M&S boss leaves, while trialing more food and less fashion

India: Amazon to enter grocery world in February with ‘Kirana Now’
Amazon is readying for an official launch of its grocery arm Kirana Now next month. The e-retailer will test the waters in the R20 lakh crore ($308bn) Indian grocery space with a hybrid model that is both inventory-led and allows for direct pick-ups. Kotak Institutional Equities (KIE) estimates the size of the opportunity for organised (including online) retailers at R3.4 lakh crore. (financialexpress.com).

Marks & Spencer's CEO to step down in 2016
The CEO of Marks & Spencer, Marc Bolland, has announced that he plans to retire in 2016, to be replaced by Steve Rowe, the group’s executive director of General Merchandise. Bolland will remain in his position until 2 April, with the full transition scheduled for 30 June. The news comes on the back of that the retailer says it was its ‘best ever’ Christmas for food sales, with sales up 17% in the key Christmas week. According to the UK retailer, which also boasts outlets in Ireland, France and a myriad of other countries, third quarter food sales were up 3.7% or 0.4% on a like-for-like basis, compared to the previous year. (esmmagazine.com)

Marks & Spencer aims at more food and less fashion in stores
Marks & Spencer has begun a trial scheme to increase the size of its food halls and cut back on the space it devotes to fashion as its clothing sales continue to slump. The retailer has already lined up eight stores where it will increase the amount of floorspace for its upmarket food range over the next six months. It is now examining how many more could be rejigged to bolster its struggling sales and profit performance. (theguardian.com)

US: Kroger carries more local products
Kroger is meeting the increased consumer demand for more locally made products in a big way. In natural foods, produce, meats, the deli-bakery, grocery and floral shops, Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic is expanding its supply of locally made products. The customer demand for local products is growing, said Susan Terry, natural foods sales manager. “We are listening to our customers, and they are telling us that they want to buy local. “It’s a win-win situation,” she added. “When we carry local products, it’s good for farmers, producers, the community, and, of course, Kroger.” The concept, she says, is like a community-focused market. (montgomery-herald.com)

Home Retail shareholders tell Sainsbury's to return with higher bid
Home Retail Group’s third largest shareholder has said that he is confident Sainsbury’s will return with a higher offer, but urged the supermarket to reward investors who have patiently supported the group's turnaround efforts. (telegraph.co.uk)

UK John Lewis chief sceptical over Sainsbury, home retail tie-up
The head of John Lewis department stores is sceptical over the merits of combining J Sainsbury Plc with Home Retail Group, saying a union between the UK retailers wouldn’t replicate the attributes of his company’s grocery and non-food stores. (esmmagazine.com)

Choppies to acquire 21 more stores in SA
Local retail giant, Choppies Enterprise Limited, is acquiring South African retail outlets owned by Jwayelani, which owns 21 stores in Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. (mmegi.bw)

Lidl to create 500 jobs at new East Devon DC
Lidl has announced it will create 500 new jobs with a new distribution depot in East Devon. Lidl is set to buy Sainsbury's land holding at Clyst Honiton near Exeter with the potential to create hundreds of jobs in the area. (westernmorningnews.co.uk)

US: SpartanNash to take over supply for Gordy's
SpartanNash said Wednesday that it has signed a long-term contract to be the primary wholesaler to Gordy’s Market, the largest locally owned and operated grocer in Western Wisconsin. Gordy’s will be serviced out of SpartanNash’s St. Cloud, Minn., distribution center. (supermarketnews.com)

US: Wisconsin independents make asset swap
Wisconsin independents Gordy’s Market and Mega Co-op have announced an asset swap whereby Gordy’s will acquire three Mega Co-Op stores while the latter will acquire 14 Gordy’s Express convenience stores and fuel centers. (supermarketnews.com)

Coop Schweiz 'holds on' in tough conditions
Coop Schweiz has reported group turnover of CHF25.9bn (€23.9bn) for 2015, down 4.6% in nominal terms, but up 1.4% after adjustments. Coop's retail businesses reported a fall of 2.1% in turnover, in nominal terms, but an increase of 0.9% in real terms. Coop's online businesses reported turnover of CHF1.2bn (€1.1bn). Grocery business coop@home saw turnover up 5.5% to CHF120m (€111m). Coop's private label ranges performed well during the year, particularly those with strong regional, sustainable and organic credentials. (igd.com)

India: Raheja Group sets out expansion plans
The group that owns the Hypercity and Shoppers Stop retail banners in India has announced plans to invest Rs5.25bn (US$80m) over the next three years. The group will use the money to expand its footprint, with nine new Hypercity hypermarkets and 18-21 Shoppers Stop department stores due to open over the next three years. (igd.com)

Southeastern grocers cuts prices on produce
Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie, is implementing a new campaign that will cut prices on 400 grocery staples, including fresh produce, meat, dairy, and more. “Down Down,” the company’s new pricing program, will reduce prices by up to 50% on items marked by the retailer’s Big Red (helping) Hand throughout the store. (andnowuknow.com)

Univerexport first retailer in Serbia to introduce ESL for fruit/veg
Univerexport has become the first Serbian food retailer to implement electronic shelf labelling (ESL). The technology has been introduced at Univerexport’s newest store, which opened last November at the Aviv Park Shopping Mall in the Belgrade district of Zvezdara. It is currently only being used in the store's fruit and vegetable department. (esmmagazine.com)

Online retail giant Flipkart starts talks with investors to raise $1.4bn
Flipkart has started talks with investors to raise about $1.4bn (Rs 9,200 crore), four people aware of the development said, as it keeps up its fundraising spree and tries to cement its leadership in the online retail market. US-based Sands Capital Management, two direct sources said, is in talks to lead the round with funding of $700m. Existing investors are expected to bring in an equal amount. Flipkart declined to comment and Sands Capital did not immediately reply to emailed queries. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)

Carrefour opens Hypermarket in Guangzhou, China
Carrefour has opened a new hypermarket in Guangzhou, the capital and largest city of Guangdong province, in southern China. The Carrefour Zhongshan Xinyue opened on 28 December, boasting a sales area of 6,900 square metres and 18 checkouts, as well as a parking area with 700 spaces. The French retailer continues to expand its presence in China, with the Guangzhou opening coming just over a month after it opened a hypermarket in the city of Xiangyang, in the Hubei province. (esmmagazine.com)