New online grocery has ambition for UK-wide roll-out
NZ: New World starts selling pre-chopped vegetables
The 365 by Whole Foods stores scheduled to begin opening in mid-2016 are likely to have a positive impact on Whole Foods itself, John Mackey, co-CEO, told investors Wednesday. “If you’re not willing to attack your own business model, you can’t expect other people not to attack it,” he said. “You have to be willing to disrupt yourself because others are going to disrupt you. “But I don’t think 365 is going to disrupt Whole Foods Market. I think it will actually help the key brand to evolve because the stores are going to introduce some new ideas that will accelerate Whole Foods’ evolution.” (supermarketnews.com)
US: Fresh Thyme Farmers market plans five grocery stores in Omaha
A new-to-Omaha grocery store specializing in fresh produce plans five locations in the Omaha metro area. The fast-growing retailer is building stores in the Midwest within about a day’s drive from a Chicago-area distribution center, and also has plans to open around five stores in Iowa. Please, click here to read more omaha.com.
Natural Grocers plans 23 new stores, while meeting 4Q forecasts
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage plans to grow its store base by nearly a quarter in the coming year, opening at least 20 more stores by October. The Lakewood-based natural and organic grocer laid out the expansion plans Thursday when reporting earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter and year. For the year, Natural Grocers saw net sales grow 20% to $624.7m, with daily comparable store sales up 5.9%. Net income increased 20.3% to $16.2m, with diluted earnings per share of 72 cents for the fiscal year. The company, which went public in 2012, opened 16 new stores during fiscal 2015, one more than in fiscal 2014. Plans for fiscal 2016 call for 23 new stores. (denverpost.com)
South African retailer sees opportunity at DRC-Zambia border
South African-based grocer Fruit & Veg City is planning on setting up a wholesale centre at Kasumbalesa, the border town between the DRC and Zambia, according to the retailer’s head of African operations, Frans van der Colff. He says that sourcing local produce can also be difficult. In Zambia, Van der Colff estimates around 50% of vegetables are sourced locally, while other markets are more challenging and require much more imports from South Africa, which are subject to transport costs and duties. For example, the retailer struggles to source lettuce in Ghana. “And if you do source it, you will probably pay about $7 for the lettuce,” he highlighted. (howwemadeitinafrica.com)
NZ supermarket New World starts selling pre-chopped vegetables
New Zealand supermarket chain New World now sells pre-chopped vegetables, available to purchase in bulk for $NZ9.99/kg, in their Te Rapa and Brookfield stores. “Product is rotated every three days so as to retain maximum freshness and value,” Chris Grace, New World Te Rapa’s Chris Grace told news.com.au. “It’s early days and sales are still quite low but those who do take advantage of our pre-prepared veggies love the convenience and ease.” (news.com.au)
US: Amazon's Prime grocery delivery service expands in California
Amazon said that, starting today, its Prime Now one-hour delivery service is expanding to San Diego and surrounding areas, and just in time for Thanksgiving. This ultra-fast service, offered exclusively as a benefit to Prime members, provides one-hour delivery on tens of thousands of daily essentials groceries and fresh produce. (nasdaq.com)
New online grocery has ambition for UK-wide roll-out
Bearfaced Groceries – the independent online grocery retailer – has launched its grocery courier delivery service to businesses and individuals in the North West, with plans to embark on an ambitious UK-wide roll-out. The company, which is taking first orders from 20 November, is seeking to challenge the ‘big six’ supermarkets in terms of high-quality ingredients, cutting out the middleman between suppliers and customers. Bearfaced Groceries provides an online portal for fresh, affordable food and drink, with an impressive portfolio of suppliers offering fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and alcohol. (retailtimes.co.uk)
UK: Waitrose opens new high-tech store
Leader of Wandsworth Council Ravi Govindia, will open the new Waitrose store at Embassy Gardens, Nine Elms in London. The Nine Elms store will see Waitrose become the first national supermarket in the UK to offer sushi, which will be freshly made in its shops. The new sushi counter will be launched in co-operation with Sushi Daily, the European market leader in sushi bars and counters. Fresh meat and fish service counters, a bakery with an eat-in area, an extensive wine department are available to shoppers. Customers will also have access to services including ‘scan as you shop’, Waitrose Quick Check, and John Lewis click and collect. Orders can be placed online, too, via in store iPads. (nineelmslondon.com)
CEO: Fresh Market moving ‘aggressively’ to stabilize traffic drain
The Fresh Market’s new CEO said Thursday that the company would move “aggressively” on new initiatives designed to strengthen its foundation and stabilize declining store traffic trends after reporting sales and earnings below estimates in the fiscal Q3. “The Fresh Market is a unique brand with enormous untapped potential and I am excited about the opportunity to guide the company's future direction,” he said. “As our management team and board conduct a comprehensive strategic and financial review of the business, we are simultaneously moving forward aggressively with a number of initiatives to strengthen our foundation, increase productivity, drive store traffic, and regain operating momentum. For the Q3, which ended Oct. 25, increased of 3.3% from the same period last year, while comparable store sales declined by 3.7%, reflecting a 3.7% decline in store traffic. Net earnings of $10m were down 32.9% from the same period last year. (supermarketnews.com)
UK: Co-op opens 110 stores in twelve months
The Co-operative Food said the opening of its latest store in London marked the retailer’s 110th store opening in the last twelve months, the largest expansion programme the business has undertaken. It said a further 120 stores are set to open in 2016 as part of its ambitious store development plan. David Roberts, director of estates services at the Co-operative said: “The Co-operative Food has a clear and exciting vision which is to establish itself as the number one convenience store operator, providing a strong customer offer in communities across the UK. As part of this strategy our acquisitions and refit programme is fundamental to its success. (talkingretail.com)
AU: 65% of 7-Eleven stores underpaid, inquiry hears
Two-thirds of all 7-Eleven stores in Australia appear to have been underpaying workers, a Senate inquiry has heard. The panel reviewing wage compensation claims for 7-Eleven workers has received 600 claims since September, panel member Dr David Cousins told a hearing in Melbourne on Friday. He estimated that the claims had come from workers across 400 stores. "What we understand is that it's [underpayment] widespread. We've had claims from every state. It is quite systemic," Dr Cousins said. (smh.com.au)
Google Express service widens to Southern California
Google, the largest subsidiary of Alphabet announced that its Google Express next-day delivery service is expanding further across Southern California. Starting Thursday, Southern California residents can shop from national stores such as Costco Wholesale, Target, Kohl's and L'Occitane en Provence and get next-day delivery, Google said. At the moment, Google Express doesn't deliver fresh groceries. (news.investors.com)
UK: Supermarkets should stock local fruit, says farmer
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Bowie and Suitland just the tip of the iceberg for grocer Lidl in Prince George's County
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