Study: How retailers can boost fruit sales
Ahold Delhaize Q1 beats expectations
ICA Gruppen has reported continued growth in sales of eco-labelled, organic & and ethically labelled range products. Sales in these categories from ICA's central assortment grew 8% over the past 12 months. (esmmagazine.com)
Ahold Delhaize cuts costs to beat first-quarter expectations
Retail group Ahold Delhaize reported on Wednesday a higher-than-expected operating profit in the first quarter, aided by cost savings that offset weaker sales in the United States. It reported a first-quarter operating profit, adjusted for one-off items, of €604m ($657.76m), above the average forecast of €589m in a Reuters poll. Ahold Delhaize said it also expected profit margins for 2017 as a whole to be above those of last year. US sales dropped 1.8%. The company said it saw prices falling in both markets, but added that it expected the sales performance to pick up in the coming quarters. Sales in the Netherlands increased by 3.3% in, while its Belgian stores saw a 0.6% drop. (Reuters)
Study: How retailers can boost fruit sales
A new comprehensive review by food researcher Brian Wansink shows how retailers can boost sales of healthy foods. "Traffic interrupter" displays in the middle of aisles increase one-day sales of overlooked vegetables by 400%, according to the study results. Placing healthy items at eye level turns out to be a good tactic in any part of the store, from interior aisles to fruit displays at the checkout, according to Wasnsink. "Displaying, and even sampling, fresh fruit at the front of the store will also boost fruit sales". Please, click here to read more at supermarketnews.com.
Lidl Portugal gets new CEO
Massimiliano Silvestri has taken over as chief executive of Lidl Portugal, a position previously occupied by Afroditi Pampa. In a press statement, the Portuguese retailer said that the Italian manager takes over the helm of the Portuguese arm of the business after 15 years with discounter. Lidl Portugal plans to invest €70m this year to open six new stores and reformulate 70 existing stores. (esmmagazine.com)
New healthy meal range launched at Ocado and Amazon Fresh
Having successfully launched initially on Amazon Fresh in February 2017, my healthy kitchen is now available at Ocado, and will soon be listed in Waitrose stores nationwide. My healthy kitchen, a new brand from Samworth Brothers, has just been listed in Ocado – and will soon launch in Waitrose stores nationwide. My healthy kitchen is a fresh approach to the classic ready meal, combining wholesome ingredients with internationally inspired recipes to create quick, tasty meals for health-conscious consumers with no more than 500 calories per meal. (retailtimes.co.uk)
Second MyAuchan opens in Paris
Following on from what the retailer has described as a ‘positive performance’ of its first MyAuchan store, where turnover has risen by 25% since its conversion, Auchan has opened its second location in Paris. The retailer said volume sales has risen by 30% at the first MyAuchan, with the difference in growth rates underlining its continued investment in prices. (igd.com)
Lidl's investing €250,000 in new Irish suppliers
German retailer Lidl has launched a programme targeted at small and medium-sized Irish food and drink producers which will see up to 100 of them supply a guaranteed volume of their produce for a limited time. (newstalk.com)
Bosnia and Herzegovina retailers perform strongly in 2016
Four of the top five grocery retailers in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended 2016 with a profit, according to local news portal Capital. Tuzla-based Bingo was the most profitable, ending the year with a profit of BAM 67m (€34.2m), followed by locally owned retailer FIS, which recorded a profit of BAM 33.3m (€17.0m), Robot with BAM 7.3m (€3.7m) and Tropik with BAM 3.37m (€1.7m). Konzum, owned by Croatian retail consortium Agrokor, was the only one to end 2016 in the red, posting a loss of BAM 42.1m (€21.5m). (esmmagazine.com)
Auchan pilot outlet in Cambodia ready for roll-out
In Cambodia, Aeon opened its first grocery store in late 2015. The retailer has decided to expand to 30 stores in the next three years. Aeon is developing a second large scale shopping mall in Cambodia, expected to be ready in early 2018. (igd.com)
Coop Danmark partners with Too Good To Go
Coop Danmark is partnering with Too Good To Go, using the latter’s app to encourage shoppers to purchase items that are going out of date for up to 75% off standard prices. The service will be available in 40 Kvickly, SuperBrugsen and Daglibrugsen stores, while extending to over 100 stores by the end of the year. (igd.com)
US: Aldi spends $30M on DC-area remodels
With rival German discount grocery Lidl planning to open its first Washington-area stores this summer, Aldi is busy polishing up its stores in the region through a $30m remodeling program. Aldi says it will eventually complete makeovers at 30 stores in the Washington area by 2018, with a modern and more open look and feel, and larger produce, dairy and bakery sections. It is part of a nationwide $1.6bn investment in its U.S. stores Aldi announced in February. (wtop.com)
US: Downbeat quarter expected for Whole Foods
Investors hoping for any hint of what is next for struggling Whole Foods Market might want to tune in to the organic grocer's fiscal second-quarter earnings call after the closing bell Wednesday. "This is another highly anticipated report given recent activist involvement," Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh said in a note Monday. According to Thomson Reuters, the Street is forecasting Whole Foods will once again report a decline in same-store sales, or comps. If that happens, it would be the seventh consecutive quarter of negative comps. (cnbc.com)
CA: No Frills tells shoppers to get the frill out of their bill
No Frills says there’s a price to be paid for those fancy in-store musicians, chalkboard artists and produce items stacked like pyramids: higher grocery bills. A new national marketing campaign—No Frills’ first in about six years—urges consumers to “get the frill out of their bill,” with an aim to demonstrate the banner’s commitment to quality food at low prices. Click here to read more at canadiangrocer.com.
Walmart to settle a bribery probe for $300m
Walmart Stores is preparing to pay about $300m to settle a probe of bribery by its employees in markets including Mexico, India, and China, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. (fortune.com)
US: All Marsh Supermarkets stores to close if no buyer is found
All Marsh Supermarket locations will close if the company does not find a buyer within the next 60 days. Marsh issued a WARN notice dated May 8 from Vice President of Legal Affairs Ben Habegger to Carmel Mayor James Brainard. Hagebber gave a list of 16 stores in danger of closing. Marsh officials say those are the ones they are required to notify the state about because they have 50 or more employees, but all 63 Marsh stores are in danger of being shuttered. (theindychannel.com)
US: Ingles Q2 earnings slow
A calendar shift in Easter holiday sales, milder winter weather and higher expenses triggered a 36.1% decrease in net earnings despite total sales improvements at Ingles Markets during the fiscal second quarter, the company said. The retailer reported sales for the period, which ended March 24, improved by 2.4% to $946.2m, while comparable-store sales, excluding fuel, declined by 0.3. Net income for the quarter totaled $9.2m, compared with $14.4 in last year’s second quarter. (supermarketnews.com)
US: Peapod meal kits grown 250%
Peapod said that sales of its meal kits have grown 250% in the last year. Peapod has recently been extending its prepared meal kit offer to include a Mexican range, developed by Conagra Brands. (igd.com)