Belgium: Colruyt Group posts 3.4% increase in revenue
Ahold Delhaize named interesting acquisition target US
Germany’s grocery market is forecast to be worth €259 billion by 2021, a growth rate of 10.5%, according to new figures from IGD, the international grocery research organisation. The research group reported that all of Germany’s major grocery channels are expected to grow over the next four years, as a result of inflation combined with population growth. It also attributed this to retailers investing more in certain channels. The online channel is expected to see the most growth. IGD report that it will grow by 244.4%, ‘albeit from a small base’. While convenience stores will experience the next fastest levels of growth, 36.4%, discount stores will remain the largest channels in Germany, growing 11.2% during the period to a total value of €89.3 billion. (esmmagazine.com)
Ahold Delhaize is interesting acquisition target in the United States
Analysts expect another acquisition phase in the United States after Amazon acquired supermarket chain Whole Foods. Ahold Delhaize is often named as a possible target. According to business bank Bernstein analyst, Bruno Monteyne, Ahold Delhaize has several options. Its American stores may be an interesting addition to Amazon, which could benefit from an expanded distribution network in American cities. On the other hand, Ahold Delhaize’s European activities would not be of great interest to Amazon, because it would more likely look at British chains Morrison or Sainsbury or French Carrefour if it were to expand here. (retaildetail.eu)
Belgium: Colruyt Group posts 3.4% increase in revenue
Belgium’s Colruyt Group has posted a 3.4% increase in full year revenue to €9.4 billion. The performance was boosted by the acquisition of French foodservice business Pro à Pro, which was completed in February, the retailer noted Excluding the impact from this acquisition, revenue growth was 2.8%. Operating profit was €493.3 million, which was a 2.7% decline on the previous year. Overall net profit, however, was up 4.6%. Colruyt, which is the market leader in Belgium, said that it managed to increase its market share during 2016/17 to 31.7%, up from 31.5% the previous year. (esmmagazine.com)
Swiss Migros plans to modernise Töss supermarket
Swiss retailer Migros has announced that it is reconstructing one of its stores in Töss, near Zürich. The supermarket will be reopened in the autumn.
Reconstruction work will start at the beginning of July. Migros says that special focus will be placed on the optimisation of product presentation to make shopping easier for its customers. (esmmagazine.com)
Chinese JD.com to grow own vegetables
Chinese e-commerce heavyweight Jingdong Group and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings have joined forces to raise vegetables in high-tech hothouses for fresh deliveries to consumers in China. Jingdong, best known for JD.com, will start a vegetable factory in the Tongzhou district of Beijing under a partnership deal agreed on Tuesday. (asia.nikkei.com)
French Auchan expands foothold in Ukraine
Privately-held hypermarket operator Auchan Retail is stepping up its investments in Ukraine, with the acquisition of local retailer Karavan, the French company said on Tuesday. The financial terms of the deal, which must be approved by anti-trust authorities, were not disclosed. Auchan, which is present in 17 countries and makes 65 percent of revenue outside France, operates 11 hypermarkets in five Ukrainian cities and employs 3,600 people. (Reuters)
Italy: Tuodi faced with store stocking problems
Italian discount supermarket chain Tuodi has been having stocking issues in certain stores in the Tuscany and Veneto regions, according to a report by Il Tirreno. The butcher, gourmet and bakery sections of some supermarkets, including Livorno, Pisa and Pontedera, have been closed, while around 190 employees without a permanent contract have received dismissal letters. Tuodi’s owner, regional grocery retailer Dico, has promised that a solution will be found by the end of June. (esmmagazine.com)
US: Fresh Market's CEO resigns
The Fresh Market's chief executive has resigned after less than two years on the job. The Fresh Market announced that Rick Anicetti has resigned as CEO and board member. No reason was given for his departure. Anicetti took the reins of the specialty grocer in September 2015, bringing more than 30 years of experience across a variety of retail functions at Hannaford Brothers Company and Food Lion, where he served as president and CEO. (chainstoreage.com)
Whole Foods CEO hints at another brand under Amazon
After Amazon.com completes its takeover of high-end grocer Whole Foods Market Inc WMF.O, it might launch another brand with different standards, the grocery chain's chief executive said in remarks reported in a securities filing on Monday. Amazon plans to keep the natural grocer's high standards, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey said, adding, "They’re not stupid enough to go change that." The filing contained a transcript of a town hall meeting for Whole Foods employees. But Mackey, at the Friday town hall, said, "Over time, there could be other formats that evolve that - that might - wouldn't be branded Whole Foods Market, potentially, wouldn't be our standards." (Reuters)