7-Eleven to more than double US footprint

French grocers report double-digit growth in organic sales -
Organic food sales in France are set to rise by 20% in 2016, the fastest pace in seven years, as farmers and retailers expand in the segment, an organic food group said on Wednesday. Some 200 new specialist organic stores opened in the first half, supporting a 25 percent rise in sales in specialist outlets, it said. Supermarkets have also reported double-digit growth in organic sales, with Agence Bio estimating a first-half rise of 18 percent. (Reuters)

7-Eleven parent company to more than double US footprint
7-Eleven's parent company has revealed big plans for the United States. Seven-Eleven Japan Co. expects to more than double its store count in the United States, increasing its current portfolio of 8,500 to 20,000 stores, President Kazuki Furuya said, according to the Japan Times. Seven-Eleven Japan also plans to grow its footprint in Japan, from 19,000 stores to more than 20,000, the report added. (snews.com)

UK: Morrisons offers students 10% off groceries
Morrisons is giving students a 10% discount on food and drink, including beer and wine, in the first such move by a “big- four” supermarket. It has linked up with the student discount specialists UNiDAYS to trial the scheme in all of its 492 UK stores. (theguardian.com)

US: Albertsons to expand e-commerce
Albertsons plans to add click-and-collect and delivery at its Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, United Supermarkets, Acme Market and Star Market banners using MyWebGrocer’s platform, MyWebGrocer announced. Digital sales at Albertsons’ Safeway subsidiary currently make up the bulk of Albertsons’ online business. The retailer also offers delivery at Albertsons stores in selected markets. (supermarketnews.com)

Germany: Kaiser's Tengelman to close dozens of stores
The German retail chain Kaiser’s Tengelmann faces liquidation. According to media reports the Kaiser’s Tengelmann owner, Karl-Erivan Haub, intends to close dozens of stores and wipe out up to 8,000 jobs by January 1, 2017. As usual, the ver.di trade union was notified in advance and has advised the company’s management. A roundtable involving ver.di, together with Kaiser`s Tengelmann and the two retail giants Edeka and Rewe, has been organised to ensure a smooth winding down of the stores. (wsws.org)

Sweden: Axfood offering online delivery
Sweden’s Axfood launched its next phase of e-commerce development, offering shoppers online delivery and click & collect through its Hemköp supermarket format. The service is initially available in three stores, Stäket, Torsplan and Djurgårdsstaden. The retailer said: "in the long term, the plan is that more stores in the chain around Sweden offer e-commerce." (igd.com)

Tesco Direct offers free next-day click and collect
Free next-day click and collect for all Tesco Direct orders will be available at 2,500 stores across the UK, with no minimum order charge. Tesco has announced it is dropping the minimum order charge and introducing free next-day click and collect orders across its Tesco Direct range. (igd.com)

US: Target in $5 billion share repurchase program
Target Corp. on Wednesday announced its board has authorised a $5 billion share buyback plan. “Today’s announcements reinforce Target’s longstanding commitment to thoughtfully returning cash to shareholders while continuing to prioritise investing in our business,” said Cathy Smith, Target’s executive vice president and CFO. “Given our current pace of share repurchase, this new authorisation will allow for seamless execution into 2017.” (chainstoreage.com)

US: World’s deadliest spiders found in ASDA bananas
Dozens of the world’s deadliest spider were found crawling out of a bunch of ASDA bananas, it has been claimed. Brazilian wandering spiders - among the most venomous in the world - were discovered when a family was unpacking shopping from ASDA. According to reports ASDA has since apologised to the family and promised a full investigation. (newsletter.co.uk)

US: Thousands of M&S staff to lose jobs if they reject pay deal
Thousands of workers could lose their jobs at Marks & Spencer if they do not agree to changes to their pay and pensions, according to an MP. Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, said a leaked document from M&S showed the clothing and food retailer was prepared to cut in-store jobs if employees did not accept new terms. (theguardian.com)

Auchan Romania finds itself in difficult situation
Officials of the French retailer Auchan, which has over 10,500 employees in Romania, said that the situation in the local labour market is extremely difficult. This is especially true for counties like Cluj, Timis, and Sibiu. Auchan has big problems in finding employees in several cities, reports local Ziarul Financiar. (romania-insider.com)