First supermarket launches fingerprint payment service

UK: 'Free food' myth threatens sharehouse market in Sheffield
A shop where people can buy food for whatever price they can afford is under threat because of a misconception the goods are free. Real Junk Food Project's Sharehouse Market in Sheffield aims to reduce waste by taking surplus food from supermarkets and local businesses. But the social enterprise said some were abusing the "pay-what-you-feel" policy, leading to a "free for all". Project director Jo Hercberg said: "If it continues we will cease to exist." (BBC)

Leclerc increases lead over Carrefour in French market
Leclerc is now a full percentage point ahead of Carrefour in terms of French grocery market share, according to Kantar Worldpanel data for the 12 weeks to 19 September. Leclerc sits on 21.2% market share, compared to Carrefour’s 20.2%. Elsewhere, Intermarché holds 14.7% market share, while there is close competition for fourth place in the market, with Casino on 11.6% – marginally ahead of Système U (10.8%) and Auchan (10.4%). Further back, Lidl holds 5.3% of the market, Delhaize is on 3.3%, and Aldi sits on 2.2%. Lidl has captured an additional 450,000 customers over the period, driven by strong TV and radio advertising. (esmmagazine.com)

UK supermarket launches fingerprint payment service
Shoppers at Costcutter at Brunel University can now pay for items using the unique vein pattern in their fingers. Sthaler, the company behind the ‘Fingopay’ system, told the Daily Telegraph it is in “serious talks” with other major British supermarkets to adopt the technology. It works by using infared to scan the patterns of veins in people’s fingers and links this unique “biometric” map to their bank cards. (standard.co.uk)

Belgium: Colruyt Group offers in-depth information about food products
Colruyt Group is launching their unique website “Product Finder”. This digital platform offers in-depth information about the group’s house brand food products, including Boni Selection and Everyday, which are available at Colruyt, OKay, Bio-Planet, Spar Colruyt Group, and Collect & Go stores. (eprretailnews.com)

Top 10 grocery retailers in Croatia hold 82% market share
The top ten grocery retailers in Croatia achieved total revenues of HRK 27.8 billion (€3.72 billion) in 2016, accounting for 82.1% of the market, according to AZTN - the Croatian Competition Agency. However, the agency's data also reveals that their overall share dropped from 82.4% in the previous year. Konzum is still market leader with a share of 20-30% (esmmagazine.com)

Philippine 7-Eleven boosts aggressive expansion bid
Please click here to read the article.

US Albertsons buys meal-kit delivery provider
Albertsons said on Wednesday it would buy meal-kit delivery service Plated, as it looks to attract more customers to its stores amid increased competition. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Albertsons’ expansion into meal kits, which deliver fresh ingredients and recipes to subscribers, comes less than a month after Amazon.com Inc’s entry into the grocery market with its acquisition of Whole Foods Market. (Reuters)

US: IGA hires a new CEO
Independent Grocers Alliance has named John Ross the new president and CEO of IGA, succeeding Mark Batenic effective in mid-October. Batenic will remain chairman of the board until his retirement Dec. 31, 2018 and transition to a non-executive chairman role in 2019. (supermarketnews.com)

Walmart to simplify expiration labels
Some of the world’s largest consumer goods companies including Kellogg Co and Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Wednesday they will simplify food expiration labels in an effort to eliminate confusion that contributes to food waste. Standardized labeling will use a single expiration date on perishable items and a single quality indicator for non-perishable items, the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) announced. (Reuters)