US: Costco stocks ‘GoodFarms’ blueberries, strawberries and organic strawberries
The Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), a nonprofit that brings together workers, growers and retailers in the effort to produce safer, more responsibly grown fruits and vegetables, today announced that the GoodFarms brand will debut its craft blueberries, craft strawberries and organic strawberries from EFI-certified farms at Costco locations on the West Coast, Northeast and in Hawaii. (businesswire.com)
Spain: Lidl starts campaign to promote vegetable consumption
Only 11% of the Spanish adult population eats the five recommended portions of fruits and vegetables, according to a study by Lidl Spain. The results inspired Lidl to launch a new campaign, 'Frutitour', to make consumers aware of the importance of including vegetables in their diet. Frutitour will cover around 70 municipalities. Lidl is the largest buyer of Spanish produce, in 2015 the company bought €3bn worth of local products. (esmmagazine.com)
US: Haggen stores officially join Albertsons
Albertsons Cos. said Thursday Haggen has officially become part of a standalone business unit under Albertsons' ownership. The company will operate 15 stores in Washington under the Haggen Northwest Fresh banner, while 14 Haggen stores in Washington and Oregon that Haggen had acquired in 2015 from Albertsons will transition back to the Albertsons banner in the next few weeks, the company said. (supermarketnews.com)
Seven & i buys CST stores in US push
Seven & i Holdings Co., the world’s largest convenience store operator, will buy 79 gas stations and convenience stores in California and Wyoming from CST Brands Inc., but won’t bid for the entire company even as it seeks to expand in the US to offset slowing demand in Japan. (bloomberg.com)
Lidl opens 15 stores across Lithuania
German-owned retailer Lidl Lietuva on June 2nd opened its first 15 stores in Lithuania, the 26th market where the chain operates, informs LETA/BNS. (baltic-course.com)
Acquired A&P's boost Ahold 1Q results
Ahold said Wednesday the addition of 25 former A&P stores in the New York metropolitan area late in 2015 was the main contributor to overall sales growth for the first quarter. The Netherlands-based company also said results were enhanced by ongoing investments in its consumer proposition in the U.S., including upgrading its produce, bakery and dairy departments; broadening its Nature’s Promise natural and organic brand; and completing a new round of price investments on over 1,000 items toward the end of the quarter. (supermarketnews.com)
Ahold, FTC still talking divestitures
While Ahold said it continues to expect to complete its merger with Delhaize by mid-2016, it is still in discussions with the FTC and is not sure how many stores it may have to divest, Dick Boer, Ahold chairman, president and CEO, told investors Wednesday. Asked whether the company expects to dispose of 83 stores, Boer said, “It’s still unclear which stores really need to be disposed of, [though] the number of stores impacted by the merger is rather limited.” (supermarketnews.com)
Walmart to start testing grocery delivery through Uber, Lyft
Walmart Stores Inc. will begin testing the delivery of groceries using Uber and Lyft drivers, aiming to match the convenience of services offered by Amazon.com Inc. and other e-commerce companies. The retailer will start trying out Uber in Denver and Lyft in Phoenix within the next two weeks, Walmart’s chief operating officer of e-commerce, Michael Bender, said in a blog post. The company previously began a pilot program in March using Deliv to deliver Sam’s Club groceries and other merchandise in Miami. (esmmagazine.com)
Lidl almost triples its profit in Romania
German discount supermarket chain Lidl saw a turnover of EUR 1.06 billion last year, up 21.5% compared to 2014. Its net profit amounted to EUR 38.7 million, 2.8 times higher compared to the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. The company had a network of 192 stores last year. (romania-insider.com)
Lawson convenience chain looks to expand in US market
Japan’s second largest convenience store operator, Lawson Inc., has announced plans for expansion into the US market, as the company increases its overseas expansion efforts. A report from The Japan Times stated that the chain has set a goal to increase its number of overseas outlets by purchasing chains in the U.S. The chain plans to achieve this expansion within the year. (cstoredecisions.com)
Supermarket price wars deflate UK grocery costs
The total cost of a basket of groceries continued to fall last month, allowing shoppers to enjoy a sustained period of discounting on popular items. A basket of 35 consumer goods cost £82.59 in May, compared with £86.60 year on year, the lowest price record since the mySupermarket Groceries Tracker began in December 2014. (retailgazette.co.uk)
Target is officially shutting down its curbside pickup program after running a pilot program, reportsConsumerist. The test run launched in October 2014 in a partnership with Curbside in six metropolitan areas across the US. Curbside is a third-party startup that partners with retailers to provide pickup at select locations. (uk.businessinsider.com)
Italy’s VéGé Group expands in Puglia with new partner
Italian cooperative and retail network VéGé Group has boosted its presence in the Puglia region, by teaming up with a new partner, Convì Group. The company operates 19 outlets in direct ownership under the insignia Convì Supermercati, located in the city of Foggia and surrounding areas. (baltic-course.com)
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Walmart is giving its grocery aisles a makeover
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365 By Whole Foods: 7 days after opening, there's a lot to question
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