The retailer said its food division had an “outstanding” year. It opened 62 new Simply Food stores during the period, with performance “ahead of expectations”. On a like-for-like basis, food sales rose 0.6% over the year, while general merchandise sales were down 3.1%.
Walmart CEO: fresh produce must improve
Steve Bratspies, executive vice president of food for Walmart U.S. said that it's doubling down “to get better in the fresh business.”. “People are eating more fresh food in their diets today, thecitywire.com reports. Sometimes it’s intentional but in others is more natural and has evolved over time. We are going to continue to see significant growth in the fresh food business for the foreseeable future,” Bratspies said. He said Walmart has expanded its global sourcing offices so it can provide fruits and vegetables year-round to its U.S. shoppers. The retailer has staffed up in San Antonio, Texas, so it can focus on how to compete with H-E-B in fresh. Bratspies said store workers are being trained and retrained on how to handle fresh products with the primary rule being if they wouldn’t buy it it’s not suitable for customers.
UK: Booker to buy Londis and Budgens grocery store chains
Britain's biggest cash-and-carry wholesaler Booker, has agreed to buy the Londis and Budgens chains to expand its network of grocery and convenience stores and tap into changing consumer habits, Reuters reports. Booker said on Thursday it would pay 40m pounds to buy the two chains from privately owned Irish food wholesaler Musgrave Group.
Spain: Carrefour steps up its commitment to local producers!
“Carrefour Spain is stepping up its commitment in relation to local producers, internationalsupermarketnews.com reports. Their products are used to adapt our ranges so that we can cater to the tastes and customs of various regions throughout the country, says Rafael Arias Salgado, president of the Carrefour Group in Spain. Last year, Carrefour Spain worked with 9400 Spanish companies – around 4000 of which were small and medium-sized businesses. SOCOMO – the Group’s central buying office for horticultural products – distributed 416,000 tonnes of Spanish products in 2014.
AU: Coles updates on strategic priorities
Coles' Managing Director, John Durkan, has given an update on the retailer's strategic priorities at Wesfarmers strategy day, retailanalysis.igd.com reports. A couple of his priorities are: 1. More compelling stores for its customers - 2. Consistent and high quality fresh food - 3. Enhanced customer service - 4. Improvements to online and convenience
French Intermarché modernises operations
Intermarché, part of Les Mousquetaires, has published its logistics transformation plan, designed to modernise its operations in France, supplychainanalysis.igd.com reports. The plan aims to transform Intermarché’s operations, focusing on updating and automating its facilities, many of which are out-of-date and inefficient. Intermarché will also focus on sustainability and transparency throughout its supply chain. Intermarché will restructure its distribution network by closing six warehouses.
Spain joins Sendik's as produce director
Sendik’s Food Market on Wednesday announced the hiring of industry veteran Dan Spain as produce director, supermarketnews.com reports. Spain, who most recently was VP of sales and marketing for Kingsburg Orchards, Kingsburg, Calif., will procure product, build grower relationships and set strategy for Sendik’s “best-in-class” produce operations, the Milwaukee-based company said.