Green light to Edeka deal for Kaiser's
India: Amazon grocery test to kick off while Walmart plans expansion
Sainsbury’s sales over Christmas were better than expected in the latest sign that Britain’s supermarkets are fighting back against the German discounters Aldi and Lidl. Sainsbury’s sales over Christmas were better than expected in the latest sign that Britain’s supermarkets are fighting back against the German discounters Aldi and Lidl. Sales at stores open a year or more fell 0.4% in the 15 weeks to 9 January, Sainsbury’s said in a trading update. Analysts had expected sales to fall by 0.7% at established stores. The Sainsbury’s CEO, Mike Coupe, said: “We have traded well during the festive period in a highly competitive market.” (theguardian.com)
India: New Amazon grocery trial to kick off
According to local press reports, Amazon is set to launch its online grocery service in Bengaluru at the start of 2016. The trial will be a hybrid of its 'Kirana Now' service, which launched in March 2015, whereby it currently delivers grocery items to shoppers via independent retailers, who are listed just like marketplace sellers on its website. It is understood that Amazon has also partnered with local supermarkets to offer around a dozen collection points. (igd.com)
India: Walmart to open 15 more stores and agricenter
Walmart India said it plans to open 15 more cash and-carry stores in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Apart from this the supermarket giant will set up a center for sourcing agricultural items from small and medium businesses. (internationalsupermarketnews.com)
CarrefourDrive to be offered in all Hypermarkets and Markets
According to gondola.be, in order to quickly expand their CarrefourDrive network, Carrefour has simplified their collection points by developing an application. Once clients have ordered their products on CarrefourDrive.be, they go to the collection point, they activate their Bluetooth (or GPS on their smartphone) and park in the designated space. The person preparing orders is informed that the client has arrived and within 5 minutes has put the order in the boot of their car. Carrefour aims to offer this service as quickly as possible in all of their Hypermarket and Market stores.
Germany: Green light to Edeka deal for Kaiser's
German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he would approve plans by the country's biggest supermarket group Edeka to buy grocery chain Kaiser's, owned by retail group Tengelmann, but only as long as Edeka provided job guarantees for around 5 years. "We're talking here about people who work hard but don't get especially high pay for it. These people should have a secure job for as long as possible," Gabriel said. Germany's competition watchdog had last year stopped the plan. (Reuters)
Shoprite first-half sales growth slows on SA weakness
Shoprite Holdings, Africa’s largest grocer, said first-half revenue growth slowed to 8.8% from 13% a year earlier as sales at supermarkets in South Africa underperformed those elsewhere on the continent. “After an improved second quarter driven by good festive season trading, the South African supermarket operation increased sales by 7.2%,” the Cape Town-based company said in a statement after the market closed on Tuesday. In Africa, outside of its home market, sales increased by 15%, Shoprite said. (moneyweb.co.za)
Vietnam: Auchan opens 15 stores in HCMC
French supermarket chain operator Auchan said it has planned to open more than 15 stores in HCMC in 2016, bringing total amount of stores in HCMC to 18. Auchan has set a target to develop its stores to 20 by 2020. (saigon-gpdaily.com.vn)
Myanmar: IFC endorses City Mart expansion
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will lend US$25m to Myanmar’s largest retail group City Mart (CMHL), which is aiming to build a raft of new stores across the country. The IFC loan will help City Mart construct around 20 new stores across Myanmar in the next three years. (mmtimes.com)
Portugal: Jerónimo Martins announces net sales growth
Portuguese retailing group Jerónimo Martins has revealed its net sales grew by 8.3% to reach €13.7bn in 2015, adding that the sales delivery of its Biedronka, Pingo Doce and Recheio banners were consistently sound throughout the year. The offer enhancement in Biedronka led to strong volume growth, which compensated for basket deflation registered in the year, and company sales rose 9.2% to €9.2bn. Pingo Doce delivered growth of 5.4%, fuelled by 4.6% like-for-like sales growth (excluding fuel), while Recheio sales grew by 4.1% to €832m. Meanwhile, Ara reached sales of €122m and ended the year with 142 stores in two regions. (esmmagazine.com)
Fairway facing potential stock delisting
As a result of trading below $1 per share for 30 consecutive business days, Fairway Group Holdings is facing a potential delisting from the Nasdaq stock exchange. (supermarketnews.com)
US: Aldi wants healthier checklanes with nuts and dried fruit
Aldi will introduce healthier checklanes stocked with single serve nuts, trail mixes, dried fruit and granola bars instead of chocolate and candy in nearly 1,500 locations by year’s end, it announced Tuesday. "By introducing Healthier Checklanes and through a number of other initiatives, we are doing our part to remove temptation at checkout and stocking stores with even more nutritious options," said Jason Hart, CEO of Batavia, Illinois-headquartered Aldi, in a statement. (supermarketnews.com)