Walmart surges 9.6% on unexpected sales lift

Germany: Coop and Rewe move closer together
The coop eG Kiel and REWE Markt GmbH in Cologne want to deepen their existing partnership further in the future. Coop is part of a new collaboration to bring business operations and their expertise in a joint venture with REWE. The Coop eG, Germany's largest consumer cooperative in food retailing and based in Kiel, operates approximately 200 Sky supermarkets. (kn-online.de)

Walmart surges 9.6% on sales lift
Walmart shares rocketed 9.6% Thursday after the giant chain posted first-quarter results well ahead of Wall Street's expectations, proving itself to be one of the few retail success stories in recent months. US same-store sales rose 1 percent in the first quarter, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said in a statement Thursday. Analysts predicted a gain of 0.5%, according to Consensus Metrix. Profit amounted to 98 cents a share, beating the 88-cent estimate of analysts. Revenue increased 0.9% to $115.9bn in the period. Analysts were expecting $113.3bn. The company said all of its major international markets saw higher sales - except for the UK, where food prices have been falling. Sales were particularly strong in Canada and Mexico. (esmmagazine.com / usatoday.com)

Asda sales fall for seventh quarter in a row
Supermarket Asda has reported a 5.7% fall in like-for-like sales during the first quarter of the year after facing "fierce competition". It follows a 5.8% slump sales during the previous quarter, which was Asda's biggest sales fall on record. (bbc.com)

International: Walmex and Canada setting the benchmark
Walmart International delivered an improved performance in the quarter, with ten of its 11 markets positing positive comp sales. This was led by Walmex and Canada, with comp store sales up 8.6% and 6.7% respectively. China, which is now Walmart’s fourth largest international market, also saw an improvement, with comp sales up 1.4%. (igd.com)

Coop Sweden awarded for 'wonky' vegetable campaign
Coop has been named this year's most sustainable retail chain at the 2016 Swedish Retail Awards, the company says in a press release. The win has been attributed to Coop's new store formats with a focus on sustainability, along with their "wonky" vegetable campaign. The Retail Awards are organised by the Swedish Trade Organization together with the trade magazine Dagens Handel.

Spain: Carrefour unveils new 'Gourmet Convenience' store
Carrefour has launched a new Carrefour Express store in Calle Hermosilla, Madrid. Launching the new store, Jesús Bermejo, Proximity Director at Carrefour Spain, described it as a "new concept of gourmet supermarket". As reported by revistainforetail.com, the company currently operates three Carrefour Express outlets under this 'gourmet' model, located in wealthy areas of Madrid (Ortega y Gaset, and Gravina). The new shop has a fruit and veg display with a bio section (esmmagazine.com)

Coop names Meier communications officer
Swiss grocer Coop has named Urs Meier as its new chief communications officer, succeeding Denise Stadler, who will take on a new role within the company. (esmmagazine.com)

Target remains focused on turnaround plan
As Target reports slowing comparable sales growth for the first quarter, IGD looks at the progress it's making against its turnaround plan. Please, click here to read more.

AU: Supermarkets sign on to standardised safety audit
Aldi, Coles, Costco, Metcash (IGA) and Woolworths have all signed on to the Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme (HARPS). Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Senator Anne Ruston announced the scheme while officially opening the Produce Marketing Association Australia New Zealand's Fresh Connections in Brisbane this month. (goodfruitandvegetables.com.au)

Lotte Mart Vietnam achieved 30% growth
With 12 stores, Lotte Mart Vietnam reported a growth rate of 30% year-on-year with sales of VND5 tn (US$221.58 mn) last year. The company is looking at more mergers and acquisitions so it can achieve its target of 60 stores by 2020. Lotte Mart Vietnam also plans to expand to convenience stores and e-commerce. In Indonesia, Lotte Mart will expand its retail business in five major cities. (igd.com)

Smart & Final opens 33 stores in California
As part of its growth plan, Smart & Final has opened 33 Smart & Final Extra! warehouse-style grocery stores in California. The locations, which were acquired in December 2015, were previously operated under the Haggen banner. (rebusinessonline.com)

Converted Dia stores post mixed performance for Carrefour
Carrefour has indicated that the performance of the former Dia France stores that it has converted has been varied, with the operating losses relating to the stores amounting to between €50m and €55m. Barclays European Food Retail Equity Research reported that while the conversion process of the stores will be completed by the end of the year, Carrefour management has 'hinted that performances of the converted stores are quite variable'. (esmmagazine.com)

Malaysia: Aeon Co's 1Q net profit falls 42% on lower margin
Aeon Co (M) Bhd's net profit for the first quarter ended March 31 (1QFY16) fell 41.9% to RM28.7 million from RM49.4m a year ago, due to lower margin, higher operating costs, interest expenses and initial costs associated with newly opened stores. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, the group said revenue slipped 2.84% to RM1.08 bn from RM1.11 bn due to weaker consumer sentiments. (theedgemarkets.com)

Walmart grocery store chain could soon come to Canada: Analyst
A retail analyst at Desjardins says Walmart could soon take the supermarket fight to the next level, and open an actual grocery store chain in Canada. Keith Howlett says Canada is a likely place for Walmart to launch its Neighborhood Market chain. Please, click here to read more at huffingtonpost.ca.

Intermarché to open 63 new stores in Portugal by 2020
French hypermarket chain Intermarché will invest €200mn to open 63 new stores in Portugal by 2020 as well as 90 fuel stations.The goal of the investment is to increase market share to 13.5%, from the current 9.9%. This year alone, Intermarché will open ten new stores. (esmmagazine.com)

UK: My Local to dispose of sites
After less than a year in operation My Local, the convenience chain created after the buy out of the Morrisons c-store portfolio, is reportedly looking to sell off some of its sites. According to Sky News there are numerous buyers for the 24 sites earmarked for disposal including the Co-operative group and Sainsbury's, with the first deal possibly being done in the next few days. If the sale does go ahead it will continue the trend of sites switching between retailers. (igd.com)

US: Kroger recalls Simple Truth Organic Frozen Mixed Vegetables
The Kroger Co. is recalling Simple Truth Organic Mixed Vegetables. The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No customer illnesses have been reported to date. (consumeraffairs.com)

UK: Booker Group posts positive full-year results
Booker Group, the UK's largest food wholesaler, has recorded positive full-year results, despite what it describes as 'increasing price competition' in the sector. The group, which purchased the Londis and Budgens grocery chains from Musgrave Group last year, saw its total sales increase by 5%, while profit after tax increased by 9% to £127.8mn. (esmmagazine.com)