Amazon's grocery push is a mistake, says top investor
Amazon's greater push into grocery was the reason why major investor Terry Smith opted to sell all of his shares in the online giant last month, he has explained. Smith, who owns British hedge fund Fundsmith, told investors that he dumped its Amazon shareholding last month due to CEO Andy Jassy's decision to expand further into grocery, which he said was "potential capital misallocation." It is estimated to have lost about 25% of its investment in Amazon, according to The Times.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Wonky Box: The food subscription service serving up 'wonky' fruit and vegetables expands throughout the North Island
A food subscription service that saves "wonky" fruit and vegetables from going to landfill is expanding throughout the North Island. Wonky Box had previously only served the lower North Island and Auckland. From Wednesday, the fruit and vegetable subscription will also be available to non-rural addresses in Gisborne, Napier/Hastings, New Plymouth, Taupō, Tauranga, Thames, Waikato, Whakatāne, Whanganui and Whangārei.
Source: stuff.co.nz
India's Reliance Retail eligible to submit resolution plan for Future Enterprises bankruptcy
The retail arm of Reliance Industries is among three companies eligible to submit a plan for the debt-ridden Future Enterprises' bankruptcy proceedings, Future's resolution professional disclosed in an exchange filing.
Source: reuters.com
Portugal: Continente introduces children's breakfast and snack products
Portuguese supermarket and hypermarket chain Continente has introduced a new range of products for breakfast and snacks for children. The cacao ball cereals and the mango and pumpkin star cereals are sweetened only with fruit, with no added sugars, and feature the organic production certification. The banana strawberry and banana orange cracker yogurts are made with milk and whipped fruit; free from added sugars, colorings, and preservatives; and enriched with calcium and vitamin D. The juices, made with 80% fruit and 20% water, are available in orange, peach, pineapple, apple, and eight other fruit varieties - also without added sugars.
Source: esmmagazine.com
France: Rival billionaires pitch rescue plans, higher offers for retailer Casino
Rival bidders for struggling French retailer Casino presented their plans to rescue the group, two sources close to the matter said, and Les Echos paper said the offers would be raised. Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is vying against a consortium led by telecoms entrepreneur Xavier Niel, investment banker Matthieu Pigasse and businessman Moez-Alexandre Zouari to take control of Casino, which is saddled with net debt of 6.4bln euros ($7bln) and teetering on the brink of default.
Source: reuters.com
SPAR Netherlands and Thuisbezorgd.nl expand collaboration
SPAR has announced an expansion of its partnership with Dutch multinational online food ordering and delivery company Thuisbezorgd.nl after a successful pilot with various stores. From July 2023, more than 50 SPAR branches in the Netherlands will offer a range of around 900 items through the Thuisbezorgd.nl app and website. This will include fresh sandwiches, salads, wraps, chilled drinks, smoothies, bread, milk and toiletries, and other last-minute essentials.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Lithuania launches Europe's first driverless delivery robots on public roads
Vilnius became the first European city to introduce a small fleet of autonomous delivery robots on public roads. Developed by Estonia-based startup Clevon and in collaboration with Lithuanian delivery platform LastMile, three driverless robots are now bringing groceries to shoppers' doors in the capital's city center. The robots pick up the goods from the IKI supermarket store on Mindaugas Street.
Source: thenextweb.com
Belgium: Delhaize teams up with RangeMe to focus on local products
Delhaize Belgium has announced a new strategic partnership with RangeMe, a platform that allows businesses to discover products and form commercial partnerships. Delhaize Belgium plans to use this platform to expand and further diversify its range, with a focus on both Belgian and plant-based products.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Holland: Bol.com acquires all shares in Cycloon
Ahold Delhaize reported: "Ahold Delhaize is pleased to share that our local Dutch e-commerce brand, bol.com, and postal and parcel service, Cycloon, have announced that they are strengthening their strategic partnership, with bol.com acquiring all shares in Cycloon."
Source: aholddelhaize.com
JD Logistics to develop autonomous driving technology ecosystem for the logistics industry signs partnership with AutoCore.ai
JD Logistics has announced a partnership with AutoCore.ai, a leading intelligent mobility software, and automotive electrical and electronic architecture (EEA) solution provider. Together, the two companies will co-build end-to-end and multi-scenario autonomous driving systems specifically designed for the logistics industry.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Australia: Matt Preston launches Coles SecondBite Winter Appeal 
Coles Group General Manager, Corporate and Indigenous Affairs Sally Fielke said the partnership with SecondBite is a testament to Coles' commitment to supporting communities across Australia. "Since 2011, Coles has donated the equivalent of more than 200mln meals to help Australians in need, including fruit, vegetables, bread, and meat from our supermarkets and distribution centers," she said.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
Amazon makes first Big Tech challenge to EU online content rulesAmazon is challenging its inclusion in a group of companies subject to tough European Union online content rules in a move that may prompt other tech giants to follow suit.
Source: reuters.com
EuroCommerce and NRF welcome the adoption of the adequacy decision for the Transatlantic Data Privacy Framework
EuroCommerce and the National Retail Federation welcomed the announcement by the European Commission regarding the adoption of the adequacy decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
Source: nrf.com
US: Food delivery services sue NYC over minimum pay rates for app-based workers
Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub sued New York City to block its new minimum pay rules for food delivery workers. The recently announced rules, touted as a national first, could nearly triple average earnings for app-based delivery workers in the coming years. An increased pay rate of $17.96 an hour is set to take effect on July 12.
Source: apnews.com
Canada: Giant Tiger founder dies at 89
Gordon Reid, the Canadian businessman who founded the discount store chain Giant Tiger, has died at 89. The company says in a statement that Reid died at his home after a brief illness. Reid opened the first Giant Tiger store in 1961 in Ottawa's ByWard Market.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
Canada: Planet Based Foods, now available in New Leaf Community Markets, announces changes to board
Planet Based Foods Global Inc. ("PBFG," "Planet Based Foods" or the "Company"), a Company that offers a wide range of hemp-based food alternatives, is pleased to announce that the Company's Taquitos (Original with Cheese and Southwest Style) will be available in the popular California grocery chain, New Leaf Community Markets ("New Leaf"), starting in August 2023. Planet Based Foods would also like to announce that on July 5, 2023, Mr. Rob Dzisiak resigned from the company's board of directors.
Source: prnewswire.com
Dollar General extends Feeding America® partnership
Dollar General announced a $1mln donation to Feeding America® to commemorate the third-year anniversary of the organizations' partnership. With this donation, Dollar General has now donated more than $3mln to Feeding America, as well as in-kind food donations from stores and distribution centers across the country, equating to more than 13.4mln meals since announcing its formal partnership in 2021.
Source: businesswire.com